Buses leased for London
By Antonio Fabrizio
13 January 2011
Stagecoach Group will lease 160 new buses for
its London operations. The new vehicles are part of a
multi-million-pound plan to renew and expand the bus operator’s
fleet nationwide.
A total of 520 new vehicles are being ordered
for the UK, with 360 buses and coaches purchased for operations
across the country. The leased vehicles will mainly operate in
London.
A spokesperson said: “In London, we operate
contracts on behalf of Transport for London. These tend to be for
five years using buses to a particular specification, so it makes
sense to lease rather than buy.”
A total of 356 vehicles
in Stagecoach's London business are currently covered by
leases. Another 57 coaches are on lease in locations outside
London.
The new buses to be used in London are ADL
Enviro 400 double-deckers are ADL Enviro 200 midibuses. The latest
order follows an investment in 60 hybrid electric buses, which was
announced last year. It will mean Stagecoach is now buying or
leasing more than 580 new buses and coaches for the UK in the
2011-12 financial year.
All of the vehicles meet Euro 5 emissions
standards. Stagecoach UK Bus managing director Les Warneford 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.”
The new orders follow an annual tendering
process. As the leasing arrangements are not yet finalised, no
details could be provided on the final value of the deal or the
name of the winning companies.
Antonio
Fabrizio