Passengers across the country will benefit from a multi-million
pound government investment which will help councils and bus
companies put more environmentally-friendly buses on the roads.
Transport Minister has today (28 March 2018)
announced a new Ultra-Low Emission Bus
Scheme aimed at cutting emissions and ensuring cleaner
and greener journeys.
The programme will see local authorities and operators in England
and Wales bid for a share of a £48 million fund, which they can
use to buy hundreds of new ultra-low emission buses as well as
the infrastructure to support them.
This is part of the government’s commitment through
the Industrial Strategyto
reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the transport sector.
Transport Minister said:
We are doing more than ever before to reduce greenhouse gas
pollution across all modes of transport and we are committed to
ensuring nearly all cars and vans are emissions-free at their
tailpipes by 2050.
In order to achieve this ambitious target, the transport sector
is going to have to change dramatically over the next couple of
decades – and buses are no exception.
We are confident this scheme will encourage councils and
operators to invest in these ultra-low emission vehicles -
speeding up the full transition to a low emission bus fleet in
England and Wales.
The new scheme follows the success of the previous Low Emission Bus
Scheme. This led to 13 organisations receiving more than £30
million between them – enough to put more than 300 new
low-emission buses on the road by 2019.
Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, said:
Today’s announcement is a fantastic step in
the UK’s fight against
air pollution and we’re delighted that the government has
recognised the important and vital role that buses play in
helping reducing harmful emissions. The cleanest diesel buses
emit fewer emissions overall than the cleanest diesel cars,
despite being able to carry 20 times more passengers.
Buses are also the lifeblood of our communities, connecting
families and getting people to work. Today’s announcement sends
a positive message that the government is serious about
connecting the communities it serves and committed to putting
the bus at the heart of the clean air solution.
The current funding comes as part of a wider £100 million scheme
announced in November 2016 to support low-emission buses.
Through our ambitious Industrial Strategy we have committed to
publishing a strategy on the pathway to zero emissions road
transport which will discuss how the transport sector is going to
have to change dramatically to cut down on harmful emissions.
The Prime Minister
announced in December 2017 that the UK would host a zero emission
vehicle Summit in Autumn 2018.
The Industrial Strategy sets out a long term plan to boost the
productivity and earning power of people throughout
the UK. It sets out how
we are building a Britain fit for the future - how we will help
businesses create better, higher-paying jobs in every part of
the UK with
investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.
