Infrastructure

Bus depots are specialised facilities designed to store, maintain and service buses. They typically feature large parking areas for buses, as well as maintenance and repair bays, fuelling or charging stations, and administrative offices. Bus depots are critical to the operation of bus fleets, as they provide a centralised location for storing and maintaining buses, as well as a base of operations for bus drivers and other personnel. Many bus depots also serve as hubs for bus routes, where buses start and end their daily runs, and where drivers can take breaks or switch buses.

Increasingly, with climate change a growing concern and governmental targets to decarbonise transport, cities are opting for electric buses rather than diesel. These buses carry batteries on board that need to be re-charged periodically, for which a number of different charging options exist. Battery electric buses can be charged at plug-in stations or by using special wireless charging pads. Another type of electric bus is the capacitor vehicle – a traction vehicle using supercapacitors to store electricity. These can be re-charged at bus stops under electric umbrellas. Another area of charging infrastructure for buses includes the overhead wires that is used by trolleybuses. One emerging technology for buses is the use of hydrogen fuel cells. This technology requires hydrogen refilling stations for buses.

Our Passenger Infrastructure section covers suppliers who manufacture solutions for the bus sector that are not on board buses but that are for passenger use such as bus shelters and seats. Equipment that is also found on board buses, such as passenger information displays and ticket vending machines, can be found in their own specific sections.