Arriva Midlands has received its first Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner battery-electric double-deckers for use in Leicester. The delivery takes to four the number of operators in the city that operate zero-emission buses, with the vehicles representing the first battery-electric double-deckers to form part of that work.
Driver training on the buses is currently underway, with service entry expected from October, the operator says. They are Arriva’s first battery-electric double-deckers for a fleet outside London and are also the first StreetDeck Electroliners built to low-height specification by Wrightbus. 24 are on order.
Money from the first round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme has part funded the purchase, which is also a fruit of the bus partnership arrangement in the city that involves Arriva.
The operator notes that prior to the debut of the first StreetDeck Electroliner, its fleet in Leicester was entirely Euro VI compliant. Work is ongoing at Thurmaston depot to install charging infrastructure and train engineers on the buses, it adds.
Speaking about the arrival of the first buses, Arriva Managing Director Regions Alistair Hands says: “Welcoming the new Wrightbus battery-electric fleet into Leicester is a game-changing moment in our continued drive to operating a greener, decarbonised bus network.
“We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Wrightbus and Leicester City Council to have been able to make this happen. It is our aim to make Arriva UK Bus the best choice for passengers, and we know that our customers value our progressive attitude to decarbonising public transport.
“We care passionately about the environment and we are showing that we are doing the right thing for the planet and our customers.”
