The Liverpool City Region is set to receive 58 fully-electric double-decker buses, with over £9m secured to fund the buses. This will significantly add to the existing zero-emission fleet, and provide a boost to the region’s public transport network.
The Combined Authority (CA) received a grant of £9.4m after successfully applying for the latest round of the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area fund (ZEBRA 2). The fund covers up to 75% of the cost difference between zero-emission buses and those with a standard diesel engine.
The project was approved in December 2023 and the bid was accepted. The Combined Authority has committed to add £22m as match-funding to the project. The total amount of money committed to the project now stands at more than £30m.
The city region will add new vehicles to its existing fleet, which already has over 70% low or zero emissions. The fleet includes advanced hydrogen buses, as well as buses that run on hybrid electric and biomethane gas.
The Stagecoach-operated buses are scheduled to run on the 17, 19, 14, and 20/21 bus routes that connect Kirkby, Tower Hill, Northwood, and Liverpool City Centre.
Richard McGuckin, Executive Director for Place at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:
“We’re delighted to welcome the announcement of our successful bid to Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 fund. We know this was a highly competitive process so this award speaks to high quality of our submission and the hard work of colleagues.
“The money secured will, along with the match-funding already committed by the CA, help to bring dozens of new zero-emission buses to the city region enabling us push forward with our ambitions to decarbonise our transport network and improve air quality.”
READ MORE: PLAN TO INCREASE NUMBER OF FAST CHARGING HUBS ACROSS THE LIVERPOOL CITY REGION
