- The UK city of Bristol is set to benefit from another 74 electric buses joining its public transport fleet, after the official opening of First Bus‘ refurbished Hengrove depot in the city.
- The refurbishment has brought the major depot into the electrification era, with overhead charging gantries helping to support the imminent arrival of more electric buses for the city.
- Opened today, the opening ceremony was attended by the Department for Transport’s Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood.
Bristol continues its electric bus journey with new refurbished bus depot
The upgrade to the Hengrove depot has come as part of a £44 million project, led by First Bus alongside £6.5 million worth of government funding. The installation of the steel gantries has been led by NG Bailey, which hold bus charging reels made by Heliox.
Across the wider West of England, First Bus plans to continue electrifying depots, leading to a total of 258 electric buses across the region (with nearly 100 of those already in operation). As a nationwide operator, First Bus is targeting a 100% zero-emission bus fleet across the country by 2035.
With this latest milestone, it’s clear that the UK is going all-in when it comes to electric buses. Last year saw the biggest year yet for zero-emission bus sales in the UK, whilst just two weeks ago, the city of Plymouth received the first of an order of 50 electric buses, as it also undergoes a major electrification drive.
Isabel McAllister, First Bus’ Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer, commented:
“Today marks another significant milestone in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. With over £300 million of our own investment – alongside government funding – and more than 1,000 zero-emission buses already serving communities across the UK, we are proud to be leading the move towards cleaner, greener public transport.
The unveiling of our latest electrified depot at Hengrove in Bristol, made possible through strong public-private partnership with the Department for Transport and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, brings us one step closer to a fully electric fleet.
We’re proud to be leading the way in sustainable travel as we strive to better connect communities, drive economic growth, and inspire the nation to love and use the bus.”
Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, added:
“We’re bringing cleaner, quieter, and smoother bus journeys to Bristol and beyond—backed by £38 million in government funding and even more from private investment.
Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change: creating green jobs, boosting the local economy, and building a more sustainable future.
With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more reliable services, stronger local control, and protection for vital routes.”
