Chris Grayling has reaffirmed his ambition to push forward with a “green revolution” in transport as the UK prepares for the introduction of low emission buses.

Grayling reiterated his stance for a greener transport network as he visited Wrightbus Ltd in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. He was on hand to check the progress at the plant where engineers are producing low emission buses for councils and bus operators across the UK. It comes after the government provided more than £40m in 2016 and 2017 under the Low Emission Bus Scheme (LEBS) to help buy over 450 low emission buses.

Wrightbus is a leading bus manufacturer with a large range of low emission models. Around 70 of their low emission buses are being produced with funding from LEBS, as part of the government’s wider commitment to investing more than £1 billion in ultra-low emission vehicles by 2020.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “I am determined to push forward with a green revolution in transport, and low emission buses are an important part of our plans. We have already provided funding for over 450 low emission buses through the Low Emission Bus Scheme, with hundreds more to be funded by the next round of the scheme which we will be launching in the coming months.”

The company is in the forefront of these new technologies, including developing innovative hydrogen and electric battery technology to produce buses that emit zero emissions.

Wrights Group chairman and CEO, Mark Nodder, said: “It was a great privilege to show the Secretary of State for Transport the latest zero-emission bus technology produced by Wrightbus. This is a glimpse of the future where buses will have a pivotal role to play in reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality.”