Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 20 March 2020

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• MP Spellar in call over bus contractsThe Government has been urged to ensure that all new electric buses for the country's roads are built by British firms.

Yorkshire Post

• Older people in Leeds and West Yorkshire can now use free bus passes at any timeOlder passengers and others with free bus passes can now use them at any time of day after transport bosses in West Yorkshire lifted restrictions.

Coach and Bus Week

• CPT reacts to school closuresConfederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Chief Executive Graham Vidler has issued a statement reacting to the Government’s decision to close schools across the UK as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
• Operators issue updates on Coronavirus precautionsAs the coronavirus gains momentum, coach and bus operators are communicating with their customers to ensure them that they are taking the necessary precautions to ensure vehicles are clean and safe for them to travel on
• Stagecoach unveils Greater Manchester’s first electric double-deckersStagecoach has revealed Greater Manchester’s first double-decker electric buses as part of a £16.5m investment. The 32 ADL buses will operate on routes 111 and 43, connecting Manchester city centre with Manchester Airport, five hospitals and three universities. The zero emission buses can travel 190 miles on a single charge and will help to ease pollution on some of Europe’s busiest roads.
• Coach and bus industry reacts as COVID-19 crisis deepensCoach and bus operators across the UK are currently addressing the COVID-19 pandemic situation after Boris Johnson released further advice and voluntary travel restrictions on all non-essential travel. Many operators have acted immediately by cancelling tours and coach holidays from the end of this week, whilst some bus operators are scaling back operations due to passenger numbers falling following advice from the Government to work from home where possible.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• £1bn among coronavirus support package callsThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has called for a £1bn government support package to help the coach and bus industry to secure jobs and services over the next three months during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
• McGill’s Yutong e-bus order first in ScotlandMcGill’s Buses has become the first Scottish operator to place an order for a Yutong battery-electric bus.
• Transdev Happy Travels campaign launchedTransdev has introduced a Happy Travels promise. It gives customers their next ride on one of its buses free of charge if they are not happy with their current journey for whatever reason.
• Buses main subject at Transport QuestionsCan buses operations elsewhere in the country really be the same as the London bus model? Buses were a central topic for discussion at Transport Oral Questions last week in the House of Commons.
• Wave electric bus launch set for Euro Bus ExpoDesign and manufacturing company CAD CAM Automotive (CCA) and Belarusian company BKM Holding have founded a joint venture called Wave Industries that will see electric bus models for both the UK and export markets produced in Coventry.
• Stagecoach Manchester Enviro400EV fleet into serviceStagecoach Manchester has launched 32 BYD ADL Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers in the south of the city. They represent an investment of £16.5m.
• Ensignbus fits hand sanitisers on busesEssex-based Ensignbus has fitted hand sanitiser dispensers to its entire fleet in response to the coronavirus crisis.
• Wales buses bill: Franchising among proposalsFranchising for buses in Wales and the creation of local authority (LA)-owned operators in the country are among powers that are proposed in the Bus Services (Wales) Bill, which was published on Monday 16 March.
• Leeds CAZ to launch on 28 SeptemberLeeds City Council (LCC) has confirmed that the city’s delayed Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will go live on 28 September.