Tackling the challenges of climate change is a national priority and BusConnects will contribute significantly to that objective. Moving people from cars onto sustainable transport is essential in reducing CO2 emissions and addressing congestion.
Additionally, transitioning to a fleet of low and zero emission urban buses will contribute to a cleaner and more liveable city by reducing noise and air pollution.
Planning permission is currently being sought for an additional temporary bus depot to enable the bus service increases planned for Cork city and facilitate the electrification of the fleet. Planning and design work for the electrification of the existing Capwell depot is underway.
The ultimate transition to zero emission urban buses will occur under the Government’s renewal programme, a process which has initially been encompassed within the BusConnects Dublin programme.
Sustainability and greener cities are cornerstones of the BusConnects programme. A new fleet of low and zero emission urban buses coupled with improved cycling facilities will result in more people using more eco-friendly modes of transport across the cities of Ireland.
The NTA in collaboration with Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus, has now commenced the transition to a zero emission urban public bus fleet. All town bus services in Athlone, County Westmeath have been operated by new single-deck battery-electric buses since January 2023.
Further projects to convert more city and town bus services to zero-emission operation are under development across the country, with the intention being that the entire urban public bus fleet will be zero-emission by 2035.
The NTA has also recently undertaken a market consultation exercise to determine likely timelines for the availability of zero-emission and/or ramp-accessible coaches with a view to decarbonising longer distance public bus services.
Those suppliers that responded have indicated that zero-emission coaches will become much more widely available during the second half of the decade.
Photos of Buses below:
