Friday 23 March 2012

All aboard the low carbon buses

It was all aboard green public transport today as Transport Minister Norman Baker announced £31 million will be spent on 439 low carbon buses.

The Government's Green Bus Fund will bring down fuel emission and air pollution levels, says the Department for Transport, with the cash meant to encourage bus operators and local councils to make the switch to hybrid-electric, fully electric or gas buses.

It's part of a new £101 million package of improvements across England to cut congestion and improve services. These could include special traffic lights to help buses beat queues and better real time information.

The minister said: "This funding means a better deal for passengers. It updates and improves services and infrastructure, reduces congestion, gives quieter journeys and with the introduction of new carbon friendly buses, reduces fuel costs and CO2 emissions, creating a greener network."

The new eco-friendly buses are likely to hit the roads from spring 2013, saving over 9,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, says DfT.

The five bus manufacturers which won orders for their low carbon buses were Volvo, Wrightbus, Optare, MAN and Alexander Dennis Limited.