Launched by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, the service is the culmination of a €10
million investment by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the
three-year Pathfinder Programme aiming to develop a number of transport
projects across Ireland over the next three years.
The
project will see a total of eleven new electric buses operated in Athlone by Bus
Éireann, the national bus company. The service will reduce CO2 emissions by
400,000kg annually, with over 10,000 passengers availing of the service per
week.
“In
2022, we connected 67 new towns with buses and that number will continue to
climb. I would like to commend Bus Eireann and the National Transport Authority
for all the work they are doing across the country, and I look forward to many
more bus services and depots going electric over the coming years,” said
Minister Ryan, speaking at the launch.
Anne
Graham, CEO of the NTA, said: “The launch of these electric buses today
represents a very significant milestone on the journey to a zero-emissions
fleet for our town and city bus services.
“From
today the people of Athlone will benefit from buses that are cleaner, quieter,
more comfortable and more attractive.
“Athlone
will be the first service in Ireland to be delivered entirely by electric
buses, and we should not underestimate the significance of that for this town
and for public transport in general.”