Go-Ahead achieves 1,100 zero-emission milestone

Go-Ahead is due to reach the milestone number of 1,100 zero-emission buses in its fleet as ZEBRA 2 funding is announced.

The Go-Ahead Group is to introduce an additional 201 zero-emission buses to its fleet at regional bus companies, including Plymouth CityBus, Go Cornwall Bus, Go North East, Pulhams Coaches, Salisbury Reds, Southern Vectis, East Yorkshire Buses, and Brighton & Hove and Metrobus. The total investment, comprising both buses and infrastructure amounts to £112 million, with the ZEBRA contribution standing at £44 million and local authorities contributing £6 million.

The new buses are expected for delivery by March 2026 and will bring Go-Ahead’s total zero-emission bus count to over 1,100.

The £112 million pooled investments in this initiative signifies a joint commitment from the DfT, Go-Ahead’s bus companies and our local authority partners:

• 50 ZEBs (Zero Emission Buses) with £28.5 million allocated to Go South West’s, Plymouth CityBus, and Go Cornwall Bus operators.
• Go South Coast operators, Southern Vectis and Salisbury Reds will add 45 zero emission buses to its fleets, comprising an £24.1 million investment.
• £35 million for Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, with 59 ZEBs – 43 for its Metrobus fleet in Crawley and 16 for its Brighton & Hove Buses division.
• At Go North East, Riverside depot gets a further £5.7 million invested for 11 ZEBs.
• Pulhams Coaches celebrates 15 ZEBs at its Bourton-on-the-Water depot, with an £8 million investment serving its rural communities.
• And finally, in Hull, East Yorkshire Buses will introduce 21 ZEBs with a total of £10.9 million investment.

“Our ongoing partnership with local authority partners and our investment in cutting-edge EV (Electric Vehicle) technology are driving meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and delivering tangible benefits to communities across the UK” – CEO of The Go-Ahead Group, Miguel Parras

CEO of The Go-Ahead Group, Miguel Parras, said: “We are proud to lead the way in electrifying urban transit and accelerating the transition to cleaner, greener transport and we extend our gratitude to all our partners for trusting in us to deliver. Our ongoing partnership with local authority partners and our investment in cutting-edge EV (Electric Vehicle) technology are driving meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and delivering tangible benefits to communities across the UK.”

“Today’s news cements our position as leaders in delivering zero-emission public transport” – Matt Carney, CEO – Go-Ahead Bus

Matt Carney, CEO – Go-Ahead Bus, said: “Today’s news cements our position as leaders in delivering zero-emission public transport. Our collaboration with local authority partners, supported by the Government’s ZEBRA scheme, reflects our shared vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future. This expansion of our electric bus fleet not only demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of public transport in our areas of operation. We are dedicated to contributing to a greener, more sustainable future. I’m confident we’ll achieve our goal of being fully zero-emission by 2035.”