Reading Buses has today officially confirmed its inaugural order worth £1.3 million for five Scania double deck buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas from a bio-methane source – a world first.

The order, for Scania’s new N280UD model, builds upon the success of its single deck variant which Reading Buses was the first bus operator to adopt in 2013.

Reading Buses operate a fleet of 34 single deck Scania gas buses and the five new double deck buses will be purchased without the assistance of any government grant funding, demonstrating what Chief Executive Officer Martijn Gilbert describes as proof that the fuel has proven both cost viable and reliable for the operator.

Said John Bickerton, Reading Buses Chief Engineer:  “Our gas buses are consistently high performers in terms of both reliability and customer appeal with considerably quieter and greener engines than conventional diesel vehicles.

“We were the first UK operator of Scania’s gas single deck buses and our experience of these has proven the economic case to add more such vehicles within our existing depot infrastructure and come back three years later with yet another major order that is again a ‘first’ for gas buses.”

Single deck gas buses have proved popular across the globe, including the USA, since the early 1990's, and more recently across Europe, but the double deck model from Scania represents a world first.

The five buses will have bodywork by UK manufacturer Alexander Dennis to its Enviro 400MMC style and will be used to upgrade royal blue 33 services ‎operating along Tilehurst Road between Reading town centre, Tilehurst and Turnham’s Farm.

On-board the buses will feature the latest Reading Buses interior including comfortable high back seating trimmed in materials inspired by cutting edge automotive trends and include at-seat USB charging sockets for mobile phones and tablets, free superfast 4G Wi-Fi and next stop audio and visual customer information systems.

Added Martijn:  “We are very excited about being the launch customer for Scania’s new double deck gas product and the leading edge environmental credentials that these buses will bring to our town and customers.

“We are continuing to work tirelessly with our industry partners to provide innovative solutions to keeping our town moving, improving air quality and enhancing the travelling experience for our customers.

“I am confident the pioneering new buses will take all these factors to even greater heights and continue our work to embody the bus as the very best way to get around Reading.”

The royal blue 33 operates seven days a week with frequencies of up to every 10 minutes on weekdays along Tilehurst Road. The new buses will come into operation in October 2016 replacing five older buses currently used on the route.

Said Mark Oliver, UK Bus and Coach Fleet Sales General Manager for Scania (Great Britain) Ltd:  “We have had a long and successful relationship with Reading Buses dating ‎back over 30 years.

“We're delighted to welcome the company as our launch customer for our much anticipated gas double decker and look forward to working with them and the wider UK bus industry to continue demonstrating the excellent environmental and operational credentials of gas power and Scania's product range. 

“Our new double deck model complements our popular K280UB single decker range and has been developed in response to the UK industry's demands for greater capacity for city and town bus operations.”