Hop aboard new buses
Stagecoach launch new X56 fleet
Stagecoach has launched five brand new coaches for the popular X56 service which link Perth with Edinburgh.
The new coaches represent a £1.4 million investment.
To celebrate the investment, Stagecoach invited local Perth councillors to experience the vehicles, which included a short tour around Perth.
The company also held a family event outside Perth Concert Hall that included kids entertainment, giveaways and one of the new style coaches on display for the community to experience.
The new coaches will serve Perth, Milnathort, Kinross, Kelty, Halbeath park and ride and Ferrytoll park and ride and began operating on the X56 route last Friday.
Paul Thomas, managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland said: “We were delighted to introduce our newly branded coaches to the public last week.
“We had a great time showcasing one of our new vehicles at Perth Concert Hall and hope everyone enjoyed our giveaways and entertainment.
“The coaches offer the best possible solution for longer distance travel for wheelchair users and those with impaired mobility and we hope we can continue to provide accessible luxury travel for our passengers.”
The launch came as it was announced Stagecoach was trialling driverless buses for the first time. The company has partnered with bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and technology company Fusion Processing to produce a single deck autonomous bus.
In the short term, the bus will be used in autonomous mode only within the depot environment, to carry out movements such as parking and moving into the fuelling station and bus wash.
Legal restrictions mean the vehicle will not be used in autonomous mode in passenger service for some time.
But over time, autonomous bus technology is expected to be used more widely, including on services
A young passenger found herself in the driving seat when Stagecoach launched their new buses
carrying passengers, dependent on legal developments.
Stagecoach UK bus engineering director Sam Greer said: “Stagecoach has long been at the heart of innovation within the bus industry and this is an exciting trial that will deliver the UK’s first fully autonomous single deck bus.
“We look forward to working with our partners on this project which we believe could, in time, help improve safety and efficiency within our depots, and over the longer term, help transform bus travel in the future.”
For information on bus timetables, journey planning or live bus times visit stagecoachbus.com or download the Stagecoach Bus app.