Leicestershire's largest operator looks to buy four new coaches to meet demand

Ausden Clark has experienced a surge in both private hire and tour bookings this year, and is looking to buy four new coaches as a result.

The Leicester-based operator is looking for two 57-seat coaches to add to its 76-strong fleet, and there are plans to order two more before the end of the year. This expansion is likely to create some 16 extra jobs at the firm.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Metro also tenders 11 First services to Centrebus

First has decided to scrap its X64 service between York and Leeds which it launched only last year.

Richard Harris, commercial director for First in York, said it had registered its intention to withdraw the X64 service with effect from the end of August.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Hammond suggests wealthier pensioners pay fares voluntarily

The Coalition government is considering plans to increase the age at which people qualify for free bus travel more quickly than previously planned.

Under current rules, anyone who turned 60 before June this year is eligible for a free annual bus pass giving free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. The scheme costs around £1 billion a year.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

34 ex-London buses brought in as part of a ‘renaissance' of services

First is introducing a multi-million pound renaissance for its services in Doncaster.

From the start of next month, all services in the town will offer low-floor easy access and will be fitted with CCTV cameras.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Norse ops manager impressed at speed and quality of work from Plaxton Aftercare

A key operator on Norwich's park and ride service has praised Plaxton's aftercare team for working tirelessly to get 14 Transbus Tridents ready in time for the start of the contract.

The Park and Ride contract award from Norfolk County Council gave the operator less than eight weeks to get the 14 vehicles ready for service.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Five operators boycott city's new bus & coach station, blaming poor design

Loughborough-based Laver Holidays says it may pull out of Derby altogether should the City Council fail to resolve issues at the new bus station.

Several coach firms are boycotting Derby's new station on the grounds that the terminal has been badly designed and forces their passengers to walk a long way with luggage.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

West Midlands independent bus operator AM PM Travel has been suspended from selling Centro's multi-operator tickets owing to "technical difficulties" with the firm's ticket machines.

A Centro spokesperson told CBW: "Centro and AM PM have identified some technical problems with the ticket machines used by AM PM travel on their buses, which has meant that we have had totemporarily suspend AM PM travel from selling nNetwork tickets on their buses.We are working closely with AM PM and their ticket machine supplier in order to resolve these difficulties.

"In the meantime, customers who wish to purchase one day nBus products can from over 1,800 Payzone outlets across the West Midlands."

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Beeching-style cuts on the cards if BSOG goes, warns Campaign for Better Transport

Amid growing fears that the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) will be cut or abolished, leading figures from across the industry have pleaded with the Governent to leave it in place.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) issued a statement calling on Government to retain the grant which it says "plays an important role in lowering the cost of providing services, resulting in lower fares, a more comprehensive network of services, less congestion on roads and a better and healthier living environment in our communities".

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Funding from the strategic investment fund for low carbon

Transport minister Norman Baker has announced that £15m extra funding will see over 150 new low carbon buses (LCB) join fleets across England and save 50,000 tonnes of CO2s over 15 years.

The first round of the Green Bus Fund competition was run last year. The DfT have described the £15m as a second round.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Minister's local operator RDH coaches urges industry to get in touch with him

New transport minister, Norman Baker, whose brief includes bus and coach travel, told CBW last week that he assumed coach operators "are happy" as he is not being lobbied by them.

CBW is calling for coach and indeed bus operators to either get in touch with Mr Baker directly, or contact us with burning issues you would like to raise with him.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Scottish Citylink's luxury express coach will deliver a hostess service with ‘coach attendants'

Scottish Citylink has launched a new luxury express coach service, offering passengers the chance to enjoy a first class rail-style journey at economy prices.

Fast, state-of the art air-conditioned coaches will match journey times by train, offering bargain fares from just £4 (plus 50p booking fee), as well as free wi-fi and at-seat refreshments.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW

Fare rises, wage reduction measures and cutting depot capacity form "bus margin improvement plan'

Updating on trading for the first half year ending June 30, ahead of its half year results to be announced on July 29, National Express said first half normalised profit before tax is expected to show good progress.

Commenting on the UK market, it said profitability continues to benefit from an improved margin in Rail, following the removal of the loss-making East Coast Mainline franchise last year.

To read this article in full please see this weeks CBW