NI bus firm wins Singapore contract

Wrightbus has secured a three-year contract to supply 550 double-decker buses to Singapore.

The Co Antrim firm will be the main supplier of the vehicles to the Asian city state’s SBS Transit until 2015.

Wrightbus group managing director Mark Nodder said: “This contract rewards the Wright Group’s continual investment in innovation, and the determination of our company to become global leaders in bus design.”

The company will produce and package bus kits in Ballymena, which are shipped to Singapore where local assembly workers trained and supported by Wrightbus staff will build them.

Designed to meet the requirements of the local climate and high capacity transport demands of Singapore, the 40ft long, fully air-conditioned low emission Wrightbus Gemini 2 double-decker buses are built on a Volvo chassis.

Gan Juay Kiat, chief executive officer of SBS Transit, said: “Our buses ferry more than 2.6 million commuters to work and school every day. With the new buses, we hope we can make those journeys that little bit more comfortable for our commuters.”

Business development director for the Wright Group Steve Harper said the company was delighted to have secured the order.

“SBS Transit is a leading transit operator with a global presence and we are again honoured to be chosen by SBST to provide world-class vehicles tailored to Singapore’s demanding operations,” he said.

The first Wrightbus double-decker bus entered service in Singapore in 2010 and 450 buses have already been sold to SBS Transit. All will be in service by the end of the year.

Wrightbus has a reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most innovative firms and has sold buses across the UK.