Eminox upgrades over 400 London buses to Euro VI standards - also London Bus tender awards

Eminox has announced over 400 London buses will be upgraded to Euro VI standards in preparation for the new Low Emission Bus Zones.

From Eminox

Lincolnshire based emissions reduction specialists Eminox has been key to upgrading over 400 buses ready for the introduction of the new Low Emission Bus Zones (LBEZ) across London for Arriva, Go Ahead Group and Tower Transit.

Increased operating deficit for London Buses and route branding for Hayes

A bus news website called Route-One has published an article raising the issue about the operating deficit for London Bus services.

From Route-One

London bus deficit to hit £1.8m a day

Falling passenger numbers, increased costs and the effects of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s fares freeze means that London’s bus operating deficit is set to rise from £599m in 2016/17 to £647m - £1.8m a day - by 2022/23, admits Transport for London (TfL).

New ‘Licence for London’ enables new pay deal for London Bus drivers

TfL has announced a new pay deal for London Bus drivers as part of introducing the new ‘License for London’.

From TfL Press release

This press release, issued by the Mayor of London, was first published on london.gov.uk

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today took the next step towards fulfilling his manifesto pledge to provide a new fairer deal for London's 25,000 bus drivers, who are crucial to passengers receiving a good service on London buses.

The introduction of a new 'Licence for London' puts an end to the previous system where bus drivers moving from one bus company to another would be paid the lowest driving wage as if they were starting their careers, even though they might have driven for many years with another company. From now on drivers can start at a new company at a pay grade equivalent to their level of service and experience.

Improvement work begins for Ashford International platforms to increase international services

Network Rail has announced work to improve Ashford International to enable more international services to serve the station.

From Network Rail

Work has begun to prepare Ashford International’s high-speed platforms for new international trains, including e320 Eurostar trains, which will safeguard direct high-speed international services from Ashford.

Gospel Oak to Barking railway Line to reopen

TfL has announced the Gospel Oak to Barking line will reopen on Monday 15^th January after the completion of Network Rail’s electrification works.

From TfL press release

London Overground's Gospel Oak to Barking line reopens on Monday 15 January following the installation of new overhead electric lines by Network Rail, that will enable new longer electric trains to run from spring 2018.

New Buses for Stagecoach West Scotland

Stagecoach West Scotland has purchased 27 Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses for their route 11 service.

From Stagecoach West Scotland

Stagecoach West Scotland today (Friday 5th January 2018) launched 27 new vehicles on their popular service 11 route which operates between Ardrossan and Kilmarnock.

DfT releases bus statistics for July to September 2017

On the 19^th December 2017, the Department for Transport published their quarterly bus statistics for Great Britain. The report shows that bus passenger journeys have decreased while local bus fares increased.

From Department for Transport

For the year ending September 2017, the number of local bus passenger journeys in:

• England was 4.40 billion, a 1.5% decrease

• London decreased by 1%

• England outside London decreased by 2%

Arriva launches new logo for 2018

Arriva has finally launched a new logo for 2018!

From Arriva

Subtle changes are happening to the Arriva brand. We are refreshing our colourways and are introducing a new look to the Arriva logo.

New London Bridge railway station opens on time!

Network Rail has announced the completion of the redevelopment of London Bridge station.

From Network Rail

· Today marks full opening of London Bridge station to the public

· Faster journeys and more reliability for millions of passengers who use the network daily

Unlimited 1 hour bus hopper fare launches soon for London Buses!

The Mayor of London has announced that the unlimited one-hour Hopper Fare is coming to London Buses by the end of January.

From Greater London Authority

•Mayor confirms new unlimited one-hour Hopper fare will be live by the end of January, with weekly capping on Oyster introduced during the year

•Fares on TfL services frozen until 2020 - encouraging millions more journeys by public transport in London

•Mayor hits out at another year of eye-watering fare hikes by poor performing private rail companies