Bus driver pay has soared post-pandemic
Weekly earnings for bus and coach drivers, including overtime, rose by 29.4% between 2021 and 2024, outstripping increases for other workers Bus driver earnings exceeded that of other shift workers such as police officers Bus and coach drivers across the UK have received a typical pay rise of nearly 30% over the last three...
‘The bus industry in Britain is on the rise’
There was an upbeat mood at last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester, with speakers expressing enthusiasm about the industry’s future Andy Burnham speaking at last week’s UK Bus Summit Last week’s UK Bus Summit, organised by Transport Times in partnership with Passenger Transport, was the seventh to have taken place – but...
‘The most exciting time for buses in 50 years’
Last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester saw political leaders, transport chiefs and bus companies express enthusiasm about the direction of travel Metro mayors are keen to replicate – and surpass – what Greater Manchester has achieved The overall vibe was a positive one at last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester....
Gilligan: NPR ‘makes HS2 look sensible’
Advisor calls for Elizabeth Line-style fix for the north’s railways Rumours suggest the NPR scheme could be revived within weeks Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), the high-speed project designed to link Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, has come under fierce criticism from former Downing Street transport adviser Andrew Gilligan. Rumours suggest the scheme could be revived...
‘We’ve put our money where our mouth is’
In the wake of calls for the government to show more ambition on buses in England, local transport minister Simon Lightwood talked up progress Lightwood: “stellar result” Ahead of next week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester, local transport minister Simon Lightwood has defended the government’s record on buses. It comes after the Transport...
Anyone I spoke to said: ‘You’re absolutely mad’
FlixBus UK boss Andreas Schorling reflects on his company’s entry into the UK market, the exciting potential of AI and attracting new customers Andreas Schorling: ‘We are able to attract a new demographic’ Since launching in the UK in 2021, express coach operator FlixBus has served over five million passengers. This summer, the global...
‘More ambition needed for buses in England’
MPs on the Transport Committee have urged the government to take a range of reforms to prevent further decline in bus service provision Cadbury: ‘Ministers should go further to get bums back on seats’ A new report by the Transport Select Committee has called on the government to adopt a national ambition for a...
Perceptions of decline are ‘far too gloomy’
Bus operators welcome Transport Committee’s recommendations to boost buses but challenge ‘outdated’ view that sector is trapped in spiral of decline Bus use is increasing Bus operators welcomed much the Transport Select Committee’s recommended bus reforms, but Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said “perceptions of a ‘decade of decline’...
GBR risks ‘repeating British Rail’s mistakes’
Report by rail expert and Centre for Policy Studies fellow Tony Lodge urges range of critical measures to deliver for customers and boost revenue Lodge: ‘GBR should not be able to mark its own homework’ Great British Railways is a solution in search of a problem and risks “morphing into the ghost of British...
Virgin plans Alstom fleet for Europe service
Fleet plans revealed for planned 20 daily return services Virgin has signed a deal for 12 Alstom trainsets Virgin has taken a decisive step in its bid to launch new international rail services between London and mainland Europe by securing binding exclusivity with Alstom for the supply of 12 new high-speed trains. The...
Treadmill accelerates for bus franchising
Bidding teams for bus franchises in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire have a busy schedule as key dates approach Procurement of two small Bee Network franchise lots kicks off later this year Companies chasing contracts to operate bus franchises in some of England’s biggest cities have a busy summer ahead...
No mention of Glider in draft NI strategy
Belfast’s ground-breaking Bus Rapid Transit scheme is not mentioned in Northern Ireland’s draft Transport Strategy. Rhodri Clark reports A Glider vehicle in service Northern Ireland’s draft Transport Strategy to 2035 does not mention Glider or Belfast Rapid Transit, or include a photo of one of the iconic Glider buses. The Department for Infrastructure...
