The Business Magazine - South West & West Midlands’ Post

DfT invests £143m as almost 1,000 zero emission buses hit the road The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to invest a further £143 million to roll out almost a thousand new zero-emission buses in England. Today (Friday 22 March), Transport Secretary Mark Harper has confirmed that 955 zero-emission buses will hit the road as 25 councils receive funding to decarbonise their bus fleets, with rural areas prioritised as part of the Government’s plan to improve local transport. The funding comes from the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, which will see new electric buses in towns, villages and cities across England, including the most rural parts of the country, many of which will get zero-emission buses for the first time. Find out more below 👇 https://lnkd.in/edAuwxBB Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom , Confederation of Passenger Transport , Alison Edwards Bob Moran , Elizabeth Culwick , #transport #energy #buses

By 2050 will buses as we know them largely be a thing of the past? That's one prediction made within Innovate UK's updated Transport Vision 2050. Based on a widespread review of existing evidence of the drivers of change within the transport system, they speculate that the future of travel will be increasingly personalised and this will prompt significant drops in the demand for buses with them only being retained for commuting. Automated buses and minibuses may also become commonplace on our roads by 2035. By 2050 the increased use of 'on demand shared vehicles' could lead to significantly lower levels of private vehicle use. Active travel and micromobility may be embedded in the transport system, playing increasingly important roles in urban areas. The transport infrastructure of 2050 will have reduced environmental impacts and improved climate resilience largely through the widespread adoption of nature-based solutions. This green and blue infrastructure will improve air quality, biodiversity, woodland cover and drainage systems and mitigate air, light, noise and visual impacts. -- These kinds of predictions of what the future could look like should play an important role in political and public debate about what we want from our transport system in the coming decades. As with the Government Office for Science's previous research on mobility (https://lnkd.in/e-GABXBr), this analysis reveals some of the biggest unknowns about our future and can help identify the decisions that might guide us towards the most desirable option. IPPR has produced its own analysis of the key drivers of uncertainty on transport's path to net zero (https://lnkd.in/eJy3TKvt) and, more recently, we defined some of the priorities for designing a transport system that works better for people today and allows future generations to thrive (https://lnkd.in/ecGUPQ9g). #transport #forecasting #mobility https://lnkd.in/eYqrNxBE

Wrightbus Secures £500m Deal with Go-Ahead Group Know More 👇 Wrightbus secures largest deal in 78 years with UK's Go-Ahead Group, valued at £500m. Wrightbus will supply 1,200 buses over 3 years. More than 90% of the buses will be zero-emissions vehicles, with 10% expected to be hydrogen-powered. Deal follows Go-Ahead's £30m investment in 54 hydrogen buses from Wrightbus. CEO Jean-Marc Gales highlights deal's impact: ➡️ Safeguards 500 jobs at Wrightbus ➡️ Supports 1,500 UK supply chain jobs ➡️ Boosts UK economy ➡️ Supports homegrown manufacturing, jobs, skills The landmark deal showcases the growing demand for sustainable, hydrogen-powered buses in the UK. Here’s the link to entire article 🔽  https://lnkd.in/dNwZ2SWS PS. Repost this to your network ♻️

Massive change is underway in the UK’s car factories as manufacturers retool for new electric models. Amid strong international competition for green automotive investment, however, the UK needs to ensure it has the most attractive conditions for manufacturing businesses and a compelling offer for existing and new investors. Essential to this is a long-term industrial strategy, which encompasses all industry, all stakeholders and all of government in the pursuit of sustainable and green growth. https://lnkd.in/eCbm6aU2

Winnipeg’s Role in New Flyer’s Strategic Crisis: A Call to Action for Canadian Transit I’ve long admired the City of Winnipeg for its resilience, but its transit decisions now play a part in New Flyer’s ongoing troubles. As North America’s largest bus manufacturer, New Flyer has leaned into hydrogen fuel cell buses — a costly, inefficient, unreliable technology — at the expense of delivering market-leading battery-electric solutions at competitive prices.  Full article: https://lnkd.in/gqTyZM33 Hydrogen buses are enticing to New Flyer due to higher unit revenues, federal subsidies covering 50% of their costs and sole sourcing for its hydrogen but not battery electric buses. But this strategy is flawed. For every hydrogen bus sold, New Flyer loses three battery-electric bus sales to competitors offering superior and cheaper battery electric buses, especially from China. Worse, Winnipeg’s unique reliance on New Flyer as a major local employer has cemented this problematic direction.  The Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC-CRITUC) compounds the issue. With its flawed transit studies funded 80% by public money — effectively sole sourcing as no other organization qualifies —, it skews results toward hydrogen buses, creating a cycle where flawed decisions are reinforced. Winnipeg has bought into this system, moving toward hydrogen buses despite higher costs, delays, and operational challenges. Quantron AG and IKEA Austria are a cautionary tale. Quantron, like New Flyer, sold battery electric trucks with lower range than competitors and hydrogen fuel cell trucks with more adequate range. Ikea bought both. Quantron went bankrupt. Ikea's fleet is now without warranty, service or parts. Winnipeg’s transit leaders must unite with other Canadian cities to demand better from New Flyer — battery-electric buses only — or shift their orders to competitors. Without action, New Flyer’s strategy risks its future, Canadian transit systems will end up with unsupported fleets, and billions will be wasted. It’s time for Canada’s transit agencies to prioritize decarbonization, rider experience, and fiscal responsibility. Transit matters. Let’s ensure it succeeds. #transit #strategy #climateaction

A really interesting recent piece of research from Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, highlighting the potential that rail has to contribute to a number of key societal and economic objectives. These include the growth of a smart, inclusive and greener society connected through a sustainable and seamless transport network. It makes clear that rail innovation is critical to achieving these ambitions. According to the research, the key to maximising rail's potential is to: - Position rail as an attractive alternative or complementary solution to road and air transport - Make rail more affordable for low-income countries/travellers The study, which is based on a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews, and the use of quantitative models, looked at how rail improvements and changes in mobility could impact rail traffic volume. The report makes clear that high quality innovation will help lead to improvements in rail, increasing both demand and revenue and encouraging modal shift. Worth a read. Lots to digest as we develop the Global Centre Of Rail Excellence vision. https://lnkd.in/eits38xh #Rail #Innovation

While I am proud Siemens will build America's first high-speed #train in my home state #NewYork, the train's name #American #Pioneer 220 leaves me perplexed. This train may be a #PIONEER within the US, which never built or operated many high-speed trains (except the #Acela train in East Coast), but not on #GLOBAL stage. Exactly 60 years ago (yes, in 1964 !!), #Japan launched the world's first high-speed rail system: the Tōkaidō #Shinkansen, began operations in Honshu, Japan: https://lnkd.in/eftHkxkR Due to the streamlined spitzer-shaped nose cone of the locomotive, the system became known by its English nickname #bullet #train. This truly-pioneering train with a design speed of 210 km/h, was developed and built within #Japan. It was a 100% Japanese #indigenous #innovation. Here is a well-researched article that narrates the GLOBAL history of high-speed train manufacturing: https://lnkd.in/egXgTGmj In 2025, #Chinese manufacturer CRCC will launch #CR450 #Fuxing, a high-speed train that runs at 450 kilometers (280 miles) per hour, which is faster than the American "Pioneer" 220: https://lnkd.in/ebbGBenX See graphic below👇 in Comment that shows how #China is leading the global race to build the world's fastest trains. China today operates the world's largest high-speed train network: https://lnkd.in/eVmJbWUg #Russia is also joining the race to build high-speed trains: https://lnkd.in/eEvQuqzm I mean no disrespect to America. But, when it comes to building next-gen #innovative and #sustainable #products and services, the US needs to be careful not to BENCHMARK against ITSELF, but against GLOBAL competition. You can't claim to be WORLD-CLASS if you don't measure up against WORLD standards. As I show in my upcoming book The #Frugal #Economy, if the US wants to become a truly "world-class" #disruptive #innovator, it should focus equally on innovating the WHAT of manufacturing as well as the HOW. Innovating the #WHAT of manufacturing means building faster/bigger products. Innovating the #HOW of manufacturing involves reinventing end-to-end #value #chains (novel production processes and supply chain configurations) to make them #efficient, #agile, #sustainable For instance, I find it strange that American Pioneer 220 trains will be built in the East Coast but will be deployed in the... West Coast to connect #LasVegas and #LosAngeles ! Read: https://lnkd.in/eFJa4hnr Wouldn't it be more #sustainable to build high-speed trains AS CLOSE AS possible to the #regional #markets where they would be deployed ? I published today an article in Sustainable Brands on #distributed #manufacturing and show how US firms can #SCALE #OUT production of US-made industrial goods closer to markets to maximize local impact: https://lnkd.in/eR4SK_Yf Rather than obsess about making America Great *AGAIN*, let's make American Manufacturing Great *IN THE FUTURE* Alstom GE China Railway Construction Co., Ltd. Hitachi Rail Talgo Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차)

✋🏻 💸 German federal government has halted subsidies for zero emission buses. Well, and now? 🙊 In this piece we tried to sum up the insights and expectations emerged from several conversations we held at Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV)-backed #MobilityMove in Berlin last week. Where the topic has been of course widely discussed. #electricbus #zeroemission #emobility #publictransport

🌍🚍 Empowering Denmark’s green transition We are proud to have supported Umove A/S, Denmark’s leading bus network operator and frontrunner in zero emission public transport. Following the acquisition of Umove in October by JP Morgan’s Global Transportation Fund, ING acted as Mandated Lead Arranger, Facility Agent, and Green Loan Coordinator in setting up a DKK 1.565m financing platform which is designed to support both Umove’s future growth and their journey toward full electrification of their fleet. This financing underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable mobility and accelerating the transition to zero-emission public transport. It has been an honor to contribute to Umove’s vision of a cleaner, greener future for Danish public transport. #Electrification #PublicTransport #SustainableMobility #ZeroEmissions #ING Henk Panman, Houcein Nassiri Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. See how we’re progressing on ing.com/climate

🚆 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐊 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 🌍 Big news for UK rail! Siemens Mobility has officially launched its Goole Rail Village in East Yorkshire, marking a major investment in the future of British transportation. 🎉 Here’s why this matters: €𝟐𝟕𝟕 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Siemens has committed up to €277M to develop cutting-edge rail manufacturing in the UK, with an additional €50M for a new bogie assembly facility. 🏗️ 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬: This project will bring up to 1,000 jobs to the region and generate 1,700 supply chain opportunities. 🚀 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬: 80% of London’s new Piccadilly line trains will be built right here in Goole, helping transform the UK’s rail system. 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: The facility is set to drive economic growth and showcase the strength of UK manufacturing on a global scale. 📈 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐨𝐟-𝐭𝐡𝐞-𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡: With cutting-edge technology, like #robotics, and sustainability at its core, Siemens Mobility is pushing the boundaries of rail innovation. 🚉 This milestone cements Siemens’ long-term commitment to the UK, ensuring that rail manufacturing and innovation continue to thrive. 🚄 Watch a video of the opening here: https://lnkd.in/e3ZSj6YX