Stagecoach Yorkshire has unveiled a £1.9m fleet of next-generation buses for South Yorkshire.
The 14 ADL Enviro200 MMC single-decker buses will operate on Stagecoach’s popular Townlines 11 and 22X routes and feature WiFi and dedicated branding.
Stagecoach officially launched the vehicles at a special event at Barnsley FC’s Oakwell Stadium, which was attended by VIPs including the Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr Brian Mathers.
The new generation Euro 6 model carries five more passengers than the original Enviro200 and is 200kg lighter making it more fuel efficient. It also has an advanced electrical system and suspension for improved reliability and passenger comfort.
Paul Lynch, Managing Director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “The new buses are operating on two busy and important routes in South Yorkshire. The 11 is one of the first routes we improved when we took over from Yorkshire Traction and it now carries 20% more passengers than it did 10 years ago.
“The 22X is a newer and bigger route. It’s an important spine service for Stagecoach serving lots of important places and employment hubs, such as Manvers, and more than a million passengers each year so we are proud to be improving this route.”
Stagecoach’s Townlines 11 carries more than 500,000 passengers every year. It runs between Barnsley town centre and Athersley North every 10 minutes from Monday to Saturday in the daytime and every 30 minutes in the evenings and Sunday daytime.
Carrying more than 1.25million passengers annually, the 22X operates between Barnsley, Wombwell, Wath, Manvers, Parkgate and Rotherham every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday in the daytime and every 60 minutes in the evenings and Sunday daytime.
The Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr Brian Mathers, said: “I’m delighted to join Stagecoach for the launch of these new buses. When I think back to what the bus network was like before Stagecoach and what it’s like now, it’s great.
“The new buses look smart, they are light and airy and can be accessed by those with limited mobility. The 22X is a popular route serving major employers and commuters and for a long time we’ve campaigned for better buses in the Dearne Valley so it’s fantastic to have these services which improve access to employment and leisure activities for passengers.”
Paul added: “We like to innovate and investment is key to our success. In 10 years, we have introduced more than 300 new buses and the average age of our fleet is just seven years in Barnsley and six and a half in Rotherham, compared to the industry average of eight years. The cost of our Dayrider ticket hasn’t changed in nine years.
“Out of all the large operators, Stagecoach has the best track record for investment, low fares and customer service.”
For more information visit www.stagecoachbus.com/yorkshire or follow @stagecoachyrks on Twitter.
