Shuttle bus

[[File:Skybus number 65 (5177AO) Scania in Wurundjeri Way, 2013.JPG|thumb|SkyBus service operating in Central Melbourne.]]

A '''shuttle bus''' is a bus that travels a shorter route in comparison to most bus routes. Typically, shuttle buses travel in both directions between two points. Shuttle buses are designed to transport large groups of people who are all travelling to and from a specific destination in a more organised manner. Shuttle buses can be used for several applications, such as transporting university students or transporting people from airports to hotels.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Online TDM Encyclopedia – Shuttle Services |url=https://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm39.htm |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=www.vtpi.org}}</ref>

== Types of shuttle buses==

=== Airport bus=== {{Main Article|Airport bus}}

'''Airport buses''', also known as '''airport shuttles''', and '''airport shuttle buses''', are buses that take passengers to and from an airport, usually connecting to a city centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport bus definition |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/airport-bus |website=Collins Dictionaries |publisher=Collins |access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref> These buses mainly travel to major transit hubs; however, they may also travel directly to major hotels around the city. Buses that travel directly between an airport and a hotel are often called '''hotel shuttles'''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DeMoss |first1=David |title=The Risky Business of Providing Hotel Shuttles — LODGING |url=https://lodgingmagazine.com/the-risky-business-of-hotel-shuttles/ |website=Lodging Magazine |access-date=14 February 2025 |date=19 November 2019}}</ref>

=== University shuttles=== '''University shuttles''' are buses that travel within the campus area, or may serve major transport hubs and railway stations. University shuttles operate within larger campuses that may not allow public road access. These shuttles cut down transportation times between two ends of the campus and allow students to travel safely during the night through dark places. University shuttles also tend to operate before or after regular operational hours for regular bus services.<ref name=":0" />

=== Rail replacement buses=== {{Main Article|Rail replacement bus service}}

Rail replacement buses are buses that operate when a particular train line is not operating. These services are run by the railway company and often serve a number of stations along the railway line.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 November 2016 |title=Where do train replacement buses come from? |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-15/where-do-train-replacement-buses-come-from/8018532 |access-date=2022-12-14}}</ref>

=== Employee shuttles=== Employee shuttles are buses used to transport employees between their homes and workplaces. These shuttles may also be used to transport people within workplaces. These employee shuttles provide benefits such as easing the daily commutes of workers.<ref name="Fernandes">{{Cite web |last=Fernandes |first=Rui Stoffel |title=Council Post: Are Shuttle Commuting Programs The Secret To Getting Employees Back To The Office? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/02/24/are-shuttle-commuting-programs-the-secret-to-getting-employees-back-to-the-office/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> During the end of COVID-19, many people were accustomed to working at home, as a result many companies began to use employee shuttles as a tool to bring people back into the workplace.<ref name="Fernandes" />

=== Community transport=== {{Main Article|Paratransit}}

Community transport (British English) or paratransit (North American English) are shuttle buses designed to transport those with disabilities and other people who are struggling to get around. Community transit is often designed to be accessible for those in wheelchairs by offering additional features that may not always be present on regular buses. These extra features include special equipment, ramps, and additional wheelchair areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liftango {{!}} What is Paratransit? Understanding its Funding and Challenges |url=https://www.liftango.com/resources/what-is-paratransit |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=www.liftango.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Door-to-Gate and Door-to-Door shuttles ===

'''Door-to-Gate''' and '''Door-to-Door''' shuttle services provide flexible airport transfers by collecting passengers directly from private residences, hotels, or other designated addresses and transporting them to airport terminals. This model differs from standard airport shuttles, which typically operate fixed routes between transit hubs and airports.

In Europe, services like Shuttle Direct and Ziptransfers operate similar pre-booked door-to-door transfer services, targeting both airport routes and tourist destinations. These platforms partner with local transport providers to offer flexible private or shared rides.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shuttle Direct Airport Transfers |url=https://www.shuttledirect.com |access-date=16 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ziptransfers: Airport Transfers |url=https://www.ziptransfers.com |access-date=16 July 2025}}</ref>

These services are especially useful in regions with limited public transport access to the airport and are often recommended by airports themselves or integrated into their mobility platforms.

== Shuttle buses around the world==

=== Australia=== Shuttle buses in Australia are used to connect airports to city centres: for instance Melbourne's Skybus connects Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's central business district. The Kinetic Group subsidiary operates airport shuttles in several other cities across Australia, such as Hobart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SKYBUS PARENT RELAUNCHES AS 'KINETIC' |url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1908/skybus-parent-relaunches-as-kinetic |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=BusNews.com.au |date=8 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinetic continues transport investments in Tasmania with new depot |url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2212/kinetic-continues-transport-investments-in-tasmania-with-new-depot |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=BusNews.com.au |date=13 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Shuttle buses are also used to transport students from transport hubs (such as train stations or bus stations) to their universities.

=== Belgium=== alt=Flibco Shuttle buses in Europe|thumb|'''Flibco Shuttle buses in Europe''' At Brussels Airport, long-distance coach services operate directly from the terminal forecourt, including shuttle lines to and from the Netherlands and Luxembourg.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus – Brussels Airport Official |url=https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/passengers/access-parking/bus |access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref>

=== Italy === At Milan Bergamo Airport, official airport buses connect passengers with Milan Centrale station and surrounding cities, with shuttle operators departing from the arrivals level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus – Milan Bergamo Airport Official |url=https://www.milanbergamoairport.it/en/bus/ |access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref>

=== Ukraine === In Kyiv, Ukraine, there is a short, temporary shuttle bus route connecting the Lybidska station and the Demiivska station to the Teremky station. The bus was launched due to the flood between the stations. As of 2022, commercial air traffic in Ukraine has been suspended due to martial law and ongoing military conflict. Consequently, services that typically connect airports with city centres, including shuttle bus operations, have been discontinued or significantly reduced.

=== United Kingdom=== In the UK, shuttle buses operate at airports as well as serving as a connection between universities and local areas. One example of this is the Hotel Hoppa service that travels from Heathrow Airport to several nearby hotels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hotel-buses {{!}} Heathrow |url=https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-coach-or-bus/hotel-buses |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Heathrow Airport |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the UK, there are also many shuttle buses that serve the city centre and their nearby area campuses. For example, Oxford Bus Company operates the science transit shuttle: there are two routes which connect the city centre and the railway station with various destinations used by science students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Science Transit Shuttle |url=https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/science-transit-shuttle |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=www.oxfordbus.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

=== United States=== In the US, shuttle buses transport users from airports and city centres. One of the most used of these is the FlyAway bus service in Los Angeles connecting Union Station and Los Angeles International Airport.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen and Tulum Route: Schedules, Stops & Maps – Riviera Maya (Updated) |url=https://moovitapp.com/cancun-6089/poi/Playa%20Del%20Carmen/Cancun%20Airport%20Shuttle |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=moovitapp.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{commonscat-inline}} Category:Buses by type