As the leaves turn brown this autumn Translink is focused on going green as 52 new eco-friendly Metro buses hit the road helping to create a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone across the City of Belfast.

Phillip Woods, Belfast Service Delivery Manager said, “The introduction of these new vehicles is great news for Belfast. Not only will they help maintain high levels of comfort and quality for our customers, they are amongst the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly buses in the region, helping us to reduce our own carbon footprint. We have already had some very positive feedback on their attractive new ‘all pink’ livery creating a visual impact around the city.”

Belfast Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon said she was delighted to endorse the new eco-friendly bus fleet.“Improving air quality and helping our environment are all priorities Belfast City Council is keen to promote,” she explained. “Clearly this initiative will benefit our city and its residents.”

Phillip continued, “Working closely with Belfast City Council through the Belfast Air Quality Improvement Program, we want to see even more people choose sustainable forms of transport.   We offer a range of everyday great value travel options like smartlink and dayLink to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and choose greener transport options.  By getting more people to cut down their car use we can take a big eco step towards a cleaner, greener future for our local community.

“These new buses will operate on some of the busiest routes across the city including our increasingly popular Park and Ride services.  From 1st September we will be introducing a new improved Metro timetable with better frequency on key routes.  Also due to popular demand our ‘Love Metro Saturdays’ campaign will return offering great value day tickets of £2 with a dayLink card or £2.50 for a cash fare (6 September until 25 October 2014).

”The new vehicles will also operate fast and frequent services from the new Park and Ride facility at Dundonald due to be completed later this year.  We hope these enhancements together with the new fleet and great fare deals will encourage more and more people to choose the bus as a healthier and cost effective way to travel,” Phillip concluded.

For further information visit www.translink.co.uk

ENDSFor further details please contact Louise Carson of Katrina Frazer at Aiken PR on 02890 66300

CaptionPictured announcing the new Metro fleet is Phillip Woods, Belfast Service Delivery Manager with Belfast Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon.

Notes to the Editor:

The new Metro fleet will be amongst the first vehicles in Northern Ireland to meet the latest Euro VI emission standards driven by the European Commission.

*Euro VI - this is the latest EU diesel engine emission legislation in relation to exhaust streams. The EU commission have identified two key constituents as being harmful - Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) – basically soot particles.  The Euro VI engines are cleaner than ever before with NOx reduced by 75% and PM reduced by around 99%

This is of major benefit to general air quality in towns and cities, and reduces pollutants that lead to health issues and acid rain etc.  Also improved fuel efficiency leads to a reduction in the output of greenhouse gases, especially Carbon Dioxide (CO2).