- Millions of bus passengers will enjoy cleaner, more reliable and more comfortable journeys thanks to the Government funding almost a thousand zero-emission buses, including services in Burton.
- Supported by £143 million of funding, 25 local authorities across the country will receive funding for cleaner, more modern, and reliable bus fleets, with rural areas prioritised.
Kate Kniveton MP has welcomed £3,100,000 of Government funding for Staffordshire County Council to decarbonise their bus fleet, with the funding ensuring buses are more efficient, comfortable and sustainable while improving local journeys.
Staffordshire County Council worked with Diamond Bus in Burton and Arriva in Tamworth to develop a successful bid that the companies will match-fund for a new fleet of electric buses. As a result, zero emission buses will in the future be running on the Diamond Bus 8/9 services in Burton.
The funding comes as part of a £143 million investment to roll out 955 zero-emission buses across 25 local councils in England. The new buses will not only be cleaner, helping improve local air quality for bus passengers and local communities, but they will also be more modern and replace older diesel buses, increasing reliability.
The new state-of-the-art buses will meet Enhanced Accessibility Standards and come with features to improve passenger experience such as Wi-Fi and USB charging sockets, providing users with considerably quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journeys.
The funding comes from the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, which will see new electric buses in towns, villages and cities across England, many of which will get zero-emission buses for the first time.
This investment follows over £270 million to 16 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) and councils from the first round of ZEBRA funding, bringing the total Government support to roll out zero-emission buses to more than £413 million across 41 Local Transport Authorities.
The new zero-emission buses will also drive on smoother roads thanks to £8.3 billion, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of roads in England over the next decade, the biggest ever funding boost to improve local roads – made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“Buses are vital to people across Burton and Uttoxeter, helping people to get to work, school, and appointments – and making those journeys as reliable and comfortable as possible makes a real difference to people.
“I am delighted the Government is committing a further £3,100,000 to improve bus journeys across Staffordshire, including in Burton, meaning more modern and reliable fleets. This will make bus journeys easier and more enjoyable for all residents who rely on buses locally to get about.”
Commenting, Transport Secretary Mark Harper, said:
“As part of our plan to improve local transport across the country, we’re providing a further £143 million to improve journeys for bus passengers particularly in rural areas, with almost a thousand brand new, zero-emission buses due to hit the road.
“This latest investment into our bus fleet comes on top of the £3.5 billion we have invested into our bus network since 2020, protecting and improving bus routes into 2025 as well as extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.”
