New era for Wrightbus as Birmingham City Council orders double deck hydrogens - delivery commences for Aberdeen…

It’s been a year since Wrightbus went in to Administration and were taken over by Jo Bamford.

This week, there has been progress in Wrightbus with their double deck hydrogen rollout.

From Birmingham City Council News Release

Birmingham City Council has purchased 20 new hydrogen double decker buses as part of their Clean Air Hydrogen Bus Pilot.

The Clean Air Hydrogen Bus Pilot looks to ‘kick-start’ the hydrogen market as a viable zero-emission fuel with the procurement and deployment of 20 hydrogen buses in Birmingham. The buses, which are made by Wrightbus and are the world's first zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell double deckers, will be introduced with National Express West Midlands from April 2021.

It’s intended that pilot will be the catalyst for the next generation of hydrogen buses, hydrogen production and re-fuelling infrastructure development. The council have also collaborated with ITM, who will be producing and dispensing the hydrogen fuel from the new re-fuelling hub at Tyseley Energy Park.

TfL resume New Routemaster conversion to front door only boarding and the launch of Enviro400EV City for West Midlands

The fares for London buses have now been fully restored and TfL mentioned in their press release that they are finishing off converting the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters to front-door only boarding.

Arriva orders ADL-BYD Enviro400EV City for route 319. Stagecoach Manchester unveils Enviro400EV Citys - Plus COVID-19 update

Today I have more news regarding the new double deck electric buses for London.

The unofficial London Bus Routes website has announced that bus operator Arriva London have placed an order for 19 Alexander Dennis-BYD Enviro400EV City vehicles for their route 319 contract which is expected to enter service this September 2020. (subject to delay due to COVID-19)

National Express sells their c2c franchise to Italian state owned Trenitalia

National Express has sold their Essex Thameside franchise to Trenitalia, owned by Italian state railways.

From National Express press release

National Express West Midlands buys 5 Streetdecks

National Express has purchased five Wrightbus Streetdecks with Euro 6 engines for their services.

Longer trains for National Express c2c service

Recently a train company which operates the Essex Thameside franchise 'National Express c2c' has announced longer trains and a new timetable for their services.

From National Express c2c

New Carriages and May Timetable

Today we have very good news: we have reached agreement with the Department for Transport on a deal for 24 brand-new additional carriages for c2c and they will be entering service this year – three years sooner than previously planned.

Why are National Rail trains delayed?

I would like to give you all a quick report regarding the delays I’ve seen recently.

It's late in the morning on 30th March 2016 and I'm looking at Real Time Trains and Open Train Times (diagram map) of the 0953 service from Romford to London Liverpool Street station. The service is a fast train which runs alongside the Shenfield Metro which is branded as TFL Rail. I should point out that TFL Rail is operated by MTR Crossrail.

The service I'm monitoring is 2K43, operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. I was expecting the 0953 service to London Liverpool Street [LST] from Romford Station [RMF], but instead a freight train (Duty code 488V) went past Romford Station at 0952¼ which is three minutes behind their schedule. Then shortly afterwards the expected 0953 train arrives at 0954¾ and departed at 0955¾ making it two minutes late.

Big 5 UK bus operators announce contactless travel for all buses by 2022

The Department for Transport has announced that Arriva, First Group, Go-Ahead Group, National Express and Stagecoach will have contactless travel on all of their buses by 2022.

From Department for Transport

Transport Minister Andrew Jones welcomes progress as biggest 5 UK bus operators announce contactless travel for all buses by 2022.

Premium bus services in Britain

Ever since Britain’s buses were deregulated in 1986, we have seen bus operating companies providing services which contain audio-visual announcements, free Wi-Fi internet, charging points for people to charge their electrical devices, CCTV, leather seats and frequent services.

Emphatically, the private operating companies wanted to provide first class luxury services in order to gain more customers to their services.

I'll list the operators which do provide that type of service.

Stagecoach Gold