Bus

Stephensons deploys TransMach across entire fleet

Stephensons of Essex has deployed TransMach’s TM500 fixed ETM on all of its 150 vehicles. Having selected TransMach’s TM500 machine for its local subsidiary NIBS Buses in 2023, Stephensons of Essex, which is now owned by an employee trust, has now installed the Android-based machines on its entire fleet. The ETM upgrade facilitates contactless travel […]

‘Battle of the Buses’ – Minister takes on cricketers to promote bus apprenticeships

Local transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, and professional cricketers went head to head in the ‘Battle of the Buses’ at North Weald Airfield. The event was aimed at promoting apprenticeships in bus driving. Arranged by First Bus, the time trial was designed to showcase the rigorous tests taken by learner bus drivers, emphasising the high skill […]

Hulleys of Baslow to cease trading

Derbyshire operator, Hulleys of Baslow, is due to cease trading tomorrow (Wednesday 26 March 2025). Earlier this month, Derbyshire County Council stripped the operator of seven of its supported bus services due to what the council described as ‘poor service’. The new operators for these routes are Ashbourne Community Transport (110/111), Andrew’s of Tideswell (172,173,178), […]

Derby passengers most satisfied – Transport Focus report

Bus passenger satisfaction in England has risen since last year, according to a Transport Focus survey. And Derby passengers are most satisfied, according to the passenger transport watchdog’s figures. The second Your Bus Journey survey reports 83% of respondents were satisfied with their journey. The results from the 2024 survey showed passenger satisfaction improved overall […]

First reveals electrified Somerset depot

First’s Weston-super-Mare depot has now been transformed to electric power. The West of England’s first electrified bus depot has been transformed with a £14.9m investment from First Bus and the government’s Zero Emissions Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) project via North Somerset Council. Three gantries, installed by Magnus Construction Group, have been installed to power the […]

Wake-up call: transport overhaul urged for better accessibility

A new Transport Committee report is calling for an overhaul of the regulatory system to better support disabled people’s access to transport services. One PCV industry body described the report as a wake-up call. The cross-party Committee’s report, entitled ‘Access denied: rights versus reality in disabled people’s access to transport’, also finds that progress with […]