Leicester City Council has announced the launch of what it describes as the UK’s longest electric circular bus route, which was developed to connect residential estates and suburbs on the city’s outer ring road with the city centre and other transport connections.
This route is the most recent addition Greenlines electric network and is the fifth new service to be launched using the new council-owned electric buses.
The project involves collaboration with operator Centrebus, and has also involved the development of a new electric bus charging depot.
The electric buses and charging depot have been funded by £1.21m from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
The line was launched today (October 13) at an event.
The circular 30-mile route will operate from Leicester General Hospital, and will run in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction serving Evington, Oadby, Wigston, Eyres Monsell, Aylestone, Fosse Park, Meridian, Thorpe Astley, Braunstone Frith, Glenfield, Glenfield Hospital, Beaumont Leys, Mowmacre Hill, Belgrave, Rushey Mead, Hamilton, Netherhall, Thurnby Lodge and Goodwood, before returning to Leicester General Hospital.
Adam Clarke, councillor and Leicester deputy city mayor for transport, clean air and climate emergency, said: “The Orbital route is a very well-used service, and switching over to the latest electric vehicles means another significant part of the city’s public transport system will now benefit from cleaner, more modern buses.
“The Orbital joins the Park and Ride and Hospital Hopper as part of the Leicester City Council owned Greenlines electric buses fleet, helping to fill gaps and connect the commercial network for the public benefit whilst also helping to meet our net zero ambition.
“These services will be complemented by a free electric city centre circular service early next year. As the first authority in the country to launch a service under the ZEBRA programme, once again we’ve shown that when the money is there, Leicester delivers.”
The new electric route is the first stage of the council’s plan to upgrade the diesel Circleline service during the next two years, subject to funding availability. This first stage also includes six new fully electric buses, in addition to on-board displays, real time information and contactless ticketing to offer best value fares.
Leicester City Council has reportedly contributed £2.11m in this project, in the hopes of cutting 177 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and reducing operational costs by more than £60,000 a year.
