Low-floor trial for Londoners
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• London Transport's first ultra-low-floor accessible bus experiment is likely to begin next February.
LT's Unit for Disabled Transport is analysing tenders to supply up to 40 single-deck buses which could be used to convert three double-deck routes entirely to low-floor operation. The unit hopes to prove the practicality and attractiveness to passengers of more accessible buses.
Unit head Andrew Braddock says the bids include a UK option, understood to be the ultralow version of the Dennis Lance with a Wrights body. Scania has imported a right-hand-drive lowfloor N113CRB and two likely Dutch contenders are the Berkhof-bodied MAN NL202 and United Bus's Den Oudsten Alliance.
Braddock says the order could be divided between two manufacturers. There is no proBritish buying policy, although London Buses — which will operate the vehicles — does have a say in the choice.
No decision has been taken on whether they will operate in central or outer London.