Thousands of passengers across the West of England are set to
benefit from smoother, cleaner, bus journeys as the Government's
investment in zero-emission buses (ZEBs) continues to generate
private sector backing.
Today (Tuesday 3rd June), Local Transport Minister visited Bristol to
officially open the refurbished Hengrove Depot—a major new
electric bus facility upgraded to support the rollout of 74
zero-emission buses on the city's network, supporting local jobs
and boosting the region's economy as the Government delivers
cleaner energy and economic growth in its Plan for
Change.
The site has been upgraded to run zero-emission buses as part of
a £44m project led by First Bus including over £6.5million
Government funding support.
Minister for Local Transport, said:
"We're bringing cleaner, quieter, and smoother bus journeys to
Bristol and beyond—backed by £38 million in government funding
and even more from private investment.
"Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change: creating
green jobs, boosting the local economy, and building a more
sustainable future.
"With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more
reliable services, stronger local control, and protection for
vital routes."
With separate support of over £28 million in Government funding,
First Bus is set to electrify depots and introduce the region's
first electric buses, with a total 258 electric buses set to
be delivered in the West of England and almost 100 already in
service.
The investment comes alongside the Government's Bus Services
Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament
and will protect passengers from sudden and uninformed cuts to
their services bringing buses back under public control.
The Government continues its drive to grow industries, boost
regional economies, and deliver on its Plan for Change—placing
passengers at the heart of a cleaner, modern bus
network.
The Hengrove announcement follows the Government's
recent £38 million zero-emission bus funding announcement,
which has helped leverage over £120 million in private investment
from bus operators across the country. This funding boost is
already delivering cleaner air, more sustainable travel options,
and new opportunities in construction, engineering, and green
manufacturing.
The rollout of zero emission buses is growing across the UK.
In Plymouth, new electric buses funded through the government
funded ZEBRA scheme have begun serving local communities.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the Local Transport
Minister and newly elected Mayor of the West of England, .
, the new Mayor of the West of
England, said:
“I promised to work with government to get our region moving. The
first of over 230 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region
are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we
work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best
for the West.
“£29 million secured from government and £120 million from First
Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging
infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston-super-Mare. This
landmark investment in our wider area will also see a fully
electric fleet at Hengrove by next summer and will soon
turbo-charge the depots in Bath and Lawrence Hill
too.
“These new zero-emission buses are a total game-changer for bus
passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every
seat. I was glad to welcome the Minister to our region to see
them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus
services in our region including through the new powers promised
by the Bus Services Bill.”
Isabel McAllister, First Bus' Chief Sustainability and
Compliance Officer said:
“Today marks another significant milestone in our journey towards
a zero-emission bus fleet. With over £300 million of our own
investment - alongside government funding - and more than 1,000
zero-emission buses already serving communities across the UK, we
are proud to be leading the move towards cleaner, greener public
transport.
“The unveiling of our latest electrified depot at Hengrove in
Bristol, made possible through strong public-private partnership
with the Department for Transport and the West of England Mayoral
Combined Authority, brings us one step closer to a fully electric
fleet.
“We're proud to be leading the way in sustainable travel as we
strive to better connect communities, drive economic growth, and
inspire the nation to love and use the bus.”
