New enhanced bus services to improve connections across Swaffham and surrounding villages
Residents across Swaffham and the surrounding villages will benefit from a range of new and revised bus services designed to provide simpler, more reliable public transport links.
The changes which started this week include the introduction of a brand-new route linking Swaffham and Downham Market, operated by Central Connect, and new fixed-route services around Swaffham operated by Coach Services Ltd, replacing the previous Swaffham Flexibus service.
The services have been commissioned by Norfolk County Council using Bus Grant funding from the DfT, with the aim of making travelling by bus an easy option, whilst also maintaining vital connections for communities in south west Norfolk.
The new network will offer:
- A brand-new bus link between Swaffham and Downham Market
- New timetabled routes replacing the Swaffham Flexibus and Swaffham Town services
- Simpler, more reliable journeys with no requirement to book in advance
- Continued links between villages and key destinations in Swaffham
- Connections with First Bus Excel services towards Norwich and Peterborough
- Access to rail services at Downham Market station
- A more sustainable long-term model for maintaining important rural bus services
Councillor Tom Dickerson, cabinet member for highways and transport said; “People in Swaffham and Marham have been asking for this important link to Downham Market for years so I am thrilled that we could use our bus grant to help make this happen whilst also bringing other improvements to local services for communities in and around Swaffham.”
New Downham Market to Swaffham service
A brand-new Route 67 will be introduced and operated by Central Connect, providing a direct bus connection between Downham Market and Swaffham.
The route will serve Marham village and RAF Marham, Fincham, Crimplesham and Narborough, creating new travel opportunities for residents and improving access to employment, education and other services.
The service will also call at Downham Market rail station, providing connections with rail services, while passengers travelling to and from Swaffham will be able to connect with First Bus Excel services for onward journeys across the region.
New Coach Services routes
Coach Services Ltd of Thetford will operate the new S8, S9, S10 and S10A services.
The new routes replace both the current demand responsive Swaffham Flexibus service and the existing Swaffham Town service. Rather than requiring passengers to pre-book journeys through an app, the new services will operate to fixed timetables along set routes.
The S8 and S10 routes will continue to serve almost all of the villages previously covered by the Flexibus network, providing connections into Swaffham and onward links with First Bus Excel services to Norwich and Peterborough.
The S9 service replaces the existing Swaffham Town service and introduces a circular route covering all parts of the town. This will allow residents to access a wider range of destinations across Swaffham, although some journeys may take longer than under the current arrangement.
The S10A service will operate as a dedicated school service.
The new services have been designed to retain the key benefits of the Flexibus network while making travel simpler and more accessible for passengers.
