A total of £4.75m, the largest allocation of funding so far, is expected go towards up to 45 new vehicles
Transport Minister Keith Brown has allocated a further £4.75m to the Scottish Green Bus Fund.
This fifth round of funding is the largest amount ever allocated to the fund. It is expected to secure 40-45 new vehicles. Since the Scottish Green Bus Fund was launched in 2010, 126 low carbon buses have been purchased by bus operators.
Bus operators, local authorities and regional transport partnerships across Scotland will soon be invited to submit applications for funding.
Keith Brown said: “I am pleased to announce further financial support for the Scottish Green Bus Fund which sets out our commitment to the bus industry in Scotland.
“We have already awarded around £10m to bus operators for the purchase of low carbon buses since the scheme was launched in 2010.
“The Scottish Government is committed to public transport and to our ambitious climate change target of reducing carbon emissions by 42% by 2020.
“Low carbon transport benefits us all through an improved environment and a strong public transport network plays a part in this, as well as cutting congestion on the roads and making them safer for all users. It is encouraging to note that performance returns from bus operators indicate that new low carbon buses purchased under the Fund are achieving significant savings in fuel and reduction in emissions.”
Lothian Buses welcomed the news. Bill Devlin, Engineering Director at Lothian Buses said: “Lothian Buses is delighted to learn of a sixth round of Scottish Green Bus Funding.
“As a company, we are always looking to enhance public transport for our passengers and take our fleet further in to greener and sustainable technologies without compromising on quality and reliability. This fund enables us to do this.
“With the funding we have been able to increase our low carbon fleet and phase out older buses. To date we have 65 hybrids in service, helping to convert entire routes to hybrid technology, with thanks to previous Scottish Green Bus Fund rounds. These buses have removed over 1,500 tonnes per year from our carbon footprint, meaning our customers are also reducing their own environmental impact by travelling with us.
“We hope our continued commitment to using environmentally friendly vehicles will encourage people to think about how they approach urban journeys and to come and see what we’ve got to offer.”
Gavin Booth, Senior Officer of Bus Users Scotland said: “Bus passengers in Scotland are very aware of the environmental issues that affect us all, and will welcome this latest round of the Scottish Green Bus Fund, which helps bus operators to invest in the latest emission reducing technology .
“The Scottish Government has led the way in recognising that investing in the latest technology is paving the way for a greener and cleaner environment for everyone.”
