A fleet of fifty new Wrightbus zero emission electric double decker buses have officially entered full service across both Plymouth and Cornwall.
The 31.87 million GBP project, which has been delivered in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport; has seen the replacement of nearly half of Plymouth’s Citybus fleet.
The new vehicles are expected to bring a slew of environmental benefits to the area, including a reduction in carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine particulate emissions.
Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus, said:Seeing all 50 electric buses in service is an important moment for our city and for our organisation. This fleet brings cleaner air, quieter streets and an improved travel experience for our passengers.
We are proud to play our part in supporting a greener future for Plymouth and our surrounding communities.
Each bus features a set of two dedicated wheelchair bays, step-free access, dementia-friendly interior design and audio visual announcements for both next stop and route information.
All vehicles are now in full operation across a number of key routes, including services 21 A, 42, 50 51 and route 70, which connects communities on the Rame Peninsula in Cornwall.
Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport at Plymouth City Council, said:It’s fantastic to see all 50 of the zero emission double decker buses out on routes in Plymouth and the Rame Peninsula, which shows the commitment of Plymouth Citybus and the two councils to delivering a thriving bus network.
They not only help Plymouth achieve its net zero goals, in line with the vision of the Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership (the partnership between the Council and our local bus operators) but are a great testament to what can be achieved through partnership working.
The feedback I’ve had about the new electric buses has been overwhelmingly positive and I’d encourage you to hop on and experience for yourself the quieter, smoother ride they offer.
The project has been jointly funded by Plymouth Citybus, the Governments ZEBRA 2 fund and both Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council, and has also seen investments into major upgrades at the Milehouse depot, which can now handle full charging and maintenance duties to support the fleet into the future.
Wrightbus has also committed to the funding of 500 trees across both Plymouth and South East Cornwall – ten for every electric bus introduced into the area.
