Bradford’s transition to a zero‑emission, fully electric bus fleet will now be delivered 18 months earlier than originally planned, after the local council secured £8 million in government funding.
The new finance package from the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Transport (DfT) will be matched by a further £6.2 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), bringing total investment in Bradford’s electric bus transformation to £14.2 million.
Also, the First Bus depot, from which franchised buses in Bradford will operate from October 2028, will also receive essential infrastructure upgrades.
These include electrical infrastructure, construction and commissioning of a dedicated substation, deployment of high-capacity cabling, the installation of advanced chargers and smart charging technology.
This will mean the first electric buses on key routes in the district will operate from spring 2027.
The Keighley area is already running 15 electric buses operating on routes between Keighley and Bradford, representing about 12% of the 125 strong fleet.
Bradford’s district bus fleet will then transition in-line with the start of the bus franchising scheme to a total of 116 Weaver branded electric buses under the control of the WYCA.
Leader of Bradford Council Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: “We are making a switch to zero-emission buses with the early adoption of the infrastructure needed to support them.
“Cleaner, better buses are vital for the future of Bradford, and this project demonstrates our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.”
