De Lijn has ordered 290 electric buses, a €185 million investment that supports the Flemish public transport company’s commitment to providing entirely emission-free public transport by 2035, Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder announced on Thursday.
Of the new order, 50 articulated e-buses, each 18 metres long, will be manufactured by the VDL company in Roeselare, Belgium.
Another 100 similar buses have been ordered from Iveco, to be built in France, and 140 standard e-buses, each 12 metres long, will come from Chinese company BYD, to be constructed in Hungary.
The first of these buses are expected to be delivered towards the end of next year.
The Flemish government has allocated €400 million to De Lijn for investment in rolling stock.
This order is in addition to the delivery of 230 new buses currently underway. Minister De Ridder anticipates that another order will be placed later this year.
Ann Schoubs, Director-General of De Lijn, confirmed the focus on the utility’s green initiative. “The rejuvenation of our bus fleet achieved through this order will ensure a more reliable service for passengers,” she said. “These e-buses will be equipped with modern comforts to attract more passengers and ease traffic congestion. We also prioritise the electrification of our depots to facilitate charging.”
Minister De Ridder highlighted that the modernisation of the bus fleet is a top priority for this legislative period. “To encourage more people to use the bus, we must ensure prompt and reliable service, and these new buses will undoubtedly contribute to that,” she said. “The drivers will also benefit from modern, comfortable, and safe vehicles.”
She noted that a total of 500 to 600 buses will be ordered this year. Including previously ordered e-buses, De Lijn aims to have 1,000 new vehicles, nearly half of its fleet, by the end of the legislative term.
During a Mobility Committee session in the Flemish Parliament on Thursday, the minister acknowledged criticisms regarding the current fleet’s CO2 emissions but asserted that there has been a significant policy shift.
Groen party member Bogdan Vanden Berghe remarked that achieving the goal of being completely emission-free by 2035 remained a significant challenge.
