Work begins on Salisbury Reds depot electrification
Work has begun on the infrastructure required to charge 23 new electric buses, due to arrive at Salisbury Reds’ depot in early 2026.
The Go-Ahead Group owned operator already has capability to charge its existing three electric park and ride buses, but further work is required to ensure Salisbury Reds’ facility is enhanced for when its new fleet begins service next year.
“The total investment is around £15m and now we must ensure we have everything in place to keep the vehicles fully-charged and ready” – Salisbury Reds managing director, Ben Murray
“In partnership with Wiltshire Council we have invested millions of pounds – with additional funding from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area scheme – to bring these electric vehicles to the region,” said Salisbury Reds managing director, Ben Murray.
“The total investment is around £15m and now we must ensure we have everything in place to keep the vehicles fully-charged and ready to operate our city services, our X4 and the Stonehenge Tour.
“To do this, we have chosen leading electrical vehicle (EV) charging company EO Charging, to install a further 12 charging points, which involves some significant work at our depot in Castle Street.
“We expect this to take until the autumn – during which time we will ensure that any disruption for those living and working in the surrounding area will be kept to an absolute minimum.
“This is a momentous moment for the city – cementing our mission to put the region right at the forefront of sustainable transport. The time of arrival for the new electric buses is fast-approaching, and our whole team is excited to begin welcoming passengers on-board them early next year.
“In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with Wiltshire Council to ensure the introduction of our new fleet is a smooth and seamless process.”
Ben was joined by representatives from Wiltshire Council – including Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding at Wiltshire Council.
Cllr Smith said: “These infrastructure upgrades at the depot are essential to support the new fleet of 23 electric buses for the city, marking a major step forward for both Salisbury and Wiltshire as a whole.
“When they enter service in 2026, the new buses will reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in Salisbury, saving more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year of operation.
“There are significant financial benefits too, as each electric bus costs around a quarter of the cost of a diesel bus to run – so these new buses will save both time and money and reduce carbon emissions.
“Once this work at the depot has been completed, we can look forward to the new fleet arriving in the city, delivering cleaner, greener, bus travel for both residents and visitors to Salisbury.”
Philip Kershaw, director of eBus at EO Charging, said: “We’re proud to be working with Salisbury Reds to deliver the charging infrastructure needed to power its new electric bus fleet. This project us about more than just installing chargers – it’s about building a future-proofed depot that keeps vehicles on the road and passengers moving, while supporting Salisbury Reds’ and Wiltshire’s wider sustainability goals. Together, we’re accelerating the growth of the city’s zero-emission public transport network.”