| The number of bus passengers travelling on Nottingham City Transport's network has risen to 50.1 million, following 3.5% growth in bus patronage in the last 12 months.
The 50 millionth journey was made by Easyrider City smart card holder Leanne Walters, 19, of Arnold as she boarded Lime Go2 service 58 on Homefield Avenue , Arnold to go to college last week.
When contacted by NCT, Leanne Walters said “I travel on the 58 all the time, to go to college and into town with my mates and I was really surprised when NCT rang me and congratulated me on being the 50 millionth passenger to use their bus services.”
Service 58 between Killisick, Arnold Town Centre, Sherwood and the City Centre operates as part of NCT's Go2 network of fast, frequent and direct services with a Monday to Saturday daytime frequency of every 10 minutes or better and a Sunday daytime service that has recently increased to every 20 minutes. On Friday and Saturday nights, Go2 Night service N58 provides late night buses from City to Arnold at 1, 2 and 3am for only £2 single or free for Easyrider holders.
As an Easyrider cardholder, Leanne is travelling the “smart” way on the NCT network, where unlimited NCT travel is available from less than only £1 per day with Easyrider City or £1.99 with Easyrider Anytime, when purchasing travel in advance from the NCT Travel Centre, or renewing by Direct Debit, online or over the telephone for Easyrider City holders.
Nicola Tidy , NCT Marketing and Communications Director, said “We're really excited to have exceeded the 50 million passenger milestone, following good levels of growth on the network in the past few years. Nottingham is one of only a handful of cities in the UK outside London which continues to enjoy passenger growth on its bus network. ”
NCT bus patronage has risen annually since 2004, following a managed transfer of 5 million passengers on to the tram, replacing some bus services between Bulwell and the City, following launch in March 2004.
Increased patronage has been achieved through investment in the bus network, both through increasing frequencies and purchasing high quality, brand new buses, which ensures that the NCT fleet remains one of the youngest and most accessible in the country.
The average fleet age is just 5.9 years, with 95% low floor and 69% fully accessible (certified to accommodate a wheelchair). This compares with government targets where average fleet ages should be less than 8 years old, 50% of all buses have to be low floor by 2010 and all buses to be fully accessible by 2017.
NCT is currently awaiting delivery of 36 more brand new, fully accessible buses, as part of a £4.5 million investment this year. These new, high quality buses – 16 double decks and 20 Optare Versa Single Decks – will start appearing from late May/early June on seven routes:
Commenting on the new bus investment, Mark Fowles , NCT Managing Director said, “Once again, NCT is investing heavily in new buses this year to compliment the work we've been doing on the routes and timetables to grow bus usage and we expect further growth in the next 12 months.”
Information about NCT bus services and Easyrider smart cards is available by calling 0115 950 60 70 or online at www.nctx.co.uk
For further information, please contact Nicola Tidy NCT Marketing and Communications Director on 0115 9766 718 or by email at nicola.tidy@nctx.co.uk
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