First Bus has announced the purchase of 24 new electric double-decker buses as part of a 13.8 million GBP joint investment with Norfolk County Council.
The vehicles will join the operator’s existing service of 76 buses currently running in Norwich.
The investment will see 8.9 million GBP funded by First Bus, with the remainder provided through Norfolk’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant.
Delivery of the new vehicles is expected to be complete by Autumn 2026, with the new fleet set to enter service in Great Yarmouth and Norwich.
Piers Marlow, Managing Director of First Bus East of England, said:We’re really pleased that more people across Norfolk will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of electric buses, and we’re proud to be working with Norfolk County Council to make this possible. Electric buses are already transforming travel in Norwich, delivering smoother, quieter journeys while helping to cut emissions, and this next phase extends those benefits to even more communities.”
This joint investment in vehicles and depot infrastructure is another important step towards a cleaner, healthier future for everyone who lives, works and travels in Norfolk.
In order to accommodate the new fleet; First’s Caister Road depot in Great Yarmouth will be upgraded to provide charging facilities for 10 electric buses operating on Service 8, which connects James Paget Hospital to Caister via the town centre.
The operator’s Norwich depot on Vulcan Road will also receive upgrades, with support for 14 buses across routes 28, 36, 37 and 38, linking Thorpe Marriott, Horsford, Mulbarton and Ives Road with Norwich city centre due to be installed.
Construction on upgrades at the Caister Road depot will begin later this year.
Councillor Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: , said:This is a landmark moment for public transport in Norfolk. We’ve been working closely with operators to support their electrification plans, and I’m delighted that our partnership with First Bus has secured this significant investment for Norfolk.
We know from feedback that passengers in Norwich are already enjoying the benefits that come with travelling on an electric vehicle – and now even more people will get to enjoy the enhanced passenger experience with these new buses operating in Great Yarmouth and on routes out to Mulbarton and Horsford.
