Arriva Group awarded €5.3 million of funding by European Union for environmental programmes

Arriva Group has been successful in its bid for funding from the European Union having been awarded €5.3 million in conjunction with partner organisations to implement a number of different environmental initiatives across its European businesses.  This is part of Arriva’s ambition to help shape a future where passenger transport is considered the best choice.

The funding comes under the banner of the LIFE Programme which is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.  LIFE gives grants to projects that further the development of European policy in one of four areas: clean energy transition, nature & biodiversity, circular economy & quality of life, climate change mitigation & adaptation.

The funding will be used to support projects which are unique in the public transport sector. The three projects are in water saving, air quality and circularity of materials for infrastructure and they come from the same funding programme of activity supported by the EU.

Sian Leydon, Arriva Group’s Managing Director for Mainland Europe said: “Arriva is in a unique position to take part in these projects because of our European footprint and the number of vehicles we operate.  We were also recognised by the EU for the potential impact we could have across our operations in Europe and by leading other parts of the industry.”

Anita Toni, Arriva Group EU Funding Manager, said: “I’m very proud to have been successful in securing funding for these important initiatives. We were part of a competitive application process and we’re delighted to have been selected by the EU and recognised for the potential impact we could have across the transport sector.”

LIFE H20BUS:

Partners working in collaboration include, Arriva Italy; Arriva Hungary; La Sapienza University in Rome and the international software house, Pluservice.

This project will for the first time define a European best practice for water management for bus transport operators by testing and evaluating three different water-saving solutions in two of Arriva’s European businesses in Italy and Hungary: (1) Wastewater recovery and reuse (2) Wastewater recovery in combination with a rainwater harvesting systems. (3) New innovative exterior waxing materials and techniques that completely eliminate the need to use water in vehicle cleaning processes.

Results will be shared with the industry, including all bus operators in the European public transport sector.  This will ensure the most impactful solutions that drive the best results and achieve maximum water saving can be implemented industry-wide, not just at Arriva.

It is estimated that if 50 per cent of the bus transport sector implements the most impactful initiatives over the next five years, approximately 18 billion litres of water could be saved every year.  This equates to 7,200 Olympic size swimming pools and a 42 per cent reduction in total water usage within the transport sector.

RE-BREATH:

Partners working in collaboration include Arriva Italy; Arriva Slovakia; manufacturer of braking systems, Brembo; Municipality of Bergam and the research institute, CNR.

This project aims to build knowledge and understanding of the emissions caused by public transport vehicles when using their braking systems, which emit non-exhaust micro particles.  The project will assess the impact of these particles on people’s quality of life and the environment.  A new, innovative braking system, developed by Brembo, will be tested on Arriva buses in the cities of Bergamo, Italy and Bratislava in Slovakia to measure emissions and system wear. The project will also set out to reduce emissions at bus stops, by identifying improved technologies and examining simple solutions, like smog eating plants and shrubs that can absorb CO2.

LIFE CICLE:

Partners working in collaboration include Arriva Netherlands; Arriva Croatia (Autotrans); experts in vehicle electrification e2H2 and the outdoor designers, OFN.

This programme involves four circularity projects, including converting diesel buses to electric, transforming old fishing nets into seat covers, collecting micro rubber from tyres, and building bus stops made of rice husks and oyster shells.

• From diesel to electric: Two 10-year-old diesel Volvo buses will be converted to electric, eliminating exhaust fumes and noise, reducing CO2 emissions and extending the economic life of the buses by upto eight years.
• Collection of micro rubber: Devices are placed near the rear tyres of two buses to catch rubber particles which are released as a result of the tyre wear process. The rubber is collected and reused in recycled products, such as new tyres.
• Circular seat covers: Made from residual waste, such as clothing and old fishing nets, circular upholstery is made for on-board passenger seats.
• Circular bus stops: Three ‘circular’ bus stops with eye-catching design are being installed following a collaboration with the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.

These projects and the industry wide collaborations are all part of Arriva’s ambition to accelerate the decarbonisation of the public transport sector as part of its focus on sustainability.  The company wants to help shape a future where passenger transport is considered the best choice by working alongside passenger transport authorities and municipalities across Europe to create sustainable transport solutions. The transport industry has a very real role to play in transforming towns and cities and helping to address the climate crisis.