Boris Johnson – I will transform bus services
Prime minister Boris Johnson declared his love for buses during a speech in Manchester and pledged to support delivery of ‘London style bus system’ Prime minister Boris Johnson declared local bus services to be among his government’s domestic priorities in a speech in Manchester last month. Johnson told an audience at the city’s...
Wrightbus reviews its options for the future
Company appoints Deloitte to advise on investment options Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus has appointed financial advisors Deloitte to find potential investors. It is understood that this could also ultimately lead to a sale. A number of turnaround funds have been approached to canvas their interest in ploughing tens of millions of pounds into...
Go-Ahead to spend £3m on Manchester operation
Group sets out priorities for Go North West David Cutts, left. David Brown, right Go-Ahead has announced plans to invest £3m in its recently acquired bus operation in Greater Manchester. Formally launching the new Go North West operation at a special stakeholder event this week, group chief executive David Brown committed to the...
Virgin brands UK rail market ‘uninvestable’
Group explores open access opportunities in Spanish rail market Virgin is expected to hand back the keys to the West Coast franchise next year Virgin Group says it intends to explore opportunities outside the UK following the collapse of its bid to operate the West Coast Partnership franchise with Stagecoach and SNCF. It...
FirstGroup coup fails, but chairman departs
Shareholders decline Coast Capital’s proposals, but Wolfhart Hauser leaves the group following ‘a very clear shot across the bows of the board’ Wolfhart Hauser FirstGroup avoided an overhaul of its current board of directors after shareholders this week voted against proposals put forward by activist investor Coast Capital. All of the resolutions put...
Summit offers a glimpse of the future
Scania’s futuristic NXT concept was on show at the Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm this week, where public transport was hailed as ‘the art of the future’ Scania’s NXT More than 15,000 public transport professionals from around the world were offered a glimpse of the future in Stockholm this month. Exhibiting on...
First Bus for sale, but group faces showdown
Activist investor Coast Capital will attempt to unseat FirstGroup’s board at meeting in London later this month, as group plots sale of UK bus business FirstGroup’s board faces a showdown with activist investor Coast Capital at an extraordinary general meeting in London later this month. The gathering at 2pm on June 25 at...
£320m sale of ADL will ‘boost global growth’
Alexander Dennis Limited has been sold to a North American bus builder, but boss Colin Robertson is staying on to lead new international expansion Colin Robertson (left), pictured in Edinburgh with Paul Soubry, NFI’s President and CEO The UK’s largest bus builder, Alexander Dennis Limited, claims that its sale to Canada-based NFI Group...
MPs urge government to develop bus strategy
Transport Select Committee seeks action to end decline MPs have called on the government to develop and adopt a bus strategy for England by the end of next year. Members of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee concluded that such a bus strategy was neccessary in their report, Bus Services in England...
Destination net zero: ‘We can get you there’
The Committee on Climate Change’s new advice for government is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. As the largest source of UK GHG emissions (23% of the total), transport will need to see major changes – and modal shift towards public transport must be part of the solution The Committee on...
RDG sets out vision to end failed ‘quick fixes’
Rail Delivery Group chief Paul Plummer said the proposals to the Williams rail review are intended as ‘building blocks’ for fundamental reform RDG chief executive Paul Plummer The Rail Delivery Group has set out proposals for a new rail industry structure which would remove central government from day to day decision making, integrate...
Stagecoach deal to buy Arriva ‘very difficult’
Perth-based group is reported to be interested in buying bus business from its DB-owned rival – but industry experts say there are too many hurdles Germany’s Deutsche Bahn is looking to offload Arriva Stagecoach is reported to be considering a bid for all or part of rival group Arriva. However, industry analysts say...
