Xplore Dundee & Xplore more sold to McGills

[TNL33036]

scottishbusinessnews.net/mcgills-buses-to-purchase-xplore-dundee-xplore-more/?fbclid=IwAR32L6uR9N4h9k_bHCYtUieI06uFmQGgn_uf-2EsJoVcyOYA1FRmM4Cf2O4

[wirewiper]

Dec 22, 2020 18:19:38 GMT TNL33036 said:

scottishbusinessnews.net/mcgills-buses-to-purchase-xplore-dundee-xplore-more/?fbclid=IwAR32L6uR9N4h9k_bHCYtUieI06uFmQGgn_uf-2EsJoVcyOYA1FRmM4Cf2O4

A bit of a surprise, but Dundee is remote from National Express' other operations. This allows them to concentrate on their coach network and their West Midlands bus operations. 

[MetrolineGA1511]

Dec 22, 2020 18:40:07 GMT wirewiper said:

Dec 22, 2020 18:19:38 GMT TNL33036 said:

scottishbusinessnews.net/mcgills-buses-to-purchase-xplore-dundee-xplore-more/?fbclid=IwAR32L6uR9N4h9k_bHCYtUieI06uFmQGgn_uf-2EsJoVcyOYA1FRmM4Cf2O4

A bit of a surprise, but Dundee is remote from National Express' other operations. This allows them to concentrate on their coach network and their West Midlands bus operations. 

This is also a surprise as Dundee was itself a direct National Express acquisition.  The circumstances surrounding their 1995/96 divestments of Westlink, County Bus and North East Bus were different.  These 3 were acquired by West Midlands Travel which wanted a London operation in particular and to be more of a national player prior to their intended stock market floatation.  (There may be the small matter of North East Bus feeling vulnerable in the wake of Stagecoach antics in Darlington and other acquisitions in the area).  However, WMT agreed to merge with National Express, which wanted this as a more regular income stream all the year round compared to coaches being largely seasonal.  

Admittedly WMT then attracted rival bids from Stagecoach, Badgerline and British Bus but maintained discussions largely if not entirely with National Express.

[wirewiper]

McGills is to place 12 BYD/ADL Enviro400EV Citys into service on Dundee cross-city route 28 (Myrekirk-Douglas). Branded "electric emeralds" the vehicles will enter service in the second half of 2021, ahead of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow from 1-12 November. A grant was obtained from the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) towards their purchase.

McGills is also in talks with manufacturers to bring 12 hydrogen fuel-cell electrics into the Dundee fleet - the city is a member of the European Union's JIVE 2 hydrogen bus project.

McGills already has 22 Yutong E12 on order for a route between Glasgow and Johnstone, these will now be joined by a single BYD/ADL Enviro200EV.