Sustainable transport service linking Chesterfield to the Peak District hailed as a major success

By Josh Marsh - 9 February 2023

A trial of sustainable transport links between Chesterfield’s PEAK Gateway development and the wider Peak District National Park has proven a major success.

A two-week trial launched at the Chatsworth Show and completed during the first week in September last year, was carried out by a group of industry partners working with Peak Gateway Properties. The trial has taken all parties a step closer to creating a zero emission, car-free, Gateway mobility offer.

The PEAK Express will offer visitors access to a hop-on, hop-off service, operated much like a ski pass. Based initially at the PEAK Gateway, a regenerative enterprise and visitor destination planned just outside of Chesterfield, the PEAK Express combines parking, accommodation and services with zero emission vehicles to explore the National Park. The PEAK Express will operate beyond the congested ‘honey spots’ thus opening access to more experiences and attractions without the need for car parking.

During the trial the EV and hydrogen buses were operated concurrently on the same route, at the same time, with the same loads. This is believed to be a world first. The buses were provided by trial partner Toyota Caetano and piloted to various locations across the park by Trent Barton including the Gateway site itself, Chatsworth House, Longshaw, the Hassop Station/Monsal Trail and Chesterfield Town Centre and train station. A mobile hydrogen refueller was provided by the world’s biggest hydrogen producer, Air Products.

One of the most interesting results from the trial was the regenerative effect created by the undulating roads of the National Park. For example, the hydrogen (FCEV) unit regenerated almost half of its fuel use through its braking system.

Here is a summary of the key findings from the trial period:

The trial assessed some of the benefits of car-free mobility within the UK’s original National Park and gathered data on the performance of both hydrogen and EV units operating in the rural setting.
40 people on a single EV or Hydrogen (FCEV) bus represents up to 40 cars potentially being removed from the National Park’s roads.
The trial considered refuelling, energy consumption, cost & customer experience and ride comfort and overall emission savings.
During the two-week trial two busses operated for an average of three hours a day, saving 1.185* tonnes of CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere – the equivalent weight of a Toyota Yaris or six polar bears.
72% of people who took part in the trial said they would use the paid for service.
1,244km was covered during the trial between the EV and hydrogen bus
The hydrogen bus used 589kWh of energy and generated 251kWh of energy through its braking system.
The CO₂saving per mile was 1.6kg, based on the trial data when comparing EV/FCEV to equivalent diesel buses.

Jon Hunt, alternative fuels manager at Toyota said; “The iconic, long undulating terrain of the Peaks means electric battery life can be optimised better than in stop start urban landscapes.

“Balancing the availability of charging points, timetabling, optimising journey times, availability of hydrogen and commercial requirements is likely to point to different zero carbon solutions in every national park for services like this.”

A second trial, engaging a broader national customer base, is being planned for summer 2023. The PEAK Express partners are currently considering a range of operators for the trial and the longer-term service.

Find out more about the PEAK development here.