100% Low Floor Fleet

With the delivery of 18 new double deck vehicles, Travel Dundee will be the first major bus operator in the country to operate with a 100% low floor easy access fleet.
Since the acquisition of Tayside Public Transport in February 1997 by the National Express Group, a total of ﾣ20 million has been invested in Travel Dundee. This investment has ensured that Travel Dundee now also have the lowest average fleet age in Scotland, 4 ﾽ years.
The striking, newly delivered Wright bodied 'Gemini's' on Volvo chassis, will be used on 4 of the city's most high profile bus routes and is part of the Dundee Public Transport Concordat with Dundee City Council aimed at improving bus travel in Dundee.
The services the new vehicles will operate on are:
- The 28/29 service operating between Douglas - City Centre and Charleston, and route branded 'Discovery Line'.
- Services 9/10/11/12 which operate on the circle linking the major conurbations in Dundee will now carry the branding 'City Circle'.
- The 15/17 service which runs between Ninewells Hospital and Whitfield will be branded the 'Whitfield Hopper'.
- Service 22 which runs between Downfield, City Centre and Ninewells Hospital, branded 'Primeline'.
These services, along with all other bus routes operated by Travel Dundee are fitted with innovative CCTV systems, with the aim of making bus travel safer for all passengers.
Brian Jackson, Chief Executive of National Express Group's Bus Division, the owner of Travel Dundee, said: "This is an important day in the history of bus transport in Dundee. I am proud to say that Travel Dundee is now one of the first major inner city bus operations in the UK and the first major operator in Scotland, to have its whole fleet converted to easy access vehicles that will give a huge fillip to customers with disabilities or young mothers with children in buggies. The delivery of these new 18 vehicles represents an investment of ﾣ3 million and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Dundee City Council to deliver an improved product to passengers."
Jack Henry, Chairman of Travel Dundee added: "It is particularly pleasing for me to witness the latest batch of new buses rolling onto the streets of Dundee. This will bring the total investment to ﾣ20 million since we joined the National Express Group in 1997 and confirms the Groups faith in Dundee."

Published 5th November 2004