First Bus subsidiary Specialist Passenger Solutions has won a contract to deliver employee transport and site shuttle services from points across Suffolk to the under-construction Sizewell C nuclear power plant site.
It has a term of up to five year from July. Specialist Passenger Solutions will operate a modern and zero-emission fleet numbering approximately 150 buses on the work, with both hydrogen and battery-electric power to be utilised by those.
Vehicles will be provided to First Bus by Sizewell C, with the operation expected to create around 400 jobs in disciplines including driving, engineering, and support.
First Bus has already accrued significant experience in similar work via its delivery of an extensive workplace transport contract at Hinkley Point C in Somerset since 2016. It is the UK’s largest construction site and the operator transports 12,000 people a day there.
At its peak, work on Sizewell C will employ almost 8,000 people during the construction phase. It is planned that a depot for the 150 buses will be established at Ransomes Europark in Ipswich, greatly expanding an existing site there.
Specialist Passenger Solutions already holds an O-Licence authorising the use of 35 vehicles from Ransomes Europark. Within a planning application made to Ipswich Borough Council by Sizewell C is installation of a hydrogen facility to include four refuelling stations alongside charging points for battery-electric vehicles.
Speaking about the long-term award, FirstGroup CEO Graham Sutherland says: “Growing and diversifying our bus portfolio is a strategic priority for the group. This important contract builds on the work we have done over the last few years to bolster our Business and Coach segment, where we have seen revenues double, to £230 million in FY2026.
“We are delighted to have been awarded the Sizewell C contract and look forward to supporting the delivery of one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects.”
