AS part of a £1.5 million pound investment, a fleet of new Red Diamond buses will be operating in the town.

There are now 22 Red buses, including 12 state-of-the-art buses, operating on the 55A, 55B, 56A, 56B and 57/58 routes.

The 12 new buses, each costing £120,000, are the latest models and feature low floor access, internal and external CCTV, and engines regarded as the most environmentally friendly in Europe.

Austin Birks, commercial manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working with partners in the town to develop the next generation of the public transport agenda and are particularly pleased that the name, which was for generations synonymous with bus users in the Midlands, namely Midland Red, has been honoured in the choice of the brand name Red Diamond, combining the best of the past with the innovation of the future.”

He added: “Redditch has reached a new milestone in public transport, there is now a comprehensive network of quality bus services available at extremely low prices. We believe we can make the motorist think about using the bus, in fact if you want to think green, then think Red.”

Timetables are available from the cafe in the bus station, the Church Road depot, and the information stand in the Kingfisher Centre.