Bus operator First and City of York Council have today officially launched a free WI-FI service for tens of thousands of bus users thanks to York’s share of £50 million from the government’s Super-Connected Cities programme fund.

From this week every York Park&Ride bus service together with 15 buses running local services now provide a free WI-FI service following an award of £320k of government funding to City of York Council to help deliver Wi-Fi on public transport in York. The scheme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), as part of York’s status as one of 22 SuperConnected Cities.

In total the free Wi-Fi facility has been installed on 47 vehicles (nearly half the First York fleet) which serve all six Park & Ride sites together with buses that run on parallel local bus services.

Although the equipment will be owned by the council, First will manage the service and after two years the operator can purchase the equipment from the council at a market rate.

To find out more about the Super-Connected cities programme visit: www.yorkmeansbusiness.com/digital-york/public-transport-wi-fi.aspx

Find out more about bus improvements to York’s services at http://www.itravelyork.info.buses/