GO2 & Network Services
In September 2001, NCT changed most bus routes, truncating cross-city routes, and introducing new and retimed services across Greater Nottingham. Go2 was launched at this time to appeal to commuters and refresh perceptions of bus travel. Following a decline in patronage of over 50 years prior to these changes, the number of customers using NCT buses has increased year on year since.
On Monday to Saturday daytimes, Go2 services now operate every 7 or 8 minutes on most routes, with the original 10 minute frequency still operated on a few Go2 routes. Sunday services have also been increased, with some every 15 minutes (21, 43, 77) and others every 20 minutes.
Go2 Night was launched in December 2007 and there are 8 late night buses which run from the City Centre at 01:15, 02:15 and 03:15 every Friday and Saturday night. These buses have a flat fare of £3.00 cash single, but they also accept Easyrider Citycards and all day tickets for no extra charge!
September 2010 saw the launch of 2 new Go2 routes, the first for many years, with Red 43 introduced for Bakersfield and Sky Blue 45 introduced to replace the former Red 44/45 loops which had proven very unreliable due to the traffic and rail crossings.
In 2011, the Go2 brand received minor rebranding to mark its 10th Year. This included a special 10th Year Go2 logo on relivered buses. The 36 underwent rebranding with the 27, 43 and 89 also when they received their new OmniDekkas. These Omnidekkas were the last produced with Optare ceasing their manufacture at their new plant.
In July 2011, Go2 Lilac 21 was withdrawn and replaced by service 39 following the same route. Optare Versas replaced Scania Omnilinks on this route.
In October 2011, NCT made Yellow 68/69 back into GO2 routes, with brand new Scania OmniDekkas with new features including audio announcements and real time tracking. This was for NCT to compete with the tram service.
In March 2012, Service 1 (Navy Line) was doubled to run every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and half hourly in the evenings and on Sunday daytimes. A new night bus N1 was also created and operates every hour between Clifton Pastures, Clifton NTU and the City Centre on Tuesday to Sunday mornings, to replace the previous skylink service through the night.
Green line service 6 lost its GO2 status with frequency being reduced to every 15 minutes. Minor route changes also to GO2 Green line service 10.
The more significant change was to yellow line services 70 and 71. Traffic delays have caused significant realiability problems to this service with NCT deciding to terminate this service in Bulwell rather than Arnold. Turquoise line 79 has been extended from Bulwell to cover Arnold. The 79/79A is operated with 15 Scania Omnidekkas and offers double the number of seats per hour compared to the previous routed 70 and 71 services.
In the past month, 12 new Optare solo SRs entered service on the following network routes: green line (5, 7, 8 and 9 with new Bridgford bus branding) and yellow line (70 and 71).
No new double decker orders are due in 2012 whilst NCT decide what new model to go for since the Omnidekka has ceased production. Currently GO2 Red 44 and GO2 Lime 58 Omnidekkas are being refurbished and repainted.
Read more about this topic: Nottingham City Transport
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