TING, it’s new people-friendly transport service for the western part of Huntingdonshire

TING, it’s new people-friendly transport service for the western part of Huntingdonshire

TING, it’s the new people-friendly transport service for the western part of Huntingdonshire

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority have today (6 October) shared its plans for a new, more people-friendly transport service to support rural communities across the western part of Huntingdonshire.

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, joined councillors and representatives from across west Huntingdonshire at the preview event in the Market Square, St Neots to showcase Ting, the new ‘Uber’ style bus service which is being operated in the area by Stagecoach East.

Ting service goes live later this month on 25 October.

It’s a demand responsive bus service which isn’t fixed to a specific route or timetable. It will provide passengers the option to book an on-demand, tailor made service in real time by using the Ting-trips app or calling our local call centre, allowing people to order a bus from even the most remote locations.

Bookings can be made up to seven days in advance of your journey, as you would a taxi in a town centre and will run between 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm Saturday. Ting doesn’t however operate on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays.

The Ting branded fleet of four Optare solo, single deck vehicles, two of which appeared at the event launch, will provide an overlay service, and operate in addition to the existing bus services currently running across the area. It isn’t a replacement of services and it’s not the same as a dial-a-ride service.

The six-month trial has been put forward by the Combined Authority as a much-needed public transport option to get people out of their cars and supports its plans to help the region meet the 2050 Net Zero target for carbon emissions and to make its own operations net zero by 2030.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said:

“Using the car is currently the only option for residents in many of our rural communities. They simply don’t have the option of the public transport services which are available to their counter parts in our larger market towns and cities.

“I want to be able to offer the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough a world class, connected public transport service, and that work starts here with the introduction of this six-month trial.

“Demand and the need for public transport is changing and so is the technology that supports it. I recognise that this Ting service can provide people of all ages, with a viable option at the end of their fingertips, to help them meet up with their friends or teammates, get to their workplace, go shopping or connect to other public transport hubs, like trains and bus stations to take them further afield without first having to jump in their cars.

“The outcome of this trial will be used to help decide whether demand responsive bus services can become a valuable addition to our public transport service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in the future. The way people travel is changing and this trial provides a more carbon friendly, flexible, reliable, affordable and convenient solution for rural communities.  I would encourage everyone living in West Huntingdonshire to make use of the Ting service.”

Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said:

“Stagecoach East are excited to be partnering with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority to launch our brand new on-demand, responsive bus service – ‘Ting’. Ting will transform how customers use our services and will help to break down the barriers to bus travel, that some people experience, by allowing customers to facilitate on-demand, tailor-made bus trips that are not restricted by timetables.

“By using the Ting app, passengers can travel to any location, at any time they choose, within the service operation times and zone, by hailing a bus directly from their smartphone. Ting will also make bus travel more assessable for more people, by serving the rural communities of West Huntingdonshire. We are excited to launch this new technology and give our passengers more control and freedom when it comes to bus travel. For more information, please visit: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/Ting#

Jonathan Djanogly MP for Huntingdon said:

‘The Government is committed to improving public transport links and encouraging people to increase their use of public transport as part of its commitment to reaching net zero emissions. While decarbonising private vehicles is a key part of the Government’s net-zero strategy, encouraging people to opt for public transport rather than cars in areas such as rural Huntingdonshire will also be vital in helping to achieve this.

“I welcome that the Government has committed £5 billion of investment in buses, cycling and walking during this parliament and I am therefore delighted that with the trial of the ‘Ting’ scheme in Huntingdonshire the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is supporting the Government’s aspiration to make buses easier to use, more comfortable and better value for money, in order to encourage more people onto public transport.’