Hinckleybus’s HORIBA MIRA service celebrates first birthday with 10% growth

A bus service launched for HORIBA MIRA employees and visitors is celebrating its first anniversary with ten per cent growth in passenger numbers.

 Arriva’s Hinckleybus and HORIBA MIRA launched the service to allow visitors and employees to travel from Nuneaton and Hinckley town centres to MIRA Technology Park, a Midlands Enterprise Zone, in July 2015.

The buses have contributed to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s and MIRA’s sustainability aims as the Enviro2000 service’s vehicles have low-emission engines to European EEV standard, helping reduce CO2 emissions by 50 per cent for every individual travelling by bus.

Local communities have benefitted from the new service as well as upgraded vehicles.

Partly funded by the Regional Growth Fund and in partnership with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, the bus service has increased the number of employees travelling via public transport to their place of work at MIRA Technology Park which has helped reduce carbon emissions in the local area.

The service has also enabled those without personal vehicles, or those who prefer to travel by bus, to easily access MIRA Technology Park and its facilities as well as increasing the catchment area for employees, as the buses have stop off points at the Nuneaton and Hinckley Train Stations every 30 minutes throughout the day. The bus also connects MIRA Technology Park with Atherstone and Tamworth every hour throughout the day.

Late last year the service was extended to connect the rural Leicestershire villages of Fenny Drayton, Witherley and Ratcliffe Culey with Nuneaton, offering villagers convenient and regular connections to Hinckley, Atherstone and Tamworth.

Simon Mathieson, Arriva Area Managing Director (East), said:

“It is great news that this new service is going from strength to strength and reporting ten per cent growth in its first year.

“Part of the success has been the regular and seamless link with CrossCountry Trains to enable easy ticketing. We’re looking forward to seeing many more people travelling to MIRA Technology Park using the bus service as it becomes an increasingly popular and environmentally friendly choice of transport for those heading to the park.”

Dave Hockton, Senior Operations Manager at MIRA Technology Park, said:

“The bus service has been a great addition to the area and we’re pleased that the first year has been so successful. The service has enabled us to widen our transport links, which is key as MIRA Technology Park continues to expand and welcome new businesses.”

Bill Cullen, Deputy Chief Executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: 

“It’s great to see the growing success of this new MIRA bus service which connects our residents from Hinckley and some key rural villages to the MIRA Technology Park and other key centres of employment in Hinckley and adjacent areas such as Nuneaton, Atherstone and Tamworth. We wish to continue to develop our local relationships with bus companies such as Arriva to secure ongoing improvements to local services and improve connectivity to our key centres of employment that benefit local people.”