By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: A collaborative approach is needed for rural bus decarbonisation
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Bus > A collaborative approach is needed for rural bus decarbonisation
Bus

A collaborative approach is needed for rural bus decarbonisation

Partnership with local authorities and businesses will be crucial to make net-zero buses in rural areas a reality, says CPT CEO Graham Vidler.

Graham Vidler
Graham Vidler
Published: March 17, 2024
Share
Shadow minister Simon Lightwood (left) and CPT CEO Graham Vidler at the report launch
Shadow minister Simon Lightwood (left) and CPT CEO Graham Vidler at the report launch
SHARE

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) team headed to Parliament on 28 February to launch the new report from its Rural Zero-Emission Bus Taskforce. 

Delivering Zero-Emission Bus Services to Rural Areas unpacks the significant challenges facing rural bus services. These include the cost of zero-emission buses – which are substantially higher than diesel, the infrastructure challenges caused by limited facilities in rural areas, and the insufficient range currently delivered by existing zero-emission vehicle technologies. 

It was encouraging to see so many MPs attend our event and keen to engage with the topic. For many of them, the most pressing challenge they face is ensuring rural areas in their constituencies have adequate bus services of any type. Many also think, if we are going to devise innovative solutions to deliver the kind of effective and sustainable services that rural communities deserve, these should also employ zero-emission technology. Let’s tackle both problems together. 

Andrew Jones MP kindly hosted the launch, and we were also delighted to welcome many other politicians, including shadow Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP. It was encouraging to hear them speak so passionately about the importance of buses, and their part in efforts to realise our net-zero commitments. The shadow minister also made plain he is keen to engage regularly with the sector and to collaborate with CPT. 

We also hosted many key stakeholders who will be at the forefront of making this report’s findings a reality. These included Department for Transport officials no doubt thinking hard about this subject and their imminent announcement about the third tranche of Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding that we are told will prioritise rural services.

Operators are already going above and beyond with an array of innovative solutions – Graham Vidler

We also welcomed the chance to speak with colleagues from the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers about how we can build on the great partnership work already taking place across the country to drive the transition to zero-emissions in coach and bus transport. Clearly, there’s a real desire among all key stakeholders to work together to meet the challenge. 

Our report makes clear that partnerships between the sector, government and local transport authorities will be vital. It also explains how the sector already has a framework in place to make this happen, and how operators – ready and willing to play their part – are already going above and beyond with an array of innovative solutions.  

Take, for example, First Bus’s Caledonia depot in Glasgow – the UK’s largest EV hub with more than 150 rapid charge points. The First Bus electric fleet charges overnight but, during the day (while buses operate), other local companies utilise the same infrastructure to charge their vehicles.

Within this approach, First Bus has collaborated with DPD and Police Scotland, enabling them to charge their zero-emission vehicles within 30-40 minutes, purchasing only the energy they use.

First Bus has also developed another partnership with Openreach where initially the broadband provider can charge 30 vehicles at First Bus depots in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Leicester. 

This report is just the start of a crucial conversation. Collaborative effort by a range of stakeholders to develop essential shared infrastructure offers a key pathway and opportunity to accelerate the introduction of net-zero technologies. CPT is confident this kind of approach will deliver the environmental and social benefits of a sustainable and continuously improving rural bus network.  

 

TAGGED:Rural Zero Emission Bus Taskforce
Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
Previous Article bus politics Trying to make sense of the political questions around bus imports
Next Article Brighton and Hove tops the table of local authorities with 140 passenger trips per capita in 2022/23 Learning from the success stories of bus patronage growth
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd