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News ›BUS AND COACH SHOWCASE DEFIES THE GLOOM
The showcase event for the bus and coach industry – Euro Bus Expo 2008 – opens for business at the NEC Birmingham in just four weeks time (Tuesday 4th – Thursday 6th November inclusive) and offers some welcome good news in an otherwise gloomy economic climate.
7th October 2008
The industry continues to enjoy strong growth and is also witnessing some dramatic developments in technology which, among other things, will see the hybrid-powered double deck buses running in London in the coming months.
The weekend’s ministerial reshuffle has prompted the Show organisers to rethink and make some changes to the planned the Conference and Seminar running order. The previously separate schedules have now been integrated into a single programme, which will be free to all show visitors on a “first come, first served” basis.
The programme, staged in the Seminar theatre in the main exhibition hall, will still include a key note address from Peter Pantuso on Wednesday 5th November. The CEO of the American Bus Association will give an important insight into the current market situation in North America on the day after the USA voted in the 2008 Presidential Elections. Graham Smith, Vice Chairman IRU and Mark Billiet – also from IRU – will give an update from a European perspective.
The debate on making Public Transport a greener alternative to cars, moderated by BBC regional transport correspondent Peter Plisner and featuring senior panellists from five of the UK’s major bus groups, is a session on Thursday 6th which is likely to be very well attended.
“Public transport is in very good shape and traditionally robust in difficult economic times and this is reflected in a sold out and action packed Euro Bus Expo 2008,” said Simon Posner, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, the trade body for the bus, coach and light rail sectors in the UK and co-organisers of the biennial industry event.
“The three keys themes of this years show – vehicle solutions, technology and the environment – are particularly relevant against the backdrop of high fuel prices, increasing pressure to further reduce emissions and an uncertain financial and economic climate. We are looking forward to a very busy three days, including a visit from His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.”
Over 320 exhibitors, from every part of what is an increasingly international and broad-based industry, will take part in the three day trade show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. More than 30 of Europe’s leading automotive brands will be showcasing over 150 of their latest city buses, touring coaches, mini coaches and minibuses, including the respective reigning International Coach and Buses of the Year.
As well as the launch of several new bus and coach models including hybrid-powered vehicles, advances in the areas of mobile telematics, passenger information, ticketing and fleet management systems are just some of the technological advances on show at what will be Europe’s largest dedicated bus and coach event this year. A dedicated zone in the heart of the show reflects the significant role that technology is now playing at every level of the industry.
Measures to minimise the environmental impact of operations are now very much central in the sector’s thinking and actions, a fact illustrated by a special environmental feature area at the show staged jointly by five of the UK largest bus operating companies. A dedicated zone for Training and Development companies also underlines the impact of recent European legislation that now requires drivers to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
Although very much a business-orientated event - more than £100m of orders were announced during the show two years ago - there is still room for glamour and nostalgia at Euro Bus Expo 2008 in equal measure. The red double deck bus that starred in the Beijing Olympic Games closing ceremony is set to be a major attraction, along with a special display of restored buses - including a vintage 1908 Leyland X2 – to celebrate Ten Decades of the Bus.
