Bus Ambassador

A significant development has been announced by Transdev today. The Keighley Bus Company have made a substantial £7.5 million investment in 15 new electric buses, aimed at transforming one of their most popular routes, The Shuttle, which connects Keighley and Bradford in West Yorkshire, into a zero-emission operation. Alex Hornby With support of £3.1 million from the Government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund, secured through a successful bid by their partner, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, this initiative is set to make a real impact. The 15 electric buses are all Mercedes-Benz E-Citaro models. This comes on the heels of another order for 20 similar vehicles that will be deployed in the Leeds, Wetherby and Harrogate areas. These new buses are designed to meet the requirements of Bradford's Clean Air Zone, which was launched in September 2022 and covers all vehicles except private cars and motorcycles. Notably, one year on, Bradford has reported its lowest r...

The Liverpool City Region is taking a significant step towards enhancing its bus services throughout the region. Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced plans to introduce franchising, a move that will allow the region to have more control over bus routes and fares. Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) A New Era for Public Transport in Liverpool Mayor Rotheram believes that this decision marks the beginning of a new era for public transport in Liverpool. He stated,  “Today marks the start of a new era for public transport in our area – we’re taking back control of our buses! “Hundreds of thousands of people in our area rely on buses to get about every day, with 82% of all public transport journeys taken by bus. Yet, for far too long, our residents have been forced to contend with a second-class service that places profit before passengers and leaves behind the very people who need it most. “Today we have chosen a completely new course for the future of our buses. Under franchising, we will hav...

Lothian Buses has today, 20th September 2023, announced an order for 50 new Volvo BZL Electric double deck buses, each with MCV bodywork, for Scotland’s capital city. Volvo Buses At an investment of over £24 million, Lothian will introduce these new vehicles in two batches across 2024, with the first vehicles appearing on Edinburgh’s streets in early spring. This investment cements the company’s commitment to reduce emissions and improve air quality in its operating environment. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian, said: “We are delighted to be working with Volvo Buses to introduce a fleet of 50 zero emission double decks to our fleet. Lothian continues to support the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council’s strategies to improve local air quality, and this level of investment ensures that we as a business are playing our part in improving air quality across the city. “These buses are not only fitted with the latest zero tailpipe emission drivelines; they also offer an ...

London, the bustling capital, has reached a momentous milestone as it proudly welcomes its 1,000th zero emission bus to its iconic red bus fleet. These green buses, including the one running on route 204, account for more than one in nine of the city's distinctive red buses. It's like watching a magic trick as these buses have gone green, leaving a trail of cleaner air and a greener future for all Londoners. Transport for London Driving Towards a Greener London Since 2021, Transport for London (TfL) has shown its commitment to environmental sustainability by ensuring that all new vehicles joining the fleet are zero emission. This move has made TfL the green heartbeat of London, setting an example for others to follow. In addition to the zero emission buses, all other buses in the TfL fleet are low emission and meet or even exceed Euro VI emission standards, making them comparable to the Ultra Low Emission Zone. TfL has ambitious plans to transition to a fully zero emission bus ...

Warrington Borough Council is moving ahead with the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and has now signed an agreement with Volvo Buses. The order has officially been placed for 105 Volvo BZL Electric vehicles. Warrington Borough Council The council has also awarded the contract for the bus chargers to power the new electric buses. EO Charging, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for fleets – will supply the chargers, which will be installed at Warrington’s brand new bus depot. All energy will be supplied directly by one of the council’s own solar farms. It means the countdown can now begin to the arrival of Warrington’s all electric bus fleet – replacing Warrington’s Own Buses’ entire fleet of diesel buses – in 2024. The state-of-the-art Volvo BZL Electric, which will soon be making Warrington its home, provides clean, near-silent, comfortable and efficient public transport. It is built to a high safety standard and complies with the toughest re...

The future of sustainable transportation is here, and it starts with The Go-Ahead Group's newest addition to their fleet of buses. The transportation company has recently introduced a fleet of 20 GB Kite Hydroliner buses from Wrightbus, set to be deployed on Fastway BRT services in the Crawley, Horley and Gatwick Airport area. But that's not all – an additional 34 vehicles will be joining the fleet over the next 18 months to create one of Britain's largest hydrogen bus fleets. Wrightbus This is a significant move towards greener and more environmentally-friendly public transportation. The hydrogen-powered buses emit only water vapour, which means that they have zero harmful emissions that are damaging to our planet and our health. The introduction of this new fleet is expected to make a substantial contribution towards reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality, in line with the UK's goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But, what is hydrogen, ...

Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has today, Tuesday 20th June 2023, announced that it will be acquiring the bus services, contracts, the majority of vehicles and employees of Liverpool independent bus operator Peoplesbus on Sunday 9th July 2023. Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) Twenty-one Peoplesbus employees and twenty-three vehicles will relocate from Peoplesbus Aintree depot to Stagecoach’s nearby Gillmoss site along with all tendered local and school bus services and a network of commercial school and football services. The acquired operations will operate as Stagecoach and the vehicles will initially be rebranded and gradually repainted. Peoplesbus was founded by Andrew Cawley in June 2001, with one Leyland National bus, operating a number of weekend only services. In April 2002, the first Merseytravel school service was secured. The operation grew to a peak of thirty-two vehicles, with school contracts forming the core of the operation, supported in later years by tendered...

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire have just taken their customer experience to a whole new level with the launch of their brand new fleet of nine diesel-powered Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double decker buses. Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) The stunning new buses represent an investment of a whopping £3 million and are set to revolutionise travel for visitors and locals alike on the high-profile route 555 in the stunning Lake District. Each of the new buses boasts Lazzerini high-backed seats, which provide maximum comfort for passengers on longer journeys. In addition to USB charging, the buses have been fitted with tables with wireless charging pads, so passengers can stay connected on the go and keep their devices charged at all times. Furthermore, these new double deckers come equipped with handy bins and next stop information provision, making travel easier and more convenient for passengers. On the upper deck, there's also an added bonus of extra legroom that surpasses the...

The Liverpool City Region has embarked on a ground-breaking green initiative by introducing innovative hydrogen-powered buses. These state-of-the-art vehicles are designed to provide an enhanced level of service and comfort to all passengers, while drastically reducing harmful emissions. Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) The City Region Combined Authority has purchased 20 Alexander Dennis Enviro400FCEV hydrogen-powered double decker buses as part of its environmental efforts. The first of these buses started its public service last week (12th May) and has been making its maiden journeys, leaving from St Helens bus station bound for Liverpool ONE bus station. Drivers have undergone extensive training to ensure a smooth transition and the buses have been seen regularly on test across the region. These cutting-edge vehicles have been introduced to align with the recent introduction of brand new class 777 trains across several lines on the Merseyrail network. Additionally, the city region is p...

TfGM is constantly exploring ways to provide customers with more efficient and helpful services, and recently we are proud to announce the development of digital passenger information displays. Transport for Greater Manchester These new electronic departure boards, if implemented correctly, have the potential to revolutionise travel experiences across the Greater Manchester bus network, offering customers more real-time information and the convenience of having their journey planned before they leave their homes. The long-term plan is for electronic departure boards to be installed at key locations across the Greater Manchester bus network to assist customers in making their journeys. TfGM has already started with a pilot in two locations within Manchester City Centre, with a six-month evaluation planned for further test sites to determine customer requirements. Alongside their partnership with industry-leading suppliers of digital technology, TfGM has reached out to customers and acce...

Stagecoach, the UK's biggest coach and bus operator, is investing big in its largest electric bus order yet: a total of 170 fully electric vehicles for Stockport. The fleet consists of 150 double decker and 20 single decker buses which are expected to be delivered in summer 2024. Stagecoach Group This exciting purchase comes from a £37.2m investment by Stagecoach and an additional £35.7m from Greater Manchester's successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) bid and £12.5m from TFGM/GMCA. We’re pleased to say that all the buses will be fully accessible and loaded with a variety of features, including wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems, and anti-slip flooring. As well as this, Stagecoach is investing in an additional 122 new fully electric buses to be implemented across the UK within the next year. We've also already seen some success in introducing electric bus fleets in Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dunfermline in Scotlan...