Bus industry sets out plans to deliver green bus revolution
UK bus operators have set out how to deliver the Government’s pledge of 4,000 new zero-emission buses, supporting a green economic recovery and ensuring thousands of skilled jobs are retained in the UK.
In launching the new pledge, CPT points out that while bus operators have invested £2billion in new cleaner and greener buses over the last five years, the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that annual orders for around 2,750 buses have been reduced or cancelled entirely.
CPT is proposing a leasing model where operators pay a fee in exchange for long term usage of the bus. The purchase of these buses, which would all be zero-emission, would be financed through a combination of £2billion of government and private investment.
“Our new proposals kick start that process helping the government to achieve its ambition for 4,000 new zero emission buses, contributing to a green recovery from Covid-19 and protecting highly skilled UK manufacturing jobs,” says CPT chief executive Graham Vidler.
CPT also highlighted the importance of encouraging people back onto the bus following the government’s ‘avoid public transport messaging’ to both reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
“One extra bus journey per person each month would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by two million tonnes a year. In the aftermath of the ‘avoid public transport’ message the Government will need to work with operators on a high profile campaign to get people back onto the bus in the months ahead,” adds Vidler