MEDIA RELEASE – Public Transport Association of Canberra welcomes the release of the electric bus trial results

HomeNewsBlogMEDIA RELEASE – Public Transport Association of Canberra welcomes the release of the electric bus trial results

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The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) welcomes the release of the ACT Government’s electric bus trial results, as announced today by Transport Minister Chris Steel at the Australian Transport Research Forum.

PTCBR Interim Chair Ryan Hemsley said that “PTCBR supports the important work that the ACT Government is doing to better understand the performance and characteristics of electric buses. Buses will continue to play a critical role in public transport in the ACT as light rail is extended to Woden and beyond, and this trial shows that electric buses have significant potential to be an important part of the ACT’s public transportation system and emissions reduction goals”.

Mr Hemsley added “The trial has also shown areas where the manufacturers of electric buses need to concentrate their development efforts in order to address the operational requirements of public transport operators such as Transport Canberra.

“The ACT Government has a pressing need to replace around a quarter of the bus fleet in the next few years to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and other roadworthiness requirements. This alone should provide sufficient incentive for manufacturers to provide suitable emissions-free vehicles.

“PTCBR looks forward to further initiatives from the ACT Government as it prepares to refresh and reposition the Transport Canberra bus fleet in a rapidly changing public transport environment.”

Ryan Hemsley is the Interim Chair of the Public Transport Association of Canberra, the Canberra region’s peak public transport lobby group.