Town to get 51 more electric buses by 2027

Fifty-one new electric buses are planned for a town as part of a multi-million pound investment in public transport.

The vehicles in Northampton are expected to enter service in spring 2027 and will bring the town's planned electric bus fleet to 105.

Of the new buses in Northampton, 27 will be paid for with £4.4m in combined funding from West and North Northamptonshire councils.

"This investment is great news for West Northamptonshire," said Simon Lightwood, government minister for buses and local transport.

"We're giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver the frequent, affordable and reliable bus services that communities deserve."

West Northamptonshire Council is providing £2.2m through the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme.

North Northamptonshire is contributing a further £2.2m through its Local Authority Bus Grant Capital Allocation.

Stagecoach Midlands is funding the remaining 24 buses and the infrastructure needed to operate them.

A total of 54 electric buses were introduced in Northampton during the summer.

The minister visited Stagecoach's Northampton depot on 22 October, where he saw the electric bus charging facilities and met staff, including apprentices involved in the move to zero-emission transport.

The government said the electric buses would reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality.

It is part of a wider project to introduce 484 zero emission buses across England.

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