Stagecoach invests £52m in 520 new vehicles

Double deckers, single deckers, minibuses and coaches amongst vehicles to be supplied

Stagecoach Group is investing £52m on buying and leasing a total of more than 520 new buses and coaches for its operations across the UK in 2011-12.

360 new buses and coaches for the coming financial year will be introduced in the company’s regional bus networks across the UK, further improving the standard of travel for passengers in Scotland, England and Wales.

Stagecoach has also confirmed plans to lease more than 160 new state-of-the-art vehicles for its bus operations in London, which were acquired in October 2010.

The new orders follow an annual tendering process and all of the vehicles meet the latest Euro 5 emissions standards.

The company's investment in new vehicles outside London over four years will now reach nearly £290m.

Vehicle manufacturers ADL, Scania, Plaxton and Volvo will supply a total of 131 double-deckers, 74 single-deckers, 127 midibuses, 28 coaches and 64 Hybrid vehicles to UK Bus operations outside London, and 124 double deckers and 39 midibuses to London Bus operations.

The new vehicles are expected to go into service by April 2012.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "Minimising carbon emissions is a key factor in our investment programme. We want to play our part in reducing the impact of travel on the environment."

"We believe there is a big opportunity to attract car users to the benefits of greener, smarter bus travel and cut our own carbon footprint."

Further information:
Stagecoach Bus