A £3.8MILLION investment by Transdev in new upmarket buses has been hailed as ‘hugely significant’ for the region’s recovery beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

A fleet of 14 double-deck vehicles, built in Britain to Transdev’s all-new ‘Sky Class’ specification, entered service a month ago on the Witchway express between Burnley, Rawtenstall and Manchester.

And despite the current Government restrictions on non-essential travel, East Lancashire’s leading politicians are optimistic that the investment will pay dividends when customers are able to return.

Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham said: “I’m delighted to see this major investment by Transdev – local transport connections have such an important role to play in levelling up, across not only Burnley and Padiham but the whole county of Lancashire.

“Our daily journeys for work or leisure are about so much more than just getting from A to B – they are the key to accessing skilled jobs and opportunities, boosting local businesses and unlocking economic growth, and that’s particularly the case for this service linking Burnley with Manchester.

“This investment means travel on a bus fit for the 21st century, providing not only a much higher level of comfort but also the connectivity needed to allow people to work whilst travelling – which is more important now than ever. This level of investment in the future of our public transport network will have a transformational impact for those who use it.”

Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “I was delighted to preview one of the new buses before they entered service.

“These new buses have wi-fi, phone charging and USB power points at every seat, but the thing I liked best was the double-glazed windows upstairs – that means no more wet coats, and clear windows to enjoy the wonderful views of East Lancashire.”

Transdev CEO Alex Hornby said: “One month on from their launch, the customer reaction to these game-changing new buses has been amazing. We believe the bus has a key role to play regenerating Lancashire’s economy.”

The new Witchway buses are driven and maintained by a team of 120 colleagues at The Burnley Bus Company’s Queensgate depot.