25 sessions tackle what's next for coach and bus at Euro Bus Expo 2026

AI, automation, fleet transition, compliance, workforce, bus reform and the future of coach are among the issues taking centre stage.

The seminar programme runs across all three days of the show, from 3–5 November at the NEC Birmingham. It brings together operators, policymakers, manufacturers and local authorities to share first-hand experience and explore what is working in practice.

Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Chief Executive Graham Vidler will open the programme with The Road Ahead for Bus & Coach: Navigating Change, Seizing Opportunity. He will set the scene with the political and operating landscape and CPT’s priorities for growth and investment.

ALBUM examines how recent bus policy changes under the Bus Services Act 2025 affect operators. It will look at franchising, Enhanced Partnerships, electrification and what is needed to help small and medium operators thrive.

Real-world examples will show how different approaches are working on the ground. Arriva and Leicester City Council look at Leicester’s EP Max model, which delivers many of the benefits of franchising with significantly less cost, risk and delay.

Samuel Ribeiro of Tower Transit will explore Jersey’s ‘franchise-light’ approach. Journeys grew from 3.2 million to 5 million before the pandemic, achieved full post-Covid recovery by 2023, and have continued to grow since. The case study will demonstrate what can be achieved without big-city scale or resources.

Stagecoach Midlands, West Northamptonshire Council and GO Travel Solutions will explore how a BSIP-backed partnership is strengthening stakeholder engagement. The partnership is generating market intelligence to shape services and find new ways to promote bus use.

Intangles, SURE and Optibus cut through the hype around AI to examine real deployments, the problems being solved and the business realities of adoption.

Automation gets a similarly practical treatment in a panel session. Whippet will share its real-world experience from an automated bus trial, alongside Alexander Dennis and London South Bank University. The discussion will examine how close wider adoption is and what it could mean for operators.

Matt King of Arriva will look at how network design, data and timetable optimisation can improve reliability and punctuality. Elsewhere, Project Coral will update visitors on the operator-led work towards multi-operator contactless fare capping.

For operators tackling fleet transition, the programme spans both the first steps and the realities of running vehicles over the longer term.

Megan Summers of Zenobē will address how to get an electrification project off the ground, from project planning to funding barriers. David Yorke of Future Zero Emission will consider where hydrogen fits in zero-emission heavy-duty transport.

At the other end of the vehicle lifecycle, Exceliamus and Practical Edge Training examine the opportunities and pitfalls of second-life EVs, from buying used to managing and maintaining ageing vehicles.

Eric Higham of Logistics UK will draw on 48,000 annual vehicle inspections to highlight the defects operators should prioritise. He will also make the compliance and cost-saving case for preventative maintenance.

CPT’s Operations & Policy Update will cover operational, regulatory, policy and funding developments affecting coach and bus operators.

Jonathon Backhouse of Backhouse Jones will look at what excellent compliance management means in a digital world, including BODS, PSVAR, reliability, punctuality and mixed-work pitfalls.

Fleet safety will also come under the spotlight. Reading Buses has held the lowest driver-risk score among comparable UK operators for two years. Together with Powerfleet, it will explore how to keep improving when conventional benchmarks no longer push performance forward.

In ‘Accessibility in Practice: Designing Services for Everyone’, a panel will look at how vehicle design and technology can reduce sensory, cognitive and physical barriers to travel.

A further session examines the industry response to violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour. It will focus on practical steps to keep passengers and drivers safe.

Coach operators will find dedicated content across all three days, from the immediate challenge of European operations to the longer-term future of the sector.

Backhouse Jones will explain what the EU’s Entry/Exit System means for operators and how to protect drivers, passengers and tours. Beyond cross-border operations, ‘Coach in Focus: What You Need to Know’ looks at current challenges and what businesses need to prepare for next.

Dr Jaya Sajnani, founder and CEO of YG Travel, will share a candid perspective on building a PSV business in a male-dominated sector. She will reflect on opening doors for other women and make a rallying call for a louder, prouder voice for coach.

‘Coach Operations of the Future’ will consider how customer expectations, technology, workforce challenges and investment could reshape the sector. It will also look at what operators can do now to build resilient, competitive businesses.

Driver shortages, an ageing workforce and competition for talent demand more than recruitment alone. A panel featuring RHA, Women in Bus & Coach, RouteStar and ASOT will explore how to widen the talent pool and attract new people. It will also look at wellbeing, retention and building a more diverse, resilient workforce.

New for 2026, small-group roundtables will give operators the chance to compare experiences and explore key issues in greater depth with peers and experts.

Roundtables cover franchising – including in rural areas, and Enhanced Partnerships. Other discussions will explore electric fleets, depot infrastructure and energy, hydrogen, AI and data, driver retention, engineering and maintenance, PSVAR from 2030, BODS and passenger information. Places will be limited and bookable through the show’s meeting planner, Euro Bus Expo Connect, when it launches on 1 October.