08/06/2009

• 26 double-decker coaches ordered for Oxford Tube link to London
• Cleaner Enhanced Environmental Vehicles deliver low emissions
• Fully accessible coaches feature wi-fi, GPS tracking and CCTV
• State-of-the-art coaches to be manufactured by Van Hool in Belgium

Stagecoach announced today that it is investing more than £9m in an entire new fleet of vehicles for its Oxford Tube network, the most frequent express coach service in Europe.

The fleet of 26 new Van Hool Astromega double deck coaches – each costing more than £350,000 – is being built in Belgium.

Oxford Tube runs a 24-hour service every day of the year with coaches running between Oxford and London up to every 10 minutes at peak times.

The new greener coaches are fitted with DAF EEV (Enhanced Environmental Vehicles) engines that have even lower emissions than those required by the Euro 5 standard coming into force later this year.

A Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system uses a constant feed of urea solution to destroy the harmful Nox, delivering a more efficient operation of the engine, reduced diesel consumption and lower running costs. Combined with a passive soot filter, it means the vehicles will be even cleaner than those fitted with compressed natural gas engines.

Passengers will be able to email and access the internet on the move through the wi-fi systems on the coaches.

The 87-seat vehicles, which have two staircases, are also equipped with toilets, air conditioning, reclining seats, generous legroom, seatbelts, powerpoints for laptops and mobile phones, GPS tracking, and CCTV for personal security.

Deliveries of the fully wheelchair accessible fleet start at the beginning of July and will be complete by early October.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “These new state-of-the-art coaches will be among the cleanest and greenest on the road in Europe. The Oxford Tube fleet covers 3.4 million miles every year and we want our customers to continue to experience high quality, greener smarter travel.

“This is the third complete fleet replacement for the Oxford Tube we have undertaken in 10 years and it is evidence of our commitment to investing in Europe’s premier express coach service.”

The Oxford Tube fleet travels the equivalent of nearly three times around the globe every week and has the capacity to carry more than 6,000 passengers a day.

Oxford Tube services run up to every 10 minutes between Oxford and London – stopping at Lewknor, Hillingdon, Shepherds Bush, Notting Hill, Marble Arch and Victoria.

A secure e-commerce website, www.oxfordtube.com, allows customers to book single, return and period tickets online as well as access timetable and service information. Oxford Tube also supplies complimentary newspapers on its early morning commuter services.

ENDS

For further information, please contact the Stagecoach Group Communications Team on 01738 442111

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Oxford Tube was launched in 1987 with a 30-minute frequency and since 1993 has run 24-hours-a-day. It runs every day of the year, including Christmas Day.
• Annual passenger volumes have grown from 230,000 in 1987 to more than 2million in 2009.
• On average, a passenger boards the Oxford Tube every 20 seconds.