The Go-Ahead Group, Nottingham City Transport, trentbarton, Reading Buses, FirstGroup and National Express are just some of the leading bus and coach operators gearing up to appear in the Master Class Theatre at next month’s Euro Bus Expo, taking place at NEC Birmingham on 1-3 November.

Running throughout the three day event, Euro Bus Expo’s 2016 Master Class Theatre, sponsored by SmartDrive Systems, is renowned for attracting a host of high-profile brands and experts from across the bus and coach industry. And 2016 is certainly no exception.

Big name representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport, Transport for London, Transport for West Midlands, Transport Focus, The Royal Mint, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and Bristol City Council have already been confirmed. Plus, the Transport Minister for Buses, Andrew Jones MP, recently announced that he intends to give an address at the show on 3 November.

Another new addition to the line-up is Martin Dean, managing director – bus development at The Go-Ahead Group. He joined Go-Ahead in 2008 and leads and acts as a focal point for all bus business development activity for the Group, including assisting with the development of bus policy and strategy.

One such development is the Group’s transformational plans (announced in partnership with Stagecoach, First Bus, Arriva and National Express earlier this year) for a major smart ticketing scheme that aims to bring contactless travel to every bus in Britain by 2022. He’ll be discussing ‘Rolling out contactless payments – the journey so far’ at 12.30pm on 3 November.

“Whether it’s vehicles, equipment, technology, services or advice you’re looking for, Euro Bus Expo brings them all together under one roof – you can’t afford to miss it!” says John Birtwistle, CPT president and head of policy at FirstGroup's UK Bus Division.

“Visiting Euro Bus Expo ‎is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest innovations and solutions to help us deliver the very best for customers, employees and shareholders,” says Martijn Gilbert, CEO of Reading Buses.

"Euro Bus Expo is a must attend event if you want to keep pace with the changes in products and technologies in our industry,” says Jeff Counsell, MD of trentbarton.

Master Class Theatre highlights

Tuesday 1 November:
• Bus Services Bill
• Making partnerships work: John Birtwistle, president at CPT; & Mark Fowles, MD of Nottingham City Transport
• Life after the referendum: Steven Salmon, director of policy development at CPT

Wednesday 2 November:
• Marketing your business effectively: Jeff Counsell, MD of trentbarton
• Attracting the best talent: Martijn Gilbert, CEO of Reading Buses
• Future prospects for buses and coaches in London: Leon Daniels, MD of Surface Transport, Transport for London
• Panel discussion – The role of bus and coach operators in the new devolved structures: Lynda Waltho, area director for Midlands at CPT (moderator); Linda McCord, Transport Focus; Peter Bond, director of policy at Transport for West Midlands; & Peter Coates, MD of National Express West Midlands

Thursday 3 November:
• Address by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Andrew Jones, MP, Transport Minister for Buses, Department for Transport
• Expanding the low emission bus market in the UK: Gloria Esposito, head of projects at Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
• Introducing the new 12-sided £1 coin: Julie Mason, industry communications manager at The Royal Mint; & Rhodri Ryland, industry liaison manager at The Royal Mint
• Rolling out contactless payments – the journey so far: Martin Dean, MD, The Go-Ahead Group
• Accessing our cities – Park & Ride, making them work: Richard Smith, Bath & North East Somerset Council; & Nicola Phillips, Bristol City Council (ATCO – Association of Transport Coordinating Officers)

For further details, including timings and summaries, please visit www.eurobusxpo.com/why-visit/master-class-theatre-programme.