Essex

Smiles Better Buses

First Essex Ask Chelmsford Commuters to Help Them Spread a Smile

After a hard day in the city, commuters from Chelmsford rail station will soon have something to smile about.

To promote improved services through the town centre, First Essex are appealing for customers to send in their favourite jokes.

First will select the three that make them laugh the most and print them on the buses for everyone to enjoy.

From April 6 this year, services 54 and 56 increase in frequency to every 15 minutes " going up to every 8 minutes on the common section of route in Chelmsford town centre.

Managing Director for First Essex, Alan Pilbeam, said: "We wanted to do something fun to make people smile after a hard day at work, or on that early-morning journey to the station.

"We have enhanced two vital town centre routes to offer more services to Melbourne, Springfield and Beaulieu Park.

"Feedback from our passengers has told us these key services for commuters were too busy, so we have responded with larger and more frequent buses " so theres now more reasons to be happy.

"With all the gloom at the moment, we want to lighten the mood and are asking passengers to help us spread a smile to celebrate the changes by sending us their favourite jokes " that should be enough to make anyone give us a grin.'

A spell of poor reliability last summer, coupled with over-crowding on evening commuter services meant a lot of customers stopped using the services " but with plenty of extra seats to fill, First hopes the improvements will be "smiles better'.

Senders of the winning jokes will win a months free travel across the county.

Entries should be sent to: Smiles Better campaign, First Essex Buses Ltd, Westway, Chelmsford, CM1 3AR or can be emailed to smiles.better@firstgroup.com.

For full terms and conditions, entrants should click here, or can request a copy from Customer Services, on 08456 782 977.