Nuclear station contract award

‘Somerset Passenger Solutions’, a 50/50 joint venture between FirstBus and Crosville Motor Services, has won a contract from EDF Energy to provide bus services to the proposed Hinkley Point C power station. The venture plans to operate high frequency services to Hinkley Point from dedicated park and ride sites, staff campus accommodation and from surrounding towns and villages. The joint venture will also provide internal site shuttles and transport for visitors from airports, railway stations and hotels. The operators said they expect to operate up to 160 brand new, high specification, environmentally friendly buses. They will require around 300 dedicated staff to manage the anticipated 10,000 plus daily passenger journeys.

Crosville first engaged with EDF Energy more than five years ago and were awarded interim contract status in 2014. The operator invited First to form a joint venture in June 2014 in response to the release of the scope of the main contract. Somerset Passenger Solutions will submit the finalised bid shortly. Work on the main contract will be subject to the signing of contracts and a final investment decision on the project by EDF Energy. The French company estimates around 25,000 job opportunities are to be created during the construction of the new power station and at peak construction expect around 5,600 staff to travel to and from the site every day.

MD of First Bus in the South West, Alex Carter, said, ‘I’m pleased that with our partners Crosville, we’ve achieved preferred bidder status. The contract will help secure jobs and is great news for our business and the wider community. We will be submitting an innovative and exciting final bid and look forward to finalising the contract.’

Chairman of Crosville Motor Services, Jonathan Jones Pratt, said, ‘This is great news for our company and for this region of the UK, especially given the training legacy that we will bring to the table. Our joint venture brings together unique skills and experience and I’m delighted that our partnership and the good work we’re doing in providing bus services to the site under the current interim contract, has been recognised.’

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