Bus Users UK has welcomed the recent pledge made by bus operators to have ticketless travel up and running across the UK by 2022. The country’s five main operators announced plans to implement this in January. The campaign group wants to see smart ticketing on all buses outside of London to be introduced as quickly […]
Bus and coach technicians have until 31 March to enter the IRTE Skills Challenge 2016. The annual event invites operators from the UK and Ireland to test the skills of their technicians and apprentices against each other in a series of mechanical, electrical and bodywork tasks. The competition, which involves theoretical and practical assessments, is […]
Two recent reports have highlighted the state of the bus market in England outside London. KPMG’s report for the DfT comments positively on investment and initiatives taken by operators and confirms that one size fits all is not a solution going forward. In the second report, the Campaign for Better Transport presents a concerning picture […]
NatEx ups funding for youngsters National Express Foundation has increased the amount of funding it provides by 50%. Since its launch in 2012, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds which has helped over 8,000 young people enjoy exciting and engaging activities and to continue with their education. This year it will be […]
Highways chiefs are planning to remove the white lines in the centre of the UK’s busiest roads, according to press reports. The idea behind it is to promote safety, with drivers having to concentrate more, subsequently slowing down. A test of this has been carried out on London’s Exhibition Road and similar schemes have been […]
A trial of mixed use bays for coach set down/pick up is ongoing in London. These have been introduced in three locations including Park Lane (southbound at Marble Arch), Vauxhall Bridge Road (south of Neathouse Place) and Commercial Street (southbound carriageway south of Brushfield Street). It involves reclassifying selected loading bays so they retain their […]
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has submitted a planning application to build a new bus station in Wigan town centre. Plans for the new site include a single, covered concourse building; improved waiting areas; cycle parking and enhanced access to and from the town centre. It would be built on the same site as the […]
A partnership between Longton Parish Council and Preston Bus has saved the operator’s service 12 after cuts by Lancashire County Council (LCC) meant it could no longer be supported. A new timetable and route has been formulated and agreed with the Parish council, meaning the ‘vital link’ between Longton, New Longton and Preston remains. The […]