Green buses launched in Oxford

July 16th 2010

The first environmentally-friendly electric hybrid buses have taken to the roads of Oxford.

Stagecoach has invested some £7.5 million in the special fleet of vehicles, which emit 30 per cent less carbon than their standard counterparts.

The improvements have been developed by Stagecoach, the Oxford Bus Company and Oxford County Council, being partially funded by the Department for Transport's Green Bus Fund.

Martin Sutton, managing director for Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said it was "a great day" for the city.

"We believe the introduction of these groundbreaking new buses on the busiest routes in Oxford will make a major contribution to reducing carbon and other emissions, as well as encouraging even more people to make the greener choice of travelling into the city by bus," he commented.

Philip Kirk, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, added that 91 per cent of Oxford's buses will be within the city council's Low Emission Zone standards by the end of 2010.

Oxford has been a frontrunner in providing greener transport, having already introduced 26 of the buses last year on the popular Oxford Tube service to London.