Sunday, 16 December 2012

Stagecoach connects with passengers – 100,000 times!

December 2012 by Natalie Harrison

(L-R) Stagecoach managing director Paul Lynch and Stephen Read, operations manager, Stagecoach in Chesterfield.(L-R) Stagecoach managing director Paul Lynch and Stephen Read, operations manager, Stagecoach in Chesterfield.

Bus company Stagecoach Yorkshire is celebrating being on the same wavelength as its passengers after clocking up a special digital milestone.

Wi-Fi internet access on four of its services has now been used 100,000 times as bus users take the opportunity to check e-mails, tweet, shop or browse the web, particularly on longer journeys.

Free access is available on the X17 (Sheffield to Matlock via Chesterfield), X19 (Barnsley to Doncaster and Robin Hood Airport) 43 (Sheffield to Chesterfield via Dronfield Woodhouse and 120 (Fulwood to Halfway via Sheffield city centre) and passengers have been quick to make full use of it.

Paul Lynch, the company’s managing director, said: “Customer comfort and services are a high priority for Stagecoach and our investment in new technology to provide internet access on these routes has proved to be well worthwhile.

“We live in an age when it is important to meet the requirements of passengers, whether it is for work or leisure, and internet access underlines our role at the heart of the community.”

And to mark the success, Stagecoach will be e-mailing 120 of its Wi-Fi users inviting them to enter a competition to win a four-week Sheffield bus megarider covering the entire route of the 120 service. All they will need to do is click a button to be entered in the free draw.

When Stagecoach introduced Wi-Fi on ten new double decker buses on the X17 route in September 2010, it was the first time it had been used on bus transport in South Yorkshire. It proved to be so successful that the system was extended to the Barnsley and Chesterfield areas.

For more information about Stagecoach services visit www.stagecoachbus.com.

Personal opinion.

I'm surprised that this milestone has only just been reached, as the X17 vehicles (10 Scania E400) have been in service now for 2 years, the 120,s (21 vehicles) 15 months, 43 (six vehicles) 4 months. X19 (6 vehicles) 1 month. One regular X17 passenger could, with 1 return journey Chesterfield / Sheffield, daily, could have connected over 1,000 times over the 2 years of operation.