First electrifies in Somerset

At the depot to launch the start of works to electrify Taunton services were (from left): Simon Goff, First South Managing Director; Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council; Gary Weaver, First South Engineering Director, Linda Snelling, Somerset Bus Partnership; Pete McNaughton, Buses of Somerset Operations Manager, and; Peter Travis, Somerset Bus Partnership. FIRST BUS

First Bus has begun its project to electrify services in and around Taunton

First’s Buses of Somerset division has begun work to electrify its Taunton and Minehead depots, ready to operate 26 brand new electric buses from spring 2025. The works will create electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as upgrading the bus depots in Taunton and Minehead.

The £14.7m project to bring electric buses to Somerset will be delivered in partnership with Somerset Council and once complete will enable a mixed fleet of 26 double- and single-deck electric buses to run across Buses of Somerset’s routes. Working together, an investment of £2.2m was secured for Somerset Council from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme, alongside capital investment of £12.5m from First Bus. The buses will operate on routes around Taunton, Minehead, Bridgwater and Wellington as well as Taunton town services.

In support of the Taunton and Minehead projects, representatives from Somerset Council including Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead member for Transport and Waste Services, and Somerset Bus Partnership visited Taunton depot to mark the start of works. The group were able to meet the depot team and see plans for the transformation of the depot.

First Bus South Managing Director Simon Goff said: “Today is an important milestone as work starts to transform Taunton and Minehead depots into electric ready bases for our new EVs. We look forward to getting these state-of- the-art new buses on the road for customers by spring 2025. The 26 zero-emissions buses are fantastic news for passengers, bringing cleaner, greener vehicles to our routes, helping to improve air quality, and making bus travel even more sustainable. What’s more, the transformation of these depots will also bring smart new facilities for our staff at Taunton and Minehead.”

Councillor Wilkins added: “This is an important moment in our journey to bring electric buses to Somerset. The partnership with First Bus South has enabled us to take huge steps in the right direction to support the switch to sustainable methods of travel. We have a vision to transform bus services in our towns and working together, we are able to achieve that. I look forward to seeing the development of the Taunton and Minehead sites, and the arrival of electric buses next year.”