Bristol, Bath and the West

First introduces 16 brand new buses for Bristol and South Gloucestershire

First has introduced 16 brand new state-of-the-art buses on a route between Bristol city centre and South Gloucestershire.

The double deckers are in service on routes 48 and 49, which serve run between Bristol City Centre and Emersons Green.

The new buses, the first low floor vehicles on the route, add up to an investment of £2.7 million by First.

To mark the launch First is delivering more than 20,000 leaflets to homes along the route containing a voucher offering a half price off-peak FirstDay ticket to be redeemed on Service 48 or 49.

First Bristol Somerset and Avon Managing Director Justin Davies was joined by Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire Council's Executive Member for Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment, to launch the new buses in Staple Hill.

All of the new buses have:
- Low floors - making them more accessible for wheelchair users and parents with buggies or pushchairs and fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Acts access requirements
- Improved and more comfortable seating with a designated wheelchair/buggy space
- The most up-to-date Euro 5 engines to reduce emissions
- Digital CCTV for improved customer security and safety
- Satellite tracking units to support monitoring of the bus network

First Bristol, Somerset and Avon Managing Director Justin Davies said, "These 16 brand new buses should make a real difference to the 48/49 route, which has not had low floor vehicles before. They represent our ongoing commitment to our services in the Bristol area and, along with the 46 new buses we introduced last autumn, they are part of a £20 million investment by First in the Greater Bristol Bus Network."

Councillor Brian Allinson (Con, Stoke Gifford), Executive Member for Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment, said, "We know that good quality buses are one of the key ways of attracting greater bus patronage and so I am delighted with Firsts new state-of-the-art buses. I hope that more South Gloucestershire residents are encouraged to travel by bus and help us to tackle congestion. In the meantime, the Council will continue to work with First to tackle the remaining barriers to greater use of public transport."