Free ticket to ride new buses

Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date online: 19 May 2009

First’s £3.5m fleet

OLDHAMERS have been offered a free ticket to ride on a fleet of brand new buses.

Operator First has invested £3.5m in a fleet of new double deck buses on its 82 and 83 services.

The state-of-the-art vehicles, which meet the highest European environmental standards, replace First’s existing single deck buses and are now working on the popular route running between Sholver, Oldham and Manchester.

To mark the launch, First has offered 6,000 householders who live along the route the chance to take a free journey on one of the buses.

Claire Johnson, commercial manager for First in Manchester, said: “The investment in these new vehicles will enable us to deliver a further step change in quality, reliability and punctuality for our customers.

“We all need to do everything possible to reduce congestion and safeguard our environment.

“These buses will play a major role in providing an attractive alternative to commuting or travelling into Manchester by car.”

Passengers will be able to travel in style and safety as the buses feature 34 extra seats, more luggage space, on-board CCTV cameras and the ability to lower to kerb level at every stop making access easier for elderly passengers, wheelchair users and mums with pushchairs.

Featuring an eye-catching goldfish design, representing the orange line, the buses meet the latest European exhaust emission standards and run on a bio-diesel fuel mix.

The 82 and 83 services operate at least every 10 minutes, Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays.

Free ride vouchers have been delivered to the 6,000 households along the route allowing one single ticket per household.

First Manchester, which carries around 100 million passengers each year and operates 900 buses, has also introduced cleaner fuels to all other buses in its fleet.

For more information visit www.firstgroup.com