Kinchbus and trentbarton are to spend £5m in 2017 on 28 new buses and on upgrades – their biggest ever investment in a single year. Services to enjoy the new vehicles include the popular skylink routes connecting Leicester and Loughborough with East Midlands Airport.
Alex Kerr, general manager at Kinchbus, 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.”
On their way from EvoBus are three new Citaro buses by Mercedes-Benz, which will run on the skylink Derby service linking East Midlands Airport with Loughborough and Leicester.
The order book also includes Enviro200 models from Alexander Dennis (ADL), nine of which will appear from September on the skylink Nottingham route – a key travel to work route for people from Castle Donington, Kegworth, Shepshed and Coalville.
The Enviro200 is light, fuel efficient and features an improved suspension for a smoother ride. They have LED lighting, visual and audio next-stop announcements, plus free superfast Wi-Fi and USB power at every seat so customers can stay connected.
Alex said: “skylink has really taken off in past few years as more and more people use it for work, play and to jet off on their holidays. This latest investment signals our commitment to continue to improve these routes and offer customers a new level of comfort when travelling with skylink.
Jack Kelly, Head of External Affairs East Midlands Airport said: “We are delighted that Kinchbus and trentbarton are investing in improvements to these already popular bus services, which provide reliable transport for customers and staff.
“As the airport becomes busier and we fulfil our growth aspirations, a robust transport network to and from the airport is a key priority for us, so this investment and the commitment shown is extremely encouraging.”
ADL is building the new buses at its Scarborough factory, which also assembled the 22 new buses delivered to trentbarton last year.