The ALBUM Report 2018 by Passenger Transport Publishing Ltd

brought to you by

BRITAIN'S MUNICIPALLY-OWNED AND INDEPENDENT BUS SECTOR

in association with

THE AL BU M REPO RT 201 8

I N CORPORATIN G

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T H E AL BUM

R EPO RT 2018

WELCOME Welcome to the album report 2018, a publication from passenger transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies. Returning for a fourth consecutive year, this year’s report also incorporates the official Conference Workbook for the 2018 album Conference, hosted by McGill’s at the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, on May 14-16. We hope you find it an interesting read and we welcome all feedback.

M A RK FOWL ES

AL BUM SURV EY

ALBUM’s new chair, Mark Fowles, tells us why he believes the bus industry has a bright future

Our survey of ALBUM members offers insights into what they think about the industry’s future

H I G H LI G HTS

RALPH ROBERTS

A look back at some of the main highlights of the past 12 months for ALBUM members

We meet the boss of Scotland’s largest privately-owned bus company, McGill’s

V EHIC L ES

TICK ET I N G

Alexander Dennis Limited makes clean buses affordable. Irizar UK expands its bus team

Passenger Technology Group Parkeon outline their latest ticketing solutions

SOFTWARE/IT

CCTV

EPM and Omnibus offer software solutions for bus operators of all shapes and sizes

Timespace Technology offers bus operators ‘the complete picture’

T H E AL BU M CO N F E R ENCE WO R KBO O K

WELCOME

TH E CO NF E RENCE

TH E E XHI B I T I ON

Ralph Roberts of McGill’s welcomes you to the ALBUM Conference 2018

Details of the three-day conference programme, including speaker biographies

The floor plan for the exhibition, and profiles of the 50-plus exhibitors

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TH E AL BUM

REPORT 2018

A STEADY HAND Nottingham City Transport MD mark fowles has chaired album for the last 12 months. He belives that despite the headwinds the industry has faced in recent years, it has a bright future. He spoke to andrew garnett ast year Nottingham City Transport Managing Director Mark Fowles stepped into the role of ALBUM Chairman. It’s a position that the affable Scouser admits wasn’t on his radar. “I was, in effect, mugged in the corridor before the AGM,” he laughs. “But it’s been a huge honour. I look back and think I wish I’d done it a few years ago, to be honest, but Ben was absolutely the right person at absolutely the right time to take it on.” Ben is of course Ben Colson, Fowles’ predecessor as ALBUM Chairman. He spent three years guiding the municipal and independent bus operating sector, known as the non-aligned ALBUM grouping, through some very turbulent seas. At a time when the industry was grappling with substantial cuts to public sector funding streams, The Bus Services Act began its passage through parliament. Last year Colson described the industry as being “at a low ebb”. “Ben was the right person for the job” explains Fowles. “He’d recently sold his business [Norfolk Green] and he had the knowledge, the skills, the temperament to do a good job and he did just that. He steadied the ship and he did a sterling job in helping to shape the Bus Services Act along with CPT. The industry has a lot to thank him for.” However, that doesn’t mean the industry now has an easy ride and neither has ALBUM’s membership. At the start of the year, East Lancashire-based municipal Rosso was sold to Transdev. That sale came just 12 months after Swindon-based Thamesdown was sold to Go-Ahead Group. Today

there are just nine council-owned bus operators left in Britain. “The emphasis has switched further,” says Fowles. “ALBUM was always the Association of Local Bus Undertaking Managers. It wasn’t the companies - it was personal membership by the senior managers within the municipal world. After 1986 that changed and gradually more and more representatives from the independent sphere joined. Now they dominate things as we’ve seen fewer and fewer municipals, but there’s strength in that. The smaller operators, in particular, benefit from the advice and guidance of the larger operators.”

amounts of experience here and everyone can benefit from it.” Despite the passing of Rosso and Thamesdown into new group ownership, Fowles is optimistic that the so-called ‘non-aligned sector’ of independent and municipal operators has a bright future. Indeed he believes that the bus industry is about to enter yet another period of change. “If you look back, after the 1930s you saw the emergence of the likes of Tillings and BET and these then became the National Bus Company,” he says. “You then had the changes of the 1980s and after that consolidation and the emergence of the groups we have today.” Fowles believes that another shake-up is due. He claims that the big groups are seeing continual pressure on their margins, pressure that institutional investors will demand is relieved. Fowles feels it will see the Big Five assess the viability of their operations and, potentially, dispose of the more marginal parts of their businesses. “That’s where ALBUM comes in,” he says. “I can see the remaining municipal operators acquiring bits of the big groups and the same happening with the independents too.” Fowles is among the 10% minority of ALBUM members we surveyed (see pages 8-9) who believe that the number of ALBUM operators will increase over the next 10 years - and he thinks it will “increase significantly”. He points to two recent expansions by ALBUM members. Reading Buses has expanded in Berkshire, with the purchase of part of a route from Stagecoach South and an advance into areas formerly served by FirstGroup around Slough. Meanwhile, FirstGroup’s retrenchment in the Scottish

“Privately-owned businesses have the advantage in that they don’t demand the high margins that the stock market demands... they can take a long-term view” Fowles points to the introduction of new legislation, plus technological changes like the introduction of on-bus contactless and smart payments, as matters that can prove beyond the expertise of some of the smaller ALBUM members. “We had one guy who was using the old ‘Setright’ ticket machines still,” says Fowles. “He was completely terrified about switching to the latest electronic ticket machines; it was just beyond the scope of his knowledge and abilities. Being part of ALBUM means you can tap into that knowledge - there’s huge

Borders and Lothians has led to expansion for council-owned Lothian and growing independent West Coast Motors through its Borders Buses operation. “I can foresee the groups going back to their core,” says Fowles. “So, in effect, concentrating on the profitable big cities, places like Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, but elsewhere, who knows? We could see retrenchment that presents obvious opportunities. I really think it could happen as the shareholder returns for the big

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MARK FOWL ES

Mark Fowles believes that another major shake-up is heading to Britain's bus industry, with the ‘Big Five’ reassessing the viability of their networks

groups are such that there’s just got to be a realignment of their businesses. The stock market has no mercy for sentiment - it’s the nature of the beast.” Fowles describes how the disposal of assets by the big groups could see the emergence of a large number of smaller, privatelyowned transport groups organised by region. “Privately-owned businesses have the advantage in that they don’t demand the high margins that the stock market demands,” he adds. “They can take a long-term view and make

investment decisions on that basis. It’s the sort of environment that could allow some areas of the country, neglected by the big groups, to really thrive under highly entrepreneurial private ownership.” In that sort of scenario Fowles sees the ALBUM sector growing and thriving. “I really can see it happening,” he says. “Public transport is all about local delivery and there’s no one-sizefits-all approach to that. I think the smaller operators are much nimbler and more reactive to the market. They have that local

understanding.” Despite Fowles’ positivity to the future of the sector, storm clouds are gathering and bus patronage is slipping in many parts of the country. As Managing Director of NCT, he is aware of the issues, despite the successes the city

“The High Street is changing and we’re going to see even more changes over the next decade”

has had in persuading residents to switch from the car to public transport. He describes how his business has three specific markets - the commuters to school and work; those travelling for leisure and shoppers. “Society is changing,” he says. “We’re seeing a huge change in the workplace, in particular. People used to work nine-to-five in an office. Now we’re seeing more and more people working from home two, three or even four days a week. If you wanted to go shopping, you used to ➢

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TH E AL BUM

visit the high street or shopping centre, now you have the option of online shopping. That’s not only depressing bus travel, but also creating congestion with the rise of those white van deliveries.” Fowles points to the difficulties that many major retailers are experiencing, for example the recent demise of Toys ‘R Us, Maplin and BHS. “It’s all coming home to roost,” he continues. “The latent impact of all of these societal changes is only just realy starting to appear and that’s having a wider impact beyond public transport. The High Street is changing and we’re going to see even more changes over the next decade.” Fowles believes that cities and major towns will reorientate their centres towards leisure activities; so more coffee shops and more restaurants. “I just think the balance is changing,” he adds. “It’s a gut feeling and I’ve not looked at any stats, but it seems so very obvious that things will change and the bus industry needs to react to that change. How do you deal with a leisure market that has no peak flows?” He says new technology could play a part. Bus operators at present send buses up and down a route according to a fixed schedule. But in a world where more and more members of society will be ‘tech savvy’, Fowles believes that app-driven demand responsive transport will become the norm. He also feels that driverless vehicle technology will become part of everyday life. “There are huge opportunities from that sort of

P U SH F OR R E G U L AT ION I S ‘M I S G U I DE D’ ALBUM Chairman Mark Fowles believes that the political desire for greater control of the bus industry is “misguided”. “The problem is people look at London and they want a piece of that for their own city,” Fowles says. “But that sort of provision comes at a cost, a tremendous cost, actually.” He describes how he once calculated that to introduce a London-style network in

REPORT 2018

tech,” Fowles adds. “I still think there will be a role for the bus, but demand responsive vehicles could feed into major corridors, solving that last mile problem.” There are other opportunities too, Fowles believes. He says that the current clean air agenda offers an opportunity for the bus sector, an opinion shared by two-thirds of ALBUM members who responded to our survey. “You’ve got a handful of cities now working on Clean Air Zone plans,” he says. “But soon every town and city throughout the land is going to want one. The industry is obviously part of the solution to that and we need to be in there, banging on the table and making the case for the bus.” Despite his belief in a rosy future for the industry, he too foresees further storm clouds on the horizon. The greatest, he fears, is from the growing problem of congestion. Two-fifths of ALBUM

members in our survey identified it as the main challenge faced by the bus sector. “We’ve collectively had something of an ostrich syndrome about that,” Fowles says. “The things we have to deal with day in and day out: unannounced roadworks; poorly phased traffic lights; congestion due to events… it just always seems to be somebody else’s problem. What we need is somebody who will take strategic control of the highway.

“You’ve got a handful of cities now working on Clean Air Zone plans. But soon every town and city throughout the land is going to want one”

Mark Fowles (right) with Lilian Greenwood MP and Trentbarton boss Jeff Counsell

as MD of a council-owned bus operator, how much it would cost to set up a new, 100-vehicle council-owned bus business,” says Fowles. “I said instantly and without hesitation, ‘£30m’. Why? Well it costs around £150k a year to run each bus, when you think of maintenance, staffing and insurance costs, and that’s before your training commitments, administration, depot facilities and so on. How many councils do you know that have a spare £30m sloshing around?”

Nottingham would require support of around £60m each year. For that sort of money, he claims, he could run Nottingham City Transport’s present network for free. “Franchising is just not affordable,” Fowles believes. “Look at the PTEs in the 1970s and 80s; they’d reached the stage where they could just not afford to continue to fund their bus networks. It was untenable.” He also believes that desires in some quarters for the creation of new municipal bus operations are misguided. “I was once asked,

Day-to-day management of the roads is the issue, you can’t just have the utilities wantonly digging up the highways. We have to think about priority. We have to think about the right vehicle getting the right access to the highway. What we need is genuine bus priority.” Of course, Nottingham benefits from that in spades. 20 years or so ago the city had just 400 metres of bus lane. Today it has over 24 kilometres. “So, we have the ability to do it,” Fowles adds. “But it takes political will and it takes funding. I’m not so sure we have either.” As my time with Fowles comes to an end, I realise we’ve spoken a lot about the future - what of Fowles’ own future? Alongside his position as Chair of ALBUM, Fowles is the 2018 President of the Omnibus Society. He also has a number of other active personal interests, in particular campaigning and fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy, a cause that is very close to his heart. With those commitments in mind, Fowles says he plans to leave his role as ALBUM Chair at this year’s AGM. It forms part, he says, of a personal ambition to scale things back a little. “I think I’ve done my time,” he laughs. “I really think it’s time to move on and I’d love the role to go to one of the new generation of managers. Of course, that decision’s not up to me, but I do think we, as a grouping, have so many opportunities right now and that needs some young blood. We, as an industry, just need to be prepared to take the risk and grab those opportunities.” n Fowles claims that the funding issues is why not one area has franchised their bus network. He continues: “Reality bites, you see. People often say, ‘look at Europe! Their transport networks are brilliant!’ But their fareboxes only cover 30% of the cost of operation, on average. Funding is why nobody has taken the leap and franchised their buses. If you were a politician in the current climate, would you be willing to make cuts to essential services, just so you could control the buses? I don’t think so.”

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TH E AL BUM

RE PORT 2018

ALBUM ANSWERS Our survey of 50 individual album members offers an insight into how those working for ‘non aligned’ bus businesses feel about their industry’s future he number of people using buses in the UK will not increase over the coming decade. n The bus industry is facing structural decline. n The overall number of ALBUM bus companies will decrease over the next decade. n Congestion is the main challenge facing the bus sector. n The focus on emissions is an opportunity rather than a threat. These are some of the findings of a survey of individual members of ALBUM undertaken for this year’s ALBUM Report. The 50 respondents, who work for 33 independent or municipally-owned bus companies in England, Scotland and Wales, have offered a strong indication of how people are currently thinking in the ‘non-aligned’ sector of the UK bus industry. But the survey also reveals a divide between those employed by local authority-owned companies, of which nine remain in the UK, and their colleagues at independent bus operators. This perhaps partly reflects the different dynamics in urban bus markets, where municipal companies operate, compared to the broader territory covered by independent operators. Here are their responses to our five questions:

They said: n “Bus patronage will be lower in 10 years. The reason - because no government, whatever colour, will tackle the car lobby.” n “Hopefully we can attract more patronage by getting more people to use public transport due to ever increasing congestion.” n “It is unlikely that there will be any regulatory or policy activity that will reverse the 60-year decline in bus patronage.” n “Bus patronage will increase overall but the method of delivery will be different to what it is today.”

Q U EST I O N 1

Will UK bus patronage be higher in 10 years’ time? More than half (58.0%) said ‘No’, patronage will not increase, with 36.0% believing it will. The remaining 6.0% chose not to answer this question. However, interestingly, the survey received responses from employees of all nine of Britain’s remaining municipal bus

companies - and they offered a much more optimistic opinion. Half of them (50.0%) said ‘Yes’, UK bus patronage will increase, with 40.9% taking the opposite view. Pessimism is strongest among those working for independent operators, of whom 71.4% said it would not increase.

Q UESTIO N 2

40% identified congestion as the main challenge facing the bus sector. Pictured: Cardiff Question 1: Will UK bus patronage be higher in 10 years’ time? ALL MEMBERS

MUNICIPALS

INDEPENDENTS

n Yes: 36.0% n No: 58.0%

n Yes: 50.0% n No: 40.9%

n Yes: 25.0% n No: 71.4%

n No answer: 6.0%

n No answer: 9.1%

n No answer: 3.6%

Question 2: Is the bus industry facing structural decline? ALL MEMBERS

MUNICIPALS

INDEPENDENTS

n Yes: 56.0% n No: 40.0%

n Yes: 36.4% n No: 59.1%

n Yes: 71.4% n No: 25.0%

n No answer: 4.0%

n No answer: 4.5%

n No answer: 3.6%

Is the bus industry facing structural decline? So, ALBUM members are more likely to forecast decline than growth, and the survey finds that the majority (56.0%) believe that the industry is facing structural decline ie. a permanent adverse adjustment in market conditions. However, 40.0% don’t believe that the industry is facing structural decline. Again, there is a stark contrast in the responses between municipal and independent members. Most municipal respondents (59.1%) disagreed with the overall view that the industry faces structural decline, with only 36.4% endorsing it. Among the independent operators, 71.4% said the industry was facing structural decline with only 25.0% disagreeing. They said: n “The bus industry is facing structural decline as more investment is required - electric, Euro 6, etc while the revenue streams are decreasing.” n “Along with footfall decline, businesses must shrink. It is not a forgone conclusion, policy and regulatory activity could intervene to arrest this but on the evidence of

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AL BUM SURVEY

the last 50 years, it is very unlikely.” n “Significant change, not structural decline.”

Question 3: What will happen to the number of ALBUM operators in 10 years’ time? ALL MEMBERS

MUNICIPALS

INDEPENDENTS

n Increase: 10.0% n Decrease: 78.0% n More or less the

n Increase: 13.6% n Decrease: 63.6% n More or less the

n Increase: 7.1% n Decrease: 89.3% n More or less the

same: 12.0%

same: 22.7%

same: 3.6%

Q U EST I O N 3

What will happen to the overall number of ‘ALBUM’ operators (independent and municipal) in 10 years’ time? One thing that ALBUM members seem united on is that there will be less of them around in 2028. This is perhaps not surprising given that the past 12 months have seen the sale of two more ALBUM companies to bus groups. French group Transdev bought councilowned Rosso while Birmingham’s Central Buses was snapped up by to AIM-listed Rotala. More than three-quarters (78.0%) said they believed the number of ALBUM operators will decrease, with 12.0% saying it will be ‘more or less the same’ and only 10.0% saying it will increase. The decrease was predicted by employees of both municipals (63.6%) and independents (89.3%). They said: n “The overall number of ALBUM members will decrease as the number of operators is decreasing now, and will continue unless drastic action is taken to reverse this.” n “The cost of operating buses is increasing all the time and this is raising the barriers to enter the industry.” n “The number of independent/ municipal members will decline if the pattern of reduced subsidies continues. Consolidation and amalgamation is inevitable.” n “I do not see there being any independent operators in [our part of South East England] within 10 years if present ways of funding stay the same.” n “I think the number will increase significantly!” Q U EST I O N 4

What is the main challenge facing the bus sector? Congestion was by far the most commonly cited challenge. Two-fifths (40.0%) of respondents identified it as the main challenge to the bus sector, followed by

Question 4: What is the main challenge facing the bus sector? ALL MEMBERS

MUNICIPALS

INDEPENDENTS

n Congestion: 40.0% n Council funding

n Congestion: 54.5% n Low cost of

n Congestion: 28.6% n Council funding

cuts: 14.0%

motoring: 13.6%

cuts: 21.4%

n Low cost of

n Emissions: 9.1% n Other: 18.3% n No answer: 4.5%

n Regulation/

motoring: 10.0% n Other: 28.0% n No answer: 8.0%

franchising: 10.7% n Other: 28.6% n No answer: 10.7%

Question 5: Is the focus on emissions an opportunity rather than a threat to the bus sector? ALL MEMBERS

MUNICIPALS

INDEPENDENTS

n Yes: 66.0% n No: 34.0%

n Yes: 77.3% n No: 22.7%

n Yes: 57.1% n No: 42.9%

council funding cuts (14.0%) and the low cost of motoring (10.0%). Among municipal operators, congestion was cited as the main challenge by more than half (54.5%) of respondents. This perhaps reflects their predominantly urban operating environments. Congestion was also the most popular answer among independent operators (28.6%), followed by council funding cuts (21.4%). They said: n “Congestion is getting worse

66% believe the focus on emissions is an opportunity for buses, rather than a threat

and passengers are less inclined to travel by bus when their journey duration and arrival time cannot be easily determined.” n “No politician will have the courage to make the car driver pay the true cost of motoring.” n “Council funding cuts are hitting us hard. As an independent operator we are very dependent on supported and home-to-school services.” Q UESTIO N 5

Is the focus on emissions an opportunity rather than a threat to the bus sector? Efforts to improve air quality are putting pressure on bus companies to clean up their fleets and invest many millions buying new vehicles and retrofitting existing ones. However, two-thirds of respondents (66.0%) said that the focus on emissions is an opportunity rather than a threat to the bus sector, with the remaining third taking the opposing view. This view was strongest among the municipal operators, where 77.3% saw it as an opportunity, but a clear majority of independent operators (57.1%) agreed. They said: n “Over the next 10 years air quality issues will be coming more to the fore and will possibly lead to car restraint measures, whether they be charging for air quality zones or restrictions on vehicle types in city centres, which should be an opportunity for bus operators.” n “I feel that it adds an additional layer of costs on to an already cash strapped industry… I do not believe that we are attracting new passengers by running later Euro buses.” n “It will make no difference other than making buses potentially more expensive to operate. It will not achieve modal shift or footfall increases. The clean air is welcome but it will not affect the industry in any meaningful way. Oxford proved that.” n “Emissions is an opportunity to buses - but only if we are all given help to fund low emission vehicles and infrastructure.” n “A very big opportunity indeed.” n

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H IGHL IGH TS

The Nottingham City Transport teamed joined with Lord Mayor Mike Edwards in May 2017 to celebrate the launch of the world’s largest double deck gas bus fleet

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2017/18 We look back at some of the key events amongst the membership since the last album conference M AY NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT

NCT L AUNCHES L ARGEST D OUBLE DECK GAS FLEET

Council-owned bus operator Nottingham City Transport launched a new fleet of 30 biogaspowered double deck buses, representing an investment by the operator worth £17m. In one fell swoop the operator therefore became the largest operator of gas-powered double deck vehicles in the world. The innovative move to biogas vehicles began in July 2016 when NCT, working in partnership with Nottingham City Council,

successfully bid to receive £4.4m in funding from the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles. Adding its own investment of a further £12.4m, the bus operator subsequently worked closely with bus manufacturers Scania and Alexander Dennis, together with local companies Roadgas and ZF Transmissions. This allowed the company to create biogas infrastructure at its Parliament Street Garage to support the introduction of the new buses into mainstream service. The biogas used to fuel the vehicles is produced naturally through anaerobic digestion, food waste, farm waste and sewage. The methane emitted from the

digestion process is captured, treated and turned into fuel. When this fuel is used, NCT claims that emissions from the new buses are 84% lower than their diesel counterparts, thereby making them the greenest buses on the road. The vehicles were officially launched at a special event in Nottingham’s Old Market Square. Five of the vehicles were displayed to members of the public before they were launched by councillor Mike Edwards, the city’s Lord Mayor. “We are hugely proud of our new biogas buses,” said Gary Mason, NCT’s engineering director. “This is the largest order for gas double decks in the

world and is the culmination of our extensive research into alternative fuels.” JULY WEST COAST MOTORS

WEST COAST REBRANDS IN THE BORDERS

Expansion-minded bus and coach operator West Coast Motors merged its bus operations in the Scottish Borders on July 17. Berwick-based Perryman’s Buses was acquired by Campbeltownbased West Coast Motors in February 2016, and this purchase was later followed by the creation of Borders Buses in March 2017, ➢

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TH E AL BUM

following the takeover of First Scotland East’s operations in the Scottish Borders. These two operations merged under the Borders Buses name in July, expanding the network to include the Borders, Cumbria, Northumberland, East Lothian, Midlothian and the City of Edinburgh. “Since March we have worked closely with our colleagues at Perryman’s Buses and look forward to the opportunities the rebranding creates,” said Lee Young, Borders Buses operations manager.

REPORT 2018

as a business are doing our part to improve air quality across the city. “These buses are not only fitted with zero emission technology, they are also quieter and smoother, offering a better customer experience for the thousands of customers who travel with us every day... Electric bus technology is here and we need to embrace it and ensure that it is part of our future fleet and business planning strategies, it absolutely has a place alongside traditional diesel and hybrid technologies.” Edinburgh’s first full electric buses entered service on October 2 with Lothian Buses. The new Wrightbus Street Air single deck buses operate on the company’s Service 1

S E PT E M BE R BLACKPOOL TRANSPORT

COUNCIL LOAN FUNDS 72 NEW BUSES FOR BL ACKPO OL

Blackpool Council agreed to loan Blackpool Transport, its ‘arm’slength’ municipal bus operation, a total of £16.2m. The move was to help the bus operator replace 72 life-expired vehicles. The buses are being purchased in several tranches between October 2017 and March 2020. Each loan will last for 10 years. The council justified the move by claiming many of the operator’s 138 vehicles looked “tired, old fashioned” and “a deterrence to travelling by public transport”. TRENTBARTON

NEW BUSES FOR SKYLINK ROUTE

2017 was Trentbarton’s biggest ever investment year, with over £5m being spent on new buses. This investment included the introduction of nine new high specification Alexander Dennis Enviro200 buses on its Skylink Nottingham service in September. To celebrate their introduction, the operator held a launch event at Nottingham’s Old Market Square. Among the members of the public taking a look was Nottingham South MP and chair of the transport select committee Lilian Greenwood. “It’s great to see a local company such as Trentbarton investing in

Trentbarton boss Jeff Counsell with Lilian Greenwood MP at the Skylink launch event

of over £2.7m, the new Wrightbus Street Air single deck buses operate on the company’s Service 1 route, which carries around 1.8 million customers each year. The cross-city route links Clermiston and Leith via Edinburgh’s central air quality management area. The launch of the new vehicles was attended by Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s Minister for Transport. “It is fantastic to see operators, like Lothian, investing in their fleet in a way that supports both their passengers and the environment through new low carbon and electric vehicles,” he said. Richard Hall, Managing Director of Lothian, added: “We fully support the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council’s strategies to improve local air quality. The introduction of full electric buses to this route, combined with our on-going fleet replacement strategy ‘BUS2020’, ensures that we

cleaner buses and in a key service such as Skylink which gets people to work and gets travellers to East Midlands Airport and home again,” commented Greenwood. Built in Scarborough, the vehicles have LED lighting, visual and audio next-stop announcements, plus free WiFi and USB power at every seat so customers can stay connected. Services run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jeff Counsell, managing director at Trentbarton, said: “These fantastic new buses bring a truly first class experience to what is already a flagship service.” O CTOB ER LOTHIAN BUSES

ELECTRIC BUSES IN EDINBURGH

Edinburgh’s first full electric buses entered service on October 2 with Lothian Buses. At an investment

EYMS

SHIPP HANDS EYMS BATON TO HIS SON

EYMS Group chairman and chief executive Peter Shipp announced that he had stepped back from day-to-day control of Hull-based East Yorkshire Motor Services with the appointment of his son David to the new position of managing director. David Shipp has been with EYMS since July 1990 when he joined as a labourer, based at the operator’s Hull depot. The 44-year old moved into the office two years later and then did a two-year internal management trainee course. On completion of this scheme he was appointed depot supervisor at the depot in Pocklington, then Hull city centre supervisor and finally assistant depot manager for Hull and Beverley. Shipp then stepped up to the role of assistant operations manager for the East Yorkshire subsidiary in 2004. After two years as general manager of the Whittle bus and coach business based in Kidderminster, he returned to Hull as performance and business development manager in 2015. He took on his new role as managing director of East Yorkshire Motor Services, the operating subsidiary of EYMS Group, on October 1. Commenting on his decision to take a “small step back”, Peter Shipp said that after over 55 years in the industry, 37 of them at EYMS, the time had come for him to spend more time with his wife and six grandchildren. He continued: “But I will remain

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H IGH L IGH TS

as executive chairman of EYMS Group and will still be closely involved in the business, and no doubt David will have to gently chide me from time to time for still being too involved!” Shipp’s other son, Jonathan, also works for EYMS Group as a depot supervisor. N OV E M B E R ALBUM

ALBUM COMPANIES WIN 10 ‘MEDALS’ AT UK BUS AWARDS

The ALBUM grouping of non-aligned bus companies performed strongly at the UK Bus Awards 2017 in London on November 21, winning 10 ‘medals’. This haul was greater than Arriva (nine), Stagecoach (nine) and First Bus (four), but behind the GoAhead Group (13). Essex-based Stephensons of Essex won the Bronze medal in the hotly contested ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ category, impressing judges by “getting the basics right’. The company also won Gold in the ‘Top Independent Operator’ category, ahead of Silver winner Prentice Coaches and Bronze winner Ensign Bus Company. Edinburgh’s Lothian Buses meanwhile won the Silver medal in both the ‘Top City Operator’ and ‘Environment’ categories. There was a triple success for Reading Buses, with two members of its staff winning Gold: Maks Pruszewicz triumphed in the ‘Top National Bus Driver’ contest while Dan Bassatt, Head of Operations, won the ‘Young Manager of the Year’ award. The council-owned company also won Silver in the ‘New Horizons’ category, which recognises advances in innovation and technology. The remaining ALBUM medals went to the East Midlands. Chris Plummer of Trentbarton was joint Gold winner of the ‘Unsung Heroes Award’ while Nottingham City Transport’s “Mr NCT”, Anthony Carver-Smith, was Bronze winner for the “Leadership & Inspiration Award’.

11 years. It provided a network of routes around Rossendale and beyond to Ramsbottom, Bury and Rochdale, linking to other nearby towns, including Blackburn, Burnley and Bolton. Financially, recent years had been trying for Rosso. The company recorded an operating profit in the year to March 31, 2017 of £0.4m on turnover of £9.9m. This was a substantial improvement on previous years and followed transfer of Rosso’s legacy pension scheme to the council. This ended the need to fund the scheme’s deficit. The sale of Rosso meant that just six municipal bus operators remained in England (Blackpool Transport, Halton Borough Transport, Ipswich Buses, Network Warrington, Nottingham City Transport and Reading Buses), plus two in Wales (Cardiff Bus and Newport Bus) and one in Scotland (Lothian).

DECEM B ER ROSSO

ROSSO IS L ATEST MUNICIPAL TO BE SOLD OFF

The ranks of Britain’s dwindling band of council-owned bus operators were diminished further in December when Transdev acquired Rosso from Rossendale Borough Council. Confirmation of the acquisition by the French group was announced following a council meeting on December 20. As part of the outline agreement, Transdev pledged to invest significantly in Rosso including spending in the region of £3m on new vehicles in the following year. The operation became part of the French group’s existing Blazefield operation, but the Rosso brand was retained. At the time of the sale, Rosso operated just over 100 vehicles and had an average fleet age of

JANUARY READING BUSES

READING BUSES EXPANDS INTO BERKSHIRE

Council-owned operator Reading Buses began 2018 by announcing plans for further expansion in Berkshire on the back of a series of network cuts by First in the Thames Valley area. In a statement First said it was making changes to its Berkshire network as a result of “an extensive review of the passenger usage data”. It was the latest retrenchment by the group in the area in recent years and left just a skeleton network centred on Slough. Reading Buses had already taken over the express Green Line 702 service on December 27 after First withdrew from the service. The hourly service links Bracknell with London Victoria, via Windsor and Slough. In January, Reading set up a new “low cost” base in Slough from where it took on a handful of routes cast off by First. The new operation, which complements the Green Line 702 service, saw the historic Thames Valley fleetname revived. It followed Slough Borough Council awarding emergency contracts for an initial six-month period to replace First on three routes. READING BUSES

READING BUSES REVEALS SAVINGS FROM GAS SWITCH

ABOVE: The 2017 UK Bus Awards saw a triple success for council-owned Reading Buses BELOW: Council leader Alyson Barnes handed the Rosso keys over to Alex Hornby

Council-owned bus operator Reading Buses launched a major upgrade to its Route 17 between Wokingham and Tilehurst via central Reading in January, with the introduction of a brand new fleet of biogas-powered buses. The company also revealed that the switch to biogas has led to savings on fuel costs. The 17 new Scania/Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City buses offered a significant upgrade for passengers that the company said would “keep pace with modern travelling demand” and “make buses the very best way to get around and keep Reading moving”. The buses included a number ➢

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of new features to improve the travelling environment for passengers, including free 4G Wi-Fi access, space for two wheelchair users and next stop audio-visual announcements. The vehicles also reintroduced two-door operation in Reading after an absence of many years from the company’s fleet. The aim was to speed up boarding and alighting and reduce bus stop dwell times. The introduction of the new vehicles meant that 63 of Reading’s 194-strong fleet are now powered by biogas. Martijn Gilbert, Reading’s chief executive, revealed that the company was reaping a small but significant saving in fuel costs as a result of over 30% of its fleet now being powered by gas. Meanwhile, Mark Oliver, UK bus and coach fleet sales general manager at Scania (Great Britain), revealed that when operating on biogas, the carbon dioxide emissions of Scania buses are reduced by up to 84% compared to regular diesel. “They are significantly quieter too, making them an ideal choice for urban operations,” he said. “As the first UK bus company to take delivery of our latest generation gas-fuelled buses, Reading has led the way and benefited from this technology since 2013.” M A RCH ALBUM

BUS PASSENGER SURVEY PROMPTS CONGESTION PLEA

Bus users gave municipal and independent operators the thumbs up in the 2017 Bus Passenger Survey, published by consumer watchdog Transport Focus. Trentbarton and Nottingham City Transport achieved an overall satisfaction rating of 94%, followed by East Yorkshire Motor Services (91%), Cardiff Bus (89%), Blackpool Transport (87%) and Newport Bus (87%). However, of the 78 companies covered by the survey, the largest decline in overall satisfaction was at Reading Buses. Adverse traffic conditions were cited as the reasons for a decline in satisfaction of five percentage points, from 93% to 88%.

REPORT 2018

Network Warrington launched its new ‘Cheshire Cat’ bus fleet, the council-owned operator’s first new buses in five years, by hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on April 21

key issues facing cyclists in relation to other vehicles, particularly buses and HGVs. Richard Hall, Managing Director of Lothian, commented: “Following feedback from previous CPC training courses we thought long and hard about how we could make the course more interactive and increase the level of learning for all our staff. Working in partnership with Cycling Scotland, we are proud to be the first bus operator in the UK to introduce this bespoke practical cycle awareness training. “This fantastic opportunity will assist us all in learning more about sharing road space and gaining a better understanding of the difficulties faced by other road users daily across our operating area, as well as having the ability going forward to influence these groups through our own actions.” NETWORK WARRINGTON

TRANSFORMED BUS NET WORK IS THE CAT’ S WHISKERS

Lothian’s bus drivers received bespoke Practical Cycle Awareness training

Speaking at the launch of the Bus Passenger Survey in Reading, the local authority-owned operator’s chief executive, Martijn Gilbert, called on the government to view congestion as a national issue, rather than a local one. He said: “I think we have reached a point now where there does need to be greater central government focus on this area in terms of the funding, resources and powers that local authorities have available to them to more effectively manage the highway network as well. They probably don’t have the money to put the effort in in terms of dynamic control of the highway, supervising traffic control centres. “So this isn’t just a local issue any more. Congestion is a national issue - and it really, really, really does need to be driven up the agenda in a way that we’ve never seen before.”

APRIL LOTHIAN BUSES

LOTHIAN BUS DRIVERS GET ON THEIR BIKES

Lothian announced that it had partnered with Cycling Scotland to give its bus drivers bespoke Practical Cycle Awareness training. The initiative, which is part of its annual compulsory Certificate of Professional Competence training, is a first for the UK bus industry. Over 1,700 drivers, managers and supervisors from across the business will take part in the training this year. The full day course was designed to be fun and interactive and includes 90 minutes of cycling around the operator’s Longstone Training Centre in Edinburgh. The cycle route has been specifically planned to highlight

Network Warrington launched its new ‘Cheshire Cat’ bus fleet, the council-owned operator’s first new buses in five years, by hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on April 21. The celebration event, to launch the introduction of the new 13-strong fleet which now services the new south Warrington network, took place at the Old Market Place, Golden Square. There were actors in Alice in Wonderland costume, face painting, cakes and refreshments. There was also a brand new Cheshire Cat bus on display for public inspection and members of the Network Warrington team were on hand to answer any questions about the new Cheshire Cat service. The new ADL200 buses include Wi-Fi, skylights, extra leg room, comfy seats and USB charging points. Managing Director of Network Warrington, Ben Wakerley, said: “I’m pleased that we’re making big improvements to the south network that will hopefully have our customers purring. These are truly buses to be seen on!” n

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TH E AL BUM

REPORT 2018

Ralph Roberts (pictured) joined Greenock-based McGill’s as Managing Director eight years ago

SPEAKING UP FOR BUSES Scotland’s largest privately-owned bus company, mcgill’s, is the host of this year’s album Conference in Glasgow. robert jack met the company’s combative Managing Director, ralph roberts alph Roberts gets up from his seat mid-conversation and swiftly exits the McGill’s boardroom, leaving me alone with Angus, his Labrador and trusty sidekick. He’s keen for me to see a graph he has recently shared on Twitter. He returns brandishing the graph, which shows the exponential growth in car journeys in Great Britain in the post-War period versus static public transport use. On Twitter he has captioned it with a challenge to Scotland’s transport minister, Humza Yousaf: “Is there anyone left still suggesting that car isn’t the problem? So, what are the policies to curb and reverse this trend over the next 25 years my lovely politicos? @Humza Yousaf.”

Roberts is not afraid to speak up for buses and challenge car dependency. Twitter is just one of the ways he gets his message across, and his regular jabs at politicians are interspersed with pictures of ‘Angus the Wonderdog’. He believes that the bus sector is seen as a “pushover industry” and he would like to see others join him in adopting a more combative approach. “We need to do more... because ultimately we are speaking on behalf of the bus passenger,” he says. “The bus passenger for me is the silent majority.” As things stand, the Managing Director of McGill’s Bus Service Limited, Scotland’s largest privatelyowned bus company, is pessimistic about his industry’s future. Our survey of ALBUM members (see pages 8-9) found that the majority

(58.0%) do not believe that UK bus patronage will be higher in 10 years’ time, and Roberts concurs. Over the last three years, Greenock-based McGill’s has seen patronage fall by 10% across its 110 routes, which serve North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire and Glasgow. Roberts says this is linked to the fall in fuel prices, which has tipped the scales further in favour of the private car, but also other factors such as the retail situation and macro-economic environment. “Ultimately, what we are selling is an ever worsening product, because of the lack of priority, the road space, the pro-car policy, all of that kind of thing,” says Roberts. “For me it’s a simple question: what kind of society do we want to live in?” Humza Yousaf, who has now

served two years as Scotland’s minister for Transport and the Islands, is willing to talk about pro-bus policies and car restraint issues that his opposite number in Westminster shys away from. But Roberts is looking for action, not words. “The jury’s out on Humza,” he says. “Good guy, certainly understands it, says the right things, [but we] haven’t seen it yet. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but that’s running out to be honest with you.” The increase in car use has relented in recent years, but Roberts attributes this to finite road capacity rather than any government intervention. He says that it is becoming increasingly common for parked cars to prevent his buses from traversing some of the most fertile bus territory - densely populated areas of local authority housing. “If you can’t get a minibus through a council estate, you can’t get a fire engine through!” he laments. “The council are sleeping on the job… they should be double yellowing estates, clamping cars and towing cars away, [and] forcing people to pay for the true cost of motoring.” While challenging today’s carcentric culture, Roberts, who lives in Gourock, is himself a regular car user. However, he says he only uses his car around half the time, when there is no realistic alternative. The rest of the time he walks, cycles or uses public transport. “I believe that’s a reasonable mix,” he says, “and I believe that’s a mix we need to expect from the public at large.” He asks: “What is true prosperity? True prosperity is not when everybody can afford car, it’s when people who can afford a car travel by public transport.” ‘quality sells’ To entice more people on-board buses and achieve a better modal mix, the bus experience has to be a good one - and the McGill’s mantra has been ‘quality sells’. McGill’s, this year’s ALBUM Conference hosts, is now in its 85th year. Founded in 1949, the family-owned business was sold

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to Arriva in 1997. Arriva took the limited entity and O Licence and let it lie dormant, re-registering everything as Arriva Scotland West. Roberts himself joined Arriva Scotland West in 2000, leaving his previous position as a design engineer at Rentokil. The bus operator was losing £2.5m a year and he was part of a team tasked with turning that around. Over the period of 18 months the business shrank from 430 buses to 200. Greenock in Inverclyde was one of the areas from which Arriva withdrew. The politically acceptable way of doing this was for Arriva to revive the dormant McGill’s entity and sell it for £1 to local busman Alex Kean and the Easdale family, who were 50/50 partners. The period that followed was “the worst of days”, says Roberts, as Kean battled it out with Greenock’s multitude of small operators. “It was the old bus mentality, a fight for fighting’s sake rather than actually taking a strategic view,” he recalls. In 2004, brothers James and Sandy Easdale decided that they’d had enough of the ‘bus wars’, broken windows, slashed tyres and vehicles ramming each other, and they told Kean: ‘We’re out.’ He couldn’t afford to buy them out, so they acquired his stake in January 2005 and took full control of the 32-vehicle company.

McGill’s has invested £10m in its fleet since 2014. Pictured: a Mercedes Citaro

“True prosperity is not when everybody can afford car, it’s when people who can afford a car travel by public transport”

Ralph Roberts tweeted a graph showing the prolific post-War growth in car use

H U N G RY F OR G ROW T H McGill’s is hungry for growth opportunities and is willing to venture well beyond its base in the west of Scotland. “I worked on two acquisitions last year. Had both of them come off it would have trebled us in size,” says McGill’s boss Ralph Roberts. “I’m working on an acquisition now that would see us grow quite dramatically. Every year I am always working on two or three acquisitions.” In 2014, the company submitted a bid for the contract to run Malta’s bus network after Arriva withdrew. Roberts says the Maltese government was difficult to deal with and a contract was later awarded to

McGill’s would bid for a Glasgow franchise

Spain’s Cosmen family. Meanwhile, in 2016, the company put in an offer for two FirstGroup depots and various other assets in the east of Scotland, but council-owned Lothian did the deal and its East Coast Buses subsidiary was created. McGill’s could soon have opportunities to run franchised bus services in British cities. In England, the Bus Services Act

The Easdale brothers weren’t bus people, but they were business people with a portfolio of pubs, taxis, property and manufacturing businesses. One of the first things they did was to give back vehicles that were being leased from Arriva and buy brand new ones instead. Their belief was that ‘quality sells’ and they were rewarded over time as their low quality competitors fell by the wayside. Roberts came on board following a chance encounter with the Easdale brothers at a rugby match in 2009. After moving around Arriva’s bus and rail businesses, in both the UK and mainland Europe, he had returned to Arriva Scotland West in 2007. It was his desire to remain in the area that prompted his decision to join McGill’s as Managing Director in March 2010. Under Roberts’ stewardship the business has continued to grow, but its biggest expansion came in March 2012 when it acquired the remaining Arriva Scotland West operation - a deal which saw McGill’s increase its fleet by 165 to 350 buses. Today it operates over 400 buses and the ‘quality sells’ ethos remains at the heart of the business. The company has invested £10m in its fleet since 2014, despite falling patronage. The company’s vision is to provide a public transport network

that is modern, efficient and integrated with other modes. This can be observed by its various activities including open-top tours, attending community events, tea dances, and its flagship ClydeFlyer services. McGill’s was one of the first bus companies in Scotland to launch m-ticketing, an app which allows customers to purchase their bus tickets on their phone, and scan when boarding. And last year saw the launch of McGill’s newest ticket types; GoSmart card and contactless. GoSmart users can access their account online, and add their ticket to their card when they need it. These enhancements are intended to help the bus compete against the convenience of the private car - but Roberts says politicians must intervene if real progress is to be made. Returning to his tweet about journeys by vehicle type and the prolific increase in car use, I ask him whether this actually represents a big opportunity to grow bus use. A small modal shift from the car would mean a bonanza for buses. Roberts agrees, and his eyes light up. “Imagine top slicing 10% of that, just through a congestion charge, parking levies and giving priority to buses,” he says, “and see what difference it would make.” n

2017 has reduced barriers to bus franchising, which would reverse the deregulated system that was introduced in Britain (outside London) in the mid-1980s. And forthcoming legislation in Scotland is expected to do the same thing. Roberts doesn’t see franchising as a threat. “As long as there is a broadly similar market share going on, why would franchising or regulation be a threat?” he asks. “Is it a threat in London?” Glasgow, the host city of the 2018 ALBUM Conference, is seen as the location most likely to adopt bus franchising in Scotland, a move which could present McGill’s with a giant opportunity on its own doorstep. “In Glasgow, I think it would actually work… because there is

an actual profitability there and there’s a latent demand that’s not being fulfilled,” he says. “So if they put in a £1.50 flat fare with daily capped cost of travel... put that across the subway as well, and then for suburban rail... then you would have a fabulous offering and there would even be a latent demand to increase footfall by 50% over five years, I would have thought, within Glasgow.” Glasgow’s dominant bus operator, First Glasgow, is two and a half times the size of McGill’s, but Roberts is not intimidated. “It doesn’t faze me,” he says. “I would compete for a lot, all of it, every last part of it… We have got enough funding to be able to get properties, everything that we need to put a feasible bid together for Glasgow.”

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REPORT 2018

MAKING CLEAN BUSES AFFORDABLE Low and zero emission buses from alexander dennis limited (adl), including efficient diesel and mild hybrid technologies, are part of the solution to the air quality challenge in British cities

SmartPack is available on most variants of the market-leading Enviro200 single deck and Enviro400 double deck buses

M I L E STON E F OR E N V I RO 4 0 0 ADL recently celebrated a major milestone with the roll-out of its 10,000th two-axle, low floor double deck bus. The landmark Enviro400, which is being shown at this year’s ALBUM Conference, is emblematic of how ADL has influenced the progressive shift by the UK bus industry to high quality, low floor, easy access buses over the last two decades. The 78-seat executive Enviro400 comes complete with leather seats, wood effect

flooring, seat belts, Wi-Fi, USB charging points, mobile phone holders, skylight roof panels as well as next-stop audio and visual announcement systems. The high specification options of the Enviro400, which have a proven track record of driving patronage growth on scheduled services, have broadened the type’s appeal beyond traditional bus work. CEO Colin Robertson comments: “There is a trend towards high quality buses that combine capacity and comfort. They raise the bar and are helping operators win business,

Mobile phone holders and USB chargers

particularly in terms of private hires, special events, corporate work and even school contracts. “This trend is a far cry from two decades ago when buses were fairly down-to-earth, no

s Britain’s leading bus manufacturer, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) offers operators the market’s widest range of low and zero emission buses. They support national and local policy agendas, but for ADL the main focus remains on delivering operational efficiency and fuel economy to benefit bus companies. Clean vehicle technology has been on ADL’s agenda for well over a decade. What began with full hybrid buses has since diversified into a range of solutions to suit the strategies of cities and operators, and now includes efficient diesel technologies, biogas buses, hybrid and battery-electric zero emission vehicles. For better or worse, gone are the days when simple diesel engines were accepted everywhere. “It could be seen as a challenge,” says ADL Chief Executive Colin Robertson, “but in fact we are embracing it as an opportunity to make sure we have the technologies that support our customers’ businesses now and in future.” ADL has over 1,300 full hybrid buses in service in London and provincial cities, and together with technology partner BAE Systems has just launched a new generation of the successful Enviro400H that now uses long-lasting Ultracap energy storage to reduce the total cost of ownership by removing the need for battery replacement. Improved fuel economy and low emissions deliver a class-leading performance, and the Enviro400H

frills vehicles and it is fitting that we celebrate this 10,000 landmark with a double deck that demonstrates the huge strides we have made in taking product options to a whole new level.” The milestone number of 10,000 two-axle, low floor double deck buses not only includes the current and previous Enviro400 models but also their predecessor which brought low floor technology to the mainstream of UK bus operation. In 2005 ADL launched the Enviro400 as an integrally designed complete vehicle. It was an immediate

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VE H ICL ES ADL

Ultracap solution will meet the government’s new Ultra Low Emission Bus (ULEB) standard, as do the battery-electric buses ADL develops and builds with BYD. The single deck Enviro200EV has firmly established itself as Britain’s electric bus of choice, with over 170 sold since the partnership was launched less than three years ago and more than 1.5 million emission-free miles covered in service. BYD and ADL are now ready to take their winning combination of volume-produced electric vehicle technology and British bus manufacturing expertise to the next level with a double deck electric bus that is in the pipeline. But with cities introducing Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones on ambitious timescales, operators may need to upgrade larger numbers of buses than can be funded through ULEB support mechanisms. Colin Robertson knows ADL buses will be part of the solution: “This is where our efficient diesel and mild hybrid technologies come in. These are not just built to the Euro 6 standard which cities plan to make their minimum requirement, but our efficiency enhancements mean that real world emissions are in fact much lower still - as is their fuel consumption, which delivers benefits to operators.” ADL’s efficient diesel SmartPack technology is centred on the smart management of the alternator and air compressor, which are controlled to only charge during vehicle deceleration when they

place no additional load on the engine. This is combined with engine stop/start technology, which ADL was the first manufacturer worldwide to bring to market in a diesel bus, as well as electrically-driven cooling fans and vehicle weight reduction through structure optimisation. SmartPack is available on most variants of the market-leading Enviro200 single deck and Enviro400 double deck buses and buses with SmartPack are accredited as Low Emission Buses by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, qualifying for higher BSOG rates. SmartHybrid, which is available on the Enviro400 double deck bus and is also a LowCVP-accredited Low Emission Bus technology, builds upon SmartPack and adds a mild 48V hybrid system, which recovers kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration, stores it on-board, and uses it to provide a torque assist to the driveline when required during subsequent acceleration. The energy storage is supercapacitor based rather than using batteries, removing the need for component replacement during the vehicle’s normal operating life. By combining low emissions performance with low investment cost over conventional diesel buses, ADL Enviro200 and Enviro400 buses with Euro 6 engines and SmartPack and SmartHybrid technology are part of the solution to the air quality challenge in British cities, providing an affordable means of delivering cleaner buses on a large scale. n

success and has now been the UK’s best-selling bus for more than a decade, a position that was only reinforced by a major model change in 2014. Colin Robertson comments: “This 10,000th low floor double deck bus is a milestone for everyone at ADL. The extraordinary success of our Enviro400 is a reflection of the ingenuity, commitment and dedication of teams drawn from right across our business. No one ‘wins the league’ this consistently without having the right people and the right approach to delight customers.”

ADL's 10,000th two-axle, low floor double deck bus will be on show at the ALBUM Conference, featuring high specification options

SmartSeat a fully integrated, quality seating solution - with direct and reliable support

SM A RT SE AT ’ S B E T T E R VA LU E ADL customers now enjoy even better value on the Enviro200 and Enviro400 with the new ADL SmartSeat, developed to the manufacturer’s demanding brief by a market-leading supplier. Operators will benefit from direct aftermarket support for the SmartSeat through ADL’s own organisation. The new ADL SmartSeat features a contemporary design with ergonomically formed backrests and seat upholstery as part of a robust and durable construction with a low total weight. Passenger amenities will be accommodated by a seatback console, and USB power sockets can be integrated into the back shells or mounted on the seat frame to suit

operators’ preferences. Care has been taken to ensure the easy replacement of parts, maximising vehicle uptime. Arthur Whiteside, ADL’s Managing Director UK Sales, explains: “We’re constantly working to enhance the customer experience for bus operators and the ADL SmartSeat takes this to a new level by providing a fully integrated, quality seating solution that gives our customers a single point of contact during vehicle specification, and ensures direct and reliable support through our best-in-class aftermarket network.” The ADL SmartSeat is available for immediate delivery on Enviro200 stock, as well as to order on all Enviro200 and Enviro400 models. Seat-belted versions will follow from the third quarter of this year to complete the range.

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VEH ICL ES IRIZAR

Pictured (left to right): Shaun Millar, Mike Weston and Gradyn Thompson outside Irizar e-mobility’s new, modern plant located in Aduna, Spain

IRIZAR UK EXPANDS BUS TEAM

Support Manager - Bus. He has been working in the bus and coach industry for over 40 years including in positions at Nottingham City Transport and Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man. Talking about the expansion, Weston said: “It’s great to work with a company with so much technical ability, passion and resources. After my most recent experience of new vehicle technology at TfL, working with Irizar with such a wide range of electric products takes it to a whole new level. Bringing Shaun and Gradyn onboard is a great development at this exciting time in the electric vehicle industry. “The high quality of the Irizar product is reflected in the production of the key vehicle systems by Irizar Group companies, and other components being sourced from some of the most respected names in the European automotive industry.” Steve O’Neill - Director - said: “Creating the full Irizar UK e-mobility Bus team is an exciting further development for Irizar UK. It’s good to have on board people with such a wide range of experience and passion for our

Strategic Advisor mike weston will work alongside two new appointments to promote irizar’s bus products in the UK market panish manufacturer Irizar is to expand its UK bus team with the appointment of Shaun Millar and Gradyn Thompson, who join Strategic Advisor Mike Weston. Irizar offers a range of all-electric city buses including an awardwinning fully electric articulated ‘road tram’ which embodies many of the advantages of an urban light-rail system without requiring the installation of expensive dedicated infrastructure. Mike Weston, for many years

the Director of Buses at Transport for London and who led the development and introduction of hybrid buses, the New Routemaster and the early trial and deployment of electric buses, is providing strategic support to Irizar which further reinforces the group’s approach to customers’ needs. Shaun Millar has been appointed as Business Development Manager - Bus at Irizar (UK)’s e-mobility division. He brings a wealth of experience in the industry including various positions at large OEM coach and bus manufacturers. Graydn Thompson is Technical

industry, and I’m sure this will allow us to have a similar positive impact on the electric bus market as we did in the coach market.” Irizar e-mobility vehicles have been achieving considerable success in Europe since the first six 12-metre ie. buses with depot charging were delivered to Marseille, France in 2016. Subsequent orders have included 15 12-metre ie buses for EMT Madrid. The launch of the awardwinning articulated ie ‘road tram’ last year has meanwhile accelerated Irizar’s e-mobility fortunes, and four 18-metre articulated ie road trams are to be delivered to TMB, Barcelona, Spain, in June. These will be followed next year by 18 ie road trams to Bayonne, France, and 43 to Amiens, France. All of these orders will have on-route opportunity charging and promise to revolutionise public transport in terms of both capacity and reduced environmental impact in their cities. n n For further information on Irizar’s products please contact Shaun Millar at shaun@irizar.co.uk 07748 857230

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TH E AL BUM

REPORT 2018

THE CONVERGENCE OF CONTACTLESS AND MOBILE Bournemouth-based passenger technology group is advancing its transport mobile apps to include contactless journey information hile the UK bus industry is rolling out contactless payment technology à la Transport for London, one forward-thinking company is developing mobile apps that augment the new on-bus systems with instant notifications that nudge users to keep using the service. Following a trail blazed by so-called ‘Challenger Banks’, in the financial sector, Bournemouthbased Passenger is advancing its transport mobile apps to include contactless journey information, in a technology convergence that will force customers to look at the humble bus in a whole new light. Technology is moving quicker than ever before in all aspects of life. In contrast, our roads are clogged with traffic and its users are subjected to a never-ending programme of repairs and so-called improvements. A modern public transport network is the solution. But we are relying on those at the wheel to effectively embrace new technologies before they are driven off the road by the type of disruption that comes from those transport companies built from the ground up on software itself. The rise and rise of contactless payments is not to be sniffed at. According to the UK Cards Association, the total number of contactless cards has already reached 99 million - and that number is growing at a staggering rate of 2.1% month by month. In 2014, contactless card payments were launched on London’s transport system, so

An illustrated guide to contactless payment models

visitors could pay for tube, bus and tram fares - simply by tapping their debit or credit card. In what is likely to be the biggest single customer experience enhancement on buses in decades, the bus industry is busy rolling out contactless payment technology to its fleets. As part of this sea change in the attractiveness of catching the bus, one UK-based technology upstart is developing mobile technology that aims to take the contactless experience to the next level by integrating it with apps. Thanks to recent regulatory changes in banking, the stranglehold of long-established financial institutions is being

eroded by nimble, softwarepowered FinTech companies fuelled by venture capital. Described as ‘Challenger Banks’, the likes of Monzo (formerly Mondo, until a lawsuit was threatened), Revolut and Monese have put “mobile first” and our penchant for smartphone apps at the very heart of their battle plans. Key to those strategies is the interplay between their contactless payment cards and mobile apps, which provide a real time window into an account and its transactions. Tap a card to pay for something in store, and instantly receive a notification to your smartphone. All the transaction

and retailer information right there, in real-time, making personal finances easier to manage than ever before. Now think about the same idea applied to public transport: What if you could jump aboard a bus, tap the same card you use in the shops, then take a seat and monitor your travel ‘account’ transactions in the same way? As we do in-store, if it’s easier to buy a product and yet feel in control of the purchase, then it’s likely we’ll do it again, and again. For those who don’t even think of catching a bus or see it as a last resort, this combination of familiar technologies might be the leap forward that jumpstarts

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TICKETI NG PASSE NGE R TECH NO LO GY GRO UP

a behaviour shift. Removing the barriers to entry (unknown fares and driver-customer interaction) might even propel the humble bus to significant relevance for a generation that isn’t interested in car ownership, yet is hooked on the convenience of smartphone technology. Place this contactless journey information alongside the existing utility tools of journey planning, real-time information, vehicle location monitoring and disruption messaging, and even some new ones like a button that can request a bus to stop and pick you up, and you start to see a vision of the future where mass

transit becomes the sustainable and desirable travel alternative. Augmenting the new on-bus contactless systems to provide a customer experience that just works isn’t the only objective here either. In simplifying the experience for the customer, the industry is forsaking its data about them. No longer will operators have a clear picture of ridership demographics, or be able to promote to well-defined customer segments. Whether intentionally or not, the promised rise in patronage is seemingly a big enough payoff, that customer data is worth the sacrifice. Mobile apps are already, and will, fill those data gaps. By providing the customer with the efficiency fix that only smartphone technology can afford them, we’re also able to rebuild the profile information that we’d be giving up in the name of happier, more abundant customers. Combining contactless payment with mobile provides a unique opportunity to give the customer the service that they seek without creating an army of anonymous customers. Mobile devices can also augment data returned to the contactless back office (Account Based Back Office Ticketing, ABBOT) too, so rather than the customer having to tap out on a second compliant contactless reader, the device could provide a virtual ‘tap out’ based on the device location and proximity to the bus network. This could help to lessen the need for a simple flat-fare structure, which is likely to be impossible to implement in large geographical areas with inter-urban routes. But for now, the future of bus travel is in the convergence of those familiar consumer technologies: contactless payment and smartphones apps. A Contactless Portal, providing journey information while on the journey itself, will hand power simultaneously back to both the customer and the operator. n

Contactless payment information viewed from mobile apps and websites

If you’re interested in the work Passenger is doing in this area, please drop in and see us at the ALBUM Conference in Glasgow or find out more at www.discoverpassenger.com.

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03/05/2018 17:08

TICKE TING PARKEO N

MANAGED SERVICES FROM PARKEON parkeon unveils transformative web-based, managed service for bus operators. Surveillance systems win praise from West Midlands Police arkeon Transportation has unveiled a web-based, managed service offering that will transform the way bus operators manage their ticketing system. The company’s latest digital innovation enables bus companies to move away from resource-heavy local server-based systems to a web-enabled platform that provides a fully scalable approach to monitoring, managing and analysing business critical operations. “This service delivers significant benefits to operators,” says Darren Humphrys, Parkeon Transportation’s Business Development Manager - UK Bus. “It brings together all the key processes required to ensure ticketing system integrity, within a platform featuring best practice security standards and designed to reduce the total cost of ownership.” Parkeon’s managed services platform incorporates: n continuous system monitoring and proactive technical support; n exception reporting and preventative maintenance; n dashboard environment for intuitive system management; n customisable reporting; n analytics for data mining, including hosted Microsoft Excel; n the capability to blend third-party data; n Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL); n driver messaging; n fares and routes configuration; n advanced security system protocols and automatic updates; n automatic system backup, archiving and data protection. The managed services solution

enables bus operators to take a strategic approach to system integrity, safe in the knowledge that the platform is always optimised for performance and the system’s health is proactively monitored. This innovation is the latest Parkeon development in a digital pathway that is increasingly

enabling public transport operators to integrate back office, payments, hosting and inspection requirements, while delivering the analytical tools to sharpen marketing and scheduling decisions. Darren Humphrys explains: “Public transport operators are on a journey that will enable

Parkeon’s web-based, managed service delivers ‘significant benefits to operators’

W E L C OM E F L OW B I R D

of innovation in transportation hardware, software, sensor systems, machine-learning and AI, information security and mobile development,” says Gavin Trimnell, Parkeon Transportation Head of Sales and Marketing. “Against this backdrop, we very much look forward to continuing our journey of digitalisation with our customers and stakeholders.”

There will soon be a new name in transportation technology. Parkeon recently merged with Cale and the combined group is in the process of being rebranded Flowbird. Flowbird expresses the innate ability of birds to navigate individually within crowded spaces; mirroring the positive benefit for people using intelligent multi-modal systems developed by Parkeon and Cale. “Our combined resources including 500 R&D engineers - place Flowbird at the forefront

their customers to access services more easily using digital transactions married to real-time and personalised information. At the same time, our development of cloud-enabled management architectures and account-based systems, alongside EMV and open payments, are bringing new levels of efficiency and decision-making insight to operators.” surveillance systems win praise from police Safety and security systems supplied and fitted on buses by Parkeon Transportation have been praised for their high quality image output by West Midlands Police. The force says that the clarity of CCTV footage made available by the technology supplied to National Express has been instrumental in solving low level and more serious on-vehicle crime, making the bus network safer for passengers while enhancing asset security. Parkeon surveillance systems communicate with depot-based shared wireless networks, and include an operator-user interface that integrates legacy technology via a single application, ensuring that video from every source can be requested, reviewed and prepared as evidence packages through a common process. With its high quality video capture capability, Parkeon technology ensures that key data and high-definition imagery are recorded simultaneously. The system automatically checks for camera faults or masked images. Tom Stables, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: “By installing these state-of-the-art cameras and working closely with the police in the Safer Travel Partnership, we have achieved a 75% success rate in identifying the offenders responsible for anti-social behaviour and crime on our buses.” All CCTV operations, including on-bus and depot infrastructure, are supported by Parkeon through a service level agreement, with 24/7 access to a national network of 80 specialist technicians and maintenance engineers. n

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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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03/05/2018 17:24

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TH E AL BUM

RE PORT 2018

PARTNERSHIP B O OSTS BUSINESS PERFORMANCE mcgill’s, this year’s album conference host, has worked closely with epm to enhance its operational performance with new software solutions that aim to put managers in the driving seat or any business, having critical data and information about operational performance is essential. With a myriad of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to keep track of however, for many bus operators it can be a case of relying on a variety of paper-based systems and spreadsheets. However, this methodology can lead to significant drawbacks, including inconsistencies between company depots. It can also take time for the data to be inputted into disparate systems and the process of bringing it together into a consistent and coherent format can be long-winded. There are also issues in creating a suitable format from which that information can be manipulated and examined. McGill’s, Scotland’s largest

independent bus operator, was experiencing those sorts of issues several years ago during a period of frenetic growth. Operations Director Colin Napier describes how the company began a journey in 2010, shortly after he joined McGill’s, that saw the firm expanding rapidly. “Back then we had just been through the process of acquiring six smaller operators,” he says. “It had been a period of significant growth for McGill’s, one which cemented its position in the Inverclyde and Renfrewshire area where the company has its roots. That rapid expansion continued in 2012 with the purchase of Arriva’s business in the west of Scotland.” Napier describes this time as an exciting one where the business just continued to “grow and grow and grow”. However, with that growth it became clear there was a

need to integrate these businesses into a single McGill’s operation, one where business performance and KPIs could be simply and easily identified and tracked. It led McGill’s to the door of Worcestershire-based bus industry audit and software specialists EPM, an established company that has developed a range of special software tools which aim to bring clarity to the wealth of data that is generated by bus operators. The company has a background in auditing services for the bus industry, developing a specialised niche in BSOG certification, concessionary travel consultancy and operational audit for bus operators. This background led to the development of a range of software tools to assist with the dayto-day management of these tasks and functions. EPM’s first software

product was launched 30 years ago and today the company supplies a range of software solutions to bus operators across the country, from the major groups to municipal and independent operators. “We wanted to be able to keep control of and track the data,” explains Napier. “We had looked at a variety of solutions, but it seemed to us that the suite of tools available from EPM were easily applicable to the needs of our business.” McGill’s started a process of introducing EPM software solutions across its business. This includes the Operational Performance Module (OPM), a clever piece of software that is designed to bring together a wealth of operational data from other EPM software modules covering, amongst other aspects, incident reporting, customer feedback, driver and bus activity, including maintenance and engineering. “OPM streamlined a lot of our processes,” says Napier. “Previously we relied on a reams of paper and various different spreadsheets to capture the data. There was a lot of toing-and-froing to capture and present the data and it was just too cumbersome. Significant labour was needed to maintain those systems and we had doubts about the accuracy of the process. OPM transformed that overnight as it’s a resource that can extract data directly from the source.” McGill’s rolled this system out

The dashboard tool developed by EPM for McGill's presents business critical information in a format that aims to aid decision-making

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SOF TWARE E PM

to every department across the company over a period of between six months and one year. Its impact was instantaneous. “We went from being in the dark over many aspects of the business to being highly informed,” says Napier. “We had such clarity and consistency. We suddenly had a wealth of data at our fingertips and there was such flexibility too. We spent a lot of time talking to EPM about how certain aspects of the software could be improved, how we could tailor the reporting to meet the needs of the business. They delivered on that.” He jokes that EPM “made a rod for their back” with their flexibility and it led to discussions about how the software could be further developed in order to help keep track of those all-important business functions and KPIs. McGill’s and EPM have worked closely as development partners to extend the reach of the software’s powers by producing a ‘dashboard’style solution that allows business trends to be displayed in an easy to grasp, and graphical way. “We were fortunate that McGill’s had opted for the full suite of software modules,” explains EPM director Nick Brookes. “They were in a position that they had a system that was creating tremendous amounts of data, but they wanted something tailored to a very specific need, namely a tool that would provide better reporting.”

A P P F OR T HO SE ON T H E M OV E

example, updating information about bus stops asset condition, inspections and as a general reporting tool.” EPM also continues to offer ‘hands on’ services in the fields of BSOG certification, operational audits and concessionary travel consultancy alongside its operational management software systems. The company will be exhibiting at the ALBUM Conference 2018 where a new look (below) will be revealed for the first time.

EPM are now working with a number of operators to develop a smartphone app that will give bus industry supervisors and managers out on the road the ability to interrogate and update information while on the move. A number of bus operators have been using a web-based version of EPM’s range of performance tools for some time. Now the company is enhancing accessibility to this information by developing an app for Apple and Android devices that aims to improve functionality. “It’s designed for specific tasks by people out and about,” says EPM director Nick Brookes. “For

McGill's operates 440 vehicles from five depots across the west of central Scotland

Mark Jones, Software Development Manager at EPM takes up the story. “We had established a good working relationship with McGill’s and they were routinely using our software solutions throughout the business,” he says. “However, they began to ask whether there was a way in which they could analyse that data more responsively to their needs. They really wanted something that would look at the company’s entire performance. “They were already using the full suite of EPM modules including OPM and this produced standardised reporting tools, but they wanted something more dynamic that would allow them to quickly examine trends in, for

example, lost mileage, vehicles, route and passenger analysis, depots and so on. In essence, something that would give the McGill’s team the information they required quickly and efficiently.” Jones gives one example of this “dynamic reporting”, namely a route and passenger analysis package. This allows McGill’s to examine bus patronage on any given route and see where patterns form at any given time or day of the week. It can also closely examine historical data to allow trends to be determined. This can easily be replicated across a number of business operations, for example, in customer relations, accident analysis and vehicle maintenance cycles. Jones highlights that accident data can be analysed to produce a ‘heat map’ of vehicle accident hotspots. This very visual way of displaying the information allows managers to create an action list in a bid to mitigate accidents in the hotspot areas. “There are a number of companies out there offering ‘dashboard’ style solutions that allow businesses to examine their performance, but I think we are unique with this package,” says Brookes. “Principally, we know the bus industry and the unique environment of the industry, so we can tailor a package that will meet the needs of bus operators. Our knowledge and experience within the industry is a real benefit.” The expanded range of reporting tools has been in place at McGill’s now for some months and Napier believes it is already reaping benefits. It followed an intensive period when McGill’s and EPM worked closely to ensure the best solution possible. Now the two sides have rolled out the solution to McGill’s management team across its five depots. “It’s a great business intelligence tool,” adds Napier. “We now have a system that allows us to pull up all sorts of information. We’re finding that it is already informing our own decision making. The days of people having to thumb through bits of paper or tracking through a myriad of spreadsheets are over at McGill’s.” n

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03/05/2018 21:08

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03/05/2018 17:12

SOF TWARE O MNIBUS

Directors Carol and Peter Crichton (seen with Iain Duncan Smith MP) attended an event in Westminster last year to mark the company's inclusion in the prestigious Parliamentary Review

THE OMNIBUS DIFFERENCE omnibus has developed and refined its range of software solutions over the last 28 years. andrew garnett spoke to Managing Director peter crichton to find out what makes the company different echnology has made great strides over recent years in creating greater efficiencies in the bus industry. Gone are the days when many tasks would require cumbersome manual or paperbased methods in order to achieve the right result. One of the companies that has helped achieve this turnaround is Omnibus, the UK’s leading supplier of operational software to the passenger transport industry. Over the last 28 years the company has developed a niche

in providing software for staff management, constructing timetables, schedules and publicity displays across a wide range of operating and local authority partners. In all, over 180 sites in the UK and overseas now have software programs produced by the Oldham-based company. In a competitive IT market, just how has the company survived and indeed thrived? “We are a UK-based company and we know the UK market,” says Managing Director and company founder Peter Crichton. “We aim to offer an end-to-end solution

that covers all eventualities and we are flexible enough to work closely with our customers to develop products that meet their specific needs.” That three decades’ worth of experience means the company is well established, but Crichton is at pains to point out that Omnibus is not just resting on its laurels. The last year has seen some significant developments which aim to demonstrate that Omnibus has an eye on the future. The company continues to expand and has reconfigured its head office accommodation in

order to provide enough room for further growth. Meanwhile, Omnibus has expanded its team of software developers in a move that aims to keep the company at the forefront of technological change. As Crichton notes, the company is investing heavily in those all-important development capabilities. “I think we have a number of advantages,” he says. “We are UK-based and we understand the specific needs of this market. The UK is very different to other markets in the transport world. If you look at scheduling, it’s ➢

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TH E AL BUM

a complex picture as the art of scheduling has a direct impact on the bottom line. That also means that the algorithms behind our suite of modules are very powerful. They can handle any challenging permutation.” He also points out that Omnibus has a number of advantages over its competitors. “We are inherently flexible,” Crichton continues. “We don’t want to sell the customer a software program and then sit back and rake in the cash. We very much see it as a partnership and we work closely with our customers to improve the software and the algorithms all the time.” Crichton points to two specific recent projects as good examples. Traveline Cymru had been an Omnibus customer for some time when it enquired whether the company would be able to develop some tailored software capabilities for a specific need – namely a system that would allow it to create a database of fares information for the general public. “We went away and examined the very specific needs of Traveline Cymru’s project and determined, yes, we could do it. So we developed a piece of software which means that bus passengers throughout Wales can now contact Traveline Cymru, either through its contact centre, website or range of smartphone apps, to find out how much their journey would cost. And that all started with a simple conversation on the basis of the software we had already supplied.” The other, more recent, project has seen the development of EBSR Lite, a cloud-based application that

A P OW E R F U L SU P P ORT TO OL Omnibus has been developing its range of software solutions for the transport industry over the last 28 years. As a result of continual refinement, thanks to close partnership working with customers, the company’s algorithms now have extensive capabilities. Managing Director Peter Crichton puts this simply as “do

REPORT 2018

“There have been cases where we’ve thought, ‘let’s just go and try this’ and ‘let’s see what happens’.”

aims to allow smaller independent operators, who may not require a full Omnibus software suite, to register bus services using Electronic Bus Service Registration (EBSR) protocols. This was a project that perhaps demonstrates the advantages of Omnibus. The company remains in private hands where the focus is not on maximising shareholder or investor returns. That means there is a focus on satisfying the customer rather than the investor, enabling Omnibus to invest for longer term benefits. “We don’t have a complex ownership structure,” says Crichton. “When we make a decision to do some development work it doesn’t involve a long, bureaucratic sign-off process or the need for a cost:benefit analysis. There have been cases, and we’ve had some brilliant projects we’ve worked on, where we’ve thought, ‘let’s just go and try this and see what happens’.” It was in such circumstances

that the EBSR Lite project occurred. “It was purely an inhouse project,” Crichton explains, “with no up-front funding. We had the feeling that it was a project that would teach us a lot of lessons and would enhance and become part of the business’s products as they develop, but we also felt it was something that had to be done.” Crichton says that it has given the company something very practical and which the market really needs. He doubts that many other software development companies operating within the UK market would be willing or able to do the same. “Larger operators processing

The Omnibus team have a passion for exploring opportunities and continual improvement

system,” he adds. “All of our applications have been designed by people who understand the real world. They have been designed for the market they are in. Because we have specifically designed it to be intuitive and easy to use some people have the misguided perception that our system is ‘not powerful enough’ for their needs. That’s completely wrong.” Meanwhile, the company has continued to challenge traditional rigid transport based

it right and do it properly”. “We aim to produce a good result,” he explains. “And we aim to do it correctly.” The extensive capabilities of the software mean that customers often need support in order to get the best out of it. Crichton says that Omnibus has worked closely with its customers to develop tailored training courses for long-standing staff members as well as new recruits. “However, it’s a very intuitive

more complicated registrations will continue to use products like our EBSR module, but smaller operators just don’t need that processing power – they require a simplified solution. The challenge will now be to find a commercial case for it,” he adds. “If there is a need for a centrally funded solution we have one, but smaller independent operators will not be expecting to pay to provide electronic registrations . ” The nascent EBSR Lite also demonstrates that Omnibus is moving towards making its products available as a hosted solution in the cloud, alongside a suite of new options like smartphone apps as well as traditional desktop software. Crichton says that this once again demonstrates the company’s flexibility. “At Omnibus we have a passion for a good job,” he says. “Our mindset, as you can see with EBSR Lite, is about exploring opportunities and looking for continual improvement. Yes, we’ve been around for a long time, but we have been heavily investing for some time in the products and our own in-house capabilities. We don’t make false claims about what our software can achieve, we simply point to our experience. “And the fact that we continually talk to our customers and continually improve the product means a customer is not just buying my expertise or the expertise of the company, but also the expertise of all of those operators who have given input into the development of the software over the years.” n data models by expanding and enhancing its own innovative model combining the benefits of integration between products and flexibility of use. Crichton continues: “You can use the data for your crew scheduling, for timetables, for bus stop publicity, for Electronic Bus Service Registration (EBSR) – it all comes from a single data set. I’m not aware of anyone else who offers the complete solution that we offer.”

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CCTV TIMESPACE

PROVIDING ‘ THE COMPLETE PICTURE’ timespace technol o gy’s digital v ideo recorders and software prov ide comprehensive CCT V and f leet management information for operators new 16-channel vehicle dvr Timespace will shortly be launching the X300 16-M DVR, a drop-in replacement for X200 CCTV systems. With a power-down circuit and configurable alarms, the new 16-channel X300 16-M is compatible with all existing Timespace accessories and software - making it very attractive for operators upgrading from the X200. Timespace’s hybrid vehicle DVRs, the V400 and V500, allow operators to introduce highdefinition IP cameras into vehicle

imespace Technology has been developing and manufacturing mobile digital video recorders (DVRs) for vehicle CCTV since 1997. Timespace’s X200 was the “building block” of vehicle CCTV, and the X300 and V400 DVRs, now used in thousands of vehicles world-wide, are recognised for their compact “one box” design and reliable performance.

CCTV. With 1 and 8 IP camera inputs respectively, the V400 and V500 both have removable, fully-suspended hard drives and up to 2TB recording media with additional back-up SD cards, providing long-term reliability. are you ready for gdpr? Timespace’s PCLink software, compatible with all Timespace DVRs, allows operators to view live and recorded footage, and provides a simple means of exporting footage. New encryption and password features soon to be

launched in the DVR software and PCLink, along with the existing object-blurring tool, will help operators comply with the requirements of the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Timespace’s LANLink fleet management software enables operators to view the status of all installed CCTV systems via “traffic light” indicators and daily camera snapshots. LANLink features include footage downloads, geo-fencing, and vehicle route information. Vehicle CAN data can also now be included via Timespace’s CANLink unit, allowing CAN data to be viewed in sequence with video footage. LANLink also provides remote software upgrades for Timespace DVRs, including new security features and file password settings. Contact Timespace for further product details or to find a distributor.. ■ www.tspace.co.uk. 01480 414147

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03/05/2018 19:40

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03/05/2018 17:19

BRITAIN'S MUNICIPALLY-OWNED AND INDEPENDENT BUS SECTOR

brought to you by

in association with

THE AL BU M CO NFERENCE WOR KBOOK 2018

organised by

main sponsors

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04/05/2018 17:18

TH E AL BUM

RE PO RT 2018

elcome to Glasgow! McGill’s is delighted to be hosting the 2018 ALBUM Conference in the centre of Scotland’s largest city. You will hear lectures that give an insight into today’s main issues by industry experts, and visit an exhibition full of bus industry supplier trade stands where there are many deals just waiting to be done. If you take part in the evening events, you will also experience fabulous Scottish hospitality on the banks of Loch Lomond and at the Gala Dinner in the Marriott Grand Ballroom. For those wishing to escape buses for a moment, we have everything from a Whisky Distillery Tour to behind-the-scenes tours of the fabulous City Chambers and Glasgow Central station, which boasts the largest glass roof in the world. Regardless of what brings you to Glasgow, I hope your time is enjoyable, profitable and that you go home with fresh ideas of how to drive sustainability despite today’s uncertain operating environment. Ralph Roberts, Managing Director, McGill’s

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03/05/2018 19:44

T H E CO NF E RENCE PRO GRAMME

MON 14 T H M AY 9.0 0 a m

Depart the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow •

9.4 5a m

Arrive at The Carrick, Cameron House, Alexandria, G83 8QX •

10.00am

Hot roll/breakfast at The Carrick

1 1 .00am

2.45 pm

11.0 0 pm

Clyde Distillery Tour

Exhibition time Tea & coffee

1 2.0 0pm

•

Buses depart Cameron House back to the Marriott

Lunch served

4. 3 0p m

12 .0 0 a m

Exhibition closes

Nightcap at the Marriott

•

Ralph Roberts Opening address •

•

6.30pm

9.0 0 am

Buses depart Marriott Hotel for Cameron House Hotel

Ralph Roberts Opening address

•

1 1 .0 0 a m

James Backhouse Franchising & its Implications

1 .0 0 p m

2. 1 5pm

James Carney Update from last year’s conference

•

9.15am

7.30pm

John Clarfelt What does the Future of Ticketing look like in the UK?

Round the World BBQ and entertainment at The Boathouse, Cameron House

•

Halfway snacks •

W E DS 16 T H M AY

Colin Robertson Manufacturing in Uncertain Times 1 .45pm

•

4. 3 0p m

Whisky tasting at the Marriott

1 . 1 5pm

•

4 Ball, shotgun start

•

1 .00pm

•

10.0 0 a m

Golf concludes

Andy Eastlake LEZs

4.15p m

10. 3 0 a m

Depart The Carrick, travel back to the Marriott

Tea & coffee

3.30 p m •

•

11.0 0 a m

6.15p m

Depart the Marriott to Custom House Quay, Greenock.

Mark Prowting Insurance in a Changing Environment

7. 3 0 p m

11.3 0 a m

Dinner Cruise on the Clyde Clipper: Golf prize giving will take place on the cruise Main sailing area is the Firth of Clyde taking in many picturesque routes including the Kyles of Bute, Tighnabruaich, Loch Long, Loch Goil, Carrick Castle, Rothesay, Dunoon.

Exhibition time

•

12.0 0 pm

Lunch •

1.0 0 pm

Exhibition time •

2.0 0 pm Monday's activities are focused on the spectacular Carrick golf course on Loch Lomond

Glasgow City Chambers tour

10.45p m

•

Depart Greenock for return to the Marriott

2. 3 0 pm

Tea & coffee •

4.0 0 pm

T U ES 15TH M AY

Exhibition closes ALBUM AGM meeting in the Waverley Suite

7.0 0 a m

•

Exhibition area open for set up

6.0 0 pm

Pre-dinner drinks in the Clyde Suite

•

10.00am

Registration opens Exhibition opens Tea & coffee

•

7.0 0 pm

Gala Dinner, with entertainment, in Clyde Suite

•

1 1 .0 0 a m

•

ALBUM Executive meeting in Waverley Suite

12 .0 0 a m This year's Gala Dinner takes place at the Marriott Hotel in the centre of Glasgow

Nightcap at the Marriott

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03/05/2018 21:00

T H E AL BUM

REPORT 2018

YOUR LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS Our speakers will provide food for thought over two days, offering perspectives about a number of issues affecting our industry. Read the biographies below to familiarise yourself with our expert line-up YO UR H OSTS

DAV I D GU EST

Journalist & Broadcaster Dave has been a familiar face at ALBUM since 2007. When he isn’t hosting the UK’s premier bus industry event, he’s chasing the news for BBC TV. His job as Chief Reporter with BBC Northwest Tonight means he’s involved in covering the major stories that break in the North West of England - not only for regional audiences but network TV and radio programmes too. In a career spanning 35 years, Dave has picked up a number of awards, including O2 TV Journalist of the Year and the Royal Television Society Award for Best Regional Reporter. •

RALPH RO BE RTS

Managing Director, McGill’s Bus Service Limited Ralph is Managing Director of McGill’s Bus Service Ltd. He joined the company in April 2010 from Arriva plc, where he was employed in a number of roles since 2000

Ralph Roberts (third from left) chairs the Scottish Integrated Ticketing steering group

across the group’s UK and European bus and rail divisions. Latterly, he was Managing Director of Arriva Scotland West. He has led McGill’s from being a 140 employee company to one that employs almost 1,000. Ralph has gained extensive knowledge of the transport sector over the last 39 years, having spent time as a fleet consultant in London, Scotland and the south of England following deregulation of the bus market. He also spent 10 years in haulage, logistics and industrial services with TDG and Rentokil Initial. Ralph is a past chairman of Freight Transport Association Scotland, the Confederation of Passenger Transport in Scotland, the VOSA (DVSA) operator liaison group and Gourock Community Council. He is currently a director of Traveline Scotland and chairs the Scottish Integrated Ticketing steering group on behalf of public transport operators and Scottish Government. Ralph grew up in Coatbridge and now lives in Gourock. He enjoys walking his dog, motorhome camping and restoring classic cars and motorcycles.

SPEAKERS

COL IN ROBE RTSO N

Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Dennis Limited Colin is Chief Executive of Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), Britain’s biggest bus and coach manufacturer. Since joining the company in April 2007 from Terex Corporation, Colin has led its transformation from a predominantly UK-focused business to an international player in the bus and coach sector. Under his leadership, ADL has grown rapidly during the last 11 years with sales revenue consistently 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. In the last 12 months, ADL has continued its international market expansion strategy adding Mexico and Switzerland to its customer base whilst simultaneously achieving record sales revenues in the UK and North America. ADL has become renowned as a technology pioneer. As the result of an ongoing multi-million pound investment programme in product development, ADL offers the widest range of reliable and proven, low and zero emission powertrain solutions in the market. Today the company employs 2,480 and has manufacturing operations and build partnerships in the UK, Europe, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Mexico and North America. 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 Ernst & Young awards for Entrepreneurship and Outstanding Achievement. •

JAMES BAC K HOUSE

Director / Solicitor, Backhouse Jones James qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and began specialising in road transport law in 1994 when he joined the family practice which has specialised in transport law since 1930.

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THE CO NF E RENCE SPE AKE R PRO F IL ES

James has been involved in two Article 177 references to the European Court of Justice, an Appeal to the House of Lords and numerous Court of Appeal and Divisional Court cases. He has also been consulted in the process of vetting impending legislation dealing with aspects of road transport. The 2017 Chambers Guide regards James as a “top-notch” road regulatory lawyer, particularly in relation to contentious work. He is described by sources as “a very good lawyer” who “knows his stuff ”. He frequently represents operator clients in Public Inquiries across the country and is held in high esteem for his skills in this arena. When not defending operators, James enjoys sailing with his family. •

M A R K P ROWTIN G

Account Director, Willis Towers Watson Land Transportation Practice Mark has worked within the insurance industry for 35 years and joined the WTW Transportation Practice in December 2009. Having started his insurance career as a Motor Fleet/Casualty underwriter in 1982, he transferred to the broking sector in 1991. In 2003 he joined Heath Lambert as one of the founder members of the specialist Transportation Division and latterly was appointed to head up the division. For the last 23 years he has undertaken a client facing account management role including the coordination and delivery of Risk Management and Loss Management services to a wide range of clients in the Transport Sector, including Bus, Coach and Light Rail operators, Logistics, Haulage and Distribution companies, Train Operating Companies and Transport

Regulatory Bodies. Focussing on servicing clients in the Bus and Coach sector, Mark has a wealth of experience in designing insurance programmes, including complex Non-Conventional Motor Fleet and Liability solutions, Direct Writing and Protected Cell Captives as well as running a Motor ‘Risk Pooling’ facility for a number of UK municipal bus companies.

of Commercial and Projects at Millbrook Proving Ground where he led the work on powertrain test and development programmes and alternative fuels for a variety of global OEM customers. As Head of Laboratories Andy was responsible for all technical aspects of the Millbrook business and for government and European legislative relations. He joined Millbrook after a year’s training with Vauxhall Motors by whom he was sponsored to study for a degree in mechanical engineering at Southampton University. He is a Fellow of the Institution of the Mechanical Engineers and was formerly a Board member of Cenex the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon & Fuel Cell Technologies.

•

A N DY EAST L A KE

Managing Director, LowCVP

•

Andy was appointed as the LowCVP’s Managing Director in April 2012, after serving both on the board and as chair of the Members Council for many years. As MD Andy has been integrally involved in the design and implementation of the latest accreditation schemes for both buses and HGVs, supporting the Department for Transport and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) in stimulating the uptake of low carbon technologies. He has a strong background in vehicle engineering, specialising in powertrain developments, fuel economy and emissions. He was formerly Group Head

(Ticketer). 100% focussed on his customers, John is passionate about personalising public transportation, through ticketing software and devices that are customised for operators, and individualised to the lives that passengers lead. For the operator, that means having the customer insight and understanding to differentiate operations, helping to run things more efficiently and stay ahead of the competition. For passengers, that means easy travel; an app to see live travel information, convenient routes, and tickets with a tap. The fact that Ticketer continues to deliver on this vision is down to John’s complete lack of appreciation of the technical challenges involved, rescued only by his immensely talented colleagues developing, delivering, and supporting the vision, whilst John is tasked with taking all the kudos for their efforts, and dreaming in vain of Arsenal winning the Premier League again. •

JO H N CL ARF ELT

Chief Executive Officer, Ticketer John originally qualified as a Barrister, with an unrivalled lack of legal knowledge, and promptly became a butcher. He first became involved with bus ticketing, via a circuitous route, in 2008, and was so enthused that in 2009 he co-founded Corvia Ltd

Blackpool Transport has a strategy of rejuvenating its assets, including its fleet

JA MES CA R N EY

Finance and Commercial Director, Blackpool Transport James joined the bus industry in 1990 when the impact of the 1985 Transport Act was still being assessed within the municipal sector. He had previously worked in the highly competitive sectors of the decorative paint industry, roadside advertising and merchant banking. He contributed to Reading Buses as it flourished in the newly created commercial bus industry. In recent years, he has worked for Arriva Malta and its successor Malta Public Transport. James is currently the Finance and Commercial Director of Blackpool Transport, which is implementing a strategy of treating its customers and employees as people and rejuvenating its assets to put pride back as the first emotional response everyone has about the company. n

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EXHIBIT

TH E AL BUM

REPO RT 2018

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7

BUS DISPLAY

Traff Alfat Pass Five Cum Read Mich

CLYDE SUITE

RESTAURANT

CHAT'S BAR CHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BAR

LOBBY

REGISTRATION DESK

LOBBY

REGISTRATION DESK

RESTAURANT

BATHROOM &BATHROOM GIFT SHOP &

GIFT SHOP

HOTEL

HOTELENTRAN ENTRANCE NETWORKING AREA

NETWORKING AREA

42-43_ALBUM2018_Floorplan.indd 42

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ITORS

ffilog atronix ssenger Lift Services ebars mmins ad Commercials chelin

C8 Invertec Int C24 Parkeon C36 McKenna Bros C9 PB Bus Market C25 ECR C37 Sure 24 C10 Impression Moq C26 Mix Telematics C38 Lazzerini TH E E XH IBITIO N F LO O RPL AN C11 Voyager Credit Union C27 21st Century C39 Timespace Tech. C12 UK Bus Awards C28 WNV Systems C40 Isringhausen gb ltd C13 Fältcom C29 Ticketer C41 Smart Drive C14 First Corp Clothing C30 Icomera C42 EP Morris EXHIBITORS C15 Wright Bus C8 Invertec C16 Wrightbus C25 ECR Retail Systems C31 Irizar/Datik C9 PB Bus Marketing C17 TEK Seating C26 MiX Telematics C16 Wright BusC10 Herbert Kneitz C32 Hammock C1 Traffilog C18 Camira C27 21st Century C2 Alfatronix C11 Voyager AllianceC33 Rambus C19 Freeway Fleet Systems C28 WNV-Systems C17 TEK Seating C3 Passenger Lift Services Credit Union C20 E-Leather C29 Ticketer C18 Camira Fabrics C34 Passenger Tech Group C4 Fivebars C12 UK Bus Awards C21 Phoenix Seating C30 Icomera UK C19 Freeway Fleet Systems C35 PSV C22 Glass C5 Cummins C13 Fältcom UK INIT C31 Irizar UK/Datik C6 Read Commercials C23 Transport Benevolent Fund C32 Hammock C20 E Leather C14 First Corporate Clothing C7 Michelin Solutions C15 Wrightbus C24 Parkeon Transportation C33 Rambus C21 Phoenix Seating C22 INIT Ltd C23 TBF

C30 C30

L13

L12

L15

L13

L6 L6

L5 L5

EVM

L10

L11

L12

L11

L4 L4

L10

L2 L2

Bus & Coach Bus World & Coach World

C1 L15

Volvo

C42 C42

C29

C15/C16

C41

C29

Optare

C40

C41

C17

C31 C31

C18

C14

Wrightbus

C38 C39

C40

C18

C15/16 C1

C36

C35 C34 C33

C26

C32

C28

LECTURE LECTURE HALL HALL

C39

C32

C19

C27 C27

C20

C11 C12 C13

C13

C14

C19

C33

C28

C20

C12 C3

C38

C21

C34

Optare

RECEPTION

C24

C25

C26 C4

C37 C37

C22

C10

C11

RECEPTION

C35

C22

C24

STAGE STAGE

C9 C9

C10

LIFTS

C23

C25

Volvo

L NCE

C36

Wrightbus

LIFTS

Passenger Tech Group PSV Glass McKenna Brothers SURE24 Lazzerini Timespace Technology Isringhausen SmartDrive EPM

EVM

C34 C35 C36 C37 C38 C39 C40 C41 C42

L1 L1

EXHIBITORS L1 ADL EXHIBITORS L2 Allison L3 Omnibus L1 Alexander Dennis Limited L4 L2 Volvo Allison Transmission L3 Mercedes Omnibus L5 L4 Volvo Bus L6 Backhouse Jones L5 Mercedes-Benz L7 Scania L6 Backhouse Jones L7

Scania (Great Britain)

L8 Smart Graphics L8 Graphics L9 Smart Stream Tech L9 Stream Tech L10 HJS L10 HJS Emission Technology L11Pelican Pelican Engineering L11 Engineering L12 L12Q'Straint Q’Straint L13 Q'Straint L13 Q’Straint L15 FCL Organisation

EvoBus/ EvoBus/Alfatronix Alfatronix

ADL ADL

lor MeMlellor

L15 FCL

BUS DISPLAY

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03/05/2018 21:02

Visit TBF on Stand C23

to see how we can help you and your employees for just

£1 a week.

Helping to make a difference.

If need, hardship or distress should arise, TBF is here to support its members, helping them to keep the wheels of the public transport industry turning.

A wide range of financial, health and welfare benefits for those working in the public transport industry, helping to improve members’ work-life balance and reduce staff turnover for the employer.

It costs just £1 a week

Covering the member, their partner and dependent children.

0300 333 2000 www.tbf.org.uk Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016. PTP_ALBUM_Advert_2018_186x134.indd 3

Ad_44.indd 44

29/03/2018 14:53

03/05/2018 17:22

THE E XH IBITIO N E XH IBITO R PRO F IL ES

OUR EXHIBITORS A whole host of companies and organisations are exhibiting this year. Learn more about them here

2 1 ST C E NTU RY STAND C27

21st Century Technology plc is the specialist provider of tailored solutions to the transport community, solving complex operational requirements both on and off the vehicle. With over 20 years’ experience in the transport industry, 21st Century specialises in providing innovative technology solutions that improve the passenger experience and provide operational benefits to fleet and network operators. Fleet Systems solutions include CCTV, Next Stop Announcement, Automatic Passenger Counting, Passenger Wi-Fi and telematics both as standalone technologies and as part of the Connected Bus. ■ 21st Century Fleet Systems Ltd, Unit 4, Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ 0844 871 7990 www.21stplc.com

backed by unrivalled aftermarket support. ■ Alexander Dennis Limited, Dennis Way, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1AF 01483 468170 www.alexander-dennis.com

software enhancements that provide city buses with up to 6% improvement in fuel economy ■ Allison Transmission, 12 Doolittle Mill, Froghall Road, Ampthill MK45 2ND 01525 305123 www.allisontransmission.com

ALFATRO NIX STAND C2

BACKHOUSE JONES STA ND L 6

Alfatronix is the UK’s leading manufacturer of USB chargers, DC-DC voltage converters, battery protectors, AC-DC power supplies, and intelligent battery chargers. The 12v/24v USB chargers, with e marking and R118 approvals, are suitable for both Apple and Android phones and tablets. The slim space saving design permits installation into seat backs or underneath the seats, in a new wall mounted POD, the sidewall of the vehicle with the new IP65 version or customised for OEM applications. ■ Alfatronix Ltd, Unit 29, Newtown Business Park, Poole, Dorset BH12 3LL 01202 715517 www.alfatronix.com

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. ■ Backhouse Jones, The Printworks, Hey Road, Barrow BB7 9WD 01254 828300 www.backhousejones.co.uk

At Cummins, our engineering expertise has enabled us to deliver a Euro 6 product range with the optimum balance of performance and low emissions. We work with customers to tailor these engines for improved fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and lowest total cost of operation. This is SmartEfficiency; developing solutions that take Cummins and our customers beyond Euro 6, through optimised calibrations, stop-start capability, product tailoring with improved power and torque and other sustainable technologies. ■ Cummins Ltd, 40-44 Rutherford Drive, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 6AN 08705 32 92 02 www.cumminseurope.com

CAMIRA STA ND C18

ECR RE TAI L SYST EMS STAN D C 25

A LE X A N D E R DE N NIS LIM ITED

We make fabrics for spaces and places, from offices to schools, trains to buses, and shops to hospitals. Our fabrics are used in a vast array of commercial interiors, education, healthcare, retail, and for passenger transport on bus, coach and rail. We make over 8 million metres of fabric a year, in the UK and in Lithuania, so you’re sure to have touched upon our fabrics either at work, at play or on the move. ■ Camira, The Watermill, Wheatley Park, Mirfield WF14 8HE 01924 490591 www.camirafabrics.com

STAND L1

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,

CUMMIN S STAN D C 5

ALLISON TRA NSMISSIO N STAND L 2

From Beijing to Buenos Aires and New York to London, fleets, cities and passengers rely on Allison Automatics to reliably keep buses on the road making us the global leader in bus transmission technology. Allison transmissions are offered by more bus manufacturers around the world than any other manufacturer. Improve fuel economy with FuelSense® 2.0 our new proprietary

Supplier of integrated mobile ticketing systems. Providing cash, card, contactless and smart payment solutions our systems validate against 30 million bookings per annum and are deployed in 19 cities all over the world. By integrating into existing booking platforms ECR provides a retailing platform to manage and grow revenue whilst delivering reservation data into the drivers’ hands. ECR brings smart solutions to Removing Ticket Barriers and improving passenger experience. ➢

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TH E AL BUM

■ ECR Retail Systems Ltd, Church House, Church Lane, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8JP 020 8205 7766/07720 731903 www.ecr.co.uk

E- LE ATH E R STAND C20

E-Leather is an environmentally friendly materials technology company that designs and manufactures leather fibre composition upholstery for the aviation and ground transport industry as well as a number of consumer led brands. Our award winning, sustainable material outperforms traditional leather, synthetic leathers and fabrics, while complying with industry safety regulations and helping to create better customer experiences. ■ E-Leather, Kingsbridge Centre, Sturrock Way, Peterborough PE3 8TZ 01733 843 939 www.eleathergroup.com

E P M STAND C42

EPM works 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. ■ EPM, 20 Harris Business Park, Hanbury Road, Bromsgrove B60 4DJ 01527 556 940 www.epmorris.co.uk

FÄ LTCO M U K STAND C1 3

The Fältcom IoT Platform revolutionises how Public Transport Authorities and Operators manage their fleets, remotely from the comfort of your office, (or anywhere at any-time), with

REPO RT 2018

personalised uniform packs, in house personalisation and a variety of ordering methods including online ordering. ■ First Corporate Clothing Ltd, Units 2 - 5 Llewellyns Quay, The Docks, Port Talbot SA13 1RF 01639 899008 www.firstcorporateuk.com

a variety of web-based Fleet Management Applications to improve efficiency, saving time and money. With over 160,000 global installations, Fältcom are the established leader in onboard vehicle technology, being a strategic partner of ITxPT, serving to develop open standards in Public Transport Solutions. ■ Fältcom UK Ltd, Regus House, 1010 Cambourne Business Park, Cambridge CB23 6DP 01223 597944 www.faltcom.com

F IVEBARS STA ND C4

Fivebars are the only telecoms company in the UK that specialises in the supply and fitting of passenger Wi-Fi on buses, coaches and private hire vehicles. Fivebars can provide very low cost 4G coverage on all UK networks and are also ranked #1 on Trustpilot in 5 categories including mobile broadband. ■ Fivebars, 132 Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford SO53 2DS 023 8020 0680 www.fivebars.co.uk

FCL ORGA N I SAT I O N STAND L 15

The FCL Organisation Group of Companies is an industry leading supplier of Engine and Vehicle Filtration, Heavy Duty Batteries, Braking Components, Lubricating Oils & Greases, Antifreeze, AdBlue and Screenwash. Now in its 31st year of trading, The group can provide a one stop shop for all of your fleet consumable requirements with an aim of becoming your supply partner of choice, and can provide tailor made solutions for both large and small fleets alike. ■ FCL Organisation, Filtration House, Sketty Close, Brackmills, Northampton NN4 7PL 01604 707750 www.filtrationcontrol.com

F REEWAY F L E ET SYSTEMS STA ND C19

Freeway provides software for bus fleet maintenance, designed to simplify and streamline tasks such as planned maintenance and defect reporting, stock control and purchasing, safety and compliance. See live demonstrations of smartphone and tablet apps designed for easy, paperless working in the workshop the depot and the driver’s cab. Freeway will be demonstrating Earned Recognition system features on the stand. ■ Freeway Fleet Systems, Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU 0844 884 3033 www.freewayfleet.com

FIRST CORPORATE CLOTHIN G STA ND C14

First Corporate Clothing are specialist suppliers of uniforms to bus and coach operators. Our team has extensive experience in putting together a corporate wardrobe that enhances your brand, is comfortable and practical to wear, delivered on time and within budget . Our services include; ongoing account management, bespoke design uniforms, on site sizing and issuing service, delivery in

take advantage of the experience and expertise within the specialist teams. Specialising within Revenue Management, Smart Ticketing & Payments, our Professional Services team will bring a powerful operational insight into what can be a daunting and often murky world! At ALBUM we want to engage with operators to understand their ambitions and aspirations for future ticketing. We will showcase our innovative and proven payment systems, and share ideas for digital payments for the future. ■ Hammock, Matthew Parker Street, Westminster, London SW1H 9NP 020 7030 4899 www.ourhammock.com

H ERBE RT K N EI T Z G M B H STAN D C 10

From the heart of Austria, Herbert KNEITZ GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers of automotive and transportation interior textiles. Design, production and supply of complementary and technical fabrics comes from the same team of professional designers and engineers at KNEITZ. We offer seating covers, trim textiles and curtains made in a variety of production technologies, meeting the most stringent design criteria, as well as the highest safety and quality standards. ■ Herbert Kneitz GmbH, Thorl 64, Bad Mitterndorf, A-8983, Austria 07802 245966 www.kneitz.at

H JS E MISSION T EC HN OLOGY UK STAN D L 10

H AMMO CK STA ND C3 2

Hammock is a business borne out of Go Ahead Group, formed to

HJS Emission Technology are leading designers and manufacturers of emission abatement systems for diesel engine based applications. The Real Blue SCRT® system allows

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THE EXH IBITIO N E XH IBITO R PRO F IL ES

operators to retrofit their bus fleets to meet the latest Euro 6 emission standards. The SCRT® system is available for an expanding range of UK bus applications and is CVRAS approved by the Energy Savings Trust. Retrofitting with SCRT® provides ULEZ, LEZ and CAZ compliance at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new vehicles. ■ HJS Emission Technology UK, c/o Emission Engineering Ltd, 9 Sterling Centre, Eastern Road, Bracknell RG12 2PW 01344 566050/07733 227889 www.hjs.com/uk

I CO M E RA STAND C3 0

Icomera believes in a better future powered by a Connected Journey. A revolution in transport powered by high-performance wireless Internet and a range of services that run seamlessly through this connectivity. As the world’s leading provider of open Internet connectivity and application platforms for passenger transport and public safety, Icomera’s award-winning products are deployed on rail, road and sea, serving millions of Wi-Fi users across the globe. ■ Icomera UK Ltd, Victory House, Quayside, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4QU 0870 446 0461 www.icomera.com

I N I T I N N OVATIONS IN T RA N S P O RTATION STAND C22

INIT is the worldwide leading supplier of integrated planning, dispatching, telematics and ticketing systems for buses and trains. For more than 30 years, INIT has been assisting transport companies in making public transport more attractive, faster and more efficient. More than 600 customers rely on our integrated solutions to support them with their daily tasks:

- Planning & Dispatching - Ticketing & Fare Management - Operations Control & Real-Time Passenger Information - Analysing & Optimising ■ INIT Innovations in Transportation Ltd, Price House, 37 Stoney Street, The Lace Market , Nottingham NG1 1LS 0870 890 4648 www.init.co.uk

ISRINGHAUSEN STA ND C40

Isringhausen, part of the worldwide Aunde group, is the global market leader in the development and production of innovative seating systems. The group comprises 109 plants in 27 countries manufacturing driver and passenger seating systems as well as in-house textiles for many different applications including the passenger transport market. Isringhausen GB is based in Wrexham employing 102 people with an ongoing commitment to job creation and new investment. ■ Isringhausen GB Ltd, Redwither Business Park, Second Ave, Wrexham LL13 9XQ 01978 666300

IN V ERTEC STA ND C8

Invertec Interiors is Europe’s leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle interior systems, bringing together our experience in lighting and paneling to offer a complete service to the bus and coach industry. With manufacturing facilities in the UK and Malaysia, Invertec Interiors is positioned to be able to supply and support vehicle manufacturers worldwide. ■ Invertec Interiors, Trimdon Grange Industrial Estate, Trimdon Grange, County Durham TS29 6PE 01429 882210 www.invertec.co.uk

L AZZE RINI STA ND C3 8

Displays, Onboard Information Systems, talking buses, vehicle location, Smartblind, Printed Destination Blinds and full vehicle livery and graphics. ■ McKenna Brothers Limited, McKenna House. Jubilee Road, Middleton, Manchester M24 2LX 07733 322630 www.mckennabrothers.co.uk

MERCE DES- B EN Z STAN D L 5

Mercedes-Benz: optimising the combustion engine in a unique, intelligent way for maximum fuel efficiency in its coaches, buses and minibuses. ■ Mercedes-Benz, Ashcroft Way, Cross Point Business Park, Coventry CV2 2TU 024 7662 6074

MICH E L IN SOLUT I ON S STAN D C 7

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. ■ Lazzerini S.r.l, 21 Viale G. Pieralisi, 60030 Monsano (AN), Italy 07866 474774 www.lazzerini.it

IRIZA R U K STA ND C3 1

Irizar Group are committed to sustainability and have taken the huge step of creating an area of the business dedicated to electromobility. We are ready to provide comprehensive mobility systems: including major infrastructure for charging, traction and energy storage, using Group technology and with Irizar’s bumper to bumper warranty and service quality. We supply 100% Electric Buses to the UK transport market, our range includes 10.8m, 12.0m, 18m Articulated Artic and 18m Ie Tram. ■ Irizar UK, Portland House, Claylands Avenue, Worksop S81 7BQ 07748 857230 www.irizar.co.uk

Michelin Solutions is part of the Michelin group and was established in May 2013. It currently employs around 900 people globally and is responsible for in excess of 310,000 vehicles currently on contract. Michelin solutions is dedicated to designing, developing and commercialising solutions for fleets of trucks, buses, coaches, cars and vans. Its solutions are aimed at fleets wanting to improve their efficiency, productivity, and environmental footprint, in a global and customised way. ■ Michelin Solutions, Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EY 07968 307673 www.michelin-solutions.com

MCKE NNA BROTH ERS LTD STA ND C3 6

As McKenna Brothers enters its 41st year in the passenger information systems industry we have much to look forward to our partnership with Mobitec and Luminator Technology Group enables us to offer the most complete range of Destination

MIX TE L EMAT I CS STA N D C 26

MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered ➢

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as Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, to customers in over 120 countries. The company’s products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, compliance and security. ■ MiX Telematics, 6180 Knights Court, Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham B37 7YB 0800 200 6800 www.mixtelematics.co.uk

REPO RT 2018

Integrating ticketing and journey validation with ID-based and contactless systems, we are helping towns and cities to plan for a future that demands seamless multi-modal travel. Parkeon Transportation is based at the UK headquarters in Poole, Dorset. ■ Parkeon Transportation, 10 Willis Way, Poole BH15 3SS 01202 339 339 www.parkeon.co.uk

digital channels; mobile phone, smartwatch, websites, digital signage and emerging voice technology. ■ Passenger Technology Group, 65 Seamoor Road, Bournemouth BH4 9AE 0845 257 7400 www.discoverpassenger.com

pb PB BUS MARKE TING STA ND C9

PBBM specialises in creating the publicity your bus services deserve. From route leaflets to network maps our designs cut through the jargon, creating clear, easy to read marketing material your customers will love, for a real world price. Visit us at stand C9 and let’s talk about what PBBM can do for your business… ■ PB Bus Marketing , 1st Floor, The New Barn, Vicarage Farm Business Park, Winchester Road, Fair Oak, Hampshire SO50 7HD 02382 025400 www.pbbm.co.uk

O M NI BUS STAND L3

Omnibus is the UK’s leading supplier of timetable, scheduling and roadside display software to the passenger transport industry. We provide modules for constructing timetables, schedules, rotas and bus stop displays to a wide range of public transport operators and local authorities, with our programs installed at over 150 sites in the UK and overseas. Our systems are proven in use, with more than 18 years’ experience providing public transport operators and local authorities with systems that meet their needs. We are continually improving our products, consulting with our customers, responding to and anticipating the changes in the passenger transport industry. ■ Omnibus, Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Hollinwood, Oldham OL8 3QL 0161 683 3100 www.omnibus.uk.com

PASS EN G ER LIFT SE RVICES STAND C3

Passenger Lift Services (PLS) has been the UK’s largest manufacturer of wheelchair lifts for passenger accessible vehicles since 1991. It is regarded as the UK market leader in vehicle cassette lifts that provide unsurpassed reliability, safety and performance. PLS supplies a total access solution for vehicles in the PCV and WAV sectors. Its talented team of designers, and manufacturers take pride in their engineering excellence which delivers electric / hydraulic wheelchair lifts and ramps of utmost quality. ■ Passenger Lift Services, Unit 2, Summit Crescent, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 1BT 0121 552 0660/07736 269165 www.passengerliftservices.co.uk

PEL ICAN ENGINE ERING STA ND L 11

Pelican Engineering Group was established 99 years ago and has forged an unrivalled reputation for customer service. We have been importing Yutong Coach products for four years. Yutong are the largest bus and coach manufacturer in the world, selling over 67,000 vehicles last year. Our electric range has over 60,000 vehicles sold since 1999. We offer single deck, full zero emissions products, 12 metre and 10.8 metre lengths, with a range in excess of 150 miles on a DC overnight charge. ■ Pelican Engineering Group, Altofts Lane, Wakefield Europort, Castleford WF10 5UB 07711 589537 www.pelican-eng.co.uk

PASS EN G ER TECH NO LO GY PA R K EO N T RA N S PORTATION

GROU P STA ND C3 4

STAND C24

Parkeon Transportation is a global leader delivering innovative transport solutions. We create value for public transport operators and improve the customer experience through developments in automatic fare collection, real-time data management as well as secure open payments and analytics.

Putting transport operators at the heart of smart cities, Passenger combines mobile ticketing, network information, journey planning, real-time departures, and disruptions management into one integrated platform. Passenger makes it possible for operators to deliver a personalised, seamless multi-modal RTPI and route planning experience across

PH O ENIX SEAT I N G L I M I T ED STAN D C 21

As the UK’s leading passenger vehicle seat manufacturers Phoenix Seating is looking at developing its range to service the urban market. Providing innovative design and development alongside a dedication to continuously servicing the passenger transport industry with quality seating solutions, Phoenix Seating prides itself on its comprehensive, industry compliant seating ranges and commitment to excellent customer relationships. ■ Phoenix Seating Limited, Unit 47, Bay 3, Second Avenue, The Pensnett Estate, KingswinfordWest Midlands DY6 7UZ 01384 296622 www.phoenixseating.com

PSV GL ASS & GLAZI NG STAN D C 35

PSV Glass & Glazing is the UK’s only glass distributor and installer that is 100% dedicated to bus, coach, rail and A Class motorhome applications. With over 28 years’ experience of keeping public transport moving, PSV Glass & Glazing offers a genuine 24/7 service all year around covering the whole of the UK. The business prides itself in ensuring that it offers its customers truly market leading glazing solutions regardless of fleet size. ■ PSV Glass & Glazing, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 4HJ 01384 296622 www.psvglass.com

Q’STRAINT STAN D L 12/ L 13

Q’Straint, is a world-leading specialist in wheelchair passenger safety solutions. For over 30 years,

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THE EXH IBITIO N E XH IBITO R PRO F IL ES

it has consistently pioneered the most universal range of restraint systems for applications in all types of transport whilst delivering the highest levels of safety, durability and reliability. Rigorously tested and fully exceeding all international standards, Q’Straint occupant securement and wheelchair tie-down systems are designed to be flexible, easy-to-use and straightforward to specify. ■ Q’Straint, 72-76 John Wilson Business Park, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3QT 01227 773 035 07792 303 110 www.qstraint.com/en_eu

to decrease preventable collisions and exonerate not-at-fault drivers - through an easy-to-use managed service. ■ SmartDrive Systems Ltd, Breakspear Park, Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4TZ 01442 345180 www.smartdrive.net

knowledge ensures that your vehicles are in the best possible place. We specialise in refurbishment and accident repairs and we pride ourselves on the good quality work that we produce. ■ Read Commercials, Unit 3A, West End Business Park, Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 4WE 01254 239624

TE K SEAT I N G STAN D C 17 SMART GRAPH ICS STA ND L 8

Smart Graphics is not your usual graphics company. We deal with every aspect of your brand. Our in house design team designs or adapts your graphics artwork. We can provide designs for decal, full vehicle wrap or partial vehicle wrap. Whatever your vehicle we have experience in design, supply and fitting for a variety of vehicle graphics.

SCA NIA (GREAT BRITAIN) STAND L 7

RA M BUS STAND C3 3

Rambus is a leading provider of interoperable smart ticketing solutions. We actively support open standards for public transport through our ITSO and OPST Alliance memberships. As recognised experts in ITSObased smart ticketing our interoperable smart ticketing systems are at the cutting edge of transport ticketing technology and include a suite of ITSO compliant solutions, Host Card Emulation (HCE), Account Based Ticketing (ABT), NFC mobile apps and data analytics, all underpinned by robust security. ■ Rambus, The Torus Building, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QF 01355 572000 www.rambus.com

R E A D CO M M ERCIALS STAND C6

At Read Commercials we have over 50 years’ experience in the bus and coach vehicle industry and we pride ourselves on being a friendly family run business. Our hands-on intricate

■ SURE24 Limited, 2 Moorbridge Court, Moorbridge Road East, Bingham, Nottinghamshire NG13 8GG 01949 836 990 www.suretransport.co.uk

As a leading supplier of Passenger Carrying Vehicles to the UK market, Scania offers a complete range of buses and coaches. In addition to conventional Euro 6 diesel vehicles, the Scania UK bus range includes dedicated gas-powered single and double deckers. Scania’s coach range provides vehicles for every operation, up to and including flagship model long distance luxury tourers. ■ Scania Bus & Coach, Dukeries Industrial Estate, Claylands Avenue, Worksop S81 7DJ 01909 500822 www.scania.co.uk

■ Smart Graphics, 9 The Alpha Centre, Rothesay Business Park, Clydebank G81 1PD 0141 941 3393 www.smartgraphics.co.uk

TEK Seating, the UK’s largest independent OEM and aftermarket vehicle seating company, offers a wide range of quality bus and coach driver seats for a range of applications and budgets, from all the leading seat manufacturers including KAB, FISA, Isringhausen, Grammer and Be-Ge. To view on the stand are Grammer’s pneumatic MSG 90.3 and Kingman seats and the high spec ISRI NTS seat. We also supply parts and spares and offer a superior trim service. ■ TEK Seating, 14 Decimus Park, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3GP 01892 515028 www.tekseating.co.uk

SURE 24 STA ND C37

TIC K ET ER STAN D C 29

SURE has been a market leading developer and distributor of security equipment since 2003. Specialising in the transport sector, we are experts in installation of CCTV systems for Bus, Coach and Blue Light. SURE are able to supply vehicle kits prepared to the specific requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. We can install on the line for new vehicles and retrospectively on existing fleets. SURE also provide integrated solutions to monitor driver fatigue, driver performance and eco-driving. Our team of experts can provide training, fixed price service engineering and cloud-based monitoring for health, live view and instant video download.

S M ARTDRIVE STAND C41

SmartDrive’s video-based driver risk management safety programme gives fleets unprecedented driving performance insight and analysis, helping to significantly lower operating costs and improve fuel efficiency, while protecting drivers, passengers and other road users. It enables reductions in the frequency, severity and financial impact of collisions. Using a combination of video, driving intelligence and personalised performance profiles, it provides a comprehensive view of risky driving behaviour, providing tools

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. ■ Ticketer, Marlborough House, Charnham Lane, Hungerford RG17 0EY 020 3195 8800 www.ticketer.co.uk ➢

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REPO RT 2018

Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3BS 020 8236 0545 website.traffilog.com

winners and the wider industry. ■ UK Bus Awards, Ross Holme, West End, Long Preston BD23 4QL 07976 458862 www.ukbusawards.org.uk

WNV-SYST EM S STAN D C 28

T I M ES PACE T EC H N O LO GY STAND C3 9 TRA N S PO RT

Timespace Technology is the market leader in the design, development and manufacture of mobile digital video recorders (DVRs). With a reputation for reliability, Timespace products offer “one-box” solutions for vehicle CCTV, with a range of hybrid analogue/IP DVR products now available. Timespace’s proprietary PCLink and LANLink software provides operators with video footage retrieval and comprehensive CCTV fleet management information. All Timespace DVRs are produced in the UK, and are backed by full technical support and service. ■ Timespace Technology Ltd, Lakeview Court, Ermine Business Park, Huntingdon PE29 6UA 01487 414147 www.tspace.co.uk

T RA FFI LO G STAND C1

BEN EVOLEN T F UND CIO STAND C23

Helping to make a difference. TBF is a non-profit making membership charity offering a wide range of financial, health and welfare benefits to those working in public transport, should need, hardship or distress arise. Membership costs just £1 a week and covers the member, their partner and dependent children. Helping public transport employees for 95 years, TBF currently has over 595,500 members. The volume of awards to members that, during the past twelve months have exceeded £2.5 million, best illustrates the continuing relevance of the Fund’s work. The Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016 Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, Suite 3.1, The Loom, 14 Gowers Walk, London E1 8PY 0300 333 2000 www.tbf.org.uk

VOLVO BUS STA ND L 4

Volvo Bus 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. ■ Volvo Bus, Wedgnock Lane, Warwick CV34 5YA 01926 401777 www.volvobuses.co.uk

WRIGHT BUS STA ND C 15/C 16

VOYAGER ALLIANCE CRE DIT UNIO N STA ND C11

Traffilog. Control where you need it. We develop technology that simplifies daily and challenging tasks, to increase your efficiency. Traffilog understands the importance of data in the world today. Our everyday mission is to implement data, making it accessible and manageable, empowering you and your business with actionable insight. Our vision is to lead the revolution of the connected vehicle, creating a continuous bridge between humans, vehicles, and technology. Traffilog offers a single platform solution, and endless technological possibilities based on data streaming, which maximises your ROI. ■ Traffilog, Tasman House, The Waterfront, Elstree Road,

WNV-Systems combine 25 years of experience in Specialist Automatic Under Chassis Cleaning and complete transport washing solutions of Buses, Coaches, Trucks, Trams, Trains and Helicopters. Our team of dedicated Service Engineers are located throughout the UK and Ireland each with over 10 years’ experience in the commercial vehicle cleaning industry. A network of engineers based overseas, extends our services across Europe. We can show you how to effectively save you time and money. ■ WNV-Systems Ltd, Sutton Bus Garage, Bushey Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1QJ 020 8641 5601 www.wnv-systems.com.uk

Alliance Credit Union was founded in 1984 and Voyager Credit Union was founded in 1992. The two Credit Unions merged in September 2006 to become Voyager Alliance Credit Union. In 2008 Wayfarer Credit Union based at Manchester Airport also merged with Voyager Alliance to form the Credit Union we have today. Voyager Alliance has grown steadily over the years and is now one of the UK’s largest credit unions offering a wide range of financial products. ■ Voyager Alliance Credit Union, Hyde Road Depot, Ardwick, Manchester M12 6JS 0151 489 0402 www.voyageralliance.com

U K BUS AWARDS STAND C12

We operate the premier awards scheme for the UK Bus Industry, providing a forum for positive media coverage for its achievements. A scheme in which best practice, high quality staff and outstanding standards of customer service in the industry can be encouraged and rewarded, and examples of best practice can be spread amongst other industry and local authority managers and staff. We deliver opportunities that maximises promotion for finalists,

Wrightbus designs and manufactures buses for the European market, including the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Our product range covers all segments of the market from small and midi-sized buses to fullsize single deckers, double deckers and articulated buses and Bus Rapid Transit. We are capable of producing all of our vehicles with either Euro 6 diesel or alternative drivelines, including hybridelectric, plug-in electric and induction power transfer. As well as our own complete vehicles we offer bodywork for leading chassis manufacturers including Volvo Bus. ■ Wrightbus Limited, Galgorm Industrial Estate, Fenaghy Road, Galgorm, Ballymena, County Antrim BT42 1PY 02825 641212 www.wrightsgroup.com

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03/05/2018 02/05/2018 17:02 16:57

STAY INFORMED AND SAVE MONEY NEWS Gilbert - ‘congestion is a national issue’

Reading Buses boss urges government to support councils

work together on solutions. “It is evident that some places are still seeing problems with punctuality, and this is one CONGESTION of the most important factors Reading Buses chief executive in determining how satisfied officer Martijn Gilbert has passengers are,” said Ghani. called upon central government “Local authorities and operators to take a greater role in addressing need to work together to traffic congestion. combat such issues, and when they Speaking at the publication work of in partnership it’s bus passengers the Autumn 2017 Bus Passenger that benefit. The measures Survey in Reading earlier we this are introducing following month, he voiced concerns the that Bus Services Act will make are shared by many of his it industry easier to form partnerships colleagues. of different which are Of the FO78 bus EVcompanies covered appropriate kinds to local needs.” by the eighth RTannual ERsurvey from Speaking afterwards, shadow Transport Focus, Naward-winning transport minister Matt IGY Rodda Reading Buses experienced HT also by-passed the issue of the sharpest decline in overall congestion. Instead the Reading satisfaction down five percentage East MP proposed to stem points from 93% to 88%. the decline in bus use through Despite the best efforts a Martijn Gilbert of Gilbert and his colleagues, ISSUE 164 14 JULY 2017 he said that poor traffic conditions NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS KEY DRIVERS OF OVERALL FOR A SECTOR ON THE had impacted on the MOVE SATISFACTION WITH BUS results JOURNEYS Source: Transport Focus analysis of Autumn 2017 satisfaction with the punctuality NEWS Bus Passenger Survey of Reading’s services fell from Minister WHAT MAKES A 79% to 73%. WHAT MAKES A SATISFACTORY JOURNEY? stepped Meanwhile, in to GREAT Reading JOURNEY? Buses Colin Robertson, chief executive is working save with its highways tram-tra in has warned that the bus industry of bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, Journey time 20% authority faces a multitude of serious On bus environment and improve matters. Officialstoplanned comfort to challenges 26% There are plans pilot axe Sheffield to introduce a Red Route scheme to improve Robertson: traffic ‘We potentially Bus driver 20% The chief executive of Britain’s flows over the length of its have a perfect ENVIRONMENT busiest storm brewing’ largest bus builder has warned bus route and new bus priority that the industry faces “much, Bus Bus driver 26% groups measures are coming in as part much tougher things ahead”. seek of theair quality forthcoming Speaking in Scarborough Timeliness 18% Mass Rapid last week, Colin Robertson, Transit scheme. partners who has hipHowever, Gilbert overseen a period of expansion says much more to do. ‘Bigthere five’ is set out their at ADL since joining this business Access to bus stop 9% Addressing collective the event in a vision as 10 years ago, identified On bus environment and multiple comfort pre-recorded video, buses 16% hazards for the sector. These Boarding the bus 8% include the decline in the minister INSIDE value of TRACKNusrat Ghani made no Sterling, inflationary pressures, Boarding the bus 8% Bus cleanliness and info mention of congestion. Instead 7% declining bus patronage Chilly winter and she spoke Timeliness 7% about problems with Value for money 7% continued downward pressure on forpunctuality, busesand ascalled on bus government funding. Journey time 7% “We potentially have a perfect companies and numbers local authorities to slip storm brewing,”

“Congestion is a national issue - and it really does need to be driven up the agenda”

Bus sector could face ‘perfect storm’ - ADL

he said.

CAF to build trains in Spanish rolling stock

manufacturer plans to

SPECIAL REPORT: PAGE

“This is a major coup for Wales”

South Wales

create 300 jobs at facility

Spanish manufacturer CAF has diesel multiple units, electric announced that it is to start multiple building units, trams and high speed trains at a new factory in South trains. Wales. CAF, which this year celebrates The company plans to create its 300 centenary, has been targeting jobs at the factory near Newport, the UK rail sector in recent years. where it will build trains and It has trams supplied the trams for Edinburgh for the UK. It has previously supplied and the West Midlands, and trains from its factories in currently Spain. has contracts to build some The new facility will be over 300 46,000 square metres in size and will employ 200 people when it opens in autumn 2018, rising to 300 by 2019. It is being designed so that CAF can build a range of different trains, including Carwyn Jones

near Newport

trains and carriages for Northern, TransPennine Express and the Caledonian Sleeper service. “The establishment of this facility will serve CAF’s long-term aspirations to be a major player in the UK market for many years to come,” commented Richard Garner, CAF’s UK director. Welcoming the news, the first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, said: “Today’s announcement is a major coup for Wales and a big vote of confidence in Wales’ manufacturing industry.”

Analysis of the latest www.passenger DfT bus statistics transport.co.uk

combination of franchising and remunicipalisation. Gilbert called on the government to view congestion as a national issue, rather than a local one. “We’ve heard from the buses minister [Nusrat Ghani] earlier about bus operators and local authorities working together, I think we have reached a point now where actually there does need to be greater central government focus on this area in terms of the funding, resources and powers that local authorities have available to them to more effectively manage the highway network as well. They probably don’t have the money to put the effort in in terms of dynamic control of the highway, supervising traffic control centres. “So this isn’t just a local issue any more. Congestion is a national issue - and it really, really, really does need to be driven up the agenda in a way that we’ve never seen before. “The results have told us for years upon years now, through the great work of Transport Focus, that it is the single biggest driver of dissatisfaction, and we need to crack it. I think it is a bigger problem than what is being discussed so far.” Gilbert also called for the bus industry to be “properly funded”. “We have a farcical situation where we can be carrying buses full of people carrying concessionary passes that don’t actually cover their costs,” he said. “That’s just one such example.” Meanwhile, commenting on the findings of the Autumn 2017 Bus Passenger Survey, Robert Pain, senior insight advisor at Transport Focus, revealed that journey time and timeliness are two of the three main drivers of a ‘satisfactory’ bus journey (see diagram). 30 March 2018 | 03

PT_Issue181_p03.in TRAVEL TEST dd 3

The good, the bad and the ugly of 2017

28/03/2018 16:08

Alex Warner’s half term report

CAREERS

South Western boss named

NEWS

ROUND-UP

First/MTR appoints Andy Mellors

PT_Issue164_p01 1

12/07/2017 18:11

Rossendale sells bus operator in bid to create ‘better service’

ISSUE 165 28 JULY 2017 NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSI S FOR A SECTOR ON

The plan will see sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans banned by 2040

THE MOVE

NEWS

Grayling axes electrification schemes

Focus turns to ‘new’ bi-mode technology

INNOVATION & TECH

Air quality plan oid s main issue - congav estion

Greener Journeys says govern because it fails to back the ment plan won’t address public health crisis introduction of charges for polluting vehicles

The government’s Air Quality Plan will fail to address public health concerns because it fails to address the biggest cause of roadside air pollution - traffic congestion. That is the verdict of Greener Journeys, the pro-public transport lobby group, which argues that the plan should have encouraged congestion charging. The government published its final revised UK Air Quality Plan this week, announcing that sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned by 2040. It also announced a £255m fund to help tackle emissions from diesel vehicles, but it stopped short of introducing charges for polluting vehicles in Clean Air Zones. “This plan stops short of

ROUND-UP

Rosso falls to Tran in latest municipalsdev sale

meaningful action that will immediately address this public health crisis,” commente d Greener Journeys chief executive Claire Haigh. “We can’t afford to kick the can down the road to 2040 - there are already 38 local authoritie s where people are breathing air which exceeds legal NOx limits.” While welcoming the plan’s commitment to retrofittin g buses with equipment that reduces

“Unless we tackle congestion, this won’t solve the air pollution crisis”

Claire Haigh

VAMOOZ rolls out with Reading Buses

Crowd-sourcing app has partner in south

COMMENT

Summer is here! But look what’s coming

emissions, Haigh said that penalty Jonathan Bray on the charges are the only effective way political landscape of keeping drivers away from city centres and encouraging them to switch to more sustainabl e modes, COMMENT such as bus, bike or train. “Unless we tackle congestion , this won’t solve the air pollution crisis,” she said. Haigh added: “The latest Euro VI diesel buses are incredibly Nick Richardson on clean and produce fewer emissions theory and reality overall than a Euro 6 diesel car, and 10 times fewer on a per passenger basis. Instead of waiting until COMMENT 2040, we could begin improving air quality now if the governme nt is prepared to get tough and address the root cause of the problem, which is the number of Reaction from our diesel cars and vans on the road.” Whiteha

Do economists have the answers?

HLOS/SoFA ‘I’m stunned’

ACQUISITIONS

INSIDE TRACK MARKET MONITOR

Summer number disappoint on thesbus es

England’s metropolitan areas in ‘summer of discontent’, and Wales see 3.5%-plus declines in bus use as GB patronage hits lowest level since 2007

The ranks of Britain’s dwindling band of council-owned bus operators has been diminished further with the news that Transdev is to acquire Rosso from Rossendale Borough Council. Confirmation of the acquisition by the French group was confirmed following a council meeting on December 20. No purchase price has been disclosed. As part of the outline Fares deal, Transdev plans to keep agreement, Transdev is planning the The latest fare indices, local Rosso brand alongside to invest more also significantly in Rosso new local identities, and published by DfT in December, including spending in the it intends region to make effective use of the new show that in the yearofto£3m over the next year on bus station currently being new vehicles. The operation built in will September, bus faresbecome fell bypart an of the French group’s Rawtenstall. Financially, recent years average of 0.6% afterexisting have takingBlazefield operation. been trying for Rosso, but Rosso operates just over the account of inflation, compared 100 company recorded an operating with September 2016.vehicles and has an average fleet profit in the year to March age of 11 years. It has a network 31, 2017 of £0.4m on turnover However, the average of routes of oncearound Rossendale and £9.9m. This was a substantial again disguised some beyond to Ramsbottom, Bury variations: improvement on previous years Rochdale. Its services the indices show faresand and followed transfer of in to other nearby also connect Rosso’s towns legacy pension scheme to some areas continuing including the to fall Blackburn, Burnley council. This ended the need particularly in London, and Bolton. to Scotland fund the scheme’s deficit. completion of the and Wales. The largest Following Although the operator real

Bus demand Rolling Year figures (3.4%), followed by the PTE in Great Britain The provisional figures for areas the (3.0%), Wales (2.4%), English fell once whole year to September 30 show Shires (1.3%) and London more in the total demand for bus services (1.0%). in Over the last five years, quarter ended Great Britain at 4,897 million the numbers show an overall September 30 by passenger journeys, 1.7% lower decrease came in the capital decline of 4.7% in the GB (2.7%). 1.8%, according than the same figure in 2016. total. North of the border, Scottish to statistics published by Wales led the downward fares the This is the lowest figure spiral, fell by 1.6%, whilst in Wales, Department for Transport. since with a fall of 7.9%, followed there The fall March 2007, just by was a decrease of 2.0%. There before free meant that the rolling year the English PTE areas on PolskiBus network sold total concessionary travel was 6.5%. were increases elsewhere, stayed below five billion for to growing extended The decline German rival though, in London was the to all areas of England. FUNDING including 1.4% in the English fifth quarter in a row - the 4.3%, whilst the English lowest Shires The largest fall came in Scotland chairman and Shires and 0.3% in the Stagecoach patronage since March 2007. PTE saw the smallest drop of areas. co-founder Sir Brian Souter has 2.8%. Looking back oversold The fall was not unexpected, thethe retail platform and network last five years, fares in theofcapital PolskiBus, his low cost intercity as the economy continued to be coach operation in Poland, have fallen by 3.6% - earlier to GB BUS USAGE WEATHE in the doldrums, with static expansiverises or German competitor R MAP under the previous mayor are falling high street footfall and QUARTER-ON-QUARTER being offset by Sadiqwww.passengertran household incomes that CHANGE YEAR-ON-YEAR sport.co.uk Khan’s remain CHANGE July-September 2017 fares freeze and the introduction static or are still falling. Year ended September 31, PT_Issue175_p03 3 2017 vs July-September 2017 of the Hopper ticket. The DfT’s provisional Fares vs Year ended September 31, 2017 have also fallen in Wales seasonally adjusted estimates by 1.5%. Elsewhere there have been GB put total demand during the GB OVERALL real-term rises, including 12 weeks at 1,211.3 million OVERALL 4.7% in the English Shire areas and passenger journeys, compared 2.9% in the English PTE areas. with 1,234.8 million in the same quarter in 2016, a fall of 1.8%. SCOTLAND Comment The figures show that demand SCOTLAND -3.2% Judging by this summer quarter, fell by 4.6% in the English -3.4% things remain pretty grim PTE areas, 3.8% in Wales, for 3.2% METS commercial bus operators, in Scotland and 2.1% in the as METS -4.6% services continue to haemorrhage English Shires. Demand -3.0% passengers at a steady rate. continued to fall in the capital There are a number of things as well, but the change was WALES going on here, as major social barely perceptible. The total SHIRES WALES -3.8% for SHIRES and economic change continues -2.4% -2.1% Great Britain outside London -1.3% apace. In my article on the was 3.5% down on 653.9 LONDON last million. LONDON quarter’s figures, I discussed -0.1% The longer term trends show shifts -1.0% in purpose for which people a fall of 6.8% in the GB total are for travelling - both generally this quarter compared with and by five bus. I also referred to major years earlier. Largest falls shifts were in travel patterns amongst in Wales (11.1%), followed the by -4% different generations. the English PTE areas (9.1%), 0% +4% Overriding this, though, Scotland (7.9%), London is the (6.3%) Source: Quarterly Bus Statistics, fact is that we are all travelling and the English Shires (5.2%). Department for Transport less. Looking at last summer’s National Travel Survey, the 18 | 2 March 2018 Chris Cheek Analyst

SOUTER PARTNERS WITH FLIXBUS

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FlixBus for an undisclosed sum. Souter Investments, Souter’s investment vehicle, says the move will see the PolskiBus operational business, which remains in Souter’s ownership, enter into a “strategic partnership with FlixBus”. This will see the PolskiBus network integrated into the wider FlixBus European network which offers more than 200,000 daily connections to over 1,400 destinations in 26

Transdev says the Rosso brand will be retained

expressed concerns in its latest financial results about the future of routes operating wholly within Greater Manchester as a result of a potential move to franchising, it also foresaw opportunities as a result of First Manchester’s closure of its Bury depot. Transdev this week confirmed that it hopes to complete acquisition of the business this month and that it will continue to use Rosso’s modern council-owned depot for a few months before transferring operations elsewhere. “The proposed sale is a great deal for the council and for the borough European countries.

The former PolskiBus network will continue to be run locally in Poland by the existing Polish management, operational delivery and driver teams. Souter Investments says the new partnership with FlixBus provides the business with a platform for further growth and expansion, as well as offering the company’s passengers greater choice and interconnectivity

that will see significant investment into the Rosso company to make sure we continue to get a great bus service locally,” said Alyson Barnes, the council’s leader. “It’s not about resolving the council’s financial challenges, we are looking at other ways of closing our budget gap and ensuring continuous improvement in public services. “Residents will benefit from the fact that the new service will be able to join up routes right across the local sub-region. We would not be selling our shares if we didn’t think they could deliver an even better service than we have now.” Alex Hornby, Transdev Blazefield’s chief executive, said the operator had a track record in the region for “growth, innovation and creating buses that people want to be seen on”. “We have exciting plans including investment in new, hi-spec buses to benefit the people of Rossendale and Greater Manchester,” he added. The sale of Rosso means that just six municipal bus operators remain in England (Blackpool Transport, Halton Borough Transport, Ipswich Buses, Network Warrington, Nottingham City Transport and Reading Buses), plus two in Wales (Cardiff Bus and Newport Bus) and one in Scotland (Lothian).

via the wider FlixBus network. Souter formed PolskiBus in 2011 and the business grew rapidly. The combination of its online booking platform, a national network footprint, reliable services, good value tickets and high standards of customer service transformed the Polish public transport market and saw the company quickly become the predominant intercity bus carrier in Poland. 5 January 2018 | 03 04/01/2018 15:42

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