17 top-spec Platinum-brand double deckers have now been fully rolled out on the university routes - the 11, the 11U and 12X, which also serve the station.
Customers boarding at the railway station can reach the University of Warwick campus in as little as 17 minutes and enjoy travelling in style, with extra leg room, free WiFi, USB chargers, high backed leather seats and next stop announcements.
Matt King, National Express Coventry Operations Manager, said:
“We’re thrilled to introduce our brand new top-spec Platinum double deckers to our university routes. University of Warwick students and all other customers using these beautiful buses enjoy extra leg room, free wi-fi, USB chargers and next stop announcements.
“As well as being good news for our customers, these new Platinum buses are great news for the environment. The engines inside them are smart hybrids - some of the cleanest on the market. They emit extremely low levels of the pollutant nitrogen oxide, so they are better for people’s lungs.
“These fantastic new vehicles are our pledge as part of our Bus Alliance with Transport for West Midlands – to increase the amount of people taking the bus, to keep our customers happy and to keep the air clean across Coventry.”
A video of Matt talking about the launch is available to view here.
Suzanne England, Programme Director for Keeping Campus Moving, University of Warwick, said:
“We are delighted with this upgrade to the whole fleet of National Express buses serving the University and connecting our students, staff and visitors with Coventry and Leamington.
“Working in close partnership with the University, National Express Coventry has listened and responded to customer demands, introducing new routes and a much improved travel experience with these new buses. We look forward to closer working, and more innovations to come."
The Platinum vehicles are also fitted with new contactless ticket machines, which react much quicker than the old ones, helping to speed up boarding times - and therefore overall journey time for customers.
Young people especially have really embraced contactless on the city’s buses. 50% of fares on the university bus routes in Coventry are being paid for using contactless because it’s good value, it’s easy, it’s quick, and it’s convenient.
mTickets are also becoming increasingly popular as customers adopt digital payments - removing the inconvenience of always having to carry correct change for cash fares.
Warwick Students Union has welcomed the investment in new buses and contactless. A video is available to view here.
This recent investment in Platinum buses is the fifth upgrade to National Express Coventry’s university services in five years. The local bus operator has seen 2% growth year-on-year for passenger journeys on its services in Coventry, defying the national trend. Annual statistics from the Department for Transport show that overall bus use in England (outside of London) has fallen over the last 25 years.
