Stagecoach secures £4.5 million to deliver fully electric bus depots

Stagecoach South Scotland has secured more than £4.5 million in funding from the Scottish Government to support the full electrification of its bus operations in Arbroath and Ardrossan.

The funding, awarded through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund, will contribute to a wider investment of almost £18 million to transform both depots into fully electric operations by 2027.

A total of 44 new zero emission buses will be introduced, with 23 vehicles allocated to Arbroath in Angus and 21 to Ardrossan in Ayrshire. The project will also include the installation of charging infrastructure and the upskilling of local engineering and operations teams to support the transition to electric services.

The investment marks a significant step in Stagecoach’s commitment to reducing emissions and supporting Scotland’s wider climate ambitions, while continuing to provide reliable and sustainable public transport for local communities.

Fiona Doherty, Managing Director for Stagecoach South Scotland, said:

“The ScotZEB funding is welcome news as we continue our journey to decarbonise our bus services across the country. Arbroath and Ardrossan provide vital bus services in their communities and will now benefit from emission free bus travel.

“These plans highlight our continued investment in our people and in zero carbon public transport, bringing state-of-the-art vehicles and infrastructure to support our customers and colleagues.”

The Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund supports the rollout of zero emission buses and the infrastructure required to operate them, helping to cut emissions, improve air quality and contribute to a just transition to net zero.