NEWS
Stagecoach is bidding for Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme funding to support a £56million plan to put 105 battery electric double-deckers on to its routes in Manchester by early 2020.
It would put £34.6million of its own funds towards the purchase of BYD/Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV City double-deckers with a range of up to 190miles between charges, plus the associated charging infrastructure. The other £21.5million would come from the Department for Transport’s ULEB scheme for which Stagecoach is one of the bidders across England and Wales.
The announcement not only is significant in potentially delivering the biggest single battery electric bus investment yet made in the UK, but also in bolstering Stagecoach’s case against the possible franchising of bus services in Greater Manchester.
It says the bid is backed by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who says franchising remains one of its options for the future direction of bus services in the city region.
Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths says: ‘By working together, bus operators, the mayor and the region’s local authorities can deliver the quick and sustained improvements we all want to see in Greater Manchester’s bus network, buildi…
