National Express unveil new fleet of buses for Black Country

National Express West Midlands has unveiled a new £2million fleet of buses for the 404 and 404A bus service, which links towns within the Black Country every eight minutes throughout the day. The fleet of 15 brand new Scania buses will serve the vital Black Country corridor between Walsall, West Bromwich, Black Heath and Cradley Heath, which carries many thousands of passengers each day. Alex Perry, Operations Director for National Express, said: “We are committed to improving bus travel in the West Midlands and have invested in 15 new vehicles to operate along the hugely significant 404 route.   We are very pleased that Councillor Bob Badham MBE, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport for Sandwell council, joined us to launch these new buses into service. Each vehicle features low floor access for wheelchair and buggies and benefits from CCTV inside and out to further improve passenger safety. The new fleet also feature ‘Euro 4’ engines.”National Express West Midlands has invested £2 million in the fleet of single deck buses which will provide a service every eight minutes between Walsall and Blackheath throughout the day. The 404 and 404A operate from the bus company’s West Bromwich garage which employs over 400 people in the region. National Express West Midlands is one of the Midland’s largest employers with over 3,000 bus drivers. Earlier this month National Express launched a new Midlands Training Academy which will benefit over 5,000 employees in the region. The bus company invested £235,000 in the Academy in Miller Street, Aston, which was officially opened by The Rt. Hon John Healey MP, Minister of State for Local Government and Communities.The Training Academy is the third of its type to be opened by National Express in the last two years, joining academies in London and York as a centre of excellence.The Academy will provide community development and training opportunities for all employees working in the bus and coach business in the Midlands. It is anticipated that during 2009, the Academy will develop more than 5000 National Express staff, many of whom will be bus and coach drivers.

Published 17th March 2009