Islanders may have a longer wait for electric buses than Jersey
GUERNSEY bus users look set to have to wait before any electric buses are added to the local schedule.
The Mellor Sigma 8 was trialled on Guernsey roads in August, and CT Plus director Kevin Hart said at the time that the vehicle was best-suited to the island’s roads. This followed a similar trial in Jersey in July.
Both Jersey’s Liberty Bus and Guernsey’s CT Plus are owned by company Tower Transit, and last week it was confirmed that two of the electric buses would be joining the Jersey fleet later this year.
In Guernsey the buses are owned by the States.
Traffic & Highway Services lead officer Colin Le Page said work was under way on getting new buses for Guernsey.
‘We are currently undertaking an expressions of interest exercise to potentially replace up to eight vehicles as part of phase 3 of the bus fleet replacement programme,’ he said.
‘However, we recognise that this is one of the matters under consideration as part of the Funding & Investment Plan.’
He said that while the States was in the middle of the procurement process, further comment would not be appropriate.
CT Plus Guernsey operation manager Kevin Jackman said it was pleased to be involved in testing electric buses.
‘We have shared our view with Traffic that electric buses would work well for Guernsey, and could be used as replacements, where needed, for the current fleet.’
