This marks the county’s third on demand zone, following successful rollouts in Bromsgrove and Malvern. Designed to offer a convenient alternative to traditional public transport, the service connects passengers to their destinations without fixed routes or timetables, giving residents more control over how and when they travel.

To ensure smooth and efficient operations across this large geographical area, journeys will be capped at 15 kilometres (approx. 9 miles) as the crow flies. Smaller vehicles will also be used to navigate rural roads more easily and deliver faster, more cost-effective trips.

Following the expansion into Wychavon, further plans are underway to introduce a Central Zone later this year, with a North West Zone scheduled for launch in the first half of 2026.

The Central Zone will encompass areas including Stourport, Hartlebury, Ombersley, and surrounding central rural communities. The North West Zone will primarily serve the Wyre Forest District, extending from Bewdley and as far west as Tenbury Wells.

Councillor Karl Perks, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “The on demand bus service has proven extremely popular in Bromsgrove and Malvern, so we’re thrilled to now offer the same convenience to Wychavon residents. The piloting of a journey cap and smaller vehicles reflects our tailored approach to meet the unique needs of each community and we’ll be closely monitoring feedback as the service launches.”

“We are committed to rolling out on demand transport across Worcestershire, and that’s why we have a forward plan in place to provide as many people as possible with a sustainable, affordable, and user-friendly way to travel.

Within the next 12 months, our on demand buses will be in use across more and more areas of the county. So, whether you’re travelling for work, visiting family, heading into town or planning a trip to Croome Court, the Clent Hills, Broadway Museum and Art Gallery or any of the other fantastic attractions in the county, I encourage you to give it a try and experience the service for yourself.”

Passengers can book journeys easily via the Worcestershire on Demand app, available to download for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The app allows users to select their pick-up and drop-off points, guiding them to nearby ‘virtual bus stops’ designed for efficient, shared travel. It also provides real-time updates on bus arrival times.

Buses in the Wychavon zone will be operated by Via, who also supply the system for managing the bookings and vehicles.

Sam Griffiths, Head of the UK & Nordics at Via, said: "Via is proud to support Worcestershire County Council's ambitious plan of delivering a countywide DRT service. We are confident that by partnering with WCC on both software and operations, we will improve rural connectivity for residents across Wychavon by providing efficient, reliable public transport."

The service operates Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7pm. To celebrate the launch, all journeys will be free for the first month.

After this period, fares will be £2.50 per person per journey, with £1.25 for additional passengers. Concessionary cards are accepted, and veterans can ride free of charge. Frequent travellers can also benefit from discounted ticket bundles.

Since its launch in the Bromsgrove area in July 2021, Worcestershire on Demand has completed over 104,000 trips, with the Malvern service, launched in June 2023, seeing nearly 18,000 trips.

For more information about the on-demand bus service and to download the app, please visit the dedicated pages on our website. If you need help downloading or using the app, staff at local libraries are ready to provide support and guidance.