Post by Tangy on Oct 9, 2006 23:29:07 GMT
www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=7&newsID=11297
"Stagecoach announces £11m investment in its 'megabus'
operation.
Transport group Stagecoach today unveiled an £11 million investment into a fleet of 45 new coaches for its budget megabus.com operation.
The Perth-based company said the state-of-the-art Volvo and Plaxton vehicles will be 15 metres in length, making them the longest coaches on the road in the UK.
Each bus will be able to carry 63 people and will be fitted with air conditioning, toilets and a special lift for wheelchair-bound passengers.
Chief executive Brian Souter said: "The new vehicles will bring our investment in megabus.com to around £18 million in the past 18 months and we see further opportunities to attract more people to low-cost inter city travel."
The first raft of new coaches, which will be made in the UK, should be delivered in February with the full order expected to be completed by May.
Stagecoach's low-cost service operates on a network covering nearly 40 major UK locations and carries around two million passengers every year.
Earlier this year, the company expanded megabus.com in the US with passengers able to travel on daily non-stop express coach services between Chicago and a number of Midwest cities from as low as one US dollar.
The firm reported pre-tax profits for the year to April 30 had jumped 7% to £140.6 million on the back of an 8% hike in revenues to £1.53 billion - despite battling rising fuel bills."
"Stagecoach announces £11m investment in its 'megabus'
operation.
Transport group Stagecoach today unveiled an £11 million investment into a fleet of 45 new coaches for its budget megabus.com operation.
The Perth-based company said the state-of-the-art Volvo and Plaxton vehicles will be 15 metres in length, making them the longest coaches on the road in the UK.
Each bus will be able to carry 63 people and will be fitted with air conditioning, toilets and a special lift for wheelchair-bound passengers.
Chief executive Brian Souter said: "The new vehicles will bring our investment in megabus.com to around £18 million in the past 18 months and we see further opportunities to attract more people to low-cost inter city travel."
The first raft of new coaches, which will be made in the UK, should be delivered in February with the full order expected to be completed by May.
Stagecoach's low-cost service operates on a network covering nearly 40 major UK locations and carries around two million passengers every year.
Earlier this year, the company expanded megabus.com in the US with passengers able to travel on daily non-stop express coach services between Chicago and a number of Midwest cities from as low as one US dollar.
The firm reported pre-tax profits for the year to April 30 had jumped 7% to £140.6 million on the back of an 8% hike in revenues to £1.53 billion - despite battling rising fuel bills."
