Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire has confirmed to its staff that it has been successful in bidding for new open-top vehicles this year.
They will replace the current Trident open-top buses used on the Lakes 599 service and be allocated to Kendal depot.
The seven part-open top buses are due to enter service this summer and will carry a new ‘Lake Sider’ livery from Ray Stenning and Best Impressions.
The new branding, and an impression of the vehicles, which will be Volvo B5TLs with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork, will appear in publicity material in the coming weeks.
In a first for a Stagecoach regional fleet they will have white LED destination screens with a full-length destination screen, rather than just the route number, at the rear.
Lothian Buses hit the headlines last year when it placed the first order for 30 of Wrightbus’ new part-open top design. The £6.5m order was designed specifically for Lothian’s requirements.
Stagecoach’s order marks a change in its tactics; previously its open-top fleet has been created using older donor ‘deckers. It is also a departure from its normal buying policy that tends to concentrate on ADL products.
Stagecoach has yet to announce details of the rest of its 2017/18 order, although already 33 ADL Enviro400 double-deckers from the order have been delivered to Merseyside, and 22 are currently being delivered to Manchester.
