Coach & Bus Live 2015 Introduction

Wednesday 30 September, 9.30am-5.00pm

Thursday 1 October, 9.30am-4.00pm

It will be the big launches that grab the headlines at Coach & Bus Live and they provide plenty to entice operators to make the trip to the National Exhibition Centre, but there is much more to the event than this.

It may be the smaller and shorter of Diversified’s two bus and coach industry shows but it will nevertheless bring together over 200 exhibitors in halls 17, 18 and 19 and give you the chance to find new suppliers and products that can help keep your business profitable.

The headline acts this year are numerous, with ADL’s new London-Look Enviro400H City sure to be one of the main attractions in the bus field along with the first Volvo B5LH featuring the latest Wrightbus Gemini 3 styling.

Optare will have both Provincial and London versions of the MetroDecker on display and will it be the start of something big for Cannon with its Eurocoach bodied Softline Variant incorporating DAF parts.

Arriva can be sure of a packed stand throughout with no less than three model debutantes, including the new Van Hool EX, the long awaited Temsa MD9 midicoach and the Temsa HD12 large coach.

The new Van Hool EX

The new Van Hool EX

The new Van Hool EX - interior

The new Van Hool EX – interior

The associated Moseley companies’ new relationship with Beulas was one of the stories of last year’s Euro Bus Expo and the fruits of that relationship will be seen in a Mythos bodied MAN, as will alliances to offer the Van Hool TX (in the shape of a TDX21 Altano), Indcar (Next/Atego) and Sitcar (Voyager/New Daily) as well as the long established VDL tie up that delivers the Futura FHD2 and the Synergy.

Making its first UK show appearance with deliveries already in the 20s is the Sunsundegui SC5 bodied Volvo B8R. It is also the first UK show for a right hand drive Barbi Galileo MAN after the unheralded appearance of a left hand drive example on the BASE stand last year, with the MobiPeople range certain to draw interest as it has been one of the surprise packages of the last year.

Barbi’s Galileo will make its right hand drive show debut on the BASE stand

Barbi’s Galileo will make its right hand drive show debut on the BASE stand

Irizar’s 13.2m long tri-axle superhigh i6 integral is spearheading the Spanish manufacturer’s presence in what promises to be a big year for the organisation.

The new look King Long operation will have the 9m Dynasty XMQ6900 among its line up, and Pelican Engineering will be well represented with examples of the TC9 and TC12, the latter now with DAF power.

Mercedes-Benz have approached the show a different way, sponsoring a Skills Test as well as displaying a variety of members of the Tourismo and Sprinter ranges.

EVM’s X-Clusive eight seat Sprinter

EVM’s X-Clusive eight seat Sprinter

Smaller vehicles are very much in evidence with the dedicated, Rescroft supported, Accessibility Zone providing a focus, though there will be other options to see on the individual stands of Connaught PSV, Unvi Bus & Coach and Minis to Midis among others.

There isn’t space to go into what all the many parts and services suppliers are offering but look through the following pages and you’ll get a very clear idea in our Stand by Stand Guide. Use it to help plan your visit and get the most out of it.

Backing up the exhibits is a MasterClass programme that is well worth participation, if you can tear yourself away from the exhibits.

Am I the only person in the industry who wishes the show went on longer? Somehow there are never enough hours in which to look at everything and talk to all the people I want before four o’clock comes round on the second day. One piece of advice I can pass on from years of experience is not to forget the outside exhibits, I managed to miss them entirely one year; so it’s a good job the rest of the editorial team are better organised. Late news from Moseley that came in after we completed the stand by stand guide is that their outside display will include a 96-seat VDL Synergy for Barnes Travel and one of a pair of 12m Scania Van Hools for Empress of London.

Bus & Coach Buyer will be present throughout. Come and see us on stand K22 where members of the team will be delighted to see you. Better still, why not leave your business card to be entered in a free draw for an Esprit Windscreen Systems Elite Dual Voltage kit worth £595 together with free training. Over the page is the show layout and we’ve specially highlighted our stand, so there’s no excuse for not finding us.

And in another Show Special, we’ve teamed up with Pride & Joy for next week’s Photo Friday competition for which we are looking for the best Show Selfies. We’ve two of the latest Result Softshell jackets (available in a choice of eight colours) for the winner.

Whether you run buses, coaches or minibuses, you won’t get a better chance this year to see so much of what is available on the UK market at one go, be it complete vehicles or products to help you operate them, so make the most of the opportunity, and make your way to Birmingham next week.

We’ll be there throughout and we look forward to meeting up with you.

Stuart Jones and the Bus & Coach Buyer team.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting to the NEC

By Car
The NEC is 8 miles east of Birmingham City Centre, and at the heart of the UK motorway network. The postcode is
B40 1NT.
With 16,500 spaces available, just follow signage to the relevant car park area. Once parked you can either take a free shuttle bus or walk to the halls. Parking is £12 per day.

By Train
The NEC is right next to Birmingham International rail station. The NEC entrance is on the right hand side as you exit the station, and clearly signposted.
Many services run direct to Birmingham International or you can catch a connecting train at Birmingham New Street. The journey only takes 10-15 minutes. For further information call National Rail enquiries on 08457 484950 or visit the website.

By Bus & Coach
Coach services are operated by National Express and megabus to Birmingham Airport. From here you can get to the NEC on the free air-rail link. National Express.
Regular local buses depart from Birmingham City Centre.
Local bus services also run every 30 mins throughout the day to Solihull (service 966) and Coventry (service 900). Network West Midlands.

By Plane
The NEC is just minutes away from Birmingham Airport (BHX). From the airport, simply take the free Air-Rail Link to Birmingham International railway station and then it’s just a short walk to the entrance.

 

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