BUSES running between Keighley and Bradford have been given a £400,000 makeover.

Transdev has rebranded the 662 service as The Shuttle, in a bright blue livery.

And 16 vehicles have been upgraded with new features, including USB charging points, WiFi and re-upholstered seats.

The buses have been refitted in-house by Transdev's engineering support unit and have all been named after famous spacecraft, including Apollo, Atlantis, Explorer, Galileo and Pioneer.

Keighley Mayor, Councillor Javaid Akhtar, joined company staff and customers at the launch of the new-look Shuttle in Bradford city centre.

As part of the initiative, the service has also been given its own dedicated contingent of drivers. The 45-strong team has undergone in-depth customer and product service training.

Transdev chief executive, Alex Hornby, said: "The £400,000 investment in the fleet with a space-age specification is just one element of the relaunch package, which we see as a blueprint to extend to other Transdev routes throughout the north.

"We know how highly thought of our drivers are in the minds of our customers, and having a dedicated Shuttle team will mean the drivers can get to know those customers and serve them even better."

He added: "The timing of the relaunch has been deliberate to coincide with the opening of The Broadway centre in Bradford, which is helping to change the face of the city.

"What's more, our frequent timetable has also been strengthened, with later evening departures from Bradford until 12.15am at weekends.

"The Shuttle continues to grow in popularity, with annual passenger increases of more than ten per cent. We look forward to the new package of improvements adding to this success story."

Transdev in Keighley has more than 200 staff and provides more than seven million customer journeys a year.

Its main network, branded Keighley & District, covers the town itself, as well as Haworth, Skipton and Ilkley.

Visit keighleybus.co.uk or call 01535 603284 for more details or follow Transdev's @keighleybus Twitter account.

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