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Friday, 09 October 2020

Coach and Bus Week

• Stagecoach appoints new Managing DirectorStagecoach has announced the appointment of Carla Stockton-Jones as its new UK Managing Director, succeeding Mark Threapleton who retired this summer. Carla becomes the first woman to head a major private sector multi-modal public transport operation in the UK and will report directly to Stagecoach Chief Executive Martin Griffiths.
• Easy AccessThe Yutong TC9 is one of Pelican Bus and Coach’s success stories, but as Richard Sharman found out in a test drive just prior to the Covid-19 lockdown measures beginning, improvements have been made to recent TC9s and a new PSVAR version is now available
• Adapting to the new normal: How National Express became Covid-safeThe coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect across the industry. Jonathan Welch spoke to National Express about how the company has handled the outbreak and disruption to its services
• Stagecoach West initiates rapid repaint programmeStagecoach West operates a substantial fleet of coaches and buses in the West of England. Richard Sharman looks at how the OpCo is bringing the new group image to its operating area so quickly
• CPT highlights missed opportunity but welcomes ongoing Government supportResponding to the announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak of an ongoing plan by the government to support jobs after the end of the furlough scheme, CPT Head of Policy Alison Edwards said:
• GNE invests £3m in new buses for Easington Lane servicesGo North East has invested £3m in 13 new buses for its express X1 service between Easington Lane and Newcastle, serving Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring, Shiney Row, Washington Galleries, Wrekenton and Gateshead.
• £1m to improve bus services across Peterborough and CambridgeshireThe Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CaPCA) is to resume work on its Bus Reform Project, which started in May 2019, according to Peterborough Today.
• CPT warns Lords committee 27,000 jobs at risk in coach sectorGraham Vidler, Confederation of Passenger Transport’s (CPT) Chief Executive, appeared before the Economic Affairs Committee on 29 September alongside Andy Bagnall of Rail Delivery Group, Rt Hon Norman Baker of Campaign for Better Transport, and Robert Griggs of Airlines UK, to discuss the impact Covid-19 has had on employment in the transport sector.
• eCitaro G with new battery technology headlines latest developments from Mercedes-Benz BusesThe latest announcements from the German manufacturer include a new all-electric eCitaro G with solid-state batteries, Intouro inter-city bus and new Sprinter City 75 minibus

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Go live dates for Bath and Birmingham CAZs announcedClean Air Zones (CAZs) in each of Bath and Birmingham will each go live in the first half of 2021, it has been confirmed.
• Second batch of Enviro400ER hybrids arrive at Brighton and Hove BusesThe first of a second batch of Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400ER hybrid buses has arrived at Brighton and Hove Buses.
• Newport set to begin squadron e-bus service with Yutong fleetSquadron service of electric buses in Wales will commence on Monday 12 October after the delivery of 14 more Yutong E12 models to Newport Transport. They will complement a seed E12 that has been in use with the municipal operator since 2019.
• Cresta Coaches contributes to Bridgend virtual fam productionCresta Coaches assisted with the creation of a ‘virtual group travel fam trip’ of Bridgend County in South Wales that is currently in production by providing a vehicle for inclusion in filming.
• StreetDeck FCEV debuts in Aberdeen: The start of the ‘hydrogen economy’?The first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-electric double-decker bus has arrived in Aberdeen.
• uTrack and Go-Ahead Ireland partner to create ‘late running requests’ featureuTrack Software solutions has partnered with Go-Ahead Ireland to produce a brand-new ‘late running requests’ feature for the bus company’s employee app. The feature is designed to improve efficiency and communication between drivers and managers.
• Additional home-to-school funding in England is extendedFunding provided by the Department for Education (DfE) for additional dedicated home-to-school transport services in England will be extended to the end of the autumn term, it has been confirmed.
• Stagecoach Manchester delivers ‘bus load’ of supplies to local food banksStagecoach has partnered with charity Forever Manchester to provide supplies to five food banks across the region.