31/03/2014

£14m To Be Secured For 79 New Buses

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster have announced that they have secured an EU investment of £5.2m towards the more than £14m investment to help meet the cost of 79 new buses.

The successful bid for EU funding is the result of inter-departmental working between the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and the Department for Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI). The funding boost has been secured through the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland which is administered by DETI.

The investment will go towards the purchase of 42 Metro double deck buses, 10 Metro single deck buses and 27 midi buses (2 Metro and 25 Ulsterbus). Some of the new Metro vehicles will arrive in the Summer with the remainder arriving in the Autumn.

Minister Kennedy said: "The new buses will make public transport an even more attractive option. Investment in new buses helps to maintain fleet age and accessibility targets and maintain service standards for customers.

"The new buses will replace older vehicles and comply with modern European emission standards helping Translink further reduce the environmental impact of the fleet. Securing EU support to part fund this investment will benefit passengers for many years to come.

"Volvo is supplying 42 Wrightbus double deck buses for Metro. Optare will provide the ten single deck Metro buses and 27 midi buses.

"Translink will fund £4million for a further 20 single deck buses bringing the total number of new buses to 99 with a total investment of £18million. The procurement for these is due to start in the coming months with delivery expected 2015."

(CD/JP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 November 2014
New Buses Bought As Part Of £5m Investment In Translink Fleet
A total of 37 new buses have been purchased as part of a £5million investment in the Translink fleet. The buses, include 10 new Metro single decks buses and 27 Metro/Ulsterbus Midibuses will replace all Lisburn City Services and Coleraine Town Services.
26 November 2001
Minister consults on open-ended investment companies
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has pledged a commitment from his department to providing a modern financial services regulatory framework in Northern Ireland relevant to the needs of local investment firms and investors.
03 April 2014
150 School Buses Confirmed Following £11.5m Investment
£11.5m is being in invested in providing 150 new school buses for pupils across Northern Ireland. Education Minister John O'Dowd made the announcement during a visit to Nu-Track Ltd in Antrim, which is contracted to supply 86 of the vehicles.
12 February 2014
Singapore Bus & Rail Network Operator Adds Wrightbus Vehicles To Fleet
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has met with top executives from Singapore bus and rail network operator SBS Transit (SBST).
27 September 2010
Bus Firm Takes 'Wright Road To Asia'
The success of a local bus manufacturer that has just announced an Asian export deal worth £21m is being celebrated. The export order won by the Wright Group will see the Co Antrim company deliver an additional 300 Double Deck bus 'kits' to SBS Transit for assembly in Singapore.