Transdev Rolls Out £6.6m Electric Fleet on Bradford to Keighley Routes

Yorkshire is getting a fresh charge as Transdev Blazefield begins deploying a £6.6 million fleet of zero emission electric buses on two of its busiest corridors linking Bradford with Keighley. The move marks another sizeable step in West Yorkshire’s slow but determined shuffle towards cleaner urban transport.

Transdev Blazefield

£6.6m Investment Brings 15 eCitaros to West Yorkshire

A total of 15 electric Mercedes Benz eCitaro buses are heading to the region following a £4.5 million investment by Transdev Blazefield, supported by £3 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Government’s ZEBRA scheme. Though, I can assure you no livestock is involved, despite the acronym.

The new vehicles are fully compliant with Bradford’s Clean Air Zone, introduced in September 2022 as the first in Yorkshire. By switching to electric power on routes that see some of the heaviest traffic, the operator expects to make a further dent in urban air pollution.

First Buses Launch on Shuttle 662

The first three buses are already in service on the Shuttle 662 linking Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire and Bradford with journeys every 15 minutes. As more vehicles arrive, route 67 between Keighley, Cullingworth, Thornton and Bradford will follow suit and go fully electric.

Transdev Blazefield

Supporting the changeover, Transdev and WYCA have invested £1 million to re-equip the Keighley depot with modern charging and maintenance infrastructure, ensuring the new fleet has somewhere suitable to plug in overnight rather than competing for space with household extension leads.

The buses will carry The Keighley Bus Company’s green livery, neatly matching the environmental message they are meant to deliver.

Customer Focus and New Onboard Features

Transdev Blazefield Managing Director Henri Rohard said:

“We’re very pleased to be introducing this impressive new fleet of zero-emission, battery electric buses, which will deliver the best experience for our customers as well as helping to clear the air in Bradford, Bingley and Keighley.

“Our phased introduction of these new buses has been made possible thanks to significant support from the Government’s ZEBRA fund, and follows our successful introduction of 39 new electric buses on our popular route 36 linking Leeds with Harrogate and Ripon, and on our local Harrogate network.

“Transdev’s direct investment in the new buses for SHUTTLE and route 67 between Keighley and Bradford represents almost 60 per cent of their total cost. The new buses represent a considerable step up from the vehicles they replace, with many new design elements dramatically improving the customer experience.

“This specification has been devised with valued feedback from our customers to make travelling by bus comfortable, accessible and attractive. The new buses feature fast and free Wi-Fi and USB device charging, custom-designed seating in a part leather, part moquette design unique to us, and for the first time on these routes, hearing loops and two colour audio-visual information screens, one facing the wheelchair space, giving constantly updated journey information.

“Each bus also features extensive safety systems, including electronic assistance at the front and when turning, plus traffic sign monitoring and electronic tyre pressure reporting. Acceleration Skid Control also significantly cuts stopping distances in an emergency, by applying braking more quickly and precisely.

“Higer power output from today’s new generation batteries means each bus can go further between charge-ups, while delivering the reliable service rightly expected from us. We look forward to welcoming our existing and new customers to their new buses.”

WYCA Backs the Switch to Zero Emission Transport

The rollout forms part of a wider £24 million ZEBRA funding award secured by WYCA to support the region’s major bus operators in their transition to zero emission fleets.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of WYCA’s Transport Committee, said:

“It’s great to see further transport investment into Keighley from Transdev and from the Mayor of West Yorkshire.

“If we want to increase the number of people using buses, then we have to provide passengers with modern, clean buses which are attractive for them to ride on.

“These Keighley buses will be the newest and cleanest in the Bradford district, and they will help us work towards a greener and better connected West Yorkshire.”

Trials Inform Final Design

Before signing the order, Transdev ran trials with several all electric models on the Shuttle 662, gathering feedback from passengers. Those findings shaped the detailed specification now being delivered, proving once again that passengers do in fact notice what happens on board, particularly when it involves USB ports. 

Take a look around a Mercedes-Benz eCitaro demonstrator at the recent Euro Bus Expo in Belgium below, showing a different level of specification for other European cities.

Follows Summer Rollout of Hybrid Buses on Flyer

The announcement comes fresh off the back of Transdev Blazefield’s introduction this summer of 15 new Mercedes Benz Citaro hybrid buses on the popular FLYER network linking Leeds Bradford Airport with Bradford, Leeds, Otley and Harrogate.