Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, has announced that Transport for Greater Manchester has ordered a further 50 zero-emission double deck buses, doubling the total on order for the franchised Bee Network bus system to 100.
The Bee Network is Greater Manchester bold vision to deliver a London-style joined up transport system integrating buses, trams, and commuter trains. The additional 50 British-built electric buses will enter service in parts of Bury, Rochdale and Oldham when the second tranche of franchising launches there in April 2024, delivering a cleaner, more environmentally friendly bus fleet for another part of Greater Manchester. The buses will be funded from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
“This repeat order from Transport for Greater Manchester is a great recognition of the value added by our zero-emission buses, which will be built in the North of England at our factory in Scarborough and supported locally from our AD24 aftermarket hub in Skelmersdale,” said Alexander Dennis President & Managing Director, Paul Davies. “With a total of 100 electric buses now on order from Alexander Dennis for the Bee Network, we are looking forward to helping to transform the public transport experience in the region.”
The new buses, which are a new order adding to NFI Group’s backlog, follow an initial procurement of 50 buses for the first tranche of Bee Network services in Wigan and Bolton from September 2023, for which Go Northwest and Diamond have been confirmed as the appointed operators.
