Solent Blue Line is on target to see its passenger growth approach 1 million additional customers later this year. The company has announced that over 975,000 additional journeys have been made on their network of services in the 12 month-period since July 2006. This represents a year-on-year increase of some 19%.
Whilst most bus operators have experienced passenger growth due to the free concessionary travel to the over 60s offered by local authorities, Operations Manager Alex Hornby says that they are pleased that their popular Bluestar and Red Rocket services have attracted 8% more fare paying passengers within the total growth figure.
Operations Manager Alex Hornby (left) and Assistant Operations Manager Steve Cuff (right) are joined by members of the driving and support team at Solent Blue Line, along with Councillor Gavin Dick from Southampton City Council, Andrew Wilson from Hampshire County Council and Paul Walker from Eastleigh Borough Council, to celebrate 975,000
extra passengers in the last 12 months
“We are delighted to see these achievements come through after a persistent effort by the team here in focusing on the core objectives of running a bus service – delivering it reliably, at the right place at the right time, wrapped in high quality marketing and good customer service,” said Alex Hornby. “But our journey does not end here. Whilst running a bus service in a competitive and congested climate is no easy task, we will continue to strive for the highest of standards.”
Since the Go-Ahead Group acquired Solent Blue Line in July 2005, over £1.4 million has been invested in Solent Blue Line to assist the company in its close working relationships with local and regional authorities. Alex Carter, Go Ahead’s Regional Managing Director, says that the continued assessment of the public’s travel needs made by the Solent Blue Line team in conjunction with transport planning officials should enable passenger growth to continue.
“The target to reduce traffic congestion and pollution will only be achieved if we can operate sustainable and reliable services to serve those who seek to have an alternative to the hop in the car habit,” said Alex Carter.