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The Robin - Status Report 1 January to 30 November 2024

Summary: Progress and Highlights

Much of the feedback from all Robin areas is positive, with both residents and visitors using the service, complimenting drivers and the existence of the service.

Robin Project element: Call Centre (all Robin areas)

Outcomes from training days between Padam and LDAR, and user feedback, show that the new provision of the phone line is an advantage to (i) GCC as the owner and accountable for The Robin, and (ii) provides an improved service to Robin users. 

• Since 10 January, the Robin Call Centre contract has been provided by Lydney Dial a Ride.
  There are small improvements that we can always find and introduce – the dialogue encouraged by the Call Centre is an invaluable source of feedback. The mobile phone App is used for most bookings but the Call Centre plays an important role in bookings as well.

Operator: Lydney Dial A Ride - Robin area/territory: South Forest Of Dean

Service usage remains high. The passenger numbers for South Forest from August to November are a record high. From November 4th, the new South Forest Robin contract started (2024 to May 2026), increasing the operating capacity by 33%.

Operator: Pulhams Coaches - Robin area/territory: North Cotswold (area with one vehicle in operation (7am to 7pm), other areas have two)

In March, a marketing campaign was launched, with a press release and new advertising campaign lead to an increase in use. The monthly average before March 24 was 265 passengers, whereas the monthly average March’24 to October’2024 was 535. 

 The new North Cotswold Robin contract started in October’24 and will run to May’26. This aligns all  Robin contracts to May 2026. The mobile phone App is used for almost all bookings in this area. 

Operator: Community Connexions - Robin area/territory: Tewkesbury District (3 June), South Cotswold (10 June) and Berkeley Vale (17 June)

• In June 2024, three new Robin contracts started on the road, meaning that The Robin now covers most of the rural communities of Gloucestershire. Start dates are above which affect number of June service-days (RE graph below).
• There was an initial delay in completing driver-software training. GCC can apply the lessons learned from this to future developments, whether regarding The Robin or comparable software training.
• From passenger feedback there are specific compliments to drivers for their manner, including from repeat customers, and in general a grateful response to The Robin servicing these large, rural areas.
• As seen from increasing monthly number of completed journeys, it is clear that The Robin is becoming integrated into society in these locations.

Approximate size of Robin territory/area

Area	KM²	Miles²
North Cotswolds	574	358.75
South Cotswolds	766	478.75
Berkeley Vale	241	150.63
South Forest of Dean	414	258.75
Tewkesbury District	354	221.25

Summary statistics 

Number of passenger journeys per month

Number of people that travelled, as unique journeys (singles)

Totals in graph for November

• Green - South area in the Forest of Dean: 1,069
• Orange - North Cotswolds: 470
• Blue - Tewkesbury District: 570
• Purple - South Cotswolds: 671
• Pink - Berkeley Vale: 654