Work has begun at First Bus’s Great Yarmouth depot as part of preparations to introduce electric buses, marking the next stage in the expansion of zero-emission public transport across Norfolk, Transport and Energy reported.
The upgrade at the Caister Road depot forms part of a £13.8 million investment programme. First Bus is contributing £8.9 million, while the remaining funding is being provided through a grant from Norfolk County Council under its Bus Service Improvement Plan.
The investment will support the rollout of 10 electric buses, which will operate on Service 8 between James Paget University Hospital and Caister, passing through Great Yarmouth town centre.
The project also includes the installation of high-power charging equipment at the depot. Once completed, the upgrades will allow electric buses to operate reliably on local routes, offering quieter journeys, zero exhaust emissions and an improved experience for passengers and nearby communities. The electric buses are expected to enter service by the autumn.
As part of the same programme, work is due to start in the coming months at First Bus’s Vulcan Road depot in Norwich. That site will support 14 electric buses and builds on earlier upgrades at the company’s Roundtree Way depot in Norwich, where 70 electric buses began operating in 2024 following a £37.2 million investment.
The Norwich project was supported by £14.7 million in funding from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, secured in partnership with Norfolk County Council, alongside a £22.5 million investment from First Bus.
Once the Great Yarmouth depot upgrades are completed, the site will also join First Bus’s expanding First Charge network. This will allow the depot to provide high-power electric vehicle charging for other fleet operators, supporting wider efforts to cut transport emissions beyond bus services.
Simon Mathieson, managing director of First Bus East of England, said the earlier transformation of the Norwich depot demonstrated the impact of strong partnerships between local authorities and operators. He said the latest investment would extend the benefits of electric buses to Great Yarmouth and other parts of Norfolk.
Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, Graham Plant, said the project showed how the county’s Bus Service Improvement Plan is delivering visible improvements for passengers while helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality across the region.
