Hybrid buses will replace the ageing Dennis Tridents and Volvo B7TLs on Skegness seaside open top routes next summer
Stagecoach East Midlands has confirmed to CBW that it is planning to replace its popular Skegness Seasider fleet for the 2024 season. The open top buses carried around one million passengers during the main 2023 season with buses linking Skegness transport interchange with the town’s sea front, Butlins, Fantasy Island theme park and a number of caravan parks.
The existing fleet of 11 Dennis Tridents and Volvo B7TLs is being retired and the sole Alexander Dennis Enviro400 which has been in use will be transferred to become the Lincoln tour bus.
The oldest Tridents date from 1999 and are from the first batch of Tridents bought by Stagecoach and placed in service in London. Also included are Dennis Tridents which were new to Stagecoach’s Grimsby-Cleethorpes operation in 1999.
They are being replaced by ADL Enviro400H hybrid vehicles which are being transferred from Manchester and will be converted to open top. The use of these hybrid vehicles will provide a significant reduction in kerbside carbon emissions in the busy tourist areas of central Skegness and along the sea front as well as reduced fuel consumption.
Stagecoach East Midlands says it is finalising the specification for the converted hybrid vehicles, which will continue the character theme that has proved highly successful for the area. Under consideration is improving the luggage stowage area on board and also providing an additional wheelchair area on each vehicle.
