ShuttleID takes ticketing platform into commuter services
School bus pass and ticketing platform ShuttleID has grown its reach to capture commuter services. The launch is accompanied by an offer of short-term, one-month contracts that the supplier says “will help operators to confirm service viability and get new routes off the ground.”
ShuttleID believes that introduction of such transport provision is increasingly attractive to businesses that are mindful of staff recruitment and retention.
A move into commuter services follows what ShuttleID adds has been strong year-on-year growth exclusively on home-to-school and home-to-college routes since 2019. Its system now powers over six million annual trips. The expansion also follows feedback from operator partners, says ShuttleID Director Chris Bell.
“Recruitment is a challenge for many businesses currently and workplaces are having to look even further afield for candidates. With the risk of cuts to local bus services and the ongoing cost of living crisis, businesses may find that running their own private bus service can help to attract and retain staff.
“In this current economic climate, businesses will be savvy, but they will not compromise on value. Our technology allows operators to add that while keeping them in full control.”
AT Brown Coaches of Telford is one of the first operators to use the ShuttleID for its commuter services. Director Gareth Davies believes that demand for such technology-based services will continue to grow.
“We have worked with Chris for a couple of years and have good experience of the ShuttleID system in an educational setting. As a business, we have had home-to-work contracts for many years. Chris has listened to the specification of what is required by us as an operator, and our corporate client’s objectives too,” adds Mr Davies.
“This has provided a robust system for this setting. ShuttleID has helped us to secure new business and cemented our existing clients.”
Shuttle ID will be exhibiting its system at Euro Bus Expo.
Euro Bus Expo will be held between 1-3 November at the NEC Birmingham. Register for free tickets here. ShuttleID will be on stand A48.
BASE to debut new MOBIpeople Premium 350 coach
At Euro Bus Expo, BASE Coach Sales will launch the newly developed MOBIpeople Premium 350 coach, with the first built on a latest-generation Scania K 360 NB chassis.
The 3.5m high, 12.5m long, two-axle coach sits alongside the existing Premium model. The main driver for the Premium 350 was demand for a high-specification model that offers good luggage capacity while also having flexibility to permit an increase in seating capacity via 3+2 conversion later in life, says BASE General Manager Nick Dodgson.
“We are seeing a number of clients wanting to keep to two axles where possible and eke out as much potential from this platform,” adds Mr Dodgson. He notes that the new model will come with "fresh styling for the executive market."
Destined for KB Coaches, the first MOBIpeople Premium 350 has 57 seats and a centre toilet, and is PSVAR compliant. It comes with a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox and will be the 17th MOBIpeople coach delivered to the Gloucestershire operator by BASE since 2014.
Also to be displayed from the MOBIpeople range by BASE will be an Explorer on a Scania K 320 NB chassis for Meadway Coaches.
It is one of a pair ordered by the Birmingham operator that will be the business’s sixth and seventh MOBIpeople coaches. Both are 74-seat PSVAR compliant examples.
The third coach for BASE will be a 13.7m, tri-axle Beulas Aura on MAN RR4 chassis for J&B Travel of Leeds. It has 61 seats and a 16m3 luggage capacity, and it is PSVAR compliant.
Mr Dodgson adds that all the coaches that BASE will display at Euro Bus Expo – including the Beulas Aura – are available to order on both MAN and Scania chassis, and come with full UK and European aftersales support.
Euro Bus Expo will be held between 1-3 November at the NEC Birmingham. Register for free tickets here. BASE Coach Sales will be on stand J100.
24 entries to Innovation Challenge at Euro Bus Expo
No fewer than 24 entries have been submitted by exhibitors at Euro Bus Expo to the Innovation Challenge. They will be showcased at the coach and bus industry’s leading trade show, which is to be held at the NEC Birmingham on 1-3 November.
Each submission will be displayed in the Innovation Challenge Gallery. On Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 November, visitors can learn about them and vote for their favourite initiative. The most popular will proceed to a final round to decide the winners.
On Thursday 3 November at 1100hrs in the Masterclass Theatre, those finalists will each explain via a 90-second pitch to a panel of judges drawn from the coach and bus industry why their product deserves an Innovation Challenge award. Results and the winners will be announced in the Masterclass Theatre at 1430hrs.
Judges include: Jon Eardley, Abellio London Bus MD; Phil Hitchen, Belle Vue Manchester MD; Chloe Leach-O'Connell, Leach-O'Connell Consultancy MD; Josh Miles, Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru Director; and Tom Morgan, Trentbarton Group Commercial Director. Results will be announced at 1430hrs.
The entrants are as follows:
All-in-one ‘wedge’ MIMO coach, bus and tram antenna, from Antenna and Cables: A low profile, futureproof antenna exclusively designed for the commercial transport industry.
All-in-one validation and retailing ticketing system, from TransMach Systems: An all-in-one solution to help reduce fare dodging, retail tickets and digitalise manual forms and waybills.
AssetGo, from AssetGo Fleet and Compliance Management: A Software as a Service (SaaS)-based software platform that helps to streamline fleet operations and manage compliance.
BetterFleet, from Evenergi UK: A platform to plan, optimise and manage zero-emission vehicle fleet transition.
Camira Print, from Camira Transport Fabrics: A cutting edge digital print solution that delivers the ultimate in design and manufacturing freedom in coach and bus interiors.
Customer Resolution Centre, from Omnibus: A system to efficiently manage and resolve customer feedback that automatically collates enquiries into a central location.
Driver's Mate, from DriveTech (UK): Animations for drivers about safety at the wheel, best on-road practice for checking the vehicle and looking out for customers.
Evolve, from CitySwift: Evolve blends GPS, scheduling and ticketing data to deliver artificial intelligence-powered running times that drastically improve journey speeds and service dependability.
Hekaton, from Zenobe: Software that collects and analyses data, allowing fleet operators of battery-electric vehicles to minimise ‘peak power’ and energy costs while increasing operational efficiency.
Journeo Portal, from Journeo: Combines data, remote access/live monitoring and insight from critical on-vehicle systems and fleet/service management tools in one platform.
MiX Vision AI, from MiX Telematics Europe: A dashcam solution that uses machine vision and ADAS technology to monitor risky driving behaviours.
Monapass, from Flowbird Urban Intelligence: A Mobility as a Service app with many features, including account-based ticketing, secure in app m-tickets storage, integrated journey planning and more.
NotLost, from NotLost: A cloud-based SaaS lost property solution developed for Transport for London to enhance its passenger experience and explore improvements in intensive processes.
On-demand route tracking, from BusWhere: Passengers can ask for a pickup at any location. Rider and driver information is automatically shared, and the rider can see the bus on its way to pick them up.
Pedal Acoustic Feedback System, from Ardent: A feedback system that plays an audible tone to the driver whenever the accelerator is pressed to prevent incidents involving misapplication of pedals.
Run Out Accelerator, from Freeway Fleet Systems: Defects reported by drivers during first-use checks are captured electronically and pooled with defects already listed to minimise disruption during morning run-outs.
Scenic Buses, from Mangopear Creative: A website showcasing the many great bus routes in Britain, with timetables, route maps, tickets and information on things to do along the way.
Stratio Predictive Battery Analytics, from Battery Cortex Project: Research conducted by Stratio with Caetano Bus and the University of Halmstad to offer a more advanced set of metrics for electric buses.
The Cloud Workshop, from Tranzaura: An all-in-one connected digital platform that optimises the efficiency of compliance, safety and maintenance within a workshop environment.
The Connected Workshop, from Freeway Fleet Systems: Data from mobile devices and onboard vehicle sensors is transmitted live to a central hub that holds all fleet maintenance data.
Ticketer’s Smart Gateway, from Ticketer: Enables the Ticketer ETM to deliver fully integrated and richer solutions and data, for example by displaying occupancy data onto destination blinds.
TM Guide App, from EOS Training: This industry-first product will provide Transport Managers with the latest compliance on the go, replacing the requirement for material-based publications.
TransXChange Studio, from Elydium: An affordable cloud-native subscription service that makes timetable verification simple. No software installation is required, and there are no setup fees.
Wheely-Safe, from Wheely-Safe: An in-motion wheel loss detection system, incorporating brake and hub temperature monitoring with an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system.
The Innovation Challenge is part of a wide range of exhibitors and events at Euro Bus Expo. Attendance is free. Register here.
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