Little Reds launch event!

Small but perfectly formed for rural routes - Shaftesbury celebrates arrival of ‘Little Reds’ buses

We were joined by Wiltshire Council, Shaftesbury Town Council and Dorset Council representatives in Shaftesbury to celebrate the arrival of a brand new fleet of buses - designed to operate more rural routes in Wiltshire and Dorset that are funded by Wiltshire Council.

Dubbed ‘Little Reds’, the nine new Mellor Strata Ultra buses represent an investment of more than £1.5m, and one of them was proudly on display in Shaftesbury High Street Market.

“We picked the Little Reds for our 25, 26, 27, 29 and 37 routes during the day, and then on the R2, PR3 and R5 in the evenings,” said Salisbury Reds managing director, Ben Murray.

“Two of these services run between Salisbury and Shaftesbury, but they all operate through some of the region’s most rural locations - which makes these midi-sized vehicles perfect for negotiating the smaller roads along these routes.

“Salisbury Reds has made a significant financial investment and we are excited to welcome our customers on-board these these smart new vehicles - which are also designed to offer comfort and convenience for those travelling with us.

“Each is equipped with a low emissions, Euro 6 engine, and contactless tap on, tap off ticketing technology - as well as on-board ‘next stop’ audio and visual announcements.

“Our team was on-hand to explain more about the new buses, hand out goody bags with half price travel vouchers for people to try out the Little Reds, and talk more about our services between Salisbury and locations across Wiltshire and Dorset.

Cllr Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, added: “The arrival of Little Reds marks a real step forward in connecting rural communities in both Wiltshire and Dorset.

“These new modern, efficient buses help to meet the needs of residents living in areas where traditional transport options are limited, ensuring people can access work, education, healthcare and leisure more easily.”

Why not plan your journey to Shaftesbury on our new Little Reds bus. All single fares are currently capped at just £3.

We hope you enjoy the new buses!