Driving sustainable change: Why collaboration is needed to unlock a fairer, greener transport system

World Sustainable Transport Day is a timely reminder that passenger transport is the most sustainable form of travel, enabling millions of journeys everyday whilst reducing pollution and congestion and making our towns and cities better places to live. It’s well documented that one bus can take 75 cars off the road, while one fully loaded passenger train can remove more than 400 cars.  The more people who switch from private cars to passenger transport, the greater the environmental and societal rewards.

At Arriva, we’re committed to encouraging this modal shift by making passenger transport the most attractive choice for everyone.  Working alongside transport authorities, we want to see investment in cleaner and greener vehicles, infrastructure and technology so that, together, we can deliver reliable, accessible services that support a just and sustainable transition.

Passenger transport is not only a service that gets people from A to B – it’s critical national infrastructure that enables economic development and provides sustainable systems to connect people and communities to opportunity. Governments and local transport authorities need to create the right conditions for passenger transport to thrive, encouraging investment, rewarding innovation, and delivering the connectivity that Europe needs.

Achieving climate goals through partnership

Partnership is critical to realising Europe’s ambitions.  Operators like Arriva are investing heavily in modern zero and low emission fleets, but this investment needs to be matched by shared ambition and local authority commitment to infrastructure and funding if we are to deliver real change.

When it comes to rail, it’s our national governments, national railway infrastructure managers, and EU bodies that set standards and provide funding for track electrification projects, not the operators. So while these initiatives continue to take shape, we are investing in hybrid technologies in places like the UK and Netherlands.  For example a recent investment of €340 million in a new Hitachi’s tri-mode fleet for Arriva’s open access operator, Grand Central, will mean we have the flexibility to run on electrified and non-electrified tracks in future.  Similar technology is already operating successfully in the Netherlands, where trains can be powered using electricity, battery or diesel to future-proof operations.

In Czechia, we’re also investing heavily with a recent €300 million order for 22 modern Škoda electric trains, following a €750 million, 15-year contract award to operate key long-distance routes.  These trains will cut carbon emissions and reduce journey times, strengthening the role of rail in sustainable mobility.

Across Europe, Arriva is also accelerating the rollout of electric bus fleets, supporting our ambition to deliver zero-emission journeys in the markets we serve.

The role of planning and infrastructure in driving modal shift

Good planning and infrastructure policies are key to improving passenger experience. Bus lanes, priority measures, congestion charge zones and traffic flow solutions can help improve punctuality and reliability, while modern, accessible terminals, stations and stops make passenger transport the convenient choice for all.  

When passenger transport is integrated into the very design of our neighbourhoods, sustainable travel has the potential to become the default.

We know that cleaner, greener transport requires significant investment and shared ambition, so it’s no surprise that the cities and regions showing leadership are moving the fastest.  In London for instance, we’re delivering a £730 million bus fleet modernisation programme, and by 2030, all our depots in the capital will be fully electrified, supporting Transport for London’s decarbonisation goals. Meanwhile, last year we became the first operator to be awarded a fully electric bus contract for Budapest, with 82 zero emission vehicles set to enter service from December this year, representing an investment of €54 million in fleet and infrastructure. In Spain we started electrification back in 2020. Today two depots in Madrid are fully electrified and 50 per cent of our bus fleet is either zero emission or low emission.

Working together for a shared vision of the future

Passenger transport connects people to good jobs and local services, increasing opportunity and reducing inequality, while making our towns and cities more sustainable and enjoyable places to live, work and raise a family. But achieving the UK and Europe’s climate and social goals will only be possible through collective action – where governments, authorities and operators align behind a common vision.

At Arriva, we believe sustainable transport must be central to the fabric of society – not an afterthought. By working together with policymakers, regulators and passengers, we can build a transport system that is cleaner, fairer and built to last.

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