Bus franchising is not a silver bullet
We share the Welsh Government’s goals for buses – but to achieve those goals, reform must build on what already works Buses are the most used and most accessible form of public transport in Wales By Martin Gibbon Bus franchising has a part to play in delivering service improvements across South Wales, but...
Bus operators urged to get out and make deals
A growing number of areas want bus franchising but ALBUM Conference is told opportunity still exists to shape policy in many parts of the country This month saw the West Midlands become the latest region of England to commit to franchising and newly-elected ‘metro mayors’ express their support for taking bus services back...
Opportunity lies amid a world of uncertainty
Britain’s small and medium-sized bus companies are adjusting to rapid changes, but ALBUM Conference speakers also identified opportunities. Robert Jack reports East Midlands mayor Claire Ward Within the ALBUM grouping of Britain’s remaining municipal and independent bus companies, there is understandable pride at their combined contribution to the bus sector. ALBUM members are...
UK Bus Summit 2025 programme revealed
Buses minister and ‘metro mayors’ are confirmed speakers Event takes place in Manchester on September 11 The programme for the UK Bus Summit, which will be held in Manchester on September 11, has been confirmed. Organised by Transport Times in partnership with Passenger Transport, the event will bring political leaders, transport professionals and industry...
West Midlands latest to opt for franchising
Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority have approved plans to franchise the region’s bus network from 2027 Richard Parker visited Wolverhampton Bus Station following the decision By Andrew Garnett Bus services in the West Midlands will be brought back under public control for the first time in nearly four decades,...
Breathing new life into redundant land
Thriving new community spaces have been created from the redundant former public transport estate, and more can follow Tilburg in the Netherlands was one of the country’s rail manufacturing centres Transport reconfigures the landscape time and again with each fresh wave of technological change. The coming of canals, railways, motorways, airports and...
Uber is here to stay – can we live with it?
There’s no doubt that the convenience of Uber has eroded bus travel to some degree – but how should the sector respond to that? Uber has become the elephant in the room (Photo: Shutterstock) Last week, I eavesdropped on some bus industry bods lamenting declining patronage levels on London buses and the...
Read our supplement: The ALBUM Report 2025
Welcome to The ALBUM Report 2025, a publication from Passenger Transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies. Returning for a ninth year, this year’s report also incorporates the Conference Workbook for the ALBUM Conference 2025, hosted by Nottingham City Transport on May 12-14. We hope you find it an interesting read and we...
ALBUM’s Astill warns of ‘existential threat’
As Britain’s small and medium-sized bus operators prepare to gather in Nottingham, David Astill warns against squeezing them out of the market Astill: ‘We’re talking about an existential threat’ Ahead of this month’s ALBUM Conference in Nottingham, ALBUM chair David Astill has warned that bus franchising poses “an existential threat” to small and...
Annus horribilis sees Mobico boss step down
Mobico Group’s woes continues after it reveals a loss of £793m, sale of American school bus business and the departure of CEO Ignacio Garat School bus business sold to Arriva parent I Squared Capital Mobico chief executive Ignacio Garat stepped down suddenly this week, marking the second senior departure in recent months. The...
Arriva makes bid for cross-country service
Newcastle to Brighton link restores for service lost in 2008 The proposal would form part of Arriva’s Grand Central open access operation Arriva has submitted an open access application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for a new rail service stretching almost the entire length of England, running directly between Newcastle...
From Istanbul to London by train