The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that up to 500 UK manufacturing jobs are set to be supported as bus operator Go Ahead invests £500m into bus fleet decarbonisation in partnership with Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus.
The money will be used to decarbonise the Go Ahead fleet including creating a new dedicated manufacturing line and the production of up to 1,200 new zero emission buses over the next three years.
Built for operator Go Ahead, this investment will seek to accelerate the transition to greener buses across the country including in Plymouth, Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire, London and the Isle of Wight.
Transport secretary, Louise Haigh said: “The number one mission of this Government is growing the economy. The half a billion pounds Go Ahead is announcing today shows the confidence industry has in investing in the UK.
“This announcement will see communities across the country benefit from brand new, state of the art green buses – which will deliver cleaner air and better journeys.”
“We’re creating the right conditions for businesses to flourish, so we can support jobs and accelerate towards decarbonising the transport sector.”
The transport secretary will also announce plans to create a new UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel.
This panel will bring together industry experts and local leaders to explore ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing, help local authorities deliver on their transport ambitions, and begin to seize opportunities to embrace zero emission transport technologies.
In an effort to maximise its decarbonisation, Go-Ahead and Wrightbus also announced that for every vehicle manufactured, ten trees will be planted in the towns and cities where the buses are deployed.
Go-Ahead Bus CEO Matt Carney said: “This multi-million pound investment and partnership with WrightBus will accelerate the transition to zero-emission fleet across the UK.
“We are proud to be working in partnership with the UK Government and local authorities to deliver transformational environmental change for communities, while supporting UK jobs and the growth of the country’s supply chain”.
Achievements and innovations sustainable transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
