Sunday 31 March 2019

Volvo Driverless Bus for Singapore


Volvo has revealed a pioneering, driverless electric bus that is set to undergo testing, before being put into operation on Singapore's roads.

The 12-metre long bus, AB 7900, has a capacity of 93 people, and is able to carry 57 standing passengers as well as those seated.




Unlike regular buses used in public transport networks worldwide, this electric vehicle produces zero emissions and uses 80 per cent less energy than a diesel bus of the equivalent size.

"We are very proud to be showcasing our electric bus featuring autonomous driving technology. It represents a key milestone for the industry and is an important step towards our vision for a cleaner, safer and smarter city," said Volvo Buses president HÃ¥kan Agnevall.



Designed in collaboration with Singaporean university Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the driverless bus uses sensors and navigation controls that are operated by artificial intelligence.
"The journey towards full autonomy is undoubtedly a complex one, and our valued partnership with the NTU and the Singapore Land Transport Authority are critical in realising this vision, as is our commitment to applying a safety-first approach," said Agnevall.

The operating system is backed up by cybersecurity measures to ensure its safety on public streets.



The sensors and navigation controls include light detection and ranging sensors (LIDAR), stereo-vision cameras that capture imagery in 3D as well as a global navigation satellite system.

This satellite system is similar to a regular GPS but uses multiple data sources to give pin-point accuracy to the nearest centimetre.

It runs in parallel with an "inertial management unit" which measures the bus' speed and movement. This will improve the bus' navigation when going over uneven terrain and around sharp bends, ensuring a smooth ride for passengers.

Two buses are currently undergoing tests in the city state, one on the NTU campus and the other at a bus depot operated by the Singaporean public transport operator SMRT. They will play a key role in determining the roadworthiness of the vehicles.

"The world's first 12-metre autonomous bus will shape the future of public transportation by promoting a transport system that is safe, efficient, reliable and comfortable for all commuters," said NTU president Subra Suresh.

"It will soon be tested on NTU's smart campus, which has been a living testbed for autonomous vehicle technologies since 2012," he continued.

Data from trials will be used to improve the technology before the buses are put into operation as public transport.

Saturday 30 March 2019

HST Class 41 to Visit Keighley Diesel Weekend 3rd to 6th May

Prototype HST Power Car 41001 will headline the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Diesel & Mixed Traffic Gala, Friday 3rd to Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. 
©125 Group 
The Prototype HST was built in 1972 and during testing between York and Darlington in 1973 smashed the UK rail and world diesel speed record reaching 143.2mph. It was the fore-runner to the hugely successful InterCity 125 Production HST fleet which revolutionised long distance UK rail travel.

 ©125 Group
41001 is part of the National Collection, restoration was funded and carried out by 125 Group under the ‘Project Miller’ banner after the power car had spent over 25 years as a static exhibit at York NRM. The power car is fitted with a ‘screaming’ Paxman Valenta engine of the type which originally powered all HSTs.

The unique locomotive will work public services between Keighley and Oxenhope, hauling five of 125 Group’s Mk3 coaches, recreating the look of the Prototype High Speed Train. The Gala will also feature other guest locomotives and the K&WVR resident fleet, for more details see the K&WVR website HERE.

For more information about the 125 Group click here

Friday 29 March 2019

New buses for Liverpool


Fleet of zero-carbon hydrogen-powered buses coming to Liverpool city region


From the Liverpool Business News


A consortium led by industrial gases company BOC, and including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Arcola Energy, has secured £6.4m from the Government for a pilot project.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, with a hydrogen-powered bus

Up to 25 hydrogen-powered buses will take to the streets of the Liverpool city region emitting nothing but water from their exhaust pipes.

A consortium led by industrial gases company BOC, which also includes Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Arcola Energy, has secured £6.4m from the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles to launch a pilot project.

Refuelling station

Working with bus-maker Alexander Dennis and bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach, the Liverpool City Region Hydrogen Bus Project will see the creation of a new hydrogen refuelling station at the BOC plant in St Helens. It already produces hydrogen for industrial customers in the region and further afield.

The project will contribute to the city region’s plans both to improve air quality and work towards a zero carbon economy by 2040. The first bus trial is expected to take place in 2020, subject to agreement with the Bus Alliance.

The new hydrogen refuelling station will initially deliver 500kg of hydrogen every day. Crucially, the project aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of a model that installs refuellers for high-use fleets to develop a network for future use by passenger cars and other vehicles.

Low carbon

Liverpool City Region Metro May, Steve Rotheram, said: “With a low-carbon economy worth more than £2bn a year, we are already in the vanguard of the green energy revolution and the Liverpool City Region Hydrogen Bus Project is another very exciting step in that direction. Introducing commercially-viable hydrogen-powered buses would not only help our city region tackle poor air quality and achieve our ambition of being zero carbon by 2040 but would put us at the forefront of a technology that could be transformative for the rest of the country and beyond.”

Jan Ellringmann, BOC head of sales and marketing, added: “As the market leader in industrial gases in the UK, BOC has produced hydrogen safely and efficiently for many decades, including from our site at St Helens. As pioneers of hydrogen’s use in low-carbon transport – commercial vehicles and cars as well as buses – BOC is delighted to be working with the project partners to help bring cleaner air to Liverpool city region.”

Thursday 28 March 2019

Deutsche Bahn to sell Arriva


The transport group Arriva, which runs UK rail franchises including Northern and the London Overground as well as buses around the country, is to be put up for sale by its owner, Deutsche Bahn.




The German state rail operator has revived plans for a sell-off or possible public flotation for the UK-based company.

Arriva, whose headquarters is in Sunderland, operates bus and rail services around Europe and was acquired by Deutsche Bahn in 2010.

The German firm confirmed on that its supervisory board in Berlin had told managers to explore options for selling Arriva, before the announcement of financial results on 28th March.

Deutsche Bahn will look for buyers but will also continue to examine the possibility of an IPO. Initial public offering) The idea of a sell-off was raised in 2016 but was shelved after Britain voted to leave the EU, amid concerns the business would be undervalued and investors put off after the collapse in sterling.

The German owner had been looking to curb its own mounting debts, although the group returned to profit in 2017.

However, investment of €1bn (£850m) in new high-speed trains last autumn pushed Deutsche Bahn’s debts close to €20bn.

Germany’s railway network has been afflicted by widespread problems from ageing trains and a lack of capacity, and its bosses are keen to raise funds to upgrade the infrastructure.

Last year, Arriva – which is responsible for all of Deutsche Bahn’s regional passenger transport services outside Germany – generated revenues of €5.44bn. It employs 53,000 full-time staff in 14 European countries including the UK.





Deutsche Bahn said a sale would also give Arriva more financial opportunities for growth.

In the UK, Arriva’s biggest going concern is Northern, who's passengers have been subjected problems caused by unions in a row over the role of guards on trains.

Arriva has been praised for operating Chiltern and open access services such as Grand Central, but shouldered criticism for running down Wales’s train services over a long contract, and missed out on a string of franchise bids. It is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, running over 5,000 buses.




Wednesday 27 March 2019

Cambridge Metro


'Compelling case' for Greater Cambridge metro


A £4bn metro system for Greater Cambridge could create 100,000 jobs and 60,000 new homes, a report claims. The feasibility study, commissioned by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, has been backed by business and industry in the area. It means work could begin on the so-called Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) as soon as 2021.

Mayor James Palmer said the report offers a "a compelling case" for a new regional transport network. The metro, whose routes would cover 142km (88 miles), will be designed as a "turn up and go" service and include 12km (7.5 miles) of underground corridors beneath the city of Cambridge. It would operate with zero-emission "trackless metro" electric vehicles - at a maximum speed of 55mph (90km/h) - capable of crossing the city in under 12 minutes, the report adds.




The CAM would connect the city to expanding villages such as Cambourne and Waterbeach - as well as regional towns including St Neots, Huntingdon, St Ives, Mildenhall and Haverhill.
Crucially, it will encourage a "modal shift" away from the private car which would reduce congestion, emissions and accidents, Mr Palmer said. "The cost would be raised by a combination of local contributions and central government funds. This is one of the most pioneering transport infrastructure projects seen in the UK. The CAM will serve an area of international renown, with a dynamic economy full of world-class businesses, academic excellence and pioneering research and development."

Cambridge City Council leader, Lewis Herbert, said the metro would "transform public transport" and "navigate through and under our much-treasured, but medieval, city centre. But to get government support, it is critical that the next stage identifies the funding methods needed to secure close to £4bn in capital".

Tuesday 26 March 2019

Latest London Bus contract awards

The latest awards recently announced by Transport for London as follows:


24  (24-hour route) (Hampstead Heath & Pimlico) LBSL contract awarded to Abellio using 2013 Euro-V LT-class New Routemasters. Currently operated by Metroline Travel with the LT-class New Routemasters from Holloway (HT) Garage (contract start date 9th November 2019)



27  (24-hour route) (Hammersmith & Camden Town) LBSL contract awarded to Abellio using 2014 Euro-V LT-class New Routemasters. Currently operated by RATP London United with the LT-class New Routemasters  from Stamford Brook (V) Garage (9th November)

266/N266 (Hammersmith & Brent Cross) LBSL contract awarded to RATP London United using buses as yet to be confirmed. Currently operated by Metroline Travel with TE-class ADL diesel double-decks from Cricklewood (W) Garage (7th December)



267  (Hammersmith & Fulwell Garage) LBSL contract awarded to Abellio West London using existing fleet Euro-VI LT-class New Routemasters. Currently operated by RATP London United with the LT-class New Routemasters from Fulwell (FW) Garage (9th November



661  (Petra Wood & Chislehurst schoolday-only) LBSL contract awarded to Stagecoach Selkent using existing fleet 2009 Euro-IV diesel double-decks. Currently operated by London Central (5th October)

669  (Thamesmead & Cleeve Park School schooldays-only) LBSL contract awarded to Stagecoach Selkent using existing fleet 2011 Euro-V diesel double-decks. Currently operated by London Central (5th October)

672  (Thamesmead & Woolwich schooldays-only) LBSL contract re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent using existing fleet 2012 Euro-V diesel double-decks (7th September)


Euro-IV and V buses will be upgraded to Euro-VI emissions standards



Want more information on the full London bus scene, then why not have a look at the London Omnibus Traction Society's website at http://www.lots.org.uk/
Better still why not join and gain the benefits of the regular monthly newsletter along with other useful publications

Monday 25 March 2019

Llangollen and district by red London bus


Starting on Easter Weekend, vintage bus tours will take guests to the Horseshoe Pass and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct




A vehicle hire company will be giving residents the chance to see Denbighshire from a different perspective this Easter - via a vintage bus.

The Routemaster 4 Hire company, based in Wrexham, has announced it will be introducing two new sightseeing tours in Llangollen over Easter Weekend with more to follow soon after.

They have confirmed that the first tour will take guests to the summit of The Horseshoe Pass where they will see stunning views of the Clwydian Range as they ride 1,368ft along the A542 to the Ponderosa Cafe - located on the highest point.

As the buses drive out of Llangollen, passengers can take a moment to take in the spectacular views towards the Llantysilio Mountain range and Marilyn Cyrn-y-Brain.

The Horseshoe Pass tours will depart Parade Street in Llangollen daily at 11:45am and 14:45pm.

The second tour takes guests on a scenic drive from Llangollen to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal 126ft over the River Dee.

Built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1805, the 18-arched stone and cast iron structure is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world.

The Aqueduct Tour will depart Parade Street in Llangollen daily at 10:30am, 13:30pm and 15:30pm.

You can pre-book tickets by calling 01978 799909 or online at viatour.com A limited number of tickets will also be available on the day, so you can just turn up and hop-on.

Tours will be running everyday over the Easter Weekend (April 19-22). More running dates will be announced soon.

For further information on prices and times of tours, visit: https://www.routemaster4hire.co.uk/blog/open-top-sightseeing-in-llangollen

Sunday 24 March 2019

FirstGroup & Hitachi Announce 2021 London to Edinburgh Rail Services


FirstGroup has finalised an order for five Hitachi AT300 electric trainsets which it will use to launch a London – Edinburgh open access service in autumn 2021.

The £100m deal completed on March 20 is being financed by Beacon Rail Leasing and includes 10 years of maintenance by the manufacturer.



FirstGroup already operates the Hull Trains open access service between London and Yorkshire, and its East Coast Trains Ltd subsidiary has secured a 10-year track access agreement for the London – Edinburgh service.

A service of five trains a day each way is planned, calling at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth with a journey time of around 4 hours

FirstGroup is specifically aiming to attract the two-thirds of passengers travelling between London and Edinburgh who currently fly, with the first service from London King’s Cross expected to arrive in Edinburgh by 10:00 to attract business passengers from air.

It plans to offer an ‘average fare of less than £25, with the 200 km/h five-car 25 kV 50 Hz trainsets having a single class of accommodation with on-board catering, air-conditioning, power sockets and free wi-fi.

‘We’re excited to announce the next step to providing our high-quality low fare service for customers linking London and Edinburgh’, said First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery. ‘There’s a real gap in the market for truly affordable rail travel between the two capitals. Our plans show we are serious about competing with low-cost airlines and opening up rail travel on this key route to thousands of new passengers. The new trains we are introducing will provide the highest level of comfort and service, whilst being great for the environment and air quality.’

Saturday 23 March 2019

Kent open-topper


Stagecoach's Thanet open-top route 69




The hugely popular open-top bus will be returning to Thanet this year for an even longer season!

Route 69 will be back from Saturday 6 April 2019, running the same route as last season between Ramsgate Boating Pool and Broadstairs Stone Bay.


Operating dates

Daily between:
Saturday 6 April and Monday 22 April

Every weekend (including bank holidays) between:
Saturday 27 April and Sunday 19 May
Saturday 8 June and Sunday 21 July
Saturday 7 September and Sunday 29 September

All week during school holidays:Half Term - Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June
Summer - Wednesday 24 July to Sunday 1 September

Plus special Fridays:
Good Friday, 19 April
Dickens Festival, 21 June

When and where to catch route 69





1  Stone Bay
2  Broadstairs, Queen's Road
3  Broadstairs, Victoria Parade
4  Dumpton Gap
5  Granville Theatre
6  Ramsgate Harbour
7  West Cliff, Boating Pool 


And finally. A tad under 50-years ago route 69 was operated by National Bus Company subsidiary East Kent, using a small number of converted Park Royal bodied Guy double-decks. One such was 376 (FFN 376), shown here on a somewhat cool summer's day, going on the look and dress of the passengers, at Palm Bay, Margate during June 1970.






Friday 22 March 2019

Extension for Midland Main Line Electrification


The Department for Transport has confirmed that infrastructure manager Network Rail has been instructed to design an extension of the Midland Main Line electrification by around 15 km from Kettering to Market Harborough, which would enable a new connection to a power supply at Braybrooke.




In a written answer to a question from Member of Parliament for Harborough Neil O'Brien on February 26, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport Andrew Jones said continuing the electrification as far as Market Harborough had been determined to be the best value-for-money option for making the power supply connection at the outline business case stage in March 2018. It would be tested again when the overall Midland Main Line programme Key Output 1a is assessed at the full business case stage.

O’Brien said this was ‘very welcome news, which will mean less pollution and quieter trains’. He hoped it was ‘also a step forwards towards hopefully getting the whole line done’.

Plans to extend the existing London – Bedford 25 kV 50 Hz electrification north to Kettering, Nottingham and Sheffield were cancelled by the government in July 2017, following cost overruns with the Great Western Main Line route upgrade. Instead the government opted for electrification only as far as Kettering and Corby, with a plan for the next franchisee to procure fleet of electro-diesel inter-city trainsets for the route.



Maria Machancoses, Director of regional transport body Midlands Connect, welcomed the news that electrification was likely to reach Market Harborough, but called for the wires to be extended to Leicester, Toton and Nottingham.

The Railway Industry Association also welcomed the news, with Technical Director David Clarke saying ‘electrification is clearly the optimal solution for intensively used rail lines’. RIA’s Electrification Cost Challenge report which is expected to be published next week would ‘show how we can deliver schemes even more cost effectively in future’, he added.


Thursday 21 March 2019

New Lothian Enviro400XLB's Introduced to Edinburgh Cross-City Services

Staying north of the Border in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh....................

The first of the new 100 seat Enviro400XLB buses have started operating on Services 11. The new vehicles are also operating occasionally on route16.  





Service 11 operates from Ocean Terminal to Hyvots Bank and Service 16 connects Silverknowes and Colinton. Together, these popular cross city routes carried over 10 milllion customers last year.


The new buses can carry up to 129 customers each. They have a front and middle door to speed up the times spent at bus stops and have been built to even higher standards than bus users in Edinburgh have become accustomed to, with comfortable high-backed seating, Wi-Fi, USB charging, mood lighting and audio-visual stop announcements.




Richard Hall, Managing Director, said:

The city is changing and public transport operations must evolve to meet the growing needs and expectations of our customers. Core cross city routes are an important piece of our network, transporting millions of customers quickly and efficiently to their destinations every week.



Due to building work the bus terminus at Ocean Terminal has been moved to a
windy side street with no bus shelters
 
Services 11 and 16 are high frequency core route services, together carrying over 10 million customers across the city with high demand in the morning and afternoon peaks, as well as at weekends. By deploying these new vehicles onto these services to cope with customer demand patterns, we will be able to change how we deliver these services for the benefit of our customers and the areas in which we operate.




To ensure the smooth introduction of these vehicles to the streets of Edinburgh, we have an in-house project team carrying out route assessments and familiarisation training. Look out for them travelling around the city.














..

Wednesday 20 March 2019

Edinburgh bus war


Bus wars set to return to Edinburgh’s streets as First squares up to Lothian


A new bus wars look set to break out in the Capital after First West Lothian said it was ready to go toe-to-toe with Lothian buses over services. Lothian launched new Lothian Country routes in West Lothian last summer, mirroring existing routes connecting West Lothian and the Capital.




Now First plans to retaliate by increasing its services and introducing some in Edinburgh. The company is said to be planning a significant investment, including a plethora of buses to provide express services on key corridors within, and surrounding areas of, the city. But Lothian appeared to welcome the move, saying “healthy competition” was good for jobs, demand, innovation and standards.



It will be an echo of the battle between council-owned Lothian buses and First Edinburgh which raged for 18 months around 2001 and led to fare cuts, rival buses fighting for passengers on the busiest routes and large financial losses for both companies. And the prospect of a new conflict sparked warnings that more buses on the city’s roads would add to congestion, making it more difficult for other road-users to get around and increasing pollution.

Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First West Lothian said: “Lothian buses launched a significant competitive operation in West Lothian in August last year and have increased their presence in a further four waves, presumably in an attempt to extend their Edinburgh market dominance. We increased the number of services and journeys on the 28th of January 2019 and are now reviewing a number of options with regards to increasing our services further, not only in West Lothian, but also in Edinburgh. We welcome the deregulated bus market and competition in a fair environment, but having operated in West Lothian for over 100 years, we know the market is not large enough to support the current level of provision.”

A new survey revealed Lothian Buses is the best value for money in Scotland. Mark Heritage, general manager of Lothiancountry said: “Since commencing operations in the area last August, we have seen significant customer growth across our network, which is a real testament to our dedicated and motivated workforce who deliver a fantastic customer experience every day. Healthy competition in the marketplace creates jobs, stimulates demand and drives innovation, whilst ensuring the high standard of customer service that the bus industry is renowned for is maintained.’’

In the summer of 2001, First Edinburgh slashed fares and put on extra services along traditional Lothian buses routes in a bid to win extra passengers. Timetables were changed and more vehicles moved in as competition intensified on the city’s busiest routes. But concerns were voiced that passengers were suffering because other services were being cut or abandoned altogether as resources were diverted. The bus wars finally came to an end in February 2002 when First announced it was pulling out of several routes where it was in direct competition with Lothian Buses. First Edinburgh accounts later showed an annual loss of £4.4m in the 12 months up to March 2002 when the bus wars were at their height. The losses included an operating loss of £2.2m. Lothian buses also saw a plunge in profits and launched a major restructuring exercise in a bid to survive the bus wars.



The Office of Fair Trading, which regulates consumer protection and commercial activity, carried out an official inquiry after Lothian buses made a 
complaint that First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. But First was cleared of any wrong-doing by the OFT. It was concluded its conduct represented legitimate competition. First withdrew its East Lothian services in 2016 and Lothian buses stepped in, launching East Coast Buses as a new subsidiary and taking over the operation of services from Edinburgh as far as Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Lothian Country was launched in 2017 with three routes between Edinburgh and Bathgate, and Edinburgh Park Station and Whitburn, seven days a week, and has since added services to Livingston, Armadale, Broxburn and other West Lothian destinations.



Bus wars set to return to Edinburgh’s streets as First squares up to Lothian Remaining Time -0:00 Ian Swanson Published: 06:00 Updated: 11:30 Friday 15 March 2019 Share this article Sign Up To Our Daily Newsletter 8 Have your say NEW bus wars look set to break out in the Capital after First West Lothian said it was ready to go toe-to-toe with Lothian buses over services. Lothian launched new Lothian Country routes in West Lothian last summer, mirroring existing routes connecting West Lothian and the Capital. Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Now First plans to retaliate by increasing its services and introducing some in Edinburgh. The company is said to be planning a significant investment, including a plethora of buses to provide express services on key corridors within, and surrounding areas of, the city. But Lothian appeared to welcome the move, saying “healthy competition” was good for jobs, demand, innovation and standards. It will be an echo of the battle between council-owned Lothian buses and First Edinburgh which raged for 18 months around 2001 and led to fare cuts, rival buses fighting for passengers on the busiest routes and large financial losses for both companies. And the prospect of a new conflict sparked warnings that more buses on the city’s roads would add to congestion, making it more difficult for other road-users to get around and increasing pollution. Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First West Lothian said: “Lothian buses launched a significant competitive operation in West Lothian in August last year and have increased their presence in a further four waves, presumably in an attempt to extend their Edinburgh market dominance. “We increased the number of services and journeys on the 28th of January 2019 and are now reviewing a number of options with regards to increasing our services further, not only in West Lothian, but also in Edinburgh. “We welcome the deregulated bus market and competition in a fair environment, but having operated in West Lothian for over 100 years, we know the market is not large enough to support the current level of provision.” Neil Greig of motoring group IAM RoadSmart, said another outbreak of bus wars was bad news for everyone. He said: “Based on what happened last time, these competitions tend to end up with a drive to the bottom, with poorer services and aged buses, and doesn’t attract people out of their cars. “It will mean more buses on the roads and more congestion – and also more pollution. If you have three or four buses standing at a stop – and they’re often older buses – it’s going to have an effect on air quality. People usually blame pollution on cars but in city centres it’s almost always down to buses.” A new survey revealed Lothian Buses is the best value for money in Scotland Passenger survey reveals Lothian Buses is best value for money in Scotland Mark Heritage, general manager of Lothiancountry said: “Since commencing operations in the area last August, we have seen significant customer growth across our network, which is a real testament to our dedicated and motivated workforce who deliver a fantastic customer experience every day. “Healthy competition in the marketplace creates jobs, stimulates demand and drives innovation, whilst ensuring the high standard of customer service that the bus industry is renowned for is maintained.’’ In the summer of 2001, First Edinburgh slashed fares and put on extra services along traditional Lothian buses routes in a bid to win extra passengers. Timetables were changed and more vehicles moved in as competition intensified on the city’s busiest routes. But concerns were voiced that passengers were suffering because other services were being cut or abandoned altogether as resources were diverted. The bus wars finally came to an end in February 2002 when First announced it was pulling out of several routes where it was in direct competition with Lothian Buses. First Edinburgh accounts later showed an annual loss of £4.4m in the 12 months up to March 2002 when the bus wars were at their height. The losses included an operating loss of £2.2m. Lothian buses also saw a plunge in profits and launched a major restructuring exercise in a bid to survive the bus wars. The Office of Fair Trading, which regulates consumer protection and commercial activity, carried out an official inquiry after Lothian buses made a 
complaint that First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. But First was cleared of any wrong-doing by the OFT. It was concluded its conduct represented legitimate competition. First withdrew its East Lothian services in 2016 and Lothian buses stepped in, launching East Coast Buses as a new subsidiary and taking over the operation of services from Edinburgh as far as Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Lothian Country was launched in 2017 with three routes between Edinburgh and Bathgate, and Edinburgh Park Station and Whitburn, seven days a week, and has since added services to Livingston, Armadale, Broxburn and other West Lothian destinations.

Read more at: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/bus-wars-set-to-return-to-edinburgh-s-streets-as-first-squares-up-to-lothian-1-4889775
Bus wars set to return to Edinburgh’s streets as First squares up to Lothian Remaining Time -0:00 Ian Swanson Published: 06:00 Updated: 11:30 Friday 15 March 2019 Share this article Sign Up To Our Daily Newsletter 8 Have your say NEW bus wars look set to break out in the Capital after First West Lothian said it was ready to go toe-to-toe with Lothian buses over services. Lothian launched new Lothian Country routes in West Lothian last summer, mirroring existing routes connecting West Lothian and the Capital. Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Now First plans to retaliate by increasing its services and introducing some in Edinburgh. The company is said to be planning a significant investment, including a plethora of buses to provide express services on key corridors within, and surrounding areas of, the city. But Lothian appeared to welcome the move, saying “healthy competition” was good for jobs, demand, innovation and standards. It will be an echo of the battle between council-owned Lothian buses and First Edinburgh which raged for 18 months around 2001 and led to fare cuts, rival buses fighting for passengers on the busiest routes and large financial losses for both companies. And the prospect of a new conflict sparked warnings that more buses on the city’s roads would add to congestion, making it more difficult for other road-users to get around and increasing pollution. Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First West Lothian said: “Lothian buses launched a significant competitive operation in West Lothian in August last year and have increased their presence in a further four waves, presumably in an attempt to extend their Edinburgh market dominance. “We increased the number of services and journeys on the 28th of January 2019 and are now reviewing a number of options with regards to increasing our services further, not only in West Lothian, but also in Edinburgh. “We welcome the deregulated bus market and competition in a fair environment, but having operated in West Lothian for over 100 years, we know the market is not large enough to support the current level of provision.” Neil Greig of motoring group IAM RoadSmart, said another outbreak of bus wars was bad news for everyone. He said: “Based on what happened last time, these competitions tend to end up with a drive to the bottom, with poorer services and aged buses, and doesn’t attract people out of their cars. “It will mean more buses on the roads and more congestion – and also more pollution. If you have three or four buses standing at a stop – and they’re often older buses – it’s going to have an effect on air quality. People usually blame pollution on cars but in city centres it’s almost always down to buses.” A new survey revealed Lothian Buses is the best value for money in Scotland Passenger survey reveals Lothian Buses is best value for money in Scotland Mark Heritage, general manager of Lothiancountry said: “Since commencing operations in the area last August, we have seen significant customer growth across our network, which is a real testament to our dedicated and motivated workforce who deliver a fantastic customer experience every day. “Healthy competition in the marketplace creates jobs, stimulates demand and drives innovation, whilst ensuring the high standard of customer service that the bus industry is renowned for is maintained.’’ In the summer of 2001, First Edinburgh slashed fares and put on extra services along traditional Lothian buses routes in a bid to win extra passengers. Timetables were changed and more vehicles moved in as competition intensified on the city’s busiest routes. But concerns were voiced that passengers were suffering because other services were being cut or abandoned altogether as resources were diverted. The bus wars finally came to an end in February 2002 when First announced it was pulling out of several routes where it was in direct competition with Lothian Buses. First Edinburgh accounts later showed an annual loss of £4.4m in the 12 months up to March 2002 when the bus wars were at their height. The losses included an operating loss of £2.2m. Lothian buses also saw a plunge in profits and launched a major restructuring exercise in a bid to survive the bus wars. The Office of Fair Trading, which regulates consumer protection and commercial activity, carried out an official inquiry after Lothian buses made a 
complaint that First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. But First was cleared of any wrong-doing by the OFT. It was concluded its conduct represented legitimate competition. First withdrew its East Lothian services in 2016 and Lothian buses stepped in, launching East Coast Buses as a new subsidiary and taking over the operation of services from Edinburgh as far as Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Lothian Country was launched in 2017 with three routes between Edinburgh and Bathgate, and Edinburgh Park Station and Whitburn, seven days a week, and has since added services to Livingston, Armadale, Broxburn and other West Lothian destinations.

Read more at: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/bus-wars-set-to-return-to-edinburgh-s-streets-as-first-squares-up-to-lothian-1-4889775
Bus wars set to return to Edinburgh’s streets as First squares up to Lothian Remaining Time -0:00 Ian Swanson Published: 06:00 Updated: 11:30 Friday 15 March 2019 Share this article Sign Up To Our Daily Newsletter 8 Have your say NEW bus wars look set to break out in the Capital after First West Lothian said it was ready to go toe-to-toe with Lothian buses over services. Lothian launched new Lothian Country routes in West Lothian last summer, mirroring existing routes connecting West Lothian and the Capital. Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Buses on Princes Street. Pic: Greg Macvean Now First plans to retaliate by increasing its services and introducing some in Edinburgh. The company is said to be planning a significant investment, including a plethora of buses to provide express services on key corridors within, and surrounding areas of, the city. But Lothian appeared to welcome the move, saying “healthy competition” was good for jobs, demand, innovation and standards. It will be an echo of the battle between council-owned Lothian buses and First Edinburgh which raged for 18 months around 2001 and led to fare cuts, rival buses fighting for passengers on the busiest routes and large financial losses for both companies. And the prospect of a new conflict sparked warnings that more buses on the city’s roads would add to congestion, making it more difficult for other road-users to get around and increasing pollution. Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First West Lothian said: “Lothian buses launched a significant competitive operation in West Lothian in August last year and have increased their presence in a further four waves, presumably in an attempt to extend their Edinburgh market dominance. “We increased the number of services and journeys on the 28th of January 2019 and are now reviewing a number of options with regards to increasing our services further, not only in West Lothian, but also in Edinburgh. “We welcome the deregulated bus market and competition in a fair environment, but having operated in West Lothian for over 100 years, we know the market is not large enough to support the current level of provision.” Neil Greig of motoring group IAM RoadSmart, said another outbreak of bus wars was bad news for everyone. He said: “Based on what happened last time, these competitions tend to end up with a drive to the bottom, with poorer services and aged buses, and doesn’t attract people out of their cars. “It will mean more buses on the roads and more congestion – and also more pollution. If you have three or four buses standing at a stop – and they’re often older buses – it’s going to have an effect on air quality. People usually blame pollution on cars but in city centres it’s almost always down to buses.” A new survey revealed Lothian Buses is the best value for money in Scotland Passenger survey reveals Lothian Buses is best value for money in Scotland Mark Heritage, general manager of Lothiancountry said: “Since commencing operations in the area last August, we have seen significant customer growth across our network, which is a real testament to our dedicated and motivated workforce who deliver a fantastic customer experience every day. “Healthy competition in the marketplace creates jobs, stimulates demand and drives innovation, whilst ensuring the high standard of customer service that the bus industry is renowned for is maintained.’’ In the summer of 2001, First Edinburgh slashed fares and put on extra services along traditional Lothian buses routes in a bid to win extra passengers. Timetables were changed and more vehicles moved in as competition intensified on the city’s busiest routes. But concerns were voiced that passengers were suffering because other services were being cut or abandoned altogether as resources were diverted. The bus wars finally came to an end in February 2002 when First announced it was pulling out of several routes where it was in direct competition with Lothian Buses. First Edinburgh accounts later showed an annual loss of £4.4m in the 12 months up to March 2002 when the bus wars were at their height. The losses included an operating loss of £2.2m. Lothian buses also saw a plunge in profits and launched a major restructuring exercise in a bid to survive the bus wars. The Office of Fair Trading, which regulates consumer protection and commercial activity, carried out an official inquiry after Lothian buses made a 
complaint that First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. But First was cleared of any wrong-doing by the OFT. It was concluded its conduct represented legitimate competition. First withdrew its East Lothian services in 2016 and Lothian buses stepped in, launching East Coast Buses as a new subsidiary and taking over the operation of services from Edinburgh as far as Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Lothian Country was launched in 2017 with three routes between Edinburgh and Bathgate, and Edinburgh Park Station and Whitburn, seven days a week, and has since added services to Livingston, Armadale, Broxburn and other West Lothian destinations.

Read more at: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/bus-wars-set-to-return-to-edinburgh-s-streets-as-first-squares-up-to-lothian-1-4889775

Tuesday 19 March 2019

Transport for Wales Orders Stadler Trains


Transport for Wales Rail Services (TfW Rail) has awarded Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler a contract to deliver 71 trains.

The contract includes the delivery of 36 three-car CITYLINK tram-trains and 35 Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train (FLIRT) units.

Stadler UK sales director Ralf Warwel said: “This order will bolster our presence in Great Britain and we look forward to working with our clients in Wales.

“With its emphasis on battery power, the project puts us at the forefront of cutting edge, green technology, and we are especially proud of that.”


 

The CITYLINK three-car tram-trains will operate on 25kV electric and battery power.

Out of 35 vehicles, 11 FLIRT units will be diesel-powered and will be used on South Wales Metro services.

The remaining 24 FLIRT trains will be tri-mode, capable of running on electricity, diesel and battery power.

Stadler will deliver seven three-car and 17 four-car tri-mode trains to TfW Rail. Scheduled to start commercial operations in 2023, they will operate to the north of Cardiff using electricity and on diesel to the south.

Transport for Wales Rail Services CEO Kevin Thomas said: “Our journey has begun and we are all absolutely determined to create a transport network that is fit for the future.

“It’s really exciting to know that Cardiff will see the return of a tram operation for the first time in over 70 years, while the tri-modes being built by Stadler will offer an efficient and cost-effective electric drive and battery operation.”

Stadler is working on several other rolling stock delivery contracts in the UK. From this year, 58 new trains will enter service on the Greater Anglia network.

Over the next couple of years, 17 new trains will be introduced on the Glasgow Subway and 52 on Merseyrail.

Monday 18 March 2019

Edinburgh tram


Edinburgh approves £207m extension to tram line


Edinburgh’s controversial tram line will finally be completed, nearly a decade after its half-built track first opened to customers. The city’s council agreed on Thursday to spend as much as £207m on extending the line to its original destination in Newhaven on the Forth, linking the east end of the city by tram to its airport. It is hoped the newly completed line will carry its first passengers in early 2023, nearly 10 years after the first section opened in 2014. The Scottish parliament passed legislation authorising the line in 2006, but the project has been dogged by political battles and bitter rows with its contractors.




Many of the city’s residents remember the disruption, delays and cost overruns that hampered the tram project from the outset, with the cost of the first phase soaring to more than £1bn.The botched project, now being investigated in a public inquiry led by a judge, meant the line being built in two phases. The first ended in the city centre, 2.8 miles (4.6km) short of its Newhaven terminus. The full length of the line will be 18.7km.

The council insists it has learnt lessons from the debacle and has divided the contract for the new extension into two. One consortium will ensure utility pipes on the route are properly identified and if necessary moved, and the second will lay the track and install the signals. The decision to authorise the line’s completion was opposed by the Conservatives, who insist the council needs to wait until the inquiry into the first phase under Lord Hardie has published its report.

Members of Edinburgh’s community councils are also worried, and want the construction to be carefully phased and buses given priority on nearby roads to minimise disruption, which they fear could affect 75,000 residents and 1,500 businesses. The council has set aside £2.4m to help affected businesses. It said the cost of the extension would be met by borrowing that would eventually be repaid by extra tram fares, and a £20m injection from Lothian Buses, the city’s publicly-owned transport company.




It predicts the tram will carry 16 million passengers in its first year of operation. The current line carried 7.4 million last year, well above original projections. Mindful of the original cost overrun, it estimates the extension will cost £165m but have added a £42m contingency fund. Harald Tobermann, a spokesman for the Community Councils Together on Trams umbrella group, said there also needed to be tough controls on parking along the construction route. That was essential to “prevent the tram corridor from turning into Edinburgh’s largest park and ride area,” he said. “We recognise that a strong feeling exists among many people in our communities that this project is being pushed through with undue and unnecessary haste.”

Sunday 17 March 2019

The National Bus Company


It is now just over fifty years since the National Bus Company (NBC) was formed from the 1st January 1969, although much had transpired behind the scenes for a considerable time prior to the event. Indeed it was as a result of the Transport Act 1968 that trading commenced.

Ostensibly it was three major organisations who were brought together to prepare the way British Transport Commission (BTC) and successor from 1962 Transport Holdings Company (THC) along with British Electric Traction (BET), all with their respective bus companies.

Vehicles operated by the respective organisations were markedly different one which standardised on Eastern Coachworks bodies atop Bristol chassis, whilst the other had a wider variety of buses and coaches supplied by chassis makers and body builders. Livery was another area where there were differences, the BTC/THC majoring on red or green with cream relief. Although that said there were exceptions such as Brighton & Hove, Midland General and the Royal Blue operations of Southern & Western National. BET on the other was once again more relaxed in their operations with a wider variety of liveries and the application of bolder fleet names. A whole of companies operated under the umbrella of the NBC throughout England and Wales, from Cornwall to Northumberland as illustrated by the map below in the Mid-1970s.




By the end of the 1970s almost all the company’s original liveries had been superceded by the NBC’s nationwide livery of either leaf green or poppy red, generally with relief of a white stripe, between the windows on double-decks, and below the windows on single-decks. There was also standardisation of vehicle type being either the integral Leyland National single-deck or the Bristol VRT with Eastern Coachworks body for the double-decks. There was an alternative double-deck in shape of the Leyland Atlantean later replaced by the Leyland Olympian.
However, as that decade drew to a close, a change of government was looking towards deregulation of the bus and coach companies, and the decline and ultimate disappearance of the NBC by 1988, when the last company was sold off to privatisation.



NOW SEE THE LATEST ON THE NEW FOCUS FLICKR SITE:




The first of a set of albums to feature buses and coaches from the National Bus Company years. Subsequent sets will appear over the coming weeks, this one viewed by clicking  here

Additionally some earlier NBC albums on the Flickr site can be accessed by clicking  here
here   and  here



Saturday 16 March 2019

Govia Thameslink Railway


Govia Thameslink Railway faces £5 million fine for May timetable chaos



Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) faces a £5 million fine after a chaotic timetable launch caused disruption to thousands of passengers. Commuters on Thameslink and Great Northern (GN) routes suffered for eight weeks following the introduction of the a new timetable in May 2018 with swathes of services cancelled or altered at short notice. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said GTR "failed to provide appropriate, accurate and timely information" to travellers, with commuters receiving little or no information about services.

Some trains were permanently removed from the timetable with others removed or cancelled on a daily basis, leading to a "severe lack of certainty for passengers up until the point of travel.” In response, GTR said they were "disappointed" but that disruption "was due to industry-wide factors and we are sorry for the serious effect this had on our passengers."

The investigation also found that inadequate internal communication within GTR often left station staff with "little or no information" to help passengers. The regulator added: “Some trains were reintroduced but with insufficient time to input journey information into systems. These ‘ghost trains’ arrived at stations with staff and passengers unaware of their arrival or where they were expected to stop. Replacement buses were used on some routes but prolonged delays in providing information in journey planners meant many passengers weren’t aware that they were available.”

Train companies, government-owned infrastructure company Network Rail and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling were all blamed for the timetable chaos at the time. The ORR has written to all train companies and Network Rail to require them to review their crisis management plans and ensure appropriate arrangements exist for assisting passengers with disabilities in times of disruption.

Stephanie Tobyn, a deputy director at the regulator, said: "The disruption experienced by many passengers as a result of the May timetable introduction was awful. When disruption happens, poor quality information makes an already difficult and frustrating situation worse. The exceptional circumstances that followed the introduction of the timetable meant that providing perfect advance information for passengers was from the outset an impossible task and GTR's overriding focus was on providing as much capacity as it could to meet customer demand. However persistent and prolonged failures in information provision meant that passengers couldn't benefit from the operational improvement it was trying to make."




Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said: "Passengers were badly let down when the new timetable descended into chaos on some Govia Thameslink Railway and Northern routes, and information was often poor. This £5 million fine for Govia Thameslink should be a wake-up call to train companies that accurate passenger information really matters. It is important that the money from this fine is reinvested to benefit those passengers who suffered last year."

A separate ORR investigation into Northern rail found that although in many cases passengers did experience inadequate information in the two weeks that immediately followed the timetable introduction, it had "considered and subsequently taken reasonable steps to give passengers appropriate, accurate and timely information both prior to and during the disruption." The regulator said: "An interim timetable was introduced on 4 June that stabilised service levels, improved performance, and enabled the provision of better information to passengers. In consideration of these findings no further action will be taken against Northern."



Govia has 21 days to respond to the penalty notice from the ORR.

GTR chief executive officer Patrick Verwer said: “We are disappointed at today’s fine imposed by the Office of Rail and Road. We are making significant improvements to information for passengers. These include upgrades to station screens, issuing frontline staff with new smartphones loaded with real-time service information, and we have volunteer teams on standby to help passengers during disruption. Further improvements in customer information are planned. The severe disruption following last May’s timetable introduction was due to industry-wide factors and we are sorry for the serious effect this had on our passengers. GTR has paid £18m in passenger compensation and is investing a further £15m in improvements for passengers for its part in the timetable issues.”


Friday 15 March 2019

'Feet Seat' for Go North East Passengers


Go North East is launching a quirky new solution to the age-old problem of people putting their feet up on rear facing bus seats.

Dubbed the ‘Feet Seat’, it is a folding seat that leaves a flat surface for passengers to put their feet up, whilst the seat can be pulled down for sitting on, just like a normal seat, if the bus is busy.


The ‘Feet Seat’ concept is demonstrated by Zoe Gibbons from Go North East's Customer Services team and Stephen King, Commercial Director, along with Managing Director Martijn Gilbert (right).

Go North East is actively encouraging its customers to stretch out, put their feet up and relax in its feet seat zone when it’s not needed for seated passengers.

Three buses with the new design of seat will go on trial on the operator’s 309 and 310 bus routes across North Tyneside between Newcastle, North Shields, Whitley Bay and Blyth, which run up to every 7-8 minutes Monday-Saturday, and up to every 15 minutes on Sundays.

Commenting on the idea, Go North East’s Managing Director Martijn Gilbert said: “We’re continuing to enhance the bus travel experience for our customers. The idea of the feet seat aims to tackle the problem of people putting their feet on seats, by providing a way for people to do this without getting the seat dirty and making things unpleasant for their fellow travellers.

"Modern buses like ours provide a high-quality experience, with comfortable seats, free Wi-Fi, power socket charging points and more. With great value weekly tickets as well, there’s never been a better time to get on board and give the bus a try.”

A £14 North Tyne WeeklySaver ticket is available for use on the buses, as well as all Go North East services in the North Tyneside area, including journeys to and from Newcastle City Centre, and on the 309 to Blyth.

The bus operator hopes to expand its ‘Feet Seat’ concept to other buses in the future if the trial proves successful.