First Bus and Norfolk County Council have showcased a £13.8 million investment in electric buses and charging infrastructure at the operator’s Great Yarmouth depot.
The programme has introduced 10 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers supported by new charging equipment installed at the depot. The buses are operating primarily on Service 8 between Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, and James Paget University Hospital.
First Bus has contributed £8.9 million towards the project, with the remaining funding provided through Norfolk County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Representatives from the council, Cllr Joseph Kerrison, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and Cllr Daniel McGrath, local member for South Caister and Bure, visited the site in July to inspect charging infrastructure, meet depot staff and travel on one of the new vehicles through Great Yarmouth.
“It was a pleasure to welcome colleagues from Norfolk County Council to Great Yarmouth and showcase the investment we’ve made in both our depot and our fleet,” says David Mitchell, Service Delivery Director for First Bus East. “These new buses represent much more than new vehicles. They’re an investment in our passengers, our colleagues and the future of public transport in Norfolk. Customers are already benefiting from quieter, smoother and more comfortable journeys, while our upgraded depot gives us the infrastructure we need to support reliable services for years to come.”
First says the investment supports local employment and skills development, with the site currently hosting 156 people, including engineering apprentices receiving training in battery-electric vehicle maintenance. It also suggests its charging infrastructure could eventually be opened to third-party commercial vehicle operators through First Charge, its commercial electric vehicle charging business.
“This project is another excellent example of what can be achieved when bus operators and local authorities work in partnership,” adds Mr Mitchell. “By combining public and private investment, we’re delivering real improvements for local communities, and we’re proud to be continuing that journey with Norfolk County Council.”
The Great Yarmouth project follows the introduction of 70 electric buses and the conversion of First Bus’s Roundtree Way depot in Norwich to electric operation in 2024.
