Free electric bus trial begins today
A free electric bus service has been launched today (Monday) for passengers travelling to and from Slough town centre.
The silvery blue bus will complete an hourly circuit along the A4 Bath Road between Mercian Way, Cippenham, and the Uxbridge Road roundabout.
The single decker bus will run Monday through Saturday and is a zero emissions vehicle on the route number 4a.
The council has partnered with Thames Valley Buses and BYD UK, an electric bus manufacturing specialist based in Iver, to provide this additional, sustainable way to travel in Slough.
The service will use the A4 Bath Road experimental bus and cycle lanes along part of the route during the 13 week trial funded by the council.
The first bus of the day leaves Slough Bus Station at 7.55am and from Mercian Way at 8.22am.
The last bus of the day leaves Slough Bus Station at 5.55pm and from Mercian Way at 6.22pm.
The bus offers residents a fast, reliable and an environmental friendly bus service to and from central Slough whilst also reducing congestion.
The vehicle is fully electric ensuring no fossil fuel emissions and lower carbon emissions than a traditional bus service, contributing to cleaner air and reduced noise along the route.
On board, the bus has comfortable modern seating, tables, air conditioning and USB ports for phone charging.
Masks will need to be worn on the service unless there is a reasonable excuse not to be wearing one as part of the measures to mitigate the coronavirus.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for sustainable transport and environmental services, said: “We hope by funding the service people will hop on and off this bus for the duration of the trial for no cost and we will see if this is a service is viable for the future.
“It is an additional service which will help with capacity and help people socially distance. It will be free, fast and environmentally friendly.”
“This is the first electric bus to use the town’s bus lanes.”
Robert Williams, chief executive officer of Thames Valley Buses, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Slough Borough Council with this fantastic initiative. Using a fully electric bus means there will be zero emissions as the bus runs along its route.
“It’s always been an aim of Thames Valley Buses and our sister company Reading Buses, to be part of the solution in helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
“During lockdown we all saw, and breathed in, the benefits of fewer cars on the road and we believe initiatives like this will only help to convince more people to reduce their car usage.
“Another major benefit is customers will be able to try the route for free until December and we hope they will provide feedback by scanning the QR on the leaflets on the bus and filling in an online survey.”
Frank Thorpe, managing director of the electric bus manufacturer BYD UK, said: “We are pleased to be part of a sustainable transport travel solution in Slough which can now be used by members of the public.”
The experimental bus and cycle lane was introduced to help residents socially distance during the ongoing pandemic alongside making road space available for active and sustainable travel.
The silvery blue bus will complete an hourly circuit along the A4 Bath Road between Mercian Way, Cippenham, and the Uxbridge Road roundabout.
The single decker bus will run Monday through Saturday and is a zero emissions vehicle on the route number 4a.
The council has partnered with Thames Valley Buses and BYD UK, an electric bus manufacturing specialist based in Iver, to provide this additional, sustainable way to travel in Slough.
The service will use the A4 Bath Road experimental bus and cycle lanes along part of the route during the 13 week trial funded by the council.
The first bus of the day leaves Slough Bus Station at 7.55am and from Mercian Way at 8.22am.
The last bus of the day leaves Slough Bus Station at 5.55pm and from Mercian Way at 6.22pm.
The bus offers residents a fast, reliable and an environmental friendly bus service to and from central Slough whilst also reducing congestion.
The vehicle is fully electric ensuring no fossil fuel emissions and lower carbon emissions than a traditional bus service, contributing to cleaner air and reduced noise along the route.
On board, the bus has comfortable modern seating, tables, air conditioning and USB ports for phone charging.
Masks will need to be worn on the service unless there is a reasonable excuse not to be wearing one as part of the measures to mitigate the coronavirus.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for sustainable transport and environmental services, said: “We hope by funding the service people will hop on and off this bus for the duration of the trial for no cost and we will see if this is a service is viable for the future.
“It is an additional service which will help with capacity and help people socially distance. It will be free, fast and environmentally friendly.”
“This is the first electric bus to use the town’s bus lanes.”
Robert Williams, chief executive officer of Thames Valley Buses, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Slough Borough Council with this fantastic initiative. Using a fully electric bus means there will be zero emissions as the bus runs along its route.
“It’s always been an aim of Thames Valley Buses and our sister company Reading Buses, to be part of the solution in helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
“During lockdown we all saw, and breathed in, the benefits of fewer cars on the road and we believe initiatives like this will only help to convince more people to reduce their car usage.
“Another major benefit is customers will be able to try the route for free until December and we hope they will provide feedback by scanning the QR on the leaflets on the bus and filling in an online survey.”
Frank Thorpe, managing director of the electric bus manufacturer BYD UK, said: “We are pleased to be part of a sustainable transport travel solution in Slough which can now be used by members of the public.”
The experimental bus and cycle lane was introduced to help residents socially distance during the ongoing pandemic alongside making road space available for active and sustainable travel.
