Sheffield's New FREE Electric City Centre Buses (Sheffield Connect)

[SheffieldForum]

Sheffield Connect gets a relaunch

 

 

As the old saying goes, ‘You wait for one bus to arrive, then two turn up at once’. Well, Sheffield City Council can do better than that, with four electric buses set to begin service in the city centre free for passengers to use.

 

From Monday, 8 April, bus users in Sheffield will be able to enjoy their free journey around the city centre in the comfort of a brand new, zero-emission bus.

 

 

Sheffield Connect will be a completely free service for people to use seven days a week across the core of the city centre.

 

Stops will be located within just a few minutes’ walk of the main active areas and the service will link up to existing trams and trains. The service will run every seven to eight minutes – so passengers can turn up and go, making their journeys quicker, cleaner and for free.

 

 

The introduction of Sheffield’s first Zero Emission buses, which South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard is supporting, continues the City Council’s ambition of reducing carbon emissions across the area, helping to clean up the air we breathe and make Sheffield a nicer, cleaner place to live, work and play.

 

 

In addition to the new buses, a brand-new second route for Sheffield Connect is being launched to help people access even more of what the city centre offers. The new route will link The Moor to Castlegate and West Bar and run every 20 minutes.

 

 

 

[SheffieldForum]

 

 

Supporting quotes:

 

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said: 

 

“This is an important and exciting moment in the history of Sheffield, not only are we introducing the city’s first zero emissions buses to our streets, but a service that is completely free for people to use.

 

“Sheffield Connect will make getting around the city centre so easy, making the city centre more accessible for everyone and providing residents and visitors with a quick, easy and zero emission way to travel.”

 

“Sheffield Connect, along with the brand-new second service, is not only fantastic news for passengers and those looking to get around our amazing city centre, but it will also help to support the economy allowing people to shop, eat, drink and relax more easily.

 

“Sheffield is a city on the up and these brand-new electric buses prove that we are committed and fully focused on making it as easy as possible for people to experience everything the city centre has to offer. But this is just the start, we have other brilliant plans for our public transport network right across the city as we work to give Sheffielders the network they and the city deserves for decades to come.”

 

Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: 

 

“We’re delighted to see the very first fully electric buses arrive in South Yorkshire. They are just the first of many that will start operating in the region over the next few weeks, with the support of the Mayoral Combined Authority. Electric vehicles are critical to decarbonising our bus fleet, achieving our net zero ambitions, and improving air quality for South Yorkshire’s residents.”

[RollingJ]

As a point of interest, these buses may be 'free at the point of use', but they still have to be paid for somehow. The drivers still want paying, the electricity company still wants paying, as do the engineers who will maintain them...

[RollingJ]

Out of interest, are these being leased or were they outright purchases?

[SheffieldForum]

2 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

Out of interest, are these being leased or were they outright purchases?

I understand they are purchases, using central government grant funding.

[RollingJ]

2 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

I understand they are purchases, using central government grant funding.

Fair enough - I have discovered that since posting my original question.

[SheffieldForum]

10 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

As a point of interest, these buses may be 'free at the point of use', but they still have to be paid for somehow. The drivers still want paying, the electricity company still wants paying, as do the engineers who will maintain them...

 

5 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

I understand they are purchases, using central government grant funding.

I believe running costs for an initial period are also included in the grant funding (enabling them to be free to use).

 

So, quite a good effort so far in terms of relaunching it. Easy to see, easy to catch and free to use.

 

Just needs folks to 'get on board', so to speak.

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, SheffieldForum said:

 

I believe running costs for an initial period are also included in the grant funding (enabling them to be free to use).

 

So, quite a good effort so far in terms of relaunching it. Easy to see, easy to catch and free to use.

 

Just needs folks to 'get on board', so to speak.

I wonder how long that period is - presumably as you believe this to be the case, you can point me towards the information?

[SheffieldForum]

3 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

I wonder how long that period is - presumably as you believe this to be the case, you can point me towards the information?

Don't have the info to hand, but seem to remember 5 years being talked about for these new buses initially.

 

 

[RollingJ]

Just now, SheffieldForum said:

Don't have the info to hand, but seem to remember 5 years being talked about for these new buses initially.

 

 

Fair enough - but if you find anything out...

 

(I'll also have search if I get chance)