Devon operator, Carmel Coaches Ltd, has taken over Nailsea based North Somerset Coaches. The acquired company’s bus service work was passed onto Abus of Bristol on 11 November 2013. Carmel has taken on the remaining coach side, which consists of two vehicles and two staff operating from the existing base at Nailsea. Carolyn Alderton, daughter […]
First Scotland East has announced a replacement for MD, Paul Thomas, who has left to take up a new position elsewhere in the bus industry. Paul McGowan, who was Regional Project Director for First Bus in Scotland working closely with First Scotland East, has now taken over as the company’s new MD. McGowan is based […]
There were 7,708 buses and coaches registered in 2013, down 4.9% on the year before, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Despite this, December saw the fifth consecutive month of growth, with registrations totalling 647, a 55.9% rise on the same month in 2012. Mike Hawes, SMMT […]
BYD ambitions After the main launch event, I joined Isbrand Ho and his team at an informal press briefing at which he revealed more about BYD’s plans and took questions. The company is among the world’s largest manufacturers of rechargeable batteries, with 170,000 employees. Apart from buses, BYD produces taxis and fork lift trucks and […]
Anniversaries It was a great year for anniversaries. Sheffield, Northampton, Rotherham and trentbarton, or rather their predecessors, all celebrated a century of operation; Dudleys Coaches celebrated 75 years; Perryman’s, Parry’s and Courtney Coaches celebrated 40, the Mobility Roadshow and Distinctive Systems 30, Anderson Coaches and London Hire 25; Scania and Irizar 20 together and megabus.com […]
Jim Collins From the transport authority to the operator, the next speaker was Jim Collins, Fleet Manager for Go-Ahead. He said the company operates 4,500 buses a day, with an increasing focus on running in dense urban areas. He mentioned that the company is very aware of its social responsibility in the communities and environments […]
Involved Quantum is Q’Straint’s second product release this year, having previously launched a new range of retractors for wheelchair restraint systems in response to the growing weight of wheelchairs. The QRT 550E and QRT 350E are designed and tested to handle loads of up to 200kg and 150kg respectively. The new 5 Series systems are […]
Group Chief Executive of Translink, Catherine Mason, is to leave her post in March 2014 to take up a position in NATS, providers of Air Traffic Management (ATM) services. Catherine said, ‘It is with mixed emotions I am making this move; firstly genuine sadness, I have enjoyed my time in Translink and Northern Ireland. I also […]