Scores of new buses and EV chargers coming to region
24 Jan 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
The council has welcomed news that a scores of new electric buses are coming to the region.
The vehicles are on the way alongside nearly 100 more charging points after the North East successfully secured £19.5m of investment through the Levelling Up Fund for a Transport Decarbonisation package.
The multi-million-pound investment will greatly enhance zero carbon options for local people, delivering up to 52 new high-quality electric buses which will travel on some of the region’s most heavily congested routes, alongside 92 new Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers – many at key destinations such as Park and Ride sites – to encourage multimodal journeys.
It is hoped expanded EV charging infrastructure will encourage more people to consider switching to a zero-emission vehicle where possible.
Councillor John Riddle, Cabinet Member for Local Services with Northumberland County Council, said: “This is great news for the region and supports many of the key priorities of our climate change agenda.
“Electric vehicles are much better for the environment as they give off less pollution and greenhouse gases and it’s crucial we look at more sustainable ways to get around our large and rural county.
“It’s great to see more sustainable transport becoming more and more widespread and this major investment will not only bring short and medium term improvements but also benefit future generations.”
Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair, North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “I’m delighted to welcome this £19.5m investment which will enable us to deliver our Transport Decarbonisation package of new electric buses and electric vehicle charge-points.
“This funding will greatly boost the availability of zero carbon transport options for local people – enabling cleaner, greener journeys to work and education, improving air quality, and reducing our carbon emissions from transport.
Stagecoach North East Managing Director, Steve Walker, said: “On behalf of North East Bus Operators Association, my colleagues and I are delighted with the announcement of this £19.5m investment in our region’s transport network.
“This major funding builds on existing investment in greener buses across the North East, as we continue to work towards Net Zero bus fleets by 2035 and continue to demonstrate our collaborative approach and absolute commitment to ensuring the future prosperity of local communities.
“Buses are the solution to the UK’s biggest challenges: major congestion and declining air quality, and securing this investment makes a significant contribution to enhancing our region’s public transport offer with the introduction of greener, modern and accessible buses, which connect our people and provide critical links to employment, education, health and leisure facilities.”