Fifty new low carbon vehicles will soon join the Scottish Bus Fleet thanks to £4.4 million grant funding awarded this week to six bus operators across Scotland.

Stagecoach Scotland West and East, Lothian Buses Ltd, MacEwens Coach Services, First Glasgow and COLCHRI Ltd will all benefit from the Scottish Green Bus Fund which provides help with the up front costs of buying new low carbon vehicles.

This mix of both large and small bus operators will result in the new low carbon buses operating across Scotland with some providing dedicated routes showcasing the new green buses. These new buses are expected to deliver an average reduction in CO2 of around 21 tonnes per year and 300 tonnes over their life-cycle.

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Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "I’m delighted to announce the successful bids from the £4.4m Scottish Green Bus Fund.

“This funding to further reduce transport emissions will help Scotland take another step towards a low carbon economy, using Scotland's vast natural resources to create new green jobs.

“This investment will offer a greater opportunity for the purchase of low carbon vehicles and stimulate demand for green technology, moves we must make to meet Scotland’s tough targets to tackle climate change, and decarbonise almost all road transport by 2050.

"The Scottish Green Bus Fund will play an important role in achieving our ambitious target of reducing emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 whilst also supporting jobs in the bus manufacturing industry.”

Applications for the fund, which opened in July and closed in October, were so high that the scheme was oversubscribed. All successful applicants must place their orders by 31 March 2011.

(GK/KMcA)