First Bus is investing £70m in a further 160 zero-emission buses in the West of England in partnership with the the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The news means it is growing the First Bus zero-emission local fleet to more than 250 vehicles, with an additional £20m secured through the latest round of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding scheme.
Following the electrification of Weston Island (Bath) and Lawrence Hill (Bristol) depots, four out of the company’s five regional depots will be electrified by next year.
The West of England area will now be running 258 zero-emission vehicles, transporting more than 750,000 passengers per week. Some 27 of the 160 vehicles will be re-powered diesel buses.
Each zero-emission bus will reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) by 75 tonnes a year compared to the existing diesel fleet.
The investment in Bristol and Bath is part of a wider First Bus decarbonisation commitment to operation a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.
Janette Bell, Managing Director for First Bus, said:
“We’ve reached a significant milestone today as we invest further in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. We’re thrilled that our people and customers in the West of England will benefit from government co-funding for these transformative projects. It’s been a tremendous joint effort from us and our combined authority partners to get here and we cannot wait to get these vehicles out into service.
“We already have over 1000 zero-emission buses on the road serving our customers and this latest investment is another exciting step forward. I am delighted for our colleagues across the region as we continue our transformation of the fleet and the depots, and our customers who get to enjoy the benefits, from improved air quality to a smoother, quieter ride.
“We’re proud to continue to lead the way in sustainable mobility, and work with central and local governments across the UK to strive to meet our national decarbonisation commitments. With each milestone we’re one step closer to becoming a nation who loves and uses the bus.”
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, said:
“I’m thrilled to announce this £38 million investment, which will deliver 319 new zero-emission buses to communities across England by 2027. This funding will not only make bus travel cleaner, greener, and more comfortable, but it will also create jobs, support local economies, and accelerate our journey towards a zero-emission future.
“By backing local councils and UK manufacturers, we are putting the power in the hands of communities, while helping to deliver on our vision of a sustainable, green transport network.”
Image courtesy of First Bus
