LibertyBus (Jersey operator)

[Sealink]

Libertybus has announced the arrival of the first of 22 buses to replace some of the oldest vehicles in its fleet, as part of a £5 investment.

Full story:

LibertyBus new buses


Libertybus has announced the arrival of the first of 22 buses to replace some of the oldest vehicles in its fleet.

The buses are part of a £5m initial investment by LibertyBus, the first of its investments since it signed a 10-year contract with the Government of Jersey in October 2024.

 

[stadler]

Libertybus has announced the arrival of the first of 22 buses to replace some of the oldest vehicles in its fleet, as part of a £5 investment.

Full story:
LibertyBus new buses

I did not expect to see them ordering Turkish built Otokar buses. That is a surprise. Reminds me of the one off order that Arriva did for a bunch of Turkish built Temsa Avenue buses. I think that is the first UK order for Otokar and possibly even their first RHD order. It will be interesting to see if any mainland operators order any of their buses in the future.

I presume these new Otokar buses are a specially designed narrow model. From the photo it certainly looks like a more narrow width body than most buses. I recall in the past that Jersey (and in neighbouring Guernsey too) ordered special slim Dennis Dart Caetano Nimbus buses.

 

[citybus2500]

I did not expect to see them ordering Turkish built Otokar buses. That is a surprise. Reminds me of that one off order that Arriva did for a bunch of Turkish built Temsa Avenue buses. I think that is the first UK order for Otokar and possibly even their first RHD order. It will be interesting to see if any mainland operators order any of their buses in the future.

I presume these new Otokar buses are a specially designed narrow model. From the photo it certainly looks like a more narrow width body than most buses. I recall in the past that Jersey (and in neighbouring Guernsey too) ordered special slim Dennis Dart Caetano Nimbus buses.

Certainly not the first RHD

Malta Public Transport (BUS 612) | The Citybus Collection

Malta Public Transport (BUS 612) Otokar Vectio C - Malta Public Transport (BUS 612).JPG

citybus.piwigo.com

 

[stadler]

Certainly not the first RHD

Malta Public Transport (BUS 612) | The Citybus Collection

Malta Public Transport (BUS 612) Otokar Vectio C - Malta Public Transport (BUS 612).JPG

citybus.piwigo.com

Oh i forgot that Malta has some. Now that you mention that i think i remember that Cyprus have some as well. I also remember that Otokar exhibited a bus at the bus expo in Birmingham in 2014 but they did not seem to have any luck with sales back then.

 

[ChrisPJ]

There’s a good article at Route One. Sorry can’t manage to copy the link properly.

I read somewhere that the 2014 show bus was sold on to North Cyprus, don’t know if the Greek Cypriots in the south would willingly buy Turkish vehicles

 

[busesrusuk]

Why wouldn't they buy them - £5 for 22 buses seems an absolute steal

 

[cnjb8]

I did not expect to see them ordering Turkish built Otokar buses. That is a surprise. Reminds me of that one off order that Arriva did for a bunch of Turkish built Temsa Avenue buses. I think that is the first UK order for Otokar and possibly even their first RHD order. It will be interesting to see if any mainland operators order any of their buses in the future.

I presume these new Otokar buses are a specially designed narrow model. From the photo it certainly looks like a more narrow width body than most buses. I recall in the past that Jersey (and in neighbouring Guernsey too) ordered special slim Dennis Dart Caetano Nimbus buses.

I believe Otokar have sold some minicoaches in the UK. The Otokar Navigo I think?

 

[Leedsbusman]

I did not expect to see them ordering Turkish built Otokar buses. That is a surprise. Reminds me of that one off order that Arriva did for a bunch of Turkish built Temsa Avenue buses. I think that is the first UK order for Otokar and possibly even their first RHD order. It will be interesting to see if any mainland operators order any of their buses in the future.

I presume these new Otokar buses are a specially designed narrow model. From the photo it certainly looks like a more narrow width body than most buses. I recall in the past that Jersey (and in neighbouring Guernsey too) ordered special slim Dennis Dart Caetano Nimbus buses.

Definitely not a UK order if its for Jersey.

 

[citybus2500]

I believe Otokar have sold some minicoaches in the UK. The Otokar Navigo I think?

Yes, a small number. Dreadful things.

 

[DaveLondon]

Definitely not a UK order if its for Jersey.

There are a great many of these in service in Malta where they are performing well.

 

[ChrisPJ]

Definitely not a UK order if its for Jersey.

Tower Transit is a UK company

 

[stadler]

Tower Transit is a UK company

Well technically they are an Australian company. Tower Transit is the British operations division of Kelsian Group who are fully Australian owned. So i would say that they are actually an Australian company.

 

[ChrisPJ]

Is it the first Australian order for Otokar then?

 

[RustySpoons]

I'd have thought Jersey, and Guernsey too, would be perfectly suited for electric buses considering the size of the islands.

 

[43055]

I'd have thought Jersey, and Guernsey too, would be perfectly suited for electric buses considering the size of the islands.

Jersey does have 2 Mellor Sigma 8's

 

[Sealink]

There’s a good article at Route One. Sorry can’t manage to copy the link properly.

I read somewhere that the 2014 show bus was sold on to North Cyprus, don’t know if the Greek Cypriots in the south would willingly buy Turkish vehicles

Is this the article?

LibertyBus to introduce 22 Otokar Vectio C midis to Jersey in 2026 - routeone

Jersey operator LibertyBus has shown the first of a fleet of 22 Otokar Vectio C midibuses that are to enter service from January 2026.

www.route-one.net

Jersey operator LibertyBus has shown the first of 22 Otokar Vectio C midibuses that will enter service from January 2026.

They will replace the same number of the oldest Euro III vehicles with the Tower Transit Group operation and represent a spend of around £5 million by the operator.

 

[nick291]

Interesting choice Liberty Bus is going with, Wonder if this is Otokar trying to break into the UK/IRL market with this bus?

 

[LucyP]

This isn't about Otokar trying to break into the UK market. Jersey has nothing to do with the UK. Jersey has nothing to do with Guernsey either. This is about finding a narrow bus for Jersey's narrow roads.

As for battery buses - there is a capacity issue. 95% of Jersey's power comes from France via cables. There are also space considerations at La Collette depot.

 

[ChrisPJ]

A few of the new Vectio buses have Gone into service according to bustimes.org.

 

[ChrisPJ]

A few of the new Vectio buses have Gone into service according to bustimes.org.

11 of the buses showing as operating now. They seem to be slow into service but maybe older buses still healthy enough to keep going a bit longer.

 

[ChrisPJ]

21 out of 22 now on the road and that has got rid of all Caetano buses except for 10 of them.

 

[stadler]

21 out of 22 now on the road and that has got rid of all Caetano buses except for 10 of them.

What is the plan for the remaining ten darts? Will more buses be arriving to replace them? It will be a shame when they eventually go but i suppose they are getting old. Jersey and Guernsey and Gibraltar were unique in being the only slim bodied darts ordered.

 

[nick291]

What is the plan for the remaining ten darts? Will more buses be arriving to replace them? It will be a shame when they eventually go but i suppose they are getting old. Jersey and Guernsey and Gibraltar were unique in being the only slim bodied darts ordered.

IIRC these are used for school contracts?

 

[stadler]

IIRC these are used for school contracts?

Yes looking on bustimes the tracking shows all ten of them seem to be used solely on the school routes now.

 

[Lewisham2221]

What is the plan for the remaining ten darts? Will more buses be arriving to replace them? It will be a shame when they eventually go but i suppose they are getting old. Jersey and Guernsey and Gibraltar were unique in being the only slim bodied darts ordered.

London had some too, with Hackney Community Transport.

Courtesy of Bus Lists On The Web:

​

	4392/03	KV03ZFE	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7103	B30F	4/2003​	Hackney Community,Dalston	DCS1​		​
	4393/03	KV03ZFF	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7104	B30F	4/2003​	Hackney Community,Dalston	DCS2​		​
	4394/03	HX03MGJ	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR32GWA7105	B30F	5/2003​	Hackney Community Transport,Hackney	DCS7​		​
	4395/03	KV03ZFG	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7106	B30F	4/2003​	Hackney Community,Dalston	DCS3​		​
	4396/03	HX03MGY	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7115	B30F	5/2003​	Hackney Community Transport,Hackney	DCS8​		​
	4397/03	HX03MGU	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7112	B30F	5/2003​	Hackney Community Transport,Hackney	DCS6​		​
	4398/03	HX03MGV	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7113	B30F	5/2003​	Hackney Community Transport,Hackney	DCS5​		​
	4399/03	KV03ZFH	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7111	B30F	4/2003​	Hackney Community,Dalston	DCS4​		​
	4400/03	HX03MGZ	Tbs Dt SLF SFD6BACR33GWA7114	B30F	5/2003​	Hackney Community Transport,Hackney	DCS9​		​

 

[ChrisPJ]

It is strange how the London ones never went to the islands but maybe they were too worn out.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It is strange how the London ones never went to the islands but maybe they were too worn out.

They did 14 years being hammered around London; too old for the islands and too knackered (though they liked older stuff in the 1970s and 80s)

 

[brendlynch]

Based on what you hear locally, a lot of people expected these to be electric rather than a diesel design that’s effectively 20 years old. That’s especially true given the number of models that were trialled—the Yutong E9L in particular seemed like a really good fit for Jersey.
The Otokar Vectio choice does raise some longer-term questions. These buses will probably still be running well into the 2040s, which doesn’t really align with the island’s carbon-reduction ambitions.
That said, I did read in Route One that LibertyBus have been speaking to Otokar about a potential electric version of the Vectio for a future batch—presumably to replace the remaining Caetanos and hopefully some of the Solos (yuck).
From a user point of view though, there are definitely positives. The seats are probably the most comfortable I’ve personally experienced on any bus, and they feel really well built. The only downside is the front lower seating area which feels a bit cramped—like they’ve tried to squeeze in one too many rows.
They do seem well suited to Jersey overall though. There’s a good amount of front-end clearance and they sit quite high, which helps on the narrower roads and lanes.
I’d imagine the next order will be to replace the Scania double-deckers, which are starting to look very tired now. Given they’re used on the busiest routes along with the Enviro 400's, I’d expect the next order to be electric.

 

[nick291]

Based on what you hear locally, a lot of people expected these to be electric rather than a diesel design that’s effectively 20 years old. That’s especially true given the number of models that were trialled—the Yutong E9L in particular seemed like a really good fit for Jersey.
The Otokar Vectio choice does raise some longer-term questions. These buses will probably still be running well into the 2040s, which doesn’t really align with the island’s carbon-reduction ambitions.
That said, I did read in Route One that LibertyBus have been speaking to Otokar about a potential electric version of the Vectio for a future batch—presumably to replace the remaining Caetanos and hopefully some of the Solos (yuck).
From a user point of view though, there are definitely positives. The seats are probably the most comfortable I’ve personally experienced on any bus, and they feel really well built. The only downside is the front lower seating area which feels a bit cramped—like they’ve tried to squeeze in one too many rows.
They do seem well suited to Jersey overall though. There’s a good amount of front-end clearance and they sit quite high, which helps on the narrower roads and lanes.
I’d imagine the next order will be to replace the Scania double-deckers, which are starting to look very tired now. Given they’re used on the busiest routes along with the Enviro 400's, I’d expect the next order to be electric.

I think the Yutong U11DD would be a good replacement for the Scania's and E400's. Where I live in Bristol has recently had some introduced on the A1 airport route and the luggage racks don't take up too much space inside. So LibertyBus could use them as a dual purpose vehicle of sorts.

 

[brendlynch]

I think the Yutong U11DD would be a good replacement for the Scania's and E400's. Where I live in Bristol has recently had some introduced on the A1 airport route and the luggage racks don't take up too much space inside. So LibertyBus could use them as a dual purpose vehicle of sorts.

They did have the Yutong DD demonstrator over as well as an Enviro400EV so would assume that it will be one of those. Not sure why others haven't been trialled though.