Electric buses are 'massive step up', boss says

A total of £20.5m has been invested in the new buses

A fleet of 42 electric buses entering service in the coming weeks has been described as a "massive step up" for a county's infrastructure.

Several of Stagecoach West's new buses have now arrived at depots in Gloucestershire, but are not yet in passenger service.

Chris Hanson, managing director of Stagecoach West, said: "They're quieter, smoother, they have air conditioning, new seats and they've got two wheelchair bays on them, so they're a massive step up on some of the vehicles we have at the moment."

Gloucestershire County Council has said, together with the government, it had contributed around £3.5m to the project, while Stagecoach West has invested £17 million pounds.

Mr Hanson continued: "We're able to take out 42 of our oldest fleet, and when you compare the difference it's quite astounding.

"In Gloucester, you'll see them on the 1, out to Matson, the 2 and 2A, then in Tewkesbury you'll see them on the 71, the T, the 41, 42 and 43.

"The double-deck versions will be on the 94, 95 and 94X between Gloucester and Cheltenham."

Mr Hanson also explained that the depots have had to be renovated to accommodate the new buses.

"[In] the Gloucester depot, it's been really tough to make sure we can fit the electric charging infrastructure, while also making sure we can run all the buses we need to from this depot.

"At the moment, these will represent around 20% of the buses we operate in Gloucestershire, and we're in the process of planning how we get that over to 100% electric, which is a massive jump from where we are today, and would mean we'd have to look at a new site."