UK Infrastructure Bank, Rock Rail and Aviva launch £100m funding platform to support ‘Rock Road’ in accelerating the UK’s transition to a zero emission bus network

Rock Road offers a finance solution for UK bus operators and public transport authorities to decarbonise their fleet, while minimising capital outlay and outsourcing key ownership risks around residual value and battery replacement. The partnership is establishing a scalable funding model to accelerate fleet decarbonisation, crowd in further private capital and in turn, reduce the reliance on public money to fuel the transition. 

The partnership has already signed its first deal to fund 60 battery-electric buses that will be leased to The Go-Ahead Group and deployed on routes throughout London, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality across the capital. 

The Rock Road platform, owned by Rock Rail and Aviva, brings together organisations with extensive experience and a strong alignment of investment principles. Rock Rail builds upon experience in the rail sector to deploy a proven funding model that attracts long-term institutional capital and is well-placed to support the introduction of bus franchising. Aviva’s participation is essential to the development of Rock Road in the near term and the mobilisation of further private capital in the future. 

The UK Infrastructure Bank highlighted zero emission buses as a key investment sector for net zero in its recent strategic update. The Bank is providing £50m debt financing to the platform in line with its twin mission to tackle climate change and boost regional growth. HSBC UK is also providing debt finance which will further support the development of the Rock Road partnership. 
 

John Flint, CEO of UK Infrastructure Bank, said:  

"The vast majority of the UK's 36,500 buses are still diesel powered and so replacing these with a cleaner, greener alternative will be key in decarbonising the transport sector and achieving UK net zero targets. This will require a massive scale up of investment. 

“The Bank’s financing has been crucial in helping to bring the innovative Rock Road leasing platform to the market, which will reduce cost for operators and help improve the uptake of zero emission buses across the UK.”