The Association of Local Bus Managers is pleased to welcome Tony Depledge to the team. As we look to grow the visibility of ALBUM in the industry and take forward further plans to support smaller operators, Tony will be invaluable in supporting our work.
Tony has already joined our regular MDs’ meetings; he is currently reviewing responses to Bus Service Improvement Plans and working on the ALBUM response to the Government consultation on proposals to end the sale of non-zero emission buses.
Tony Depledge has a long career in the public transport industry, starting as a bus and tram conductor in Blackpool in 1969. He has worked in the public and private sectors and was President of CPT in 2000/2001 when Managing Director of Blackpool Transport.
As Director of Transport Policy for Arriva from 2001 until 2013, Tony was responsible for government relations and transport policy work with local, regional, and national governments in the UK and with the EU Institutions, where he chaired the Committee of European transport operators for the international trade association, UITP.
More recently, Tony was a non-executive director of Translink in Northern Ireland for ten years until 2021 and chaired the UniversityBus (UNO) Board in Hatfield until November 2021.
Tony Depledge said, ‘The bus industry in its widest sense – operators and suppliers alongside central and local government – faces considerable change and many challenges. ALBUM members are primarily smaller, local companies and I hope to help ensure that they continue to be heard and supported through my work with the Association. I aim to strengthen ALBUM’s engagement with partners across the industry to best serve our members, their employees and passengers, and our communities.”
Bill Hiron, Chair of ALBUM said, ‘We are pleased to welcome Tony to the small ALBUM team his considerable experience will be invaluable in ensuring the interests of our members are fully considered by ministers and opinion formers.’