By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Reading: ‘Euro Bus Expo returns at good time for bus market’
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Opinion > ‘Euro Bus Expo returns at good time for bus market’
Opinion

‘Euro Bus Expo returns at good time for bus market’

Dan Hayes
Dan Hayes
Published: October 17, 2022
Share
Euro Bus Expo returns at good time for bus market, says Zemo Partnership
SHARE

After a three-year hiatus in coach and bus industry trade shows at the NEC Birmingham, Euro Bus Expo returns shortly at a time of great anticipation. Since the last Euro Bus Expo, much has changed, from COVID-19 to the National Bus Strategy (NBS) for England, and everything in between.

As 2019 approached, the general mood among operators and manufacturers alike was gloomy, against a backdrop of falling patronage and declining vehicle registrations. Pro-bus Boris Johnson’s election as Prime Minister later that year brought a glimmer of hope, with pledges of funding and levelling up – until the pandemic hit, and the travelling public were ordered to stay at home.

With 2020 written off under the shadow of COVID-19, 2021 delivered optimism about emerging from paralysis, boosted by the long-awaited NBS, Bus Back Better, and ÂŁ3bn of funding.

With it also came the promise of Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) to deliver better services and simpler fares, alongside further devolution and franchising to facilitate London-style bus services across England.

Emerging from the reaches of COVID-19 as the year progressed, the government continued to step in with much-needed lifelines for bus operators across England through the COVID-19 Bus Service Support Grant and subsequently Bus Recovery Grant, which to date have collectively provided over ÂŁ2bn.

The NBS also pledged significant funding towards the deployment of zero-emission buses (ZEBs) through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme in England, backed by an initial ÂŁ120m (subsequently increased to ÂŁ270m), a significant step towards the target of 4,000 ZEBs in service by 2025. Transport Scotland introduced the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund phase one in the same year, supported by ÂŁ62m.

As of 2022, the respective schemes have funded over 1,500 ZEBs and accompanying infrastructure – a welcome boost to order books. Indeed, the operation of ZEBs was yet further supported this summer through the introduction of the BSOG ZEB uplift in England.

While new capital funding announcements grabbed headlines, vehicles funded through previous ultra-low emission schemes in England and Scotland also continued to come to fruition, so much so that in 2021, ZEBs accounted for over 50% of new bus registrations in the UK – a significant milestone, albeit in the context of a depleted market.

The mass rollout of ZEBs in London continues at pace too, with targets set by Transport for London to reach a 10% zero-emission fleet by spring 2023.

As Euro Bus Expo approaches, there is lots to look back on, but also much anticipation about what is to come. With over ÂŁ250m worth of ZEB grant funding in England and Scotland still due, and significant ZEB projects beginning to take shape across the nation, mood music among manufacturers supplying the UK is more encouraging, a fact perhaps illustrated by the number of new models entering the market.

In the case of operators and local transport authorities, work on BSIPs and franchising continues in earnest with the hope of improving journeys for passengers sooner rather than later.

While it would be naïve to suggest that challenges don’t remain for the bus industry – damaged by COVID-19 and battling inflation – buses certainly have a renewed energy and sense of optimism since the last time we visited the NEC Birmingham for Euro Bus Expo.

Euro Bus Expo website and registration portal here.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
Previous Article First Potteries Mainline brand First Potteries Mainline brand marks ‘past and future’
Next Article 50km young PCV driver restriction appropriateness questioned Time for a rethink on young driver 50km restriction?
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Tootbus to launch Tootie AI powered product
Tootbus to launch AI-powered Tootie conversational city guide
News
MD Coaches takes delivery of an Ilesbus I-City minibus
MD Coaches takes delivery of an Ilesbus I-City minibus
Deliveries
Pulhams and Swindon's Bus Company win Cirencester College contract
Pulhams and Swindon’s Bus Co gain 24-route college contract
News
Bakers Dolphin and Harry Bessant recognised at Weston College Business Awards
Bakers Dolphin and student Harry Bessant recognised by college
People
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd