Bus firm continues its green drive with £12.5m new fleet
SCOTLAND’S first buses fitted with new “greener” diesel engines are to take to the roads of Edinburgh this year.
Lothian Buses’ new vehicles will store a special chemical, which is sprayed on exhaust fumes from the engine to reduce the level of harmful emissions. The firm has placed a 12.5 million order for 75 new buses, with the vast majority equipped with “Euro IV” technology that can cut nitrogen oxides by up to half.
Most of the vehicles will be double-decker “harlequin” buses, and include CCTV cameras and low-floor access. A total of 15 single-deckers will also be deployed on the popular 29 service from Silverknowes to Gilmerton and Midlothian, which is due to be expanded later this month.
Ten new buses will be used on the Airlink express service to the airport, featuring high-back leather seats and more luggage space - although these will not be fitted with the Euro IV engines.
Neil Renilson, chief executive of Lothian Buses, said today: “Our ongoing programme of significant investment in highly-specified new vehicles has been a cornerstone of the strategy for the continued improvement of bus services in Edinburgh.
“This latest order underlines our commitment to provide the best bus services possible for the residents and visitors to the city.
“When deliveries are completed in July 2007, a total of 394 low-floor double-deck and 140 low-floor single-deck vehicles will have been added over the last eight years, representing an investment of over 90m and bringing the average age of the Lothian Buses fleet down to around five years - streets ahead of the Government’s target of eight years.”
Euro IV is a set of emission standards which applies to new road vehicles sold in the EU. It limits diesel passenger car emissions of nitrogen oxides to 0.25 grams per kilometre, compared with 0.5g/km with Euro III engines - with similar requirements for buses and HGVs.
Edinburgh’s buses already use low-sulphur diesel, and the new system uses a chemical called AdBlue, which is sprayed on to the exhaust fumes. The gas is then largely broken down from nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen and water.
Bill Devlin, Lothian Buses’ engineering director, said: “With Euro IV technology we will be venturing into completely new territory that will mean additional training and procedures for our engineers. However, we are confident that with the backing of both our suppliers, Wrightbus and Volvo, the buses will fit well into our existing fleet.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland chief executive, Duncan McLaren, added: “Reducing air pollution from cars, trucks and buses is critical in the fight to reduce pollution deaths in the city. We therefore welcome this order for cleaner buses and look forward to the day when the city’s entire fleet is of a similar standard or better.
“Even without these improvements, buses still create less pollution per passenger kilometre than the car. However, it is just as important to ensure avoidable pollution from public transport is eliminated too.” Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus, the UK’s largest independent coachbuilder, is supplying the new vehicles.
Vice president of business development, Mark Nodder, said: “This is the third order we have received from Lothian Buses in the space of two years, which will eventually see a total of 175 double and 50 single-deck Wrightbus vehicles in service across Lothian’s routes. It is a major vote of confidence in our products and the people behind them who build and support them, and is another important landmark in our continuing relationship with an extremely forward-looking bus operator.”
Lothian Buses is able to invest millions of pounds in new buses because nearly all its profits are pumped back into the publicly-owned firm.
Council leader Ewan Aitken said: “We are already committed to bringing trams back to the streets of Edinburgh, which will play a significant part in reducing emissions in the city, and we are behind Lothian Buses and their efforts to upgrade all their engines to cut emissions.
“With the support of our neighbouring local authorities, I feel confident that we can encourage other public transport providers to follow suit.”
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