Bus Ambassador

Move over, Rudolph. Two shiny new double-decker buses just whisked Yorkshire kids off on a festive adventure to the Elf Village – and they’re fully electric. Yep, Christmas came early, and it’s running on batteries.

The Welsh Government has announced ambitious plans to overhaul the way local bus services operate across Wales. The proposed changes aim to put people and communities at the heart of public transport, creating a system that prioritises connectivity and sustainability.

The Liverpool City Region is gearing up for a transport transformation, with Arriva investing £14 million in 56 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 buses. These state-of-the-art single-deck, low-emission vehicles are now hitting the roads across the region, bringing passengers a smoother, greener and more comfortable travel experience. Arriva Bus UK This isn’t just about adding buses to the network; it’s a strategic step in creating a London-style, integrated public transport system. The buses, decked out in the Liverpool City Region’s bold yellow, black and grey livery, represent a shift towards a unified, accessible network. For passengers, it means a journey that’s as modern and efficient as the big-city systems they’ve long envied. Let’s unpack why this fleet is making waves and how it’s set to redefine public transport in Merseyside. A Closer Look: The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 is a well-regarded choice for operators, and it’s easy to see why Arriva picked i...

RATP Dev has announced the sale of its London bus operations to FirstGroup plc, including London United, London Sovereign and London Transit. The move allows RATP Dev to focus on global rail projects while handing the reins to FirstGroup, a leader in UK public transport, to drive the next chapter for London’s buses.

Reliance Motor Services has been a cornerstone of Yorkshire life for nearly a century, but come January 2025, the baton will pass to Transdev, a heavyweight in public transport across Europe. As Transdev’s York and Country team gears up to take over Reliance’s routes and buses, it’s worth taking a moment to look back at the rich history of this much-loved local operator.

First Bus has revealed a new logo and branding as part of its Moving the Everyday campaign, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing transformation. The company says this is more than a cosmetic change – it’s a statement of intent to focus on customers, its workforce, and the wider role buses play in society. First Bus This revamp aims to connect people not just to places but to each other, celebrating the everyday importance of buses in keeping communities moving. The campaign also highlights the environmental, social, and economic benefits of leaving cars at home and hopping on a bus. A New Era for First Bus The Moving the Everyday campaign is fronted by TV personality Josie Gibson, who shares stories of community resilience and the unsung heroes who rely on buses every day. First Bus is also making bold moves toward becoming a net-zero operation, pledging £250m to transition its fleet to zero-emission buses by 2035. The updated branding is the visual cornerstone of the compa...

What’s powering nearly four million journeys across Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham? Not the usual fossil fuel suspects, but First Solent’s shiny new fleet of electric buses.   First Bus These 62 zero-emission Wrightbus Kite Electroliners have clocked over 1.3 million miles since their launch in March, all while dramatically reducing CO2 emissions—about 2,427 tonnes of WTW (Well-to-Wheel) carbon, to be precise. That's like taking thousands of petrol cars off the road. This fleet rollout, the first of its kind in the region, was made possible thanks to a hefty £28.6 million investment. A chunk of that came from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, with First Bus covering the rest. The project didn’t stop at just delivering buses—it also electrified the Hoeford depot in Fareham, kitting it out with 66 rapid charging heads. The buses can juice up in just 2.5 hours and cover up to 200 miles on a full charge. A Zero-Emission Milestone Councillo...

Well, Reading Buses has done it again. At the start of the month, the trusty Jet Black 1 route has gone from everyday commuter to bona fide luxury liner, thanks to a fleet of brand-new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City buses that scream "first-class travel."

Bus journeys in Reading have shot up by a whopping 11.4%, hitting a grand total of 19.5 million in 2023/24. That’s a solid 2 million more trips than the year before, far outpacing the national average. To put it simply, Reading’s buses are now getting a lot more attention – and it's not just from passengers.

Since opening its shiny new doors in June, the Cardiff Bus Interchange has been buzzing with activity, now welcoming up to 9,000 passengers a day. Thanks to the addition of 14 new bus services in September, the number of buses using the interchange has jumped from 1,830 to 3,476 a week, packing in even more passengers—between 8,000 and 9,000 a day, to be exact. Talk about a success story.

Brace yourselves, First Bus is revving up to take centre stage for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. As the Official Travel Partner for this extraordinary year-long celebration, First Bus is all set to be your reliable ride to the action, bringing you closer to the art, culture and energy lighting up the city.

Think diesel’s on its way out? Think again. Wrightbus has just dropped its latest innovation: the next-generation StreetDeck Ultroliner. It’s packing a Cummins B6.7-litre six-cylinder diesel engine, a shiny new Voith DIWA.8 NXT seven-speed transmission and some serious low-emission credentials.