Abellio signs up AIM-listed 21st Century Tech for bus systems

Transport industry provider of ‘tailored solutions’, 21st Century Technology, announced a three-year bus systems and services contract with Abellio on Monday.

Abellio, a subsidiary of Dutch state railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, has been operating in the UK for more than ten years and currently operates three rail franchises as well as a large number of London’s bus routes.

The AIM-traded 21st Century said that, with immediate effect, it would supply and install CCTV and associated communication technology on all new Abellio buses as well as technical support services to the company’s existing fleet of approximately 900 buses operating in and around London.

It said the first order for 23 new vehicles had been received and, depending on the actual number of buses manufactured over the period, the value of the contract was expected to be approximately £2.5m.

“We are delighted that Abellio has chosen 21st Century to provide new systems, upgrades and ongoing support services for their bus fleet based in and around London,” said 21st Century chief executive Russ Singleton.

“From our Croydon operations center, we are ideally placed to respond quickly as we have replacement equipment, spares and component stocks along with technical training and support facilities.”

Mark Wallace of group procurement at Abellio said the company had chosen 21st Century to be its technical services partner, based on its “innovative approach” to supporting and upgrading all of Abellio’s on-board systems.

“This will provide a real boost for our UK bus operations.”