REL Capital has bought a 100% shareholding of Rainham Coach Company. The investment business has also agreed a new £4m facility for further acquisitions. Rainham Coach Company has been established for over 25 years and operates a number of contracts alongside its private hire and tour work. It operates a modern fleet of Mercedes-Benz vehicles […]
A report has concluded that Glasgow should be the first Scottish city to enact bus franchising. Entitled ‘Miles better: Improving public transport in the Glasgow city region’, the report was published by Centre for Cities, an independent research organisation aiming to improving the economies of the UK’s largest cities and towns. It was released in […]
A disagreement has erupted between the owners of McGill’s Buses and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, over franchising. The owner of Scotland’s biggest private bus company has criticised the Mayor’s offer to advise the Scottish Government on bus privatisation. However, the Mayor’s office hit back by claiming there are benefits to franchising that […]
Views from operators and other organisations involved in zero-emissions coaches are being sought by the DfT. The government body’s call for evidence is aimed at supporting the development of a zero-emission coach and HGV infrastructure strategy for the UK, as well as to inform future decision-making about zero emission HGVs and coaches. It also sets […]
Bus and Coach Buyer’s Group Editor, Mark Williams, has been asked about the funding recently allotted to West Midlands’ bus network on BBC radio. On the Kath Stanczyszyn show on BBC Radio West Midlands this morning (23 October 2023), Mark was asked what impact the West Midlands buses’ £16m share of £50m funding diverted from […]
BYD’s Blade Battery technology – which broke cover at Busworld in Brussels – promises a new level of battery safety. The battery has passed a number of safety tests, including a puncture test which proved it would not ignite and even extreme overcharging and overheating tests which also amplified the Blade Battery’s safety. Many lithium-ion […]
Redirected funding from HS2 has been pledged for the Midlands and North of England bus networks. The regions are set to receive £150m over the next financial year. The funding is dedicated to levelling up bus services, with areas across the North and Midlands given extra support for services to become more frequent, more reliable, […]
Having secured an order for 70 buses from Stagecoach, SWITCH Mobility has restarted production of the Solo. The order consists of ten Metrocity 9.5m electric buses, which will operate on Route W11 in London and 60 Slimline Solo 8.5m, Euro VI buses sold under the Optare brand, presently integrated into Switch Mobility. The Solo buses will […]