Shrewsbury Night Bus Trial
It was great riding with you!
The Shrewsbury Night Bus trial has now ended
November 2024 - March 2026
Whether it was a night out or a night shift, we made getting home in Shrewsbury easier and safer with our Night Bus trial.
Originally trialled in Nov-Dec 2025, the Night Bus Trial was extended to run through Jan-Mar 2026, thanks to funding from West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s Community Fund.
From Wednesday to Saturday until midnight, it connected the town centre with key residential areas across Shrewsbury:
N11 – Bicton Heath
N25 – Harlescott
N27 – Bayston Hill
3000 passenger journeys, zero safety incidents on board, and 70% of passengers surveyed rated your Night Bus experience ‘Excellent’. 90% of you told us you’d continue to use a Night Bus service if it ran all year round.
We still want to hear from you. Have you had your say?
What’s next?
Partners are now analysing usage data, passenger feedback and route performance to understand where demand is strongest and what future provision could look like – whether through a further trial, an expanded trial, or integration into longer-term transport planning for the town.
Councillor Rob Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Economic Growth at Shropshire Council, said:
“This trial has given us something we didn’t have before, which is real evidence of how people might use public transport in Shrewsbury after dark, and where the demand is. That’s valuable for any future decisions on public transport in the town.
“The fact that thousands of people chose to use the service – many of them repeatedly, and many taking the time to give us great feedback – tells us there’s genuine demand for good public transport solutions, and we are committed to working to achieve that within available budgets.”
More info on the trial
The Night Bus was delivered by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, led by Shrewsbury BID and operated by Arriva, with support from the Shrewsbury Transport Integration Group (STIG), chaired by Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley.
The service was delivered in direct response to local calls for better late-night transport, particularly for hospitality workers, young people, and those returning from evening events.
By offering a safe, dependable and low-cost way to get home, the Night Bus aimed to:
Increase safety in key areas such as riverside paths
Reduce long walks home
Support staff working late
Encourage visitors to stay longer in town
Improve public transport options during peak evening hours
