Northern Ireland operator Translink has ordered a further 100 zero-emission buses from Wrightbus. Including associated infrastructure, the work represents a total spend of £88m and Translink says it will be “transformational” in continuing to deliver the country’s zero-emission transport future.
The contract is split between the GB Kite Electroliner single-decker and the StreetDeck Electroliner double-decker. All are due in service by summer 2024. The GB Kite Electroliners will have what Translink says is an extended range capacity.
They will follow a previous order placed with Wrightbus by Translink for 100 zero-emission buses for Belfast Metro services, which includes 20 StreetDeck Hydroliner hydrogen fuel cell-electric double-deckers. Three earlier StreetDeck Hydroliners were delivered in 2020.
38 separate buses – 28 single-deckers and 10 double-deckers – are also on order from Wrightbus to convert the Foyle Metro network in Derry to zero-emission during 2023.
Of the latest order announced in October, 60 will go to Belfast Metro services. When they are delivered, over half of the vehicles used on that network will be zero-emission. The other 40 will be for Ulsterbus and be used in the North West, Coleraine and Craigavon.
Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway says that all the buses from the most recent order will run on sustainably sourced electricity “and offer the latest standards in comfort, quality and accessibility,” including USB charging points and wi-fi.
The StreetDeck Electroliners will also have glazed upper deck A-pillars and a glazed staircase. Rear-view cameras will be fitted to all 100 buses, while an “innovative new bus sound system” forms part of the specification for use in urban areas to mitigate the lack of mechanical noise.
Speaking about the further order, Wrightbus Chief Commercial Officer Ben Werth says: “We are immensely proud that an additional 100 of our world leading StreetDeck Electroliners and GB Kite Electroliners will be on the streets of Northern Ireland.
“At Wrightbus, we are not only enabling operators to build zero-emission fleets fit for the future, but we are also supporting jobs and the wider green economy across Ireland and beyond. This latest investment will help to make a huge impact in reducing emissions across the country.”
