You’ll probably already know that we have one of the cleanest, most modern bus networks in the UK. Now, plans are well underway to bring electric buses to Blackpool!
Meanwhile, although Blackpool Transport (BTS) buses currently run on diesel engines, they are some of the cleanest on the market, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to the car.
New Plans for Electric Buses – with the help of a Zebra!
March 2022 brought fantastic news for the Fylde Coast with new £20m of funding confirmed for a new state-of-the-art electric bus fleet. Making ours one of the most modern in the country.
The fleet will be arriving thanks to a successful joint bid from Blackpool Council and Blackpool Transport Services (BTS). A whopping £20m of funding has been awarded by the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) fund. ZEBRA stands for ‘Zero Emission Bus Regional Area’. It’s a scheme introduced by the Department for Transport encouraging local authorities to work with local transport partners in applying for additional support funding to accelerate the introduction of fully electric public transport.
Our successful Blackpool funding bid faced sharp competition. City regions such as Manchester and Liverpool were amongst 15 other local transport authorities that had all reached Stage Two of the 2021/22 funding round.
Introduction of Electric Buses in Blackpool
Plans are in place to introduce 115 new buses over the next three to five years. This will provide residents and holiday makers with one of the cleanest, most modern bus networks in the country. Blackpool Transport Services Rigby Road depot will also be transformed to accommodate the vehicles.
Test Driving the new Electric Buses
Anyone eagle-eyed might have spotted this Wrightbus demonstrator – in a fetching shade of metallic blue! During summer 2022 it was used as a duplicate vehicle and for test driving. This is in advance of the ordering of the entire fleet of electric buses for Blackpool.
Many thanks to Steven Hughes for this picture of it’s first outing
Amazingly for us (we’re not known for our timing!) we also spotted this bus, out on Blackpool promenade. See it in this VFC Snippet –
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More about the Zebra
The ZEBRA fund was first announced by the Prime Minister in 2020. It helps local transport authorities outside London to introduce zero-emission buses and the infrastructure needed to support them. It has the following key aims:
- To support the government’s commitment to decarbonisation and to reduce the transport sector’s contribution to CO2 emissions
- Support the roll-out of the 4,000 Zero Emission Buses that the government committed to in February 2020
- To support bus manufacturers in the development of zero emission bus technology
- To support partnership working between Local Transport Authorities, bus operators, and other local stakeholders as set out in the National Bus Strategy
- Understand better the challenges of introducing zero emission buses and supporting infrastructure to inform future government support for Zero Emission Buses.
The grant will help to redevelop the Rigby Road depot and future-proof it, in order to house and operate an electric bus fleet.
Reducing Carbon Emissions
The council and all of its arms-length companies are striving to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Buses in general play a key role in reducing congestion. Now they’ll contribute more than ever in our universal need to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet for future generations.
Each new bus will feature a modern, customer-focused design. They’ll also be entirely tailpipe emissions-free, helping to improve air quality across the Fylde Coast.
Jane Cole is Managing Director at BTS. She said: “Good air quality is hugely important to everyone. The introduction of electric vehicles will contribute positively towards reducing air pollution. This funding is a key step in our strategy to make Blackpool a vibrant, digital-technology led town.”
Years of Improvement
James Carney is Finance and Commercial Director at Blackpool Transport. He added: “Blackpool Council have shown their ambition for a clean public and modern transport system since 2016. That’s when the first Euro VI, environmentally-friendly diesel buses were delivered as part of a £22m finance programme to invest in new buses. This grant will take Blackpool’s bus network to another level. By operating electric buses, the company will no longer need to buy 2 million litres of diesel a year.
“We’ll be able to sell most of our current fleet of diesel buses to other UK bus operators. In turn that will give them access to low-emission diesel buses at an affordable cost. Funds from the sale of the buses can be reinvested in Blackpool’s local transport network.”
Cllr Neal Brookes is Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Public Safety, Highways and Transport. He also welcomed the successful bid. “The ZEBRA funding means we can push forward with plans to replace the current bus fleet with zero emission vehicles. It’s yet another shot in the arm for Blackpool’s public transport system and our push towards becoming a greener town.
“We’re working hard to make public transport more attractive for local residents, and I hope this will encourage more people to swap their car for the bus.”
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