There was something of a spark in the air in south Bristol as the city’s first fully electrified bus depot officially opened at Hengrove. Flanked by dignitaries and the smell of fresh concrete, this newly upgraded depot marks a significant moment in Bristol’s journey towards a cleaner, quieter, less diesel-scented future.
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| First Bus |
It is not just a few charging points and some optimistic banners. Hengrove depot has undergone a full scale £44 million revamp, turning it into one of the most advanced electric bus hubs outside the M25. This includes five massive charging gantries stretching across a site roughly the size of four football pitches. These are not the sort of gantries you string Christmas lights from. These deliver serious voltage.
Who Paid for What and Why It Matters
Most of the cash came from First Bus, who stumped up £37.4 million. Another £6.6 million was drawn from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund, more fondly known in the industry as ZEBRA. The funding flowed through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and has allowed 74 new electric buses to join the city’s fleet.
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| Jon Craig Photography |
These vehicles will serve seven high frequency routes across Bristol and are expected to move more than 230,000 passengers every week. That is not just good news for bus enthusiasts and environmentalists. For operators, it means new rolling stock that is quieter, cleaner and cheaper to run long term. And for passengers, it means fewer rattles and more USB ports.
“Just weeks ago we were celebrating the opening of our first electrified depot and the arrival of our first electric buses, and now, today, we’re marking yet another major milestone.”
“The opening of our first electrified depot in Bristol is not only a key moment on our journey to a fully electric fleet by 2035, but also demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with a smoother, quieter and cleaner bus network in the West of England.”
“I’m proud of the pace our teams are working to bring this revolution in public transport to our region, and I’m looking forward to the next phase of electrification in Bath and at our other Bristol depot at Lawrence Hill.”
That was Rob Pymm, Acting Managing Director of First Bus West of England. His team is clearly moving quickly, having only just launched an electrified depot in Weston super Mare three months prior. There are now 33 percent electric buses operating out of Weston and 65 percent at Hengrove. By next summer, Hengrove will be fully electric. It is a pace of change that suggests the revolution is very much underway.
Routes Getting the Electric Treatment
The Hengrove depot’s new electric fleet will be used on the following routes:
- Route 8 – Temple Meads to Clifton via the city centre
- Route 24 – Southmead Hospital to Ashton Gate
- Route 70 – Hengrove to UWE Frenchay via the city centre
- Route 72 – Temple Meads to UWE Frenchay
- Route 73 – Whitchurch to Bradley Stoke via Temple Meads
- Route 75 – Hengrove to Cribbs Causeway via the city centre
- Route 76 – Hengrove to Henbury via the city centre
These routes are among the busiest in the city. They serve major employment, education and shopping destinations, which means the shift to electric should be highly visible to the public. That matters. Transport decarbonisation is not just about carbon. It is about credibility.
Politicians Join the Party
The ribbon cutting was not short of suits. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood turned up with soundbites at the ready.
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| First Bus |
Helen Godwin, the newly elected Mayor of the West of England, made it her first major transport event since taking office. Both were keen to underscore the importance of cleaner public transport and hinted at more powers and funding coming soon.
“I promised to work with government to get our region moving. The first of over 250 brand new comfy electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best for the West.”
“£29 million secured from government and £120 million from First Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston super Mare. This landmark investment in our wider area will also see a fully electric fleet at Hengrove by next summer and will soon turbo charge the depots in Bath and Lawrence Hill too.”
“These new zero emission buses are a total game changer for bus passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every seat. I was glad to welcome the Minister to our region to see them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus services in our region including through the new powers promised by the Bus Services Bill.”
“We are bringing cleaner, quieter and smoother bus journeys to Bristol and beyond backed by £38 million in government funding and even more from private investment.”
“Better buses help deliver our Plan for Change: creating green jobs, boosting the local economy and building a more sustainable future.”
“With our upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can expect more reliable services, stronger local control and protection for vital routes.”
The Infrastructure Bit
Industry professionals will appreciate just how technically demanding depot electrification can be. It requires high voltage grid upgrades, resilient on site distribution, and power management that avoids everyone plugging in at once and blacking out the depot. Add to that the need for workforce retraining, new parts supply chains, and full lifecycle emissions tracking, and this is no small task. This is not a one-off. It is a serious operational shift.
What’s Next?
Following Hengrove and Weston, attention turns to Lawrence Hill and the Weston Island depot in Bath. A further £90 million is being invested to bring 160 more electric buses into service across the West of England. If timelines hold, the region could become one of the most electrified outside London by the end of 2026.
Final Thoughts
The transition to electric buses is often portrayed as inevitable. It is not. It requires commitment, capital and a bit of courage. With Hengrove now fully online and humming quietly along, Bristol has taken a meaningful step forward. Whether it is a model for others or a unique case of good timing and willing partners remains to be seen. But for now, passengers on routes 8 to 76 can sit back, plug in their phones and enjoy the ride, in silence.
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