Ballymena-built Wrightbus fleet hits Liverpool roads in £150m transport investment

The first Wrightbus ultra low-emission buses are hitting the streets of Liverpool as part of a £150 million investment in a new 560-strong fleet.

Ballymena-built buses are beginning to arrive on the streets of Liverpool as part of a major £150 million investment in a new public transport fleet.

Many of the 560 new ultra low-emission buses being introduced across the Liverpool City Region have been manufactured by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland, providing another significant order for the Ballymena manufacturer and supporting skilled jobs at its local factory.

The first vehicles have now arrived as the region prepares for a major overhaul of its bus network, with services returning to public control for the first time in more than 40 years.

Major order supports Ballymena manufacturing

Finished in Liverpool City Region’s distinctive yellow, black and grey Metro livery, the Wrightbus vehicles form part of a programme to replace and modernise the region’s bus fleet.

More than 100 publicly owned electric buses are already operating in the region, with the new vehicles forming part of a planned 560-strong fleet.

Christian Reynolds, Managing Director of Wrightbus, said the investment demonstrated the wider economic impact of choosing buses manufactured in the UK.

“We’re proud to play our part in the transformation of bus services across the Liverpool City Region, delivering ultra low-emission vehicles designed and built here in the UK.

“This investment demonstrates the value of backing British manufacturing. By choosing UK-built buses, the Liverpool City Region is not only investing in better public transport but also supporting over 2,000 highly skilled manufacturing jobs at Wrightbus, and thousands more across the UK supply chain.

“We look forward to seeing these buses become a familiar sight on the region’s roads as the network enters an exciting new chapter, offering passengers a cleaner, more comfortable and more accessible way to travel.”

Cleaner buses designed for future conversion

The new buses have been built to the latest Euro 6 emissions standards and are expected to produce around 20% less carbon emissions while reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 80% compared with many of the older vehicles currently operating across the Liverpool City Region.

They have also been designed so they can eventually be converted to battery-electric operation as charging infrastructure and electricity grid capacity expand.

Liverpool City Region has set an ambition of operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.

Passengers will see changes inside the vehicles too, with air conditioning, USB charging points, improved seating and additional space for wheelchairs and prams.

Audio-visual passenger information systems have also been included to improve accessibility.

Liverpool prepares to take buses back under public control

The arrival of the vehicles comes as Liverpool City Region begins one of the biggest changes to its public transport system in decades.

The first franchised services are beginning in St Helens and Wirral, starting the process of bringing the bus network back under public control.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“The arrival of these state-of-the-art, low-emission vehicles marks a massive milestone on our countdown to taking back control of our bus network. We are completely renewing our fleet with ultra-modern, accessible buses that give our residents the premium, reliable experience they deserve.

“This is about building a fully integrated transport network that is fit for the future. We are creating a system that connects our communities seamlessly – making public transport the first choice for the 1.6 million people who call the Liverpool City Region home.

“Starting now, when St Helens and Wirral lead the transition into public control, we will finally have the power to design a network that puts passengers first. Combined with our new battery-powered trains, electric buses, and our brand-new Mersey Ferry, we are modernising every corner of our transport network to drive our region forward.”

For Ballymena, the arrival of the new fleet provides another visible example of buses manufactured in the town being deployed on major transport networks across the UK.

Wrightbus is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year and says it has now supplied more than 3,000 zero-emission buses to customers in the UK and internationally.

The latest Liverpool order adds to that manufacturing pipeline, with hundreds of new buses ultimately set to enter service as the city region renews its network.