Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has chosen Ford to provide it with 134 Transit-based emergency response vehicles.

Each vehicle is crewed by two engineers and forms part of an emergency response and repair service covering NGN’s 23,000-mile network of gas pipes.

The Transit order was placed by United Utilities Operations, which provides asset management and associated services for NGN.

The emergency response vehicles are based on Ford Transit 350 medium-wheelbase, high-roof models, powered by 2.4-litre 140PS diesel engines driving the rear wheels.

Each of the Ford Transit models is purchased outright and they are expected to average 20,000 miles a year, with replacement scheduled at around four years.