First Bus eliminates diesel refueling tank permanently at York’s depot

Diesel refuelling tank has been removed forever at First Bus depot in York. It means the bus depot now operates its fleet only using electric charging and becomes the first in Yorkshire to do so.  

First York now has a fleet of 86 zero emission buses. Also early generation e-buses repowered with new generation technologies are used. The removal of the fuel tank is the latest step in a £23m transformation of the depot achieved with a £13m investment by First Bus and government co-funding of £10.2m secured by City of York Council.

First York, diesel tank removed in York

First York has relied on diesel fuel for almost a century after it was established in 1932. The bus operator moved to its current James Street depot site over 30 years ago and installed the fuel tank. Weighing 10 tonnes and the size of a typical Portakabin, the tank held 44,000 litres of fuel which would last the depot seven days and so diesel deliveries were made twice a week to maintain levels, the operator explains.

Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First North & West Yorkshire, said: ““We’re making history with the removal of our diesel refuelling tank. This is now the first bus depot in Yorkshire to operate its fleet entirely using electric charging. We are leading a greener transport revolution in York and the wider region. This depot is at the forefront of First Bus’s strategy to have a zero emission fleet nationally by 2035″.