Lothian Buses has made its first order for Euro 6 double-decker buses
Following a two month trial with an evaluation vehicle, which was first reported in CBW1131, a total of 25 new Wrightbus Gemini 3-bodied Volvo B5TL double deckers have been ordered by the Edinburgh-based operator.
Optimised for the particular requirements of operation in and around the Scottish capital, each bus will be built to 11.4m in length with a passenger capacity of 90. This is 0.9m longer than the demonstrator vehicle, which had a seating capacity of 73. This fits Lothian Buses’ standard practice of ordering long wheelbase vehicles.
The new buses include dedicated wheelchair and buggy areas, coloured LED destination information display equipment, WiFi and a CCTV system, along with a distinctive full length glass feature on the exterior of the staircase as seen on the demonstrator bus.
Delivery of all 25 vehicles is expected before the end of the year. Ian Craig, Chief Executive for Lothian Buses, said: “We pride ourselves on the quality of our operational standards, which is in line with our reputation for having one of the most modern fleets in the UK and are looking forward to taking delivery of these new, stateof- the-art buses later this year. As well as providing all the facilities and comforts our customers have come to expect, they can be confident that they are travelling in a vehicle with extremely low emissions, therefore lessening our impact to the city’s environment.”
Group Managing Director of Wrightbus, Mark Nodder, added: “After the success of the trial period, we’re confident the new Gemini 3 buses will prove to be highly successful in operation and at the same time be well received by Lothian Buses’ passengers.”
