Key transport route gets £1.3m boost

Thousands set to benefit as Quality Bus Partnership delivers newvehicles for Green Line 724, Harlow to Heathrow

A new Quality Bus Partnership formed by BAA Heathrow,Hertfordshire County Council and Arriva the Shires and Essex hasfunded the purchase of 9 brand new Mercedes Citaro single deckbuses to upgrade one of the area's key public transport routes,Green Line 724.

Last year over 350,000 journeys were made on Green Line 724,which runs hourly Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundaysfrom Harlow via Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans,Watford, Rickmansworth and Uxbridge to Heathrow.

Customers, who include commuters, shoppers, students and peopleaccessing Heathrow Airport, are set to enjoy a range of newfeatures from the Mercedes Citaro buses, which will come intooperation on the service during August, including:

• air Conditioning and tinted windows;
• environmentally friendly Euro III engines ;
• full wheelchair accessibility;
• 39 comfortable coach-style seats (or 37 + wheelchair);
• new Green Line livery by Best Impressions.

As well as the investment in new buses the route is also set tobenefit from a range of other initiatives aimed at increasing thenumber of people using the service and so reducing car usage,congestion and pollution on the county's roads:

• a revised timetable from Sunday 3 September, 2006, offeringfaster journey times and improved reliability;
• new bus stop signage and clearer roadside publicity;
• special driver training focusing on the needs of airportcustomers;
• new Green Line uniforms for all drivers;
• ongoing marketing to raise the profile of theservice.

The investment being made by the Partnership willproduce a real step change in the quality of service being offeredby Green Line 724

said Arriva's the Shires and Essex managing director, KeithSpicer.

Whether you're using the service to visit one of themany major local towns en route or want to take advantage of thecost effective access to Heathrow Green Line 724 provides. Theimprovements will make an already excellent service even better andmore comfortable to use.

The new buses will be displayed to members of the public at aseries of road-shows at major towns along the route during earlyAugust, when people will also be able to pick up timetables andfind out more about great value tickets available on theservice.

Edwin Swaris, bus and coach strategy manager, BAA Heathrowsaid,

BAA Heathrow are proud to be working in partnershipwith Arriva the Shires and Essex and Hertfordshire County Councilto develop and promote this important transport link. The newvehicles, and planned improvements to information andinfrastructure will enable passengers and staff to travel in bothcomfort and style.