Bus Ambassador

The coach and bus industry descended upon Busworld in Brussels this week and led the charge into a new era of mobility as the newly integrated VDL Bus Group. Operating under the theme MOVE.TOGETHER, the manufacturer didn't just showcase products; it officially launched a powerful new corporate structure—combining VDL Bus & Coach with VDL Van Hool—and unveiled its flagship long-distance machine: the third-generation VDL Futura 3. This pivotal moment signals VDL’s reinforced commitment to providing operators with best-in-class vehicles that truly move the needle on total cost of ownership (TCO).

Volvo Buses has unveiled a new electric coach chassis that promises to push zero tailpipe emission travel further than ever before. The Volvo BZR Electric for coach applications can carry up to 720 kWh of batteries and, on paper, deliver as much as 700 km of range under the industry’s SORT 3 test cycle. That kind of capacity puts long interregional trips within reach for operators who have until now found electric coaches constrained to short hops and depot shuttles.

Lancashire is catching up with the cities as live bus arrival screens make their long-awaited return. Digital displays are starting to appear across Preston city centre in the first phase of a countywide rollout designed to give passengers accurate, up-to-the-minute departure times while they wait.

Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London have unveiled the BL1, a new electric express bus route that will begin service on Saturday 27 September. Branded the Bakerloop, the BL1 runs between Waterloo and Lewisham, following the alignment of the long-discussed Bakerloo line extension and giving passengers a preview of the Tube upgrade that remains on the drawing board.

Alexander Dennis has secured a firm order from First Bus for 17 of its next-generation zero-emission single-deckers to operate in Bath from 2026. The deal covers 12 Enviro200EV and five Enviro100EV, supported by funding from the Department for Transport’s Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Alexander Dennis has delivered 13 of its next-generation Enviro100EV single-deckers to Transport UK London Bus for operation on behalf of Transport for London (TfL). The order marks the operator’s first batch of the new model and one of the earliest deployments of the type on TfL services.

First Bus is cranking up the voltage in Norfolk with a £13.8 million boost to its electric fleet. Working alongside Norfolk County Council, the operator will add 24 battery-powered double deckers and the depot kit to keep them charged, extending zero-emission travel beyond Norwich and into Great Yarmouth by autumn 2026.

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.

Alexander Dennis has drawn a line under months of speculation by confirming its Scottish factories will stay open. After a spell of quiet but intensive talks with staff, unions and other stakeholders, the UK’s best-known bus builder has decided that its home turf still has a place in its long-term plans.