A community transport charity has invested £850,000 in a fleet of buses and taken on 18 staff to take over four bus routes.
West Norfolk Community Transport is launching a commercial arm Go To Town to operate four busy routes previously run by Stagecoach in King's Lynn.
Profits will be ploughed back into charitable operations, such as Dial-a-Bus and door-to-door transport for people who cannot access public transport because of mobility issues.
From Sunday, the Hardwick-based company will be running services to and from the town centre from North Lynn, North and South Wootton, the Grange/Pandora and Gaywood Park.
Chief executive Howard Russell said it had invested £850,000 in nine brand new environmentally-friedly buses which created less emissions than a diesel car. He said staff had been employed and were now being trained.
'We've recruited 14 new drivers, a bus mechanic, two supervisors and a bus cleaner as well,' he added. 'In total we've created 18 new jobs.
'We're pleased with our new team of drivers and our low emission buses. Importantly our commitment to hand any financuial surpluses we make on these routes to our charity division remains from day one.'
New fares and tickets are being introduced. The standard adult fare will be £2, with a LynnGo day ticket for as many journeys as you want to make for £3.20. There will also be a £10 weekly ticket offering seven days' unlimited travel.
Children under 16 will pay half fare, while 16-20 year olds and Young Persons Railcard holders will get 25pc off.
Timetables are available at Lynn bus station, or via www.wnct.co.uk.
Stagecoach announced in January it planned to close it's depot in King's Lynn, which employed more than 100.
It blamed rising costs for the decision and uncertainty over public sector budgets.
But rival operator Lynx said it would take over some services given up by Stagecoach, including the popular Coasthopper.
It said that it would offer jobs to drivers made redundant by Stagecoach's departure from West Norfolk.
Lynx launched in 2015 running an hourly service between Lynn and Hunstanton. It now operates three services an hour on the route.
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