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Stagecoach backs Greater Manchester transport strategy with £15m investment in new buses

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13/09/2007

  • Company supports Greater Manchester’s Transport Innovation Fund bid
  • New 100-vehicle fleet part of plan to attract motorists to public transport
  • Buses feature CCTV systems and some of greenest engines in Europe
  • Plan brings Stagecoach investment in city bus fleet to £21m in two years

Stagecoach today (13 September 2007) announced a massive £15 million investment in a fleet of new green buses as it endorsed Greater Manchester’s bid for Government funding to support its transport strategy for the region.

More than 100 new vehicles, which feature some of the most environmentally advanced engines in Europe, will go into service on a number of key routes to and from Manchester city centre over the next six months.

Fitted with CCTV for added passenger security, state-of-the-art Euro 4 engines and running on biodiesel, the 108 Enviro 400 double-decker vehicles will replace older buses.

The new vehicles, introduced from this month, will provide additional capacity on main routes into Manchester city centre to cope with an expected rise in bus use in the city in the next few years.

Stagecoach has already seen the number of full fare paying bus passengers on its services increase by more than 30% in the past 10 years.

Mark Threapleton, Managing Director for Stagecoach Manchester and Chair of the Greater Manchester Bus Operators’ Association, said: “These new buses will bring investment in our bus fleet in the city to nearly £21 million in just two years as part of our drive to get Manchester back on board the bus.

“We are fully behind Greater Manchester’s vision for a high-quality, integrated public transport network for the region and its bid for a major public transport investment package from the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund.”

Stagecoach consistently operates more than 99% of its scheduled services in Manchester and more than 92% of its services arrive within five minutes of the scheduled time.

However, traffic congestion and other delays on the road, such as roadworks and poor or illegal parking, remain serious problems. Over the last 12 months, the average speed of buses has reduced by a further 2% to just 10mph, bringing the total reduction in the last 10 years to a massive 14%.

Mr Threapleton added: “Stagecoach is committed to delivering even better bus services to the people of Manchester. It is vital we give motorists a real and attractive alternative to the car if we are serious about tackling the issue of increasing and crippling congestion in Manchester.”

Earlier this year, the Greater Manchester Bus Operators Association unveiled a package of proposals for the region’s bus network. The Moving Greater Manchester Forward strategy covers network development, social inclusion, reliability improvements, safety and security and improved vehicle standards, as well as issues of infrastructure and bus priority measures. Fares and easy to understand multi-operator/modal ticketing are also incorporated in the plans.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications,
Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 or mobile 07764 774680
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

  • Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 27,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
  • Stagecoach Manchester operates around 660 buses in South Manchester, including Trafford, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop. The company employs around 1,700 staff.
  • Stagecoach carried 86 million passengers in Manchester between May 2006 and April 2007, an increase of 4.9% on the previous year.
  • Full details of the GMBOA Moving Greater Manchester Forward proposals are available at http://www.stagecoachbus.com/manchester/news_3334.html
  • Stagecoach is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the 37km Manchester Metrolink tram network. The 10-year contract with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive includes managing a number of special projects sponsored by GMPTE to improve the trams and infrastructure to benefit passengers. Stagecoach Metrolink will also be responsible for operating tram services on the new Metrolink lines to Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden and Chorlton.
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