Surrey now home to UK’s largest hydrogen bus fleet
Surrey County Council has completed its £16 million investment in 34 new hydrogen fuel cell buses, expanding Metrobus’s zero-emission fleet to 54 vehicles – now the largest of its kind in the UK.
Built in Northern Ireland by Wrightbus, the new additions include 11 double-deckers now operating in north Surrey, joining the 23 single-deck buses introduced last autumn on Metrobus’s Fastway and Redhill-area services.
Metrobus, which runs routes across Surrey and into neighbouring areas of Sussex, said the hydrogen buses allow for “more time on the road” thanks to rapid refuelling and long range.
The single-deckers are capable of running up to 600 miles between refuels, which take less than 10 minutes.
Routes in service
The single-deck hydrogen buses are currently operating on:
- Fastway 100: Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Salfords – Horley – Gatwick Airport – Crawley
- Routes 430 & 435: Merstham – Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Woodhatch – Reigate
The double-decker buses now serve:
- Routes 420, 460 & 480: Epsom – Preston – Tadworth – Banstead – Sutton – Lower Kingswood – Reigate – Redhill – East Surrey Hospital – Salfords – Horley A23 – Gatwick Airport – Crawley
The full fleet is operated out of Metrobus’s Crawley depot, where hydrogen refuelling infrastructure has been installed to support daily operations. The vehicles are powered by the latest Ballard fuel cell systems, using around 6.2kg of hydrogen per 100km.
Green hydrogen and local air quality
Surrey County Council confirmed the buses are running on green hydrogen, with zero tailpipe emissions – part of its wider efforts to reduce local pollution and improve public transport across the region.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said the council was “proud” of its investment and the benefits it would bring to residents.
“It is great to be partnered with likeminded Metrobus who are also committed to providing sustainable travel options,” said Furniss. “Over half of the buses we have significantly invested in now make up the largest hydrogen bus fleet in the UK.”
The council said nearly 27 million bus journeys were made in Surrey last year, supported by a series of investment programmes including the Surrey LINK card, which provides discounted travel to over 14,500 residents aged 20 and under.
Metrobus Managing Director Ed Wills added: “These buses are an excellent example of what can be achieved through partnership working. Together, we put sustainability and the transport needs of local people first.”
