Double decker hydrogen buses to take big step forward in Liverpool

A new project which is seeking to bring 20 hydrogen powered double decker buses to the streets of the Liverpool City Region will take an important step forward with the project business case and funding set to be approved at an upcoming Combined Authority (CA) meeting on 19 March.

The zero emissions vehicles, which will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells, will be directly funded by the Combined Authority and, like the new trains for the Merseyrail network, will be owned by the people of the Liverpool City Region.

The project – which the Combined Authority says is set to secure a funding boost of up to £12.5m from the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF)  – is a key part of the Metro Mayor’s ‘Vision for Bus’, which commits to using the powers available through devolution to build a better, more reliable and affordable bus network for the Liverpool City Region.

The announcement also follows the publication this week of the UK Government’s National Bus Strategy.

Plans for the hydrogen bus project also include the building of refuelling facilities, which the authority claims will be the first of their kind in the North West. Construction on the new hydrogen refuelling facilities is planned to begin later in the year.

With the Metro Mayor having set a target for the Liverpool City Region to become net zero carbon by 2040, hydrogen buses will join the existing fleet in the city region which is already more than 70 per cent low emissions, via the use of cleaner engines, hybrid and electric power and biomethane gas.

It is anticipated that the buses will initially serve the 10A route between St Helens and Liverpool city centre – the City Region’s busiest bus route, operated jointly by Arriva and Stagecoach.

“In the Liverpool City Region we are already leaders in green technology and the low-carbon economy and this project, which if approved, will bring 20 brand new hydrogen-powered buses to our streets is another very exciting step forward,” said Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.

“The new state-of-the-art vehicles will help our city region tackle poor air quality and achieve our ambition of being net zero carbon by 2040. And, like the new trains for Merseyrail network, they’ll be owned by the people of the Liverpool City Region and can be built to serve their needs.

“It’s another example of how we’re using the power of devolution to make things greener and cleaner and improve our transport system to make it more reliable, attractive and affordable for everyone who lives and works here.”