First Orders 2014/15

[cumbria0902150]

RE: First Orders 2014/15

(17/01/2014 23:12)Polo Mint Wrote:  I must admit I am disappointed at the lack of double deckers, also I really like the B7RLE Eclipses and I have heard that the Streetlite is flimsy compared to it.

It makes a lot of sense though, having a very large single/midi order for 2014/2015 to remove most of the non-DDA single deck buses before the 2016 deadline, replacing any remaining non-DDA singles early on the 2015/2016 order. It'd seem likely and logical that First would therefore have a large double deck 2015/2016 order to remove non-DDA deckers for the 2017 deadline.

I'd imagine the lack of Volvos on the order (other than the 6 coaches) could be down to the order being for Euro5 vehicles, and Volvo only taking orders for the Euro6 B5TL/B8RLE now. As Optare, Wrightbus and ADL are UK manufacturers they can continue manufacturing Euro5 chassis'/integral buses for 2014 only, as part of the UK National Small Series Type Approval, which allows those 3 manufacturers to build no more than 250 of each type as Euro5 vehicles. Volvo, Scania and MAN etc have to work to the EU regulations of Euro6 only.