NCT orders six Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner double-decks
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has increased its orders for battery-electric buses after agreeing the purchase of six Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner double-decks.
They will sit alongside 13 Yutong U11DD next-generation models. All 19 are being part-funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and will operate from Parliament Street garage in Nottingham, where charging infrastructure is currently being installed. Service entry is scheduled for late 2026.
The operator will confirm which routes the buses are to serve in due course, a spokesperson says. An order for six StreetDeck Electroliners follows the purchase of the same number of StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-decks (pictured).
The latter buses work the Pathfinder 26 route and were among the first built by Wrightbus with the Cummins B6.7 engine and Voith DIWA.8 seven-speed gearbox. In 2022, NCT evaluated a StreetDeck Electroliner demonstrator.
EMCCA is providing £4.5 million of funding towards the battery-electric double-decks. They will follow a fleet of 62 Yutong E10 and E12 single-decks with the operator. The latter buses have now completed five million kilometres since the first entered service in April 2024.
Rollout of all 62 single-decks was completed in December 2025. They were part funded with £12.3 million from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme secured by Nottingham City Council and £17.7 million from the operator.
Commencement of the transition of NCT’s double-deck fleet to battery-electric represents “the next stage of electrification,” the operator says. Its Yutong U11DD examples will be of the new variant with several improvements over the original that debuted at Busworld Brussels in October 2025.
Van Hool T16 Astron continues the marque's traditional standing
Van Hool is firmly back in the coach market under VDL ownership with the T range. Available in two- or three-axle configuration, around 15 have been delivered here, and a good pipeline exists beyond that.
All are built in North Macedonia, with scope for customisation coming through third-parties after arrival in the UK. The sports team application is well met by super-high variants, but the coach is equally at home as a flagship or servicing clients that demand the highest standards.
Longstanding Van Hool buyer Weardale Motor Services took delivery of its T16 Astron in late-March. It is striking in the County Durham operator’s distinctive livery and carries discreet decals to mark the family firm’s centenary in 2026. The coach is part of wider fleet investment this year.
Is a Van Hool built outside Belgium worthy of the storied name? Yes, is the early verdict of Weardale director Ian Gibson. He is not the first buyer to say such, although when asked, the coach had only been with its owner for a few days. Initial impressions were good; that starts from seeing the T16, which has a commanding presence from any angle.
The Weardale example is 13.4m long and has been specified around the cruise market. Transfers between North East England and Southampton are an important part of the operator’s business.
Customers in that field can be discerning, and a major consideration is the luggage they bring. Both are reflected in the T16 Astron. Ian and fellow director Anthony Gibson kindly made the new arrival available for a routeone test drive.
Van Hool offers ‘cruise-friendly’ coach in T16 Astron, says operator
Reflecting what Anthony calls a “cruise-friendly” layout, the T16 Astron has a floor-level freshwater toilet to maximise underfloor space. It comes with 53 Kiel Avance 1030 seats. A continental door is amidships, while ahead of the toilet module is a small servery.
Other elements leverage luggage capacity. Within the bay is removable shelving at around two-thirds height. Hard-wearing carpet is throughout the storage area, which is accessed via manually-operated doors.
The coach is PSVAR compliant. On both the T16 and the longer T17 Astron models, Van Hool mounts a 500kg Dhollandia passenger lift above the front axle and installs a large one-piece door there, although it can be susceptible to wind when open. The main entrance door is 900mm wide.
Reflecting the super-high nature of the coach and its flat saloon floor, there are three steps to the platform and three more to the aisle. The thin courier seat does not intrude, and within the steps to the saloon is a lockable, twin-level compartment. The courier has control of the powered péage window, and flooring is wood-effect.
Seats are in a red and grey scheme, with headrests that are adjustable for height. Lap belts are the standard, but some positions – including those in the front row and behind the continental door – have three-point securement. USB charging points are largely within seat frames, but lateral adjustment has not been specified.
The frontmost four pairs on the nearside have tip-up squabs. They can thus be ‘shuffled’ out of the way to accommodate one wheelchair user, although more tracking can be installed if required. USBs for the movable positions are overhead.
Hanover silver LED destination displays are part of the PSVAR package. That on the nearside is within the stretch panel. The window line in relation to seats is low, giving an excellent side view.
Luggage stowage is further aided by very deep overhead racks. Weardale has not taken doors on those, but they can be fitted. Despite their size, there is no intrusion into the seating area; the T16 Astron’s 3.80m overall height means plenty of space across the board. The curtains and luggage rack undersides continue a dark red trend. Within the latter are passenger service units with a chromed element.
Crew sleeper compartment ahead of front axle is retained
Climate control is straightforward. The driver ‘sets and forgets’ a saloon temperature, although the cab area has more individual control. A roof-mounted air-conditioning unit feeds to four separate outlets within the luggage racks to ensure equal coverage. An Eberspächer coolant pre-heater is provided.
Immediately ahead of the front axle is a sleeper unit, accessible from both sides and with an intercom. At the rear sits the DAF MX-13 engine. It is coupled to an Allison T525R six-speed automatic gearbox with an integral retarder.
A small ‘upright’ storage compartment is behind the offside rear wheel. The radiator is on the nearside. Unlike some other coaches it is forward facing, with air flowing out via large grilles in the bonnet.
Twin lockers are over the rear bogie. That above the drive axle holds the 700-litre diesel tank with fillers on each side, although it is necessary to open the locker doors to reach those. On the offside over the tag axle is a 75-litre Ad-Blue tank while opposite are batteries.
Although the T16 Astron for Weardale has cavernous luggage capacity, more can be added. A heavy-duty towbar and associated electrical connector are already installed, while fitting points for a ski box are built in. Dealership VDL Bus and Coach UK can supply such a box if required. Marked unladen weight of the coach 17,560kg, and it has a gross figure of 26,000kg.
Van Hool T16 Astron cab area is tech-heavy
The T range is a major development from its predecessors. That continues in the cab. While unmistakeably Van Hool, and with some positive aspects from previous models carried through, there are many changes.
Obvious among those are a digital binnacle and an electric handbrake. Gears are selected via a rotary switch on the offside stalk; the brake releases when the accelerator is pressed.
Drivers are spoilt for choice on where to look when manoeuvring. The large windscreen gives a fine view, and a reversing camera feeds to a Bosch multimedia unit in the dash.
A Brigade 360-degree bird’s eye unit has its monitor on the A-pillar, where it sits below a display for the camera monitoring system (CMS). Conventional mirrors can still be specified. Safety in poor visibility is assisted by downlighting at the roofline.
An Isringhausen seat is fitted with an inbuilt microphone, while cruise controls are on the steering wheel. Dash buttons are all to a robust rocker design, while the driver gets a pair of USB-A and USB-C charging points. The signalling window is powered, as is the one-piece windscreen sunblind.
A major positive for the crew is storage. The cab has numerous areas of varying sizes, a covered tray is in the dash next to the fridge, and lockable compartments are at the front of both overhead racks.
DAF MX-13 engine and Allison gearbox shine on hills
Opportunity was taken to put the T16 Astron through its paces on a rural route centred on Crook. With 483bhp in hand, power is in no short supply regardless of terrain, while the three-stage retarder is impressive. Albeit unladen, it easily slowed the coach on a 1:8 descent.
Allison gearboxes are something of a USP for Van Hool in the UK coach market. Those units have a reputation for durability in testing applications, but that does not come at the expense of smoothness. Coupled to the extensive sound insulation, the only way to identify a shift is via the tachometer.
Under encouragement from Ian, the coach was pushed through bends leading to a climb on the A689. It handled the former well, but the manner in which it held speed on the ascent was equally impressive. The T525R generally keeps revolutions below 1,300rpm, and in doing so nevertheless easily maintained 50mph uphill.
On flat roads, speed piles on relentlessly, while the CMS gives an excellent view. Rear steering coupled to a moderate 6.16m core wheelbase assures manoeuvrability, although 4.33m sits behind the pivot point, meaning that care with tail swing is needed.
That aside, the driving experience is first class. A wraparound element to the dash is pleasing, going and stopping power is beyond criticism, and CMS units being tight to the side of the coach removes concern of tree damage to expensive equipment in rural areas.
Van Hool coaching legacy continues with T16 Astron
Coaches from the T range are top-end models. That is reflected in both the overall package, and some of the smaller, not immediately noticeable elements that are typical of Van Hool and which have been retained under a change of owner. Storage around the cab, branded chrome wheel nut covers and others exemplify that.
Also maintained is the striking presence of a large Van Hool, and the ease with how such a coach puts an operator’s identity across. The Weardale example, helped by a distinctive livery, illustrates that. All paint and vinyl was applied in North Macedonia.
Weardale’s first Van Hool was a T917 Altano in 2011. Anthony and Ian agree that the marque still represents a strong choice for requirements at the top of the market, although they are not tied to the brand. Anthony adds that the Allison gearbox is a positive, noting that the operator’s first vehicle with such a fitment many years ago proved highly reliable.
VDL Bus and Coach UK sales representative Robert White advises that around 15 T range coaches have been delivered here, with more to follow. Lead times are into 2027; accessibility is well considered, and a solution for the PSV Accessible Information Regulations is in hand.
A Van Hool is never a budget coach, but the Weardale example proves that the marque still hits the spot for its long-established place in the market.
Facts and figures – Van Hool T16 Astron
Engine: 12.9-litre, six-cylinder DAF MX-13
Power: 355kW (483bhp) @1,600rpm
Torque: 2,500Nm (1,844 lb ft) @900-1,125rpm
Emissions: Euro VI using EGR and SCR
Gearbox: Allison T525R six-speed automatic
Tyres: 315/80 R22.5
Length: 13.44m
Height: 3.80m
Width: 2.55m
Wheelbase (axles 1-2): 6.16m
Gross weight: 26,000kg
Unladen weight: 17,560kg.
Irizar UK MD Andrew Blundell reflects as dealer opens next chapter
Andrew Blundell joined Irizar UK as Managing Director in early 2020, shortly before the world saw its biggest crisis in decades. Steering the wholly-owned subsidiary of Spanish manufacturer Irizar since then has not been easy, but from those difficult early days, the Nottinghamshire business is now on the up in a major way.
There are several strands to that. Diversification of the vehicle offering and buyer base is key, and deepening the human resource that supports customers is equally important. Both areas have seen a lot of work that is already paying off.
But the most visible part of the past three years are new premises in Blyth. A move there was on the cards for some time. It has now taken place, and a ceremonial opening by the senior team from Irizar – including Group CEO Imanol Rego – will occur shortly. The red carpet will be rolled out to customers at the same time.
Andrew notes how the Blyth base is a watershed for Irizar UK. It is ready for the now but also for the future thanks to built-in expansion scope.
Extensive parking and comprehensive workshop, sales, administration and parts facilities come together as “an internalisation” of the dealership’s affairs. The move represents a conclusion to one chapter – but Andrew is quick to point out that it also marks the start of another.
Irizar confidence in UK business is clear, says Andrew Blundell
Andrew previously spent time in coaching as Operations Director of Alfa Travel. But the bulk of his extensive experience in transport came in logistics, which he observes is a world away from the SME coach operators that form the base of Irizar UK’s business.
Working with them “gives you a different feel for the industry,” he says. “Everything is far more personal. People are passionate about what they do. Stepping into the coaching environment was a breath of fresh air.”
Irizar’s cooperative ownership structure appealed when he came aboard, and Andrew is quick to pay tribute to support from the parent in developing Blyth. That is an indication of its confidence in the UK subsidiary and the market here, he notes.
Smaller coach operators remain central to the Irizar UK approach. Its DAF-engined integral products in that field have a loyal following. Andrew puts forward the degree of repeat custom generated by the i4, i6 and i8 platforms as proof of that. But there is a desire from the parent company to grow the client base.
Diversification of customer base a core priority for UK dealership
Fleet business in the coach field is key there, as is e-mobility in the bus space. The new premises are built with electrification in mind.
A two-bay workshop will handle all pre-delivery inspection (PDI) work on coach and bus, with that expected to start in around two months; adjacent latent capacity to add third and fourth bays is present. The same workshops will also handle other engineering requirements. A rolling road is present.
“We see service as an additional income stream,” Andrew continues. In the longer-term, repair and maintenance packages may come into the frame, although he acknowledges the geographical challenges that would bring; such a venture would potentially involve development of existing relationships with service partners, although that mechanism continues to function well, and has grown recently.
“My time in the coach industry has shown that operators are highly self-sufficient and adaptable. But the pitch is changing, and will continue to do so, particularly with the eventual move to zero-emission,” he notes. That strategic point is another key to how Irizar UK is developing.
“As a business, we are transitioning from being a partner that sells vehicles to one that works closely with customers across their full lives,” Andrew adds. “Internalising PDI, service, maintenance and parts gives us tangible tools in the box to stand with customers and be a one-stop shop for them through the entirety of ownership.”
Mid-range, body-on-chassis coach product to come?
Further work in and around the maintenance and support offering at Blyth may follow, but the first part of the premises seen by visitors is the sales and handover area. It is bright and airy, has a small kitchen, a boardroom, and a ‘spec room’, where customers will be able to sit with dealership staff to visualise their purchases.
Adjacent is an indoor vehicle display space, and outside is a covered handover area. Its styling draws on the trademark Irizar curved aspect to the upper front area of a coach.
Projections call for the sales area to be busy. “One of the core objectives is to push the business onto the next stage,” Andrew explains. Volumes are central to that, and orders for the Ministry of Defence have delivered a major uptick already. That started in 2024 with 26 units, was followed in 2025 with 101, will see 65 this year, and has already confirmed more for 2027.
Notably, the 2025 batch of those coaches onwards saw a partnership with Scania for Irizar UK to deliver i6 range models in body-on-chassis form. To accommodate the numbers called for, Irizar’s factory in Morocco handled construction. “That was born out of necessity in terms of production capacity,” he adds.
Sourcing those coaches from Morocco in body-on-chassis configuration has been successful. “There is a desire for us to explore expansion of that overarching concept into a product for the mid-market,” Andrew continues.
In the longer-term, he expects Irizar UK to settle on annual volumes in the region of 130-140 units. Andrew suggests that around 80 of those will be SME coach operator deals, with the remainder fleet purchases in coach and bus.
“The family-owned coach market remains hugely important to us, and it is why I place a big onus on being personable and flexible. For a family business, the purchase is personal, and we aim to reflect that.”
From a coach perspective, there are increasing signs of lead times shortening and the market returning to something like what existed pre-2020, with buying patterns based around decisions in the second half of one year for delivery in the first half of the next. A handful of integral coach build slots remain open for 2026; beyond that, it is likely that stock will once more be held.
Zero-emission growing in importance for Irizar UK
Of increasing importance to Irizar UK is its e-mobility presence. That majors on the ie tram battery-electric bus. Field engineers have already been through high-voltage training and technicians who are recruited to work on site at Blyth will get the same.
The UK market for the ie tram is described as “exciting” by Andrew. Examples are already in service, and opportunities to add more “are sizeable.” Use of the type on flagship projects driven by modal shift is central to that. The ie tram’s ‘stop and stare’ nature greatly benefits its public perception.
Zero-emission in coach is a slower journey. Infrastructure and price are cited by Andrew as influences, although he believes that the shift will come. Being ready for it is designed into the Blyth facility.
At the same time, he observes that the coach industry must continue to reinforce how efficient and clean its latest-generation diesel drivelines are. Analysis of i6S integral performance in high-mileage applications has shown excellent returns from the DAF MX-11 engine and ZF gearbox combination. That lends weight to the total cost of ownership piece, particularly in an era of unpredictable diesel prices.
As one chapter ends, another begins for the dealership
The team dynamic is central to Irizar UK’s future. “When we have people sitting in front of us, it is not just about what experience they have; it is also about how they can take us forward as a business,” Andrew notes. “Where possible, we are promoting internally. That is a great thing to do. People will stick with you if they can see a career pathway.”
An air of progress remains at the dealership. That is a further source of pride for its MD. Formally opening the Blyth site with customers and the parent company present will be a highlight of his six-year Irizar journey so far.
“The more I think and talk about it, the more exciting it becomes,” Andrew concludes. “We are pushing a business forward. We are moving on. That will take different shapes and forms, but this is just the first page of our new chapter.”
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