McGill’s Group subsidiary Midland Bluebird will take delivery of 30 Yutong battery-electric single-deck buses for the former First Scotland East depot at Larbert, it has announced.
Those vehicles will follow many existing Yutongs that have been delivered to the McGill’s Buses fleet to the west of Glasgow. They will be to what the operator says is a high specification and be accompanied by infrastructure work at Larbert to support them.
Purchase of the Yutong zero-emission buses is part of what McGill’s adds is an ongoing “remarkable transformation” of the Midland Bluebird business, which it claims has delivered 8% year-on-year patronage growth. They are due in service “soon.”
McGill’s Group Director and co-owner James Easdale notes that he and his brother Sandy “are not just ready to acquire other operators to bring into the group, we are also committed to driving these businesses forward once under our control.”
Mr Easdale adds that the brothers’ focus “has always been on innovation and sustainability, and this investment underscores our commitment to providing high-quality public transport across Scotland.”
Battery-electrics already in service elsewhere within McGill’s Group have “proved immensely popular with passengers,” a statement continues.
The Midland Bluebird procurement represents an investment of £14 million. Some of that is coming from the second tranche of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund, via which McGill’s Group will overall deploy 42 vehicles and infrastructure. The other 12 will be placed with its Xplore Dundee business.
McGill’s Buses CEO Tony Williamson adds that fleet upgrades sit alongside network enhancements and driver recruitment as work being done to develop the Midland Bluebird operation, which the independent group purchased from First Bus in 2022.
“Our strong passenger growth is proof that these efforts are making a difference. Now, with the launch of our electric bus fleet, we are taking another major step in delivering cleaner, greener and more comfortable transport for the communities we serve.”
