Electric bus service connecting Suffolk villages to be withdrawn
Suffolk County Council says the Katch service doesn't have the passengers needed to continue
Last updated 2nd Dec 2022
An electric bus taxi service serving several Suffolk villages is set to close down before Christmas
The Katch service was launched as part of a pilot scheme in May last year.
It uses two electric minibuses which can be hailed on demand to take people between Framlingham, Wickham Market, Snape and Blaxhall.
However the County Council says its no longer sustainable due to a lack of passengers - the last day of service will be December 23.
The peak number of journeys on the service was 185 per week in June this year.
Suffolk County Councillor Alexander Nicoll said: “Unfortunately, the numbers have not risen to the point that the service can operate without financial support and the seed funding has now been exhausted,”
“Likewise, despite regular calls to the industry at large to provide buses or alternative services on Sundays and later in the evening, usage at those times simply did not materialise during the pilot, so regrettably the service must end.
“On behalf of Suffolk County Council, I would like to thank Cabs Smart, East Suffolk Council, The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership, Greater Anglia Railways, Snape Maltings and Framlingham Town Council for their assistance with the pilot.”
Talks continue with other potential operators to see if a version of the route could continue into 2023.