A new Government supported Transport Knowledge Hub has been launched. The free online tool equips Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), local authorities and other local decision makers with the tools and expertise to make ‘cost effective, impactful decisions’ for local transport. Funded jointly by Greener Journeys and the DfT, it has been designed to offer best […]
Rotala Plc has signed a deal with Arriva Plc to take on the majority of Arriva’s Wednesfield operation, including contracts with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). It is to take over the operation from 23 April 2017. Under the deal, Rotala’s West Midlands subsidiary Diamond Bus Ltd will take on nine vehicles together with the […]
Arriva has launched a new minibus service in Kent called ArrivaClick. The on demand service takes multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them into a shared vehicle. EVM converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter based minibuses from London Hire are used to run it. The operator created the specification with the hire company, which provided […]
After visiting the VCS85 event, I took the opportunity to sample the BYD double deckers that Metroline are running on TfL route 98 from Holborn to Willesden. It’s a route of three parts; the whole length of the West End shopping experience on Oxford Street; Edgware Road, amajor arterial route and suburban streets from Kilburn […]
Transport Focus presented the results of their Autumn 2016 Bus Passenger Survey (BPS) at a briefing hosted by Merseytravel in Liverpool. David Cole was there for Bus and Coach Buyer. As Huw Edwards prompted at this year’s CPT Dinner, the industry needs to shout more about its achievements and the high level of customer satisfaction […]
Edwards Coaches is opening a new multi-million pound depot in Avonmouth following it being awarded a ten year National Express contract to run services in the south west of England. The operator is seeking to recruit 100 drivers as well as five engineers, five supervisors, five customer service personnel and five administrative staff for the […]
Two new traffic commissioners have been appointed by Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling. Colonel Tim Blackmore OBE and Simon Evans will be traffic commissioners for the North East and the North West respectively and will take up their new roles from May 2017. Tim will fill the post vacated by Kevin Rooney, who took over the […]
Blackpool Transport Services Ltd, the council owned municipal bus operation, has teamed up with Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) in a unique deal that could change the way that operators purchase vehicles in the future. I first heard about this collaboration when Richard Matthews, Sales Director, Retail Bus at ADL, introduced me to James Carney, Finance […]