Improvements to a bus route servicing Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield are set to be introduced next month, with extended hours and new vehicles being promised.
Nottingham City Transport’s (NCT) Red Line 50 bus service will begin running later into the evenings and seven days a week.
Nottingham City Council has secured funding as part of the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
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 December 3.
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 the council say it will continue to do so.
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.”
three cheers for these Chinese buses
A pity they didn’t take a pic from behind the bus,
That was were Mellon’s big white mercedes motor car was parked and facing on coming traffic in a bus lane
The county council have over looked the fact that they are discriminating against disabled
And elderly passengers on a route run by Nottingham Minibuses & Coaches by the fact
of problems for boarding and leaving the bus .
The council refuse to accept that there is a problem.
There needs to be a bus from Mapperley or Gedling down to the Victoria retail park. It takes all day to go into the city to get a 50 then. Then same return journey loaded up with shopping. Its difficult as I’m disabled.
There was a little bus that ran from Mapperley top to Morrisons. Has that stopped?