National Express West Midlands (NXWM) and Centro have announced the timetable for the region’s record £34m investment in new buses, with the first of the new buses due to hit the streets next month.
On average a new vehicle will arrive every day between March and August.
As reported in CBW1166, the investment includes 171 new buses, including 58 high-specification ‘Platinum’ vehicles. The Platinum vehicles will all be Enviro400s, while the remaining 113 vehicles will be a mixture of single and double-decker ADL buses.
NXWM confirmed that the first of the new buses would be on the road in March, that July would see the most new vehicles arrive, with 38 buses arriving in a month, and that it will have taken delivery of all 171 buses by September. The Platinum buses will be the last to arrive and are expected to go into operation during the summer.
Speaking about the investment, Peter Coates, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands said: “The new buses arriving over the next few months will ensure hundreds of thousands of our customers will have smoother, cleaner and more enjoyable journeys. The buses, which are all built in Britain, will have more comfortable seats, better lighting and crystal clear CCTV.
“Our customers regularly tell us newer buses make for a better journey and that is why we have invested a record amount in new vehicles.”
Centro Chairman, Cllr John McNicholas, added: “The arrival of these new buses is great news for passengers across the West Midlands, offering improved levels of comfort and service.”
