MAYOR Steve Rotheram announced a “major expansion” of the electric bus fleet across the Liverpool City Region.

50 brand new electric double-deckers are to be purchased as part of a £26m commitment approved at September’s Combined Authority meeting.

The new vehicles are in addition to 58 fully electric buses for the region announced in March. This will bring the total number of fully electric buses secured for the city region’s publicly owned fleet to more than 100.

Mayor Rotheram was joined by Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP, as he made the announcement at the unveiling of the new livery for the city region’s buses.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Today is a landmark moment in our mission to build a London-style, green transport system that works for the people of our city region. With an additional 100 fully electric buses ordered in just the past few months, we’re showing the rest of the country what a climate action strategy looks like in practice, cleaning up our air with fewer emissions.  

“This is about more than just reducing emissions – it’s about creating a bus network that puts passengers first, making travel cheaper, greener, and more reliable for the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on it every day. By bringing buses back under public control, we’re ensuring decisions are made locally – and putting the public firmly back at the heart of public transport.”

The buses’ design and colour scheme, as well as its Metro branding, mirror the city region’s £500m fleet of new trains.

The new livery will be introduced across the network over the coming years as plans to deliver an integrated London-style transport system for the city region move forward.

Mayor Rotheram last year took the landmark decision to franchise bus services in the Liverpool City Region after a major public consultation revealed around 70% support for the plans.

With franchised services set to begin in St Helens in 2026 and introduced across the region by the end of 2027, the new system will allow greater local control of fares, timetables and routes.

Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “This is a fantastic example of local leaders racing ahead to deliver better services for their communities.

 “Liverpool City Region deserves a reliable, iconic and green bus network – and Mayor Rotheram is delivering on that vision through his plans for public control.

 “This Government is committed to supporting local leaders across the country to deliver on their transport priorities and breaking down barriers to delivering better buses.”

Funding for the new electric vehicles is to be drawn from CRSTS (City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement), a pot of £710m set aside for major transport projects in the region.