West Northamptonshire Council has announced the addition of 17 new electric buses to its transport fleet.
Backed by a £2.2m Government investment, the buses are to replace some of the current Stagecoach vehicles and are expected to begin operating in the near future.
The rollout of the new vehicles comes as part of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme and follows the confirmation of the 54 Government-funded buses that are currently being delivered.
According to the council, the move will boost air quality and reduce harmful emissions, with the vehicles being targeted at first towards areas of West Northants facing the most significant air quality-related issues.
Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said: ‘Buses are the backbone of our public transport system, and passengers in West Northamptonshire deserve a network they can rely on and be proud of.’
Cllr Richard Butler, West Northamptonshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: ‘This additional investment is a significant step forward for our ambition to deliver a cleaner, more modern bus fleet for residents across West Northamptonshire.’
He added that reliable and sustainable transport is vital to communities and said the new vehicles will support both residents and the environment.
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Photo: © West Northamptonshire Council.
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