Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has celebrated the arrival of the first of a set of six Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner Gen 2.0 buses.
The new vehicles are set to enter passenger service on Lilac Line 27 to Carlton later this year, with a special launch event set to take place on Wednesday 14 October.
During the event, which will take place between 10:00 and 15:00 at Sneinton Market Square, passengers and members of the local community will be given the opportunity to experience the new electric double deck buses ahead of their introduction into passenger service.
The new vehicles are equipped with full air conditioning, USB charging points, comfortable seating and enhanced accessibility, including two wheelchair bays. The vehicle’s internal wooden floor, which contrasts with hand poles and the seat design, was developed in a bid to help provide a calmer, more welcoming environment for neurodivergent passengers.
Delivery of the Electroliners has been made possible through funding from both the Mayor of the East Midlands and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), who have contributed 4.5 million GBP towards the double deck investment. The launch of the vehicles marks the beginning of the next stage of NCT’s electric bus project, which recently saw the deployment of a set of 62 electric single deck buses across the city.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:I’m committed to improving the experience of public transport, which is why I’m investing £4.5 million in helping bring cleaner buses to Nottingham. The new electric double-decker buses will give passengers a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journey, with air conditioning, charging ports, and improved accessibility.
These are the kind of everyday improvements that add up when you use public transport, so they are important to get right. By making buses cleaner, more comfortable, and more accessible, the bus will be a more attractive choice.
With a 442kWh zero-emission powertrain, Wrightbus’ StreetDeck Electroliner boasts a potential range of up to 275 miles and fast charge capabilities. In order to ensure support neurodivergent passengers, NCT worked closely with Altro and Camira Fabrics to install self-adhesive, pre-cut kits (as opposed to traditional rolls) of wooden-look-alike flooring, and all seating fabric has been made from marine plastic waste, with each metre of fabric containing up to 35 plastic bottles.
Elsewhere, NCT energy partner VEV has now completed work to electrify the operator’s Parliament Street Garage, where the buses will be based and charged overnight.
By the end of 2026, NCT is expected to operate a 93-vehicle-strong zero-emission electric fleet, with around one-third of operating as fully electric.
