WINNIPEG New Flyer Industries Inc. has been awarded a contract by BC Transit for up to 50 heavy-duty buses.

The contract involves a firm order for 25 Xcelsior compressed natural gas 40-foot buses, with an option for an additional 25, New Flyer said Monday, without putting a price tag on the contract.

Production on the first 25 buses is expected to begin in the fourth quarter, with all buses expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2014.

Our last project with BC Transit was for hydrogen fuel cell buses in 2009, New Flyer president and CEO Paul Soubry said in a release.

Were really excited to once again collaborate with BC Transit on bringing another clean fuel bus fleet to British Columbia.

New Flyer is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in Canada and the United States.