First Bus Scotland gains political backing for Project 75 work – routeone

Various MSPs have signalled their backing for the Project 75 campaign that was launched by First Bus Scotland in 2023. It highlights how one double-decker can take up to 75 cars off the road and encourages the public to choose bus more often.

A BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV in the First Glasgow fleet was taken to the Scottish Parliament in early May as part of the ongoing Project 75 work.

MSPs including Kenneth Gibson (SNP), Mark Ruskill (Scottish Greens), Graham Simpson and Sue Webber (both Conservative) signed a pledge to advocate for what First Bus describes as “policies that will prioritise measures for improving bus services across Scotland.”

More specifically, the pledge commits to advocating for investment in bus infrastructure and cleaner driveline technologies such as battery- and hydrogen fuel cell-electric, and the implementation of measures that optimise bus operations and reduce emissions.

Also in attendance at the event was First Bus Scotland Managing Director Duncan Cameron (pictured, left). He notes that bus services account for over 75% of public transport journeys in Scotland and has thanked the MSPs for their support of the campaign.

Adds Mr Cameron: “We want to provide environmentally conscious, cost-effective travel across Scotland. By increasing dedicated road infrastructure for buses, it will not only improve punctuality and reliability of our services, but it will also make the bus more attractive to current and potential users.

“The proof can be seen in Aberdeen, where we provided free weekend travel on all of our services in the city thanks to savings made following the installation of new bus priority measures.

“The benefits of these measures can be realised quickly once they are installed, and that benefit flows through to customers with faster journey times, better reliability, and potentially cheaper fares.”

Despite Mr Cameron’s lauding of bus priority, the Scottish Government was widely criticised in February for “pausing” its £500 million Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) because of budgetary pressure. That was described as “awful news” by one stakeholder.

Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland Director Paul White has lent his support to the First Bus Project 75 work, adding that coach services, too, can contribute to reducing congestion and carbon emissions.

Mr White hopes to see the BPF reinstated in the 2025 Scottish Government budget to support further priority measures. He has also called on the administration to consider more funding for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure.

It had previously been said that the second round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus (ScotZEB2) challenge fund would be the last allocation of subsidy to support procurement of those assets. It is understood that announcement of ScotZEB2 winners had been expected in early May but was delayed at short notice for political reasons.