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New transport service for areas that lack buses
A new on-demand minibus service called OnDemand is being trialled in parts of South Yorkshire to improve public transport access in areas poorly served by buses, trams and trains. Launching on 3 August as a 12-month pilot in sections of Rotherham and Doncaster, the app-based service lets passengers book journeys up to a week ahead, with no fixed route or timetable, aiming to fill gaps left by conventional bus provision and connect people to jobs, hospitals and transport hubs.
The scheme is funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) in partnership with technology provider Via, and will operate Monday to Saturday, 05:00 to 18:00 BST, with fares starting at £3 and concessions available. It will focus on links to railway stations and employment sites, covering areas such as Todwick, Brookhouse and Askern, with stops determined by customer demand rather than a set route. Local leaders, including Rotherham Council leader Chris Read, Doncaster mayor Ros Jones and South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, said the service would offer flexibility that traditional buses cannot, particularly for rural communities affected by previous route and frequency cuts.
In short
- New OnDemand minibus app launches 3 August in South Yorkshire
- 12-month pilot covers parts of Rotherham and Doncaster
- Fares from £3; no fixed routes, journeys booked via app
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
An on-demand minibus could give people in poorly served areas a practical way to reach jobs, hospitals and transport hubs, especially where fixed bus routes have been cut or cannot serve scattered communities efficiently. Booking ahead while choosing from demand-led stops may offer flexibility that conventional timetables lack, and the 12-month pilot can show whether this approach meets local needs.
The case against
A demand-led service may be less predictable than a regular bus, requiring passengers to plan and book ahead and potentially offering limited availability during its operating hours. With fares starting at £3 and public funding supporting a private technology partnership, critics could reasonably ask whether the pilot will provide lasting, affordable access or whether investment would do more good restoring conventional routes and frequencies.
Explained simply
Parts of South Yorkshire lack adequate public transport, with buses, trains and trams not serving all communities well. This particularly affects rural areas and places where conventional bus services are not economical. OnDemand is a new minibus service being trialled to address these gaps.
The service works through an app that lets passengers book journeys on demand rather than following fixed routes and timetables. It is funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in partnership with technology company Via, with backing from local leaders. The 12-month pilot will cover parts of Rotherham and Doncaster, running Monday to Saturday with fares starting at £3 and concessions available.
The service will focus on connecting passengers to railway stations and employment centres in areas such as Askern and Todwick, where stops are determined by actual demand. This on-demand approach aims to serve communities affected by previous bus route cuts and areas where fixed-route buses struggle to operate. The trial will test whether this model provides better transport access for underserved areas.