Portsmouth City Council is introducing Pompey Link, a shared, on-demand minibus service, which will be trialled for a 10-month period until the end of March 2026.
The service will be delivered by charity Community First and is made possible through funding from the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
Pompey Link will combine elements of both a bus service and a taxi ride in a way that has not been seen in Portsmouth before.
Passengers can book a trip on demand or up to four days in advance, by phone or app, and will be picked up from their nearest bus stop, including the former bus stop outside the Odeon in Port Solent.
Pompey Link will be a shared service, so the minibus may pick up and drop off other passengers on the way.
The service will be available from Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 7pm, excluding bank holidays.
READ MORE: Belper Community Transport begins on-demand transport service
Trips can be booked using the Book a Journey app, available to download from the Apple and Google Play stores, and most journeys start from £2.
For those who prefer to book over the phone, Community First’s customer service team is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.
Pompey Link vehicles are accessible for wheelchair users and passengers with folding pushchairs.
Babies can travel where parents or carers provide a car seat. Guide and service dogs are welcome on board.
Chief executive of Community First Tim Houghton said: “We are delighted to offer the Paulsgrove and Port Solent community a reliable, affordable and more flexible way to travel.
“This service allows people to book a journey when they need it, reducing the need for fixed routes and providing a more responsive, environmentally friendly transport solution.
“This new service will be a lifeline for passengers, especially in Port Solent, who might not have access to transport to get to social and health appointments as well as for essential shopping trips.”
Achievements in on-demand services will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
