A new on-demand bus service is set to be launched in East Suffolk to replace pioneering green public transport that had to be scrapped because of a lack of passengers.

The hope is the new service, which can be booked either by phone or by a new mobile app, will begin operating on April 11 after the Katch service, which linked East Suffolk towns to the railway, was axed by Suffolk County Council at Christmas.

The six-day-a-week buses, which used two battery-powered minibuses, were launched in the summer of 2021 and initially connected Framlingham and Wickham Market with the East Suffolk Line station at Campsea Ashe, before being extended to include Snape and Blaxhall.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Katch bus was a battery-powered minibusThe Katch bus was a battery-powered minibus (Image: Suffolk County Council)

But passengers stayed away. In June, just 185 people caught the Katch bus, while on average there were about 100 customers a week, fewer than 20 a day.

A number of agencies have worked together to develop the new service, including East Suffolk Council, Coastal Accessible Transport Services (CATS) and the Framlingham and Wickham Market Community Partnership.

The new demand responsive bus, which will run for an initial 12 month period, will cover a similar route to Katch, including Wickham Market, Framlingham, Campsea Ashe and Snape, but with additional stops in Hacheston and Parham.

East Anglian Daily Times: East Suffolk councillor Maurice Cook said the new service would help to address rural transport challengesEast Suffolk councillor Maurice Cook said the new service would help to address rural transport challenges (Image: East Suffolk Council)

However, East Suffolk councillor Maurice Cook, who represents Framlingham, said the contract for the bus would be extended if enough people used the service.

He said the Katch name and corporate branding would be retained for the new bus, but it would be made clear that it was an East Suffolk Council service.

Students will be able to receive a discount off fares and there will be provision for at least one wheelchair passenger.

"Our aim is to build a successful, convenient and sustainable service in partnership with CATS for the benefit of our residents.

"We believe that this service, together with similar schemes in other parts of the district, will help to address the rural transport challenges of the area, " Mr Cook said.