London’s Transport Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy, Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive of West Midlands transport co-ordinator Centro, and key figures from Leeds and Sheffield, have thrown their support behind a new independent report which calls for reforms that would ensure a shift in power from Whitehall, enabling […]
Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, has announced £25m to provide hundreds of new minibuses to community transport operators in rural and isolated areas. The scheme is intended to support voluntary organisations who the Department claims provide vital services for people in rural communities with limited transport choices. The new fund means that organisations who already provide […]
Tower Transit, the UK based operation of Australia’s Transit Systems acquired Swavesey, Cambridgeshire based Whippet Coaches Ltd on 14th November for an undisclosed sum. Under the ‘goWhippet’ brand, the company operates a portfolio of services including participation in the Cambridgeshire Busway. Around 100 staff and 50 vehicles were included in the business transfer. Whippet Coaches […]
Lucketts Travel Group is introducing advanced training across the company. The business is putting in place Smith System training, which encourages safer and efficient driving with reduced emissions and smoother ride. The Hampshire firm is one of only two coach companies in the UK with its own driver training academy. Plans are in place to […]
Wrightbus has handed over a new StreetLite Max to FirstBus, the first vehicle of its type specified with a 5.1-litre Daimler Euro6 engine. The Daimler engine is now an additional option to the Cummins 4.5-litre power unit. Presented at Euro Bus Expo, it is liveried in a variation of First Potteries’ colours and is due […]
ManaBus.com, part of Stagecoach founder Sir Brian Souter’s Souter Investments empire, has launched a new express city to city coach service in New Zealand. With five express routes initially serving nine destinations in the North Island, the operation is offering tickets starting from $1 plus a $1 booking fee with no hidden costs. Destinations covered […]
Former owner of Whittle Coach and Bus, Ron Whittle, has become an IRU Honorary Member. The recognition is for his ‘extraordinary dedication and contribution to IRU activities and achievements for almost 40 years’. In April 1973, Ron first attended a meeting of Section I – known today as the IRU Passenger Transport Council. Within a […]
Stagecoach has invested over £2.4m in a fleet of eight Plaxton Elite-i coaches for its Coastrider X7 route. They are the first 13.8m examples to be built. Mounted on the Volvo B11R chassis with 10.8-litre, 460hp, Euro6 engines, they seat 63 passengers and have a revised lower deck entry area providing a raised ceiling height […]