New electric buses for Bronte Country
The above photograph appears by courtesy of Next Stop Communications and the
Keighley Bus Company
West Yorkshire bus operator the Keighley Bus Company has begun rolling out a £6.6 million new fleet of zero-emission electric buses on two routes linking Bradford with Keighley.
A total of 15 new electric eCitaro buses are on their way to the region following a £4.5 million total investment by the bus firm, with support worth £3 million secured by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) from the UK Government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
The new buses are fully compliant with Bradford's Clean Air Zone, after it became the first in Yorkshire to introduce the scheme in September 2022, covering all vehicles except private cars and motorcycles.
The switch to electric power on one of the region's most popular bus routes is expected to further improve air quality on some of Yorkshire's busiest urban roads.
An initial three new buses are now in service on SHUTTLE 662, with journeys up to every 15 minutes between Keighley, Bingley, Saltaire and Bradford.
As more of the electric fleet takes to the road in the coming weeks, the bus firm’s hourly route 67 between Keighley, Cullingworth, Thornton and Bradford will also switch to the new zero emission buses.
Parent firm Transdev has already re-equipped its depot in Keighley with a £1 million joint investment alongside WYCA to provide up-to-the-minute electric charging and maintenance services for its new zero emission fleet.
The new buses will wear the distinctive green livery of the Keighley Bus Company, reinforcing the operator’s environment-friendly message on West Yorkshire's roads.
Transdev's Managing Director Henri Rohard said: "We're very pleased to be introducing this impressive new fleet of zero-emission, battery electric buses, which will deliver the best experience for our customers as well as helping to clear the air in Bradford, Bingley and Keighley.
"Our phased introduction of these new buses has been made possible thanks to significant support from the Government’s ZEBRA fund, and follows our successful introduction of 39 new electric buses on our popular route 36 linking Leeds with Harrogate and Ripon, and on our local Harrogate network.
Transdev's direct investment in the new buses for SHUTTLE and route 67 between Keighley and Bradford represents almost 60 per cent of their total cost. The new buses represent a considerable step up from the vehicles they replace, with many new design elements dramatically improving the customer experience.
This specification has been devised with valued feedback from our customers to make travelling by bus comfortable, accessible and attractive. The new buses feature fast and free Wi-Fi and USB device charging, custom-designed seating in a part leather, part moquette design unique to us, and for the first time on these routes, hearing loops and two colour audio-visual information screens, one facing the wheelchair space, giving constantly updated journey information.
Each bus also features extensive safety systems, including electronic assistance at the front and when turning, plus traffic sign monitoring and electronic tyre pressure reporting. Acceleration Skid Control also significantly cuts stopping distances in an emergency, by applying braking more quickly and precisely.
Higher power output from today’s new generation batteries means each bus can go further between charge-ups, while delivering the reliable service rightly expected from us. We look forward to welcoming our existing and new customers to their new buses."
Today’s news follows West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s securing of a £24 million grant from the Government’s ZEBRA funding stream, to support the region’s three major bus firms – including Transdev – with their switch to zero emission technology.
Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, Cllr. Susan Hinchcliffe, said: "It’s great to see further transport investment into Keighley from Transdev and from the Mayor of West Yorkshire.
"If we want to increase the number of people using buses, then we have to provide passengers with modern, clean buses which are attractive for them to ride on.
"These Keighley buses will be the newest and cleanest in the Bradford district, and they will help us work towards a greener and better connected West Yorkshire."
Prior to placing its order for its eCitaro battery electric fleet, the bus operator conducted successful trials with various types of all-electric buses on the high-frequency SHUTTLE service between Keighley and Bradford. These trials included gathering feedback from customers on key design features, and this has been taken into account in the specification of the new buses now rolling out on the route.
This week’s rollout of the first of the Keighley Bus Company's new all-electric buses follows the successful introduction of 15 new Mercedes Benz Citaro hybrid buses to its popular FLYER branded network, linking Bradford, Leeds, Otley and Harrogate with Leeds Bradford Airport.
[News item based on material supplied by Next Stop Communications and the Keighley Bus Company posted by Eagle Intermedia November 2025.]
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