Liverpool City Region awards Alexander Dennis £57m bus order, with options for up to 357 vehicles

Alexander Dennis announces it has secured a £57 million order from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for at least 207 low- and zero-emission buses, with deliveries scheduled for 2027.

The order comes ahead of the rollout of franchised bus services in the Liverpool City Region and includes diesel low-emission models alongside 30 battery-electric buses. According to Alexander Dennis, options included in the contract could increase the procurement to 357 vehicles and its value to £95 million.

Liverpool orders 207 Alexander Dennis buses

The firm order comprises 117 Enviro400 low-emission double-deckers, 60 Enviro200 low-emission single-deckers in two lengths and 30 zero-emission Enviro100EV buses.

Alexander Dennis states that all the vehicles will be fully built or completed in Britain and configured to the specifications of Liverpool City Region’s Metro bus network. Delivery is planned during 2027.

The 177 Enviro400 and Enviro200 low-emission buses will feature the manufacturer’s SmartPack technology, combining engine stop/start, e-cooling and auxiliary load management. Alexander Dennis claims the system can reduce emissions by between 18% and 24%. The manufacturer also states that these vehicles could subsequently be converted to battery-electric operation through its AD Repower service, that was recently brought in house.

Alexander Dennis fleet in Liverpool City Region approaches 400 buses

The new vehicles will join 109 low-emission Enviro200 buses delivered ahead of the first tranche of franchised services in St Helens and the Wirral, starting on 6 September 2026. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority had also previously procured 58 zero-emission Enviro400EV double-deckers from Alexander Dennis.

According to Alexander Dennis, the latest award takes the total number of buses ordered from the manufacturer for Liverpool City Region’s franchised fleet to around 400.

Production of the new vehicles is due to take place at Alexander Dennis factories in the North of England and Scotland.

In brief

• How many buses has Liverpool City Region ordered from Alexander Dennis?
  The firm order covers 207 buses and is worth £57 million.
• How many will be battery-electric?
  The order includes 30 zero-emission Enviro100EV buses.
• Could the order increase?
  Yes. Contract options could raise the total to 357 buses and the value to £95 million.
• When will the new buses be delivered?
  Alexander Dennis says deliveries are scheduled for 2027.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “We are completely renewing our fleet with ultra-modern, accessible buses that give our residents the premium, reliable experience they deserve. This is about building a fully integrated transport network that is fit for the future. We are creating a system that connects our communities seamlessly – making public transport the first choice for the 1.6 million people who call the Liverpool City Region home. From Autumn 2026, when St Helens and Wirral lead the transition into public control, we will finally have the power to design a network that puts passengers first. Combined with our new battery-powered trains, electric buses, and our brand-new Mersey Ferry, we are modernising every corner of our transport network to drive our region forward.”

Matthew Lawrence, Head of Franchising & Bids for Alexander Dennis, said: “We are delighted that the Liverpool City Region found our bids to be the most commercially advantageous in four of the six lots available in this latest procurement, taking the total number of buses the City Region has ordered from us for its franchised fleet to around 400. Work will soon begin to build these buses in our UK factories in the North of England and Scotland, showing how investment in bus franchising provides wider economic benefits for communities across the country. We are working closely with the social value team at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to demonstrate the value being brought to the local area through these orders.”