Efforts to make it easier for people to choose greener ways of travelling to and from public transport hubs are working, according to a new DfT report. The ‘door to door action plan’ identifies the work being taken forward that will help make door-to-door journeys by public transport, cycling or walking the norm. As an […]
A new academic study reveals more people use the bus to get into our cities than any other form of transport, bringing billions of pounds into city centres. The study by the University of Leeds, commissioned by Greener Journeys, revealed 33% of city centre visitors made their most recent trip by bus, more than any […]
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 […]
Operators As ever there was a lot of movement in the operating world and sadly a number of respected names ceased trading or were bought out. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the sell off by First of all its London operation. That brought a new operator into the capital and the country, Australia’s Transit System […]
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 […]