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News Category: Bus

Go-Ahead’s ‘The Needles Breezer’ is crowned as Britain’s best open top bus route

02 September 2024

Go-Ahead’s ‘The Needles Breezer’ is crowned as Britain’s best open top bus route

  • Go-Ahead’s ‘The Needles Breezer’ has won the coveted title of Britain’s favourite open top bus tour.
  • The Needles Breezer was top of the charts for the Great Scenic Journeys UK Open Top Bus Cup 2024.

Go-Ahead are proud to share that one of our routes has won the Great Scenic Journeys UK Open Top Bus Cup 2024.

The competition, run annually by Great Scenic Journeys, began earlier this year with a collection of over 250 routes from all corners of the UK. Through several rounds of social media voting, the open top routes have been filtered down to a final two, which were put to public vote on 30 and 31 August.

The route, run by our Southern Vectis team, won an outstanding 79% of the votes. It is a circular route connecting the West Wight and has views that will simply take your breath away. The route links Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay, Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Fort Victoria Country Park, and The Needles Landmark Attraction at Alum Bay. A form of this route has been in operation on the island since June 1954, really showing the longevity of its appeal.

As a major local employer, we are pleased to show off the best of the island and support tourism in the area.

Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, Regional Bus, said: “It’s great that this wonderful service has been recognised in this competition. In last year’s final, our New Forest Tours and Toon Tour were represented. It is fantastic to see another of our routes in the final and the win is well deserved.”

Andrew Wickham, Managing Director, Southern Vectis, said “I am thrilled that The Needles Breezer has won this competition. An open top bus trip offers pure old-fashioned fun which people enjoy. Our drivers are friendly, helpful and very experienced with offering tourist advice. The route has some of the most stunning views to offer in the UK and I would encourage everyone to come and have a ride.”

Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies run a variety of open top tours across Britain. Others include:

  • Eastbourne Sightseeing, offering a panoramic vista of the picturesque South Coast and South Downs National Park. Popular stops include the Lifeboat Museum, Italian Gardens, the Lighthouse, Beachy Head, Birling Gap, East Dean, Little Chelsea, and the town centre.
  • City Sightseeing Oxford, offering passengers panoramic views of the city’s greatest attractions. Starting at the railway station, the tour showcases Oxford’s rich architectural heritage, including Christ Church College, Oxford Castle and the Sheldonian Theatre, and includes a 45-minute walking tour.
  • Clacton Breeze, allowing passengers to soak in the Essex coastline, all the way to the Clacton Pavilion and Pier.
  • Brighton City Sightseeing, with panoramic views of the shoreline, will take you past some of our city’s most famous landmarks, including the Royal Pavilion, i360, Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton Marina, and also the racecourse.
  • Ocean City Sights, a circular route from Plymouth City Centre around the historic Barbican and onto Plymouth Hoe and Plymouth Sound.
  • The Beachcomber, which goes along Scarborough’s seafront and to many of the town’s attractions such as the Rotunda Museum and Peaholms Park.
  • Purbeck Breezer, from Bournemouth to Swanage, via the golden sands and clear waters of Sandbanks and Studland.

Go-Ahead expands its national coach operations with the acquisition of Regency Coaches in Sussex

29 August 2024

Go-Ahead expands its national coach operations with the acquisition of Regency Coaches in Sussex

  • Coach operator to become part of Brighton & Hove Buses
  • Deal adds to Go-Ahead’s expanding network of UK coach operators

The Go-Ahead Group has agreed a deal to acquire Regency Coaches, a coach operator headquartered in East Sussex. The business will become part of Go-Ahead’s subsidiary, Brighton and Hove Buses.

Regency Coaches operates school and private hire services, which will continue to be served by Brighton and Hove Buses as this new period of operation begins.

This latest deal builds on Go-Ahead’s other acquisitions across England, including Pulhams Coaches and four coach companies across North and West Yorkshire, and the North East which further strengthen our service offering for schools, businesses and local authority partners. Go-Ahead is now one of the largest coach operators in the UK.

Brighton and Hove Buses, and its sister company, Metrobus, both part of the Go-Ahead Group, operate a fleet of over 400 buses across a network of 123 routes serving Brighton and Hove, connecting the city with communities across the counties of Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Between the two operators, customers make 62 million journeys per year which is more bus journeys per head of the population than anywhere in the UK outside of London. This acquisition further grows Brighton and Hove Buses network, following the acquisition of Eastbourne Sightseeing at the start of this year.

Matt Carney, CEO – Go-Ahead Bus, said: 

“We’re delighted to welcome Regency Coaches to the Go-Ahead Group, and to grow our presence in the UK coach market. As a company we’re committed to connecting communities, so providing coach services across the country for schools, groups, small business and local authority partners is an important transport mode for our communities. This is an exciting expansion of our coach operation to provide all customers across the South Coast with even more choice.”

Ed Wills, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Buses, said: 

“We are delighted to offer a greater variety of coaching vehicles and services as part of our business. I’d also like to welcome on board all drivers from Regency Coaches to the company. With a larger fleet in the local area, we look forward to growing the business, working with new and existing customers. Coaches are a great way to encourage people to travel more sustainably and without the stress of driving.”

Go East Anglia Managing Director to take on new role leading Go-Ahead’s Fastrack operations in Kent

14 June 2024

Go East Anglia Managing Director to take on new role leading Go-Ahead’s Fastrack operations in Kent

  • Experienced bus industry leader Gavin Smith to head up the team responsible for the Fastrack contract in Kent
  • Rupert Cox, currently working in business development at Go East Anglia appointed as MD on an interim basis
  • The Fastrack contract will run for 15-years with Go-Ahead operating routes from November 2024

The Go-Ahead Group today announces that Gavin Smith, Managing Director of Go East Anglia will transition to a new role within the Go-Ahead Group, effective from 17 June. Gavin will head up the team delivering the Fastrack network in Kent, a 15-year contract worth £110 million which Go-Ahead will operate from November 2024.

Gavin has worked in the public transport industry for over 20 years, starting his career as a bus driver in London before progressing into management roles and later leading the development and mobilisation of Go-Ahead’s River Road depot. He worked as Operations Director of Go-Ahead Singapore and then as Project Director in Australia before becoming Managing Director of Go East Anglia, a role he has held since July 2022.

Gavin will be replaced on an interim basis by Rupert Cox, a highly experienced bus industry professional, formerly a Regional Director for Stagecoach UK Bus, Rupert has worked with Go East Anglia since 1st March this year on business development projects.

Commenting on his move to the new role, Gavin Smith, said “I’m excited to be taking on the job leading the Fastrack network in Kent. Under the new contract, Go-Ahead will continue its decarbonisation journey, transitioning from a diesel to an all-electric fleet to serve our customers and we will welcome over 100 new colleagues to the business”.

He added “Go-Ahead’s investment in people and development has enabled me to build a varied career in the decade that I have been at the company, and I look forward to more success as we mobilise the Fastrack contract in the months to come”.

Martin Dean, Managing Director of UK Regional Bus, Go-Ahead Group said “We’re excited to appoint an experienced leader in Gavin to the role as we move towards the mobilisation of the contract. Gavin’s expertise and focus on delivering high quality services will be crucial as we take on the responsibility for more than 2.5 million people who travel across the Fastrack network annually. We’re also delighted that Rupert, a knowledgeable industry leader, has agreed to take on the role overseeing our East Anglian business, building on his extensive career in bus”.

Go-Ahead’s operator Carousel Buses ready to serve communities as Arriva announces closure of depots in Buckinghamshire

15 May 2024

Go-Ahead’s operator Carousel Buses ready to serve communities as Arriva announces closure of depots in Buckinghamshire

Yesterday’s announcement that Arriva has plans to close depots in Buckinghamshire will have caused concern for communities and local authority partners. Carousel Buses, part of the Go-Ahead Group, stands ready to operate their services in High Wycombe.

Without any operator stepping in to the fold, the closure of Arriva depots in Buckinghamshire would mean a widespread cut for routes in and around High Wycombe which currently link the town to Reading, Amersham and several other towns and villages in the Chilterns.

Martin Dean, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Group’s Regional Bus division said “We are ready to work with our local authority partners and to support the current workforce, to keep bus services running in High Wycombe. We want to reassure customers that we would take on services as soon as Arriva makes its decision to exit the bus market in High Wycombe”.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses said “We are proud to serve communities in the area and recognise the importance of the network in connecting urban and rural communities to help people travel to places of work, education, and to see family and friends. Arriva’s network overlaps with our services which presents a positive opportunity to enable seamless travel if it becomes part of our company”.

The Go-Ahead Group and its regional bus operators have long-held experience of rescuing services where other operators have withdrawn. In 2023, Go-Ahead’s operator Go South Coast took on additional services in Southampton when First Bus withdrew. The year before, in 2022, they also ensured customers in Bournemouth weren’t left behind as a small operator collapsed which required the recruitment of over 100 staff in 48 hours to get services back on the road again.

Carousel Buses, a subsidiary of Oxford Bus Company and part of the wider Go-Ahead Group, are an experienced High Wycombe based operator, running a network of 50 buses in the area and across Buckinghamshire.

In partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council, Carousel Buses has recently announced several improvements that will see increased service frequency and upgraded fleet on routes between High Wycombe, towns in Buckinghamshire, and Heathrow Airport from the start of the June.

Go-Ahead accelerates digital transformation for vehicle inspections in UK regional bus operations

23 April 2024

Go-Ahead accelerates digital transformation for vehicle inspections in UK regional bus operations

  • Tranzaura app will be rolled-out to digitally transform Go-Ahead’s bus fleet maintenance processes
  • Go-Ahead commits to enhanced efficiency and safety of bus networks for millions of customers across the UK
  • The five-year partnership will ensure better reliability across ten of Go-Ahead’s bus operations

The Go-Ahead Group, in partnership with Tranzaura, is delivering digital transformation to enhance operational efficiency across its regional bus services in the UK. This collaboration is a five-year partnership and highlights Go-Ahead’s commitment to innovation, reliability of bus services and as a result, increased customer satisfaction.

By October 2024, Go-Ahead’s bus companies will be able to streamline pre-service daily vehicle inspection checks and maintenance processes electronically through the Tranzaura app. This transition from traditional paper-based records to intuitive mobile apps will enhance reliability, safety, and sustainability across Go-Ahead’s extensive fleet of more than 6,000 buses, benefiting customers UK-wide.

The Tranzaura app gives real-time compliance visibility and audit trails for operational and management teams at Go-Ahead. By using photo capture, dynamic reporting and real-time communication tools between drivers and engineers, it helps to ensure the smooth operation and overall reliability of Go-Ahead’s bus services.

After utilising the Tranzaura technology successfully in its London bus garages and depots, Go-Ahead is now implementing the use of the app across all its UK operations.

Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus, said: “Our partnership with Tranzaura reflects our dedication to digitalisation, embracing innovative solutions to streamline processes and improve the way we work. By incorporating Tranzaura’s digital solutions into our operations, we will achieve new levels of fleet reliability and efficiency, creating safer and more reliable services for customers.”

Shane Mann, CEO of Tranzaura said: “The Go-Ahead Group and Tranzaura partnership is built on trust and an excellent working relationship, helping to drive higher standards for defect reporting across the bus industry. Tranzaura is proud to be able to support Go-Ahead in not just driving operational efficiency but also delivering more value to customers. We look forward to a continued successful partnership with Go-Ahead over the next five years.”

Go-Ahead is shaping the future of transport management and redefining industry standards on a global scale by embracing technology-driven solutions.

Go-Ahead’s blue London buses to drive diversity with more women behind the wheel

28 March 2024

Go-Ahead’s blue London buses to drive diversity with more women behind the wheel

  • The ‘Go-Ahead Women’ buses are a part of a national recruitment campaign to encourage more women bus drivers
  • The blue double decker buses will be operating on Go-Ahead London route 132 from Bexleyheath to North Greenwich
  • The Group aims to attract 1,500 women drivers to its UK and Ireland bus operations in a major recruitment drive
  • The Group plans to invest £15.5 million to create inclusive environments and offer eight weeks of paid training for new recruits

This morning marked a significant milestone for Go-Ahead as two vibrant blue double-decker buses hit the London streets, with a bold message: “Go-Ahead Women”. These buses, now operating on Go-Ahead London’s Route 132 from Bexleyheath to North Greenwich, symbolise Go-Ahead’s commitment to promoting gender diversity within the transport industry.

As part of a national recruitment campaign, Go-Ahead is dedicated to encouraging more women to pursue careers as bus drivers. With the ambitious goal of attracting 1,500 women drivers to its UK and Ireland operations by 2025, Go-Ahead aims to challenge the status quo in a sector where women currently represent only 11.5% of driver roles.

Recognising the need for greater representation, Go-Ahead is also investing £8 million in upgrading bus depot facilities which includes work to create inclusive working environments where women colleagues have opportunities, feel supported and empowered to thrive.

The Go-Ahead Women initiative offers an inclusive platform for women, featuring an 8-week fully paid training program, on-the-job coaching, and mentoring schemes, which is an estimated investment of £7.5 million. The company seeks to achieve gender parity by 2035, a pioneering endeavour in an industry historically dominated by men.

The launch of these eye-catching buses today, proudly driven by Go-Ahead London women drivers signifies the need for a cultural shift within the transport industry.

Carmen Bell, one of the Go-Ahead London drivers, shared her journey: “My friends were surprised when I expressed my desire to become a bus driver, but now they see me behind the wheel, interacting with passengers, and they realise it’s a perfect fit for me.”

Sandra Fraser, another Go-Ahead London bus driver, expressed her enthusiasm for more women joining the profession: “I started driving a few years ago, and witnessing more women entering the industry is fantastic. The support, mentorship, and women-only recruitment days make it accessible for anyone considering a career in driving.”

Carolyn Ferguson, Chief People Officer for the Go-Ahead Group, emphasised the company’s commitment to empowering women: “With this new campaign we’re determined to break down barriers in the transport industry and create a workplace where women can thrive.

“I’m sure there are lots of women who have never thought about being a bus driver and so, this is a perfect way to explore the opportunities available.”

To learn more about the ‘Go-Ahead Women’ initiative and join the movement towards diversity and inclusion in transport, visit Go-Ahead Women – Supporting women in the bus industry.

The Go-Ahead Group reaches a milestone with over 1100 zero emission buses – a leader in the UK

22 March 2024

Go-Ahead recognised as leading apprenticeship provider

  • The Go-Ahead Group adds 201 zero emission buses to its regional fleets
  • Six of Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies celebrate a share of £112 million joint investment
  • Go-Ahead’s zero emission bus total exceeds 1100 – the largest in the UK
  • The investment will help Go-Ahead reach its decarbonisation targets by 2035

The Go-Ahead Group, a leading provider of public transport services, proudly announces a significant achievement in sustainable public transport with the introduction of an additional 201 zero-emission buses to its fleet at regional bus companies, including Plymouth CityBus, Go Cornwall Bus, Go North East, Pulhams Coaches, Salisbury Reds, Southern Vectis, East Yorkshire Buses, and Brighton & Hove and Metrobus.

This substantial addition, delivery expected by March 2026, will bring Go-Ahead’s total zero-emission bus count to over 1100, solidifying its commitment to environmental responsibility and contributing to cleaner air in communities across the UK.

The £112 million pooled investments in this initiative signifies a joint commitment from the Department for Transport, Go-Ahead’s bus companies and our local authority partners:

  • 50 ZEBs (Zero Emission Buses) with £28.5 million allocated to Go South West’s, Plymouth CityBus, and Go Cornwall Bus operators.
  • Go South Coast operators, Southern Vectis and Salisbury Reds will add 45 zero emission buses to its fleets, comprising an £24.1 million investment.
  • £35 million for Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, with 59 ZEBs – 43 for its Metrobus fleet in Crawley and 16 for its Brighton & Hove Buses division.
  • At Go North East, Riverside depot gets a further £5.7 million invested for 11 ZEBs.
  • Pulhams Coaches celebrates 15 ZEBs at its Bourton-on-the-Water depot, with an £8 million investment serving its rural communities.
  • And finally, in Hull, East Yorkshire Buses will introduce 21 ZEBs with a total of £10.9 million investment.

The total investment, comprising both buses and infrastructure amounts to £112 million, with the ZEBRA contribution standing at £44 million and local authorities contributing £6 million. Consequently, Go-Ahead’s investment comes to £62 million. This collaborative effort underscores the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in advancing forward sustainable transport solutions.

This significant investment is serving rural communities such as on Pulhams Coaches’ Bourton-on-the-Water routes and Southern Vectis’ Isle of Wight routes, demonstrating a commitment to finding deliverable ZEB solutions outside the big urban areas. Furthermore, customers travelling via Salisbury Reds routes to Stonehenge are to benefit from a fully zero emission bus fleet.

Each ZEB deployed by The Go-Ahead Group saves on average 60 tonnes of carbon emissions per year contributing significantly to the fight against climate change and to cleaner air and a healthier environment for communities across the UK.

“We are proud to lead the way in electrifying urban transit and accelerating the transition to cleaner, greener transport and we extend our gratitude to all our partners for trusting in us to deliver,” said Miguel Parras, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of The Go-Ahead Group. “Our ongoing partnership with local authority partners and our investment in cutting-edge EV (Electric Vehicle) technology are driving meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and delivering tangible benefits to communities across the UK.”

Matt Carney, CEO – Go-Ahead Bus said: “Today’s news cements our position as leaders in delivering zero emission public transport. Our collaboration with local authority partners, supported by the Government’s ZEBRA scheme, reflects our shared vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future. This expansion of our electric bus fleet not only demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of public transport in our areas of operation. We are dedicated to contributing to a greener, more sustainable future. I’m confident we’ll achieve our goal of being fully zero-emission by 2035.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “As part of our plan to improve local transport across the country, we’re providing a further £143 million to improve journeys for bus passengers particularly in rural areas, with almost a thousand brand new, zero-emission buses due to hit the road.

“This latest investment into our bus fleet comes on top of the £3.5 billion we have invested into our bus network since 2020, protecting and improving bus routes into 2025 as well as extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.”

The Go-Ahead Group remains committed to investing in innovative technologies and operational practices that support its environmental objectives while continuing to deliver reliable and accessible public transport services for passengers across the UK. Go-Ahead plans to achieve a fully decarbonised bus fleet by 2035.

Go-Ahead bus companies, East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus lead the way on passenger satisfaction, Transport Focus survey reveals

13 March 2024

Go-Ahead bus companies, East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus lead the way on passenger satisfaction, Transport Focus survey reveals

In the latest survey conducted by independent watchdog Transport Focus, two of Go-Ahead’s bus companies, East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus, have emerged as leaders in passenger satisfaction, scoring highly across metrics such as punctuality, journey time, onboard comfort, and driver friendliness.

The survey places Go-Ahead Group amongst the top performers in England. As one of the largest public transport operators in the UK, we are committed to providing high quality, reliable bus services which connect and enhance local communities. We are proud to see this commitment reflected in the customer satisfaction surveys.

The results of the ‘Your Bus Journey’ survey for 2023 highlighted Go-Ahead’s East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus operations achieving an impressive 90% overall satisfaction rate.

The survey has gathered feedback from over 35,000 journeys throughout England, providing valuable insights into bus passenger experiences. It evaluates various aspects such as onboard experience, interactions with drivers, waiting experiences at bus stops, and perceived value for money.

A notable finding from the survey indicates that nearly half of the passengers surveyed (48%) rely solely on bus services for their transportation needs, underscoring the importance of timely, reliable, and cost-effective services.

Mark Anderson, Customer and Commercial Director, expressed pride in the company’s performance. He said: “We are proud to see Go-Ahead passengers rank amongst the most satisfied in England. Our ongoing investments in fleet, retail systems, scheduling analysis and driver training reflect our commitment to meeting and exceeding passenger expectations. It’s great to see growth in passenger numbers and we remain dedicated to upholding our reputation for delivering dependable and punctual bus services across all our operations.”

Managing Director, Ben Gilligan from East Yorkshire Buses said: “We are delighted to have contributed to the highest scores in the country through our operation of the majority of services in the East Riding. As a team, we have worked hard to improve the performance of our services through better reliability, punctuality, cleanliness and supporting the Government’s £2 fare scheme. In addition to this, our front-line driver colleagues have acted as the faces of our business and delivered great customer care to residents and visitors across the county.”

Managing Director, Andrew Wickham from Morebus said: “I am pleased that our overall score was among the highest of all the bus operators rated in this independent national report. We have made significant investment in new buses over recent years, and we have a close working partnership with the local authorities, which ensures our customers continue to enjoy a reliable, safe and high-quality services”.

Go-Ahead’s commitment to excellence in service delivery continues to drive its efforts to enhance the overall passenger experience and reinforce its position as a leader in the transport industry.

A journey for every man, woman, and child in England: Go-Ahead sells 60 million bus tickets at £2

20 February 2024

A journey for every man, woman, and child in England: Go-Ahead sells 60 million bus tickets at £2

  • Go-Ahead has sold more £2 tickets than the population of England since national bus fare cap began
  • Big boosts in passenger numbers on longer routes in Sussex, Yorkshire, and Buckinghamshire
  • Government’s “Get Around for £2” scheme helps safeguard routes and support customers with the cost of living

Go-Ahead’s bus companies have sold a £2 bus ticket for every man, woman, and child in England since the country’s nationwide bus fare cap was introduced by the Government at the beginning of 2023.

Ticket sales have reached 60 million across the group’s eight regional bus networks – surpassing the English population, which is 56.5 million according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Department for Transport’s “Get Around for £2” scheme has made bus travel cheaper on all of Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies – which have networks stretching from Cornwall to Northumberland.

The biggest seller of discount tickets in Go-Ahead’s network is Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, which has carried more than 15 million passengers at £2. All of Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies outside London and Manchester are participating in the scheme.

Longer routes have proven particularly popular under the scheme. Journeys showing big increases in passenger numbers include:

  • Metrobus routes 270-273 – Crawley and East Grinstead to Brighton – a 30% increase in passenger numbers
  • Carousel Buses route 102 – High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport – a 40% rise in customers
  • East Yorkshire Buses’ X46 service – Hull to York – a 43% increase in passengers
  • Salisbury Reds X3 – Salisbury to Bournemouth – a 25% jump in passengers
“”
In just over a year, we’ve sold a £2 bus ticket for every man, woman and child in England. That’s great news – it shows that the bus fare cap has encouraged our regular customers to get out and about more frequently, and it’s attracted new passengers onto our buses.

Longer bus services between towns and villages are proving particularly popular at £2. The success of this scheme is a reminder of just how important buses are in connecting communities and helping people to access vital local services.

Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, Regional Bus

“”
The number of people who are saving money through our get around for £2 fare cap is continuing to grow and grow – with fares in England, outside of London, falling by over 6% and by nearly 11% in rural areas.

It is clear getting around for £2 has got people back on our buses, better connecting our communities, supporting the economy across the country and giving people the freedom to travel and save some cash while they do.

Guy Opperman, Roads Minister

Participating Go-Ahead bus companies include:

  • Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus
  • Go South Coast – Bluestar, Morebus, Southern Vectis, Salisbury Reds, and Swindon’s Bus Company
  • Go South West – Plymouth Citybus, Go Cornwall, Go Devon and Dartline
  • The Oxford Bus Company – including Carousel Buses, Thames Travel and Pulham & Sons
  • Go East Anglia – Konectbus, Hedingham and Chambers
  • East Yorkshire Buses

Go-Ahead Group unveils App-based bus fare discovery feature

15 February 2024

Go-Ahead Group unveils App-based bus fare discovery feature

Go-Ahead Group, in partnership with its digital technology provider, Passenger, has introduced real-time bus fare information within its mobile apps for bus companies. This feature will help to make the apps into convenient hubs for ticket purchases and travel planning, enhancing the overall customer experience.

For the first time, passengers can see at a glance their journey’s cost before boarding. Initially launched at Go-Ahead’s Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, the feature will soon be integrated by Go-Ahead’s regional UK bus operators, extending its benefits to a wider audience nationwide.

A third of people seek information about bus fares before starting their journey, according to research by Transport Focus. This update directly addresses this demand by providing customers with details on tickets purchasable onboard from the driver or via mobile tickets accessible through smartphones. Mobile ticketing, known for its convenience, allows instant ticket acquisition for immediate travel.

Kanwar Brar, Chief Digital and Information Officer for Go-Ahead said: “This feature emphasises our commitment to enhance our customers’ journeys. We think it will get more people travelling by bus. After years of streamlining our data accessibility, it’s good to see our efforts pay off, especially for prospective customers. It is hugely positive that this feature uses the Bus Open Data fares feeds, demonstrating their accuracy and further alignment with the Department for Transport’s data strategy. We’re committed to working with our partners to promote bus travel further.”

This project marks the inaugural use of the NeTEx fares dataset, available through the national Bus Open Data Service (BODS). Initiated in response to the Bus Services Act of 2017, this service, managed by the Department for Transport (DfT), aims to simplify local bus service information, fostering innovation and enhancing passenger engagement.

Tom Quay, CEO of Passenger, praised Go-Ahead Group’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve the customer experience. He remarked, “The integration of fare information into Go-Ahead’s Passenger apps and operator websites is a significant achievement. We’ve seen first hand the dedication Go-Ahead has invested in advancing the BODS initiative, and we’re excited to deliver tangible benefits. This development has the potential to revolutionise the customer journey experience, making bus travel more accessible.”

In the future, the app updates have the potential to incorporate more ticketing products, including time-based capped fares, as the Bus Open Data Service evolves, offering increased flexibility and convenience to passengers.