Bee Network continues green revolution with first fully electric bus depot

• Ashton one of only a handful of fully electric depots in the country and now home to more than 80 zero-emission buses, making 14 more routes across the city region fully electric

• Over 300 electric buses now running as part of Bee Network – a tenfold increase compared to pre-franchising

• Milestone comes as government confirms£2.5bn in funding to help city-region deliver UK’s first fully integrated, zero emission public transport network

  
  

Greater Manchester has taken another step forward in driving a green revolution through the Bee Network with the first fully electric bus depot now complete in Tameside.

The depot in Ashton – one of just a few fully electric depots in the country – is now home to 83 Volvo BZL MCV Double Deck zero-tailpipe emission buses, making 14 routes fully electric.

The depot, which is operated by Metroline on behalf of TfGM, boasts 27 dual chargers allowing 54 electric buses to be charged at any one time.

By taking back control of local buses, Greater Manchester is delivering cleaner, greener and more reliable services, with over 300 electric buses now running across the Bee Network – a tenfold increase compared to pre-franchising.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“We’re driving a green revolution across the city region through investment in the Bee Network. To see us complete the first fully electric depot in Greater Manchester – and one of just a few in the country – shows, once again, we’re leading the way in making journeys cleaner and greener.

“With one in five buses now electric – up from 1% before franchising – we're transforming how people get around, with 14 more routes now served entirely by zero-emission buses.

“The Bee Network is already proving massively beneficial to residents and businesses across the city-region and the funding announced this week – which demonstrates confidence in what we are doing at the highest level – will enable us to go even further as we press ahead and create the UK’s first fully electric, zero emission integrated public transport system.”

 The following bus routes, running from Ashton depot, are now fully electric: 7, 216, 219, 220, 221, 230, 231, 237, 336, 337, 346, 347, 382, 389.

Patrick Sibley, Regional CEO, Metroline, said: “We are proud at Metroline to operate Greater Manchester’s first fully Electric Bus depot for the Bee Network in Ashton. Since mobilisation, completing the electrification process at Ashton has been a key priority, and we have been working closely with TfGM, our electric infrastructure partners and Volvo to ensure that we were able to get more electric buses on the road.

“Though the journey has not been without challenges we are delighted to have 83 new electric buses join our now 160-strong electric fleet, and look forward to providing customers across Greater Manchester with zero-emission journeys on the Bee Network. We are committed to continuing to work with TfGM and their objective to achieve a fully electric Bee Network by 2030.”

TfGM is making rapid progress to electrify Greater Manchester’s bus depots, with upgrades already made at Bolton, Oldham and Hyde Road in Manchester, as the city region works towards a fully electric network by 2030.  Further upgrades are being made at Middleton depot this year.

Domenico Bondi, Managing Director at Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, said:

“These new Volvo buses will not just help Greater Manchester, but also the UK and Ireland as a whole, take a step forward towards a greener future. We are privileged to be playing such an integral role in helping to improve air quality, reduce noise pollution and deliver vital services for the local community.

“Our aftermarket partner Thomas Hardie Commercials, are providing exceptional local service support through their location at Trafford Park whilst also creating additional jobs for Frontline EV specialist technicians and apprentices, I am certain the team will continue to support Transport for Greater Manchester as it strives to meet its sustainability goals.”

Greater Manchester’s £2.5bn allocation of the government’s Transport for the City Regions funding will create an an all-electric local public transport network, support integration of rail services into the Bee Network and help deliver major projects to drive green growth across the city-region, supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes, skilled jobs and green growth.