company has seen patronage increase in contrast with the national trend
Largest single year fleet investment includes 25 ADL Enviro200s, a trio of Mercedes-Benz Citaros and a number of vehicle refurbishments
Trent Barton is to spend £5m in 2017 on 28 new buses and on upgrades, representing the operator’s biggest ever investment in a single year.
The new vehicles are expected to be deployed from July and will be put to work serving customers on the Skylink Derby and Skylink Nottingham airport links, along with the Rushcliffe Mainline and the Allestree routes.
In addition, newly refurbished buses will enter service on the Cotgrave Connection and the Keyworth Connection services.
Jeff Counsell, Managing Director of Trent Barton, said: “This year, we are making a massive investment in our vehicles to keep our customers delighted and to attract even more people to get on our buses.
“We’re keen to play our part in reducing carbon emissions in the communities we serve, and these buses are some of the greenest diesel vehicles that money can buy.”
The order book includes 25 Enviro200 single-deckers from Alexander Dennis (ADL). The buses are specified with glazed skylights, LED lighting, visual and audio next-stop announcements, free superfast WiFi and USB power at every seat.
The remaining three vehicles will be Mercedes-Benz Citaro single-deckers from EvoBus, which will run on the skylink Derby service linking East Midlands Airport with Derby, Loughborough and Leicester.
Skylink Nottingham will see its 11 new ADL buses from September. The service connects Long Eaton, Castle Donington, Shepshed and Coalville as well as those flying to and from East Midlands Airport.
Rushcliffe mainline will see nine of the new ADL buses from July, while the Allestree will welcome five later in the year.
Jeff added: “In Trent Barton land we are bucking the national trend by increasing use of buses by the public.
“By investing millions every year we ensure travelling by our buses is an experience people enjoy as an excellent, great value way to get about.”
Richard Matthews, Sales Director at ADL, said: “It’s a great privilege for ADL to partner with a pioneering and innovative company like Trent Barton.
“Trent Barton is renowned for its unwavering customer-centric approach and outstanding attention to detail – the new fleet of 25 Enviro200 vehicles is testament to this.”
