Pumping Big Bucks into Saxon Transit Enterprises
Saxony's Department of Transportation is pouring a fortune into several Saxon transit firms across the Free State. The Saxon Ministry of Transport revealed that the Dresden Transport Authority (DVB) will bank a whopping 30 million euros, mostly for snagging new buses and trams. The money's broken down like this: 14.4 million euros for seven new tram vehicles, and another 15.3 million euros for 45 zero-emission articulated buses to beef up the state capital's public transit fleet and reduce carbon emissions. These transit upgrades get the Green Light with the Free State employing federal and state funds.
Join the Green Revolution in Saxony
Elsewhere in Saxony, other transit firms are getting their piece of the funding pie for eco-friendly buses too. RegioBus Mittelsachsen GmbH in Mittweida eyes around 3.8 million euros, mostly for purchasing twelve electric buses. Regionalverkehr Westsachsen GmbH in Zwickau stands to grab nearly 4.1 million euros, which they'll use for five minibuses, three standard buses, and 51 electric buses for their routes. Regionalverkehr Erzgebirge GmbH in Annaberg-Buchholz is prepped for an investment of roughly 1.6 million euros, primarily for electric minibuses, standard buses, articulated buses, and large buses.
With Saxony Transport Minister, Martin Dulig, stating that "This funding helps transport companies compliant with federal regulations regarding green road vehicle purchases and our endeavors towards environmental and climate protection objectives," enthusiastic backers of these firms can expect significant investments.
More Dough for Saxon Transport Firms, Baby!
The Saxon Department of Transportation isn't showering just the DVB with $$$. RegioBus Mittelsachsen GmbH is planning to drop around 3.8 million euros on eco-friendly buses.
But what about the rest of the story? Well, here are some buzzy tidbits:
- Daimler Truck's Stint in Halberstadt: While its main focus is establishing a global central logistics hub for spare parts distribution, Daimler Truck is also chipping in a donation to Halberstadt's elementary schools. The donation indirectly supports educational programs related to sustainability and transportation[3].
- EIB and Valencia’s EMT: The European Investment Bank handed over a €69 million loan to extend Valencia's fleet of zero-emissions electric buses, providing a solid funding boost for eco-friendly vehicle purchases[2].
- Holcim's Eco-Friendly Building Binge: Holcim, a construction industry heavyweight, has been investing heavily in green initiatives, such as decarbonization and circular construction. While these efforts don't target transportation companies in Saxony explicitly, they indirectly support the development of sustainable infrastructure[4].
- Igneo Infrastructure Partners and Ferngas: Igneo Infrastructure Partners has put its money where its pipe is, investing in Ferngas. Ferngas runs a regulated gas network in Southern and Eastern Germany and has initiatives to ramp up biogas connections and contribute to the first nationwide hydrogen infrastructure project, helping steer the transition towards cleaner energy sources[5].
What these initiatives lack is precise details on financial aid allocated to eco-friendly vehicle purchases and infrastructure improvements in Saxony's transit companies. For the lowdown on such allocations, more specific sources or government reports would be necessary. Oh, and don't forget to check out these other interesting reads:
[1] The Saxon Ministry of Transport. (2022, July 18). Press Release: Massive Funding for Environmentally Friendly Buses in Saxony. Retrieved from
[2] European Investment Bank. (n.d.). Supporting Zero-Emissions Public Transport: Financing Europe's Mobility. Retrieved from
[3] Pock, T. (2021, December 6). Daimler Truck donates to Halberstadt's schools. Retrieved from
[4] Holcim (n.d.). Sustainability. Retrieved from
[5] Igneo Infrastructure Partners. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from
[6] Ferngas (n.d.). Hydrogen. Retrieved from
