By Leah Conway –
Team Pennine’s Kirkheaton Quick bus will celebrate the historical achievements of Kirkheaton’s cricket hero Allen Hill.
The current two-tone pink single-decker has already gathered popularity with customers since it first took to the road in September. Its recent numbers have beat the bus operator, Team Pennine’s, initiation expectations.
The team has now agreed on the name for the bus. The winning suggestion was Allen Hill, who was born in Kirkheaton in 1845.
Allen Hill was a cricketer who played in the first-ever cricket Test and took the first wicket. Hill had a successful test and international career and later in his life became an umpire once he retired.
“Kirkheaton’s most famous son”
Team Pennine CEO Alex Hornby said, “What better than Kirkheaton’s local bus being named after Kirkheaton’s most famous son, as voted by Kirkheaton residents.
“We asked customers for a memorable name for our Kirkheaton Quick bus, to help it stand out even more on the road in Huddersfield and create even stronger links with the people we are proud to serve.
“The Kirkheaton Quick route was first put forward in our consultation with local residents, who told us they weren’t happy with existing bus routes run by others which didn’t serve their area properly.
“In its first few months, the route has proved to be a success, with rising customer numbers ahead of expectations. The naming of the Kirkheaton Quick bus after Allen Hill builds on our positive relationship with the people of Kirkheaton and reflects the pride of this West Yorkshire community.”
The bus runs the Kirkheaton Quick route, which runs every hour, six days a week between Upper Heaton, Kirkheaton, Waterloo and Huddersfield.
Read more: Team Pennine invites motorist to take the wheel of a bus