National
Express has purchased five Wrightbus
Streetdecks with Euro 6 engines for their services.
From Wrightbus
National Express has taken
delivery of five new StreetDeck Euro 6 buses, the first time the company has
ordered this type of double deck vehicle from Wrightbus.
Ian Downie, MD of Sales for
Wrightbus, said: “We’re particularly excited to deliver these five new
StreetDecks to National Express as they are the first vehicles of this type
they have taken and we are pleased to see them enter service with their
existing West Midlands fleet on routes in and around Birmingham.”
Built to meet National Express’ ‘Crimson’ specification,
each bus is fully low carbon compliant, has a Daimler Euro 6 engine and a Voith 854.6 gearbox. Also fitted is Wrightbus’ exclusive ‘Micro
Hybrid’ version 2 system which adds additional energy saving benefits. The total
passenger capacity is 100, allowing for 74 seated and 26 standing. A dedicated wheelchair space is included
which, when in use, alters the seating ratio to 68 and 31 respectively. The 12
camera CCTV system provides additional security for all bus users.
Increasingly passenger comfort
and convenience are top of National Express’ agenda and the new buses all
feature several benefits, such as two dedicated monitors which indicate
available seating throughout the vehicle, LED blind destination displays and
tinted windows with anti-vandal film on all glazing.
Paul Thomas, Chief Operating
Officer for National Express, said: “We particularly liked the look of the
StreetDeck and believe it offers an excellent choice for us, both in terms of
operational performance and passenger experience.
“We are also pleased to be
working with Wrightbus again on the specification and purchase of our new
buses. As a company, they demonstrate a
clear determination to develop vehicles which utilise the latest technologies
and techniques, while seeking new ways of achieving operational efficiencies
and enhanced environmental performance. We’re confident the new StreetDecks
will be well received by our operational team and passengers alike.”
Wrightbus has developed the Micro Hybrid system as an energy saving
device which takes energy generated from a bus’s braking system and recycles it
to power the pneumatics, hydraulic and electrical systems. In normal
circumstances, this energy would have been drawn from the bus’ engine and this
results in a fuel consumption of up to
10% compared to buses that are not fitted with Micro Hybrid. It is
estimated that substantial savings over the typical 15-year operational service life of the bus can be achieved
with its use.
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