Press releases

• Key Medway services now to run more often
• A £10 million investment in Medway Towns bus services
• 61 new and 40 refurbished buses to start service in one day

Arriva is announcing a raft of timetable improvements that will ensure its unprecedented investment in the Medway bus fleet can realise its full potential.

Following the recent announcement of plans to launch on one day, the largest fleet of new buses ever seen in the UK , Arriva has now finalised its improved bus route network.

Customers and potential bus users will see four key benefits from the new timetables.

• The main services will now operate to regular frequencies between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
• A number of 'Turn up and travel' routes will be created as the frequency of the most travelled services is increased to every 10 minutes.
• Evening services will be enhanced and run on similar routes to the daytime services.
• Some new cross town journeys can now be made directly.

Kevin Hawkins, commercial director for Arriva Southern Counties, said:

When combined with the new fleet, t he timetable changes will transform bus services in the Medway Towns. I am sure that people living here will appreciate the way the new timetables help their daily journeys.

Arriva is confident that the combination of a new fleet running to better schedules will encourage more people to consider the bus for journeys they make. Taking the bus, rather than the car, for just a single journey a week can have a marked effect on the quality of urban transport for everyone. It can also be shown that there is a potential environmental benefit, achieved through reduced air pollution, if people switched from car to bus.

Kevin concluded:

The Medway Towns will soon benefit from a real alternative to car travel, it's not about abandoning cars but we are asking people to seriously consider options that can be just as – if not more - convenient.

Customers are advised to check the new timetables by calling 01634 283 616 or visiting Arriva's website at www.arriva.co.uk/southerncounties.

Ends

Note to editors

• Detailed breakdown of service improvements are attached.