Labour's Martin Gannon said the eco-buses were just the start of the reform of the North East's transport networkThe North East Combined Authority backed plans to see one in 10 buses in the region provide zero emissions by 2025.North East deputy mayor Martin Gannon said the two schemes were just the beginning of the plans the combined authority wished to put forward.
Funding for the zero-emission buses has been sourced from a previously announced £10.25m investment from the government's Levelling Up Fund and £7.4m from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme. The installation of the proposed electric vehicle charging points will be paid for with a grant from the Levelling Up Fund.
Conservative transport secretary Mark Harper announced a £143m second round of the ZEBRA initiative in March, promising almost 1,000 new zero-emission buses across the country.The Labour politician has promised to carry out stark reforms to the region's public transport. Her plans include the creation of an angel bus network, with the mayor proposing to take back control of bus fares, routes, and timetables from private operators through a franchising model.Primary school in need of more room finds new home