Leading UK bus operators FirstGroup and Stagecoach have both recently announced large investments in new vehicles. Stagecoach has ordered 480 new buses and coaches worth £97 million, and FirstGroup have ordered 305 new buses worth £70 million.
Over 70% of the new Stagecoach vehicles will feature free Icomera Passenger Wi-Fi, while all of the new First Bus buses will feature onboard Wi-Fi from Icomera. Both companies already have Icomera Wi-Fi on a large proportion on their fleets, contributing to Icomera’s position as the number one supplier of Passenger Wi-Fi to the high-end UK bus market.
Both companies will be rolling out greener buses with comfortable interiors fulfilling all the requirements of the modern passenger. In addition, many of the buses and their components will be built in the UK, affirming both operators’ commitment to supporting British manufacturing.
Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, Martin Griffiths, said, ‘Everything we do is about making travel even better for our customers. We are investing in state-of-the-art, cleaner, greener vehicles, digital technology and smart ticketing to raise the bar and deliver an even higher standard of service. These latest vehicle orders are an important part of our strategy to encourage even more people to take the bus.’
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus, said, “We are determined to make the bus a more compelling proposition, attract more customers and grow our business. Ensuring that our customers travel in modern, comfortable, fit for purpose vehicles which provide added value such as free Wi-Fi and USB charging is pivotal to our customer engagement strategy and our future success.”
