Stagecoach East has welcomed its latest group of Engineering Apprentices, as the bus operator continues to grow and showcase the talent that will drive forward the industry into the future.The group are a mix of Apprentices new to Stagecoach East and those trading-up – who are learning the skills to change job within the company. Maria Gorgan, from the Cambridge Depot…
Monday’s Friday Reads – 16 September 2024
• Liverpool: Farewell tour marks end of the line for 1970s trains (BBC News) • Transit App Now Provides Safety-First Bike Directions (Streetsblog) • A little love for the Post Office and its new trucks (The Deleted Scenes) • Riding New Zealand’s Northern Explorer: How to Run a Tourist Railroad (Lloyd Alter) • Work commences ahead of schedule on a…
Languishing At Llandudno – 1
Topless And Traditional Tours Traditionally the lump of limestone rock that sticks out to the west of Llandudno is known as The Great Orme althugh its correct apellation is shown on the above map extract. Less acknowledged is the Little Orme to the east of the town. Apart from walking (doubtless outside of fbb’s comfort zone) there are FOUR varieties…
Sunday Variety
A Building With A Dark Secret? In Sandwell Street, Walsall, you will find this anonymous industrial building well protected by security fencing and locked gates. Within its pictured closed portals are some things both special and precious. This is the home of just part of the UK’s Bus Archive. The leaflet just touches on the stuff that is available to…
Friday Reads – 13 September 2024
• TfL cyber-attack: teenager from Walsall arrested in connection with data breach (The Guardian) • London Gains Momentum in Electrifying Its 9,000-Strong Bus Fleet (Hyperdrive) • Tender process for London’s new trams: 4 suppliers are pre-qualified (Urban Transport) • Mayors’ Birmingham – Manchester rail link promises 85% of HS2 benefits (RailwayGazette) • GWR trains diverting to Euston in rare route…
Saturday Variety
Hydrogen Hopefully? fbb has always been uneasy about the enthusiasm of some parts of the motor industry for the benefits of hydrogen as a “green” fuel. A reminder is in order. Currently the only viable source of hydrogen is either worse environmentally than fossil fuels OR impossibly expensive. Nevertheless, Wrights have been demonstrating their bus with hydrogen drive-line. No doubt…
The Lost Art of Passenger Comfort & Good Design – Railway Interiors Part 1
Modern trains are expected to handle crush loads at times, rough use and vandalism, yet have pleasing interiors and comfortable seating that will last in good condition for 15-20 years or more. In addition, the trains need to be safe in case of collision or derailment, retard fire without harmful smoke. And the latest threat is e-scooter and e-bike lithium…
The Lengthy One, The 321 – Five
Watford to Uxbridge. This blog was composed on Wednesday afternoon after a truly bloggable outing on Llew Jones service 19 from Llandudno (blog to follow next week). For all sorts of reasons it was somewhat tiring, so fbb is creating this post with eyelids “virtually” propped open with a couple of memory sticks. And a reminder that our 2024 321…
British Business Unites for Lower Thames Crossing Consent
Businesses from across the UK have made a united call for the government to approve the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Lower Thames Crossing which has been at the planning stage for over a decade. 73 organisations nationwide have sent a letter to Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh outlining why the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project must go ahead. The…
Budget Opportunity to Support Warehousing & Logistics
Autumn Budget Opportunity to Support Warehousing & Logistics Sector says UKWA The UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, ahead of next month’s Autumn Budget to highlight the importance of the sector to the national economy and present the compelling case for government to support warehousing & logistics businesses.…