READING Borough Council and Reading Buses have announced that millions more in funding have been secured to add further electric buses to fleets in the town.
A grant of £3 million has been allocated to Reading’s transport sector, following a successful application by both the council and Reading Buses.
It means that 17 more completely electric vehicles will form part of the town’s bus network, bringing the total up to 49.
It comes only a month after Reading Buses celebrated the unveiling 24 new zero-emissions buses which were brought into service as part of its ZEBRA program, and ahead of Another eight zero-emission double deckers are due to become part of the network this summer.
Reading Buses already has one of the most eco-friendly fleets in the country,
The additional vehicles are intended to bolster the council’s aims of encouraging public transport use, reducing carbon emissions, and improving air quality for the health of residents.
The £3m government grant from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 project will expand the electric bus network to the emerald 5 route, which runs between the town centre and Northumberland Avenue, and emerald 6 which serves Whitley Wood, in summer 2027.
The remaining additional buses for other routes will arrive in 2028.
The latest funding provides for 75% of the difference in cost of buying a zero-emission bus compared with a regular diesel bus and 75% of the cost of nine additional vehicle chargers, with the remainder being funded by Reading Buses.
It also means a total of £9m of Department for Transport funding has been secured for high-spec electric buses, plus the installation of charging stations and power upgrades at the Great Knollys Street depot.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “It is excellent news for bus passengers in Reading that the Council and Reading Buses have secured a further £3m of government funding for another 17 electric buses for the town.
“Passenger have already been travelling on the modern and comfortable new electric buses on the purple 17 and claret 21 routes and I am looking forward to the arrival of eight more on the yellow 26 Southcote and Calcot route this summer.
“I am delighted that residents in south Reading and other parts of the borough will also benefit from these new buses over the next two years.”
He explained: “The council has invested heavily in making public transport more reliable, accessible and convenient to use around Reading and we have seen the number of passengers continuing to grow.
“Not only do these zero-emission buses provide a smooth and quiet journey, they also transport thousands of people around Reading every day without emitting any harmful, polluting fumes.”
Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Buses, said: “Our electric buses have proven popular with customers and drivers alike, and we are very pleased that we will be able to continue rolling these zero emission buses out onto more routes in the coming years.”
