Gas buses ‘operating faultlessly’

Reading Buses CEO, James Freeman, has said the 11 ADL bodied Scania gas buses in his fleet ‘have been operating faultlessly’ over the four months they have been in operation. They are being used on Reading Borough Council’s greenwave routes. It is three months since the rest of the 20 strong gas bus fleet were put into service on its scarlet 9 and bronze 11 routes. Within a few weeks, a gas compression station will be in operation, eliminating the company’s need for tankers to deliver the gas to fuel these vehicles.

James said, ‘It makes a pleasant change when a fleet of new buses works within the box. And it’s even better when those new buses incorporate a brand new technology. Scania told us that with fewer than 40 parts different from the standard diesel version the gas buses would be easy to operate and we are really delighted with their performance to date. The careful work put in by body builders ADL into the detailed design of some of the features, especially the arrangement of the driver’s cab and entrance, has been welcomed by drivers. The gas buses are cleaner and smoother and cheaper to run. Another 14 similar vehicles are on order for delivery in March 2014. This will bring the proportion of green buses, both electric hybrid and diesel, to almost half the Reading Buses fleet which must make it one of the greenest fleets in the country.’