Universal – buses for everyone

The University of Cambridge – home to over 24,000 students and 10,000 members of staff – occupies a range of sites around the city, with 31 separate colleges and several large campuses, supporting departments and facilities.

The student population makes up around 20% of the city’s total population during term time.

While the city is relatively compact and flat, making it easy for some to walk or cycle between accommodation and the various University sites, there has long been a need for a bespoke bus network linking the key locations in the University’s estate.

Since 2006, the university has contracted a route to meet this need, as well as add to the provision of public transport across the city.

Whippet were proudly awarded the contract for this route in 2016, launching the universal brand and a series of improvements to the route that have seen passenger numbers grow more than three-fold.

The route was re-tendered in 2022, with an 8-year contract being awarded to Whippet from July 2023.

Since then, significant investment has led to continued patronage growth and customer satisfaction.