The refreshed Trentbarton my15 route now flies through Erewash to East Midlands Airport, thanks to eight refurbished bus, a route extension and increased frequency.
my15 has served Erewash, in some form, for over 50 years, giving customers a vital connection between Ilkeston, Sandiacre, Stapleford and Long Eaton.
In recent years, it’s seen overcrowding due to its successful delivery and popular local drivers.
So, alongside the route extension, Trentbarton is also increasing the frequency to every 15 mins – with an hourly bus to the airport to access the thousands of new jobs being created in and around East Midlands Airport. It runs every hour, seven days a week,
The new additions will include lots of creature comforts such as USB charging points and stylish comfortable interiors. The improvements to my15 are also creating eight new jobs at trentbarton, as the team providing my15 grows in size.
Jeff Counsell, managing director at trentbarton, said: “my15 has, in one form or another, been a staple of the Erewash community for more than 50 years. By creating this direct link, we aim to help local people to be part of the jobs bonanza at and around East Midlands Airport in the coming decade.
“Working in partnership with East Midlands Airport over the last 10 years, we’ve created a quality, high frequency network to connect workers and jet setters to this growing region.
“There is so much economic development around the Airport, with new jobs being created, that providing workers and air travellers alike with direct, affordable and convenient transport is key to helping people make the most of the opportunities.”
Erewash MP Maggie Throup said: “It’s really good that the people of Ilkeston and other communities along the route are going to get such a frequent service to access the increasing number of work opportunities at and around the airport.
“Many of the new and existing jobs will not necessarily be Monday to Friday nine-to-five roles, so having seven days a week early morning to late at night access to a comfortable and convenient commute is a real positive for the people of Erewash.”
Geoff Moss, East Midlands Airport’s asset director, said: “We’re delighted that trentbarton is increasing both its fleet of buses and the frequency of the service to the airport. We have ambitious plans for the airport which will increase the number of jobs across the site.
“Work has now started on the new UPS facility which will create 1,000 more jobs here, but people need to be able to easily access them, not only by car, but on public transport too. Expanding the bus service to Ilkeston, Stapleford and Sandiacre is timely for passengers too as we enter the summer season.
“Last summer was our busiest since 2008 and we’re hoping to do even better this year. Therefore, it’s critical that a wider population can get to and from the airport by public transport.”
East Midlands Airport and the businesses in the East Midlands Enterprise Gateway [EMEG] area already employ 10,000 people, with a potential 20,000 new jobs to be created in the next 20 years.
The new my15 timetable is at: trentbarton.co.uk/my15
