Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 28 May 2021

BBC News

• Greater Manchester bus network plans 'agreed after irrational consultation'Two bus operators are challenging the franchising proposal in a judicial review at the High Court.

Financial Times

• FirstGroup survives rebellion as investors back US bus saleLargest shareholders said £3.3bn disposal to private equity undervalued business

London Evening Standard

• FirstGroup offloads US businesses despite shareholder rebellionJust 61.3% of investors voted in favour of the deal with 38.7% – thought to be FirstGroup’s two biggest shareholders – voting against.

Cambridge News

• Driverless shuttle buses take to Cambridge’s roads in 'ground-breaking' trialThe first autonomous shuttles will take to the roads from today (May 27), as part of ground-breaking trials in Cambridge.

Coach and Bus Week

• Large electric bus order in Turin for BYDBYD has secured one of its largest orders for e-buses in Italy and the largest e-bus order in Turin with confirmation of a further 50 of its 12-metre low-floor eBuses for operator GTT (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti) in the northern Italian city.
• Transdev explores new hydrogen tech to reduce emissionsIn efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Transdev, operator of Howick and Eastern Buses in Auckland and Mana Newlands Coach Services in Wellington, has committed to trial a new hydrogen fuel technology in its existing diesel bus fleet. Greg Pollock, Chief Officer and Managing Director of Transdev New Zealand, said trials would soon commence using the new HYDI Hydrogen fuel system which has been designed to fit a standard diesel bus, and works by adding hydrogen gas to a diesel engine.
• Oxford Bus Company helps provide mobile Covid-19 testing service in NorfolkA scheme supported by Oxford Bus Company called Project MOVE is helping to test Norfolk residents for Covid-19
• Payzone secures contract with National ExpressPayzone has signed a long-term contract with National Express to provide coach ticketing services to customers in Payzone’s stores across the UK.
• Cardiff Bus and Newport Bus collaborate to provide mobile app upgradeSouth Wales operators Cardiff Bus and Newport Bus have announced an upgrade of their mobile ticketing system from Monday 17 May. The upgrade will allow customers on route 30, which is run jointly by both operators between Cardiff and Newport, to use their mobile app ticket on both providers’ vehicles. Previously, valid tickets were not recorded electronically, and the operators say that this will help them to better understand what journeys that are being made and when they are being made, to ensure the service offers the best possible journey opportunities for customers.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• DfT invites operators in England to National Bus Strategy Q&AThe Department for Transport (DfT) has invited operators of local bus services in England to attend an online question and answer (Q&A) session examining the National Bus Strategy, including Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). It will be held on Wednesday 2 June at 1300hrs.
• Case for use of all forward-facing coach seats published by CPTThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has published a risk-based case for the use of every forward-facing seat on coaches in England.
• Go-Ahead Group CEO David Brown to retireGo-Ahead Group CEO David Brown intends to retire at the end of this year after 10 years in the role, the company has today announced.
• Yellow Coaches partners with Golden Tours in BournemouthYellow Coaches, part of Bournemouth-based Yellow Buses, has partnered with established London operator Golden Tours to operate a new open-top sightseeing tour in and around the south coast resort. It will launch on Saturday 29 May.
• Manchester bus franchising procurement process moves closerThe Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is expected later this week to agree to commence the procurement process for the introduction of bus franchising in the conurbation, with an eye to having the first such routes underway during January 2023.
• Driver Compliance Risk Score software launched by TruTacTruTac – part of the Microlise Group – has launched a new software feature for its TruControl package called Driver Compliance Risk Score. It simplifies how operators monitor and manage the potential risk that drivers may pose to compliance levels.
• Jennifer McGill appointed Volvo Bus Sales Manager North and ScotlandJennifer McGill has been appointed by Volvo Bus to the position of Regional Account Manager for the North of England and Scotland.

Other News Sources

• Two new half-hourly bus services to launch in Hereford TWO new bus services will be launching in Hereford next week, with the hope of more people ditching cars.