Transport giant FirstGroup has given UK manufacturers a lift after committing to invest £70million in 305 new buses this year.
The Aberdeen-based group’s bus division said yesterday that 98% of the order would be built in the UK.
Falkirk firm Alexander Dennis (ADL) will make 204 of the vehicles, while Northern Ireland’s Wrightbus has secured an order for 91 buses.
Volvo will build 10 coach chassis in Sweden, with the bodies to be manufactured by ADL.
The new order takes the amount of money First Bus has invested in its fleet to £455million over the last six years.
All of the new additions will have free Wi-Fi and around 30% will have USB charging points.
Furthermore, most of the new buses will be certified as low carbon by the Transport Department.
First Bus expects to take delivery of all 305 vehicles during its current financial year, which ends March 31, 2017.
The company said 14 will be deployed in Doncaster, 10 in Sheffield, 30 in Cornwall, while Bristol will also get a large contingent.
A spokesman for First Bus said the company had not yet decided on the deployment of new vehicles across Scotland.
First Bus managing director Giles Fearnley said: “We are determined to make the bus a more compelling proposition, attract more customers and grow our business.
“Ensuring our customers travel in modern, comfortable, fit for purpose vehicles which provide added value, such as free Wi-Fi and USB charging, is pivotal to our customer engagement strategy and our future success.”
