The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink), located in Vancouver, British Columbia, approved a firm order to purchase 45 Xcelsior compressed natural gas (CNG) 40-foot heavy-duty buses from New Flyer Industries Inc., with options to purchase an additional 135 through two single-year renewable option periods.

Since 1991, New Flyer has delivered over 1,100 buses for TransLink, ranging from high-floor to low-floor models, including its recent Xcelsior model. Translink has taken delivery of buses ranging from 40-foot and 60-foot lengths and with numerous propulsion types including clean diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, natural gas and electric trolleys.

“The technology associated with CNG buses have proved to be cost effective to operate and on par to maintain and drive when compared to traditional diesel buses,” said Doug Kelsey, TransLink’s chief operating officer. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with New Flyer as we add more of these vehicles to our fleet.”

The firm order for 45 buses are anticipated to be manufactured in the third quarter of 2014 and are all expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2015.