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Friday, 19 February 2021

BBC News

• Glasgow bin lorry crash: New date for First Bus negligence caseThe hearing will look at whether First Bus was negligent by failing to provide an accurate reference for Harry Clarke.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Woodall Nicholson adds new Technology DivisionWoodall Nicholson, the specialist vehicle design and manufacturing group behind Coleman Milne, Mellor, Treka Bus and VCS, has added a fourth division to its group portfolio
• Woodall Nicholson adds new Technology DivisionWoodall Nicholson, the specialist vehicle design and manufacturing group behind Coleman Milne, Mellor, Treka Bus and VCS, has added a fourth division to its group portfolio
• Irizar in autonomous electric firstThe City of Malaga and Avanza have put an Irizar high-capacity zero-emission autonomous bus into service. Malaga has thus become the first European city to have an autonomous bus on its streets.
• National Express gets five-star safety ratingNational Express is celebrating recognition for its continued commitment to safety.
• UKinbound backs coaches in letter to the ChancellorTravel trade association UKinbound has backed coaches in a plea to Sunak to include the industry in Business Rates Relief Scheme
• Go North West depot could close in pay dispute600 jobs would be lost if solution not found to employment-agreement dispute
• Coventry to fund 297 electric busesCoventry is to receive £50m to fund 297 all-electric buses that will be on city streets by 2025.
• National Express Accessible Transport plays its part in vaccination programmeWith the continued roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, National Express Accessible Transport (NEAT) is playing its part by taking vulnerable customers to get their vaccinations.

Coach and Bus Week

• McGill’s to go battery electric with substantial order from Pelican YutongMcGill’s, the largest independently-owned bus operator in the UK, has placed a substantial EV bus order with Pelican Yutong.
• Rural revivalSargeants Brothers has a long tradition of operating rural bus services in Herefordshire, but a change in ownership in November 2019 has seen the company become ‘21st century ready.’ Richard Sharman paid a socially-distanced visit to find out more

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• EPM Bus Solutions buys transport software specialist OmnibusEPM Bus Solutions has completed the acquisition of transport software specialist Omnibus.
• National Express awarded five-star safety rating from British Safety CouncilNational Express’ UK coach and bus fleets have both been awarded a five-star safety rating from the British Safety Council for the seventh and fifth years respectively.
• Oxford set to develop coach parking and drop-off strategyOxford City Council (OCC) has allocated £20,000 from its 2021/22 draft budget to develop a coach drop-off and parking strategy for the city. The proposal forms part of OCC’s wider investment plans to help Oxford’s visitor economy to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• LowCVP renames to Zemo Partnership; net zero is new targetThe Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has announced today that it is to change its name to the Zemo Partnership. The name change reflects the Partnership’s ambition to achieve net zero UK road transport emissions by 2050.
• Scotland coach operators’ support fund opens for applicationsThe Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund opened for applications on 16 February. It will close at 1700hrs on 23 February.
• Blackpool Transport introduces contactless to its busesBlackpool Transport introduced contactless fare payment on its buses on 14 February as a further part of its customer interface improvement work. It will follow that up by extending the acceptance method to its tram fleet and rolling out ‘tap and go’ ticketing.
• Go North West dispute ‘threatens depot’s future’Go North West (GNW) says there is a risk of its Queens Road depot in Manchester closing with the loss of 600 jobs if no solution can be found to a dispute with union Unite that is set to involve indefinite strike action by some drivers from 28 February.