A good flow of visitors, a broad range of exhibitors and interesting topical discussions combined to make the first UK trade show since before the pandemic a success, organisers say
Visitors turned out in their thousands for Euro Bus Expo, the industry’s first such gathering in the UK for three years. Attendees and exhibitors described it as being among the most successful shows they have attended as the event brought together bus and coach operators, transport planners, local authorities, stakeholders, and decision-makers from across the industry for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As reviewed in the last two issues of CBW, over 200 exhibitors showcased their innovations, solutions, services and insights, including over 80 of the latest vehicles. Event Director Helen Conway said: “We are delighted with the exceptional turnout. It was the chance to reconnect we all needed and fantastic to see the industry out in force again. The show was a real celebration of the progress made through what has been one of its toughest periods in recent memory. It really showcased the very best of the industry.
“We’re overwhelmed with the feedback we have received. It’s clear from the sheer volume of business done at the event that the industry is well along its path to recovery. We’re so pleased to be a part of that.”
Prominent visitors
The show’s visitor list comprised representatives from prominent coach and bus operators, including Arriva, Aston Manor Coaches, Bakers Dolphin, Bibbys of Ingleton, Brighton & Hove and Metrobus, Cardiff Bus, Daish’s Coaches, Donegal Coach Hire, Edwards Coaches, First Bus, Go-Ahead, Golden Boy Coaches, Grant Palmer, Gwyn Jones & Son, Johnsons Coaches, Lochs Motor Transport, Lothian Buses, Mainline Coaches, Metroline, National Express, Nottingham City Transport, Oxford Bus Company, Prospect Coaches, Skills Motor Coaches, Stagecoach, Stanley Travel, Trentbarton, Uno, York Pullman and more, as well as representatives from local authorities, community transport providers, transport specifiers, and partnership coordinators from across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
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Visitors were the first to hear from England’s new minister for bus and coach, Richard Holden MP, who addressed the industry for the first time following his appointment as Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 28 October. His address highlighted work completed so far and what is still to be done.
The popular Masterclass Theatre was a hive of activity throughout the show, with visitors enjoying presentations and round-table discussions from a line-up of industry experts. Graham Vidler, CEO of show partner the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), opened the show, welcoming the industry back after a pandemic-induced event hiatus and looking ahead to the future.
Transdev Blazefield’s Alex Hornby, Richard Grey from Greys of Ely, and Scott Rattle from Passenger Plus took to the stage in a panel session entitled ‘Tackling the Driver Shortage.’ Alex said: “One of the most positive things about our sector is our shared willingness to be open about our experiences. Euro Bus Expo enabled us to all come together and remind ourselves of the collective power of our industry and our agility to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead. This was perhaps none more so in the Masterclass Theatre where we were able to remind ourselves of the challenges and solutions we all can share.”
Net Zero
Attendees visiting the Masterclass Theatre also heard about the findings from CPT’s first Zero Emission Coach Taskforce at its ‘Identifying the Challenges to Destination Zero’ session. This covered the biggest challenges facing the coach industry on its transition away from diesel. Ian Luckett, Chair of the Zero Emission Coach Taskforce, led a round-table discussion to examine possible solutions to these challenges, alongside taskforce members including Dan Hayes from Zemo Partnership, Hafsa Ameen from Zeelo, Sukky Choongh and Will Reeves from SMMT. Ian invited more stakeholders to contribute to the discussion process over the next two months. “It is important for electric vehicle operators to share their tachograph data with CPT so the Taskforce can see what’s actually happening,” he said. “If you want us to get where you want us to be, there are several challenges to be met. Everyone needs to be part of it.”
ALBUM members Jane Cole from Blackpool Transport, and Austin Blackburn from Go-Coach, discussed the challenges SMEs face as they transition to zero-emission vehicles. “It was great to be back at Euro Bus Expo, meeting colleagues and suppliers across the industry, particularly at a time of challenge and change for many of us,” said Jane. “Presenting on the impact of ZEV was an event highlight for me – the difference between operators is so variable.”
Operators also heard about the key considerations of transitioning to zero-emission fleets in a panel session on ‘Infrastructure of the Future.’ Speakers included Dan Hayes from Zemo Partnership, Daniel Hilson from Evenergi, Mike Kent from Enel X and Neil Madgwick from UK Power Networks. Dan Hayes noted: “Understanding your power supply is crucial in developing your plan to move towards EV implementation. Location and space are important, as is disaster resilience.”
More hot topics
In other Masterclass sessions, attendees heard from Jeff Counsell, Managing Director of Trentbarton and Kinchbus, and Deborah Oddy from Derbyshire County Council, who revealed how they secured £47m through the National Bus Strategy. Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt provided an update on compliance issues, including the ongoing move to digital self-service, the importance of full control over maintenance practices, and matters relating to Transport Managers and the Bus Open Data Service in England.
Josh Miles from CPT Cymru led a panel session with Ember Core’s Keith Bradbury, Zipabout’s Daniel Chick and Optibus’ Dave Joshua, who shared insights into how data has been built into their businesses, and speculated how it could continue to impact passengers and services. Visitors also had the chance to hear seminars from Phillip Hesketh, an expert on the psychology of influence and persuasion, on persuading modal shif, and Kate Chidzik, owner of Kachi Marketing, talked about how to engage with different demographics, particularly Generation Z.
Innovation Challenge
The latest product launches were in abundance, with several competing in the Innovation Challenge.
The Challenge was introduced to highlight the industry’s best recently launched initiatives. Following an initial round of visitor voting, 10 finalists, from a total of 24 entries, went on to pitch their products to a panel of judges before the winners were announced on 3 November.
Wheely-Safe took home the Gold Award for its in-motion wheel loss detection system which incorporates brake and hub temperature monitoring with an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system.
Success
Many exhibitors commented on the sales opportunities generated, and visitors’ intent to make purchase decisions and specify orders. Ilesbus said it is has been the most successful show for the firm. Director Gary Johns said: “The number of vehicles we’ve sold on the stand is amazing. We sold our first vehicle as soon as the doors opened on day one and sold a further 58 over the three days. Aside from the sales, it was great to see current and new customers.”
Equipmake also had a good show, which it said it outperformed its expectations. Jasmine Bishop from Equipmake added: “It was a fantastic event to unveil and showcase our latest projects and technology.” Electric bus manufacturer Switch said: “Switch had a brilliant few days at Euro Bus Expo. We’ve received such positive feedback on our approach to design and our technology offering. It’s great to be able to spend quality time listening to the needs of our customers and colleagues in the industry,” whilst London Hire’s John Shier noted: “The show goes from strength to strength. It gives us the perfect platform to showcase our products and services to visitors, whether that be existing customers or new.”
- “The show provided me with an excellent opportunity to catch up with parts and service suppliers in one day, saving me a considerable amount of time.” Rob Arney, group technical engineer at Go-Ahead
- “Euro Bus Expo is a must-attend event that should be a permanent feature of any local authority’s calendar.” Rob Fryer, RTI officer at Derbyshire County Council
- “It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet industry colleagues as well as suppliers, old and new.” Chris Owens, Managing Director at Alpine Travel
- “…an eye opener … puts fears aside for smaller operators believing they can’t compete against the big companies.” Martin Bryant, director of Bryant Travel
- “We had some doubts prior to Euro Bus Expo given the industry’s landscape. By the end of day one, considering the number and the quality of the visitors and the orders signed, all initial questions and doubts were far behind us. At Euro bus Expo, we instilled a lot of confidence for our future in the UK market.” Dirk Snauwaert, Van Hool
- “We were delighted with the response at our stand. No doubt we will be back. It was great to showcase our bus antennas and cable assemblies and get feedback from visitors.” Tommy Morris, Antenna and Cables
Innovation Challenge winners
- Gold AwardWheely-Safe – Wheely-Safe Ltd
- Silver AwardDriver’s Mate – DriveTech (UK)
Journeo Portal – Journeo
TM Guide App – EOS Training
- Bronze AwardEvolve – CitySwift
Scenic Buses – Mangopear Creative
Stratio Predictive Battery Analytics – Battery Cortex Project
The Connected Workshop – Freeway Fleet Systems
Ticketer’s Smart Gateway – Ticketer
TransXChange Studio – Elydium
