Who's behind Kennet and Beyond?
The Association of Kennet Passengers!
For more about Kennet Passengers please select from the following:
What is the Association of Kennet Passengers?
What does Kennet Passengers do?
Current project: An information or "virtual" station for Devizes?
What is the Association of Kennet Passengers?
Kennet Passengers is a group of volunteers who use local public transport. Some members drive and others do not. But we all share a simple vision:
"Kennet should be a place where people can have a good quality of life with less dependence on the private car."
They wanted a well organised voice for service users (and potential users). Unlike other public services bus users do not have a statutory voice to influence the services they use. Kennet Passengers was formed in 2002 to fill that gap locally and promote better public transport in the district.
In April this year Government announced a new independent national watchdog for bus users and appointed the rail watchdog, Passenger Focus, to carry out that role. Details are not yet known.
We recognise that our work is but one part of a much wider transport problem. By focusing on public transport in this locality we hope to play a big part in improving everyone's quality of life and transport experience in Kennet.
What does Kennet Passengers do?
To achieve our aims Kennet Passengers are pursuing two lines of action.
The first is to act as an intermediary between users, local organisations, operators, and local authorities, all of whom share common goals: to improve the quality of service.
The second is to promote travel information. The more we know about public transport, when it runs, and where it goes, the more we are likely to use it. The more it is used, the more likely it is to be improved for everyone, especially for those with few or no transport choices.
Information is not just about distributing timetables. It is a two way street: services need to be better known but equally service providers need to know what is required.
You can read more about quality standards for bus services here. (Opens in new window)
An information or "virtual" station for Devizes?
Devizes is at the heart of Wiltshire and the largest town in Kennet and a natural public transport interchange. Nevertheless Devizes has no bus station and no railway station. This means there is no focus for transport services normally associated with a bus or train station such as ticketing, left luggage, fares information, or warm waiting facilities.
Kennet Passengers is working hard to ensure that there is a physical point of contact in Devizes that can raise the profile of public transport, specialise in transport information and be as stylish as a small airport lounge. The project's working title is 'a virtual station'!
TAKE ACTION! If you or your organisation would like to support this project please let us know.
View our video to find out more.
Some of our achievements:
>Devizes Town Bus
By working with Wiltshire County Council and the operator, Bodmans, Kennet Passengers' oversaw improvments to improve the old "Devizes Dart". What we did:
- We recommended the new brand and designed the Devizes Town Bus logo,
- A member designed the distinctive green and blue livery,
- We recommended the new destination display boards, and
- We recommended joining up some of the routes across the town.
This might not be anything to boast about in Manchester but it is an achievement in rural Kennet where margins are so tight. The upshot? Ridership went up!
TAKE ACTION! We are now pressing for low floor vehicles and greater frequencies. Do you agree? Let us know what you'd like to see and where!
>Connect2 Wiltshire
The flexible services have proved a lifeline to many villagers in Kennet. We are proud to have been key advisors to Wiltshire County Council's Public Transport Unit for the evolving Wigglybus services and their successors since 2002. Kennet Passengers have worked hard in partnership to feed back users' views to WCC to ensure they appeal to those households that might be tempted to leave their car at home. Have we succeeded? Not always but sometimes! See achievement below.
>Taxibus Rail link from Devizes to Pewsey Station
Our market research for Wigglybus in 2007 revealed a long felt need for a rail link from Devizes to Pewsey Station. This has resulted in a new rail link taxi-bus which was tested during the Autumn 2007. The services have been retained permanently in March 2008 and expanded. Our work has paid off and you can now see 8 seater taxibuses added to the Connect2 Wiltshire 'family'. We can see the future for rural public transport being shaped by taxibuses - defnitely the way to go.
>Travel information website
The local detail to find your way around by public transport can be tricky. We wanted the first step to using public transport to be the easiest step. Over the last two years we have developed a family travel information websites for four community areas: Devizes, Marlbrough, Pewsey, and Tidworth. The timetables have been unbundled, and transport information collated and all placed conveniently in one place.
After a year's incubation the website was launched by MP Nick Hurd in June 2007 who was all in favour of any action that helped going green easier.
Two successful grant applications have funded Kennet and Beyond and its maintenance. The next step will be seeking sponsorship! If you are a transport provider or have a particular interest in supporting this initiative (a parish or town council perhaps?) please get in touch!
TAKE ACTION! This website is a major enterprise. We need local enthusiasts to lend a hand and help the editorial team... if you are interested, or can share your IT skills, please let us know!
>Feedback - Do you have a message?
Feedback comes from a variety of sources: surveys, stalls, events and this website. We discuss your comments with operators and Wiltshire's public transport unit. Feedback has borne fruit so please keep writing to us - your comments bring vital evidence of unmet travel need or requirements for specific improvements.
TAKE ACTION! If you have an idea, concern or query feedback now!
>Passenger Open Fora
Kennet Passengers have hosted a number of public meetings, the first was in 2002 in Devizes and Marlborough. Small groups discussing specific aspects give people at these well attended events an opportunity to air concerns and influence their services. The Open Fora not only include users and aspiring passengers but also include bus operators, transport professionals, and local authorities. If you would like to be kept in touch about these events please let us know and we will put you on our mailing list. Simply write 'subscribe' in the message field.
>More up to date news and issues here.
Membership
Kennet Passengers is managed by a steering group. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining in and taking action. Please let us know!
If you simply want to be on our mailing list for events or email updates please let us know!
TAKE ACTION! Please get in touch if you would like a pack of our colourful website promotional post cards
The Association of Kennet Passengers is affiliated to:
Bus Users UK (Opens in new window)
Campaign for Better Transport (Opens in new window)
TravelWatch South West (Opens in new window)
