Local Link, Demand Responsive Transport

RCT runs a door-to-door service from the Milkstone and Deeplish area. To use the service passengers have to register their details at the call centre for the first time. Passengers can then ring up to one hour before travelling and book their journey. Currently they can travel anywhere within the boundary or to the Rochdale bus station, train station, ASDA, TESCO and Sandbrook Park. There is a small fare and passengers qualifying for concessionary fares pay a reduced rate. The service runs Monday to Saturday 8am to 5:30pm

The service is used by various members for food shopping, entertainment, socialising with friends, going to work or simply connecting onto other public transport from the bus or train stations.

RCT understand the value of bringing people out of social exclusion by transporting them to essential activities of daily life that so many of us take for granted such as food shopping and access to health and entertainment activities.

The Local Link service started in September 2006 and in the first year we have had 5,233 passenger trips. Though statistics can be gathered, reports written and fares collected, the value of someone like Ms Joyce Stead doing her weekly food shopping is invaluable and immeasurable.