Board representatives of Lodz City Transport (MPK) signed an agreement with a consortium of Solaris Bus & Coach and Millennium Leasing to lease forty buses for ten years, along with a service package. Hanna Zdanowska, the city’s mayor, was present at the meeting. The contract is worth €23 million.
amp; amp;amp;euro;23 million.
The contract stipulates that Solaris will lease twenty low-floor 12-metre and twenty articulated 18-metre Solaris buses to MPK Lodz. Each Urbino will be fitted with an environmentally friendly Euro 6 engine which meets the most restrictive European standards of fuel emission level. An extensive CCTV system will ensure safety in the bus. With cameras recording the road in front of the bus as well as inside of it, potential claims relating to traffic incidents will be easier to settle. Passengers and the drivers will certainly appreciate the air-conditioning in the whole bus.
According to the agreement, Solaris will not only lease the Urbino for a decade, but also ensure a service package and maintenance. In practical terms, this means that operator will pay for the fleet’s technical readiness.
“The delivery of forty city buses is further step towards ensuring the highest standard and travel experience for our passengers. We are glad that innovative and modern solutions found in Solaris buses will help us strengthen the steady development trend in European public transport,” said Zbigniew Papierski, CEO of Lodz City Transport. “The vehicles are fully low-floor and air-conditioned. They will be fitted with CCTV, and a ticket vending machine will be mounted on board as well as radio communication. A passenger information system as well as other facilities for blind and disabled people will be also available,” added Papierski.
“By constantly investing in an innovative and comfortable fleet, MPK proves that it sees public transport as the one of major determinants of the high standards of quality of life in the city. The decision of lease forty climate-friendly low-floor city buses shows how consistently the Board of Lodz City Transport works for the city transport development to the benefit of citizens,” said Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach.
The deliveries of buses are to start eighteen weeks after signing the contract. It means that the first Solaris Urbino will be handed over to Lodz in November and the operator will receive all remaining vehicles before the end of a year. With this new tranche, the number of Urbino sold or leased to MPK Lodz will reach 154 buses. The first Solaris bus was purchased by the operator fifteen years ago, in 2000.
In the picture: Hanna Zdanowska, President of Lodz, Zbigniew Papierski, CEO of MPK-Łódź, Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., Wojciech Rybak, CEO of Millenium Leasing Sp. z o.o.
About Solaris Bus & Coach
Solaris Bus & Coach is a major European producer of city, intercity and special-purpose buses as well as low-floor trams. Since the start of production in 1996, over 12 000 vehicles have already left the factory in Bolechowo near Poznań. They are running in 29 countries. Despite its young age, Solaris has become one of the trendsetting companies in its industry. For many years it has been the indisputable leader among the suppliers of city buses in Poland as well as one of the largest suppliers of city buses in Germany.
For media enquiry, please contact:
Mateusz Figaszewski
Deputy Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
Mobile: +48 601 652 179
Information Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. is one of the leading producers of city and intercity buses in Europe. It focuses in particular on the development of zero-emission vehicles, i. e. electric and hydrogen buses as well as trolleybuses. This has resulted in the widest zero-emission product range in the European market and a leading position in this segment with a market share of 15.2%. Nearly 25,000 Solaris vehicles have been delivered so far and they ply the streets in 850 towns and cities across 33 countries located throughout Europe as well as beyond it. Solaris is part of the Spanish CAF Group (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) S.A. From conception, to the design and manufacturing phases, all Solaris buses are produced in Poland. Moreover, all activities undertaken by the manufacturer are in line with the brand’s mission, which is reflected in the motto “We are changing the image of public transport”. Solaris also actively partners with public transport operators and provides them with comprehensive support in their transition to zero-emission mobility.
Additional information
Mateusz Figaszewski
E-mobility Development & Market Intelligence Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
