Thames Travel has boosted its fleet in south Oxfordshire with an investment in a new ultra-low emission bus.
The new Wrightbus StreetDeck vehicle will operate on Thames Travel’s routes serving Milton Park business park near Didcot.
The new vehicle represents a £250,000 investment in the fleet as part of Thames Travel’s on-going commitment to introducing the latest green technology to its fleets.
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Milton Park recently reported it has seen a 12% increase in the percentage of people choosing bus as their mode of transport to travel to and from the science and technology park.
It follows a series of initiatives to make bus travel more attractive via a partnership between Thames Travel, Oxford Bus Company and Milton Park which launched in 2021.
It included investing in improving bus connectivity to the park and the launch of the Milton Park £20 annual bus pass.
Passengers travelling via bus to visit Milton Park help save large amounts of CO2 via a single bus journey compared to its equivalent car ride.
A bus from:
- Steventon to Milton Park saves 429g of CO2 – the same as making 181 cups of tea
- Sutton Courtenay to Milton Park saves 590g of CO2 – the same as watching TV for 61 hours
- Oxford to Milton Park saves 3,065g of CO2 – the same as charging your phone 12,986 times.
Luke Marion, Thames Travel managing director, said: “This substantial investment represents further progress in our continued commitment to introduce more sustainable modes of transport.
"The growth in bus passenger numbers on our network serving Milton Park is an excellent success story that shows what can be achieved via partnerships and a shared vision.”
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The new vehicle’s micro-hybrid technology uses energy recovered under braking to recharge on-board batteries, helping to power the bus and extending their range of the Euro VI diesel engine.
The new vehicle will have USB and wireless charging and comfortable high-back seating. Audio-visual next stop announcements will be used and free Wi-Fi, plus a dedicated wheelchair, luggage and buggy space will be provided.
Almost three-quarters of the Thames Travel and Oxford Bus Company fleet meets the Euro VI emissions standard, helping to improve the air quality in the areas it operates.
Milton Park, managed by MEPC, is one of the leading science and technology communities in Oxfordshire and is home to 250 companies. Thames Travel is the sister company of Oxford Bus Company.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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