NATIONAL Express Group has outlined its vision to become the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach company.
The group has announced:
- It will not buy another diesel bus for their UK operations;
- It will lead the transition to zero emission coaches, with a target for the first electric coaches to be in service next year;
- An ambition that their UK bus and UK coach fleets will be fully zero emission from 2030 and 2035 respectively;
- Environmental targets will make up 25% of senior executive Long Term Incentive Plans.
Dean Finch, National Express Group Chief Executive commented on the plan: “Bus and Coach travel is already one of the greenest ways to get around, with each bus removing up to 75 cars from the road.
“National Express has already invested in clean buses and coaches and kept fares low to support a shift from private cars to mass transit.
“Working through our West Midlands Bus Alliance we have achieved the fastest passenger growth of any major city-region in the country, demonstrating its success.
“However we understand the imperative to go much further, so we are today setting out an ambition to be the first zero emission transport group in the UK.
“Our decision to never again buy a diesel bus in the UK coupled with our support in leading the zero emission transition in coach will place our UK operations at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change and poor air quality.
“We simply believe this is the right thing to do for our customers, the communities we serve and our stakeholders.”
This new vision follows their sustained investment in Euro VI vehicles, way ahead of Clean Air Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone requirements.
National Express Group has also been one of the first transport companies to adopt the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s methodology for setting its carbon reduction targets.
National Express Group recognises the importance of operators playing their role in delivering public policy ambitions.
The recent government announcement of a £5 billion bus fund, the pro-public transport policies of the Mayor of the West Midlands and the ambitious vision set out in the draft Birmingham Transport Plan all show there is a desire for leadership and change.
National Express Group is determined to be part of that change and to demonstrate that leadership.
National Express Group will shortly launch a procurement competition to choose the manufacturers and partners to help achieve these ambitions.
This year the Group will:
- Place a major order for electric buses to add to their first zero emission vehicles which will shortly enter service in the West Midlands;
- Hold an in-service trial of an electric coach on their Stansted Airport service;
- Select partners to develop a zero emission vehicle suitable for all long distance coach routes.
With significant operations overseas, National Express Group will also look to apply this leadership to these businesses shortly and set equally ambitious objectives.
