Press releases

• The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP to open Arriva's new £5 million Birkenhead garage
• Significant investment represents Arriva's commitment to Merseyside
• Vastly improved working conditions for employees

The secretary of state for transport, the Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP will officially open Arriva's new Birkenhead garage on 11 May 2004.

Benefiting from an investment of some £5 million, the garage, which is situated on a former tram shed site, has been transformed into a modern, efficient, bus garage and workplace with state of the art facilities.

The major two-year development reflects Arriva's commitment to bus services in the region and supports its investment of over £20 million in new buses during the last three years.

Buses from the Birkenhead garage, which deliver the majority of Arriva services on the Wirral Peninsula, carry more than 140,000 customers every week and travel some 7.5 million miles across Merseyside every year.

Housing 116 vehicles, nearly 40 per cent of which are low floor easy access, the garage is the base for a workforce of nearly 350 people, including drivers, clerical employees and engineers.

The original garage dates back to 1903, when it was built as a tram shed. Two further bus garages were built in the 1930s and 1960s.

When Arriva acquired the premises in 2000, they were in a poor state of repair and required much refurbishment and structural improvement to efficiently cope with the demands of a busy bus garage.

The development has delivered a state of the art environment, with a new 14-bay modern workshop, MOT testing station, bus fuelling and washing facilities.

Central to Arriva's redevelopment of the Birkenhead garage has been the attention to providing an improved working environment.

Employees also benefit from a temperature control system, improved lighting, refurbished rest and canteen facilities and a new social club, which can accommodate over 150 people.

Bob Davies, chief executive of Arriva plc, said:

This investment in our Birkenhead garage clearly demonstrates our commitment to providing quality bus services in Merseyside. The development is extensive and has resulted in the provision of a modern, efficient garage delivering 140,000 passenger journeys every week. Throughout the development, our employees have ensured that there has been no disruption to services for our customers.

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP said:

I am pleased to have been asked to open Arriva's new Birkenhead garage today.

Arriva's multi-million pound investment programme shows its commitment to improving and maintaining essential bus services for the people of Merseyside.

Ends

Note to editors

• Arriva is Merseyside's biggest bus operator, employing nearly 2,500 people. It provides over 60 per cent of the total bus market and the vast majority of its services – around 93 per cent – receive no funding.