August 17 2026
Karen Tiley is Manager for CPT Midlands & South
After months of planning, problem-solving and anxious checking of the weather forecast, CPT’s Ride and Drive returned on 27 July at its new home, Carver Barracks in Essex.
I am delighted to say that the move proved hugely successful.
We welcomed 247 people, with 19 vehicles available for the ride-and-drive, four vehicles demonstrating PSV Accessible Information Regulations technology, and 10 suppliers exhibiting their products and services.
Moving such an established event away from North Weald was never going to be straightforward. Ride and Drive has built up a character of its own, and we were determined not to lose the atmosphere that makes it such a popular industry event.
Carver Barracks delivered everything we needed: extensive road space, room for vehicles and suppliers, and a setting where members could experience the latest products away from the public highway.
The sun also shone throughout. I will take full credit for that, although my influence over the weather deserts me during the other 364 days of the year.
At the heart of the event was the opportunity to get behind the wheel. Visitors could experience a range of buses, coaches and minibuses, from smaller vehicles to high-capacity double-deckers and premium touring coaches.
There is no substitute for trying a vehicle first-hand. Specifications have their place, but operators need to understand how a vehicle feels on the road, how it handles and whether it is right for their business.
The driving competition encouraged healthy rivalry. It is remarkable how quickly otherwise calm operators develop a fierce competitive streak once a set of cones and a stopwatch appears.
We also expanded the supplier presence, giving members the chance to speak with industry suppliers.
An important element was PSV(AI)R.
The regulations have become an increasingly pressing issue for coach operators. Combined with work around PSVAR and Medium-Term Exemption 2, there has been much for businesses to understand, plan for and implement.
CPT’s Operations Team has provided members with clear guidance and support. However, written explanations, static displays and PowerPoint presentations can take operators only so far.
Technology is easier to assess when it is working in a real vehicle, under conditions resembling an everyday passenger journey.
That is why we created what we believe was the largest live, moving demonstration of PSV(AI)R equipment held by the industry to date.
Four vehicles operated around a dedicated circuit, complete with temporary bus stops, allowing visitors to see and hear systems functioning in practice. Equipment from RISE Digital Media, Starpal AI, LWM Digital, PSV Transport Systems and Stop Streamer was represented.
Members could experience how information was displayed and announced, examine equipment installed within vehicles, and speak directly with suppliers. We also made CPT’s PSV(AI)R Compliance Checklist available to help operators evaluate products against the requirements.
That practical element was crucial. Compliance should not simply be a box-ticking exercise. Accessible information is intended to give passengers greater confidence and independence when travelling, particularly those who may otherwise find a journey difficult or uncertain.
Operators also need solutions that are reliable, proportionate and suitable for coach operation. Bringing suppliers and operators together allowed proper questions and honest conversations.
Those conversations are important against the backdrop of the recent exemption for coaches used on unplanned rail replacement services and the Department for Transport’s grant for portable equipment.
CPT continues to work with the Department and stakeholders including the Rail Delivery Group to ensure implementation is practical and the playing field remains level. Where exemptions apply, we believe compliant vehicles should still be sought first wherever available.
Ride and Drive demonstrated the value of combining policy support with practical opportunities. Members did not simply hear about the requirements; they could see potential solutions operating in front of them.
The attendance, vehicle line-up and positive feedback confirmed that Carver Barracks is a fitting new home. We will return in 2027 with more vehicles, more conversations and, naturally, the ever-reliable hog roast.