Dial-a-ride , on short time
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• What will almost certainly be the country's first Dial-a-ride bus system will begin in Abingdon, Berks, next month. City of Oxford Motor Services Ltd, the local National Bus Company subsidiary, was granted a 12-month licence for the service last week by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners. But the service will only be operated on two days a week. There will be a flat fare of 8p.
The Dial-a-ride service — to be operated by Ford Transits supplied by the Ford Motor Co Ltd — will operate on Tuesdays and Sundays. On days other than those quoted the vehicles will be used for a conventional minibus service for which the Commissioners also granted a licence over five stage carriage routes.
Contrary to some reports, the Dial-a-ride service will not operate to fixed schedules or routes but will pick up and set down at passengers' door steps. The stage carriage minibus services began this week, worked by a Transit with a Strachans body. The Dial-a-ride service — expected to begin at the beginning of June — will be operated by a 15-seat Deansgate machine with power-operated doors and parcels accommodation. Although the first bus is being provided by Ford, City of Oxford will buy its own vehicles if the service proves successful. Ford is also supplying Dial-a-ride vehicles in Harlow and Maidstone.