Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, has shown his support for bus manufacturing with a visit to Wrightbus‘ Ballymena factory.

On being asked on the likelihood of more funding for zero-emission buses in England, similar to what has been announced for ZEBRA, Simon told B&CB during the tour that there is no news expected regarding this until after the Spending Review in June. However, he highlighted the government’s £1bn investment in buses last year. The spend is intended to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services. He says it is an investment made ‘despite the difficult economic situation inherited’ from the last Government.

Simon’s visit coincides with Wrightbus celebrated hitting 50 million zero-emission miles. As part of the visit, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Mr Lightwood toured the factory in Ballymena to see how the zero-emission buses are made and to hear about the phenomenal growth that Wrightbus has undergone in the past few years.

Mr Lightwood also heard how Wrightbus currently supports supply chain partners in 47 counties across the UK and multiple locations across Europe including France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.

Simon told B&CB: “It was great to see first hand the Translink vehicles being built. There are hundreds of skilled staff here, creating these cleaner, greener fleets.”

Wrightbus, which currently employs almost 2,300 people, is set to produce a record number of 1,200 buses this year, over 95% of which will be zero-emission.

Bus Services Bill

Simon told B&CB The Bus Services (No 2) Bill is currently almost finalised in the House of Lords and is set to enter the Commons. The latter will see MPs from across the country consider the bus, its future and the important role it plays.

A measure is included in the Bus Services Bill to end the use of new diesel and petrol buses on English bus services, which is expected to spearhead green investment at sites including Wrightbus’ Ballymena HQ.

The government is ensuring that industry bosses and local leaders have a voice in this by hosting panel sessions. Simon Lightwood mentioned the inaugural UK Bus Manufacturing Panel, which took place in Sheffield in March. He said the event saw a broad agreement for government and the industry to work together to see the country’s bus manufacturing grow and thrive, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and its focus on economic growth. The Panel is expected to meet every nine to 12 months and looks to pull together knowledge and skills to encourage this growth.

The Bus Services Bill also ‘gives local authorities the tools to take back control of buses’ through franchising. Simon said franchising models ‘come in all shapes and sizes’ and the Government is also still open to Enhanced Partnerships between operators asnd local authorities being introduced.

Wrightbus delighted

Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said his company was delighted to show Simon Lightwood around the factory.

He said: “We were delighted to show Mr Lightwood around the factory and to showcase the important work we’re doing here towards the UK’s net zero targets.

“To have reached 50 million zero-emission miles is hugely significant, not only in terms of the part we’re playing in helping to decarbonise the public transport sector, but also in terms of the fantastic growth that we’ve undergone over the last five years.

“At Wrightbus, we’re bucking the current downwards trend that is currently happening across the UK’s manufacturing sector and that achievement is significant.

“It’s important not to forget that as a business, we employed just 56 people in 2019. That number now totals more than 2,300 and that will rise to 2500 in the next 9 months. We will also support more than 7,500 jobs in the UK supply chain by the end of this year.”