MERSEYSIDE’S second-biggest bus operator is boosting its vehicle fleet as part of a £52m investment.

Stagecoach is buying 360 new buses and coaches for its UK-wide network.

In addition, the company is leasing more than 160 new vehicles for its London operations.

The 580 new environmentally- friendly buses and coaches will join the Stagecoach fleet during its 2011-2012 financial year and takes the company’s investment in new vehicles outside its London routes to almost £290m over the past four years.

Last March, the company invested £6m on 46 “green” buses to improve its key Liverpool to Kirkby service.

And last year the company also announced a £9m investment in 47 electric-hybrid buses for Sheffield and Newcastle which produce 30% less carbon emissions than standard buses.

After confirming the latest addition to its UK fleet, Les Warneford, managing director of Stagecoach UK bus, said: “As well as offering the best value bus fares in Britain, we are driving up the quality of travel for our customers by investing in greener vehicles, better facilities and improved services.

“Minimising carbon emissions is a key factor in our investment programme.

“We want to play our part in reducing the impact of travel on the environment.

“We believe there is a big opportunity to attract car users to the benefits of greener, smaller bus travel and cut our own carbon footprint.”

Stagecoach, which owns a 49% stake in the Virgin Trains Liverpool-London rail link, said the vehicles it introduced onto its 20, 21 and 14 Liverpool- Kirkby bus routes would help the environment by achieving low-emission standards.

They were also fitted with three CCTV cameras on each vehicle which are linked to an onboard TV monitor, funded by transport authority Merseytravel, to improve passenger safety and security levels.

Stephen Riggans, managing director for Stagecoach’s Merseyside operations, said: “This investment underlines Stagecoach’s commitment to providing the best quality public transport in Liverpool.”