Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has ordered a further 125 battery-electric buses from Wrightbus for the franchised Bee Network. The procurement is a mix of the double-deck StreetDeck Electroliner (pictured) and the single-deck GB Kite Electroliner.
Those buses will follow 76 StreetDeck Electroliners that are in the process of delivery and 55 more electric buses from Wrightbus that are in hand. All continue work on moving the Bee Network towards its target of running an entirely zero-emission fleet by 2030.
Of the latest batch, 100 buses will go to Hyde Road depot to the south-east of Manchester city centre. It is operated by Metroline Manchester and is being upgraded to support the electric fleet. The other 25 are for Stagecoach. Of those, nine will be StreetDeck Electroliners and 16 will be GB Kite Electroliners.
From the batch of 76 StreetDeck Electroliner double-decks under delivery, 33 are in service with Go North West from Bolton depot primarily on routes 8 and 10 into Manchester city centre.
The other 43 are to a higher specification for V1, V2 and V4 services that utilise the Leigh Guided Busway. Those buses “have passed inspection at the Ballymena factory” and will enter service with Go North West over coming weeks, TfGM says.
Speaking about the work with Wrightbus, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt adds: “It is brilliant to see these new yellow electric buses come off the production line and onto the streets of Greater Manchester. There will be many more to come.
“Placing these orders for another 125 zero-emission vehicles from Wrightbus puts the Bee Network on track to meet our target to have a fully electric fleet by 2030, bringing huge benefits for our passengers, air quality, and the fast-growing economy.”
Half of the Bee Network’s depots have been electrified so far. Those at Ashton-under-Lyne and Middleton are both now fully zero-emission.
Wrightbus Managing Director Christian Reynolds has thanked the franchising authority for its further business. “This latest order for our battery-electric buses from TfGM builds on our existing fleet of vehicles in operation and reflects a strong commitment to UK manufacturing and the domestic supply chain,” he says.
“It demonstrates the competitiveness of both our product and our integrated supply ecosystem against international alternatives.”
