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Stagecoach recently announced that six new Volvo BZL electric buses will operate on the company’s JET747 service, which connects Fife with Edinburgh Airport. This airport is the busiest in Scotland and had about 15.7 million people use it in 2024. It is also one of the busiest in the United Kingdom.
Sarah Elliott, Commercial Director for Stagecoach East Scotland, answered some questions about the new buses and route for CleanTechnica.
How long is the JET747 route from Fife to Edinburgh Airport?
The JET747 runs between Halbeath Park & Ride in Fife and Edinburgh Airport via Inverkeithing rail station and Ferrytoll Park & Ride. The average journey takes around 40 minutes from Halbeath P&R and just 20 mins from Ferrytoll P&R, and the distance is 16 miles.
About how many people use it?
The service is popular with both airport passengers and staff, carrying 10k passengers every week during peak season.
Is Edinburgh Airport the largest in Scotland?
Yes. Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport, serving around 15 million passengers per year.
Are the six new Volvo BZL electric buses the only fully electric buses to serve this route?
They are the first fully electric buses to operate directly and frequently between Fife and Edinburgh Airport’s terminal doors. However, Ember operates an electric coach service to Edinburgh airport which halts at the Tram stop at Ingliston P&R, with customers connecting to the tram for the final section of the journey. A few Ember journeys run directly into the airport grounds when the trams are not in operation. It’s also worth noting that on occasion we will also use one of two fully electric double deck buses where the additional capacity is required, these also operate from the same local depot.
Why did you choose to go with fully electric buses?
Investing in a fully electric fleet is part of Stagecoach’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and deliver a cleaner, quieter and more comfortable service for our customers.
Where will the new electric buses be charged?
In the East of Scotland, the vehicles will be charged at our Dunfermline depot. The infrastructure at Dunfermline depot was installed in early 2023 and supports our operation of a fully electric city network within Dunfermline. Later this year we will also be adding opportunity charging infrastructure at Halbeath P&R – the start/end point of the route where the vehicle has suitable layover time.
About how many electric buses is Stagecoach operating in total?
Across Scotland, Stagecoach now operates more than 150 fully electric buses, with further vehicles on order as part of our transition to a zero-emissions fleet.
Is the Scottish government moving toward a zero-emissions transportation sector?
Yes. The Scottish government has set ambitious Net Zero targets, including a commitment to decarbonise Scotland’s bus sector, supported by initiatives such as the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Stagecoach is proud to work in partnership to help deliver this transition.
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