Stagecoach orders £3million guided buses

BUS operator Stagecoach is set to spend £3million on air-conditioned guided buses that will run on 100 per cent bio-fuel. The order is for a fleet of 20 vehicles – 10 single-decker and 10 double-decker – with leather seats, wi-fi, real time information, a

BUS operator Stagecoach is set to spend £3million on air-conditioned guided buses that will run on 100 per cent bio-fuel.

The order is for a fleet of 20 vehicles - 10 single-decker and 10 double-decker - with leather seats, wi-fi, real time information, air conditioning.

They will enter service when the £116million St Ives-Cambridge guideway opens next spring on the route of the former railway line.

For the anoraks, Stagecoach has ordered 10 Eclipse/B7RLE single-decker buses, which will be manufactured by Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus and Volvo, and 10 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400/Scania N230UD double-deckers.

The buses will produce up to 80 per cent less carbon emissions than vehicles using conventional diesel. Single-decker vehicles will meet Euro 5 emissions standards, while the double-deckers will feature Euro 4 engines.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "This is a major investment by Stagecoach in a project that we believe will bring significant economic, transport and environmental benefits to Cambridgeshire.

"The guided busway will improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and shopping for local people. By using 100 per cent bio-fuel and equipping the vehicles with hi-spec features such as leather seats and wif-fi, we believe we will be able to attract current car users to a significantly greener, smarter travel option."

Whippet Coaches director Peter Lee said he was not yet in a position to decide on an order.