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THE COMPANY that provides much of Wokingham borough with its buses is celebrating after winning £1.7million funding for new gas powered buses.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones confirmed today that Reading Buses is one of 13 successful bidders for a £30 million pot to buy low emission double decker buses and install chargepoints and other green infrastructure.
The Government says that low emission buses produce at least 15% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average modern diesel bus but they typically cost significantly more. The funding will cover up to 90% of the difference in cost between a new bus and its diesel equivalent, as well as up to 75% of the cost of infrastructure.
Reading Buses are planning to buy 16 new buses with the money, part of 326 buses across the country.
The money will also be used to improve the operator’s gas infrastructure at their Great Knolly’s Street depot in Reading’s town centre enabling further take up of gas buses across the operation.
Reading Buses Chief Engineer John Bickerton said: “This bid will allow us to continue the expansion of our gas bus fleet as we bring our double deck gas buses online.
“We hope that other operators will see what we are doing with gas as a cost-effective alternative to the battery headaches of electric buses, costs of hybrids and the complexity of a Euro Vl diesel.
“Gas is a clean, simple and reliable way to deliver mass transit and we have got big plans for the future in Reading too.”
Reading Buses were a pioneer of gas powered buses in Britain introducing their first 20 Euro V gas single decks in 2013 followed by 14 more shortly afterwards.
The company also worked on a £1 million gas compression station at their depot to help fast fuel these buses.
Mr Bickerton added: “They have delivered strong customer growth as drivers and passengers alike enjoy their smooth journeys and the strong environmental benefits from their travel.
“The vehicles are also among the most reliable in our fleet and the engineers like their simplicity.
“We have always seen compressed natural gas as a viable, sustainable fuel. We put our own money where our mouth is and, thanks to this grant, we are able to continue to use and promote gas as a sustainable fuel feed of the future too.”
The company buys their gas through the Gas Bus Alliance, and is certificated as carbon neutral with the gas coming from farm waste.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “My message is clear – greener buses are good for passengers and good for British business.
“Low emission buses have already proved to be a real success across the country. They are cost efficient, good for the environment, and there are wider benefits. We have provided more than £2 billion of funding to greener transport schemes since 2011, and by supporting this technology the government is ensuring the UK is driving innovation and investment up and down the country.”
Reading Buses runs a number of services across the borough, including services to Woodley and Lower Earley plus the Leopard buses covering Shinfield and Arborfield and the Lions which run between Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell.
The total grant offered to Reading Buses is £1,721,655.
