Skylink (bus service)
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox bus transit
|name = Skylink
|logo =
|image = YX20 OHG.jpg
|image_caption = A Skylink branded ADL Enviro200MMC in Loughborough in 2023.
|company_slogan = #FlySkylink
|operator = Trentbarton
Kinchbus
|founded =
|service_area = East Midlands Airport
Nottinghamshire
Leicester
Coalville
Loughborough
|service_type = Bus services
|depots = Nottingham and Loughborough
|stations = St Margaret's Bus Station
Derby Bus Station
East Midlands Airport
|fleet = 23 Enviro200 MMC , and 3 Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
|ceo =
|website = {{URL| https://www.trentbarton.co.uk/services/skylinkclifton}}
}}
Skylink is the brand name for bus services that serve East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire. Services are operated by Kinchbus and Trentbarton, both a part of the Derbyshire-based Wellglade Group.
History
Nottingham City Transport previously operated the Skylink Nottingham service until 2012 when the service was replaced by a new Skylink service operated by trentbarton via Long Eaton, which also replaced the indigo service between Long Eaton and Loughborough via East Midlands Airport and Sutton Bonington that ran between 2002 and 2012.
Following a local petition,{{Cite web|last=Jarram|first=Matt|date=2014-12-13|title=Petition launched to get Skylink stop for Shepshed|url=http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/petition-launched-skylink-stop-shepshed-8266019|access-date=2021-06-17|website=loughborough|language=en}} an hourly extension service to Coalville via Shepshed was introduced in September 2015.
Kinchbus have operated the Skylink service between Leicester and Derby since 2008. Prior to 2008, route was originally called AirLine Shuttle, and ran between Loughborough and Long Eaton then Derby via the airport.{{Cite web|title=Vehicle Operator Licensing|url=https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/4032/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk}}
Arriva Midlands previously operated a limited-stop service (coloured light green) between Leicester and the airport via New Parks and the M1 between 2006 and 2009; this service was replaced by an extension of the now branded Skylink Derby service which runs down the A6 to Leicester via Birstall.
=2022 service changes=
During August 2022, Trent Barton and Kinchbus announced from 2 October 2022 that Skylink routes would undergo an overhaul;{{cite web|url=https://www.trentbarton.co.uk/servicechangesOct22|title= Skylink 2022 changes}}{{Cite web |last=Garrett |first=Lee |date=2022-09-12 |title=Under-threat airport bus route saved from axe |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/skylink-bus-route-linking-loughborough-7574549 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}} Skylink Derby buses ceased to serve Long Whatton and Diseworth from 3 October 2022. During September 2022, funding from Leicestershire County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council halted plans to withdraw all journeys of the Skylink Nottingham between EMA Gateway and Loughborough alongside journeys between EMA Gateway and Coalville operating overnight between 8pm and 5am would be withdrawn, the funding lasted until April 2023 when the changes were implemented. {{Cite web |last=Moorhouse |first=Sam |date=2023-02-27 |title=Crucial cross-county Skylink bus 'must be saved' say residents |url=https://westbridgfordwire.com/crucial-cross-county-skylink-bus-must-be-saved-say-residents/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=West Bridgford Wire |language=en-GB}} These were withdrawn from 15 May 2023.{{Cite web |title=Student news - Changes to bus services - University of Nottingham |url=https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/currentstudents/news/changes-to-bus-services |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=www.nottingham.ac.uk}}
Services
File:Trentbarton 662 (FN54 AEZ).jpg
Skylink buses operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week on the Leicester/Derby and Nottingham routes, the Skylink Express buses no longer operate overnight but do operate from 4am until midnight.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Service !Route |
| style="background: yellow"|Skylink Leicester & Derby
|Leicester (St Margaret's Bus Station) - Birstall - Loughborough - Kegworth - East Midlands Airport - Castle Donington- Shardlow - Alvaston - Derby {{cite web | url=https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/services/skylink-derby/service-map | title=Service map - skylink Derby - operated by Kinchbus }} |
|---|
| style="background:#0da2ff"|Skylink Nottingham
|Nottingham - Beeston - Long Eaton - Castle Donington - East Midlands Airport - some daytime journeys then continue hourly to Coalville via Shepshed;{{cite web | url=https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/services/skylink-nottingham/service-map | title=Service map - skylink Nottingham - operated by Kinchbus }} all other journeys terminate at East Midlands Gateway. |
| style="background: grey"|Skylink Express
|Nottingham - Clifton - fast along Remembrance Way - East Midlands Airport {{cite web | url=https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/services/skylink-nottingham/service-map | title=Service map - skylink Nottingham - operated by Kinchbus }} |
Although not a part of Skylink brand, trentbarton also operate half-hourly extensions to East Midlands Airport on their My15 route between Ilkeston and New Sawley, while Diamond East Midlands extended their service AirLine 9 to East Midlands Airport in 2019, connecting the airport with Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Swadlincote and Burton-upon-Trent..{{Cite web|title=welcome - my15 - run by trentbarton|url=https://www.trentbarton.co.uk/services/15/welcome|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.trentbarton.co.uk}}
On 31 March 2024, Kinchbus increased the frequency of the Leicester-Derby service to every 15 minutes during the Monday to Saturday daytimes, an additional four vehicles are being refurbished from the trentbarton fleet.{{Cite web|title=Skylink Changes March 2024|url=https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/news-and-media/our-news/article/timetablechanges31March2024|access-date=2024-03-27|website=www.kinchbus.co.uk}}
File:Skylink bus and old milestone, East Midlands Airport (geograph 6187469).jpg
File:Bus at East Midlands Airport - geograph.org.uk - 3017816.jpg
Fleet
Skylink Nottingham operates with ten Enviro200 MMCs, Skylink Express operates with three Wright Eclipse Urban buses
Kinchbus operate 13 branded Enviro200MMCs on the Leicester-Derby service alongside an additional four MANGO branded vehicles which were added from the trentbarton fleet for the March 2024 frequency increase.{{Cite web|title=Fleet News|url=http://www.derbybusdepot.co.uk/fleetnews.html|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.derbybusdepot.co.uk}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-03|title=Alexander Dennis secures order for green buses|url=https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/03/alexander-dennis-secures-order-for-green-buses/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=Daily Business|language=en-GB}} These new buses replaced Mercedes-Benz Citaro's.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Leicestershire buses|state=expanded}}
{{Wellglade Group|state=expanded}}
Category:Bus routes in England