Transport UK London Bus (TULB) has donated an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 to take part in a four-day drive as one of 50 vehicles transporting aid to Ukraine.
The convoy left the Ukrainian Embassy in London on 25 July bound for Kharkiv. Carried on the bus is humanitarian aid including food, clothing, stretchers, and other medical supplies. After arrival in the city, it will operate in Ukraine to provide transport.
A team from TULB will drive the Enviro200 to the Ukrainian border. It is part of a convoy that consists primarily of vehicles donated through the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scrappage scheme alongside others donated by businesses and individuals.
The ULEZ donation programme is a partnership between the British-Ukrainian Aid charity and Transport for London. Seeing off the convoy from London were Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK and former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksander Usyk.
Vehicles will travel via France, Germany and Poland. The Enviro200 is a 2009 bus that started life operating routes in the Croydon area. It was withdrawn from service in June.
Among the driving team are Ian Sutton, Ukrainian national Serihy, who has been with TULB for 13 years, and Polish national Piotr Slawomir Maslag, who has been with the business for eight years. They will be met en route by members of the TULB senior management team.
In donating the bus, TULB is supporting four groups of charities: British-Ukrainian Aid, the Peaceful Haven of Kharkiv, the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, and V-Aid.
Speaking about the donation, Transport UK Chief Commercial Officer Alan Pilbeam says: “Through our partnership with the Peaceful Haven of Kharkiv, Transport UK is proud to connect communities in Ukraine and provide much-needed humanitarian assistance.
“The dedication of the Transport UK London Bus drivers who have volunteered to transport the vehicle and aid to Ukraine is outstanding. Their commitment to serving their communities in London is always impressive, but this goes above and beyond.
“Transport UK operates some of the most highly rated train and bus services in the UK, and this mission is further proof of the team’s excellence.”
