Stagecoach has ordered 340 new coaches and buses worth around £70m. In the last 11 years the operator has spent over £1bn on new vehicles, delivering around 7,000 new coaches and buses to their UK fleets. 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.
Over half of the new vehicles will comply with the government’s Low Emission Bus Scheme, where two-thirds will be equipped with stop-start technology to help improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions. This in turn makes Stagecoach eligible for a Bus Service Operators Grant.
Additionally, all 340 vehicles will be equipped with CCTV, USB charging points and most will have free Icomera Wi-Fi.
Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “Our focus is on delivering practical improvements to make travel even better for our customers. We are continuing to re-invest money from fares in state-of-the-art, cleaner, greener vehicles, digital technology and smart ticketing to 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.
“Local bus services are the backbone of the country’s transport networks. However, the increasing problem of traffic congestion in our towns and cities is holding buses back and it is high time our politicians stepped up and took action to support bus passengers and free up road space to help bus networks flourish.”
The latest orders follow an annual competitive tendering process and the first of the new vehicles are being delivered from Spring 2017.
