Go North East, the region’s largest bus company, is celebrating Clean Air Day with the announcement of a £12m investment in 54 high-specification environmentally friendly buses to help revolutionise bus travel across the region.
The order from Go North East includes the region’s first latest generation zero-emissions full electric single-deck buses, with 9 now confirmed from the world’s largest electric bus manufacturer, Yutong, as well as 34 of the latest low-emission Euro 6 engined double-deck buses and 11 single-deck buses from UK based manufacturers Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis.
The buses will start to enter service from September, with the electric buses arriving in July next year. The double-deckers will be part of the bus operator’s recently announced ‘X-lines’ concept for its fastest and most direct commuter and express traveller services into the North East’s cities including Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland.
Customers on the current Red Kite 45, 46 and 47 and Toon Link X30, X31, X70 and X71 services can look forward to the new ‘gold standard’ of express bus travel, with more seats and onboard facilities as these become the next part of the company’s X-lines network.
Local passengers on Gateshead and Newcastle Green Arrow route 97 will also benefit from brand new upgraded single-deck buses, whilst the first electric buses will be used on the Saltwell Park to Gateshead and Newcastle routes 53 and 54.
The buses will feature comfortable high-backed seating, modern interiors with tables, USB charging points, free Wi-Fi and next stop audio-visual passenger information systems.
Go North East is keen to make it clear that buses are part of the solution, not the problem, when it comes to improving air quality, with continued investment in environmentally friendly buses.
Commenting on the investment, Martijn Gilbert, Go North East’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing these buses into the Go North East fleet and further improving services for our customers.
“We have worked with the manufacturers to develop a class leading specification that will help revolutionise local bus travel on our services, helping to make them an even more viable alternative to many car journeys.”