Kicking off the conference with a behind the scenes visit to Metro’s Learning Centre and the new Stadler Class 555 trains.

Looking forward to the latest Young Bus Professionals Conference which has begun with a visit to Metro’s Learning Centre in South Shields to see the impressive new Stadler Class 555 trains.

The only Tyne and Wear Metro station that doesn’t appear on any maps! Today I’m at the Nexus Learning Centre exploring the new Class 555 Metro trains, courtesy of Young Bus Professionals

Some photos from our fascinating behind the scenes visit to Metro.

We’ve moved on to visit Stagecoach NorthEast Sunderland depot and its electric infrastructure. And interestingly an autonomous bus ready for a trial operation.

We’re privileged to have as our speaker tonight …. Mayor of the North East Combined Authority ….. Kim McGuinness.

‘Exciting times for bus in the North East’ kicks off our second Conference day here in Newcastle with Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella.

A touch of engineering as our next speaker is Phil Cummins, Engineering Director at Arriva.

Six years from a graduate trainee to company director. George Sloan, Operations Director Stagecoach West (and Young Bus Manager of the Year 2024) shares his successful and impressive career experience with Stagecoach with us.

Andrew McGuinness is taking the helm now telling us about Confederation of Passenger Transport as well as introducing the inter-active session workshop.

Inter-active workshop time. An hour for eight groups to produce a two-minute video giving advice to Mayor McGuinness on the things she needs to take into account as franchising approaches.

Our afternoon programme begins with Dan Graham telling us about his exciting career development of setting up his own bus company Northstar last year.

Our final speaker today is Anna Courtier speaking about the hugely important topic of improving the gender balance in the industry.

NEWS EXTRA 📰 | Challenges are the enemy. Nexus MD Cathy Massarella struck a pragmatic tone at recent Young Bus Professionals meeting 🚍🚇 ➡️ tinyurl.com/y6uhr6cn

I'm in #Southampton today, as the Young Bus Professionals conference gets underway with a visit to Hants & Dorset Trim! 🚌

The Young Bus Professionals conference is on in Southampton this week. Our 90+ attendees gathered first at Hants & Dorset Trim in Eastleigh to see all the great work here behind the scenes. Another packed agenda and great opportunity for networking across our sector.

We said about a packed agenda - David Lee-Kong of Go South Coast introduces the day’s events!

Perspectives from the South Coast from a local authority and a bus operator - partnership & collaboration as themes featuring strongly on both sides. Thanks Paul Walker Portsmouth City Council and Richard Tyldsley Bluestar.

Thanks to highly respected journalist Paul Clifton and our very own delegates Richard Windley of Reading Buses and Isobel Hedley-Jones of Go Ahead Fastrack for presenting to us this morning.

Joel Mitchell MD Stagecoach South East and Katy Taylor CEO Wightlink Ferries now offer a range of leadership lessons from across bus, ferry and rail. Always good to get insights from both inside and outside our industry.