A NEW green travel centre will help people who live in rural areas find information about public transport.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is introducing the £200,000 mobile travel centre to provide information on rail and bus services, express and long distance coach services, short stay breaks and local ferry services.

The project is currently run from a 10-year-old diesel-powered truck which needs to be replaced.

The new slimline, bus-based vehicle will be powered by a diesel hybrid electric battery, with solar panels and a silent running generator providing backup power.

It will allow the popular service to travel to more isolated areas and will better suit wheelchair users.

High-speed broadband internet will be installed for timetable inquiries and journey plans.

As electronic ticketing is introduced visitors will also be able to purchase and top-up smartcards.

Eric Stewart, SPT's Director of Bus Operations, said: "The Mobile Travel Centre is an extremely effective means of providing remote and inaccessible communities with access to public transport information.

"The new travel centre will certainly be unique, being as green as possible with optimum fuel efficiency and a minimum carbon footprint.

"This is another example of SPT leading the way to encourage the bus sector to invest in hybrid technology."