15 Oct 2010 11:10:06

TfL biggest beneficiary of Green Bus Fund

Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced the winners of the second round of the government's Green Bus Fund.

Some 170 new low-carbon buses are to be purchased with the latest round of funding, which totals £15 million.

Transport for London is the main beneficiary this time round, receiving £5 million to purchase 54 vehicles.

Funds in excess of £1 million also went to Stagecoach North East, Stagecoach Yorkshire, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the Oxford Bus Company.

Manchester and Oxford both received funds from the original Green Bus Fund, which provided £30 million for 350 low-carbon buses.

Stagecoach launched its first green buses in Oxford in July, marking the first time the vehicles had been deployed on a large scale outside of London.

Plans are for the environmentally-friendly vehicles to operate in most main cities and a number of urban areas by March 2012.

Currently the vehicles, which produce around a third less carbon than conventional buses, make up just 0.2 per cent of buses on the road.

Mr Baker said: "This sector therefore has tremendous potential to reduce the impact of road transport on climate change."