The past few months have seen growth in UK bus and coach registrations, reaching 623 units in November, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, ‘The bus and coach market has experienced a pleasing increase in the last four months, with registrations […]
John McFarlane is to replace Martin Gilbert as FirstGroup Chairman. John has joined the company’s board with immediate effect and will take on the new role from 1 January 2014, at which time Martin will retire from the board. John is Chairman of the insurance group Aviva Plc having joined the board in September 2011. […]
The news from EvoBus this week that CEO and MD, Jan Aichinger, has left the helm for, as yet undisclosed, pastures new means that Interim MD, Mike Beagrie will be the fifth to hold the position in eleven years with recruiting for a sixth already underway. The number of changes is actually one more than […]
For many, many years I have reported in these columns on the annual Conference of the Community Transport Association (CTA). Sometimes they have been very good, other times they have been very frustrating with lots of airy fairy idealism leaving one with a feeling of a lack of realism. This year’s Conference fell very much […]
Traditionally, it has mainly been in the small bus and community transport sectors that the provision of devices to help those passengers with mobility impairment to board has been focussed. To a very considerable degree that remains the case because of the more specialist needs of many of the passengers carried, particularly on specialist contracts, […]
After challenging times at the beginning of the recession, finances at the Wright Group are ‘on the up’ with turnover expected to rise to around £220m for the 2013/2014 financial year from the £157m achieved in 2011/2012. Complete vehicle sales will be up from 1,200 to 1,400 standard units, CKD deliveries up from 200 to […]
‘It’s around £7,000 cheaper to trim a coach in E-leather than traditional leather and you can’t tell the difference when it’s new,’ said Carl Watkins, Sales Manager for E-Leather, adding, ‘you can after 18 months because the E-Leather stays better for longer. E-Leather matures over time and loses its sheen, whereas leather gets shinier.’ The […]
I’ve been meeting up with Anthony Marett of Don’t Travel Empty from time to time over the past five years as he has worked to get his on-line coaching community project off the ground. Throughout that time I have been impressed with the commitment and belief he has shown. The idea of creating a system […]