- 8 brand new state of the art, stylish buses, go into service in the Potteries today
- The new buses will run on services 21 from Hanley to Trentham and 23 from Hanley to Blurton / Newstead via the rail station and Staffs University
- The new buses have Euro 6 engines that produce up to eight times less Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions than Euro 5 and will positively impact on air quality in the local area
- All buses are fitted with free Wi-Fi, luxurious e/leather seating, CCTV and a modern design with a dedicated space for a wheelchair and extra space for pushchairs
First Potteries, the largest bus operator in the area, has invested a further £1.3m in 8 brand new state of the art single deck buses that are going into service today on services, 21 and 23, to further improve bus provision across the Potteries area.
The buses are both sleek and stylish and have been supplied by Alexander Dennis Limited in Scarborough. They all come fitted with luxury e/leather seating, CCTV and Wi-Fi providing customers with free internet access during their journey. In addition to the dedicated space for wheelchair users, extra space is also provided for pushchairs.
First Potteries also revealed, that all new buses will be fitted with Euro 6 engines, a strong commitment to improving air quality around Hanley and the local towns visited on route. Test results show that running eight Euro 6 buses produces the same amount of certain exhaust emissions, including nitrogen Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM), as running one bus with a Euro 5 engine*. The new vehicles will have a positive impact on air quality.
The new buses will run on the following services:
Service 21/21A runs from Hanley to the Trentham estate via the Rail Station, Staffs University, Stoke, Oakhill, Trent Vale, Hanford, Hern Heath.
Service 23/23A runs from Hanley to Blurton / Newstead via the Rail Station, Staffs University, Stoke, Fenton, Heron Cross.
With journey times of around 7 minutes to the rail station and Staffs University and only 35 minutes to Newstead and 40 minutes to Trentham throughout the main day, services 21/23 provide customers with a direct, fast, reliable and great value alternative to using the car.
Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director of First Potteries said: “Our latest investment is great news for customers, I am sure our new buses will be very well received and will improve the journey experience for everyone that travels on them. The new buses will be among the best and most eco-friendly in the Potteries”.
“I am pleased to be announcing this investment which shows our continued commitment to improving bus travel in and around the Potteries area”.
*Tests by First’s manufacturing partners compared emissions from buses with a Euro 6 engine against buses with a Euro 5 engine. The results showed:
- a 99% reduction in Carbon Monoxide emissions
- an 87% reduction in Oxides of Nitrogen emissions
- an 87% reduction in Particulate Matter emissions.