News - Holidays are coming to Newport with festive double decker and free buses on Christmas Eve

15th December 2011

"Holidays are coming" to Newport after the city's main bus operator unveiled its own take on the famousCoca Cola festive truck - a giant sized Christmas themed double decker

And if that wasn’t enough to get passengers in the festive spirit Newport Bus has announced that it will be making every one of its buses free to travel on throughout Christmas Eve.

The bus will be driven during the festive period by bus driver Jeff Smith who’ll be dressed as Santa Claus, while passengers will be given a helping hand with their festive shopping by two bus drivers dressed as festive elves.

It has been decorated outside with a giant Father Christmas aboard a sleigh being pulled by reindeer, has also been decked inside with Christmas lights and a festive jukebox playing yuletide carols and Christmas songs for passengers.

More than 26,000 people use Newport Bus every day and on Christmas Eve passengers won’t be charged a penny as buses across the operator’s network are made free to travel on including all its services in Newport and those to Cardiff, Chepstow, Cwmbran and Monmouth.

The City of Newport has been hit hard by the recession and Newport Bus is hoping free buses on Christmas Eve will help bring more people into its retail shopping centres. The company also says that it will allow people to enjoy a festive drink responsibly by leaving their cars at home and using the bus instead.

Scott Pearson, Managing Director of Newport Transport which runs Newport Bus, said: “We wanted to give something back to our customers and the City of Newport and what better way than by making all of our buses free on Christmas Eve?

“We’ve seen a big increase in the number of people using Newport Bus in the last 12 months so it was important that we said thank you. Our festive bus will be used along many of our routes during the festive period so we hope it helps bring some yuletide cheer to everyone. We certainly think that it’s got the festive X Factor especially as Santa Claus himself will be driving it.”

Councilor William J. Routley, Chairman of Newport Transport, said: “This is an important initiative because it will help bring people into Newport’s City Centre on the last big shopping day before Christmas. Newport Bus is working hard to make a difference in the City and making the buses free to travel on during Christmas Eve is one of the ways in which it is doing this. I think the festive double decker is a real yuletide treat and will certainly bring a sense of Christmas cheer to everyone’s lives.”