Passengers travelling between Nottingham and Southwell on Nottingham City Transport’s (NCT) Pathfinder 26 service, are now enjoying a luxurious upgrade, following the introduction of brand new, high quality double decker buses.
The six ultra-low emission buses were built by leading UK manufacturer Wrightbus at its factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and represent a significant upgrade to the vehicles previously operating on the route.
Built to Nottingham City Transport’s high specification, the new buses include free Wi-Fi, USB charging points, improved seating and a table on the upper deck. Accessibility features include an extra wheelchair bay – making these the first buses in Nottingham with two wheelchair bays – as well as hearing loops and next stop audio and visual announcements to help ensure the buses are easier to use for all customers.
The buses boast a bespoke exterior livery celebrating the scenic route travelled by the Pathfinder 26 service. The artwork reflects landmarks and landscapes along the route between Nottingham, Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Southwell, highlighting the countryside and heritage of the communities the service connects. Landmarks such as Southwell Minster, Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst Campus and views of the River Trent are among those reflected in the design.
Meeting stricter emission limits than the 2014-built buses they replaced, the six next generation StreetDeck Ultroliner buses are Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) accredited, with an 80% decrease in NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions and lower particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Anthony Carver-Smith, Head of Marketing and Projects at NCT said:
“We’re delighted to see our new Pathfinder double deck buses take to the roads, offering a much more pleasant experience for passengers on this long distance route. The feedback so far from customers has been very positive, with the addition of a table, comfier seats and a second wheelchair bay particularly popular”.
John McLeister, Wrightbus MD of Sales for UK and Ireland, said:
“It’s been a pleasure to work with NCT to get these ultra-low emission buses onto the streets of Nottingham. These StreetDeck Ultroliners have been designed and manufactured in the UK, and feature the very latest technology to keep both noise and emissions to a minimum, without compromising on passenger comfort.”
Alongside the new buses operating on the Pathfinder 26 route, two additional vehicles are also used on the Lilac 24 service to Victoria Retail Park, allowing more customers to benefit from the upgraded buses.
Posted on 23 March 2026
