AW1 bus service hits record passenger numbers
- 15.01.2026
The AW1 bus service welcomed 50,000 passengers in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of sustainable transport options for Alconbury Weald residents, employees and visitors.
As part of its commitment to low carbon living, Urban&Civic – master developer for Alconbury Weald – worked in partnership with the local authority and Dews Coaches to launch the AW1 bus service in January 2022 to provide a sustainable transport connection to surrounding villages and Huntingdon.
Urban&Civic has made substantial investment in the bus service as well as incentives to encourage use, with passenger numbers growing steadily year on year. In its first year the service carried 16,650 passengers. This more than doubled in 2023, with 34,225 passengers recorded following a series of proactive initiatives designed to encourage use of the service.
This included free bus journeys during August and September 2023, to give residents and employees at the Enterprise Campus the opportunity to try the service during the summer holidays, whether for family outings or daily commutes. This resulted in a 20% increase in passenger numbers the following month, helping to embed new travel habits ahead of the post-holiday return to work.
In September 2024, further improvements were introduced following feedback from the development’s 2023 Travel Survey and residents’ forum. Working in collaboration with Dews, the AW1 and 904 timetables were amended to provide a bus every 30 minutes throughout the day. This extension represented a significant additional investment in the service and supported further growth, with passenger numbers reaching 42,760 in 2024: a 25% increase on the previous year.
The upward trend continued throughout 2025, with passenger numbers reaching 50,000 – trebling usage since the service’s first year.
To help support residents and employees resolved to save money and make more sustainable travel choices this year, Urban&Civic and Dews Coaches recently launched a new initiative that gives 10 free AW1 bus tickets to those living and working at Alconbury Weald. Applications are open until 31 March 2026.
“We’re really encouraged to see more people choosing the AW1 bus. It’s a vital service for the community and we’ve worked hard to promote it and adapt it based on feedback from residents and people working at the Enterprise Campus. Reaching 50,000 passengers last year shows the bus service is making a real difference and reflects the growing demand for low carbon travel options.”
The service operates using specially designed low carbon buses, with Dews Coaches investing in an additional new vehicle in summer 2025 to support the bus route and timetable extension.
“It’s great to see passenger numbers continuing to grow and we look forward to continuing to provide a reliable and sustainable service for the area. With the free bus ticket initiative to kickstart the new year, we’re anticipating a busy few months and look forward to welcoming existing and new travellers.”
Travel
In addition to the bus service, residents and employees based at Alconbury Weald can use App Bikes and join a car sharing scheme to find people doing the same trips as them, as well as accessing a range of additional active travel support.
