Wiltshire Council enhances and expands demand-responsive rural transport service with new tech and operations provider Via

30 April 2025 (WILTSHIRE, UK) — Via is proud to announce it has been chosen as the new transport technology and operations provider for Wiltshire Connect — Wiltshire Council’s flexible, demand-responsive transport service, which originally launched in 2023. 

As a result of its success and popularity, the service will now expand to cover the areas of Royal Wootton Bassett and Malmesbury, as well as introduce an upgraded experience for passengers through Via’s technology and operational expertise. As a result, passengers will gain a more intuitive and convenient app booking experience, reduced wait times, and more efficient service operations. 

To encourage passengers to try the upgraded Wiltshire Connect service, all rides are free from Wednesday 23 April to Saturday 3 May, and passengers can also use the offer code “WELCOME” for two additional free journeys. 

The revamp of Wiltshire Connect supports the UK Government’s National Bus Strategy, which sets out a vision to deliver better transport coverage for passengers across England, including in more remote-outlying areas. The Wiltshire Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan informed the approach of the upgraded service, which intends to improve rural mobility and increase overall transport patronage across the county. 

How to use Wiltshire Connect

• Download the new Wiltshire Connect app (available in the App Store and Google Play). Or, phone 01225 712900 to speak with an operator. 
• The Via-powered Wiltshire Connect service will match passengers headed in the same direction into one shared Mercedes minibus. Passengers may be directed to a “virtual bus stop” a short walking distance from their location. 
• Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available upon request – just toggle on the accessibility icon in the profile section of the app, or inform your operator if booking by phone. 
• Service is available Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• Passengers can pre-book journeys seven days in advance, and up to 30 minutes before they want to travel.

Wiltshire County Council’s partnership with Via adds to a growing list of transport innovations across the UK as authorities seek solutions to help achieve their local transport goals. Today, Via’s technology powers 35 tech-enabled transport schemes across the UK in partnership with authorities of all sizes and geographies; Wiltshire Connect marks Via’s third operations contract in the region. Via also offers authorities customised public transport navigation apps through Citymapper, and intuitive transport networking planning tools through its Remix software suite. 

In addition to demand-responsive service, Wiltshire Connect also provides information on timetabled services in the Pewsey Vale and Marlborough area – specifically service 100, 101, 110, 210, and 211. Please visit https://www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk/timetables/ to view the timetables. 

To find out more about Wiltshire Connect, including route maps, please visit: https://www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk/getting-around/bus/wiltshire-connect/

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About Via 

Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimising networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing the environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 700 communities and more than 35 countries and counting.