A fleet of 30 new electric buses has been introduced in Salisbury, southern England, as part of a £15 million investment involving Salisbury Reds, Wiltshire Council and the Department for Transport.
The rollout includes 18 double-decker and 12 single-decker electric buses, primarily supplied by Wrightbus. Some of the vehicles will be used for tourist services, including routes serving Stonehenge.
Additional vehicles have been provided by Alexander Dennis, including Enviro100EV single-deck models designed for narrower or more challenging routes.
Ed Wills said the initiative reflects a joint commitment to cleaner transport. “Salisbury Reds and Wiltshire Council have, together, made a significant investment in our new zero emission electric buses for Salisbury and the surrounding areas. This joint investment between DfT, Salisbury Reds and Wiltshire Council will ensure greener, better, journeys for our customers – and have a significant impact Salisbury’s overall carbon emissions.”
Wills added that the smaller buses expand route coverage. “These smaller buses are the first of our 30 brand new electric vehicles, following our successful bid, in partnership with Wiltshire Council, for funding from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) scheme,” he said.
“The new vehicles will enable us to serve more challenging routes – giving even more of our customers the opportunity to opt for sustainable transport. They have a distinct appearance, and those living in or visiting Salisbury and the surrounding area will be sure to notice them.”
The deployment builds on earlier electrification efforts in Salisbury. In 2020, the operator introduced its first battery-electric buses, including models supplied by BYD-ADL, as part of a £1.2 million project.
The latest investment significantly expands the city’s zero-emission fleet and aligns with broader UK efforts to decarbonise public transport through programmes such as ZEBRA 2.