Mayer Brown have advised Countryside Zest (a partnership between Countryside Properties and L & Q) on the launch of the new 57 Bus Service, which connects the new Beaulieu development with Chelmsford Town Centre and the Railway Station.
As reported in the Essex Chronicle (copy below), residents have been provided with M-Tickets. This allows them to use their mobile phone to present their ticket to board the bus and trials have indicated that this reduces boarding times for buses considerably.
Mayer Browns role in the launch and operation of the new bus service started first with the agreement of the specification for the service to form part of the S106 Agreement for the residential development, then contract negotiations with the operator First. We administer the service which came into operation on the 2nd April 2017, designing the Travel Folders and providing the ticketing for residents.
The service built upon work undertaken with First since 2001 and three more services are planned to open over the next 3 years serving new developments in Essex.
If you have any questions in relation to the process of setting up a new bus service including the contract discussions, M Ticketing and costing then please contact Rebecca Godden or Ian Mitchell in the Mayer Brown London Office on 0207 874 1580.