OSBUS GROUP

The OsBus Group operated for some time with a small but loyal and appreciative group of passengers. Unfortunately once our original grant had expired, it was clear that the service was not viable without change. The choices were either to increase the fare to an economical level and operate with the current users, or to find another source of funding. The first choice would have made the trip too expensive, and the second choice met with no success. The service was therefore wound up.

We shortly afterwards had an offer of inclusion in the Dorset County Council 'phone-a-bus' service 103. In theory it was possible to ring the day before and arrange a pick-up in Osmington. All who tried this found that making a booking requst was almost impossible, as the call-takers had no knowledge of Osmington, and appeared not to be prepared even to accept the Village Hall as an acceptable pick-up point. The service was withdrawn from Osmington at the beginning of April 2008.

In 2008 the X53 service was extended by additional stops in the morning to pick up Osmington Passengers. and in the evening to set down on return. Passengers using this service still found that especially on the existing timings, getting seats on the bus in Osmington was still very difficult.