Euro Bus Expo 2022 – A triumphant return

A triumphant return for Euro Bus Expo as it brings the bus and coach industry together after three years

Visitors turned out in their thousands for Euro Bus Expo 2022, the bus and coach industry’s largest gathering in over three years, last week (1-3 November) – a show that visitors and exhibitors are calling the “most successful show” they have attended.

Held at the NEC Birmingham, the event brought together bus and coach operators, transport planners, local authorities, stakeholders, and decision-makers from across the industry. Over 200 exhibitors showcased their innovations, solutions, services and insights, including over 80 of the latest vehicles.

Helen Conway, event director, says:

[dt_quote type="pullquote"]"We are delighted with the exceptional turnout. It was the chance to reconnect we all needed and fantastic to see the industry out in force again. The show was a real celebration of the progress made through what has been one of its toughest periods in recent memory. It really showcased the very best of the industry. “We're overwhelmed with the feedback we have received. It's clear from the sheer volume of business done at the event that the industry is well along its path to recovery. We're so pleased to be a part of that."[/dt_quote]

Thousands of visitors

Visitors to Euro Bus Expo 2022 comprised representatives from prominent bus and coach operators, including; Arriva; Aston Manor Coaches; Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel; Bibbys of Ingleton; Brighton & Hove and Metrobus; Cardiff Bus; Daish’s Coaches; Donegal Coach Hire; Edwards Coaches; First Bus; Go Ahead Group, Golden Boy Coaches; Grant Palmer; Gwyn Jones & Son; Johnsons Coaches; Lothian Buses; Mainline Coaches; Metroline; National Express; Nottingham City Transport; Oxford Bus Company; Prospect Coaches; Skills Motor Coaches; Stagecoach; Stanley Travel; trentbarton; Uno Buses; York Pullman and many more.

Local authorities, community transport providers, transport specifiers, and partnership coordinators from across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland were also well represented.

Sharing challenges and solutions

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Visitors were the first to hear from England’s new minister for bus and coach, Richard Holden MP, who addressed the industry for the first time, following his appointment as Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 28 October. This address highlighted work completed so far and what is still to be done.

The Masterclass Theatre was a hive of activity throughout the show, with visitors enjoying presentations and roundtable discussions from an impressive line-up of industry experts.

Graham Vidler, CEO of trade association and show partner, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), opened the show. He welcomed the industry back after a pandemic-induced event hiatus and looked ahead to the future.

Alex Hornby from Transdev Blazefield, Richard Grey from Greys of Ely, and Scott Rattle from Passenger Plus took to the stage in a panel session on ‘Tackling the Driver Shortage’. Says Alex Hornby:

[dt_quote type="pullquote"]“One of the most positive things about our sector is our shared willingness to be open about our experiences. Euro Bus Expo 2022 enabled us to all come together and remind ourselves of the collective power of our industry and our agility to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead. “This was perhaps none more so in the Masterclass Theatre where we were able to remind ourselves of the challenges and solutions we all can share.”[/dt_quote]

Towards net zero

Attendees heard about the findings from CPT’s first Zero Emission Coach Taskforce at its ‘Identifying the Challenges to Destination Zero’ session. This covered the biggest challenges facing the coach industry on its transition away from diesel.

Ian Luckett, Chair of the Zero Emission Coach Taskforce, led a roundtable to examine possible solutions to these challenges, alongside Taskforce members including Dan Hayes from Zemo Partnership, Hafsa Ameen from Zeelo, Sukky Choongh and Will Reeves from SMMT. During the session, Ian Luckett invited more stakeholders to contribute to the discussion process over the next two months.

“It is important for electric vehicle operators to share their tachograph data with CPT so the Taskforce can see what’s actually happening,” he said. “If you want us to get where you want us to be, there are several challenges to be met. Everyone needs to be part of it.”

ALBUM members Jane Cole from Blackpool Transport Services, and Austin Blackburn from Go-Coach, discussed the challenges SMEs face as they transition to zero-emission vehicles.

“It was great to be back at Euro Bus Expo 2022, meeting colleagues and suppliers across the industry, particularly at a time of challenge and change for many of us,” says Jane Cole. “Presenting on the impact of ZEV was an event highlight for me – the difference between operators is so variable.”

Operators heard about the key considerations of transitioning to zero-emission fleets in a panel session on ‘Infrastructure of the Future’. Speakers included Dan Hayes from Zemo Partnership; Daniel Hilson from Evenergi; Mike Kent from Enel X and Neil Madgwick from UK Power Networks.

Dan Hayes said: “Understanding your power supply is crucial in developing your plan to move towards EV implementation. Location and space are important, as is disaster resilience.”

Hot Topics for Operators

Visitors heard from Jeff Counsell, MD of trentbarton and Kinchbus, and Deborah Oddy from Derbyshire County Council, who revealed how they secured £47m through the National Bus Strategy.

Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt provided an update on compliance issues, including the ongoing move to digital self-service, the importance of full control over maintenance practices, and matters relating to Transport Managers and the Bus Open Data Service in England.

Josh Miles from CPT Cymru led a panel session with Ember Core’s Keith Bradbury, Zipabout’s Daniel Chick and Optibus’ Dave Joshua, who shared insights into how data has been built into their businesses, and speculated how it could continue to impact passengers and services.

Visitors also saw seminars from Phillip Hesketh, Expert on Psychology of Influence and Persuasion, on persuading modal shift. Plus, Kate Chidzik, owner of Kachi Marketing, talked about how to engage with different demographics, particularly Gen Z.

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Fleets of the future, today

Euro Bus Expo 2022 visitors were among the first to see a host of vehicle launches across the show, including: ADL’s Enviro400FCEV hydrogen fuel cell-electric double deck bus; a MOBIpeople Premium 350 from BASE Coach Sales; the electric repower of the new Routemaster bus operated by Metroline from Transport for London and Equipmake; EVM’s Grand Toro and Visigo midicoaches and the Novociti Volt battery-electric bus; the Irizar e-mobility ie tram in right-hand drive format; Mellor’s Sigma 8 UK debut; the revised DAF LF-based Turas 900s in PSVAR compliant format from Noone Turas; Scania (Great Britain)’s new battery-electric bus chassis; battery-electric products from Switch Mobility; Temsa’s HD13 coach; and a Volvo 9700 coach from Volvo Group (UK).

Plus, the latest models from eVersum Solutions, GM Coachwork, Harris Bus & Coach UC, Illesbus Automotive, Irizar UK, London Hire, Pelican Bus and Coach, PHVC Minibus & Fleet Suppliers, TBC Conversions, Treka Bus, and Van Hool.

The new Zero Emission Zone, sponsored by ESP Utilities Group and Enel X Way, gave visitors the opportunity to experience the newest vehicles designed to decarbonise passenger travel first hand.

Innovation Challenge: The results

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The latest product launches were in abundance, with several competing in the Innovation Challenge.

The Challenge was introduced to highlight the industry’s best recently launched initiatives. Following an initial round of visitor voting, 10 finalists (from 24 entries) went on to pitch their products to a panel of judges before the winners were announced on 3 November.

Wheely-Safe Ltd took home the Gold Award. Its in-motion wheel loss detection system incorporates brake and hub temperature monitoring with an intelligent tyre pressure monitoring system. The results are as follows:

Gold Award

Wheely-Safe – Wheely-Safe Ltd

Silver Award

Driver’s Mate – DriveTech (UK)
Journeo Portal – Journeo
TM Guide App – EOS Training

Bronze Award

Evolve – CitySwift
Scenic Buses – Mangopear Creative
Stratio Predictive Battery Analytics – Battery Cortex Project
The Connected Workshop – Freeway Fleet Systems
Ticketer’s Smart Gateway – Ticketer
TransXChange Studio – Elydium

Judges included Phil Hitchen from Belle Vue Coaches; Chloe Leach-O’Connell from Leach-O’Connell Consultancy; Chris Remnant from Abellio London; Tom Morgan from trentbarton; and Josh Miles from CPT Cymru.

For full details about all the entries and winners, visit click here.

A ‘must-attend’ event

For thousands of bus and coach professionals, Euro Bus Expo is firmly established as the place to experience the latest vehicles, discover innovations, network, and learn from industry thought leaders.

[dt_quote type="pullquote"]“The show provided me with an excellent opportunity to catch up with parts and service suppliers in one day, saving me a considerable amount of time,” says Rob Arney, group technical engineer at Go-Ahead. “Euro Bus Expo is a must-attend event that should be a permanent feature of any local authority's calendar,” says Rob Fryer, RTI officer at Derbyshire County Council. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet industry colleagues as well as suppliers, old and new” says Chris Owens, managing director at Alpine Travel. The show is highly regarded by operators of all business sizes. Martin Bryant, director of Bryant Travel says it’s “an eye opener” and “puts fears aside for smaller operators believing they can't compete against the big companies”. He recommends smaller businesses attend to “find your full potential”. Leah Tuckley from Shellard Travel agrees: “it’s the “perfect event to start up or expand your business”. Ian Hobson, director at Hobson Travel also agrees. “It’s the highlight of our year” he explains, and it “makes your business stronger with everything it has to offer”.[/dt_quote][ultimate_spacer height="10"]

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Connecting key players

Over 200 manufacturers and suppliers exhibited, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to connect with all the key people in the industry. Many have commented on the sales opportunities generated, and visitors’ intent to make purchase decisions and specify orders.

Ilesbus says it is has been the most successful show for the firm. Its director, Gary Johns explains: “The number of vehicles we’ve sold on the stand is amazing. We sold our first vehicle as soon as the doors opened on day one and sold a further 58 over the three days! Aside from the sales, it was great to see current and new customers.”

Likewise, Equipmake says Euro Bus Expo 2022 “exceeded” its expectations. Jasmine Bishop from Equipmake adds: “It was a fantastic event to unveil and showcase our latest projects and technology.”

“Switch had a brilliant few days at Euro Bus Expo. We’ve received such positive feedback on our approach to design and our technology offering – it’s great to be able to spend quality time listening to the needs of our customers and colleagues in the industry,” says Martin Brailey.

“The show goes from strength to strength. It gives us the perfect platform to showcase our products and services to visitors, whether that be existing customers or new,” says John Shier from London Hire.

“We had an excellent show and met many new operators who expressed an interest in working with us,” says Gary Trotter from First Travel Solutions.

Penny Moore from PHVC Minibus & Fleet Suppliers, says: “We really enjoyed reacquainting with many people within the industry, receiving fabulous feedback regarding our vehicles, and meeting new and current customers. There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the show.”

Says Dirk Snauwaert from Van Hool: “We had some doubts prior to Euro Bus Expo given the industry’s landscape. By the end of day one, considering the number and the quality of the visitors and the orders signed, all initial questions and doubts were far behind us. At Euro bus Expo, we instilled a lot of confidence for our future in the UK market.”

“Euro Bus Expo gave us the opportunity to reconnect with existing customers and meet new ones. Most pleasing though was actually writing business with those new clients,” says Steve Low from Mistral Group.

Says Tommy Morris from Antenna and Cables (part of the Bridge Group of Companies): “We were delighted with the response at our stand. No doubt we will be back. It was great to showcase our bus antennas and cable assemblies and get feedback from visitors.’

Awarding excellence

The routeone Awards for coach, bus, and minibus operators coincided with Euro Bus Expo. Held on the evening of 2 November at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, the black-tie event was a remarkable celebration, with 19 of the industry’s high achievers and pioneers rewarded in front of a record-breaking audience, with 820 tickets sold.

To see the winners, please visit www.routeoneawards.com/winners.

Save the date for Coach & Bus UK 2023

Stands are already filling up for next year’s event – Coach & Bus UK. It returns to the NEC in Birmingham on 8-9 November 2023. Euro Bus Expo will return the following year in 2024. For further information, please visit www.coachandbusuk.co.uk.

About the Organisers

Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast-growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton. Diversified UK’s transport & travel portfolio includes Euro Bus Expo; Coach & Bus UK; routeone magazine; routeone Awards; the British Tourism & Travel Show; and the British Coach Tourism Awards. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.

Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications in over 15 industries. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business.

For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.