End of the road for 745 Pontesbury to Ludlow bus service
The 745 bus service, which operates between Pontesbury, Bishop’s Castle, Clun and Ludlow and is run by Minsterley Motors, is to be withdrawn from the end of August.
The service currently operates on Mondays and Fridays and has been supported by Shropshire Council since the Covid-19 pandemic using UK Government revenue funding.
However, rising operating costs and very low passenger numbers, averaging around 17 passengers per day, have made the service increasingly difficult to sustain.
A Minsterley Motors spokesperson said: "We have kept the service running for as long as possible in partnership with the Council, in recognition of its importance to the rural communities it serves. However, the significant rise in operating costs means that, without continued financial support, the route cannot be sustained.
"Shropshire Council has decided not to continue funding the service or to operate the route directly as a council-controlled service. As a result, Minsterley Motors is no longer able to continue operating the 745, as it is not financially viable without support.
"We fully understand the importance of this route to local residents and the impact its withdrawal will have. This is not an outcome we had hoped for, and we recognise the concern and frustration it will cause.
"We would like to thank Shropshire Council for the support provided in recent years, which has helped maintain the service for longer than would otherwise have been possible, and we also thank all passengers who have continued to use and support the 745.
"The final day of operation for the 745 service will be Friday, 28 August 2026."
Shropshire Council says it has explored options to continue the service, including fully contracting the route, but the cost of doing so is not considered affordable or proportionate in the context of wider pressures across the local bus network.
Recent analysis shows that the level of subsidy required to maintain the route has risen to around £25 per passenger per day.
The council is now working with community transport providers to identify alternative options that may help to meet local travel needs in a more flexible and cost-effective way.
Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said:
“We recognise that this service has provided an important link for some of our rural communities, and we do not take this decision lightly.
“However, the cost of maintaining the service has increased significantly while passenger numbers remain very low, meaning it is no longer sustainable to continue funding it in its current form at over £60 per passenger per journey.
“Our focus now is on working with community transport providers to explore more flexible and cost effective alternatives that can better meet the needs of local residents.
“At the same time, we are having to deal with increasing costs alongside reduced funding, which means the council must work harder to deliver the best possible transport network with the resources available.”
Shropshire Council is currently in the process of retendering local bus services across the county for implementation later in 2026. In the last financial year, the council had £3.07 million available to support and improve the bus network. This has been reduced to £2.86 million for this year and is expected to remain at this level in the short term.
