Replacement for the W8 bus service confirmed
Buses and transport25 July 2024

Following conversations by North Northamptonshire Council, from Monday 29 July an expansion to the Village Hopper service, VH1, will be run by Cogenhoe & Whiston Parish Council to replace the W8 bus service.
Passengers will be able to travel directly from Wollaston, Bozeat, Easton Maudit, Grendon, Cogenhoe, Brafield, the Houghtons to Northampton, Wellingborough, Weston Favell, Stanwick Lakes and Rushden Lakes.
The minibus will run like a regular bus service with a set timetable with journeys between 7:30am and 6pm several times a day from Monday to Saturday to help residents travel to work, college, the shops and Northampton General Hospital.
As well as the purchase of tickets on the bus and the acceptance of any valid concessionary bus passes, the VH1 will also be part of the previous government’s scheme that will see a maximum fare on bus services of £2 until the end of December 2024.
With new funding from the council, we have been able to help this community initiative establish new links and provide a replacement for the W8 service.Cllr Matt Binley, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets
As well as connecting residents with work, school and the shops, the service will also be able to support visitors to the area who can use the VH1 to access the Nene Way and Stanwick Lakes.
Residents can view the new timetable on the council website, and I would like to personally thank Cogenhoe and Whiston Parish Council for working with us to ensure this service could run - this really shows and highlights the importance of partnership working to benefit communities.
As a council, we are very aware of how important bus services are to communities and since we became aware that the previous contractor had given notice on running the route, we have been working hard to find a solution.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council
I am delighted that residents who previously used the W8 will be able to use a new service from Monday, with no interruption to service.
We understand the huge importance of rural bus services to our residents and have worked hard to maintain a reliable service through the Village Hopper for the last 6 years. We know this service is a lifeline for many of our residents and we are delighted to have been able to work with North Northamptonshire Council (& with the ongoing support of West Northamptonshire Council & The UK Shared Prosperity Fund) to enhance our service. We look forward to continuing to welcome our existing loyal passengers and many new ones in the months to come.Chair of Cogenhoe and Whiston Parish Council Jon Bailey
With Cogenhoe & Whiston Parish Council expanding their existing route, this brings cost savings to the council and the savings will now be utilised to fund other bus services across North Northants.
The Village Hopper timetable is available online on the Cogenhoe and Whiston Parish Council website.
Residents can find links to bus operator timetables on the NNC website, including the Village Hopper and some continuing Stagecoach journeys on service W8 at Monday to Friday peak times, with times suitable for school children. The new timetable for the VH1 will come in from Monday 29 July.