Eight new Mercedes minibuses with Euro VI engines have been delivered to to Carousel Buses expand its PickMeUp demand-responsive fleet as the operator prepares for plans to expand the operating zone. The announcement comes after officials from the Department for Transport’s Rural Environment Fund and Rural Mobility Fund visited Carousel Buses’ depot in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where they met with members of the PickMeUp team and officials from Buckinghamshire Council to learn more about the demand-responsive transport network. The Rural Mobility Fund was established by the Department for Transport in 2020 to foster partnerships between local authorities and bus operators to improve transport connectivity in rural and suburban areas, and Buckinghamshire Council provided the funding to launch PickMeUp in High Wycombe in 2022 after securing support via the fund.
Carousel Buses Managing Director Luke Marion said: “PickMeUp continues to go from strength to strength and is a fantastic example of how demand-responsive transport can play a key role in improving air quality and traffic congestion in the UK in conjunction with traditional bus services. We have an extensive bus network in High Wycombe, but there are some areas our traditional service can’t serve due to demand, or location, and PickMeUp has helped fill the gaps. The passenger numbers continue to rise, and with plans to expand the operating zone, we are proud to have invested in the service.
“The support from Buckinghamshire Council and the Department for Transport has been excellent and has made this exciting new mode of public transport possible in High Wycombe.”
Go-Ahead Managing Director for UK Regional Bus Martin Dean said: “We welcome the further investment from Government and support from Buckinghamshire Council for PickMeUp in High Wycombe, building on the success of the service to date. Go-Ahead is always looking for innovative opportunities to meet customer needs, and this service is just one of the ways we are meeting demand.”
Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, added: “We were pleased to host officers from the Department for Transport in High Wycombe. This gave us the opportunity to showcase the success of the PickMeUp scheme. The ride-sharing buses have proven to be popular, with around 300 people using them per day. The service, which now includes eight new high-specification minibuses, is a testament to our commitment towards a more sustainable and inclusive transportation network for Buckinghamshire.”
PickMeUp currently operates on weekdays between 0600 and 1900hrs.
