Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., a leader in propulsion-agnostic bus and coach mobility solutions, today announced that it has supplied a new Enviro400 double deck bus to English independent bus operator Black Cat Travel.
Founded in 2009, Black Cat Travel is based in Harmston, just south of Lincoln. The family business provides local bus services, school routes and factory staff transport as well as offering private hire of its vehicles.
Its latest fleet addition is its first ever brand-new double decker, delivered fresh from the Alexander Dennis factory in July 2025.
Christened ‘Smudge’ in the operator’s series of cat-themed names for its vehicles, the new Enviro400 offers 85 seats with three-point belts and USB charging ports. Its low-floor entrance makes it easily accessible for wheelchair users.
Alexander Dennis has adapted its highly appointed stock specification with the addition of full tree guards, protecting the upper deck windscreen from low-hanging branches.
John and Iona Edwards, who own and manage Black Cat Travel, said: “With growing demand for high-capacity transport on our contracted services as well as in private hire, we saw the opportunity to invest in our fleet with our first brand-new double decker. We liked the comprehensive specification of Alexander Dennis’s Enviro400. It joins a number of its Dennis Trident predecessors in our fleet, which have proven themselves as reliable and effective workhorses.”
Martin Dunleavy, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, added: “We’re delighted to support Black Cat Travel with the delivery of their first brand-new double deck bus. The Enviro400 is a proven performer across the UK, and we’re proud to see it join a fleet that already includes several of our legacy vehicles. Black Cat Travel’s commitment to quality is evident in their investment, and we’re pleased to have tailored the specification to meet their operational needs, including enhanced upper deck protection. We look forward to seeing ‘Smudge’ out on the roads, delivering safe, comfortable, and accessible journeys in Lincolnshire.”
