Neste and Savonlinja roll out low-emission bus service

Customers travelling on Savonlinja busses will be able to choose a lower emission journey from mid-May 2019, according to a release from renewable diesel producer Neste.

Under a collaboration with Neste, Savonlinja will introduce a Green Travel surcharge in addition to a normal bus ticket price. Customers are able to choose the price they wish to pay for this additional charge.

The bus company intends to use the money collected through the surcharge to reduce greenhouse gas emission, fuelling its busses with Neste’s MY Renewable Diesel.

The Green Travel surcharge will help passengers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 90% on their bus ride, compared to traditional diesel fuel.

“Climate change does not wait and solutions are needed right here and now,” said Tuomas Kulola, head of sales, marketing and services at Neste. “The key to fighting climate change is introducing innovations of all sizes to help bring about a more sustainable future. Developed in collaboration with Savonlinja, Green Travel is a good example of how important partnerships are to creating effective solutions. We are very proud to collaborate with Savonlinja on offering consumers the opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of their bus trips.”

The surcharge will be available on all long distance bus trips and can be purchased for tickets via Savonlinja’s mobile app ‘Linjalla’ and at the company’s online store.

While customers are free to decide on the amount they pay for the surcharge, there is a minimum value of one euro. The low-emission option is also available for customers using charter bus services.

“Customers have told us that they would like to have more climate and environmentally friendly transport options,” added Harri Leskinen, chief business officer at Savonlinja. “Green Travel is the answer to this. Our long-term goal is to be able to use only renewable fuel in our entire fleet.”

Savonlinja has announced that it will double the amount its customers pay for the Green Travel surcharge, using the funds to purchase Neste’s renewable diesel fuel.