York Region Transit is purchasing 170 new clean-diesel transit buses for its fleet.
New Flyer Industries Canada ULC announced the sale March 14, with the order to be delivered over the next three years. The order includes 72 Xcelsior clean-diesel 40-foot buses and 98 Xcelsior clean-diesel 60-foot buses, with New Flyer saying the buses stand to enhance YRT service on both regular routes and Viva bus rapid transit rapidways.
“New Flyer’s Xcelsior clean-diesel buses lead to improved efficiency and lower operating costs, and the new fleet is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing YRT’s vital mission of connecting communities across the York Region,” parent company NFI Group North American bus and coach president Chris Stoddart said in a news release. “Additionally, the buses will ensure a quiet, clean, and comfortable ride for commuters throughout the Greater Toronto Area.”
The transit service currently has a fleet of about 535 buses, one of the largest in Ontario. Most of the fleet is gas/diesel, but the region intends to replace 180 end-of-life vehicles with electric buses by 2028. To that end, it purchased 75 battery-electric buses from the same company last year.
Although this order of buses is not electric, the company touts the bus as having technology providing a lower-emission alternative, promising emissions reductions of more than 80 per cent.
“Clean diesel technology provides a lower emission alternative when in traditional diesel propulsion buses, making a step toward cleaner air and more sustainable mobility,” the company said on its website.
Although it is purchasing diesel buses, York Region Transit is planning to have its fleet fully electric by 2050, starting with 180 electric buses to be on the road by the end of 2028. To that end, it also procuring a bus electrification system to some of its facilities.
Newflyer is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.