Volvo and ADL combine for Stagecoach

Stagecoach East Scotland has launched 18 new Volvo B5LH hybrids with ADL’s latest double deck MMC bodywork in Dundee. They are the first ADL group bodied Volvo service buses for Stagecoach since Alexander RL bodied Olympians were introduced into the fleet in 1999. The new vehicles are for the high frequency Tayway 73 route connecting Dundee city centre with Ninewells Hospital, Monifieth, Carnoustie and Arbroath. The service features conductors onboard and remains one of the few in the UK to have these. It operates every ten minutes on Mondays to Fridays, every 20 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The vehicles are based at the operator’s Arbroath and Dundee depots.

The new 79-seater buses mark an investment by Stagecoach East Scotland of around £5.3m and follow a £2.4m spend on high specification Volvo B11R Plaxton coaches for the Coastrider X7 route in November 2014. Transport Scotland’s Green Bus Fund provided £1.4m towards the cost of the latest buses.

MD, Stagecoach East Scotland, Andrew Jarvis, said, ‘The route is an unusual mix of a dense urban service with steep hills, some city centre running where air quality is key and then on to suburban housing with some interurban running at the route’s very end. We felt the parallel hybrid system from Volvo with the B5LH offered the best match to the nature of the route. Our huge investment in the last 6 months shows we’re not only committed to improving public transport in Dundee and Angus, we’re also determined to reduce our overall environmental impact.’

Volvo Bus Commercial Sales Director, Phil Owen, said, ‘We have worked in partnership with body builders ADL to supply Stagecoach with 18 new B5LH double deck buses with the new MMC body. In addition to substantially reducing emissions, the B5LH is proven to deliver consistent fuel savings and high reliability. This is due to the complete integration of the engine and the hybrid systems.’

 

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