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Arriva, Merseyside's largest bus operator, is set to unveil a fleet of brand new vehicles as part of its continuing investment in the region.

Thirty brand new double deck buses - all low-floor easy-access and featuring CCTV cameras - will roll into action this week. It is also the first time that this type of modern bus has been used on regular services in the Liverpool area.

The investment forms part of Arriva's pledge to spend £45 million on creating a complete network of easy access buses in Merseyside by 2011. The new buses will feature on the 82 service (Liverpool to Garston/Speke) and the 86A/86N (Liverpool to Garston and Liverpool John Lennon Airport ), recently re-launched as the city's first 24-hour route.

Bob Hind, managing director of Arriva North West and Wales , said:

Two years ago, we launched the Le bus network, promising high frequency services on high quality, easy access buses. The work we have achieved so far, improving and adding to the network, will continue - and these new vehicles form a major step in this process. Our goal is to continue investing and working in partnership to achieve further significant and measurable improvements to public transport on Merseyside.

Volvo Bus Ltd was also delighted to be able to supply the vehicles to Arriva for this significant development. Commercial director Steve Dewhurst said;

Last year, Arriva took delivery of more than 100 new Volvo buses across England . I am very pleased to start 2006 where we left off with this important delivery to a key customer. Volvo is committed to ensuring that these buses deliver the high quality service that everyone is looking for.

Notes to editors

• Arriva North West and Wales also recently invested just over £4 million on a brand new fleet of buses for its Runcorn and Widnes network. A total of 39 new vehicles were introduced on 9 January
• Arriva plc is one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe, providing more than one billion passenger journeys every year
• Arriva is one of the UK's largest bus operators, with over 6,000 vehicles serving customers in the North West, North East and South East of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales