A fully electric bus service has been launched to provide sustainable transport on routes connecting Leicester’s three main hospitals.
The Hospital Hopper service’s current diesel vehicles have been replaced with a fleet of all-electric buses featuring free USB chargers, passenger information screens and a new livery.
The e-bus service was launched in partnership with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and bus operator Centrebus.
It is part of the Leicester Buses Partnership programme of work between Leicester City Council and all local bus operators to improve services, routes and vehicles across the city.
The new Hospital Hoppers are now part of the new Greenlines electric bus network, which serves all three park-and-ride sites in the city.
The service runs half-hourly between Hamilton and Beaumont Leys via Leicester General Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, the city centre and Glenfield Hospital.
There are also new bus shelters with real-time information displays at all stops. Each accessible bus stop has a ‘text-to-speech’ facility giving audible bus arrival times for passengers with visual difficulties. There are also next-stop announcements onboard the new buses.
The e-buses and associated new features for the UHL-funded Hospital Hopper service have been financed by Leicester City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund bid made to central government.
Leicester deputy city mayor for transport and the environment, councillor Adam Clarke, said: “The launch of these new fully electric buses is another big step forward in improving public transport in the city, while also striving to meet the demands of tackling our climate emergency.
“Passengers will be able to take advantage of free USB chargers, new and improved service information panels and a quieter, more pleasant journey.”
The Leicester Buses Partnership also aims to introduce a network of 30 frequent, reliable, affordable and easy to use e-bus routes over the next eight years.
