German design house unveils 'bus for everyone' concept
German design house unveils 'bus for everyone' concept
German design house Neomind has unveiled a concept for a "Universal Bus" that places inclusivity at the heart of public transport design (pictured).
The concept was revealed at The Transport Design Forum 2025, held in London last week, hosted by coach and bus flooring manufacturer Altro, in partnership with Camira, AutoGlym, and Autistica.
The event brought together operators, designers and neurodivergent advocates to address overlooked accessibility barriers faced by passengers with sensory and cognitive challenges.
Th unveiling of the Universal Bus was a key moment for the forum, with Neomind presenting a concept for London built around flexible, passenger-focused spaces.
Based on a Mercedes Citaro, the design includes designated quiet, family and priority zones (sectioned into red, green and blue) improved real-time passenger information, and carefully selected materials that manage acoustics and sensory comfort.
Altro says it hopes the vehicle will serve as inspiration to operators such as Transport for London in designing more inclusive buses.
"This forum marked a pivotal moment in acknowledging the vast neurodivergent community and the critical need to design public transport that genuinely serves 'for all,' as the word 'bus' (from omnibus) truly implies," says Chris Edwards-Thorne, Marketing Manager – Global Transport at Altro. "The insights shared, particularly the direct feedback from the neurodivergent community, will guide our collective efforts to build more welcoming, less stressful, and truly accessible transport systems."
More information on the Transport Design Forum will be available in the July 2025 issue of routeone.
First Bus introducing new ETMs in Ticketer partnership renewal
First Bus introducing new ETMs in Ticketer partnership renewal
First Bus has renewed its partnership with Ticketer, investing £20 million to roll out new electronic ticket machines (ETMs) across its entire fleet.
The five-year deal continues a relationship with the smart ticketing provider which has spanned more than a decade.
The operator says the new TK300 consoles, which have already been fitted to more than 850 buses, will bring an "improved driver experience".
Among the features of the devices are voice messaging, enhanced predictions and mobile device management.
These will provide data-driven insights, seamless integration, and user-centric design, says First Bus.
Simon Mathieson, Director of Operational Excellence for First Bus, says: “We’re pleased to be extending our partnership with Ticketer for a further five years and continuing to give our people and passengers the best travel experience when using the bus.
"We’ve listened to our drivers’ needs and worked tirelessly to provide them with the best option to make this element of their job as efficient as possible.
“This renewal is testament to our strong working relationship with Ticketer, and our shared commitment to delivering innovative solutions as part of our commitment to improving services for our drivers and customers time and time again.”
Adam Toone, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer at Ticketer, adds: "Our partnership with First Bus has always been rooted in innovation, mutual trust and a shared mission to make public transport better for everyone.
"We’re thrilled to continue working closely with First Bus to push the boundaries of what’s possible in bus travel and are excited to see where our partnership will take them next."
First Travel Solutions delivers British Grand Prix shuttle service
First Travel Solutions delivers British Grand Prix shuttle service
First Travel Solutions and partner operators successfully conveyed over 83,000 motorsport fans by shuttle service at the 2025 British Grand Prix across the weekend of 4, 5 and 6 June.
That provision took attendees to and from the circuit and Bicester Heritage, Buckingham, Hinton Airfield, Milton Keynes, Towcester, and Turweston Airfield. Vehicles, drivers and support and supervisory staff from many First Bus subsidiaries were used, but other operators large and small from outside the group also provided staff and vehicle resource.
During the three-day event, buses and staff contended with changing weather, logistical complexity, last-minute alterations and a record-breaking attendance to deploy a high-frequency service.
That came with what the service provider says were short wait times and real-time event control to allow adjustments in response to weather and crowd surges.
No incidents were reported across the weekend, which First Travel Solutions adds reflects its focus on safety, punctuality and customer satisfaction. Praise has come from clients for the quality of the operation, it notes.
Observes Managing Director Andy Scholey: “This was one of the most demanding events we have ever managed – but also one of the most rewarding. Hearing directly from customers on the ground was incredibly gratifying.
“Many commented that they had never seen the shuttles run so smoothly. One couple even told us that the Milton Keynes shuttle service was the highlight of their day.
“The scale of the operation, combined with unpredictable weather and live operational challenges, demanded extraordinary teamwork and agility. I am incredibly proud of how the team rose to the occasion and delivered such a seamless experience for passengers.”