125 Ballymena-built Wrightbus electric buses to power Bee Network expansion in Greater Manchester

Another major order for electric buses has been placed with Ballymena manufacturer Wrightbus, strengthening the company’s growing role at the centre of the UK’s transition to cleaner public transport and securing further work for Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector.

Transport for Greater Manchester has confirmed an additional order for 125 electric buses for the Bee Network, with the fleet to be built by Wrightbus as the region pushes towards a fully electric bus network by 2030.

The latest deal builds on an earlier order for 55 electric double-decker buses placed in March and comes as another 76 Wrightbus vehicles are now arriving into service across Greater Manchester.

For Ballymena, the announcement marks another significant vote of confidence in one of Northern Ireland’s best-known manufacturers at a time when competition in the zero-emission transport market is intensifying globally.

Ballymena-built buses driving major UK transport overhaul

The new yellow Bee Network buses are currently making the journey across the Irish Sea from Belfast after rolling off Wrightbus production lines in Ballymena.

The latest order means hundreds of Wrightbus-built electric buses will soon be operating across Greater Manchester, forming a major part of the city-region’s plans to modernise public transport, improve air quality and reduce emissions.

Transport for Greater Manchester said the latest investment keeps the Bee Network on course to reach the halfway point towards a fully electric fleet later this year.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, described the expansion as another major step forward for the network.

He said:

“It is brilliant to see these new yellow electric buses come off the production line and onto the streets of Greater Manchester. There will be many more to come.

“Placing these orders for another 125 zero emission vehicles from Wrightbus puts the Bee Network on track to meet our target to have a fully electric fleet by 2030, bringing huge benefits for our passengers, air quality and fast-growing economy.”

Local MLA welcomes major boost for Ballymena manufacturing

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew said the contract represented an important boost not only for Wrightbus but for the wider manufacturing sector across Northern Ireland.

Mr Frew said:

“Today is a good day for manufacturing here in North Antrim, and for the wider manufacturing sector across Northern Ireland.

“I am delighted that Bee Network have announced a new contract with Wrightbus, announcing that a further 125 electric buses built here in Ballymena are now bound for Britain.

“Having recently met with senior management and employees of Wrightbus, I know just how important and positive this new contract will be for the business, and the local economy here in North Antrim.

“This is a good news story for Ballymena, and one that demonstrates the very best of what our local industries have to offer. I look forward to seeing Wrightbus go from strength to strength.”

The latest deal is expected to provide another significant pipeline of work for the Ballymena factory as demand for zero-emission buses continues to grow across the UK and Europe.

Routes becoming fully electric

Since the previous order was confirmed earlier this year, 76 new Wrightbus vehicles have already left the Ballymena factory and entered delivery.

Those buses travel by ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead before arriving at Go North West’s depot in Bolton.

Of the vehicles already delivered, 33 electric double-decker buses will operate on routes 8 and 10, serving Bolton, Farnworth, Pendlebury and Salford, making those services fully electric.

Another 43 specially modified V1, V2 and V4 buses have completed inspection in Ballymena and are expected to begin operating on the Leigh Guided Busway in the coming weeks.

The newest order of 125 buses includes:

• 25 additional vehicles for Stagecoach

• 16 electric single-decker buses

• Nine electric double-decker buses

• 100 further buses for Metroline

The Metroline vehicles will operate from the Hyde Road depot, which is currently being upgraded to support expanded electric charging infrastructure.

Major economic significance for Wrightbus and supply chain

The order represents another substantial commercial win for Wrightbus, which has undergone a dramatic turnaround in recent years and has increasingly positioned itself as one of the UK’s leading zero-emission bus manufacturers.

The company says every £1 generated by Wrightbus creates an additional £3 for the wider economy, while each direct job supports another three jobs throughout the supply chain.

That wider economic impact stretches far beyond Ballymena, supporting manufacturing, engineering and component suppliers across the UK.

Wrightbus Managing Director Christian Reynolds said the latest contract underlined confidence in UK manufacturing and domestic supply chains.

He said:

“This latest order for our battery-electric buses from TfGM builds on our existing fleet of vehicles in operation and reflects a strong commitment to UK manufacturing and the domestic supply chain.

“It demonstrates the competitiveness of both our product and our integrated supply ecosystem against international alternatives.

“For more than 80 years, Wrightbus has championed a UK-based supply chain. Thanks to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s highly successful franchising model, we are able to continue this proud tradition — enabling our supply chain partners to showcase their capabilities while supporting jobs, innovation and economic benefit across the UK.”

Cleaner transport network planned by 2030

Greater Manchester’s wider electrification programme is continuing at pace, with half of the region’s bus depots already converted for electric operations.

Ashton and Middleton are now fully electric depots, while Bolton, Oldham and Hyde Road have also been upgraded.

By the end of the decade, the Bee Network expects to operate a fully electric bus fleet, removing more than 76,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year alongside 280 tonnes of nitrogen oxide emissions.

Transport officials say that reduction is equivalent to the emissions linked to powering more than 9,000 homes or charging around nine billion smartphones annually.

Alongside Wrightbus, the Bee Network has also placed substantial orders with UK manufacturer Alexander Dennis, with almost 500 buses produced at Falkirk and Scarborough now operating across Greater Manchester.

For Ballymena and Wrightbus, however, the latest order further cements the town’s place at the forefront of the UK’s rapidly expanding electric transport industry — with locally built buses now becoming a defining feature of one of Britain’s biggest public transport transformations.