Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has officially launched its first electric double deck buses at a special public event at Sneinton Market Square on Wednesday 14 October 2026.
The event gave passengers and the local community the opportunity to step aboard the new Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners and explore their features ahead of entering passenger service soon on Lilac Line 27 to Carlton.
The launch was attended by the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, whose £4.5 million investment through the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has supported the introduction of the new buses.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:
“I’m committed to improving the experience of public transport, which is why I’m investing £4.5 million in helping bring cleaner buses to Nottingham. The new electric double-decker buses will give passengers a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journey, with air conditioning, charging ports, and improved accessibility. These are the kind of everyday improvements that add up when you use public transport, so they are important to get right. By making buses cleaner, more comfortable, and more accessible, the bus will be a more attractive choice.”
A total of six zero emission Streetdeck Electroliner Gen 2.0 buses have been supplied by Wrightbus who are the only remaining UK-owned bus manufacturer and the largest zero-emission bus manufacturer in Europe, with more than 2,000 in service across the UK.
Passengers will benefit from improved features including full air conditioning, USB charging points, comfortable seating and enhanced accessibility, including two wheelchair bays. A lighter, natural looking internal wooden floor, which contrasts with hand poles and the seat design, also helps provide a clam, welcoming environment for neurodivergent passengers.
The Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner has a 442kWh zero-emission powertrain that has been intelligently engineered to maximise efficiency and power while saving space — the ideal configuration for a UK double deck bus. With a range of up to 275 miles and fast charging capability, the Electroliner easily fits into daily scheduling and operational demands.
Christian Reynolds, Managing Director at Wrightbus, said:
“As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we’re proud our buses are continuing to play such an important role in the future of public transport across the UK.
“This is an important milestone in Nottingham’s transition to zero-emission public transport, and we look forward to seeing these buses enter service and become a familiar sight on the city’s roads. They will help NCT deliver cleaner and more comfortable journeys for passengers while supporting the city’s wider ambitions for a more sustainable transport network.”
NCT worked closely with Altro and Camira Fabrics to ensure the design of the bus interior supported neurodivergent passengers as well there being key sustainability benefits from the flooring and seating.
The flooring was supplied to Wrightbus in the form of self-adhesive, pre-cut kits (as opposed to traditional rolls). Altro estimate that a total of 225.98 Kg of embodied CO2 was saved (equivalent to the volume of carbon emissions absorbed by 10.8 trees per year) in the assembly of these 6 vehicles.
The seat fabric, supplied by Camira Fabrics, is made from marine plastic waste, with each metre of fabric containing up to 35 plastic bottles. An estimated 14 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year and this material helps target pollution at its source, where plastic is already harming sea life.
The arrival of the StreetDeck Electroliners marks an important milestone in NCT’s plans to electrify its double deck fleet.
Energy partner VEV has already completed the infrastructure works at NCT’s Parliament Street Garage where the buses will be based and charged overnight. VEV already provide solutions that charge over 6,000 vehicles across 600 sites.
With further electric double decks due before Christmas, NCT’s zero-emission electric fleet will increase to 93 vehicles, with around one-third of the feel operating as fully electric.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director said,
“NCT is proud to launch our latest electric buses, funded in partnership with the East Midlands Combined Authority and Mayor Claire Ward. They represent a further step change in the specification of our modern fleet of buses, including full air-conditioning which is a first for our double-deck vehicles. I am confident our customers will love the improvements and encourage them to pop down to Sneinton Market Place to get an early glimpse before they go into service on Carlton Road.”
Electric double-deck buses previously served NCT’s Carlton Road route in the form of trolley buses for 33 years until 1965.
Further details about the NCT Electric Bus project can be found at www.nctx.co.uk/electricbus
Posted on 15 October 2026
