On the green line

GREEN buses are bound for Oldham thanks to more than £1.5 million of Government funding.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has secured the cash for 19 environmentally-friendly vehicles.

The Manchester Airport Group were also successful in pocketing £527,840 to buy five low-carbon buses. The money is part of £15 million made available to bus operators across the country to reduce up to 50,000 tonnes of CO2. Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Low-carbon buses use at least 30 per cent less fuel and emit nearly a third less carbon than a conventional bus, yet they currently make up only 0.2 per cent of buses on the road.

“The Green Bus Fund is vital to unlocking this potential and will also stimulate a growing market.”

The first round of the competition saw 24 bidders share £30 million, which is helping to support the purchase of around 350 new low-carbon buses.

The winners of the second round of the Green Bus Fund — which helps bus operators and local authorities to buy new hybrid and electric buses — will now be able to purchase around 170 vehicles which will operate in most main cities and some rural areas by March, 2012.

To find out more about the fund visit www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/greenbusfund.