Nottingham set for new fleet of electric buses

More than a dozen double-deckers will hit the streets next year as part of a £4.5m public transport electrification project in the city.

The new Yutong buses will enter service with Nottingham City Transport(NCT) in late 2026, the first electric double-deckers to run in the city, following a £30m order for 62 single-decker vehicles last year.

NCT said the order followed “a rigorous assessment and trial of several double-deckers”.

“The roll-out of our 62 electric single-deck buses marks a major milestone for NCT as we transition to a zero-emission fleet. I am grateful to all the team here at NCT for completing the project on time and on budget,” said David Astill, managing director, NCT.

“Our attention will now turn to the double-deck fleet and I am pleased to confirm we have placed an initial order for 13 electric double-decker buses which will be delivered in autumn next year”

Funding for the project was provided by the East Midlands Combined Authority, part of a “Local Authority Bus Grant” scheme worth over £65m, which is set to be spent across the region over the next three years.

Last month, the authority launched a consultation on a region-wide public transport strategy to decide how services could be improved across the East Midlands, which is set to run until early February.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am delighted to support the roll-out of electric buses onto our roads.

“This is a huge step forward in my push for sustainable, low-carbon travel, to make our streets cleaner, greener and safer.

“I look forward to seeing the vehicles in action next year and I’m sure passengers will enjoy the positive difference they are going to make to public transport in the region.”