Passengers travelling on the 226 Diamond bus route from Dudley to Merry Hill, and residents living in the area, will benefit from cleaner air with the introduction of new ‘green’ buses. Operator Diamond Bus is boosting the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) goal for the entire fleet in the metropolitan area to have ultra-clean ‘Euro 6’ engines by April 2021 – cutting harmful pollution across the bus network by up to 95 per cent. Seven new micro-hybrid buses, with engines even cleaner than the Euro 6 standard, are now operating on the 226 Diamond service. This means they are low emission bus certified, contributing to better air quality for the local community. Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for transport, said: “Poor air quality contributes to almost 1,500 premature deaths each year in the West Midlands. “It’s great news that Diamond Bus has introduced new low-emission buses between Dudley and Merry Hill, improving the health and quality of life of passengers and local people who live nearby. “This is taking us closer to our aim that every bus in the metropolitan area will exceed or meet Euro 6 standards by April 2021.” More here.
