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Reading: Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
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routeone > Bus > Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
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Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove

Paul Halford
Paul Halford
Published: June 4, 2025
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Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
(l-r): West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, First Bus Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer Isabel McAllister, and First Bus Acting Managing Director Rob Pymm
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Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood officially opened First Bus’s upgraded electric depot in Hengrove, Bristol, yesterday (3 June).

The £44 million project – supported by £6.5 million in Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) government funding – prepares the way for the arrival this summer of 74 new Yutong battery-electric buses supplied by Pelican.

Five large charging gantries have been installed at the south Bristol site to power the 67 U11DD battery-electric double-deckers and seven single-deckers, as well as local business fleets.

Mr Lightwood, referring to a further recent round of funding for battery-electric buses, says: “We’re bringing cleaner, quieter, and smoother bus journeys to Bristol and beyond—backed by £38 million in government funding and even more from private investment.

“Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change: creating green jobs, boosting the local economy, and building a more sustainable future.

“With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more reliable services, stronger local control, and protection for vital routes.”

Following the launch in March of its electric depot in nearby Weston-super-Mare, which itself has been allocated 24 Yutongs, four of the five First Bus depots in the region will be electrified by the end of 2026, by when work at Weston Island in Bath and Lawrence Hill in Bristol is set to be complete.

Five charging gantries have been installed at Hengrove depot ready for the arrival of 74 new Yutong buses

Isabel McAllister, First Bus Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer, adds: “Today marks another significant milestone in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. With over £300 million of our own investment – alongside government funding – and more than 1,000 zero-emission buses already serving communities across the UK, we are proud to be leading the move towards cleaner, greener public transport.

“The unveiling of our latest electrified depot at Hengrove in Bristol, made possible through strong public-private partnership with the Department for Transport and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, brings us one step closer to a fully electric fleet.

“We’re proud to be leading the way in sustainable travel as we strive to better connect communities, drive economic growth, and inspire the nation to love and use the bus.”

The ZEBRA funding, which was accompanied by a£37.4 million investment from the operator, was secured via the West of England Mayoral Authority.

New Mayor for the authority, Helen Godwin, says: “I promised to work with government to get our region moving. The first of over 250 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best for the West.

“£29 million secured from government and £120 million from First Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston-super-Mare. This landmark investment in our wider area will also see a fully electric fleet at Hengrove by next summer and will soon turbo-charge the depots in Bath and Lawrence Hill too.

“These new zero-emission buses are a total game-changer for bus passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every seat. I was glad to welcome the minister to our region to see them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus services in our region including through the new powers promised by the Bus Services Bill.”

 

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Next Article andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off." TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
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andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
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