In a bid to improve accessibility and support for individuals with visual impairment or mobility challenges, new technologies are being trialled in selected regions across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The initiative, spearheaded by Transport for NSW through its Open Data programme, aims to explore innovative ways to make public transport more inclusive and user-friendly. Simone Roberts, Executive Director of Advanced Analytics and Insights at Transport for NSW, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “Catching public transport can be daunting for members of the community ..read more

First Bus has announced that it has unveiled the UK’s inaugural bus depot featuring consumer electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities. The cutting-edge charging hub is situated at First Bus’ newly established Summercourt depot in Cornwall. The Summercourt charging hub sets a precedent as the foremost of its kind in the bus sector, extending access to rapid electric charging infrastructure for electric cars and vans directly to the public. Strategically located along the crucial A30 corridor – a prominent tourist route into Cornwall – the hub promises to allay EV range anxiety among drivers t ..read more

Bolt, the global shared mobility company, has unveiled plans to deploy a fleet of 5,000 electric motorcycles in Kenya over the next three years. This initiative aims to enhance driver earnings and significantly reduce tailpipe emissions across the country. Partnering with M-KOPA, an African fintech platform specialising in affordable financing solutions, Bolt will offer new and existing drivers the opportunity to lease electric motorcycles at discounted rates. This partnership is expected to reduce operational costs for drivers, ultimately increasing their earnings. The deployment of these 5 ..read more

The Go-Ahead Group has announced that it is embarking on a major digital transformation initiative aimed at enhancing operational efficiency across its regional bus services in the UK. This effort comes as part of a strategic five-year partnership focused on innovation and reliability within the public transport industry. By October 2024, Go-Ahead Group’s bus companies will transition from traditional paper-based records to utilising the Tranzaura app for daily vehicle inspection checks and maintenance processes. This shift to digital platforms is expected to significantly improve reliability ..read more

In response to an increase in road fatalities, the New South Wales (NSW) government has announced that it is escalating its efforts to enhance road safety, including the doubling of roadside enforcement sites for mobile speed cameras and the implementation of various targeted measures. As of 2024, the state has witnessed 109 road-related deaths, marking a concerning rise compared to the same period in 2023. This uptick has prompted urgent action from authorities to mitigate further tragedies on NSW roads. Despite no increase in mobile speed camera enforcement hours, the NSW government will ex ..read more

TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transit authority, has announced that it has unveiled a comprehensive Bus Priority Vision aimed at alleviating the impact of worsening traffic congestion on bus riders. The plan identifies 20 critical corridors across the region that require increased investment in bus priority measures to enhance efficiency and reliability. According to TransLink’s data, bus riders collectively spend over 28,000 hours stuck in traffic on weekdays across Metro Vancouver. Alarmingly, nearly half of these delays (45%) occur on just 20 key corridors, which constitute only 15% of the ..read more

The Future Transport Visions Group (FTVG) offers a unique platform for emerging public transport professionals to significantly advance their knowledge and experience, develop new skills and explore new ideas. It is an ideal opportunity for those with less than 10 years of experience in all sectors of the transport industry to embrace their professional growth, supported by several transport industry experts who will provide mentorship and guidance for their projects. A key objective of FTVG is to encourage collaboration among a diverse range of early career professionals from various organis ..read more

Flix has announced that it has released its second voluntary Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, outlining ambitious emissions reduction goals while highlighting the environmental benefits of collective transportation. With a notable milestone of serving over 81 million passengers in 2023, Flix has solidified its position as a key driver of sustainable and affordable travel. The company’s ESG strategy, deeply embedded in its operations, has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), recognising the company’s commitment to aligning with global climate objecti ..read more

Technology advancing at an ever-increasing pace and the transport industry continuing to make progress towards digitalisation brings many benefits for both operators and passengers. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) streamlines efficiency and improves revenue for operators, giving them the intelligence required to action proactive maintenance and improve service reliability for passengers. Advancements in connectivity services on-board mean that passengers, who often expect this service, can access infotainment and Wi-Fi throughout their journey, improving ove ..read more

Nobina, the pioneering Nordic public transport operator, has announced that it has secured a significant contract renewal with Stockholm Region (SL) to operate and enhance transportation services in Haninge and Nynäshamn. This new agreement underscores a shared commitment towards sustainability, aligning with SL’s ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions in public transit. Under the terms of the contract, Nobina will oversee nearly 50 critical routes, facilitating daily commuter travel between residential areas and key transportation hubs in southern and central Stockholm. Notably, t ..read more