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Improved bus links to John
Lennon Airport
FROM 4 September 2016, travellers to
and from Liverpool John Lennon Airport will now be able to take advantage of
improved bus links and lower fares to make their journey better than ever,
thanks to an exciting new regional partnership.
The extended 500 bus route from Arriva between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and
Liverpool One Bus Station now serves Liverpool South Parkway in both directions,
providing easier connections for travellers using this busy rail station and bus
interchange.
With a fleet of upgraded Arriva double decker buses, the new 500 service
delivers improved comfort and even more space for passengers and their luggage.
All of the buses on the route are equipped with comfortable e-leather seating as
well as free WiFi and USB charging so travellers can stay connected on the go.
And to keep passengers fully informed of the progress of their journey, a new
audio visual announcement system has been installed on all route 500 buses.
In addition to offering a host of improvements, the newly launched service also
comes with a cheaper price tag, with ticket prices reduced from £3 to £2.20.
Rail 'add on' tickets (extending a rail journey on to the airport)
are also now cheaper, for example a passenger travelling from Crewe and adding a
bus on from South Parkway to the Airport will pay just £2 instead of £2.20.
Arriva has worked in partnership with Merseytravel, Liverpool John Lennon
Airport, Liverpool City Council and Merseyrail to bring improved bus links and
create a more comfortable, connected and cost effective journey for passengers.
Improved links to and from the airport and better integration with rail services
have been two of the key work areas of the Bus Alliance which is seeing
Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach work together to transform bus services to
encourage more people to take the bus.
Howard Farrall, Manging Director for Arriva Merseyside, said:- "The new
and improved 500 service now offers much more to passengers, at an even better
price. We will continue to work with our partners to make further improvements
that benefit our passengers, including plans to add even more staff to the
Arriva customer care team at the airport to ensure we can look after our
customers' needs on the ground seven days a week. With further planned
improvements for the near future, including bus ticket sales from the airport
information desk real time bus travel information."
Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Liverpool John Lennon Airport added:- "The
Airport is delighted to have worked in partnership with the other stakeholders
to help bring about this improved public transport service. The extended 500 bus
service responds to feedback from our passengers and brings an important
improvement for the Airport by giving our passengers a faster, direct link to
nearby Liverpool South Parkway, enhancing the customer journey. Combined with
the new through-ticketing to enable passengers to purchase a combined rail and
bus ticket, this will help to make travel to and from the airport by public
transport a more attractive option."
Said Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair of the Merseytravel Committee:- "We've long
championed improved links to airport which is 1 of the City Region's key assets.
A frequent connection to rail services gives passengers more choice, opportunity
and ease in getting to and from the airport, whether it be holidaymakers or
business travellers, both those locally or from further afield. People who work
at the airport will also have more flexibility in how they travel. It's also
about quality of services and we welcome the investment in vehicles that are
luggage friendly and can keep passengers connected on the go through WiFi and
charging points."
A pilot 24 hour service on route 86A will run from September to
December 2016, further enhancing the coverage at the airport.
Other Key work areas of the Bus Alliance will include:-
► A review of the City Region bus network.
► Investment in new and greener vehicles.
► On board WiFi and at seat USB charging points on all new vehicles.
► Simpler ticketing and a review of zonal structures and pricing.
► Review of all customer information including more Real Time Information.
► Improved Customer Service training for all bus drivers.
The aim of the Bus Alliance is to encourage more people to travel by bus. It is
about creating better bus services for existing and potential new users.
Ultimately, growing the number of fare paying passengers drives up investment
for all.
A formal partnership between Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach, it is
redefining the way we 'do' bus in the Liverpool City Region. The
Alliance is focussed on quality of vehicles and customer service, value for
money journeys and straightforward travel from simple fare structures to easy to
understand journey planning and a clear, simple bus network.
As 80% of public transport journeys in the City Region are made by bus, there is
potential for bus to play a much more significant role in growing our economy,
better linking people with jobs and opportunities, education and leisure. |
