More than £4.5 million is being spent on 24 new buses that will be hitting the roads in Reading, with one already being taken on its maiden voyages around town.
The new buses will all be electric, zero-emission double-decker vehicles from manufacturer Alexander Dennis.
One of the buses was given to Reading Buses for a taster period at its open day in June, and was used on the roads in the town for a fortnight.
The addition of the new buses to the fleet will begin next year after Reading Borough Council won £4.7 million in funding from the government.
The new fleet of electric buses are set to arrive in June 2025 and will operate on the Purple 17 route, between Tilehurst Water Tower and Wokingham Road, and the Claret 21 route, which runs between the town centre and Lower Earley, via the University of Reading.
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The news has been welcomed by councillors, who've argued that the buses will help meet the Labour administration's goal of getting net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, who took a look around one of the buses, said: “I am very impressed with the new electric buses which will be carrying passengers around Reading in a year’s time.
“And I think they will be popular with Reading Buses’ customers and drivers.
“The introduction of 24 electric vehicles on two of Reading’s busiest bus routes will provide smooth, comfortable journeys for passengers while having zero impact on air quality for residents."
The award of the grant funding was discussed at a meeting of the council's strategic environment, planning and transport committee on June 27.
During the discussion, cllr Ennis said: "For me, the road to net zero is walking, is cycling, it's buses as well.
"And if you look at the number of people, particularly in my part of the world in Southcote, Norcot and Oxford Road, the number of people on them buses is huge.
"This is a great way forward, and it's just beginning."
Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley), lead councillor for planning, suggested that future electric buses could also be used along the routes running between the town centre and Whitley, and throughout the town further down the line.
Although £4.7 million of grant funding was won, that amount does not cover the entirety of the project.
Therefore, Reading Buses has committed to paying for the remainder of the cost, which will cover the purchase of the remaining cost for the new buses and the cost of installing the 13 fast chargers required.
Each of these fast chargers can charge two buses at once, and will be installed at the Reading Buses depot in Great Knollys Street.
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