Bus Ambassador

Greater Manchester is swarming into action, assembling a fleet of shiny yellow Bee Network buses as it gears up for full control of the local bus network come January. With the buzz building, an impressive army of new vehicles is getting ready to hit the streets, bringing a fresh wave of improvements to public transport across the region.

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has brought the buzz to Wigan, launching the brand-new 615 route and reconnecting the town with Middlebrook retail park – just in time for some festive shopping. Plus, the 132’s had a boost too, now running every half hour between Wigan and the Trafford Centre instead of just once an hour.

Ticketer, the leading supplier in real-time information, fleet management and smart ticketing for the UK’s bus and coach industry, has just hit a mega-milestone—its 8 billionth ticket sale. The lucky ticket? Sold on an Arriva Merseyside bus no less. This milestone not only marks Ticketer’s deep-rooted partnership with Arriva but also its ongoing impact on the entire industry since it launched in 2009.

In a significant move to transform public transport, the UK Government has pledged more than £1 billion to safeguard essential bus routes and ensure affordability with a capped fare of £3 for single journeys across England (excluding London). This long-term investment, which covers both metropolitan and rural areas, aims to prevent price hikes, protect crucial services and provide more reliable public transport options, particularly for communities where buses are often the primary travel option.

In light of recent media reports suggesting that the £2 bus fare cap in England may be scrapped in the upcoming Budget, Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), has voiced his concerns about the potential implications for bus passengers and the industry as a whole. Update at 12:07pm on 28/10/2024: The bus fares cap in England will be raised to £3 in the upcoming Budget, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

Following last year’s partnership , Hitachi and First Bus are charging ahead, with seven of First Bus' depots now powered by Hitachi’s ZeroCarbon battery and charging management technology. This is a significant step for the UK’s leading bus operator towards its ambitious 2035 net zero target.

Warrington’s Own Buses has officially rolled out the first wave of its all-electric fleet, a momentous stride toward greener urban transport backed by the town’s purpose-built electric bus depot. Marking a true milestone for public transport, the 105-vehicle order of Volvo BZL Electric buses is part of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) initiative, aiming to drastically cut emissions and noise pollution in towns across the UK.

Megabus has announced plans to downsize its coach network in England and Wales from the 4th of December due to low demand. The budget coach operator will pull the plug on various routes, though key services in Scotland and the South West will continue as normal.

FirstGroup plc has just added another name to its growing portfolio, snapping up the Shropshire-based Lakeside Group. This move comes hot on the heels of First Bus’s acquisition earlier in the week of Anderson Travel , a central London coach company.

Halloween is just around the corner, and up in the North East of England, Go North East's bus drivers have swapped their regular uniforms for something with a bit more… fright factor! In preparation for the spooky season, six brave bus drivers ventured to one of the area’s most haunted spots, Lumley Castle in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, for a bit of ghostly inspiration. Known for its spine-tingling tales of paranormal activity, Lumley Castle didn’t deter this fearless crew, who embraced their inner ghouls and went full-on haunted with eerie makeovers.

Big things are happening in St Helens. Designs for a brand-new transport interchange and shiny civic square are about to hit the spotlight and they’re aiming to transform the town centre. Fancy a peek? The plans are being shown off this week before the next big planning application gets the go-ahead – all part of a grand scheme to regenerate the area.