Stagecoach unveils new buses for Exeter

Stagecoach South West is joining forces with sustainable transport group Greener Journeys to promote the benefits of bus use through the third annual ‘Catch the Bus Week’. 

The campaign, which is running until 5 July, aims to drive awareness of the benefits of taking the bus and encourage local people to make the switch from the car that week.

This year, Stagecoach South West has something very special planned with the launch of 18 new buses – worth a total of £2.1m - for Exeter’s E and F1/F2 routes. The buses also have an important extra feature – free wifi – allowing customers to connect, share and play whilst on the move.

Commenting at today’s launch event at Princesshay, Exeter Stagecoach South West’s new Managing Director, Bob Dennison, said: “We are excited to see so many people here for Catch the Bus Week and the launch of Stagecoach South West’s 18 new buses for Exeter’s E and F1/F2 routes. It’s a significant investment into the local network.

“With the rising popularity of smartphones and tablets, offering our passengers free Wi-Fi is a priority for Stagecoach South West. Being able to work remotely, connect with friends via social networks or even check the latest journey information online helps make bus travel more productive."

The launch of the new vehicles took place in Bedford Square, Princesshay on Wednesday 1 July at 10am with the first 10 vehicles going into service that same today. Exeter’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Olwen Foggin, attended. Members of the public had the opportunity to look round one of the new vehicles as well as claim one of 50 free Group Explorer vouchers or other freebies.

Stagecoach South West is also launching a month long competition to win an ipad and a year’s free bus travel. The new free Wi-Fi is an ideal way to enter at stagecoachbus.com/southwest. The winner will be selected at random after 31st July.

Greener Journeys, who spearhead the ‘Catch the Bus Week’ campaign, are working with Stagecoach as well as hundreds of other participants all over the country including bus companies, passenger organisations and local authorities to promote the many benefits of bus travel.

Commenting on Catch the Bus Week, Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, said: “Buses are a vital lifeline for millions across the UK. From getting children to school, bringing people to work, the shops or to their local park, buses join up the dots in our society and our economy. This week provides a crucial springboard to bring these benefits to attention.

“I hope the hundreds of activities and events taking place across the country will prompt car drivers and infrequent bus users to give the bus a try. It’s also great that our politicians are showing their support for bus travel as an affordable and sustainable alternative to private transport.”

Bus passenger journeys make up over two thirds of all public transport usage  and each year, bus commuters create more than £64 billion worth of goods and services . For many, the bus is a vital lifeline and an affordable and accessible form of transport, whilst for all it is a great and easy way to travel.

• Travelling by bus can help reduce stress and can be good for your health – daily bus users clock up the annual equivalent of 11 marathons, with the short walk to and from the bus stop and destination burning 22,630 calories a year
• The bus is good for the economy and helps support local communities – bus users make 1.4 billion shopping trips and spend an estimated £27 billion on retail goods annually
• Buses bring people together and are vital for an inclusive society – 25% of all households have no access to a car. Buses allow everyone in society to remain connected to their loved ones and their local community
• It’s greener to get about by bus – congestion costs the UK economy at least £11 billion each year. If everyone switched just one car journey a month to bus that would be one billion fewer car journeys on our roads, and a saving of 2 million tonnes of CO2

Bus passengers recently voted Stagecoach as the best value major bus operator in Britain, according to independent research. Consumer watchdog Transport Focus found that customers across the UK rated Stagecoach higher than any other national bus operator on value for money in its latest UK Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey.