Stagecoach places 'biggest ever' bus order

British transport group Stagecoach today said it planned to spend £71m (€99m) on new vehicles as it looks to attract more passengers to its bus division.

The orders for 584 new buses will be the biggest ever placed by the Perth-based company, which today reported pre-tax profits of £84.6m (€118m) in the six months to October 31 – an increase of 9% on a year earlier.

Stagecoach said increasing car congestion, inward migration and a growing focus on environmental issues had attracted more passengers to its services, including those run under its South Western trains franchise.

It also operates 7,000 buses covering around 100 towns and cities in the UK.