Profile: PLYMOUTH CITYBUS
Estimates show that Plymouth Citybus handles approximately 18 million passengers per year through its comprehensive sevendays-a-week service. The company operates a modern fleet of buses and employs around 550 staff who oversee the smooth running of the business, which also includes Plymouth Citycoach (providing popular coach tours and coach trips), and Plymouth Car & Commercial (servicing vehicles for both private companies and local customers). Committed to regularly upgrading its fleet, Plymouth Citybus purchased several new vehicles in 2018, with ten more buses projected to be delivered by the end of this year. Moving with the times and addressing new requirements for more environmentallyfriendly public transport, the bus operator intends on reducing its emissions by investing in hydrogen and electric vehicles. In fact, the company is currently trialling the ultra-modern and super-green Enviro 200EV single-decker – a £350,000 electric
Plymouth Citybus was selected by its parent firm as one of only two provincial operators alongside Salisbury to test the vehicle. Undoubtedly, Plymouth’s transition to ‘greener’ transport is still in its early days, but there is confidence among Plymouth CItybus’ senior management team that the electric buses are the future of public transport and will, sooner or later, be omnipresent across the city. Until then, the Enviro 200EV will be trialled in the streets of Plymouth, but will not be open for the public. The model was unveiled at the Devon Business Show in June, wowing about 1000 attendees of the event. The Go-Ahead Group already has 45 operating electric buses from its Waterloo depot in London and it has been deemed possible that vehicles of this kind will be cruising Plymouth by the latter half of the 2020s. To this end, the local authorities will need to install reliable infrastructure that will enable the efficient charging of the buses,
bus boasting zero emissions, a smoother ride, more comfort, mobile phone charging, and USB ports for passengers. Notably,
lest the city’s electric grid cracks under the pressure of increased demand. In another recent highlight for Plymouth
Alexander Dennis Limited
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s largest independent bus manufacturers. NFI is a leading global manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions under brands: New Flyer®, Alexander Dennis Limited, Plaxton, MCI®, ARBOC® and NFI Parts™. ADL is a world leader in the design and manufacture of double deck buses, and the UK’s largest bus and coach manufacturer. ADL offers single and double deck buses and coaches, and has over 31,000 vehicles in service in the UK, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the United States.
www.landseaairmagazine.com - 59