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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson opens Wrightbus plant in County Antrim | Boris Johnson opens Wrightbus plant in County Antrim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has opened a new Wrightbus plant in Northern Ireland, where part of the new bus for London is being built. | The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has opened a new Wrightbus plant in Northern Ireland, where part of the new bus for London is being built. |
| The County Antrim facility will produce the chassis for the hybrid engine double decker. | The County Antrim facility will produce the chassis for the hybrid engine double decker. |
| Wrightbus are supplying 600 of the vehicles to London in a contract worth more than £200m. | Wrightbus are supplying 600 of the vehicles to London in a contract worth more than £200m. |
| Forty people are currently employed at the chassis plant in Antrim, but this is expected to increase to 90 staff. | Forty people are currently employed at the chassis plant in Antrim, but this is expected to increase to 90 staff. |
| The new bus has a design similar to the old Routemaster. | The new bus has a design similar to the old Routemaster. |
| Some have nicknamed the vehicle the Boris bus. | |
| Eight of them are already in use in London and by the end of June, route 24, which passes Parliament and Trafalgar Square, will use the new vehicles exclusively. | Eight of them are already in use in London and by the end of June, route 24, which passes Parliament and Trafalgar Square, will use the new vehicles exclusively. |
| 'Good value' | 'Good value' |
| Each bus costs about £354,500 and has an estimated lifespan of 14 years. | Each bus costs about £354,500 and has an estimated lifespan of 14 years. |
| Boris Johnson said he believed they were good value for money. | Boris Johnson said he believed they were good value for money. |
| "We will ensure these buses more than earn their keep over the next few years," he said. | "We will ensure these buses more than earn their keep over the next few years," he said. |
| "By keeping them in harness in the capital for the entirety of their useful life, we will be extracting every last drop of value out of them." | "By keeping them in harness in the capital for the entirety of their useful life, we will be extracting every last drop of value out of them." |
| Transport for London (TfL), the public body that manages transport in the capital, said the new bus is the greenest diesel electric hybrid bus in the world. | |
| TfL estimates the 600-strong fleet will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the city by almost 20,000 tonnes a year. | TfL estimates the 600-strong fleet will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the city by almost 20,000 tonnes a year. |
| The bus features three doors and two staircases that are intended to speed up the process of getting on and off the vehicle. | |
| 'Hollywood blockbuster' | 'Hollywood blockbuster' |
| It also has the famous Routemaster open rear platform that will allow people to "hop-on" when a conductor is on board. | |
| It is expected to cost an additional £37m a year to employ conductors on the buses. | It is expected to cost an additional £37m a year to employ conductors on the buses. |
| Mr Johnson said the design deserves much praise. | Mr Johnson said the design deserves much praise. |
| "Aside from its Hollywood blockbuster good looks, this bus offers an unparalleled passenger experience and is helping to improve the capital's air quality," he said. | "Aside from its Hollywood blockbuster good looks, this bus offers an unparalleled passenger experience and is helping to improve the capital's air quality," he said. |
| "It also demonstrates that we, as a nation, remain a great force in design, engineering and manufacture. | "It also demonstrates that we, as a nation, remain a great force in design, engineering and manufacture. |
| "They are a bit of cutting-edge British technology and they are incredibly popular with people in London." | "They are a bit of cutting-edge British technology and they are incredibly popular with people in London." |
| The vehicles will be delivered over the next three years. | The vehicles will be delivered over the next three years. |