Torbay Stagecoach going all-electric with £7.4m boost

It's full steam ahead to make Torbay’s Stagecoach bus fleet 100 per cent electric.

Department for Transport funding of over £361,000 will provide further support for the delivery of the all-electric fleet.

The additional funds mean that over £7.4m is now available to deliver zero emission buses for the area. The Torbay buses will be the first all-electric fleet in the Peninsula Transport area that covers Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

Funding will come from the DfT’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas 2 scheme, which was created to assist local transport authorities and their local operators to make the transition to zero emission bus fleets.

Stagecoach’s Torquay depot will become their first fully electric depot in the South West of England. This is a landmark achievement, as the award means that Torbay will become one of the few areas in the UK to have an entirely zero emission bus fleet run by the council’s main operator. 

The transition to an all-electric fleet is made even more significant given that Stagecoach runs around 97 per cent of the local bus network.

The 55 buses are better designed and more comfortable for passengers. Over the course of the buses’ lifespans, they will result in carbon dioxide savings equal to taking an estimated 2,000 diesel cars off the road. Zero emission buses will provide additional improvements to the air quality across Torbay’s streets and towns. This will benefit pedestrians, cyclists and people who live close to Torbay’s main bus routes.

Delivery of the scheme is proposed as part of the Torbay Enhanced Partnership Plan, which is an agreement between Torbay Council and local bus operators to work together to improve local bus services. 

The Enhanced Partnership Plan has already been busy providing improvements to Torbay’s wider bus fleet, by delivering a newer fleet of buses for Torbay buses on the supported bus network. The Enhanced Partnership Plan can also confirm that 49 new electric buses have been ordered. The zero emission buses, from manufacturers Alexander Dennis and Yutong, will consist of a mix of single and double deck vehicles. The buses are due to arrive in winter this year. 

It is projected that by summer 2026, Stagecoach will have a 100 per cent zero-emission bus fleet locally.

Cllr Adam Billings, in charge of pride in place and parking for Torbay Council, said: “This is an excellent result for our residents. The new buses will be better to travel in and their lack of tailpipe emissions will contribute to improving air quality. This will particularly benefit our town centres as well as cyclists and pedestrians generally.

“Alongside the planned improvements to our bus services, the introduction of new routes, more frequent buses, better quality information and better quality bus stops, the new electric bus fleet will provide an improved public transport travel option while also reducing carbon emissions.”

Peter Knight, managing director at Stagecoach South West, said: “The additional funding means we can completely replace our entire fleet in Torbay and remove the diesel fuel tank from our Torquay depot, marking an important milestone on the road to net zero. 

“We're making lots of progress in the background, planning for the arrival of the all-electric fleet. This will help deliver our shared ambitions to reduce carbon emissions, deliver cleaner air and thriving bus services that support our region. 

“We look forward to welcoming the all-new fleet that will benefit the local community and bus users alike.”