New improvements for city bus services

NOTTINGHAM’S biggest bus operator has announced new services as part of improvements scheduled for this summer.

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is targeting West Bridgford, Calverton and Mapperley with the changes, which start on September 1.

The operator is seeking to “maintain the momentum” after passenger numbers bounced back to levels similar to before the Covid pandemic. New services include the Sky Blue 61 service, which will replace the 46 and 47 and extend the route to Calverton.

Buses to the new Edwalton Fields development, off Melton Road, are also being introduced the frequency of buses to Compton Acres and Wilford Hill will be doubled. The University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus will once again have a dedicated bus service to the city centre with the Pink 29.

NCT says this will boost the frequency along Ilkeston Road to every five minutes on Mondaysaturday daytimes in term time. Other changes include a reinstatement of the five-minute Monday-saturday daytime service between the city and West Bridgford’s Central Avenue.

The daytime frequency of the Green 8 and 9 for Compton Acres and Wilford Hill will also be doubled, while NCT will add extra journeys at the end of the school day on busy routes.

David Astill, NCT’S managing director said, “With these enhancements to the West Bridgford, Mapperley and Ilkeston Road services, we are again able to offer ‘turn up and go’ frequencies which we know our customers love. Our fantastic team of drivers on these routes look forward to welcoming aboard many new faces as well as our valued and familiar ones.”

NCT passengers currently benefit from a nationwide £2 cap on single bus fares. However, the new minister for local transport, Simon Lightwood, recently told the Post that the Labour Government would be reviewing the scheme.