This webinar introduces the recently published DfT Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) best practice guidance and looks at the findings from the final process evaluation report from the Rural Mobility Fund DRT pilots.  

Aspects of the Bus Services Act will also be explored in a rural context including enhanced partnerships, socially necessary local services and franchising.  

Attendees will hear from the RMF project team, a local authority with DRT experience and DfT policy officials, as well as having an opportunity to ask questions. 

Chair: Stelios Rodoulis, MCIHT, Head of Bus Centre of Excellence 

• Event introduction (Stelios Rodoulis, BCoE) 

• Rural Mobility Fund process evaluation report (Kiron Chatterjee & Eda Beyazit, UWE) 

• The 2025 Act and implementation, facts and figures, next steps for LAs and how DfT can help (Stephen Fiddler, DfT) 

• DRT Best Practice Guidance (Rachel Glab & Nathan Cole, DfT) 

Break 

• Hertslynx Rural Mobility Fund scheme (Alice Missler, Hertfordshire County Council) 

• Rural Franchising and DRT (Paola Sammarco, DfT) 

• Socially necessary local services & Enhanced partnerships (Selene Wilson & David Tang, DfT) 

• Panel Discussion and Q&A:  

  • DfT Representative 

  • Alice Missler (HertsLynx) 

  • Sharon Payne (Transport East) 

  • Matt Stone (Worcestershire On Demand)

  • Stelios Rodoulis (BCoE - Moderator) 

• Sum up and close (Stelios Rodoulis, BCoE)