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CONTENTS

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Welcome

Welcome to Scotland’s Buses 2018, a publication devoted to Scotland’s main mode of public transport. Buses make an enormous contribution to Scotland, carrying 400 million passenger journeys annually, providing the vital links that enable communities to function. This publication from Passenger Transport puts the spotlight on Scotland’s bus industry and its stakeholder partners, celebrates their achievements and considers the challenges they face. Published in association with CPT for a fourth successive year, this year’s edition again incorporates the official Conference Workbook for the 43rd annual CPT Conference 2018, which takes place at Turnberry, Ayrshire, on October 1-2. We hope you find it an interesting read and we welcome all feedback.

M I C H A E L M AT H ESON

ROBERT ANDREW

H IGHL I G HTS

Cabinet secretary for transport answers our questions about bus policy

CPT Scotland chair sees an opportunity to turn Scotland into a showcase

A look back a key events for Scotland’ buses over the past 12 months

ROGER FRENCH

STAG ECOACH

TRAVEL INE SCOTL AND

Reflections on leisurely journeys around Scotland by bus

Collaborative working can meet our challenges, says Stagecoach Scotland boss

John Elliot explains how transport information service is evolving

FI RSTG RO U P

LOT HI AN

XPLO RE DUNDE E

MCG I L L' S

Andrew Jarvis says First Bus is investing, but partnership can do more

Richard Hall speaks about the challenge of remaining relevant

‘Our low e-mission’ Bus company is offering a ‘Solution to Pollution’

Ralph Roberts urges politicians to stop bashing bus companies

TICKETER

PO RTL AND

CPT CON F ER EN C E

Ticketer wants to boost convenience for bus users with latest developments

James Spencer talks about AdBlue®, buses and Scotland

The official Workbook for the 43rd annual CPT Conference

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MICHAEL MATHESON

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

‘Transport matters’ Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity

Welcome to the transport world, Cabinet Secretary! I think our readers will be interested to know about your thoughts on the importance of buses in Scotland? And how your views have been shaped by past experiences, either personal or professional. really pleased to take A Iupwas the portfolio and for transport to be given a seat at Cabinet level. Transport matters to all of us and buses are at the very centre of that for our communities across Scotland, making up three quarters of public transport journeys, reaching places that rail cannot and giving the public an option to get around without getting into a car.

I want to see greater integrated planning across transport modes and, having experienced this first hand in other countries, believe buses have a key role to play in joined-up journeys. For example, I hear people talking about public and active travel as though they are completely different things. A journey by bus (or indeed rail) is generally more active than one by car, with walking or cycling at either end, so let’s work together to join these things up. The creation of this new portfolio also demonstrates the First Minister’s desire to bring together the key policy areas of transport, infrastructure and connectivity to help support and drive economic growth.

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two years in office. What will you do to help get people back on buses again? am committed to working A Iwith the industry and local and regional authorities to tackle bus patronage decline. The reality is that bus patronage has been declining since at least the 1960s and that is not something which we are going to change overnight. There are aspects outwith our direct control, such as the move to internet shopping, as the recent KPMG report highlighted. We also need to recognise the differences that exist across Scotland and not treat this as a problem with a one-size-fits-all solution, despite the appeal of wholesale re-regulation to some. The introduction of the Transport Bill into Parliament in June was a key moment and I look forward to that being scrutinised from Autumn. Among other things, the Bill will give local authorities a viable and flexible set of options to improve bus services in their areas, as well as improving

“This feels like a time of real change and there are positive moves to embrace technology in terms of information, ticketing and accessibility” During your period in office so far, what have been your first impressions of Scotland’s bus industry? have only been A Iresponsible for transport for a short while but, even in that time, I can see an industry with the will to get on and serve the passenger. This feels like a time of real change and there are positive moves to embrace technology in terms of information, ticketing and accessibility. I have also seen some very positive behaviour in terms of community engagement by operators, although it is fair to say that is not universal. My early experience is that the bus industry wants to work with both local and central government and that is

information for the public and for local authorities where services are deregistered. Some bus operators will see the Bill measures as a challenge to the way they work. However, if we want to tackle patronage decline then we need to challenge current ways of working by bus operators, local authorities and others. But I also want it to be an opportunity. There have been calls for a national patronage target, but I do not believe that is the right approach. The solutions need to be tailored to the communities that buses serve. Sometimes, for instance, the problem is falling patronage but sometimes it’s simply about making sure that the services people need are reliable,

really welcome. I have also picked up though that bus passengers and the industry can sometimes feel that they don’t have a loud enough voice compared with other modes. The industry has a job to harness that voice and shout about all of its positive developments and I will do that too, because I am clear on the importance of bus in Scotland. year ago, your Q A predecessor said that he was concerned about the continued decline in bus use in Scotland? He said he was “not willing to stand by and let it continue on my watch” - but bus use in Scotland declined by approximately 6.6% during his

accessible and affordable. We are setting a new framework to help make that happen. Journey times are an important consideration and could be improved if congestion was reduced by more people leaving their cars at home and taking the bus or other forms of transport. The Bill has a thread of transparency and accountability in it so people can see what an authority proposes and why and, with annual published reports, can track how successful it is when it is in place. That goes for partnerships or franchises. including the Q Research, report last year on bus patronage by KPMG, has shown that traffic congestion has played a major role in this decline what can your government do to tackle this problem? data A Independent published in February 2018 by INRIX showed significant improvements in tackling congestion in Scotland’s major cities. There were reductions in congestion of 20 per cent in Aberdeen, 15 per cent in Glasgow and 10 per cent in Edinburgh in 2017 compared to the previous year. So far as the trunk network is concerned, we have recently completed two major transport projects: the Queensferry Crossing and the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements. In addition, we are working on a number of significant interventions which should relieve congestion. These include dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, the A737 Dalry and A77 Maybole Bypasses and junction improvements on the A90 and A96 at Haudagain and the A720 at Sheriffhall. Congestion remains a significant challenge, however, and we are seeking to address it through our refresh of the National Transport Strategy, our new Transport Bill and the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Transport Scotland is already working with bus operators and CPT to identify congestion hotspots. We have commissioned a study to identify where

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MICHAEL MATHESON

congestion has a significant impact on bus operations and to determine the main causes of this congestion. The study’s results will help identify key locations where congestion is damaging bus services and the causes of that congestion. Transport Scotland will then be in a position to work with Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) to determine how and where investment in appropriate infrastructure could mitigate the congestion which has been identified. The new Bus Services Improvement Partnership (BSIP) model in the Transport Bill will provide a framework for local authorities and RTPs to work together with operators to deliver shared goals. I would expect to see tackling congestion as a key element in many of these new partnerships, whether by infrastructure or other measures such as restraints on car parking. City Region Deals will provide a mechanism to channel Scottish Government funding which could be used to tackle congestion and improve public transport priority. Andrew, the Q Robert current Chair of CPT Scotland, wants Scotland to become a “showcase” for buses. He says using smart motorway technology to speed up bus and coach journey times on Glasgow’s urban motorways is an example of a game-changing initiative that the Scottish Government should back. What is your view on this? am committed to making A Ibest use of available road capacity as we deliver an efficient transport system which can support sustainable economic growth. With this in mind, work is under way to explore how best Intelligent Transport Systems can be applied on key parts of the trunk road network. Managed Motorway techniques offer a relatively low cost, high impact way to increase the operational efficiency of the network. The potential interventions range from variable speed limits and ramp metering – which is controlling traffic entering the main carriageway from slip-roads or connector roads – to hard

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Feasibility study: A winter rush hour on the M8 motorway in Glasgow

“I am committed to making best use of available road capacity as we deliver an efficient transport system which can support sustainable economic growth”

shoulder running for priority vehicles. We are carrying out a feasibility study on the M8 motorway through central Glasgow which has developed a series of transport planning objectives including the promotion of more sustainable travel modes, notably public transport. We are considering taking forward a number of potential managed motorway interventions for appraisal, including bus hard shoulder running. you like to see Q Would Scotland become a pioneer for Mobility as a Service? are exciting times A These where we can see the potential in emerging technologies, such as automated vehicles, alongside the digital innovation of the Internet of Things. Our vision is for smart integrated, multi-modal, interoperable public transport services and we see long-term potential for combined future intelligent mobility and digital marketplace mobility services to enable this. I recognise how the concept of MaaS – that is account-based

journey planning and digital transport services – can address challenging issues such as rural connectivity and the ‘missing mile’ links, and am keen to explore further how this can deliver practical solutions in Scotland. However, we need to make sure that these solutions are based on solid foundations of smart infrastructure, transport planning robust schemes and transport operations so that they work for our travelling public. That’s why we have announced in our Programme for Government £2 million to support the development of MaaS in Scotland. This will build on smart digital activity already under way

so that Scotland continues to take a pioneering role in the development of these innovations. Ultimately emissions will be expected to fall by 37% in the transport sector between 2018 and 2032, as laid out in our ambitious Climate Change Plan earlier this year. MaaS can help in this by enabling people to have a viable, easy alternative to using, or even owning, a car by adopting other transport options, such as buses, trains, bike schemes, walking, taxis, car clubs or CAV (Connected Autonomous Vehicles) instead. Through the Transport Bill we are seeking to bring forward potentially far reaching measures, to make our transport networks cleaner, smarter and more accessible – with Low Emission Zones, improved bus services and a standardised smart technology platform alongside open data, amongst other initiatives. This, combined with the National Transport Strategy, will provide the basis that we and MaaS providers can build on to develop innovative solutions to address our changing future transport requirements. predecessor believed Q Your that partnership was the best method for quick, positive results to improve local bus services, yet the Transport (Scotland) Bill proposes to give local authorities new powers to re-regulate local bus services. How widely do you expect these powers to be used? areas of Scotland A Different need different solutions in terms of bus services. This Government wants to empower local authorities rather than dictate to them and we have listened to what they have said would make a difference. I remain committed to partnership as being central to this and the new Bus Services Improvement Partnership (BSIP) model gives a legal framework for both parties to agree and enact the things that will make a difference to their communities. The Bill also has powers for local franchising and for local authorities to run buses in certain circumstances. I am clear that these tools are needed. In terms of take up, we are

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working with authorities and, it is fair to say that, the more we get into the detail, the more interest there is, but we are also working to ensure that the right checks and balances are in place. Your question talked about quick results. I am more interested in sustainable improvement. The BSIP model gives a stable agreement over time with commitment from both sides and a degree of protection from political uncertainties. assurances can you Q What offer the industry on the future of vital revenue streams, such as reimbursement for concessionary travel and the Bus Service Operators Grant? earlier this was a time A Iofsaid change. Through that, however, my funding offer is one of stability, as I know that is important to the industry. This year I announced that we will keep the age of eligibility for free bus travel at 60. We will continue to work in partnership with operators using our shared economic model to ensure reimbursement continues to be on a no better / no worse off basis. In addition to that, the Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) will be fixed for three years to give certainty to operators. With a stable framework of funding, I am looking for the industry to invest in greener vehicles and smarter services, with the ticketing offer and clear information that will make it easier and more attractive for people to choose bus over car. I want to accelerate the take up of ultra-low emission buses and we are working with the industry so funding will be weighted to the greenest buses, with an extended Green Bus Fund and an improved BSOG Low Carbon Vehicle incentive, both also stable over three years. In all of this we will work with industry so we are driving ahead together. plans for Q Glasgow’s Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone leads on buses, with no firm details about how pollution from other modes of transport will be addressed. Does this risk penalising the people who are making a sustainable transport choice?

“I am looking for the industry to invest in greener vehicles and smarter services, with the ticketing offer and clear information that will make it easier and more attractive for people to choose bus over car”

be included. Whilst Phase 1 is focused on buses, Phase 2 will cover all other vehicles with full compliance required by the end of 2022. The introduction of LEZs will also encourage people to consider how they travel in the affected cities with the potential for more people to choose public transport or active travel. There has been concern from some about the pace of development to tackle air pollution, but this is an area where I have seen moves by the bus industry to work with government to help deliver the improvements that are needed. live in an era of rapid Q We technology-driven change across all spheres of human activity. Driverless cars, electric vehicles, and app-based ride hailing services are just three things that could have a huge impact on transport over the next 20 years. What vision will the new National Transport Strategy set for Scotland?

Clean, low emission buses that people use are an integral part of the solution to our air quality issues. We have consistently emphasised the need for local authorities to be ambitious in developing their plans for Low Emission Zones. Glasgow City Council’s LEZ plan is highly ambitious, with proposals for all vehicles, including private cars, to

Michael Matheson (left) at Queensferry Control Centre (Photo: Chris Watt)

Buses in the centre of Glasgow, where Scotland’s first LEZ will be introduced

I’ll start with the vision. We are taking forward a collaborative review of the National Transport Strategy and through this approach we have developed a draft updated vision: “Scotland will have a cleaner, inclusive and accessible transport system helping to deliver a healthier, prosperous and fairer nation for communities, businesses and visitors.” This is supported by four themes and 12 underlying outcomes reflecting what kind of transport system we want for the whole of Scotland over the next 20 years and how we plan to get there. The updated framework takes into account contextual change, differing demands for transport and changing population and reflects policy focus on inclusive growth since the original strategy was published in 2006. One of the four themes, ‘Helps our Economy Prosper’, includes an outcome, ‘Embraces innovation and useful technology’, which recognises that new products, services and technologies are developing fast and altering our lives dramatically. Our National Transport Strategy will support innovations and useful technologies that are compatible with achieving our vision and outcomes. Moving on to technology and its impact on the future. What this does is create deep uncertainty which sets down a challenge about how we achieve our vision. We are going to address this challenge with a technique called Scenario Planning. It is used by organisations across the world who work in fields of deep uncertainty. In essence, it seeks to establish those factors which are important to driving the outcomes being sought. It then investigates how those factors may change without our intervention to create a set of what are called “without-policy Plausible Futures”. From this we can test different strategies to see how to move from each “without-policy Plausible Future” to achieve desired outcomes. This will provide me with the evidence I need to make decisions on how we engage with these technologies.

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ROBERT ANDREW

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

‘To create a better Scotland we must build on bus’ CPT Scotland Chair Robert Andrew sees an opportunity to turn Scotland into a showcase obert Andrew is banging the drum for buses. This is something that he is used to doing in his role as Managing Director of Stagecoach Scotland, a role he has held since 2017. But, as the current Chair of CPT Scotland, he is also representing Scotland’s entire bus and coach industry. So often taken for granted, bus services are an integral part of Scottish society. They make a positive contribution to the economy, environment and most importantly, to the people who make 379 million journeys on them each year in Scotland. Buses provide essential links for work, education, retail and health and are an accessible and low-cost means of enabling social inclusion for those with low incomes and mobility issues. “Our message is simple,” says Andrew, “to create a better Scotland we must build on bus.” ‘Build on Bus’ is the theme of this year’s CPT Conference, which will take place at The Turnberry Hotel in Ayrshire on October 1-2. This event will provide an opportunity to consider the changing policy environment and explore how to remove the barriers to patronage growth. “There’s been a lot of good practice, a lot of good developments in the industry,” Andrew explains. “We’re already the mode of choice for the vast majority of public transport trips across Scotland, and we really just want to take the opportunity to remind people how effective bus is. “It’s cost effective in terms of capital allocation and revenue

there where we can actually deliver in a cost-effective way, help to meet the objectives of Transport Scotland, help to actually grow patronage for all modes and give people a sustainable choice,” he says. “It’s an example of the industry working together.” Mobility as a Service has the potential to raise awareness of Scotland’s buses, which have high levels of customer satisfaction. Andrew says there are many examples of excellent bus services in Scotland, but it’s unsurprising that he singles out one from the Stagecoach stable - the X74 service between Dumfries and Glasgow. He’s not alone in his admiration of the inter-urban operation - it was named ‘Best Bus Service’ at the Scottish Transport Awards last June. “I remember that was running twice a day,” he says. “Now it’s running every hour with inter-deck coaches.” Overall, however, bus passenger numbers have been declining across Scotland, and the industry is looking to Michael Matheson, Scotland’s new cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, to help it reverse this trend. Andrew cites analysis undertaken by KPMG on behalf of CPT Scotland last year. It concluded that the decline is not exclusively due to anything that the operators are doing, such as increased fares or reduced levels of service. Wider societal changes are also impacting on bus use. “We’ve got one small town which traditionally had a reasonably successful local bus service, but the nature of the

funding, and the operators have made great strides in terms of investment, developments in fleet and technology, and working collaboratively to try to take the whole bus agenda forward.” “We just really want to remind ourselves about the good stuff.” Andrew says that the bus industry’s introduction of smart, multi-operator ticketing in Scotland’s main cities, at very low cost to the public purse, is a good example of the industry working together. Under the Traveline Scotland umbrella, the bus industry is now looking at how it can become a transport aggregator for Scotland, providing a one-stop-shop for transport. The bus industry is positioning itself to drive a ‘Mobility as a Service’ revolution in Scotland, enabling the kind of seamless multi-modal, door-to-door journeys that could really challenge car dependency. “We see the changes that are taking place in the wider market,” Andrew explains. “We see the potential to build on the success that is Traveline Scotland, which is already doing the retail fulfillment for the Glasgow and Edinburgh Smartzone tickets.” Andrew says that the starting point for this bus industry-led Mobility as a Service solution would be the conventional transport modes – bus, rail and ferry - but once the industry is satisfied that it can get the technology to work, it might look at the ‘first and last mile’ options, like taxis and car share. He believes that this approach could liberate taxpayers from the burden of funding expensive experiments. “We have an infrastructure 8

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passenger base is such that a very high proportion of passengers are senior citizens,” he says. “In that situation all we are getting for the majority of our passengers is 56.8% of the fare [the amount reimbursed to operators by the Scottish Government for providing free travel], and that actually makes it virtually impossible to run a viable bus service. “That’s not a criticism of the concessionary fares scheme. It is what it is. But the reality of the economics has made it difficult in some of these smaller locations, because you don’t have the volume.” However, Andrew doesn’t believe that the industry is locked into a downward spiral from which it cannot escape. By working collaboratively with the Scottish Government, local authorities and other stakeholders, bus operators can make the bus a much easier and more appealing proposition for existing and potential users – “and just really try and remind people that we are there”. “If there’s one message for the new cabinet secretary, it is that Scotland has the opportunity to become a showcase,” he says. “If you take Glasgow as an example, we’ve got an urban motorway which is very heavily used. It is also heavily used by bus and coach passengers to access the city centre, and they are sitting for 30 minutes in a traffic jam. “We believe that with the technology that exists in terms of smart motorways, even using a fraction of that, we can turn over some of that road space for bus and coach services. It needn’t be the hard shoulder, we are not coming on and going off. We could easily use the outside lane at peak periods.” Andrew says that this could shave up to 20-30 minutes off some journeys. He hopes that the new cabinet secretary will have the vision to ‘build on bus’, by embracing this innovative proposal that would encourage modal shift and therefore ease traffic congestion. “What people want to know when they are starting work in Glasgow at 8:30am is what time to leave the house to get the bus or coach … assured that they will be at their desk or in the shop or 9

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ROBERT ANDREW

wherever at the time they need to be there,” he explains. “The play to the cabinet secretary is ‘let’s make access into our city centres into a showcase’, show what can happen, encourage people to leave the car at home and that in itself will contribute to achieving the air quality targets.” Andrew says that the plan has attracted positive feedback and he’s now keen to see these warm words translated into actions. “We can talk about it forever but why not just do one, do a pilot scheme?” he urges. “We would reinvest if we get journey time savings.” Andrew would also like the cabinet secretary to help create a more bus-friendly environment in all of Scotland’s major urban centres, with a particular focus on traffic congestion. Bus operators have been forced to respond to ever-worsening congestion slowing down services so that they can comply with the timetable, and adding extra vehicles into the schedule. The result is a less attractive and more expensive service. “The amount of time wasted some of our urban centres, the amount of cost to the environment that that causes... it’s not a good place to be for the country as a whole,” he says. Congestion isn’t just a problem in urban areas. Stagecoach was recently forced to add an extra vehicle to its Aberdeen-Inverness service in response to congestion at each end of the route, a move which inflated costs by 12.5%. “There are examples from all operators, up and down the country, where they have done that,” says Andrew. These are local issues, but Andrew believes that Scotland’s new cabinet secretary can make a

Souter makes Conference comeback It’s arguable that nobody has had a greater influence on the development of the bus industry in Scotland (and beyond) over the past 30 years than Sir Brian Souter. The Stagecoach co-founder has been a familiar face at CPT Conference over the years, but he hasn’t addressed

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

its inclusion of new powers that would enable local authorities to take back control of bus networks – and potentially strip them of their right to run services. Andrew says that the debate over regulation and ownership of buses is a “sideshow”. “It doesn’t really matter whether Stagecoach owns the buses or Glasgow City Council owns the buses, the challenge is the same,” he says. “The magic wand of regulation/ownership doesn’t get to the root of the problem.” The National Transport Strategy “really needs to set the scene for the next 20 years or so”, says Andrew. It’s not an easy task in a period of rapid change, driven by emerging technologies (Stagecoach itself announced a trial of driverless buses earlier this year). The strategy is designed to be mode neutral, which Andrew says “in a way can be good, but equally we need to make sure that it does reflect the image of the country and help people travel around the country”. Low Emission Zones represent both a challenge and an opportunity for the bus industry. First, Stagecoach, McGill’s and

big difference. “It is a political will to do something, and it’s not just about the transport agenda, it has to be about the environmental agenda,” he says. “I don’t want to sound critical of the cabinet secretary because he has only just taken up the portfolio ... but I really just want the Scottish Government to buy into the vision as to how we can transform the bus operation in Scotland, regardless of the regulatory framework and the ownership model. We see great opportunities just by enabling bus and coach to serve the function that they are capable of serving.” Scotland’s bus industry is currently facing a mind-boggling array of workstreams, all of which could result in profound changes. There is the Transport (Scotland) Bill, the National Transport Strategy, Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone and the Scottish City Deals, and there are also reviews on the shape and scope of key funding streams – the £53.5m a year Bus Service Operators Grant and the Green Bus Fund. The Transport (Scotland) Bill has frustrated bus operators with

Stagecoach’s X74 is one of many examples of excellent bus services across Scotland

“It’s 26 years now and I genuinely have enjoyed every minute of it,” he says. “Brian’s a great guy. The people working with him are a great team.” Souter has adopted a lower profile in the industry since stepping down as Stagecoach Chief Executive and taking on the role of Chairman in 2013, but he still visits the group’s many subsidiary companies.

the event since 2012. This year, however, he is making a return. Robert Andrew, Managing Director of Stagecoach Scotland, joined the Perth-based group in 1992 as the Manager at Inverness. He felt then that it was an up and coming company that was trying to do things properly and he first encountered Souter during an unannounced visit the next year.

West Coast Motors are working collaboratively under the umbrella of the CPT in response to plans to introduce Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone next year in Glasgow. This scheme will become the model for the LEZs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, which will follow soon after. Bus operators are concerned that Glasgow’s LEZ targets buses first, with no details about how air pollution from other modes will be addressed. They also have concerns about how much funding will be available to help them with the cost of retrofitting exhaust treatment systems to their fleets. The Scottish City Deals could meanwhile bring more investment and a greater focus on travel-towork areas. Andrew sees benefits from getting authorities to work together and reminding them that the world does not stop at their boundary. “I don’t think we’ve had so many political issues on the go at one time in terms of Transport Bill, National Transport Strategy, City Deals, concessionary fares, BSOG, LEZs, you name it,” he says. “It’s exciting and challenging at the same time. Exciting that there is so much potential that we could realise. Challenging that if one or two things go in the wrong direction it could go horribly wrong. “I did say to a previous minister at one point … that you don’t want to be the minister that becomes the Dr Beeching for bus in Scotland so be careful what you are doing. “And I will probably say the same to the new one because if they get so absorbed in the minutiae of the Bill in terms of the regulatory regime, the ownership regime, they will miss all the big issues. That is probably the single biggest risk.” Once a year he gets together with Stagecoach’s regional directors in Scotland to hear what’s going on, talk through their issues and offer guidance. So what will he talk about at this year’s CPT Conference? “No idea, absolutely no idea,” says Andrew. “But I am sure that everybody present will want to hear his take on things, and will learn from it.”

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Stagecoach in Scotland Responsible. Sustainable. - High customer satisfaction - Smart ticketing - Millions invested annually in new buses - Delivering greener, smarter travel

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HIGHLIGHTS

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Humza Yousaf launches Tripper, alongside representatives of First Glasgow, McGill’s, Glasgow Citybus, Stagecoach West Scotland and Whitelaws

Highlights of 2017/18 A selection of key events for Scotland's buses over the past 12 months N OV E M B E R AWARDS

Livington-based Branigan is ‘Engineer of the Year’ Livington-based Paul Branigan was named ‘Engineer of the Year’ at the UK Bus Awards in London on November 20. In his role as engineering manager for First Scotland East and Midland Bluebird, Branigan set Deans Depot in Livingston on a continuous improvement

standards, branding, vehicle cleanliness and customer comfort. Alongside this, Branigan and the engineering team became contributors to community activity through partnership with West Lothian College and other projects. The depot also achieved ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental certification under his leadership. The judges were very impressed with the way Branigan turned around Deans Depot, and

programme by adopting the First Bus Wrench Award System. He also instigated the delivery of a ‘5S’ strategy. The depot now operates at Wrench Award Gold standard, having passed through Bronze and Silver categories in just 18 months. Branigan reduced lost mileage and the number of repeat defects, reflected in breakdown and recovery reduction. He was also pivotal in improving maintenance

especially the way he built up a team of staff who now all support each other and continue to make improvements. D ECE MB E R T ICK E T IN G

Glasgow gets tripper card

Scotland’s transport minister, Humza Yousaf, officially launched the Glasgow ‘Tripper’ card in December. Developed by bus companies First Glasgow, McGill’s, Glasgow Citybus, Stagecoach West Scotland and Whitelaws, the new multioperator smartcard offers bus customers in and around Glasgow access to more than 1,000 buses from the city’s main bus operators.Tripper ticket types available on bus at the time of the launch included an adult and child day ticket, priced at £5 and £2.50 respectively. The introduction of the Glasgow Tripper card was hailed as evidence of the bus industry’s

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commitment to providing a convenient, dependable and affordable public transport service for the city - and beyond. McGill’s managing director Ralph Roberts commented: “McGill’s is proud to support the launch of the Glasgow Tripper for bus users across the city. It makes bus travel a smarter and simpler alternative for those customers who currently make journeys that require separate tickets from each company. The city-wide coverage of the smartcard is impressive too - covering bus journeys from Milngavie to Eaglesham and from Linwood to Bargeddie - all with one ticket!” CO M M U NITY

Stagecoach offers free travel to charity sleepout

Perth-based Stagecoach Group gave away free seats to those travelling to Edinburgh to take part in the world’s largest sleep out, Sleep in the Park, on December 9. More than 8,000 people “slept rough” in temperatures as low as -7C. Organised by Josh Littlejohn, the event raised £3.6m towards an ambition to eradicate homelessness in Scotland within a five-year period. Ticketholders for the event at Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens were able to book seats on Stagecoach East Scotland X56 services between Perth, Bridge of Earn, Milnathort, Kinross, Halbeath Park & Ride, Ferrytoll Park & Ride and Edinburgh or on Scottish Citylink 900 services between Glasgow, Baillieston, Maxim Park-Eurocentral, Harthill and Edinburgh. Tickets were free, however usual delivery fees applied. Stagecoach Group chairman and co-founder, Sir Brian Souter commented: “We are really excited to be able to help such an important cause in this way. This event is growing each year and is part of a fantastic movement to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland. By offering free travel, we hope that participants will be able to maximise their donations to this great cause.” Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “I can’t thank Stagecoach Group enough for their generosity.”

deaths every year. And she defended the council’s decision for its LEZ to focus on buses first, a decision which bus operators claim could undermine bus use. “We wouldn’t do it if it was going to undermine bus use,” said Aitken. “We can’t afford to undermine bus use. We need to do the opposite and turn it around and improve and increase bus use.”

FEB RUARY POLI CY

‘Buses are where it’s at in Glasgow’ says leader

The leader of Glasgow City Council set out her ambitions to grow bus use and restrict access to cars at the UK Bus Summit in London in February. “I am a bus user in Glasgow. I don’t own a car,” revealed Susan Aitken, who uses First Glasgow’s 38 to travel to and from City Chambers each day. But she pointed out that bus use is falling fast in Glasgow - down by 40% over the past decade - despite low levels of car ownership, and she spoke of her determination to deliver a buoyant and affordable bus network. “Buses are where it’s at in Glasgow,” she told delegates. Aitken also wants to take action to improve poor air quality in the city, which she said directly contributed to 300 premature

MARCH WORK FO RC E

First Minister meets Lothian apprentices

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon visited council-owned bus operator Lothian as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week in March. During the visit she met the company’s 29 trainee apprentices at Lothian’s Annandale Street depot. Over the last 11 years Lothian

has trained over 80 apprentices with 55 of those having stayed with the company, with five now supervisors. “Our approach to apprentice training focuses on the key objective of future proofing our business and industry,” said engineering director Jim Armstrong. PASSE N G E RS

89% of Scottish bus users are ‘satisfied’

Overall bus passenger satisfaction was 89% in Scotland, compared to 88% in England (outside London) and 90% in Wales, according to the eighth annual Bus Passenger Survey. The survey was published by passenger watchdog Transport Focus in March. National Express-owned Xplore Dundee was the highest rated operator in Scotland, with an overall satisfaction rating of 93%, followed by First Scotland East (91%), First Glasgow, Stagecoach East Scotland and Stagecoach Highland & North Scotland (89%). WO RK FORC E

Lothian bus driver’s skills are snow joke

Paul Branigan, First Scotland East and Midland Bluebird: ‘Engineer of the Year’

As Scotland shivered under the grip of ‘The Beast from the East’ in February and March, it saw the emergence of an unlikely hero. Lothian driver Charmaine Laurie was captured on van driver Gareth Smith’s dashcam swerving her bus around an out of control car on an icy Edinburgh road. Her driving skills ensured that a potential collision was avoided. Smith uploaded the footage to Facebook where it had soon been viewed over 850,000 times. “I took my foot off and just guided it through the space that was there,” explained Laurie. “My heart was in my mouth; I actually thought I was going to hit the car.” APRIL MA NAG EM E N T

Christine in the driving seat at Xplore Dundee

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken at February’s UK Bus Summit

Christine McGlasson was named the new managing director of Xplore Dundee in April, taking over from Elsie Turbyne who retired after 36 years in the bus business. It’s believed to be the first

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HIGHLIGHTS

time within a major transport operator that the role of MD has been handed from one woman to another. McGlasson, who joined the business from engineering company Oceaneering, has extensive management experience in the oil, gas, electronics and transport sectors. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of leading Xplore Dundee,” said McGlasson. “Elsie leaves behind her the legacy of a forward-thinking, dynamic business with ambitions to be the best of its kind in Scotland, and I’m confident I can pick up where she’s left off.” Frank Sheach, Xplore Dundee’s engineering manager, was named deputy managing director, providing leadership support. M AY EV ENTS

Robertson - exports are vital to our survival

The future of UK bus manufacturing cannot be taken for granted, the boss of the UK’s largest bus builder warned a

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

gathering of bus operators in Glasgow in May. Colin Robertson, chief executive of Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis Limited, was addressing the ALBUM Conference, the annual meeting of Britain’s independent and municipal bus operators, which was this year hosted by McGill’s. He pointed out that the UK no longer builds ambulances and fire engines - and buses could go the same way. Robertson recalled that when ADL was formed in 2004 it was primarily a UK business, and it was very dependent on the London market and the large bus groups. Roughly half of the company’s income is now generated overseas, with recent high profile orders in Mexico and Switzerland. “A new London mayor can turn the world upside down. Political uncertainty can turn the world upside down...” said Robertson. “Had we not started to look at how to internationalise, I don’t know where we would be - certainly in terms of keeping 2,500 people on our team.”

JUNE IN V ESTM E N T

New coaches on Glasgow–Skye route

Coach operator Scottish Citylink introduced new state-of-the-art vehicles on June 1, improving journeys for customers travelling between Glasgow, Fort William and Skye. Following last year’s investment of £1m in a new fleet of coaches for the route, the company introduced a further two vehicles for passengers. The latest

investment means that all vehicles travelling the route are less than 12 months old. Shiel Buses, which operates the route for Scottish Citylink, introduced the coaches to the 915 and 916 route. The new Mercedes Tourismo coaches worth over £500,000 are 12 metres long, are the latest Euro 6 version and feature toilets, air conditioning and USB charging points. They also come with two additional screens allowing passengers to map their exact location along the route. A UK Bus Users poll in May saw the Glasgow–Skye route voted by passengers as the most scenic route in Scotland and the second most scenic route in the UK. M AN AG E ME N T

New boss for Stagecoach North Scotland

David Liston joined Stagecoach North Scotland as managing director on June 1

David Liston joined Stagecoach North Scotland as managing director on June 1. He succeeded Mark Whitelocks in the post who left to take on the position of managing director, Stagecoach

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more enlightened European cities where pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users are given priority. Glasgow is for people.”

Cumbria and North Lancashire. Liston is a fully qualified, Chartered Engineer, with 30 years’ experience of operating large and complex vehicle fleets across the UK and North America. He has held several senior leadership roles at FirstGroup, and most recently, he was part of the team that created Essential Fleet Services, a specialist fleet provider managing and maintaining around 3,500 vehicles for local authority and corporate markets across the UK. I N V ESTM ENT

Lothian orders 42 new buses from Alexander Dennis

Lothian announced an order and partnership with Alexander Dennis and Volvo for the production of 42 Euro 6 vehicles for its city bus fleet in June. They are the first vehicles that the local authority-owned bus operator has acquired from Alexander Dennis since a batch of hybrid vehicles in 2012. “These vehicles will enhance our current fleet in line with our investment and BUS2020 strategy and ensure that we continue to play our part to improve air quality across the city and Scotland whilst meeting our customers’ expectations,” said Lothian Buses managing director Richard Hall. “We look forward to releasing further information on these vehicles at a later date.” Colin Robertson, chief executive of Alexander Dennis, commented: “We are delighted to support Lothian in their BUS2020 strategy and as a Scotland-based company, we are particularly pleased that our buses will serve the Scottish capital.”

LEG IS LAT ION

Scots Transport Bill gives franchising route

Nicola Sturgeon’s visit co-incided with Scottish Apprenticeship Week

Lothian driver Charmaine Laurie’s skills ensured that a potential collision was avoided

The Scottish Governmen outlined plans in June to improve bus services in Scotland by providing local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) with more flexibility to respond to local needs by pursuing partnership working with operators on a statutory basis, by local franchising or by running their own buses. The Transport (Scotland) Bill also offers a route for the creation and decriminalised enforcement of Low Emission Zones, standardised smart ticketing and a strengthening of the powers of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner in order to better regulate road works. “The Transport Bill reflects a period of significant public consultation and engagement,” explained Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf. “It responds to the views of passengers and stakeholders by providing local authorities and RTPs with the tools to address local needs. “This government will not stand by as bus passenger numbers decline. Partnership is at the centre of our proposals, with a new model for local authorities to work with bus operators to revitalise services. We are also providing clearer options for authorities to pursue local franchising or provide services themselves in appropriate circumstances.”

Christine McGlasson beside an Xplore Dundee double decker PO LICY

Glasgow’s transport in need of ‘rewiring’

A “significant rewiring” of Glasgow’s transport system is required if the city is to keep pace with other leading European destinations and compete for skills and investment, a new commission reported in June. The Glasgow Connectivity Commission, chaired by transport academic, Professor David Begg, has been looking at measures to support inclusive economic

G OV E RN M E N T

networks were best placed to attract inward investment and highly skilled workers. Begg commented: “A generation ago Glasgow prioritised the car, providing a surplus of car parking, building a motorway through the heart of the city, dispersing people to the outskirts and the new towns of Scotland. Glasgow has paid the price for this failed policy and is trying hard to play catch up with

growth by enabling more people to live, work and visit the city region. It was established by Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken last year and is due to present its policy recommendations this November. The commission has heard evidence that comparable cities which had created people-friendly environments, reduced pollution and congestion and developed high quality public transport

New transport minister appointed

Michael Matheson became the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity on June 26. He replaced Humza Yousaf, who took over his former post of cabinet secretary for justice. Yousaf had served as Minister for Transport and the Islands for two years. Matheson has been a Scottish National Party MSP since 1999,

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HIGHLIGHTS

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

work initially prioritising the Aberdeen to Inverurie and Westhill corridors; and the A956 Wellington Road to Stonehaven corridor. Its board is chaired by CPT Scotland director George Mair, who is also an adviser to Nestrans, the North East Scotland regional transport partnership.

first representing Central Scotland and, since 2007, the Falkirk West constituency. AWARDS

Lothian is ‘Public Transport Operator of the Year’

Bus company Lothian was named ‘Public Transport Operator of the Year’ at the Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow on June 14. The award was presented for Lothian’s work in 2017 which included creating over 100 new jobs in the local economy, further modernising its fleet and stepping in to provide buses services for the community of Queensferry, with the new Lothian Country service. The local authority-owned operator also bucked the national trend of declining bus use, with patronage levels remaining strong. The Scottish Transport Awards also saw Stagecoach West Scotland’s X74 named ‘Best Bus Service’ and bus builder Alexander Dennis win the award for ‘Contribution to Sustainable Transport’.

T IC KE T IN G

Train and bus are less fuss on Smartcard

Two new Scottish Citylink vehicles introduced in June are worth more than £500,000

alliance, covering Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils, aims to arrest the decline in bus patronage by 2022. Fare-paying passenger numbers fell 7% from 2015/16 to 2016/17 and are around 35% down since 2009/10. The alliance will provide a framework for making statutory partnership agreements on individual corridors, with

JU LY PA RTNERS HI P

Bus alliance for North East of Scotland

In July it was announced that a new voluntary quality bus partnership scheme in the North East of Scotland would be overseen by a wide-ranging bus alliance. The North East of Scotland bus

In July, ScotRail announced a partnership with Stagecoach to bring integrated travel to nine Scottish towns and cities by offering combined rail and bus travel tickets on Smartcards. The two transport operators have worked together to ensure that PlusBus tickets can now be stored on ScotRail Smartcards. With PlusBus, customers are able to purchase an add-on bus ticket for their railway ticket - this can then be used for unlimited local bus travel around the area of the rail serviced town/city. The move is a step towards

Integrated ticketing: ScotRail’s Paul Cassidy and Kirst Marchant, with Stagecoach’s Paul Thomas 16

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ABOVE: The Scottish Transport Awards saw Stagecoach West Scotland’s X74 named ‘Best Bus Service’. BELOW: Lothian was named ‘Public Transport Operator of the Year’

a fully integrated and digital transport network. Smart PlusBus day, weekly, monthly and three monthly tickets are currently available in areas where Stagecoach is the main bus operator. This includes Ayr, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Elgin, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy and Perth. Tickets are also available in Aberdeen where Stagecoach and First are the main bus operators. The technology is expected to be rolled out to more cities across the country, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee, in future. EVE NTS

Xplore Dundee runs shuttle service for the Open Xplore Dundee helped golf fans get to last summer’s 147th Open at Carnoustie. The National Express-owned bus company partnered with event organisers The R&A to provide a dedicated Park and Ride shuttle service from the event’s car parks to a drop-off point close to the course. Spectators were urged to use these facilities to minimise disruption to local traffic and ensure the fastest possible transfer

Xplore Dundee drafted in extra vehicles and drivers from the West Midlands

to and from Carnoustie, which hosted the Championship. Xplore Dundee’s low-emission, hybrid electric double deckers ran between the car parks and course approximately every five minutes from the first practice day on Sunday 15th July, right through to the final round on Sunday 22nd July. Commenting at the time, managing director of Xplore Dundee Christine McGlasson said, “This is the first time Xplore Dundee and National Express have been involved in this prestigious championship and we’re delighted to be operating shuttle buses for the Park and Ride facilities. We’ve drafted in extra vehicles and drivers from the West Midlands to provide a seamless service for The Open, and to make sure there is no disruption to our operations in Dundee. “We are aiming to make it easier for people arriving in the town by car to get to the golf course and back again. We’ve worked closely with The R&A, Angus Council and Police Scotland to make sure public transport is the fastest and easiest way to get to see all The Open action.”

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ROGER FRENCH

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Scotland’s scenic bus routes Roger French reflects on his leisurely travels around Scotland by bus cotland is renowned for its spectacular scenic railway lines including the world famous West Highland Line running from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig, rivalled only by the delightful Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line. There’s a handful more lines in Scotland (Far North; Highland; Stranraer) which are all a ‘must do’ for any decent bucket list of scenery loving train travellers. Less renowned but no less spectacular are a whole host of Scottish bus routes which provide unrivalled views of brilliant scenery all over the country including many parts where trains have never ventured. As I travel around enjoying these delights I often wonder why bus companies don’t do more to encourage leisure travel and fill those empty seats. There’s a ready market, you just have to look how popular trains are with tourists. The Abelliooperated ScotRail franchise is upping its game with the imminent introduction of refurbished High Speed Trains made surplus from GWR. These will operate on main lines connecting Scotland’s seven cities while improved trains and targeted tourist marketing is also promised for other popular lines. So it’s time Scotland’s secret scenic bus routes also upped their game and grabbed a share of this growing and lucrative market. The recent social media and online survey to rank Britain’s most scenic bus routes saw Scottish Citylink’s 915 route come second to Transdev Blazefield’s 840 across the North Yorks Moors, but took the title as top Scottish route. I’m not surprised. It’s a seven-hour marathon if you travel all the way from Glasgow to Uig on Skye, but you’d enjoy the delights of Loch Lomond, Glencoe, a refreshment break in Fort William, the

ScotRail is upping its game with the introduction of refurbished High Speed Trains

deck coaches, along the Stagecoach Oxford Tube style, passengers would fall over themselves for the chance of a top deck view. It mystifies me how this market is left completely untapped. At the other end of the capacity spectrum are the routes operated in the far north western corner of Scotland by The Durness Bus and Transport for Tongue companies. These provide the only public transport from the Far North rail line connecting at Lairg station with Inverness to Wick trains. The Durness Bus runs a minibus every weekday from Lairg to Durness travelling for mile after mile past lochs, mountains, and not much else but splendid scenery. Leaving Inverness at a respectable 10:41, you can be in Durness by 14:30, and if it’s a Tuesday, there’s a handy weekly journey right across the most northern road in Scotland to Tongue at 15:45 operated by the Community Bus operator Transport for Tongue. After an overnight stay in Tongue this same community minibus will leave Tongue at 09:00 and take you back to Lairg for the morning train at 10:38, running on Wednesdays only. It’s a great circular trip where the scenery never fails to impress.

spectacular Road to the Isles, the Skye Bridge, spectacular Skye scenery and its main town, Portree, before reaching Uig. Until last year, you’d never know from the bog standard Citylink corporate timetable leaflet there was anything worth seeing outside the coach windows; yet in my judgement, you get more scenic delights per mile than ever you do on the aforementioned West Highland Line. Fortunately a new broom in the shape of Peter Knight as operations director at Citylink, enlisted the marketing skills of Ray Stenning’s Best Impressions to produce a much more enticing leaflet which this year has been extended to include all Citylink’s great scenic routes throughout Scotland. Well done; just what’s needed. Please keep it up and extend the idea further. The 915 is a busy route, that’s for sure. When I travelled earlier this year from Uig, I was pleased to have booked my ticket the previous evening to guarantee a seat; after we left Portree the driver apologised to unbooked passengers that all seats had been taken. It can be a long wait for the next coach. I reckon if Citylink invested in well appointed double

Another great route in need of a much higher profile and tourist promotion is the four-journeya-day Stagecoach-operated X99, running from Thurso and Wick all the way down the east coast to Inverness. This spectacular ride surpasses the Far North rail line as it hugs the coastline for pretty much the whole journey, whereas the train wanders inland following topography and land ownership issues when it was built. Consequently the bus is quicker (at two hours, 40 minutes compared to almost four hours by train) and it’s much more scenic. But, again, you’d never know from the bog standard Stagecoach timetable leaflet. Over on the west coast Stagecoach also operate the coastal 358 and 60 routes from Stranraer to Ayr which rival the parallel train line for scenery, and from Ayr there’s the high profile X77 to Glasgow which has recently seen an impressive £3m investment in eight luxury Plaxton Elite

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coaches seating 61, all on one level, replacing workhorse double decks. Brilliant; and just what a route like this needs. It’s great to see Stagecoach invest in high profile vehicles which make a real impact on the road and do wonders at encouraging travel. Over at Stagecoach East Scotland another £2.7m investment has seen 10 low floor coaches introduced on the X55 route in West Fife. This forms part of the fantastic Express City Connect Network linking Fife with Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as both cities’ airports and Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen. With the aforementioned refurbished HSTs coming soon to the rail tracks and these super Plaxton coach-comebuses now on the road and with more on order, it’s a great time for passengers to be travelling across this huge area of Scotland. I must also mention the great networks operated by McGill’s and West Coast Motors. Both these operators have expanded significantly over the last decade through acquisition and service development and now run a number of high profile routes including (McGill’s) throughout the Inverclyde area including the wonderful 907 route across the ferry to Dunoon and (West Coast Motors) the former First Bus X95 route from Carlisle to Edinburgh as well as routes to Campbeltown; on Bute; and on Mull.

more there’s a great timetable book produced by SPT valid for a seven-month season with easy to follow timetables, route and network maps, fares and ticket information. What more could a tourist want? Similarly Skye is a truly wonderful island which has a busy network of routes run by Stagecoach. Timetables inevitably revolve around school journey requirements but still offer some wonderful opportunities to travel around the island and see the main tourist attractions. Media reports of Skye being overrun with tourists may be a challenge for Stagecoach when the single track roads become busy, but visiting cruise ships provide a ready market for scenic tours, as I found out when having to scramble aboard buses for a seat when one of my visits

I particularly like Mull, having had memorable holidays on the island as a teenager and the West Coast Motors route across the island from the ferry at Craignure to Fionnphort, where the small ferry leaves for Iona is a delight. Even better, the Craignure to Tobermory route is operated with double deck buses. Other must-travel bus routes popular with tourists on Scotland’s islands include the Stagecoach network organised by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport on Arran. This simple ‘round the island’ and ‘across the middle’ network is geared up to ferry times making for an attractive and hugely popular way of seeing this island’s beauty. The ferry arrives in Brodick having connected with train arrivals from Glasgow at Ardrossan, and what’s

Stagecoach has invested £2.7m in 10 low floor coaches for its X55 route in West Fife

ABOVE: West Coast Motors LEFT: Scottish Citylink’s 915 has been named Scotland’s most scenic bus route

“As I travel around enjoying these delights I often wonder why bus companies don’t do more to encourage leisure travel and fill those empty seats”

coincided with a visiting ship. For the more adventurous, I recommend a visit to the Outer Hebrides. If you time it right you can travel south to north (or the other way) on five buses across all seven islands including two ferries and four causeways in a day. Nine hours after leaving Castlebay on Barra you reach Stornaway on Lewis and what a wonderful journey it is. In addition to bus times, take care to watch tide times for the ferry between North Uist and Harris, as well as for beach landing and take off times for flights from Barra airport. The research is worth it. If you like rugged scenery, I suggest a ride on Stagecoach’s network of routes on Orkney. The X1 is the mainstay route of the island, running half hourly from St Margaret’s Hope Ferry Terminal via Kirkwall to Stromness. You need to watch out for school day variations but it’s a decent service for a small population. Finally I recommend a trip to Shetland. Here you’ll find the bus network has been well organised to provide a great way of seeing the sights of this island group. Shetland Islands Council links the buses and ferries in a statutory body called ZetTrans. There’s a spine route running every 90 minutes from Sumburgh airport in the extreme south to the capital Lerwick. Isolated hamlets off the main road are connected into this route with minibus shuttles and it’s impressive to see these being well used. There are less frequent links to other settlements from Lerwick and an ‘integrated’ service from there runs to the northernmost island, Unst, which involves two buses and two ferries. It’s an impressive set up and a real sense of achievement to finally arrive at Britain’s most northerly bus stop just north of Baltasound at a hamlet called Valsgarth (by Saxavord). I’m pleased to report the early morning departure picked up three passengers, and by the time we reached the ferry for the neighbouring island of Yell our 16-seater minibus was full. Roger French retired in 2013 after 28 years in charge of bus company Brighton & Hove

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“We are extremely proud of our Scania gas-fuelled buses.” “We began extensive research into alternative fuels in 2012 and concluded that bio-gas offers an outstanding long-term sustainable solution. We entered into discussions with Scania, our primary long-term heavy bus supply partner, and the resulting double-deckers are excellent, premium quality vehicles.” Mark Fowles, Managing Director Nottingham City Transport

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STAGECOACH

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Stagecoach North Scotland has invested £1.1m in eight new buses for its service from Inverness to Inverness Airport and Elgin

Working together to make buses better Collaborative approach can meet our challenges, says Stagecoach Scotland boss Robert Andrew n the latest passenger satisfaction survey run by Transport Focus, 90% of bus passengers in Scotland said they were satisfied overall with the service they receive. Many other companies within the service industry would be delighted with this satisfaction rate. Yet if you listened to some of the recent comments about buses in Scotland, you would be inclined to think the Scottish bus industry was in crisis. Yes, there are a number of challenges, but it’s important to remember that the Scottish bus network has a very strong foundation. I believe

our focus now should be on working together to build on that foundation and meet the challenges we now face. I regularly meet with politicians and other stakeholders and often find that there are a number of myths that exist around buses and around bus companies. Some cite a lack of investment from bus operators when in fact the Scottish bus industry has invested more than £200m in new vehicles alone over the past five years, many of which use cleaner, renewable fuel technology such as hybrid, gas, hydrogen or electric vehicles. Some people tell me that buses are responsible for poor air quality when in reality, buses are a big part of the solution to

achieving better air quality. One double deck bus can take up to 75 cars off the road. I am also regularly told that the bus industry is reliant on public sector support when in fact 90% of the country’s bus services are run on a commercial basis by operators. The others are run through a tendered process whereby the company will operate a service on behalf of the local authority in the same way that a local council might have a contract with any third party provider to deliver a service, from cleaning to waste management. In addition, rail passengers in Scotland currently receive 10 times the amount of public investment than bus customers even though

buses deliver 75% of public transport journeys in Scotland. The bus industry is often criticised for fare increases and service cuts. Like local authorities, we are operating in a challenging economic environment - with costs for operators rising 15% over the past five years - but we always try our best to minimise the impact on our customers, and fares in Scotland remain the lowest in the UK. Local authority budgets are increasingly stretched which has led to many councils choosing not to support the bus routes they previously invested in. Last year commercial bus mileage grew while routes supported by local authorities fell by 15%.

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So we are all - bus companies, councils and the Scottish Government - operating in a difficult environment. That’s why we should be working together. Work carried out by KPMG last year looked into the reasons behind fewer people taking the bus in recent years - most of the underlying causes of this shift were found to be outwith the control of operators. Car congestion is one of the biggest issues facing our industry. The Scottish Government, and local authorities, already have the powers to tackle this growing crisis which is affecting most people, whether they use the roads or not. Operators urgently need politicians to take practical action to get our towns and cities moving again. Buses are key to delivering this - effective bus networks can boost the local economy, improve traffic flow, reduce air pollution and help improve air quality. Changes to shopping habits are another key factor - more online shopping and fewer people making trips to town centres have impacted bus passenger numbers, along with changes to work patterns. The KPMG research also showed that the action taken by bus companies to improve the travel experience has actually had a positive impact on passenger numbers. Operators have invested heavily in customer improvements around vehicles, ticketing and customer information. At Stagecoach, we very much recognise that our customers’ expectations are changing in line with the service and technology they use in other areas of life whether it’s shopping, booking holidays or interacting with large retailers. We continue to work hard to deliver the kind of technology that exists elsewhere. That is why we have invested heavily in the kind of technology and improvements that our customers experience when dealing with other retailers. For example, we now offer contactless payments (as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay) on a large part of our network in Scotland in the same way that people pay for purchases in shops, fast-food chains and on other travel modes, a payment method that is fast becoming the norm.

And our Stagecoach Bus smartphone app offers realtime service information, a sophisticated way of making repeat or new purchases and gives people mid-journey guidance to help them get off at the right stop - in the same way that customers can now make other online purchases with ease and track deliveries to their homes. Part of being a modern retailer is also about delivering the kind of customer service we expect ourselves from the companies we deal with. That’s why, as well as focusing on positive interaction with customers from frontline staff, we now have a strong presence on social media and a greater focus on local customer service personnel to assist with customer queries and issues. By working together, the Scottish bus industry is delivering a better service for customers. Smart, multi-modal ticketing is in place within many of our key cities including Aberdeen,

Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh, allowing customers to use one product, stored on one smartcard for travel on routes operated by different companies. Bus and rail operators have also worked together to deliver smart, integrated travel in nine Scottish locations through the multimodal PlusBus scheme. Train operator ScotRail has worked with Stagecoach and Transport Scotland to ensure that existing PlusBus tickets - which are valid on both bus and rail services can now be stored on ScotRail Smartcards and StagecoachSmart cards. The move is another step towards a fully integrated and digital transport network. Maximising the potential of

“We need more investment in bus priority measures like park and ride facilities”

New vehicles have been introduced on Stagecoach’s Express City Connect services

10 high spec Mercedes Sprinter minibuses have joined the North Scotland fleet

buses to support our economy and deliver a more sustainable future for our country is a joint responsibility involving transport operators, the Scottish Government and local authorities. So, as an industry, what are we asking for? Instead of structural or legislative tinkering, we need practical measures that will help the country take advantage of the environmental, economic and social benefits of the bus. These improvements can be made right now under existing legislation. Buses rely on our road infrastructure and are impacted by decisions on allocation of road space. Stronger partnerships between operators and transport authorities and investment in pro-bus policies will help deliver a convenient, dependable and affordable network of services for customers and communities. We need more investment in bus priority measures like park and ride facilities which are a proven and under-exploited method of reducing unnecessary car journeys and freeing up space in our towns and cities. For example, we would like to see bus priorities on the urban motorway network in Glasgow where many services are currently affected by car congestion. In addition, having a stable level of public sector investment in buses is crucial for bus operators to plan for the future and we would like to see a fairer deal for the bus in the political decisions that are taken and the way resources are allocated. The bus industry supports Low Emission Zones but it is crucial that buses are seen as a solution and not unfairly targeted as a cause. We also need those implementing such schemes to do so in a way that takes into account realistic timescales and costs to the companies involved. Ultimately we all want the same thing - a better quality, better used bus network. Private operators bring a wealth of experience and operational expertise - by combining that with progressive and forward-thinking political decisions that can address the practical issues we all face, there is every chance that we can deliver better buses for the people of Scotland.

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07/09/2018 21/09/2018 19:42 10:24

TRAVELINE SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Customers turn to Traveline Scotland With customer expectations rising all the time, John Elliot explains how Scotland’s public transport information service is planning to meet future demands s Scotland’s public transport information service, Traveline Scotland has had another busy year providing personalised travel advice through its web, app and call centre services. “This last year saw our number of customer contacts increase again, up to 29 million,” says chief executive, John Elliot. “Thankfully, the resilience we have built into our online and call centre services works well, even at challenging times like during bad weather, or big sporting events.” The infamous ‘Beast from the East’ in particular caused a surge in demand for information at the start of March, when heavy snow covered much of Scotland overnight. “We’re fortunate to have established close relationships with the public transport operators, SPT and local authority staff. That really helps us a lot when we are relying on them to provide us with detailed updates during bad weather,” explains John. “Thankfully everyone understands the benefits of getting such information to customers, so we are able to get it published quickly.” Using a range of tools developed with supplier Trapeze Group, Traveline Scotland was able to instantly update its website, apps, call centre systems and send out email alerts to passengers, detailing the latest news on service disruption. In addition, its Lanarkshirebased call centre service continued to operate throughout, with staff volunteering to work

Traveline Scotland offers information across a range of platforms

“Public transport operators are working with Traveline Scotland to look at options to provide more fares and ticketing information on the website and apps”

extra shifts to help meet demand. “We are very lucky to have such a dedicated team of call centre agents,” says John. “They really pulled out all the stops to serve our customers, and many have received commendations this year for their good work.” Another busy period was during the inaugural European Championships in Glasgow during August. This multi-sport event took place across 12 venues over 10 days. Traveline Scotland worked with Transport Scotland and the event organisers to provide public transport advice to spectators travelling to and from the different sports. The journey planner and apps had an innovative ‘venue selector’ added, plus a dedicated travel news feed was also developed to offer detailed public transport information to visitors. “These event-specific features were well received by customers. They allowed us to present

tailored door-to-door information to spectators in a clear, easy to understand format,” says Elliot. “We were pleased to work with Transport Scotland and the organisers on this project as they realised there was a need for good public transport information during big events like this. Customers expect to find detailed information easily through their phones.” Looking ahead, Traveline Scotland is eager to do more and

has plans to further enhance its offering. “Whilst the vast majority of our customers find the information they need without emailing us, we’re keen to act upon the feedback of those who do get in touch,” says Elliot. “Sometimes they will suggest new features or ideas we hadn’t thought of. “In the near future, we plan to add some more personalisation features to our apps. We also want to make the extensive real-time bus and train times we display much more obvious to users. We know passengers really value live real-time information.” Public transport operators are working with Traveline Scotland to look at options to provide more fares and ticketing information on the website and apps. “We already get a lot of fares data from many operators, and show this in our journey planners,” Elliot explains, “but we are keen to see how we might make the data more comprehensive, and offer customers better links back to the operators if they want to go on and buy tickets.” Working closely with Transport Scotland’s smart ticketing team, a feasibility study has been commissioned to examine options in more detail, with findings due early next year. “We’re really grateful for the continued support we get from the transport operators, Scottish Government, RTPs and local authorities,” says Elliot. “This partnership approach keeps us moving forward, and allows us to provide exciting new passenger information services to our customers.”

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24/09/2018 13:54

FIRSTGROUP

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

First Bus is continuing to invest in its Glasgow fleet, with a new batch of Euro 6 buses set to hit the city’s streets from October

Committed to improving Glasgow’s air quality Andrew Jarvis says First Bus is investing, but partnership can achieve more ndrew Jarvis, managing director of First Bus Scotland, is preparing for an exciting few weeks and months ahead as it gets set to launch its new state-of-the-art buses in the city of Glasgow. The new Euro 6 buses are currently on order at Alexander Dennis Limited in Falkirk and the first batch are set to hit the city’s streets from October. A significant new fleet investment from the city’s largest bus operator sees First Bus Scotland on the road to

to be an overnight transition. We can, however, make a significant improvement through a collaborative approach with our partners.” Jarvis continues. “Largely through our own vehicle investment plans, First Glasgow will meet the target set of 20% of all buses running in Glasgow to be ultra-clean Euro 6 compliant by the end of 2018, which will be a great start to the process. The first phase of the BEAR fund also provides enough funding to retrofit exhaust aftertreatment on nine Euro 5 vehicles. “At First Glasgow, we are committed to improving

meeting the criteria for year one compliance of the Glasgow Low Emissions Zone plans from Glasgow City Council (GCC). Jarvis believes this an example of the firm’s commitment to improving air quality in the city and hopes that even more can be achieved by working in close partnership with local authorities, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government. “By working together with GCC and Transport Scotland we can make great strides forward in improving air quality in Glasgow, but we all need to be mindful that this is not going

air quality in the city and surrounding suburbs through investment in new buses and the retro fitting of older vehicles, to bring them into line with Euro 6 specification. “We are now awaiting an announcement from Transport Scotland on how government funding will be made available to support the process of improving air quality further across the city as part of the next stage in the process.” The First Glasgow boss has been encouraged by discussions around bus priority lanes to support the LEZ, but hopes more will be done to restrict car movements and car parking in the city in order to help encourage more usage of public transport. “Bus priority measures are badly needed to further speed up journey times and make bus services more attractive,” he says. “The introduction of new technology on our buses such as contactless payments and our mTicketing app coupled with our new Ticketer machines across all of our vehicles means we now have live and real-time data which all makes the bus more accessible than ever for people. “Our First Bus journey planner

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app allows people real-time data for all UK bus and train journeys, irrespective of operator, to plan their journeys in advance, so in terms of our responsibilities, we are taking every step that we can through investments in technologies to reduce dwell times. “These advances help us to address all of the issues under our control, but now we need help from politicians, the Scottish Government and the local authorities to help us tackle the single biggest factor affecting our services and running costs, which is journey time unreliability and slow average bus speeds. “Journey time unreliability is something that as an industry, we have absolutely no control over, but it is an issue that has got progressively worse as car and van ownership and use continue to increase. I believe the bus is the solution to this problem with one bus having the ability to remove 75 cars from roads in and around the city, and achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions. “The city’s new LEZ is the right direction to go, without question, but it must be restrictive to cars as they are the cause of 60% of all road transport greenhouse gas emissions. Especially, when you compare that to the less than 5% figure caused by buses and coaches. We have been at the forefront in delivering the LEZ measures so far, but I believe so much more could be achieved as the close partnership with Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government evolves to really deliver an effective LEZ the whole city can be proud of.” First Bus is currently in favour of Euro 6 diesel technology as the best and most practical way forward at the moment, but Jarvis is under no illusion that zero emissions vehicles are the future for the industry and these types of vehicles are being trialled right across the UK business. From an engineering point of view, electric technology is still maturing, so there is a steep learning curve in terms of this becoming a realistic and deliverable option on a large scale in the near future. Jarvis believes that the benefit of being able to retrofit older vehicles to bring them up to Euro 6 diesel standards, is most sensible

“Bus priority measures are badly needed to further speed up journey times and make bus services more attractive”

and quickest way forward in the meantime. “As long as funding is made readily available for retrofitting across the country then bus operators are all geared up to deliver on their promises of full compliance with the five-year LEZ plan in the city,” he says. “To achieve this will have long term benefits for us all. We are geared up and already on the road to rolling out a retro-fitting plan to upgrade our fleet.” First Glasgow has already launched a number of service refurbishment and route rebrands as part of its ongoing fleet investment exercise with buses getting wood-effect flooring, USB charging points and a brand-new colour coded route-branded exterior. For example, the 240 service buses in Lanarkshire now have a distinctive turquoise blue which makes it even easier for customers to identify ‘their bus’. The new route branding also ties into the recently launched

First Glasgow is working with Scottishbased marketing agency Made Brave

First Scotland making great strides First Bus has this year rolled out its new Journey Makers training programme for drivers and staff which helps switch the focus from priorities around bus schedules to seeing things from the customers’ point of view. Putting the customer first is at the heart of the training programme and working to develop its people and their customer service skills to help improve the customer experience of using the bus. Across the UK, the First Bus Apprenticeship Programme was launched in May 2017 and since then the programme has provided the business with a renewed focus to ensure there is a national standard for apprenticeships across the UK. The business has focussed on recruiting engineering apprentices as a start, with an aim to focus on other areas within the business in the coming years. There are 116 engineering apprentices currently on the programme across the UK, with another 48 recruits joining the business in the autumn of 2018.

In First Scotland, there are now three female engineering apprentices

Contactless payment is available

In First Scotland, there are now three female engineering apprentices based in the Larbert, Bannockburn and Blantyre depots, who are bucking the trend within a traditionally male-dominated discipline. First Scotland’s Commuter Travel Club is an employee benefits scheme offering preferential rates to employees of companies who sign up

network map for Glasgow, which is already proving popular with customers. First Glasgow is now taking a marketing-led approach to the design and promotion of its services and it recently announced a partnership with Scottishbased marketing agency Made Brave, who will be leading on the company’s bus launch and fronted the recent Kids Go Free offer which ran across the summer. Jarvis believes the new approach can help change the public perception of bus travel for the better. “It is an exciting time for everyone at First Scotland with a number of new investments upcoming as we look to challenge people’s perceptions of bus travel in our local communities and cities,” says Jarvis. “We have a very special event planned for the launch of our new vehicles and I am personally really excited to share these new stateof-the-art vehicles with the people of Glasgow.” to become a First Bus travel partner. Employees save on travel costs whilst reducing their reliance on parking and their carbon footprint. Finally, everyone at First Bus in Scotland is extremely proud of the progress made towards cashless payments across all services in Scotland. There have now been two and a half million contactless payment transactions made by customers on its services since the nationwide rollout began in Aberdeen in April 2017. Earlier this year, First Scotland became the first operator to successfully launch contactless across its entire fleet with the addition of First Scotland East services going live back in March to complete the Scottish network rollout. The launch of contactless complements the bus operator’s previous introduction of mobile and cashless payment options via the First Bus mTickets app, as well as the First Bus multi-modal journey planning app in 2017. The success in this area is plain for all to see given that in First Aberdeen, over 70% of all customer transactions are now cashless.

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24/09/2018 13:56

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21/09/2018 10:32

LOTHIAN

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Future-proofing Lothian Managing Director Richard Hall on new bolt-on businesses and the challenge of remaining relevant t has now been two and a half years since Richard Hall took charge of Lothian, Scotland’s biggest bus company. Previously he headed the London bus operation of French group RATP. It was a big job, where he was responsible for leading over 3,700 people across 11 operating sites – but he couldn’t resist the chance to return to Scotland and the lure of Lothian. Since then, Hall has launched new bolt-on ventures, resurrecting Lothian’s Coach Division, launching EastCoastBuses and a new Lothiancountry operation serving West Lothian. Hall says that these expansions are about future-proofing the business for its cutsomers and staff. “We can’t continue to do what we’ve always done and think that’s going to be OK,” he explains. The Lothiancountry venture is a case of Lothian following its market: “Edinburgh has almost reached capacity as a city and people are moving out more… It’s about how we develop these markets because they are our future markets.” Hall is hoping to replicate the success that Lothian has achieved since it launched East Coast Buses, serving East Lothian, in August 2016. This operation filled a vacuum left by First Bus, which pulled out of the area after years of failing to make money. East Lothian was arid ground for First, but it has proven to be fertile for Lothian’s East Coast Buses subsidiary. Passenger numbers started out at less than 20,000 a week, and are now regularly north of 110,000. The formula that has driven this meteoric growth is simple, reliable

TOP: Lothian Motorcoaches was launched in May 2018 in an effort to diversify the business. ABOVE: Richard Hall, Lothian’s Managing Director. ABOVE RIGHT: The company continues to invest with Lothiancountry and its main fleet

high quality offering will establish a loyal customer base. The other significant new venture, Lothian Motorcoaches, takes Hall back to where he began his bus industry career, in coaching and private hire. It also takes Lothian back to familiar territory – the company had a long established and significant coaching department until 2002. Launched in May 2018, Lothian Motorcoaches now has 21

services, simple fare structures and exacting of customer service. “That is really the ethos of everything we are doing,” says Hall. As with East Coast Buses, the expansion of Lothiancountry in August 2018 was inspired by First Bus scaling back its services in the area, but Lothiancountry services are also competing directly with them for business on some core routes as well as filling gaps left behind. Hall is confident Lothian’s

vehicles, including five new high specification Plaxton coaches. The company is using them for day trips and excursions and private hire work. The response so far has been encouraging. “It’s just crazy,” he says. “There are days already for next year where we have got no capacity.” Lothiancountry and Lothian Motorcoaches have opened up new income streams for their parent company without adding to its indirect overheads. And this diversification is seen as especially important now, with Lothian experiencing two successive years of patronage decline. This year has seen patronage decline by more than 4%, aggravated by worsening traffic congestion and the closure of Leith Street in the city centre. Hall says that Lothian recognises the need to engage closely with decision-makers and help shape the future of the city. He wants to work with them to cultivate an environment that encourages use of all public transport, not just buses. Hall says ‘partnership’ is a word that he does not like. He believes it is an over-used term in the bus sector and it is something that “should just happen naturally, if partnership is forced it’s simply not real”. However, he says the decline in bus use that has been seen over the past two years can be corrected easily if actions are taken now. ‘Passenger’ is another word he doesn’t like, believing that it betrays a complacent and out-dated attitude by the bus industry towards its ‘customers’. Too often he believes that the bus industry has lagged behind other sectors and he believes that the bus product must evolve quickly if it is to remain relevant. Towards achieving this goal, Lothian continues to develop its tech and popular app and the company has harnessed the power of social media to communicate with existing and potential customers, but customers, staff and community engagement will be at the heart of Lothian’s plans to mark its centenary year in 2019. “We are going to make it a really big thing,” he says. “Everybody has a connection and a great story to tell about an Edinburgh bus and what it means to them.”

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24/09/2018 13:57

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21/09/2018 10:34

XPLORE DUNDEE

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Xplore Dundee MD Christine McGlasson and deputy MD Frank Sheach at the launch of the all-electric Service 360

‘Our low e-mission’ Xplore Dundee is offering a ‘Solution to Pollution’ here is an emissions emergency in Scotland’s largest cities. Poor air quality is having an impact on the health of our people and our planet, and affects everyone from the youngest to the oldest, the poorest to the wealthiest. Xplore Dundee says that it takes its role in recognising and reducing this problem very seriously. The National Express-owned bus company is on board with the low emissions agenda and is actively embracing clean technology in its fleet. To demonstrate this commitment, it is investing £4m in cleaner, greener vehicles. This autumn it will take delivery of 14 new, low-emission, smart hybrid buses; and it will also be introducing Dundee’s first fully electric bus to the city’s streets. Xplore Dundee managing director Christine McGlasson says: “We are investing more than £4m in these clean, green vehicles which have Euro 6 engines - these

are so clean they reduce emissions by 95% and are better for the environment than even a single car. Not only will they help to reduce harmful gases externally, they are hi-spec on the interior, offering customers increased comfort and modern facilities. “We’re getting ready for Dundee’s Low Emission Zones, which are scheduled to be introduced in the next couple of years and we want to make sure our vehicles are truly a viable alternative to leaving the car behind and taking public transport. Providing great value travel right across Dundee on comfortable, modern and clean vehicles makes taking the bus a really attractive option in the face of the air quality crisis which affects all of us.” The new double deckers, dubbed ‘Emerald’, will operate principally on Service 22, ensuring the fleet’s cleanest vehicles will be travelling through Seagate, one of Dundee’s air quality hotspots. Built in Scotland by Falkirk

manufacturers Alexander Dennis Ltd, the buses will have extra leg room, free Wi-Fi, USB charging and next stop announcements. Following on from the smart hybrids, Xplore Dundee’s fleet will also benefit from the retro-fitting of seven vehicles (currently at Euro 3 emissions standards) to upgrade them to Euro 6 levels. These buses will be part of the Scottish Government’s Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofitting (BEAR) programme and will be allocated to Service 28/29, which runs via Lochee Road, which also suffers from poor air quality. Xplore Dundee is very pleased to be introducing a fully electric bus to the city for the first time; this vehicle will operate on a newly-launched Service 360, the ‘City Circle’, which is a city centre loop, taking in key cultural attractions and connecting Dundee’s railway and bus stations. Service 360, which commenced on September 17 follows the opening of the V&A Dundee, a major new cultural attraction, expected to

attract thousands of tourists to visit the city and surrounding areas. Running every 20 minutes around the city centre, Service 360 will serve three main purposes: up the waterfront 1 Open for Dundonians to access and enjoy; local landmarks to 2 Link encourage visitors to experience the city’s wider offer; road and rail together 3 Bring linking the bus and train stations (and connections to every other service in the company’s city-wide network). Xplore Dundee’s regular range of tickets will be available for purchase (and valid for use) on the 360 - along with the introduction of 360-only hop-on/hop-off tickets (priced at £3 for adults and £2 for children/young people). Service 360 is a partnership venture, with local businesses and organisations coming on board to sponsor the route and ensure it serves its purpose of connecting Dundee’s cultural community. Xplore Dundee has outlined its agenda on air quality and emissions in the report ‘Solution to Pollution - our low e-mission’ which is available on the website xploredundee.com. The document outlines the benefits of the bus over the average car and highlights the issue of congestion, which is a crucial contributor to the city’s pollution statistics. Christine McGlasson says: “We will never fix the air quality crisis if we don’t also tackle the congestion crisis. Each year, along with the rest of the bus industry, we see traffic speeds falling and journey times increasing because there are more and more vehicles on the roads. We’re calling on politicians and the public to take action - that means bus operators, local authorities and other agencies working closer than ever together to take meaningful steps to bold solutions. It means members of the public choosing to leave the car behind and take the bus - even just once a week can make a massive difference. “We want the best possible future for Scotland, our city and its people - where traffic moves a little faster and the air is a lot healthier. Buses are not part of the problem - they are the solution to pollution.”

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What hopes will come of the Transport (Scotland) Bill

“

Roadworks: restrict roadworks on bus routes so they are no longer done in the most punitive way for the bus user and the local economy. Congestion: single occupancy cars restricted to ease congestion. Parking: this must be subject to demand management in order to deter cars from damaging the local economies concerned. Air Quality: bus users are the greenest travellers per mile. Every town and city should be subject to even tighter air quality constraints. Ralph Roberts, Managing Director at McGill’s

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21/09/2018 10:37

MCGILL'S

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Is it pessimism or realism? McGill’s boss Ralph Roberts urges politicians to stop bashing bus companies and give them a hand am occasionally accused of being pessimistic but, to my mind, I am simply being realistic. I blame my training as a mechanical and design engineer, where all optimism had to be evidenced. I find little evidence available to make me optimistic about the chances of recovery or growth in the bus industry over the next decade, and yet I find ample evidence to lead me to pessimism should I be tempted to go down that road. There is no doubt that there are pockets of good news around the UK, but there are usually strong local reasons for it. The last decade has seen significant productivity reductions in the bus industry due to ever increasing journey times and this has helped hasten the footfall reductions we have been experiencing. So, increased costs to do the same work and for a reduced income leaves little to cheer about in our low margin industry. Further evidence can be cited via legislators who significantly reduced and froze grant funding some years ago, and then diverted that money away from bus passengers. Additionally, legislators plan and implement Low Emission Zones which place significant cost burdens upon bus operators at short notice. Promised financial help for early compliance turned out to be insufficient which will only put further cost pressures upon the bus user and cause further footfall decline. When I look for evidence to be optimistic, I am hopeful that the Transport (Scotland) Bill currently at Holyrood will produce something that makes bus use

congestion is causing a dramatic drag upon the economy and is helping to irreversibly damage the bus industry.

n PARKING: many towns and cities have a significant oversupply of car parking available. This must be subject to demand management in order to deter cars from damaging the local economies concerned. What was once a good thing, has become a bad thing and action is needed.

McGill’s trialled an electric bus between Spateston/Kilbarchan/Paisley and Glasgow

In terms of road transport, bus users are the greenest travellers per mile

more attractive. So far, there is little evidence of what that might be so a few suggestions would be:

them out but in the most punitive way for the bus user and even the economy at large.

n ROADWORKS: to restrict roadworks on bus routes and give bus companies a say in how they are carried out. At the moment, roadworks are done in the most cost effective way for the contractor or utility carrying

n CONGESTION: to actually implement restrictions upon car use. Single occupancy cars have unfettered access to our roads at any time. It is logical that when a resource is limited, its use must therefore be limited. Currently,

n AIR QUALITY: every town and city should be subject to ever tighter air quality restrictions. In the one city that has acted so far, bus was the first mode that was targeted with everything else left alone. In terms of road transport, bus users are the greenest travellers per mile than any other type so why target them? This makes no sense whatsoever so it leads me to believe that there is an alternative and hidden agenda at work. If the Scottish Government addresses these four areas in the Bill, the landscape for the bus passenger will be more positive. Bus routes will be more sustainable, footfall will grow and either the cost of bus travel will fall or more socially necessary routes will be operated commercially. There you go, some optimism at last. The key to this optimism is that Scottish Government and local politicians make the decision to prioritise the bus user over the car user. In policy terms, this shouldn’t be too difficult. In real terms though, fear will undoubtedly prevent it and Project ‘Blame The Bus Company’ will continue at full speed.

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24/09/2018 13:59

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21/09/2018 10:42

TICKETER

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Ticketer’s contactless solution aims for flexibility Ticketer is aiming to boost convenience for bus passengers with its latest developments ontactless payments for bus travel are now increasingly commonplace as a growing number of operators seek to reap the advantages that offering the contactless EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) payment options to their customers affords. In Scotland an increasing number of bus operators, both large and small, are selecting equipment supplied by Ticketer to make that step. As John Clarfelt, managing director of Ticketer notes: “We have deployed a lot of kit over the last couple of years.” FirstGroup now has over 5,800 Ticketer electronic ticket machines in operation across its UK business with the group’s operations in Scotland leading the charge. Bus customers are flocking to use the contactless option that has been installed as part of the new ticketing system; indeed at First Aberdeen around 30% of bus payments are now contactless. The Ticketer machines not

Operators large and small select Ticketer While many large group operators have made the move to Ticketer, independent operators of all sizes are also choosing to make the move to the company when it comes to upgrading their ticketing offer. Last year McGill’s, Scotland’s largest independent bus operator, launched contactless payments across its network. The company believes that contactless offers a flexible and

FirstGroup's bus operations in Scotland have made the switch to contactless

For the company’s smartphone app technology, flexibility is key. Alongside standard features that many bus users now expect from a bus company app like journey planning and information, the app can be integrated with Ticketer’s own mTicketing system. To give operators the widest possible choice, Ticketer’s ETMs can also work with third party mTicketing apps. “We aim to create a solution that is flexible and can be adapted for the benefit of all our customers,” reveals Clarfelt. “So, with the appropriate upgrades, contactless, QR codes, smart ticketing and app technology are available to all of our customers. Once we create a new feature, that option becomes available to everyone to use if they so wish.” Those new features continue to be developed. More recently work has been undertaken to move the ‘back office’ contactless payments system from the UK Cards Association’s Model 1 cash replacement model, where the contactless card or device is used at the start of the journey with a known fare, to the Model 2 format where the contactless card or device is used multiple times, and the fare is aggregated at the end of the day. Benefits from the switch include lower transaction costs and the ability to introduce London-style capping of travel. “We’re very busy elsewhere too,” confides Clarfelt. “We’ve just introduced our first dual currency solution for First Aircoach in Ireland and we’re now looking at creating options for demand responsive transport, so watch this space.”

convenient way for customers to pay for their travel. This builds on the significant investment made by the company in making the switch to Ticketer, with the equipment not only allowing contactless payments, but also QR coded tickets and McGill’s GoSmart smart tickets. At the other end of the scale, one recent convert to Ticketer has been multi-award winning East Lothian bus operator Prentice of Haddington. In making the switch the bus operator has become the first in

“We are always looking to innovate and create a better experience for our passengers,” commented Ross Prentice, the operator’s managing director. “As contactless payments become ever more common in daily life it’s important that we keep pace with the retail sector. Ticketer has made contactless possible for an operator of our size at a reasonable cost and we look forward to continuing our excellent relation with John and his team for many years to come.”

only mean that customers do not need to worry about having the right change for their bus fare, but boarding times are also reduced, thereby speeding up bus journey times, a key consideration in the busy urban operations that form part of First’s business in Scotland. However, this strategy is not just about introducing contactless in isolation – Ticketer aims to help get more people on buses by offering

as many ways to pay as possible. “Our solution is about offering the customer many ways to pay for their journey and so our focus has been on developing ways by which we can deliver that,” says Clarfelt. “We can accept smart payments, QR codes and barcoded ticketing, smart phone apps and contactless. We have all these options just ready to go for our customers to deploy.”

Prentice publicises contactless scheme

its local area to offer a contactless payment option to bus users. Prentice’s new Ticketer ETMs not only offer contactless payments, but m-Tickets, Apple Pay and Android Pay options. 35

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24/09/2018 14:00

Portland Fuel Bringing AdBlue® to Scotland’s Buses & Coaches

VDA-approved AdBlue® available in Bulk, IBC & Drums

Contact our AdBlue® team to find out more: T: 01904 570021 | E: adblue@portland-fuel.co.uk | W: www.portland-fuel.co.uk

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21/09/2018 10:44

PORTLAND

SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018

Bringing AdBlue® to Scotland’s buses James Spencer, MD of Portland Fuel talks AdBlue®, buses and Scotland n a 25 year career in the fuel industry, James Spencer has worked with fuel giants BP and Gulf Oil, served as chairman of the UK’s Downstream Oil Trade Association and is editor of the monthly Oil Market Report featured in Passenger Transport. We caught up with him to discuss AdBlue® ahead of CPT’s 43rd annual conference…

vehicles (including PSVs) are now equipped with AdBlue® using SCR systems in the exhaust. Therefore, AdBlue® allows diesel vehicles fitted with SCR technology to operate within LEZ zones.

James, we look forward to welcoming you back at our annual conference in Scotland this year. What will be your key message for delegates attending? always great to come to A It’s the annual CPT Scotland conference and hear first hand of the latest developments in this dynamic industry. The ‘Build on Bus’ theme this year is particularly relevant to Portland, as we enter our 10th year of operation and having built our reputation within the bus and coach sector year-on-year. Our ethos of stability from volatility now extends to our AdBlue® service. Public service vehicle (PSV) operators are already using AdBlue® and as consumption increases, we can provide options to better manage AdBlue® spend.

is aiming for the Q Scotland ‘best air quality in Europe’, how is this impacting PSV operators? is a major source A Transport of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in Scotland and there has been a focus on lowering NOx emissions from buses to meet Euro 6 emission standard by late 2022. Glasgow has committed to being the first of four Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in Scotland, working with bus operators to make them compliant with emission targets. The £16m grant funding available

Will we see AdBlue® prices increasing over time as we see more buses on the road fitted with SCR technology? Portland we talk a lot A At about supply and demand and global demand for AdBlue® is shooting up across the world not just in road vehicles, but also in rail and marine transportation. Usage for large road vehicles is around 4-6% of diesel consumption, so it doesn’t take long to calculate that over the course of a year, a variable cost like AdBlue® could impact profitability if not managed properly. Improving how you buy AdBlue® could include buying in bulk, IBC or drum barrels; negotiating an on-site tank installation with your bulk supplier, or having a fixed-price agreement on your AdBlue® supply. We can help with all these options to assist bus and coach operators manage their AdBlue® spend better.

James Spencer of Portland Fuel has worked in the fuel industry for 25 years

has already added 361 new low carbon emission buses to the Scottish fleet.

AdBlue® reduces NOx emissions in vehicles equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. NOx is a major source of atmospheric pollution and SCR technology converts harmful NOx from diesel vehicle exhaust into harmless nitrogen and steam. NOx emissions are cut by 90% in a vehicle fitted with SCR. Since 2005, legislation on diesel vehicles in the UK and Ireland, and in the rest of Europe has demanded a drastic reduction of NOx emissions. Vehicle manufacturers have had to re-think the exhaust system on their vehicles. More and more

So are all PSV’s equipped with SCR technology? Far from it. Scotland has A already launched the Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) programme that allows up to £25K per vehicle to retrofit technologies such as SCR units - this should help update older passenger transport vehicles before the 2022 deadline.

Where does AdBlue® come into all this and why do we need it?

Finally, we couldn’t let you go without asking about fuel prices. What would be your advice to the industry on how to best manage their fuel spend? prices will always be a A Fuel sensitive subject for the industry and for any transportbased business for that matter. Hedging fuel is the only sure-fire way to gain control of fluctuating fuel prices by committing to a fixed monthly amount.

James Spencer will also address the CPT Coach Commission on October 2nd.

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Media partners transporttimes

6TH FEBRUARY 2019 QEII CENTRE, BROAD SANCTUARY, WESTMINSTER, LONDON SW1P 3EE

The 5th annual UK Bus Summit will take place in London on 6th February 2019. The UK Bus Summit is the premier bus event covering all parts of the UK. Held right at the heart of Westminster to elevate the importance of bus at the centre of local and national decision making. The event allows the opportunity to compare and contrast bus policy throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This year the focus will be why we need a long term bus investment strategy, air quality and, also how to get passengers on board buses. Buses are Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most neglected form of transport and must be taken seriously if Britain is to avoid crises of carbon, congestion and capacity on its roads. Despite carrying more passengers than all other forms of public transport combined, the bus remains the only major form of transport with no long-term investment strategy. The UK Bus Summit will allow stakeholders the opportunity to exchange views on why a long term bus investment strategy is needed. Transport Focus consult more than 40,000 passengers a year to produce the Bus Passenger Survey, and in his sessions their Chief Exec Anthony Smith will chair a host of speakers who should be able to shed some light on how customers can be at the core of decision making. Finally the focus will also be on why buses are an integral part of the solution to Clean Air Zones rather than a problem, examining how to put buses at the heart of air quality.

For more information please visit www.transporttimes.co.uk or call 0207 828 3804

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Supported by

24/09/2018 14:39

CPT CONFERENCE

Conference Workbook

43rd annual CPT Conference October 1-2, 2018 Turnberry, Ayrshire

Partners

Sponsors and Supporters

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citylink PT ad.indd 1 Ad_00.indd 40

19/09/2018 21/09/2018 09:59 10:25

WELCOME

CPT CONFERENCE

Build on Bus Welcome to the CPT Conference - a chance to come together and forge a way ahead hank you for joining us at the 43rd annual conference. This year we have returned to Turnberry after our very successful event at the venue in 2017. I am sure that once again the quality of our conference speakers will mirror the quality of the venue and make for two enjoyable and informative days. One year on and many of the same issues dominate the agenda - the Transport (Scotland) Bill, Low Emission Zones, Smart and Integrated Ticketing - to name but a few. This year’s event tackles these from a different perspective. Yes, there are potential challenges and risks associated with the proposed changes to our sector. However, with change comes opportunity.

Changes to transport policy, technological advances and shifting customer expectations are all factors that are hugely relevant not only to bus and coach operators but also to CPT’s supplier members and I’m delighted that Conference this year will touch upon this through a manufacturers’ panel session. Building on bus requires a holistic approach - customer, operator, and manufacturer. This year’s event will no doubt continue its tradition of being an important opportunity to come together as an industry and consider future changes, challenges and opportunities, and forge a way ahead. It is through working together that we will build the strong foundations that enable us to build on bus.

The Scottish Government is vocal in its support for public transport and active travel. What if we place green and sustainable transport at the core of our vision for Scotland? What if we ‘Build on Bus’? The Scottish bus industry is already delivering for Scotland’s passenger in difficult operating conditions. If we had the support and stability to encourage investment and grow patronage who knows what could be achieved? We have managed to secure some fantastic speakers to address this idea and to share their particular experiences and expertise with us and we are delighted that our new Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, will open conference on Monday to give the Government’s perspective.

George Mair fcilt Director, CPT UK, Scotland

“What if we place green and sustainable transport at the core of our vision for Scotland?”

I am sure that once again the quality of our conference speakers will mirror the quality of the Turnberry venue 41

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24/09/2018 14:30

The route to best practice in transport With over three decades of bus industry experience, we are the leading provider of specialist integrated transport software, BSOG certification and concessionary fares consultancy. Our team can offer you: Depot Performance System Operational Performance Software Engineering Management System Hosting Service

BSOG Certification Concessionary Fares Consultancy Operational Auditing Multi-Operator Ticketing Audits

Discover how we can help you today. Speak to our expert team on 01527 556940 or visit: www.epmorris.co.uk

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SPEAKER PROFILES

CPT HIGHLIGHTS CONFERENCE

Our line-up of speakers Expert views on the future challenges and opportunities for the bus industry MI C H A E L M AT H ESON

MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson was born in Glasgow in 1970 and educated at St John Bosco Secondary School. He went on to study at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh, where he obtained a BSc in Occupational Therapy. He also holds a BA and a Diploma in Applied Social Sciences from the Open University. Prior to becoming an MSP, Michael practised as a Community Occupational Therapist with Stirling Council, Central Regional Council, and Highland Regional Council. Michael was elected as the MSP for Falkirk West in May 2007. Previous to that he was a Regional MSP for Central Scotland from 1999 to 2007. Before being appointed Minister for Public Health and Sport, he was Vice Convenor of the European and External Relations Committee. He also sat on the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee, and previously served on the Justice and Enterprise and Culture Committees. Matheson was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice in November 2014 and reappointed in May 2016. Most recently, he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity. SIR B R I A N SO U T E R

Chairman, Stagecoach Group Sir Brian Souter is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and transport innovators.

Transport and has experience in wider transportation issues having worked for six years as a transport planning consultant with Atkins. International bus operations and planning experience has also been gained in the USA, Middle East, Asia and several eastern European countries.

He is the co-founder and Chairman of Stagecoach Group, the international public transport operator, which runs some of the UK’s most recognised transport brands and is a market leader in delivering greener, smarter travel. Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1993, Stagecoach Group operates around 13,000 vehicles and rolling stock and employs around 35,000 people in the UK, United States and Canada. Sir Brian was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2011 for services to transport and the voluntary sector. Sir Brian is also Chairman of Souter Investments, his private investment vehicle. It invests in a diverse range of private equity funds, bonds, quoted and unquoted investments and commercial and residential property.

ROSS BRUCE MARTIN

The Glasgow Connectivity Commission Ross Martin works with governments at all levels to design, develop and deliver #InclusiveGrowth - bringing together the power of economic policy with the purpose of social policy. To achieve these socio-economic aims, Ross agitates for meaningful collaboration between, and across, the public, private & social sectors to ensure the creation, nurture and sustainability of Social Value. Ross has a keen eye for critical linkages between People and Place, thus enabling a range of initiatives to flourish in this important socio-economic interface, e.g. the creation of Adopt an Intern, the rapid expansion of Business Improvement Districts, and most recently the emergence of a new form of City Regional Leadership across Scotland. Since first being elected to Chair the Police Authority in Scotland’s Capital some 25 years ago, Ross has played a variety of roles in advisory, executive and thoughtleadership capacities, with the consistent thread of strengthening Scotland’s socio-economic resilience. Ross is currently focused on two of the core characteristics of the emerging economy: low carbon infrastructure, being

M A RTIN DEAN

President, CPT. Managing Director, Bus Development, Go Ahead Group PLC Martin Dean has over 30 years’ experience in the transport sector joining Go-Ahead in 2008 as Managing Director Bus Development. In this role he leads and acts as a focus for all bus business development activity for the Group. He represents the Group in policy and strategy discussions with Government, Confederation of Passenger Transport and other key stakeholders. Previously, Martin held senior management roles in rail and bus with FirstGroup and National Express. He began his career as a graduate trainee with London

driven by digital. Ross will describe the work of the Glasgow Connectivity Commission within the context of Scotland’s emerging City Regions and their strengthening focus on Connectivity CO L IN RO BERTSON

Chief Executive, Alexander Dennis Ltd Since joining ADL in April 2007 from Terex Corporation, Colin Robertson has led its transformation from a predominantly UK-focused business to an international player in the bus and coach sector. Under Colin’s leadership, ADL has grown rapidly during the last eleven years with annual sales revenues in excess of £600m. A commitment to delivering customer-centric solutions and a focus on international expansion while maintaining a domestic market leadership position have been central to this successful, sustained growth trajectory. Colin has 36 years of senior international manufacturing experience gained from leading global companies including Cummins, Case and latterly Terex Corporation where he held the roles of Executive VP of Global Operations and President of the $2bn Construction Division. Colin’s significant achievements have been recognised by the various awards he has recently received, including Director of the Year from the Institute of Directors and EY awards for Entrepreneurship and Outstanding Achievement. He was appointed Chair of Entrepreneurial Scotland in summer 2018. RICH AR D H AL L

Lothian Richard Hall joined Lothian at the start of 2016 as Managing Director. He is responsible for overseeing the running of 85 services from five sites and over 2500 staff. He has had a long and varied career in the bus industry working for major transport operators including Arriva and Stagecoach. Before he joined Lothian,

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SCOTLAND'S BUSES 2018 CPT CONFERENCE

SPEAKER PROFILES

Richard was the Managing Director for RATP in London, responsible for leading over 3,700 people, across 11 operating sites, operating contracted bus services for Transport for London as well as a developing commercial bus and coach operation, launched in 2015. Richard is also a valued member of the Executive Team of the CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport). P H I L OWE N

Commercial Sales Director, Volvo Bus Phil Owen coordinates and leads a team of five people delivering sales and support for new vehicles, including electro-mobility and city-mobility. Phil has been with Volvo for 31 years and has held various positions ranging from Volvo technician, service manager, regional commercial manager and Bus sales director before taking the current position in 2012. Although he is passionate about our industry his true passion is his family. MARK NODDER

OBE

Chairman & CEO, Wrights Group Ltd Mark Nodder is Chairman & CEO of Wrights Group Ltd, the Northern Ireland based designers and manufacturers of low and zero emission buses. Mark is a lawyer by training and worked initially for the National Audit Office before moving to Saudi Arabia to take up a position with the Ministry of Defence and Aviation. Mark relocated to Northern Ireland in 1986 and worked for Bombardier and Survitec prior to joining Wrightbus in 1998. Outside Wrights Group, Mark is past President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a member of the Economic Advisory Group to the Northern Ireland Economy Minister, and a Board Member of Invest NI, the regional business development agency for Northern Ireland. In June 2015, Mark was recognised in the Queen’s

Birthday Honours with the award of an OBE for Services to the Economy. He lives with his wife, Denise, and their two border collies in County Down.

PROGRAMME

MON 1ST O CT

JOA N A ITKEN

Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken has been Scotland’s Traffic Commissioner since 2003 and is in the last year of her appointment. She is a solicitor by profession. Her career has taken her from an apprenticeship with Tayside Regional Council, when that Council had Tayside buses, to other local government and private practice, tribunal chairing, membership of regulatory bodies and latterly serving as Scotland’s Prisons Complaints Commissioner. Her personal interests range from family and friends, volunteering, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, hills and most of all recently leisure cycling. She is a Transaid Ambassador.

1200-1300

Delegate Registration – Reception 1300-1415

Lunch – The Crystal Room 14 30-15 5 0

Business session (Part 1) – The Caledonia Ballroom Robert Andrew – Director, Stagecoach Scotland & CPT Scotland Chair Michael Matheson MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Brian Souter – Chairman, Stagecoach Group 15 5 0-16 20

Tea & Coffee 16 20-1735

Business session (Part 2) – The Caledonia Ballroom Martin Dean – Managing Director, Bus Development, Go-Ahead & CPT UK President Ross Martin – Connectivity Commission 1915-2000

Drinks reception (Dress: black tie) – The Crystal Room

PROF RICHA RD WISE MAN

Experimental psychologist Described by a Scientific American columnist as ‘…one of the most interesting and innovative experimental psychologists in the world today’, Professor Richard Wiseman’s books have sold over three million copies worldwide, and he has presented keynote addresses to The Swiss Economic Forum, Google and Amazon. Richard holds Britain’s only Professorship in the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, is one of the most followed psychologists on Twitter, and the Independent On Sunday chose him as one of the top 100 people who make Britain a better place to live. A Member of the Inner Magic Circle, Richard’s illusion-based YouTube videos have attracted over 500 million views, and he regularly acts as a creative consultant including work with Derren Brown, the hit US TV show Brain Games, and the Royal Opera House.

2000-2245

CPT Banquet (Dress: black tie) – The Ballroom (lowland) TUES 2ND O CT

09 15 -09 45

Tea & Coffee 1000-1130

Business session (Part 3) – The Caledonia Ballroom Manufacturers Panel Session “Building on Bus” Chaired by Richard Hall – Managing Director, Lothian Colin Robertson – Chief Executive, Alexander Dennis Ltd Phil Owen – Commercial Sales Director, Volvo Bus UK Mark Nodder – Chairman and CEO, Wright Group 1130-1200

Tea & Coffee 1200-1315

Business session (Part 4) – The Caledonia Ballroom Joan Aitken – Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Professor Richard Wiseman 1315 -1430

Lunch & Close – The Crystal Room

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24/09/2018 14:26

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21/09/2018 10:49

EXHIBITOR PROFILES

CPT CONFERENCE

Our exhibitors Learn more about the companies and organisations exhibiting this year TICKE TER A L E X A N D E R DEN N IS LIM ITED

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is Britain’s biggest bus and coach manufacturer and a global leader in the manufacture of lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicles. It employs 2,500 people and supports 1,500 through build partnerships in Europe, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Mexico, USA and Canada. ADL’s success is built on the premise of designing, engineering and manufacturing stylish yet reliable low and zero emission vehicles, which deliver lowest total cost of ownership, backed by unrivalled aftermarket support. ■ www.alexander-dennis.com

Ticketer is committed to making public transport easier for passengers

methodologies to promote meaningful, lasting change in driver behaviour. ■ www.greenroad.com

exceptionally reliable tracking in all weather conditions and high cost effectiveness. ■ www.continental-tyres.co.uk

BAC K H O US E JON ES

EPM

With a heritage stretching back to 1819, Backhouse Jones is the leading firm of solicitors which has built an unrivalled reputation representing the passenger transport industry. For the full portfolio of legal solutions – including BACKUP legal services, regulatory, employment, commercial, corporate and property matters come and see us or speak to one of the team on 01254 828300. ■ www.backhousejones.co.uk

EPM work with bus operators to analyse, optimise and streamline business processes, make savings and maximise profitability. We provide a complete service, helping transport organisations to implement industry best practice and manage their network. We specialise in operations management software, BSOG certification, operational audits and concessionary travel. ■ www.epmorris.co.uk

Ticketer is here to personalise public transportation, through ticketing software and devices that are customised for operators, and individualised to the lives that passengers lead. Committed to making public transport better, Ticketer drives transportation income, insight and operations for operators, and makes travel easier for passengers. Operators can access ticket sales data, view performance and manage fares from anywhere with an internet connection. ■ www.ticketer.co.uk

L AZZE RINI

VOLVO BUS

Lazzerini is a national and international reference point for the design, development and production of seats for buses, school buses, trains, ships, cars and specialist automotive sectors. Committed to the most stringent and recognised qualifications, Lazzerini is qualified to ISO 9001, ISO TS16949 automotive standard and also the environmental qualification ISO14001. ■ www.lazzerini.it

Volvo Buses is one of the world’s leading brands of buses and coaches. We are driven by a passion to help create the cities of the future, free from congestion, emissions and noise. Our mission is to help operators and communities offer people safe, clean and efficient transportation to and from work, around the city or across the continent. We do so by striving to be the ultimate provider of sustainable transport solutions. ■ www.volvobus.co.uk

GREEN ROAD CO NTIN E NTAL T Y RE GROU P

Continental Tyres offers the right tyres for every application – from passenger cars through trucks, buses and construction site vehicles to special vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles. Continental Tyres stand for excellent transmission of forces,

GreenRoad, a global leader in driver behavior technology, provides highly effective fleet driver safety and compliance solutions. Used by more than 100,000 drivers, the GreenRoad solution employs advanced real-time, in-vehicle feedback and change management

SEEING MACH INES

Seeing Machines harness human factors science to create artificial intelligence (AI) technology that observes the driver’s attention – reliably, unobtrusively, and in real time – and intervenes seamlessly when necessary. ■ www.seeingmachines.com

ZF SE RVICES UK

ZF Services UK, is responsible for both OEM and Aftermarket technical, fitment, sales and marketing support for all ZF products in the UK & Ireland. ■ www.zf.com

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24/09/2018 14:34

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24/09/2018 02/05/2018 14:37 16:57

STAY INFORMED AND SAVE MONEY FO E RTVE NI RY GH T

“We have to start with buses because that’s where the evidence takes us”Susan Aitken

‘Buses are where it’s at in Glasgow’ says lea der

Aitken defends LEZ plans - but says she will look at car constraint

NEWS ROUND-UP

24% of land in Glasgow city centre is taken up by roads

Could the bus industry have found an ally in an unlikely place? Glasgow City Council became its bogeyman last year when it announced plans for a Low Emission Zone that initially focussed on buses only. But those attending the UK Bus Summit in London last week heard Aitken: the ‘We can’t council’s leader, Susan Aitken, afford to set undermine out her ambitions to grow bus use bus use’ and restrict access to cars. shows us is that on the streets “I am a bus user in Glasgow. in took control of the council I the city centre in particular last don’t own a car,” revealed where May, ending decades Aitken, of Labour we have the worst emissions who uses First Glasgow’s Party dominance, and she 38 to problems, the worst air quality, said travel to and from City Chambers she and her colleagues were it’s buses that are causing keen each day. But she pointed about to make a difference. “It out is quite 80% of the emissions.” that bus use is falling fast liberating,” she said. “ We in make the Aitken identified Hope Glasgow - down by 40% Street, assumption that they are over the going to Union Street and Renfield past decade - despite low Street kick us out in five years anyway levels as the worst streets for air so of car ownership, and she quality. we might as well do as much spoke She attributed this partly as we of her determination to to possibly can deliver within that timescale. the age of many of the buses a buoyant and affordable And I suspect that possibly bus that operate on these streets, that network. “Buses are where will be our best chance of it’s at but she also acknowledge them in Glasgow,” she told delegates. d keeping us back in again.” that stations. the problem biggest is exacerbated This decline Aitken also wants to take Glasgow City Council has action was bymarkedly traffic congestion. worse than other She said to improve poor air quality recruited Scottish Professor in cities; David Begg, that the council would also have the city, which she said directly Glasgow has a relatively the former chair of the low to look at constraining proportion car use: contributed to 300 premature (3%) of its population Commission for Integrated “We living in have lookplacing the citytocentre, at routing, we deaths every year. And she Transport, to chair its new a greater have to demand look on at commuting whether there defended the council’s decision Connectivity Commission. transport shouldnetworks be carsand on lowering those streets. for its LEZ to focus on buses quality of life in the city Speaking at the UK Bus Summit, first, theWe centre; have to look at the Glasgow’s numbers of Begg praised a decision which bus operators grid system allows far Aitken’s strategy. cars that less space have on for we pedestrians those streets, “She has claim could undermine bus than grasped the nettle in use. successful actuallycomparator we should cities: be looking to “We wouldn’t do it if it was terms that show she knows 24% of land in the city centre take that it down to zero eventually.” going to undermine bus use,” is taken up by roads, car use has to be reduced with in her Offering further pavements said Aitken. “We can’t afford taking up onlyreassurance to city. She knows that you’ve 8% to operators, got to and other land accounting who are still undermine bus use. We need for waiting to make the alternative attractive, to do 36%. The hear comparative what vehicles figures will be banned the opposite and turn it around and all politicians want to forfrom Edinburgh are 12% roads/ do that, the LEZ at end of this and improve and increase pavements/49% the land; but she’s prepared to take bus use. 10% year, Aitken said:other some “It isn’t Glasgow just you ... tough decisions “We have to start with buses lacks a strategic about making it Phase network 2 will belinking transport trucks and lorries. because that’s where the some less attractive to bring your evidence ofPhase the key 3transport car will be generators private cars.” in takes us. What the modelling into Glasgow ... I still don’t the city, including Glasgow Aitken’s SNP administratio Airport see n and Queen Elizabeth Hospital; enough of that in British cities.” While

Glasgow’s transport in need of ‘rewiring’

www.passengertransport.co.u k

New routes will connect West Lothian with Edinburgh

The data shows that buses and coaches are responsible for just 6% of NOx pollution from road transport, but Glasgow City Council’s research has found that buses are responsible for 80% of pollution on the city centre streets with the worst air quality. You wonder how that could possibly be true until you look at the veteran fleet that First Glasgow operates. First Glasgow is the city’s dominant bus operator, and it returns very healthy profits to its PLC owners (which help prop up less profitable networks elsewhere in the UK). But very little of that money is being reinvested in the Glasgow fleet. Of around 650 vehicles in its fleet which enter the area that will become Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone, about half are Euro 3, which are very difficult to retrofit to today’s Euro 6 standards. For example, the vehicle pictured below first entered service in London in 2004. It is pictured on First Glasgow’s cross-city route 60, which travels via Hope Street. Has the time come for First to give a bit back to Glasgow?

MODAL SHIFT

08 | 22 June 2018

“A generation ago Glasgow prioritised the car... Glasgow has paid the price for this failed policy”Professor David

Begg

NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYS IS FOR A SECTOR ON

Robertson: ‘We potentially have a perfect storm brewing’

evidence on congestion is mixed - some evidence showed a recent fall in city centre traffic volumes - there is clear evidence that journey times on certain key road routes had suffered, having a particularly damaging impact on bus travel; Active modes of travel, whilst increasing, are still relatively low (in 2016, 5% of journeys were made by bicycle while 11% were made on foot) ; Glasgow has a relative high level of car parking spaces available 50% more than provided in Edinburgh, for example. Begg commented: “A generation ago Glasgow prioritised the car, providing a surplus of car parking, building a motorway through the heart of the city, dispersing people to the outskirts and the new towns of Scotland. Glasgow has paid the price for this failed policy and is trying hard to play catch up with more enlightened European cities where pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users are given priority. Glasgow is for people.”

300

16 February 2018 | 08

The chief executive of Britain’s largest bus builder has warned that the industry faces “much, much tougher things ahead”. Speaking in Scarborough last week, Colin Robertson, who has overseen a period of expansio n at ADL since joining this business as 10 years ago, identified multiple hazards for the sector. These include the decline in the value of Sterling, inflationary pressures , declining bus patronage and continued downward pressure on government funding. “We potentially have a perfect storm brewing,” he said.

CAF to build trains in South Wales Spanish rolling stock manufacturer plans to create

jobs at facility near Newpor Spanish manufacturer CAF t has diesel multiple units, electric announced that it is to start multiple trains and carriages building for Northern, units, trams and high speed trains at a new factory in South trains. TransPennine Express and Wales. the CAF, which this year celebrates The company plans to create its Caledonian Sleeper service. 300 centenary, has been targeting jobs at the factory near Newport, the “The establishm ent of this facility UK rail sector in recent years. where it will build trains and It has will serve CAF’s long-term trams supplied the trams for Edinburgh aspirations for the UK. It has previously to be a major player in the supplied and the West Midlands, and UK market trains from its factories in currently for many years Spain. to come,” commented has contracts to build some The new facility will be over 300 Richard Garner, CAF’s UK 46,000 director. square metres in size and Welcoming the news, the will employ first 200 people when it opens minister of Wales, Carwyn in autumn Jones, 2018, rising to 300 by 2019. said: “Today’s announcement It is being designed so that CAF is a major coup for Wales can build and a a range of different trains, big vote of confidence in including Carwyn Jones Wales’ manufacturing industry.”

“This is a major coup for Wales”

THE MOVE

NEWS

Minister stepped in to save tram-train

Colin Robertson, chief execut has warned that the bus industive of bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, ry faces a multitude of seriou s challenges

SPECIAL REPORT: PAGE 22

First Glasgow runs many Euro 3 buses

The Glasgow Connectivi ty Commission, chaired by Professor hears the city’s current transport system is presenting a barrier David Begg, to growth environments, reduced pollution A “significant rewiring” of a network of high quality and congestion and developed cycle Glasgow’s transport system lanes, establishing Scotland’s is high quality public transport required if the city is to keep first Low Emission Zone pace networks were best placed and with other leading European to growing the urban population. attract inward investment destinations and compete and But the commission heard highly skilled workers. for skills and investment, evidence that the city’s current a Speaking after the commission new commission has found. transport system presented held its first round of evidence The Glasgow Connectivity structural barriers which gathering, Begg said encouraging could Commission, chaired by place limits on growth if transport work was underway not to implement addressed. academic, Professor David These include: Begg, the same transformation has been looking at measures in A dramatic decline in bus Glasgow and revitalise the use to support inclusive economic in the west of Scotland over city centre. This included the growth by enabling more last decade, with First Bus people to work to make losing areas more live, work and visit the city 27 million passengers in the region. pedestrian-friendly with four It was established by Glasgow the years to 2015/16 - equivalent City ongoing Avenues to project, building closing Council leader Susan Aitken four of Glasgow’s five last year and is due to present its policy recommendations this November. The commission has heard evidence that comparable cities which had created people-friendly

ISSUE 164 14 JULY 2017

Bus sector could face ‘perfect storm’ - AD L

Officials planned to axe Sheffield pilot

ENVIRONMENT

Bus groups seek air quality partnership

‘Big five’ set out their collective vision

INSIDE TRACK

Chilly winter for buses as numbers slip

Analysis of the latest DfT bus statistics

TRAVEL TEST

The good, the bad and the ugly of 2017

Alex Warner’s half term report

CAREERS

South Western boss named

“This government will not stand by as bus passenger numbers decline” HAS LOTHIAN ORDERED LARGE TRI-AXLE DECKERS?

Municipal confirms order for 42 buses from ADL MANUFACTURERS

“We have received repeated requests to introduce a service to this area”

Scots Transport Bill gives franchisin EDINBURGH IS route BEST g FOR TRAVEL

New legislation aims

to open the door to Council-owned bus operator Lothian has announced that bus franchising it has ordered its first vehicles from LEGISLATION Alexander Dennis since a batch of The Scottish Government hybrid vehicles in 2012. has outlined plans to improve Beyond a statement confirming bus services in Scotland by providing that Lothian has placed an order local authorities and Regional for 42 Euro6 Volvo buses with Transport Partnerships (RTPs) Alexander Dennis, the bus operator with more flexibility to respond has remained tight-lipped on any to local needs by pursuing further details. However, Passenger partnership working with Transport understands the vehicles operators on a statutory will be a new large Hong Kong-style basis, by local franchising or by tri-axle double decker. running their own buses. “These vehicles will enhance The Transport (Scotland) our current fleet in line with Bill our also offers a route for the investment and BUS2020 creation strategy and decriminalised enforcement and ensure that we continue to play of Low Emission Zones, our part to improve air quality across standardised smart ticketing and the city and Scotland whilst meeting a strengthening of the powers our customers’ expectations,” said of the Scottish Road Works Richard Hall, Lothian’s managing Commissioner in order to director. “We look forward better to regulate road works. releasing further information on “The Transport Bill reflects these vehicles at a later date. ” a period of significant public Colin Robertson, ADL’s chief consultation and engagement, executive was also tight-lipped ” on revealing any further details. He added: “Working with Volvo as chassis manufacturer, we will combine our expertise in tailoring buses to our customer’s requirements underpinned by best-in-class aftermarket support to ensure Lothian’s new fleet delivers a first class customer experience. “We, too, look forward to sharing more details of this exciting new product in due course.”

“These vehicles will enhance our current fleet”

Richard Hall, Lothian www.passengertransport.co .uk

IN BRIEF

announce our plans.” The services will be operated From August 19 three new by some of the vehicles the municipal routes will be introduced, has purchased from London complementing Lothian’s NETWORKS existing operators in recent months network and creating new Municipal bus operator links and subjected to a high quality Lothian between Edinburgh and is to expand its Lothian Country Bathgate refurbishment. Lothian says via Livingstone (Routes X27/X28), this operation with the launch will include free Wi-Fi access of new and Edinburgh Park Station and services in West Lothian. and USB charging points “offering Whitburn via Livingston and It will see Lothian Country, customers high levels of comfort Broxburn (Route 275). which currently operates and quality on their journeys”. between Lothian says the introduction Edinburgh and Queensferry, of The expansion has been these new services will create entering into head-to-head over welcomed by Cathy Muldoon, 65 new jobs with Lothian competition with First Scotland running West Lothian Council’s executive a series of recruitment days East to the west of the city. in councillor for development Livingston last month in and a bid to “We are excited to announce transport. “We welcome attract new members of the our wider plans for operations staff. improvements this will bring in to West Lothian as part of the public transport network Lothian Country,” said Richard Hall, that connects our communities,” Lothian’s managing director. she said. “I believe that this will “For a number of years we be warmly welcomed by local have received repeated requests residents and West Lothian to introduce a service to this Council is looking forward area to and we are delighted that building a strong partnership we can with Lothian.”

COMMENT

FIRST HAS A CASE TO ANSWER More than half of group’s LEZ fleet is Euro 3

AIR QUALITY

Stormy weather looms over transport Page 16

Lothian expands into First’s heartlands

Scottish capital tops

explained Scottish transport Travel Index forfor third year to pursue authorities minister Humza Yousaf. local “It RESEARCHfranchising Edinburgh has maintained or provide services responds to the views of themselvesitsinpole appropriate passengers and stakeholdersposition as the easiest city in the UK bytravel in, according to circumstance providing local authorities annual Easy Travel to the thirds.” and Index produced The franchising proposals aim RTPs with the tools to address by ESP Group. The survey examines toofupdate the ease of use transportthe local needs. in 45Quality Contract towns and cities approach across the of UK.the Transport “This government will notRespondents were asked to rate how stand (Scotland) Act 2001. Where the by as bus passenger numberseasy they find travelling within their new model differs significantly decline. Partnership is at local area and further afield. the Scotland’s capital fromhas theheld Quality on to Contract centre of our proposals, withthe a top spot for ease ofis model local in travel the testsSMART that must INTEGRATION new model for local authorities be FOR STAGECOACH AND SCOTRAIL for a third year, while Birmingham satisfied before any franchising ScotRail has partnered with Stagecoach to bring integrated to work with bus operators claimed the top spot for ease of long- Scottish towns travel to nine and cities by offering combined scheme distance travel, be introduced. displacingmay rail and bus travel tickets Edinburgh to revitalise services. We smartcards. The technology on arewhich dropped toThis is expected to be rolled out second will place. to more cities across require the the country, proposals also providing clearer options including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee, in future. to be subjected to thorough www.passengertransport.co.uk independent audit, for example by a qualified accountant, before being scrutinised by a panel convened by the traffic commissioner for that purpose. If approved at that stage, the local transport authority will have six months from the date of approval to create the franchise Yousaf: ‘Government scheme and thereafter a year will not stand to put in place the necessary by as bus patronage falls’ franchise agreements to implement it.

NEW COACHES FOR CITYLINK SKYE ROUTE Shiel Buses has introduced two new coaches on its Scottish Citylink route linking Glasgow with Fort William and Skye. It means that all vehicles used on the route are now under 12 months old. Pictured are Scottish Citylink operations director Peter Knight (left) and David MacGillivray, Shiel’s MD.

Easy

AIRPORT SERVICE EXPANSION Lothian has launched a new cross city service for Edinburgh Airport passengers, boosting the company’s existing airport services and creating new links. Skylink 400 will connect Edinburgh Airport with Fort Kinnaird via Gracemount, Oxgangs and Colinton. It joins Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and Skylink 300, the latter of which has also been rerouted to serve hotels and guest houses in Cameron Toll. DEFIBRILLATORS IN DEPOTS Stagecoach East Scotland has installed automatic defibrillators at its eight depots. Designed to be safely used by anyone, they give the user clear audio and visual instructions and do not require any training to use. Defibrillators work by delivering a high-energy shock through the chest wall and are indispensable when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

STAGECOACH FINE FOR FUNGI Stagecoach has been ordered to make an ex gratia payment of £20,500 to Orkney’s schools as the result of a public inquiry examining its operations in Orkney. The inquiry, led by Scottish traffic commissioner Joan Aitken, heard of reliability issues brought about by numerous vehicle breakdowns and one school bus that had fungi growing throughout its interior. After hearing this evidence, as well as making a visit to the operator’s Kirkwall depot, Aitken also made an order to reduce the number of vehicles authorised on licence held by Stagecoach subsidiary Highland Country Buses by 30 vehicles until she is satisfied with the operator’s compliance.

3 August 2018 | 08

FIRST ABERDEEN ‘NOT FOR SALE’

Operator rejects council co-leader’s sale suggestion DISPOSALS

First Aberdeen has rejected suggestions that the business may be for sale. It follows claims by Aberdeen City Council co-leader Jenny Laing that the council could be interested in acquiring the business and that she instructed council officers to initiate talks. “We are not interested in selling all or part of the business, ” David Phillips, First Aberdeen’s operations director, told The Press & Journal. 22 June 2018 | 10

First/MTR appoints Andy Mellors

www.passengertransport.co.uk

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