Press Releases

• 41% of UK adults are planning to use the bus more frequently in a bid to save money, as households feel the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis. 
• London has seen the most increased bus use (60%) followed by Glasgow (47%), Leeds (45%) and Liverpool (43%).

• First Bus were shortlisted in no less than seven categories for the annual Route One Awards.
• Simon Carlisle from First West Yorkshire scooped Engineer of the Year, Large Operator Award.
• First HDB’s Marc Reddy won the Manager of the Year, Large Operator Award.

• First Bus launch its first ever 'Month of Inclusion' in a bid to progress their company-wide equality, diversity and inclusion plans.

• First Bus owned Aircoach agree deal to purchase Northern Ireland based transport firm Airporter. 
• The deal will see Aircoach takeover the company’s operations to expand its footprint in Ireland 
• Aircoach will now increase its daily routes to seven with an enhanced all-island route connecting the North-West to Belfast International Airport, Dublin Airport and Dublin City Centre.

• FTS appoint new Business Operations Director to lead continued growth for business

Simon Pearson, Chief Commercial Officer at First Bus, comments on customer centricity; what it looks like in practice, and how changing perceptions is central to bus becoming a bigger part of the transport mix.

• First Bus have awarded a contract to fully convert 12 Optare Versa buses from existing EV Generation one system to Equipmake’s Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED)
• Conversion work underway on the first Versa bus at Equipmake’s headquarters in Snetterton, Norfolk
• The first of the 12 buses is expected to be back in operation on the roads of York in November
• Equipmake’s patented HVAC system will have a guaranteed range of 150 miles in all UK weather conditions for the upgraded York fleet

• First Bus data shows half of UK adults would take the bus more often if they knew that decision would have a direct positive impact on the environment.
• No parking hassles (45%), saving money (36%) and protecting the environment (29%) are three biggest benefits of choosing bus travel.
• 47% of Brits who live in London agree that taking the bus helps with their mental health more than other modes of transport

• McGill’s Group will take ownership of the business from 19^th September
• Both businesses pledge to put all staff and customers at the forefront of their plans

• First Bus and Optibus have been working in partnership since 2018 to develop technological solutions that improve the lives of their frontline staff.
• Optibus’ advanced AI system allows the two parties to discover efficiencies and improve roster design and shift patterns for frontline staff.
• The Optibus system has been rolled out across the entire First Bus UK operations, supporting dozens of schedulers managing 4,000 vehicles across the UK.

• Largest ever UK EV bus order outside of London
• UK-built buses will secure green jobs in the UK
• Includes introduction of world’s most efficient double-decker buses
• A total investment of £81m in new Zero Emission vehicles to support bus services across England split between First Bus and the Department for Transport.

FIrst Bus announce new Partnerships Director