8 green double decker buses go into service in Bath

Date: 25/10/2012

A new fleet of eight hybrid double decker buses are to start operating in Bath at the weekend, transporting passengers from park and ride sites to the city centre.

Due to the combined use of electricity and diesel the buses, which have been purchased at a cost of £2.5 million, will contribute fewer carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.

The introduction of the buses is just one aspect of a £30 million public transport scheme which is aimed at making the city more accessible and less congested.

Park and ride sites will operate at Lansdown, Newbridge, and Odd Down with buses being run by First Group under contract to the council.

Justin Davies, of First Group, said: "The buses are able to generate significant battery power through the regenerative braking system as they approach the city centre from the park and ride sites on the outskirts."

"This allows us to save fuel as we can capture the free energy that is created by braking and use this to help power the buses."

The vehicles have been paid for in part by the Department for Transport's Green Bus Fund which provided a grant of £650,000.

Under the Bath and North East Somerset Council's public transport improvement scheme the three park and ride sites will be extended with the service running on a Sunday as well as bank holidays.

Councillor Roger Symonds said that the changes represented the "most significant upgrade since the service started a generation ago."

It is thought that the buses will be particularly suited to the geography of Bath and enhance the public's experience of travelling around the city.

Nearly as many as 50,000 cars come into Bath city centre each day during the week and this number is expected to raise by 15 per cent in the coming ten years.

By improving the park and ride services it is hoped that more people will leave their cars at home and use the buses and walk in the city centre.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News