The conversion of motor bus fleets to electric mobility finds quite a wide coverage in the press while at the time, substantial orders of new diesel buses continue to be commonplace in the market, especially outside Europe.
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has signed a large order of up to 1,300 modern diesel buses with NFI Group Inc. (NFI) and its subsidiary New Flyer of America Inc. . A first firm order of 175 buses of the Xcelsior® 40-foot model was extend by 375 units to a total of 550 vehicles in January 2026, and an additional 750 units are included as option for future procurement. NJ Transit’s aim is to replace all older buses by 2031.
NJ Transit is the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
The new buses include features like USB charging ports at multiple seats, brighter LED interior lighting for comfort and energy efficiency, low-floor design with ramps for faster, easier boarding — especially for seniors and customers with disabilities and improved intercom systems for clearer announcements. The buses also feature enhanced safety and security measures such as onboard security cameras, blind-spot cameras to assist bus operators and turn-warning systems to alert pedestrians when buses are making turns.
The “Xcelsior® 40’ Clean-Diesel” is 12,49 metre long and is equipped with the Cummins diesel motor with a nominal power of 283 kW. It offers 40 passenger seats with a total passenger capacity of 86 including 2 wheelchair locations.
