BUS SERVICE UPDATE – August 2024
Central Connect took over the operation of the DaRT3 bus service from Arrow Taxis as of the end of July for an initial trial period of 3 months.
DaRT3 is the originally announced demand-responsive service intended to replace the F315 service that was withdrawn at the end of July but provided by a different operator.
DaRT3 needs to be pre-booked: it does not run to a regular, or published, operating timetable and it is not a taxi service – it will only operate if 4 or more passengers want to do similar journeys at broadly similar times. Doubts therefore remain about its suitability for people needing to be at their destinations by a particular time: there can be no guarantee about either pick-up/drop-off times – or even the duration of journeys – from one day to the next, as the service may need to accommodate differing numbers of passengers booked in different locations, dependent on each day’s demand.
DaRT3 operates Mondays to Saturdays between 6.00am and 8.00pm and any single journey costs £5. Concessionary bus passes are accepted after 9.00am Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays.
To book call: 0115 777 3187 or e-mail: dart@central-connect.co.uk, but please note: e-mail bookings are not confirmed until you receive confirmation from the DaRT Booking Centre, as all bookings are subject to availability.
The DaRT Booking Centre is open between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Saturday.
You must book by 6.00pm the day before you wish to travel.
Bookings for a Monday must be made by 6.00pm on the previous Saturday. Bookings can be made up to 14 days in advance of your desired travel date.
If you need to cancel a booking, contact the DaRT Booking Centre. Please give as much notice as possible in order to free up vehicle capacity for other passengers who may wish to use the service.
If you have any questions about the operation of the DaRT3 service, please call or e-mail the Booking Centre.
Further information on the DaRT3 service, including a map showing its areas of operation, can be found on the Travel Essex website here
Please share the above with anyone who might need to use the service but does not have access to the internet or social media.