Annual bus and coach display Showbus is to go ahead on its planned date of 26 September. Taking place at the Hertfordshire County Showground, changes have been made for the safety of visitors. While the gates will be open from 8.30am for entrants, only a limited number of pre-booked visitors will be able to access […]
Like many operators up and down the country, Ensignbus has had its share of staff absences due to ‘pings’ on the NHS Covid app. Over the period of the pandemic, the Purfleet-based operator and dealer has had a bitter-sweet experience. Surprisingly, its dealership side has been busy, according to its Chairman, Peter Newman. However, he […]
When you arrive at a depot and one of their engineers is hopeful you are coming for an interview to get behind the wheel of their buses, you know the driver shortage is being felt. Craig Temple, MD of Connexions Buses in Tockwith, near York, certainly is feeling the effects of the lack of drivers. […]
The Managing Director of Adventure Travel in South Wales has criticised the DVLA for significant delays in processing vocational driver licence applications and the ability to book bus driving tests, which has resulted in driver shortages and, on occasions, disrupted services. Adam Keen says trainees face waiting up to three months for provisional vocational licences, […]
Mellor has welcomed the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Jim McMahon, to its production facility today. As part of a campaign to ensure that Government is held to account on its promises around zero-emission bus funding, the Shadow Transport Secretary was invited to tour Mellor’s manufacturing facilities and experience its electric Orion-E bus. Labour’s […]
Regardless of whether you have ever faced a finger-wagging Traffic Commissioner, you should be wary of wholesale changes in the enforcement system. The government consultation currently running seeks to redefine the role of Traffic Commissioners, and it has to be said that the system is a little archaic in its concept. While there have been […]
Bus and coach operators plus other stakeholders are being encouraged to have their say as part of a review of the Traffic Commissioner function launched by the Government today [Wednesday 11 August]. The eight Traffic Commissioners have responsibility in their region or county for the licensing and regulation of those who operate heavy goods vehicles, […]
First South West has launched ‘Adventures by Bus’, a portfolio brand of leisure services. The brand incorporates a ‘family’ of First-operated services across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall; including Atlantic Coaster, Falmouth Coaster, Land’s End Coaster, Day Tripper, The Lizard, Dartmoor Explorer, Discover Exeter and the Exmoor Coaster. It is hoped visitors using the service will […]