Mayor of West of England Combined Authority, Dan Norris, has said he would like to set up a passenger transport executive (PTE) in his region. The Mayor announced this in a response to a campaign group’s letter imploring Mr Norris to introduce bus franchising in the West of England. He noted in the response that […]

Local authorities planning to franchise their region’s buses will ‘undoubtedly increase in coming months’, according to legal firm Freeths. The company is tracking developments in the ever-changing bus franchising scene. “It is notable that procurement processes embarked upon on or after 28 October will be undertaken within an entirely new procurement regime” –  Freeths An […]

Stagecoach has been awarded the Gold award from the Armed Forces Covenant. The accolade is for the operator’s commitment to the armed forces community as part of The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. The operator is one of the largest employers of ex-forces personnel within the UK, with over 2,000 veterans and reservists currently employed. The […]

Bedfordshire-based Grant Palmer is to roll out improvements to its Hi bus service. Effective from 1 September 2024, the Hi service will operate up to every 30 minutes, with the addition of new direct journeys between Luton and Houghton Regis. The improvement enhances connectivity between Houghton Regis North, Dunstable, and Luton. The service will run […]

Archway Travel is entering bus services for the first time with the help of Asset Alliance Group. The Fleetwood-based operator is taking advantage of Asset Alliance Group’s rental offer to add nine new 8.9m Alexander Dennis Enviro200s to its growing fleet. The new additions are supplied on five-year rental agreements and are being used on […]

Stagecoach East has seen a 15.5% patronage increase so far in 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. It has carried 15,426,183 passengers in this latest period. The figure is part of a series of improvements across Stagecoach East’s network, which covers Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. In the year to date, it completed 98.89% of […]

Entrepreneur Andy Scott’s investment firm REL Capital has acquired Klarners Coaches and Tendring Travel. Colchester-based Klarners Coaches operates a number of Euro VI Mercedes-Benz and Irizar coaches for both its own tours and third-party operators, as well as providing private hire and rail work. Managing Director, Graham Klarner, will be retiring after a handover period […]

First Bus has officially become a Period Positive Workplace, supplying free period products to its colleagues. The milestone is part of the operator’s push to improve gender equality across its business. The initiative is also part of a wider strategy to attract more women than ever before to First Bus, as it aims to diversify […]