Associate feature: Leading the Way in Sustainable Transport

Stagecoach is one of Britain's leading public transport businesses, and we're committed to helping connect communities in a sustainable way. That's why we're on target for a zero emission UK bus fleet by 2035, and we've already made significant progress in Scotland.

In North Scotland, we've launched one of the UK's first ever fully-electric city bus network in Inverness. This service was made possible by a £10.8 million investment with support from the Scottish Government's Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). By the end of 2023, we expect to have a total investment of £40 million in new vehicles and infrastructure in North Scotland.

In East Scotland, we've invested £14 million in electric buses in the last two years, again with the support of ScotZEB. Even more vehicles are on the way too, with another eight electric buses to join the Perth and Glenrothes fleets in early 2024 at a cost of over £2m. This
development allowed us to launch the next two of three all-electric city networks in Scotland, with 33 electric buses now operating across Perth and Dunfermline.

In West Scotland, we've invested £22 million in electric buses, which are now operating on local and semi-rural routes across Ayrshire. This represents 23% of our local bus fleet, showing that it isn't just the big cities that can lead the way in ZEB deployments.

One of our flagship services in West Scotland is Service 1, which operates in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. This service was recently shortlisted for Environmental Innovation at
the UK Bus Awards, and it's easy to see why. Service 1 is the first fully electric fleet of rapid opportunity charge vehicles in Scotland, and it represents a remarkable leap forward in environmental consciousness.

In addition to investing in new electric buses, we're also investing in charging infrastructure. We've installed electric charging points at Stagecoach depots in Dunfermline, Perth, Ayr, Inverness, and Kilmarnock. And we've introduced Scotland's first 'pantograph' charging point at Kilmarnock Bus Station, East Ayrshire. This point provides on-route charging, which means that our electric buses can stay on the road for longer.

The Scottish Government is also playing a vital role in supporting the transition to electric buses. In 2022, the government announced a £62 million funding package as part of the first phase of ScotZEB. This funding is designed to encourage the market to agree and implement new and innovative ways to finance Zero Emission Buses as part of its target for a majority of diesel buses to have been switched to ZEB by 2023.

Stagecoach in Scotland: Future Plans
We're committed to continuing our investment in electric buses and charging infrastructure in Scotland. We believe that electric buses are the future of public transport, and we want to be at the forefront of this transition.

We're also working on a number of other initiatives to make our bus services more sustainable. For example, we're using renewable energy to power our depots and offices, and we're working with our partners to develop new and innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact including the removal of paper tickets for concessionary travellers.

We believe that everyone should have access to sustainable transport, and we're dedicated to making our bus services the best choice for people in Scotland.

Why Choose Stagecoach Buses?
There are many reasons to choose Stagecoach buses, including:
• We offer a wide range of services across Scotland, including local, regional, and national routes.
• Our buses are reliable, comfortable, and affordable.
• We're committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all of our passengers.
• We're leading the way in sustainable transport, with a growing fleet of electric buses. 

If you're looking for a sustainable and affordable way to travel in Scotland, choose Stagecoach buses. We'll get you where you need to go, safely and reliably.

This article is sponsored by Stagecoach Buses

www.stagecoachbus.com