An electric minibus has started operating on local routes in and around the rural market town of Ruthin, five years after a trial found the area unsuitable for electric buses.
On March 14, the Ruthin Fflecsi service replaced fixed-timetable services 173 (Ruthin town), 172 (Ruthin-Clawddnewydd/Derwen) and 176 (Ruthin-Llanelidan/Graigfechan). Passengers must book their journeys no less than an hour ahead.
The service is operated by a fully electric 15-seat minibus, acquired with support from the Welsh Government and the Welsh Government Energy Service. Denbighshire County Council is the service operator. The council recharges the Mercedes-Benz/ EVM e-Cityline in Ruthin, which is the county town.
The Fflecsi service operates from 09:30 to 14:30 on Mondays to Fridays, the vehicle having schools duties in the morning and afternoon. While this is a short operating day for the service, it is a slight improvement on what local residents were accustomed to under the previous timetables, since the Fflecsi operating day is about 40 minutes longer. For some users, the new flexibility enables earlier arrival in the morning or later departure in the afternoon than the fixed timetables permitted.
Councillor Brian…
