23rd Aug 2007 11:02
National Express Group PLC23 August 2007 National Express Group PLC Signing of West Midlands Bus Partnership Agreement with Centro National Express Group, one of the UK's leading bus operators, is pleased toannounce the signing of a new voluntary partnership agreement with Centro, theWest Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, to further improve bus services inthe West Midlands. The agreement covers six key Travel West Midlands bus routeswithin the West Midlands and focuses on a number of initiatives to encouragefurther passenger growth. The agreement will provide passengers with faster, cleaner and more frequentservices from October. In addition, selected routes will also see theintroduction of limited stop bus services to give passengers a fast expressservice into Birmingham city centre whilst frequencies will be increased to cutwaiting times. Commenting on the partnership agreement, Richard Bowker, Chief Executive of theNational Express Group, the parent company of Travel West Midlands, said "We arecommitted to improving the quality of bus services and transport more generallywithin the West Midlands and believe that working in partnership we will be ableto deliver real benefits for passengers. Our aim is to make travel simpler. Forpassengers this means better services including modern buses, clean buses,improved reliability and increased security on-board. This partnership ensuresthat we deliver these improvements whilst our partner, Centro, deliver the otherimportant parts of the equation - improved facilities, better information andinitiatives to improve the journey times of buses." Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive of Centro-WMPTA said: "Passengers want morefrequent services that are safe, affordable, clean and accessible. Through thispartnership, we will work together to provide high quality services which shouldenable us to grow patronage. Both Centro and TWM have made significantcommitments in the agreement announced today that once implemented shouldencourage more people to travel by bus and lead to higher customersatisfaction." -Ends- Notes to Editors Passenger benefits will include: • 51 new and refurbished buses;• Real-time information provision at bus stops on the routes;• Enhanced cleaning of buses, the removal of litter from buses during the day and a dedicated cleaning team focused on ensuring vandalism and graffiti is repaired within 24 hours of notification;• Installation of 149 new bus shelters and refurbishment of remaining shelters;• CCTV installed at key bus shelter locations to improve security;• A new Passenger Charter setting out what customers can expect from the improved services. The partnership route will cover six key bus routes through Birmingham, Walsalland West Bromwich: • 1 Acocks Green - Moseley - Five Ways• 377 Walsall - Sutton Coldfield• 451 Sutton Coldfield - West Bromwich• 934 City centre - Kingstanding - Pheasey - Doe Bank• 993 City centre - Kingstanding - Streetly• 997 City centre - Pheasey - Aldridge - Walsall For further information, please contact: Nicola Marsden/ Alison FlynnNational Express Group PLC 020 7529 2000 Suzanne Bartch/ Brian HudspithMaitland 020 7379 5151 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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