IndieGo Plus On-Demand Bus Extended in Stratford District

The district council has extended its £120,000-a-year deal for the bookable minibus for 12 months after journeys rose 19%. How it works, what it costs and how to book.

By Alex Harrington 2 min read Source: Stratford-on-Avon District Council decision
A village bus stop by Snitterfield Road, Bearley, near Stratford-upon-Avon
Bus stop, Bearley. Photo: Robin Stott, CC BY-SA 2.0

IndieGo Plus, the on-demand minibus that links villages across Stratford district with Stratford-upon-Avon, will carry on for another 12 months after the district council agreed to extend its contract with Warwickshire County Council. The decision, dated Monday 26 October, comes after a 19% rise in journeys.

The bus completed 5,504 journeys between April and October this year, up from 4,636 in the same months of 2025, the decision says. The district council pays the county £120,000 a year for extra capacity on the service, and the extension depends on performance measures continuing to be met.

How IndieGo Plus works

IndieGo Plus has no fixed timetable. You book a seat through its app or by phone, choose your pick-up and drop-off points, and share the minibus with anyone heading the same way. A short walk may be needed at either end.

  • When it runs: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 7pm, with no service on most bank holidays.
  • Where it goes: from anywhere in Stratford district to and from Stratford-upon-Avon town. Journeys from the Southam area can only go to Leamington Spa or within the Southam area.
  • Cost: from £3 for a single, with discounts for children. Concessionary passes are accepted.
  • How to book: the free IndieGo Plus app, or 01926 742000 (8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), from two weeks ahead up to an hour before you travel. Seats are first come, first served.
  • Access: buses have ramps and bookable wheelchair spaces, and assistance dogs are welcome.

The county council still encourages people to use a regular bus where there is one, as it’s often quicker.

Why the service changed

IndieGo Plus replaced the old UBUS service in November 2024. UBUS was jointly commissioned, with the district council paying for the booking centre. Now the county alone commissions the service, in partnership with Liftango, and the district’s £120,000 tops up capacity to close to what UBUS offered.

The council’s Cabinet voted in October 2025 to keep the contract going until the end of the existing budget in 2028/29 and to keep checking how it performs. The contract allows up to three 12-month extensions. The councils and Liftango have been trying to raise passenger numbers by trialling set routes on certain days for well-used journeys, and grouping passengers together.

Coming into town by regular bus instead? Our Stratford bus times page shows departures from the main stops.

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Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.

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