Order placed for 170 electric buses for Stockport

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and bus operator Stagecoach have confirmed that an order has been placed for 170 new electric buses to serve routes in and around Stockport from 2024.

The buses have been jointly funded by Stagecoach and local and national government, with Stagecoach’s £37.2 million investment match-funded by £35.7 million from Greater Manchester’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund and a local contribution of £12.5 million.

All of the new electric buses will be fully accessible, with wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems and anti-slip flooring.

The announcement comes as the first yellow, Bee Network branded buses enter service ahead of the first franchised services in northern boroughs of Greater Manchester later this year. Bus operator, Diamond, which will run some franchised services in Bolton, Wigan and parts of Salford and Bury from 24th September, has begun rebranding its fleet, with the first yellow bus operating on the number 8 route between Bolton and Manchester city centre.

Welcoming the early introduction of Bee Network co-branded vehicles and the order for the new electric buses, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said:

“Today is a significant day on our journey towards the Bee Network – marking six months until we start to bring buses back under public control for the first time in decades.

“To get ready for the change – and I hope start to build some excitement – we’re working with Diamond and other operators to introduce co-branded Bee Network buses onto those services that will be amongst the first to come back under local control.

“I am also delighted to announce that by working closely with Stagecoach we will have another 170 brilliant new buses running on our network from next year, with a brand new, world-class electric bus depot.

“This is very much the start of our journey that will ultimately deliver a greener, integrated and more inclusive transport system that will transform how people travel around our city-region.”

Stockport, along with the boroughs of Tameside, Trafford and parts of Salford and Manchester, will see franchised bus services rolled-out by the end of 2024, giving TfGM and local leaders greater powers over fares, bus routes and service frequencies across Greater Manchester.