A free electric bus service for passengers travelling to and from Slough town centre has launched.
Slough Borough Council has partnered with Thames Valley Buses and e-bus manufacturing company BYD UK to provide the sustainable service.
The single-decker zero-emission bus will run Monday through Saturday for 13 weeks on route number 4a, completing an hourly circuit between Mercian Way, Cippenham, and the Uxbridge Road roundabout.
Part of the route will also use the A4 Bath Road experimental bus and cycle lane, which was introduced to help residents socially distance during the ongoing pandemic alongside making road space available for active and sustainable travel.
On board, the bus has modern seating, tables, air conditioning and USB ports for phone charging. Masks need to be worn on the service unless there is a reasonable excuse not to as part of measures to mitigate the coronavirus.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for sustainable transport and environmental services, Slough Borough Council, said: “We hope by funding the service people will hop on and off this bus for the duration of the trial for no cost and we will see if this is a service is viable for the future.
“It is an additional service that will help with capacity and help people socially distance. It will be free, fast and environmentally friendly.”
