Four new electric buses boost greener travel on X66 route

The new buses form part of a £17 million joint investment from Go North East, the North East Combined Authority and the Department for Transport.

Thanks to the funding shot-in-the arm, Go North East has already introduced 25 new electric double decker buses to its fleet, including those operating on the Angel 21 Chester-le-Street to Gateshead route.

The latest electric vehicles will operate on the company’s X66 route between Gateshead and the Metrocentre, which carried more than 900,000 passengers last year.

Drivers, from left, Kieran Glennie, Steven Grahamslaw and Graeme Hanvey who will be at the wheel of new electric vehicles (Image: Go North East)

Ben Gilligan, Go North East Managing Director, said: “I’m really excited to say our X66 service is now fully electric.

“Our new buses will make a huge difference to our customers and communities in Gateshead.

“Our passengers onboard will enjoy smoother, more comfortable journeys on modern vehicles while communities benefit from quieter, zero emission buses on their streets.”

The new buses feature a range of accessibility upgrades, such as an additional wheelchair or pram space, audio-visual next-stop announcements, hearing loops and external sounders to alert pedestrians, helping to make bus travel more inclusive for everyone.

The single-decker vehicles, manufactured in the UK by Alexander Dennis, will connect Gateshead Interchange with the Metrocentre, one of the UK’s largest shopping centres.

In celebration of its new electric fleet, Go North East held a gig-themed launch at the Utilita Arena Newcastle, in January.

The event brought together schoolchildren, councillors, MPs, accessibility groups and Go North East colleagues, with keynote speeches from Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, and Simon Lightwood, the Roads and Buses Minister.