Stagecoach plans £80 million new vehicle orders to deliver better mobility and air quality

Stagecoach Group today (20 May 2019) announced planned new vehicle orders worth more than £80million to help tackle the twin challenges of car congestion and air quality.

More than 350 new buses and coaches ordered across UK
Planned orders include 48 electric buses for Manchester and South Wales
Mix of local buses with latest Euro 6 emissions standards and state-of-the-art coaches due for delivery this year
Local authorities urged to match private sector investment with measures to tackle road congestion.

A new fleet of 351 cleaner, greener vehicles, will be introduced in the coming 2019-20 financial year as the company invests further in to improve services for customers in communities across the UK.

The brand new buses and coaches will be introduced in Stagecoach's regional networks in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as on the company’s megabus.com network in the UK.

The planned orders include 48 electric buses which are being part-funded by the UK Government’s Green Bus Fund and – once orders are finalised – will go into service in Manchester and South Wales.

Virtually all of the new vehicles meet the Government’s Low Carbon Emission Bus specification, with a mixture of electric vehicle technology and the latest Euro 6 emissions standard engines.

Most of the new vehicles are set to be built in the UK, helping to support hundreds of British manufacturing jobs and smaller businesses in the supply chain.

Around three quarters of the new vehicles will be fitted with audio visual display systems which provide next-stop information. Each of the new vehicles will also be fitted with CCTV, and USB charging points, while most will also have wi-fi installed, giving customers free internet access during their journeys. The new vehicles are expected to go into service this year.

The latest investment includes 131 low-floor double-decker vehicles to go into service across the UK, as well as around 95 single deck vehicles and 28 midibuses.

Also included are a fleet of 12 new double deck vehicles for the Cambridge Guided Busway, delivering more capacity than ever before, carrying 100 passengers. There are also 22 coaches for the Group’s UK Bus, Scottish Citylink and megabus.com operations.

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “This is a huge investment by the private sector in providing better mobility and better air quality in local communities. It follows other significant investment that we’ve made in smart ticketing, improved information for customers and digital technology.

“Delivering better bus services is a shared responsibility and it is absolutely essential that this commitment is matched by urgent action by local authorities to address the growing gridlock in our towns and cities. Without action on congestion, local people will not enjoy the full benefits of this investment and people’s quality of life, health and our economy will continue to be damaged by too many cars on the road.”

Details of the new orders are as follows:

131 ADL MMC E400 double-deckers
95 ADL MMC E200 single-deckers
28 ADL MMC E200 midibuses
12 ADL MMC E400 XLB Volvo B8L double deckers
32 ADL MMC City E400 BYD Electric Bus double deckers
12 Optare Metrocity Electric Bus single deckers
4 Optare Solo Electric Bus mini-buses
14 Plaxton Panorama Volvo B11Rle double deck coaches
8 Caetano Levante Volvo B11R coaches
12 MCV Volco B8RLE single deckers
3 Optare Solo mini-buses

In the most recent Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey carried out by independent watchdog Transport Focus reported that 90% of Stagecoach customers in England, and 92% of Stagecoach customers in Scotland, were satisfied with their journey.

For further information about Stagecoach bus services, visit www.stagecoachbus.com.

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For media enquiries, please contact: Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS