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

Friday, 23 July 2021

ITV News

• 'On Demand' bus service trialled in Coventry meaning you can order a bus from your phoneA new On Demand bus service is being trialled in Coventry as part of plans to make the region's travel greener.
• First "Bee Bus Stop" on the South Coast installed in BrightonThe first "Bee Bus Stop" in the South of England has opened in Brighton, promising a safe place for pollinators to rest and refuel.

Financial Times

• High costs dog Tokyo's hydrogen busesEconomic realities threaten a bold experiment in green public transport

Derby Telegraph

• UK first as driverless buses take to city's streets with 300 passengersTHE UK's first driverless buses have been trialled on the roads of Cambridge with more than 300 passengers experiencing them first-hand.

Coach and Bus Week

• Government publishes ‘greenprint’ to decarbonise all domestic transport by 2050Transport decarbonisation plan promises cleaner air, healthier communities and tens of thousands of new green jobs
• New Director of Buses appointed at Transport for LondonLouise moves to TfL from Hull Trains, where she has been Managing Director since 2018 and is credited with achieving improvements in both performance and customer experience, while overseeing the introduction of a fleet of new, more environmentally friendly trains.
• Scottish Government announces £50m extra funding for busesThe Scottish Government has launched the first £50 million phase of a new Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). The fund replaces previous funding streams and is designed to encourage the market to agree and implement new and innovative ways to finance zero-emission buses. Building on the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme, ScotZEB is intended to support Scotland’s green recovery, providing immediate economic stimulus and supporting the Scottish Government’s ambitions to decarbonise the country’s bus fleet.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• National Express to invest £1m in marketing coach networkNational Express UK Coach will invest at least £1m in a summer marketing campaign under the strapline This is the Direction of Travel. The work forms part of the operator’s post-pandemic rebuild of its scheduled service network.
• Neil Gladstone named E-Mobility Manager by EvoBus (UK)Neil Gladstone has been named E-Mobility Manager by EvoBus (UK). The role will see him responsible for the launch and sale of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, which recently debuted in the UK.
• Latest Stertil Koni Earthlift majors on green credentialsStertil Koni has highlighted the environmental benefits of the latest version of its Earthlift heavy duty mobile column vehicle lift.
• Switch Mobility adds Dr Miranda Brawn to leadership teamSwitch Mobility has made a further appointment to its leadership team with the naming of Dr Miranda Brawn as Independent Non-Executive Director.
• First West of England celebrates Pride with progress flag liveryFirst West of England celebrated Pride this year with the launch of a new ‘Pride Bus’ sporting a livery decorated with the progress flag and the phrase ‘love wins’.
• Tom Broadfoot joins Reading Buses marketing teamTom Broadfoot (pictured) has been appointed as the newest member of Reading Buses’ marketing team.
• Coach industry marketing campaign set to move forwardsAn industry-funded nationwide marketing campaign to promote the coach sector to new and existing customers still looks set to go ahead despite the disappointment of it not having reached the initial £150,000 target for pledges of support.
• Christian Schreyer named Go-Ahead Group Chief ExecutiveGo-Ahead has named Christian Schreyer as Group Chief Executive. He will join on 1 November and succeed David Brown at the conclusion of the group’s Annual General Meeting on 5 November. Mr Brown will retire at the end of the year, supporting a smooth transition of responsibilities.
• Julian Peddle: ‘I fear the National Bus Strategy will end in tears’Further doubt has been cast on the deliverability of policies contained within the National Bus Strategy (NBS) for England, this time by Julian Peddle. Julian, who has been in the industry since 1972 and has interests in independent operators including Centrebus, delivered his thoughts on Bus Back Better in the third of four Young Bus Managers Network webinars in June.
• CoacHyfied hydrogen coach project: UK contribution clearThe EU-funded CoacHyfied project got underway earlier in 2021. As a five-year programme, its aim is to develop and demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell-electric power in the coach market for both regional and long-distance applications.