First Bus forms part of FirstGroup plc, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America. Our services help create strong, vibrant and sustainable local economies and our opportunity is to be the provider of choice for our customers and communities, relying on us to get to work, to education, to visit family and friends and much more and, each day, every one of our employees works hard to deliver vitally important services for our passengers. In the UK, First Group operates FirstBus and four UK rail franchises - Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast - and one open access passenger rail service, Hull Trains.
In 2013 First Bus, in partnership with Solent Transport, was successful in securing 'Better Bus Area Funding' to improve the overall customer experience of bus journeys in South Hampshire. The project saw the installation of free wi-fi across all First's 280 strong fleet in the area, enabling customers to keep connected whilst on the move. In addition, all buses were fitted with 'Next Stop Announcements' and 'Next Stop Displays'. Furthermore 64 vehicles were refurbished whilst the entire fleet benefited from the installation of LED lighting, helping reduce energy consumption.
By early 2016 the existing 425-space car park has been frequently filled to capacity and a new, surfaced overspill car park with over 100 marked out spaces, floodlighting, CCTV coverage and pedestrian access point was opened. In a successful partnership agreement, Leeds City Council made the land available and developed it with funding from the Combined Authority, while First Bus provides high quality bus services. Branded, frequent buses operated by First Bus provide a shuttle service into the city centre every 10 minutes whilst commuters can stay connected with complimentary on-board Wi-Fi.
