The University of Southampton, as part of a recently renewed partnership with Go-Ahead owned bus operator Bluestar, has launched a new Unilink bus fleet.
The £7m investment has delivered 32 ADL Enviro400s, replacing the existing fleet.
At Euro 6, they comply with the city’s Clean Air Zone targets set to be introduced in 2019.
Bluestar MD Andrew Wickham says: “These impressive buses include glass roofs, as well as free WiFi, USB charging points and contactless payment.”
The University launched Unlink in 1998 to help link together various campuses and to enable students to move easily around the city.
In 2001, the University created Unilink as a company to invest further in the service along with a partner to help provide it.
The Unilink partnership between the University of Southampton and Bluestar began in 2008.
“Unilink has been a real success for the University,” said Professor Rachel Mills, dean of the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Southampton.
“These new buses will offer comfort for every passenger as well as using the latest low emission engines. The University is pleased to be able to enable such a great bus service in the city helping reduce people’s dependence on cars.”
Unilink buses link the University of Southampton’s campuses around the city and are highly popular with the public as well as with University staff and students, carrying over 5 million passengers each year.
