FirstGroup has acquired Matthews Coach Hire, an independent, family-owned coach and bus operator in Ireland, founded in 1995. With a fleet of more than 40 vehicles that includes two newly-acquired electric coaches the business is built around the operation of six licensed, commercial routes between two key and rapidly growing commuter towns, Drogheda and Dundalk, […]
When we road tested Yutong’s TCe12 electric coach – the first battery coach in the UK – we were in praise of so much that it is, and critical of what it isn’t. TCe12 is a competent inter-urban luxury people carrier – a coach, for sure, but in a very similar niche to Irizar’s i4, […]
Gloucestershire County Council’s Robin on demand bus service is to expand to Newent. The service currently operates in five areas, the south Forest of Dean, north and south Cotswolds, Berkeley Vale and parts of the Tewkesbury district. Reaction from the public to The Robin has been overwhelmingly positive, according to the council, with many praising […]
People are signing a petition to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. According to the petition’s creator, Karen Hickman, the current system is unjust. The campaign pledges to secure ‘equality for everyone over 60’. Currently, people in England (but not London), only receive free bus travel […]
Three new bus services for Bristol are to be introduced thanks to funding coming from the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges. In total £4.7m has been set aside by the council from the income raised by CAZ charges to fund the new bus services until 2028. First Bus is to launch the new routes […]
Thames Travel has added 13 new double-deckers into service as it renews a partnership with Milton Park. The ‘deckers replace single-deckers previously used to increase capacity on the services to the UK’s largest single ownership innovation community. News of the newly wrapped bus fleet follows the adoption of a refreshed Local Development Order (LDO) at […]
RHA Coaches has warned that the problem of BODS being demanded for home-to-school services is only a symptom of the need complete separation of the regulatory structures for local bus services and deregulated coach services. Andy Warrender, RHA Operations Manager – Coaches, said that coach operators are still being targeted by enforcement of BODS despite […]
FirstGroup has acquired Matthews Coach Hire, an independent, family-owned coach and bus operator in Ireland, founded in 1995. With a fleet of more than 40 vehicles that includes two newly-acquired electric coaches the business is built around the operation of six licensed, commercial routes between two key and rapidly growing commuter towns, Drogheda and Dundalk, […]
Lancashire County Council has taken delivery of 15 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Mellor Strata High Floor minicoaches. The new vehicles offer 16 fully-removable seats or the capacity to accommodate up to six wheelchairs. Each vehicle is equipped with an inboard tail lift, a single-leaf glider door, heating and air conditioning, a reversing camera and sensors, as well […]
