Six ultra-low emission buses will soon be serving bus passengers in Gedling borough thanks to a partnership between Nottingham City Transport (NCT) and manufacturer Wrightbus.
Representatives from NCT recently visited the Wrightbus factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, to look over the new StreetDeck Ultroliners that will be going into service on the operator’s long distance Pathfinder bus service between Nottingham, Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Southwell.
The new buses have free Wi-Fi and USB chargers installed. They also boast comfier seats, space for two wheelchairs, a table on the upper deck and improved accessibility features, including hearing loops and next stop displays that all customers can see.
Meeting stricter emission limits than the 2014-built buses they will replace, the six next generation StreetDeck Ultroliner buses are Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) accredited, with an 80% decrease in NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions and lower particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Anthony Carver-Smith, head of Marketing and Projects at NCT said: “We were very pleased to be able to visit the Wrightbus factory and see the new Ultroliners for ourselves before they enter service soon. The new buses represent a significant upgrade to the buses currently operating on the Pathfinder 26 route, which are more than a decade old.
“The new buses are cleaner and quieter and provide a much more pleasant experience for passengers on this long-distance route.”
Founded in 1946, Wrightbus employs 2,300 people across its operations, with a further 7,500 jobs in the supply chain.
John McLeister, Wrightbus MD of Sales for UK and Ireland, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the team from Nottingham City Transport to our factory in Northern Ireland and show them their new buses.
“We recognise that zero-emission buses are not suitable for every route, but through the combination of the latest technology both from our suppliers and from our teams in Ballymena we are able to produce a bus that keeps both noise and emissions to a minimum without compromising on passenger comfort.”
