Popular York bus route becomes fully electric

The buses represent an investment of £3m by First Bus, which has also been supported with government funding, First Bus said

A bus route popular with students in York has become fully electrified with the introduction of the final new vehicle on the service.

The 66 and 67 bus services run the four-mile (6.4km) route between the railway station and the University of York campus, via the city centre.

First Bus said 10 electric double-decker buses now operated on the route.

Tom Donnelly from the company said the electrification of the route was part of a "green transport revolution".

Mr Donnelly, operations manager of First Bus in York, said the multimillion-pound electric buses roll-out would create "cleaner air and quieter streets around the campus and along routes to the train station".

He said the electric buses were fitted with on-board technology "including wi-fi and USB charging to help people stay connected, a valuable feature for everyone and not least young people studying".

Each electric bus would save up to 60 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, the company claimed.

A spokesperson for First Bus said a total of 53 new electric single and double-decker buses would eventually enter the fleet as the operator continued its transformation of the James Street depot to be fully electric.