“We may be a relatively small company but we are big on protecting the environment,” said Thames Travel general manager Max McCarthy. “We think it’s very important to try the idea out at a small-scale operation like our own. We will be collecting information and feedback from passengers and drivers. Then we will be in an excellent position to make an informed decision when we place our next order for new buses.”
General manager of bus operations at MAN Truck & Bus UK Tony Griffiths stated: “The MAN EcoCity has already attracted attention from a number of national fleet operations around Europe, so we are delighted to see a UK operator investigating what it can offer them in terms of the environment and passenger comfort. I have no doubt that the future of passenger transport lies with these clean, quiet gas-powered vehicles.”
It is worth mentioning that Reading Buses, bus operator in Berkshire, has also launched a six-week trial with MAN CNG-powered buses early this month. The test is run on Premier Route 9 between Reading Station and Shinfield Park, passing the Royal Berkshire Hospital and University of Reading’s main Whiteknights Campus.
