Poland gets fund from EU to buy new buses

The southern Polish town of Tarnow received nearly 33 million Polish zloty (9 million U.S. dollars) from the European Union (EU) for the purchase of 35 high-tech urban buses, authorities of the town said Friday.

"This is a radical change for the better," Tarnow Mayor Roman Ciepiela said.

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.

MPK's chief executive officer (CEO) Jerzy Wiatr pointed out the company's current fleet comprised 98 buses with an average age of 10 years, and so, thanks to the influx of new vehicles, "as of next year, the oldest, least-comfortable and most run-down buses are going to be retired from use."

In addition to the EU's funding for the buses, MPK contributed 6 million zloty, which has already been spent on five Scania buses. These vehicles have been transporting the Tarnow public since late October.