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In the Noord-Brabant Oost concession, Arriva is expanding its fleet with 64 new electric buses from VDL Bus & Coach. Arriva is thus aligning with the goal set by the province of Noord-Brabant for an emission-free public transport by 2030.
To reinforce this commitment, VDL Bus & Coach supplies Arriva with 40 new generation VDL Citea’s of the LF-122 type and 4 articulated buses of the LF-181 type. These vehicles will mainly be used for public transport in the city of Tilburg. In addition, VDL provides 20 vehicles of the Citea LE-135 type for deployment on HOV lines between Uden-Veghel-Eindhoven and Uden-Veghel-Den Bosch.
"With this expansion of our bus fleet, we are taking an important step in our zero emission ambitions," explains Jan Pieter Been, regional director of Arriva South. "As one of the largest public transport providers in the Netherlands, we have a reputation to uphold. We need to lead the way. For our passengers, our drivers, and our clients. That's why we have set ourselves the goal of becoming fully CO2-neutral by 2027. We achieve 90% of this through the ZE transition and the remaining 10% by offsetting. For example, we recently planted a forest between Boxtel and Vught as a means of compensation."
The province is responsible for public bus transport in North Brabant and aims for a clean and responsible public transport fleet, with the smartest and most sustainable mobility system in Europe as its ultimate goal. Deputy Suzanne Otters-Bruijnen: “These 64 buses are another significant step in the provincial ambition that public transport will be entirely emission-free by 2030. Reducing emissions of harmful substances is good for Brabant and its residents. As it stands now, by the end of 2023, one in four buses will be electric, and that is good news.”
“Electric buses in Brabant, from Brabant: Sustainability in its best form,” says Ard Romers, director of VDL Bus & Coach Nederland. “It is our ambition to contribute to clean and sustainable public transport. With the development of the new generation VDL Citea, we have taken a significant step forward. Passengers will experience more comfort and a quieter journey. The driver's working environment has been completely redesigned and shaped according to the latest standards. With these new vehicles, public transport gets a fresh and clean look.”
VDL Bus & Coach has grown into one of the leading players in Europe in the field of e-mobility over the past decade. Since the introduction of the first VDL Citea SLF-120 Electric in Geneva, during the UITP World Congress and Exhibition in 2013, VDL Bus & Coach has focused strongly on electric mobility. Based on the VDL vision, a bus concept has been developed, completely based on an electric drivetrain, which is ready for the future and where zero emissions are a given. Batteries in the floor, a one-piece composite side wall, smart energy management, a sophisticated climate system, and an ergonomic driver environment. With these 5 key innovations, VDL Bus & Coach introduces the product range of the new generation VDL Citea, which consists of 4 improved length variants and 5 types.
All 64 new vehicles for Arriva are equipped with both left- and right-mounted CCS Combo 2 charging ports for optimal charging flexibility at depot locations. The buses also include ISO ePM1 filters in the passenger compartment, including virus filters, providing protection against bacteria. Additionally, the vehicles feature camera monitoring systems instead of conventional mirrors, are completely emission-free, and equipped with the innovative climate control system. They are also fitted with an AVAS system, which ensures maximum safety for other road users. The ergonomic driver environment is designed in every bus to support the driver to the maximum. All vehicles are fitted with wood print on wheel arches and ceiling, and the LE-135 HOV buses have additional interior lighting. These vehicles are characterized by the large number of luxury seats with extra thick seat and back cushions, mainly forward-facing seats, for optimal passenger comfort. The city vehicles LF-122 and LF-181 are distinguished by their good passenger throughput, fully low-floor configuration, and multifunctional spaces for disabled users and a buggy or rollator storage area.
Arriva Nederland is part of the Arriva Group, of which Deutsche Bahn is the owner. Arriva provides passenger transport and is active in thirteen European countries. In the Netherlands, Arriva employs approximately 5,500 staff and operates in the provinces of Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslân, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, North Brabant, Overijssel, and South Holland. In addition to train and bus services, Arriva is active in the Dutch coach industry under the name Arriva Touring. Arriva Touring also provides transport services at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Communications Director and spokesperson for VDL Groep
E: m.timmers@vdl.nl
Tel: +31 6 14767066
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