Yet another Spanish city is renewing its bus fleet thanks to funding provided by the European Investment Bank. Following Las Palmas, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia, Barcelona has concluded an agreement with the EU bank under the Cleaner Transport Facility Programme. Signed by EIB head of public sector operations in Spain Joan Basora and TMB Chief Executive Officer Enric Cañas, it paves the way for improving the air quality and the services provided to passengers by putting 254 new buses into use, most of which hybrids and electric.
The funding for modernization of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona will amount to almost EUR 74 million in the form of a loan. It will enable the replacement of diesel and first generation compressed natural gas vehicles with 116 new electric buses, 63 hybrids and 75 using latest generation compressed natural gas. What is more, the famous double-decker tourist buses that operate on diesel will also be replaced with hybrids.
Starting from the end of 2019 when 105 buses will venture onto the streets of the capital of Catalonia, the operation shall be completed by 2021. The objectives are clear, namely, to enhance the transition to zero-emissions bus service, to improve quality and reduce air pollution. Finally, it shall stimulate more people to quit using private vehicles in favour of public transport – a tendency that has already been observed over the last six years.
Last but not least, there are considerable side benefits to the investment. The latter is supposed to lead to improved on-board information system and to the installment of new electric charging stations. Furthermore, the construction stage of the project is expected to guarantee more than a thousand new jobs.
