Saturday, November 23, 2024
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Somerset prepares for new electric buses

Buses of Somerset has begun work to electrify its Taunton and Minehead depots in preparation to operate 26 brand new electric buses from Spring 2025.

The works will create electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as upgrading the bus depots in Taunton and Minehead. Once complete, the electric ready depots will enable a fleet of 26 double and single decker electric buses to run across Buses of Somerset’s routes.

The £14.7m project to bring electric buses to Somerset is being delivered in partnership with Somerset Council and an investment of £2.2m from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) government funding. This cash has been provided alongside capital investment of £12.5m from First Bus South.

The electric buses are the first for bus travel in the area, with the aim of reducing emissions and improving air quality. They will replace part of its diesel fleet and save up to 75 tonnes of tailpipe emissions per year. 

Simon Goff, First Bus South Managing Director, said:

 “Today is an important milestone as work starts to transform Taunton and Minehead depots into electric ready bases for our new EVs. We look forward to getting these state-of- the-art new buses on the road for customers by Spring 2025.

“The 26 zero-emissions buses are fantastic news for passengers, bringing cleaner, greener vehicles to our routes, helping to improve air quality, and making bus travel even more sustainable. What’s more, the transformation of these depots will also bring smart new facilities for our staff at Taunton and Minehead.”

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead member for Transport and Waste services at Somerset Council, said:

“This is an important moment in our journey to bring electric buses to Somerset. The partnership with First Bus South has enabled us to take huge steps in the right direction to support the switch to sustainable methods of travel.

“We have a vision to transform bus services in our towns and working together, we are able to achieve that. I look forward to seeing the development of the Taunton and Minehead sites, and the arrival of electric buses next year.”

Image courtesy of First Bus. (From L-R) Simon Goff, First South Managing Director; Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council; Gary Weaver, First South Engineering Director, Linda Snelling, Somerset Bus Partnership; Pete McNaughton, Buses of Somerset Operations Manager; Peter Travis, Somerset Bus Partnership

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