ADL and Abellio alliance strengthens

With a recent delivery of 16 ADL Enviro400H double-deckers for Abellio London, the alliance between the operator and the manufacturer has strengthened.

The new hybrids will boost the Abellio London fleet towards the 800 mark, with a staggering 85% of those being made by ADL. Business between the two companies now totals over £100m since Alan Pilbeam, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy MD, joined Abellio UK in 2011.

Alan said: “Strategic partnerships are critical to our success. We need partners who are on the same wave-length, who can deliver products that are fuel-efficient, reliable, environmentally friendly, and who walk-the-talk in terms of price and after-market support. On all of these fronts, ADL has been with us every step of the way and has played a huge part in the expansion of our UK fleet by over 50% in the last few years. They share our values in terms of putting customers first, backing promises with actions and delivering the low-emission products of today, while investing in the technology of tomorrow.

“At Abellio we don’t just want to be the best, we want to be in a different league. That is why we’re always striving to be at the top of the operators’ performance table. Improved operational performance starts with getting the right people onboard; people who are passionate, self-disciplined and understand why compliance with the process is vital. Add foresight to that mix, setting challenging targets and timescales, and you have a winning combination.”

Commenting on where the next round of growth opportunities will emerge in the UK market for Abellio UK, Alan said: “I am very hopeful that the Bus Services Act will create a new generation of opportunities in cities across the UK. London, as we are all aware, operates in a regulatory bubble that gives the Mayor and TfL virtual autonomy, ensuring they design and operate a system that best meets the needs of the capital city. Giving similar responsibilities to other cities will encourage innovative thinking, inspirational projects and a new generation of transport solutions. Electric and driverless vehicles are also just around the corner, so they too will stimulate new challenges and opportunities. Governments, manufacturers, technology providers, operators and local authorities need to be thinking NOW about who will be responsible for what.”