Transport Minister meets Green Bus Fund recipients

Transport Minister Norman Baker today met with recipients of government funding which is helping to reduce carbon emissions from buses in England.

More than 540 buses have been bought with help from the £47 million Green Bus Fund.

The Minister met with representatives from bus operators and local authorities at Coach & Bus Live, the coach and bus industry’s annual trade show, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham today and tomorrow.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“The £47m Green Bus Fund means greener journeys in towns and cities across Britain, with hundreds of new buses already in operation and helping to cut carbon emissions. I have enjoyed meeting the bus manufacturers and operators today who have been successful in their bids for funding. The examples of innovation in both manufacturing and technology that I’ve seen clearly demonstrate the industry’s ongoing commitment to delivering green alternatives to the car. In addition I’ve made available £560m for sustainable transport projects that will create growth and cut carbon. Many of the successful schemes for this fund include improvements to bus services, so all round we are offering passengers better, greener bus journeys.”

The Green Bus Fund was launched in 2009, inviting bus operators and local authorities to bid for funding that would assist them in buying low carbon buses. 24 winners shared £30 million from the first part of the scheme in 2009 which supported the purchase of 350 new buses. 14 winners shared £17 million from the second part of the scheme in 2010 which supported the purchase of 170 vehicles.

Simon Posner, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “I’m delighted the Minister had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the bus and coach industry today. Manufacturers and suppliers are committed to delivering products that really are making public transport the environmentally-friendly way to travel.”

Coach and Bus Live Show Director, Mark Griffin, said: “With more than 200 exhibitors and around 80 vehicles on display, Coach & Bus Live gives a clear and strong indication that many suppliers are well positioned to meet the increased challenges and opportunities faced by the bus and coach industry.”

Green Bus Fund date for minister at Coach & Bus Live

Transport minister Norman Baker is to attend the first day of Coach & Bus Live in October to meet some of the recipients of the government’s Green Bus Fund with their vehicles.

Around 540 new low carbon buses are being delivered to approximately 26 bus operators who successfully bid for their part of the total £45m combined Green Bus Fund.

The presentation to the industry will take place on the morning of Wednesday 5 October, the first day of the two-day coach and bus industry trade show.

The minister will officially open the show on the Wednesday before taking time to meet with exhibitors and operators during his visit.

More than 200 exhibitors will display a range of vehicles, products and services from across the UK and European coach and bus industry.

Chief Executive of Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, Simon Posner says: ”This will be a much welcomed and important visit by the minister. It was only two years ago at this show that we hosted a number of seminars by the Department on how the second round of Green Bus Funding would work. The Fund has been an extremely important initiative and it is significant that the minister will be able to come along and meet those operators and suppliers who are introducing these low carbon vehicles into various fleets around the UK.”

This year visitors will be able to take part in free ‘How to...’ masterclass programme covering a range of industry topics.

‘Workshop Live with BAE Systems and VOSA’ features an open, interactive stage with presentations. Over the two days there will be a session from the team at BAE Systems titled: ‘Why Hybrid?, aimed at engineers and managers who want to discover more about the advancement of hybrid technology for the bus and coach industry.

Representatives from VOSA will also be returning to give some practical advice to operators at ‘Workshop Live‘. This special show feature takes place on the open, interactive stage, and proved to be one of the busiest features of the last show show in 2009.

The Accessibility Zone, featuring accessible solutions by Rescroft, will showcase vehicles, products and services dedicated to those companies offering accessible services to their customers.

The Volvo Skills Test will give visitors the opportunity to get behind the wheel to show off their driving prowess.

The Technology Zone will feature an extensive array of IT equipment, software, mobile technology, ticketing information and revenue collection systems together in the same part of the hall. There will be a series of technology based ’masterclasses’ over the two days.

The Training and Development Zone, supported by GoSkills, will feature those organisations that provide the very best in career support and advice.

Mark Griffin, Managing Director of show organisers Expo Management, says: “The show is now virtually sold out and our pre show campaign is well underway. The demand for space again this year is testament to the importance that manufacturers and suppliers place on the show, and its ability to reach all sectors of the coach and bus industry. We look forward to welcoming the minister back again to the NEC where I’m sure he will be impressed at what our exhibitors have to display.”

Online visitor registration is now open at www.coachandbuslive.com

To exhibit at Coach & Bus Live 2011 call Julie Hartley, Show Sales Manager, on 01926 888123.

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For more press information contact:
Julie Hartley on 0044 (0) 7764 428447 or julie.hartley@expom.co.uk
Stuart Render on 0044 (0) 7760 172773 or stuart.render@expom.co.uk

Photo caption:
Seen at the June launch of CPT’s ‘complianceplus’ initiative, Transport Minister Norman Baker MP (third from left) with Kevin Rooney, Head of Corporate Reputation at VOSA; Steve Whiteway, CPT President; and Beverley Bell, Deputy Senior Traffic Commissioner.

Notes to Editor

Coach & Bus Live 2011 will take place on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October 2011 in halls 17 and 18 at the NEC in Birmingham.
The show is organised by Expo Management and the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK.

Facts and Figures relating to Coach & Bus Live 2011:

• 250 stands
• 95% of available floor space taken
• Featured areas:
• Accessible Solutions by Rescroft area
• Technology Zone, incorporating the free Live Masterclass Theatre
• Training and Development supported by GoSkills
• Workshop Live with BAE Systems and VOSA
• Tourism with Coach Monthly
• Outside Skills Test
• Large outside display area

Facts and Figures relating to Coach & Bus Live 2009:

• 205 exhibitors
• 6000 attendees, a 5% increase on the 2007 event
• Diverse range of businesses:

39% from operator-based organisations
22% from suppliers
6 % from local authority transport departments

• Senior company positions – over 50% of visitors held top posts within their organisations
• High levels of purchasing responsibility

New community transport area to feature at ‘Coach & Bus Live 2011’ (Tuesday, 19 April 2011)

Trade exhibition ‘Coach & Bus Live 2011’ is to feature a new area showcasing products and services for the community transport sector.

The new Accessiblity Zone, featuring AccessibleSolutions by Rescroft, will include specialist vehicle convertors and manufacturers, seating and passenger safety solutions, together with a range of companies that have never attended the NEC show before. This will be the first time that companies wishing to target the accessible market will have had a dedicated area at the show, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham on 5 and 6 October 2011.

Show Director, Mark Griffin says. “Introducing a dedicated area at Coach and Bus Live is the next logical step forward as we all strive to offer exhibitors cost effective ways to reach new and existing customers. This announcement allows companies to exhibit at one show reaching all sectors of their potential market place, and at a key buying time of the year. We will be delivering a specific marketing campaign to target buyers in this important sector of the market.” “With 85% of space at the exhibition now taken, leaving very limited opportunities for open stands, and a small number of shell scheme stands available, the show is looking in great shape for October”

The Community Transport Association will be looking at holding a regional networking event at Coach & Bus Live which will be promoted to its membership.

Companies wishing to book a stand within the Accessibility Zone should contact Julie Hartley, Show Sales Manager, on 01926 888123.