Busworld Kortrijk News
20.10.2009 | Nieuwe mister en miss Busworld
Maurice in 't Groen en Jorien Van Ieperen zijn respectievelijk tot Mister en Miss Busworld verkozen. Busworld kent deze prijs bij elke editie toe aan personen die zich verdienstelijk hebben gemaakt voor de organisatie en het vlot verloop ervan. Maurice in 't Groen ontving de prijs uit handen van de vorige Mister Busworld Jean-Louis Coppieters, Jakobien Van Dyck van Evobus gaf de titel door aan Jorien. Voor Jorien Van Ieperen van Denso is het haar allerlaatste deelname aan Busworld. Jorien bevindt zich in goed gezelschap want haar collega Henk Van Leeuwen was de eerste Mister Busworld. Maurice in 't Groen, in het milieu beter bekend als Marcelleke, rijdt niet alleen de bussen en cars van Fast en Otokar de hallen binnen, maar ook van collega's. Waar hij kan helpen, helpt Maurice. Ook de Busworld-organisatie draagt hij een warm hart toe.
19.10.2009 | Toasting the first succes
At the Meeting Point, Belgium’s three regional public transport authorities (De Lijn in Flanders, the TEC in Wallonia and the MIVB in Brussels) and the FBAA (Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Operators) raised their glasses to toast the success of the very first “Best Belgian Bus Driver” competition. The whole event turned out to be a very close run thing indeed between the winners. Ultimately, it was De Lijn’s Mario Luypaerts who came out as the first winner. Together with the best bus driver for each of the organisations, Stephane Comer - the competition’s instigator and Bus Director for the MIVB - toasted the success of this inaugural edition. One thing is already certain: there is to be a second edition in 2011.
18.10.2009 | Sign the petition
The petition highlights the vast chasm that separates the collective carriage of people and the carriage of freight. Anyone signing the petition is first and foremost calling for a separate regulation for the carriage of passengers. The ill-considered introduction of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 which replaced Regulation 3820/85, lumbered the sector with a regulation that was specifically intended for the road haulage industry. On day trips, coach drivers usually do not drive more than three to four hours. This widely detested Regulation has affected coach operators in the very heart of their profession. “We carry people, not bundles of straw’’, a taunted Luc Glorieux exclaimed at the opening ceremony. IN ADDITION, THE PETITION IS CLAMOURING FOR: cities and tourist centres to provide for sufficient parking spaces for coaches in the vicinity of the most visited landmarks and sights of interest. - for adapted police checks to be put in place that duly take into account the specific nature of passenger transport, without raising the stress for drivers. - for the authorities to enact the necessary decisions to “de-stress” the profession. - for travel coaches to also be allowed to use reserved bus lanes. - for the authorities and the politicians to promote communal transport from now on through their actions as much as they do through their words. DAY TRIP What is more, Busworld is suiting the action to the word. During the Belgian presidency of the European Union during the second half of next year, Busworld is offering the European leaders a daytrip by coach, with Luc Glorieux acting as the tour guide on duty. The idea is to enable the European leaders to get a real sense of the sector so that they stop producing counterproductive regulations.
17.10.2009 | Irisbus stand to become the Temsa Hall
One of the biggest stands at this year’s Busworld salon is the stand of Turkish bus builder Temsa, a company which is ambitiously working on carving a solid position for itself on the world market. Renaming Hall 7 of the Kortrijk Xpo trade fair complex as the ‘Temsa Hall’ is part of this ambition. Whereas previously this hall used to be occupied by Irisbus as its regular resident at Busworld, it is Temsa that has taken over this position it would appear. Temsa is embarking on this changing of the guard with big news: in Hall 7 the enterprise is presenting a hybrid version of the Avenue city bus, which comes with a serial hybrid.
16.10.2009 | Busworld going for green
Buses & Coaches are the reigning champions in the area of public transport when it comes to ecology. Moreover, the sector is becoming ever greener. The amount of attention that is made to go out to alternative powertrains at Busworld 2009 is the result of the increasing focus of attention to the carbon footprint left by buses and coaches. For now, developments are occurring virtually exclusively in the world of public transport buses. But anyone today claiming that hybrid coaches are strictly a matter of science fiction risks coming a cropper in the next few years ahead. Whilst hybrid buses were still rare at the last Busworld edition, today they are very much the number one eye-catchers on many stands. A development that is duly substantiated by figures: the bus market is considerably less hit by the recession than other markets in the transport sector. Busworld is delighted to show the results of the investments made by operators in new vehicles and by bus and coach builders in new developments. The search for better solutions is one that goes on unabated. Again, this year?s edition is set to be a salon that highlights Busworld?s mission: innovative, forward-thinking and full of atmosphere, with world launches and new products aplenty. Drawing over 380 exhibitors (we had 330 in 2007), the key players from the industry have turned out in full force. Busworld itself is not resting on its laurels either. The anniversary edition is aimed at innovation in our approach and our implementation. The redesigned and modernised halls of Kortrijk Xpo are lending added power to this ambition. The European Car & Bus Week formula has been upgraded to become a forum for the latest developments in the area of buses and coaches. For its international events too, Busworld is purposively playing the hand of innovation and expansion. Next year will see the Busworld flag flying in Russia for the first time. Turkey, China and India are the other places to be next year. In a nutshell, Busworld is continuing to act as the window on the bus and coach industry it has always been ... Welcome to Kortrijk.
24.09.2009 | IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VISA!
Visitors, exhibitors and press requesting an official Busworld invitation letter for visa application, please contact Sonja Vande Wiele (only by email) . Chinese exhibitors and visitors can contact Ms. Lilian Dong by mail:
28.05.2009 | NO CRISIS AT BUSWORLD
Despite the "financial" world crisis, there is no crisis at Busworld Kortrijk. The fair is completely sold out and we hardly have any cancellations. All big busbuilders are present and we never had so many accessorists coming from all over the world. So if you might have heard any rumours, we can assure they are not true. The 20th Busworld Kotrijk edition will be another tremendous success. In the next e-mail alert we will present you the floorplan for Busworld Kortrijk 2009. Do not hesitate to book your flight ticket for October and don't forget to put the dates (16-21.10.2009) in your agenda. Still want to participate? Let us know and we will put you on the waiting list.
30.01.2009 | Busworld loves IRU
Busworld is very proud to mention here that it has developed, since the very beginning, a sustained and fruitful partnership with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) in Geneva, which represents the entire road transport industry worldwide through its network of 180 members in 74 countries. Busworld has always been instrumental in showcasing to the world state-of-the-art technologies and designs that improve the environmental, safety, and economic performance of buses and coaches and further increase the comfort and quality enjoyed by drivers and passengers. However, this technological progress would be in vain without the IRU’s continued efforts to develop an appropriate and harmonised framework legislation to facilitate the smooth operation of these vehicles both at domestic and international level. High-quality vocational training for drivers and managers alike, as provided by the IRU Academy, is equally crucial to achieve the highest safety and environmental standards provided by these vehicles. This is why Busworld is not only proud of its partnership with the IRU, but is committed to strengthen even further the cooperation between the organisations in order to combine these highly complementary dimensions of our profession with a view to unite people and ensure their sustainable mobility everywhere in the world, by implementing the IRU slogan "Working together for a better future”.
22.01.2009 | NEWSFLASH: NO MORE TENTS AT BUSWORLD KORTRIJK!
The decision has been made, no more tents at Busworld Kortrijk. A prefabricated hall of 8000 sqm. (40m x 200m and 8 meter high) will be placed and be called hall number 8. This hall together with the new hall 7 (2000 sqm.) will offer Busworld 10000 sqm. extra surface and comfort. Hall number 7 may as well be called the Temsa hall as during the busbuilder stand attribution last friday (6th February) they decided to go for a private hall. Göppel Bus, our newest busbuilder decided to give it a try in the new hall 8. You can still participate but be quick, do not wait any longer and contact us at or call +32 51 22 60 60.
15.01.2009 | Busworld Russia, mission accomplished!
The Busworld management went on a mission last week to Nizhny Novgorod, 400 km. east from Moscow. The decission fell on the venue Yarmarka offering 35000 sqm. exhibition area, 6 halls and 6 conference rooms. The first Busworld Russia edition is planned for June 2010. More details coming soon!
19.12.2008 | BUSWORLD KORTRIJK ALMOST FULL!
10 months ahead the inauguration of Busworld Kortrijk 2009, the organisers are pleased to tell you that they don't feel any repercussions of the economical crisis. Even with the 20,000 sqm. exhbitions space extra, the show is as good as sold out. As from now they will be working with a waiting list. In case you still want to participate do not wait any longer and contact us at or call +32 51 22 60 60.
