Arriva Buses Wales showcases £3m investment in a state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly new bus depot while showcasing strategic moves to promote seamless travel through integrated ticketing and combined bus/train passenger information. High-profile names are among the guests at last week’s official opening
Plans for a North Wales metro system will “unlock potential” says Ken Skates AM. “It will live up to people’s expectations,” the economy and transport secretary announced on his Twitter account last Thursday (2 March) shortly after cutting the ribbon at the official opening of Arriva Buses Wales’ new £3m depot in Rhyl.
Mr Skates, a Welsh Labour politician who has represented Clwyd South since the National Assembly for Wales election of 2011, is the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, including transport.
A vision for a new integrated Metro transport network for North East Wales was as a Labour manifesto pledge in last year's Assembly election as part of ambitious plans to double the size of the local economy over the next two decades.
Investment
Building on road and rail improvements – although investments on rail, and critically electrification of the North Wales mainline will be a decision for the UK Government – the aim of the Metro is not just to reduce journey times, but to act as a springboard for attracting more investment into the region, as well as improving links to the north of England, the Midlands and London. The aim will be to build on £600m of transport projects already committed for the region.
Significantly Arriva is the dominant transport operator in the region and the Deutsche Bann-owned group used the Rhyl event to emphasise its commitment not only to investment, but also to integration. Added emphasis was provided by the presence of Arriva Chief Executive Dr Manfred Rudhart, who wasted no time in using the occasion to engage with Mr Skates and the invited representatives of the relevant local authorities.
Speaking at the official opening, Arriva Buses Wales (ABW) Managing Director Michael Morton catalogued the ongoing upgrades to the fleet, which is to be further boosted next month with high-specification ADL Enviro400 City double-deckers for the flagship route 1 between Wrexham and Chester.
Quality service
Expected to be among the first buses in a revised Sapphire livery, the buses represent a further £3m investment, bringing total spending on new and refurbished buses for ABW to £25m since 2005.
In a smart move that left the transport minister suitably impressed, ABW had ADL’s Enviro400 City demonstrator on hand for the depot opening. This vehicle has leather seats, tables upstairs, glass roof panels and a host of other features that will also be fitted to the new buses.
Mr Skates confirmed his approval. He said: “Arriva ought to be applauded for its quality and investment. You are at the forefront of development of quality bus services.”
Integrated ticketing
With clear reference to Arriva’s moves to promote integration between bus and train travel, including its soon-to-be launched Arriva One joint ticketing initiative, Mr Skates added praise for its “investment in seamless journeys.”
Indeed, Rhyl Interchange is something of a showcase for integrated transport provision. Less than half a mile from the Ffnnongroew Road depot, the bus station acts as the hub for local bus services and is directly accessed from the rail station where travel information for both modes is prominent in the booking hall and on the platforms. This includes conspicuous departure displays for bus and train; while a large touch screen journey planner enables passengers find routes and journey times, all in real-time.
Environmentally-friendly
The Rhyl depot has been operational since October 2016. It is on the site of an outdated facility built before the Second World War and used by the old Crosville company [routeone/profile/17 August 2016].
During the 12-month construction period ABW took up residence in the nearby Alpine Travel depot using its maintenance facilities for the duration. Costing £3m, work included the demolition of old buildings to make room for a large concreted parking area to give clear access to a state-of-the-art garage and office structure. It is home to 50 buses. Rhyl's PVR is 45.
Built with environmental considerations a key priority, the new depot’s opening was done with due ceremony – ribbon cutting, dry ice, and light and sound display to accompany the synchronized opening of the four workshop doors.
Facilities include a four-lane workshop complete with three pits, while first floor accommodation provides for administration and engineering staff. A control room is situation on the ground floor, and a driver’s rest room is upstairs, though change-overs take place at the bus station.
The roof is fitted with solar panels and the sophisticated heating/cooling system eliminates the need for air-conditioning. LED lights are fitted throughout.
Meanwhile the celebration was shared with ABW’s Rhyl staff, including recently retired Engineering Manager Keith Owens who was presented with a 50 years' service award by Dr Rudhart.
