Green Bus Talk 2024 - Issue 2

Andrew Edwards OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Dear colleague,

Welcome to this special edition of Bus Talk, which exclusively focuses on the company’s contribution towards a Zero Emission (ZE) future.

At Go-Ahead London, we strive to provide a reliable and safe bus service that people can trust. It is also crucial that we consider the environment in our decision making too.

We publish Green Bus Talk each year on Earth Day, which is an international day with the aim to raise awareness about the importance of looking after the environment. As a public transport provider, we offer an environmentally friendly mode of travel for our passengers and are part of the solution in reducing emissions.

have a thousand ZE buses in London by the end of 2026.

Working with TfL, the Mayor of London and other important stakeholders, we intend to eliminate the use of diesel in our fleet by as early as 2030, subject to funding. In this edition, you will find a gallery displaying some of the garages which have transitioned to electric in 2023. You will also find behind the scenes images from Henley Road, which, when complete, will be the capital’s first purposebuilt electric bus garage.

ANDREW

EDWARDS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

With many innovative ZE projects delivered, or shortly coming to fruition, this document highlights the actions taken in 2023 where the environment has shaped our organisation.

Within this edition, we cover details of the ten-year anniversary of ZE buses in GoAhead London. In December 2013, the first battery ZE buses entered service in London as a trial on Routes 507 and 521, from our Waterloo Garage. In a decade, we have gone from 1 to 535 ZE buses operating on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) in that time, making us the largest ZE Bus Operator in the UK. We have saved 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – equivalent to taking 24,000 cars off the road, we expect to

It is fantastic to see that ZE buses and the importance of caring about the environment have inspired our communities too. We engaged with local schools to ask for their views on the ‘clean bus of the future’ and gave them an opportunity to draw these for us. I am sure you will agree that it is great to see so many children engaging in the topic, considering ways transport can be even more environmentally friendly and coming up with some ideas.

Our colleagues have also been making small changes, which when added together, make a big impact. We showcase the green spaces at our garages, the excellent work we have been achieving on recycling, our reduction in printing and use of refillable water bottles.

We are also proud to have worked with a number of key stakeholders over 2023 and have mentioned a number within Green BusTalk. I hope you enjoy reading it.

We are London’s largest bus company and part of The Go-Ahead Group, an international provider of passenger transport. We have a corporate responsibility to our customers, the communities we serve and more widely to society. For more information, the Go-Ahead climate change strategy can be read in full via www.go-ahead.com/sustainability.

Across Go-Ahead, we have the following commitments:

Go-Ahead will:

• Become a net zero business by 2045

• Reduce our carbon emissions by 75% by 2035

• Reduce our air pollution emissions by up to 63%

• Reduce our water use by a quarter by 2025

• Increase our waste recycling rate to 60% by 2025

Our commitment to the planet is real and it extends beyond the buses we operate. As always, thank you for playing such an important role in what we collectively achieve.

In 2024, we anticipate further buses being made electric and a number of buses will be introducing ZE buses.

The future is GREEN.

Going

all-electric

As the country’s most experienced, and largest, ZeroEmission (ZE) bus company, we are working with Transport for London (TfL) and supply chain partners to decarbonise our vehicles and premises.

We are pleased to share exclusive images from our Henley Road facility in East London, which, when complete, will be the capital’s first purpose-built electric bus garage.

The transition from diesel to alternative power is being made possible thanks to a dedicated in-house team of experts and innovative suppliers, supported by TfL.

Richard Harrington, Head of Infrastructure, previously The Go-Ahead Group’s Engineering Director stated: “2023 has proved to be another milestone year, with record numbers of e-buses being introduced and multiple garages being electrified, as we continue the journey to being a net zero carbon business.”

2023 has proved to be another milestone year, with record numbers of e-buses being introduced and multiple garages being electrified.

RICHARD HARRINGTON THE GO-AHEAD GROUP’S FORMER ENGINEERING DIRECTOR

PICTURED: WORK IS UNDERWAY AT THE HENLEY ROAD FACILITY, SOON TO BE ALL ELECTRIC

WATERLOO GARAGE

From Malaysia to London

We were honoured to host Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change on 18 May.

The Minister and his officials took time from their busy schedule to visit our Northumberland Park Garage to see how we are decarbonising London’s iconic red bus fleet.

As the capital’s most experienced, innovative, and largest Zero-Emission bus company we are working with the Mayor of London, Transport for London and our supply chain partners to improve air quality.

Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping us all to reduce the carbon footprint.

Our colleagues enjoy their green spaces at garages. One example is this garden wall at Waterloo Garage, pictured in October 2023.

Green Apple Award

In November 2023, Go-Ahead London and Bidvest Noonan were awarded the prestigious Green Apple Award.

This recognition comes from the team project developing a range of 100% plant-based cleaning agents, in partnership with Chela. The Pure Range is revolutionising vehicle cleaning, garage cleaning and

facility cleaning, including heavy-duty degreasers. This means that the products used are safer, made from renewable resources and have less water pollution.

Together we are dedicated to providing safer and more sustainable environments for our passengers.

FORWARD LOOKING

LEFT TO RIGHT: KEITH MIDDLETON, GUY PAKENHAM, JAMES STOREY, CRAIG TOLHURST FROM BIDVEST NOONAN. CHRIS MCKEOWN, GO-AHEAD LONDON ENGINEERING DIRECTOR

REFILL revolution Join the

It is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and fatigue. There are about 5,000 free refill water stations in London. The Refill app is also a useful resource to use for those who may need to refill their water bottle on the go.

Please find more information about the free app at refill.org.uk or scan the QR code below.

SCAN ME

RESPECTING EACH OTHER AND TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Happy 10 years!

On 18 December, Go-Ahead celebrated a decade of operating emission-free buses. Colleagues at GoAhead London held a birthday party at Camberwell Garage to commemorate the 10th anniversary since the first modern day fully electric bus took to London roads on 18 December 2013.

Pupils from Highshore School and guests were served with a zero emission bus themed birthday cake.

In a decade, Go-Ahead has gone from 1 to 520 zero emission buses on behalf of TfL. We have saved 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – equivalent to

taking 24,000 cars off the road. We expect to have a thousand zero emission buses in London by the end of 2026.

David Cutts, former Managing Director, GoAhead London, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since our first electric bus hit the road. The technology has developed at a rapid pace and electric buses are rapidly becoming the norm, rather than the exception, on London’s streets. We’re proud to work in partnership with Transport for London

to deliver cleaner air and quieter journeys for Londoners. The Go-Ahead Group as a whole has been able to take experience from London and apply it to the roll-out of zero emission buses across the UK.”

RICHARD HARRINGTON CUTTING THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CAKE

GO-AHEAD COLLEAGUES CELEBRATED 10 YEARS OF BEING ELECTRIC AT AN EVENT HELD AT CAMBERWELL GARAGE

Recycling

Here at Go-Ahead London, we believe it is important to reuse or recycle what we can.

Glass can be recycled again and again without any loss of its purity or clarity. Go-Ahead London unfortunately had 1,330 windscreens replaced in 2023 meaning PSV Glass & Glazing, our contractor, recycled 254 tonnes of glass.

The good news is that our glass may be recycled into making:

• Jars and bottles

• Glass beads for white lines in road marking

• Fibreglass

• Sharp sand

So, next time you drink from a glass bottle, you never know, it could have once been your bus windscreen!

Office items are recycled at Go-Ahead London as well. All used printer consumables (ink and toner cartridges, drums, transfer kits etc) are collated by our IT department, and recycled. Batteries are recycled too.

Printing Statistics

In 2023, we have been consistent and continued to minimise printing where possible. In 2022, we saved 107 trees due to our reduction of printing in comparison to 2021. Our involvement in creating carbon dioxide therefore also decreased by 35%.

MWe achieved this by more careful management of printing, default double sided printing,

encouragement to view documents online and regular reminders such as our email signatures stating ‘Please consider the environment before printing this email.’

It is a great achievement from all of the Go-Ahead London team and great news that we have continued to maintain this lower level throughout 2023.

Facilities Team Going green with the

Over 2023, the Facilities team have been busy making a number of improvements to ensure that we are as environmentally friendly as possible. The team are driven to ensure that we strive to be more environmentally friendly, with materials and equipment replacements.

On an ongoing basis they have: Replaced existing garage lighting with new LED lights.

Replaced older life expired heating panels with more efficient electric replacements as and when required.

Water is an important natural resource and should not be wasted. We have therefore continued to invest to make water saving a priority across our facilities.

The team have: Carried out maintenance checks on garage water systems for leaks and replacing where required. Life expired taps therefore continue to be replaced with new push type taps as part of an ongoing program.

Replaced the diesel highpressure water cleaner at Merton, with a new environmentally friendly electric high-pressure cleaner with more efficient water usage.

Danny Collins, Facilities Manager stated “The Facilities team is six engineers working together. I am so proud of all of them and what they have achieved with water and electrical savings. Many of them gained qualifications in this area in 2022 and it has been good to see this supporting Go-Ahead London’s aim for being more green.”

Bus Gallery

WATERLOO GARAGE

NORTHUMBERLAND PARK GARAGE

MERTON GARAGE

Our SEe fleet at Waterloo Garage

BYD ADL SEe-type vehicles with digital led blinds on Route W15

BYD SEe buses pictured at Merton Garage