A fleet of new double-deckers is being introduced onto Stagecoach’s long running south coast service 700
Stagecoach has started to introduce a fleet of 22 new low-emission buses on its busy Coastliner 700 that connects towns such as Portsmouth, Chichester and Littlehampton along the Hampshire and West Sussex coast, an investment that represents the largest fleet of new vehicles introduced by the company since the pandemic.
The £5.3m investment follows a recent enhancement to the Coastliner 700 timetable, which sees buses between Chichester and Bognor Regis up to running every 10 minutes, with buses every 20 minutes between Portsmouth, Chichester, Yapton and Littlehampton. Gordon Frost, Interim Managing Director for Stagecoach South, said: “We are delighted to be launching these 22 new low emission vehicles which represent a significant investment in our services for the local community. It’s great to see more people choosing sustainable travel to help our local environment. We hope the new buses and improved timetable make the decision even easier, whether you’re off to work or out with friends.
New 500 service launched
In addition to the new double deckers for the 700, Stagecoach South launched its new 500 on Sunday 2 July, connecting Chichester and Littlehampton via Fontwell, Westergate, Barnham and Yapton. The new route has been made possible with funding from West Sussex County Council and the Government’s Bus Back Better strategy, and runs every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays.
Commercial Director James O’Neill said: “We’re really excited to announce this new service in partnership with the County Council. With the current cost of living, we know many people think carefully about how and when they travel. The bus offers fantastic new opportunities for village residents, whether for shopping, work or leisure”
