National Transport Authority & Bus Éireann unveil Hydrogen powered double-deckers for initial Route 105.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann unveiled three new hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric double-deck buses that will initially be used on commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area. The three Wrightbus Streetdeck H2 FCEV were recently purchased by the NTA and will go into service next week on Bus Éireann’s route 105X, which runs between Dublin and Ratoath, County Meath. 

The Ballymena built Streetdeck H2 FCEV is the world’s first hydrogen double-deck bus. At the launch which took place at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, Eamon Ryan, TD, the Minister for Transport, said it was an important and exciting day for Irish transport, and he looked forward to more of these buses arriving in Dublin and other Irish cities. Also at the event was NTA CEO Anne Graham, who said the new buses represented an investment of €2.4 million by the State in cleaner public transport. The buses will be subject to in-service evaluation as part of an alternative fuels technology pilot being undertaken by the NTA in collaboration with Bus Éireann.  Stephen Kent, CEO, Bus Éireann added that it was also a proud day for Bus Eireann and said that the addition of the Hydrogen buses would help in achieving the aim to reduce the passenger transport operators’ carbon footprint by 50 % in 2030. Full report in next edition of Fleet Bus &Coach.