Bus and Coach Professional - April 2021 by greenbusandcoach

April 2021

driving towards a greener future

Big boost for ZE buses in Scotland and England

Issue 425

inside this issue 4

Bus and Coach Professional is published by Plum Publishing Ltd

Editorial

National bus strategy: beyond deregulation

Steve Rooney steve.rooney@busandcoach.com

Contact address: Bus and Coach Professional Plum Publishing Ltd, Unit 4 Marshbrook Business Park Church Stretton SY6 6QE Telephone: 01694 731510 www.busandcoach.com

Every care is taken over the accuracy of material in Bus and Coach Professional but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

10 Franchised buses in Greater Manchester in 2023

Views and opinions of contributors to Bus and Coach Professional are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions.

16 Big boost for ZE buses in Scotland and England

22 First electric articfrom MAN in operation in Cologne April 2021

Analysis: UK Government Bus Strategy

National bus strategy: beyond deregulation The bus strategy will force local authorities and bus operators to work together in enhanced partnerships or franchising systems in order to access new funding.

he UK government’s long-awaited bus strategy has been published, alongside a claim that £3billion of investment will see passengers across England benefiting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services. The language in the strategy echoes the government’s ‘levelling up agenda’ and commits to a plan to encourage more people to use the bus, rather than the car, as the economy is rebuilt following the pandemic. The key objectives are presented as simpler fares with daily price caps and more services at off-peak times. And in a line that could have been cut directly from countless previous transport policies, including even John Prescott’s plans at the birth of new Labour, our bus-fancying prime minister has set himself the aim of delivering “integrated services and ticketing across all modes”. But beneath the headlines is potentially the effective end of the deregulated system outside London, and shortly after its publication, the Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham announced that he is going to proceed with his bus franchising plans for the region. Prime minister Boris Johnson says: “As we build back from the pandemic, better buses will be one of our first acts of levelling-up. “Just as they did in London, our reforms will make buses the transport of choice, reducing the number of car journeys and improving quality of life for millions." “The fragmented, fully-commercialised market which has operated outside London since 1986 will end. We want to see operators and local councils enter into a statutory "enhanced partnership" or franchising agreements to receive the new funding and deliver the improvements. “We expect to see local authorities and operators working together to deliver bus services that are so

frequent that passengers can just 'turn up and go' - no longer needing to rely on a traditional timetable and having the confidence they won’t wait more than a few minutes.” One element that will please operators is a promise of hundreds of miles of new bus lanes, although while that sounds like a lot, spread across England it may not add up to much, but it should, as the government suggests, help make journeys quicker and more reliable, getting people out of their cars, reducing pollution and operating costs. The previous commitment to deliver 4,000 new electric or hydrogen buses to provide clean, quiet, zero-emission travel is reaffirmed, although there is now a pledge to see these as British-built which could be a challenge to achieve unless there are some significant shifts in the manufacturing base, although it is anticipated that this will be the subject of much fudging in terms of the origin of a bus’ components and critical technology. Putting the wheels on the bus in a UK factory does not make it a UK-built product. There is also a strong stick and carrot system on the way with local authorities likely to have to follow the government’s lead to access funding streams. Transport secretary Grant Shapps, says: “The strategy we’re unveiling will completely overhaul services, ensuring we build back better from the pandemic. Key to it is the new deal it offers to councils – we will provide unprecedented funding, but we need councils to work closely with operators, and the Government, to develop the services of the future.” The strategy acknowledges that London-style services aren’t appropriate for all rural and suburban areas and the DfT is also providing £20 million from the Rural Mobility Fund to enable on-demand services to be trialled in areas where a traditional bus service isn’t appropriate. www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-back-better April 2021

Industry responses As is commonly the outcome, many of the key stakeholders have picked out the elements of the new bus strategy they like for praise, and largely ignored the bits they don’t want. Martin Griffiths, stagecoach chief executive: “We welcome the ambition in the government’s new bus strategy. For too long, the power of buses to transform local communities and local people’s lives has been overlooked. “As we look to emerge from Covid, we also want to work closely w it h government o n a pr o a c t i v e joint campaign to rebuild consumer confidence in public transport and to promote the wider green credentials of travelling by bus. We look forward to understanding more detail around the government’s plans for the future and its proposed roadmap to bridge from the pandemic to a new era for buses.” CPT chief executive Graham Vidler: “It is great to see government sharing our ambitious plans to deliver more frequent and comprehensive bus networks, building on private sector investment and in April 2021

collaboration with local authorities. Local targets for passenger growth and quicker journeys will ensure local accountability and a shared com m it ment to delivering better services for passengers. This should be the focus of everyone involved in delivering bus networks, rather than the distraction of debates over regulatory models which deliver nothing for passengers.” David Brown, CEO, Go-Ahead Group: “It’s the right time to have a national strategy for buses. Bus usage has been falling for seven years and if Britain is serious about becomi ng a carbon neutral nation, we urgently need to halt that decline and persuade people to leave their cars at home. “In order to do that, buses need to be quick, reliable and convenient. That means giving more bus pr ior it y including precedence

Analysis: UK Government Bus Strategy for buses at traffic lights and tackling rush hour gridlock. “People with easy access to public transport have more chance of getting a job, and are much less likely to be socially isolated and lonely. By working in partnership with local authorities, private companies can respond to demand effectively, delivering better services for all.” Janette Bell, MD, First Bus: “First Bus welcomes t he pu bl ic at ion of the National Bus St r ateg y – we fully support, and a re com m it ted to, delivering t his exciting, customer-focused vision. Across the UK, we already work closely and effectively with local authorities and the Enhanced Partnership approach will enable us to build on these strong local relationships as we move toward recovery and work to improve customer experience. “As leaders in sustainable mobility, we embrace the opportunities demonstrated in the National Bus Strategy to accelerate the transition to zero emissions. We are fully aligned with Government’s ambitions for a zero-emission bus fleet and have already committed to this by 2035, and not purchasing any new diesel buses after December 2022.” Paul O'Neil, MD, Arriva UK Bus: “We welcome the clear direction from the Government today for the future of bus transport. We agree that more needs to be done to encourage people to leave their cars at home and turn to public transport, which will help to deliver a green recovery as regional economies build back from Covid. “The prioritisation of buses on our roads would be a great step forward to drive better outcomes, along with locally agreed targets for journey times and passenger growth. Arriva brings experience of successful bus partnerships and looks forward to working closely

with government and local authorities to help deliver these important ambitions, ensuring a thriving and sustainable bus sector throughout the country.” RMT general secretar y Mick Cash: “The strategy appears to lack ambition for addressing the challenges of getting people back onto sustainable public transport following the C o v i d -19 pandemic. It is vital that the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t push more people into cars, this would increase carbon emissions and worsen public health, but RMT fears the profit driven commercial bus operators are already looking to respond to the pandemic with service cuts. “The only way to deliver an effective, integrated, accessible and affordable local bus network is for the government to provide guaranteed ring-fenced national funding for all local authorities to deliver the bus services their communities require via publiclyowned municipal bus operators which recognises and protects the vital role of our essential bus workers who performed so heroically during the pandemic.” Laura Shoaf, chair, Urban Transport Group: ‘‘We welcome the national bus strategy’s positive and ambitious vision for the future of the bus and its commitment to giving locally accountable transport authorities a key role in determining the future of their local bus services – either through more tightly regulated agreements with existing operators or through the franchising of networks of services. “The bus strategy needs to be followed by both a st rea m lining of t he leg i slat ion, so we can move more quick ly to introduce franchising or enhanced partnerships, a s we l l a s by simpler, enhanced and devolved bus funding for transport authorities so we can move rapidly to support better bus networks and cheaper fares.” April 2021

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news

BVG confirms order to take Berlin’s ADL Enviro500 double deck fleet to 200

FOLLOWING the earlier delivery of two double-decks to Berlin operator BVG, Alexander Dennis has now received orders for 198 Enviro500 double deck buses, to be delivered to the German capital by the end of 2022. ADL will build the buses in the UK. The first two Enviro500s were delivered to BVG in October 2020 as part of a multi-year framework contract signed in 2018. Following the successful completion of a testing programme with this initial pair of vehicles, BVG’s supervisory board approved the conversion of options for another 198 buses into firm orders, taking the fleet to 200. The contract also has an option for a further 230 Enviro500s. Berlin’s new generation of iconic yellow double-deck buses is the first to have been designed in Britain by ADL, the world’s leading supplier of double-deck buses. Production of all 198 units will take place in the UK, with the Scarborough site leading final assembly. Once delivered, they will be supported locally by a team from ADL’s recently-opened Berlin office, service workshop and parts warehouse. ADL plans to increase its investment in Berlin

to underpin the fleet roll-out and support its European expansion, and recruitment is underway for additional team members. Berlin’s Enviro500s are 13.8m long and 4.06m high and have three doors and two staircases to facilitate rapid boarding and alighting for up to 112 passengers, including 80 seated. “ T h i s fa nt a st ic ne w s i s testament to the incredible efforts of the hugely talented team that we have here at ADL, who have yet again demonstrated that they can

innovate and execute on highly complex product development projects,” says Paul Davies, ADL president & managing director. “The successful results of BVG’s testing programme and the award of this milestone contract are yet another ringing endorsement of our global double-deck expertise and customer focus. “We are delighted to confirm that we will build these buses in Britain to help underpin our skilled jobs and apprenticeships.” www.alexander-dennis.com

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news

First franchised bus services could start in Greater Manchester in 2023

T H E Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has confirmed that he plans to “take control of buses in the biggest shake-up to Greater Manchester’s transport network in over 30 years, as part of plans for a joined-up and truly passenger-focused transport network”. The mayor points out that Greater Manchester will be the first city-region outside London to have buses that are under local control since deregulation nearly 35 years ago, and locally elected politicians will direct routes, frequencies, fares and tickets. By the end of 2025, Burnham’s plans will see Greater Manchester Combined Authority being able to fully integrate buses with the rest of the region’s transport network. The mayor argues that with buses u nder loca l cont rol, Greater Manchester leaders will

be able to connect people by public transport to work, home, education, culture and leisure, and bus franchising means GMCA can set environmental standards for a cleaner, greener bus fleet, helping to meet the city-region’s targets to tackle the climate emergency and reduce harmful emissions. Fra nchising is set to be introduced in phases, with the first franchised buses planned to run in Bolton and Wigan in early 2023 and the move to a fully franchised system across the whole of Greater Manchester by the end of 2025. In the period up to full transition, GMCA and TfGM will work with central government and bus operators to plan and improve bus services to best support Greater Manchester’s economic recovery. “Public transport is essential for any successful city-region, and our buses are the backbone

of Greater Manchester’s transport network,” says Burnham. “As Greater Manchester recovers from the pandemic and grows in the future, we must develop our public transport network, alongside walking and cycling, to support the increasing number of journeys we will all be making. “In Greater Manchester, we’ve always done things differently and been trailblazers especially in the field of transport; we had the first passenger railway; the first ‘bus’ route with a horse-drawn carriage and now I’ve decided that we will be the first outside London to run our buses differently – under local control, so that decisions are made at a local level for the benefit of our passengers. “Bringing buses into local control will be the biggest change to Greater Manchester’s buses since de-regulation in 1986. But April 2021

news

as with all change for the better, it will take time; it won’t happen overnight and we are just at the start of our journey.” Of course, there are plenty who continue to criticise the policy including bus operators with significant current stakes in running buses in Greater Manchester. Stagecoach is aiming to see GMCA in court as it seeks a judicial review of the consulation process that it claims “has failed to meet the standards on proper process, evidence and analysis required by law”. I n a st atement relea sed in response to the mayoral announcement, Stagecoach Group said: “The planned franchising scheme in Greater Manchester would incur £135million of transition costs that would not deliver any new buses or new ser vices and, under GMCA plans, would see above-inflation April 2021

fares increases for customers. We believe a better approach in line with the government’s bus strategy would be to work together and focus precious taxpayer funding on practical improvements for customers and local communities.” Meanwhile, Go North West, wh ich wa s e st abl i shed i n Manchester during a period when it was known that the bus franchising system was very much on the cards, set a more cooperative tone in its response: “Go-Ahead Group operates buses in a wide variety of regulatory environments across the UK. We are liaising with Transport for Greater Manchester on creating a system that works best for passengers. “Arrangements for a smooth transition will be needed, and we have suggested that as an interim step, TfGM and all operators come together to create a partnership to rebuild passenger numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Unite gave an unreser ved welcome for the announcement by Andy Burnham that Greater Manchester will adopt a system of bus franchising. The union says that the new system “will dramatically improve the quality of services and increase regional connectivity”. Fresh from a battle on behalf of Go North West drivers in Greater Manchester, Unite said that parent company Go Ahead currently generates £604million through franchising in London and will be keen to extend its influence in Greater Manchester. Unite north west regional secretary Ritchie James adds: “Bus franchising in Greater Manchester will go a long way to creating a level playing field for passengers and workers”. www.tfgm.com/our-buses www.stagecoachbus.com www.gonorthwest.co.uk www.unitetheunion.org

news

Mobile phone rules set to tighten FLEET and risk managers are being encouraged to review their company policy on mobile phones at the wheel as the rules look set to be tightened. Coachline, part of the Henshalls Group, specialises in bus, coach and minibus insurance and has warned commercial drivers and the companies they work for that they need to be ready for a potential change in the law. Coachline’s Phil Cutting says: “Since 2003 it has been an offence under UK law to use a hand-held mobile phone while you’re driving. “But after a test case, the High Court ruled that the legislation didn’t prohibit all uses of a mobile phone at the wheel – the offence would only be committed when a driver was holding their phone

and communicating ‘interactively’ through a voice call, text or email, or they were browsing on a website. “Now, the Government is planning to close this loophole and tighten the law to prohibit any hand-held use of mobile phones behind the wheel whatsoever.” The proposed change is out for consultation with particular focus on mobile phones used in a cradle for functions such as a satnav. “While cradles and hands-free kits are legal, it’s vital that drivers are aware they can carry the same risk of contributing to the cause of an accident as using a hand-held phone at the wheel. If a driver is on the phone – whether it’s hand-held or not – they are much less aware of what’s happening on the road around them which is of course a

danger to everyone.” Cutting adds that if the loophole is closed, drivers would only be allowed to use a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel to make an emergency call or if they were safely parked with the engine switched off. “Our advice would be to not use a mobile phone at all while driving so set the satnav before you begin your journey and if you need to change it, find a safe place to stop,” says Cutting. “With the consultation ongoing, now is a good time for fleet and risk managers to remind drivers about your company’s mobile phone policy so that anyone using a company vehicle is very clear on the rules.” www.coachline.co.uk

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Bus Driver of the Year 2021 cancelled for second year running

THE organisers of the UK’s Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) competition have decided to cancel the event for the second year in succession. They point out that the Covid-19 pandemic meant the 2020 national final could not go ahead, and the ongoing uncertainty regarding social distancing together with the challenges faced by the industry has resulted in the 2021 event scheduled for 6 September also being cancelled. BDoY ’s cou nci l has now

confirmed that the next national event will be on 11 September 2022 in Blackpool. Chairman Joe Mackie says: “Although we planned to hold the event in 2021, the devastating consequences of the pandemic have combined to present too much uncertainty for an event that not only attracts 500 people to a dinner and results presentation but requires regional heats to be held at a time when operators are battling to come to terms with unpredictable staff absences,

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April 2021

green Green light for Coventry to become UK’s first All Electric Bus City PLANS for Coventry to become the UK’s first All Electric Bus City have been backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The project will see every bus in Coventry being electric powered by 2025, leading to improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower running costs. Approval from the WMCA Board means that £50million f rom t he Depa r t ment for Transport will now be available to the region to deliver the project. Transport for West Midlands (Tf WM), which is part of the WMCA, will work with bus operators to replace buses and install charging infrastructure on the streets of Coventry. This includes pantograph, or overhead, charging points which will be available to all bus operators. Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street says: “It took a lot of lobbying and persuading, but I am delighted we won t he government ’s nat iona l competition to turn Coventry’s bus fleet all electric. “It was great to welcome the

prime minister to Coventry to talk about our all-electric plans, and crucially today’s confirmation by the WMCA board now unlocks his government’s £50 million investment, meaning we can get on with rolling out the clean, green, electric buses onto the city’s roads. “Not only will the clean bus fleet improve the public transport offering in Coventry, but it is also another step towards tackling the climate emergency and helping to attract people to leave their cars at home in favour of taking the bus.” Transport minister Baroness

Vere adds: “Our £50million investment will see Coventry’s entire f leet of buses replaced with new, all-electric vehicles. This will have a profoundly positive effect on air quality and emissions in the area and reduce noise pollution.” TfWM will lead the project in partnership with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and local bus operators – who are together paying 25 per cent of the added costs of electric vehicles over diesel and charging infrastructure. www.wmca.org.uk

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Big boost for zero emission buses in Scotland and England

T H E Scottish a nd UK governments have announced new funding schemes to support the rollout of zero emission buses in Scotland and England respectively. The UK scheme, which only covers England, is worth £120million and plans to fund up to 500 ZE buses, while the Scottish scheme, which is the second round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) is worth £40.5million designed to help replace 215 diesel buses. On the face of it, the Scottish scheme is considerably more generous with an average of £188,000 per bus replaced, compa red to £24 , 0 0 0 i n England, although clearly the costs are not evenly split among bids and the costs include infrastructure in many cases. The SULEBS programme is the second tranche and follows an earlier £10.5million awarded to

operators in autumn 2020. Bids for both phases have been published with First Glasgow winning the biggest share of £24.3million. This has resulted in the largest EV order to date for Alexander Dennis in Scotland of 126 BYD ADL buses which takes the First Glasgow fleet to a total of 150 electric buses. U K t r a n s p or t s e c re t a r y Grant Shapps said that its Zero Emissions Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme would enable local transport authorities to roll out zero emission buses, as the Government continues to build back greener. Under the England scheme, local transport authorities are being invited to bid for the funding to reduce the carbon emissions from their local public transport and to improve air quality in towns and cities across England. And to ensure the funding from today’s zero emission bus fund is used quickly to help provide

Brit ish bus ma nufacturers with an injection of orders, the government is calling on a consortia of local transport authorities, energy companies, bus operators and manufacturers to come together with bidders having until 21 May 2021 to submit expressions of interest for a fast track process. “The launch of the scheme means we’re giving businesses and local authorities the tools to help deliver the 4,000 zero emission buses we said we would introduce, which will dramatically improve air quality in towns and cities across the country, helping us achieve our net-zero ambitions,” says Schapps. The UK government’s scheme comes alongside funding already committed to Coventry for its All-Electric Bus City, and more than £30million to support research into battery technology, April 2021

green the electric vehicle supply chain and hydrogen vehicles. Twentytwo studies will receive a share of £9.4million, including proposals to build a plant in Cornwall that will extract lithium for use in electric vehicle batteries, a plant to build specialised magnets for electric vehicle motors in Cheshire and lightweight hydrogen storage for cars and vans in Loughborough. In Scotland, the government says that its £40.5million will be matched by more than £80million from bus companies to fund 215 vehicles. Scottish cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity Michael Matheson says: “The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme continues to help drive a green recovery, responding to the global climate emergency and improving air quality. “Ensuring a just and fair transition to a net-zero economy is a truly national endeavour and I’m delighted that the Scottish Government’s investment is matched by private investment from bus operators and the finance sector. 172 of these new buses will be manufactured in Falkirk – benefitting the Scottish bus industry and wider supply chain. “Our bus decarbonisation work, both through SULEBS and the Taskforce, is part of a wider package of support for our bus industry – including long-term funding of over £500million for bus priority infrastructure. We’re also providing support of up to £191.3million to help maintain essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and help keep Scotland moving.” www.dft.gov.uk

April 2021

Scotland ZE funding SULEBS Round 1 - August - September 2020

FIRST GLASGOW Bid: 22 single deck ADL E200 buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded: £3,870,374 XPLORE DUNDEE Bid: 12 double deck ADL E400 buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded: £1,946,727 MCGILL’S BUS SERVICE Bid: 1 single deck ADL E200, 22 single deck Yutong E12 buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded: £3,938,827 EMBER CORE Bid: Infrastructure only Total funding awarded: £383,484 ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL Bid withdrawn SULEBS Round 2 - January - February 2021 FIRST GLASGOW Bid: 35 single deck ADL, 91 double deck ADL buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £24,301,840 MCGILL’S BUS SERVICE Bid: 33 single deck Yutong buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £6,011,718 EMBER CORE Bid: 6 single deck Yutong, 4 single deck arrival buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £1,302,634 STAGECOACH WEST Bid: 15 single deck ADL buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £2,666,359 STAGECOACH EAST Bid: 9 single deck ADL buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £2,181,663 STAGECOACH BLUEBIRD Bid: 22 double deck ADL buses and infrastructure Total funding awarded to date: £4,079,134

green

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Stagecoach orders 46 BYD ADL electrics in Scotland

STAGECOACH has confirmed an order for a further 46 new electric buses with Alexander D e n n i s , re pre s e nt i n g a n investment of £21.4million across Scotland. The order for new electric buses follows the announcement by the Scottish Government of additional funding being awarded through a second round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme. The new electric bus order is made up of: 22 electric doubledeck BYD ADL E400 buses for use in Aberdeen City; 15 electric single-deck BYD ADL E200 buses for use on Kilmarnock Town Services 3, 6 and 7; and nine electric single-deck BYD ADL E200 single-deckers for use in Perth on bus routes 1 and 2 S a m Gre er, St a ge c oac h

regional director Scotland, says: “Sustainable public transport is critical to the future of our planet: decarbonising local journeys, reduc i ng road conge st ion, improving air quality and tackling climate change. “This major investment will also provide a boost for Scotland’s world-leading bus manufacturing sector, helping to protect and grow jobs in Scotland. “As Scotland gears up to host the COP26 climate change summit in November, it’s a crucial time for us all to think about how we can help deliver a greener recovery from Covid-19.” Paul Davies, ADL president & managing director, adds: “These zero emission buses will be built at our factory in Falkirk and it is great news for Scotland that this investment is being recycled into

the local economy, allowing the benefits to be felt across our communities whilst helping to underpin skilled jobs.” Frank Thorpe, Managing Director at BYD UK, says, “Scotland is blazing a trail with its uptake of eMobility as a public transport solution, and we’re delighted that the BYD ADL partnership is leading the supply of vehicles with our single and double deck models. “With the Scottish Government in support, our excellent partnership with major operators such as Stagecoach, and the public’s acceptance of eMobility, we are seeing a decisive shift to a more sustainable transport system.” www.stagecoachgroup.com www.alexander-dennis.com www.bydeurope.com

April 2021

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

First Bus orders 126 BYD ADL buses to bring Glasgow fleet to 150 electrics

IN the largest order to date for electric buses in Scotland, Alexander Dennis and BYD confirmed that it will supply First Bus with a further 126 zero-emission buses for Glasgow, comprising 91 double-deck and 35 single-deck buses, all part-funded by the Scottish Government. The BYD ADL partnership has won the order from First Bus after the operator’s bid for funding in the latest round of Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme. The successful bid awarded First Glasgow £24.3million, and First Bus has committed to spend a further £35.6million in a total order worth more than

£59million. Using BYD’s battery electric driveline technology, ADL will assemble the buses at its factory in Falkirk. First Bus has opted for 91 BYD ADL Enviro400EV double-deck buses, each of which will be 10.8m long, and 35 single-deck BYD ADL Enviro200EV with a length of 11.6m each. The new buses will all be introduced to the Glasgow city bus network by March 2023. They will join two BYD ADL Enviro200EV that have been operating since January 2020 as well as 22 similar single-deck buses ordered in February 2021 for delivery ahead of the UN’s COP26 climate summit, taking the company’s electric bus fleet

in Scotland’s largest city to 150 vehicles, all of which will be based at the operator’s Caledonia depot where they will be charged at night. Ja net te B el l, Fi rst Bu s managing director, says: “As leaders in sustainable mobility, we are fully aligned with the government’s ambitions for a zero-carbon bus fleet and have already committed to this by 2035. We will continue to ensure that our progress doesn’t just exceed the expectation outlined in the strategy, but that it also puts the expectations of our customers front and centre.” www.bydeurope.com www.alexander-dennis.com

April 2021

green McGill’s places extra electric orders after Scottish government funding

A NEW £15million investment in electric buses has been announced by McGill’s, the UK’s largest independent bus operator. The latest order for 33 new EVs from Pelican Yutong follows a £17.5million investment announced last month for 22 Yutong E12 vehicles and with BYD/ADL for 12 double-deck buses and one single-deck. As part of its investment, McGill’s has also ordered further electrical charging infrastructure for its depot in Inchinnan. T he elec t r ic buses a nd infrastructure will be delivered in the second half of this year, in advance of the COP26 conference. McGill’s investment is supported by the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme, and April 2021

the operator reports that it is also in advanced talks with a variety of partners to bring 12 Hydrogen buses into the business in the next 12 months. The new f leet purchase takes McGill’s capital investment since 2014 to more than £65million – around £55million of which has been spent on new vehicles. James Easdale, co-owner and chairman of McGill’s Group, says: “We’re thrilled to be making this further investment which will bring our total fleet of all-electric vehicles in the west of Scotland and Dundee to 68. “Notably, these will be delivered before COP26, significantly in advance of other operators who have placed orders. We have a strong record of investment in

McGill’s and this will continue in years to come.” Ian Downie, head of Yutong UK, adds:, “Pelican are delighted to receive this award from McGill’s for our state of the art, market leading product. This is our largest order to date in the UK, and as well as our joint largest order in Europe. “This significant investment will mean that McGill’s will have one of the largest percentage of their fleet as zero emissions in the UK, and make a real statement of intent to the citizens of Renfrewshire and Glasgow on the decarbonisation of passenger vehicles.” www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk www.pelicanyutong.co.uk www.alexander-dennis.com

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

First electric articulated bus from MAN goes into operation in Cologne

AN 18m electric articulated MAN Lion’s City 18 E is now operating in Cologne on route 127, one of the longest lines in the KVB bus network. “It’s the very first fully-electric articulated bus we’ve delivered to a customer and it’s now showing what it can do on KVB scheduled services in Cologne,” says Rudi Kuchta, head of business unit bus, MAN Truck & Bus. Stefanie Haaks, Chair of operator KVB, adds: “We have been pursuing a clear strategy of reducing emissions as far as possible. That is why e-mobility is for us the future. We are therefore very delighted about being the first transportation company to use the MAN Lion’s City 18 E on

scheduled services and being able to experience the state-of-the-art electric bus.” Another electric articulated bus will shortly be in operation in Barcelona, making it the second MAN Lion’s City 18 E to be delivered for scheduled services. “The vehicles for Cologne and Barcelona are part of a field trial,” adds Kuchta. “Working together with transportation companies, we aim to gather extensive experience, which will then be used to continually improve our city buses.” A nd t h i s mont h, s er ie s production of MAN Lion’s City 18 E will start at its plant in Starachowice, Poland. The Lion’s City 12 E has been in series

production there since October 2020. The first batch of series-built electric artic buses will be going to Nuremberg in an order for VAG Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft of 28 artics and 11 Lion’s City 12 Es. A further order for the Lion’s City 18 E is for Gamla Uppsala Buss in Sweden which has ordered 12 in what will be the first electric buses in the city. Delivery is scheduled for May 2022. In addition, the framework agreement with Gamla Uppsala Buss includes an option for a further 65 MAN electric buses extending to 2023, including 45 Lion’s City 18 E and 20 Lion’s City 12 E buses. www.mantruckandbus.com

April 2021

green Hermes aim for further greening of Eindhoven with 32 Citeas

EINDHOVEN operator Hermes has ordered 32 VDL Citea electric buses for delivery in January 2022. The order follows a tender by the Dutch province of North Brabant, with the aim of switching completely to public transport that no longer emits harmful substances in the period 2016-2025. Willem van der Leegte, VDL president says : “Hermes stuck its neck out four years ago to start what was then Europe’s largest electric bus fleet in Eindhoven. It was a fantastic milestone that generated worldwide interest. The fact that Hermes is now taking the next step by ordering 32 new generation Citeas for April 2021

Eindhoven from VDL is an example of their vision to electrify public transport in the region.” Martijn Mentink, regional director, Hermes, adds: “In recent years, many other European transport companies and cities have visited Eindhoven to see and experience with their own eyes that the future of e-mobility in public transport has already begun here. “I am therefore very pleased that with this investment in a new zero emission city fleet we can further contribute to stronger and cleaner public transport. The coronavirus crisis is having a major impact on public transport, but we continue to believe that innovation pays off

even in these difficult times.” The new generation Citeas have been equipped with a Brainport package for Hermes which includes forward collision warning and blind spot detection systems. T he bat ter y pac k s a re integrated into the f loor as standard, allowing for more passenger space, up to a maximum of 110 people in a 12.2m vehicle. For this new generation of electric city buses, VDL Bus & Coach has developed a composite sidewall that consists of a single piece, which it says reduces vibration and noise and contributes to passenger comfort. www.vdlbuscoach.com

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Cologne operator KVB to take 51 electric Citea artics

KVB Cologne has ordered 51 electric articulated Citea buses in BRT design from VDL Bus & Coach to be delivered in 2022, taking its electric Citea fleet to 113 vehicles. “This new order from VDL Bus & Coach underlines the decisiveness of KVB Cologne, already one of the frontrunners in Germany in the field of electric mobility,” says Boris Höltermann, managing director, VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland. “We are proud of this renewed trust. “It allows us to continue our

cooperation in the field of e-buses, which we started in 2012. It also shows that we are playing in the Champions League when it comes to the electrification of public transport in Germany.” VDL Bus & Coach will supply the 51 articulated Citeas with its largest battery pack for the first time, 525 kWh. The new Citeas will be used on lines 126, 142 and 146 on the left bank of the Rhine and on lines 151, 152, 155 and 196 on the right bank. In this way, seven more bus lines in Cologne will be converted to e-mobility starting in 2022.

The Citeas SLFA-181 are charged overnight via a pantograph on the roof at the depot and, due to the heavy urban use, also en route at charging stations. V DL ha s ele c t r ic bu s e s operating across Germany in Cologne, Münster, Osnabrück, Oberhausen-Bottrop, Leipzig and Kiel with a combined experience of more than four million electric km. In the coming years the cities/ municipalities of Plön, Völklingen, Neuss, Braunschweig, Verden and Goslar will also be added to this list. www.vdlbuscoach.com

April 2021

green 13 electric Ebusco buses for sustainable city of Copenhagen EBUSCO has received an order for 13 electric buses from Nobina for operation in Copenhagen. This is the first order from Denmark for the Dutch bus manufacturer. “We are seeing a rapid change in public transport, where electric buses are meeting our travellers’ demands for an even more sustainable, efficient and comfortable public transport,” says Jens Råsten, fleet manager, Nobina Group “We are also proud of being the first to welcome Ebusco to Denmark and our joint efforts and demands in creating a moder n a nd CO2-neut ra l public transport for Greater Copenhagen.” Nobina will take Ebusco 2.2

12m three-door city buses which has a range of 350km, according to the manufacturer. Ebusco will also supply seven CCS chargers, each with two charging inlets. The chargers have been developed for both fast and normal charging, and during the day, the charger can charge a bus at 150kW per hour and at night, the capacity is shared so that two buses can be charged at 75kW per hour simultaneously. “We are proud of our first order from Denmark, especially since our buses will be running in the sustainable capital Copenhagen,” said Peter Bijvelds, CEO, Ebusco. “Copenhagen wants to be the first European capital to become fully CO2-neutral by 2025 in order to provide a better living

environment for its inhabitants. Ebusco has exactly the same values. “We prov ide not on ly mobility, but also clean air and silent streets. By doing this, we contribute to a better living environment.” Five buses will go into service in the Holte area and eight will operate in the Glostrup area in Greater Copenhagen from December 2021. www.ebusco.com

Irizar to supply 44 ie buses to Bulgaria’s fourth largest city BURGAS Bus, based in the fourth largest city in Bulgaria, is taking delivery of 44 Irizar ie buses. The order includes 34 12m-long buses and ten 18m artics. The 12m ie bus will have three doors, 26 seats and a wheelchair area, while the 18m bus will have four doors, 32 seats and a wheelchair area. The vehicles will be equipped with Irizar lithium ion batteries and Irizar e-mobility will also provide 44 interoperable ECI-100 chargers supplied by fellow Irizar group company Jema Energy. The chargers have a 100kW smart charging system that will April 2021

charge the vehicles in three hours using a Combo 2 charging outlet, according to Irizar. They will also include telemetry systems by Datik, another Irizar Group company, which the operator can use to monitor and

manage the electric vehicle fleet at all times and maximise fleet performance. The delivery of the first units is expected to be made in September 2021. www.irizar-emobility.com

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

New charging options added for BYD ADL electric buses BYD UK and Alexander Dennis have introduced additional charging options for the electric bus range. In addition to AC plug charging, all of the partnership’s zero emission buses can now be specified with DC sockets, while double-decks also have the option of roof-mounted connector rails for OppCharge pantographs. As standard, the BYD ADL Enviro200EV single-deck and BYD ADL Enviro400EV doubledeck buses are fitted with dual AC sockets, allowing them to be charged with one 40kW plug, or with two plugs for a combined charging power of 80kW. With compact infrastructure, AC charging continues to be a highly cost-effective solution for a majority of use cases in bus depots. DC plug charging offers higher charging power through a single connection and is now available as an option on all of the BYD ADL partnership’s single and double deck electric buses. Batteries can be charged at up to 102kW on the BYD ADL Enviro200EV, and up to 112kW on the BYD ADL Enviro400EV. Drawing on its expertise in battery technology and energy management, BYD has developed new, high-voltage distribution technolog y. All BYD ADL electric buses can be specified optionally with the provision for both AC and DC charging on the same vehicle. Additionally, to provide parking f lexibility while charging, the system offers options for charging socket location with customers able to

specify various installations of AC and/or DC sockets on the nearside or offside, subject to vehicle type. The BYD ADL Enviro400EV double-deck can now be specified with roof-mounted rails to connect with pantographs built to the international OppCharge standard, which are lowered from their gantry to the vehicle’s roof. BY D’s Bat ter y T her ma l Management System (BTMS) is also installed with the capacity to deliver a peak charging power of 300kW for rapid recharge of batteries, although it may also be used at lower power in bus depots where infrastructure constraints prevent the installation of plug chargers next to the vehicles’ parking positions. BTMS is a liquid-cooled, em is sions-f ree tech nolog y desig ned to ma i nta i n a n

optimum battery temperature a nd , t herefore, ma x i mu m efficiency for the vehicle. Paul Davies, ADL president & managing director, says: “As a business we pride ourselves on innovation and customer focus and we understand that bus operators require operational f lexibilit y to facilitate the transition to zero emission buses. That is why we are adding DC charging and pantograph solutions for our electric buses, which are built in Britain to benefit our economy and develop the country’s expertise in clean vehicle technology.” The first BYD ADL electric buses with DC sockets and roofmounted charging rails will be delivered to operators in the United Kingdom this spring and summer. www.bydeurope.com www.alexander-dennis.com

April 2021

green First Bus orders 5 Enviro400EVs for Leeds park-and-ride FIRST Bus has ordered five BYD ADL Enviro400EV electric double-deck buses, for use on park-and-ride services in West Yorkshire. The buses will operate from First’s Hunslet Park depot in Leeds, where charging infrastructure was introduced last year to support the expansion of zero-emission buses in the city fleet. First has chosen the larger Enviro400EV at 10.8m long and a height of 4.3m. The buses will have 69 seats and will use zeroemission heat pump technology to control interior heating and cooling. The all-electric vehicles are part of an ongoing investment programme by First West Yorkshire to upgrade its fleet in the city with zero emission and ultra-low emission buses, and part of a wider commitment by First Bus to operate a fully zero-

emission fleet by 2035. Simon Carlisle, engineering director, First West Yorkshire, says: “I’m delighted to confirm this latest vehicle order which continues our strong relationship with Alexander Dennis. It is also further evidence of our

commitment to develop a zeroemission fleet in the years ahead and play our role in creating cleaner air in Leeds and other towns and cities in the region.” www.firstbus.com www.alexander-dennis.com www.byd.com

Mellor attacks ‘big bus bias’ BUS ma nu factu rer Mel lor has criticised the Department for Tra nspor t decision to exclude buses with less than 23-passengers capacity from financial support in its £3billion bus strategy for England. Recently announced ZeroEmission Buses Regional Area (ZEBR A) funding includes £120million for the provision of up to 500 new British-built zero-emission buses. Mellor, the Rochdale-based leading manufacturer of size-appropriate April 2021

buses, describes the move as ‘big bus bias’ towards marketdominant larger vehicles acquired primarily by major UK f leet customers for services in principal towns and cities. “We’re suppor tive of t he government’s funding for a zero emissions public transport infrastructure,” says Mellor bus division managing director Mark Clissett, ”but we can clearly see a big bus bias here, with funding set aside exclusively for f leet operations with larger vehicles

in major towns and cities. It’s grossly unfair to the small bus sector generally, especially given the growing demand for more size-appropriate vehicles for essential rural and niche community transport services. “At t he ver y lea st , a l l stakeholders should be given the opportunity to judge for themselves the positive impact zero-emission size-appropriate vehicles can make to our entire bus network.” www.mellorbus.com

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Electric Lion’s City buses for Copenhagen

C O P E N H AG E N o p e r a t o r Anchersen is taking 25 MAN Lion’s City 12 E buses at the end of 2021. The 25 city buses will serve the 7A bus route through Copenhagen City Centre, which is used by more than 4.3 million passengers each year. “For us, the role of electric vehicles in bus transport will be a top priority in the future,” says Poul Anchersen, CEO and owner of Anchersen. “To make urban transport as sustainable as possible, our new city buses are

charged exclusively using green electricity. This means that they are completely emission-free in day-to-day service as well as being extremely quiet on the road.” The buses offer capacity for up to 76 passengers and feature extended seat pitch and padded seats. “Providing sufficient space is currently becoming much more important in the age of the coronavirus pandemic,” says MAN’s Rudi Kuchta. “Riders on our buses have the opportunity to keep a better

distance from their fellow passengers in the Lion’s City E, primarily due to the optimised seating area in the rear, which was made possible due to the lack of any engine housing in the passenger compartment.” The batteries are depotcharged via a CCS connector. At an average charging power of 100 kW, the MAN Lion’s City 12 E is fully charged in less than three hours, and can be charged faster at the maximum charging power of 150kW. www.mantruckandbus.com

April 2021

green Clean-up funding provided by Liverpool city council

L I V E R PO OL cit y cou nci l has approved a plan to deploy £3.3million from the Df T to convert the engines of 200 buses, as part of a programme to improve Liverpool’s air quality. The decision comes in the wake of Liverpool’s draft Clean Air Plan, which aims to bring down kerbside NO2 levels in the city to below the national target of an annual mean concentration of 40 mg per m3. In 2019, a third of the city’s units monitoring NO2 were found to exceed national air quality standards. The highest recording was on Lime Street which had an annual average of 57.3 microgrammes per m3, April 2021

with The Strand also exceeding acceptable levels with an annual average of 45 microgrammes per m3. Poor air quality is a proven contributory factor to respiratory problems, and Liverpool has among the highest rates of child asthma and lung cancer in Europe. The current Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the city’s respiratory issues with Liverpool recording one of the highest death rates in the country. In a bid to further comply with national air quality standards, the council’s cabinet has also approved a plan to launch a public consultation over the summer for the potential introduction of a

city centre charging Clean Air Zone. Formal conversations with major stakeholders in the city region will now begin to explore the economic, environmental and health impacts of a charging CAZ – and the class of CAZ that might achieve the best balance. The cit y council, which declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019, has already begun to implement cleaner, greener measures such as de-carbonising its own fleet of vehicles. It now claims to have the largest lowcarbon refuse f leet in the UK and has installed more than 120 electric charging points across the city. www.liverpool.gov.uk/betterroads

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Autonomous electric shuttle trials in Île-de-France

KEOLIS is claiming a first for an autonomous electric shuttle bus service which is operating on a new bus line linking a suburban train station with local business parks in the Île-de-France network. Following previous trials in La Défense and Vincennes, the project, which is in collaboration with Saint- Quentin-en-Yvelines intercommunal district, is an example of the use of autonomous shuttles as a mobility solution by Île-de-France Mobilités, the public transport authority for the region. For t he f irst t ime, t he autonomous shuttles operate alongside regular traffic and feature as a mobility solution in the Île-de-France Mobilités journey planner app, with the other 1,500 bus lines in the

network. With €2.4 million in funding from Île-de-France Mobilités, the service is free of charge for all passengers and operates Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 8 pm. The new line has been designed to complete the existing bus service by providing a last mile solution for the local employment area. From 31 March 2021 to June 2022, three Navya autonomous shuttles will run between the Pas-du-Lac business park in Montigny-le-Bretonneux and Sa int-Quent in-en-Yvelines / Montigny-le-Bretonneux train station, over a 1.6 km route featuring three stops. The shuttles will operate every eight minutes in rush hour and every 17 minutes at off-peak times. Each autonomous electric shuttle can carry 11 seated

passengers. In each vehicle, a safety operator will be present at all times, ready to intervene if necessary, in compliance with current legislation. The shuttles can navigate safely across busy junctions thanks to on-board V2 X tech nolog y enabl i ng the shuttles to communicate with traffic lights as well as a retractable bollard connected to the vehicle via a RFID device which is actioned automatically as the shuttle approaches. Keolis uses a fleet management tool provided by VIA, a developer and provider of on-demand shared ride services. The system tracks the shuttles’ position remotely in real time, and monitors passenger numbers, kilometres covered and vehicle speed. www.keolis.com

April 2021

green Liverpool plans to introduce 20 hydrogen buses to busiest city route

A new project is planning to bring 20 hydrogen-powered double-deck buses to the streets of the Liverpool City Region. The zero-emission vehicles will be directly funded by the Combined Authority and, like the new trains for the Merseyrail network, will be owned by the Liverpool City Region. The project, which is set to secu re f u nd i ng of up to £12 .5mi l l ion f rom t he Transforming Cities Fund, is a key part of the Metro Mayor’s ‘Vision for Bus’, which commits to using the powers available through devolution to build a better, more reliable and affordable bus network for the April 2021

Liverpool City Region. The announcement also follows the publication of the government’s National Bus Strategy. Plans for the hydrogen bus project also include the building of refuelling facilities, which will be the first of their kind in the north west. Construction of the new hydrogen refuelling facilities is planned to begin later in the year. It is anticipated that the buses will initially serve the 10A route between St Helens and Liverpool city centre – the City Region’s busiest bus route, operated jointly by Arriva and Stagecoach. “In the Liverpool City Region we are already leaders in green technology and the low-carbon

economy and this project will bring 20 brand new hydrogenpowered buses to our streets in another very exciting step forward,” says Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. “The new state-ofthe-art vehicles will help our city region tackle poor air quality and achieve our ambition of being net zero carbon by 2040. “It’s another example of how we’re using the power of devolution to make things greener and cleaner and improve our transport system to make it more reliable, attractive and affordable for everyone who lives and works here.” www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

First electric bus order for Nova Bus in the US NOVA Bus, a subsidiary of Volvo Buses has been selected to supply 15 LFSe+ electric buses by the Milwaukee County Transit System, the largest transit agency in Wisconsin and primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. This is Nova Bus’ first order of electric buses in the United States. “ We l o o k f o r w a r d t o introducing the Nova Bus LFSe+ buses to the Milwaukee com mu n it y,” says Ma r t i n Larose, vice president and general manager, Nova Bus.

“These electric buses, which represent the perfect pairing of our proven expertise with the latest innovations in clean and sustainable technologies, is the perfect choice for the MCTS’ EastWest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that will efficiently connect commuters through downtown Milwaukee and expand the sustainable transit footprint in the state.” Built on the Nova Bus LFS platform, the new LFSe+ is powered by an integrated modular system, the electric motor significantly

decreases maintenance costs and emits no greenhouse gas emissions.

www.volvobuses.com www.novabus.com

Refreshed retrofit guide published by Zemo Partnership

ZEMO Partnership (formerly LowCVP) has published an updated Clean Vehicle Retrofit Technology Guide to highlight the role that the wide range of retrofit technologies can play in improving air quality by cleaning up the existing vehicle fleet. Zemo points to the significant air quality challenge currently facing UK towns and cities, with an estimated 40,000 early deaths caused by poor air quality. Road transport is responsible for up to 80 per cent of roadside NOx in towns and cities, with older diesel vehicles contributing most harmful emissions. Following the introduction of the Bath Clean Air Zone today, Birmingham will launch on 1 June this year and other CAZs will follow in cities throughout

the UK. The Clean Vehicle Retrofit Technology Guide aims to give vehicle operators and loca l authorities an understanding of national air quality frameworks for reducing roadside NO2 concentrations, providing case studies with examples of a range of accredited retrofit technologies that achieve Euro VI-equivalent levels of emissions through t he Clea n Vehicle Ret rof it Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS). The guide covers technologies accredited for buses, coaches, trucks, refuse collection vehicles and black cabs. Many are also applicable to vans and minibuses. NOx abatement technologies such as Selective Cata ly tic Reduction (SCR) and Euro VI engine repower can provide

cost-effective alternatives to purchasing new CAZ or ULEZcompliant vehicles, says Zemo. And of course, retrofitting a fully electric drivetrain will also eliminate tailpipe emissions, but these too need to be accredited to ensure robust standards. Case studies and total cost of ownership (TCO) examples for accredited technologies are included in the guide to direct readers to the most suitable solution. The CVRAS standards have also been adopted by Transport S c ot l a nd a nd Tr a n s p or t for London (Tf L), so that a vehicle with CVRAS-approved technology installed is identified in the central national database and can enter. www.zemo.org.uk

April 2021

green Transdev calls for LEZ in Harrogate

TRANSDEV CEO Alex Hornby is calling on decision makers in Harrogate to create a low emission zone in the heart of the spa town, to build on the success of its electric buses. “We must go further for our town’s future,” says Hornby, adding that bolder thinking is needed to ensure the ‘Harrogate St at ion G ate w ay ’ s c heme succeeds in cutting air pollution on the streets. The bus operator is calling for a low emission zone to be introduced to cover Harrogate bus station and Lower Station Parade which runs alongside it. A par tnership of Nor t h Yorkshire loca l authorities has already secured a total of £ 31m i l l ion f r om t he Tra nsfor mi ng Cit ies f u nd for three separate projects in April 2021

Harrogate, Skipton and Selby. The aim is to finalise designs and start construction work by summer 2022, with completion in 2023. T he ‘Ha rrogate Gateway ’ forms an integral part of a wider plan to cut emissions and tackle ever-growing traffic congestion across t he tow n, including public transport and highway improvements. The proposals aim to create a more welcoming town centre for bus and rail users with more safe space for pedestrians and a new area for public events. An online survey is currently underway to gather residents’ views ahead of further engagement work this spring and summer. “While we see the Station Gateway proposals as a positive step towards our shared aim of a low emission town, we must go

further for Harrogate’s future by making the most of this tremendous opportunity,” adds Hornby. “Our positive experience w it h our ground-brea k ing Harrogate Electrics buses shows we can change our town’s air quality for the better if we do things differently – but we must do much more. “The proposed bus priority measures at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade – the first such measures to be put forward in the town’s history – are a positive start, and are to be welcomed, but by themselves are unlikely to go far enough to achieve Harrogate Borough Council’s stated aim of creating a net-zero carbon economy by 2038.” www.transdev.com