Connect Transport on Demand
Community First is pleased to be powering this new service for March 2025 in Northern Test Valley to offer local, flexible bus journeys in areas with no public transport.
The app is operated by Padam Mobility and the buses are operated by Community First. For any queries, you can find their details under the ‘contact the operators’ section below.
How it works
Connect Transport on Demand is a pre-bookable, limited-stopping local minibus service that operates in areas without other bus connections. Our minibuses do not follow a fixed route or timetable but link-up around 350 bus stops.
Journeys are on a first-come, first-served basis and offer great value for people making a few trips each week.
We stop at three town centre destinations in Andover – the train station and bus station, where you can transfer to other transport services, and Andover War Memorial hospital.
To use the service, you will first need to register: see the ‘how to book’ section below.
Where it runs
Transport on Demand operates to and from various bus stops in the Northern Test Valley area. The service covers most bus stops with postcodes SP10 and SP11 and the Wallops, Stockbridge, Chilbolton, and Barton Stacey areas.
The service covers four zones:
- Zone 1: The service can pick up and drop off passengers at Andover bus station, Andover train station, and Andover War Memorial Hospital
- Zone 2: Specified SP10 bus stops south of Weyhill Road and London Road, where other buses don’t run
- Zone 3: Specified bus stops in the wider SP11 postcode area
- Zone 4: Specified bus stops in the Wallops, Chilbolton, and Barton Stacey areas
The map showing bus stops covered by this service can be found in the Book a Journey smartphone app, on the Book a Journey web portal, or you can check the best bus stops for your journey with call center staff. Find further details in the ‘how to book’ section, below.
Not every bus stop in every zone is served, so please check your boarding and destination bus stops when booking.
When it runs
Minibuses run Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm. Journeys for a drop-off by 7pm must be booked by 6pm. You can book a journey up to 3 days in advance. Each passenger can make up to 6 single journeys per week.
Who can use it
Anyone over the age of 10 can use Transport on Demand by themselves. Journeys are on a first-come, first-served basis, so please bear this in mind when booking. Bookings to and from schools cannot be accommodated.
How much it costs
A standard fare, similar to public bus fares is charged for this service. Our fares are as follows:
| From zone | |||||
| To zone | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 | N/A | £2 | £4.50 | £5.50 | |
| 2 | £2 | £2 | £4 | £5.50 | |
| 3 | £4.50 | £4 | £5.50 | £5.50 | |
| 4 | £5.50 | £5.50 | £5.50 | £5.50 | |
Up to 2 children under the age of 5 can travel for free with a fare-paying adult. Older Person and Disabled Person concessionary bus passes and school passes cannot be used on this service.
How to book
Before making a booking you must register to use the service. This only takes a few minutes through the Book a Journey app. Download the app by scanning the QR code with your phone’s camera, or by clicking the link below:
Other ways to book a journey are:
- through our bus operator, Community First, on 0333 015 1271 for bookings and other queries, including lost property. Phone lines are open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Check with your phone provider to find out the cost.
Accessibility
Our service is wheelchair accessible, accommodating both manual and electric wheelchairs, with a maximum total weight of 250kg.
If you are travelling with a wheelchair or small mobility scooter, please reserve a wheelchair space when booking. If your wheelchair folds and you can board without assistance, you do not need to select this option. Our drivers can fold and safely stow your wheelchair. We can accommodate one wheelchair with a passenger seated in it, and one folded wheelchair or pushchair on any journey, subject to space availability.
This is a local bus service, not a specialised or community transport service. If you need extra support when travelling, please use Connect Transport (previously known as Dial-a-Ride). Contact Hampshire County Council’s Community Transport team for more details by visiting www.hants.gov.uk/transport/alternativetransport/communitytransport, telephoning 01962 846785 or emailing community.transport@hants.gov.uk.
Service dogs are welcome on board.
Contact the operators
The smartphone app is operated by Padam Mobility. For any app queries, contact them using the “help and contact” tab within the app, or email contact@padam.io
The buses are operated by Community First. For any service-related queries, email connect@cfirst.org.uk or call 0333 015 1271