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.

Transport UK London Bus has given its fleet a green boost, rolling out 12 shiny new GB Kite Electroliner BEVs from Wrightbus, all thanks to financing sorted through Asset Alliance Group.

Stagecoach West Scotland has just pulled the wraps off a world first – a fleet of 12 electric midibuses, unveiled this week and they're rolling out on Ayrshire’s all-electric bus routes this autumn. This snazzy £5 million investment adds a dozen Enviro100EV midibuses to the mix across East, South and North Ayrshire, boosting Stagecoach’s electric fleet in the area to a solid 60.

Stagecoach South West has splashed out over £1.5 million on 12 brand-new, Euro VI low-emission single deckers for North Devon. These snazzy Optare Solo M8570SR buses are stepping in to replace older ones, taking on routes from Barnstaple, including the newly nabbed Lynton, Lynmouth, and Woolacombe services.

FirstGroup has made a significant move by acquiring Anderson Travel, a highly experienced coach operator that offers contracted school services, private hire, mini coach operations and tours in and around London.

Rochdale-based Mellor is busy building new Bee Network buses for local community routes, as part of hundreds of vehicles being made in the UK for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. These orders are not only keeping jobs secure but also creating new ones in Greater Manchester and across the UK.

Hold on to your wands, folks – Evan Evans Tours just made their fleet a little more magical. If you thought one Harry Potter-themed electric double-decker was cool, get ready to geek out, because they’ve just added their fourth fully bus to the squad! That’s right, this bad boy isn’t just stylish – it’s 100% electric and decked out in enough Harry Potter magic to make you feel like you’re heading straight to Hogwarts.

Uno has just rolled out the big guns—or rather, the big buses. The University of Hertfordshire’s own bus operator has welcomed five brand-spanking-new Volvo B8L-MCV eVoSeti double deckers to their fleet, and they’ve arrived just in time for Freshers. Picture it: five shiny new buses making their debut at the Freshers Fair on Friday 27th of September, like rock stars about to hit the stage—except, you know, with USB chargers and less noise.

Ready to ride? Warrington just took its electric bus game to new heights – literally! The very first Volvo BZL Electric double-decker has rolled into town, marking a major milestone in the switch to greener, cleaner travel. And let’s be real – who doesn’t love a double decker?

Hold onto your bus tickets, folks! More than 40 million bus journeys were taken in Lancashire over the last year. That’s right, we’re seeing a bus resurgence like it’s the hottest comeback since, well, the bus itself. Passenger numbers have surged by a whopping 50% since the days of pre-pandemic normalcy, along with an impressive rise in the miles bus services in the county are clocking up. Talk about a triumphant return!

First Bus has just welcomed its latest crew of engineering apprentices to the training academy at Reaseheath College in Cheshire – the UK’s first dedicated bus and coach engineering facility.

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is gearing up to unveil its first new bus route later this month. It’s been a year since the city region took control of its bus network, giving local communities a louder voice in how services are run. Since then, buses in Greater Manchester have become cheaper, cleaner and more reliable. Routes are being reviewed to ensure residents can easily access jobs and opportunities.

Alexander Dennis, part of the global bus manufacturing giant NFI Group Inc., has just delivered two shiny new Enviro400 double-decker buses to Selwyns Travel, one of the North West's top independent coach operators. And these aren’t just your average buses – they’re packed with 85 comfy, high-backed seats complete with 3-point seat belts.

Half a billion pounds. That’s the figure behind a game-changing investment poised to transform bus journeys across the UK, delivering 1,200 homegrown zero-emission buses. Say goodbye to fumes and hello to cleaner, quieter travel, courtesy of bus operator Go-Ahead. And the cherry on top? This green investment is not only about smooth rides; it’s about supporting hundreds of jobs and sparking economic growth nationwide.

Go-Ahead London, a Go-Ahead Group subsidiary, has ordered 32 Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV small electric buses. It’s the second deal with a London operator for these shiny new next-gen electric buses.