Go North East, already home to the largest electric bus fleet in the region, has announced plans to further expand its number of zero-emission vehicles. This significant development has been made possible through a successful partnership with Transport North East, securing £5.7 million of government funding.
Transport North East is among the 25 local transport authorities in England awarded funding from the UK Government’s ZEBRA-2 (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) scheme. This scheme provides funding to cover the additional costs associated with transitioning to new zero-emission vehicles and the necessary charging infrastructure.
The funding will add 11 more battery-electric vehicles by 2026, bringing the total number to 47. These additional buses will cover services 58 and X66, operating from its Gateshead Riverside depot alongside 18 electric vehicles already being used on Voltra services 53, 54, and the Q3.
This expansion builds upon Go North East’s established reputation as a leader in delivering cleaner and greener transport solutions. Having introduced the region’s first full-battery electric buses back in November 2020 with its ground-breaking Voltra fleet, the company continues to set the benchmark for sustainability in the transportation sector.
Nigel Featham, Managing Director for Go North East, explains: “This investment marks another significant step towards our commitment to a greener fleet. With each electric bus we deploy, we reduce annual carbon emissions on average by 60 tonnes. With 47 of them in operation, we’ll be making a big contribution to helping the environment and improving air quality for communities across our region. We are proud to lead the way in sustainable transport and remain dedicated to creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all.”
Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Transport North East said: “We’re delighted with the outcome which sees us, in collaboration with Go North East and other operators, secure £7.4m worth of ZEBRA-2 funding to deliver a total of 43 zero-emission buses for communities in the North East. This is a huge boost to our plans for creating a greener and healthier environment for people across the region.”
ZEBRA-2 will see 201 zero-emission buses delivered across Go-Ahead’s UK regional bus companies. Go-Ahead will invest £62 million, adding to the £44 million from the government and £6 million from local authorities.
This continued investment supports the company’s plans to achieve a fully decarbonised bus fleet by 2035.
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