Nottingham City Transport’s (NCT) Red Line 50 bus service will run later into the evenings and seven days a week thanks to the Bus Service Improvement Plan – just in time for Christmas shopping and Winter Wonderland.
Nottingham City Council has secured funding as part of the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan to support bus services that support communities on routes that are not commercially viable.
The 50, which currently runs from Victoria Retail Park to the city through Colwick Industrial Estate and along Daleside Road, will continue running later into the evening and run seven days a week with a new Sunday service from 3 December.
In recent years, the industrial area along Daleside Road between Lady Bay Retail Park and Colwick Park has seen major redevelopment, with a large amount of residential properties already built, and more under construction – so demand for buses in this area has risen and will continue to do so.
Nottingham City Council has listened to residents’ associations along the route to understand the demand for public transport and developed the expanded 50 service along with NCT.
Angela Kandola, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport said: “Five years ago we completed a major upgrade in Daleside Road, installing cycle and bus lanes along the entire length to improve transport options to the east of the city.
“Since then, we have welcomed new housing developments into the area, with more under construction. These residents deserve a good, reliable bus service and I’m pleased we’re able to support the expansion of the NCT 50 to help people access employment and enjoy the full range of Nottingham’s leisure, retail and night time economy.”
That is not the only news for the 50, as another pot of Government Funding the ZEBRA (Zero emission bus regional areas) scheme has supported NCT to purchase 48 new Yutong electric single deck buses – which should be in service early in the new year.
The 50 will be one of the first routes to benefit from these new buses, which boast no tailpipe emissions and come with improved passenger features, including air-conditioning. In addition, it is hoped that the 50 service will expand still further past Victoria Retail Park and connect the hundreds of new houses in the Rivendell estate.
David Astill, Managing Director from Nottingham City Transport, said: “Red Line 50 provides an important link to the many industrial and retail units on the east side of the city and we are excited to be enhancing this service in early 2024 with the first of our zero-emission electric single deck buses.
“With the increase in residential properties on and around Daleside Road, the Bus Service Improvement Plan funding will help support and establish the new evening and Sunday service on this route.”
