Stagecoach North East has invested a capital sum in new, greener buses for Newcastle and is highlighting the fact with one of the first back-lit bus billboards outside the capital.

A total of 6.8 million has been invested in 50 new low-floor double decker buses and the new illuminated billboard on one of them will be advertising the new additions to the fleet across the city.

Robin Knight, Stagecoach North East Commercial Director, explains: “Bus travel is the greener way to travel and we want to encourage more people to use the buses. Having modern, new buses is vital to provide a top class journey experience for our passengers.

"The investment we have made reflects our faith in the future of bus travel as cost efficient and energy efficient."

The new buses, known as the Enviro 400, are being put into service across the city during the last quarter of 2007 onto busy cross-city routes 39, 40, 62 and 63.

All the buses have low floors to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and reflect Stagecoach’s commitment to ensuring all the company’s passengers can access bus travel safely and easily as soon as possible.

The Enviro 400, built by Falkirk-based bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited, is the first bus in Britain to meet the new, low emission engine legislation set by the European Union. It offers fuel savings of 18% and runs on a solution made of urea to reduce the emission of oxides of nitrogen from diesel vehicles.

Robin adds: "I believe our bus passengers in Newcastle will appreciate travelling in modern comfort while also playing a part in helping to cut carbon emissions and caring for our planet."