Optare wins green buses order
NORTH West bus maker Optare has won a contract worth £3.6m to supply Rotala with 20 buses, which includes 15 Versa Hybrid buses supported by the Governments Green Bus Fund.
Rotala, a Birmingham-based transport company, recently bought Preston Bus after Stagecoach was forced to sell it on competition grounds.
In a brief statement Lancashire-based Optare said all the buses would be delivered this year and would feature specifications including leather seats, Wi-Fi connectivity, ACIS Real Time information and CCTV camera systems.
Optare chief executive Jim Sumner said: “This is excellent news for Optare and is a further endorsement of its investment in Green Bus technology”.
Simon Dunn, chief executive of Rotala, added: “The luxurious specification is aimed at making bus travel more attractive to the public by creating a pleasant and comfortable environment in which to travel.
“Other features like Wi-Fi connectivity further improve the customer experience. Additionally the usage of hybrid power provides both an environmentally friendly option and also reduces fuel consumption.”
Optare commercial director, Chris Wise, added: “This is a significant endorsement of our product from a very progressive and highly regarded independent operator. Rotala’s desire to make bus travel more attractive to passengers makes Optare a natural choice”.
