A new bus service linking Stone with Rugeley has recorded encouraging passenger numbers during its first few weeks, according to Staffordshire County Council.
The 151 service began on Tuesday 1 September and is being funded by the county council for an initial 12 month trial. Its future beyond the trial will depend on passenger numbers.
Operated by Chaserider, the route provides a direct connection between Stone and Rugeley, serving communities including Aston Lodge, Burston, Sandon, Weston, Hixon, Great Haywood, Little Haywood and Colwich. The service also replaced the former A service between Stone and Aston Lodge.
Buses run from Monday to Saturday, with nine journeys in each direction. From Stone, services leave from the stop by Morrisons, with the first weekday departure at 8.54am and the final departure at 5.34pm. The journey to Rugeley Bus Station takes around 45 minutes. Bustimes Staffordshire
The route also gives passengers access to destinations along the A51 corridor, including Great Haywood for Shugborough, Wolseley Bridge and Bishton.
Staffordshire County Council said initial take up had been good and is encouraging people to continue using the service. Its transport team will monitor passenger numbers throughout the trial before decisions are made about its future.
Andrew Mynors, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Connectivity, said
“This new service has had a great start with encouraging passenger numbers in the first few weeks.
“It is serving communities along the A51 corridor, connecting them to both Rugeley and Stone on a route where there hasn’t been a continuous link for number of years.
“We’ve worked closely with the town and parish councils to get this trial service off the ground. We’d urge people make regular use of the service when they can, as forward plans will depend on passenger numbers.”
Brendan McKeown, Stafford Borough Councillor for Haywoods & Hixon, said
“We’re pleased that as anticipated the new service has been well received and people have got on board already.
“We’ve worked with the county council to launch the 12-month trial service, which is a generous period.
“After our hard work and planning to get to this point, we hope as many people use the service as possible, as its future will depend on passenger numbers over the next 12 months.”
The full 151 timetable, including Saturday services, is available on the Staffordshire County Council bus timetable website.
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