THE Wigglybus, the innovative bus service for the villages around Devizes and Pewsey, has won an award in the bus industry's version of the Oscars which were handed out in London Tuesday November 21.
The service won the Bus in the Countryside award at the fifth annual Bus Industry Awards.
Three purpose-built 14-seater buses run an hourly service and 'wiggle' their way to pick up passengers in villages and smaller settlements who have phoned in to a special call centre based at Wiltshire Ambulance headquarters in Chippenham.
The project is a partnership between the Pewsey Vale Transport Appraisal Group, Wiltshire County Council, Kennet District Council and Hatts Coaches.
On just one day in September the service carried 104 passengers. The travel club associated with the bus, which offers discount fares for a small annual fee, now has more than 300 members.
The fare is £1 for non-club members and 30p for members.
The call centre is open to take bookings from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 3pm on Saturday. The service is so popular that is has just introduced an evening service.
The Wigglybus carried 40,000 passengers in its first 18 months.
The meeting heard there is confidence in the service, which has attracted the attention of other local authorities and Government ministers, will continue after its three-year pilot funding has run out.
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