The latest additions – all based on Wrightbus Eclipse 3 bodywork – mark the 70% point in Whippet’s fleet renewal programme since it was acquired by Tower in November 2014.
Other replacement vehicles over the period include 17 Volvo B7TL vehicles cascaded from Tower’s London operation, and these important changes will slash the average age of our vehicles in Cambridgeshire.
Satnam Cheema, group engineering director for Tower Transit Group, says Volvo buses were chosen for their low-emission characteristics and their ability to follow the guided busway.
“The majority of our fleet is made up of Volvo’s and we had no hesitation selecting the company once again for this latest order,” states Cheema.
“Reliability, fuel consumption and the operating experience, have all been very good in the past, and we are confident this latest order will be no different,” he adds.
Speaking of the existing Volvo fleet, Cheema says the ride quality is “superb with smooth gear changes and comfortable suspension”.
He also praises the turning circle, which he says is important when the busway is closed for engineering work and vehicles need to take tight turns to gain access to and from normal roads.
The seven new vehicles have been specified with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi access and seatback USB charging points.