The Ilkeston Flyer is a bus route that operates between Cotmanhay and Derby via Ilkeston and Spondon. Launched in 1999, it is solely operated by Trentbarton and was formerly in partnership with Felix Bus Services prior to 2012.
| Ilkeston Flyer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Trentbarton |
| Status | Operating |
| Began service | 1999 |
| Route | |
| Start | Derby |
| Via | Spondon, Ilkeston |
| End | Cotmanhay |
History
editThe route was introduced on 27 September 1999.[1] Prior to 2011, the route operated on a half-hourly frequency with one bus per hour operated by Trent Barton and the other by Felix Bus Services. On 26 June 2011, Trentbarton added an additional bus per hour, increasing the frequency to every 20 minutes, including the fleet of buses now using Wright Solars instead of Optare Tempos.[2] On 30 January 2012, Felix Bus Services' commercial routes were acquired by Wellglade Group, the parent company of Trentbarton. Trentbarton subsequently became the sole operator of the route.[3]
In September 2013, the frequency was then increased to every 15 minutes (4 buses an hour) in response to Yourbus' Y3 extension to Cotmanhay, with buses running every 30 minutes on Sundays.[citation needed] Ilkeston Flyer would then be extended to Cotmanhay on 30 June 2014 to compete with the Y3 service, though the route would return to its original every 20 minutes frequency as a result.[citation needed]
On 26 March 2017, Ilkeston Flyer received a first class upgrade using Wright Eclipse buses complete with USB sockets and free wifi, while increasing the fleet of buses operating the route from four to six, bringing the frequency up from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes again.[4][5] Then on 1 September 2019, the fleet of buses went up from six to seven, further increasing the frequency to every 12 minutes,[6] though it would be reverted back to every 15 minutes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2022, Ilkeston Flyer was temporarily diverted to avoid Cotmanhay Road after 18:00 following attacks on buses. The route would later return to its regular route a few days after the attacks.[7]
Ilkeston Flyer's frequency would later be further increased to every 10 minutes[a] on 14 July 2024,[8] alongside the entire fleet being replaced with Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC models.[9]
Notes
edit- ^ The Ilkeston Flyer runs buses between Ilkeston and Derby every 10 minutes, though the full route extending to Cotmanhay has now decreased to its initial frequency of every 20 minutes because of a lack of passengers using the Cotmanhay loop and to avoid vandalism.
References
edit- ^ "Launch of non-stop express bus". Derby Express. 23 September 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Ilkeston Flyer, Leicester Express and club 55". Focus Transport. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Completed acquisition by Midland General Omnibus Limited of the commercial bus services of Felix Bus Services Limited" (PDF). Office of Fair Trading. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Smith, Jade (21 March 2017). "Ilkeston's high flyer". CBW. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Ilkeston becomes a more frequent flyer". routeone. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "Ilkeston to get an even more frequent flyer". Love Business East Midlands. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Derbyshire bus route changed after windows smashed by vandals". BBC News. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Ashe, Isaac (7 July 2024). "Trentbarton night bus and Red Arrow fares to rise despite £2 cap". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Halford, Paul (19 April 2024). "Trentbarton orders 29 Enviro200s from ADL". routeone. Retrieved 14 July 2024.