Essex

Hospital Bus Accessible to All

Inter-town service converted to low-floor buses

A vital inter-town hospital bus is now accessible to all passengers that need it.

First Essex has converted the 200 service for Basildon and Orsett hospitals to an entirely low-floor fleet. From January, passengers in wheelchairs, with baby buggies or just unable to manage stairs can board and travel in comfort on buses without steps.

Jenny Galpin, Director of Estates and Facilities at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals said: "We are extremely pleased that First are making their 200 bus service more accessible.

"We are keen to encourage patients, visitors and staff to use their local bus service to visit hospital where possible, and any improvements to accessibility will help more people to do that.'

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, public transport providers have to ensure their fleets are accessible to all by 2015.

Bob Dorr, Managing Director of First Essex, said: "We see no reason to wait before implementing these changes, and are already rolling-out low-floor vehicles across our fleets.

"Although we have been running step-free buses on this hospital service for some time, we are very pleased to be able to make this half hourly service one of the first to be entirely step-free.'

Shoppers hoping to find bargains in the January sales will also be able to take advantage of the service, connecting with Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock.

Recent purchases of vehicles elsewhere in the country has meant Essex has received many newer buses to bolster their fleets.

Also benefiting in the new year from an upgrade to newer low-floor buses is service 5 from Basildon to Pitsea, via Whitmore Way, Felmores Shopping Centre and Rectory Road.

Bigger, newer Volvo single-deck buses with low floors will now be running at frequent intervals on the route.

Government figures show over 10 per cent of the people living in Britain have some degree of disability that makes it difficult for them to travel by bus. Without accessible public transport, many disabled people rely on having to book private hire vehicles in advance. When the low floor vehicle arrives at the bus stop, passengers should ask the driver to lower the step and/or ramp to allow them to board.