Wrightbus will soon deliver the first examples of its next-generation StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-decker with Cummins power to Isle of Man operator Bus Vannin, which has committed to six of the type.
They are the first new double-decks bought by the Isle of Man Government-owned operator since the pandemic. Each is powered by a six-cylinder Cummins B6.7 engine coupled to the latest Voith DIWA NXT seven-speed automatic gearbox in what the builder says will deliver a further reduction in fuel consumption.
Of the batch, two will carry heritage liveries to help mark the 50th anniversary of nationalised bus services on the Isle of Man in 2027. One carries Douglas Corporation yellow and the other in Isle of Man Road Services red.
Bus Vannin Director Ian Bates notes how the operator needs to replace vehicles “every year on a rolling basis” and that those displaced by new stock have typically worked for 12 to 14 years and covered 600,000 miles.
“As the buses age, they become unreliable, require additional maintenance, and are prone to gearbox or engine failures, which can cost over £35,000 to replace,” he notes.
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales has thanked Bus Vannin for its business and commitment to supporting UK manufacturing on the StreetDeck order.
“Cutting emissions from public transport has been a huge priority for us, and whether it is zero-emission technology or super-clean diesels, every vehicle we produce is having a positive impact on air quality,” Mr Gales says.
Wrightbus previously noted how use of the Cummins B6.7 engine in the StreetDeck Ultroliner would open the product to potential repowering to hydrogen combustion later in life.
