DESTINATION NET ZERO: DECARBONISING TRANSPORT by Passenger Transport Publishing Ltd

DESTINATION NET ZERO DECARBONISING TRANSPORT

brought to you by

1_DNZ_Cover_1b.indd 5

25/10/2021 14:16

BUILT IN BRITAIN Alexander Dennis buses and Plaxton coaches are fully designed and built in Britain, supporting apprenticeships, driving green innovation, underpinning skilled jobs and ensuring that investment in cleaner transport benefits our communities, as well as the environment. www.alexander-dennis.com

PT_BTBR_Ad26.indd 2

25/10/2021 15:26

Welcome

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

Welcome to Destination Net Zero: Decarbonising Transport. Transport This special publication considers the scale of the Net Zero challenge for transport and examines the work that is being done by different organisations to reduce the impact of our mobility needs on the environment. It has been produced to co-incide with COP26, the 2021 United Nations climate change summit, which will be hosted by the UK (in partnership with Italy) in Glasgow on on October 31-November 12, 2021. Many believe that this gathering will be “the world’s best last chance to get runaway climate change under control”. With road transport accounting for 10% of global emissions, and its emissions are rising faster than those of any other sector, transport is a sector in need of a rapid and fundamental transformation. Success will require technological advances alongside behaviour change. We hope you find it an interesting read!

FOREWORD

THE CHA LLEN GE

GRAEME DEY

TH E SOC I A L SI D E

Claire Haigh calls for an honest conversation about hard choices

The numbers that define the challenge of decarbonising transport

Scotland’s minister for transport makes the case for backing buses

Jools Townsend explains the importance of community action

G R E E N M A NI F ESTO

GO -AH EAD GRO UP

FI RSTG ROUP

Greener Transport Council launches manifesto for decarbonising transport

Martin Dean identifies 10 technologies to take us towards Net Zero

Ground-breaking industry firsts as group takes action to decarbonise

M CGILL'S

STAGECOACH

‘The climate will not wait!’ Ralph Roberts says now is the time to lead the way

Sharon Vye-Parminter discusses challenges and opportunities for buses

A L E X A N D E R DE N N IS

CUMMINS

T I C K ET ER

Paul Davies says British bus builder is investing in communities

An expanding range of sustainable technologies can help decarbonise

Solveig Ellila Kristiansen says bus travel is undergoing a revolution

3_DNZ_Welcome.indd 3

25/10/2021 14:21

PT_BTBR_Ad26.indd 4 0185_COP Advert 210x297mm.indd 1

25/10/2021 21/10/2021 15:27 11:40

Foreword

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT HARD CHOICES e are facing an existential crisis. The recent IPCC report has been described as a ‘code red for humanity’. The stakes could scarcely be higher. At this critical moment for international climate policy, huge responsibility rests on UK shoulders. It is fitting that one of the most consequential climate summits in recent years is to take place in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The UK’s own track record includes some considerable achievements. The Climate Change Act of 2008, which put emissions targets into law, was the first of its kind. The UK was also the first major global economy to raise the legally-binding target to net-zero, and the level of ambition for this decade of a 68% cut in emissions by 2030 on 1990 levels is leading edge. There is no shortage of targets and ambition. The UK can also rightly claim to have reduced its territorial emissions by 44% over the past three decades while growing its economy by 75%.

next day delivery. The Transport Decarbonisation Plan is in many ways a landmark publication. The target to end the sale of all new polluting road vehicles by 2040 is genuinely world leading, and there is much to celebrate about the plan’s vision for a cleaner, greener Britain. However, urgent attention must now be given to reducing the volume of traffic on our roads. The Scottish Government has pledged a 20% cut in car kms by 2030, but there has been no mention of any such target by the UK Government. A sharp reduction in vehicle mileage will be unavoidable if we are to decarbonise in time. A central problem is that carbon is not priced properly. Turning this around won’t be easy or pain free. Car dependency has been built into our lives since the 1950s. A whole economy system-wide approach is needed. We have to connect with the root cause of the problem, which is fundamentally about us using too much energy and the price of fossil fuels that

Although impressive, this doesn’t include emissions produced in all the goods and services we import. Crucially, the easy wins in terms of decarbonising the power sector have now happened. Two thirds of future reduction in emissions will rely on individual choices and behaviours. Transport is a sector of particular concern. As hosts of COP26 the UK must have credible plan for transport, which is not only the biggest polluting sector of the UK economy but also the fastest growing source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transport emissions in the UK are only 3-4% lower than they were in 1990. UK Government policy is underpinned by a technology-led approach but there are inherent limitations to a strategy that gives insufficient focus to consumer behaviour. People have driven more, and further, as the costs of running a car have fallen relative to public transport. Van traffic has risen exponentially as people have increasingly bought products online with the expectation of

produce that energy. The fact that successive governments have failed to put a penny on the price of fuel duty for over a decade despite record low oil prices gives an indication of just how politically challenging this is going to be. It is perhaps not surprising that policy over the past 30 years has been underpinned by an assumption that we can continue our existing lifestyles just with cleaner technologies. It is a message echoed in the PM’s foreword to the Net Zero Strategy. The Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Net Zero Strategy do recognise the need for modal switch, but the hard work of delivering behaviour change has been delegated to local authorities. However, it can’t be left to local leaders to make all the tough political decisions. Government needs to have an honest conversation with the public about the hard choices ahead. ■ Claire Haigh Founder & CEO of Greener Transport Solutions

5_DNZ_Foreword.indd 5

25/10/2021 14:23

RECONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS ENGLAND, WE OPERATE NEARLY 300 ELECTRIC BUSES OUR VOLTRA BUSES PROUDLY SERVE THE NORTH EAST

GO-AHEAD GROUP IS COMMITTED TO REDUCING OUR EMISSIONS BY 75% BY 2035 AND BE A NET ZERO COMPANY BY 2045. FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GO-AHEAD.COM/NET-ZERO

PT_BTBR_Ad26.indd 6

25/10/2021 15:28

The data

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

THE NET ZERO CHALLENGE The numbers that define the challenge of decarbonising transport

THE CHALLENGE:

BUS AND COACH:

5-20%

Fill a double decker bus with motorists and it’s possible to remove 75 cars from the road.

The overall costs of unmitigated climate change to be equivalent to 5-20% of global GDP each year.

Source: Department for Transport

20%

The Scottish Government has pledged a 20% cut in car kilometres by 2030.

Source: Stern Review, 2006

15 The average coach between London to Edinburgh saves the equivalent of 15 cars’ worth of emissions.

0 By law the UK’s emissions must now be net zero by 2050.

Source: Department for Transport

4,000

62% of future emissions reductions will rely on individual choices and behaviours.

UK domestic transport emissions 2019:

1.4%

Source: Committee for Climate Change

4,000 zero emission buses, more than a tenth of the fleet. The £3bn pledged by the government will support the purchase of these vehicles and associated infrastructure. Source: Department for Transport

TRANSPORT:

27% Transport is the largest contributor to UK domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, responsible for 27% in 2019. International aviation and shipping are not included in this figure. Domestic GHG emissions from transport have been broadly flat for the last 30 years.

55.4% Rail Cars and taxis

15.9%

1.2%

Heavy goods vehicles Domestic aviation

15.7% 0.4%

Light duty vehicles

Motorcycles and mopeds

Source: Department for Transport

5.0% 0 The sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out by 2030, and all new cars and vans will be fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035.

0.6%

Domestic shipping

Other road transport

RAIL:

0 Ambition for all diesel-only trains to be removed from the network by 2040. The rail network will be net zero by 2050.

1 in 10 One in every 10 miles travelled in England in 2019 was by rail, but the government wants to increase this. Source: Department for Transport

700

2.5%

1.9%

Buses and coaches

Other transport

700 track miles of electrification completed in England and Wales in the last three years.

Source: Department for Transport

7_DNZ_Infographic.indd 7

25/10/2021 14:40

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

BUSES CAN OFFER US A JUST TRANSITION TO NET ZERO Scotland’s minister for transport, Graeme Dey, explains why buses are uniquely placed to help Scotland reduce CO2 emissions from transport, and what the Scottish Government is doing to support them

e’re living in a global climate emergency where we all need to go faster and further than ever before to limit the impacts of climate change on our society. COP26 is the world’s best chance - and possibly one of our last chances - to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. In Scotland, 29% of our overall emissions come from our transport sector and we have a lot of work ahead to ensure we end transport’s contribution to climate change. It’s clear that we’re not going to be able to fully eliminate our contribution to climate change without a significant increase and acceleration of zero emission transport technology. We also know that that technology alone will be insufficient to achieve our challenging target of a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030. As well as continuing our focus on technology in transport, we need to bring in bold measures in the areas of mode shift, behaviour change and demand management, which are all essential to reducing the need to travel. However, as we transition to a net zero society, the shift must be just, fair and equitable. Put simply, as we reduce our emissions and respond to a changing climate, the transition needs to create a better future for everyone - regardless of where they live in Scotland, what they do, and who they are. No one can be left behind and everyone, every industry and every sector has a role and a part that they can play. To support a just transition, I’m clear that what we cannot do in this journey is simply reinvent the wheel - electric or otherwise. If all we do is electrify everything, and claim that the mission to zero is accomplished, then we will miss

out on all of the really profound opportunities there are to improve health, tackle congestion and make our towns and cities fantastic places to live, work and visit. We’ve undertaken modelling here in Scotland and irrespective of the method of propulsion, whether it’s fully electric or internal combustion engines, we have committed to reduce the amount of car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030 in order to reduce transport emissions to support the delivery of our targets. We cannot afford to shy away from this harsh reality. That is why the Scottish Government is the first government in the world to set a vehicle reduction target; a target which accounts for what we understand Scotland needs to achieve in order to respond to the climate emergency. We need a sensible, twin-track approach, with a focus on technological innovation, coupled with modalshift away from cars, to bring about the changes we need to see.

We must never lose sight of the fact that bus can be our greatest ally in our just transition to net zero, delivering on a range of outcomes ranging from environmental to economic, from social equality and to health. This is why the Scottish Government did not stand idle when the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic threatened our bus network. We have provided financial support to bus services to cover the gap between the costs of operating services and income, which has been hit by reduced demand. This includes up to £42m in extra funding between October

2021 and March 2022, part of up to £210m in additional support since June last year. Importantly, this funding is in addition to maintaining concessionary reimbursement and the Bus Service Operators’ Grant at pre Covid-19 levels, where we normally spend around £260m each year. A NEW MODEL FOR BUSES

To support the industry as part of our recovery, through the Transport Act, we’re offering an ambitious new model for bus services. It provides local authorities with options to influence and improve services in their area, ensuring that

BUS IS OUR ALLY

The good news is that we already have simple solutions to some of our most complex transportation challenges. Solutions that can take us a good distance (or dare I say, to the next stop...) on the road towards our net zero future for transport. Just as bus was at the heart of our second National Transport Strategy published in early 2020 - I’m clear that bus remains at the heart of Scotland’s green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. More public transport trips are undertaken by bus than by any other mode. Each full bus can remove up to 75 cars that would have been required for singleoccupancy car trips. Choosing bus today and leaving the car at home is already a climate positive choice - and when that bus runs on electricity or green hydrogen, the benefits are even greater.

The Scottish Government is investing to support the roll out of zero emission buses

08_DNZ_2021.indd 8

25/10/2021 14:48

Graeme Dey there are sustainable bus networks across Scotland. I want local transport authorities to have the tools they need to improve bus services through strengthened opportunities to pursue partnership working and franchising, in addition to wider powers for local authorities to run their own buses. I recognise, however, that legislation alone will not resolve the fundamental challenges to delivering excellent bus services. We know that congestion contributes to falling patronage by making journeys slower and less reliable. That is why I’m very proud of Scotland’s landmark commitment to bus priority infrastructure. We’re providing over £500m in long term funding to support bus priority across our road networks. This will tackle the central issue of congestion, speed up journeys, improve reliability and make bus more attractive to customers.

Most of the new zero emission buses ordered are being built here in Scotland

Within that, in June, we made the first awards of the Bus Partnership Fund to eight partnerships. Up to £23.6m is already helping to implement these measures to the benefit of 27 local authorities across Scotland. Through the Glasgow Managed Motorways study and Strategic Transport Projects Review we will bring forward bus priority on the trunk road and motorway network so that passengers experience quicker, more reliable end to end journeys. Coupled with a quicker service and more reliable service, we then need to inspire a new generation of people to connect and become advocates for the convenience and flexibility that only bus can offer. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Scottish Government will offer free bus travel to all people under the age of 22. This will help those most disproportionately impacted due to the pandemic and support our green recovery, tackling poverty whilst letting more people experience the many benefits of bus.

"We need to bring in bold measures in the areas of mode shift, behaviour change and demand management”

A BUS RENAISSANCE

These combined actions will foster a renaissance for the bus sector in Scotland, tackling the decline in patronage and therefore priming the industry for the next necessary step in our net zero journey, as part our twin-track approach. We have an ambition to remove the majority of fossil-fuelled buses from public transport by 2023. I appreciate this is a bold aim but I am optimistic. When I chaired the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce meeting in July I

was really encouraged by the willingness shown by everyone around that table - bus operators, manufacturers, financiers and energy providers alike. The enthusiasm to find solutions, to be creative and to collaborate was impressive, and I know it wasn’t just talk, because I’ve seen the buses that are starting to come into service across the country. The leadership on display by Scotland’s bus operators, determined to maintain bus as the most climate friendly transport choice people can make, is something I want to support. We’re investing £120m over the next five years to support the roll out of fully electric battery and hydrogen buses. Last year, through the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme, we made over £50m available and bus operators contributed £70m, resulting in 272 new zero emission bus orders, of which 207 are currently being built here in Scotland. This year we’re making a further £50m available through the new Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). The ScotZEB programme is designed to encourage innovation in financing, and attract novel yet sustainable sources of inward investment that can rapidly accelerate what might otherwise be possible. The scale of the global climate emergency doesn’t afford government, policy-makers or industry the time to ponder as to what is the more worthy of two paths; a perceived or presented binary of either improving bus services or investing in bus decarbonisation. We need to both invest and attract further inward investment in these two areas simultaneously, whilst continuing to work smarter together in partnership to the benefit of the entire bus offer. The superpower that is unique to bus is the support it can offer us in our just transition to a zero emission society. As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, let’s come together to get people back onto our buses of today, in order to sustain the greener bus system of tomorrow. Doing nothing isn’t an option. Let’s do net zero. n

08_DNZ_2021.indd 9

25/10/2021 14:49

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

A Bus Users event in Brighton

EXPLORING THE SOCIAL SIDE OF SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL Jools Townsend, chief executive of the Community Rail Network and chair of the Sustainable Transport Alliance, explains the importance of community action and looks forward to a special showcase at the forthcoming COP26 climate summit

he urgency and complexity of shifting to clean, climate-safe, inclusive transport, locally, nationally and globally, has risen up the agenda in the build-up to COP26, but major questions remain over how and how quickly we can rise to this challenge. We’re proud to be part of a partnership of eight UK NGOs, coming together as the Sustainable Transport Alliance to grapple with this issue through a Green Zone event on November 10 at COP26. Drawing on and inspired by our networks of local groups, projects and campaigners across the UK, we’ll be exploring the social side of change, and extent to which communities can be empowered to lead the way on sustainable mobility in varying locations worldwide.

shared, public and active modes of travel the Alliance champions. Hence we welcomed the first objective of the UK Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Strategy being accelerating modal shift, and its aspiration to make public transport and active travel the natural way to get around.

Globally, transport emissions are rising faster than any other sector, and in the UK have as yet failed to fall, as motor transport has continued to increase. It has become increasingly evident that turning that corner, and reducing private car use, as well as flying, provides our best and perhaps only hope for decarbonising transport, and doing so in an equitable way. Electric cars do not offer a complete panacea, with issues around affordability, charging infrastructure, significant levels of embodied carbon and other environmental ramifications for the places where they are driven and where they are made and materials mined. They still take up large amounts of resource, energy and public space, and reinforce patterns of inequitable, car-centric ‘automobility’, in contrast to the

COMMUNITY ACTION

Our organisations are proactively working in different ways with government at different levels, transport partners and communities to support progress towards this on the ground. We’re also working together as the Sustainable Transport Alliance because we recognise that sustainable transport has to be joined up: walking, cycling, buses, trains, community transport and shared mobility all needs to work

in sync to counter the dominance of the private car. So we need a holistic, collaborative approach to supporting communities, advising policy-makers and shaping strategic thinking on sustainable transport. We are also conscious that the social side of change does not always get the attention it deserves - despite evidence pointing to community-led and place-based action as holding great promise for putting us on a path to a greener transport future. Alongside academic research, our organisations’ experiences show that local action and collaboration on transport, putting people and their places at the forefront, can unleash wide-ranging benefits, for health, wellbeing, social inclusion and sustainable development, as well as reducing emissions. This type of approach can create a

10-11_DNZ_STA.indd 10

25/10/2021 14:53

Sustainable Transport Alliance sense of empowerment, appetite and ownership towards the alternatives to the private car, while ensuring that the development of these modes is based on local needs, and spurring creative, innovative approaches to local mobility challenges. From my organisation’s position supporting the UK’s community rail movement, we see people coming together locally with the railway as a focal point, working with partners to break down mobility barriers, building confidence and positivity around rail use, and communities having a voice in transport development. The concept of working at community level to drill down into what people need and want from transport, and build a shared vision of a greener transport future, is reflected among walking and cycling groups, community transport operators, local bike and car share schemes, bus and rail user groups, clean air and climate campaigners, and many other forms of community action on green transport across the UK and beyond.

how lessons and insights from UK communities might be related to different locations worldwide. We believe that nurturing and supporting local opportunities for action, and creating partnerships between local transport providers, authorities and the communities they serve, offers a way to negotiate the complex social issues surrounding transport, which is intertwined with people’s lifestyles and identities and the way our localities function, wherever you are in the world. This is crucial: we need to work with people and their sense of place and identity if we’re to not only shift to more sustainable transport behaviours but ensure our communities gain

Severnside Community Rail Partnership On The Move event

“The social side of change does not always get the attention it deserves”

OUR COP26 SHOWCASE

Our event at COP26 will showcase inspiring examples and insights on how local initiatives can engage and empower people to achieve climate-safe, healthy and inclusive transport systems and behaviours, in rural and urban locations, and everything in between. Our examples are being drawn from diverse places across the UK: from an employment mobility pilot in South Wales Valleys; to travel confidence with young people in Lancashire; to people-centred street design in East London; to place-making and active travel development in the host city of Glasgow. Our panel of government, academic, industry and community experts will share expertise for building trust and making change last, look at what policy and funding support can facilitate these initiatives and consider the wider impact on climate goals and social, economic and environmental co-benefits. The interactive discussion will bring in views and voices from international delegates, exploring

Community transport in Rotherham

THE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT ALLIANCE’S COP26 EVENT The Sustainable Transport Alliance will be running a panel event at COP26, People make transport: communities enabling greener travel, in Tower Base South, Glasgow Science Centre, 5-6pm, 10 November 2021. Our thanks to Transport Scotland and Go-Ahead Group for their support of this event. The event is part of the Green Zone programme, showcasing civil society and community actions in the UK and worldwide - see www.ukcop26.org/ the-conference/green-zone-programme-of-events to register. The current speakers and panellists taking part are: n Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Scottish Government (confirmed) n Professor Greg Marsden, professor of transport governance, University of Leeds Institute of Transport Studies (confirmed) n Cllr Anna Richardson, City Convenor for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, Glasgow City Council (confirmed) n Xavier Brice, Chief Executive, Sustrans (confirmed) n Richard Dilks, Chief Executive, Collaborative Mobility (CoMo) UK (confirmed) n Jools Townsend, Chief Executive, Community Rail Network (confirmed) n Martin Dean, Managing Director - Business Development, Go Ahead Group (confirmed) n Trudy Harrison MP, Minister for Transport Decarbonisation, (confirmed) Visit www.sustainabletransportalliance.org for more information and to sign up for email updates on the event.

from the transition - and there is so much to gain. Importantly, our discussion at COP26 will not just consider the challenges but the benefits of reducing private car use and shifting as many journeys as possible onto public and community transport, walking, cycling and shared mobility. We will show how bringing people and partners together locally leads to innovation, integration across modes, and co-creation of placebased solutions that work on the ground, serve people’s needs and which people feel positive about. This isn’t just about transport, but people’s health and wellbeing, their ability to breathe clean air and enjoy the places where they live, whether they can access the jobs they want and services they need, and whether they can socialise and come together as communities. Our event is dealing with serious subject matter, at an international conference that’s critical for avoiding climate meltdown, but we’re approaching this with hope and positivity and we encourage others across the transport field to work with us and your local partners with a correspondingly hopeful, empowering mood. We need to remember all we have to gain, and the importance of getting there together. The climate crisis is an enormous, complex, scary, threatening problem, and that’s exactly why so many have shied away from it, or found it too difficult or just pointless to try to make changes on their own. What we need is to act together collectively and socially, and to find strength, hope and maybe even enjoyment from that, and community scale is where that works best. I think this very much applies within transport, and it starts with reaching out, forming partnerships, talking to each other, thinking local, and putting people at the forefront of change. n The Sustainable Transport Alliance is made up of Bus Users, Campaign for Better Transport, Community Rail Network, Community Transport Association, Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, Sustrans.

10-11_DNZ_STA.indd 11

25/10/2021 14:54

PT_BTBR_Ad26.indd 12

25/10/2021 15:30

Greener Transport Council

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

A MANIFESTO FOR DECARBONISING TRANSPORT The Greener Transport Council, a collection of leading transport and planning professionals, is urging action

e are a group of leading professionals in the transport and planning sectors who together support the UK Government’s commitment to decarbonising our economy while sharing a deep concern that much greater urgency and action is needed to address the challenge society faces. Our focus is upon what we believe the government must do if we are to decarbonise transport at the rate necessary. We start by acknowledging the scale of the challenge. Climate scientists are shocked by the accelerating rate of changes. The August 2021 IPCC report has been described as a ‘code red for humanity’. We are seeing severe weather impacts in areas not previously thought of as high risk. Special responsibility rests on UK shoulders. As hosts of the COP26 UN Climate Summit we are well positioned to demonstrate strong policies and to show leadership. Transport is the biggest emitting sector of the UK economy and the fastest growing source of global greenhouse gas emissions. We must have a credible delivery plan for decarbonising our transport system. The July 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan is a welcome first step. We support the target of phasing out sales of all new polluting road vehicles by 2040 and the plan’s vision for a cleaner, greener Britain. However, urgent attention must now be given to reducing the volume of traffic on our roads. We were invited to advise Greener Transport Solutions (GTS) in the development of A Manifesto for Decarbonising Transport. GTS has conducted extensive research which concludes that achieving our carbon reduction targets will require: ■ Traffic reduction in addition to the roll out of zero emissions vehicles; ■ A complete reform of motoring

The actions we take in this decade are arguably the most important in human history. We must act quickly and decisively. We urge the government to complement the roll out of clean vehicle technologies with a national focus on behaviour change. ■

taxation as we transition from petrol and diesel vehicles; and ■ A credible national programme for delivering behaviour change. This cannot afford to wait. 60% of the decarbonisation task for transport needs to be done in the next decade if we are to be on track for the net zero target.

Our manifesto calls for traffic reduction in addition to zero emission vehicles

ABOUT GREENER TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS Greener Transport Solutions (GTS) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the decarbonisation of transport. It received funding from the Foundation for Integrated Transport to produce A Manifesto for Decarbonising Transport. GTS has consulted widely, including a Transport Knowledge Hub workshop and then a series of webinars sponsored by the law firm Addleshaw Goddard. GTS has published various articles and reports on decarbonising transport. In partnership with Transport Times, it has published blogs by more than 100 leading academics, politicians, businesses, environmental groups and think tanks. GTS conducted a quantitative survey of Transport Times readers between August 17 and September 15, 2021, on what it would take to decarbonise transport. Key findings include:

92%

of those surveyed agreed that the need for travel should be reduced by investing in digital connectivity, alongside sustainable transport, with 64% strongly agreeing.

89%

agreed that the UK Government should commit and put in place policies to ensure a reduction in car kilometres travelled of 20% by 2030, with 71% strongly agreeing.

85%

identified that the £40bn blackhole from the demise of Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty revenues made alternative funding through road pricing ‘inevitable’. 59% strongly agree.

GREENER TRANSPORT COUNCIL

The Greener Transport Council is a group of leading professionals in the transport and planning sectors: ■ Claire Haigh (Chair), Founder & CEO of Greener Transport Solutions ■ Professor Jillian Anable, Chair in Transport and Energy, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds ■ Stephen Glaister CBE, Emeritus Professor of Transport and Infrastructure at Imperial College London, Associate of the London School of Economics ■ Professor Peter Jones OBE, Professor of Transport and Sustainable Development in the UCL Centre for Transport Studies ■ Professor Glenn Lyons, Mott MacDonald Professor of Future Mobility, University of the West of England ■ Professor Greg Marsden, Professor of Transport Governance, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds ■ Paul Campion, CEO of TRL ■ Hilary Chipping, CEO South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership ■ Leon Daniels OBE, Chair Highways Sector Council ■ Andy Eastlake, CEO, Zemo Partnership (formerly Low CVP) ■ Victoria Hills, CEO Royal Town Planning Institute ■ Paul Hirst, Head of the Transport Sector Group at Addleshaw Goddard ■ Stephen Joseph OBE, Trustee of the Foundation for Integrated Transport & Visiting Professor at University of Hertfordshire and ■ Maria Machancoses, Chief Executive of Midlands Connect ■ Kamal Panchal, Senior Adviser on Transport and Local Growth Policy, Local Government Association (Observer) ■ Anna Rothnie, Principal Transport Planner ■ Anthony Smith, CEO of Transport Focus ■

13_DNZ_GreenerTC.indd 13

25/10/2021 15:04

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

Brighton & Hove’s fleet of 54 extended-range double deckers are ‘geo-fenced’

TEN TECHNOLOGIES TOWARDS NET ZERO To tackle climate change, the transport industry needs to innovate. Martin Dean of The Go-Ahead Group identifies some stand-out initiatives

To achieve the global ambition of limiting climate change, we need to radically change the way we get around. Modern societies need to reduce their reliance on the car as the default way to get from A to B. But how can we go about replacing it? The challenge is a huge one: free, easy movement for both urban and rural populations without a reliance on the internal combustion engine. And at the very heart of the solution is public transport. All Destination Net Zero readers will be well aware of the opportunities from active travel and getting more people onto buses and trains: A full double decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road;. The introduction of more

efficient and zero emission public transport further adds to public transport’s environmental case. But that public transport itself needs to be as green, and efficient, as possible. We want to highlight 10 technologies to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, to create a transport network more resilient to climate risks and to use resources and water more efficiently. Some of these initiatives are mature and embedded. Others help us identify efficiency and suitability in the real world. Public transport networks are a rigorous proving ground for new technologies. They must be robust and accessible for many hurried and different users, able to be integrated into many other systems, cost-efficient and scalable. Taken collectively, they reduce

emissions in the near term while zero emission technologies are developed and rolled out. And that’s more than just talk: since 2016 Go-Ahead Group has reduced its carbon emissions by 22%.

REGENERATIVE BRAKING

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) introduced Siemens Class 700 trains five years ago and they have now travelled over 60 million miles, about two-thirds of the way to the sun. They are 25% lighter than the previous trains and are 50% more energy efficient. Energy previously lost to heat, light and noise under braking, is now returned to the network by regenerative braking. This returns the equivalent of a quarter of Peterborough or Bedford’s entire domestic energy consumption.

GEOFENCING

Hybrid technologies reduce emissions but understanding your community is important to minimise also the impact of air pollution. In Brighton, many of our bus routes carry high volumes, traverse hilly terrain and travel up to 350 miles a day - a challenge for battery electric buses. So, we have hit upon hybrid buses which automatically switch into zero-emission mode when they enter the ‘geofenced’ zone in the centre of the city. This GPS-based technology means that areas around hospitals, densely populated neighbourhoods and congested roads can be ringfenced from emissions while we transition to a fully zero emission fleet by 2035.

SOLAR PANELS ON BUSES

Go-Ahead Singapore is piloting roof-based ultra-thin solar panels to cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing fuel consumption. The solar energy saved by the ultra-thin solar panels

14-15_DNZ_GoAhead.indd 14

25/10/2021 15:08

Go-Ahead Group charges the battery of the buses, reducing the load on the alternator which in turns reduces the load on the engine. While this technology has been used on a hybrid vehicle, it could in future be adapted for battery electric buses too.

BUS2GRID

In partnership with energy company SSE, we are launching a project at Northumberland Park, one of Europe’s largest overnight charging depots for electric buses, that will enable vehicles to discharge any excess energy in their batteries to the National Grid in the evenings when there is high domestic demand for energy. The buses can then be charged overnight when demand for electricity is lower. This concept, which allows buses to charge the grid, effectively turns a bus depot into a miniature power station. If rolled out across London’s entire bus fleet, the idea could power as many as 150,000 homes.

HYDROGEN POWER

While battery electric technology will propel most future zero emission buses, Go-Ahead will also operate hydrogen-powered vehicles. The range of current battery technology can be limited by hills, heavy-passenger loads and extremes of temperature. Inadequate range for the services our customers want would require a larger fleet of buses and drivers. Hydrogen too is not without its limitations. Because we don’t know yet the optimum technology for public transport in 2050, we are using a range of solutions to identify what works for our customers, colleagues, cost and carbon.

photovoltaic film that can produce more energy than the station needs. The film is also self-cleaning, reducing water use. Meanwhile, its additional space, cycle hub and better links to local hospitals will reduce delays and make it easier for people to use rail. This builds on the awardwinning Blackfriars station, where 4,400 solar panels generate up to half of the station’s energy needs.

DEMAND RESPONSIVE SERVICES

City residents commonly have access to public transport that can get them wherever they need to be. Rural communities are served less well, but no less need to travel. Relying on cars to solve this challenge excludes those unable to drive safely or afford a car. So Go-Ahead bus company East Yorkshire is operating a demand-responsive service called JustGo in North Lincolnshire, allowing users to summon a bus using their mobile app. With funding from North Lincolnshire Council, this uses software that calculates the best route to collect and drop off passengers - connecting communities and boosting the local economy.

MATERIAL SEGREGATION UNIT

Recycling rates at railway stations have been a persistent environmental weakness for years. Even highly-motivated customers are likely to make errors when in a rush or in a new place when throwing something away. A single mistake can ruin the value of otherwise high quality recyclate. Brighton station generates more than 11% of all waste across GTR’s network. So, over the last month, the train operator in partnership with The Green Block has trialled a mobile segregation unit at Brighton Station that has already tripled the amount of waste that can be recycled.

To encourage uptake of public transport, there’s a pressing need to improve the environment for people changing between modes of transport. Local authorities up and down the UK are examining prospects for mobility hubs - which will bring together different modes of sustainable transport including buses, bikes, e-bikes, electric vehicles and walking routes. These hubs will have enhanced facilities to make them more appealing - including solarpowered heating and lighting, plug-in points for bikes and cars, catering, community gardens and even workspaces. They can unlock opportunities for low carbon journeys by integrating different forms of transport.

10 Solar panels on Oxford Bus Company's depot have cut energy consumption

Electric buses at Northumberland Park garage in London

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Network Rail and the UK Department for Transport’s investments in stations are reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing accessibility to encourage more people to use public transport. Denmark Hill’s renovation makes it Europe’s first carbonpositive station upgrade because its roof benefits from a new

MOBILITY HUBS

Govia Thameslink Railway is taking action at Brighton station to boost recycling

INNOVATION

Go-Ahead has supported three cohorts of innovative start-ups through the ‘Billion Journey Project’. The transport sector synthesises technology from many different places and this project, alongside partnerships such as the Connected Places Catapult, helps develop ideas to help tomorrow’s passengers. Two examples both aimed to encourage more people to use public transport by spreading demand through the day. One platform, ahead of the Covid pandemic, helped passengers find quieter bus services. Another scheme used big data so season ticket holders kept the flexibility to travel when they wanted but would be reward if, in practice, they travelled off-peak. Go-Ahead’s climate change strategy identifies five themes of action to tackle the climate emergency. By mapping our commitments and validating them with the experts of the sciencebased targets initiative, we are creating a framework against which we will work together with our partners and communities to be net zero by 2045. Developing and deploying technology will be vital to achieving our goal. The common thread to the 10 technologies are all the people behind them and the support of our passengers on this journey. n

14-15_DNZ_GoAhead.indd 15

25/10/2021 15:08

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

LEADING THE WAY TO NET ZERO FirstGroup has achieved a number of ground-breaking industry firsts as it takes action to decarbonise and achieve net zero

he eyes of the world will be on Glasgow this autumn for the COP26 climate change summit of global leaders - and FirstGroup will be there. Governments worldwide increasingly recognise the vital role that public transport can provide in supporting their response to the climate change challenge. FirstGroup’s services are expected to make an important contribution to achieving this goal in two ways. Firstly, by facilitating a modal shift of motorists out of their cars and onto public transport, because the per passenger mile emissions of a typical bus or train are much lower than the equivalent number of private vehicles. Secondly, by accelerating the transition of its own fleets to zero emissions in the coming years, supporting growth in green jobs. First Rail and First Bus operations will therefore make a significant contribution to delivering the UK’s climate change commitments.

limit climate warming to 1.5°C by 2050, thereby mitigating the worst impacts of climate change. In the long term, a shift to zero emissions public transport and active travel and away from cars and planes - is vital to achieving this global goal. FirstGroup executive chairman David Martin says: “FirstGroup is ready to play its part in accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon world. We are proud to be the first UK public transport operator to sign-up to ambitious science-based targets to achieve net zero emissions. “The vital role of public transport has never been clearer in helping to address the challenges of climate change, and we are

Alongside other public transport operators the group recognises that it is part of the solution, but it is not complacent about its impact on the environment and the need to reduce it. FirstGroup is leading UK public transport operators in taking action to decarbonise and achieve net zero, achieving a number of ground-breaking industry firsts. Earlier this year, the company became the first bus and rail operator in the UK to formally commit to setting an ambitious science-based target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. A science-based target provides a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and ensuring sustainable business growth. An emissions target is considered ‘science-based’ if it is in line with the reductions needed to meet the global commitment under the Paris Agreement to

“The vital role of public transport has never been clearer in helping to address the challenges of climate change”

committed to helping deliver a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.” Alongside the science-based target commitment, FirstGroup also became the first public transport operator in the UK to sign the UN’s Business Ambition for 1.5 pledge which calls on businesses to set science-based targets to achieve net zero emissions. This commitment to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon world has also led to inclusion in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2021. S&P considered more than 7,000 companies, a record number, in its annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment, and the yearbook lists 631 leading companies for sustainability based on their scores from that assessment. FirstGroup’s sustainability performance ensured the company was the only UK-listed transport provider entered into the yearbook, and is within the top 15% of the transport industry as a whole.

A First Glasgow electric bus outside Glasgow City Chambers. First Bus is committed to investing to achieve a 100% zero emission fleet by 2035

16-17_DNZ_First2.indd 16

25/10/2021 15:10

FirstGroup MAKING TRANSPORT GREENER: FIRST BUS IN SCOTLAND

MOBILITY BEYOND TODAY

FirstGroup’s environmental aspirations are underpinned by a strategic framework for sustainability. Published last year, Mobility Beyond Today, sets out the company’s ambition to be the partner of choice for innovative and sustainable transport for a zero-carbon future. Key commitments in this document include: n First Bus investment in only zero emission vehicles from December 2022, with a 100% zero emission fleet by 2035. n Supporting the UK Government’s challenge to take all diesel-only trains out of service by 2040. n Support for continued electrification of the UK rail network, with hydrogen, battery-electric and hybrid trains playing a significant role where electrification is not possible. n Signing up to become an official Supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Last year we became the first UK-based transport operator to do so, agreeing a new green governance framework to drive progress against the TCFD’s recommendations. INCLUSIVE AND EMPOWERING

FirstGroup wants to use the COP26 climate summit to articulate how important measures to improve modal shift are in achieving an ‘inclusive net-zero economy’. High quality public transport is the key to ensuring that the transition to net zero is achieved in a way that does not inhibit mobility and leave people isolated. Making fewer journeys by car or train does not have to have reduced access to work and leisure opportunities - in fact, the reverse can be true. Scottish Business Climate Collaboration (SBCC), for example, is focusing on the “empowerment of workforces to live more sustainable lives”. Governments, meanwhile, must commit to co-ordinated, long-term infrastructure and capacity investment to deliver new fleets at scale and pace and further electrify the rail network. n

Electric buses at First Glasgow’s Caledonia depot

In Aberdeen, Scotland’s energy capital, First Bus now operates the world’s first fleet of double decker hydrogen buses

FIRSTGROUP ACTIVITY AT COP26

The COP26 climate summit will take place in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. So it’s appropriate to examine the environmental credentials of First Bus in Scotland - the largest bus operator in Glasgow and the whole of Scotland. Work is underway to future-proof First Glasgow’s Caledonia depot, which is the biggest in the UK. This impressive transformation is due for completion in summer 2022. Phase One of the development has already been completed and supports the arrival of 22 new electric buses to the city ahead of COP26. These BYD ADL Enviro200EV vehicles were ordered earlier this year with support from the first round of the Scottish Governments Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEB). With phased completion scheduled across the next 18 months, the Caledonia depot is designed to have space to charge up to 300 EV buses on site, with 162 dual DC rapid charging units. This £35.6m transformation is being supported by £28.2m from SULEB. Meanwhile, in Scotland’s energy capital, Aberdeen, First Bus is pioneering the use of hydrogen power. In January 2021, the world’s first fleet of double decker hydrogen buses officially launched into service in the city, supporting its ambitions to be a pioneer in hydrogen. Supplied by Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus, the zero-emission fleet emits nothing more than water from its exhausts. The new £8.3m project has been funded by Aberdeen City Council, the Scottish Government and the European Union, with an investment of about £500,000 per vehicle.

TranPennine Express and Lumo, the new London-Edinburgh open access service. With rail travel generating six times fewer carbon emissions than travelling by plane, Avanti West Coast has teamed up with ProRail, NS, Eurostar and Youth for Sustainable Travel to run a special ‘Climate Train’ to COP26. The initiative is also supported by CER - the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies.

FirstGroup will welcome COP26 delegates from around the world at Glasgow Airport with its bus service to the city centre. First Bus’s activity is focused on central Glasgow’s Caledonia depot, which is hosting the summit's official charging hub. Together with energy supplier Octopus, First Glasgow will be inviting delegates to experience the state-of-the-art facility and charge their electric vehicle for free. Whilst they're doing so, they can visit an exhibition and virtual reality experience that allows visitors to see the depot of the future. First Glasgow is also operating the official COP shuttle contract. FirstGroup’s rail division will also be active during COP26. Three FirstGroup train operators serve Scotland - Avanti West Coast,

Avanti West Coast will run a ‘Climate Train’

Young people, official delegations, mobility experts, NGOs and representatives of the railway sector are invited to travel on the Eurostar ‘Climate Train’ service, which will depart Amsterdam Central on October 30 and travel to London St Pancras International via Brussels-Midi. From here passengers will take a wellbeing walk to London Euston to board an Avanti West Coast train, featuring a special train wrap, to complete their journey to Glasgow Central. As Anglo-Scottish services, TransPennine Express and Lumo will also tie branding and marketing into COP activities. Lumo, which launched on October 25, aims to entice some of the 74,500 people who fly between Edinburgh and London every month to switch to 100% electric travel by rail. To encourage this modal shift, single tickets will be affordable with 60% of fares priced at under £30.

16-17_DNZ_First2.indd 17

25/10/2021 15:12

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

We have always been eco champions, now it is time to be zero heroes!

THE CLIMATE WILL NOT WAIT! Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s, explains the actions his company is taking and urges others to rise to the challenge

ecent statistics on transport emissions between 1990 and 2018 published by the Scottish Government show that bus and coach vastly reduced its emissions over this 28-year timespan. The same cannot be said for car, van or truck. In spite of successive Euro emission improvements over this time, car

as the mode of transport that must reduce emissions first? It is fair to say that the pandemic knocked the Scottish four-city LEZ (Low Emission Zone) plans off course, but in their early stages, these targeted bus first. Indeed, for three years in Glasgow, the bus has been the target of ever tightening LEZ targets whilst all these other

and truck has failed to reduce its impact upon the environment. Van is worse, van emissions have largely doubled in that time. Bus is the original low carbon people mover. It delivers around 75% of all public transport journeys but emits less than 5% of transport emissions whilst doing the job of up to 65 cars. Why then, is bus always targeted

modes remain untouched. Apart from one street in Glasgow, the bus improvements have failed to register any change on roadside monitoring equipment - nor was it expected to. This is not just the tail wagging the dog, it is the flea on the tail wagging the dog. And so, it goes with zero emission targets. The government has announced an arbitrary target of 50% of all bus services to be delivered by zero emission buses by the end of 2023. The government are at least willing to assist in this transition via grant funding but the suddenly tight timescales and the fiscal impact on bus companies is stressing the system.

18-19_DNZ_McGill's 18

25/10/2021 15:13

McGill's

At McGill’s, we made the decision to embrace the zero emission challenge

Aviation (international)

Bus & Coach

Marine (international)

Trucks

Aviation (domestic)

Vans

Marine (domestic)

Cars

14.8

14.6

Total Transport emissions (MtCO2)

Rail

11 10 9 8 6.5

2030 target

56% reduction

2040 target

70% reduction

2045 target

2.3

80% reduction

1.0

1 0

1990

2018

2030 PS3

2040 PS3

2045 PS3

Scotland's targets for reducing transport CO2 emissions by 2030, 2040 and 2045

There is a plentiful supply of uncertainty for bus companies without adding more to the mix. Will ridership recover from the 75% average of pre-pandemic footfall? Will local authorities take the decision to implement long needed bus priority measures that the Scottish Government has put £500m on the table for? Will local authorities create their own arms-length bus companies to compete against privatelyowned companies? Some have made it clear that they will. Will local authorities implement franchising? Again, some have made it clear that they will. Or, will congestion continue unchecked, with poor parking

largely unpoliced and the resultant footfall decline that goes with it? This is quite enough uncertainty, thank you very much. To add the uncertainty of mass vehicle replacement over a twoyear timescale with a healthy dose of technical uncertainty thrown in may just be the final straw for some businesses. There may be an upside to all of this though. At McGill’s, we made the decision to embrace the zero emission challenge from government. We feel that if bus is to be an alternative to car, it is going to take zero emission to dispel the outdated perception that buses are dirty and smokey. It may just entice people to give the

Zero emission buses dispel the outdated perception that buses are dirty and smokey

“Just as the climate will not wait for us to act, neither will the travelling public”

bus another try. By the end of January next year, the government will have introduced free travel for everyone under age 22. We know that young people are more environmentally aware so zero emission buses will hopefully give them the impetus they need to give it a try. It also might encourage local authorities to take action. Zero emission buses sitting in petrol and diesel car and van based congestion isn’t a good look after all. Just as the climate will not wait for us to act, neither will the travelling public. Now is the time to lead the way. We have always been eco champions, now it is time to be zero heroes! n

18-19_DNZ_McGill's.indd 19

25/10/2021 15:15

Make the switch - back the bus

As world leaders gather for the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, future transport choices will be critical in delivering net zero. Changing technologies is only part of the answer - we also need to change what we do.

stagecoach.com

COP26 Event People Make Transport: communities enabling greener travel, a panel discussion organised by The Sustainable Transport Alliance and supported by GoAhead Group and the Scottish Government, will take place in the Green Zone at COP26 on Wednesday 10 November 2021 at 17.00.

The event will showcase practical examples and insights on how local initiatives can engage and empower communities to achieve climate-safe, inclusive, healthy transport systems and behaviours. With kind support from:

Free tickets are available from: greenzonetickets.ukcop26.org

The Sustainable Transport Alliance is made up of:

PT_BTBR_Ad.indd 20

25/10/2021 15:57

Stagecoach

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

TAKE THE BUS TO NET ZERO Following the publication of its new sustainability strategy, Sharon Vye-Parminter, health, safety and environment director for Stagecoach discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead for public transport in supporting the climate emergency

s we approach COP26, there’s never been a more appropriate time to reflect on the opportunities ahead for public transport and how we can work together to support the country’s green recovery. When it comes to delivering on the UK’s net zero pledges, there’s no more challenging a sector than transport. It’s the country’s highest single emitter of carbon and has been one of the few areas of daily life where the problem has been growing. However, as well as making the switch to electric buses there are some major opportunities ahead in transforming the way people travel. The Committee on Climate Change has made clear that changing technology will deliver only 38% of the required reductions in emissions if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. That means that 62% of emissions reductions will have to come from changes in how we live, particularly the way we travel and how often we do it. And so there’s a great opportunity ahead - but also a challenging one for our industry and government - in how we can encourage people to change the way they travel and move out of their cars and onto buses and more sustainable public transport.

COMMITTED TO CHANGE

As bus operators, we are all firmly committed to playing our part by investing in new greener fleets and using new technology to reduce our carbon emissions. At Stagecoach, we are really excited to have recently launched our new sustainability strategy, Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work, which highlights our own future ambitions but also backs COP26 goals and sets out our road map to becoming a net zero business. Building on our major investment over the past decade in new greener fleets, our future

One of 46 new electric buses introduced to Scotland by Stagecoach this year

decarbonisation plans. However, we can’t do it alone. We need to work together and move faster in order to meet the UK’s net zero ambitions. We welcome the government’s ambitious commitment to 4,000 new zero emissions buses, supporting our own ambitions to decarbonise, but we need a clear timetable of how this transition will work. We also need government support on re-building consumer confidence in public transport, which is why we’ve recently proposed a six-point stimulus package as part of our submission to the UK Government Spending Review. WORKING TOGETHER

Investing in green technology: an electric bus in Greater Manchester.

that are consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°c by 2050. We are very proud of our plans to transform our own business, and we know that other bus operators have exciting

plans will see major investment in more zero emissions buses, such as the introduction of 46 new electric buses in Scotland this year, and other green technologies to reduce the impact of our operations on the planet. It also focuses on initiatives that will cut waste, boost recycling and conserve water, for example purchasing only 100% renewable energy for our buildings and fleet. The strategy is backed by our intention to target a zero emissions UK bus fleet and decarbonise our business by around 70% by 2035. A key commitment in our plans is setting science-based targets

“When it comes to delivering on the UK’s net zero pledges, there’s no more challenging a sector than transport”

Our policy proposals include tax incentives, discounted fares and a national bus marketing campaign, such as the one we’ve recently seen to attract consumers back to trains. We need government support in pushing people to public transport and incentivising people to switch away from cars. We need radical behaviour change, incentives and innovative policies to support our efforts to re-boot bus use and reward the right choices to make net zero a reality. We have been working closely with the Urban Mobility Partnership and partners on the trial of a mobility credit scheme which provides financial incentives to motorists to scrap older diesel cars in return for credits to spend on buses and other sustainable transport options. We have called on the UK government to consider schemes such as this, and a wider reform of motoring taxation, to support modal shift. Bus networks are central to delivering on the country’s net zero ambitions and creating healthier, more connected communities. But we all need to work together to get more people on buses and out of cars to make sure the country can realise these ambitions. ■

21_DNZ_Stagecoach.indd 21

25/10/2021 15:16

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

Alexander Dennis employs 2,000 people across eight locations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland - including Scarborough (pictured)

INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES

Buses are key to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, but they will need governments’ full support to do so, argues Alexander Dennis president and managing director Paul Davies. Britain’s largest bus builder is ‘Leading the ZEvolution’ and will have supplied around 1,000 electric buses by the end of 2021. It is also expanding its zero-emission range with its second-generation hydrogen platform, H2.0, and championing investment that benefits communities across the country

n some ways, UK buses could be at the dawn of a golden age - modal shift from cars to public transport will be essential to meet the decarbonisation targets set out in the Paris Agreement, and the prime minister has openly professed his love of buses and pledged to deliver 4,000 new British-built zero emission buses before the end of this Parliament. Paul Davies, who took the helm as Alexander Dennis president and managing director last year after 20 years leading the manufacturer’s Asia Pacific business in Hong Kong, welcomes the support and is enthusiastic about the future for buses. However, he also strikes a note of caution concerning the slow implementation of the

enough. Less than 100 of these new buses are physically in service.” A clear line of sight to demand is vital for the UK bus manufacturing industry which suffered heavily during Covid-19. Alexander Dennis had to reduce

government’s plans. “18 months have passed since Boris Johnson promised 4,000 new zero emission buses for England,” he says, “yet funding has only been made available for 900 and it’s not finding its way through the system quickly

Paul Davies, president and managing director of Alexander Dennis

the size of its team by 600 people as orders dried up among uncertainty over funding for bus services and fleet investment. The company is keen to both sustain and restore jobs that have been lost but cannot do so without a steady flow of orders. Davies worries that ministers may not appreciate the industry’s need for a constant pace: “2024 may sound far away but bus manufacturing isn’t a tap we can simply turn on and off. The underlying manufacturing capacity of the established UK bus manufacturers is much less than it used to be and the danger is that a bow wave of demand may force government investment offshore at a time when it is critical that we grow the country’s clean tech sector that will deliver the decarbonisation objectives.

22-23_DNZ_ADL.indd 22

25/10/2021 15:18

Alexander Dennis “We’re doing what we can here at Alexander Dennis to be as flexible as possible under what are incredibly challenging times for anyone involved in manufacturing but pushing back orders to future years creates a situation where you are trying to squeeze two pints into a one-pint pot.” Alexander Dennis has worked in partnership with BYD to accelerate the roll-out of electric buses in the UK market and the company is also preparing to put its second-generation hydrogen platform, H2.0, into production. Giving a range of up to 300 miles without refuelling, H2.0 has been fully developed in-house. Alexander Dennis has benefitted from being part of NFI Group by allowing it to tap into the more than 25 years of experience that sister company New Flyer has with fuel cell electric buses.

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION IS FIRST TO SELECT H2.0 HYDROGEN BUSES

Designed to be more energy efficient to cover greater distances between refuelling, the Enviro400FCEV buses will be powered by a Ballard fuel cell power module through the Voith Electrical Drive System. The hydrogen bus project is a key part of Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram’s ‘Vision for Bus’, which commits to using the powers available through devolution

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has selected Alexander Dennis as supplier for 20 zero emission hydrogen double deck buses in what is the first order for the manufacturer’s H2.0 secondgeneration hydrogen platform.

BUILDING IN BRITAIN

“Investment in our British-built buses is an investment in our communities,” says Davies. “We were established in 1895 and with our fantastic teams both in the UK and across the globe, we still champion innovation and technology today.” Alexander Dennis employs 2,000 people across eight locations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and its extensive supply chain supports many other jobs. These are skilled jobs in engineering and vehicle building, and the company continues its proud tradition of strong apprenticeship programmes at its manufacturing sites in Falkirk and Scarborough that have been bringing talent into the business for generations. In recent years, it has also made strides in attracting graduate trainees, and is committed to becoming more diverse and inclusive. “With government support for the rapid roll-out of zero emission buses, we can turn the climate emergency into a unique opportunity to further develop valuable skills in our communities that will be essential for the road to net zero, as well as providing Global Britain with exporting opportunities. Alexander Dennis is building in Britain, and we are ready to build back better.” n

Alexander Dennis will supply 20 hydrogen double deck buses to Liverpool City Region

to build a better, more reliable and affordable bus network for the city region. Broader plans also include the building of hydrogen refuelling facilities, which will be the first of their kind in the North West, and a target for the Liverpool City Region to become net zero carbon by 2040 at the latest - at least a decade before national targets. Rotheram said: “82% of all journeys on public transport in our region are taken by bus and this new fleet will give people a clean, green and comfortable way to get about. Reforming our bus network is a massive part of my plan for an integrated London-style transport network that makes traveling around our region quick, cheap and reliable. “We want to be doing our bit to tackle climate change and improve air quality across the region too. These buses will be a really important part of making that happen. Alongside the hydrogen refuelling facilities we’re building and some of the other exciting green projects we’re investing in, our region is leading the Green Industrial Revolution.”

TRIDENT HOUSE WILL DELIVER STATE-OF-THE-ART INNOVATION CAMPUS Alexander Dennis has begun the preparation of Trident House, its new facility in Farnborough that will be the new home for the company’s team members in the South of England when it fully opens in early 2022. This site will provide a state-of-the-art working environment for team members from Test & Development, Engineering, Aftermarket, Operations, Procurement, Commercial, Finance and IT. In addition to the modern office space, there will be workshop facilities enabling engineering, testing and development to be carried out. Located in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre campus, Trident House will also offer a flexible events space for vehicle handovers and presentations and will include a museum honouring the heritage of the Dennis brand and all it encompasses - the people, knowledge, passion and expertise of all involved. Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis president and managing director, comments: “Trident House will be both a great working environment for our team members, as well as a fitting reminder of all that has been achieved by the Dennis brand. The Dennis brand remains a foundational pillar of Alexander Dennis, and is synonymous with innovation and engineering expertise, whilst emphasising the critical role Dennis will continue to play in our business growth moving forward.”

A visualisation of Trident House, Farnborough

“In addition to the modern office space, there will be workshop facilities enabling engineering, testing and development to be carried out”

22-23_DNZ_ADL.indd 23

25/10/2021 15:18

EXPANDING THE HYDROGEN ECOSPHERE Cummins is delivering net zero carbon solutions with an unrivalled range of hydrogen technologies extending from fuel production to storage and vehicle power. It’s a unique capability that builds on Cummins’ long experience in powering buses and trucks worldwide.

Fuel cell power systems Storage tanks for vehicles & refueling stations Green hydrogen electrolyzer installations Developing hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines

To find out how our integrated technologies can help put you on the road to a sustainable, zero emissions future visit: cummins.com/new-power

PT_BTBR_Ad26.indd 24 FuelCellAdvert_Truck&BusBuilder.indd 1

25/10/2021 15/07/2021 15:53 13:43

Cummins

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

POWERING WHAT’S NEXT Cummins has been expanding a range of sustainable technologies and is committed to helping customers decarbonise. From green hydrogen fuel production to storage systems and vehicle power, all provide a seamless start-to-finish solution

ummins has taken a pivotal role in expanding sustainable technologies and continues to be committed to helping customers decarbonise. Our big breakthroughs in technology leave small footprints, from green hydrogen fuel production to storage systems and vehicle power, all providing a seamless start-to-finish solution.

GREEN HYDROGEN

Cummins is playing a leading role in delivering sustainable green hydrogen fuel with more than 600 electrolyser installations operating across the globe. This will soon include the world’s largest electrolyser system recently announced in Spain, with an initial production capacity of 500 MW/year scalable to more than 1 GW/year. The modular scalability of Cummins electrolysers are ideally suited for a range of applications, from the localised supply of bus and truck fleets to utility-scale electrolysis.

FUEL CELLS

H2-ICE DEVELOPMENT

The next big thing in clean energy offers absolute purity with no sacrifice in power, no decline in performance, and absolutely no emissions. Cummins is investing in two primary types of fuel cells - Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) - as the focus shifts to zero emission vehicles with electric drivelines. Cummins’ presence in this key emerging technology is reflected in over 2,000 fuel cell installations worldwide.

Cummins recently announced that it is ready to move ahead with a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) program focused on developing a medium-duty 6.7-litre and heavy-duty 15-litre engine based on next generation platforms. A significant advantage of H2-ICE is their ability to reduce vehicle and equipment re-development timelines, as many existing driveline components can be retained.

Cummins is testing a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (H2-ICE)

“We are developing the next generation of lightweight, high energy density battery packs that will continue to transform transportation” HYDROGEN STORAGE

One of more than 600 Cummins electrolyser installations operating across the globe

The high energy density of hydrogen enables easily integrated on-board gas storage without compromising either the vehicle payload or operating range. Cummins, together with storage partner NPROXX produces high pressure tanks to maximise hydrogen capacity and is also a leading supplier of fueling stations. BATTERY ELECTRIC

Cummins’ presence in emerging fuel cell technology is reflected in over 2,000 fuel cell installations worldwide

Cummins Battery Electric System (BES) is an all-electric powertrain that eliminates emissions and reduces maintenance and fuel costs, all while ensuring peak vehicle performance with a more sustainable future. We are developing the next generation of lightweight, high energy density battery packs that will continue to transform transportation. In parallel with advancing these zero-carbon capable technologies, Cummins continues to focus on the advancement of engines operating on renewable diesel and natural gas fuel, as well as hybrid power, to provide cleaner solutions today, as well as for tomorrow. ■

25_DNZ_Cummins 25

25/10/2021 15:19

D EST I N AT I ON N E T ZE RO

Public transport has a hugely important role in pushing forward the green agenda

THE ROAD AHEAD: BUSES AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Bus travel is undergoing a revolution, with new technology incentivising passengers and supporting sustainable transport goals, says Solveig Ellila Kristiansen, Ticketer Group CCO and FARA CEO

limate change is a global concern, and with the rise in extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves and flash floods, it simply cannot be ignored. In recent years the public call to fight back has grown louder and today almost all of us are looking for ways to play our part. Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders caused the world to pause, highlighting the effect our busy modern lives have on the environment. Whilst cars stayed on driveways air quality improved, but as routines return to normal, pollution levels will rise again. As the world re-opens, we need to look for ways to save the environmental gains made over the last 18 months, and more importantly, create new ones.

This year, sustainability and the environment are at the forefront of minds due to November’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and the fact we have an opportunity to build back greener post-pandemic. Public transport has a hugely important role in pushing forward the green agenda. It supports European Commission’s (EC) climate targets and many of the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goals, such as goal number 11, which focuses on sustainable transport. Part of addressing this is improving air quality, and since cars cause over 50% of the transport sector’s greenhouse gases, the more people we can get out of their private vehicles and onto public transport the better.

BUSES AND GREEN MOBILITY

Buses in particular have a key part to play in providing greener transport solutions. For example, a full single decker bus equates to 40 cars off the road, while a double decker equates to 75. This is particularly positive news, since UITP, the International Association of Public Transport, records buses as the world’s most used mode of public transport.

“We’re seeing customers rollout technological solutions that offer not only ecobenefits but also financial rewards”

New zero emission and carbon neutral technologies, such as electric and hydrogen bus fleets, help even more by reducing greenhouse gas emissions further. This is something we’re seeing high on agendas, both from the UK government, which talks about delivering a green revolution in the Department for Transport’s 2021 National Bus Strategy for England, and passenger transport authorities (PTAs) in the Nordics, who we’re working closely with in this area. Nordic countries are well known for their green goals, with Sustainability Today reporting Sweden as the most sustainable country in the world, followed closely by Denmark in fourth and Norway in fifth place. We’re also seeing customers roll-out technological solutions

26-27_DNZ_Ticketer 26

25/10/2021 15:20

Ticketer that offer not only eco-benefits but also financial rewards. For example, real-time route planning software helps operators to ensure buses are not running empty or unnecessarily, carbon footprint reporters and passenger counting solutions support route optimisation, and competitive eco-driving solutions incentivise drivers to operate buses in a way that lowers carbon emissions. We see a very positive trend with the transition to zeroemission technology, such as electrical vehicles, is happening at a much higher speed than most reports predicted. 5,565 new electric buses were registered in the EU in 2020, with an expected conversion rate of 45% in 2025 and 65% in 2030 respectively. This transition comes with its own set of challenges that we in the Ticketer Group can help to overcome. For example, by monitoring state-of-charge battery wear with our SmartHUB, the greenest and most cost-effective ITxPT Vehicle Gateway in the market. This, combined with our continuous development of AI adaptive technologies, like TrueTime and TrueRange for advanced time and range predictions, ensure a safe and reliable operation using electrical vehicles for transport operators, authorities, and passengers.

Passengers want to be well informed and in control of their entire journey and a wide range of technology solutions are starting to revolutionise the operation of buses in a way that responds to these customer needs. Many trends grew due to the pandemic, for example touchfree travel through technologies such as contactless payment. Demand also grew for capacity information, as operators looked to ensure social distancing. Tap On/Tap Off readers have simplified passenger counting, but also grown in demand as a way for operators to better understand passenger journeys and optimise route planning. As we move past the pandemic, we’re seeing other uses of this data emerge. Passengers are now using this information to help plan their journeys by checking to ensure there’s space for them on an upcoming bus, while operators are turning to data analytics to look for new ways to improve efficiencies and better service customers moving forward.

A full single decker bus equates to 40 cars off the road, while a double decker equates to 75

25%

of car users told the CPT (prior to pandemic) they’d consider switching if bus services were more dependable

5,565

new electric buses were registered in the EU in 2020, with an expected conversion rate of 45% in 2025

“Many trends grew due to the pandemic, for example touchfree travel through technologies such as contactless payment”

GETTING PEOPLE ON BUSES

All these solutions support green mobility, but the biggest change we need to make is getting more people to choose bus travel. A report by the Confederation of Public Transport noted that if everyone in the UK took one more bus journey a month, there would be one billion fewer car journeys each year, lowering annual CO2 emissions by two million tonnes. With this as an example, it’s clear that we need to change people’s travel behaviours, but how do we get more people to travel by bus? Reliability is one factor, as prior to the pandemic 25% of car users told the CPT said they’d consider switching if services were more dependable. Efficiency and ease of use will also help convert more people to public transport, and we believe innovation and digitalisation are key to this.

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Sustainability goes beyond environmental concerns - for example, the UN’s sustainable development goal 11.2 is to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. Smart mobility also supports wider sustainability goals like this, with solutions that ensure assurance for passengers, enable operators to advise wheelchair users in advance which buses can accommodate them, and let users notify operators when and where they will need assistance. We’re also seeing exciting advancements in the area of smart urban planning and the use of data to improve the flow and capacity of public transport systems, and one of the hottest topics has to be demandresponsive transport (DRT). A game-changer for sustainable mobility, this could revolutionise public transport, better connecting rural and urban areas. We’re delighted to be at the forefront of this area, as Ticketer recently partnered with Via to look at new ways for DRT to be integrated into ‘conventional’ bus networks. We’re also passionate about the wider smart mobility arena, and FARA is working closely with PTAs on new technologies that will make bus travel exciting, easy, accessible, and most importantly, sustainable. There are many challenges ahead, but it’s an inspiring time to be working ‘on the buses’. Ticketer Group is excited to play its part in revolutionising the industry. We are currently developing our future strategy that will focus strongly on contributing to the green agenda. We look forward to taking this journey with you... n Join our webinar, Ticketer Talks: Technology and Sustainable Transport, on November 11 at 10-11.30am. For more information and to register scan here:

Tap On/Tap Off readers have simplified passenger counting

26-27_DNZ_Ticketer.indd 27

25/10/2021 15:21

Passenger Transport Publishing Ltd, PO Box 5496, Westbury, BA13 9BX, United Kingdom T : +44 (0)20 3950 8000 | E : editorial@passengertransport.co.uk W : www.passengertransport.co.uk | Twitter : @passtrans

brought to you by

28_DNZ_OBC.indd 5

25/10/2021 15:23