I’ve been “In a Relationship” with the Daffodil Line for over three years now – I feel a bit like I’m cheating on the Daff when I get on another bus. But when the long awaited Robin finally arrived in Newent last week I felt like I had to give it a try. Not least because – like many other people – I wasn’t entirely sure how it was going to work.
So, on Wednesday morning I took my Mum for a trip from Newent to Leaf Creative in Huntley. This journey of just over 5 miles would usually take well over an hour each way on the bus, with a change in Gloucester and to be honest we’ve not been before as it simply isn’t worth the hassle.
On the Robin it took 14 minutes and we will definitely be going again.
So what is the Robin and how exactly does it work?
They call it “Demand Responsive Transport” . A Flexibus might be a better name. The vehicle is a very smart 16 seater minibus, with level access from the pavement and space for pushchairs, shopping trolleys or a mobility scooter.
The Robin does not have a fixed timetable or a fixed route. Instead it operates between set time – 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and within a set “patch”. The Newent patch goes as far north as Bromsbettow, Remarley and Staunton, east to Hartpury and Maismore, south to Highnam, Huntley and Churcham and west to Longhope and Mitcheldean.
You can use the Robin to travel between any two bus stops in that patch (and there are over 300 of them on the interactive map) AS LONG AS there is no regular bus running between those stops at the time you want to take your journey.
So it’s not a taxi – it doesn’t go door to door, or Community Transport – anyone can use it, for essential journeys and for fun.
You need to book. There is an app, a website or a phone number 0345 2638139 which takes you through to some very helpful people in Lydney.
I phoned. I had wanted to depart from Newent Library bus stop at 11am but they had another booking then so we settled on 10.40, pick up at 12.15 for our return journey.
This was fine for me, but if you really need to be somewhere at a very specific time it will be best to book in advance and you can book your journey up to 2 weeks ahead.
I got a text in the morning to let me know that the bus was running on time, then one when it had arrived at the pick up point, for both our outward and return journeys. The driver also gets your phone number, so if there are any problems he can give you a call.
You can pay via the app if you book that way, or on the bus – which is what we did. Fares are £3 each way, bus passes are accepted. You can pay cash or card – the card machine was a little glitchy on our trip, so I’d suggest you take cash with you for now.
The drivers – ours are both called Andy in the Newent patch – are super friendly and helpful and clearly committed to making the service a success.
The Robin gets the thumbs up from me. I’ll be using it to go to Leaf again, to go wild swimming on May Hill, to go for walks in Dymock woods, to go to the National Perry centre in Hartpury and to go for boozy lunches in off the main bus route country pubs. All things that I couldn’t easily do with our existing bus routes. Less excitingly I’ll also be able to use it to connect to bus services into the Forest, without having to go all the way into Gloucester – for trips to the hospital, or the council for example.
For many people in villages around Newent that haven’t seen a regular bus service for years it will be a lifeline. As a 16 seater the Robin can nip round narrow country lanes that would be a challenge for the Daffodil Line or Stagecoach.
If you live in Kempley, Oxehall, Tibberton, Redmarley – book one to come into Newent or book one to connect with the Daffodil Line to the 32 for trips further afield.
We have a good example of how the Robin can be useful this weekend. Billy’s Vintage Weekend in Clifford’s Mesne – 40 minutes walk from the bus stops in Newent up a narrow lane with no pavement – book the Robin!
There is no doubt that the Robin is a public transport luxury – passenger for passenger Demand Responsive Transport is way more expensive for the tax payer than a regular bus. We might wonder whether in these cash-strapped times we can afford such luxuries, especially when so many cities, towns and large villages lack decent regular bus services.
But government and transport authorities are investing in demand responsive transportright now – the money may run out at some point, but right now, why look a gift horse in the mouth? These little buses will open up access to the countryside for lots of people, and access to employment, education and services for people living away from main bus routes. It’s a win for the rural economy and rural communities.
And like any bus, the more passengers the Robin gets, the less it costs the taxpayer and the more likely it is to stick around for the long term.
I’ll be back on board soon – but tomorrow you’ll find me back home on the Daff!
Newent is the final patch in a ring of Robin services which operate in rural areas around Gloucestershire, outside the central Gloucester-Cheltenham area. For full information on the Robin,or to download the app, visit: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/transport/the-robin/
