Arriva Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner in Leicester
While First Bus leads in volume terms on the electrification of the Leicester bus fleet, both Arriva and Centrebus have smaller numbers of such vehicles. Arriva's so far are Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners, which are now in service after some delay caused by infrastructure issues. Unlike the First examples, these are low-height models and I believe were the first Electroliners to be built like that.
The green livery is that of the Leicester Buses partnership, which seems to be delivering good things and comes with claimed significant patronage increases via vehicle investment from operators and local authority efforts that include priority measures, real-time stop displays, multi-operator ticketing and so on. That is salient lesson against a political backdrop that increasingly holds franchising as the only worthwhile reform avenue for bus services, something that had loudened considerably since the coming of a Labour government, although how such widespread franchising is to be paid for remains a mystery. Here 8012 (BK73 AED) passes Leicester railway station while working a 48 to South Wigston.
Arriva Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner in Leicester
While First Bus leads in volume terms on the electrification of the Leicester bus fleet, both Arriva and Centrebus have smaller numbers of such vehicles. Arriva's so far are Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners, which are now in service after some delay caused by infrastructure issues. Unlike the First examples, these are low-height models and I believe were the first Electroliners to be built like that.
The green livery is that of the Leicester Buses partnership, which seems to be delivering good things and comes with claimed significant patronage increases via vehicle investment from operators and local authority efforts that include priority measures, real-time stop displays, multi-operator ticketing and so on. That is salient lesson against a political backdrop that increasingly holds franchising as the only worthwhile reform avenue for bus services, something that had loudened considerably since the coming of a Labour government, although how such widespread franchising is to be paid for remains a mystery. Here 8012 (BK73 AED) passes Leicester railway station while working a 48 to South Wigston.