Infrequently-used bus routes in rural areas could be replaced with a dial-a-ride service following a pilot scheme taking place next year.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer told the House of Keys last week that so-called ’Demand Responsive Transport’ (DRT) would be trialled in the north of the island - and could be rolled out to other areas if successful.

In a written reply to a question from Onchan MHK Rob Callister, Mr Harmer said: ’It should be noted that DRT is initially being trialled in the island as a replacement for timetabled services in communities where larger buses often run at well below capacity.’

Mr Callister had asked if he would consider trialling the scheme in Onchan and Garff next but the Minister said it would be premature to make any commitment at this stage.

Direct of public transport Ian Longworth said it is expected that the first phase will cover Bride, Andreas and Maughold.

He said: ’Services 16, 20 and 20A will be withdrawn and replaced in the off peak periods with a demand-responsive solution where passengers booked their journeys within a defined area and travel at bus fares but do not have exclusive use of the vehicle.

’People who book subsequently are added to the route.’

He added: ’We will then look to add in, where appropriate, other passengers who travel on other government minibuses serving the area at the present time thus making the economy.’

Research carried out in the UK by Transport Focus last year found that introduction of DRT tended to result in even less frequent services, shorter time at destination and restricted destinations - while some passengers found it difficult to book a service at a time they needed as the service was already booked.

Passenger watchdog TravelWatch, however, has welcomed the dial-a-ride initiative.

In a statement it said: ’TravelWatch recognises the financial pressures that Bus Vannin must be under when operating scheduled services to rural communities, and it realises that seldom do any of the these buses carry more than a handful of passengers.

’However we also understand the frustration that some communities have with very limited access to public transport. Maughold, for example, has no services at all during weekends, and during school holidays has just one bus per day on Tuesdays and Fridays only. We therefore welcome the opportunity for communities like these to be able to plan trips using the dial-a- ride plan.’

It added: ’Whilst appreciating some of the potential issues that might arise we support the trialling of such a scheme, but we expect the system to be fully explained and that the full results of the trial will be made public.’