EO Charging has begun construction on new charging facilities at Salisbury Reds’ Castle Street depot to support the arrival of 23 electric buses in early 2026.
The operator already has charging capability for its three existing electric park and ride vehicles, but the expansion will enable the depot to accommodate the incoming fleet.
The 15 million GBP project is being delivered in partnership with Wiltshire Council, with additional funding from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
Salisbury Reds managing director, Ben Murray said:This is a momentous moment for the city - cementing our mission to put the region right at the forefront of sustainable transport. The time of arrival for the new electric buses is fast-approaching, and our whole team is excited to begin welcoming passengers on board them early next year.
The new buses will operate on city services, the X4 route, and the Stonehenge Tour.
Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding at Wiltshire Council said:These infrastructure upgrades at the depot are essential to support the new fleet of 23 electric buses for the city, marking a major step forward for both Salisbury and Wiltshire as a whole.
When they enter service in 2026, the new buses will reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in Salisbury, saving more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year of operation.
There are significant financial benefits too, as each electric bus costs around a quarter of the cost of a diesel bus to run - so these new buses will save both time and money and reduce carbon emissions.
Once this work at the depot has been completed, we can look forward to the new fleet arriving in the city, delivering cleaner, greener, bus travel for both residents and visitors to Salisbury.
Salisbury Reds has appointed EO Charging to install 12 additional charging points, with work expected to continue until the autumn. The installation involves significant upgrades to the depot’s electrical infrastructure.
Philip Kershaw, director of eBus at EO Charging, said:We're proud to be working with Salisbury Reds to deliver the charging infrastructure needed to power its new electric bus fleet. This project is about more than just installing chargers - it's about building a future-proofed depot that keeps vehicles on the road and passengers moving, while supporting Salisbury Reds' and Wiltshire's wider sustainability goals. Together, we're accelerating the growth of the city's zero-emission public transport network.
