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Europe’s biggest bus and coach event of the year facilitates multi-million pound orders. 18 expert speakers, 120 vehicles, 291 exhibitors, nearly 9,500 attendees, and multi-million pound orders – that’s the headline figures from this year’s Euro Bus Expo, which won rave reviews from across the passenger transport sector last week.
The three day biennial show, which took place at the NEC Birmingham on 1-3 November, was organised by Diversified Communications, in association with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
Senior executives from all the UK and Ireland’s major bus and coach operators packed the aisles to discover what’s new and next at this vibrant industry showcase.
Among the companies in attendance were National Express, Stagecoach, First Bus, Arriva, The Go-Ahead Group, Metroline, Eurolines, Abellio, Transdev, RATP Group, Centro, The Wellglade Group, Translink, Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Co, Reading Buses, Nottingham City Transport, trentbarton, Bus Eireann, Lothian Buses, Oxford Bus Company, Shearings, Centrebus, Diamond Bus, Epsom Coaches, Edwards Coaches, Bakers Dolphin, Clarkes of London, Manchester Airport Group, Transport for London, and Tower Transit.
Local authorities, community transport providers, partnership coordinators, and stakeholders – from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, were well represented. As were hundreds of international transport groups and suppliers from over 40 different countries.
Significantly, the strong footfall has been backed by glowing testimonials from across the show floor. Fantastic, brilliant, excellent, vital, useful, busy, productive, and enjoyable – are just some of the words attendees have used to describe the 2016 show so far.
“Euro Bus Expo is a unique opportunity for transport professionals, as it brings together such a diverse range of manufacturers, service providers, industry bodies, operators and experts in a single event. It enabled me to hold a number of key business meetings with suppliers, get a taste for future direction and opportunities and, not least, catch up with numerous old industry friends! It was well worth visiting,” says Tim Noble, head of procurement & supplier management – UK Bus at FirstGroup.
“Euro Bus Expo gives an unrivalled opportunity to meet friends and industry colleagues I deal with, under one roof in pleasant, informal surroundings and this year was no exception. I was particularly looking forward to exploring what latest innovations can enhance the experience of our customers – both in terms of ticketing and enhancements in vehicle design, and there was certainly some great innovations on display that will help shape our commercial thinking in the coming months,” says Phil Southall, MD of Oxford Bus Company.
“It’s a very good show and an efficient use of our time. All our suppliers are here under one roof,” says Richard Yoxall, procurement category manager directs – engineering & vehicles at Arriva.
“Euro Bus Expo is a great place to hear about developments in technologies before they hit the market,” says Andrew Fear, MD at Citistar.
120 vehicles – valued at over £25m – on show
Many of the innovations on show across the 25,000 sqm of exhibition space at Euro Bus Expo 2016 – from the latest ‘must have’ vehicles, accessories and equipment to cutting-edge technology, training and services – will define passenger transport design, developments, and solutions for years to come.
This year’s visitors were the first to see a host of new vehicles – including Volvo Bus’ new B5LHC Double Deck Electric Hybrid (with Opportunity Charging), the Scania Irizar i8, Alexander Dennis’ Enviro400CBG gas double decker, Optare’s Metrodecker EV prototype, the Yutong E12 full electric connected bus (in partnership with Arriva and 21st Century), VDL Bus & Coach’s first right-hand drive Futura FDD2 double-decker coach, Wrightbus’ Gemini 3, the Nu-Track Stellar, and the Super Low Floor Metro LF from EVM.
There were also new launches from Cummins Engine Co, BMAC, Passenger Lift Services, Bowmonk Tapley, Teknoware Oy, Vision Techniques, Omnibus, Totalkare HDWS, Pride & Joy Clothing, Freeway Fleet Systems, Ticketer, DILAX Systems UK, JOSAM (a division of Car-O-Liner group), TruTac, Faiveley Transport, Maha UK, AID Fuel Oils Group, TD Tyres, RF Tracking, and Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, to name but a few.