Multi-million eco-bus fleet takes to the road

MULTI-million pound bids to make Greater Manchester buses more eco-friendly have been approved by the Government.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has made three successful bids to the Department for Transport’s Green Bus Fund which supports the use of low-carbon vehicles.

Over the next two-and-a-half years, Metroshuttle services in Manchester city centre will run with a fleet of 20 diesel-electric hybrid buses 16 hybrid Yellow School Buses will be provided and 30 hybrid single-deck vehicles will be available for use on subsidised services.

The total grant awarded by the government is £3.16 million and covers 66 vehicles. The grant will be match-funded by the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority up to an extra £9m.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: “Public transport has an important role to play in helping to tackle carbon emissions and this grant will enable us to take that effort a step further.

“It will also improve the quality of vehicles operating in the area, not least the hugely successful Metroshuttle services, and supports our aspiration to expand our fleet of Yellow School Buses. I’d like to congratulate a number of local bus operators who have also been successful in securing funding for services that will form part of the improved network resulting from our investment in cross-city bus links.”

Councillor Ian Macdonald, Vice Chair of GMITA, added: “By encouraging more people to leave the car at home and take the bus, train or tram instead, we are helping to reduce the number of single-occupancy cars on our roads and reducing congestion which, in turn, helps to improve air quality.

“By providing low carbon vehicles for the bus network, we will be helping to reduce emissions further still, so I am delighted that our bids have been successful.”