The UK Government have announced that five Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) have been awarded almost £71 million to support up to 335 new zero-emission buses as part of the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme initiative for 2021-22.
Fast track
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
• Kent County Council
• Leicester City Council
• Milton Keynes Borough Council
• Warrington Borough Council
Let’s take a look at various Local Authority websites which had been awarded funding from the ZEBRA scheme.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
Cambridge residents will soon start to see the benefits of 30 new zero emission buses to be rolled out across the city. The announcement was made by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of the Budget and Spending Review in Parliament yesterday (27 October).
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) received the news that their business case to help fund 30 new electric double-decker buses for the Cambridge area has been given the green light as part of the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme initiative for 2021-22.
The successful business case, submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) in August 2021, provides an opportunity to make significant improvements to the serious air quality issues, which cause up to 100 early deaths each year, in one of the world’s most famous cities. It requested a grant award of £4.295 million to help provide zero emission replacements for the first 10% of the region’s 350-strong bus fleet in operation on the urban and interurban bus network across the region.
The grant represents just 26% of the overall project of over £16.5 million, with the balance being funded from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund, Greater Cambridge Partnership’s City Deal and an operator partner. This combined value will support the purchase of 30 new battery electric, zero emission double-decker buses to operate on the Park & Ride and Citi2 routes, and will also include in-depot charging infrastructure and opportunity charging infrastructure at a Park and Ride location (and respective grid connections), to extend vehicle range while the bus is operating a route. The new buses are expected to enter service in the second half of 2022.
Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said:
“Receiving funding as part of the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme is fantastic news as we look to develop and share our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for consultation over the coming months. The ZEBRA funding isn’t purely a matter of public transport but of public health and hitting our carbon zero ambitions.
“As a practicing consultant paediatrician, I’ve seen the negative impacts of traffic pollution on children and their families, and these effects are a very real concern to me. As Mayor, I am working with my team to ensure we include public health and environmental considerations as key criteria in everything we do.
“Over 100 deaths in Greater Cambridge are attributable to air pollution each year and buses are the largest single contributor to emissions. These new buses will reduce emissions in that central zone by over 40%, contributing significantly to improved public health.”
Elisa Meschini, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board said:
“I am delighted at the news that the GCP and CPCA have been successful in our joint bid for more electric buses for our area.
“This is great news, and we will be working closely with the CPCA to get the buses running as soon as possible as well as delivering the electric charging infrastructure they need.
“This will make a significant contribution to improving air quality, while supporting a number of GCP projects which aim to make buses a greener and more attractive travel choice in Greater Cambridge.”
A brand new fleet of fully electric buses will be coming to MK after the Chancellor announced that MK Council had been successful in its bid.
During the Budget today it was confirmed that a £16m bid by MK Council in partnership with Arriva has been successful and will lead to nearly 60 brand new electric buses and an upgraded overnight charging depot facility, with some of the new vehicles arriving in 2022. Another £16m will be available through a special finance arrangements that will be offered to MK.
Earlier this year, the Department for Transport announced its Zero Emission Bus Regional Access (ZEBRA) scheme and invited local authorities to submit their localised electric bus proposals for a share of £120m government investment. The scheme is backed by private investment as well as government grant funding, which will help MK towards achieving the city’s 2030 carbon neutral target. The announcement comes just a week ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) next week.
Cllr Pete Marland, Leader of MK Council said: “We’re happy with this announcement which is a very important step in achieving our climate targets. We’ve shown that MK is fully invested in becoming even cleaner and greener, and that we have the partnerships in place to move quickly to a zero-carbon future with electric buses.”
Millions has been allocated to electrify the bus fleet providing Fastrack services.
As part of the Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £9.5 million will be awarded to KCC from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA fund.
This investment includes both the existing Kent Thameside network and the new Dover Fastrack service, due to arrive in 2023. It will make Fastrack Kent’s first zero-emission bus service.
The investment follows a successful and innovative trial in 2018, when KCC worked in partnership with Volvo to bring their electric bus demonstrator to the Fastrack network.
Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, said: “I am absolutely delighted the team has been able to secure this investment for Fastrack, for the communities it serves and the benefits it will bring for future electrification of buses.
“Going for zero-emission was at the top of our wish list for Fastrack and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has used or worked on this service.
“Beyond electrification, we have been listening to our customers, to see how we can tailor our vehicles better to meet their needs.
“I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for this part of our transport portfolio.”
Fastrack is already proving to be a force for improving air quality and this money will further enhance this objective in the areas of Dartford, Gravesham and Dover.
Furthermore, this work shows the cooperation between KCC and local providers to follow the Government’s wider National Bus Strategy, Bus Back Better.
In partnership with FirstBus and Arriva, we have submitted a full business case to the Department of Transport for around £19m of government funding to assist in the purchase of 96 fully electric buses and charging equipment.
The results of this bidding process are expected by the end of September 2021. If successful the buses will come into operation by September 2023.
The executive summary of this bid and other documents can be found at the bottom of this page (with commercially sensitive redaction). Further details of the full bid to follow shortly.
Warrington Borough Council has secured more than £20m in Government funding to transform bus travel in the borough.
The Department for Transport has today announced that Warrington has been successful in its application for Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding, first announced by the Prime Minister in 2020, to support the introduction of up to 4,000 zero-emission buses across the country.
It paves the way to the replacement of Warrington’s Own Buses’ entire fleet of diesel buses with 120 new electric buses.
Warrington’s Own Buses - a municipal bus operator, wholly owned by the Council - covers 85% of the bus mileage in the borough, so the conversion of its fleet to all-electric will bring a huge boost to the council’s ambitions to introduce greener and cleaner transport options throughout the borough.
Independently of ZEBRA, the council is committed, as part of the Warrington Town Deal to delivering a new bus depot – relocating the Warrington's Own Buses depot from its current site to a purpose-built new depot on Dallam Lane. Work on the site will begin in December, and the successful ZEBRA bid means the council can forge ahead with plans to equip the new depot with electric vehicle charging infrastructure, ready to house the new fleet of zero emission buses.
The council’s commitment to green energy will also see the new buses charged by green electricity, including from the council’s solar farm in Cirencester. Solar canopy/panels will be installed at the new depot, funded by the council, to further enhance the green credentials of the scheme.
The ZEBRA scheme supports a wide range of council policies aimed at transforming travel, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, including the Climate Emergency declaration, the Local Transport Plan (LTP4), the draft Electric Vehicle Strategy, the Air Quality Action Plan, and the Central 6 Regeneration Masterplan.
Warrington Borough Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “Securing this funding is absolutely fantastic news for Warrington. It will enable us to make huge strides in decarbonising our transport system as we work towards a zero-carbon future.
“The introduction of an all-electric bus fleet, charged by renewable energy, will bring massive benefits to our town. It will improve air quality, supporting our work to tackle the climate emergency. It will also provide more environmentally friendly, modern and attractive bus services, encouraging more local people to choose this mode of transport.
“At the same time, this project will put our town at the forefront of delivering sustainable, zero emissions public transport, further enhancing our reputation as forward-thinking location to live, work, and do business.”
Along with the significant reduction in pollution, the all-electric bus fleet will bring further modernisation benefits to make them a more attractive proposition for passengers - including audible and visible route and next stop announcements and a second priority space for wheelchairs, giving better access for all. This supports the council’s plans - through LTP4, the Bus Service Improvement Plan, the Town Deal sustainable travel programme, and the Bus Priority / Mass Transit study - to drive up the number of people choosing to use buses in Warrington.
Chair of Warrington’s Own Buses, Cllr Cathy Mitchell, said: “We welcome this funding, which will bring transformational improvements to bus services in Warrington.
“The investment in an all-electric bus fleet has the potential to be a real game-changer, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions while providing a modern bus service we can all be proud of. It will help transform perceptions of public transport in our town, supporting our work to drive growth in bus usage.
“Warrington’s Own Buses and the council have a close and established partnership, and this funding will enable us to further strength our working relationships, to deliver the all-electric fleet and to collaborate on a range of further improvements for the long term benefit of passengers and the wider community.
“I would like to sincerely thank our incredible team of council officers and the leadership team at Warrington’s Own Buses for the hard work and time they have invested in making this bid successful. This is an amazing opportunity for us to come together and make a real impact on bus services in the town.”
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for transportation, highways and public realm, Cllr Hans Mundry, added: “A key priority for us, through LTP4 - and our wider sustainable transport, air quality and public transport projects – is to reduce local air pollution caused by vehicle emissions, reduce car dependency and make public transport a more attractive option.
“The ZEBRA funding will enable us to drive forward with these plans by completely transforming bus travel in Warrington. The introduction of an all-electric bus fleet will improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, as well as supporting our ongoing economic growth.
“Crucially, a high profile, rapid transformation to an all-electric fleet will help make public transport more attractive, and support our ambitions to encourage a culture change in how people travel around our borough. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Warrington.”
The total cost of the ZEBRA Project over 17 years is £50m. Around £21.5m will be provided by ZEBRA grant funding, with the council and Warrington’s Own Buses providing the remaining funding.
Unfortunately Transport for London is not part of the ZEBRA scheme and is still waiting for the next financial deal with the government which is due by December 2021. The new London Bus tender awards have revealed that routes 226 and 295 have been awarded to RATP-Dev London United with a total Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of 34 new electric buses.
LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:
|
Route |
Current Operator |
New Operator |
PVR |
Vehicles |
|
220 (24h) |
London United |
London United |
24 |
Existing diesel double deck |
|
226 |
Metroline West |
London United |
15 |
New electric single deck |
|
295 (24h) |
Metroline West |
London United |
19 |
New electric double deck |
The diesel vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards. New electric vehicles may enter service after the contract start date dependent on infrastructure and/ or vehicle delivery timescales.
Start and end dates for the above contracts will be as follows:
|
Route |
Contract Start Date |
Contract End Date |
|
220 (24h) |
22nd October 2022 |
22nd October 2027 |
|
226 |
15th October 2022 |
12th October 2029 |
|
295 (24h) |
29th October 2022 |
26th October 2029 |
To wrap up the article, I’ll show you some interesting bus related answers from October 2021 Mayor’s Question Time:
Future Bus Project
Session date: October 14, 2021
Reference: 2021/4030
Question By: Caroline Pidgeon
Given the current financial situation at TfL, what is the current status of the Future Bus Project and when will more information be available to Londoners?
Answered By: The Mayor
Date: Tuesday, 19th October 2021
“Future Bus” is the internal working name for a broad range of potential enhancements to the bus network, aimed at making it more appealing to existing and new customers. Transport for London anticipates publishing details by March next year.
New Zero-emission buses
Reference: 2021/4031
Question By: Caroline Pidgeon
Following your announcement on the 17 September 2021 that all new bus purchases will be zero-emission, will you require all bus operators to purchase or lease zero-emission buses as part of their new route contracts?
Answered By: The Mayor
Date: Tuesday, 19th October 2021
I was delighted to be able to announce that the London bus fleet will be going zero emissions three years earlier than planned, in 2034 rather than 2037. With Government support, this date could be brought forward even further to 2030. All new buses being leased or procured will now need to be zero emission to put us on this faster trajectory. At the same time, this transition needs to be smooth and affordable, so mid-life buses which are already at the ultra-clean Euro VI engine emission standard will continue in service for most of their working lives.
Express Bus Routes
Reference: 2021/3845
Question By: Emma Best
Would the Mayor consider looking at (part-TfL/part-regional authority funded) express bus routes connecting London with its bordering towns?
Answered By: The Mayor
Date: Monday, 18th October 2021
There are currently 69 Transport for London (TfL) bus routes that run between the Greater London Authority boundary and areas outside it, including town centres such as Watford, Waltham Cross, Dartford, Redhill and Staines. There are also around 60 non-TfL cross-boundary routes which operate under London Service Permits.
There is therefore already a network of services connecting London with its bordering towns. One of the criteria for express routes to be viable is for there to be sufficient demand to run both a local and express route along the same corridor. This ensures all stops are served while allowing each type of service to run at a high enough frequency so that wait times do not cancel out the time savings of an express route.
It is generally simpler and more beneficial to passengers to run one local route at greater frequency than a low frequency local route and an express route that misses stops. The express/limited stop routes with simultaneous local routes predominately run in areas with high demand and population density. In this context, I do not have any plans to ask TfL to look at additional express cross-boundary routes at this time.
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