A fleet of new green buses to carry passengers between Weymouth and Dorchester has been launched.

The First Wessex team was at Weymouth Pavilion to launch the firm's 14 new buses which will operate on the number 2 and number 10 services from Weymouth to Littlemoor and Dorchester. 

The new vehicles represent a step-up in quality with leather seats on the inside, free Wi-Fi, and a Euro 6 engine inside making them the most environmentally-friendly buses on the roads. 

Each bus can carry 39 seated and 59 standing passengers with space for one wheelchair or buggy and space for single buggies to travel beside single seats at the front.

Conservative candidate for South Dorset Richard Drax and Green Party candidate Dr Jon Orrell attended the launch.

First Wessex’s General Manager, Simon Newport, said: “In recent years we have invested heavily in the Dorchester Road corridor between Weymouth, Littlemoor and Dorchester during most of the week we have bus operating every 5 minutes. Service 10 now also operates every 10 minutes providing the best service ever for commuters to Dorchester. 

“We have reflected the area we serve inside the bus with very eye-catching and the interiors will include bespoke livery showing off some of the best scenery Weymouth as to offer. We’re looking forward to celebrating these new buses with the community that will greatly benefit from them.”

Following the launch, the bus operator held a customer forum offering passengers the opportunity to speak to the team and raise any concerns about their bus services. 

Mr Newport added: “We’ve got exciting new services coming this summer that we’re look forward for to speaking about, alongside getting feedback from our passengers about their experiences.

"Customer feedback is integral to our business and it always warmly received. We use it as the foundation of any decision we make when we look to improve the services and routes that our passengers rely on.”

As well as new buses on the 2 and 10 routes, First Wessex is also launching a new hourly seafront route between Weymouth and Bowleaze Cove on Sunday, May 21 which will run until September.