In recent weeks regular users of Enniskillen’s town bus service 397a have been subjected to “on the spot questioning” by Jim Ledwith as part of his ethnographical, people and place research into north Enniskillen.

The sight of Jim hopping on and off the bus at several bus stops at least six times each day, making himself known to regular and not so regular users is aimed at gaining an in depth insight as to what reasons people use the service and how they value it .

Some fifty five years ago in 1972, the town bus service started and concentrated on the Cornagrade, Kilmacormick and Hillview estates but now the 397 A bus incorporates the 15-year-old estates of Drumbawn, Drumbeg and, crucially, the new SWAH hospital.

According to Jim, the service is a lifeline for social contact for the elderly with several of those using the service in their late 80s.

“What is surprising is that rural people travel into Enniskillen and, in turn, travel on the 397a service to get out to appointments at the hospital or to meet up with rural relatives living in the estates, so it’s not an exclusive service for the townies,” explains Jim.

He adds: “The topography of north Enniskillen especially Cornagrade and Hillview means that elderly people and not so old people with physical impairments who I have interviewed literally cannot climb those hills easily. It’s a choice of taxi at a cost of £4 or the much cheaper 397 A bus.

“Even the smaller size of bus now used for the town service enables elderly people to get onto the bus easier than the previously used big buses.

“The smaller bus is also easier for the bus drivers to negotiate their way through the sprawling housing estates with more cars parked than ever before.”

Most people use the bus for the handiness of shopping to get back up from the town centre with their bags, says Jim.

He explains: “Many of the elderly combine the attendance of daily Mass with shopping and it is interesting to see the ritual of elderly people casually blessing themselves as the town bus passes the Johnstons bridge roundabout en route for the estates.

“What stands out in all the conversations is the significant amount of people especially women who are without a car or do not drive and how many single people and widowed in particular are totally dependent on the bus for getting out of the house. Several bus users have confided that they use the bus to meet up with others down the town, for a chat and for a coffee. Friendships have even come from meeting others on the bus and people watch out for each other when they do not appear on the bus for a number of days.

“There is also a bond with the bus drivers, particularly Micky Howe who is affectionately described as a ‘civil divil’ and Phelim Timoney who makes sure that the elderly do not miss their ‘getting off’ stop as it leaves them disorientated.”

One of the regular users is 84-year-old Dermot O’Hagan from Kilmacormick who has been using the bus service for over twenty years and his presence on the bus seems to be like a permanent fixture with his friendly smile a greeting for all getting on board.

For foreign residents who use the bus to get out to hospital for work, the amazing thing is for them is that the town service is not used more widely.

In fact, one doctor claims she researched the timetables of the town bus service before she actually took up her post at the hospital.

“It saves all the trouble of parking,” she revealed.

One bus driver compared his bus run to the United Nations when the new hospital opened, such was the mix of people from different countries using the service.

People are fully aware of all the special rates and discounts on offer from Translink such as the bus pass for over 60s, the weekly smart pass, disability discounts and summer discounts for school goers.

This has helped people to continue to identify and use the service.

For single parents the bus service is a godsend and often the 397 A bus would witness single parents meeting up with the mother who would get onto the bus at another bus stop in an adjoining estate to enable a family trip down town.

For Jim, the experience of researching has opened his eyes as to the vital role of the town service.

“Its social value is immeasurable for the elderly and those with many, varied forms of physical disability. They all certainly do not take it for granted.

"The island town is totally congested without a bypass but at least the town bus service alleviates this and is used, without a shadow of doubt, by those who do need it most. I cannot praise the 397 A service highly enough as a public service – it ticks all the boxes,” concluded Jim.