FIT grantee Hope Valley Climate Action has published detailed plans for “Mini Switzerland” – a national transport demonstrator for the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park.
The new report sets out a fully worked-up blueprint for creating a Swiss-style integrated public transport network in the Peak District, where hourly buses and trains are carefully timed to connect, tickets work across all modes, and the whole system operates as one joined-up network.
The project represents an opportunity for the East Midlands to demonstrate national leadership in rural mobility, by hosting the UK’s first real-world demonstrator of fully integrated bus and rail services outside of a major city.
Unlike many transport schemes, Mini Switzerland does not depend on new railways or large-scale construction. Instead, it focuses on better coordination of enhanced services, supported by modest infrastructure improvements, clear information and simple, integrated ticketing.
The proposals for the Hope Valley set out by the report include:
- Regular, easy-to-remember hourly bus services
- Guaranteed connections between buses and trains
- Simpler tickets that work across operators
- Better access to jobs, education and healthcare
- A realistic alternative to driving for visitors to the Peak District
If successful, the demonstrator will provide real-world evidence on how integrated networks grow ridership, improve value for money and reduce car dependency in rural areas.
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