Aviation Specials – June 2018

Celebrating a British icon 51

its engine. Urban air quality is a

hot topic, especially in London

where low emission zones are

being introduced.

In June 2017, Transport

for London entered into an

£86million framework agreement

to upgrade 5,000 buses to the

Euro6 emissions standards that

have applied to all new buses

delivered to London since late

2016.

Five suppliers have been

selected, Amminex, Baumot

Twintec, Eminox, HJS and

Proventia. The upgrade entails

fitting selective catalytic

reduction systems to the exhaust

system to ensure that harmful

nitrogen oxides are removed.

Diesel particulate filters are also

included to remove harmful

microscopic soot particles that

can find their way deep into the

lungs.

The work is being carried out

at bus garages across London

and is due to be completed

by September 2020 when the

entire fleet will be at least Euro6

compliant.

A refurbishment and

mechanical upgrade of a London

bus costs in the region of

£20,000 to £25,000 depending

on the amount of work required.

This means that for around a

third of the cost of a new bus

it is possible to have a vehicle

that looks new and meets the

latest mechanical and emissions

requirements.

There could well be many more

of them, for as Transport for

London’s budgets come under

greater pressure, we can expect

to see more contracts being

awarded on the basis of existing

buses. ● ML

Modernising London’s buses

LEFT: Go-Ahead’s

WVL331 at

Eastleigh, awaiting

refurbishment.

BELOW: Work

proceeding on one

of the X26 double-

deckers, including

removal of the

centre door and

installing luggage

racking downstairs.