Freeway joins 12th IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge as a technology partner
As a company committed to excellence, innovation, and advancing the standards in Fleet maintenance, Freeway will play a key role at the much-anticipated 2024 IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge. As a returning sponsor, Freeway will be introducing a digital inspection module, which strongly aligns with the IRTE Skills Challenge core values of:
- Upskilling competitors: Freeway will provide online training in advance and hands-on training with their digital inspection module to help participants learn how to carry out an inspection fully digitally
- Sustainability and Safety: As the transition to digital inspections reduces paper waste, it enhances accuracies and ensures data and communication integrity. This hands-on experience can boost their skills and prepare them for the evolving demands of the engineering industry.
Freeway's continued dedication exemplifies their commitment to driving innovation in the transportation industry. This embodies the goal of the Skills Challenge which is to recognise and celebrate the exceptional skills of bus and coach sector professionals.
The IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge, slated to take place between the 3 -7 June at the S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol, is a national event that showcases the best talents in the industry, bringing together professionals from across the UK to demonstrate their prowess in various technical and operational aspects. Last year saw entries from some of the leading operators such as Arriva, First Bus and Go Ahead alongside regional companies Lothian and Trentbarton.
Emma Thompson, Head of Business Operations, Society of Operations Engineers, says: "We are thrilled to welcome Freeway as a sponsor for the 2024 IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge. Its commitment to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with the values of our event, and we are proud to have it on board.
"This partnership not only enhances the overall experience for our participants but also reflects the shared dedication to advancing the standards of professionalism and skill development within our industry."
This sponsorship underscores SOE’s commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning, safety, and performance within the bus and coach industry.
Adds Patrick Tandy, Managing Director, Freeway: "We are thrilled to return to the IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge as a premium sponsor. This event is a testament to the exceptional skills and dedication of professionals in the coach and bus industry, and we are honoured to be a part of it.
"At Freeway, we share a passion for advancing the standards of excellence in transportation, and this sponsorship allows us to support and engage with the talented individuals who drive innovation in our field."
Ardent ClearConnect hearing loop meets Accessible Info Regs
Ardent has introduced what the supplier says is an innovative induction hearing loop system called ClearConnect. It enables deaf users of scheduled coach and bus services to receive information including next stop announcements and driver communications direct to their hearing aids, satisfying Accessible Information Regulations requirements where appropriate.
The system has been trialled with Brighton and Hove Buses, where 15 deaf passengers from The Royal National Institute for Deaf People gave it a thumbs-up.
Contacta is the company behind design of ClearConnect. Market Development Director Andrew Thomas – who is also Chair of both the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association and the International Hearing Access Committee – notes that a well-functioning hearing loop “can be life-changing for users of bus services.”
Adds Mr Thomas: “We have worked with end users, vehicle manufacturers and service operators to ensure that the system is highly effective and meets the international performance standards for hearing loops.
“Minimising unwanted sound interference is key, so that those tuning into the hearing loop to obtain vital information can hear clearly. By doing so, we can help service providers to fulfil their accessibility obligations.”
Accessible Information Regulations compliance requirements for in-scope services are staged, with an initial deadline of 1 October applying to vehicles first used to provide local services on or after 1 October 2019. The Regulations will apply in their entirety from 1 October 2031.
Speaking about ClearConnect, Ardent Head of Sales Emma Kirk says: “It is vital that the correct equipment is in place. Subpar systems and a failure to invest in levelling up a customer’s experience can serve as a sign that inclusivity is not high on a provider’s agenda, reflecting poorly upon a company’s reputation.
“That is why, at every stage of ClearConnect’s design, we have put the passenger at the forefront – creating a system that is fit for purpose and which uses the latest technology to ensure the best possible user experience.”
Accessible Information Regulations here.
Alexander Dennis takes 12 Enviro500EV order from Foothill Transit
Alexander Dennis has taken a further order for its battery-electric Enviro500EV tri-axle double-decker in the United States, with California agency Foothill Transit returning for 12 more of the type.
They will be members of the manufacturer’s latest generation battery-electric range and complement two earlier pilot buses that were delivered in 2021.
The new examples will be used to upgrade Foothill Transit’s Silver Streak bus rapid transit (BRT) route between downtown Los Angeles and cities in the San Gabriel Valley. They will enter service in 2026. That route uses the El Monte Busway and operates 24/7, currently with articulated vehicles.
Success with Foothill Transit for Alexander Dennis follows a deal announced recently with Sound Transit in Washington state for 33 Enviro500EVs. The Sound Transit buses will also be used on BRT services.
Like the members of the latest-generation Alexander Dennis battery-electric range introduced in the UK, the Enviro500EV in North American specification will utilise the Voith Electrical Drive System.
Foothill Transit has already purchased zero-emission buses from Alexander Dennis sister company New Flyer, including 33 hydrogen fuel cell-electric examples. The Enviro500EV deal “aligns with our vision for a sustainable future,” says Foothill Transit CEO Doran Barnes.
Adds Mr Barnes: “We are proud to partner with Alexander Dennis to bring these cutting-edge double-deck electric buses to our communities. This marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing reliable, eco-friendly and efficient transit services.”
The buses will be built by Alexander Dennis partner Big Rig Manufacturing in Nevada. Alexander Dennis North America Vice-President Stephen Walsh has welcomed the latest order. “After trials with two earlier Enviro500EV pilot buses, Foothill Transit’s selection of Alexander Dennis's next-generation technology for its Silver Streak is a huge vote of confidence for us,” says Mr Walsh.
“With increased energy storage, revised drivetrain configuration and modular battery configurations, the Enviro500EV with next-generation technology will improve range and other capabilities vital to the mixed profile of inner-city roads and freeways that are the features of the Silver Streak.”