New Flyers Xcelsior bus (Photo: New Flyer)

WINNIPEG New Flyer Industries Inc. says the public transit system in El Paso, Texas has placed an order for up to 202 buses, under a new five-year contract.

The company, which manufactures heavy-duty transit buses for use in Canada and the U.S., did not disclose the value of the deal, but it did say that it includes a firm order for 13 buses that at 60 feet long and nine 40-foot-long buses.

The agreement also has an additional option of up to 108 more 60-foot-long buses and up to 72 more 40-foot-long buses.

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The buses will be fuelled by compressed natural gas.

The Sun Metro transit system in El Paso already uses 60 buses built and delivered from New Flyer, but this will be the first order for New Flyers Xcelsior bus series.

We feel privileged to partner once again with El Paso as their bus manufacturer, said Paul Soubry, president and CEO of New Flyer.

Among the many features of the Xcelsior will increase the efficiency of El Pasos transit routes and provide a more enjoyable experience for all of its riders.

Production is expected to begin in the third quarter, with deliver planned for the first quarter of 2014.

In April, the Winnipeg-based company announced that the Phoenix transit system had ordered 120 buses to be delivered next year.