Local services
DKV has added another ten articulated buses to its fleet.
These articulated buses are also diesel-powered, but with much lower fuel consumption and emissions than the older models used so far. More buses will arrive soon, and by the end of the year there will be a uniform fleet of modern Mercedes-Benz buses. The city’s long-term goal, however, is to switch to electric vehicles. Ten new DKV buses lined up in front of the Great Church. They were marked “Hello Debrecen”, and tomorrow passengers will be able to welcome them as they will be in service from the morning.
The company’s fleet replacement started two years ago, and since then the old Volvo buses have been continuously phased out and replaced by new Mercedes. The replacement was also necessary for technical reasons, and by the end of the year the bus fleet will be fully consolidated. This means lower emissions, which is important as DKV operates 2100 services a day.
“Experience shows that these vehicles consume more than twenty percent less fuel. The ten articulated buses now in service will consume 72,000 litres of diesel per year less than the existing fleet,” CEO of DKV Szabolcs Tóth said.
“The long-term goal is to make public transport more environmentally friendly. The government is using EU funds to support the modernisation of some tram lines and the purchase of new trams, which could be battery-powered. At the same time, this EU development cycle could see the start of planning for tram line three. The city could soon receive funding to install new solar parks to help build a sustainable, predictable future,” Mayor of Debrecen László Papp said.
“In the coming years, as the diesel fleet ages, we would like to gradually switch to electric vehicles, with solar power plants and solar parks built and installed by the city playing an important role in generating the electricity needed for operation,” he emphasised.
László Papp added that more than three times as many people have applied for the Junior City Card, which provides free travel for pupils aged between 6 and 14, than had previously bought a season ticket. This is a strong signal that young people are keen to use public transport in the city.
Source: debrecen.hu
