Nottingham City Transport and University of Nottingham Partner on New Hopper Bus Contract

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has secured an eight-year contract with the University of Nottingham, to provide its Hopper Bus network from this summer. 

Following a comprehensive procurement exercise, NCT will begin operating the campus to campus service on Saturday 1st August 2026, which comprises three routes:

• 901 Sutton Bonington Campus to University Park Campus
• 903 Jubilee Campus to University Park Campus
• 906 University Park Campus and Jubilee Campus to Beeston and Lenton (evening service)

The routes and timetables for all three routes remain unchanged and the services remain free to all university students, staff and visitors. 

All three routes will continue to operate with double decker buses, with NCT placing an order for a fleet of brand-new low emission buses to enter service in the first half of 2027. As part of the contract, NCT will work in partnership with the University of Nottingham to transition services 903 and 906 to zero-emission electric buses.

The new contract supports a publicly owned, Nottingham-based company, as well as generating local employment opportunities by increasing NCT’s requirement for bus drivers by 18. Discussions with the current Hopper Bus provider, Arriva, are underway to ensure that the current drivers can transfer to NCT through TUPE, should they so wish.

Alongside the Hopper Bus network, NCT already provides key bus services to the University of Nottingham, including its popular Orange Uni34 bus, which links University Park Campus with the City Centre. This service has grown from a single deck 12-minute weekday daytime only service during term time, to a double deck service every 10 minutes, including evening, weekend and out of term services. 

David Conway, NCT Head of Operations said, “We are thrilled to have been awarded this prestigious contract by the University of Nottingham, placing NCT as a core provider of transport services to all of their campuses. We look forward to working in partnership with the University to transition to lower emission buses and build upon the success we have already achieved with our own dedicated university bus services.”

Gary Moss, the University of Nottingham’s Chief Property and Facilities Officer said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NCT to deliver our intercampus bus service. By appointing a Nottingham-based company we are pleased to be supporting local employment opportunities and look forward to working with NCT to transition to lower emission buses.  NCT are an award winning bus operator with a strong record on reliability and customer satisfaction, which will help to enhance the student experience here at Nottingham.”