Macedonia Signs Double Decker Bus Deal

The delivery of the vehicles, which are styled to resemble the busses used in Skopje in the 1950s and 1960s, should be completed by 2013. They are to be produced by the Chinese Zhengzhou Yutong Group.

“The buses will be styled exclusively for Skopje. They will be unique, which means they are not in mass production, meeting all the required standards,” Janakieski said.

Two of the vehicles will feature open roofs, and are to be used for sightseeing.

The government's idea to reintroduce double deckers in Skopje did not come without controversy. Some observers, including the country’s opposition, claim that the insistence on a retro look and on double deckers is not practical for the city’s roads, as they say much of the infrastructure will have to be adjusted.

They argue that it would also be much cheaper if the government opted for standard busses.

The current city bus fleet is in need of significant improvements. With some busses over 30 years old, technical malfunctions are a constant problem.

The Yutong Group is one of the world’s biggest bus manufacturers. In early March the company won the state tender for the procurement.

Several months ago, an agreement was signed with Ukraine's Lvivski Avtobusni Zavody for the procurement of 80 standard busses.