Category: Bus News (Page 1 of 2)

Solaris wins new hydrogen bus contracts in Barcelona and Essen

February 2, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

The CAF Group company has consolidated its leading position in the thriving hydrogen city bus market with two new contracts for the supply of 57 vehicles for a combined value of over 40 million Euros for Barcelona, Spain and Essen, Germany. Solaris’ experience in rolling out hydrogen technology has seen 40 operators in 10 European countries already place their trust in the company, having won orders for in excess of 700 vehicles.

Supported by the ongoing development of the hydrogen vehicle market and the increasing orders for hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses, Solaris has intensified its business activity in this segment over the recent months. In fact, in connection with this technology, last year Solaris made a major investment constructing a new building exclusively to manufacture hydrogen-powered buses.

Solaris’ substantial backlog, which includes supplies to various operators in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia, illustrates the current relevance of this market. While 99 hydrogen buses were registered in Europe in 2022, pending official data for 2023, at the end of the third quarter of the year a total of 137 new bus registrations had already been made in Europe, representing a 38% increase compared to the 12 months in the previous year. If we add the data for the last 3 months of 2023, the figures would undoubtedly reveal how strongly this sector has grown and how much Solaris has contributed to this situation. Just a few years ago, specifically in 2018, not one single hydrogen bus was registered in Europe.

Alstom to build two infrastructure sections on Florence tramway Line 4

January 12, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

January 12, 2024 – Alstom SA (Paris: ALSO), a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been awarded a contract by the Municipality of Florence, valued at € 50 million for the construction of track, catenary, substations, and lighting system for Line 4.2 of the city’s tram system, with an option for Line 4.1, worth €49 million.

The tender was awarded to a temporary consortium of companies composed by the mandated company CMB together with Alstom, Hitachi Rail and ComNet, and covers operations spanning across a distance of 5.3 kilometres (11 stops) of Line 4.2 Campi Bisenzio-Piagge. The Line 4.2 will connect Le Piagge station to San Donnino and from there to the centre of Campi Bisenzio.

The contract includes an option, for the second lot, which will cover the 6.3 kilometres of Line 4.1 Piagge-Leopolda (13 stops) will connect Line 4.2 with the city centre.

The project is financed by National Recovery and Resilience Plan funds.

The works will be carried out by the System & Infrastructure team in Rome and the components for the electric traction will be designed and supplied by the Alstom site in Valmadrera, Lecco.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BVG places order for 50 Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the Berlin public transport company, has placed an order for 50 state of the art Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses. The buses will be delivered in the years 2024 and 2025. The order can also be extended by up to an additional 650 articulated e-buses. Berlin’s public transport is already served by 140 battery-powered Solaris Urbino buses in the two most popular lengths of 12 and 18 meters.

The Urbino 18 electric buses will be equipped with a 240 kW asynchronous motor, powered by energy from the new generation Solaris High Energy batteries. These batteries are characterized by high energy density, resulting in a high operational range while maintaining low weight. Their recharging will be possible both via a classic plug-in socket and a pantograph. The buses will also be equipped with eSConnect, the manufacturer’s proprietary system, allowing to increase operational efficiency and streamline vehicle servicing.

The prestigious contract with BVG is a good opportunity to summarize the previous orders for Solaris battery buses, which have been carried out by the manufacturer for a decade. Nearly 2,300 Urbino electric buses are already operating on the streets of European cities. Orders for more than 700 further e-buses are in process with a deliveries scheduled for the years 2024-2025.

Solaris to deliver 105 more electric buses in Milan, Italy

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Solaris, a subsidarary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (Madrid: CAF), has concluded a new contract with the Italian transport operator ATM Milano for the supply of another 105 electric buses. The customer has in this occasion decided to purchase 18 metre long Urbino articulated units, to be delivered starting in the first half of 2025.

The relationship between Solaris and ATM in Milan began in 2014. Since then, the Italian operator has placed orders for some 500 vehicles. In fact, since 2018, Solaris has only supplied zero-emission vehicles to Milan, making the Milan-based company one of the European operators with the largest number of Solaris zero-emission vehicles. The success of this type of projects demonstrates the confidence of the Lombardy capital’s transport authorities in the CAF Group and confirms the Milanese operator’s intention to completely phase out diesel buses from its fleet by the end of 2030.

The chosen vehicle is the electric Urbino 18, a bus equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 700 kWh, which can be recharged either via pantograph or by plugging in. It should also be noted that the customer will be implementing a city infrastructure optimisation plan, which will allow the vehicles to be regularly recharged by means of chargers placed at strategic points along the route, thus guaranteeing virtually unlimited driving autonomy throughout the day.

Forward-Looking Statements

Alstom to supply 60 single level coach cars to the Connecticut Department of Transportation

August 10, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

August 9, 2023 – Alstom (OTC: ALSMY)and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) confirmed an order for 60 single-level rail coach cars valued at approximately €285 million (approximately USD $315 million) with options to build an additional 313 cars, as part of CTDOT’s coach renewal program for its statewide rail system. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2026.

The agreement calls for the delivery of fully customised, sustainable, next-generation commuter rail cars specifically designed for North America, providing riders with safe, comfortable, 125 mph commuter rail service. The new vehicles will all be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and American Public Transportation Association (APTA) requirements.

The vehicles will have a convenient two-by-two seating configuration with foldable tables and easy access for wheelchair passengers. The new cars will also provide an enhanced passenger experience with convenient overhead luggage racks, workstation tables and a bicycle storage area, safe and reliable wi-fi access, real time information on upcoming stops, conveniently located power and USB access, and the most current cybersecurity safety features. In addition, passengers will enjoy panoramic balcony-style windows at wheeled mobility spaces, allowing for the flow of natural sunlight through the car’s interior, giving riders great views.

CAF awarded contracts in Italy worth more than 150 million euros

July 8, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Three Italian cities, Cagliari, Naples and Palermo have placed their trust in CAF to make resolute progress in their sustainable urban transport transformation initiatives. The CAF Group will supply electric buses to Cagliari in Sardinia, metro units to Naples and tram units to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. These contracts are testament to CAF’s strong value offer as a supplier of a wide range of zero-emission urban transport solutions. The total of the three aforementioned contracts amounts to a value of over 150 million euros.

Vonlane’s Comeback Continues With More Routes Opening Up on May 1, 2021

April 27, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Vonlane, The Texas private jet on wheels bus service provider, has announced the resumption of 2 more routes! Service between San Antonio and Houston will resume starting on May 1, 2021. Service between Fort Worth and Austin will resume starting May 2, 2021.

Be sure to check out all of Vonlane’s routes and make your reservations by clicking the link below!

https://vonlane.com

BAE Systems to Deliver First Zero Emission Public Buses in Vancouver, Canada

March 6, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Fifteen public buses in Vancouver, Canada, will be fitted with BAE Systems’ (London: BA.L) all-electric propulsion system, allowing them to run free of emissions. The fleet is the first in North America to benefit from the next-generation Series-EV zero emission technology.

Series-EV eliminates the need for traditional combustion engines through the use of electric motors, controls, and batteries, creating a clean and efficient mode of transportation. The latest version of BAE Systems’ technology uses fewer, lighter, and more compact components. Its light weight, reduced number of connections, and use of advanced materials make it easy to install and extremely efficient, enabling the buses to travel longer distances on a single charge.

“The deployment of clean transportation in our cities is critical to reach a zero emission future,” said Steve Trichka, vice president and general manager of Power & Propulsion Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our Series-EV system will help Vancouver take a major step towards full electrification of its bus fleet, and will help to improve air quality throughout the city.”

BAE Systems’ Series-EV system builds on more than 25 years of innovation and proven technology that powers buses around the world. The company’s all-electric systems are on buses in service throughout Europe, including cities such as London and Paris.

BAE Systems has more than 13,000 propulsion systems in service on transit buses around the globe. Each year those systems contribute to a cleaner world by saving more than 28 million gallons of fuel and eliminating 313,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year across the globe – the equivalent of taking 54,000 cars off the road or planting four million trees.

BAE Systems develops and services its technology at its facilities in Endicott, New York, and Rochester, UK.

Airline to Landline: United Offers Travel from Denver International Airport to Breckenridge and Fort Collins

February 26, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

DENVER, Feb. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAL) announced today that it is making it easier for customers to travel to Breckenridge and Fort Collins, Colorado with convenient year-round ground transportation service connecting through its Denver hub. This is the first time Breckenridge has ever been served by an airline and will be Fort Collins’ first global network carrier service in 25 years.

Beginning March 11, United will start daily service to Breckenridge (QKB) and on April 1, will start four-times daily service to Fort Collins (FNL). The airline is teaming up with Landline – a premium ground transportation company – to offer connecting service to these popular destinations through Denver International Airport (DEN). Customers can book their travel on united.com starting today, selecting Breckenridge or Fort Collins as their destination.

Added Landline co-founder & President Ben Munson, “We have worked closely with the United team to create a stress-free connecting experience in Denver. Customers will love our spacious leather seating, onboard streaming entertainment and free Wi-Fi.”

Customers connecting to Breckenridge or Fort Collins at Denver will transfer to the Landline service from an assigned gate in Concourse A, remaining within the secure airside area of the terminal. Checked-in baggage will be transferred directly from the plane to the bus. Customers originating in Breckenridge or Fort Collins will be required to pass through security on transit in DEN.

Keeping customer wellbeing at the forefront, United and Landline will be implementing a wide variety of cleaning and safety measures as part of the new service, all of which have been reviewed by the Cleveland Clinic. These measures include:

Back-to-front boarding;
Reducing seat capacity on Landline’s service to enable social distancing onboard;
Requiring mandatory use of masks onboard for customers aged two and over;
Electrostatically spraying ahead of each departure and sanitizing high touch areas;
Implementing a UV disinfection air filtration system launched by OEM (Prevost) on all vehicles;
Providing United CleanPlus^SM sanitizing wipes to each customer; and
Requiring customers to complete a ‘Ready to Fly’ checklist at check-in, acknowledging they don’t have symptoms for COVID-19 and agreeing to follow our policies.

In addition, United MileagePlus ® members will be able to accrue Premier qualifying points (PQP) and redeemable miles on services to both destinations.

Denver remains one of United’s fastest growing hubs with daily departures around 80% of 2019 levels – the highest among United hubs. United currently serves more than 160 destinations from Denver and operates more than 360 flights per day – the most comprehensive route network of any carrier in Denver – and offers more flights to more Colorado destinations than any other airline.

For more information on the new service, please visit united.com/landline

CAF Group to Supply 50 Hydrogen Buses for Austria and The Netherlands

February 15, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Hydrogen Buses for Austria

Solaris, a subsidiary of the CAF Group, has entered into a framework agreement for the exclusive supply of as many as 182 buses which will provide service on Austrian roads. Specifically, the operator Österreichische Postbus AG chose Solaris as a prospective supplier for a total of up to 40 hydrogen buses and 142 diesel vehicles between 2021 and 2023.

On the one hand, Österreichische Postbus AG, Austria’s biggest and leading regional bus operator, is ordering as many as 40 Urbino 12 hydrogen buses – one of the most innovative vehicles in the Solaris range, which boasts very low noise levels, less vibration and, most importantly, zero emissions. And the other vehicles in the contract will be equipped with engines that meet the strict Euro 6 emission standards. Specifically, the framework contract will cover up to 45 Urbino 18 buses, up to 60 Urbino 12 buses, and up to 17 Urbino 8.9 LE buses.

Solaris has been operating in Austria since 2003 and has since delivered almost 400 buses to 40 different Austrian cities, including over 53 buses which are currently providing services in the country’s capital city, Vienna.

Hydrogen Buses for the Netherlands

Additionally, Solaris and the Dutch airline Arriva Netherlands have entered into a contract for the supply of 10 Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. As per the terms of the contract, these vehicles will be delivered later this year in the province of Gelderland, as the operator’s intention is to set them into service in December.

Gelderland, situated in central-eastern Holland, is the largest province in the country with a population of 2 million. At the end of last year, the Gelderland authorities announced their involvement in the JIVE2 programme (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles across Europe), which is focused towards promoting emission-free public transport and increasing the number of hydrogen buses providing public transport via subsidies. The ten hydrogen- powered buses Solaris will supply will be used to replace existing diesel vehicles and are expected to provide more than 1 million kilometres of service each year.

The first Solaris buses were delivered in the Netherlands in 2017 and, since then, Solaris has supplied a significant volume of vehicles equipped with cutting-edge, environmentally- friendly transport solutions to the country’s different regions. Having said this, the Netherlands is not the only country where the CAF Group’s hydrogen buses have secured new customers as Solaris has received orders from Germany, Italy and Sweden since the Urbino 12 hydrogen model was launched in June last year.

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