BRTuk will launch a series of six free-to-attend lunchtime Quality Bus Masterclasses on Thursday 21 October. Chaired by former First West of England Managing Director James Freeman, they will major on a presentation from an expert speaker(s), and follow up with a question-and-answer session.
The debut presenter will be David Leeder, with his address titled Is the industry commercially fundable, and by whom?
Currently Director and Managing Partner of Transport Investment Limited, Mr Leeder is a former MD of First’s UK Bus division and former advisor to the Department for Transport. Mr Freeman describes him as “famously outspoken and an expert in financing bus operations from a private sector perspective.”
Subsequent sessions will involve:
- 28 October: Leon Daniels, former Head of Surface Transport at Transport for London (TfL), will give an overview of powertrain technology
- 4 November: Giuliano Gianforte and Jonathan Hanes of TfL will examine London’s bus lanes and the 24/7 city
- 11 November: Tim Gaston, Director of Public Transport Services at Ireland’s NTA, will cover experience of buses from the Irish Republic
- 18 November: Alex Hornby, Transdev Blazefield CEO, will address attendees on the topic of buses people are proud to be seen on
- 25 November: Thomas Gold, Associate, Net Zero Transport at WSP and Simon Pope, Technical Director, WSP, will look at bus infrastructure for transport decarbonisation and how to embed carbon reduction.
Each session will commence at 1230hrs and be finished by 1330hrs. BRTuk adds that while its specialist subject is bus rapid transit, it nevertheless acts as “a forum for the exchange of information know-how and ideas,” and that its remit extends to “everything to do with quality bus operations.”
The Masterclasses are in preparation for the return of BRTuk’s annual conference, which will be held in March 2022 on Merseyside.
Register to attend the 21 October session here.
