Electric bus service saved by power firm green funding
● Museum link wins share of £6m for transport and heating projects
Glasgow’s only electric buses have been saved by power firm SP Energy Networks (SPEN) among £6 million of grants for green projects.
The lifeline comes after the service between the city centre and Riverside Museum was due to have been axed last Saturday because of rising costs.
SPEN will provide £25,000 under its Green Economy Fund to keep the 100 service operating by Garelochhead Coaches for three months while a “permanent solution” is found.
Separately, the £20m fund will also pay for two electric single deckers to be trialled by First Glasgow from next summer.
They will operate on the M3 route between the city centre and Milton in north Glasgow from next summer.
Built by Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis, they are expected to carry more than 200,000 passengers a year.
The £1.5m grant will also fund chargers at First’s Caledonia depot “to future proof it for more widespread electric bus operation”.
The money is part of nearly £6m being awarded from the fund to 13 projects. Applications for a second round of grants are being sought.
The fund was launched this year to help ministers meet their green targets while boosting economic growth and improving city air quality.
SPEN said it would give projects the “financial boost required to make great ideas a reality”.
Chief executive Frank Mitchell said the electric bus service should not have been threatened with closure.
He told The Scotsman: “It was the wrong move to take the healthiest buses off the streets of Glasgow.”
Mr Mitchell said he expected the current two vehicles, which are only four years old, to continue to operate.
He said: “It would seem incredible to me it wouldn’t be the existing buses.”
City council convener for sustainability and carbon reduction Anna Richardson said: “Since the difficulties with the service emerged, we have been working exceptionally hard to find another way forward.
“There will now be no interruption to the service before we go out to tender for a new operator in early part of next year.”
Scottish Greens co-convener and Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie said: “This is very welcome investment in Glasgow’s green economy, with over £3.5 million for electric buses and low carbon heating, tackling fuel poverty and social isolation as well as well as reducing emissions.
“It has secured a reprieve for the 100 Riversider bus service which had just been axed by the Snp-led council to the dismay of Greens and environmental campaigners.
“It’s vital now the council
0 Glasgow’s only electric bus service – from the city centre to the Riverside Museum – faced the axe
works to ensure a long-term future for the service as part of a growing zero-carbon bus network.”
SPEN funding will also see the launch of electric car-sharing clubs in Hawick and North Ayrshire.
A total of £90,000 will be used to buy electric minibuses to replace ageing diesel vehicles used by Community Transport Glasgow for elderly and disabled people.
Anewwattsuphasalsobeen developed to guide drivers to their nearest available electric charging point.
SPEN is the distribution arm of Scottishpower, which takes electricity from wind farms and power stations to users.