People in Solihull will see a new era for bus travel in the area from Monday June 7, when a fleet of new executive buses with leather seats and free wifi hit the road.

Transport authority Centro and bus company Central Connect have teamed up to provide new state-of-the-art Signature services on the S2 and S3 routes that link Knowle, Dorridge, Dorridge rail station and Balsall Common to Solihull Town Centre. 

The exclusive deal means new high quality vehicles with some of the greenest and cleanest bus engines in Europe will operate on the routes. 

The new buses, which have all been painted in a striking silver and black Signature brand, will allow passengers to travel in luxury and style with ergonomically designed leather seats, regular cleaning and uniformed, customer care trained drivers. 

People on board can get free access to the internet on their mobile phone, iPod or laptop thanks to the complementary wifi connection installed on the buses. 

All the buses are low floor easy access to make it easy for people with limited mobility or pushchairs to get on board.  

Centro is also planning to install electronic displays at several stops along the routes that tell passengers exactly how many minutes until their service is due by linking into satellite navigation technology installed on board the buses. 

The new vehicles will start running on the routes a week on Monday, but people can get a taster of the buses and find out details of special offers and timetables at a special event next week. 

Between 9am and 3pm on Friday June 4, a new Signature bus will be parked up in Mell Square and staff will be on hand to answer any questions and give out information on the new services. 

For a limited period passengers will be able to get special price fares from £1.10 single, £1.50 return or £2.50 all day on all Signature services.  A weekly ticket will cost £6.50 and a monthly pass just £20 as part of the offer. 

The move comes after National Express West Midlands told Centro that it could no longer run the S2 and S3 services due to falling passenger numbers.  

The transport authority then stepped in with financial backing to find a bus company that could take over and provide the best possible service for passengers, while also offering value for money for the taxpayer. 

Thanks to the new deal with Centro, Central Connect will be starting its new high quality signature services the day after National Express stops operating on the routes to make sure there is no gap in service for passengers.  Cllr Jon Hunt, Lead Member for Bus Highways said: “This really is an exciting development for bus services in the West Midlands.  The Signature services really demonstrate the kind of world class public transport options we are looking to provide to existing and prospective passengers. 

“They incorporate new technology, modern environmentally friendly vehicles, top quality information and striking yet practical design to provide the best possible journey experience for people on board. 

“It is our aspiration through our Transforming Bus Travel vision to continue working with local bus operators like Central Connect to make sure people across the West Midlands can benefit from this high standard of public transport.” 

The buses will operate on the same route and timetable they do now up through Knowle, Dorridge, Hockley Heath and Balsall Common to Solihull town centre where they will terminate. This will make it much easier to keep the buses to time, something they have struggled with in the past. 

Bus company Silverline will continue to operate the evening and Sunday service with its own vehicles. 

North of the town, National Express West Midlands will be providing a new 30 service between Solihull and Acocks Green via Olton, running along the same route and timetable as the S3 down to the town centre where it will terminate. 

More information on the new services is available at www.networkwestmidlands.com