CPT announces low emission bus strategy

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has launched a new bus strategy for England, committing to purchasing only ultra-low or zero emission buses from 2025 onward. The CPT represents the majority of bus firms in the UK, including Arriva, FirstGroup, Go Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach. The group has launched the new strategy in response to stagnant passenger numbers. The industry stopped seeing growth after decreased funding led to fewer services and higher rates for passengers across the UK. The new strategy aims to encourage one billion more bus journeys by 2030, while taking climate concerns and vehicle emissions into consideration.

The CPT has requested government support for its initiative, claiming that it will be needed to support the industry transition to new technologies. Targets set by local authorities to reduce bus journey times have been requested to aid these efforts. The CPT has also requested that the Government avoid sudden changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant, to avoid administrative difficulties in the effort to implement the new strategy. With the help of the Government, the CPT aims to create a roadmap for the industry to reach zero emissions. According to the Under Secretary for Transport, Baroness Vere, the Government will spend an additional £200m on bus services and low-emission technologies in the sector.

The new strategy also includes an introduction of discounted tickets for apprentices and job seekers and daily and weekly price capping for urban areas across multiple operators, strategies which would lower costs for travellers. The CPT also hopes to deliver more sustainable solutions for rural areas.

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