Centro’s Coventry electric bus pledge

West Midlands transport authority, Centro, has pledged to help keep electric buses in Coventry following claims they are set to leave the city. It said it would work with Travel de Courcey to find an alternative use for them once their use on the city’s Park and Ride South route comes to an end later this month. The three Optare Versa EVs came into operation in 2012 but the tender to run the route has now been taken over by another operator. Reports suggested that the firm would be forced to operate the buses in Leicester because there was no longer a use for them in Coventry.

Operation of the Park and Ride South service will transfer to Stagecoach from Sunday 27th April with the company diverting its existing service X17 and new X16 services via the park and ride car park on its way to and from the city centre.

Centro area manager for Coventry, Guy Craddock, said, ‘There is no substance to the idea of moving the electric vehicles that currently run the park and ride to Leicester. Travel de Courcey is an established Coventry company and whilst they already have a depot in Birmingham they have no plans to leave Coventry. Centro and Coventry City Council are continuing to work with Travel de Courcey to find alternative uses for the electric buses in Coventry.’