Stagecoach to get a potential £7.9m extra ZEBRA 2 funding

Stagecoach Group has potentially secured an additional £7.9m funding from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas 2 (ZEBRA 2) initiative. This funding will supplement the £50.6m investment Stagecoach has already pledged to roll-out 120 new electric vehicles across its fleet by 2027.

Transport Minister Simon Lightwood announced a further £38m of funding for bus ZEBRA 2 schemes in the UK during a visit to Hull earlier this week.

Stagecoach says around 40% of this additional £7.9m funding would potentially be invested in Hull and Mansfield to expand its electric vehicle fleet.

ZEBRA 2 was launched in 2023 and is a DfT initiative providing £143m to support 25 local authorities in England (excluding London) to purchase 955 zero-emission buses and related infrastructure.

“Here in Hull, we are delighted that the funding will support the roll out of 55 new electric buses” – Matthew Cranwell, Stagecoach East Midlands Managing Director

Matthew Cranwell, Stagecoach East Midlands Managing Director, said: “Stagecoach prides itself on the importance of putting sustainability at the core of its business strategy. We’re delighted to be working with local authorities and the Government to invest in new electric buses to play our part improving air quality in those regions where we operate.

“This new Government funding, supported by significant investment from bus operators, will play a key role in Stagecoach’s transition to green bus fleets, helping us to meet our goal of having a zero emission UK bus fleet nationally, by 2035. Here in Hull, we are delighted that the funding will support the roll out of 55 new electric buses.”