06/10/2008

• Hi-tech buses to run on 100% biofuel from sustainable recycled food waste
• Vehicles to feature leather seats, wi-fi, real time information, air conditioning
• Fleet to be supplied by Alexander Dennis, Scania, Volvo and Wrightbus

Stagecoach has placed a £3 million order for new state-of-the-art vehicles to operate on the longest and greenest guided busway in the world.

The new fleet of 20 vehicles, which will run on 100% biofuel produced from recycled food waste, will go into service on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway when it opens in April 2009.

Stagecoach has ordered 10 Eclipse/B7RLE single decker buses, which will be manufactured by Northern-Ireland-based Wrightbus and Volvo. It is the first major order placed by Stagecoach with Wrightbus.

A fleet of 10 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400/Scania N230UD double deckers have also been ordered by Stagecoach for the guided busway network.

All of the new specially-branded vehicles will be equipped with leather seats, air chill or air conditioning, real time information, and wi-fi to enable passengers to access email and the web on the move.

The buses will produce up to 80% less carbon emissions than vehicles using conventional diesel. Single decker vehicles will meet Euro 5 emissions standards, while the double deckers will feature Euro 4 engines.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "This is a major investment by Stagecoach in a project that we believe will bring significant economic, transport and environmental benefits to the Cambridgeshire region.

"The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway will improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and shopping for local people. By using 100% biofuel and equipping the vehicles with hi-spec features such as leather seats and wi-fi, we believe we will be able to attract current car users to a significantly greener, smarter travel option.”

Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, the 25km (16 mile) guided busway will provide a frequent, reliable, sustainable and attractive public transport alternative for people driving along the busy A14 between St Ives and Cambridge.

Stagecoach will offer two routes: St Ives-Addenbrookes-Trumpington, which includes a service to Cambridge railway station; and Huntingdon-Cambridge, with peak journeys to Huntingdon railway station.

From St Ives, it will offer a combined frequency of every 10 minutes from 7am to 7pm and the system will also include two new park and ride sites. The journey from St Ives to the Cambridge Science Park will take 20 minutes compared to unpredictable car journey times caused by severe congestion on the A14.

The scheme, which will cost a total of £116.2m, is being built as part of plans by the council to put in place facilities to meet the needs of thousands of new residents with more than 47,000 new houses expected to be built in the Cambridge area by 2016.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Matt Bradney, Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure, said: "This represents a major investment by Stagecoach in improving public transport in Cambridgeshire. We have seen just how successful working together has been for increasing bus passenger numbers.

“These new high quality vehicles, together with the many benefits provided by the guided busway, should revolutionise public transport between Huntingdon and Cambridge, making it easier for people whether they are going to work, visiting the hospital or shopping."

Stagecoach has seen huge growth in the number of people using its bus network in Cambridge over the past seven years. Passenger numbers have grown by over 100%, more than double the rate in London, on the citi network.

Around £11 million has been invested by Stagecoach in 100 new vehicles for the Cambridge bus network in the past seven years.

Bus use has been boosted by a strong partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and other local organisations and businesses, which has included the introduction of important bus priority measures.

In the past 12 months, Stagecoach has carried around 8.2 million passengers on its fleet of 67 buses covering seven citi routes. Across the wider Stagecoach Cambridge network, Stagecoach now carries 16.5 million passengers a year.

Since the original investment seven years ago, Stagecoach has worked closely with the County Council to improve the delivery of bus services in Cambridge. The bus network has grown to such an extent that there are currently 18 services an hour linking the city centre to the main railway station and 29 services an hour connecting the city centre with Addenbrooke’s Hospital, providing a major boost to integrated transport.

In addition to the growth of the citi network, the use of park and ride in Cambridge is booming, with the city’s five award-winning sites taking thousands of cars off the road every day. Stagecoach is now carrying around 3.5 million adult passengers a year on its park and ride services in Cambridge.

ENDS

For further information, contact:
Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications
Stagecoach Group
T: 01738 442111 (office) or 07764 774680 (mobile)
E: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus operators in the UK, running more than 7,000 vehicles in around 100 towns and cities from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to south-west England.