Welcome to The ALBUM Report 2024, a publication from Passenger Transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies. Returning for an eighth year, this year’s report also incorporates the Conference Workbook for the ALBUM Conference 2024, hosted by Warrington’s Own Buses at Carden Park Hotel on April 23-24. We...
Issue 311 of Passenger Transport is published on April 19. Contents include: LEAD STORY Labour vows to fast-track bus franchising Party says that its plan will allow 250 million more bus passenger journeys a year, but ‘it will require no additional central government spending’ NEWS ‘Franchise your...
Party says that its plan will allow 250 million more bus passenger journeys a year, but ‘it will require no additional central government spending’ Labour launched its plans in the West Midlands. Left to right: Angela Rayner, Richard Parker and Louise Haigh Labour has promised to help local...
Polls suggest Labour’s Richard Parker will win mayoral election Labour’s launch event was hosted by National Express West Midlands Labour’s candidate in next month’s West Midlands mayoral election has pledged to bring bus services back under public control if he wins power on May 2. The Labour Party...
Order for 10 new trains could solve Alstom order desert Harper (right) met Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge this week Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has confirmed that it is in “intense discussions” with transport secretary Mark Harper about the future of its Derby plant and a potential order for...
You won’t persuade me to join you on a camping holiday, but many others enjoy it – and bus companies should make a pitch for them A West Coast Motors bus photographed by the editor on a detour into Port Ban Holiday Park, Argyll and Bute I was...
The Women in Bus and Coach initiative (pictured last year on a visit to parliament) has emerged as a powerful force. Here are seven compelling reasons behind the pressing need for such initiatives BY Louise Cheeseman International Women’s Day is a really great opportunity to showcase the unique culture that women can offer...
The Women in Transport Diversity & Inclusion Bus Group can look back on five years of progress BY Sonya Byers March is a significant month for Women in Transport, especially with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. This year marks a special milestone as the Women in Transport Diversity & Inclusion (D&I)...
We’ve come a long way in recent years but there’s still more to do – and it matters, because true diversity brings better everything We’ve got some fantastic women in our business BY Lorna Murphy This International Women’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on how far we’ve come but also how much more there...
Stagecoach could face major upset in final franchising phase Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis is in the process of delivering 67 Enviro200 buses to Rotala subsidiary Diamond Bus for use on Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 services of Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network As Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network prepares to launch its second...
Rolling stock issues have been surprisingly neglected in debates about the future of the railway, but there are big problems to solve SWR’s new Arterio trains are a rare example of new trains entering service The recent George Bradshaw address ‘election special’ contained few surprises. Rail minister Huw Merriman confirmed that he...
Against the precarious backdrop of public transport, mayors and local leaders in our city regions are planting seeds of optimism The new Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby I am not sure about you, but this year feels like it is flying by. The start of the new year only feels like yesterday...
My recent experiences of field marketing for a bus service in a seaside town showed me that businesses are ready to collaborate I don’t want this to sound like a textbook, ‘interview response’ style, but one of the best aspects of being involved in public transport is the chance to be really embedded...
LOST Group, the technology-led matching service owned and operated by transport professionals, has teamed up with Passenger Transport to identify top transport talent blazing a trail in 2024 John McArthur, Founder, LOST Group writes – Welcome to Lost Group’s Ones to Watch 2024 where we feature some of the best and brightest professionals...
DfT figures show bus use recovering fastest in the South East and East of England – contrasting with weaker growth, and even decline, in the North The National Bus Strategy for England stated: “As we build back from the pandemic, better buses will be one of our major acts of levelling-up.” Analysis of...
This edition features LOST Group’s ‘Ones to Watch 2024’. It was exhausting to put this list together – but the end result is inspiring Hooray! A good news story! For all the doom and gloom in the industry, it was a real antidote to the January blues to be part of the judging...
Vernon Everitt asks passengers to ‘bear with us’ ahead of launch Bee Network’s next phase launches on March 24 Greater Manchester transport commissioner Vernon Everitt has urged bus users to remain patient as the second phase of the franchised Bee Network is set to launch on March 24. This phase will cover Oldham,...
Technology firm has worked closely with bus operators to launch a new fares finder in its ‘white-label’ mobile app product used by 35 companies Passenger hosted workshop events with bus operator partners to develop the new service Bus fare information, or the lack of it, has always been perceived by many within the...
Women in Bus and Coach – Empowering diversity