Industry pays tribute to Go South Coast boss
Andrew Wickham, the managing director of Poole-based bus operator Go South Coast, passed away last weekend after a long battle with cancer Andrew Wickham: 1966-2025 BY Andrew Garnett The bus industry has reacted with shock to the news that Go South Coast managing director Andrew Wickham passed away last weekend after a long...
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...
Challenges are the enemy
Nexus MD Cathy Massarella struck a pragmatic tone at recent Young Bus Professionals meeting Cathy Massarella was appointed Nexus managing director in early 2024 By Andrew Garnett It’s a measure of how much the industry has changed. Back in June 2008, at the inaugural meeting of the Young Bus Managers Network in Birmingham,...
Bus route keeps Milton Keynes in The Loop
Arriva has taken data from a DRT network in Milton Keynes to launch a new orbital bus service that plugs gaps in the commercial local bus network The Loop launched in early January and has carried over 10,000 passengers in its first four weeks By Andrew Garnett Back in the 1960s, Milton Keynes...
Who is offering the best plan for transport?
Ahead of next week’s general election, Robert Jack reports on the key transport pledges in the manifestos of Great Britain’s main political parties Addressing a conference in London last month, Professor David Begg warned that the UK was lacking a vision for transforming transport in a way that will delivery essential economic, social...
BYD aiming to make inroads into UK market
BYD has launched the ‘viable’ BD11 double decker in a move that will see the Chinese manufacturer launch a full-scale assault on the UK market London is the first target market for the BYD BD11 BY Andrew Garnett Every now and then, a new vehicle will be introduced to the industry that ostensibly...
Metro mayors plan bus franchising revolution
If metro mayors deliver on their manifesto pledges, almost three-quarters of bus journeys in England will be on publicly-controlled bus networks From left: Pete Bond, TfWM director of integrated transport services, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and Cllr Stephen Simpkins, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council and WMCA Board member This autumn it...
SPT says franchising is the only game in town
A new report by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has concluded that bus franchising is the only option to stem long-term network decline BY Andrew Garnett Strathclyde could become the first region in Scotland to franchise its bus network after Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) members approved plans for a consultation about the...
ADL goes it alone with new electric bus range
After several years working with Chinese manufacturer BYD, Alexander Dennis has launched two new electric buses engineered fully in-house ADL said the two new products feature a ‘stunning new design language that emphasises their zero-emission credentials’ BY Andrew Garnett Alexander Dennis (ADL) has worked closely with Chinese battery and electric vehicle giant BYD...
Waters attacks ‘grubby’ Westminster tactics
The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for climate change used the National Transport Awards to hit back at critics and issue a rallying cry Lee Waters: ‘We have to make the right thing to do, the easiest thing to do’ The National Transport Awards is a great opportunity to recognise those who are going...
Why isn’t multi-modal integration a priority?
‘It’s the thing everyone wants but in so many ways it remains elusive. Last week’s Great Transport Debate examined why we can’t join up journeys The debate brought together executives from the air, rail, bus, micro-mobility, taxi and active travel sectors in Manchester Airport’s Concorde Hanger Why hasn’t more progress been made to...
RDG confirms plans for ticket office cull
Rail industry launches long-anticipated consultation into proposals that could see the vast majority of railway station ticket offices closed The public consultation over the proposals will close on July 26 BY Andrew Garnett The Rail Delivery Group (RDG)confirmed perhaps the worst-kept secret in recent industry history on July 5 when it announced that...
