Nottingham City Transport to Upgrade Pathfinder Route with Order for Brand New Wrightbus Double Decks

UK Bus Operator of the Year, Nottingham City Transport has partnered with pioneering manufacturer Wrightbus to upgrade its long distance Pathfinder bus service between Nottingham, Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Southwell.

Six brand new ultra-low emission diesel powered double decks will soon start to be built by Wrightbus at their factory in Northern Ireland and will start carrying passengers in late autumn this year.

The new buses will be built to NCT’s usual high specification, including free Wi-Fi and USB chargers, but will also boast:

• Comfier, high back seats which are ideal for longer journeys
• Two wheelchair spaces
• A table on the upper deck
• Improved accessibility features, including hearing loops and next stop displays that all customers can see

Meeting stricter emission limits than the 2014 built buses they will replace, the six brand new generation StreetDeck Ultroliner buses are Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) accredited, with an 80% decrease in NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions and lower Particulate matter (PM) emissions. 

David Astill, NCT Managing Director said, “We are delighted to be working with Wrightbus to deliver a significant upgrade to our Pathfinder service, replacing buses that are over a decade old with brand new, quieter, low emission buses that will boast features that are designed for the long distance nature of the route.”

He continued, “As one of our longest bus routes, battery electric buses aren’t a viable or realistic option for Pathfinder 26 currently or in the immediate future, but these buses can be repowered by Wrightbus and their NewPower business in the future to be fully electric, which will be something we’ll consider when battery technology advances further.”

Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said: "The combination of the latest generation of engines from Cummins and the latest technology from Voith, coupled with our industry-leading Micro Hybrid technology, means these StreetDeck Ultroliners offer optimal efficiency in the diesel market. We’re delighted that Wrightbus ultra-low emission vehicles that have been designed and built here in the UK will soon be on the streets of Nottingham, offering passengers a comfortable journey while also helping to lower emissions.

"While we are proudly known for being the largest provider of zero emission buses in Europe, the fact remains that not all operators can access the funding to make the immediate switch to zero-emission.

“As a leading bus manufacturer, our role is to make sure our diesel buses are as clean and efficient as possible and to ensure we can give them a second life as a zero-emission bus in the future through our NewPower business.

“Our blended approach to responsible technology, which includes battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and the cleanest technologies, ensures our customers can continue to decarbonise while maintaining financially viable operations.”

Wrightbus, which was recently named as the fastest growing bus manufacturer in Europe, employs more than 2,300 people and is set to produce a record number of 1,200 buses this year from its factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It expects to support 7,200 UK supply chain jobs by 2027.

Pathfinder 26 operates every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays and hourly in the evenings and on Sunday daytimes, providing key connections to Nottingham from Southwell, NTU Brackenhurst Campus, Halloughton, Thurgarton, Gonalston, Lowdham, Burton Joyce and Gedling. Maximum fares on the service are capped at £3 single as part of the government fare cap scheme.