Harrogate launches bus and depot electrification project

Bus operator Harrogate Bus Company (HBC) has confirmed an order for 39 new electric buses through its parent Transdev Blazefield, the French owned bus group, which operates local and regional bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

The £21m order is supported by £7.8m in funding from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding, following a successful bid by Transdev’s partner, North Yorkshire Council.

The addition of 39 new buses follows trials of several types of all-electric buses on three varied routes in and around Harrogate, and on its high-frequency shuttle route linking Bradford and Keighley.

During the trials, the bus operator asked passengers to rate design features, with feedback incorporated into the specifications of the new buses.

Henri Rohard, managing director, Transdev, said, “We’re delighted to launch our depot and bus electrification project. It is an important evolution in the quality and sustainability of our network in and around Harrogate.

“All our bus fleet will be renewed in the process, giving our Harrogate Bus Company the most modern and passenger-oriented network.”

In combination with the existing eight Harrogate Electrics-branded Volvo 7900E electric buses, 47 fully-electric vehicles are now expected to be in service by spring 2024.

North Yorkshire council’s executive member for highways and transport Cllr Keane Duncan described the partnership as “great news for passengers” because it is “an important step towards climate aims”.

The Harrogate Bus Company will now work with teams from the two suppliers who will build its new fleet to ensure its in-house engineering teams have the training and upskilling needed to operate the fleet.