Dublin Express has become the first passenger transport operator in Ireland to transition its fleet of 21 coaches from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

The landmark initiative marks a significant step in decarbonising travel between its Dublin city centre routes and Dublin Airport, which will see the operator replace over 80,000 litres of diesel each month, the equivalent amount that would fully fuel around 1,600 cars.

Derived from used cooking oil, HVO reduces CO2 emissions by 90 per cent compared to diesel coaches. One coach running on diesel produces the same emissions as 12 coaches operating on HVO.

According to Certa Ireland Ltd who provide the new HVO fuel to Dublin Express 20,000 litres of diesel per week emits approximately 50,241 kg of CO2. The switch to HVO will now save a massive 2,351 tonnes of CO2 a year (45,217 kg of CO2 per week) which is the equivalent of taking 1,340 average size fossil fuel cars off the road annually.

Rory Fitzgerald, General Manager of Dublin Express, said: “The shift to HVO is a real game-changer for Dublin Express, putting the wheels in motion for the decarbonisation of mass passenger transport. We’re proud to be one of the first coach operators in Ireland to be leading the way in reducing carbon emissions and doing our bit for the environment.

“Dublin Express is on track to carry over 2 million passengers between its Dublin City routes and Dublin Airport this year, so the environmental benefits of HVO are profound. As we continue to expand our services and support our partners to meet their sustainability goals, we are committed to driving modal shift, encouraging passengers to ditch their cars and switch to more environmentally friendly ways to travel.”

With services departing every seven minutes during peak times from its central hub at Custom House Quay, Dublin Express offers a swift connection to Dublin Airport in under 30 minutes. Through its Rail 2 Air ticket product, customers can travel from any railway station in the country to Dublin by train and then onto Dublin Airport by coach on a single ticket. The benefits of choosing Dublin Express extend beyond convenience, offering a significantly affordable and greener option for airport transfers with each coach taking up to 50 cars off the road.