Blackpool Transport orders more Enviro400 City buses!

Blackpool Transport has once again purchased more Enviro400 City buses for their fleet.

From Alexander Dennis

The unique partnership between Blackpool Transport and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) took another step towards the future when a further 20 Enviro400 City buses were introduced to the seaside resort recently.

Popularity grows for the Enviro400 City as Uno launches for Comet services

Since the three-door two-staircase New Routemaster rollout is completed and there will be no more purchased by TfL, the legacy of the design lives on as more and more bus operators have gained interest with the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City.

Hertfordshire bus operator Uno (formerly UniversityBus) which is owned by the University of Hertfordshire has rolled out Enviro400 City buses for routes 614 and 644 branded as Comet Bus.

From University of Hertfordshire

Department for Transport announces successful bidders for greener buses

The Department for Transport has announced the winners for the Green Bus fund - enabling them to purchase new electric and gas buses.

From Department for Transport

Bus Services Act 2017 is now Royal Assent

The Bus Services Bill is now in force which will enable powers for local authorities in Britain to franchise bus services in their own area.

From Confederation of Passenger Transport UK

CPT has today welcomed Royal Assent of the Bus Services Act 2017 and has confirmed its on-going support for the new partnership measures that will see operators able to continue to operate in a commercial market thereby providing the best possible service to passengers. 

Blackpool Transport launches more Enviro400 City buses

In Blackpool, Lancashire, Council owned bus company Blackpool Transport has launched 25 of the new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City buses.

From Alexander Dennis

The promenade at Blackpool was awash with new buses on Sunday 9th April when Blackpool Transport officially launched 25 new Enviro400 City buses, manufactured by Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL).

These buses are the latest investment by the company in the last 3 years and at a cost of over £5m they significantly bolster the existing fleet.

Subsidies for London Bus Route 465 saved!

Surrey County Council were planning to cut subsidies for route 465 which would have shortened the route which runs from Kingston to Dorking, with the shorter route terminating at Leatherhead. Thankfully though, due to a campaign held by local residents who use the route, Surrey County Council announced they will continue to fund the route for the next 5 years.

Fare Rises for Nottingham City Transport

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) are increasing their fares from 26th March 2017. It will be the first time in three years for cash fare payers, and the first time for five to seven years for weekly, monthly and annual ticket holders for NCT services. This will be a mix of good and bad news for commuters in Nottingham.

From NCT press release

Council owned bus company “Thamesdown” sold to Go Ahead South Coast

Hot off the press:

Swindon Borough Council has sold the municipal bus company Thamesdown Transport to Go Ahead South Coast.

From Swindon 24

Thamesdown Transport Limited has been taken over by a major commercial bus operator after councillors agreed to sell the Council’s shares in the company.

Stagecoach comes to Kingston Upon Thames

Greater London receives its new route which is the 715. The route runs from Guildford towards Kingston Upon Thames and is funded by Surrey County Council - the service is not part of London Bus network.

From Stagecoach

From 31st December, Stagecoach will run a new service 715 from Guildford to Kingston upon Thames, via Ripley, Cobham & Esher, operated on behalf of Surrey County Council.

To mark the start of the new service, some journeys on Saturday 31st December 2016 will be run using an historic London bus, a double deck Routemaster coach that previously operated the former Green Line route 715 during the 1960s.

Abellio Surrey announces bus cuts

Abellio Surrey have issued a press release on their website announcing cuts to their services in the Surrey area.

Government awards £30 million funding for low emission buses

Bus operators, local authorities and transport authorities took part in bidding for funds for new low emission buses.

London Buses route 96 and Fastrack between Dartford and Bluewater

On this article, I’ll be explaining about the section of Route 96 which goes from Dartford to Bluewater Shopping Centre non-stop.

Bus service maps of London and the Home Counties

Since there are loads of cross boundary bus services bordering the Greater London area, many of those cross boundary routes are part of London Buses.

The North West, North East, South East and South West London bus maps also show cross boundary services. The routes that are in green are not part of the London Buses network and so different fares apply.

Bulk of Oxfordshire's bus routes to be cut on 20th July!

Over in Oxfordshire, there have been reports that the council are cutting at least 50 services in their area.

From Oxford Mail

AT LEAST 50 bus services in Oxfordshire are to be axed in July and campaigners fear the number could still rise.

Stagecoach today confirmed it would close 11 of its services but said 11 others under-threat would continue unchanged or with different timetables.

The announcement came after Thames Travel – the other biggest rural operator – said it would close 13 of its routes and keep 14 going, with smaller providers set to close a further 28.

Hertfordshire and Essex councils cut funding for London Bus cross-boundary services

I am aware of the changes being made to the bus services in Hertfordshire early this year. The local newspaper reported that the council wanted to save £390,000 per year. Also another local newspaper reported that Harrow Council is asking TFL to keep running the cross-boundary London Bus services.

Fastrack: Kent Thameside’s bus rapid transit

Fastrack is a bus rapid transit scheme in the Thames Gateway area of Kent which consists of two routes. It was first founded on 26th March 2006.

Their routes are as follows:

·         Route A serves Bluewater, Greenhithe, Temple Hill and Dartford

·         Route B serves Gravesend, Ebbsfleet International Railway station, Swanscombe, Ingress Park, Greenhithe, Bluewater, Dartford and Temple Hill

Both of these services are operated by Arriva Kent Thameside on behalf of Kent County Council.

Reading Buses to trial the New Routemaster

Just another New Routemaster article...

Reading Buses is to trial two New Routemaster buses for their purple route 17 which goes from Tilehurst to Earley.

Local newspaper 'Get Reading' reports:

One of Reading's purple buses will be replaced with a London bus as part of a two-week trial.

Proposed changes and cuts for bus services in Surrey

Surrey County Council is proposing cuts and alterations for bus services in order for the council to save £2 million in bus subsidies.

“Surrey County Council ran a public consultation from 8 October 2014 to 2 February this year, as part of its review of local transport services. Over 6,800 Surrey residents and stakeholders told us

2015 bus fares for publicly owned/regulated bus services

I have decided to take my time and draw a table to compare the fares with the publicly owned and regulated bus services. The services are regulated and the operations contracted out to private bus operating companies. For example, London Buses contract their routes to bus operating companies and their transport authority, and Transport for London organise the fares.

Another example is that of ‘Liberty Bus’ services, which are provided by the Jersey government but the operations are contracted to a company called CT Plus.

Tyne and Wear bus services to be operated by the council

Bus services in Tyne and Wear are to be controlled by the council as Councillors have backed plans for regulated services under the Quality Contracts Scheme.

In a move which could signal the biggest changes to the way buses operate across the region since de-regulation in the 1980s, members of the North East Combined Authority (neca) have today agreed to submit proposals for the introduction of a Quality Contracts Scheme (QCS) for consideration by a special independent panel. 

The north east is the first part of the country to reach this stage in developing a Quality Contracts Scheme under legislation introduced in 2000. The new scheme would see bus companies contracted to provide routes by Nexus on behalf of the North East Combined Authority, rather than the bus operators deciding which services to run on the basis of market forces.