Specified for key Transport for London (TfL) routes, the 34 new double deck buses will provide Metroline Travel with additional passenger capacity, ongoing reliability and reduced fuel emissions.
Featuring registration plate LK64EHZ, the landmark 600th bus is specified with Wrightbus Gemini bodywork and joins 74 other Volvo hybrids operating for Metroline Travel on TfL routes in London. A total of 17 of the vehicles in service are Euro 5 standard and 58 are Euro 6 standard.
Metroline Travel’s Euro 5 vehicles were delivered in 2012 and 2013, while the Euro 6 buses, including the 600th hybrid, are from 2014 and 2015.
“It is a significant landmark for us to have registered the 600th Volvo hybrid bus for Metroline Travel,” explained Ian Foster, Metroline Travel Director of Engineering. “More significantly, this vehicle is just one part of a much larger and important order of new Volvo hybrid buses for us.
“The development work that Volvo Bus and Wrightbus have carried out to reduce the overall weight of their buses is crucial for us in terms of vehicle capacity and competitiveness. With Volvo we know we are getting a tried and trusted product that has proven reliability and that the drivers like.”
Volvo Bus Fleet Sales Manager, Phil Fletcher, said: “We have a strong association with Metroline Travel and this is another significant 34 vehicle order. Included in that is the 600th Volvo hybrid bus and it’s fitting for that particular vehicle to go to one of our loyal operators.”
Phil Owen, Volvo Bus Commercial Sales Director, commented: “These deliveries form part of a wider agreement between Volvo Bus and Metroline Travel.
“We have recently signed a vehicle supply agreement which runs from 2015 to 2017. The agreement means that all new hybrid buses purchased by Metroline Travel will be through Volvo Bus. This is a significant agreement and ensures a strong Volvo Bus presence in London over the next few years.
“As part of our ongoing customer commitment we work closely with operators to find solutions to their operational requirements. Working in partnership with Wrightbus, we have once again met Metroline Travel’s requirement for an optimised specification for their TfL contracts.”
The B5LH features the Volvo D5K 240 4 cylinder 5.1-litre Euro 6 engine rated at 240hp with a maximum torque of 918Nm at 1200-1600rpm.
Vehicle emissions comply with Euro 6 legislation and are cleverly controlled using SCR and EGR technology. The bus also features the fully automated 12-speed I-Shift gearbox.
ENDS
24 June 2015
Captions for image:
Part of a larger order of 34 Volvo B5LH double deck vehicles, the 600th UK and Ireland Volvo manufactured hybrid bus has been registered by London Bus operator Metroline Travel.