First South West has agreed to sell its operations in South Devon to Stagecoach. On completion of the sale, expected to conclude by 6 September 2015, the Plymouth bus depot, outstations at Tavistock and Dartmouth and 253 staff will transfer to Stagecoach. First will continue to operate services up to and including 5 September. The […]
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne’s Summer Budget 2015 is one that ‘puts security first’. It comes at a time of growth for the economy, which rose 3% in 2014. A 2.4% increase was forecast in 2015 (0.1% lower than predicted in March). Salient points in the document included a cut in the deficit at […]
Overall trading for FirstGroup is in line with management expectations, according to the company’s latest figures for the first quarter of its 2015/16 financial year. During the period covered, like-for-like revenue in the operator’s UK Bus business increased by 1.4%, with commercial passenger revenue continuing to grow at more than 2%, partially offset by a […]
Early last year we put the Plaxton Leopard bodied Volvo B8R demonstrator through its paces (B&CB issue 1266, 7 March 2014) and with the exception of a few body issues that appear to have been overcome on subsequent vehicles were impressed with what we found, particularly the smoothness and quietness compared with the B9R. With […]
Volvo is completely convinced that Electromobility is the future for bus operation and has been keeping members of the press fully informed of developments with the latest stage of its moves in this direction. Last week these took a major step forward with the entry into service of three fully electric buses alongside seven plug-in […]
A new report produced in conjunction with think tank The International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK) and charity Age-UK claims that our public transport system is ‘failing the oldest and most vulnerable in society.’ ‘The Future of Transport in an Ageing Society’ highlights the travel problems faced by millions of older people. It has been […]
FirstBus has launched its new employee ‘Excellence Awards’ nationwide. This follows the success of its annual internal award event in its operations in north England. Events planned in July in Stirling, Leeds and Reading. The awards are designed to reward and recognise teams and colleagues who ‘live the company’s values’ and go the extra mile. […]
Despite the extra cleaning their presence entails, Gary Ridler, MD of Ridler’s Coaches, rather likes the swallows that dart in and out of his two depots at this time every year, though he is slightly concerned that the cat will one day catch up with a pair of doves nesting in the eaves of the […]