Our commitment to the environment
Providing the most sustainable intercity network in the UK
Making coach travel greener
The COP26 climate change summit has helped to highlight some of the changes the transport industry can implement to reduce carbon emissions and make travel greener.
Through improvements to the coach fleet, the industry can reduce carbon dioxide emissions even further – by around 56,000 tonnes over the next decade. However, focusing on zero emission vehicles alone is not enough to meet the climate change goals. There needs to be a change in people’s travel behaviour so that more people choose to travel by bus and coach.
How we're playing our part...
We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously, and we recognise that we have an important part to play in reducing emissions and combating climate change.
This is why it’s our vision to be the UK’s most sustainable coach company.
One coach can take up to 1 mile of cars off the road and just a 15% increase in coach passenger journeys by British people each year could save over a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Because of this, we continuously invest in the cleanest most efficient coaches available and have committed to making our coach fleet zero emission by 2035 - ahead of the UK net zero target of 2050.
Don't just take our word for it, take a look at the figures below on the performance of our vehicles, which show we already have the greenest coaches on the road…
Our fleet
Our core white coach fleet is Euro VI standard - the highest engine emission standard available. The Levante III Euro VI coach specification is bespoke and exclusive to National Express. We tested its emissions performance in early 2020:
- Our Levante III produces an average of 21.7 grams of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) per
passenger kilometre at 100% passenger capacity. - In an urban environment, our Levante III produces 13.6% less GHG emissions per passenger
kilometre than other types of Euro VI coaches on the road today.
Here’s how a full National Express coach benefits the environment
Sources and references
Coach
NX Cataeno Euro VI Levante III Coach measured at full capacity emits 21.7g CO2 per KM per passenger - Source: LowCVP Independent Assessment of Euro VI coach diesel emissions 2020.
Train
50% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with National Rail - Source: LowCVP/Department Business Energy & Industrial Strategy Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020.
Car
Diesel cars emit on average 127 g CO2 per KM - Source: European Environmental Agency 2020.
Petrol cars emit on average 127.6g CO2 per KM - Source: European Environmental Agency 2020.
Average car occupancy in the UK is 1.6 people - Source: DfT, Car occupancy, England: since 2002.
Plane
12.5 times less GHG emissions compared with a UK domestic flight - Source: LowCVP/Department Business Energy & Industrial Strategy. Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020.
Back to top
Contact Us
Coach Tracker
Buses
