The first of Merseyside’s fleet of new hydrogen powered buses will take to the roads from next week.
The City Region Combined Authority, which has purchased 20 of the buses, has confirmed that people will see the vehicles in action for the first time from next week, April 24. Driver training is set to take place on the region’s roads first with passengers able to use the buses in the coming weeks once testing is complete.
The state of the art vehicles follow the delivery of brand new class 777 trains which are now operating on a number of lines on the Merseyrail network. The city region is also working on its own ‘franchising model’ which would bring the region’s buses under the greatest level of public control since the 1980s.
READ MORE: Behind the scenes look at Merseyside’s new hydrogen buses
The brand new zero-emissions buses include increased capacity for wheelchair users and passengers with prams or buggies. Other additional features include wireless and USB phone charging, internet access and reading lights above seats.
The vehicles are also fitted with camera wing mirrors to improve safety, as well as audio and visual announcements for next stops, with high definition onboard screens to update passengers on journey progress, next stops and onward travel connections in real time.
The hydrogen powered buses will operate on what will become the region’s first ‘green route’ which is currently served by 10A services. This route is the busiest in the city region and runs from St Helens to Liverpool city centre, passing through areas such as Knotty Ash and Stoneycroft.
The green routes will be implemented through a combination of priority lanes, traffic signal upgrades, remodelled junctions and upgraded, accessible passenger facilities. The overall ambition is to one day work towards a ‘trackless tram’ style system for buses on these routes, something that would greatly prioritise bus travel and reduce journey times.
Community engagement on these proposals is expected to take place in the coming months with a view to then starting work as soon as possible. The arrival of the new buses has been welcomed by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
He said: “We are now just a matter of weeks away from some of the best buses anywhere in the country entering service here in the Liverpool City Region.
“I want to put the public back into public transport, starting with our new publicly owned hydrogen buses and £500m trains. Designed in consultation with our residents, they feature larger, more comfortable seats, more space for wheelchairs and prams, as well as audio visual announcements, WiFi and wireless phone charging.
“This is just a down payment on my wider ambitions for our bus network. We’ve already brought the cost of a single journey down to just £2 and have frozen the MyTicket at £2.20, giving young people unlimited, all-day travel across our area. Very soon we’ll be launching a public consultation on the future of our buses as we work towards reregulating our network, meaning that buses will be run in the interests of passengers.
“It’s a big part of my plan to build a London-style transport network that’s faster, cheaper, cleaner and better connected – and I can’t wait to see people on board our new buses very soon.”
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