First provincial E400 Citys go to Blackpool

Blackpool Transport is to invest over £2m in a fleet of ten Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) Enviro400 City buses. This is the second significant order for this recently launched model, the first being 19 for Arriva London. The 10.5m double decks will have e-leather seats, a glazed stairwell, wood effect floors, Wi-Fi, USB charging points and ‘next stop’ visual and audio announcements. Seating arrangements include 27 seats and a wheelchair location on the lower deck with 45 seats in the upper level. Powered by Euro6 engines, they are complete with fuel saving ‘smart accessories’ and stop-start capability. They are to be delivered in the summer and will be the first one-door variants of the new City bus. They will operate on the high profile Palladium service (Route 9), between Blackpool town centre and Cleveleys, replacing five Volvo Olympian double deckers and five Optare Solos. ADL is now in discussions with a number of other bus operators, both in London and wider afield, with a view to securing further City bus orders.

MD of Blackpool Transport, Jane Cole, said, ‘The introduction of these leading-edge vehicles forms part of our ongoing investment in modern buses. Our aim is to enhance the customer experience, provide value-for-money and encourage people out of their cars and onto public transport. The ADL City bus is a stunning, high performance, eco-friendly vehicle that sets the pace and reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and further enhancement of the passenger experience.’

Sales Director ADL Retail Bus and Coach, Richard Matthews, said, ‘We are delighted to be working with Blackpool Transport on this break through contract. They will be the first transport operator in the country to introduce the one-door 72-seat variant of the Enviro400 City, which we launched just a few months ago. As we said at the time, it brings together style and innovation. In addition to the latest low emission technology, it introduces a whole range of new features. The glazed stairwell is obviously a big attraction, as is the wrap-around driver’s windscreen with the wipers recessed at the top. Customers are also intrigued by the combination of the shallow upper deck front window, which – along with hopper windows and other design features – significantly reduces solar heat on warm, sunny days. And, of course, our unique QRG (quick release glazing) continues to be as popular as ever.’

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cookies

This site uses some unobtrusive cookies to store information on your computer, these are in place to ensure that you receive the best possible experience when using the Bus & Coach Buyer website.