Transdev in North England is in the driving seat for an £8 million (€8.8 million) partnership to cut emissions in West Yorkshire, as the UK marks Clean Air Day today October 8th.
We already sets the pace in the bus industry with its combination of new vehicles built to the toughest environmental standards, and its program of retrofitting the latest emission reducing technology to its existing fleet which serves many of West Yorkshire’s busiest bus routes.
Transdev UK’s positive experience gained in rolling out the ‘Eminox’ exhaust treatment technology to its current fleet, and its operation of ground-breaking electric buses in Harrogate, will now be shared with other bus firms as part of the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, a partnership including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the region’s bus operators and local councils.
The Alliance is renewing its commitment to work for a cleaner West Yorkshire, with over 300 local buses already retrofitted with technology to cut emissions and more to follow, in a five-year program made possible by successful grant bids to the Government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund.
A road map to move toward a zero-emission bus fleet across West Yorkshire is also being developed by the Alliance, with a target to upgrade all buses to a Euro 6 low emission standard or better by 2026.
We are proud to be playing our part in reducing our environmental impact through a continued commitment to low emission vehicles – alongside our ongoing investment in highly-specified buses that customers are proud to be seen on.
This partnership initiative proves that it is buses setting the agenda for enhanced air quality in our towns and cities, and it’s a further example of how Transdev and our Alliance partners are delivering for customers, residents and the region at large.
Alex Hornby, Transdev Blazfield CEO
In total, 479 buses based in West Yorkshire will be fitted with emission reducing technology, which will result in 560 tons of Nitrous Oxides being removed from the air. The five-year program will also deliver an extra £13.4 million of health savings and environmental benefits.
It’s vital we invest in our bus infrastructure now, so that we can respond to the anticipated increase in demand once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. With just one double decker bus able to remove up to 75 cars from local roads, buses are already contributing to improving local air quality, but we are committed through the Bus Alliance to improving this further. This retrofit program means over 300 buses have already been brought up to the equivalent of the latest Euro 6 emissions standards, which is going to remove hundreds of tons of harmful Nitrous Oxides from the local environment.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee and West Yorkshire Bus Alliance Chair Councilor Kim Groves
Transdev UK is proud to be part of the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, which also includes the Combined Authority, other West Yorkshire bus operators and local councils.