Residents in Spondon are set to benefit from an improved bus service thanks to support from Derby City Council in partnership with trentbarton.

The area will see an increase in trentbarton’s ilkeston flyer service, as it benefits from enhancements thanks to the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

As part of an ongoing network review, areas in Derby with limited or no bus availability have been earmarked for improvement, as the council continues to work towards making a better-connected city to be proud of.

Following discussions with operators and studies to identify gaps in the network, Spondon was identified as an area that would benefit from increased services and represented the best use of funding.

The ilkeston flyer service between Ilkeston and Derby will increase to every ten minutes, passing through Spondon and offering a more regular service to and from the city centre.

The expanded capacity coincides with the introduction of eight new low-emission buses on the route helping to create a more sustainable Derby. The purchase of these eight buses equates to an investment of more than £1.7million by local firm trentbarton and is part of a wider investment the really good bus company are making into Derby based routes, which totals over £6million being spent on the very latest high specification buses. 

The frequency enhancements have been made possible thanks to a reallocation of funding from the Department for Transport’s National Bus Strategy BSIP. This funding is intended to cover measures such as bus priority infrastructure, fares support, ticketing reform and bus service support.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:

“We are dedicated to creating a better-connected city. A reliable, accessible, and straightforward bus network is essential for economic growth, and community connectivity. This will be enhanced by the introduction of low-emission buses by trentbarton, which will positively impact the environment and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable Derby.

“We are committed to collaborating with our communities and operating partners to achieve this goal. While there is still more work to be done to connect all parts of our communities, this initiative is a significant step in the right direction. 

“The process has taken longer than anticipated due to factors beyond our control, but I am delighted that we have now been able to address the challenge in providing a cleaner, more efficient transportation option for our residents. I look forward to working with the community to continue to develop this network. “

Tom Morgan, Managing Director at trentbarton, added:

“It is great that the importance of the bus within Derby City is being recognised and funding support is being offered to enhance the network already in place. This funding will complement the investment we have a long track record of making in the East Midlands, to deliver some of the highest standards of bus services across the UK, operated by our award-winning team of friendly drivers. By working in partnership like this, we hope to attract more people to benefit from the ease of bus travel, encouraging people to leave their car at home, delivering benefits to the economy, the environment and air quality in our region.” 

Work to improve bus services sits alongside a larger programme around the city as the Council continues to invest in local transport and build a network to be proud of. This includes upgrades to traffic signaling and active and sustainable travel infrastructure such as cycle lanes and EV charging points.

Working with the Department of Transport we have been able to support this Spondon service and will be looking to enhance routes in other area including Mackworth, the Royal Derby Hospital and the University of Derby’s Nuclear Skills Academy at Infinity Park.