Birmingham hybrid buses launched

ADL and Volvo hybrid double deck buses enter service in UK's second city

National Express West Midlands (NXWM) and Centro have unveiled their new state of the art hybrid buses that will be on the streets of Birmingham early in the new year.

To be based at Birmingham Central garage, they will convert the City Centre - Harborne routes 22 & 23 to hybrid-only operation.
In an event at the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston stakeholders were addressed by Birmingham Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart, Birmingham City Centre Council Leader Cllr Mike Whitby and Centro Chairman Cllr Angus Adams.

The £5.2m hybrids - with the order split evenly (nine each) between ADL Enviro400H and Volvo B5LH/Wrightbus Gemini 2 - are a joint investment by NXWM, Centro and Department for Transport's Green Bus Fund.

In contrast to the usual white-based NXWM colour scheme, the hybrids carry a distinctive 'green leaves' livery "illustrating the pride NXWM and Centro take in protecting the local environment."

The new buses also have stat-of-the-art improvements to customer care and experience such as audio-visual passenger stop announcements (to alert those with hearing and sight problems when their stop is approaching), vehicle location equipment (to give passengers real-time information) and are 'smartcard ready'.

NXWM MD Peter Coates says: "Our new hybrids will be really distinctive and are a big investment into the future of transport in the region. They look great from the outside and have the latest on board advancements inside."

Cllr Angus Adams added: "This is a significant milestone in bus travel in the West Midlands and is something to which we were happy to contribute.
"Not only will they encourage new bus technology and stimulate the market for low carbon vehicles but they will demonstrate to people that electric hybrid vehicles of this size are viable and further proof that public transport is a serious and ready alternative to the car."

Published 9th December 2011