Green light for Warrington’s Electric Buses

Approval was given by Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet last week which will see Warrington’s Own Buses move forward with replacing their entire fleet with electric vehicles.

Warrington will deliver 105 buses during 2024, which remains one of the highest number of electric buses to be introduced by any town or city in the UK, replacing the whole fleet.

Warrington’s Own Buses, along with Warrington Borough Council, were successful in securing the largest funding award made from the Government’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) scheme in 2021, to support the replacement of the current fleet of diesels with new electric buses.

The council is also making a significant financial contribution to the ZEBRA scheme, with its funding commitment supporting the vision to transform bus travel in Warrington.

The current economic climate has posed challenges to the project, and Warrington’s Own Buses along with the council and the government, has responded to this with the remodelled scheme. This includes the adjustment of the number of buses to 105 to match the post-Covid requirement, and an increase in the overall budget to deliver the scheme, which is needed due to price increases caused by the current high rate of inflation.

With Government content with the remodelled plans, and approval granted by Cabinet, Warrington’s Own Buses can now move forward with the project to deliver a fleet of buses fit for the future.

Ben Wakerley, Managing Director at Warrington’s Own Buses, added: “This is great news for Warrington. As well as the clear environmental benefits it will bring, the introduction of our electric fleet will dramatically improve the quality of our services, building on the slashed fares we have already introduced and improving reliability and punctuality.

“Around five million bus journeys take place in Warrington each year. The introduction of new, modern, environmentally-friendly buses which are fit for the future, will provide a better experience for customers, bringing more passengers, taking cars off the road and helping to alleviate congestion.

“Warrington’s Own Buses is financially sound and on course to deliver a profit this year. I’m delighted that we are moving forward with the ZEBRA project, which gives us even more confidence in improved sustainability for our company in the coming years.”

Finishing touches are currently being made to Warrington’s Own Buses new bus depot which is due to be handed over for occupation in the coming weeks. The new depot will be equipped with electric vehicle charging infrastructure, ready to house the new fleet of zero emission buses when they launch in 2024.

ZEBRA is the Government’s initiative to introduce 4,000 zero-emission buses across England by 2025.