Pull up a chair
Euro Bus Expo Roundtables
New for 2026, the Euro Bus Expo Roundtables brought coach and bus operators, local authorities and industry specialists together for informal conversations on shared challenges and opportunities.
Pull up a chair
Euro Bus Expo Roundtables
Discover how others are tackling the issues that matter to your business, hear what’s working and gain insights you can put into practice.
New for 2026, the Euro Bus Expo Roundtables bring coach and bus operators, local authorities and industry specialists together for focused conversations on shared challenges and opportunities.
Whether you have specialist knowledge to contribute, first-hand experience to draw on or questions you’re keen to explore, there’s an opportunity to take part and learn from others.
Each 40-minute roundtable brings together up to 15 people, including a facilitator and invited contributors, for an informal discussion without presentations. Taking part is free.
To request a place, first register for the show, then complete the short form below.
The 2026 Roundtables
Driver retention: What makes people choose to stay?
11:00 - 11:40
Recruiting drivers is only half the challenge. Pay, working patterns, wellbeing, workplace culture, inclusion and career development can all influence whether people stay. Which measures are genuinely improving retention? What have operators tried, what has worked and what could others learn from their experience?
Hydrogen: Where does the case stack up?
12:10 – 12:50
Where does hydrogen offer advantages over the alternatives? Operators and specialists will examine where fuel-cell vehicles make sense for coach and bus operations, drawing on practical experience and evidence. Fuel supply, refuelling infrastructure, vehicle availability, cost and funding all affect the business case. What would justify investing, trialling or waiting?
Enhanced Partnerships: What makes them work?
14:10 – 14:50
What separates partnerships that deliver from those that struggle to make progress? The discussion will explore how collaboration, shared responsibilities and investment translate into better services. With new guidance published and minimum standards on the way, what helps partnerships achieve meaningful results? And how can smaller operators influence decisions and benefit from taking part?
Engineering and maintenance: What keeps the fleet moving?
11:00 – 11:40
Keeping vehicles safe, compliant and available is becoming more demanding. From preventative maintenance and recurring defects to parts, diagnostics and workshop capacity, where are operators finding ways to reduce avoidable downtime? How can better communication, engineering practices and data help keep fleets moving as vehicles become more complex?
AI and data: What actually works?
12:10 – 12:50
Where is AI genuinely delivering value, and when might simpler digital tools be a better answer? From safety and efficiency to planning and decision-making, the group will explore real-world applications, data quality, implementation challenges and frontline trust. What makes technology useful in practice, and how can operators judge whether their investment is delivering results?
PSVAR from 2030: Compliance, investment and practical planning
13:20 – 14:00
The pathway to 2030, when exemptions from PSVAR for coaches used on in-scope, closed-door home-to-school services end, is becoming clearer, but coach operators face important decisions much sooner. How should accessibility requirements influence vehicle purchasing, replacement and retrofit plans? With contract economics, commissioning and funding all part of the equation, what can operators do now to make the transition workable and avoid last-minute decisions?
Running the electric fleet: Protecting range, cost and uptime
14:30 – 15:10
As electric fleets accumulate mileage, keeping them reliable and affordable may present challenges. Battery health, energy efficiency, thermal management, diagnostics and maintenance all affect long-term performance and cost. What are operators learning from real-world experience? How should they plan for battery repair or replacement, and what can they do now to protect range, uptime and vehicle value?
Franchising beyond the city: What would work in rural areas?
11:00 – 11:40
Rural networks face different challenges from metropolitan areas: lower demand, longer distances and tighter funding. What could franchising mean for rural services and the businesses running them?
Whether you run local bus, school or on-demand services, this roundtable brings operators and industry specialists together to weigh up the opportunities and risks. What would make franchising workable for smaller operators, and how does it compare with alternatives?
Join the discussion
Choose the roundtable that interests you and complete the short form below to request a place.
To give everyone the opportunity to contribute, places are limited. To ensure a balanced mix of perspectives, places are reserved for different groups of participants and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis within each group.
Your place is only secured once you receive confirmation by email.