Buses going 100% electric
PLAN FOR GREENER AND MORE RELIABLE SERVICE
A FLEET of new electric buses will help to dramatically cut Leicester’s carbon footprint and tackle pollution and poor air quality, according to the city council.
Up to 200 modern vehicles will operate on routes across the city as part of the new Leicester Bus Services Improvement Plan announced on Monday.
The ambitious plan is part of a 10-year project to revolutionise public transport in the city, with Leicester City Council joining forces with bus operators such as FirstBus and Arriva.
The council is confident it will “vastly improve” bus services, vehicles and routes across the city.
A spokesman said: “The plan sets out measures to modernise and upgrade bus travel throughout the city.
“It includes bringing in over 200 fully electric buses, improving reliability and frequency of services, automated digital ticketing, as well as introducing bus lane and signal to give priority to public transport.”
The plan involves a formal partnership between the council and bus companies to bring the measures into effect by 2025 and encourage more people to use public transport.
Passengers, businesses and bus operators have been involved in a consultation on the proposals.
So far, £95 million has been secured towards the project through bids for government funding, plus investment from bus companies and the city council.
Councillor Adam Clarke, pictured, deputy city mayor for environment and transport, said: “For many years we have been calling for councils to be given more decision-making powers regarding local public transport, and this partnership will now enable us to work with bus operators to create a comprehensive citywide network to meet modern needs.
“Last summer we set our intention to carry out this wide-ranging research and consultation work, and this plan is the result.”
He added: “The goals of this plan are clear – to increase bus use, improve punctuality and to improve passenger satisfaction, as well as working towards an entirely electric fleet of buses by 2030.”
Under the plans, further bids will be made for government funding.
Leicester’s plans include a “Mainlines” urban network of 25 route groups, each using electric buses with audio-visual displays and enhanced access features.
The network would feature new bus priority measures and signal priority; automated “best fare” digital ticketing, on-street real time information at all boarding stops; new bus shelters at main boarding stops, and make use of the new St Margaret’s bus station currently under construction.
Mainline routes would include cross-operator timetables across the city, ensuring buses every 15 minutes during the daytime Monday to Friday, every 30 minutes on evemeasures nings and Sundays, and every 10 minutes on Mainline routes connecting to key locations outside the city centre.
In addition, a network of five “Greenlines” subsidised electric bus routes would also be in place, including three express routes to the city’s three Park and Ride sites.
It also proposes 40 electric buses operating every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday on inner and outer orbital routes.