ALBUMREPORT2025 by Passenger Transport Publishing Ltd

THE ALBUM REPORT 2025

WELCOME

Welcome to The ALBUM Report 2025, a publication from Passenger Transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies. Returning for its ninth year, this year’s report also incorporates the Conference Workbook for the ALBUM Conference 2025, hosted by Notttingham City Transport at East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. We hope you enjoy reading it!

DAVID ASTILL

Nottingham City Transport MD and ALBUM chair David Astill on the challenges ahead

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Collaboration between Nottingham City Transport and Passenger serves as a blueprint

REVIEW 2024/25

Some of the key events amongst the membership in the 12 months since the last ALBUM Conference

Richard Wellings of Nottingham City Council, on the power of partnership working

TIL Managing Partner analyses the economic situation the bus industry now faces

What operators need is a smart transition strategy to turn it into profit, says Mike Nakrani

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NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

DAVID LEEDER

“If I could ask the genie in the bottle for one thing, it would be certainty," Astill says

NAVIGATING THE STORM CLOUDS OF UNCERTAINTY

Nottingham City Transport MD and ALBUM chair David Astill tells Andrew Garnett about big challenges for the bus industry

It’s been a turbulent few years for the bus industry. From the lingering aftershocks of Covid-19 and the postpandemic recruitment crisis, to shifting passenger behaviours and ongoing uncertainty around funding, operators have been forced to navigate increasingly unpredictable terrain.

Yet for David Astill, managing director of Nottingham City Transport (NCT), one challenge now looms larger than all the rest: the deepening sense of uncertainty.

Astill, who earlier this year succeeded bus industry entrepreneur Bill Hiron as chair of ALBUM - the association representing Britain’s ‘nonaligned, municipal and SME bus operators - points to the proposed Bus Services Bill as a major driver

of this uncertainty. Another lingering threat remains the prospect of franchising.

“ALBUM, alongside CPT, supports the government’s ambition to improve and grow bus travel,” says Astill. “But franchising isn’t necessarily the best way to get there. It should be an option - not the default.”

AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT

While he accepts franchising has its place, Astill believes its relevance is mostly limited to the major city regions. Elsewhere, he argues, partnership working remains the more practical and sustainable path.

“We were encouraged when Simon Lightwood chose NCT for his first official visit as the buses minister,” he adds. “He made clear that franchising is a big decision

- and one that must be made locally. If Enhanced Partnerships are working well, there’s no expectation they’ll be replaced.”

Astill highlights Nottingham’s long-standing commitment to partnership working. For nearly 30 years, NCT has collaborated effectively with local authorities, a relationship that led to the launch of the country’s first area-wide Statutory Quality Partnership Scheme (SQPS) in May 2010. Designed to tackle congestion and air quality issues in Nottingham city centre, it laid the groundwork for today’s much wider Enhanced Partnership.

“I think the SQPS addressed those concerns quite effectively,” he says. “It was pretty groundbreaking. And now, our Enhanced Partnership for Greater Nottingham builds on those foundations.”

In fact, Astill notes that Nottingham has often led the way on collaborative, high-quality bus operation. He jokes that when Boris Johnson’s government launched Bus Back Better, the national bus strategy for England, “the partnership elements felt unnervingly familiar to us”.

“Bus partnerships everywhere are raising the bar,” he adds. “Franchising should be a last resort, something you turn to when partnership has failed. It shouldn’t be the first thing mayors reach for.”

Astill expresses serious concern over the potential financial burden of franchising, particularly the cost to the public purse at a time when budget constraints are becoming more severe. He points to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester, where the setup costs have been estimated at £700m£1bn, with “eye-watering ongoing annual costs”.

“That’s a phenomenal sum of money,” he says. “And previously, those financial risks sat largely with the commercial operators, now they’re on the public sector. I’d be very surprised if in the future other areas will have that kind of money to fund a

franchising model.”

But in the East Midlands, now a mayoral combined authority with the legal powers to pursue franchising, Astill sees a very different picture emerging.

He points out that aside from Arriva’s presence in Derby and that of Stagecoach in Chesterfield and Mansfield, much of the local network - particularly in Greater Nottingham - is operated by either NCT, a publicly owned armslength municipal company, or Trentbarton, a highly respected and independently owned operator. Ahead of the mayoral election, NCT met with leading candidates to emphasise the region’s unique strengths: two top-performing award-winning operators with a strong track record in partnership working and customer satisfaction.

“At NCT, we’re very proud to have been the highest-ranked city operator in Transport Focus’s satisfaction survey for two years running,” Astill adds. “In 2024 we scored 89%, and this year it’s risen to 91%, with Trentbarton close behind.”

“That kind of performance helps us make the case. Being locally owned and locally managed really does make a difference. We’re extremely fortunate to have a Labour mayor, Claire Ward, who set out a clear commitment in her manifesto to work in partnership and build on what’s already in place.”

While Astill and his team are reassured by the mayor’s stance, he recognises that elsewhere, particularly for smaller independent operators, franchising is a significant concern.

“We’re talking about an existential threat,” he warns.

“There are no SME operators left operating local buses in Greater Manchester, and it looks like the same thing is likely to happen in the Liverpool City Region. Just look at Huyton Travel recentlythey were an ALBUM member and decided to call it a day, selling out to a larger group because they couldn’t see a future for them.”

He fears this could become a pattern: “We have ALBUM members in South and West Yorkshire who are very concerned. We’re working with

“At NCT, we’re very proud to have been the highestranked city operator in Transport Focus’s satisfaction survey for two years running”

those operators to persuade the authorities that franchising must be designed in a way that allows the SME sector not only to tender, but to have a fair and realistic chance of winning contracts. There need to be checks and balances in place that ensure SMEs don’t lose out to the multinationals.”

While the debate around franchising versus partnership rumbles on, Astill warns that the bus industry faces other looming challenges - particularly as it continues to recover from the disruption of Covid-19. He acknowledges that at NCT patronage has yet to fully return to pre-pandemic norms, though the picture is nuanced.

“Commercial patronage has bounced back strongly,” he explains. “It’s still slightly below pre-Covid levels, but only just. The real challenge is with concessionary passengers - they’re down by around 20%. And the student market is struggling too.

“One of our big wins over the last 15 or 20 years was the growth of the student market, thanks to the expansion of Nottingham’s two universities,” he says. “But student

travel has completely changed. They’re not going to lectures on campus as they use to - a lot are now online - so they’re no longer commuting five days a week.”

He admits the shift is forcing some difficult decisions. “We’re actually looking at thinning out our student network slightly, something that would’ve been unthinkable back in 2019,” Astill reveals.

With student travel declining and older passengers yet to return in full, NCT is turning its attention elsewhere to rebuild patronageand housing expansion is one area where Astill sees real potential.

“If the government follows through with its ambitions to accelerate housebuilding, there will be opportunities for the bus industry,” he says. “But we’ll need additional resources to make the most of them.”

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Like many operators, NCT was hit hard by the combined aftershocks of Brexit and the pandemic, particularly when it came to staffing.

“We were affected by the ‘great resignation’ just like everyone else,” Astill admits. “A lot of people, especially older staff, got used to being on furlough and simply chose to retire. In the latter half of 2021, our attrition rate hit 20%. I don’t think we’d seen anything like that since the 1970s. We were losing eight drivers a week, not to other jobs, but mainly to retirement.”

At the same time, lingering Covid-related illness meant NCT was forced to scale back its services. “We were running a Saturday service six days a week,” he says.

“We just didn’t have the staff.”

The crisis prompted a rethink of NCT’s approach to recruitment and retention. On the recruitment front, the company dramatically scaled up its training efforts. “

To better understand what drivers needed, NCT conducted staff surveys in both 2022 and 2024, followed by in-depth focus groups to explore emerging themes.

“We learnt a lot,” Astill admits. One of the key outcomes has been a major shift toward flexible working. As a result, around 8% of NCT’s drivers now work a 39 hour week over four days, with part-time staff making up 10% of the team. Flexible dutiesdesigned to accommodate needs like childcare - now account for 7% of the scheduling with one of the most encouraging outcomes of that being a noticeable increase in the number of women joining the company. The result is driver attrition has now fallen to 8% in three years, also helped by hourly pay rates that have increased by around a third in four years.

But those positive changes haven’t come without a cost. While general inflation may be easing, Astill is increasingly concerned about the financial impact of the recent National Insurance changes.

“It’s going to cost us a sevenfigure sum over the next year,” he reveals. “It’s a balancing act. We’ve got to find that money somehow, by controlling costs, becoming more efficient, and growing revenue where we can.” He’s quick to point out that this isn’t just an NCT problem. It’s something the entire industry is going to have to confront.

At the heart of Astill’s concerns is the unpredictability the sector now faces. “What the bus industry really values is certainty,” he says. “Traditionally, we’ve put a predictable level of service on the road and had a predictable number of people travelling. But that stability is shifting, especially since Covid.”

And right now, the future of government support remains murky.

“If I could ask the genie in the bottle for one thing,” Astill says, “it would be certainty - certainty over future funding, especially with so much still unclear over BSOG reform and the future of BSOG+ and BSIP+. Will certainty happen? I remain hopeful.”

Nottingham City Transport hosted local transport minister Simon Lightwood (pictured left with David Astill) last July in his first official engagement in the role

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SINCE WE LAST MET

Some of the key events amongst the membership in the 12 months since the last ALBUM conference

JUNE

ALBUM

BILL HIRON, MBE: RECOGNISED FOR SERVICES TO PASSENGER TRANSPORT

Bill Hiron was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June for services to passenger transport.

Hiron's career in the bus industry spans nearly 40 years. At the time of the award, he was Chair of ALBUM, a role he had held since 2018, and Managing Director of Stephensons of Essex.

A fervent advocate for the sector, Hiron has played a key role in representing the interests of local bus operators at a national level. During his tenure as Chair of ALBUM, he championed initiatives to improve passenger experience, promote the environmental benefits of bus travel, and navigate the challenges faced by the industry throughout the pandemic.

“I am incredibly grateful for the honour of being awarded an MBE,” said Hiron. “This recognition would not have been possible without the support of many of my colleagues over the years. I am particularly thankful to the dedicated team at Stephensons of Essex and the wider ALBUM membership for their unwavering support to me and their commitment to providing essential passenger transport services.”

MCGILL’S RALPH ROBERTS RECOGNISED

McGill’s Group CEO Ralph Roberts received the Lifetime Contribution to Transport award at the Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow in June. Roberts has led McGill’s for 14 years and the firm is now the UK’s largest independent bus operator. He has also represented the industry in various prominent roles. Meanwhile, McGill’s also

announced a number of new appointments and changes to strengthen its senior leadership team. Roberts was appointed as the new Chairman of the company, taking over from co-owner James Easdale. Easdale and his brother Sandy continue to serve as directors.

Tony Williamson was named the new CEO of McGill’s Group.

With nearly 40 years of experience in public transport, Williamson has held various leadership roles, including a decade working in Asia and South America and 17 years as a managing director with Arriva Group. He is known for successfully driving business growth and transforming organisations within the sector.

JULY

NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT MINISTER MAKES VISIT TO NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT

In July, Nottingham City Transport welcomed the new Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood MP, in his first official engagement in the role.

It was announced in the King’s Speech the day before (July 17) that local leaders are going to be able to take control of their local bus services. During the visit NCT were able to share with the Minister the successes that its local ownership by Nottingham City Council and partnership working with other bus operators and local councils already delivers in Nottingham,. The area boasts the second highest bus use per resident in the UK outside of London.

Lightwood was joined by the East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward and Leader of Nottingham City Council and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications,

Bill Hiron was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June for services to passenger transport

Ralph Roberts of McGill’s Group (centre) received the Lifetime Contribution to Transport award at the Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow in June

The ALBUM Report 2025

Neghat Khan. They toured NCT’s Trent Bridge Garage where they could see the investment that has been made in zero emission electric buses and infrastructure.

During the visit, Lightwood said: “Buses are critical to connect our communities, and Nottingham is a shining example of how we can fix the broken bus system. Yesterday’s King’s Speech is proof of just how important improving buses is to this Government … The Better Buses Bill will create and save vital bus routes across the country, as we give every community the power to take back control of their buses and deliver better and more affordable services.”

AUGUST

WHIPPET WHIPPET APPOINTS CAMERON AS INTERIM BOSS

Cambridgeshire bus operator Whippet appointed Ed Cameron as Interim General Manager in August.

This new appointment marks a step up for Cameron, who has been an integral part of Whippet’s new management team for the past year, joining as Commercial Manager in July 2023.

He brings extensive transport experience to his new role within Whippet, previously leading commercial and business development at Hertfordshirebased Uno, spending eight years at Best Impressions, the industryleading design agency, and starting his career at Stagecoach East.

On his new appointment, Cameron said: “I’m delighted to take up this position. So much has been achieved in the year since I joined Whippet with the support of both the local team and the wider Ascendal business, and I look forward to leading the delivery of further improvements and growth.”

SEPTEMBER

ALBUM

CONCERNS RAISED OVER TFGM’S CONTRACTS TO LARGER OPERATORS

ALBUM expressed concerns in September regarding Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) decision to award all but one of its local and school bus contracts to larger operators. It claimed that this shift in the balance of work could have potential implications for the local bus operating sector, particularly for smaller and

OCTOBER

LOTHIAN LOTHIAN NAMED NATIONAL BUS OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

Lothian was named Bus Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards in London on October 3.

The award, which is open to all UK and Irish bus operators, celebrates the strong performance of Lothian over the last 12 months, which includes delivering an incredible 110 million customer journeys in 2023.

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian said: “Our people make Lothian a great place to work, and this award is a testament to their hard work and dedication to ‘getting it right’ in delivering for our customers on a daily basis.

“This award belongs to them, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of our people for their passion, commitment and loyalty.”

At the event in London, Lothian Driver Thomas Fair was also highly commended in the Frontline Employee category for his fast actions when a customer went into labour on his bus.

medium-sized enterprise (SME) bus operators.

Given the current interest in extending franchising across more areas of the country, ALBUM has concerns that the process may unintentionally exclude smaller companies and reduce the number of suppliers available to local authorities. The experience in Greater Manchester, where only two smaller operators were awarded contracts, reinforced these worries.

ALBUM Chair Bill Hiron, said: “We must be cautious not to lose the valuable contributions made by SME operators. It’s crucial to find ways to support their continued participation in the market.”

He added: “While increased attention on buses is positive, it’s essential to address the concerns of SME operators. Their unique strengths and contributions to local communities must be recognised and protected.”

STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX AND NIBS BUSES EASTERN TRANSPORT HOLDINGS MOVES TO EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

Eastern Transport Holdings, the parent company of bus operators Stephensons of Essex and NIBS Buses, operating across Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, was sold by its sole shareholder, Bill Hiron, to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

The business operates around 140 buses on an extensive network of services covering much of East Anglia, stretching from Cambridge in the west, Ely and Thetford in the north, Brentwood in the south and east to Southend on Sea and carries almost three million passengers every year.

Introduced in April 2014 as a government initiative, an Employee Ownership Trust is often referred to as the John Lewis model. Under the scheme, all

Buses Minister Simon Lightwood visited Nottingham City Transport in July

Lothian was named Bus Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards

A new role for Ed Cameron at Whippet

shares in the company are held in trust on behalf of the employees who are beneficiaries of the EOT rather than being individual shareholders. This ownership gives them a stake in the company without personal risk or expense.

Whilst the popularity of employee ownership has grown in the last decade, it is believed that this will be the only bus operation in England currently structured in this way.

Now employing around 200 staff with an annual turnover of around £16m, the original business was founded in 1972 with a single coach and went on to run a small number of contracts and private hire from its Rochford depot until it was purchased by Hiron in 2001.

Hiron commented: “Our company has grown from 10 vehicles and a turnover of a few hundred thousand pounds, on the basis of continued investment in both new and modern secondhand vehicles, and a reputation for high standards of service.”

“That has been achieved by the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone here - from cleaners and drivers, engineers and supervisors, to managers - so it seems entirely appropriate that the team should be given the opportunity of taking the company to its next stage of development.”

NOVEMBER

NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT

NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT CROWNED UK BUS OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

Nottingham City Transport was named UK Bus Operator of the Year for an unprecedented sixth time at the 2024 UK Bus Awards, held at Troxy in London on November 26, reaffirming its position as the leading bus operator in the country. It was the sixth time the company has won this title.

It is 20 years since local authority-owned NCT were first named UK Bus Operator of the Year in 2004 and the company

subsequently picked up the top title in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2024.

Graham Chapman, NCT Chair, said “This goes to show what we have known for a long while – NCT is ‘Simply the best’. It is a municipal bus company with service to the people of Nottingham at its core. The whole city should be very proud”.

In addition to this monumental win:

n Brian Bowater was awarded Silver in the Unsung Hero category n Natalie Monaghan-Smith was Highly Commended in the Manager of the Year category n David Townsend was Finalist in the Top National Bus Driver category.

DECEMBER

ALBUM ALBUM WANTS INCLUSIVE FRANCHISING IN LIVERPOOL CITY REGION

ALBUM expressed serious concerns in December regarding the proposed lotting strategy for Liverpool City Region’s bus franchising scheme.

ALBUM argued that the current proposal prioritises large franchise lots and will unfairly disadvantage smaller operators and limit competition. The association believes that a diverse range of franchise sizes, including smaller lots, will encourage greater participation from SMEs.

ALBUM urged the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) to reconsider its lotting strategy and adopt a more inclusive approach that allows SMEs to thrive and deliver the many benefits outlined. The group also called for a more realistic procurement timeline to ensure that the best possible franchise model is implemented.

By embracing a diverse range of franchise sizes and supporting SME operators, it argued that the LCRCA can create a more competitive, innovative, and sustainable bus network for the region.

JANUARY

ALBUM

BILL HIRON HANDS OVER CHAIR ROLE TO DAVID ASTILL

At the conclusion of the ALBUM directors’ meeting on January 29, Bill Hiron formally stepped down as Chair of ALBUM after more than six years in the role.

Hiron’s resignation as Chair was accepted with gratitude, with Vice Chair David Astill expressing appreciation on behalf of ALBUM and its Directors. Hiron continues to serve as an ALBUM Director, ensuring that his vast experience and expertise remain available to the organisation.

In a unanimous decision, the Directors approved the appointment of David Astill, Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport, as

Nottingham City Transport was named UK Bus Operator of the Year for a record sixth time at the 2024 UK Bus Awards

Eastern Transport Holdings Ltd was sold to an Employee Ownership Trust

the new ALBUM Chair.

Reflecting on Hiron’s leadership, David Astill said: “Bill has been a steadfast figure in ALBUM for many years, and his leadership during the pandemic was nothing short of exceptional. I recall the weekly meetings with my fellow managing directors of ALBUM member companies, where Bill’s calming reassurance and direct engagement with the Department for Transport were invaluable. His ability to navigate the sector through one of its most turbulent periods was a testament to his dedication and expertise.”

MARCH

UNO UNO BUS LAUNCHES NEW ELECTRIC SHUTTLE BUSES

ALBUM member Uno took a major step towards sustainable transport in March with the introduction of brand-new BYD BD12 electric single-deck buses, now operating as inter-campus shuttles for students at the University of Hertfordshire.

The Electric Shuttle service, which launched on College Lane campus, marks an exciting development in the region’s green transport solutions. Made possible by the Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding scheme, this initiative has been driven by Hertfordshire County Council, the Department for Transport (DfT), and Uno in a shared commitment to reducing emissions and improving air quality.

While the primary benefit of electric power is the delivery of cleaner air, it also enhances the passenger experience with a smoother, more comfortable ride. The buses are also quieter, which not only improves the journey for Uno customers but also reduces noise pollution for everyone.

ALBUM

ALBUM JOINS UK BUS MANUFACTURING EXPERT PANEL

ALBUM was pleased to join the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, which launched in Sheffield

in March, as a standing member. The new panel brings together leaders from across the sector to focus on cleaner air and improved transport across the country. ALBUM expressed delight to be representing the voices of the SME sector as part of the wider discussions.

DIAMOND BUS NORTH WEST CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN GREATER MANCHESTER

Diamond Bus North West celebrated 10 years of service to the Greater Manchester community in March with a special stakeholder reception and publication of a commemorative booklet.

In March 2015, Rotala acquired Green Triangle Buses, a small bus operator based in Atherton with around 45 vehicles and 100 staff. Primarily operating services in the west of the conurbation, Atherton became the base for growth in

ALBUM SOUTH YORKSHIRE BUS FRANCHISING FEARS

In March, ALBUM expressed concerns about the impact of proposed franchising in South Yorkshire on small and mediumsized bus operators.

ALBUM argues that, as currently designed, franchise models favour large, often multi-national operators who can navigate complex tendering processes with significant financial backing. This risks sidelining local, independent bus companies that have long provided vital, community-focused services.

In Manchester, introducing franchising has already led to the loss of nearly all SME operators –with only one remaining. ALBUM fears a similar fate for South Yorkshire’s local operators.

ALBUM ALBUM CELEBRATES OPERATOR RANKINGS IN NATIONAL SURVEY

future years. By 2019, Diamond was the second largest bus operator in Greater Manchester following acquisitions of both Go Goodwins bus operation in 2017 and First’s Bolton depot in 2019.

In 2023, Diamond operated the first franchised bus service under the regulated Bee Network and now holds 11 small franchises and a further seven school bus franchises.

Bob Dunn, Executive Director at parent company Rotala, commented: “This is a great milestone at which to look back and reflect and celebrate our progress within Greater Manchester over the last decade. In that time, we have helped millions of people travel around the area, accessing employment, shopping or visiting friends. The key to our success has been the dedication and hard work of our staff. As we look to the future, I’m optimistic that the next 10 years in Greater Manchester will be even more successful than the first.”

ALBUM welcomed the 2024 results of the Your Bus Journey survey of passenger satisfaction from independent watchdog Transport Focus, which highlighted that four of the top five bus operators in England and two of the top five in both Scotland and Wales, are proud ALBUM members.

The independent survey, based on feedback from over 48,000 bus journeys across Great Britain, ranks overall passenger satisfaction as:

England

n 1st Place, High Peak (99%)

n 2nd Place, Compass Travel (95%)

n 3rd Place, Ipswich Buses (92%)

n 5th Place, Nottingham City Transport (91%)

Scotland

n 2nd Place, McGills Bus Service (88%)

n 3rd Place, Lothian Buses (85%)

Wales

n 1st place, Newport Bus (89%)

n 5th place, Cardiff Bus (80%)

David Astill, Chair of ALBUM, said: “This reinforces the case for greater recognition and inclusion of SME operators in franchising and procurement processes across the UK.”

Uno Bus introduced brand-new BYD BD12 electric single-deck buses in March

ALBUM joined the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in Sheffield in March

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INDUCED DEMAND, IN PARTNERSHIP? IT WORKS FOR BUSES TO0

Richard Wellings, Principal Public Transport Officer at Nottingham City Council, on the power of partnership working with Nottingham City Transport and other bus operators

In Nottingham, we are proud of our outlaw traditions, our cultural and musical icons from Sleaford Mods (managed by a former Nottingham City Transport bus driver) to Oscar nominated actress and singer Samantha Morton (with a recent album on the uber cool XL Recordings featuring a 1990s scratch and go bus ticket) and Sir Paul Smith, the esoteric and eclectic fashion designer. Icons,

who have all single mindedly ploughed their own furrow. You will excuse me for not mentioning Brian Clough, in this pantheon of doing things differently - my Notts County FC season ticket, the world’s oldest professional football league club forbids it. But the point is, when it comes to the provision of public transport, and indeed the culture of bus use, we have always tried to be trendsetters rather than trend-takers.

Betty Higgins, former leader of Nottingham City Council can certainly be added to the list above. She was able to resist the sale of Nottingham City Transport in 1985 and oversee its conversion into a limited “muncipal” bus company, whilst other Local Transport Authorities acquiesced or were forced into the sale of their local buses. This personal stake (albeit in the new deregulated bus market that

followed the Transport Act of 1985) created fertile ground in which the seeds of partnership between bus operators and the local transport authority were planted which today continue to bear fruit.

A quick look at the recent Your Bus Journey 2024 survey delivered by Transport Focus reemphasises why the partnership working pioneered in Nottingham and the surrounding local transport

When it comes to the provision of public transport, Nottingham has always tried to be a trendsetter rather than a trend-taker

authorities could, and should deliver a fabled and credible alternative to bus franchising and backs up the decision of the Clare Ward, mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority which incorporates Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire not to pursue it in her first term, putting the region out of step with the majority of mayoral authorities. Derby, home to Rolls Royce and with a significant presence from Trentbarton another, locally rooted SME operator and ALBUM member came top of the league with the rest of region firmly embedded in the Champions League places. Nottingham City Transport was the topped ranked city operator, complementing recent victories at the recent Route One Awards and its record-

breaking confirmation as the six-time UK Bus Operator of the Year. Back in 2023, Trentbarton’s bus drivers were named the best in England. The highest ranked mayoral authorities, out of the 39 Local Transport Authorities that participated were Tyne and Wear (a proxy for NECA) and Liverpool City Region are at 28 and 29 with the likes of Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire propping up the table, perhaps justifying their decisions to pursue franchising.

Moving the focus back to Robin Hood Country, what is the special sauce that makes buses so good here? To coin a phrase, “It’s the bus priority, stupid.” Approaching 30km of bus lanes adorn the tightly knit boundary of the City of Nottingham, buses retain good penetration of the city centre and are not banished exclusively to the city’s bus stations, improving access for passengers. Integration is in place between buses and trams with multi-operator smart ticketing and contactless payment available to maximise the use of the network.

Finally, the Workplace Parking Levy, has suppressed congestion, dissuaded businesses from expanding their parking provision and generates a reliable source of sustainable transport investment income. Delivery of active travel interventions are designed to

“When it comes to the provision of public transport, we have always tried to be trendsetters”

complement bus priority, not replace it with dedicated cycling infrastructure.

The future looks bright for Nottingham and the East Midlands region, a serious uptick in transport funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority, provides a certainty of investment at scale, with £175m allocated for 2025/26, which will see serious investment in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire start to ramp-up, with the delivery of improved public transport connectivity across the regions unique geography, the central plank. Meanwhile over in Leicester, great strides are being made in delivering the Linekar network (yes, I do love Gary, who like all the greats can trace his ancestry back to Basford in Nottingham). Partnership working has been key in Leicester to the successful deployment of an impressive electric bus fleet, rollout of bus priority and upgraded digital passenger information and smart, contactless ticketing.

In what is fast becoming the “East Midlands Way”, at some point in the future, Leicester and Leicestershire may even join Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to complete the triangle to create a full blown regional transport authority for the East Midlands. Ending my love letter to the bus partnerships of Nottingham and the East Midlands with a trip to Brampton, Ontario, may seem to be an odd re-routing of your scheduled service, but returning to the title of the piece, which is more than inspired by the consistently good Linda Poon of Bloomberg CityLab, it turns out that the “East Midlands Way” is actually the “International” or “Universal” way. Brampton a low-density suburb, in true North American style with wide roads, strip malls and less than favourable pedestrian links has been able to exponentially grow public transport patronage, demonstrating that there is no such thing as tailoring service to demand as demand is not fixed. The phenomenon of induced demand is as real for public transport as it is for highways.

Partnership working, which delivers a more attractive service will increase patronage. Cut the quality and services and passengers will simply disappear. Get the basics right, like in Nottingham, much of the East Midlands and Brampton, Ontario and then expensive capital projects do not have pursued right away. Then the famed “marginal gains” approach of the British Cycling Team or good old fashioned incrementalism can be as good a place as any to start.

A Nottingham City Transport bus at Bulwell Bus Station

A bus was named after Betty Higgins, a former leader of Nottingham City Council

A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD

David Leeder, Managing Partner of TIL, on the economic

situation the bus industry now faces

The combined e ect of the Government’s proposed changes to bus regulation and funding will be to repeal almost all of the “economic” provisions of the 1985 Transport Act (in England): bus regulation will have a new toolkit, that will look far more like 1974 than 2024.

is is what most Labour Party members and local authorities have been calling for since the “Buses” White Paper in 1984. Comrades - the promised land is near. e broad, sunlit uplands of local authority control, and greater spending, are just over the legislative horizon.

Unfortunately, Labour has taken o ce amid economic conditions that look more like 1974 than 1997. e “bus” economy does not exist in isolation from the wider world. Covid, Trump, and Putin will all have their impact, as will Net Zero and “more money for Our NHS”.

Consider these economic facts:

■ UK ‘net debt to GDP’ now exceeds 100% (in 1997 it was circa 30%), and may exceed 150% if you include public sector pensions and PFI liabilities. ere are limits not only to government borrowing, but also to the size of the interest bill on the accumulated debt.

■ e 2024 autumn budget plans to take UK tax take to a 75 year high. High net worth individuals are already leaving the country, taking their tax revenue with them, and HM Treasury is learning what bus operators nd out the hard way: raising fares (or taxes) is much easier than raising revenue.

■ Even a er the March ‘mini budget’, the Government plans to take public spending to a post-war high, with the NHS, pensions and social care exceeding 50% of spending, and debt interest over 10% of annual spend. e notorious “austerity” associated with the Tories never actually happened. Aside from some modest retrenchment between 2010-2015, public spending has been on a relentless upward trend since 1999.

SO WHAT OF TRANSPORT?

In 2024, transport spending was around 5% of total.

Incredibly, almost two-thirds of this went on railways (which only carried around 8% of passenger miles). Railway costs have been out of control for years - concealed until Covid by rapidly rising patronage.

e government’s policy is to return the railways to state ownership, and place them on a starvation nancial diet that somehow avoids trade union opposition, and also leaves “investment” untouched. Good luck with that.

What then of the humble bus?

Local transport authorities are getting everything they’ve asked for on the regulatory front:

■ “Manchester” style franchises;

■ 1930-1986 style route licensing;

■ De-facto control over fares, timetables and marketing;

■ New municipal bus undertakings (LABcos);

■ 1972-1986 style control over subsidies.

e problem is that all these things are expensive.

Labour’s King of the North, Andy Burnham, was awarded not just legislative control over Manchester’s buses by his nemesis, Boris Johnson, but also ample project nancing. TIL analysis of Transport for Greater

Manchester’s public statements indicates additional costs of something like £1bn over six years.

In London, bus de cits have continued to climb, as patronage has fallen back, even while London’s population has reached record highs. e London bus de cit is now over £800m per annum, and subsidy per passenger has risen sharply.

PAYING FOR ALL THIS

ere are only two ways to fund transport networks - from fares or subsidies. e subsidies may arise from local taxes and charges, and/or from central government grant. In the UK, around 60% of routine local authority funding is from Treasury grants, but much transport spend (especially capital and projects) has come from Department for Transport grants.

In London, Transport for London de cit funding has shi ed from DfT towards local taxes and charges (such as ULEZ and “retained business rates”). Similar rises will be much harder in the regions, rstly for obvious political reasons (“I want what Andy got”), but because most are economically weak.

It is thus unclear if there is much appetite for large increases in local taxes.

UK REGIONS ARE POOR

It is an alarming aspect of the UK economy, that most of the country outside London, the South East, and a few honeypots (Edinburgh, Bristol etc) is much poorer than the European average. Per capita GDP in ex-communist states such as Slovenia and Czechia exceeds places like Yorkshire and Merseyside. is issue will become worse if the economy continues on its anaemic, post-2008 growth trajectory.

e last few governments have confused local voters (and themselves) by making mathematically undeliverable promises that imply that all city mayors can simultaneously get a

David Leeder

“fair” settlement” and an “above average” one. There will be winners and losers, and TIL expect a few cities to get large, Manchesterstyle settlements, which will mean thin gruel for others.

ZERO-EMISSION OBLIGATIONS MUST BE FINANCED

We must not forget the giant cost of existing spending commitments. The UK currently has around 80%+ of the bus fleet to replace with ZEs, and these require batteries, chargers, grid connections and massive investment in depot reconstruction. So far the DfT has funded around 25% of capital costs via the ‘ZEBRA’ schemes outside London, (and provided indirect funding to TfL). This still leaves £12-£16bn for the private sector to fund.

Those local authorities who plan to “buy their own buses” will in general expect these to funded by DfT grants, or similar. Very few local authorities have either un-tapped local budgets, or much scope to increase their own borrowings.

HAVE THE TRANSPORT GROUPS NOTICED

WHAT’S GOING ON?

The future clearly lies with much closer operator and LTA partnerships, but have some of the transport groups noticed? The management structures of several of the major groups, now seem more suitable for a fast-food chain than a deeply political public service. The concept of remote command centres, enabled by AI planning tools in place of local experts, shows either amazing confidence in unproven solutions, or a lack of understanding of the new world. Only those operators prepared to invest in very close commercial and working relations with their LTA partners stand any chance of financial success. As in the post 1986 period, it is plausible to expect large changes in market share.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

The government will - in our view - be forced to become a little less ideological, and bus operators and investors will need to become rather more pragmatic. There will be greater variation of structures and regulation by area - as is inevitable within a ‘devolved’ model.

Study the new toolbox: The 1930-1986 “regulated” period included a whole range of structures that have been largely forgotten - not just municipal bus companies, but public-private joint ventures, “area agreements” and private financing.

TIL have been looking at the economics of these, and many are highly relevant again, depending on local circumstances.

Private financing is needed, and available: Transport risks being squeezed between the tectonic plates of the debt interest bill, the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s defences, and the agonising difficulty of capping health and social security spending. Private sector funding - preferably off central and local government balance sheets - will be needed to bridge the gap.

The bus owning groups, their

will be - in essence - ‘pre 1986’ type investment, regulatory and contractual agreements.

These need to be binding, symmetrical, and focused on creating positive incentives.

Bus operators must be held to account on service delivery, and investment. In return, they must be allowed to make commercial returns, commensurate with the capital employed and risks taken.

Local authorities should be focused on a stable funding structure, and creating the highway and economic environment that foster passenger growth.

More passengers are essential: Buses exist to carry passengers, and are the best means of delivering the collective objectives of LTAs, investors and bus operators.

The obsession with “regulation” tends to divert attention from this reality. All of the “social” and “public interest” benefits of buses are functions of rising passenger numbers. It is a mathematical inevitability that any city with falling patronage, and rising subsidies (like London) is eroding the “benefit:cost ratio”. Fare paying passengers (in most UK cities 6070%) also have a dramatic effect on network economics.

shareholders, and specialist “energy transition” funds are the first place to look. The Government also helpfully plans to adjust UK pension rules (including local government pensions) to allow more investment in UK infrastructure.

This is not “free money”. It will require a risk-adjusted, commercial return, and capital to be repaid. From an LTA perspective, this is inferior to non-repayable grants, gifted from DfT, but ‘perfection (DfT grants) should not be the enemy of the good (private capital)’. Private funding can hopefully get us through the huge ZE capex bulge.

Deep agreements will involve tough commitments on all sides: Since the Blair-era the word “partnership” has perhaps been overused and devalued. To take these ideas forward we really need harder language to describe what

The only reliable way of building bus passenger numbers in a material way is to address the speed and reliability of bus journeys, relative to competing modes. This fact is being amply proven by the sorry story of London bus patronage since 2014. If bus speeds fall, deficits will rise. The dreadful state of UK public finances should help concentrate minds on what should be the central mission of public transport.

Difficult sums must be done: Opportunity favours the bold, but also the informed. The DfT and LTAs are liable to look kindly on those local operators and partnerships, with a clear vision of what they want to achieve, and how they will get there. Credible plans will depend on building a picture of the as-is and future economics and financing, over a multi-year cycle of investments and service improvements.

Source Chris Cheek, Passenger Transport Intelligence Services Limited

Source TIL estimates from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) data

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE UK IS PARAMOUNT

Pelican is a UK company that invests heavily in the UK. We are delighted to be lead sponsors at this year's ALBUM Conference

Pelican Bus & Coach are delighted to be lead sponsors at ALBUM in conjunction with Nottingham City Transport.

Pelican Bus & Coach is part of Pelican Engineering Company Ltd which is a fourth generation family business founded in 1919 by Ernest Crump when the army no longer required his services as a dispatch rider at the end of the First World War. Searching for an original name for his new business, he remembered his regimental mascot, the Pelican, and adopted the name hoping it would bring him good fortune.

The company began by converting surplus military trucks into civilian use by removing petrol and steam engines and replacing them with Gardner diesel engines. In 1934 Pelican became the first official Foden Trucks dealer and trucks still form an important part of our business. As well as operating DAF and MAN truck dealerships, Pelican is launching the new Yutong TE7 electric 7.5 tonne truck in the UK this year.

A UK COMPANY

Pelican was appointed Yutong importer for the UK and Ireland in 2014 selling 19 vehicles in that year. Since then the business has grown its sales volume every year whilst continually investing in people, equipment, premises, training and parts stock to match the growing vehicle parc. The 1,000th Yutong vehicle entered service in the UK in September 2023 and this milestone will be surpassed in May 2025 with the 2,000th vehicle being delivered.

In 2018, we invested in a new purpose-built showroom and

service centre however, due to rapid growth, we quickly outgrew this facility. In 2022, we opened the new National Parts Distribution Centre followed by a larger showroom and service centre in 2023. The original property has been retained for our ‘Completed in the UK’ programme.

Pelican is a UK company that invests heavily in the UK, pays taxes to the UK Government whilst receiving no subsidies and has no foreign shareholders. Every Yutong electric bus sold contributes a five-figure sum in import duty to the UK treasury before any consideration of UK added value to the finished vehicle. We employ 218 people, of which 19 are apprentices and 58 have over 25 years’ service at Pelican. Our loyal staff ensure that we can respond to our customer’s needs, and we have a 24/7 operation. Continuous investment has resulted in over £8m of stock held at three principal locations and impress stock held at a further 19 customer locations.

The upskilling of staff at the operator’s location is an example of how we manage our customers’ expectations. In 2023 we created Pelican EV Automotive Training to support operators in their move to electrification. This provides

“In the UK, we have an unrivalled product range, covering electric zero tailpipe emission midi buses, single deck buses, double deck buses and airport buses”

are showing four vehicles

IMI Accredited Training courses on High Voltage Levels 1-4 in both light and heavy vehicle, F-Gas and IRTEC. To date we have trained over 450 candidates with many more courses booked throughout 2025.

Yutong is the largest global manufacturer of buses and coaches with a market share of more than 30% in China and more than 10% of the worldwide Market. It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of electric buses and coaches, having developed its first electric bus in 1999, as well as being the third largest electric truck manufacturer in China. Over the past 10 years,

over 575,000 Yutong vehicles have been delivered to over 120 countries worldwide.

Yutong is committed to fulfilling people’s desire for better travel. Their moto, “Better Bus, Better Life”, illustrates their dedication to providing greener, more comfortable mobility to all. To date, Yutong has sold over 200,000 electric vehicles which have completed over 46 billion kliometres of service. These vehicles are tried, tested and proven in many different operating conditions around the world.

Yutong vehicles are designed and built using the very latest R&D and production techniques. The entire

At ALBUM we

electric driveline is manufactured by Yutong rather than sourced from third parties and the software operating system is also written in-house giving unrivalled component integration that leads to reliability in service with a single point of aftersales contact.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Yutong reinvests 5% of turnover annually towards the research and development of new technology such as autonomous driving vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, safety systems and next generation electric drivelines. This amounted to an investment of £180m in 2024.

In the UK, we have an unrivalled product range, covering electric zero tailpipe emission midi buses, single deck buses, double deck buses and airport buses. We offer three different diesel coaches as well as providing two electric coach options. We are the only mainstream coach manufacturer to offer coaches that are zero tailpipe emissions in the UK, and lead the way in this important market.

At ALBUM we are showing four vehicles:

n Nottingham City Transport two variants of our electric single deck products - The E10 and E12; n Demonstrator E9L - Our

System (YESS) - our industry’s leading battery safety system.

YESS is based on five innovative pieces of design to make sure that the batteries operate in the safest possible manner:

All battery cells are fitted into modular battery packs made from flame retardant material up to 1,300 degrees Celsius. The battery pack is then fitted with an external ASC flame retardant cover.

2 All battery packs mounted in the vehicle body are protected by steel collision protection bars.

The nitrogen protection system fills the battery pack with nitrogen, displacing any air or oxygen to reduce the volume of combustible gas present in the event of a thermal runaway of the battery.

4 All batteries are temperature controlled.

5 Battery data is monitored 24/7 to provide an early alert of any abnormal operating factors.

All our electric vehicles are DC charged, with LFP battery chemistry. These 2 elements are vitally important in the zero emission vehicle offering and have been consistently integral to our success.

At ALBUM we will be revealing that we will launch two significant product enhancements:

“All our electric vehicles are DC charged, with LFP battery chemistry. These 2 elements are vitally important in the zero emission vehicle offering”

compact without compromise midibus;

n FirstGroup U11DD - Part of the 168 vehicle order from FirstGroup.

Each of these vehicles are fitted with the Yutong Electric Safety

n DC Charging - the ability to charge at 300kW per hour; n Battery warranty - The safest battery chemistry available will now be offered with extended warranty of 10 years, 800,000kms and 70% SOH as standard. As an option, this can be increased to 15 years, 1.5 million kilometres and 70% SOH providing market leading warranties to our customers.

Our commitment to the UK is of paramount importance to Pelican and our staff. The investment in a vehicle is the start of a long term partnership between a customer and Pelican. The members of ALBUM have been instrumental in our success in the UK, with many operators at this conference having purchased our vehicles, often on a repeat basis. We are proud to work with you all and welcome you into our family business.

Powering your net zero future

VEV-IQ, our advanced e-ﬂeet management and optimisation solution, enables you to transition to electric vehicles with speed and certainty.

TIL is a specialist consultancy providing economic and strategy advice within passenger transport.

Our clients have included local authorities, transport operators, infrastructure funds, private equity and major global banks.

We have advised on mergers and acquisitions, rolling stock deals, due diligence, operational bids, regulation and out-sourcing models, and network strategy, as well as senior staff recruitment, and interim management.

We bring deep sector knowledge from previous executive and operations roles within large transport operators. We have often worked overseas, carrying out projects in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Turkey and the Middle East, so we bring experience of international solutions.

The new regulatory environment for buses in the UK will create significant structural challenges and opportunities for operators and local transport authorities. We can help:

Economic analysis | Strategy development | Out-sourced services | Bid support Recruitment | Interim management

www.transportinvestment.co.uk

FUNDING IS ONE PIECE OF BUS ELECTRIFICATION

What operators need is a smart transition strategy to turn it into proﬁt, says Mike Nakrani, CEO of e-ﬂeet solutions provider VEV

The transport industry has a critical role to play in the UK reaching Net Zero. According to the Government, 29.1% of all UK greenhouse-gas output came from domestic transport in 2023 - the highest of any industry. is has not been lost on businesses or local government institutions - both of whom face increasing pressure to decarbonise. Transport represents a huge challenge, with CDP reporting that 20% of organisations’ scope 3 emissions originate from the industry.

Government - and privatefunding have boosted the bus industry’s progress towards implementing e ective solutions; they provide essential means for operators to transition to zero-emission, electric eets - but together are only one piece in a highly complex puzzle.

To make the most of the funding, and make electri cation pro table, bus-operators need to maximise their e- eets’ operational e ciency and TCO. But this is riddled with complexities; from power-grid upgrades, to rightsizing and future-proo ng charging infrastructure, there are critical steps to get right from the outset. A smart, end-to-end implementation strategy is the key.

CHARGING IN CHESTERFIELD

We’ve seen this in our work electrifying Stagecoach’s Chester eld depot. Stagecoach is deploying 57 electric buses from the depot, replacing more than two-thirds of its eet serving the area. It has received partial ZEBRA 2 funding, and further investment from Derbyshire County Council - but also needed the smart installation- and operational-strategy to make the transition a success.

Our teams therefore delivered a

turnkey solution, with a bespoke strategy optimised for Stagecoach’s needs set to reduce carbon output by over 102,000kg annually. We’ve provided comprehensive supportstarting with intricate analysis of the existing eet and the site’s power access, followed by charging-point installation, personnel training, 24/7 operational assistance, and rich data-driven insights.

From running boards, to power-consumption and businessoperating needs, upfront data analysis was critical for designing a bespoke solution that delivers dependable e- eet operations.

Given the signi cant operational costs electricity accounts for, power optimisation needs to be high on the agenda.

at’s why we delivered 27 dual DC 120kW chargers and a 4MVA power upgrade, but reinforced them with a clean-energy, solar-powered microgrid. at solution is under construction, set to deliver around 200MWh of power per year, at roughly half the cost of grid-electricity.

A highly complex charging ecosystem like this needs to be managed by a smart, centralised platform. Our solution, VEV-IQ,

delivers dynamic energy-load management for Stagecoach, drawing power from the grid at the best times for maximising powercost savings - but remaining laserfocused on maintaining optimum operational e ciency for the eet. Simultaneously, it integrates with buses’ telematics, analysing their performance and delivering

rich insights - including state-ofcharge, location, and range.

From beginning to end, the success of the Stagecoach project and others is down to a smart marginal-gains strategy; implementing intelligent analysis and measures throughout the transition not only reduces upfront capex, but ultimately ongoing opex.

By eet-size, Stagecoach is the largest bus-operator in the UK - but major operators are not the only ones key to meeting the industry’s sustainability obligations. SME-operators o er huge potential in reducing emissions output - but like their larger counterparts, need more support in implementing the right solutions. Working with multiple suppliers only compounds their challenges - resulting in an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming transition.

FALCON COACHES

e multiple ALBUM members we work with, like Falcon Coaches in Surrey, are ideal candidates for electri cation. As with Stagecoach, we’re delivering an end-to-end solution for Falcon Coaches from design and build, through to implementation - reinforced with VEV-IQ’s cost-e cient smart charging and energy management so ware.

e project has helped it overcome the challenges of its space- and grid-constrained West By eet depot. To accommodate the 35 electric buses the business is looking to adopt, we secured a 1.5-MVA grid upgrade, which will power the initial eet of 13 Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV vehicles, set for delivery in 2026. Over their lifetime, these buses alone are forecast to save over 10,400 tonnes in emissions.

Whether large and national, or small and county-wide, operators across the UK each play a critical role in setting the industry - and country - up for a sustainable future. Continued funding will help provide the critical means to get there - but every operator needs to partner with the right specialists, ensuring the critical strategy and expertise are in place to optimise the business-case for the transition.

VEV worked to electrify Stagecoach’s Chesterﬁeld depot

Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV

VEV chargers for Stagecoach

A CONSTANT FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER

Ticketer will demonstrate two key developments at the ALBUM Conference in Nottingham

Visitors to Stand 10 at the ALBUM Conference will enjoy a first look at Ticketer’s latest innovationssome recently released and some yet to launch to market, offering attendees an exclusive preview of what’s to come.

Among the forward-thinking advancements on display is Ticketer’s progressive two-way voice communication solution, poised to transform how drivers and controllers stay connected via their driver consoles. Also being unveiled is Passenger Manifests, a powerful new feature that streamlines the ticketing process by accepting both pre-booked and walk-up travel whilst providing real-time insights into boardings versus expected occupancy - all from a single device.

Adam Toone, Ticketer’s Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, discusses these exciting developments and what they mean for the future of public transport operations.

THE TICKETER VOICE AND MESSAGING SOLUTION

For operators, maintaining effective communication between drivers and control teams is essential for service reliability and efficiency. In response to the limitations of traditional radio systems, Ticketer is leveraging their TK300’s in-built speakers and microphone to facilitate more targeted and efficient voice communication.

Furthermore, Ticketer’s solution will offer significant advantages over conventional radio systems; namely less hardware in the driver

cab, the elimination of expensive radio frequency licenses, wider coverage and the ability to send more targeted, time-specific messages versus broadcasting en masse.

Adam Toone highlights how this development addresses key industry challenges: “Many operators struggle with existing

radio technology. It’s costly to run, doesn’t facilitate targeted or timely comms and depending on how far reaching or rural the area is in which you operate in, radio broadcasts may not even reach the drivers that they need to. We heard our customers’ frustrations on radio technology and have purposefully developed a solution which will overcome those challenges.”

By utilising the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities of their next generation TK300 ETM, Ticketer will introduce a new voice broadcast and two-way communication solution which will eliminate the need for additional on-bus hardware, costly technology and licenses and be easy quick to install. Furthermore, unlike traditional radio systems

ALBUM member Blackpool Transport announced earlier this year it was upgrading to the next generation TK300 ETM from Ticketer

Adam Toone

which can be geographically limited, Ticketer’s solution ensures reliable communication with less interference across wider networks as long as there is network coverage, enabling further reaching communication as long as there is 2G upwards.

eir latest developments build upon the nuanced functionality of their existing text-based Driver Messaging feature and will facilitate more targeted and e cient voice communication than traditional radio systems by o ering exibility on when and to who voice broadcasts are sent to. Operators will be able to choose to broadcast to speci c drivers, services, depots or individual vehicles, ensuring that communication is relevant and e cient.

“Traditional radio systems send the same message to everyone, regardless of whether it’s relevant to them. is can be detrimental to comms if drivers are used to hearing broadcasts that aren’t relevant to them. Our solution allows operators to tailor communication, ensuring the right messages reach the right people at the right time,” Toone explains.

“Messages can also be set to activate and expire at speci c times, ensuring that critical updates, for example road closures and diversions on speci c routes, are only sent when necessary. Drivers can listen to broadcasts hands-free, ensuring that safety remains a priority, while also having the option to replay broadcasts when it’s safe to do so.”

Beyond broadcasting, a key capability of the Ticketer solution is its provision of two-way communication, allowing drivers to call control room sta directly via their TK300s.

“ is feature means that both drivers and control room teams can initiate direct voice calls, just as they would on a mobile phone. Control teams will receive alerts for incoming calls via the Ticketer Portal, and calls can be logged for auditing and review,” says Toone.

“Ultimately, it’s a bold step forward in operational communication and a clear signal of the future-focused innovation the industry has come to expect from Ticketer.”

PASSENGER MANIFESTS: A NEW ERA FOR PRE-BOOKED TRAVEL

For operators handling prebooked tickets such as coach, school and Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services, real-time passenger visibility as well as seamless ticketing is a growing priority. Addressing this need, Ticketer is launching their Passenger Manifests feature which will allow drivers to track expected and actual passenger boarding seamlessly, whilst accepting pre-booked travel and walk-up ticket sales all from the same driver console.

Initially launching on the Ticketer Handheld before being developed for their TK300 driver console, this solution will provide drivers with a real-time view of occupancy, allowing them to see how many passengers are scheduled to board at each stop. By scanning a QR code, pre-booked passengers will be automatically marked as boarded, highlighting any outstanding boardings.

“Operators managing prebooked travel need clear visibility of who is expected to be on board, particularly for services like school transport or airport shuttles,” Toone explains. “Passenger Manifests provide this clarity, ensuring drivers always have accurate and up-to-date information on boardings.”

Unique in Ticketer’s solution is its capabilities to support both pre-booked and walk-up passengers on a single device, with many ticketing systems handling one or the other but typically not

both. By integrating them into a single device, Ticketer again removes the need for multiple devices in the driver cab, making operations simpler and more e cient.

Adam elaborates: “Operators shouldn’t need separate systems for pre-booked travel and walk-ups. It adds unnecessary complexity for both them, their drivers and passengers. Our approach uni es the two, creating a seamless experience and greater exibility for everyone involved.”

Flexibility is at the heart of this solution. It features two-

way API integration, allowing seamless updates from third-party reservation and booking platforms. is means that if a booking is modi ed then the updated details will be re ected immediately, ensuring that all records remain accurate and up to date.

“Real-time integration with external booking systems is a game-changer for operators,” says Toone. “It ensures that any last-minute changes - such as a passenger switching to a later service or a new booking being added - are captured e ciently, preventing any confusion or errors.”

By automating the boarding process and ensuring that realtime updates are available to drivers, Ticketer’s upcoming Passenger Manifests solution will not only improve e ciency but also enhance the overall passenger experience. Passengers will bene t from smoother boarding processes, fewer delays, and greater con dence in their bookings.

CONTINUALLY CREATING VALUE FOR CUSTOMERS

With the introduction of twoway voice communication and Passenger Manifests, Ticketer is delivering practical, high-impact innovations that address realworld operator challenges. ese solutions reduce complexity, improve safety, and enhance e ciency, ensuring that both drivers and control teams have the tools they need to operate smoothly.

“Listening to our customers has always been at the heart of what we do,” Toone states. “We listen to pain points and challenges and see where we can help. ese innovations are a direct response to industry feedback and we’re excited to showcase them at ALBUM as we know they will bring real value to operators, improving day-to-day operations while also enhancing the passenger experience.”

Be sure to visit Ticketer at stand 10 to demo their latest innovations and other forward-thinking solutions. For further questions on the above, please email info@ ticketer.co.uk.

The next generation TK300ETM offers Voice over Internet Protocol capabilities

THe Passenger Manifests tool is being introduced on the Ticketer Handheld

Ticketer will be exhbiting at the ALBUM Conference in Nottingham

PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS FOR ALL OPERATORS

INIT is committed to supporting ALBUM members to address upcoming changes, enhancing the passenger experience and increasing ridership

INIT Innovations in Transportation is proud to sponsor and exhibit at this year’s ALBUM conference, hosted by Nottingham City Transport (NCT). We have partnered with NCT for over a decade, providing solutions like planning, dispatch, AVL, and a full ticketing system including on-bus cash, ITSO, proprietary smartcard, cEMV and operational statistics, to enhance Nottingham’s award-winning bus operation.

Since 1983, INIT has grown from a university project to a global public transport technology provider, supporting over 1,100 operators worldwide. We are the only vendor o ering seamlessly integrated planning, dispatching, telematics, and ticketing solutions. With headquarters in Germany and o ces in key markets, our expertise is based on over 40 years of experience, re ecting our vision of making public transport easy.

INIT continues to invest in people and premises, delivering enhanced customer services from our o ce in Nottingham’s Lace Market district. Our Nottingham team serves our UK customers, including NCT, Nottingham Express Trams (NET) and National Express West Midlands. Having recently secured the Transport for London contract to deliver a new technology system for London’s buses, INIT is growing at pace.

Managing Director of INIT Ltd. Jens Mullak commented: “I am immensely proud of how far we have come in the last 15 years since we established our presence in the UK. We now work whether directly or indirectly with a growing list of public transport providers, supported through our ever expanding dedicated team of public transport specialists to deliver INIT’s proven, innovative products and systems. Our investment within our expanded and refurbished premises in the

heart of Nottingham, demonstrates our long term commitment to delivering rst class products and services to the UK market.”

PROVEN EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS MARKET CHALLENGES

e public transport sector is evolving rapidly. Passengers demand greater access to travel, and environmental factors and government policies like the Bus Services Bill add to these demands. e biggest challenge for small and medium-sized bus operators in the UK is the potential impact of the Bus Services Bill and the move towards franchising. Championed recently by ALBUM, operators and

“We are the only vendor offering seamlessly integrated planning, dispatching, telematics, and ticketing solutions”

technology suppliers support the Bill’s goals to enhance bus services, passenger experiences, and connectivity. However, the potential negative impact on smaller operators remains unclear. e uncertainty around franchising or partnership models introduces nancial unpredictability, a ecting future planning and investment.

Facing nancial constraints, operators need new technology to improve bus services and passenger experience. Recruiting and retaining drivers and specialist sta is a perennial

challenge. Diversity and exibility are essential to balance quality service with pro tability. Employee well-being is crucial for retention, with work-life balance important for new hires and longserving sta nearing retirement.

As your technology provider, we o er solutions to address these challenges by automating routine tasks and providing new employees with guidance, tools, and information. INIT o ers modern, cost-e ective solutions for transport operators.

Our modular portfolio includes so ware for scheduling, personnel dispatch, depot and vehicle management, enhancing e ciency.

is so ware suite improves operations with tools for duty scheduling, holiday planning, contract management, and digital driver information, boosting e ectiveness and job satisfaction. Our scheduling tool optimises timetables and duty planning, improving e ciency and cost savings.

e depot management module automates eet management, reducing errors and saving time with features like vehicle assignment and maintenance planning. Our intelligent charge management system ensures energy-e cient and safe operations of electric vehicles.

Overall, INIT’s cloud-based solutions provide simple, modern IT systems for transport operators to plan, manage, and monitor networks with ease. We focus on intelligent, service-oriented systems for public transport information management including transit signal priorities. Our solutions are modern, easyto-use, and quickly implemented.

Mullak a rms: “We are excited about the future. INIT and my passionate team are committed to supporting ALBUM members to address upcoming changes, enhancing the passenger experience and increasing ridership.”

We look forward to showcasing our solutions at the ALBUM conference and discussing how we can support you. To set up a meeting with the INIT team, please contact us or visit us at stand 24. We look forward to seeing you there.

INIT’s UK customers include Nottingham City Transport

A MISSION TO DELIVER THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

TransMach is advancing open and closed loop software for contactless ‘multi modal’ ticketing, as well as rolling out latest generation ETMs

TransMach is one of the leading smart ticketing innovators in the passenger transport industry, with a mission to deliver the latest technology that adds value to operators and enhances the passenger experience.

Established in 2011, TransMach is advancing open and closed loop so ware for contactless ‘multi modal’ ticketing, as well as rolling out latest generation ETMs. Its brand new TM700 onboard machine has 5G capability, which is unique to the bus industry, enabling faster ticket processing speed, more robust data security and quicker

passenger loading, all important factors for operators.

Achieving 100% data accuracy and zero data loss is a key priority for TransMach, as bus operators nd BODS compliance challenging. With support from TransMach, they can analyse trends and patterns and amend their networks to improve e ciency, based on informed decision-making.

For enhanced security, operators are bene tting from TransMach’s work on developing a cross-industry PAR-based deny list and real-time QR code checking, so that tickets with barcodes cannot be used again, the second a er they have been

“Achieving 100% data accuracy and zero data loss is a key priority for TransMach”

validated. is protects revenue and combats contactless ticket fraud, known as ‘mobile wallet ipping.’ Other developments include work on updating booking systems in real-time, which monitors ‘no shows’, so that tickets can be made available for resale.

Whilst supporting all forms of cEMV contactless payment, it’s important for TransMach to provide operators with choice and hassle-free switching, which delivers value for money, that’s backed up by an expert and friendly technical support team. It manages the whole system integration via its cloud-based platform, which ticks all the boxes regarding operator integration, schedule adherence, AVL, BODS compliance, driver shi allocation and occupancy rates.

TransMach has seen customer transaction data increase by more than 10% a er switching to its contactless solution.

TransMach TM700

UK-MADE DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS FOR BUS AND COACH CCTV

Installed in tens of thousands of vehicles, Timespace’s products are trusted for their reliability

Most eet operators are now clear about the bene ts of installing vehicle CCTV systems - high-quality, reliable CCTV can bring operational e ciencies and cost reductions, with the bene ts outweighing the cost of system installation.

DESIGNED, DEVELOPED, MANUFACTURED AND SUPPORTED IN THE UK

Timespace continues to develop high-quality digital video recorders (DVRs) to meet the market demand for reliable vehicle CCTV. As a specialist UK manufacturer, Timespace is well-positioned to address developments in the UK vehicleCCTV market. Our best-selling

DVR, the V400, was developed with input from Transport for London and major UK eet operators, resulting in a highlyreliable UK-made product which is now installed in tens of thousands of vehicles worldwide.

FUTURE-PROOF VEHICLE CCTV

e new Timespace V700 builds on the success of the V400 and is a full-HD recorder, providing excellent image quality, and is robust to cope with harsh vehicle environments.

“ e V700 is the next generation of vehicle CCTV,” explains Henry Heylen, Timespace’s Commercial Director, adding, “Fleet operators can use up to 20 high-de nition IP cameras to give excellent coverage

both inside the bus and out”. With its ONVIF interface, the V700 can also integrate with other vehicle systems, helping operators to streamline on-board technologies.

For all Timespace DVRs, the proprietary LANLink platform provides live camera streams and remote footage download, designed to make viewing and sharing footage as simple as possible.

“All Timespace design, development, manufacturing and support is based at our UK premises in Huntingdon”

TRUSTED PRODUCTS

Timespace products are trusted for their reliability says Operations Manager Darren Marjoram: “We take pride in our reputation for “ t and forget” products, with our recorders delivering years of reliable performance, and regularly out-lasting the vehicles they’re installed in.”

All Timespace design, development, manufacturing and support is based at our UK premises in Huntingdon, giving us full control of quality and service. By choosing Timespace, operators are investing in trusted, UK-made technology which will bene t their businesses for years to come.

www.tspace.co.uk

01480 414147

11TH SEPTEMBER

We are delighted to be hosting our 7th UK Bus Summit in partnership with Passenger Transport magazine. The event will take place in Greater Manchester, home of the Bee Network which recently brought buses into its integrated transport system successfully, making the region the first to bring local bus services under local control.

2025 is an important year for the most heavily used form of public transport across the UK, with new Buses Bills currently going through both UK and Welsh Parliaments allowing the introduction of franchising and municipal operations. It also heralds the first Comprehensive Spending Review of the new UK Government who has placed growth at the top of its agenda and views bus as a vital tool to help boost it. Following hot on the heels of Greater Manchester, Regional Mayors across England are moving to transform their bus networks, with most currently in the process of progressing re-regulation.

You will have the opportunity to hear from decision makers on the latest legislative, policy and practical developments across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, together with industry professionals, operators and the supply chain who will be analysing and discussing the key developments in the sector over the next few years including:

Lessons from Greater Manchester’s recent adoption of bus franchising as part of its Bee Network

Updates from the Regional Mayors on plans for transforming their bus networks

What kinds of franchising model work best in which areas and where should successful enhanced partnerships be retained

What can we do to make bus and coach accessible, affordable and safe, particularly for women and girls

How can technology fast-track both improved customer experience and de-carbonisation Making the case for long-term, multi-year funding settlements for buses

Bookings will open in May via www.transporttimes.co.uk Register your interest in attending, by emailing: enquiries@transporttimes.co.uk

Readers of Passenger Transport magazine and members of CPT and the Urban Transport Group are eligible for a 10% discount on bookings

Etc Venues, 11 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3HU

Simon Lightwood MP Minister for Local Transport

Confirmed keynote speaker

integrated fares information based on NeTEx data. Customers could plan routes, understand costs, and buy tickets to use instantly.

Underpinning these advancements is Passenger Cloud. is robust back-o ce system has powered NCT’s apps and websites since the beginning. Making signi cant advances over the years, today it provides NCT departments with intuitive tools to manage critical data: timetables, routes, fares information, and real-time information.

A DECADE OF CUSTOMERFOCUSED PARTNERSHIP

Collaboration between Nottingham City Transport and Passenger serves as a blueprint for technology providers and public transport operators

For Nottingham City Transport (NCT), a six-time winner of the UK Bus Operator of the Year award, a decade-long strategic partnership with Passenger has been instrumental in its ongoing commitment to customer-centric innovation.

Passenger’s popular mobile app began life in 2015 in collaboration with Nottingham. Now in use by over 40 public transport operating companies and authorities across the UK, the product has been an overwhelming success for both its creator and earliest adopter.

Since 2013, this collaboration has moved beyond a typical clientvendor relationship, evolving into a dynamic co-design process focused on providing customers with comprehensive and accessible information. Including real-time journey planning with integrated fares information, seamless mobile ticketing, and an increasing focus on experience personalisation, these advancements have set new benchmarks for customer engagement and satisfaction.

NCT’s reputation as the UK’s best in the industry underscores their dedication to operational excellence and customer convenience. Anthony Carver-

Smith, Head of Marketing & Projects at NCT, re ects on the start of the journey with Passenger. He notes a clear need to transcend the limitations of their early digital capability. NCT sought a technology partner to integrate diverse industry hardware and data suppliers, with the goal of a signi cant enhancement in how customers could plan, pay for, and experience their journeys.

'A REVOLUTION FOR US'

From Passenger’s perspective, Founder CEO Tom Quay recalls a mutual understanding and shared vision from the outset. is vision focused on the transformative power of technology in public transport. Partnering with NCT, an organisation with a distinguished history and commitment to excellence, provided a strong foundation for collaborative innovation. e aim was always to provide customers with the most complete, userfriendly, and personalised digital experience. is alignment was critical for the rst major milestone in December 2016: the launch of the NCT mobile app with integrated mobile ticketing.

For NCT, this was a fundamental shi in how customers accessed

and paid for services. Having been early adopters of smart card technology, embracing mobile ticketing was a bold step forward. e internal debate centred on whether it was going to work. But as Anthony explains, the decision to adopt it was, without doubt, the right one: “ e introduction of mobile ticketing was a revolution for us.” e immediate impact was signi cant. Over eight million payments were processed through the app in just six years. Today more than half of NCT’s season tickets are purchased on app. is success spurred NCT to embrace new technologies further. e response showcased the partnership’s collaborative spirit. Working closely with NCT’s teams, Passenger implemented a phased digital overhaul. A key element was real-time information, giving customers accurate, up-to-theminute bus location details. is was paired with comprehensive journey planning, now with

“Over eight million payments were processed through the app in just six years”

e impact on customer experience has been signi cant. e redesigned, customer-centric systems eased interaction and payment. A remarkable 90% of journeys now use non-cash methods. is highlights the success of mobile ticketing and contactless payments.

In 2020, the partnership addressed ticket veri cation. Passenger’s GDPR-compliant inapp service allowed secure remote ID provision for concessionary tickets. is o ered convenience and e ciency. Results were striking: a 96% drop in refund requests for unveri ed tickets within two months.

e enduring success stems from the strong human connection. As Anthony notes, consistent relationships and open communication are paramount. e ability for both teams to collaborate on solutions has been a cornerstone of their achievements.

Tom emphasises the continuous evolution driven by customer feedback. e consistent delivery of high-quality solutions, such as transparent fares information integration (NeTEx-based) and the innovative Personalised Travel Alerts system, alongside Passenger’s responsiveness, fostered trust and respect. e consistently high app ratings and positive user reviews validate the collaborative approach.

Looking ahead, the partnership remains dynamic and forward-looking. is decade of collaboration serves as a blueprint for technology providers and public transport operators, bene ting communities by providing customers with all necessary information for seamless travel.

Passenger’s popular mobile app began life in 2015 in collaboration with Nottingham

POWERING A NEW ERA IN SERVICE DELIVERY

Velociti Solutions is working to streamline control room processes in a bid to boost efﬁciency

Control360 from Velociti Solutions is transforming the control room from a reactive hub into a proactive engine for operational excellence.

As bus operators across the UK look to the future and focus on building more e cient, responsive networks, the need to rethink how services are managed has never been greater. Operational e ciency is key, from managing driver availability to navigating congestion and delivering consistent performance. At the heart of this transformation is the control room, and at the heart of the control room is Control360 from Velociti Solutions.

“ e control room is the beating heart of a bus operation,” says Nick Brookes, Chief Customer O cer at Velociti. “But historically, it’s been run using fragmented systems that force sta to jump between screens, re-enter data, and piece together the full picture manually. at’s not just ine cient, it’s risky when you’re trying to keep buses moving and passengers happy.”

Enter Control360, an integrated so ware platform that brings those disconnected systems together into a single, intelligent hub. Drawing data from scheduling, engineering, customer services, and more — including third-party systems — Control360 gives colleagues tasked with delivering the service real-time visibility of what’s happening across the network.

“Operators already have a lot of tech in place,” adds Nick, “but what’s been missing is the joinedup view. Control360 provides that, so control room teams can respond faster, plan better, and deliver more reliable services, day in and day out.”

Aiden Proctor, Head of Product - Bus

TURNING INSIGHT INTO ACTION

At its core, Control360 is about empowering control rooms to move from reactive to proactive management. e platform is engineered to simplify complex decisions with features like real-time alerts for driver issues, predictive insights based on trip patterns, and streamlined work ows for incident reporting.

Aiden Proctor, Velociti’s Head of Product - Bus, explains: “One of the key bene ts of Control360 is how it anticipates problems before they become service failures. For example, if a driver is running late to start their work and services face a delay as a result, Control360 not only ags it but helps the team resolve it within minutes while staying compliant and cost-e cient.”

He continues: “We’ve eliminated the need for duplicate data entry and cross-system guesswork. at not only improves accuracy but gives controllers the headspace to focus on what really matters: keeping the service running smoothly and passengers moving.”

MAKING BETTER DECISIONS, FASTER

With an intuitive graphical interface and embedded intelligence, Control360 provides a complete

depot and live network view, highlighting the most critical issues in real time and o ering actionable context, such as driver history, event impact, or incident timelines.

“Controllers aren’t just monitoring services,” says Aiden. “ ey’re making constant, highstakes decisions under pressure. Control360 gives them the tools to make those decisions based on facts, not assumptions.”

And it’s not just about the day-to-day. By consolidating operational data over time, Control360 becomes a powerful tool for strategic planning.

“As operators build a richer picture of their networks, they can start applying machine learning to spot patterns and opportunities,” says Nick. “For instance, identifying how school term tra c a ects punctuality on certain routes, or which types of incidents lead to lost mileage in speci c areas. at’s the kind of insight that helps reshape operations for the better.”

BUILT FOR A CONNECTED FUTURE

Control360 is more than a so ware product; it represents a shi in how control rooms operate, think, and plan. It acts as a bridge between real-time control and long-term improvement, creating a foundation for more agile and data-driven operations.

“Control360 is already helping operators take control in a new way,” adds Nick. “What’s next is making it smarter, faster, and even more connected.”

From streamlined duty allocation and real-time alerts to predictive network management, Control360 is rede ning what’s possible in the control room, turning data into action, decisions into outcomes, and complexity into clarity.

As Aiden puts it: “It’s not just about solving today’s problems. It’s about building a bus operation that’s t for the future.”

“By consolidating operational data over time, Control360 becomes a powerful tool for strategic planning”

Control360 provides a joined up view that allows teams to respond faster

Nick Brookes, Chief Customer Ofﬁcer

A SMARTER ROUTE TO PASSENGER GROWTH

Reading Buses is using CitySwift’s performance optimisation platform to generate extra revenue and make the right investments

Last November, CitySwift, a leader in performance optimisation for the public transport sector across the globe, announced the extension of its partnership with Reading Buses.

This commitment followed a successful trial of the platform on two historically poor-performing corridors, which delivered punctuality improvements of 9.1% and 14.2%. Driven by these results, the decision was taken to roll it out across the entire commercial network - with the core aim of making its bus services more attractive to passengers and therefore encouraging more people to use them.

Robert Williams has been Managing Director of local authority-owned Reading Buses for the past six and a half years. He believes the partnership with CitySwift is an investment that aligns with the business philosophy of his company and that of many other ALBUM members; namely that it’s important to persevere with initiatives that improve the proposition to customers and grow the top line instead of always seeking to strip out costs.

“We just have to keep the faith,”

says Williams. “We keep doing all the right things.” CitySwift gives the team confidence that they have access to the right data-driven recommendations to implement the right changes.

This approach has helped 214-vehicle Reading Buses grow passenger numbers by an impressive 11.4% in 2023/24, according to Department for Transport figures. Over the 12-month period the company carried 19.5 million passengers - a significant increase of two million journeys compared to the previous year.

IMPROVING PUNCTUALITY

This growth coincides with Reading Borough Council’s ongoing investments in public transport infrastructure. The council received a £26m grant from the DfT to implement its Bus Service Improvement Plan. This plan will see the creation of several new bus lanes across Reading, with three already completed along London Road (Cemetery Junction) and two on Oxford Road, helping to speed up bus journeys and make them more reliable.

Measures like this have the potential to transform the punctuality of services - a key driver of passenger satisfaction

has helped the company to reduce its staff turnover.

There’s much more to come. The influence of CitySwift’s innovative platform is only beginning to take shape. Aside from the trial routes, Reading Buses has used it to analyse its network in bite-size chunks. Timetable reviews will be made and implemented in a phased approach over the months and years ahead, driving ongoing improvement.

Williams has no doubt it’s the right decision for the company.

“It has sped up our ability to deal with timetable issues and punctuality and improved the network,” he reports. “It’s not just punctuality. You can see how many passengers are on board at certain times of day, really quickly and easily.

- but Williams and his team are also looking closely at what they can do to make services more punctual.

For Williams, the appeal of using CitySwift’s platform is not about taking a bus out of the schedule and saving money. Instead he believes the platform can pay for itself by showing where putting extra resources in would make the biggest difference - and drive up revenues. He wants improvements to happen in a way that makes sense for customers. There will be none of the 65-minute headways that other companies have adopted.

CitySwift’s platform has contributed to a 3% year-on-year improvement in punctuality - an improvement that Williams says has been welcomed by drivers and

“The partnership with CitySwift has empowered Reading Buses to operate with the same insight and control that’s expected of the biggest city networks”

“So we are spending more time looking at the output of the analysis rather than doing the analysis. That for me is the big thing. It comes down to ‘do you want a computer doing this work or do you want a human doing the work?’”

ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY

Shifting from manual analysis to automatic access to insights and recommendations is boosting efficiency and confidence across the company. Williams says that the CitySwift platform is a tool that will enhance the productivity of the team - not replace itenabling the team to deliver more strategic value.

“We haven’t reduced our scheduling team or anything like that to fund it,” Williams explains. “We have kept the team the same because we want to achieve more with the same people. It’s not a cost-cutting exercise. It’s about what more we can do with the resources we’ve got.”

The partnership with CitySwift has empowered Reading Buses to operate with the same insight and control that’s expected of the biggest city networks - such as London and New York. Its network may be smaller but its ambition is not. Reading Buses is demonstrating that ALBUM members can be modern, adaptable companies that embrace cutting-edge technologies in the interests of their customers.

Reading Buses grew passenger numbers by an impressive 11.4% in 2023/24

THE ALBUM CONFERENCE WORKBOOK 2025

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors

WELCOME TO NOTTINGHAM

As Chair of ALBUM and Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 ALBUM Conference, and the first to be held in the City of Nottingham.

My thanks go to all the team at NCT who have worked so hard to make this event possible, and the enthusiasm displayed by the staff at the East Midlands Conference Centre also fills me with the belief that this could be a very special occasion.

The eagerness displayed by suppliers and delegates alike has been breathtaking, and we are delighted that several of our activities have sold out.

When we first volunteered two years ago to host this years’ conference, we couldn’t have foreseen the significance of the year 2025 for buses. As we gather here in Nottingham, the Bus

Services Bill is making its way through Parliament; a piece of legislation that has the potential to have a once-in-a-generation impact on the structure of our industry with the easing of franchising powers to all local transport authorities and the lifting of the current restrictions on the setting up of new local authority owned bus companies.

In addition, central government is pursuing the re-organisation of local government which will potentially see bands of district and borough councils erased, almost certainly the most significant change in half a century. This will impact the governance of our nation’s bus services as much larger authorities, and in many cases completely new combined authorities, adopt the powers for managing both franchised networks but also crucially, the partnership agreements that I

expect will continue to account for the majority of bus services in Great Britain.

And for the SME and municipal sector which ALBUM is here to represent, it is the continuation of enhanced bus partnerships which we are eager to achieve.

That is why the theme and focus for this conference is delivering excellent bus services through positive partnerships.

We are delighted to welcome Simon Lightwood MP as Minister for local transport, and I am sure Simon will emphasise again that franchising doesn’t have to be the only game in town; where partnerships are flourishing, they should be encouraged.

I am sure our new elected Mayor for the East Midlands combined authority, Claire Ward, will support that message and give an indication of what she hopes partnerships can and will deliver in the East Midlands region.

Over the two days of our conference, we will hear from several speakers that have shown initiative and led the way in delivering excellent bus services through positive partnerships.

I must pay tribute to all the suppliers that attend this conference. I’m sure we all appreciate that without their generous financial support the ALBUM Conference couldn’t take place. Can I please encourage you all to take the time to visit the exhibition sites both in the building but also outside in the parking area. Our supplier friends go to great efforts and there is a floor plan within this publication so you can visit each and every one!

So once again, welcome to the ALBUM Conference in Nottingham. We have the makings of a great event - enjoy!

David Astill, MD, Nottingham City Transport

The 2025 ALBUM Conference is the first to be held in the City of Nottingham

DAY 1

MONDAY 12TH MAY

10:00

GOLF AT WOLLATON PARK

Sponsored by Equans and Allison Transmission

Our Golf Day will be held at Wollaton Park. This beautiful parkland offers an enjoyable and challenging test for golfers of every level. The putting surfaces on this course have a reputation for being some of the best in the area.

Arrive from 10am for breakfast ahead of the first tee off at 11.30am. There are half-way drinks and food provided at the Club House after the game.

14:00

REGISTRATION OPEN

Pick up your delegate pack sponsored by Alfatronix and your name badge & lanyard sponsored by Backhouse Jones. Registration is open until 17:00 on Monday.

15:00

HOTEL CHECK IN

18:30

CURRY AND QUIZ NIGHT

DAY 2

TUESDAY 13TH MAY

09:00

REGISTRATION AND EXHIBITION STANDS OPEN

The Exhibition Halls open, with 50 industry suppliers available to explore and network with. There’s also a special session kicking off ALBUM 2025.

Pick up your delegate pack sponsored by Alfatronix and your name badge & lanyard sponsored by Backhouse Jones

12:00 LUNCH

DAY 3

WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY

09:00

CONFERENCE STARTS

n Welcome back from NCT’s voice of the buses, David Lloyd

09:10

n Louise Collins, Director, Transport Focus

09:35

n Roger French, Bus and Train Blogger

10:00

n Tom Quay, CEO, Passenger 10:20

REFRESHMENTS AND EXHIBITION HALL

YOUR LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS

Read the biographies below to familiarise yourself with your expert line-up of speakers

DAVID ASTILL

Managing Director, Nottingham City Transport and ALBUM Chair

David is Managing Director of this year’s ALBUM Conference hosts, Nottingham City Transport. His 42-year career in transport began at 18 as a Junior Tra c Clerk with National Express in Nottingham. A er roles at Nottinghamshire County Council and PMT Limited, and earning a master’s degree from the University of Westminster, he worked with Badgerline and FirstGroup across the West Midlands, North Sta ordshire, Greater Manchester and beyond. At 29, he became Managing Director of Pennine Blue. David returned to Nottingham in 2007, ful lling a lifelong ambition by becoming Managing Director of NCT in 2021. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics, he holds several key industry roles and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Centre for Bus Excellence in 2024. He became ALBUM chair earlier this year and is proud to be hosting the Conference with his team.

ALISON EDWARDS Director of Policy and External Relations, CPT

Alison Edwards is Director of Policy and External Relations at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade association for the bus and coach sector in the

UK. Alison joined CPT in May 2019 a er over a decade in the Civil Service as well as time spent working on policy in the charity sector.

CAROLINE WILSON

Head

of Engagement at Intuitive Talent Solution

Caroline Wilson is the Head of Engagement at Intuitive Talent Solutions, a boutique search consultancy specialising in the UK transport sector. With a focus on talent executive-level and interim recruitment, Caroline leads client engagement in the Bus and Coach sectors, leveraging her extensive network of industry experts at all levels. Her dedication to fostering diverse talent pools and inclusive work environments has made her a respected gure in the transport recruitment sector.

JASON PRINCE

Director

of the Urban Transport Group

Before joining UTG in July 2023, Jason was Head of Public A airs at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for over three years, following four years at Transport for Greater Manchester. In both roles, he worked closely with partners on bus reform, the Bus Services Act (2017), and the early development of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, as well as on rail projects like HS2, innovation, and devolution.

Prior to joining TfGM in 2016, Jason worked for a Member of Parliament on transport and energy policy. Earlier in his career, he held private and third sector roles, including nearly ve years as a business development manager in welfare to work and as an operations manager for a third sector organisation across the North of England.

LOUISE

COLLINS Director, Transport Focus

Louise is a Director at Transport Focus, the transport user watchdog. Since joining in 2011 she has been involved in a variety of areas including getting the best for passengers from rail franchises, helping motorway services operators make improvements and working closely with bus partnerships. In her current role she leads the organisation’s work to make things better for bus passengers and road users.

Chair of Nottingham City Transport

Nottingham City Transport was the focus of Graham’s rst political involvement in the city in 1985 when he supported the campaign to keep the service in council ownership. Later, as Leader of Nottingham City Council, he introduced the tram and the ‘dreaded’ work-place parking levy. Transport has always been a

priority for Graham, which is why he takes particular pride in now being Chair of NCT. e company provides some of the most comprehensive services in the UK, with one of the highest customer and sta satisfaction rates.

Mayor of the East Midlands

Claire Ward is Mayor of the East Midlands, representing 2.2 million people across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Mayor Claire has responsibility for transport, skills and adult education, housing and land, net-zero and economic development. Before being elected Mayor in May 2024, Claire Ward was the Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals in North Nottinghamshire, as well as other roles at the Pharmacists’ Defence Association and the Institute of Collaborative Working. From 1997 to 2010, Mayor Claire was MP for Watford and served as a Justice Minister under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. You can follow Mayor Claire on social media @MayorEastMids

DANIEL

City Transport Director, Leicester City Council

Daniel has over a decade of experience across local government transport, having worked for a number of authorities in roles related to engineering, project management,

CLLR GRAHAM CHAPMAN

CLAIRE WARD

PEARMAN

and transport planning. As Leicester’s City Transport Director, he leads on all operational and strategic transport matters across all modes of transport - including passenger transport, where the council operate as part of the award-winning Leicester Buses partnership.

ROGER FRENCH

Bus and Train Blogger

Roger French retired in 2013 a er a distinguished career in the bus industry, spanning London, West Yorkshire, Kent, South Wales, and Brighton, where he led the city's buses for 31 years. He was part of the 1987 management buy-out of the Brighton & Hove Bus Company and its sale to the Go-Ahead Group in 1993, continuing as Managing Director. A prominent community gure, he chaired the city's Local Strategic Partnership and the Martlets Hospice. Roger received an OBE in 2005, an Honorary MA from the University of Brighton in 2007, became a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for East Sussex, and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Brighton & Hove in 2013. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for 50 years, he now travels Britain by bus and train, sharing his insights on his popular blog, busandtrainuser.com.

Tony Depledge has a long career in the transport industry with experience in both the public and private sectors. Starting in operations (bus and tram driver

and conductor in Blackpool and bus driver for Midland Red in the West Midlands), Tony worked through a range of administrative and managerial roles until returning to Blackpool Transport as Tra c Manager (and subsequently Deputy General Manager) in 1977. Tony was Managing Director of Blackpool Transport from 1986 until he joined Arriva in 2001 to manage public a airs and transport policy work both in the UK and the EU. Tony served as President of CPT in 2000/1 and chaired the UITP European Union Committee from 2009 to 2013. He has held non-executive directorships with Lothian Buses, Universitybus, and Translink. Since 2022, he has advised ALBUM on policy. Outside of transport, Tony is Vice-Chair of the Grand eatre Blackpool trustees and was appointed OBE in 2002 for services to public transport.

SIMON LIGHTWOOD MP

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport

Simon Lightwood was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport in the Department for Transport 9 July 2024. Previously Simon was Shadow Transport Minister, appointed rst in October 2022 and re-appointed in September 2023 with an expanded portfolio. Simon was rst elected as MP for Wake eld in a by-election in June 2022 and was re-elected as MP for Wake eld and Rothwell in July 2024. Prior to being elected, Simon was a proud NHS worker, a Labour councillor and cabinet member for public health. He studied theatre acting at Bretton Hall College in Wake eld a er moving to the city in the late nineties. His wider interests involve spending time with his husband and two young children and supporting his local Rugby League team, Wake eld Trinity.

GUILLAUME CHANUSSOT

CEO Transdev UK and Ireland

Guillaume Chanussot is CEO of Transdev UK and Ireland, overseeing a multimodal transport portfolio that includes bus, tram, and airport services. With extensive industry experience, he previously led Manchester Metrolink, supporting tram operation enhancements in Greater Manchester. An inspirational leader, Guillaume excels in strategic planning, nancial performance, and stakeholder management. His vision for transport focuses on operational e ciency, equality, diversity, and transformative change. A French Foreign Trade Advisor, he is also a key member of the Liverpool-Manchester Partnership Board, working to improve regional transport and connectivity.

RICHARD WELLINGS

Principal Public Transport O cer, Nottingham City Council (and Bus Strategy Secondment East Midlands Combined County Authority)

With an Academic background in Politics, Sustainable Development and Public Administration. Richard has led on bus decarbonisation for the city of Nottingham for the past 10 years and also leads the local transport authorities’ bus partnership work. is has incorporated the latter stages of the original Statutory Quality Partnership Scheme, the forerunner to Enhanced Partnership, through to the development of the Greater Nottingham Bus Service

Improvement Plan (BSIP) and the establishment of the current Greater Nottingham Bus Partnership Scheme. Richard also acts as the client for the current Greater Nottingham BSIP Capital and Revenue programme.

Founder and Managing Partner, TIL

David Leeder is Founder and Managing Partner of TIL Transport Investment Ltd, which is a strategy and economic consultancy focused on bus and rail transport. He was previously a Main Board director of FirstGroup plc, an executive director of National Express Group plc (now Mobico), director of Greyhound Lines, USA, Chairman of Midland Metro, and CEO of West Midlands Travel. He has a degree in Transport Operations & Planning from Aston University, and as a student worked for London Transport. A er starting his career as a Senior Management Trainee at British Rail, he served as a transport planner for e MVA Consultancy, and Assistant to the CEO of Transit Holdings Group (Harry Blundred), before joining WMT, and then FirstGroup, where he became CEO of UK Bus. He has held directorships at many UK train operators. He is a past President of CPT, and spent 11 years as a strategy advisor to the UK Department for Transport. Since 2010 he has advised a variety of transport operators, local government organisations, and investment funds in relation to bus and rail strategy, regulation, economics, capital investment, rolling stock nance, due diligence and company acquisitions.

TIL’s clients include major organisations like Arriva, Morgan Stanley, and Keolis, and it has completed major projects across the UK, Europe, North America, and beyond. He is also an external advisor to McKinsey & Co.

TONY DEPLEDGE ALBUM Policy Advisor

DAVID LEEDER

ALBUMREPORT2025

THE ALBUM REPORT 2025

WELCOME

NAVIGATING THE STORM CLOUDS OF UNCERTAINTY

AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

SINCE WE LAST MET

JUNE

JULY

The ALBUM Report 2025

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

ALBUM

CONCERNS RAISED OVER TFGM’S CONTRACTS TO LARGER OPERATORS

OCTOBER

STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX AND NIBS BUSES EASTERN TRANSPORT HOLDINGS MOVES TO EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

ALBUM ALBUM WANTS INCLUSIVE FRANCHISING IN LIVERPOOL CITY REGION

JANUARY

BILL HIRON HANDS OVER CHAIR ROLE TO DAVID ASTILL

MARCH

UNO UNO BUS LAUNCHES NEW ELECTRIC SHUTTLE BUSES

ALBUM

ALBUM JOINS UK BUS MANUFACTURING EXPERT PANEL

DIAMOND BUS NORTH WEST CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN GREATER MANCHESTER

ALBUM SOUTH YORKSHIRE BUS FRANCHISING FEARS

ALBUM ALBUM CELEBRATES OPERATOR RANKINGS IN NATIONAL SURVEY

INDUCED DEMAND, IN PARTNERSHIP? IT WORKS FOR BUSES TO0

A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD

SO WHAT OF TRANSPORT?

PAYING FOR ALL THIS

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE UK IS PARAMOUNT

A UK COMPANY

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Powering your net zero future

FUNDING IS ONE PIECE OF BUS ELECTRIFICATION

FALCON COACHES

A CONSTANT FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER

THE TICKETER VOICE AND MESSAGING SOLUTION

PASSENGER MANIFESTS: A NEW ERA FOR PRE-BOOKED TRAVEL

CONTINUALLY CREATING VALUE FOR CUSTOMERS

PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS FOR ALL OPERATORS

A MISSION TO DELIVER THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

UK-MADE DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS FOR BUS AND COACH CCTV

FUTURE-PROOF VEHICLE CCTV

TRUSTED PRODUCTS

11TH SEPTEMBER

A DECADE OF CUSTOMERFOCUSED PARTNERSHIP

'A REVOLUTION FOR US'

POWERING A NEW ERA IN SERVICE DELIVERY

TURNING INSIGHT INTO ACTION

MAKING BETTER DECISIONS, FASTER

BUILT FOR A CONNECTED FUTURE

A SMARTER ROUTE TO PASSENGER GROWTH

IMPROVING PUNCTUALITY

ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY

THE ALBUM CONFERENCE WORKBOOK 2025

WELCOME TO NOTTINGHAM

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

YOUR LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS

BANQUETING SUITE