New Flyer secures 121-units hybrid bus contract and marks production milestone in Winnipeg

New Flyer has announced a new order for 121 hybrid-electric buses from New York’s Westchester County while celebrating the completion of the 100th bus at its recently opened Customer Acceptance and Delivery facility in Winnipeg.

New Flyer has secured a contract to supply the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation’s Bee-Line system with 121 hybrid-electric buses, according to a company announcement issued on 14 July.

Six days later, the manufacturer announced that its new Customer Acceptance and Delivery facility in Winnipeg had completed its 100th bus, marking a manufacturing milestone for the Canadian site.

Westchester County orders 121 hybrid-electric buses

The order includes 116 Xcelsior 40-foot hybrid-electric buses and five 35-foot Xcelsior hybrid-electric buses. Sixteen of the 40-foot vehicles are configured for express services and will feature a single entrance door and overhead luggage racks. The contract is included in New Flyer’s 2025 third-quarter backlog.

According to New Flyer, the Bee-Line system has previously procured hybrid-electric buses from the manufacturer as part of its fleet renewal programme. The transit network operates throughout Westchester County, New York, serving suburban and urban routes.

Winnipeg facility completes its 100th bus

On 20 July, New Flyer announced that its recently opened Customer Acceptance and Delivery facility in Winnipeg had completed its 100th bus.

According to the company, the facility enables complete start-to-finish transit bus production in Canada for the first time in 15 years. New Flyer said the site supports domestic manufacturing activities and Canadian supply chains.

The 100th vehicle produced at the facility is destined for OC Transpo in Ottawa as part of the transit agency’s order for 124 Xcelsior CHARGE NG 40-foot battery-electric buses.

In brief

• What did Westchester County order? The Bee-Line system ordered 121 hybrid-electric buses from New Flyer, comprising 116 40-foot and five 35-foot Xcelsior models.
• What is included in the order? Sixteen of the 40-foot buses will be configured for express service with a single entrance door and overhead luggage racks.
• What milestone did New Flyer announce in Winnipeg? The company completed the 100th bus at its new Customer Acceptance and Delivery facility.
• Where will the 100th bus operate? The vehicle will join OC Transpo’s fleet in Ottawa as part of an order for 124 battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG buses.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Investing in our Bee-Line fleet means investing in the people who rely on public transportation every day. These new hybrid-electric buses will provide a more reliable, comfortable and sustainable ride while helping us reduce emissions and modernize one of the region’s busiest transit systems.”

Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation Commissioner Hugh Greechan said: “Fleet modernization is critical to maintaining reliable service for our riders. These hybrid-electric buses deliver the performance, efficiency and environmental benefits we need while providing a better experience for passengers throughout Westchester County.”