A FLEET of new zero emission buses will be rolled out in Bradford after a successful bid to Government.

Earlier this year West Yorkshire Combined Authority made a bid for £23m to fund 111 green buses for the area.

The bid would deliver 47 double-decker buses for Arriva, 32 single-decker buses for First and 32 single-decker buses for Transdev across Bradford District, Wakefield and Leeds.

Today Government announced that the Combined Authority's bid has been successful, meaning 10 per cent of West Yorkshire's bus fleet will soon be zero emission.

Last year it was revealed that 75 per cent of buses in Bradford met greener, Euro 6 emission standards. However, these new buses would go even further, using electric and battery technology instead of petrol and diesel.

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West Yorkshire is one of 12 areas to have been successful in their bids.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “When I was elected Mayor, I pledged to improve public transport by introducing greener buses to improve the environment.

“This funding, matched by £33 million funding from the local bus operators, will allow us to introduce new zero-emission buses to Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds and take the number of such buses in the West Yorkshire fleet to over 10 per cent.

“A green, zero-emission bus system is a core element of the Combined Authority’s long-term vision for buses in West Yorkshire.

“We’ve already allocated £4m of our own funds to introduce zero-emission buses in Kirklees and Calderdale, funded through the Transforming Cities Fund, and I’m delighted that the Department for Transport has matched our ambitions.

“I’ll continue to work with bus manufacturers, operators and the Department for Transport to bring more zero emission buses to West Yorkshire and make them a common and welcome sight on our roads.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I will level up and clean up our transport network. That’s why I’ve announced hundreds of millions of pounds to roll out zero emission buses nationwide.

“Not only will this improve the experience of passengers, but it will help support our mission to fund 4,000 of these cleaner buses, reach net zero emissions by 2050 and build back greener.

“Today’s announcement is part of our National Bus Strategy which will introduce lower fares, helping drive down the cost of public transport even further for passengers."