Over £1 Billion Investment to Enhance Bus Services Across England as Fares are Capped at £3 🚍

• The UK government announces an investment of over £1 billion to revitalise bus services. 🚍
• A cap on single bus fares is set at £3, effective from 1 January 2025.
• The initiative aims to ensure affordable public transport for millions, especially in rural areas and towns.

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.

30 years of Bus Deregulation in Britain

On 26^th October 1989, bus services around Britain were deregulated under the Transport Act 1985. In this article I will give you bit of history on how it all started and then progressed.

In short, deregulation means the government gives more powers to private bus companies to set up their own bus routes and fares - and compete against other bus companies for profits.

Contactless payment cards come to Stagecoach buses

Outside of London, Stagecoach Buses have launched contactless bank cards on their Oxfordshire services.

Update on Bus Services Bill and transport news roundup

I have a news update for everyone on the bus industry in Britain. To start us off, the Bus Services Bill has been published for the public to view.

From Route One

Bus Services Bill is published: Now the debating can start

The wait is finally over as the Bus Services Bill has been published.

The 88-page, 33,500 word bill was published late on Friday afternoon (20 May).

Virtual Electric bus for Bristol

39191 SN65ZGS

Good news for Bristol as they see the Alexander Dennis Enviro400H Virtual Electric buses coming to their town. They will be operated by First bus in Bristol on route 72 which goes from the City Centre to UWE’s Frenchay Campus via Whiteladies Road & Gloucester Road.

From First Bristol News

Two revolutionary virtual electric buses were launched this week in Bristol. First West of England are introducing the state-of-the-art low emission buses in partnership with Department for Transport, Bristol City Council and University of the West of England (UWE).

The buses use Geo-Fencing GPS technology to run on pure electric mode in areas of low air quality, producing zero emissions. The small diesel engine only runs in areas of better air quality and simply charges the electric engine.

Last of the Olympians for EYMS service

Yes, the East Yorkshire Motor Service is going to become fully 'Low Floor' which makes it a lot easier and accessible for passengers to use when catching a bus in East Yorkshire.

If you think that I only concentrate on London Only Bus services, you are wrong. 

From the EYMS Press release:

Last Olympian farewell trips

Bus enthusiasts will be sad to hear that all EYMS's Olympian buses have now been sold, and will soon be leaving EYMS for their new home.

We know that these buses are held in great affection by many people, so to mark the occasion we'll be running a special 'Farewell Olympian' service on Saturday 30 May 2015.

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.

Where’s the double deckers for route 66?

Route maps of route 66

Screenshot from Traveline

Route 66 is a London Buses route that uses the A12 Eastern Avenue road which links from Leytonstone to Romford Station. The route goes parallel to the Central Line stations between Leytonstone to Newbury Park, then it goes towards Romford station.

Video: Ride via the rural roads to Lakeside (on Route 370)

On the Wednesday 16th July, I have embarked on the journey to Lakeside to see the non TFL bus services at the Bus Station. I have video recorded routes 370 and 372 respectively to show the rural countryside of Essex. 

Video: Stagecoach London Scania Omnicity 15017 LX58CFG

I have captured the Stagecoach London Scania Omnicity 15017 (LX58CFG) twice, first using my camera phone and second with my Pen Camera.

Transport systems that use smartcard in Britain and Ireland

Logos for various smartcard transport systems.

Logos belong to their respective trademarks

Smartcard is a system where you can top up on pay as you go smartcard or have season tickets like weekly, monthly or yearly for use on the transport system.

Various cities around the world which have a smartcard system to travel by bus or train services, so you can use it for pre pay so you don’t have to fiddle with the change where you travel.

Tour Buses or London Transport Buses for sightseeing?

Well if you’re travelling to London for a short stay or a day trip, you would encourage yourself to ride on the double decker buses to see the sights of Central London.  But I help you on comparing the differences between the open top tour buses and normal commuting London Buses.

Prices on sightseeing tour buses and London Buses

Oyster Card
Creative Commons Image