A growing number of operators whose businesses are built on full-sized coaches are buying minicoaches for their fleet, evidenced by new sales in this sector growing while coach sales are shrinking. The king of the road for minicoaches has, for some time, been Mercedes-Benz’ nimble Sprinter, mostly as van conversions, to create upwards of 16 […]
The government will fail to deliver on time the vehicle data system promised for Clean Air Zones in Birmingham and Leeds, and has also reneged on its promise to provide a CAZ payment system, burdening councils with the cost. Both Birmingham City Council and Leeds City Council say they had been on track to implement […]
Van Hool has collaborated with Dutch operator Koninklijke Beuk to design and produce a funeral coach. The vehicle has been developed on the basis of Van Hool’s EX11L and is designed to provide the deceased with a serene and intimate mode of transport on their final journey, accompanied by mourners. The tailor-made vehicle has the […]
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has launched his ten-year plan for the city’s transport network. In it, the Mayor recommends franchising as its preferred option for the bus network. The assessment will be considered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday 28 June. The GMCA will decide whether to proceed with the scheme […]
A lack of funding has meant coach hire app, Snap, has ceased operating. Its website states it has suspended the business. Speaking to Bus and Coach Buyer, the company’s CEO, Thomas Ableman, said: “Securing the funding needed has taken longer than required.” All outstanding bookings made through the app have been cancelled and customers have […]
Municipal bus operations could return to Scotland, according to a report in the Scotsman newspaper. This would remove a legislative stumbling block for Aberdeen Labour group’s plans to buy First’s Aberdeen operation (see B&CB 1534, 14 June 2019). MSPs have voted to lift a ban on creating municipally-owned bus services, proposing to amend the Scottish […]
Transdev has placed orders worth £3.5m for British-built buses. The operator has ordered 21 new buses from ADL and Wrightbus. The Yorkshire and Lancashire operator’s 2019 bus purchases include five Wright Streetdeck double-deckers featuring luxury interiors for the Cityzap express service between Leeds and York. There will also be 13 ADL Enviro200 MMC single-deckers for […]
Bus Users UK has published a ten-point plan to reduce the decline in rural bus services. ‘Rural buses: reversing the decline’ calls for reform of the Traffic Commissioners to have regard for the interests of bus users, modernisation of the role of the DVSA, for local authorities to take a more consumer-led approach to transport, […]