Work driven by the Warwickshire Enhanced Bus Partnership has delivered a simpler and more co-ordinated timetable between Nuneaton, Hinckley and Leicester on Arriva Midlands and Stagecoach Midlands services 148 and 158. Interavailable ticketing for day, week and month products has also been introduced on the two routes.
The necessary qualifying agreement was facilitated by Warwickshire County Council (WCC), which was approached for support by the two operators. All three parties are now “working towards similar schemes on other parts of the county’s bus network,” they say in a statement.
Speaking about the collaboration, Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director Mark Whitelocks says: “As well as offering a more regular, co-ordinated frequency during the busiest times of day, the qualifying agreement has provided opportunity to introduce additional evening journeys and reverse our routing to call at Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester as well as the new St Margaret’s Bus Station.”
Adds Arriva Midlands Commercial Director Andrew Godley: “The introduction of a qualifying agreement between Arriva and Stagecoach demonstrates our commitment to delivering simpler journeys for our customers, ensuring that bus travel continues to be convenient and good value.”
“It is fantastic to see Arriva and Stagecoach working together to deliver real benefits for Warwickshire residents, a partnership that the County Council has been pleased to support,” concludes WCC Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning Cllr Wallace Redford.
