Local Air Quality

Introduction

Exhaust emissions from diesel engines contain pollutants that can have an impact on local air quality. Similarly the generation of electricity used to power some of our trains and Metro also results in pollution at the power station. 

Our Performance

The exhaust emissions from diesel engines are controlled by the Euro engine standards which have got progressively more stringent. 

The fleet profile of our bus and coach businesses are provided below;

Pie Chart 1: UK Bus fleet profile

The average age of our bus fleet in the West Midlands is 8.5 years and 10 years in Dundee.

Pie Chart 2: UK Coach Owned Operations Fleet Profile

The average age of our coach fleet is 4.0 years.

Our Target

We are committed to continue to invest in new vehicles which will reduce the amount of exhaust pollutants.  The 18 new hybrid buses in 2011 will also help reduce both GHGs and exhaust pollutants. 

We will also continue to work with local policy makers to make the case for greater bus prioritisation measures as increasing the average speed of our vehicles has a major benefit in exhaust pollutants as well as fuel use (and therefore GHG emissions).