LibertyBus

Not to be confused with Liberty Bus.

LibertyBus
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 in Saint Brélade in January 2013
ParentKelsian Group
Founded2 January 2013
HeadquartersSt Helier
Service areaJersey
Service typeBus services
Routes25 (April 2020)
Fleet58 (October 2022)[1]
Chief executiveKevin Hart
Websitewww.libertybus.je

LibertyBus is a bus operator on the island of Jersey. It is a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group.

History

In February 2012, the HCT Group was awarded a contract by the States of Jersey to operate the island's bus services from January 2013 for seven years with a three-year option taking over from MyBus.[2][3][4] The operation was branded LibertyBus after a public vote. LibertyBus also won the Jersey Chartered Institute of Marketing Award, for Best Brand Campaign 2013 for the LibertyBus brand.[5]

In September 2022, the HCT Group sold both LibertyBus and Guernsey's buses.gg operation to the Kelsian Group, following a period of extended financial difficulties for the HCT Group that resulted in the sale of most of its subsidiaries.[6][7]

AvanchiCard

A smart card payment system named AvanchiCard was introduced in 2013. The name AvanchiCard comes from avanchi, which means advance or move forward in Jèrriais – Jersey’s traditional language. The name was chosen by Jersey’s children and young people through a competition organised with local schools.[8]

LibertyBus have a range of AvanchiCards to suit individual travelling needs: AvanchiCard Concession (senior citizen card), AvanchiCard Visitor (various unlimited single and family passes for visitors to the Island), AvanchiCard Unlimited (Weekly, Monthly & Annual unlimited), AvanchiCard Student and AvanchiCard PAYG (pay-as-you-go).[9]

Fleet

Mellor Sigma 8 battery electric bus in St Helier in June 2024

As of October 2022, the LibertyBus fleet consisted of 58 single and double-decker buses.[1]

Prior to their commencement of operations in 2012, LibertyBus took delivery of 33 'Slimline' Optare Solo SRs.[10] In 2013, six Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were also delivered, the first double-decker buses purchased new for the island for many years.[11] In November 2023, two Mellor Sigma 8 electric buses were purchased, which entered service the next month.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b "About Us". LibertyBus. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ^ Second HCT island contract Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine busandcoach.com 27 February 2012
  3. ^ CT Plus Jersey to operate Jersey's bus services from January 2013[usurped] HCT Group 10 July 2012
  4. ^ Final tender from CT Plus to run Jersey's buses approved BBC News 10 July 2012
  5. ^ Jersey bus service to be LibertyBus after public vote BBC News 7 September 2012
  6. ^ Jeune, James (16 September 2022). "LibertyBus sold to Adelaide-based transport group". Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Kelsian Group buys HCT's Channel Islands operations". routeone. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. ^ Jersey travel card to be called Avanchi after pupils vote BBC News 19 December 2012
  9. ^ AvanchiCards LibertyBus
  10. ^ Optare bags multi-million pound Solo SR order Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Optare 6 September 2012
  11. ^ Izatt, Andy (18 November 2014). "Small, but perfectly formed". Coach & Bus Week. No. 1164. Peterborough. pp. 28–32. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  12. ^ "LibertyBus introduces Mellor electrics". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Jersey's first electric buses set to take to the roads". Bailiwick Express. St Helier. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
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