Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1030

Wednesday April 4, 2012 Issue 1030 | ÂŁ2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com

COACH:

TECHNOLOGY:

UK Coach Awards 2012 Revolutionary bus stop shortlists announced information system for two categories p4 from ITO World p40

BUS:

Scottish operators warn of consequences of funding crisis p20

Manchester-based operator with a Belle view

SUPPLIER:

Cummins showcases its new Euro 6 compliant engine p28

for recru i

JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK

p36

Cover.indd 1

02/04/2012 23:12

000000-1029-CVShow

22/2/12

11:21

Page 1

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3

THIS WEEK

Coach & Bus Week is published by Rouncy Media, First Floor, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX Switchboard 01733 293240 Fax 0845 280 2927 Web www.coachandbusweek.com Distributed by COMAG

EDITORIAL Publisher Jonathan Taylor 01733 293240 jonathan.taylor@rouncymedia.co.uk Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk Technical & Minibus Editor Martin Cole 01733 293245, 07885 692144 martin.cole@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter James Day 01733 293244 james.day@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter Andrew Cream 01733 293240 andrew.cream@rouncymedia.co.uk Art Director Keith Simpson Contributors Richard Charnley, Gabriel Conway, Alan Payling

ADVERTISING, MARKETING & EVENTS Advertising & Marketing Manager Ian Gillis 01733 293484 ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk Classified Sales Executive Jade Cassidy 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk Advertising Production June Barnard 01473 858761 june@adsproduction.co.uk

ROUNCY MEDIA Chairman & Chief Executive Jonathan Taylor jonathan.taylor@rouncymedia.co.uk Managing Director Derek Phillips derek.phillips@rouncymedia.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS & CIRCULATION Subscriptions & Circulation Manager Kirstyn Hunt 01733 293480 kirstyn.hunt@rouncymedia.co.uk Annual subscription rate for 51 issues: UK £85, Europe/Eire £140, USA and RoW £180 ONLINE £44.95

www.coachandbusweek.com ISSN: 1351-3877 © 2012 Rouncy Media Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or system or in any means without the written permission of the directors.

This is considered a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs. This magazine must not be lent, sold, hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any authorised cover by way, or by trade, or annexed to any publication or advertising matter without first obtaining written permission from the directors.

Thanks Unite

F

or spoiling my weekend. With my mum on a rare weekend off, and April set to be an even more stressful month than normal, I had planned to drive the 150 miles to my native Welsh borderland. I succeeded in fuelling my car with relative ease in Peterborough on Thursday morning but with garages running dry ‘back home’ and in Peterborough on Friday, I dare not risk it.

Mainstream media coverage of the fuel shortage has been abysmal. Unite has not been brought out to be grilled before the cameras – it’s been more about childish political point scoring. The reasons for the strike have also not been widely publicised. I had to Google to find out.

I’m the first one to make the case for fairness in the workplace but there’s also that magic word called selfishness.

I don’t believe it was panic buying. Flexi time is a privilege rather than a right. If people can’t get to work, what are we supposed to do? Modern lifestyles mean many

folk commute longer distances than they would have years ago. We all need to get to work somehow. Our economy will be dealt a blow from the Left as well as the Right. Put simply, Unite must not be allowed to hold the country to ransom.

Despite what the ‘ministry of truth’ will have us believe, with the strike threat very much on the table, which to be fair, Unite has not been shy to admit, I for one am having to carefully consider my plans for the coming weeks.

For the good of our nation, let’s hope the employers will use Stagecoach-style tactics as a last resort, to minimise the disruption on the service to the consumer.

After all, Unite’s McCluskey is certainly a force to be reckoned with. He was the man who headed up the British Airways strike two years ago, which not only disrupted countless holidays and trips but I also understand cost BA £150m.

Gareth Evans Editor

CONTENTS 4

28

40

The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK

16

CBW takes a first look at Cummins’ newly unveiled Euro 6 engine

32

A new system in Norfolk looking to revolutionise bus stop information

Finincial updates from First, 21st Centruy CCTV, and Scania

20

The UK’s first jubilee-liveried bus for Bournemouth’s Yellow Buses?

34

First drivers adorn hats for charity, ‘Safe driving in London’ courses

Bus operators warn Scottish funding crisis may lead to fare rises

22

All the latest vehicle deliveries in operator’s yards across the country

36

A lighthearted look at the industry.

Plus Gareth’s Diary!

A variety of methods to keep control of your fuel consumption

An air of optimism at Greater Manchester’s Belle Vue Coaches

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

Business News News Focus

Essential Guide

Supplier Update The Big Picture Deliveries

Operator Profile

Technology

44

Drivers

62

Last Stop

63

People

The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Coach & Bus Week are not necessarily those of the Editor or its publisher Rouncy Media Ltd.

For all the latest industry news and information, register with us online at:

www.coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com

Contents.indd 3

02/04/2012 22:50

4 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news

briefly The Go-Ahead Group has confirmed details of the order for its operating companies following last week’s Green Bus Fund winner’s announcement. All 45 buses will be Volvo Wrightbus hybrids. Go-Ahead is investing around £10m, which is being matched by a grant of £3.4m from the DfT. The new 19-strong intake will result in 31% of Oxford Bus Company’s fleet being regarded as ‘green’. Go North East will receive 15 hybrids and Brighton and Hove 11.

There have been some important updates to the European LEZ website which will affect LEZ operations in certain EU member state countries and cities.

Erfurt in Germany has announced an LEZ to start on October 1, 2012, with a Euro 4(PM) standard.

Wiesbaden, Germany, has announced an LEZ to start in December 2012, with a Euro 4(PM) standard, while the Portuguese capital Lisbon’s LEZ tightened and extended on April 1, 2012, to Euro 2 in the inner area and Euro 1 in the outer area. Full details can be found on the EU LEZ website: www.lowemissionzones.eu The first phase of the Gosport to Fareham Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route is a step closer to opening as the final touches to construction are completed. Eclipse BRT Phase 1 has seen a disused railway line transformed into a modern, dedicated busway. New luxury buses, operated by First Hampshire and manufactured by Wrightbus, will use the Phase 1 busway for part of their journey with routes extending into surrounding residential areas, linking to key destinations and transport interchanges at the Gosport Ferry terminal, Fareham railway station and Fareham bus station in Fareham town centre.

Passengers travelling on the Eclipse BRT will benefit from the bus-only lanes which are being introduced, on a trial basis, on Portland Street and Western Way in Fareham in April. The scheme has been constructed by BAM Nuttall, on behalf of Hampshire County Council. The route is set to open on April 22. www.coachandbusweek.com

News4,5.indd 4

UK Coach Awards 2012 hots up Short-lists announced for Young Industry Professional and Marketing Awards The competition is hotting up for this year’s UK Coach Awards (UKCA), with the final stages of the judging being reached this week.

Meanwhile, tickets are selling fast for the glittering Presentation Ceremony, taking place on Thursday April 19 at Manchester’s famous Piccadilly Hotel - though there are still seats available.

The judging panel will be interviewing the Young Coach Industry Professionals in London this week, the mystery shopper checks on the short-listed coach operators are almost complete, and final decisions will be made ahead of placing orders for the engraving of the trophies and the printing of the certificates.

The short-list contains coach operators and coach drivers who have been nominated by their customers - group organisers and other coach customers.

The best practice in coach friendliness has been highlighted

by coach operators and industry experts. These are categories designed to highlight best practice amongst local authorities, tourist attractions, shopping attractions and service providers in welcoming coaches, their passengers and their drivers to venues all over the country.

There will also be prizes for professionalism in specific aspects of coach operation and management, for coach builders and for providers of support solutions such as software.

Several people will also be honoured for their hard work in supporting the industry over many years.

UK Coach Awards director Jamie Cash explained: “Our aim is to recognise the hard work, dedication and professionalism of a whole range of people and organisations involved in coach tourism.”

“The judges have been really impressed,” said Jamie. “There’s original thinking, innovation and exciting developments going on all over the country delivering what matters: better products and better trips for our customers.

People really are working very hard, and thoroughly deserve the

One of the three short-listed people for the Young Industry Professional award is York Pullman’s Kevin Walker, who is seen here at the Setra Grand Prix on April 13, 2011, which was featured in CBW at the time

recognition our awards will deliver on April 19.”

Meanwhile, two further shortlists have been announced for the 2012 UKA, as the judging for this year’s events reaches its final stages - for the Young Coach Industry Professional Award and the Coach Marketing Award.

The nominees for the Young Coach Industry Professional are: n Mark Pitter, from Coliseum Coaches n Kevin Walker, from York Pullman n Jonathan Pollard, from National Express The three candidates will each be making a presentation and answering questions from the judging panel.

The Coach Marketing Award category will be fought out this year by two of the industry’s giants - National Express and FirstGroup.

National Express has been selected for its ‘You Know You Wanna’ campaign, aimed at the key 1626 year old market, whilst rival FirstGroup has been selected for its latest campaign to promote its Greyhound UK brand.

Congratulating the finalists, UK Coach Awards director Chris Cheek explained: “These two awards both address issues which are vital to the future of the industry - strong marketing to persuade customers to use our products, together with talented and committed young managers to take the industry forwards into the next generation.

“The judges are really looking forward to meeting Mark, Jonathan and Kevin this week,” he commented. “Meanwhile, judging the marketing award this year is going to be really tough - strong promotion and great customer service are key to winning new customers for all forms of coaching, so it’s good to have such great campaigns to choose from.”

The UK Coach Awards 2012 received over 200 nominations for 18 award categories, aiming to discover the best coaches, coach companies, coach drivers and coach tour managers as well as the most coach friendly attractions.

02/04/2012 22:29

“I was involved in manufacturing until the mid 90s, but I wanted to do something more useful.

I first got involved with buses as director of ACIS.” Peter Miller ITO World

London bus workers ballot for strike action Members of the Unite trade union have voted to support an industrial action ballot over the failure of London’s bus operators to agree an Olympic payment.

According to Unite, the turn out was 49.6% in the consultative ballot, with more than nine out of 10 workers voting ‘Yes’.

Unite, which represents 24,000 bus workers, is now preparing

Scania to launch UK gas bus with ADL

Scania is launching a low entry gas bus in the UK in conjunction with bodybuilder Alexander Dennis.

The new vehicle will be based on Scania’s KUB chassis and feature its 270 horsepower EEV 9.3-litre, five-cylinder, energy efficient, lean burn gas engine, which offers high efficiency and low fuel consumption with no need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Noise and vibration levels are also low and the engine can operate on either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or biogas. The unit is based on the same platform as Scania’s modular-build 9.3-litre

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5

Technology p40

to formally ballot its members working for 15 London bus operators for strike action or industrial action short of a strike.

The union has however repeated its call for the employers to enter into talks to settle the issue, which would mean paying each bus worker an extra £500 for their work during the Olympics.

Unite claims the equivalent of over 9,000 double decker busloads of extra bus passengers will hit London for the Olympics.

Extra pressure has been put on TfL and London bus operators due to other transport providers agreeing to pay bonuses. London Underground will offer its staff an extra payment and a sum of at

least £600 will be provided to TfL’s London Overground workers.

Meanwhile, Network Rail staff will receive £500, workers at Docklands Light Railway will get £900 plus guaranteed overtime at enhanced rates and Virgin Rail has agreed a £500 Olympic payment.

Unite wrote to London bus operators in December 2011, giving them a deadline of February 29 to complete negotiations with the union to discuss an Olympic payment of £500. None of the operators has agreed to meet with the union, Unite claims.

Unite secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “Bus staff are the only transport workers not getting extra payment. It’s grossly unfair.”

The new vehicle is based on Scania’s KUB chassis diesel engine, which limits the number of new components required for the low entry gas chassis to around 40 items.

The collaboration will see Alexander Dennis using an adapted Enviro300 43-seat, 12.2-metre

body. The finished vehicle will be available via both Scania (Great Britain) and Alexander Dennis.

Scania said it is working with a gas infrastructure provider in order to be able to supply operators with a complete gas-powered system.

STC publishes Olympic OC guidance Acting Senior Traffic Commissioner (STC) Beverley Bell has published Senior Traffic Commissioner’s Administrative Policy Guidance document no.04A ‘Operating Centres and Related Applications Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012’.

The document contains guidance and directions for the benefit of traffic commissioners and their deputies, support staff at the Office of the Traffic Commissioner and the wider industry so they are aware of the requirements and the procedures which will be adopted with respect to operating centres and vehicle authorisation which are likely to be affected by the Games.

Operators are expected to have planned in advance for how the London Olympic and Paralympic Games might impact on their business and to have arrangements in place to meet those challenges.

Operators who will be affected by the Games are advised to submit an application for changes to their O-licences as a matter of urgency.

Bell said: “It cannot be emphasised enough that the matters set out here relate only to applications where an unforeseen change in circumstances means prior planning within the statutory time scales was not possible.”

The guidance can be found at: http://www. dft.gov.uk/publications/ traffic-commissioners-olympicplanning/

www.coachandbusweek.com

News4,5.indd 5

02/04/2012 22:29

6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

£187m

news › BUSeS

The funding for the Scottish concessionary scheme, which remains frozen for the next three years

briefly The next UK Bus Awards (UKBA) Annual Conference will take place in Hampshire on Wednesday and Thursday March 20 and 21, 2013. Sir Brian Souter has accepted an invitation to speak at the conference dinner on March 20.

Further details will be announced in due course. Other notable UKBA dates include June 8, which is the deadline for entry to the 2012 awards; and September 24, which is the short-list announcement and finalists’ luncheon, to be held in Central London during the week commencing September 24.

Centro and Birmingham City Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which recognises and acknowledges the council’s support to facilitate the extension of the Midland Metro light rail system.

Baker approves ‘CrossCity Bus Package’ Parts of Oxford Road corridor will become bus-only, and more direct links will be provided to the city centre Manchester’s Cross City Bus Package scheme was given the go-ahead by Norman Baker MP last Tuesday (March 27).

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) claims the package will improve the speed and reliability of three routes: Boothstown to Manchester via the A580 East Lancashire Road and A6 Broad Street/ Crescent/Chapel Street; Middleton Bus Station to Manchester via the A664 Manchester New Rd, Rochdale Rd;

East Didsbury to Manchester via Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road/Street.

The £54m scheme also aims to provide direct links to the city centre and the Oxford Road employment growth centre, so passengers will not have to change services or pay more than one fare, and minimise the carbon impact of transport into the city centre.

Work will include provision of bus priority measures along the three proposed corridors, a new bus terminus at the Central Manchester Hospitals site and a section of Oxford Road being reserved for buses, taxis and cycles, with general traffic moved to alternative routes – some of which will also benefit from complementary traffic management measures.

Norman Baker said: “These improved bus corridors are important to drive growth in both Greater Manchester and the wider North West region.

“This scheme addresses in particular the problems of the Oxford Road Corridor, which has the highest demand for bus travel in the conurbation and yet is one of the lowest performing in terms of reliability and punctuality.

“The package will improve the attractiveness and accessibility of public transport, greatly

improving people’s ability to access existing and new employment opportunities within the corridors from the north and west of the city.”

TfGM and the relevant district councils will also promote Quality Partnership Schemes (QPS) on each of the three bus corridors and the city centre section.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “The Cross City Bus package will significantly improve bus travel on key routes, which will make the bus a much more reliable and attractive option for thousands of people.

“Today’s announcement means we can now press ahead with much needed improvements to the quality and level of bus infrastructure and bus priority measures in the city centre and on key routes in to the city, which will help services to run reliably and punctually.

“In turn, it will introduce a much higher level of quality to our bus network and will improve access for hundreds of thousands of people to key employment, education, health and leisure destinations in Greater Manchester.”

Manchester’s Cross City Bus Package scheme was one of 20 schemes out of 45 given initial approval in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

First Scotland East (FSE) is to rationalise operations in East and Mid Lothian regions of Scotland.

FSE has started a collective consultation process with trade unions over redundancies at its Musselburgh and Dalkeith depots, which includes the possible closure of the latter.

First says the decision has been reached after a number of years of poor trading performance which can no longer be borne by

the business given the current challenging economic climate, high fuel prices and cuts in external funding.

Paul Thomas, MD of FSE, said: “This will be distressing news for many of our staff and unwelcome news for customers. A number of services are being run at a loss and although we have tried many marketing and pricing initiatives to change this, the extra financial pressures from the current economic climate, high fuel prices and cuts in external funding mean we have no option other than to discontinue the bulk of our operation in East and Midlothian.

“Unfortunately, up to 200 jobs are at risk from our Dalkeith depot,

First Scotland East to slash operations

www.coachandbusweek.com

BusNews6,7.indd 6

02/04/2012 21:56

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7

$18bn 24% The net engine sales achieved over the last year by Cummins

The rise in visitor numbers to the Eurolines website after the introduction of its £9 fare from London to Paris

Arriva & Chalkwell sign Swale Bus Partnership Arriva Southern Counties and Chalkwell have signed the Swale Quality Bus Partnership with Kent County Council (KCC) and Swale Borough Council (SBC).

Bus firms and local councils will work together under the scheme, which came into force from April 1. It sees KCC providing new bus route improvements, such as raised boarders, bus stop clearways, bus stop poles and timetable cases.

Arriva and Chalkwell agreed to invest in newer vehicles and SBC in new shelters and ensuring bus stops are kept clear of parked vehicles.

Kevin Hawkins, MD of Arriva Southern Counties, said: “I know from experience quality bus partnerships can bring real benefits to local bus services and I look forward to working with our partners in Swale to achieve this.”

Bryan Sweetland, KCC cabinet member, Clive Eglinton MD Chalkwell, John Wright of Swale Borough Council which we aim to close, and from Musselburgh, which we propose to significantly reduce in size. We explored a range of alternatives, including selling our operations and transferring staff to another operator, but unfortunately we were unsuccessful. I am truly sorry but, if we are to continue as a viable business there is no alternative.”

FSE began its official consultation process with affected staff on Monday (April 2). The firm has also notified the traffic commissioner and local authority of its intention to cease running affected commercial services after the required statutory period of 70 days and affected tendered services after 90 days.

BusNews6,7.indd 7

SHARE WATCH

Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, March 26. Optare saw the greatest proportional rise while FirstGroup experienced the biggest proportional drop.

Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

303.00p

Price: Year High: 574.37p Year Low: 257.70p

News of the temporary funding reprieve has come too late to impact on fares for many operators. Cardiff Bus has already implemented changes

Stay of execution for Welsh bus funding Carl Sargeant, Welsh Government Minister responsible for transport, met with representatives of the regional transport consortia and the bus industry in Wales to discuss a new formula for supporting bus services. The Minister has agreed to continue funding for the industry and local authorities at the current level for up to six months providing progress is made on devising a new system focused on services rather than the current fuel usage based system.

The Minister said: “We have had a full and frank discussion of how we take this matter forward. While there are differences I am confident

New buses for Stagecoach Yorkshire Six new single deck ADL Enviro200 midibuses, representing an investment of nearly £700,000, have been introduced by Stagecoach Yorkshire into Barnsley to improve services along the hospital corridor route.

The 37-seater midibuses will operate on routes 93 and 95, with a combined 10 minute frequency from Barnsley to the District General Hospital, Barugh Green and Darton.

Marketing material and a

with good will and hard work we can reach a solution.

“I made it clear there has been no reduction in funding the Welsh Government provides to the bus industry and, while discussions continue in a productive manner, there will be no cut in support for the next six months. The Westminster Government has severely cut the resources available to Welsh Government which put enormous pressure on our transport budget. We are determined to provide the best level of bus services in Wales we possibly can but it means doing things differently.”

Michael Morton, chairman of CPT Wales, said: “Bus operators are fully committed to providing an efficient, sustainable bus network across Wales, and we are pleased to have the opportunity of being part of the dialogue with partners in the Welsh Government and the regional transport consortia.”

224.75p

Price: Year High: 416.90p Year Low: 224.75p

1245.0p

Price: Year High: 1540p Year Low: 1034p

236.30p

Price: Year High: 272.10p Year Low: 203.85p

247.85p

Price: Year High: 281.90p Year Low: 158.30p

0.80p

Price: Year High: 6.75p Year Low: 0.24p

38.00p

Price: Year High: 43.50p Year Low: 24.90p

75.60p

Price: Year High: 99.57p Year Low: 66.86p

Stagecoach Yorkshire managing director Paul Lynch and Barnsley Hospital Chairman Stephen Wragg outside the new vehicles ticketing offer to raise awareness of the new buses and enhanced services will be sent to households along the 93 and 95 routes in the next few weeks.

17.75p

Price: Year High: 17.50p Year Low: 5.75p

-1.80 on last week

-71.25 on last week

-49.05 on last week

-14.55 on last week

-27.35 on last week

+0.21 on last week

-1.50 on last week

-2.44 on last week

+0.75 on last week

FTSE 100

5874

Price: Year High: 6,105 Year Low: 4,790

-28

on last week

www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 21:57

8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news › coaches

“We’ve got high standards here but if you take every opportunity to thank and reward your staff it will produce better results the day after.”

Phil Hitchen Belle Vue

briefly The Highways Agency (HA) has extended a weight restriction on the M4 between junctions 1 and 3 in West London to include any vehicle weighing more than 7.5 tonnes. Such vehicles will be restricted from using the westbound M4 between the two junctions and the eastbound M4 between junctions 3 and 2 while structural inspection work continues on the Boston Manor Viaduct, just west of junction 2. A signed diversion route remains in place on the adjacent dual carriageways, the A312 and the A4. The restriction is a precautionary measure after a scheduled inspection on the Boston Manor viaduct, just west of junction 2, identified required maintenance work to the structure.

The restriction is not expected to increase journey times on the M4.

Drivers on the A4 and the A312 should keep up to date with traffic and allow extra time for journeys.

Operators are advised to inform BAA of any planned coach bookings for picking up and dropping passengers at Stansted Airport which they have between July 15 and August 15 inclusive.

Operators should provide the following details: Coach company; Date; Time; Pick up/drop off; Flight number if known; Number of coaches; and Contact email/ telephone. BAA is also requesting all charter coach movements during this period when picking up a party of passengers should arrive at Stansted no earlier than 30 mins prior to the scheduled arrival of the flight. Coaches which arrive earlier will be requested to park up at M11 J8 Services or other off airport locations. The CPT says the aforementioned details will assist BAA to enhance its preparations for this summer’s event. BAA needs this information to continue to be sent all the way up to and through the games period.

Slight delays are expected at the Brambling Fields interchange on the A64 due to junction improvement works. There will be lane 1 closures and various slip road closures eastbound and westbound over 24 hours until July 15. www.coachandbusweek.com

News8,9.indd 8

Operator Profile p36

Coaches welcome at Paignton hotel Hotelier offers free daytime parking to visiting coaches A Paignton hotelier has come up with an imaginative way to help out coach operators when they are visiting Paignton in South Devon for the day. He is offering a drop off / pick up facility and free coach parking at the Marine Hotel, situated on Paignton’s seafront.

Derek Smith is the owner of the Marine Hotel which has been a popular coaching hotel for the last 25 years. As a result, the hotel often has empty coach bays when his visiting coaches are out during the day. Because of his involvement in the coach trade, Derek is aware of how drivers feel about coach parking fees – which is not a lot. He wants to make the visitor experience in Paignton as enjoyable and convenient as possible.

“We are offering the free coach parking because there is at present no legal facility to load and pick up passengers on our beautiful seafront,” said Derek.

Coach passengers visiting Paignton for the day will also be able to wait to get back on their coach in much more comfortable surroundings. Instead of potentially having to wait out in the cold, they are welcome to take advantage of the hotel’s facilities.

Derek continued: “Passengers are allowed into the hotel for departure time to wait if required.

They may use the toilets and the bar and snack service if desired.

In the Summer it is not such a problem waiting outside to get back on a coach, but in the winter time, traipsing around a resort just waiting for the time to go back to their hotel on their coach can

Coach Driver of the year 2010, Phil Thomas, of Jay & Kay Coach Tours of Crayford parks up at the Marine Hotel, Paignton

Greenline says bonjour to new website An Arriva Green Line Van Hool coach is seen in Victoria, London working route 797

Green Line Coaches has launched a new multi-lingual website to improve its visibility and service to foreign visitors.

The Arriva-owned operation, which operates scheduled coach

be a cold wet, nasty and a most unsatisfactory experience.”

He said drivers will also be made welcome when they have parked up. “We would extend hospitality to all visiting drivers and would always be happy to offer a sandwich and a cup of tea or coffee.”

The free coach parking facility being offered by Derek is subject to availability. Being a busy coaching hotel, the two on site coach parking bays, while easily accessible, are often in use. As a result, this offer is strictly for daytime parking only.

Drivers and operators wanting to use this facility during the day will have to book at least a day in advance to see if spaces are going to be available. However, free parking could be available seven days a week, year round.

One facility this offer does not include is the use of a hosepipe at the Marine Hotel to wash down a coach. This is because South West Water levies the highest charges for water in the UK, Derek claims.

Turning to the future, Derek enthused: “I hope by doing this we start a ball rolling whereby other hotels in other resorts will do likewise and make the experience of my guests’ visits to other resorts more special by allowing them to use the facilities of their hotels.

Indeed we may end up with a network.”

Bookings can be made by ringing 01803 559778 or by emailing stay@ marinehotelpaignton.co.uk.

services from the home counties into London has enhanced its website, ahead of the expected increase in foreign passengers in 2012, by making it fully accessible in five European languages; French, German, Spanish, Hungarian and Polish.

The launch coincides with the new look marketing on site at London Luton Airport and Green Line believes the multi-lingual version will assist passengers that use the service to travel in and out of central London from the airport.

02/04/2012 21:14

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek

Eurolines extends £9 fare to Amsterdam & Brussels

Anthony’s Travel has been recognised for its charitable work

Anthony’s Travel win award for corporate responsibility UK Coach Operator of the Year 2011 Anthony’s Travel and all its staff are celebrating after being crowned the winner of the Award for Corporate and Social Responsibility in the annual The High Sherriff of Cheshire Awards, supported by The Bank of America .

The awards recognise successful businesses from Cheshire by highlighting outstanding achievement by local companies in the fields of enterprise, innovation and corporate social responsibility.

Recognising Anthony’s Travel’s commitment to Halton and Cheshire, the local community, its workforce and in particular its financial and resources commitments to its charity partner’s – Halton Haven Hospice, Mark Gorry Foundation and Special Olympian Omar Haddad, Anthony’s Travel were awarded prize money of £3,000.00 which will be shared between its three good causes and

all of their workforce will be treated to a bottle of champagne each in recognition of their integral role within the business.

The awards were attended by numerous high profile national and international figures, and were hosted within the grounds of Chester University, with Pete Waterman OBE as the guest speaker.

During the awards a video regarding the work of Anthony’s Travel in its role within the community was played to the audience, which will appear on the renowned family-run firm’s website in due course.

Linsey Frostick, marketing manager for Green Line Coaches and Arriva the Shires, said: “Green Line caters to a wide array of nationalities, so it’s important we provide these guests with the same access and level of customer service as those fluent in English.

“As well as providing information the new website versions will allow people to purchase tickets ahead of their visit online. The five languages were selected based on current passenger usage of Green Line.”

The multi-lingual website is just

part of wider investment in Green Line Coaches. The company is upgrading the fleet on its Hemel to London, and Stevenage to London services, resulting in all journeys from Luton, Hemel and Stevenage offering customers free WiFi. Green Line is also increasing its capacity on the 757 service, providing four coaches per hour from Sunday May 6.

News8,9.indd 9

A £9 promotional coach fare by Eurolines to Paris has proved so popular it has been extended to Amsterdam and Brussels. More than 1,000 bargain hunters have snapped up the £9 fare since it was launched on March 2 – generating a 24% surge in visitors to the coach company’s website - www. eurolines.co.uk .

To meet demand Eurolines is extending the offer to other popular coach routes. The deal will allow holidaymakers to travel to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam for £9 each way from 16 April. The fares have been available to book since March 26.

John Gilbert, managing director of Eurolines UK, said: “We have had an unprecedented level of interest in the £9 fare to Paris – demonstrating that the appetite for affordable short breaks is as strong as ever.

“Over the last two years we’ve seen more and more people choose coach as passengers look for the best value. To ensure last minute, budget breaks continue to be accessible we’ve extended the £9 deal to Amsterdam and Brussels and made it available for travel everyday of the week. The coach fare includes tax, booking fee and a two suitcase baggage allowance and is available for travel from April 16.”

Eurolines operate daily services from London Victoria to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels.

The National Express Groupowned business attracted almost 60,000 additional passengers during 2011 with significant growth on their Paris and Amsterdam routes.

Further details regarding Anthony’s Travel Corporate Social Responsibility programme can be found by visiting http:// www.anthonys-travel.co.uk/ corporate-social-responsibility. php.

For more information about Green Line Coaches visit www.greenline.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 21:15

10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news

Winners of NX Operator Awards announced 10 categories awarded for thirdparty operators for well-known UK coach network Several well-known coach operators gathered in Coventry last Wednesday (March 28) for the National Express Operator Awards.

The event, held at the Windmill Village Hotel, recognised the best performing National Express coach operators in 2011 across a wide range of business categories including ‘Driver of the Year’ and ‘Operator of the Year’.

Over 100 people in the UK coach industry attended the event which

saw Gloucester-based Bennetts Coaches walk away with the prestigious ‘Operator of the Year 2011’ award. The firm operates four National Express-livered coaches on routes from Gloucester to Heathrow and Gatwick Airport and has been a contracted operator since November 2010.

Mike De Courcey Travel collected the Award for ‘Best Newcomer’ after successfully taking on a range of routes from Veolia in May 2011 including the connection between Birmingham and London.

Huddersfield-based E Stott & Sons collected two awards including

‘Best Fleet’ with the family run business faultlessly passing 29 rigorous vehicle audits during 2011. Paul Major was chosen as ‘Manager of the Year 2011’ to recognise his outstanding efforts in helping sustain Yourbus Nottingham as gold operator on the National Express Operator Evaluation Tables.

Andrew Cleaves, MD of National Express, said: “The Operator Awards is our opportunity to acknowledge and thank the people who deliver excellent service to our customers everyday. We’re proud to work alongside the best of

the British coaching industry and have collectively operated over 75 million miles during 2011 – it’s a great achievement which we want to build on during 2012.

“We’re delighted to announce Bennetts Coaches as our ‘Operator of the Year’. Throughout 2011 they continually demonstrated exemplary customer service combined with operational excellence.”

Driver of the Year was awarded to Michael Penny from South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach who received an extremely high number of customer commendations during 2011 and is also a ‘green’ rated driver on National Express’ telematics system. Michael drives the busy Bristol to London and Bristol to Gatwick services and is a well known and popular member of the National Express team.

Full list of winners: Best Fleet 2011 – E Stott & Sons Manager of the Year 2011

– Paul Major, Yourbus Nottingham Driver of the Year 2011 – Michael Penny South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach

Most Improved Operator 2011

– Wilts & Dorset

Best Newcomer 2011

– Mike De Courcey Travel

Sustained Higher Achievers 2011 – Go North East, Lucketts

Travel, Parks of Hamilton (Scotland), Parks of Hamilton (Plymouth) Operator of the Year 1-5 Vehicles – E Stott & Sons Operator of the Year 6-10 Vehicles – (Parks of Hamilton

(Scotland)

Operator of the Year 11-15 Vehicles – Edwards Coaches Operator of the Year 16+ Vehicles

The winners pose for a group photo inside the Windmill Village hotel, Coventry

John Morrow retires and sells to Glasgow Citybus John Morrow, who has operated local bus services in and around Clydebank for more than 30 years, has announced his retirement and the sale of his bus company to fellow Scottish independent Glasgow Citybus, which took over John’s routes on Sunday (April 1).

“I’ve been considering selling www.coachandbusweek.com

News10.indd 10

the business and retiring for some time but only on the condition I found the right operator to take over,” explained John. “Handing over to Glasgow Citybus, with its already established local services and a reputation for providing great quality services, means I am definitely handing over my

business to a worthy operator and a ‘safe pair of hands’. Another consideration in making my decision has been my family, who have worked alongside me in the business, so I’m delighted both my daughter and grandson will continue to work for firm after Glasgow Citybus take over.

“Having been in the business for around 35 years, it is sad to leave but there comes a time when it just feels right and that time is now for me.”

– Yourbus Nottingham

Operator of the Year 2011 –

Bennetts Coaches.

Commenting on the acquisition, Glasgow Citybus managing director Colin Craig, said: “I am delighted John chose us to take over his business. Our aim is to continue to offer quality local bus services on the current routes and compliment these with the services we already operate linking Clydebank and Glasgow city centre.

“We wish John a very happy retirement and look forward to working with his daughter and grandson in the future.”

02/04/2012 21:15

552706-1007-ELeather-FP

10/10/11

10:09

Page 1

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news

BRT global database established Up-to-date data on BRT systems around the world available for researchers, agencies and officials to study and compare Three global organisations have teamed up to launch the most comprehensive, public database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems around the world.

The new site, http://BRTdata. org, was created by EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s centre for sustainable transport, and the Across Latitudes and Cultures - Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE), in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

BRT is one of the fastest growing public transport systems. Approximately 134 cities worldwide— from Bogota to Beijing— have implemented BRT systems or priority bus corridors, serving more than 22 million passenger trips daily. It flexibly combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways and intelligent transportation system elements into an integrated system.

FirstGroup launches heritage trust

FirstGroup has created a new trust to restore and preserve some of the company’s historic vehicles.

The FirstGroup Heritage Trust already has four buses from First’s operations in Aberdeen, dating back to the 1930s. However, that figure will grow as the Trust takes ownership of buses from throughout First’s operations in the UK. Joe Mackie, First Aberdeen’s commercial director and secretary of the trust, said: “It’s important we protect and preserve our heritage vehicles. In Aberdeen, for example, our 1930s Albion bus has a rich and varied history. To condemn it to the scrapheap or consider selling it would be a great loss.

“In setting up the Trust, vehicles with historical significance such as the Albion are protected. There are a number of buses throughout www.coachandbusweek.com

News12a.indd 12

“The new website provides reliable and up-to-date data to help researchers, transit agencies, city officials and NGOs understand and make better decisions to improve BRT and bus corridors in their cities,” said Dario Hidalgo, director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ. “This is the first time all of this publicly available data has been compiled in one place, but there is still more information available.

We invite transit agencies and researchers to help us improve the knowledge base by sharing additional data to fill in the gaps.”

The new website allows users to compare BRT systems and bus corridors in all 134 cities in 36 countries. The database includes 95 different indicators on system operations, design and cost, including metrics like the number of passengers per day, commercial speed, and the length of corridors.

There is growing interest and demand for BRT as cities seek low-cost, sustainable urban transportation solutions. As the number of BRT systems increases, it is important to have current

and complete information about existing and planned systems.

The development of an online database was a joint data-sharing effort. EMBARQ and ALC-BRT CoE collected data mostly from Latin America, and the IEA contributed data from other regions.

“Previously, there was no single point of publicly accessible information about the worldwide BRT industry, and it was especially difficult to get an assessment of the industry’s size and how it was changing over time,” ALC-BRT CoE director Juan Carlos Munoz said: “We finally have the right tools to set standards for this dynamic industry.”

Using information from this dataset, the IEA has estimated the energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) benefits of BRT implementation and outlined several CO2mitigation scenarios which rely in part on modal shift from light duty vehicles to public transit, including BRT. The IEA plans to recognise the extensive potential of BRT in its upcoming biennial report, “Energy Technology Perspectives 2012,”

Joe Mackie is pictured proudly against the backdrop of the 1965 Daimler, 1975 Leyland Leopard and 1930 Albion on display at First’s headquarters our UK operations that we will take ownership of and subsequently restore and preserve them.”

On March 22, FirstGroup had three vehicles on display at its headquarters in Aberdeen: A 1965 Daimler, a 1975 Leyland Leopard and the 1930 Albion. All three vehicles are currently on display at the Alford Transport Museum. Mr Mackie continued:

“The Albion is my favourite, it has so much character and style. We were contacted some years ago by a home owner in London who discovered the original chassis in his back garden. It emerged the Albion was in service in Aberdeen in the 1930s before being commissioned during World War Two and taken to London. First transported it back to the north

calling for the total network length of BRT systems to double by 2020.

“BRT is growing in importance as a transit alternative,” said Tali Trigg, energy analyst, IEA. “This database will be helpful to planners, and is an essential component in calculating energy efficient scenarios which inform decision makers of practical ways of transitioning to a more secure, sustainable and affordable energy future.”

Following are just a few examples of the data that is available from the new website: Worldwide, 129 new corridors have been implemented since 2000, and 37 since 2010.

Latin American systems move more than 50% of global BRT daily passenger trips.

25 Brazilian cities have 87 bus corridors, totalling more than 560 kilometres– more than any other country.

18 of Asia’s 24 BRT systems began operations since 2006.

Systems in 13 U.S. cities together carry nearly 600,000 passenger trips each day. east 10 years ago and faithfully restored the vehicle to its former glory. It’s now on display at the Alford Transport Museum, like all the Aberdeen vehicles in the Trust, and is available for private hire. It’s a popular means of transport for brides on their wedding day.”

Also present at FirstGroup’s headquarters on March 22 was George Law (59) who has been with First for 43 years. He said: “I remember fondly driving the Daimler in the 1970s. It was great being able to step back in time and get behind the wheel again. The buses nowadays are smoother and far easier to handle, much more comfortable for passengers too, but there is a special place in my heart for the Daimler. I’m pleased First has taken steps to preserve these historic buses.”

The FirstGroup Heritage Trust consists of four trustees: Joe Mackie; David Liston, FirstGroup’s business efficiency and engineering director; Gordon Mills, former engineering director at FirstGroup; and Peter McCutcheon, retired bus driver.

02/04/2012 22:27

552739-1030-RoadTech

2/4/12

15:12

Page 1

14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news › international

The first Travego Edition 1 delivered in Sweden The touring coach is the first to meet Euro 6 emission standards and has an ergonomically optimised cockpit SWEDEN On March 23 the first Travego Edition 1 was delivered to Lidbergs Buss AB during the Swedish International Travel & Tourism Trade Fair in Gothenburg.

The Travego Edition 1 is the first touring coach to meet the future Euro 6 emission standard, which comes into force in 2014.

The vehicle features the new range of BlueEfficiency Power engines, a new transmission with new gearshift, a further upgraded, ergonomically optimised cockpit and new safety features.

The Travego Edition 1 is powered by a vertically installed in-line sixcylinder engine from the new OM 471 series. From a displacement of 12.8 it develops 350 kW (476 hp) at 1800 rpm. The high maximum torque is 2300 Nm at 1100 rpm.

The engine features a unique common-rail injection system with pressure booster (X-PULSE). This delivers extremely precise fuel injection with cylinder-selective control, high injection pressures of up to 2100 bar and freely modulated injection.

Additional advantages result from the three-stage exhaust brake and the asymmetric turbocharger.

Despite exhaust gas recirculation, this ensures rapid response to accelerator movements for improved driving performance. The stringent requirements of Euro 6 for nitrogen oxide emissions (NOX) generally stand in contradiction to the demands for further reduced particulate emissions and low fuel consumption. Mercedes‑Benz resolves these conflicting objectives with its unique X-Pulse injection

Gunnar Jörs, a salesman at Mercedes-Benz Buses EvoBus Sverige AB, hands the vehicle over to Lennart Brunosson, general manager of Lidbergs Buss AB

Viseon gains Russian airport customers

RUSSIA Two Moscow airport operators have acquired new apron buses from Viseon, the licensed manufacturer of Neoplan airport buses. Vnukovo airport is receiving 10 Neoplan Apron N9122L whilst Domodedovo airport is taking seven.

The buses measure 14.72m long and 3.17m wide. Each accommodates up to 137 passengers. Three large double doors on each side and the standard kneeling function of the ECAS air suspension ensure a quick www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsIntl.indd 14

technology, in conjunction with a complex emission control system.

This involves BlueTec engine technology with SCR and AdBlue injection, which has already seen use in more than 100,000 units, combined with exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter.

The Travego Edition 1 is the first coach for which Attention Assist is available as a special equipment item. This is a system that registers parameters such as steering angle, speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, travelling time, control signals and driver changes. By correlating the data, Attention Assist draws inferences about the driver’s alertness. If the data indicates a lack of concentration and drowsiness, a coffee cup symbol appears in the display to indicate that it is time to take a break.

The Swedish bus operator Lidbergs Buss AB is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year and with the addition of the new Travego Edition 1, the company’s Daimleronly fleet will total eight MercedesBenz coaches and one Setra coach.

Lidbergs Buss AB is represented throughout Sweden, and also operates tours to other European countries such as Denmark and Germany.

Viseon Neoplan apron airport bus can accommodate up to 137 standees and convenient entry and exit for passengers. They are powered by 6.9 litre MAN D0836 engines with an output of 220bhp (156 kW). All Neoplan airport buses use front-mounted engines which drive the front wheels via a Voith DIWA D851.3E automatic three-speed

gearbox. The driven front portal axle is manufactured by Kessler, as are the wheel trunks of the Neoplan independent wheel suspension on the rear axle. Like all Viseon products the Neoplan airport buses are manufactured at the Pilsting plant, Lower Bavaria.

Munich Airport invests in 46 MAN buses GERMANY MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland and AeroGround Flughafen München GmbH have signed a framework agreement on the delivery of 46 MAN regular service buses for transporting airline passengers at Munich’s ‘Franz Josef Strauß’ airport. The vehicles will be delivered in three batches by 2014.

The order includes 19 MAN Lion’s City buses (280bhp) and 27 Lion’s City G articulated buses (320bhp). All are to be equipped with Voith four-speed automatic gearboxes. Aero-Ground has also entered into servicing agreements with MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland for all 46 vehicles.

As would be expected, the interior fittings of the buses have been optimised for standing room (four people per square metre) in order to provide high passenger capacity. The solo buses have space for 67, the articulated buses for up to 100 passengers each.

Powerful air-conditioning systems guarantee a high level of comfort in all vehicles.

Around 38m passengers use Bavaria’s international air hub every year. Munich is the fastestgrowing airport in Germany.

“We are very pleased two operators of international airports in Moscow have chosen our Neoplan buses for their fleet expansion and renewal,” said Viseon MD Joachim Reinmuth. “This underlines once again our concept of linking high-quality bodywork and modern drive technology with a groundbraking design, meets the current demands of the world’s airports.”

Four other variants are offered in the apron bus range to cover demands for varying passenger capacities ranging from 66 to a maximum of 137 passengers.

Lengths of 13.3m and 14.7m include width options of 2.75m or 3.17m. The shorter model is 12m long and only available in a width of 2.75m. Viseon can also supply customised buses or VIP versions for specific applications.

02/04/2012 14:47

p15_CBW_1030

2/4/12

16:41

Page 1

16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

£3.3m

news › BUSINESS

The value of the contract 21st Century have with Arriva

briefly In a speech to the House of Commons, John Cridland, CBI director-general, urged national and local governments to see financial constraint as a spur to public services reform, not a barrier, and to recognise the role the private sector can play in providing high-quality services while delivering better value to the taxpayer. Speaking on the day the Cabinet Office published an update on its Open Public Services White Paper, Mr Cridland said little had changed in nine months since its launch, and it was now time for the Government to actually “walk the walk” to deliver meaningful progress on the ground.

The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing rose to 52.1 last month from 51.5 in February. A reading above 50 implies growth.

The data suggests the economy grew in the first three months of 2012 and avoided a recession.

But while there was a pick-up in new orders, March output was also boosted by clearing backlogs of existing work. Markit said conditions in the sector remained tough, with firms facing high oil and metal prices but both domestic and overseas demand had improved overall. Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: “This is obviously nowhere near a strong pace, but it is at least sufficient to prevent the sector from remaining a drag on the broader GDP growth.”

The recovery of the UK financial services sector is continuing, a survey suggests, with optimism improving and firms taking on new staff.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the CBI found Q1 business volumes had grown for the eighth quarter in a row. A separate survey of UK finance chiefs suggested fears of a UK recession or a euro break-up have eased. However, accountancy group Deloitte said large businesses still remain cautious about raising their spending. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicted the UK economy would shrink in Q1, taking it back into recession, but many analysts are now predicting economic growth. www.coachandbusweek.com

BusinessNews.indd 16

FirstGroup warns of weak UK bus market Though facing financial strain, the company believes their bus divisions may yet yield returns in line with industry averages FirstGroup has warned margins at its UK bus division will be reduced from 13% to 8% this year in its report on trading for the financial year ending March 31, 2012. This comes ahead of its preliminary results which are set to be announced on May 23.

The firm said the north/ south divide was widening “with considerably lower growth rates

emerging in Scotland and the north of England”. Approximately 60% of the company’s bus revenue is generated in these regions.

Poor economic conditions and cuts in government subsidies have been blamed for the deterioration in trading. Shares in the group fell by more than 15% at one point after the company’s announcement.

The performance of the UK bus division was one of the few weak spots in the group’s latest trading statement.

It said it did “not expect revenue growth and cost efficiencies to be

First says its new UK Bus management team is confident the actions it is taking will create a more robust and profitable business. A First Eastern Wright Gemini Volvo is seen working the X1 at King’s Lynn

Successful year for CCTV supplier 21st Century 21st Century, specialist installer and provider of public transport CCTV and vehicle monitoring systems, has announced preliminary results for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Financial highlights included: Sales up 29% to £14.0m (2010: £10.8m); Operating profit from continuing operations up 72% to £1.5m (2010: £0.9m); Profit after tax from continuing operations up 89% at £1.2m (2010: £0.6m); Share earnings more than doubled to 1.31p (2010: 0.61p)

year;

Year end cash up to £2.8m from £1.1m at the start of the

Contracts exchanged on sale of freehold property; Distribution of 3.5p per share by way of return of capital to be proposed at the forthcoming AGM. Operational highlights for the year were: Contracts worth £7.2m awarded by Keolis in Sweden; 21st Century appointed preferred mobile CCTV supplier to First UK Bus;

sufficient to offset the impact of reduced government subsidies and funding to the industry”.

First raised the issue of further cuts in this part of the business: “In addition to the programme of selective asset and business disposals already started in the period, we are accelerating a plan to significantly reposition the portfolio in the coming year”.

However, with a combination of targeted investment and a changed approach to the management of bus operations, the firm believes its bus division may yet yield returns in line with industry averages: “The new management team in UK Bus has a clear direction and we are confident the actions we are taking will create a more robust and profitable business which is equipped to generate improved returns and sustainable growth.”

Furthermore, the company restated its strategy of “selective asset and business disposal” with the aim of positioning the bus division for the longer term.

The company said overall it expected to hit earnings and cash targets for the year.

First’s three US businesses made progress amid “positive signs” in the economy and in UK rail, the company said there had been “robust revenue growth”.

EcoManager sales in Czech Republic, Spain and Italy; EcoManager distributors appointed in mainland Europe; Several potentially significant EcoManager trials underway in Europe and the Middle East.

The company enjoyed a strong start to 2012 with freehold property sold for £2.35m (completion of sale January 6, 2012) and cash at bank standing at £4.0m at February 29, 2012.

Recently the company was awarded a £3.3m contract for on board CCTV and passenger counting with Arriva, Scandinavia.

Jan Holmstrom, chairman of 21st Century, said: “2011 was a good year for the group.”

02/04/2012 21:20

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

8% 80,108 FirstGroup’s UK Bus division margin for 2012

The total number of vehicles delivered

by Scania in 2011, a record high

Big Five shortlisted bidders for rail franchises

A total of seven firms - including the so-called ‘Big Five’ – are bidding for the Great Western, Thameslink and Essex Thameside rail franchises.

Rail minister Theresa Villiers said it was part of the “biggest programme of refranchising since the privatisation of the railways.”

The first winner, which will be announced in December, is for the Great Western franchise, which the operator will begin running from April 2013 for a term of 15 years.

The line runs between London, the west of England, south Wales and parts of the Midlands.

Current operator First, which

Scania releases annual report

Scania has released its annual report for 2011 revealing record breaking delivery levels. Scania’s vehicle deliveries rose by 26% to a record high 80,108 and service revenue rose by 4% to SEK 17.408m, also a record level.

Some of the highlights for the company during 2011 included;

Arriva currently operates the Welsh rail franchise, which is branded Arriva Trains Wales. A class 150 DMU leaves Blaenau Ffestiniog with a Conwy Valley Line service to Llandudno on December 30, 2011 was awarded the franchise since before 1998, said it did not want to take up the option to extend its current contract beyond March 2013, preferring instead to re-bid for a longer contract.

Tim O’Toole, chief executive for FirstGroup, said: “We are delighted to have pre-qualified for all three franchises, which demonstrates our strength and experience in the rail market. As the current operator of

January 21, Scania received an order for 158 buses from public transport operator Keolis in Sweden. The buses are equipped with engines for the renewable fuels ethanol and RME. April 1, the company unveiled trucks with engines that comply with Euro 6 emission standards.

May 5, the Board of directors decided to extend president and CEO Leif Ostling’s employment contract by three years to March 31, 2015.

May 23, Scania strengthened its position in Iraq with an agreement to deliver 4,000 vehicles.

June 9, Scania delivered 100 city buses to the public transport system in Copenhagen, Denmark.

October 20, Scania launched Scania Citywide, a newcity and suburban bus.

The financial overview stated; Operating income fell to SEK 12,398m and earnings per share rose to SEK 11,78 Net sales increased by 12% to SEK 87,686m. 9% of net sales accounted for by buses.

Cash flow amounted to SEK 6,970m in vehicles and services Scania reports: “Operating

two of the franchises – First Great Western and First Capital Connect – we have a strong track record of delivery and investment in our rail operations.”

The winning bidder for the Essex Thameside franchise will begin operations in May 2013. The length of the franchise term will also be 15 years.

And the winning bid for the Thameslink line will start operating in September 2013 for a minimum of seven years with pricing also required for a potential extension of up to two years at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

“The new Thameslink operator will help oversee the completion of the Thameslink project which will enable a near doubling of capacity into and through central London in the peak periods,” Ms Villiers added.

The seven firms bidding are: FirstGroup, National Express, Stagecoach, Arriva, Abellio, MTR and the Go-Ahead Group. income in vehicles and services totalled SEK 11,881m during 2011. Higher vehicle deliveries and service volume were offset by a stronger Swedish Krona and a higher cost level. A less favourable market mix and increased prices for raw materials had an adverse impact on margins while the higher prices had some positive effect.”

Scania has announced that its AGM will take place on May 4, Scaniarinken, AXA Sports Centre, Sodertalje, Sweden.

The full report can be found on: http://www. scania.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

BusinessNews.indd 17

02/04/2012 21:20

18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news › REGIONAL

NORTH

A popular shuttle bus returns this year to ferry visitors to the spectacular wild daffodil displays at Farndale on the North York Moors.

The bus will run throughout the Easter holiday period and depart from Hutton-le Hole, calling at various spots to enable flower lovers to enjoy views of the blooms and access walking trails.

The National Park Authority, which runs the service, says the daffodils should be in their prime over the Easter weekend and park rangers are hoping visitors will use the shuttle bus rather than causing traffic congestion on moorland roads.

Tickets cost £3 per person for unlimited all-day travel, with Moorsbus tickets also accepted.

The bus runs every Sunday to April 15, plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.

New and improved summer DalesBus services start in Craven at Easter.

The Cravenlink service operates from Skipton to Gargrave, Airton, Malham, Embsay, Eastby, Bolton Abbey, Addingham and Ilkley every Sunday and Bank Holiday from next weekend.

The Craven Shuttle also provides an hourly service between Skipton and Grassington with connections from Burnley, Manchester and Keighley. This service also runs on Good Friday.

New from Easter Sunday is the Fellwalker service which will leave Buckden at 1750 and will go to Skipton Railway Station via Grassington. Travel will be free for holders of return rail tickets to any station north of Skipton.

Also new for 2012 is the Malham Tarn Shuttle linking Silsden, Eastburn, Cross Hills, Skipton and Gargrave with Airton, Malham, Malham Tarn, Langcliffe, Settle, Austwick, Clapham and Ingleton.

This service will depart Silsden at 0915 and Skipton Rail Station at 0950 every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from Easter.

A new improved Dentdale Explorer bus service also starts on Easter Saturday with connections off the 0926 Skipton-Settle-Carlisle train to Dent, Sedbergh and Kendal with extra late afternoon and early evening return buses opening up new opportunities to visit the Howgills or explore the towns of Sedbergh or Kendal.

DalesBus is managed by Dales www.coachandbusweek.com

RegionalNews.indd 18

KEY

SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND REP OF IRELAND NORTH WALES MIDLANDS EAST LONDON SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST

and Bowland Community Interest Company and managing director Colin Speakman said it was the fastest growing rural bus service in the country, with 40,000 trips last year.

Timetables are available from local bus and railway offices, libraries and tourist information centres. Alternatively, visit dalesbus. org or call 01132 457676.

wales

Newport may soon see buses returning to one of the city’s main shopping areas on Commercial Street should a new proposal gain public backing.

Newport Bus starts a threemonth consultation on Monday, asking people if they want to see buses back in the heart of the city.

Newport Transport chairman William Routley believes now is the time for this discussion to take place. He said: “The local authority is regenerating the city and a part of the regeneration is looking at the structure of the city and what can we do to help regenerate it.”

Commercial Street has been pedestrianised since 1986.

Mr Routley said the way to bring shoppers back to the city centre is by taking the pedestrianised area out. “There’s no point having a pedestrianised area without pedestrians.”

The chairman added: “The early indication is that traders want buses back but we’ll wait and see what the consultation brings.”

High Street was reopened to buses in December, which Mr Routley claims has been a winner for traders and customers.

A spokesperson for Newport City Council said the council welcomes the opportunity for any type of consultation with members of the public and awaits the views with interest.

Six Optare Tempo buses have entered service with Traws Cymru on the new T4 route linking Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd and Cardiff. The new vehicles are part of the £2.2m Welsh Government investment to improve and expand the former Traws Cambria bus network.

The revamped service has been developed following consultation with passengers who requested a faster and direct service between key communities in eastern Powys and Cardiff and is funded by the Welsh Government as part of its commitment in the National Transport Plan for Wales to promote high quality, environmentally friendly public transport services across Wales.

The vehicles are double glazed with full climate control, and high backed, leather trimmed executive coach type seats are fitted throughout, together with parcel racks and a two-tier heavy-duty luggage pen.

There are two tables to the rear of the vehicle with fore and aft

facing seats. Beneath each table is a twin, 240 volt power point for lap-top computer/mobile phone charging, and Wi-Fi is provided throughout the vehicle.

A GPRS controlled real-time passenger information system is fitted for convenient journey planning, together with an induction loop system to help the hearing impaired communicate more effectively with the driver.

Security is provided by an eight camera CCTV surveillance system.

The 12-metre Optare Tempo vehicles dedicated to the T4 Service, are powered by the 210kW Mercedes-Benz OM906LA, six cylinder turbo-charged engine, which is driven through the Allison T310R fully automatic transmission, which has an integral retarder and a lock-up torque converter. The heavy-duty, low-weight integral construction increases fuel efficiency.

The T4 route, operating once every two hours in each direction, Monday to Saturday, is the first to be introduced as part of a network of new Traws Cymru longer distance coach style services in the region.

SOUTH EAST

Classic open-top buses are set to make a comeback in Portsmouth.

Visitors and locals alike will soon be able to regularly board double-decker sightseeing buses in Southsea for the first time in a decade.

In an effort to boost tourism in Portsmouth the old-fashioned buses will ferry people from Henderson Road, in Eastney, all the way to Gunwharf Quays.

The X25 bus service will be run by Eastleigh-based family firm Xelabus on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from May 5 and then daily from July 23 until September 2.

Company director Philip Blair said he lived in the Portsmouth area during the early 60s and used to watch the open-top buses drive up and down the seafront.

He said: “I have been looking at doing something in Portsmouth for a while now. We thought the city was crying out for a service like this, it’s been 10 years since the last one ran in 2002.With all the attractions and picturesque sights on the seafront we thought it would be perfect. We have taken a bit of a risk, though we know council members support us. None of the

02/04/2012 15:18

big operators were interested but we decided to trial this for a year and see how it goes.”

The new buses are the result of Xelabus, Portsmouth City Council and the Seafront Attractions and Traders Forums working together.

City seafront manager David Evans said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for all the attractions and businesses on the seafront to work in partnership with a transport provider and generously make available discounts for our residents and visitors alike. It also complements the seafront strategy by connecting the historic naval base with the seafront, thereby establishing Portsmouth as a total destination all along our great waterfront city. Put simply there’s never been a better time to visit Portsmouth.”

Existing residents’ bus passes will be valid on the new service and all-day tickets provide discounts for seafront attractions.

Lib Dem Cllr Lee Hunt, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “This new commercial venture will bring more tourists from our historic dockyard, with its fabulous maritime heritage, and the new Mary Rose Museum to enjoy

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19

Coach & Bus Week takes a look at the big issues where you live in our round-up of the regions. If you’ve got a local issue you would like us to cover, contact James Day at james.day@rouncymedia.co.uk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

the common and our stunning seafront with all its attractions – picking up local people and visitors all along the way.”

New dedicated bus lanes are to be introduced in Fareham to improve bus travel by providing better connections from the town centre.

The scheme is one of the developments from the Fareham Town Access Plan which has been conceived by Hampshire County Council, Fareham Borough Council and other groups.

On Monday April 8, the Portland Street southbound outside lane, except for the 25 metres prior to the Quay Street roundabout, will become a bus-only lane thereby improving bus access from the Fareham bus station for local bus services using the A27 and A32. On Sunday April 22, the westbound inside lane of the A27, Western Way and a small section of the A27 The Avenue westbound inside lane will also become bus-only lanes.

The lanes will be operational seven days a week, 24 hours a day and implemented on a trial basis for up to 18 months. During this time highways engineers will monitor their effect.

2012 n April 14 Paul S Winson Coaches Running Day. Loughborough and local area. www.busrunningday. co.uk, contact info@busrunningday. co.uk n April 19, 2012 UK Coach Awards. Ramada Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, 0870 900 1450. www.ukcoachawards.co.uk n April 19-21 Busworld Turkey.

Istanbul Expo Center, Turkey. www.busworldturkey.com/en/ index.html n April 21-22 UK Coach Rally.

East of England Showground, Peterborough. 01753 631170. www.coachdisplays.co.uk n April 24-26 CV Show. NEC, Birmingham. 01634 261262. www.cvshow.com n May 5 – 7 Llandudno Festival of Transport. Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales. 01492 545053. www.llantransfest.co.uk n May 6 Roselyn Coaches Open Day. Middleway Garage, Par, Cornwall. 01726 813737. www.roselyncoaches.co.uk n May 22-23 ALBUM Conference.

– Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire. www.albumconference.co.uk n June 4 Imberbus’ service, using Routemaster buses from Warminster, across rarely-seen parts of Salisbury Plain. warminstervbrd.

zxq.net/v/imber.htm

n June 5 – 7 Transports Publics 2012. The European Mobility Exhibition, Paris.

www.transportspublics-expo.com

Staff at Aberdeen-based FirstGroup were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to inflict “agonising” pain on one of the company’s senior directors. FirstGroup’s HR director, John Evans, bravely agreed to have his legs waxed to raise money for Sport Relief. His colleagues wishing to ‘rip’ the wax strips from his legs were invited to donate £5 and those simply wanting to spectate were asked to donate £2.

“It was agony,” said John. “The pain was simply excruciating. I will never do it again. However, I’m pleased it resulted in more than £200 raised for a fantastic cause, Sport Relief.”

Linda Guthrie, FirstGroup’s head of learning, was first to claim her five pounds of flesh. “I’ve wanted to ‘tear a strip’ off John for years,” she said.

“He was a great sport and his tears of pain were matched by tears of laughter from the rest of us.”

This was one of a number of activities Aberdeen staff have been involved in for Sport Relief. Members from First Shared Services took part in a mini triathlon and now plan shifts on an exercise bike at FirstGroup HQ to raise funds. More than £1500 has been raised for Sport Relief.

n June 10 Barry Festival of Transport. Organised by Cardiff Transport Preservation Group, Barry, South Wales. postmaster@-ctpg. co.uk. www.ctpg.co.uk n June 22 CILT Wales National Transport Awards lunch. Cardiff City Hall. 01446 451227. www.ciltuk.

org.uk/pages/regions/wales

n July 15 Alton Bus Rally & Running Day. Mid Hants Railway, Alton, Hampshire. www.watercressline.co.uk n August 3-5 Bedford OB GetTogether. South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester, GL7 5QB. Contact the organiser Tim Wootton by email on tim@tjcs.freeserve.co.uk. Visit

http://www.bedfordob.com/

The 64th IAA Commercial Vehicles show is taking place at the Hannover Exhibition Centre between September 20 and 27 this year. Pictured here is Volvo 7700 hybrid bus at a previous show n August 27 The National Association of Road Transport Museums gala day. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n September 6 Association of Trainers AGM. Steele Road, Wembley Julia@asot.org.uk 01797 344251 n September 8-9 UK Bus Driver of the Year, Blackpool. Call competition secretary Bill Holmes on 01303 251462. www.bdoy.co.uk n September 16 Showbus.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. www.showbus.com n September 20-27 IAA Commercial Vehicles. Hannover. +(00)49 30897842. www.iaa.de n October 14 Midland Red Centenary of the Reintroduction of Motorbuses. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n October 18 CILT Annual Awards for Excellence Dinner. London.

01536 740104. www.ciltuk.org.uk n November 6-8 Euro Bus Expo.

NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com n November 20 UK Bus Awards London Hilton Park Lane. www.ukbusawards.org.uk

2013 n March 20-21 UK Bus Awards Annual Conference. Venue to be confirmed, but will be in Central London. www.ukbusawards.org.uk n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition Palexpo, Geneva. www. uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 610 n October 18-23 Busworld Kortrijk. www.busworld.org

Do you have an event to promote? Send details to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

RegionalNews.indd 19

02/04/2012 15:18

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

news focus › scottish bus funding

Scottish bus funding crisis Bus operators warn Scottish Government underfunding of concessionary scheme and BSOG could push up fares for all passengers. Gareth Evans reports Bus operators in Scotland have warned that the Scottish Government’s underfunding of the concessionary travel scheme may lead to all bus passengers in Scotland paying more for travel.

The Scottish Government’s capping of the concessionary reimbursement scheme – which bus operators must be part of by law – means bus companies are now effectively subsidising one of the Government’s flagship policies.

Now, bus operators are calling on the Scottish Government to carry out a full review of the scheme, in partnership with CPT, to ensure there is a fair and sustainable scheme in place going forward.

CPT Scotland director George Mair said: “The current arrangements surrounding the concessionary reimbursement

scheme are simply not sustainable.

You would not see this kind of system in place in any other sector.

If a supermarket was to be asked tomorrow to provide free bread without being properly reimbursed for it, the public would think it a ridiculous situation.

“The Scottish Government have made it compulsory for bus operators to take part in the scheme in the full knowledge they will not be fully reimbursed.”

The shortfall in the budget means that, for the last three weeks in March, bus operators will receive no reimbursement in a scheme which is meant to be based on the premise that bus companies will be ‘no better and no worse off’.

And this comes at a time when operating costs for bus firms in Scotland have soared. The annual Cost Index, compiled by CPT, shows operating costs in the 12 months to December 31, 2011 increased by 7.8%.

In line with all motorists, bus operators face a further 3p rise

McGill’s has invested heavily in its fleet – despite funding pressures in fuel duty from August 2012. In addition, from April 1, the Scottish Government has reduced the BSOG budget by around 20%. Also, the government is changing the method it uses to calculate payments to operators. The combined result could have a far-reaching impact on many bus passengers, particularly

Ralph Roberts: a personal view

Ralph Roberts has detailed his complaints but also suggested three potential remedies

The situation in Scotland and Wales are very different. In Scotland the concessionary fares budget is capped. Once the number of pass holders has been reached, operators are not reimbursed. This year, next year and the year after that, we’re facing significant budget overruns. The budget is £180m for 2012 and we’re expecting a £9m overrun and for next year (April 1 – March 31, 2013) our budget is £187m.

The problem is demographics, which means we’re expecting an overrun of £14 – 15m.

This year, the overspend will be 5% and next year we’re forecasting it to be 8%.

In the past year we’ve been on 65 pence in the pound reimbursement based on the adult single fare. If we increase these fares we won’t see a penny of it back due to the budget overrun.

Back to BSOG, it typically amounts to around 10% of turnover. If an operator has a 10% profit margin, which is a target for the industry, (although it’s typically 6 – 7%), it means BSOG is 1% of turnover.

A 20% cut in BSOG should ordinarily lead to a

those who live and travel in urban areas.

These factors, along with the under-funding of the concessionary travel scheme mean operators may be forced to meet these additional costs by increasing fares for the fare-paying public or reducing service levels.

2% increase in all fares. Concessionary revenue typically amounts to 35% of our business in Scotland. The other 65% of customers then have to carry a higher burden. Therefore, fare payer increase becomes 3 – 5% and then there’s the concessionary fare budget overrun…

In March 2012, operators were only paid about a third of the normal concessionary payment, which led to a huge hit on cash flow.

Therefore, to account for it next year, operators will increase fares to create a surplus which will fund the shortfall in March.

All of a sudden, before you look at all other cost increases, you’re looking at a minimum of an 8% fare rise. Then you’ve got RPI – wages and materials. An 8% fare increase will be the norm in Scotland this year.

The BSOG cut has compounded this. Cash fare payers end up paying twice because we can’t increase the concessionary fare reimbursement rate.

Effects What’s it doing? Putting operators under pressure when people are travelling less – there are fewer commuters and shoppers.

That’s why growth is flat or negative. It’s a bad

www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsFocus.indd 20

02/04/2012 17:22

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

these commitments then it should cut its cloth accordingly and not pass the costs on.

“If the government continues to underfund concessionary travel Scotland’s elderly and disabled will end up entitled to a fantastic free scheme but there will be fewer and fewer bus services for them to use it on.”

George Mair continued: “We understand times are tough and the Scottish Government needs budget certainty, but so do bus operators.

The scheme is clearly unsustainable as things stand. We have more older people, living longer and all of Scotland’s ‘universal benefits’ are struggling to cope. If the government cannot afford to fund

Fears for future The Scottish Government has commissioned a consultant to review the level of operator reimbursement this year. The bus industry fears this will mean reimbursement will be cut further and operators will be faced with the ludicrous situation of being expected to continue providing the same service for the Scottish Government but being paid less and less to do so.

The funding for the concessionary scheme remains flat at £187m for the next three years despite expected increases in passenger journeys and without taking into account fares increases in line with industry costs.

The Scottish Parliament Public Audit Committee and Audit Scotland both recommend the concessionary travel scheme should be reviewed in full, yet Transport Scotland do not intend to consider any changes to eligibility. While politically unpopular, such moves

combination. Allied to all that in this part of Scotland, we’ve got an SQBP (Statutory Quality Bus Partnership) in Paisley, which is now in its second year and that in Glasgow started on April 1. Then there’s the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) deadline in 2016, so there can be no more investment holidays.

We’ve just acquired Arriva Scotland West, so we need 80 DDA-compliant buses by 2016.

Therefore, we’ll be investing at a rate of 20-25 buses per annum. It’s a hard old time at the moment.

Whilst the government boasts it’s only cut the BSOG budget by ‘x’ amount, it’s the third time it’s been reduced and now stands at £50m.

For the year to March 31, 2011 the amount paid stood at £62.5m. There is also a £3m pot for parachute payments, which will be shared around operators whose income falls by 15% or more and is for this year only.

BSOG mechanism change The mechanism for BSOG payment has also changed – it’s moved from pence per litre to pence per kilometre. Naturally, this has an adverse effect on towns and cities. If you’re a rural operator, you may find yourself winning.

have already begun south of the border. The English concessionary scheme is phasing in an increase in the age of eligibility to 65 over five years while some regions operate an off-peak scheme to limit cost.

George Mair added: “Transport Scotland’s recent Carbon Account for Scotland highlights how Scottish Government policies are actually increasing transport emissions.

This is a case in point. A strong public transport sector encourages people out of their cars, reducing congestion and lowering emissions.

However, passing on costs and

cutting support to the industry achieves the opposite.

“CPT would like the Scottish Government to commit to a fuller review of the scheme in partnership with operators to ensure a fair and sustainable model is found for future years.”

The CPT Cost Index can be found at: www.cpt-uk.org/index. php?fuseaction=publications. operational_briefing_ details&operational_briefing_ id=186

Reducing BSOG and changing the method of reimbursement at the same time has been a real hammer blow, particulaly to urban firms like Lothian

Lothian is said to be seeing a 40% cut, First Glasgow 39% and McGills 27%.

This 20% budget cut is in the budget pot.

Stagecoach in the Highlands are probably better off. They’re ratcheting up more subsidy per hour the bus is moving, whereas in a town you’re stopping at every stop and have a low average speed.

Conclusion There’s a lot to it – it’s far from straight forward. The BSOG changes will have a major impact. Unlike Scotland, in Wales it’s a level playing field as everyone has had the same reduction.

CPT Scotland has compiled comprehensive reports to the government about the impacts.

CPT has asked the government that if they must cut the budget then not to change the method at the same time, but the government has had none of it.

We only heard about it in November, which was only a couple of weeks before the Welsh.

We wondered if someone in Cardiff spoke to someone in Edinburgh. In Scotland we have a 70-day, 10-week registration period. We were given a 16-week notice period but this was

followed by meetings over Christmas and New Year, which left us with a mere 12 weeks. As a result my schedulers, and those at many other bus operators, were forced to burn the midnight oil.

In my opinion, there are three things the Scottish government could do to alleviate this issue: for 12 months to implement the 1 Wait change in BSOG reimbursement method from ‘pence per litre’ to ‘pence per kilometer’. operators to charge a 50p flat fare 2 Allow for concessionary journeys made before 0900hrs. The vast majority of these are for people going to work. the age of entitlement to 65 for 3 Raise concessionary travel. This would freeze the numbers in the scheme (as the budget has been frozen for the next three years) and allow the scheme to remain viable for three years at least.

As it stands, the budget is frozen, there will be ever more people entering the scheme and the overspend is going to get bigger. The point has come where the gap is too large for operators to absorb.

Ralph Roberts is MD of Greenock-based McGill’s Bus Services. He was previously director and GM of Arriva Scotland West. www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsFocus.indd 21

02/04/2012 17:23

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

eg

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

› FUEL MANAGEMENT

As the price at the pumps grows ever higher, making fuel last matters

Maximising your mpg The importance of proper fuel management is growing by the day, with the reaction to recently threatened Unite fuel tanker driver strikes highlighting the fact. This week’s Essential Guide looks at a number of methods operators can use to manage their fuel usage, from better tyres to computer systems www.coachandbusweek.com

EG.FuelManagement1.indd 22

W

ith fuel duty rising once again and the BSOG cuts coming into effect in England and Scotland as of April 1, fuel management is essential.

Thankfully, suppliers across a variety of different fields have products available which can help.

Bridgestone is testing its next generation low rolling resistance tyre, the Ecopia II, throughout 2012, which is sure to be one to watch. It is capable of reducing fuel expenditure by 5% per annum.

Energenics offer a proven fuel additive which has been used nationally by Stagecoach for eight years.

Actia’s driverAID system looks at the driver, with warning lights activating for harsh manoeuvres or unnecessary idling, a very useful tool to help drivers identify ways they can improve efficiency which they may have previously

been unaware of. Meanwhile Paul Clark Services offer engine tune-ups which will help get the best fuel efficiency out of the vehicle.

Coming from another angle, FuelDefend can prevent precious fuel from being stolen from your vehicles, a crime which is on the rise.

Bridgestone

One of the biggest challenges facing transport operators remains rising fuel costs. Even if a fleet is running efficiently and has reduced empty running to a minimum, the fact remains that the cost of fuel is at an all-time high. This can make the task of keeping fleets profitable a very difficult one for transport operators.

According to Andy Mathias, UK TBR product and marketing manager at Bridgestone, the small patch of tyre which separates a van or truck from the road can have a massive impact on the

02/04/2012 20:12

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23

fuel bill: “A low rolling resistance tyre can reduce fuel expenditure considerably. A reduction in rolling resistance of 20% can reduce fuel expenditure by 5% per annum.

“Keeping the correct air pressure in your tyres is as important as giving your engine a tune up. With the right amount of air pressure, your tyres wear longer, save fuel, enhance handling and prevent accidents. The effects of not maintaining correct air pressure are poor fuel mileage, loss of tyre life, bad handling and potential vehicle overloading.”

Throughout 2012, Bridgestone UK will be testing its next generation low rolling resistance truck tyres – Ecopia II – across the country ahead of the launch in 2013. Based on the successful existing Ecopia range this latest offering represents the next stop in the company’s commitment to develop tyres which offer more economical motoring without losing out on performance.

The Ecopia Truck range significantly lowers rolling resistance which helps operators to maximise fuel consumption. Its NanoPro-Tech compound helps to create better wet grip and the range’s Waved Belt technology ensures a stable footprint throughout the tyres’ life, and the turn-in-ply and stone ejectors increase durability and prevent stones from being retained and damaging the tyres.

“We are very proud of our Ecopia range of steer, drive and trailer consumption without losing excellent tyre performance” says Andy Mathias.

Additionally, Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Management provides a host of cost-saving initiatives including an electronic fleet inspection programme – Total Tyre Inspection, technical advice, updated information and recommendations on how to improve a fleets’ tyre management. This is delivered via Truck Point, a network of more than 320 tyre dealers in the UK who are experts in truck tyre care and collectively responsible for some 800 daily replacements on vans, trucks, buses and coaches, some of which are fitted during the 100 or so roadside call outs across the country every day.

The Truck Point network is designed to offer the right tyres for the right application as well as an after sales service at a pre-agreed price – a programme which extends

EG.FuelManagement1.indd 23

Testing will be carried out on the new Bridgestone Ecopia II throughout 2012 across Europe. It is through this expertise that businesses can optimise their fleet performance.

Between Bridgestone’s latest Ecopia II offering, its Total Tyre Management system which includes the Truck Point network, transport operators have more options for keeping running, fuel efficient and profitable.

became the same as the purchase price – a 55% increase assuming current spot prices.

Although the intention is to pay an equivalent level of BSOG by an alternative mechanism,

these changes mean saving fuel is an ever more powerful lever for bus operators to improve their financial performance. The proven fuel saving additive Envirox is an increasingly attractive proposition for local bus service operators seeking to mitigate the impact of net fuel price increases, as unlike diesel fuel its pricing remains stable.

Stagecoach is now in their eighth year of using Envirox nationally. After overseeing the reintroduction of the additive to its newly acquired London operations at the start of 2011, Stagecoach director Sam Greer commented: “The fuel additive makes good financial sense for our business.” Another recent trial at East Yorkshire’s Driffield depot demonstrated –as might be expected, these fuel savings complement those that can be achieved with a modern telematicsbased driver feedback system (GreenRoad in this case). This directly led to a full adoption

T: 0121 456 3199 E: enquiries@smarts.co.uk W: www.bridgestone.co.uk

Energenics Europe Operators of scheduled local bus services usually consider the cost of diesel as the ‘net fuel price’ which is the purchase price (excluding VAT) less the BSOG subsidy. On April 1, 2012 the reduction in BSOG by 20% in England increased the net fuel price by 8.64p/litre. This represents an increase of around 12% assuming current spot prices.

In Wales the 25% reduction in BSOG increased the net fuel price by 17%. However these changes are modest compared to the effect on net fuel price of the next wave of BSOG changes.

Last week in his written statement introducing the ‘Green Light for Better Buses’ proposals which included BSOG reform in England, transport minister Norman Baker stated: “The proposals... signal a move to break the link between fuel use and subsidy”. In Scotland this already happened on April 1 as BSOG transferred to a payment per km formula meaning ‘net fuel price’

Ray McAlle (General Manager) Mobile: 07530 387394 Office: 01793 613122 Fax: 01793 840514 Email: info@paulclarkservices.co.uk Web:www.paulclarkservices.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 20:12

24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

eg

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

› FUEL MANAGEMENT Actia

across their depots in Yorkshire with EYMS chairman Peter Shipp commenting: “Based on the successful trial we are confident Envirox will deliver a considerable fuel saving”.

The company behind the product, Energenics Europe Ltd, was originally a nanotechnology spin out from Oxford University and is still based at one of its science parks where its scientists continue to develop novel advanced materials. Envirox is based on cerium oxide, a wellknown industrial oxidation catalyst widely used in catalytic converters. It would not normally be compatible with diesel fuel but using nanotechnology it has been reengineered into a liquid format which mixes in easily. Dosing systems have been developed which are purpose built for treating bulk fuel in bus depots.

T: 01865 233010 E: info@energenics.co.uk W: www.energenics.co.uk

Envirox is based on cerium oxide, a well-known industrial oxidation catalyst widely used in catalytic converters

Building on more than 15 years’ experience delivering state-of-the art technology to the UK’s bus and coach builders, Actia now offers an integrated system to assist operators in getting more MPG from their vehicles. With driver behaviour a significant factor in affecting the fuel economy of the vehicle, operators have long wrestled with the issue of driver training and have looked to improve standards not only to maximise fuel efficiency, but also to improve passenger comfort and safety. In recent years, in-cab driver feedback systems such as Actia’s driverAID have brought a new way for operators to involve their drivers in the process of reducing operating costs and improving passenger experience.

With its eye on several specific aspects of driving style, driverAID’s warning lamps inform the driver when harsh manoeuvres are made, when the driver is heavy on the throttle and when a designated

www.coachandbusweek.com

EG.FuelManagement1.indd 24

02/04/2012 20:12

April 4, 2012| COACH & BUS WEEK | 25

speed threshold is exceeded. With its easy-to-read icons, the driver knows exactly where corrections should be made, and over time, will learn to adjust driving style to avoid triggering warnings.

Unnecessary idling is a key source of wasted fuel. To tackle this, driverAID’s IDLE warning illuminates when the threshold for standing with the engine running has been exceeded, encouraging the driver to move on or switch off (when it is practical to do so). As a secondary check, driverAID reports instances of idling and other poor driving behaviour through Actia’s Eco-Fleet Telematics platform, along with GPS location and other vehicle data. In this way, idle hotspots can be identified, and operators can see at a glance whether idle fuel is being burned as part of normal operating – in traffic for example, or while the vehicle is parked up.

T: 01686 611150 E: mail@actia.co.uk W: www.actia.co.uk

Actia’s driverAID gives real time feedback to drivers if they are not driving economically, which may lead to adjustments in driving style

Paul Clark Services Paul Clark Services, which offers a wide range of engineering support on operator’s premises, carries out routine maintenance, inspections and MOT preparation for operators, as well as unit changes, engine

overhauls, general repairs and contract maintenance.

For manufacturers, Paul Clark Services tackles warranty and campaign work.

“We do anything mechanical, body and electrical,” said Paul Clark. “We do it all on the

customers’ premises with a mobile engineering team. So, there’s none of the expense of taking vehicles to commercial workshops, and no lengthy delays either.”

Paul has a long background in engineering, having started out as a qualified mechanic at the age of 21 with Thamesdown Transport in Swindon after serving a four year apprenticeship. By the time he left at the age of 30, Paul held a senior management position.

Eighteen months after starting Paul Clark Services, Paul recruited Michael Kerslake, with whom he did his four-year apprenticeship, and worked with afterwards, at Thamesdown. Now, Michael looks after the financial side of the business while Paul takes care of the engineering and customer aspects. Both of them are IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) members.

The company’s customers include manufacturers ADL, Optare and ZF, and large operators such as Stagecoach,

www.coachandbusweek.com

EG.FuelManagement1.indd 25

02/04/2012 20:12

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

eg

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

› FUEL MANAGEMENT

National Express, Go-Ahead and First Group. Paul Clark’s aim is, though, to provide engineering and maintenance support to any operator who needs it, whatever their size.

T: 01666 510158 E: info@paulclark services.co.uk W: www.paulclarkservices.co.uk

FuelDefend Earlier this year, 36 of the 52 local police forces in the UK released figures revealing the scale of fuel theft in their areas. The statistics show in 2011 there were at least 8,235 reported cases. Speaking to the BBC, Inspector Phil Baker, of the Lincolnshire Police Force said his area witnessed a 17% rise in theft since 2010: “It’s big business for organized crime. It’s business too for those who can’t afford to run their car on a daily basis, so they’ll steal it if they can.”

It’s a problem which FuelDefend

claims is only going to get worse.

“In addition to rising tensions in the Middle East, we now seem likely to be faced by a tanker drivers strike too,” said Russell Fowler, CEO of FuelDefend Global. “In recent days, the price of a barrel of oil has approached $125, the highest level seen since 2010 and with some fuel stations now closing as a result of panic buying, one thing seems guaranteed: fuel theft will continue to increase.

FuelDefend Global Ltd claims to be the global leader in anti-fuel theft products. “We offer a product suitable for vehicles sold just about anywhere on earth,” explained Fowler. “We offer fleets class leading protection irrespective of the type of vehicle they are operating, and our range covers buses and coaches operated in Europe, North and South America and Asia, as well as China, India and Africa.

“Fuel theft is a growing problem.

On the one hand, there are increasing instances of vehicles being drained of fuel by well-

FuelDefend’s product is widely used in coaches, buses and trucks organized gangs of fuel thieves.

On the other, there remains the perennial problem of low-volume, regular skimming of fuel from tanks. This is often a matter of a few litres, but, when added up, amounts to a considerable loss. Margins in the passenger transport segment are low, and fuel prices are high, so any loss of fuel is a problem which impacts directly upon the operator’s bottom line.”

Fleet managers are used to operating within clearly defined budgetary guidelines, and Fowler

understands their position: “We work alongside both the passenger and freight transport industries, and we understand many operators need to be mindful of expenditure at present, not least as a result of the fuel price issue. We already offer two ranges of product; our premium NeckIt! Range.”

“We offer a simple yet highly effective means to reducing instances of fuel theft. Fuel is the biggest single cost faced by any transport operation, and preventing its loss is clearly a sensible approach – and for as little as £68.00. We offer a broad range of products which enable bus and coach operators to ensure their fuel tanks are protected from both regular and one-off episodes of fuel theft. Our success on a global stage points both to the size of the problem as well as the efficacy of our solution.”

T: 01753 890911 E: info@FuelDefend.com W: www.truckprotect.com/

www.coachandbusweek.com

EG.FuelManagement1.indd 26

02/04/2012 20:13

554918-1030-Bridgestone

31/3/12

09:17

Page 1

28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

supplier update › cummins

Manufacturers will need to use a combination of all available technology in order to reach the nearzero levels of emissions legislated at Euro 6, explained Neil Pattison

www.coachandbusweek.com

Cummins.indd 28

02/04/2012 15:53

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 29

Cummins reveals its Euro 6 engines

With the new emissions legislation approaching, the engine manufacturer has officially unveiled its new products.

Coach and Bus Week’s Andrew Cream visits the Darlington factory to find out more

I

t’s all go at Cummins.

In 2011 the engine manufacturer recorded record net sales of over $18bn, and is looking to hit over $20bn in 2012.

Total engine business accounted for $11.3bn of the figure, and a total of 950,000 sales of mid-range engines were recorded last year.

With Euro 6 set to be introduced next year, all manufacturers are gearing up for the change. Cummins invited CBW to a first look at its new ISB 4- and 6-cylinder products, as well as its upgraded aftertreatment system.

Neil Pattison, director of automotive engine business at Cummins, said: “We believe Euro 6 is the hardest thing to meet so far.

We are talking emissions which are nearly zero.”

The engines will use a combination of cooled exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) and variable geometry turbocharging (VGT) on the engine allied to a new aftertreatment system incorporating particulate filtration (DPF) with selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Pattison added: “For medium duty truck and bus use, the nearzero levels of emissions legislated at Euro 6 mean the majority of manufacturers will no longer have a choice of which technology to adopt – they will need to use all of them. However, the way in which OEMs balance these technologies in their emissions ‘recipe’ will have a major impact on the

www.coachandbusweek.com

Cummins.indd 29

02/04/2012 15:54

30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

supplier update › cummins

The “Next Generation” 4.5-litre engine is assembled in China, while the 6.7-litre product is assembled in Darlington, along with the aftertreatment system end product.”

The Euro 6 regulation applies from December 31, 2012 for new vehicle types and from December 31, 2013 for all vehicles. Some elements however will be phased in up to December 31, 2016.

These include tougher on-board diagnostic measurement of the vehicle emissions, to ensure PM (particulate matter) and NOx (oxides of nitrogen) emissions are monitored through the life of the vehicle.

Euro 6 legislation

There are a number of factors which make up Euro 6 legislation.

These will be discussed in the following section.

From Euro 1 to Euro 5, total NOx was reduced by 75%. To make the jump to Euro 6, total NOx is reduced by a further 75% - from 2 g/kWh to 0.46 g/kWh. Similarly, from Euro 1 to Euro 4/5, PM was reduced by 94%. Another 50% is to be reduced to comply with Euro 6 legislation (from 0.03 to 0.01 g/kWh).

Euro 6 regulation requires manufacturers to supply repair and maintenance information (RMI) to an independent service network.

Information needs to be made www.coachandbusweek.com

Cummins.indd 30

available to allow effective repair of the engine and aftertreatment system, as well as allowing emissions and OBD compliance to be maintained. The release of detailed product and service information is required which will allow third party service tools to be created.

Vehicle manufacturers will need to collate the information on emissions/OBD-related component parts (engine, gearbox, dashboard etc.) to gain vehicle type approval.

NOx control monitoring is important to make sure the system remains within specification. The engine is required to detect issues with the NOx control system which could be a result of component failure or tampering.

Legislation dictates that once a NOx control issue is detected the driver warning system must be activated within a certain time. If the issue is not resolved within a further time period the driver inducement system will be activated, which will ultimately lead to an almost undriveable vehicle, while repeated failures will be penalised more quickly.

A driver warning and inducement system is activated if any of the

“Cummins believes that if Euro 6 is successful at controlling real-world emissions it could be the last pollutant emissions regulation for EU heavy duty vehicles.” following problems occur: Frozen urea is detected and doesn’t thaw within a specific time; The urea flow rate is over 50% less than expected; The urea tank level is lower than the defined threshold; The urea quality results in NOx higher than the threshold; and Other failures of NOx control which could be construed as tampering, e.g. defeating the EGR valve.

The driver inducement system progresses through two levels of power and torque reduction (engine derate) depending on

how long the issue is ignored.

The initial derate results in a 25% torque reduction across the speed range. The second level introduces a 12.5mph speed limit when the vehicle comes to rest after a defined period.

OBD for Euro 6 is set up to monitor the operation of the emissions control system in-use to ensure emissions compliance is maintained for the useful life of the vehicle.

A failure results in Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) activity and fault code recording. The actual MIL activity varies depending on the severity of the fault. MILs are nothing new – they have been employed since Euro 4.

OBD fault codes and snapshot information must be stored for a defined period. This is so VOSA (or VOSA-equivalents outside the UK) can interrogate the information as part of a roadside check or periodic inspection.

All OBD monitors must run at least once per 10 operating cycles of the vehicle on a fleet average basis.

Euro 6 brings stringent in-use emissions requirements to better control vehicle emissions under normal operation. Products are required to meet 1.5 x the in-cell

02/04/2012 15:54

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 31

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek limits. This is for the full useful life of the vehicle.

The following features must be compliant for the useful life of the engine system: Emissions (monitored through In-service conformity) OBD & aftertreatment monitoring system (monitored through IUPR) Labelling/dataplates.

‘Useful life’ has been redefined for Euro 6. For vehicles under 16 tons, it has changed from 200,000km/6 years to 300,000km/6 years, while for over 16 tons, 500,000km/7 years has changed to 700,000/7 years.

Cummins believes that if Euro 6 is successful at controlling realworld emissions it could be the last pollutant emissions regulation for EU heavy duty vehicles. The focus is instead likely to shift to CO2 improvements.

Euro 6 development at Cummins

Cummins’ Euro 6 development is taking place at its Darlington centre, one of its five global technology centres. The centre has 150 engineers and houses 11 engine test cells as well as a vehicle test and development facility. The centre has benefited from over $10m of additional investment since 2008.

Cummins claims it has the broadest technology portfolio of any engine company.

Jonathan Atkinson, chief engineer of product development, said: “Cummins has experience with all technologies related to emissions reduction.”

The particulate filter section of the aftertreatment works by generating Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), which then runs through the DPF, capturing up to 95% of the carbon soot (PM) carried by the NO2. It collects on the filter to form Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which leaves the tailpipe as clean gas. A build-up of incombustible ash will eventually require filter service cleaning, though only at intervals of 200,000km or the equivalent hours/minutes.

The Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (CEGR) works in tandem with Cummins VG Turbo to reduce NOx and improve fuel efficiency. Recirculated exhaust gas dilutes the oxygen concentration in the cylinder resulting in lower peak combustion temperatures and

Cummins.indd 31

lower NOx. A variable geometry turbocharger is used to maintain correct pressure differential across the engine and control EGR/charge flow. The Cummins variable geometry turbocharger has a patented sliding nozzle design which improves boost efficiency across all engine speeds and loads.

The SCR process begins with a small injection of urea, proportional to the NOx rate. The urea is broken down by hydrolysis to form ammonia, which then reacts with the NO and NO2 to form nitrogen and water vapour.

Atkinson confirmed there would be “almost certainly less AdBlue used than Euro 5”, while fuel consumption would be “comparable to Euro 5”.

The new products

Cummins’ “Next Generation” 4.5-litre engine was designed in the UK, USA and China and is being assembled in China. The ISB4.5 Euro 6 has evolved from the ISBe4.5 Euro 4/5 and the ISB6.7 EPA 2010.

Regarding the ISB4.5 SubSystems technology, the new engine block and head has 8-19% less mass than traditional designs.

The ISB6.7 Euro 6 engine (above), the ISB4.5 Euro 6 engine (right) and the aftertreatment system (below).

The block is 10% lighter than the previous ISB4.5, while the head is 20% lighter. There is also said to be improved coolant flow, cylinder pressure capability, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and stiffness and airflow.

The cooler module has been enhanced by decreasing the pressure drop for improved robustness and durability. The module enables different flows for Euro 3 to 6 with no block change.

Other changes made to the 4.5-litre product include the introduction of Closed Crankcase Ventilation (CCV) and an increased capacity oil pan.

In a similar fashion to the ISB4.5, the ISB6.7 Euro 6 has evolved from the ISBe6.7 Euro 4/5 and the ISB6.7 EPA 2010. The ISB6.7 Euro 6 is assembled in Darlington, as is the aftertreatment system.

The 6.7-litre model incorporates the architecture of the EPA10 base engine, combustion and aftertreatment. Euro 6 specifics include a split exhaust manifold, VGT aero definition optimised for high torque, low speed capability, integrated CCV and increased capacity oil pan.

Cummins Euro 6: conclusion

Cummins confirms, by the time Euro 6 is implemented, over 80,000 hours of engine testing will have been completed and more than 2m road miles will have been driven to refine and validate the technology.

The addition of particulate count measurement in the development process has driven all manufacturers to use particulate filtration in their exhaust systems.

PM mass is poorly correlated with particulate number count and the previous measurement process is no longer capable of accurately measuring the extremely low particulate levels required

by Euro 6, which has led to new development. New measuring equipment has been specified for test cells to get to the required levels and complete the engine certification.

Pattison said: “Although we can use the substantial EPA 2010 experience gained to date, Euro 6 products need to be fully developed for European-specific test cycles, vehicles and duty cycles.”

“Never before has the installation of the engine and its related technologies had the potential to impact the vehicle and its operation as much as it has at Euro 6. Cummins’ air handling-toexhaust capability, with all leading technologies in-house, means we can deliver the optimum recipe in terms of emissions, performance and operating costs. For instance, balancing EGR and SCR to reduce NOx is important to gain the lowest levels of fuel consumption and AdBlue usage, with AdBlue consumption being directly proportional to grams of NOx removed,” concluded Pattison.

FACT FILE

ISB4.5 technical specifications Advertised Power: 150-200 ps Peak Torque: 760 Nm Governed Speed: 2300 rpm Bore and Stroke: 107 mm x 124 mm Engine Weight (Dry): 316 kg ISB6.7 technical specifications Advertised Power: 220-280 ps Peak Torque: 1100 Nm Governed Speed: 2100 rpm Engine Weight (Dry): 522 kg

www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 15:55

32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

www.coachandbusweek.com

BigPicture.indd 32

02/04/2012 14:06

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33

THE BIG PICTURE

Pictured here is what is believed to be the first Queen’s diamond jubilee-liveried bus. ADL Enviro 200 ‘YX61EMV’, numbered 31 in the fleet of renowned RATPowned Yellow Buses, hit the road in January 2012. It entered service in this special livery on March 22.

Jenni Wilkinson, head of marketing at the UK Bus Awards-winning firm said the bus has proved a talking point on Twitter and Facebook.

Why a Yellow Union Jack? “It is very ‘in’ at the moment to have the Union Jack in an alternative colour and it was great timing that we launched at the same time as the Olympic Strip. When you see it in the sunshine it is even more spectacular as the diamond silver glistens living up to our brighter image.”

www.coachandbusweek.com

BigPicture.indd 33

02/04/2012 14:07

34 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

DELIVERIES

Stagecoach South West has invested £4m in 23 new ADL Enviro 400-bodied Scania double-decker buses for the firm’s flagship route 12 between Brixham and Newton Abbot in South Devon. The new buses are replacing the Trident doubledeckers currently operating

on the route.

Michelle Hargreaves, managing director of Stagecoach South West, said: “Alongside our support of the South Devon Link Road, this significant investment in new buses demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Torbay area. The new vehicles will provide both residents and visitors alike with a comfortable journey on one of the busiest routes

FACT FILE

Chassis/body ADL Enviro 400 Engine EEV SCR Transmission Voith/ZF Seats 67-79 Spec Stagecoach Supplied by

ADL 01483 571271 www.alexander-dennis.com

KM MOTORS Irizar UK has supplied a new DAF-powered Irizar Integral i6 to KM Motors of Barnsley.

The coach is the first 12.2-metre long, 3.5-metre high i6 delivered into the UK market with 49 seats and WC. This vehicle is powered by the DAF PR 265,360BHP Euro 5 engine and ZF AS-Tronic gearbox. It comes with the normal Irizar UK high specification, which includes a DVD system, Bosch audio equipment, three-point seat belts, dark tinted double glazing, reversing camera and alloy wheels.

The internal specification is further enhanced by the inclusion of aircraft style rack locker doors, magazine nets, seat back tables, leather piping and footrests. The vehicle is finished in KM’s

Galloway A new Volvo 9700 B13R coach has recently been delivered to Suffolk-based Galloway European Coachlines.

The new tri-axle is the first Volvo B13R to join Galloway’s main fleet, although it operates Caetano Levantebodied Volvos on National Express contracts.

An important factor in Galloway’s decision was fuel economy. “The Volvo Levante coaches we run for our National Express contract get some excellent mpg, so we’re hoping to replicate it with the new B13R 9700,” said transport manager, Andy Kemp.

“The tri-axle coach has 53 reclining seats, plus facilities, which is ideal for us as it will be used on varied work

distinctive livery.

All integral Irizars also come equipped with WABCO ECAS/EBS/ABS-ASR/ESP, ZF axles and Knorr Bremse tyre pressure monitoring system.

Part of Irizar UK’s commitment to supporting

Ian Hall, director, Irizar UK Ltd hands over the vehicle to Dominic Herbert, senior tour driver at KM Motors Ltd excellent service and maintenance access.

“This is a first for Galloways,” explained Jo Standbridge. “They’ve bought Volvo coaches before, but this is the first B13R to be used in the main fleet. We’ve built up a strong relationship and trust with this operator over the last couple of years, so it’s pleasing to see this new vehicle order come to fruition.”

FACT FILE

Chassis/body Volvo 9700

including tours, private hire, school excursions and day trips. We like the B13R’s theatre style seating system, allowing passengers the optimum viewing experience when travelling on our tours.”

“We haven’t had any

issues as far as back-up and support is concerned,” continued Andy. “However, it’s certainly re-assuring to know you get commitment with Volvo Bus. It was also really easy to deal with regional sales manager, Jo

Standbridge. She certainly knows her stuff and is always very helpful.”

The Volvo B13R is equipped a 420bhp D13C engine and 12-speed I shift gearbox. A swing-out cooling system radiator provides

Prestige Plus Engine D13C

Transmission Volvo I-Shift Seats 53 Spec Touring Supplied by

Volvo 02476 210250 www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/ en-gb/

DAVE GOODLEY

Stagecoach South West

in the country.” Torbay and Devon county councils have welcomed the investment.

Cllr Robert Excell, executive lead for safer communities and transport, said: “This latest multimillion-pound investment demonstrates the strong working partnership we have built with Stagecoach and their confidence in the future of Torbay. The new vehicles support our Local Transport Plan by encouraging more people to use public transport.”

For all the latest industry news and information, register with us online at:

www.coachandbusweek.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

Deliveries.indd 34

02/04/2012 16:53

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 35

Have you taken delivery of a new vehicle and want to tell the world about it?

Email all the details and pictures to cbwinbox@ rouncymedia.co.uk

its customers, the Worksopbased dealer is supplying the vehicles with two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Delivered to KM Motors in mid March, the coach will be used on the family-run firm’s wide range of British and Continental tours.

Commenting on the new coach, Keith Meynell, managing director of KM Motors, said: “I have been more excited about getting this coach than I was when I took delivery of my first YRQ.” FACT FILE

Chassis/body Irizar i6 (integral) Engine DAF PR 265, 360BHP

Euro 5

Transmission ZF AS-Tronic Seats 49 Spec Touring Supplied by

Irizar UK 01909 511349 www.irizar.co.uk

Travellers Choice Travellers Choice’s eight new Jonckheere-bodied coaches feature the Volvo 380bhp Euro 5 D9 9.4 litre engine and 12-speed Volvo I-Shift automated gearbox.

They are equipped with 53 passenger seats with three point safety belts, TV monitors, CD/DVD player, sound system, air conditioning, toilet and drinks facilities.

This latest purchase takes the number of Volvos in the Travellers Choice fleet to 80, which represents 90% of its total stock.

“We’ve had a long and successful association with Volvo Bus and with regional sales manager, Duncan Crosby,” explained Travellers Choice MD John Shaw. “Time after time we get good

quality, reliable vehicles which keep us coming back.”

“The B9R Jonckheere is perfect for our current requirements because it offers all the functionality we want on a two-axle chassis. In addition to our eight new Jonckheeres we’re also getting a further three Volvo B9R Caetano Levante coaches for our National Express contracts, which takes the total number of Volvos

recently purchased to 11.”

“We’ve dealt with Duncan Crosby since the 1970s,” added Mr Shaw. “He’s Volvo through and through and knows his stuff. There’s also the strong relationship we’ve forged with Andy Mageer and the Thomas Hardie Commercials team, which provide excellent back-up and support.”

“It’s a huge year for Travellers Choice,” said Volvo

Bus regional sales manager, Duncan Crosby. “2012 marks its 140th anniversary and it’s quite fitting they’ve celebrated this with the purchase of new Volvos because we’ve had such a strong relationship with them over the years.”

Andy Mageer said: “We’re delighted Travellers Choice is celebrating an impressive milestone. We look forward to continuing to work with them.”

FACT FILE

Chassis/body Volvo B9R Jonckheere Engine Volvo D9, Euro 5, 9.4 litre Transmission 12-speed Volvo I-Shift Seats 53 Spec Touring Supplied by

Volvo 02476 210250 www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/ en-gb/

www.coachandbusweek.com

Deliveries.indd 35

02/04/2012 17:19

36 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

operator profile › belle vue coaches

Having successfully overcome ill health, managing director Phil Hitchen is optmistic about the future of the industry

www.coachandbusweek.com

BelleVue.indd 36

02/04/2012 20:46

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 37

operator: Belle Vue Coaches location: Stockport, Greater Manchester fleet: 45 Contact: 0161 947 9479 www.bellevue-mcr.com

Continual improvement Tim Deakin visits Greater Manchester-based Belle Vue Coaches and finds a management team at the helm which is passionate about both its employees and customers alike

O

ne word Phil Hitchen uses a lot is ‘opportunity’.

As managing director and joint founder of Belle Vue (Manchester), a 45-vehicle operator located a couple of miles north of Stockport along the A6, he refuses to see the current economic situation as an excuse to wallow in negativity.

In fact, his outlook is the polar opposite, and for good reason.

Having successfully battled testicular cancer during late 2011 but at the same time still directing company affairs from his hospital bed, Phil is optimistic for the future of both Belle Vue and that of coach industry players who share his way of thinking. However, one thing is clear: just accepting matters as good enough won’t feature in this part of the North West.

Listening to him describe Belle Vue’s achievements over the past seven years, Phil’s desire to continually do things better is obvious. “If you only improve 1% every day, it’s a heck of a difference at the end of the year,” he notes, explaining how, in a recessionbusting financial statement, he expects to record a 50% increase in turnover – and, most importantly, a commensurate rise in profits – for the current year. But how?

Some expansion has come through the purchase of smaller coach operators in the locality, including County Coaches and Lambeth Coaches. The most recent deals, which have included Freshfield Coaches of Stockport and Kings Coaches of Dukinfield, were

BelleVue.indd 37

accomplished via laptop midway through one of his courses of chemotherapy. Other growth can be attributed to a dedicated schoolbus fleet, which accounts for twothirds of Belle Vue’s vehicles and will shortly be updated with eight hybrid-powered, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)-owned and government funded Optare Versas, of which more later.

It was with coaches that Belle Vue started following a spell running taxis and minibuses.

The coach business, Phil says, boils down as one not difficult to master. “It’s about controlling your finances and budget, controlling your market and managing your people correctly. If you’ve got those ingredients it’s very simple.” The latter component is particularly important. People, clients and employees alike are something the jovial Mancunian takes very seriously and this forms a key plank of his business strategy.

Team players

Staff are treated to a number of company-funded social outings per year and Belle Vue’s interview and assessment procedure now includes an element of psychometric testing. A great deal of responsibility is shouldered by drivers to ensure customers go home happy and return to Belle Vue in the future. “We like the driver to be in control of any job from start to finish. They call the client the day before a hire,” Phil says, adding that he also expects staff to get off the vehicle and welcome passengers aboard.

Drivers are additionally

www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 20:46

38 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

operator profile › belle vue coaches

required to make good use of on-board public address systems once travellers are in their seats, including introducing themselves, conducting a health and safety briefing and pointing out places of interest during the day. Their efforts to produce satisfied customers benefit both sides; Belle Vue gains through repeat business and wordof-mouth referrals, and drivers are financially rewarded.

“Any letter [of commendation] we get earns the driver £5,” says Phil. “The older generation still write [rather than email] and I think if they’ve taken the time to do so then the driver must have done something exceedingly well.

The letters are self-reciprocating.

Then, after three months, I get our operations manager in and start paying performance bonuses.”

Drivers’ additional remuneration is based upon the testimonials received from passengers, which are uploaded to the firm’s website for potential customers to read.

Also forming a key part of Belle Vue’s high standard of customer care are after-sales forms, distributed on-coach to hirers.

Those which are completed and returned, albeit forming a relatively low percentage of the total number handed out, pass across the MD’s desk, all counting towards the ISO 9001 accreditation Belle Vue is striving for.

“It’s easy to say to drivers they haven’t quite prepared their vehicle correctly or that they aren’t smart enough,” notes Phil, but returning to his point about gradual improvement every day, he adds: “We’ve got high standards here but if you take every opportunity to thank and reward your staff it will produce better results the day after.”

Marketing matters

Phil and his team make a habit of explaining to drivers what’s occurring in the marketplace. One critical element to such goings-on is the “suicidal rates” some operators are working for. “Our performance has got to be top draw. I can talk the talk all day long but I need to be sure drivers are walking my talk,” he explains. Coaches are purchased with passengers’ needs foremost.

“I favour Setra. Not because of their look or engine but because they’re more suited to customers’ needs.”

Marketing is one of Belle Vue’s strong points but Phil is conscious that all the publicity in the world is worth little if drivers don’t keep www.coachandbusweek.com

BelleVue.indd 38

The school fleet includes TfGM-owned Vehixels (above), while the coach fleet include this Setra (below) wayside just because they’ve sold on price alone.” Belle Vue doesn’t deal solely in pounds and pence and instead adds value to ensure its customers benefit from a high level of service whilst the company itself receives a fair rate for the job.

Business mix

their part of the bargain. “The biggest opportunity I can see within the industry seems to be born out of a lack of training for operators to market themselves correctly,” he reveals. “Everything’s digital now.

If you can get your marketing right you can increase margins.”

Commensurate with this he sees an opportunity for an individual or organisation to offer the industry in general an education on using modern techniques. “Not just salesmanship but more marketing,” he explains, using Google as an example. “If you enter Belle Vue coaches, we’ve got 50-odd reviews on there. If you enter another operator’s name they might have a handful if they’re lucky.”

And that’s just one thing;

he’s also keen to see more joint ventures and strategic alliances forged directly with attractions and accommodation providers.

Improved marketing would allow coach operators to cut out the growing phenomenon of agencies acting as middlemen between travel providers and consumers.

“If companies could get their marketing right there would be fewer of these and higher margins for the operator,” states Phil, who is aware through contacts in the industry of what rate-cutting and wafer-thin margins can lead to.

“Operators just keep cutting the price and it leads to a really tight margin or even a loss,” he explains.

“Then, before long, they’ve gone.

I’ve seen some operators fall by the

Foremost in this success has been one simple step: find your niche or, in Belle Vue’s case, your niches.

“Any successful business weighs the market up,” says Phil. Belle Vue specialises in a handful of areas including wedding transport, wheelchair-accessible charters – over 80% of its coach fleet is equipped with lifts – and yellow school buses, and also maintains a vehicle restoration sideline under the guidance of engineering director Kenny Walsh.

Kenny’s vast experience of renovating vintage commercials – documented in a number of books he has written and published – generates useful extra business. A rear-entrance Guy Arab doubledecker dating from the 1950s finds lucrative employment on wedding charters and will soon be joined by a single-decker of a similar vintage, transformed in-house after spending a quarter of a century rotting in a field. Belle Vue staff attend various wedding fairs to

02/04/2012 20:46

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 39

promote their vehicles’ suitability for guest transport on the big day.

Perhaps most significant of the firm’s growing number of niches is its involvement with school buses.

Today’s extensive pupil transport duties can be traced back to 2003 when Belle Vue took on a contract for a service which had seen five different operators in a week. “It went through Hulme and Moss Side, [both of] which are like the Bronx of Manchester,” recalls Phil.

“The first week, I drove it myself,” he continues. “I went out and picked up a crowd of over-excited kids.

About 200 yards from the school I pulled up, turned the engine off and gave them a little chat. I told them we’ll have some good fun on the way home, especially on Friday afternoons, but that I wouldn’t tolerate any cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or bad language.”

The MD’s pep talk immediately had the desired effect, and having rapidly turned around what had been regarded as a poisoned chalice by other operators, more school work was to quickly come Belle Vue’s way. “I was tendering but including additional aspects, such as our driver going into the school and introducing himself,” he says.

“We didn’t stand for any problems, but for example if there was any lost property the driver brought it in, we logged it and returned it to the school. It always got handed back.”

Problematic school contracts might be regarded as not worth the effort by some. Not Belle Vue, which – in common with its operation of wheelchair-accessible coaches – thrives on work written off as too difficult by others. “My philosophy is we take the rough with the smooth. Everyone in business at the top end likes to challenge,” observes Phil. All his school buses have CCTV and on-board monitoring is complemented by Traffilog’s recording of data related to drivers’ performance behind the wheel.

“We give certain preferential clients access codes so they can trace where their vehicles are,” he adds.

Currently the yellow fleet is made up of a both purpose-built Vehixel high-floor vehicles and a smaller number of second-hand former service buses. This is set to change soon when the eight TfGM-owned hybrid Versas arrive.

“They should have been here last September,” notes Phil, adding his latest estimate suggests they will be delivered towards the end of April.

Maintenance is an absolute

BelleVue.indd 39

priority for Belle Vue. “What I stress to our team is that good maintenance starts with good cleanliness. The driver predominantly looks after his own vehicle [in the latter regard] but we also have a valeting team who come in as well.” Coaches are polished regularly, a step which, Phil says, causes any dirt to almost fall off if kept on top of.

At Belle Vue, he says, “we perform preventative maintenance and random quality control checks.”

The operations manager may also take measures to ensure walkround checks are being undertaken correctly and thoroughly by drivers.

Does introducing hybrid propulsion into a comparatively small fleet pose any engineering headaches? Some, but Belle Vue is fortunate that TfGM is taking a proactive stance towards the

Belle Vue:

issue. “I’ve arranged with them for our maintenance team to go to Optare to be trained on how to look after the vehicles. We’ll assess our workshops and if there’s any technology we require we’ll install it and embrace the concept that way.”

As TfGM property, the Versas will present a further opportunity to Belle Vue. Overhead costs borne by the operator are considerably lower compared to those of a vehicle owned outright. This translates to being able to offer keener prices for work such as trips to swimming baths in between the Optares’ core home-to-school duties whilst still retaining the required degree of profitability. Schools will, says Phil, benefit from “lower costs and better-trained drivers, all backed up with quality control. Compared to a traditional coach I think it’s a far superior service.”

from taxis to coaches

Phil Hitchen can trace his involvement in the passenger transport sector back almost twenty years, to the latter half of 1992. He and Ian Bragg – today his business partner at Belle Vue – became involved in a small taxi company which quickly grew.

Even then, his commitment to customer service was clear. “I’d have chocolates on the back seat and newspapers for corporate clients. I was doing a bomb,” he recalls. “We built up 126 business accounts very quickly.”

Unfortunately Phil’s attitude wasn’t shared by some of the company’s other drivers. “It was a constant hard journey trying to get them to valet their cars every day, because they were self-employed.”

Having built the taxi operation up to 80 cars, he saw the potential to almost quadruple that with the addition of a computerised booking system. “Ian said I was already a social worker for 80 taxi drivers and asked whether I really wanted to be one for 300.” At the same time customers had begun to request minibuses.

The first involvement with minibuses came in 1997, which led the partners to apply for an operator’s license later that year. Their first coach followed soon after and the taxi business was disposed of in 1999. Giving good customer service was as important in that field as it is to Belle Vue today – but, in general, Phil regards the quality of taxi operators in general as poor at best.

A 1955-vintage ex Birmingham Guy Arab is available for private hire

He also believes Belle Vue has benefited from a certain degree of reticence displayed by a handful of other transport providers towards the yellow school bus concept. “My business card has a coach on one side and a yellow school bus on the other. When they look at the latter, a number of operators are very egotistical. I know some who have said ‘I wouldn’t have one of those,’ but we’ve got thirty of them. I’d run supermarket trolleys if it was the way to go,” Phil explains.

Its strength in marketing is also relevant to Belle Vue’s school transport operation. “We’re looking to promote some... excursions in the holidays,” explains Phil, adding that if the day trips depart from schools the dedicated yellow fleet can be used, although coaches too are expected to feature. Day trips are promoted on board buses during their home-to-school duties and pupils will be directed towards Belle Vue’s Facebook site, which is to be updated as and when necessary with details.

Future

Comfortably sized and with a variety of areas to draw ongoing work from, Phil Hitchen’s Belle Vue won’t be resting on its laurels.

“If you’re standing still you’re falling back. You’ve always got to be moving forward,” he comments.

Although Phil leads the company he has the backing of a strong management team, people to whom he successfully delegated 90% of his duties during his battle with cancer.

Ian Bragg, Phil’s long-time business partner, directs transport and Ian Duff is operations manager.

Supported by engineering director Kenny Walsh and other key management, Phil is proud of the job all his staff are doing to position Belle Vue as a key player within the Manchester area.

“We’ve got a good team here now,” Phil notes, and he appears keen to continue along the current vein of expansion and diversification. Whilst many in the business tear their hair out in anguish over fuel prices, he takes a view similar to that aired by Coach Tourism Council vice-chairman Jane Duffelen (CBW 1018) and comes back to that favourite word again. “Where there’s a situation in the industry that everyone’s moaning about there’s usually an opportunity. And there are loads of opportunities out there,” he sums up.

www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 20:47

40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

6,030

TECHNOLOGY › BUS STOP INFORMATION

Total number of bus stops throughout Norfolk

Ef�icient information Coach & Bus Week’s James Day investigates the ITO Go system recently adopted by Norfolk County Council, which could potentially revolutionise the production and functionality of bus stop waysides

I

TO Go is a data system created by ITO World used to produce bus stop waysides quickly and easily. The system makes use of OpenStreetMap data to produce bus service information listed by destination, including estimated journey times. Services from all operators are listed together, so as not to waste space with multiple unnecessary tables.

This allows passengers to quickly look at the destination they are trying to reach and immediately see when the next bus will depart.

The posters also include maps if there is space for them, which give passengers confidence in finding their destination once they alight from the bus. Text message codes can be used to get live bus departure times, sent via text, although ITO Go plans a transition into QR codes and eventually Near Field Technology (NFT), where passengers’ phones automatically connect to the live bus tracking without having to take any action at all.

Some of the aims of the ITO Go system are summed up by statements from an independent consultant Peter Warman, who said: “It should make sense for anyone who is lost or stuck to seek out the nearest bus stop. You should be able to walk to any bus stop and get anywhere in the world.”

Scaling Up

CBW spoke with Peter Miller, ITO World CEO, for some background information on the company and its recent ITO Go system. He began with how he got into the industry.

“I was involved in manufacturing www.coachandbusweek.com

Bus Shelter

Aldborough Community Bus Norfolk Green Ourhire Limited Sanders Coaches Limited

1 CH4

travel time

Aldborough 09:30 09:35 11:50 12:15 12:36 13:50 15:25 16:35

18 1 18 1 18 18 18 18

17 mins Mon to Sat Mon only Weekdays Mon only Sat only Weekdays Weekdays c Weekdays c

sp travel time

Aylmerton

25 mins

see Felbrigg

Cromer 08:21 09:07 09:17 09:30 09:37 09:38 10:07 10:16 10:37 10:38 11:12 11:37 11:38 11:50 12:16 12:36 12:37 12:38 13:12 13:37 13:38 13:50 14:16 14:37 14:38 15:12 15:25 15:37 15:38 16:21 16:35 16:37 17:01 17:21 17:37 18:01 18:21 18:37 19:01 19:37 19:57 21:57 23:57

44A CH4 44 18 44 X44 CH4 44A 44 X44 44 44 X44 18 44A 18 44 X44 44 44 X44 18 44A 44 X44 44 18 44 X44 X44 18 44 44A X44 44 44A X44 44 44A 44 44 44 44

travel time

18

44 44A X44

A

09:35 14:45

towards the coast

75 mins

80 80

Fri only Fri only

sp East Runton

travel time

26 mins

see Sheringham

sp Eckling Grange

80

text nfoadmdg to 84268 for live bus times*

travel time

Dereham

23 mins Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Weekdays Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Weekdays Mon to Sat Sat only Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Weekdays Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Weekdays Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Weekdays Sun only Mon to Sat Weekdays Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

2

291

STOP

travel time

67 mins

travel time

Lyng

48 mins

see Dereham

sp

Metton

travel time

22 mins

see Felbrigg

sp North Tuddenham

travel time

66 mins

see Dereham

sp

see Dereham

Sheringham 14:16 14:37 14:38 15:12 15:37 15:38 16:21 16:37 17:01 17:21 17:37 18:01 18:21 18:37 19:01 19:37 19:57 21:57 23:57

44A 44 X44 44 44 X44 X44 44 44A X44 44 44A X44 44 44A 44 44 44 44

travel time

35 mins Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat b Sun only Mon to Sat a Weekdays a Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

travel time

Suffield Park 14:38 15:12 15:37 15:38 16:21 16:37 17:01 17:21 17:37 18:01 18:21 18:37 19:01 19:37 19:57 21:57 23:57

X44 44 44 X44 X44 44 44A X44 44 44A X44 44 44A 44 44 44 44

16 mins Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat a Sun only Mon to Sat b Weekdays a Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

Above: Example ITO Go poster. Right: Jeremy Wiggin of Norfolk County Council beside a First route in Norwich. Below: Peter Miller, ITO World CEO sp

travel time

Banningham 09:35 11:45

2 2

15 mins

Mon only Mon only

sp travel time

Bawdeswell

30 mins

sp

Reepham

travel time

Elsing

55 mins

see Dereham

sp

Erpingham

travel time

7 mins

09:35 09:42 13:19 14:45

80 291 291 80

travel time

19 mins

Fri only Thu only Thu only Fri only

sp

see Felbrigg

Roughton

sp Etling Green

see Felbrigg

travel time

sp

sp travel time

Sustead

20 mins

to help themSparham enhance their datasets.” sp sp sp Beeston sp Salle Peter described howThurgarton it had taken Regis Suffield sp sp sp until the lastParkcouple of years for sp Felbrigg West Sheringham Blickling Runton ITO Go to become a reality, due to sp restrictions on data which were Wickmere sp sp relaxed relatively recently.

Calthorpe sp Ingworth “We wanted to make use of maps sp sp Cawston on our bus stop wayside, but to Itteringham sp sp use commercial mapping products sp would cost tens of thousands of pounds and couldn’t necessarily be used fortowards routing purposes.

Prints norwich charged a large amount per textwere nfogmajw to 84268 for live bus times* STOP copy and couldn’t be over A3 in size.

Norwich Horsham Newton Marsham Norwich “Price was really crippling untilBanningham the mid 90s, but I wanted City St Faith St Faith College innovation and certainly made our to dosp something more useful,” Belaugh “I first got involved with product cost prohibitive. he said. sp as director of ACIS, where we “Eventually Tim Burness Lee, a buses Buxton co-creator of the internet, talked to produced real time bus tracking. At sp the government and asked for the the time Coltishall we were responsible for data to be made available, making about sp half of the tracking systems Felmingham the point it is collected at taxpayers’ in the UK. I set up ITO in 2005 after sp expense and should be public. This I’d worked in thesp public transport sp Hainford Horstead Mile sp sp eventually led to data.gov being set sector for 10 years.

Cross North Tunstead Walsham sp sp sp up and things started to snowball “We’ve worked with Trainline Norwich Hoveton sp New City Hainford Wroxham from there. Centre Ordnance survey maps and spthe Department for Transport sp see Dereham

travel time

31 mins

see Sheringham

travel time

3 mins

09:35 09:42 12:15 13:19

1 291 1 291

Mon only Thu only Mon only Thu only

travel time

9 mins

see Felbrigg

travel time

10 mins

see Reepham

31 mins

travel time

travel time

travel time

15 mins

see Dereham

travel time

16 mins

see Dereham

travel time

30 mins

b a

09:30 11:50 12:36 13:50 15:25 16:35

18 18 18 18 18 18

Mon to Sat Weekdays Sat only Weekdays Weekdays c Weekdays c travel time

4 mins

see Felbrigg

travel time

25 mins

09:35 12:15

1 1

Mon only Mon only

see Felbrigg

see Dereham

67 mins

c

a c

travel time

38 mins

travel time

35 mins

08:21 09:17 09:37 09:38 10:16 10:37 10:38 11:12 11:37 11:38 12:16 12:37 12:38 13:12 13:37 13:38

44A 44 44 X44 44A 44 X44 44 44 X44 44A 44 X44 44 44 X44

Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Weekdays Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat

cont...

08:21 09:07 09:17 09:37 09:38 10:07 10:16 10:37 10:38 11:12 11:37 11:38 12:16 12:37 12:38 13:12 13:37 13:38 14:16 14:37

44A CH4 44 44 X44 CH4 44A 44 X44 44 44 X44 44A 44 X44 44 44 X44 44A 44

Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Weekdays Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only

44 44A X44 44 44 X44 44 44A X44 44 44 X44 44 44A CH4 X44 44 44A 44 44 CH4 44 44 44 44

Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

16 mins

see Felbrigg

travel time

29 mins

see Sheringham

travel time

30 mins

see Itteringham

cont...

B

travel time

travel time

7 mins

16 mins

see North Walsham

travel time

30 mins

see Wroxham

travel time

15 mins

see Wroxham

travel time

26 mins

see Wroxham

travel time

15 mins

see North Walsham

10:15 10:39 11:15 11:39 12:15 12:39 13:15 13:39 14:15 14:39 15:15 15:39 16:15 16:39 17:13 17:15 18:13 18:15 20:29 22:24

44 44 44 44A 44 44 44 44A 44 44 44 44A 44 44A 44 44 44 44 44 44

travel time

44A 44A 44A 44A 44A 44A

Hellesdon

Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

travel time

15 mins

see Norwich

sp

travel time

7 mins

see Norwich

sp Horsham St Faith 06:50 07:10 07:45 08:15 09:15 09:30

44 44A 44 44 44 44A

travel time

16 mins Mon to Sat Mon to Sat a Mon to Sat Sun only Sun only Mon to Sat

Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

travel time

travel time

4 mins

13:13 13:15 13:39 14:06 14:13 14:15 14:39 15:13 15:15 15:39 16:13 16:13 16:15 16:39 17:13 17:15 18:13 18:13 18:15 20:29 22:24

X44 44 44A 291 X44 44 44 X44 44 44A CH4 X44 44 44A 44 44 CH4 44 44 44 44

travel time

12 mins

07:10 09:30 11:39 13:39 15:39 16:39

Hevingham

ITO.indd 40

Alysham

Bus Stop

Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Thu only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

44 44 44 44A 44 44 44 44A 44 44 44 44A CH4 44 44A 44 44 CH4 44 44 44 44

Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

08:34

18

Mon to Sat a, c Weekdays Sat only Weekdays Mon to Sat Weekdays a, c Weekdays a, c

travel time

23 mins

21 mins

travel time

see Wroxham

24 mins

see Norwich

travel time

32 mins

travel time

10 mins

see Wroxham

Marsham 06:50 07:10 07:45 08:01 08:15 08:45 09:15 09:30 10:13 10:15 10:16 10:28 10:39 11:13 11:15

44 44A 44 X44 44 X44 44 44A X44 44 X44 291 44 X44 44

travel time

4 mins

Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Weekdays a Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Thu only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only

08:01 08:45 10:13 10:16 11:13 12:13 13:13 14:13 15:13 16:13 16:13 18:13

X44 X44 X44 X44 X44 X44 X44 X44 X44 CH4 X44 CH4

sp Newton St Faith 06:50 07:10 07:45

44 44A 44

Weekdays a Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Mon to Sat travel time

12 mins Mon to Sat Mon to Sat a Mon to Sat

travel time

12 mins

10:15 10:39 11:15 11:39 12:15 12:39 13:15 13:39 14:15 14:39 15:15 15:39 16:13 16:15 16:39 17:13 17:15 18:13 18:13 18:15 20:29 22:24

09:55 10:46 12:25 13:53 15:40 16:40

18 18 18 18 18 18

sp Norwich 06:50 07:10 07:45 08:01 08:15 08:45 09:15 09:30 10:13

44 44A 44 X44 44 X44 44 44A X44

travel time

33 mins Mon to Sat Mon to Sat a Mon to Sat Weekdays a Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

travel time

33 mins

11:15 11:39 12:13 12:15 12:39 13:13 13:15 13:39 14:13 14:15 14:39 15:13 15:15 15:39 16:13 16:13 16:15 16:39 17:13 17:15 18:13 18:13 18:15 20:29 22:24

travel time

52 mins

12:13 12:15 12:39 13:13 13:15 13:39 14:13 14:15 14:39 15:13 15:15 15:39 16:13 16:15 16:39 17:13 17:15 18:13 18:15 20:29 22:24

X44 44 44 X44 44 44A X44 44 44 X44 44 44A X44 44 44A 44 44 44 44 44 44

Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

travel time

47 mins

see Wroxham

42 mins

travel time

34 mins

see Norwich

sp Norwich City College 06:50 07:10 07:45 08:01 08:15 08:45 09:15 09:30 10:13 10:15 10:16 10:39

44 44A 44 X44 44 X44 44 44A X44 44 X44 44

10:28 14:06

travel time

291 291

Thu only Thu only

sp

52 mins

Mon to Sat Mon to Sat a Mon to Sat Weekdays a Sun only Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat Sun only Mon to Sat Mon to Sat

02/04/2012 18:17

95% 4 Estimated accuracy of Open Street Map in Norfolk

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41

Most amount of time in minutes a poster is expected to take to produce with ITO Go became available about 12 months ago, and OpenStreetMap has gone from amateur to serious over the last couple of years.”

ITO World is still actively developing the system and Peter revealed what could be added to the posters in the future.

“QR codes aren’t yet implemented in all of the posters we produce, but they will take over from the text message tracking system which is now yesterday’s technology. Near Field Technology is already used in Nottingham and seems to have real potential.

“We’re also looking into advertising destinations on the posters. trent barton already does this on its Nottingham to Derby route, advertising attractions at the other end of the route to help persuade potential passengers to travel with them.”

Norfolk’s Experience

The system has been embraced

by Norfolk County Council, which entered into a partnership with ITO World and has helped to develop it, refining the templates on offer and the system’s user-friendliness.

The system has dramatically reduced the time taken to produce a bus stop wayside, a task which could have taken anything from 20 minutes to two hours. Now they take two or three minutes, or only a few seconds if a wayside is simply being updated.

In my days as a student in Norwich I had access to an excellent bus network with low wait times and good coverage, but I also recall a time where I had to ask a newspaper stand where the bus to my second year home could be boarded. Even in Norwich, a place with a highly regarded public transport system, one of the biggest problems with the bus industry is how alienating it can be to anyone who isn’t used to the area, or isn’t sure where to get off. ITO Go is not just an efficiency tool, it is also easy to see how such a system can quell the ‘bus anxiety’ which causes potential passengers to get off the train and jump straight into a taxi instead of a far cheaper and greener bus service.

CBW met Matt Dolan, ITO World sales and marketing manager, and Jeremy Wiggin from Norfolk County Council at the County Hall in Norwich to learn more about how the system is performing. The strength of the partnership is clear from

www.coachandbusweek.com

ITO.indd 41

02/04/2012 18:17

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

TECHNOLOGY › BUS STOP INFORMATION

the onset, with Matt teasing Jeremy on the way to the meeting room about how Wolves have conceded five goals on more than one occasion this season.

Jeremy explained the council were less clients of ITO World, and more partners.

“We had an informal meeting with ITO World where we agreed to work together. However, we didn’t want to just rest on our laurels, so we put significant effort and resource into customising the templates for Norfolk and helping to develop the interface which ITO World provided, and we’re now reaping the benefits.

“It’s been great to work with an adept and flexible developer. We also work under a fixed budget, which means there are no nasty surprises such as the firm suddenly turning around and telling us 90% of a proposed budget has been used to do 10% of the work.”

Matt said: “Norfolk isn’t a council which just says ‘give us what you’ve got.’ It strives to make sure it has the absolute best for its passengers, and as our system is very much passenger centric, it’s been an excellent partner to help develop our product.”

One of the largest effects the new system has had is time savings, which are very significant.

Jeremy said: “We used to manually handle all our public transport data in terms of entering information into our systems and producing all the printed output ourselves. It was a lot of cutting, pasting and typing and took up an enormous amount of time and man hours. We had around six people working on changing waysides non-stop and on occasion would not be able to produce all of the information on time, which caused problems for the passengers.

“Every wayside would take at least 20 minutes to produce and occasionally one or two hours, which really adds up when you can have several hundred stops on a route. We foresaw the budget cuts and knew we couldn’t sustain this.

“The ITO Go system has reduced this time to three or four minutes per wayside. Because the settings for each wayside are saved, an update can be done in a matter of seconds. It gives the colleagues the opportunity to be involved with customer facing initiatives they wouldn’t previously have had time to, which makes the job far less monotonous and helps to

raise morale. We now only have to employ around two people for the role of handling printed information, and not always on a full-time basis. All the waysides for a route change in a few weeks time have already been prepared.

Jeremy also remarked on the low cost of the service. “The modest investment we have made in the system we were able to pay back within a very short time, just in saved staff hours. It really doesn’t register on a council’s transport budget, less than the cost of a number of standard road improvement measures. When something makes this much of a

difference for this price its hard to see why other authorities or operators aren’t using it. All we have to worry about now is distribution, because we can now produce waysides so quickly we can’t put them up fast enough!”

Matt added: “Money saved comes from more than just staff hours. Because the process is all done through a web browser, no hardware or software is needed to do it, and any problems can be fixed at our end. It makes a difference, as no training or installation is required and call out charges for IT support can go above £50 per hour.

Any training for the system can be

done in under half an hour, which we are happy to provide.

“If for any reason the software doesn’t meet the council’s needs we can update it the same day. We’ve been very active at responding to any queries or problems.”

“Many potential clients seem to think the system is too good to be true, until I visit them for a demonstration.”

Jeremy added: “Yes, I often get calls from other authorities asking if we are telling the truth about the system. Why would we lie?”

“This is a very traditional industry,” Matt continued. “I suspect some operators and authorities are reluctant to embrace new technology, or may feel the system they already use is automated. But it isn’t to the extent of ITO Go – here it’s throw in the data, press a button and it’s done. The interface automatically arranges everything for you and leaves off anything nonessential which won’t fit.”

“It will still alert you if the font size is going to be too small and such though, which is very helpful,” said Jeremy.

Passenger feedback

Jeremy Wiggin and Matt Dolan, ITO World sales and marketing manager

OpenStreetMap: a synopsis

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a crowd-sourced online mapping tool with over half a million contributors and 1.3 billion data items. The level of detail on OSM is very high, featuring the names of shops, location of bus stops and direction of travel on one way streets. Even some market stalls are named.

ITO World is looking to incorporate the impressive level of detail seen on OSM into its bus stop ‘you are here’ maps.

Peter said: “OSM has been hailed as the Wikipedia for maps. The project was started in London in 2004 and has appeared on the White House website, with and recieves support from Microsoft.

“It has recorded the location of every bus stop in the UK and also has really good coverage of pedestrian and cycle routes, which are often absent from commercially available maps. It’s really gone from amateur to serious in the last couple of years.

“It’s great for us because the level of detail is high enough to have individual maps for each stop, and there are no real barriers to its use as it’s not available commercially – there’s not really a way of monetising crowd sourced content.

Matt said: “Open Street Map is being used on the iPad ahead of Google Maps now. It’s getting very big and the level of detail is very impressive.

There is even an area where the serial numbers of individual pylons are plotted. We can’t reproduce the data just yet but we can create layers on the maps allowing operators and local authorities to add their own details to them.”

So far passenger feedback has been largely positive and Jeremy hopes the new system will improve results in the next Bus Passenger Survey conducted by Passenger Focus.

“We did well last year but there was room for improvement in terms of passenger transport information. So far there have been a mixture of responses to the new waysides, as there always is, but overall feedback has been positive.

Many people have commented on it being easier to read and understand with a more modern and fresh appearance.”

Matt spoke about the importance of the system for operators.

“We’re looking to get operators involved where they are responsible for waysides. The information on waysides underpins their services so if an outdated system is being used, resulting in incorrect or old information on stops, it can have an impact. The mapping we employ on the posters should draw people in who wouldn’t normally consider using the service and we hope operators will embrace this.”

For more information contact ITO World on 01473 272225 or email sales@itoworld.com for sales enquiries

www.coachandbusweek.com

ITO.indd 42

02/04/2012 18:18

Filler NEW copy

10/3/12

09:30

Page 1

3 WEEKS 4 WEEK FREE

BUY GET A

PRICES INCLUDE :

TH

• Design Service • Web Advert • Full Colour

WHEN YOU ADVERTISE IN

COACH&BUSMARKET T E K R A M S U B & nd sell a H y u C b o A t e CO – the plac

7 1733 29324 0 ll a c t s ju £30 as little as r o f s e g a p e on these To advertis

l £90 o c 4 x m 5c co 5cm x 1

TO BOOK YOUR ADVERTISEMENT CONTACT:

JADE CASSIDY

£30

col 10cm x 2

£90

col 15cm x 1

£70

10cm x 1

col

£50

01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk

l

l £50 o c 2 x 5cm

.co.uk uncymedia ro @ y id ss ail jade.ca 3247 or em 9 2 3 3 7 1 0 y on Jade Cassid Telephone

VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES | MARKET | VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES | MARKET | VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES

44 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

DRIVERS

In association with

DriveTech

Send your driver news and stories to gareth.evans@rouncymedia. co.uk or call 01733 293 243.

Cap in hand First drivers wear a hat in Leeds for brain tumour charity First in Leeds is asking staff and passengers to Wear a Hat to help Brain Tumour Research (BTRS) raise awareness across Yorkshire about the prevalence of brain tumours and the need for vital research.

First bus drivers in Leeds are setting an example by wearing hats and inviting people to pledge their support for Wear A Hat day. Posters have also been put on First buses in Leeds to promote the event.

Carol Robertson from BTRS said: “We owe it to our supporters in Yorkshire to do all we can to collaborate and share information with other brain tumour charities and working with Brain Tumour Research gives us a simple and effective platform to do this. It is great to also be part of a national campaign such as Wear a Hat which encourages people to make donations in order to wear a hat to work, school or college. First in Leeds has been brilliant in their support of BTRS and we will have an amazing day raising funds and awareness.”

Ben Gilligan, service delivery director for First in Yorkshire, said: “BTRS recently applied to First’s charity and sponsorship

Bakers drivers get London knowledge

Coach drivers at Bakers of Biddulph have all attended a new series of courses ‘Safe driving in London’ developed to enable coach drivers to gain a better understanding of the different traffic flow management special routes for the Olympics and various colour codes for separation

committee and we were glad to give them a cheque for £1,000 to help fund vital research into brain tumours. We were bowled over by the enthusiasm and dedication of Carol and her team and were only too glad to offer further support for this important and worthwhile campaign.”

If you want to support the Wear a Hat day and make a donation to support brain tumour research in Leeds, make a donation at www.justgiving. com/braintumourresearchlab or for more information about joining in Wear a Hat day, go to www.btrs.org.uk

Leeds bus drivers Mick Bywater, David Partner, Janice Broadbent and Terry Amey model their hats with BTRS representative Carol Roberts between buses, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

Arranged under the auspices of Transport for London, Bakers Coaches says it secured this opportunity because it has the Coach Marque accreditation.

In addition to this, training has been laid on to give drivers assigned to work on the Olympics an understanding of the ethos and history of the games and all the UK venues. In particular they will be shown how they can act as ambassadors and how to deal with overseas visitors and VIPs. The aim is to build an awareness of the

significance of the games to the UK. Phil Baker, MD at Bakers Coaches, said: “Our commission covers ‘ports of entry’ and basically this will be transfers between airports and various venues. We shall also be doing transfers for press and media representatives between London and the water sports venue in Weymouth. Other tasks include the movement of VIPs from London to attend the Opening Day ceremony. For sure the Games are our opportunity to shine at an important national event and it is being planned to the last detail.

There will be no rehearsal.”

Epsom drivers donate to charity Drivers from Quality Line, the bus division of Epsom Coaches Group have donated £1,500 to SSAFA’s Norton House in Headley, a home dedicated to helping injured service personal and their families.

Michael Turner the manager of Norton House commented: “The donation of £1,500 which was collected by the Drivers and Team at Epsom Coaches Group is a fantastic amount of money and will be used to improve the facilities for injured Service Personnel and their families. The amount raised will make a huge difference. Just as important to the families who stay with us is the knowledge that others are thinking of them.”

Adrian Walters, vice chairman of the Bus Drivers Committee at the company, presented the cheque to Michael Walters at Norton House, following a conducted tour of the facilities, Adrian spoke for the committee: “We are humbled by the fantastic work that is being done for injured service personnel

by Michael and his team at Norton House, having recently been voted runner up as one the best London Bus garages, we wanted to mark the award and are delighted to be able to help our dedicated servicemen and their families.”

Bus driver convicted

A bus driver has been convicted of driving without due care and attention after a crash in Coventry in which 11 people were hurt.

Philip Haughton, 39, of Bedworth, denied the charge but was convicted after a trial at Coventry Magistrates Court.

It followed a crash between Haughton’s single decker and a double decker at Pool Meadow bus station in July 2010.

www.coachandbusweek.com

DriversAA.indd 44

02/04/2012 14:48

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

2 months for

the price of 7

Subscribe today to receive Coach & Bus Week and pay only £85 for a whole year!

PLUS us Coach & B

2012

DEALERS, RY OF UK DIRECTO PLIERS £30 PREHENSIVE RATORS AND SUP THE COM RERS, OPE MANUFACTU

FREE

Coach & Bus Week Industry Guide worth £30

For details see over

Subs1.indd 1

25/08/2011 15:45

The leading magazine for the coach and bus professional

Subscribe today and don’t miss out on the benefits of a regular reader

Coach & Bus

1 Coach & Bus Week keeps you up-todate with topical industry news. It reports interviews with industry leaders, operator profiles, deliveries and new vehicle & product launches and legal up dates including employment. It is also in touch with changing government policy across the industry and topical debate that affects your business.

There is a drivers’ section (including jobs).

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Coach & Bus Week at the rate of £85 for 51 issues Name Company

2

3

Minibus is the only monthly specialist supplement dedicated exclusively to the minibus and contains up-to-date technical reviews; new vehicle road test reports; mobility and accessibility safety; community transport reports; and road traffic legislation and lists local authority tenders. Designed to help minibus operators in this highly regulated sector.

The Coach & Bus Guide is the most comprehensive directory in the market.

Events diary; trade associations; ATCO Regions; PTEs/PTAs and TfL; Traffic Commissioners; Cross Sea Carriers; Tour Wholesalers; Service Stations; VOSA Centres; Major Bus and Coach Groups; Airports; Vehicle Suppliers/Dealers, Industry Suppliers A-Z; Toilet Drops, Operators A-Z.

0076

FIVE MONTHS FREE WHEN YOU PAY TODAY Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit

Originator identification no.

Address

Postcode

2

5

3

Date

Branch sort code

Banks/Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions from some types of account

To pay by Credit or Debit card

Mobile

Please debit my:

MasterCard

Visa

Delta

Maestro

Card Number Start date

Subs1.indd 2

3

Account number

Telephone

The Direct Debit Guarantee. This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Rouncy Media will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Rouncy Media to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Rouncy Media or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Rouncy Media asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

2

Signature

Account name

Email

4

Instructions to your Bank or Building Society: Please pay Rouncy Media Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

I understand that this instruction may remain with Rouncy Media and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Your Bank/Building Society

Address

Postcode

2012

THE COMP MANUFAC REHENSIVE DIR ECT TURERS, OPERATO ORY OF UK DE AL RS AND SUPPLIER ERS, S £30

/

Expiry date

/

Issue Number

(Maestro only)

Signature To pay by cheque I enclose a cheque for £

made payable to Rouncy Media.

Complete the form and return to Kirstyn Hunt, Subscriptions Dept, Coach & Bus Week, FREEPOST RRBE-UXYL-UCBZ, 3 The Office Village, Forder Way, Cygnet Park, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX or call 01733 293480

25/08/2011 15:46

p47_CBW_1030

2/4/12

18:57

Page 1

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47

COACH&BUSMARKET – the place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £30 just call 01733 293247 Optare Toro

UNVI GT

Mercedes-Benz 0815 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 28 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts, powered entry door, air conditioning, double glazed windows, luggage racks with individual passenger reading lights and adjustable air flow blowers, radio/CD & PA system.

Mercedes-Benz 0816 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 29 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts and leather headrest inserts, courier seat, dark tint double glazed windows, air con radio/CD & PA system, DVD player and monitor, grammer luxury heated driver seat, full draw curtains, large boot space and side lockers.

£45,500 +VAT NOW £41,000 +VAT

£69,950 +VAT NOW £66,950 +VAT

Call Dougie at Haggis Adventures on 0131 554 9192 2010 MAN VanHool Alicron 400bhp engine, Astronic gearbox, 51 seats with centre sunken toilet, air con, fully loaded, low mileage, 1 year’s MoT £180,000.00 + VAT 1995 Volvo B10M Caetano Algarve just been converted to a 70 seater using Cogent seats, 1 year’s MoT, good condition £25,000.00 + VAT Telephone West of Scotland 01290 550365 or 07736 490200

Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales

Dennis Pointer Dart Mk2 x 100 All spares available - includes engine, gearboxes, seats, etc.

Call: 01226 727769 Mobile: 07912 103497 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com www.geoff-ripleysbuscoachsales.com

2004 (54) Neoplan Starliner Tri-Axle Corporate/Team Coach

2002 - Setra 315 GTHD

48 seat executive, MOT due Feb 2013, tow bar, good condition, Euro 3, used mainly on tours, coach hoover system

1994 - Bova Futura 70 seats school conversion MOT due February 2013 £28,000.00 plus VAT ono

32 leather seats around 8 tables, full rear servery with fridges, ice machine, hot water, microwave and airline style food warmers, 3 extra fridges throughout coach, airline style overhead lockers, 240v inverter and onboard generator, Blaupunkt sound system with DVD & SKY TV (2 screens), extra mini screens on a separate channel on both front tables, ASTronic gearbox, A/C, WC, fully carpeted, removable ski box, spare seats.

£65,000.00 plus VAT ono

£114,995 + VAT o.n.o.

For more details call Patrick or Murray 01787 477701/ 07730 671064

01672 562238 info@pewseyvalecoaches.co.uk

2005 (55) Caetano Optimo V

Luxury 26 seats + courier, white, manual, tacho, 3 point seatbelts, CD + PA, forced air, power door, Euroliners. Very good condition, new MOT, 194,000 miles. £34,000 + VAT ono

01494 532 777

COACH&BUSMARKET

Pay for 3 weeks and get a 4th free!

Contact Jade Cassidy now for details of current offers : 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

DAF MB230 • Van Hool Bodywork, • 1989 • 53 belted seats • rear toilet • MoT until 12/04/2013

£6,000 + VAT Tel: 01209 717 152 Mobile: 07885 298 383

Ford Transit 2005

16 seats plus driver, diesel minibus, 3 point seat belts, analogue tachograph, CD player, electric front windows and mirrors, COIF, MOT till August 2012, taxed and ready for work.

£6500 plus VAT o.n.o.

Call Drew 01698 351442 M:07803 242585

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk

p48_CBW_1030

2/4/12

16:56

Page 1

48 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

COACH&BUSMARKET – the place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £30 just call 01733 293247

...then 50 come along at once.

Due to a major influx of new vehicles, we are selling a number of ex-TWM service buses.

They’re in great condition for their age and have been maintained to a very high standard.

There are currently 50 vehicles available, all stored at our site for viewing.

Although mainly Volvo, Scania and Optare single deck, there are some double deck buses also available.

All will be sold with 12 months MOT and repaint if required.

Please call for more details. Finance and rental packages available.

Volant PVS Ltd, Beecham Business Park, Northgate, Aldridge WS9 8TZ T: +44 (0)1922 457003 volantpvs.co.uk

2008 DAF Marco Polo

Very low mileage (70,000km), in excellent condition, 53 seats, rear engine mount, automatic transmission, A/C, PA, CD/radio, TV/video/DVD, fridge, ABS, cruise control, reclining seats, seat belts, luggage storage, side locker, wheel trims. Price: €140,000 Contact: Andrew Treacy, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland Phone: 00353 96 22563 • Mob: 00353 86 2558947 • Email: treacycoaches@eircom.net

AdvertiseyourCoachorBushereforaslittleas£30.00 aweek!

Phone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk

Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 Choice of 1999/2000 (V & X reg)

All long wheelbase and Euro 4 Can be upseated/single door converted to 78/80 Seat belted for DDA certification

Phone for details or see our website

View all stock online: www.staffordbuscentre.com Email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com

Tel: 01782 791774

Mobile: 07803 222552

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk

553368-1030-Pembridge

2/4/12

17:17

Page 1

NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS

New Ford Transit 17 seat 4.3ton 135ps minibus. From £20,595 + VAT

OTHER MAKES

FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES

(11) 2011 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle Bus, twin side loading doors, large rear luggage area, delivery miles only £16,995

(10) 2010 Ford Transit 17 seat M/R 140PS with air-con, tacho, COIF/PSV £17,995 (08) 2008 Ford Transit 3.5ton 15 seat 2.4tdi, 115ps, high back seats with three point belts, tacho £13,800 (05) Ford Transit 17 seat 2.5 diesel 115ps, high back seats with three point belts 25,000 miles only £8,750 (53) 2003 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4 td minibus, high back seats with three point belts, tacho, air-con, COIF/PSV £6,995 (03) Ford Transit 3.5 ton 15 seat minibus, 2.4 tdi, high back seats with three point belts £2,995 (52) 2003 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi, tacho, towbar, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV £6,495

LDV MINIBUSES

(57) 2007 LDV Maxus 15 seat minibus, high back seats with three point belts £7,495

(03) 2003 LDV Convoy Maxi XLWB 17 seat mini-coach, 2.4 Tdi, front entry drop step, luggage racks, rear heating, wide aisle, rear row of seats removable, New PSV £6,495

OTHER MAKES

New Renault Master 17 seat LM35/ 2.2di 125ps, six speed, satnav, tacho, fully tracked floor with removable seats £21,995

New Peugeot Boxer 16 seat 3.5 ton and 17 seat wheelchair accessible minibuses, 2.2 diesel 120ps, six speed gearbox, LEZ COMPLIANT from £23,500 + VAT (09) 2009 Renault Master 16 seat minibus, tacho,high back seats with three point belts, 35,000km £15,650

(06) Peugeot Boxer 17 seat 3.5ton minibus 2.2 diesel, high back seats with three point belts, rear row of seats on tracking, 14,500 miles only £9,995

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

(08) Renault Master LWB 3.5 ton, 2.5 tdi, six seats, fully tracked floor, inboard Ricon Clearway lift, one owner from new, 40,000 miles £16,750 (07) 2007 Renault Trafic LH29, 7 seats, tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 43,000 miles £8,995

(57) LDV Maxus LWB 9 seats tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 49,000 miles, £9,995

(54) 2005 Renault Master 13 seat wheelchair access minibus, inboard Ricon lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, electric side step, 56,000 miles £8,995

(03) 2003 Fiat Doblo SX 1.9 diesel, low floor, four seats plus one wheelchair, lightweight ramp, 45,000 miles £3,495 (53) 2003 Mercedes Vito 108 cdi 2.2 diesel, 6 seats, low floor with lightweight ramp, tracking for two wheelchairs £5,995 Y 2001 Renault Mascot 2.8 diesel, 16 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, front entry drop step, fully tracked floor to take five wheelchairs, under floor lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £7,750

Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk

Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304

Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist

All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%

553180-1030-Ensign:Layout 1

2/4/12

09:52

Page 1

Ensig DOUBLE DECK 1997/8 VOLVO OLYMPIANS Seatbe exampleslted no available w

LEZ

COMPLIANT

Volvo engines, Euro 2, 78 seats, converted to single door, new COIF, tyres included, UK registered ready to work.

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats.

1999/2000 T/V/X REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins / Allison, Wrights Cadet body, ramp, wheelchair space, Hanover LEDʼs, CCTV, 39 retrimmed individual seats, from our own fleet and very tidy.

2000 DAF SB120

2004/5 SCANIA K114 AND 124’S

ZF automatics, Irizar PB bodies, 49 leather seats, toilets, air-con, £53,500.

1998 R REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN

Slimline, Mercedes engines, 23 seats, long MOTʼs.

ZF automatic, 74 seats, dual door, CONVERTIBLE open topper, so can still be used in the Winter! One only.

2006 OPTARE SOLO’S

1995 M REG DENNIS DRAGONS

ZF automatic, Plaxton Premiere 350, air-con, 57 seats.

1998 DAF SB3000

Cummins/Voith gearboxes, Duple Metsec bodies, recent floors and 92 coach seats.

2001 DDA COMPLIANT DENNIS DARTS

Plaxton Pointer 2 dual door bodies, 31 seats, CCTV, particulate traps fitted, LEZ 2012 compliant, only £6,500 each plus tyres (£375)

2001 Y REG DART SLF’S

Cummins/Allison, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX200 bodies with either 30 seats and 2 doors or 34 seats converted to single door, ramps, DDA certified and compliant. 10.8m 37 seaters now available.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 8 Visit our website for current s

553180-1030-Ensign:Layout 1

2/4/12

09:52

Page 2

nbus ER SPECIALIST 1998 MERCEDES 814

Manual, Plaxton Cheetah, 25 seats, long MOT.

GREAT VALUE DENNIS DARTS!!!

2001 Y REG DENNIS DART MPD’s

Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 29 seats, LEZ compliant post 2012 with traps, DDA compliant, long MOTʼs.

1998/9 R and T reg Dart SLFʼs with Plaxton or Alexander bodies, 35 seats, single door, long tests.

Hanover LEDʼs, East Lancs Myllenium body, 39 seats.

2003 MAN 14220

Euro 3, ZF automatics, 35 seats, East Lancs Myllenium bodies.

ZF 6 speed manual, starts and drives, Plaxton Premiere 350 body past its best, £4,000 spares or repair.

Cummins Euro 3 ISB engines, Allison gearboxes, Caetano Nimbus bodies, 10.7m, 37 seats, full DDA.

£7000 just spend on recon engine, MCV Evolution body, 40 seats, DDA, Hanover LEDʼs.

2003 MAN 11.2220’S

2002 DENNIS DART SLF’S

1999/2000 DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps, Plaxton President bodies, 62 seats or 70 when converted to single door.

1997/98 P/R/S REG VOLVO OLYMPIANS Volvo Euro 2 engines, ZF gearboxes, Alexander RL low height bodies, LWB, 87 seats.

1995 VOLVO B10M

2007 MAN 14.220

Voith automatic, East Lancs body, 49 dual purpose seats just retrimmed, supplied with new MOT.

1995 N REG SCANIA L113

ZF automatic, SLF, Wrights bodies.

2006 VOLVO B6’S

- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com

554941-1030-Heatons

2/4/12

17:07

Page 1

HEATONS MOTOR CO. WIGAN 01942 864222 THE NORTH WEST’S PREMIER MINIBUS SALES, SUPPLYING NATIONWIDE FOR OVER 40 YEARS

05 BMC PROBUS 850

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

READY TO WORK

PSV’d 57 FORD TRANSIT MWB, covered 64,000 miles, factory spec minibus, 8/11 passenger seats, twin SLDs, full electric pack, choice of 2, excellent value £8,995

Covered 81,000 miles, council owned from new, 35 highback reclining coach seats with 3 point belts, full air conditioning, luggage racks, blown air, music system, tv, fridge, aircraft style lockers, generous underfloor storage, Cummins engine, automatic Voith gearbox, choice of 2 excellent cost effective luxury coaches £29,995 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

03 MERCEDES SPRINTER 208 CDI covered only 17,000 and 24,000 miles, lots of Unwin tracking, 8/11 highback passenger seats, SLD with cassette step, external Ratcliffe cassette tailift, air conditioning, totally immaculate and give excellent value for money, choice of 2 £8,995

READY TO WORK

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

06 RENAULT MASTER MWB, covered 64,000 miles, totally unmarked silver metallic, SLD with cassette step, lots of Unwin tracking, 7 /8 highback passenger seats £10,495

54 PLATE IVECO 50C13 IRIS BUS 16 highback passenger seats, 3 point belts, full air conditioning, panoramic tinted windows, front low step entry, one owner, looks excellent, excellent drive, excellent value, 12 months PSV test, ready to work From £9,995

LEZ

COMPLIANT

COMPLIANT

56 RENAULT MASTER MM33 covered 25,000 miles, Ricon fully automatic internal Clearway tailift, 6 high back passenger seats plus wheelchair spaces or would up seat, SLD with electric cassette step, totally showroom condition inside and out £12,995

LEZ

COMPLIANT

PSV’d

READY TO WORK

03 MERCEDES VARIO 814 Coachbuilt with 16 highback seats or would up-seat to 24, low miles, complete flatfloor, powerdoor front entry, external PLS fully automatic tailift, totally immaculate and excellent value for money, choice of 2 £10,995

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

LEZ

PSV’d

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

PSV’d

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

56 IVECO coachbuilt with 14 highback coach seats, complete flat floor, external cassette tailift, Powerdoor front entry, saloon heater, sound system, lots of Unwin tracking, COIF, low miles, this must give excellent value £11,995 compare this for value

54 MERCEDES VARIO 614 with 15 highback passenger seats, complete flat floor, powerdoor front entry, external PLS tailift, analogue tacho, fully colour coded, totally immaculate in every way. low miles, excellent value £10,995

05 RENAULT MASTER MWB, covered 41,000 miles, lots of Unwin tracking, Ricon internal tailift, SLD with cassette step, totally showroom condition inside and out, excellent value From £9,495

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

06 FIAT DUCATO SWB, 6 highback seats, Unwin tracking, Rolac ramp, covered 52,000 miles, SLD with cassette step, stunning silver metallic, showroom condition £7,995

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

LEZ

PSV’d

PSV’d

COMPLIANT

03 MERCEDES VARIO 814 Mellor Coachcraft coachbuilt, covered 71,000 miles, one council owner, automatic transmission, 32 high back passenger seats all on Unwin tracking, 3 point belts, powerdoor front entry, external PLS cassette tailift, very very clean and original, PSV tested. Where do you find these ultra low mileage buses, choice of 3 from £13,995

08 IVECO 40C12 good quality Iris Bus conversion, covered 60,000 miles, one local authority plant on, panoramic windows, 16 highback passenger seats, 3 point belts, full air conditioning, Euroliners, totally showroom condition inside and out £14,995

56 MERCEDES VARIO 614 Mellor coachbuilt, 16 highback coach seats, 3 point belts, complete flat floor, lots of Unwin tracking, Powerdoor front entry, external cassette tailift, covered 80,000 miles, totally immaculate inside and out, excellent value £14,995

WERE DO YOU FIND THESE 07 MERCEDES VARIO 616 Mellor Coachcraft coachbuilt, 15 high back seats all on Unwin tracking, complete flat floor, Ricon fully automatic internal tailift, powerdoor front low step entry, a good quality bus, LEZ compliant, will come with 12 months PSV test, excellent value £14,995

Let us take the stress out of the purchase of your next minibus, leaving you to concentrate on running your business.

1, PSV tested. 2, Tacho fitted. 3, Finance options if required – 36, 48, 60 months low deposits, etc. Details on request. 4, Delivered to your premises. 5, Tail lift certificates.

Where can you find one of the largest stock of wheelchair accessible/conventional minibuses? Ready to work, combining this with over 50 years of experience in the industry. Just one friendly phone call to Wayne or Philip will simplify your job.

HEATONS MOTOR CO. WIGAN

ALL PRICES PLUS VAT We guarantee quality vehicles, right prices, no pressure sales. Come and have a coffee while you browse at your leisure. Junction 23, M6 or 20 miles from Manchester/Liverpool airport.

52 Bickershaw Lane, Abram, Wigan, Lancashire WN2 5PL

Tel: 01942 864222

SEE ALL OUR STOCK ON OUR WEBSITE www.heatonsmotorco.co.uk

554731-1030-Ventura

2/4/12

15:08

Page 1

2005 Volvo B12B R%.-;3!!#! <,90#"+

1999 Dennis Dart Plaxton @%,.0!# 68A BC7D?

GCCH <!#-!/!9 I,0"#% 68A

OP 9!"09 2,03 " 1&!/ 0%,+!0' ",# conditioning, automatic gearbox "./ /!90,."0,%. !"#7 Q. :+",.

23,0! 2,03 " -3%,-! %) 02%7

39 seats with single door and )#%.0 ?".*"+ !.0#".-! #"?:7 4*0%?"0,- "./ 456 100!/7 <".*"+ destination equipment on front, 9,/! "./ #!"#7 @+",. 23,0!7

38 seats, automatic gearbox, 456 "./ ",# -%./,0,%.,. 7 A,00!/ with aircraft racks, radio and /!90,."0,%. !E*,:?!.07 F,!2,. 9 2!+-%?!7

1999 Volvo B7R Plaxton Premier Accessible Coach 55 seater coach or 47 seater with 5 23!!+-3",#97 I%?!9 2,03 23!!+-3",# +,)0' 456' ",# -%./,0,%.,. "./ #"/,% K IN7 T"9 0,.0!/ 2,./%29 "./ <=> 0,++ 4:#,+ GCBG7 Q. :+",. 23,0!7 F,!2,. -%?!9 #!-%??!./!/7

2001 Volvo B12 Jonckheere <,90#"+

2000 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer

1996 Dennis Dart Plaxton @%,.0!# 68A BC7B?

HG 9!"09' 456' ",# -%./,0,%.,. 2,03 continental doors, toilet and tinted 2,./%297 I%?:+!0! 2,03 J,/!% "./ >F ?%.,0%#' 9!"0 $!+09 "./ #"/,%K -"99!00! @4 9L90!?7

28 seats, dual door in red with middle electric ramp, automatic !"#$%&' 456 100!/ "./ ?".*"+ /!90,."0,%. !E*,:?!.07 I3%,-! %) )%*#7

28 seats with single door, "*0%?"0,- 2,03 4567 8MN destination equipment and II>F -"?!#"97 @+",. 23,0!'

I3%,-! %) 02%7

GCCG <!#-!/!9 5!.X F"#,% YBON <,.,-%"-3

GCCH <!#-!/!9 5!.X 6:#,.0!# HBB-/,

2004 Dennis Dart Plaxton @%,.0!# 68A P7H?

2008 Volkswagen Bluebird >*-"."

1998 Dennis Dart Plaxton 6*:!# @%,.0!#

GB 9!"09' ?".*"+' 456' 03#!! :%,.0 ,.!#0," 9!"0 $!+097 @+",.

23,0!7 U%%/ J"+*! J!3,-+!7

8 seats, automatic gearbox and air conditioning, three point ,.!#0," 9!"0 $!+097 >2% passenger doors and luggage #"-;9' :+",. 23,0!7

31 seats with single door and front entrance ramp, automatic gearbox and manual /!90,."0,%. !E*,:?!.07 @+",.

23,0! "./ -3%,-! %) 02%7

9 seater accessible vehicle with side entrance and luggage #"-;9' "*0%?"0,-' <=> *.0,+ 4* *90 GCBG7 S!++%2' J!#L +%2 ?,+!" ! 2,03 A6T7

34 seats plus 34 standees, "*0%?"0,-' 9,. +! /%%#' 8MN destintation equipment front "./ $"-;7 @+",. 23,0! 2,03 -3%,-! "J",+"$+!7

2005 Mercedes 413cdi Treka 16 seats, automatic gearbox, rear tail lift and removable 9!"09 ,J,. L%* -":"-,0L )%# Y 23!!+-3",#97 @+",. 23,0!

2,03 -3%,-! "J",+"$+!7

2007 VW Crafter CR50 KVCMinicoach 10 full leather seats with two tables, automatic !"#$%&' )*++ ",# -%./,0,%.,. ' "./ 100!/ 2,03 4567 8"# ! $%%0 9*,0"$+! )%# ",#:%#0 2%#;7 8%. <=>' +%2 ?,+!" !7

2004 Mercedes 413cdi Treka Accessible Minibus 16 seats with rear tail lift, automatic and three point ,.!#0," 9!"0 $!+097 I":"-,0L )%# )%*# 23!!+-3",#97 @+",.

23,0!' -3%,-! %) 03#!!7

2001 Man Neoplan Skyliner 77 seats, automatic with air conditioning, destination !E*,:?!.0 "./ 4567 >%,+!0 "./ 0,.0!/ 2,./%29' H & 8IN >F ?%.,0%#9 "./ ",#-#")0 #"-;97

2001 Volvo B10M Berkhof Axial 50 OPKVH 9!"09' /!?%*.0"$+! 0%,+!0' >F "./ ?%.,0%#' ",# -%./,0,%.,. "./ 456' "*0%?"0,-7 I3%,-! %) 02% "J",+"$+!7

2001 Mercedes 0814D Beaver Plus 33 coach seats with boot and hat racks, destination !E*,:?!.0' "*0%?"0,-' 456 100!/' :+",. 23,0! "./ <=> 0% N!-!?$!# GCBG7

2002 Man East Lancs Myllenium Converted to a mobile studio, ex BBC, air conditioning, computer terminals and printers, generator, satellite /,93' 0!+!J,9,%.7 U#!L "./ +, 30 2%%/ ,.0!#,%#7 6*,0"$+! )%# " J"#,!0L %) *9!97

2000 Scania L94 Irizar Century VH 9!"09' WA 4*0%?"0,-' >F ?%.,0%#' ",# -%./,0,%.,. "./ 456' /%*$+! +"X,. "./ -*#0",.97 F!#L %%/ -%./,0,%.7

2000 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 SLF 10.7m 39 seats plus 22 standees, single door with entrance #"?:' "*0%?"0,-' /!90,."0,%. !E*,:?!.07 @+",. 23,0!7

2007 Mercedes Benz 413cdi Plaxton Pronto 16 seats, sprintshift gearbox, individual high back 9!"09' 456 "./ ",# -%./,0,%.,. ' 0,.0!/ 2,./%29' :+",. $+*! 2,03 $+*! ,.0!#,%#7

2004 Neoplan Skyliner 81 seats DDA compliant double decker coach, 23!!+-3",# :%9,0,%.' 0%,+!0 "./ 8MN /!90,."0,%. !E*,:?!.07 @+",. 23,0! "./ ,. %%/ -%./,0,%.7

2002 Mercedes 0814D Plaxton Beaver HH 9!"09' "*0%?"0,- !"#$%& "./ 456 100!/7 <".*"+ /!90,."0,%. !"#7 @+",. 23,0!7 F,!2,. #!-%??!./!/7

Follow us on twitter!

p54_CBW_1030

2/4/12

18:21

Page 1

554889-1030-DublinBus

30/3/12

13:49

Page 1

Dublin Bus

OFFER FOR SALE BY TENDER

‘RV’ BUS-55 x Volvo Olympian/ Alexander ‘R’ Double Deck (1999 –Volvo D10A245 / ZF4HP500) Dual Door-Seating Capacity-U/S 47, L/S 27 THESE VEHICLES WILL BE SOLD AS SEEN Proportion of these vehicles are to be withdrawn from the Dublin Bus fleet by end of May 2012 and the balance by the end of the year.

To request a tender form and to make arrangements to view the vehicles please contact: Mr. Paul DuffyProcurement Department, Dublin Bus , 21 Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7, Ireland Telephone +353-1-7033474 Facsimile +353-1-8303126 Email: paul.duffy@dublinbus.ie

Closing date for receipt of completed tenders is 17.00 on Wednesday 11th April 2012

p56_CBW_1030

2/4/12

16:37

Page 1

56 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

BUS & CO A CH S A LES

2010 2010 2006 2006 2005

MAN Panther DDA 49 seats A/C front w/chair lift Volvo B12B Prestige 49/51 sts A/C Mercedes Touro 49 seats A/C MAN Plaxton 49 seats A/C Iveco Beulas 49 seats A/C

2004 2004 2004 2003 2003

MAN Marco Polo 70 seats A/C Volvo B12B Caetano Enigma 49 sts A/C MAN Noge Catalan 51 seats A/C MAN Marco Polo 70 seats Volvo B12M Caetano Enigma 49 seats A/C

2003 2000 1998 1998 1996

Volvo B12B Caetano 48 seats A/C Iveco Beulas 49 seats A/C Volvo B10M Excalibur 49 seats Merc Beaver 27 seats Volvo Strider 49 seats

TO VIEW CALL 07979 295668

p57_CBW_1030

2/4/12

17:19

Page 1

SDRC0ACHhelp

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 57

“Assisting the Coaching Industry”

Merc V8/AsTronic box, 75str, white ext/blue int, air con, drinks, fridge, ski box, 160,000 miles since factory engine, MoT Oct 2012, Eminox fitted to Euro 4, RPC for reduced road tax (£190 P/A), very good condition, low mileage coach. Ideal people mover for the Olympics. £103,000 + VAT ono £95,000 + VAT ono

NEOPLAN SKYLINER 2003

1 - 7.8SE 23str with seat belts and semi coach seats, digi tacho, radio, approx 142,000 miles. MoT June 2012 £46,500 + VAT ono 2 - 7.1SE 23str approx 195,000 miles, MoT May 2012 £44,500 + VAT ono £42,500 + VAT ono Both vehicles Euro 4 Mercedes engines, white exterior/blue interior, Hanover destination, vgc.

2 x 1990 Volvo B10M Manual Plaxton Paramount 3500 57 Seaters With Courier Seat, Long Test, Brand New Re-Trim & NEW Sprayed White £8,500.00 + VAT

2 OPTARE SOLOS 2007

1996 Dennis Javelin Manual Berkhof Excellence 2000

SOLD

53 Seater With Courier Seat, Tested Till June, But Will Supply New Test & NEW Spray White £7,500.00 + VAT

Tel: 01296 398300 Motts Travel, Buckinghamshire 2008 Mercedes 613D Oynx

COACHES & BUSES WANTED FOR AUCTION for our UK & Commonwealth buyers Our main interest is equipment available due to Retirement or Fleet Reorganisation.

Manual, LEZ 4, Minicoach 24 Seats, AIR CON, Long MOT & London LEZ Euro 4 £38,000.00 + VAT

1995 Volvo B10M Auto Plaxton Premier 350 53 Seat Standard Exec, Level Floor, Mounted Toilet, NEW Retrim & Spray, Long MOT, Mint! £16,000.00 + VAT

READY FOR START OF SEASON Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 320 Automatics Brand New Converted 70 Seat Coaches, New Seats & Spray, Certified And Ready To Go……

All equipment would be marketed worldwide through our Special Auction Events Team.

See our website history for people we have worked for.

For further information please call Malcolm Harrison on 01630 674326 or email malcolm@malcolmharrison.co.uk MALCOLM HARRISON AUCTIONS

www.SDRcoachhelp.com 24 Hrs 0844 576 3300 1 x 1993, £18,500.00 + VAT 1 x 1994, £22,500.00 + VAT

1 x 1995, £26,500.00 + VAT 2 x 1997, £29,500.00 + VAT

Hunnable Industrial Estate, Toppesfield Road, Gt Yeldham, Essex CO9 4HD

p58_CBW_1030

2/4/12

16:36

Page 1

58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

MINICOACHES Albion House, 16-18 Albion Street, Willenhall, West Midlands WV13 1NJ

sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

www.ukminicoaches.co.uk

Tel: 01902 631507

Fax: 01902 630791

“57” 2007 Toyota Optimo 22 seat Midicoach

1998 VOLVO B10M PLAXTON PREMIERE 350

A superb all round Midicoach, the Optimo that we have here has Mt Silver paint, 22 high back full sized reclining coach seats with 3 pt seat belts, curtains, electric entry door, rear heating, luggage racks with integrated blown air and reading lights and a courier seat. Only 23,800 miles.

Price £38,995 + V.A.T.

Choice of “54-06” LDV Convoy Minibuses

Available from stock, 54 reg 12 seat LR MWB, 54 reg 16 seat HR LWB and 06 reg 16 seat HR LWB minibuses. All in excellent condition.

All seats fitted with 3 point seat belts with all age adjustment, side entry door for rear passengers, dual front passenger seat,

Price from £2,995 + V.A.T.

70 SEATS NEW CONVERSION including 3 point belts, new flooring, full interior retrim including racks, sides, roof etc. New MOT till March 2013. ZF manual gearbox, newly repainted 2 pack white. Looks and drives superb.

A credit to any fleet.

“55” 2005 Renault Master 8 seat Ambulance

A stunning example of this versatile vehicle. Built for local authority use for the purpose of patient transfers, this particular model features lowering rear suspension, fold out ramp for wheelchair access, 6 forward facing and 2 rear facing passenger seats and easy clean interior.

£29,950 + VAT o.v.n.o.

Price £6,495 + V.A.T.

Contact Steve on 07795 347476 or 01492 640320 (North Wales)

OPENING HOURS MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9,00 AM TO 5.00 PM

Southdown PSV Bus Sales 01342 711 840

All Commercial Trading Ltd T/A UK Minicoaches

www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2006 (56) ADL ENVIRO 200 SLF 8.9m 29 Seats - choice of 2 Mo phot re os web on site

• Cummins ISBe 3.9 Euro 3 engines • Allison 2100 gearboxes • 29 seats/22 standees • Fully DDA compliant • MOT to March 2013 • 2012 Repaints • £45,000 each + VAT

Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN

p59_CBW_1030

2/4/12

17:59

Page 1

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED BUSESWANTED

Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime

CHECKPOINTS

# WANTED # WANTED # WANTED #

SHELTON MOTORS RAMSEY, CAMBS LICENSED ELV CENTRE

ALL BUSES & COACHES WANTED Tel: 01487 813156 (9 - 5, Mon - Fri) Mobile: 07831 349760 Email: sales@shelton-motors.co.uk

CRAIG TILSLEY

ENGINES WANTED # WANTED # WANTED # WANTED

HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

WANTED # WANTED # WANTED # WANTED

BUILDINGS

# WANTED # WANTED # WANTED #

Tel: 01782 791524 or 01782 791527

Fax: 01782 791316

Moorfields Industrial Estate Cotes Heath, Stoke-on-Trent ST21 6QY

Suppliers of Reconditioned DAF MAN MERC, VOLVO SCANIA, GARDNER LEYLAND, CUMMINS ENGINES CYLINDER HEADS CRANKSHAFTS CRANKCASES CAMSHAFTS PUMPS ETC

INSURANCE

SPECIALOFFERS

GARAGE EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/DUSTITE loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:

Tel: 01524 271200 www.checkpoint-safety.com

Specialists in Used Commercial Garage Equipment

BWS 0117 953 0381 www.bwsequip.co.uk

email: bwsequip@hotmail.com

ENGINES

Crewe Engines Ltd MERCEDES ENGINE SPECIALISTS

WE ALSO RECONDITION ALL MAKES OF BUS & COACH ENGINES

Direct from the UK’s No.1 since 1975 Call now for a quote or more information

01270 526333

Federation of Engine Re-Manufacturers

www.creweengines.co.uk

VOLVO - CUMMINS - SCANIA MAN - DAF - IVECO FULL FITTING FACILITIES

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED

Look no further to advertise your Products & Services Contact Jade Cassidy now for details of current offers : 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

p60_CBW_1030

2/4/12

17:47

Page 1

00 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED REGISTRATIONS G £750 22 TXA 50 PXP 80 HXE ALZ 303 AXZ 88 ECR 767 IIG 62 JUI 808 RXI 85

TICKETING

SPEEDY REGISTRATIONS CO LTD G ‘Buy with confidence – CNDA Member’

£350 £99 £99 £50 AJZ 459 HIG 5651 MNZ 1195 AXZ 5648 JBZ 484 HIG 5652 ONZ 1180 CXZ 4470 JHZ 939 IIG 7764 REZ 3369 CXZ 4471 LLZ 949 IIG 7765 RUI 2119 DRZ 7321 MKZ 686 JIG 1575 SEZ 8950 DRZ 7322 NUI 636 JIG 1576 SUI 2171 IFZ 8428 PDZ 818 KIG 1902 SUI 2172 IFZ 8429 PXI 494 KIG 1903 TJZ 1116 JFZ 3260 YIB 303 MJZ 6749 TJZ 1119 JFZ 3261 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange

£50 JFZ 3262 JIG 9765 JIG 9766 KIG 4214 KIG 4215 RNZ 2144 RNZ 2145 TUI 5711 TUI 5712

Tel: (028) 6638 7124 Fax: (028) 6638 7771

Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ

SEATING

Bodyguard 2000 Seat Range

“Designed for Safety and Comfort”

G Fully tested to M1, M2 & M3 standards G Available in Single, Double and Treble units G Variety of both seat widths and leg heights G Wide range of optional extras available G Fully tested on quick release seat fixings

For more information tel: 01487

710700

Abacus House, Highlode Ind Estate, Ramsey, Cambs PE26 2RB

email: sales@abacus-tp.com www.abacus-tp.com

ERGONOMIC SEATING SPECIALISTS

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED

Look no further to advertise your Products & Services Contact Jade Cassidy now for our latest deals : 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

TRAINING

Full range of Static, Mechanical and Air Suspension seats available for Coaches, Service Buses, Vans and Trucks

Prices from £150+VAT (No carriage charges)

12 Murray Place, Righead Ind Est, Bellshill ML4 3LP Tel: 01698 845352 • Fax: 01698 844325 Email: TScottco@aol.com

Driver CPC Farrow Training UK Ltd

Driver CPC Training available in West Midlands, Worcestershire and Shropshire at a time and place to suit you.

Get Legal - Get Trained www.trainingforcpc.com Tel: 07970 853663

p61_CBW_1030

2/4/12

17:31

Page 1

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED TRAINING

VEHICLE SPARES

New Van & Minibus Parts

Transit bodyshell

Leyland GB397,390

Master side doors

Sprinter 906 new model doors

Sprinter 616 axle

Sprinter LT old model doors

Mercedes drivers seat

Nissan 2.7 TD engine

Renault 1.9 CDI engine

Transit 17 seater

Transit Millenium doors

Transit Tourneo seats

Sharan Galaxy 1.9 CDI

ZF 16S-109

ZA Astronic 12-AS-1920-TD

TYRE EQUIPMENT

www.cabmasters.com 01706 211 838

Trevor Wigley & Son Bus Ltd

TW FULLY LICENSED END OF LIFE VEHICLE CENTRE TW REDUNDANT AND SCRAP VEHICLES TAKEN TW PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT SERVICE TW ALL REQUIREMENTS CATERED FOR TW VARIOUS SPARES AVAILABLE TW CONTACT US FOR FULL AVAILABILITY

VEHICLE INSPECTIONTRAINING

• HGV & PCV inspections • Maintenance audits • HGV & PCV training courses • Due diligence inspections and reports info@viats.com www.viats.com 077 0234 9080

Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com

www.twigley.com

62 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 4, 2012

Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk, fax 0845 2802927 or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

Toddler twins love bus travel As always, the CBW office likes to hear stories of young bus enthusiasts, and Stagecoach North East seems to share our view, as they have awarded a model of a Stagecoach North East bus to two of its youngest fans.

Joanne Gavalant has revealed that her twin boys, Henry and Thomas, get the most pleasure from their weekly bus trips – as opposed to a new Lego set or their action man figurines. Instead, their bus trips are the highlight of their week, with the journey providing them with limitless entrainment.

Joanne said: “They first started showing an interest in buses at just six months old and it has gone from there. Even though we have a car, we have to get the bus a couple of times a week purely for the twins’ own enjoyment, as they love the journey so much.

“There’s not one element in particular they favour the most, just the entire experience really, from the big windows where they can watch the world go by, to the passengers getting on and off. They even know the number of each bus and where it goes. They’re absolutely bus nuts!”

Sandy Gallacher, operations manager at Hartlepool Depot, commented: “At Stagecoach North East we constantly strive to ensure our bus journeys are as pleasant as possible, and the twins, Henry and Thomas, are just one example of passengers getting the most out of our services. We’re delighted they enjoy their bus trips so much and hope they continue to do so for many years to come.”

Dilbert

Monday: The usual manic press day. Art director Keith is full of bugs, so wisely works remotely. We re-jig the news pages of an already full issue to take account of the funding announcements.

Thankfully, the broadband behaves itself and we get away at a half decent time.

Staff from First get into the spirit of things

First’s pirate route serves theme park Saturday (March 31) saw the return of First’s X7 M&D’s Express service to Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station, and the operator celebrated the return by handing out Easter Eggs on board the bus.

The X7 service connects the station with Scotland’s much-loved theme park during the Easter holidays – between March 31 and Sunday April 15.

It will then continue every weekend and public holiday until the summer holidays when it will run daily and then every weekend until September.

Customers can hop on the direct service from stance 27 at Buchanan Bus Station and reach the theme

park in 20 minutes.

Using a FunDay ticket, which costs £6 for children and £7.50 for adults and is available on most First bus services, customers can connect to the X7 M&D’s Express from First bus services across Greater Glasgow at no extra cost.

First’s commercial director Alex Shearer said: “M&D’s is a fun day out for all the family and it is quick and easy to get to the theme park when travelling the First X7 Express service. Plus, customers save £4 off the cost of an unlimited ride wristband which permits rides on lots of fantastic attractions.”

Matthew Taylor, managing director of M&D’s Theme Park, said: “We are delighted First is running the X7 again in time for the Easter holidays. The M&D’s Express is a fantastic idea giving those who couldn’t access us before a direct route to sample our exciting thrill rides and family rides.”

Tuesday: Don’t spend the usual Tuesday afternoon in the office. Instead, take it as time off in lieu, having spent Saturday at the Plaxton and Irizar open days (CBW1029) and most of the Sundays this year working on CBW. Frankly I feel shattered.

Wednesday: A busy day in the office where I constantly feel up against it. In between a mountain of other tasks, forge on with a feature. Sit down for a meeting with Jonathan about forthcoming issues. It’s enough to say we’ve got a particularly hectic few weeks ahead.

Thursday: Just before 0900hrs, manage to top up the car with diesel at the local Tesco with a mere 10 - 15 minute wait, which is the equivalent of a Friday afternoon.

Snap some pics of a rather bemused tanker driver, who is watching the pumps flow. It’s another hectic day in the office.

I’m ready for a break – roll on Easter. Andrew is back from an enjoyable overnighter in Darlington as a guest of Cummins.

Friday: My plans for an enjoyable weekend to get away from it all are thrown into disarray thanks to selfish union members and irritating politicians. It’s a busy day in the office getting as much material to Keith as possible.

Martin is back from an enjoyable couple of days away in Germany with Mercedes-Benz – although you’ll have to wait for the next Minibus to read all about it. Enjoy a relaxing evening at home in Peterborough with my better half.

www.coachandbusweek.com

LastStop1.indd 62

02/04/2012 23:06

RECRUITMENT

Deadlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm

Bellfield joins First

First Shared Services’ Cameron Gray, one of 45 volunteers who helped ‘pedal’ money for Sport Relief

FirstGroup staff raise £2,500 for sport relief Staff at FirstGroup have raised £2,500 for Sport Relief. First Shared Services (FSS), which is based at FirstGroup’s Aberdeen headquarters led the money raising efforts. A team of 24 took part in a mini triathlon; FirstGroup’s HR director John Evans had his legs

waxed; a sports quiz and sponsored dress down day all culminated in a ‘Spinning’ challenge on Sport Relief day on March 23.

An exercise bike was especially positioned in the centre of the FSS office. 45 volunteers kept the bike going non stop between 0830 and 1700hrs, including FSS controller, Richard Emslie.

He said: “We estimate cycling more than 100 miles in total on the bike, which we were all somewhat proud of. The FSS team in particular really embraced the spirit of Sport Relief and I’m proud that in total we have raised in the region of £2,500.”

Kevin Bellfield has been appointed as new regional commercial director for its Scottish operations.

Kevin Belfield has joined the firm from The Wellglade Group, parent company of trent barton.

Neil Barker, MD for Scotland, said: “The regional commercial director role is a new one and reflects our commitment to develop our service networks in Scotland and the way we promote and market them. This role, and in particular someone of Kevin’s calibre, will help deliver growth in our business in Scotland.”

Kevin, who has been director of investments at The Wellglade Group, previously held senior operational and commercial roles with Arriva, Transdev and National Express. He has also worked for First – he was MD of First Midlands between 2006 and 2008.

April 4, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 63

Contact Ian Gillis 01733 293484

ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk

He said: “I know the business well and am relishing the opportunity of working for First once again. Of course, the Scottish bus industry is facing up to some big challenges at the moment.

However, I’m looking forward to joining the Scottish team and playing a big role in moving the business forward.”

Kevin will be based at Larkfield depot and will regularly visit First’s other operations in Scotland.

Kevin Bellfield

Your First Choice for Recruitment

Lothian Buses MD named regional director of the year Lothian Buses’ managing director has been named as the Edinburgh, Lothians and the Borders regional director of the year by the Institute of Directors (Scotland).

The judges selected Ian Craig after he increased profitability and improved customer satisfaction, despite many upheavals on Edinburgh’s streets.

Other winners from Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders include Norman Murray, chairman of Petrofac, named global director of the year and non-executive director of the year.

Stephen Pearson, MD of Geckotech Solutions, was named as Prince’s Scottish Youth Business

People.indd 63

Coach & Bus Week’s well-established recruitment portfolio attracts candidates across sales, marketing and management, delivering not just quantity but quality candidates, providing exceptional value for money.

In addition to our unrivalled print-based product, at no extra cost recruitment adverts are also automatically placed online at www.coachandbusweek.com, where they remain on view until a position’s closing date.

Ian Craig Trust director of the year.

Nick Price of Bright Purple Resourcing was given the director award for enabling the effective use of skills.

Coach & Bus Week and www.coachandbusweek.com combine to create the ultimate recruitment solution, guaranteeing your vacancy is seen by every jobseeker that matters from sales agents to board level.

To get your vacancy seen by quality candidates, call Ian Gillis on 01733 293484 or email ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

02/04/2012 23:17

p64_CBW_1030

2/4/12

19:48

Page 1