Transdev Blazefield operation The Keighley Bus Company has started to place a batch of 15 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro battery-electric single-decks into service on route 662 between that town and Bradford.
The fleet of buses represents an investment of £6.6 million. Overall, the project including infrastructure has seen a spend of £4.5 million from Transdev Blazefield and £3 million via a successful bid by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.
Three of the buses are in service thus far. More will follow over coming weeks. The Shuttle eCitaro fleet follows an earlier delivery of the type to Transdev Blazefield business The Harrogate Bus Company, with the latest arrivals also to see route 67 between Keighley and Bradford move to zero-emission.
Transdev Blazefield Managing Director Henri Rohard notes how the new vehicles represent a major upgrade over existing Shuttle buses, “with many new design elements dramatically improving the customer experience.”
He adds that their internal specification has been developed based on customer feedback. Fast wi-fi is included along with USB charging, custom-designed seating in a part-leather, part-moquette trim, and hearing loops and twin full-colour audio-visual information screens to deliver PSV Accessible Information Regulations compliance.
The eCitaro fleet also has a full suite of safety features. Mr Rohard adds that rising installed energy capacity has allowed Transdev Blazefield to take further battery-electric buses. Selection of the eCitaro for Keighley followed evaluation of various types of battery-electric buses on the Shuttle route.
In addition to its two batches of Mercedes-Benz zero-emission buses, Transdev Blazefield has also taken the Citaro Hybrid for Flyer routes serving Leeds Bradford Airport. The operator’s Harrogate operation additionally has a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers for trunk route 36 to Leeds.
