Feb 2025 Update: Former members of NORDCAT, please click here.
Our PlusBus service offers a weekday trip from neighbouring villages to local destination towns. It exists to provide transport for anyone living in places that are not served by mainstream public transport. Old or young, with a mobility difficult or without, if you don’t have easy access to public transport, then PlusBus could be just what you’ve been looking for.
Using PlusBus is simple. First, register your details with us and then you can pre-book your seat whenever you wish to join the bus. Services pick up along their route and then typically arrive in local towns at approximately 10:30 and depart at approximately 12:30. Where possible, we can offer a “door-to-door” service.
Please click on the relevant link below for detail on our current routes and times to and from:
If your village isn’t already served by either public transport or one of PlusBus services, let us know – we are always looking for opportunities to address unmet needs and we review our service structure several times a year.
Before you can book PlusBus journeys, you’ll need to register first. It’s quick and easy to do - find out more here.
Call us on 01258 287 987 (between 9:30 and 14:30 Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays) or email us at dorset@ectcharity.co.uk. Once registered, you can book the next two trips in advance, but no later than 14:30 the previous working day. Please see below for information about bookings around the Bank Holidays.
PlusBus does not run on Bank Holidays or any time during the 8-day period from and including Christmas Day to and including New Year’s Day. This is because our offices are closed during these times and we cannot take bookings. You will need to take note of the deadlines below for booking travel.
|
Upcoming Bank Holidays 2026 |
If you want to travel on: |
You need to book by 14:30 on: |
| 3 April/6 April 2026 | Tuesday 7April | Thursday 2 April |
| 4 May 2026 | Tuesday 5 May | Friday 1 May |
| 25 May 2026 | Tuesday 26 May | Friday 22 May |
| 31 August 2026 | Tuesday 1 September | Friday 28 August |
| 25/28 Dec 2026, 1 Jan 2027 | Tuesday 5 Jan 2027 | Thursday 24 Dec 2026 |
The office will be closed from Thursday 25 December 2025 and will reopen on Friday 2 January 2026. No PlusBus services run during this office closure.
Our standard return fare costs £8 on our PlusBus services. This pricing is reviewed annually. Most of our PlusBus services are cash only and we are unable to accept any card/contactless payments. On almost all services, we continue to accept the National Bus Pass. Simply present your valid bus pass to the driver each time you travel!
The National Bus Pass (or, more formally, the English national concessionary travel scheme) provides free local bus travel to eligible older people and eligible disabled people on bus services in England. In Dorset, it is administered by the Dorset Council – you can find out more and apply here. Carers can also get help with travel – see here for details.
We do not receive any direct subsidy for our PlusBus service – we provide it as part of our charitable objectives and public benefit to help improve transport opportunities to individuals within the community. Dorset Council supports the service by enabling the use of National Bus Passes and project funding to improve services and trial new routes.
Our services are as accessible as possible for people with mobility difficulties, however, most PlusBus journeys are operated with a non-wheelchair accessible, non-low floor vehicle. Passengers who use a wheelchair – or simply need more support to get out and about – should contact us to see how we might best meet your needs. Unfortunately, our vehicles are not configured to carry mobility scooters.
At the driver’s discretion, clean, well behaved dogs are carried with no charge – but please pre-book!
All fares are returns, even for single journeys
Please be advised that space is finite – if you are expecting to travel with walking aids, shopping trolleys or large items of shopping, please let us know.
