£34m new bus deliveries start February

National Express West Midlands and Centro (West Midland’s transport authority) have announced the timetable for the region’s record £34m investment in new buses. The first of the new buses is to enter service in March. The investment will see 171 new British built buses hit the region’s roads this year. These will have a distinctive livery in a two-tone maroon with complementary cream lines. The spend includes 58 vehicles for the proposed Platinum premium service, which are to have drivers in suits and are to benefit from new shelters with real time information and bus priority measures.

On average, a new bus will be hitting the region’s streets every day between March and August. National Express West Midlands expects July to see the most new vehicles arrive, with 38 buses entering the depot. It will have taken delivery of all 171 buses by September. The Platinum buses will be the last to arrive and will go into operation during the summer. The investment is helping realise the Transforming Bus Travel pledge to deliver 300 new buses over a two year period. This agreement was signed in 2013 and it aims to deliver over £83m of investment for West Midlands bus passengers.