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Friday, 18 June 2021

ITV News

• ‘Clean and quiet’: Hydrogen-powered bus tested on the streets of KentAn electric bus powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has hit the streets of Sevenoaks, as part of a week-long trial. 

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Stagecoach marks Clean Air Day with call for mass switch to public transportStagecoach is marking Clean Air Day today with a call for a major shift in travel behaviour to address health and climate problems facing the country.

The York Press

• York bus firm Transdev in Clean Air Day emissions pledgeYORK and North Yorkshire bus operators say they are driving forward on a mission to meet the toughest UK emission standards.

Cambridge News

• 'No more busways and park and rides' petition launched by campaign groupSmarter Cambridge Transport is calling on the Greater Cambridge Partnership to change tack

Other Regional Press

• Week-long hydrogen bus trial launchedA hydrogen bus, which only emits water, is to tour a Kent town to showcase the new technology.
• Buses will avoid town centre during England Euros gamesBuses will avoid a town centre during England's next two Euros games after previous run ins with rowdy fans.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• UK’s largest electric bus order receivedBYD UK and Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) are to deliver the UK’s largest ever electric bus order. The order has been placed by RATP Dev London for a total of 195 single and double-deck buses.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• National Express brings CitySwift onboard for COVID-safe bus journeysNational Express has announced a deal with CitySwift, a leader in big data and machine learning for the public transport sector. Through the agreement, National Express West Midlands, the biggest bus operator outside of London, will be using CitySwift’s product suite to help provide enhanced network planning and optimised routes in the region to provide COVID-safe journeys. Through this three year, multi-million technology investment, CitySwift is also supporting National Express Group’s mission to be the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach company.   After a succe...

Coach and Bus Week

• Arrival and Hitachi to deliver electric buses and infrastructureA joint partnership has been announced to develop end to end solutions for the European bus industry
• First Bus and First Rail sign Tomorrow’s Engineers CodeFirst Bus and First Rail, part of transport operator FirstGroup, have pledged their support for the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code launched by EngineeringUK.
• Alexander Dennis unveils first zero-emission tri-axle double-deckerAt a Vehicle Innovation Center virtual event, Alexander Dennis (ADL) recently unveiled its Enviro500EV Charge, a North American all-electric version of its double-decker Enviro500.
• TfGM offers former Yellow School Buses for community good causeWhether its reading spaces, quiet places or somewhere to meet new faces, people are being asked to submit their ideas for a chance to win a free decommissioned yellow school bus this summer. Individuals, schools, community groups, sports teams and volunteer organisations can bid to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to win one of several yellow school buses that will be decommissioned from its fleet in July 2021.
• Scania launches new Fencer single-deckThe first new complete Scania single-decker bus offering in a decade has been unveiled in the UK ahead of a worldwide roll-out

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Omnibus supports OBC’s transition to electric vehiclesOmnibus, one of the UK’s leading transport software suppliers, is supporting the Oxford Bus Company (OBC) as it transitions to electric vehicle (EV) operations.
• PSVAR exemption decision for H2S ‘at least two weeks away’Ministers are “actively considering” how PSVAR will apply to in-scope home-to-school services after the current exemption expires on 31 July, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has told members. But CPT has expressed a belief that a decision on what happens after that – and most pressingly, whether a further round of special authorisations will be issued – is at least two weeks away. 
• Stagecoach is thanking carbon-conscious passengers on Clean Air DayTo mark Clean Air Day on 17 June, believed to be the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, Stagecoach East Midlands is thanking customers who choose to travel by bus.
• MyMiX Tracking added to MiX driver engagement appMiX Telematics has launched MyMix Tracking, an extension of its MyMix driver engagement app. It says the new product is a solution to deliver “innovative app-based tracking for vehicles and drivers.”
• London coach facilities losses highlighted to Deputy MayorThe importance of restoring coach parking and drop-off/pick-up facilities in central London that are currently unavailable has been conveyed to Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
• Hitachi Intelligent Fleet Decarbonisation: Electrification as a service for bus fleetsA move towards widespread operation of zero-emission buses (ZEBs) is now well underway, but – external funding aside – the transition’s financial realities are its trickiest. The shift is influenced by air quality concerns and may be accelerated by the long-awaited Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP), publication of which was recently touted as imminent.
• Second round of Scottish coach operator support fund launchedA second strand of the Scottish Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund has been established. It will be delivered by Visit Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and is worth £1.6m.
• BYD and ADL confirm UK’s largest single electric bus order for RATP Dev LondonBYD UK and Alexander Dennis (ADL) have confirmed today (16 June) that they will deliver a record 195 battery-electric buses – the UK’s largest single order of electric buses – to operator RATP Dev London.
• Stagecoach to offer discounted bus travel to all Scottish NHS employeesStagecoach is teaming up with NHS in Scotland to offer discounted bus travel to all 140,000 of the service’s employees across the nation. The 10% discount is made available through a special NHS Staff Benefits portal which is directly linked with the Stagecoach app.
• National Express works with CitySwift for COVID-safe bus tripsCitySwift is providing enhanced network planning and route optimisation for National Express West Midlands (NXWM), enabling the operator to deliver COVID-safe journeys through a three-year technology investment with the supplier.
• WeLoveCoaches consumer campaign launched by CTAThe Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has launched a consumer-facing campaign to promote coach tours and excursions under the WeLoveCoaches umbrella.
• West Yorkshire bus franchising: Approval set for first stepWest Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has published proposals to begin a formal assessment of a franchising scheme for the region’s bus network. If approved, it will represent the first step towards possible reregulation and follows a manifesto pledge by Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin to bring services under public control.

Other News Sources

• UK’s National Express will use CitySwift data to keep passengers informedThe UK’s National Express has announced a deal with CitySwift, a specialist in big data and machine learning for the public transport sector. Through the agreement, National Express West Midlands, the biggest bus operator outside of London, will use CitySwift’s data-driven scheduling and planning technology, which uses AI, Big Data and machine learning techniques.