Belle Vue upgrading exhausts for Manchester CAZ

Eminox aftertreatment systems are being fitted to Belle Vue vehicles

Belle Vue Manchester is upgrading 22 vehicles in its fleet to make them compliant for the upcoming Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

The Manchester CAZ is scheduled to launch by the end of May 2022. Vans, buses, coaches, taxis and lorries will have to pay a daily charge if they fail to meet emission standards. Over £120m in government funding has been secured to help operators upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles so they can travel in the Greater Manchester-wide zone without incurring the daily charge.

Belle Vue was the first operator to apply for grants from Transport for Greater Manchester to meet the cost of retrofitting vehicles which required the work, and was the first to be made an offer of funding. Twenty-one Scania double-deckers school buses and one Mercedes-Benz Tourismo operated by Belle Vue are being retrofitted with new exhaust systems from Eminox, at a total cost of £350,000.

“Our company is committed to providing passenger transport services that are safer, cleaner and greener and in line with local government strategy” – Managing director, Phil Hitchen

Managing director, Phil Hitchen, said: “It’s essential that our cities have cleaner air, and updating vehicles with exhaust systems that meet new emission targets is absolutely necessary.

“We’re extremely grateful to Transport for Greater Manchester for providing the necessary funding for retrofits to 22 vehicles in our fleet.

“It’s an important undertaking for our business, as it will ensure that these vehicles are as modern as the rest of our fleet, which already includes a significant number of hybrid buses.

“Diesel vehicles in our fleet have AdBlue fluid added to their engines to reduce emissions, and for a decade we have had a tracking system in place to better manage the performance of our drivers by assessing their acceleration, braking, idling and cornering.

“This improves efficiency, and optimal driving reduces emissions and contributes towards cleaner air.

“Our company is committed to providing passenger transport services that are safer, cleaner and greener and in line with local government strategy.”

Megan Black, TfGM’s head of logistics and environment, said: “Retrofitting is one of the solutions funded by the Clean Air Plan. We are delighted that operators like Belle Vue are taking advantage of the funding to retrofit their fleets to ensure their vehicles are compliant with the Clean Air Zone requirements.”

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