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Friday, 26 February 2021

Coach and Bus Week

• Stagecoach in Oxfordshire to merge with Stagecoach WestStaff at Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Stagecoach West were informed on 23 February that both operating companies (OpCos) are to merge to form a single OpCo.
• Breaking down barriersFortitude Communications’ Greig Box Turnbull spoke to Phil Southall, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and City Sightseeing Oxford to give an insight into how the companies have adapted communications during the pandemic

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• UK third largest Western European electric bus market in 2020The UK battery-electric bus market was the third largest in Western Europe in 2020, according to research carried out by Dutch consultancy Chatrou CME Solutions. It accounted for 288 registrations of such vehicles with a GVW of over 8,000kg during the year.
• First Bus to trial Arrival battery-electric model in autumnFirst Bus is to become the first operator to trial the Arrival battery-electric bus. The process will begin in the autumn and Arrival says it will involve multiple vehicles.
• Proposed Nottingham CC bus service cuts attacked by CT4NProposals by Nottingham City Council (NCC) to impose swingeing cuts to the supported Linkbus network in the city have been criticised by bus operator CT4N.
• BYD UK and ADL to release shorter-wheelbase Enviro400EVAlexander Dennis (ADL) and partner BYD UK have announced they are to introduce a shorter-wheelbase version of the BYD ADL Enviro400EV battery-electric double-decker.
• Wrightbus to use Voith Electrical Drive System in ZE busesWrightbus will exclusively utilise the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) in the second-generation of its battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell-electric buses, the two parties have announced.
• Coach clarity call amid cautious England roadmap welcomeThe coach industry has cautiously welcomed the government’s roadmap towards the removal of restrictions in England, but one trade body is seeking clarity on whether day trips will be permitted from 12 April and for how long social distancing requirements will impact vehicle capacities.
• Irizar i6 and i6S factory PSVAR retrofit work gathers paceThe first Irizar i6 and i6S coaches have returned to the UK after retrofit to PSVAR specification at the manufacturer’s factory in Spain as its programme to convert existing i6 and i6S examples gathers pace.
• NCT’s first use checks digitalised by Freeway and TranzauraNottingham City Transport (NCT) has equipped drivers with mobile data terminals to record their first use vehicle checks as part of the introduction of a real-time vehicle defect reporting system. The work is thanks to integration between software companies Freeway and Tranzaura.
• ADL announces H2.0 hydrogen double-decker bus platformAlexander Dennis (ADL) is promising a zero-emission range of “up to 300 miles” for its next generation hydrogen fuel cell-electric integral double-decker bus. It is being developed under the project name H2.0 and is expected to be on the road before the end of 2021.