Go Sutton!  Council wins new bus service for borough

Sutton has some of the poorest public transport links in London so the Council has worked hard to persuade Transport for London to trial this new service in the borough - the first-ever on-demand bus service in the capital.

The fully accessible buses will feature USB charging points, free WiFi and will operate in a set area, rather than following a route.  Stopping points will be around every 200 metres, meaning Sutton residents can get picked up and dropped off just a few minutes from where they want.  

GoSutton operates in central Sutton - from St. Helier Hospital in the north to Belmont station in the south, Cheam in the west and Wallington/Beddington in the east. Even if you don’t live or work in the operating area, you can use the service to travel anywhere within it.

The new buses will carry fourteen passengers at a time, seven days a week.  Passengers can book using the dedicated app or on a normal phone,through an operator.  Countdowns to arrival time will also be provided by text message and pick-up is guaranteed within ten minutes of booking a ride.

The buses will be fully accessible, with Freedom Passes accepted and all vehicles are able to accommodate a wheelchair.  They will also help improve Sutton’s air quality with far lower emissions than a standard bus.

Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment & Neighbourhoods Committee said:

“This unique new bus is just the latest example of our ambitious plans to invest in transport improvements across the borough and use digital opportunities to re-design our services.

“It’s really good news that Transport for London accept that outer London boroughs like Sutton desperately need better bus services.  Many of our residents are forced to depend on their cars because public transport is so poor locally.

“This is just the start.  The Council will keep up the pressure on Transport for London to improve and expand regular bus services throughout the borough.”

Note to Editors

• The GoSutton app for iPhones and smartphones can be downloaded for free in the App Store and Google Play store.

• Sutton residents will need to create an account before you can log in and book a ride.

• More information is available here:

https://gosutton.co.uk/