Stagecoach considers US coach business sale
Increasing competition sees Stagecoach write down the value of North American assets and consider whether to exit the US market or adapt There’s a new kid in town: Flixbus began operating in the US in May Stagecoach has started discussions with a potential buyer of its North American coach business. The option of...
Pension deficit clouds FirstGroup break-up
On his first day as the group’s new chief executive, Matthew Gregory says that £430m pension deficit would have to be accounted for in any disposals FirstGroup’s new chief executive, Matthew Gregory, has indicated that breaking up the company remains a possibility. Presenting the group’s half year financial results on his first day...
Lothian thinks big with 100-seat tri-axles
Alexander Dennis is building buses for Edinburgh again. January will see the first of 42 new high capacity double deckers enter service in the city The 13.4-metre vehicles are capable of carrying up to 134 passengers A lone piper emerged from behind the curtain on the shop floor at Alexander Dennis’s factory in...
‘Cities ignoring buses would be missing out’
Campaigners point to new research and urge government not to overlook the benefits of buses when allocating £2.4bn Transforming Cities Fund The report cites the ‘Fastway’ project in Crawley as an example of a project that has improved journey times and reliability and caused a decline in car use With the government having...
ADL’s Berlin contract could be worth £194m
Falkirk-based bus builder Alexander Dennis Limited has agreed a contract with German capital’s public transport provider to supply up to 430 buses A visualisation of one of the new Enviro500 double deckers for Berlin The UK’s biggest bus builder, Alexander Dennis, has won a landmark deal to supply up to 430 tri-axle double...
Haines call for industry to lead reform initiative
‘Either the industry steps up to the plate and does it collectively or we wait to have it thrust upon us,’ Network Rail chief tells meeting in Parliament Andrew Haines Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has called on train operators to work with him ahead of the rail review to develop more...
CalMac highlights benefits of modal shift
Ferry operator argues that vehicle capacity issues on its vessels mean that it is in favour of tourists being encouraged to use connecting buses instead Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferry links between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has argued that fewer tourists should take cars...
Be positive, Souter tells transport providers
Stagecoach chairman acknowledges the challenges, but tells bus audience: ‘There is everything to play for here. These are fantastic businesses’ Sir Brian Souter was speaking at the CPT Scottish Conference in Ayrshire last week Sir Brian Souter has urged his transport industry colleagues to be positive about the future, declaring that “these companies...
Stagecoach sets pace for 2018 UK Bus Awards
Group nets quarter of this year’s 106 shortlisted entries, with Manchester, Merseyside and East Scotland subsidiaries in the running for top prize Stagecoach East Scotland is shortisted for the Top Shire Operator prize Stagecoach has received the highest number of shortlisted entries for this year’s prestigious UK Bus Awards. The shortlist contains 106...
No more conventional EC deals – Grayling
Transport secretary outlines the new public-private partnership models which could be applied to the East Coast franchise in two years’ time Transport secretary Chris Grayling appeared before MPs last week Transport secretary Chris Grayling has indicated that he will not let the next East Coast rail franchise under a conventional private sector franchising...
London and West Mids to share best practice
Memorandum of Understanding is first time two devolved local authorities have committed to share knowledge and work towards common goals Sadiq Khan (left) and Andy Street at London’s Traffic Control Centre A knowledge-sharing agreement between London and the West Midlands will enable the two to learn from each other to improve not only...
Liverpool City Region’s ‘big bus conversation’
While acknowledging the success of the Bus Alliance with bus operators, LCR’s metro mayor wants to take greater control. Rhodri Clark reports Steve Rotheram, metro mayor for Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, metro mayor for the Liverpool City Region, said last week that the city region will take greater control of local bus...
