National Express invests £4m in new green buses

BIRMINGHAM-based transport group National Express has invested almost £4m in a new fleet of green buses to serve routes in the Black Country.

The new environmentally friendly hybrid buses save carbon emissions by using an electric diesel hybrid engine which makes them greener. They will also have next stop announcement technology to make public transport more accessible for people with sight and hearing loss.

The buses, with a distinctive livery, will operate on the number 1 service between Wolverhampton and Dudley.

MPs Ian Austin and Pat McFadden joined Peter Coates, managing director of National Express West Midlands and John McNicholas, chair of transport authority Centro for the launch of the buses, which took place at the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton.  
 
Mr Coates said: “These new vehicles will make a big difference to Dudley and Wolverhampton.  They will make transport easier for customers with sight and hearing loss as well as reducing the amount of carbon emitted by an impressive 440 tonnes a year.  We are really proud of these state of the art vehicles and we hope that the people of Dudley and Wolverhampton will be too.”
 
Cllr McNicholas added: “Not only will they encourage new bus technology and stimulate the market for low carbon vehicles but they will demonstrate to people that electric hybrid vehicles of this size are viable and further proof that public transport is a serious and ready alternative to the car.”

Pictured from left at the launch of the new buses are: Mayor of Dudley Melvyn Mottram, Pat McFadden MP, Ian Austin MP, chairman of the Beacon Centre for the Blind Ken Bullock, National Express West Midlands managing director Peter Coates and Centro chairman John McNicholas.