A new trial bus service linking Stone and Rugeley has launched this month with encouraging passenger numbers in its first few weeks. The 151 service is funded by Staffordshire County Council and will run for one year.
The hourly service operates Monday to Saturday, with nine journeys in each direction between just before 9am and 5.30pm. It calls at Aston Lodge, Burston, Sandon, Weston, Hixon, Great Haywood, Little Haywood and Colwich.
What the service connects
The route serves communities along the A51 corridor and gives residents access to shops and leisure facilities in both towns. Attractions on the route include Shugborough (accessible from Great Haywood), Wolseley Bridge, Bishton Hall, and various pubs and eateries.
This is the first continuous link between these communities for several years.
What happens next
Staffordshire County Council's transport team will monitor passenger numbers throughout the 12-month trial period. The future of the service depends on how many people use it during this time.
Andrew Mynors, Cabinet Member for Connectivity at Staffordshire County Council, said the new service is "serving communities along the A51 corridor, connecting them to both Rugeley and Stone on a route where there hasn't been a continuous link for a number of years."
The 151 timetable is available on the county council's bus travel webpage.