Published on Monday 13 December 2021
Morebus has launched a new bus route linking Burton with Christchurch Town Centre, Somerford Estate and Sainsburys. The new bus service is supported by a central government funding applied for and won by BCP Council.
Previously, bus services to Burton were limited, with no buses at peak times or on Sundays. Thanks to additional government funding, the new hourly Service 23 operates from 7am-7pm on Mondays- Saturdays and on Sundays from 9am-5pm.
The new timetable includes buses at peak times allowing local residents access to work, education, shopping and healthcare opportunities. Around 22 percent of the households in the parish do not have access to a car - which is equivalent to the BCP average. However, this enhancement ensures Burton residents now benefit from a convenient bus service comparable to other areas.
Morebus, and representatives from BCP Council and the ‘A Bus for Burton’ group gathered this week to celebrate the launch of the new service.
"We know there is great demand for a more frequent route linking these areas, so we’re delighted to have been awarded the tender to operate these buses," said Morebus managing director, Andrew Wickham.
"Our team is looking forward to welcoming people on-board the new route 23 from next month. Not only will it make the area more accessible for all, it will also give people the opportunity to leave their cars at home and use sustainable transport instead.
"A bus has the potential to take many cars off the road - helping to ease congestion and improve air quality.
"Passengers travelling with us can also use our app to plan their journeys and buy their tickets. The technology allows them to see exactly where their bus is in real time - and they can even work out how much CO2 they are saving, compared to driving a car."
Councillor Mike Greene added: "We are delighted to have received additional government funding to enhance the bus service to Burton, which will now better serve the needs of local residents".
To complement the introduction of the new route 23, Morebus has amended the route and timetable for its 24 service. This now calls at St Catherines, Christchurch, Somerford Road, and Somerford Sainsburys.
For more detailed timetable information for the new route 23, please visit: www.morebus.co.uk