Sustainable transport: Buses

Your go-to destination for expert guidance, insights and updates on sustainable transport — with a focus on the evolving bus industry.

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At Burges Salmon, we believe that sustainable transport isn’t just a policy goal — it’s a shared responsibility and a powerful opportunity for transformation.

As the UK moves towards Net Zero, the bus sector is central to this journey, evolving to meet the demands of cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport.

This hub is your gateway to our insights, expertise, and latest thinking in the bus industry. Whether you’re a local authority, operator, financier, or innovator, we offer pragmatic, forward-thinking legal advice to help you navigate complexity and unlock opportunities.

With over three decades of transport experience, we understand the legal, commercial, and operational challenges you face — and how to help you overcome them. From electric and hydrogen bus procurement to charging infrastructure, battery storage, and funding models, our multidisciplinary team is here to guide you through every stage of your project.

Our approach is collaborative, strategic, and grounded in a deep understanding of the sector. We don’t just advise — we work with you to deliver real-world solutions that drive progress.

Ready to take the next step in your sustainable transport journey? Get in touch with our team or sign-up to our mailing list for the latest updates.

Insights

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Our bus expertise

Financing

  • Rock Road: Secured an initial round of funding for over 250 electric buses in London, involving set up of an innovative funding structure, backed by Aviva, HSBC and National Wealth Fund. Read more
  • FirstGroup: Strategic partnership with Hitachi, creating a new joint venture established to finance the acquisition of up to 1,000 electric bus batteries to be leased back to FirstGroup for use in its electric bus fleets. Awarded Innovation of the Year – Europe, IJGlobal 2023 Awards. Read more
  • Amber Infrastructure: Joint venture with Rock on the purchase and leasing of buses procured by Abellio for Route 111 in London. Read more
  • Rock Road: Advised on acquisition of 60 battery-electric buses to be leased to the Go-Ahead Group, plus a further deal to fund 30 battery-electric buses to be leased to RATP.

Operators

  • First Bus: Installation of EV charging infrastructure at Caledonia depot and advising on innovative pilot project allowing third party EV fleets to use its charging infrastructure.
  • Major UK infrastructure project: Purchase of up to 150 hydrogen buses, 20 EV buses and associated leasing and operating agreements.
  • First Hampshire & Dorset Ltd: Sale of Southampton Bus Depot to Go-Ahead. Alongside acted for First on purchase of the News Centre, Portsmouth to be used as new bus depot.
  • First Bus: Trialling, procurement and implementation of technologies for ticketing, accessibility, safety and automation.

Mergers and acquisitions

  • FirstGroup: Acquisition of RATP London from French transport group RATP Dévelopement SA, for an enterprise value of £90 million. RATP London is one of the principal bus operators in London, comprising a fleet of around 1,000 buses, a third of which are fully electric, ten depots across Central and West London and employing c. 3,700 people. Read more
  • FirstGroup Energy: First venture investment into its electrification partner KleanDrive. The £1 million investment accelerates KleanDrive’s ambition of converting existing diesel and petrol vehicles into electric vehicles. Read more

Regulatory

  • TfW: Advised on bus access conditions and licenses for new bus Interchange with Stagecoach including advising on the rights to be granted to TfW as the ultimate infrastructure owner in relation to the development project.
  • Devolved transport authority: Prepared template bus station access conditions and access agreement. Also advised on funding issues relating to public service contracts under EU Regulation 2007/ 1370.
  • Operators: Bus reform provisions in emerging/pending legislation on accessibility, net zero, and franchising.
  • First Bus: Advised on the Supreme Court case of Paulley clarifying operator obligations on accessible wheelchair spaces on buses.
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Key contacts

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Latest news

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