Company invests £1.9m in new buses for RBWM routes in its ‘largest order ever’

A fleet of new buses worth £1.9million has been rolled out on routes servicing the Royal as part of their operator’s ‘largest order ever’ for new vehicles.  

Carousel Buses said six of the fleet of nine new vehicles would service routes through Maidenhead, while the remaining three would cover journeys from Windsor.

The company has purchased two types of buses, with capacities of 30 and 43 passengers, all of which have been adapted to reduce carbon and exhaust emissions.

Council cabinet member for transport Geoff Hill said he was ‘pleased’ to see the new buses and added the investment helps make public transport in the Royal Borough ‘cleaner, greener and safer’.

Carousel Buses’ managing director Luke Marion said the new buses represented the company’s ‘largest ever single order’. Carousel operates routes in South Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The company told the Advertiser that the investment was worth £1.9million.

Of the nine new single-decker vehicles, six are midibuses and are capable of carrying up to 30 seated passengers. Three are full-size buses which can carry 43 seated passengers.

Each bus, an Enviro2000 vehicle, features specialist pollution control technology installed by manufacturer Alexander Dennis.  

In addition, they all feature room for wheelchair users and a separate buggy area. There are also Wi-Fi and charging points for electrical devices available on board.

Four of the buses will operate on Maidenhead local services and will be covered in purple Royal Borough-themed livery.

The buses will operate on routes:

• Number 3 - Maidenhead to Farmers Way via Boyn Hill, St Mark's Hospital and Altwood
• Number 4 - Maidenhead to Boulters Lock via Ray Mill
• Number 9 - Maidenhead to Cranbrook Drive via Cookham Road
• Number 37 - High Wycombe to Maidenhead and Windsor via Bourne End, Cookham, Furze Platt, Maidenhead, Dedworth and King Edward VII Hospital
• Number 10 and 10A- Windsor to Staines via Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury & Egham Hythe

Mr Marion said: “This order for nine new buses was the largest single order for new vehicles that Carousel has ever placed.

“We’ve added new features such as camera mirror systems to these vehicles, which has been welcomed by our drivers.

“These new buses form part of our commitment to constantly improving services, making bus travel an attractive alternative.

“Our thanks go to [the] Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for its support.”

Councillor Geoff Hill said: “Maintaining a high standard of public transport in the Royal Borough is a priority for the council and I’m pleased to see the new Carousel buses on the road.

“With the features on the new buses, our residents will be able to travel with features that make travelling a breeze as well as knowing that their use of public transport is better for the environment in line with our commitment to commitment to create a cleaner, greener and safer borough.”

The announcement comes as the company overhauls its existing routes in the Royal Borough, which were introduced on Sunday (January 4).