Tom Callow

This week’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief, UK bus industry gathers in Manchester and Portsmouth Two bus conferences came at once in September with Portsmouth’s Bus Quality Conference hot on the heels of the UK Bus Summit in Manchester, and as the Bus Services (No.2) Bill makes its way through Parliament, there has been plenty to talk about. In the North West, the great and good of the bus industry, manufacturing and fleets, as well as local transport authorities and combined authority representatives, came together – with Simon Lightwood, Minister for Future Roads, stating his confidence that the Bus Services Bill can deliver the sector’s “largest overhaul” in 40 years. Franchising was a major discussion point, with the Bill set to make it easier for Cas and LTAs to establish such operations. The opening session, however, saw different LTAs make clear that whether a franchise or alternative model is pursued, there is not a one-size-fits-all option. Portsmouth, meanwhile, hosted a conference and series of tours of its various transport facilities, and I was fortunate to join a tour of the Fareham to Gosport Bus Priority Route, which uses an old railway line for buses to zip down the peninsular. Later, I visited a transformed bus garage that houses 62 zero emission buses and charging equipment. Stephen Fidler, Director of Local Passenger Transport and Inclusion for the Department for Transport, set out in Portsmouth that buses are key for connecting people with work, friends or family – so they need to be reliable, better integrated with other transport modes, and safe, especially for women and girls. UK bus services are becoming more accessible, too, with two wheelchair spaces becoming a requirement for new services. The bus sector has many roles and it’s also leading decarbonisation on UK roads, with one in five new buses now zero emission – improving air quality and providing more affordable green mobility across the country. Zero emission buses can also change perceptions of the sector, instead as one with cutting-edge technology which, along with the increasing offer of concessions, can help encourage more people to get back on board. With legislative steps intended to empower local leaders and communities to take control of their bus services, industry could be on the cusp of an opportunity to transform services across the country – and hopefully drive up ridership for all.

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This week's Electric Car Grant and £63 million chargepoint funding are the latest in a series of government announcements that reflect the automotive sector’s leading role in delivering decarbonisation and economic growth in the UK. Thriving new vehicle markets also help attract new investment, growth and jobs – core government missions which were given a major boost with the announcement of the £2.5 billion DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund. On the back of government’s new Industrial and Trade Strategies, these announcements further develop the holistic and long-term approach industry needs – but success depends on deployment. Done right, industry, government and related sectors can deliver the rapid change the country needs. More in this week's Automotive Update: https://lnkd.in/erBsCN5r

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⚡️ 50 'reasonably priced' Electric Cars? Every EV eligible & cheaper! + Why is a grant needed? ⚡️ The UK's new Electric Car Grant is here! With a grant to make them cheaper, and carmakers reducing costs in response, we're rounding up all the EVs under £37,000 ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eMTr8BTv

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