TfL launches trial to boost air quality

Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will fit 18 buses with specialist equipment in a bid to boost air quality in the capital.

Three types of vehicle will be trialled with the new system for a year before possibly being rolled out across the rest of the fleet.

It is hoped that the scheme will cut the amount of NOx emissions, which is a combination of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide.

This is the latest attempt by transport bosses to significantly reduce the amount of pollution being caused by inner city buses.

Having released 200 tonnes of particulate matter in 1997, London buses now emit just 14 tonnes and operations director Mike Weston hopes this figure can be reduced further.

"London continues to look for ways to improve the emissions and environmental performance of the bus fleet," he commented.

This week, TfL has announced that plans to install a cable car in order to ferry people over the River Thames in east London will go ahead.

Posted by Claire Manning