Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has gained an eight-year contract from the University of Nottingham to deliver its Hopper Bus network from 1 August.
Routes 901, 903 and 906 are part of the award. The first two connect campuses, with the third a term-time evening service to other areas. NCT already runs the Uni34 between the University Park campus and Nottingham city centre, which has grown in frequency and capacity since introduction.
Hopper Bus services are currently operated by Arriva Midlands. Routes and timetables will stay the same under NCT stewardship and travel will continue to be free to all students, staff and visitors. A fourth route, the 904, will be withdrawn because of a relocation of teaching facilities.
Winning the contracts will increase the NCT driver establishment by 18. The municipal operator is in discussions with Arriva to ensure that drivers currently employed on the work can transfer through TUPE if they wish to.
The routes will continue to be delivered with double-deck buses. NCT says new, low-emission examples will enter service in the first half of 2027.
As part of the Hopper Bus contract, the operator will work in partnership with Nottingham University to transition one all-year service and the evening term-time route to zero-emission operation. NCT already has its first battery-electric double-deck buses on order to complement a large fleet of single-decks.
Speaking about the win, Head of Operations David Conway says: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this prestigious contract by the University of Nottingham, placing NCT as a core provider of transport services to all of its campuses.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the University to transition to lower-emission buses and build upon the success we have already achieved with our own dedicated university bus services.”
Adds University of Nottingham Chief Property and Facilities Officer Gary Moss: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NCT to deliver our intercampus bus service. By appointing a Nottingham-based company we are pleased to be supporting local employment opportunities and look forward to working with NCT to transition to lower-emission buses.
“NCT is an award-winning bus operator with a strong record on reliability and customer satisfaction, which will help to enhance the student experience here at Nottingham.”
