Sheringham Station & Bittern Line upgrade

Greater Anglia is in the process of improving services for passengers travelling on the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham, by installing a brand-new platform at the latter station, ready for new trains. The new facility has doubled the length of the existing platform – at 80m, as against as opposed to the previous 40m.

It is also be wider, with improved lighting and a new customer shelter. The investment of over £1 million, will make the station fit for the new trains which are due to come into service later this year.

The new bi-mode trains will all be 3 or 4 carriages long (replacing the current 1 and 2 carriage trains), meaning that Greater Anglia will be able to provide more capacity, including for special events and the busiest days during the holiday season.

The new platform will also make the station a much better, more welcoming gateway to the town, which will be easier for customers to use, replacing the existing rather short and narrow facility which can lead to delays at busier times.

In particular, passengers with luggage, buggies and those using wheelchairs will all benefit from the enhanced facilities, which are planned to be installed by early May.

The major upgrade also positions the line well to see increased patronage in the years ahead. Since the mid-1990s annual passenger journeys on the Norwich to Sheringham line have grown from 200,000 a year to over 680,000 in 2017/18 – an increase of 290% - after a series of service improvements, including more frequent train services and station enhancements, combined with proactive promotion from successive train operators and the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership.

Now, with brand-new, longer trains, the new platform at Sheringham, and other improvements such as ticket vending machines installed at all stations except Salhouse, the Bittern Line is well placed to continue to thrive in the years ahead, with an excellent train service connecting the North Norfolk Coast with Norwich and the rest of the rail network.

To complete the installation of the new platform, the station was shut for several weeks from Sunday 31 March. Durng that time, trains on the Norwich to Sheringham line terminated at Cromer. Passengers to and from West Runton and Sheringham continued their journey by rail replacement bus provided by such local companies as Marett's Chariots and Sanders Coaches.

The new bi-mode trains, made by Swiss manufacturer Stadler, are all longer, with more seats, USB and electric plug points, air conditioning, fast free wi-fi and accessible toilets and will all be to use the new platform at Sheringham.

'Go Sutton' Launched by Go-Ahead

12 Month trial of on-demand bus service launched by Go-Ahead

A brand new form of public transport has been launched in Sutton, with the start of a 12-month ‘on-demand’ bus trial. Using mobile and predictive technology, GoSutton is aimed at finding out whether flexible demand responsive transport services can play a role in boosting public transport use. Increasing public transport use, walking and cycling to 80 per cent of journeys by 2041 is a key aim of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which aims to make London’s streets safer, more inviting and less polluted places.

Sutton was chosen as the trial location as it has high car use and has been difficult to serve with traditional public transport. The borough has 24 well-used bus routes and 9 railway stations. However, due to its relatively low housing density and its historic development planned around people using private transport, it has not always been practical to run a dedicated bus service in certain areas. This trial aims to explore how creative methods, like demand responsive travel, can add to the traditional bus network, improve the links with existing public transport and reduce car usage.

The fully accessible buses, which can seat up to 14 people, all have USB charging points and free WiFi on board. 

They will operate in a defined area, rather than following a linear route. Customers travelling on the new buses will be able to book a seat in real time using the GoSutton app, or on the phone. The system will be powered by advanced algorithms, which enable multiple passengers to seamlessly share a single vehicle. The technology directs passengers to a nearby “virtual bus stop” for pick-up and drop-off, and dynamically routes the vehicle in real-time, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours.

 Map of the area covered

The technology behind the new service is designed to serve customers in the most efficient way – ensuring that separate vehicles are not deployed to serve the same passengers at the same stop.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “On-demand buses are an innovative new form of public transport designed to be even more convenient, particularly in areas of outer London where it can be harder to get around. This trial will help us determine whether expanding demand responsive technology can reduce car use and help clean up our toxic air.”

David Brown, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group said: “As the operator of PickMeUp, the largest demand responsive service in the UK, we are delighted to work with TfL and Via to help deliver this bespoke service to the residents of Sutton.”

Go-Ahead London are advertising for drivers for the new service see here.

We couldn't find how to register for the service so we assume that it is gradually being rolled out

Scottish bus builder Alexander Dennis bought in £320m deal

Alexander Dennis, the long-established Scottish bus builder, has been acquired by Canadian firm NFI Group in a £320 million deal.

With headquarters in Falkirk, Alexander Dennis has a history that spans more than a century. NFI is described as North America’s "largest and most diversified bus manufacturer", employing more than 6,300 people across Canada and the US.

Colin Robertson, chief executive of Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), has been appointed to lead NFI’s international operations from Scotland. He said: "This is an exciting day for our company and people. We can be proud of the transformation of our company from a traditional UK bus builder to a global leader with annual revenue in 2018 exceeding £630m. We look forward to becoming an important part of NFI while retaining our identity. This partnership is a complementary fit for both parties, allowing sharing of best practice and technology development, to form one of the largest independent bus and coach manufacturers in the world. NFI is a company we know well having engaged in a joint venture with them previously, and it was important to all of us at ADL that we were joining a team that shares our same culture and values, which are built around quality and excellent customer service, all driven by a passionate and committed team of people."

NFI's president and chief executive, Paul Soubry, added: "ADL is the UK’s number one bus manufacturer and the number one global producer of double-deck buses, with an established international presence and is recognised as a leader known for innovative products and a commitment to quality and service. We’re thrilled to have ADL join the NFI family and to be investing in such a great engineering and manufacturing success story, and a company we already know so well. ADL is an outstanding company with a strong track record and we look forward to working with the whole team to build more success on those solid foundations."

ADL was established in 2004 when a consortium of Scottish entrepreneurs led by Stagecoach co-founder Sir Brian Souter and including Dame Ann Gloag (Souter's sister), Sir Angus Grossart and Sir David Murray acquired the business from TransBus International’s administrators.

Souter, chairman of Souter Investments, said: "Having been involved with ADL since 2004, I have witnessed the transformation of the company into a truly international business with an exceptional product portfolio, a reputation for innovation and design and engineering excellence, and a first-class approach to customer service."

ADL employs some 2,500 people across its UK operations and supports a further 1,500 through subsidiaries and build partnerships globally.

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Friday-Sunday 7-9th June - Epping Ongar Railway

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Sunday 9th June - Bournemouth

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Sunday 2nd June - Didcot

Cornish Rail Scheme Awards

Seven rail schemes across Cornwall are getting a share of a £215,000 cash pot.

A project to create a new platform at Bodmin General to allow for extra train services is among those awarded funding from Great Western Railway.

It comes as train operator Great Western Railway  announces the winners of its community improvement fund.

With match funding, the total investment being made in the Cornwall community will top £398,000.Nick Wood, Bodmin & Wenford Railway commented
"We are delighted to have been awarded this funding from the GWR CCIF. It marks a significant contribution and brings to life our exciting, long held plans to develop Bodmin General station.

"The creation of the second platform will enable the BWR to offer increased services and enhance our visitor experience, especially during the peak Summer season and at Christmas. The design is in keeping with the railway's GWR heritage pedigree and the conservation area.

"We believe this ambitious project will enhance our railway today and prepare us for the future, while retaining and celebrating our heritage past. We look forward to working with GWR and Cornwall Council over the coming year to deliver this project."North Cornwall MP Scott Mann said  "Reconnecting Bodmin General with the mainline is something my constituents have called for since I was first elected in 2015"

This will be the latest part of a scheme to upgrade North Cornwall's rail infrastructure and will go hand in hand with the new Intercity Express Trains running from Cornwall to London."

The schemes are:

Bodmin General Platform 2: £54,000

New platform at Bodmin General heritage station to enable additional trains to operate to Bodmin Parkway.

North Cornwall Railway Heritage Play Areas: £35,057

Breathing new life into a play area while promoting the heritage of Camelford Station. As the play area in Enfield Park is in dire need of refurbishment, the Town Council thought it a wonderful opportunity to breathe new life into the play area while promoting the heritage of Camelford Station, which was once part of the historic North Cornwall Railway line. This will be done by installing a train play structure and incorporating all 13 station signs (from Halwill Junction to Padstow) into a new adventure trail.

Saltash Station Refurbishment Project: £40,000

Saltash Town Council purchased the disused station building at Saltash in June 2017 in response to widespread demand and support from the local community and well beyond. The former station building had laid in a near derelict state for a number of years. In its heyday, Saltash Station and its building was one of the busiest in Cornwall and the building is close to the heart of the people of Saltash. With financial support from GWR, Cornwall Council, and the Railway Heritage Trust, they are well on the way to securing the buildings future and refurbishment.

St Ives Station Pedestrian Signage and Way Marking: £5,000

For passengers embarking and disembarking pedestrian signage and way marking is currently poor. Access to St Ives station from the town is through a well-used public car park, which can lead to conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles and takes away from the sense of arrival. 

There is an alternative access to the town via some steps down to The Warren which provides an alternative scenic walk. These steps are close to the station but well hidden from arriving pedestrians. There is also disabled access to The Warren via a path behind the station which is not well signed. This project will provide improved signage and way marking to encourage pedestrians to use a safer and more accessible route into the town.

Looe Valley Line Heritage centre: £40,000

Creation of a heritage centre in the 1901 Liskeard & Looe Railway building (platform 3) at Liskeard. 

Turning Platform 3 rooms into a professionally done, modest sized heritage centre to allow for the display of information, show videos. It would also open up the old ticket office (which still has the ticket window and hatch) to the public and make a real feature of it. This room is currently used as a store.

Penzance Station onward connectivity: £15,900

Penzance station is the gateway to the town and far west Cornwall. It is served by at least 25 trains per day in each direction and from 2019 will see two trains per hour. The station is co-located with the bus station; and the coastal path to Marazion runs along the back of the station car park accessed via the bus station, but the layout is poor. 

The proposal includes: a new link to multi-use path through station car park; improved wayfinding to the path; improved signage to the bus station and town centre; extend platform 4 heritage fencing along the old motor raildock to replace existing fencing. There is also potential to provide cycle docking facilities on disused rail land.

Public Transport RTPI at Mainline Stations: £26,500

Provide bus real time information at key stations as part of One Public Transport System for Cornwall. The delivery of the new rail timetable providing two trains per hour on the mainline in Cornwall presents much improved opportunities for encouraging bus use to/from rail stations at the start/end of journeys. 

A new bus network has been developed with this in mind and 2tph are positively anticipated as the trigger to maximise the benefits of these significant improvements for customers.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood commented

  "We at GWR recognise only too well the vital role that rail plays in local and the national economy, and I am delighted that we have been able to continue to support the communities we serve with this funding.

"This year's entrants include a wide and staggering range of projects, many showing the innovation that the area has become renowned for, and I look forward to them all coming to fruition."

Old Glasgow Classics Back in Fashion

Vintage colours make a comeback as First Glasgow helps to mark 125 years of public transport in the city.

They say that a truly classic look never really goes out of fashion, and that’s the case in 2019 as First Glasgow marks the 125th anniversary of public transport in the city by bringing a bit of nostalgia to the company’s bus fleet. The roots of First Glasgow’s present day operation can be traced all the way back to 1894, when the Glasgow Corporation Tramway was introduced that year on 1 July. Glasgow’s public transport operations have had a colourful history over the years, with trams, trolleybuses and the motor buses that have continuously served the streets of the city sporting a number of eye-catching liveries along the way.

To mark ‘Glasgow 125’, First Glasgow is celebrating its heritage by turning back the clock and bringing back three classic liveries as follows:

1960s – Glasgow Corporation livery

1970s – Greater Glasgow PTE livery (GGPTE)

1980s – Strathclyde’s Buses livery

Three double decker buses will be given an external makeover befitting of celebrating Glasgow’s transport history and legacy.

A number of events to mark ‘Glasgow 125’ will be taking place across the city, the biggest of which will take place on 7 July through the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust. An Open Sunday event will be hosted at their bus museum in Bridgeton, which houses over 100 examples of buses from yesteryear in various stages of restoration, many of which proudly served the city streets.

First Glasgow will be lending support to this event by providing vehicles in heritage colours alongside preserved vehicles to operate a shuttle service between the bus museum and the city centre. The shuttle bus will then extend beyond the city centre to their Caledonia Depot, where they will have further examples of vintage vehicles on display that will tell the story of the Glasgow bus from the days of ‘The Corpy’ all the way through to First Glasgow, via Greater Glasgow PTE and Strathclyde’s Buses.

A further display of their brand new and colourful route branded fleet will also be on show as First Glasgow continues to write the next chapter in the evolution of delivering the city’s transport solutions. An internal vehicle tour will also operate within the depot to give everyone the chance to see the largest bus depot in the UK up close.

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for First Glasgow said: “We are delighted to be working with the dedicated team of volunteers at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust to help celebrate our history. Our modern double deckers will sport the colours of yesteryear but brought up to date to suit the lines of the vehicles. We hope people of all ages enjoy seeing them out and about around Glasgow.”

Steven Booth, Trustee and Chairman of the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust said: “The Trust is delighted to be working in conjunction with First Glasgow to celebrate the last 125 years of our transport heritage. We believe this event will let people see the development of bus travel in the city. Our contribution will be a display of historic vehicles and artefacts at Bridgeton Bus Garage. In addition, we will also provide the public with an opportunity to travel on vintage buses as part of the free service being jointly provided with First. 
These vehicles have been lovingly restored by their owners and are doing what they were designed to do – provide public transport in style. We are also very pleased to be working closely with First Glasgow on this event and look forward to building and strengthening this relationship into the future.

DalesRail Service Resumes

A rail service linking Lancashire with some of the north’s most picturesque routes resumed on May 19th.

The DalesRail service between Blackpool and Carlisle returned on Sunday May 19th and will re-link Lancashire with the Ribble Valley, Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley.

The route leaves Blackpool via Preston and will operate every Sunday until September 9 taking in the famous Settle to Carlisle line and Yorkshire Dales.

Community group Community Rail Lancashire has helped bring the route back after its success last season and will be recommending country walks to tie in the with service.

Richard Watts, chairman of Community Rail Lancashire said: “DalesRail is simply the best way to enjoy the iconic Settle Carlisle line with direct trains from Lancashire. What’s more, it also offers the opportunity to keep fit with over 50 guided walks available over the 17 Sundays. These walks will be led by experienced volunteer walk leaders from Lancashire Rail Ramblers.”


Martin Keating, interim stakeholder manager for Northern, said: “I would like to thank Community Rail Lancashire, the Settle and Carlisle Community Rail Partnership and the Lancashire Rail Ramblers in working with Northern on delivery DalesRail. This is an offering we’re proud of and will offer a direct link to some exciting leisure opportunities for our customers.”

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Wednesday 5th June - English Channel

Something rather different from our usual daily news, Dakotas over the English Channel to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Channel Crossing the day before D-Day. Reports have suggested a significant number of the type will be in attendance.

Alexander Dennis Open Day

An estimated 3,000 people attended the open day at the Alexander Dennis bus

chassis factory in Guildford on Saturday 11th May. The opportunity to look behind the

scenes at Britain’s biggest bus manufacturer was enthusiastically embraced by local

residents as well as visitors from as far afield as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Tours of the plant, vehicle displays and rides, specialist talks on electrical systems and

hybrid technology, and build-a-bus activities for children were just some of the attractions organised for visitors by a team of 40 volunteers from the company’s Guildford team.

The event was held in support of two local charities, Challengers and Phyllis Tuckwell

Hospice Care, with just short of £1,600 raised for their causes.Vintage vehicles displayed the breadth of the engineering and manufacturing heritage of Dennis, with lorries, lawn mowers, preserved buses and fire engines on show.

A 1936 open-top Dennis Ace fire appliance lovingly known as ‘the Pig’ – in service until 1997 as the Dennis works’ own fire engine – offered rides around the local area that drew long queues.

Park and ride buses and shuttles to railway stations were provided by preserved and modern buses with the kind support of vehicle owners and local bus operators including Stagecoach, Arriva, Cardinal Buses, Mortons Travel, Reptons Coaches, Safeguard Coaches, Southern Transit and White Bus Services.

Production supervisor Claire Barrett, who led the organisation team, commented: “I feel very

honoured to have been involved in the open day, seeing so many people enjoying

themselves, taking part in the activities, being curious and asking questions about the

products and systems we use.
The balance of content about the past, present and future of the company was just right and enjoyed by all. Many of our colleagues came along with their families and it was lovely to witness their pride at working for such an iconic company.”

..

Stagecoach Order Allocation Update

Further to our posting earlier this week covering the announcement of the new £80m Stagecoach bus orders for 2019/20, here are details of proposed allocations to provincial fleets.

131 ADL Enviro 400MMCs
11139-11156 Morecambe [Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire]
11157 Carlisle [Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire]
11158 Carlisle but currently with Stagecoach UK Bus for IT cloud evaluation [Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire]

11161-11162 Elgin [Stagecoach North Scotland]

11163-11175 Macduff [Stagecoach North Scotland]
11176-11191 Aberhill [Stagecoach East Scotland]
11192-11201 Hull [Stagecoach East Midlands]
(17) Northampton [Stagecoach Midlands]
(21) Witney [Stagecoach Oxfordshire]
(18) Sharston [Stagecoach Manchester]

95 ADL Enviro 200MMC (11.8m)
(24) Thanet [Stagecoach South East]
(21) Hull [Stagecoach East Midlands]
(18) Stockton [Stagecoach North East]
(32) Basingstoke [Stagecoach South]






28 ADL Enviro 200 MMC (10.8m)
37602-37615 Holbrook [Stagecoach Yorkshire]
37616-37629 Cheltenham [Stagecoach West]

12 Volvo B8RLE/ADL Enviro 400MMC XLB
13901-13912 Fenstanton/Busway [Stagecoach East]

32 BYD/ADL Enviro 400 400 electric
(32) Sharston [Stagecoach Manchester]

12 Optare Metrocity electric
(12) Caerphilly [Stagecoach South Wales]

4 Optare Solo electric
(4) Caerphilly [Stagecoach South Wales]

3 Optare Solo SR slimline
48041-48043 Merthyr [Stagecoach South Wales]

12 Volvo B8RLE/MCV
​(12) Merthyr [Stagecoach South Wales]

14 Volvo B11RlE double deck coaches
50406-50411 Megabus/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland]
50412-50419 CityLink/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland]

8 Volvo B11R/Caetano Levate III coaches
54404-54411 National Express duties/Chesterfield [Stagecoach Yorkshire]

In a statement Stagecoach said its planned new vehicle orders are worth more than £80million to help tackle the twin challenges of car congestion and air quality.
A new fleet of 351 cleaner, greener vehicles, will be introduced in the coming 2019/20 financial year as the company invests further in to improve services for customers in communities across the UK.

The brand new buses and coaches will be introduced in Stagecoach's regional networks in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as on the company’s megabus.com network in the UK.
The planned orders include 48 electric buses which are being part-funded by the UK Government’s Green Bus Fund and - once orders are finalised - will go into service in Manchester and South Wales.

Virtually all of the new vehicles meet the Government’s Low Carbon Emission Bus specification, with a mixture of electric vehicle technology and the latest Euro 6 emissions standard engines.
Most of the new vehicles are set to be built in the UK, helping to support hundreds of British manufacturing jobs and smaller businesses in the supply chain.

Around three quarters of the new vehicles will be fitted with audio visual display systems which provide next-stop information. Each of the new vehicles will also be fitted with CCTV, and USB charging points, while most will also have wi-fi installed, giving customers free internet access during their journeys.  

A number of vehicles from the order have already been delivered and are in service with Stagecoach East Scotland, Stagecoach North Scotland, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, Stagecoach Yorkshire. The 20 Enviro 200MMCs delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland earlier this year are not included in the totals and are presumed to be an addition to last years orders.

The latest investment includes 131 low-floor double-decker vehicles to go into service across the UK, as well as around 95 single deck vehicles and 28 midibuses.
Also included are a fleet of 12 new double deck vehicles for the Cambridge Guided Busway, delivering more capacity than ever before, carrying 100 passengers. 

There are also 22 coaches for the Group’s UK Bus, Scottish Citylink and megabus.com operations.

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “This is a huge investment by the private sector in providing better mobility and better air quality in local communities. It follows other significant investment that we’ve made in smart ticketing, improved information for customers and digital technology.
“Delivering better bus services is a shared responsibility and it is absolutely essential that this commitment is matched by urgent action by local authorities to address the growing gridlock in our towns and cities. Without action on congestion, local people will not enjoy the full benefits of this investment and people’s quality of life, health and our economy will continue to be damaged by too many cars on the road.”

Stagecoach East
Twelve high capacity ADL Enviro 400MMC XLB double deck buses are on order for Cambridge Busway work and will be allocated to Fenstanton depot.

Lothian ADL Enviro 400MMC XLB operating on Princess Street Edinburgh. 
One of these vehicles has been evaluated on the Cambridge Busway and
as a result orders for 12 have been placed for operation on the Busway

The order follows the evaluation of one of the Lothian vehicles earlier this year. Delivery is expected later this year.

The buses will enable an increase in seats on the Busway to cater for increasing loadings.
​

115,000 Extra Seats on ScotRail Trains

The new timetable improvements from ScotRail have added thousands of extra seats for customers, with more new trains meaning there are now 115,000 seats more every day than at the start of the franchise.

 Interior of a new class 385

With the introduction of its timetable from 19 May 2019, ScotRail said it is enhancing services with the introduction of more high-speed trains and brand-new class 385 electric trains.

With 20,000 seats being added to services, the total number of weekday seats available for customers is now 625,000 – a massive increase of 115,000 since the start of the franchise.


The completion of the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts line provides even more improvements with a new hourly service at Breich, and more than 3,500 extra seats on weekdays.

The rail operator will also withdraw more class 314s from service as part of the continuing process of delivering a better standard of service for customers. The 314's entered service in 1979.

Some of the other improvements include:












Glasgow to East Kilbride: the first phase of enhancements on the route with more peak services operating with six carriages, providing more than 1,000 additional seats on weekday services.

Glasgow to Barrhead: strengthening of some services to four carriages during peak periods and an additional 3,000 seats on weekdays.

West Highland Line: additional services added to the West Highland Line on Sundays through the winter period between Glasgow, Fort William and Mallaig.

Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts: almost all services operated with electric trains, providing an extra 3,500 seats on weekdays.

Glasgow to Lanark: the introduction of brand-new class 385 electric trains providing more comfortable journeys on the majority of services.

Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High: more 42-minute journeys and an average journey time of just 47 minutes on weekdays.

Edinburgh to Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane: all services will be operated by brand-new class 385 electric trains, with faster journey times and 1,500 extra weekday seats.

Glasgow to Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane: all services will be operated by brand-new class 385 electric trains, with faster journey times and 4,000 extra weekday seats.



Further timetable improvements will be delivered in December 2019.


ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes said:

“The timetable changes we are making will see even more improvements on Scotland’s Railway, with the unprecedented investment in new trains and infrastructure delivering faster journeys, more seats and more services for our customers.


“We are now providing 115,000 extra seats every day since the start of the franchise, and everyone across the ScotRail Alliance is working hard to deliver the service that our customers expect and deserve.”

Orders Worth £80million Placed by Stagecoach

Stagecoach Group has announced planned new vehicle orders worth more than £80million to help tackle the twin challenges of car congestion and air quality.

A new fleet of 351 cleaner, greener vehicles, will be introduced in the coming 2019-20 financial year as the company invests further in to improve services for customers in communities across the UK.

The brand new buses and coaches will be introduced in Stagecoach's regional networks in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as on the company’s megabus.com network in the UK.

The planned orders include 48 electric buses which are being part-funded by the UK Government’s Green Bus Fund and – once orders are finalised – will go into service in Manchester and South Wales.

Virtually all of the new vehicles meet the Government’s Low Carbon Emission Bus specification, with a mixture of electric vehicle technology and the latest Euro 6 emissions standard engines.

Most of the new vehicles are set to be built in the UK, helping to support hundreds of British manufacturing jobs and smaller businesses in the supply chain.

Around three quarters of the new vehicles will be fitted with audio visual display systems which provide next-stop information. Each of the new vehicles will also be fitted with CCTV, and USB charging points, while most will also have wi-fi installed, giving customers free internet access during their journeys. The new vehicles are expected to go into service this year.

The latest investment includes 131 low-floor double-decker vehicles to go into service across the UK, as well as around 95 single deck vehicles and 28 midibuses.

Also included are a fleet of 12 new double deck vehicles for the Cambridge Guided Busway, delivering more capacity than ever before, carrying 100 passengers. There are also 22 coaches for the Group’s UK Bus, Scottish Citylink and megabus.com operations.

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “This is a huge investment by the private sector in providing better mobility and better air quality in local communities. It follows other significant investment that we’ve made in smart ticketing, improved information for customers and digital technology.

“Delivering better bus services is a shared responsibility and it is absolutely essential that this commitment is matched by urgent action by local authorities to address the growing gridlock in our towns and cities. Without action on congestion, local people will not enjoy the full benefits of this investment and people’s quality of life, health and our economy will continue to be damaged by too many cars on the road.”

Details of the new orders are as follows:

131 ADL MMC Enviro400 double-deckers
95 ADL MMC Enviro200 single-deckers
28 ADL MMC Enviro200 midibuses
12 ADL MMC Enviro400 XLB Volvo B8L double deckers
32 ADL MMC City Enviro400 BYD Electric Bus double deckers
12 Optare Metrocity Electric Bus single deckers
4 Optare Solo Electric Bus mini-buses
14 Plaxton Panorama Volvo B11Rle double deck coaches
8 Caetano Levante Volvo B11R coaches
12 MCV Volco B8RLE single deckers
3 Optare Solo mini-buses

In the most recent Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey carried out by independent watchdog Transport Focus reported that 90% of Stagecoach customers in England, and 92% of Stagecoach customers in Scotland, were satisfied with their journey.

224mph Bullet Train Launched

The world's fastest bullet train with a 72ft nose is unveiled in Japan, as experts say the 224mph locomotive will be operational by 2030

Dubbed the Alfa-X, it is capable of reaching speeds of up to 224mph and consists of ten carriages.

Its sleek silver design is matched by its long and pointed nose which stretches out 72 feet in front of it.

The locomotive begins thee years of testing as the country prepares to expand its bullet train network.

Sapporo, the main city in Japan's northern Hokkaido region, will be connected to the rest of the ultra-fast network and, if the train achieves its proposed speed, a trip between Tokyo and Sapporo would be nearly halved to four and a half hours.

It comes equipped with a host of other technology as well as its exceptional speed.

It is also fitted with an air brakes. Dampers and air suspension will also be used to keep it stable and conformable.

'The development of the next-generation Shinkansen is based on the key concepts of superior performance, a high level of comfort, a superior operating environment and innovative maintenance,' says the East Japan Railway, better known as JR East.

The Alfa-X comes with other features deigned to make it less susceptible to earthquakes.

Alfa-X's nose is designed to reduce noise and pressure at the extreme speeds and make it safer heading into tunnels.

Currently, the fastest conventional trains in the world can reach 200mph - also in Japan, as well as France.

Eurostar, which connects France and England by rail, has a top speed of just 185mph

This continues Japan's push into bullet train technology, but magnetic rivals are in operation which beat it in terms of raw speed.

These Maglev trains, which work by levitating via magnetism above the rails, can reach 268mph, enabling it to cover a 19-mile distance in just seven minutes and 20 seconds.

Shanghai currently uses these trains, the fastest in commercial operation in the world.

click here to see a video of the new Alfa-X train

Eurostar & Deutsche Bahn Trying to Resolve Ticketing Issue

Eurostar is working with Deutsche Bahn to resolve a ticketing system compatibility issue which will prevent the German national operator from selling through tickets between Germany and the UK.

The through-tickets allow passengers to take the train from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi, and change there to German high-speed trains, for less than the cost of so-called “summated fares” – adding together the component prices for each sector.

Prices start at under €60 (£51) one way for shorter trips, with tickets to Berlin, Munich and other more distant destinations for under €70 (£60). These are competitive with fares on British Airways, easyJet and Eurowings, the Lufthansa subsidiary.

Over quarter of a million people have travelled from London to
Amsterdam, the equivalent of more than 1,000 plane loads 

Unlike some other connecting journeys, passengers travel on a single booking – making rescheduling straightforward in the event of disruption.

Last year Eurostar awarded Dutch software company Sqills a contract to provide its S3 Passenger sales, distribution and reservation suite by early 2020.




On May 6 DB said the deployment of the new Eurostar ticketing system meant that through tickets would no longer be available from 9th November 2019, but it was working with Eurostar to develop a solution.

Eurostar confirmed that it would unable to offer DB the ability to sell its through fares while it transferred to the new sales system. However, a spokesman said ‘we are committed to this product range and are working with DB to resolve this’.

In the interim, the operator pointed out that passengers would be able to combine tickets from Eurostar and DB sales channels.

New Stagecoach open-top route for Hastings

The all new open top ‘route 66’ bus will be hitting the streets of Hastings on Saturday 25th May - for the first time ever!

The route will start at Harley Shute, serving Combe Haven Holiday Park, down to the The Bo-Peep Pub and along the seafront, as far as The Stade.

There’s plenty to do and see along the route! Here are a few ideas:
Take a look into the world of Serial Killers, Forensics, Gangsters, Prisoners and much more at the True Crime Museum.
Go back in time and visit Hastings Castle, built by William the Conqueror himself – it’s nearly 1,000 years old!
Listen to the "Smugglers Adventure" story, including interactive displays & life-size characters!
Ride the East Hill lift, the UK's steepest funicular railway.
Take a shot at Hastings Adventure Golf, it features no less than 3 separate 18 hole courses! So bring one, bring all, play one, play all!
Get creative with some contemporary British art at the Jerwood Gallery, soon to be Hastings Contemporary.
Get up close to countless species of marine life at Blue Reef Aquarium – from sharks and stingrays to seahorses and clownfish.

Hop on and off all day with an adult dayrider, it costs just £4.50 on the bus - it’s even cheaper at £4.20 if you buy it on our app. With an adult dayrider you can add a kid for a quid, bargain! You can add up to four kids for £1 each. Hastings and South East megarider tickets are valid on the route at all times and concession passes can be used within the usual times of validity.

Look out for the bus! It will be in a special colourful design featuring all the fun things you can do along the route.

And finally.......................

Not the first time Hastings has had a dedicated open-top bus service. Several decades ago in the last century (!), Maidstone & District operated just such using a couple of AEC Regal single-decks with Beadle bodywork.

June 1976 and fleet number 4003 (HKL 436) heads for the seafront ready for the first trip around the town. Originally SO26 in the National Bus Company subsidiary M&D fleet from 1947 as a closed top bus, it was converted during 1958 to open-top form.


 

Ten years on and 4003 had become 436 in the post NBC privatised Hastings & District fleet. Repainted with the green replaced by red on the livery, 436 made an appearance at the annual Southsea Spectacular bus rally and illustrated here as it headed a parade of vintage buses around the common area during June 1986.