Hope Valley near Sheffield to get £6m to make public transport run 'like clockwork'
Residents and visitors to the Hope Valley near Sheffield are set to benefit from public transport that runs like clockwork, the government says.
The Mini-Switzerland project is based on the alpine country’s famous transport system where buses and trains run to the same timetable and connect with each other, the Department of Transport says.
It has awarded £6m to East Midlands Combined County Authority to test whether the approach can work in the Peak District.
Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “People in rural communities deserve real choice in how they get around, and that is why we are backing this new pilot in the Hope Valley.
“By helping buses and trains run to the same timetable, Mini Switzerland aims to make getting to work, or a day out in the Peak District by public transport, as easy as jumping in the car.
“This is exactly the kind of practical innovation at the heart of our Better Connected strategy, improving everyday journeys while helping local economies.”
The Government’s Better Connected transport plan, set to be unveiled on Thursday, aims to improve travel across the country by connecting roads, buses, trains and trams.”