Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani has today (Wednesday) 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 £48m fund, to buy “hundreds of new ultra-low emission buses as well as the infrastructure to support them.”
Details of the criteria and application process had yet to be published as routeone closed for press.
The new scheme follows the previous Low Emission Bus Scheme. This saw 13 organisations receiving £30m between them – to put “more than 300 new low-emission buses on the road by 2019.”
The current funding comes as part of a wider £100m scheme announced in November 2016 to support low-emission buses, with retrofit programmes.
Says the Department for Transport (DfT): “Our forthcoming strategy on the pathway to zero emissions road transport 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 that the UK would host a Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Autumn 2018.”
Added Ms Ghani: “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.”
Greener Journeys CEO Claire Haigh says: “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.”
