- Go-Ahead, which provides bus services across the United Kingdom, including in London, has announced an investment worth half a billion pounds with Wrightbus, to bring more zero-emission buses to UK roads.
- The money will help deliver 1,200 UK-manufactured fully-electric buses, helping to not only decarbonise the country’s bus fleet, but also create around 500 manufacturing jobs in the process.
- Areas set to benefit from these newly built buses include Plymouth, Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire, London and the Isle of Wight.
More green buses for Britain
The investment, which was made in partnership with bus manufacturer Wrightbus, will include a new dedicated manufacturing line for electric buses, which will be based in the UK – ensuring that the country’s transition to green transport also helps create jobs.
Alongside the announcement, the government has announced the creation of a ‘UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel’, which will bring together those from across the bus industry to explore how the UK can continue to be a mass producer of buses, even as these become fully-electric models.
While UK cities such as London and Oxford have already seen impressive numbers of zero-emission buses, that’s not the case for the whole UK – where this fresh investment will be great news.
UK Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, commented:
“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. Under this Government, Britain is open for business.”
Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, added:
“The deal with Go-Ahead is hugely significant and represents a huge boost to the UK’s economy. It will support homegrown manufacturing, jobs and skills for the next three years and beyond. We’ve always been proud to support the UK’s supply chain and our Go-Ahead partnership will ensure even more money can be spent securing good green jobs.”