Bus Ambassador

First Bus driver Michael Leech has been named UK Bus Driver of the Year after taking the top spot at the national finals in Blackpool on Sunday 14th September 2025.

Busworld Europe is gearing up for what's set to be its largest show yet. From the 4th to the 9th of October 2025, Brussels Expo will become the centre of the bus and coach world, bringing together professionals and enthusiasts alike for the industry's most significant B2B exhibition.

Transport for London (TfL) is giving eight different transport services a new look as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, with the same design featuring across TfL services for the first time.

Two years in development and built on opposite sides of the world, Wrightbus has officially unveiled its first 6x2 zero-emission double decker. The prototype emerged this week from both Ballymena and Malaysia, with orders already lined up for Europe and the Far East.

Families and tourists heading to the seaside this summer are once again enjoying scenic rides on an open-top bus, as Stagecoach brings back a popular open top bus service along the Wallasey coastline.

Arriva Group has announced the completion of a major electrification project at its Norwood Depot in South London. The £17m investment reflects Arriva’s position as a leading London operator and a forerunner in clean, modern transport. 

IVECO BUS has secured a new order from OTW, the public transport operator for Wallonia, for 127 CROSSWAY Low Entry buses. It’s the third contract signed between the two in the last two years, following earlier deals in 2023 for 22 DAILY minibuses and 42 hybrid CROSSWAYs.

A big step for sustainable mobility in Spain: Valencia’s municipal transport company EMT has ordered 84 new city buses from MAN Truck & Bus, including 57 fully electric Lion’s City 12 E models and 27 Lion’s City 18 buses equipped with MAN’s EfficientHybrid technology. This marks MAN’s largest eBus order in Spain to date.

Flemish operator De Lijn has confirmed an order for 100 new articulated electric buses from IVECO BUS. It's the latest call-off under a framework deal signed in 2023, which already covers 141 E-WAY 18-metre buses currently in delivery. The new batch is set to start arriving in the final quarter of 2026.

A boost for East Lancashire’s evening economy is on its way as bus operator Transdev unveils plans for new later evening journeys on a key route across the region.

Grab your bucket and spade! Coastliner, Yorkshire’s award-winning bus network linking Leeds and York with the North Yorkshire Coast, is to add extra journeys delivering more seats, more often this summer.

Good news for public transport users in East Lancashire – bus operator Rosso is teaming up with a local authority to bring new evening and Sunday journeys to a popular local route.

A second rapid transit vehicle will begin road testing in the Liverpool City Region this month, as part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to roll out a new fleet of high capacity ‘gliders’ across the region by the end of 2028.

First Bus has officially launched First Charge , a new name for its growing shared-charging programme. The idea is simple but significant: open up its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to more than just buses.

Greater Manchester is set to strengthen its public transport offering with more night buses, new services, and increased frequency on key routes, as part of the ongoing expansion of the Bee Network. These improvements aim to support regional economic growth, enhance passenger convenience, and bolster the night-time economy.

London Gatwick Airport is taking a significant leap towards zero-emission ground transport by awarding a major contract to Irizar e-mobility for its fully electric ie tram buses. This marks the first deployment of completely electric buses at the airport, setting a precedent for sustainable airport shuttle services in the UK.

It’s the tightest squeeze in Yorkshire … but ice-cool Transdev bus driver Wayne Moody has proved that you CAN get a bus through it!

Independent operator Tyrers has taken delivery of two new Enviro200s from Alexander Dennis. It is the first time the Bolton and Chorley firm has bought new Enviro200 from the manufacturer, although the model is already a familiar sight on roads across the UK.

Transdev in Yorkshire has commenced the phased deployment of its new £3.5 million fleet of hybrid-electric buses onto its established FLYER network, serving Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA). This significant investment underscores Transdev's commitment to modernising public transport infrastructure, aligning with contemporary demands for increased passenger capacity, enhanced accessibility and reduced environmental impact.

Sometimes, you just need a good news story. With the headlines full of strikes, closures and the general doom and gloom that seems to come with the transport patch, it’s refreshing to find something that reminds us what the industry is really about — people.

Pelican Bus + Coach has officially handed over 20 new Yutong GT12 coaches to FlixBus UK, marking a major milestone in the express operator’s latest fleet expansion. The handover took place at Pelican’s Castleford HQ, where Managing Director Richard Crump welcomed FlixBus UK boss Andreas Schorling to celebrate the delivery. Pelican Bus + Coach Finished in FlixBus’s unmistakable green livery, the high-spec coaches come equipped with USB charging points, power sockets and a focus on comfort aimed squarely at the modern long-distance traveller. A Significant Delivery This significant delivery of FlixBus-branded Yutong vehicles marks the start of another major expansion phase for the express coach brand. Pelican Bus + Coach The new coaches will join the FlixBus UK network over the coming weeks, bringing the total fleet to over 200 vehicles as the brand continues to expand its coverage across the country to over 80 destinations.  FlixBus UK Senior Managing Director Andreas Schorling said...

Mid Wales-based operator Celtic Travel has secured a major boost after being awarded the contract to operate the TrawsCymru T4 service, running between Merthyr Tydfil and Newtown. The new contract, set to commence in September 2025, will see Celtic Travel take over one of the TrawsCymru network’s key long-distance routes, linking communities across Powys and the South Wales Valleys. The deal marks a significant win for the Llanidloes-based firm, which is set to step up its role in delivering high-profile inter-urban services as part of the Welsh Government’s flagship TrawsCymru network.

This week, Flemish public transport operator De Lijn officially brought its first standard all-electric buses from BYD Europe into service. These e-buses will initially operate from the Mortsel depot to support services in the Antwerp region, with further deployment across Flanders planned later in the year. A total of 92 vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2025.

When your business turns 100, you want to mark the occasion with more than cake and a commemorative mug. For Edwards Coaches , the largest operator in the National Express network, the centenary year has kicked off in style with the delivery of a dual-branded Caetano Levante 3A bodi ed Scania K410EB6, complete with the bespoke registration NX25 BUS . Edwards Coaches It’s a coach, yes, but also a case study in clever brand alignment, long-term partnership and how visual identity can reinforce strategic messaging. Coming from a marketing background, I can’t help but appreciate the detail behind the design and what it signals for the next chapter of a company that’s been on the road since 1925 . A moving celebration of a century in service The new vehicle is more than a fleet addition; it’s a symbol of how Edwards Coaches has evolved from a family-run service in the Welsh Valleys to a national player operating 116 daily services on behalf of National Express. The Levante 3A , now one...

Stagecoach may be best known for getting millions of passengers from A to B every week. Still, now the United Kingdom’s largest bus and coach operator is also carrying a powerful message of hope and support.

The North Wales coast has always been postcard pretty but frustratingly tricky to get along when summer traffic does its slow shuffle on the A55. Arriva Buses Wales thinks it has found a remedy.

Punctuality on Glasgow’s buses has improved by 8.5 per cent since First Bus started handing the timetable over to artificial intelligence. That figure covers more than 60 routes tweaked using AI-powered scheduling software, which analyses live traffic data and historical patterns to build timetables that reflect how the city actually moves — or crawls — during the day. It is an approach that appears to be working, and First is betting on it again.

Public transport folk have long talked the talk about modal shift and journey time reliability. Greater Manchester’s Bus Priority Programme is the latest to prove that when done properly buses really can walk the walk, or rather roll the roll. 

In an era where public transport is expected to be greener, cleaner and smarter, often all at once and preferably before the end of the financial year, First Bus has thrown its digital hat firmly into the ring.  First Bus The operator has just announced a £20 million investment in electronic ticketing technology, as part of a renewed multi-year partnership with tech supplier Ticketer. What’s new in the cab? If you’ve ever stood behind a driver and marvelled at the complex array of colourful buttons, screens and beeping devices, you’re not alone. These are electronic ticket machines – or ETMs to those in the know – and First Bus is now rolling out a new fleet of them across its entire national network. Leading the charge are depots in York and Worcester, where over 850 buses have already been fitted with the new hardware. The star of the show is Ticketer’s new TK300 driver console, which comes with all the bells and whistles (though hopefully not literal...

Dutch public transport operator Qbuzz has ordered 62 more electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong, to be delivered by the end of 2025. This follows their previous order of 50 Yutong buses, which entered service in South Holland in December 2024. Qbuzz Why Yutong? Timing is Everything While many European manufacturers are still wrangling with post-pandemic supply chains, inflation and the occasional bankruptcy, Yutong appears to be sticking to the basics: building and delivering buses on time. In a pointed but measured statement, Qbuzz explained their decision to look beyond Europe: "European bus manufacturers face challenges in the delivery of zero-emission equipment. For example, in addition to the delivery problems of Iveco, Qbuzz also had to deal with the bankruptcy of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool, which meant that the delivery of 112 electric buses was cancelled. As a solution, Yutong produced and delivered 50 electric buses within six months, which perform w...

London has passed a major green transport milestone with more than 2,000 zero-emission buses now in service across the capital – the largest such fleet in Western Europe. The achievement reflects a sharp increase from just 30 zero-emission buses in 2016 and reinforces Transport for London’s (TfL) target to deliver a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030. Transport for London Building a Cleaner, Smarter Bus Network The milestone was marked with the launch of the capital’s newest fully electric route, the 337 between Clapham Junction and Richmond, operated by Transport UK. The route is now served by a fleet of 12 new Wrightbus Electroliners, operating every 10 minutes. The introduction of the 337 means two in every nine buses in London are now zero-emission – or more than 20 per cent of the city’s iconic red bus fleet. Since 2021, all new vehicles joining the network have been zero-emission. In addition to helping London reach net zero carbon by 2030, these buses are cutting harmful po...

Another high-voltage milestone in Greater Manchester’s transport revolution has arrived quietly, and appropriately, with a hum. Ashton-under-Lyne is now home to one of the UK’s few fully electric bus depots, forming a central part of the Bee Network’s drive to decarbonise public transport and bring local control back to the streets. Transport for Greater Manchester More than 80 new double-deck electric buses are now operating out of the Ashton site, transforming 14 routes across Tameside and beyond. This is not just a nice-to-have green upgrade. It is a pivotal move in the region’s ambition to become the first UK city region with a fully integrated and zero emission public transport system. And it is happening fast. From Franchise to Flagship It was not long ago that just one percent of Greater Manchester’s buses were electric. Post-franchising, that number has grown tenfold. Over 300 electric vehicles are now running on the Bee Network, with the Ashton depot alone accounting for ...

There was something of a spark in the air in south Bristol as the city’s first fully electrified bus depot officially opened at Hengrove. Flanked by dignitaries and the smell of fresh concrete, this newly upgraded depot marks a significant moment in Bristol’s journey towards a cleaner, quieter, less diesel-scented future. First Bus It is not just a few charging points and some optimistic banners. Hengrove depot has undergone a full scale £44 million revamp, turning it into one of the most advanced electric bus hubs outside the M25. This includes five massive charging gantries stretching across a site roughly the size of four football pitches. These are not the sort of gantries you string Christmas lights from. These deliver serious voltage. Who Paid for What and Why It Matters Most of the cash came from First Bus, who stumped up £37.4 million. Another £6.6 million was drawn from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund, more fondly known in the industry as ZEBRA. The ...

A bold new era for public transport is arriving in Plymouth—quietly. The first of 50 zero-emission, electric double-decker buses have touched down in Plymouth, marking a significant shift in how the city moves its people. For bus and coach operators across the UK, this transformation offers a powerful case study in what’s possible when government, local authorities and transport operators pull together.

The first of 25 brand-new electric buses have now entered service in Somerset, marking a major shift towards zero-emission public transport in the region. The buses are part of a £14.7 million project delivered by First Bus South in partnership with Somerset Council, with funding support from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) scheme.

Say hello to the all-new Strata – Mellor’s latest showstopper in the small bus world. It’s smarter, more accessible and packed with fresh features to make every journey smoother, greener and comfier. And yes, it’s still built right here in the UK. Mellor Bus Since its debut in 2016, the original Strata has earned its stripes as a reliable workhorse – now it’s back with a vengeance, ready to shake up the sector all over again. If you thought small buses were all the same, think again. Accessibility, meet ambition First up: big wins for accessibility. The reworked rear saloon now has just one step up from the low-floor section (down from two), reducing trip hazards and making things safer for everyone onboard. Passengers also get an extra 100mm of headroom – that’s a whole lot less crouching and a lot more comfort. Mellor Bus The low-floor area’s been stretched by 266mm, making space for four extra seats. In fact, there’s now room for up to twelve seats in the low-floor area alone – p...

Harrogate’s going greener – and The Harrogate Bus Company wants you and your plus-one to be part of the journey. In a fresh push to get drivers out of their cars and onto its all-electric buses, the firm has launched a new two-for-one travel offer for Fridays. The goal? Cleaner air, quieter streets and a more chilled-out end to the working week.

Bus services across the Liverpool City Region are set for a major transformation, with plans for a fully publicly-run bus network moving forward at pace. The introduction of a franchised system will see services brought under public control for the first time in nearly 40 years, promising more frequent buses, better connections and improved infrastructure. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Franchising is Coming Sooner Than Planned You’ve probably heard about the move to bus franchising—where routes, fares and timetables will be planned by the public sector rather than private companies—but here’s what’s happening next. The first phase kicks off in St Helens and Wirral, with the new system up and running by September 2026. The whole region should be fully franchised by the end of 2027, a year ahead of schedule. Mayor Steve Rotheram, said: “Reliable, regular, and affordable buses are the backbone of a great public transport system. They connect people to work, education, and each ...

In a move that’s sure to shake up the bus scene in the Liverpool City Region, Tower Transit Group, part of the Kelsian Group, has taken over local bus operator Huyton Travel, otherwise known as HTL Buses.

In West Yorkshire, the 72 Service, running non-stop between Leeds and Bradford, has been a game-changer since it kicked off last September. And the stats? Well, they’re pretty incredible.

Exciting news from FirstGroup! They’ve just acquired Matthews Coach Hire, a family-owned coach and bus operator in Ireland with a solid reputation and over 40 vehicles to its name – including two shiny new electric coaches.

Well, that’s that. After clocking up an unbelievable 65 million miles over 25 years, Manchester’s much-loved Magic Bus has made its last stop. Stagecoach Manchester Earlier this month, Stagecoach Manchester officially handed over the reins to the Bee Network, Transport for Greater Manchester’s ambitious integrated transport system. It’s a big step for the city, marking the start of a new chapter while waving goodbye to a proper legend of the roads.

Big news for Aldershot and the Blackwater Valley—Stagecoach South has rolled out five shiny, UK-built Optare Solo M8570SR buses! With a cool £860,000 investment, these low-emission beauties are set to transform local transport, making your journeys cleaner, greener and comfier than ever.

Greater Manchester has taken a bold step in public transport, completing the historic re-regulation of its bus network. This milestone, the first in England in 40 years, represents a seismic shift in how the city-region connects its communities, promotes sustainability and drives economic growth. The transformation is part of the Bee Network, an ambitious vision for a fully integrated, “London-style” public transport system by 2025.