£1.6m fund for region to invest in greener buses
THE North East has been handed £1.6m to invest in the region’s first modern, eco-friendly buses.
The Department for Transport is funding nine new green vehicles for Go North East in a bid to tackle the region’s air quality problem.
Councils in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead have been told to clean up their act when it comes to pollution. The funding will be used to invest in ultra-modern, zero-carbon models to replace polluting diesel buses and are expected to be used on busy routes around the city centre.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Go North East, said: “Buses are a really important part of keeping our cities moving, reducing congestion and improving air quality, so we’re delighted to receive this funding to support the introduction of full electric, zero emission, buses that will make travelling by bus in the North East even greener. Their introduction will build on our existing investment which has alreadyseen 170 low emission buses join our fleet in recent years, further improving the carbon footprint of the 62m journeys made by Go North East passengers every year.” Government buses minister Nusrat Ghani announced a new partnership with campaign group Greener Journeys to promote the bus industry’s role in tackling loneliness and social isolation. Claire Haigh, chief executive, said: “Buses play a vital role in facilitating social connections among the most vulnerable people, who rely on them to take them to visit friends and family.” A Go North East spokesperson said new models are expect to be introduced in 2020.