On-demand bus service expands to extra Dacorum villages and adds new vehicles
The on-demand bus service launched in Hertfordshire is expanding this summer, Hertfordshire County Council revealed.
Its HertsLynx service is expanding with the introduction of three new buses and additional stops in Bovingdon, Chipperfield and Kings Langley.
One of the buses will operate in Dacorum to pick up customers in the villages which have been added to the Dacorum HertsLynx routes. The other two buses will serve customers in the north, west, and eastern regions of Hertfordshire, the council revealed.
Hertfordshire County Council confirmed the expansion is costing £500,000 which was agreed during the budget setting process for the upcoming financial year.
New buses have been purchased to increase capacity, reduce waiting times, and improve the reliability of the modern service. Data released by the council shows that nearly a quarter of a million bookings have been made since the authority launched HertsLynx in 2021.
One user of the new service told the council: “I call it my magic bus, it really has changed my life. I use it for shopping, seeing friends, going to the dentist and the gym, pretty much everything really.”
Hertfordshire County Council also announced plans to open a depot for the buses in Buntingford by the early summer. Once operational, the depot will increase the number of journeys the service can complete in the east Hertfordshire area.
Councillor Paul Zukowskyj said: “HertsLynx has already made a real difference to residents, particularly in rural areas where traditional bus services are limited. These additional vehicles, the new Buntingford depot and the expansion into new communities mean we can offer an even more responsive, reliable, and flexible service.
“Investing in sustainable transport like HertsLynx is central to our ambition of growing a more sustainable Hertfordshire, making it easier for people to leave the car at home, reduce congestion and stay connected to the people and places that matter most.”
Booking information for the on-demand service can be found on a dedicated website here. In January Hertfordshire County Council announced it was expanding its on-demand service with the launch of a new route of available stops which were available to commuters in Hemel Hempstead.