A NEW bus service has been launched to connect communities in Cam, Dursley and Slimbridge.
The Slimbridge Shuttle Bus, which began on Saturday, May 20, is the first of its kind in Gloucestershire, stopping at WWT Slimbridge, Cam & Dursley train station, and May Lane bus station.
The route, which now runs every Saturday and Sunday, will provide residents and visitors with public transport access to main line trains to and from Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucester.
The community shuttle bus will operate as a trial throughout the Summer of this year.
But organisers are hoping that if the scheme if successful it will secure both a wider route and a longer operating period.
An organiser, Lucy Smith WWT head of sustainability, said: “We are really pleased to be part of this service which will enable our existing and new visitors to come to the site without needing to bring a car.
“We hope it gets good levels of uptake during the trial to make the case to retain and expand the service in the future.
"I'll be using it to visit the site and go to the station on the weekends!"
Dursley mayor Alex Stennett said: “The new weekend shuttle bus is a great addition to local services and I hope it will be well used by our residents during the pilot period.
“I hope it will help give people better access to places across Dursley, Cam and Slimbridge, including the rail station and WWT.
“It also has potential environmental benefits too in helping to cut down on local car use and giving people more choice in how they travel."
The new service has been organised by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership and WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre and commissioned by Gloucester Community Rail Partnership.
It is being run by Community Connexions, with support from Cross Country trains and GWR.
Stops include Slimbridge WWT, Tudor Caravan Park, Beehive Stores, Cam and Dursley Rail Station, Draycott Crescent, Fairmead, Cam Pitch, Dursley police station, May Lane Bus Station and Nunnery Lane.
Adult fares are £1 for a single journey anywhere along the route, £2 for a return, and £3 for a day rover with unlimited journeys in a 24 hour period.
Under 18 fares are £1 for a single or a return.
For more information and the timetable see - https://tinyurl.com/t59m9ttw
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