Poland gets fund from EU to buy new buses

Warsaw Nov 4 (IANS) The southern Polish town of Tarnow received nearly 33 million Polish zloty ($9 million) from the European Union (EU) for purchase of 35 high-tech urban buses authorities said.

"This is a radical change for the better " Xinhua news agency quoted Tarnow Mayor Roman Ciepiela as saying.

MPK the city s public transport company will purchase the vehicles whose engines can be powered by natural gas and canola-based biodiesel among other fuels.

The vehicles are low-floor air-conditioned fully disability-friendly and equipped with electronic amenities.

Pointing out that the company s current fleet comprised 98 buses with an average age of 10 years MPK s CEO Jerzy Wiatr said "as of next year the oldest least-comfortable and most run-down buses are going to be retired from use" thanks to the influx of new vehicles.

In addition to the EU s funding for the buses MPK contributed 6 million zloty which has already been spent on five Scania buses.

--IANS
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