Back in Manchester and this year hosted by TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester), the European Bus Forum (02 July 2015, Renold Building, University of Manchester) is set to present the future of bus engineering, technology and management, as seen by leading figures from across the industry. According to the event organiser, everything that matters for the development of Europe's bus networks – from BRT (bus rapid transport) to smart ticketing and payments and alternative fuels – will be up for debate.
Other main themes will include: RTPI (real-time passenger information); new technologies; vehicle specification and accessibility; and how to make buses the transport mode of choice – all issues currently facing the European bus sector. And making that work, this year the event is offering workshops and panel discussions as well as the formal presentations.
Keynote speakers at this year's conference include: EBSF (European project for urban buses) project director Umberto Guida; Stephen Joseph OBE from the Campaign for Better Transport; Claire Haigh, CEO of pressure group Greener Journeys; and the event host Jon Lamonte, chief executive at TfGM, who intends to share this organisation's new thinking for regulated systems.
Other presenters include: Dawn Royle, smart programmes director for TfGM; Cyril Aubin, technical lead for bus and tram operations at passenger transport giant RATP Dev; Andrew Campbell, managing director of Stagecoach East; Jonas Strömberg, director of sustainable solutions at Scania; and David Yorke, new technology, training and projects manager for Tower Transit Operations. Indeed, in all, there will be more than 40 senior industry experts sharing their visions, ideas and views on new and upcoming technologies.
Compelling technologies
Buses have a major part to play in reducing congestion and hence easing other transport flows, but also in directly cutting greenhouse gases and harmful emissions. Bus operators have been indisputable leaders in adopting game-changing technologies – particularly hybrid, fully-electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems – thanks largely to government and local authority grant structures.
For these reasons especially, this should be a useful event, fronted by the 'Fuel for Thought' workshop, being chaired by Andy Eastlake, managing director of LowCVP (the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership). Delegates will hear that experience to date with low-carbon buses is that they reduce CO2 emissions and hence also fuel costs by nearly a third, while also improving air quality – but that penetration in England is just 2%. With the Low Emission Bus fund now open for bidders and a revised test and funding regime, this session will explore alternative fuels, appropriate technologies and powertrains.
Scania's Strömberg is swet to kick off, covering UK and global experience with biogas. Then taking the stage will be Dickson Posnett, development director at Argent Energy, talking about dual-fuel used cooking oil and diesel buses, followed by Michael Andersson, technical director at Helsingin Bussilikenne, talking about the lightweight bus electric bus project ePeli. Fnally, Tower Transit's Yorke will cover hydrogen fuel cell bus technologies.
Transport Engineer readers can receive a 20% discount on the £449 = VAT price tag of a standard delegate place at this event. The reduced rate includes: a seat at the gala dinner, on Wednesday 1 July at The Manchester Museum; access to all conference sessions; refreshments throughout the day and networking lunch; delegate pack; attendee list; and speaker presentations.
Go to: http://www.europeanbusforum.com/book-now/ and enter the discount code: BUS0FF20.