Leicester to Get £3 Million Boost for Electric Buses and Skills Drive
Leicester is set for a major public transport upgrade with nearly £3 million in funding for electric buses and a brand new Bus Centre of Excellence. This bold move aims to make buses cleaner, cheaper, and more frequent, tackling pollution and improving journeys for passengers.
Bus Centre of Excellence to Revolutionise Industry Skills
- The government is pumping £815,000 into a new Bus Centre of Excellence.
- It will unite councils, bus operators, and industry experts to boost skills and diversity across the sector.
- Hosted by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), it promises training, resources, and events.
- Designed to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of bus professionals.
Roads Minister Richard Holden unveiled the plan on 21 March 2023, calling buses “the backbone of our transport network.” He said the investment will deliver “cleaner, more affordable buses that run on time.”
Leicester’s Electric Bus Fleet to Lead the Way
Leicester will become one of England’s first cities with a fully electric bus depot, thanks to a £3 million injection for 18 new zero-emission buses. Built by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland and operated by First Bus, these vehicles will create hundreds of skilled jobs and boost the local economy.
First Bus’s Leicester depot will replace all diesel buses with 86 electric models funded through the Zero Emission Buses Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. Overall, Leicester has secured nearly £22 million through ZEBRA for 114 electric buses, pushing the city to the forefront of green transport.
Industry Leaders Praise Government’s Green Push
Neil Johnstone, President of CIHT, said: “We are delighted to be the chosen partner to improve this vital sustainable transport mode. This partnership will help bring together professional skills across sectors to transform local infrastructure and service delivery.”
Janette Bell, Managing Director at First Bus, added: “Leicester will become a blueprint depot for the future. We’re excited to electrify more sites across the UK and see the difference this will make for our customers – electric really is the future.”
Big Government Backing for Bus Sector Recovery
- The Bus Centre of Excellence complements the government’s National Bus Strategy.
- Investment builds on a £155 million funding boost announced last month to support affordable bus travel, including a £2 bus fare cap extension.
- Since the pandemic, over £2 billion has been poured into protecting and improving bus services.
- ZEBRA funding is nearing £300 million, rolling out up to 1,400 zero-emission buses across England.
This new funding and skills drive promises to revamp bus travel nationwide, making it greener, cheaper, and more reliable for millions of Brits.
