Hundreds more Greater Manchester pupils will be going green this term – by catching a new hybrid yellow school bus.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) fleet of popular school buses is being boosted by 13 new environmentally friendly Optare Versa hybrid vehicles.
Six schools in Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Stockport and Trafford are set to get their first yellow school bus service, joining 53 other schools across Greater Manchester in cutting congestion caused by the school run.
The latest Optare hybrid-electric buses – costing £210,000 each – are being part-funded by the government’s Green Bus Fund and reduce harmful emissions by up to 35% compared to diesel buses.
52 of the 93 strong fleet are now hybrid-electric vehicles, while a further 34 older diesel yellow school buses will shortly be retro-fitted with air pollution control equipment to reduce emissions.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Not only are these buses taking thousands of car journeys off the road every year, but Greater Manchester now has the greenest fleet of yellow school buses in the country.
“Yellow school buses are a great way to travel, providing children and their parents with a safe, reliable and environmentally friendly alternative to the school run. I’m pleased that hundreds more pupils are set to benefit.”
Since their introduction in 2003, Greater Manchester’s yellow school buses have taken millions of car journeys off the road and proved successful in tackling on-bus anti-social behaviour.
More than 3,000 pupils are signed up to use the services, which pick-up and drop-off children close to home, in a safe place to wait and board.
Children using yellow school buses sit in the same safety-belt fitted seat every day, which helps prevent vandalism and litter – and buses have interior and exterior CCTV video recorders.
Buses can seat 57-67 students, with a regular driver who recognises registered passengers, reducing behaviour problems. All drivers are specially trained in customer care and disability awareness.
The buses are also available for hire to schools and youth groups outside of operational hours, being put to good use for cultural, educational and sports activities.
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