Norwich Roundtree Way depot will be transformed into one of the first fully-electric fleets outside of London, it has been announced.
Works have commenced on the depot to prepare for the arrival of 70 new electric buses (11 single-deck and 59 double-deck), which are expected to arrive between Autumn 2023 and March 2024.
Norfolk County Council has secured £14.7m from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) fund, in addition to £22.5m from bus operator First Bus, to complete electrification works.
The vehicles will be supplied by UK bus manufacturer Wrightbus and, when completed, more than half of the Norwich bus network operated by First Bus will be electric.
What’s more, each electric bus is expected to save up to 60 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport at Norfolk County Council, said: “This work is an extraordinary boost to our ambitions to run a net-zero transport system in Norfolk and with the start of this work, we’re proud to be able to say that Norwich will soon have one of the biggest full electric bus depots in England (outside London).
“The support that First bus has shown in bringing these vehicles to Norwich demonstrates the excellent working relationship we have with our bus operators here in Norfolk and how working together can help to achieve the very best for our county and the people that live, work and visit Norfolk.”
