The first of 56 new Alexander Dennis Enviro200s for Arriva Merseyside have entered service carrying the yellow-based livery and Metro branding that will be used on franchised bus services in the Liverpool City Region from 2026.
Arriva is spending £14 million on the buses. They will be rolled out across Merseyside, including on the new X4 service between Runcorn and Liverpool. It will be introduced from 16 December with Bus Service Improvement Plan funding and represents a return for limited-stop bus provision between those locations.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Transport Committee Chair Cllr Steve Foulkes (pictured, left) adds that the yellow-based livery will also adorn more than 100 battery-electric double-deckers being purchased by LCRCA.
It is already carried by 20 hydrogen fuel cell-electric Alexander Dennis Enviro400FCEVs and has been applied to a battery-electric Enviro400EV demonstrator, along with a Van Hool Exqui.City articulated bus borrowed by LCRCA from the Translink fleet in Northern Ireland.
“The plan is for this new yellow, black and grey livery to be introduced across the network over the coming years as plans to deliver an integrated London-style transport system for the city region move forward,” adds Cllr Foulkes.
On the Enviro200 order, Arriva Merseyside Area Director Richard Hoare (pictured, right) continues: “I am thrilled to announce this transformation to our fleet in Merseyside, which will enable us to carry on our work in boosting the sustainable and efficient transport system across the region.
“We take our responsibility of improving our bus network seriously. Having a comfortable, viable, attractive alternative to travelling by car is key in reducing congestion on our roads and carbon emissions.
“The most important consideration is our customers. They deserve to rely on our buses to get them to the people and places that matter to them and that is why having newer, better buses is really beneficial for them.”
