Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has secured an eight-year contract with the University of Nottingham to provide its Hopper Bus network from this summer.
Following a comprehensive procurement exercise, NCT will begin operating the campus to campus service on 1st August, which comprises three routes that are free to all university students, staff and visitors.
These services will continue to operate with double decker buses, with NCT placing an order for a fleet of brand-new low emission buses to enter service in the first half of 2027.
As part of the contract, NCT will work in partnership with the University of Nottingham to transition services 903 and 906 to zero emission electric buses.
In addition, the new contract is expected to generate local employment opportunities by increasing NCT’s requirement for bus drivers by 18.
Discussions with the current Hopper Bus provider, Arriva, are underway to ensure that current drivers can transfer to NCT through TUPE, should they wish.
Alongside the Hopper Bus network, NCT already provides key bus services to the University of Nottingham, including a service which links the university campus with the city centre.
David Conway, NCT Head of Operations said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this prestigious contract by the University of Nottingham, placing NCT as a core provider of transport services to all of their campuses.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the University to transition to lower emission buses and build upon the success we have already achieved with our own dedicated university bus services.”
