Wednesday January 2, 2013 Issue 1068 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com
COACH:
Skills buys Notts City Coaches from Bowens administrator p5
LOOKING BACK: BUS:
A snapshot of the Promising �igures for stories which made Optare as large Arriva headlines in 2012 p20 deal is announced p4
PEOPLE:
Stagecoach announces senior appointments at UK Bus division p55
The industry's views on the year ahead p12
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2013: Watch BSOG & the economy like a hawk
I
t’s crystal ball time on p12 – 19 of this issue. As much as I like to think I’m intuitive, I don’t claim to be ‘Mystic Gaz’. However, I’m a firm believer there are such things as ‘reasonable assumptions’ for the year ahead. Reading the ‘Big Question’, it’s perhaps not surprising to find several themes, including – the economy and uncertainty. On that note, it’s worth drawing your attention to one of Mark Yexley’s answers: “If things have to change, then more advanced warning will decrease the chance of kneejerk reactions, particularly when it comes to investment decisions.” He rightly refers to last year’s ill-thought out dreadful Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG) bombshell dropped on operators and local authorities by governments in Wales and Scotland. While his words arrived after the ‘Big Question’ feature had gone to press (no fault of his own), I’d also like to include some thoughts penned by Stagecoach Manchester’s highly respected MD Chris Bowles: “In 2012 the reduction in BSOG paired with cuts in local authority budgets were undoubtedly a concern for the bus industry, with decreased support resulting in higher costs for bus operators. Unfortunately, this caused an unavoidable increase in fares for
customers. Additionally, the recession in retail led to fears of a drop in passenger numbers, as less people used public transport to get in to city centres to shop. “As an industry, I believe we are becoming more and more conscious of the fragility of our revenue streams as a result of the recession and a much tighter contract market. Therefore, operators are focusing their attention on areas for growth, as well as maintaining current passenger numbers. For Stagecoach Manchester, the education sector is increasingly important and represents the greatest opportunity. “As budgets continue to tighten, I expect we will see more consolidation on the supply side of the business, which I would hope will provide some stability in networks at the same time, boosting customer confidence.” For buses, BSOG will continue to be at the top of the agenda. The economy will be something both coaching and stagecarriage will have to watch – we don’t want customer confidence being undermined. Local authority contract work is also an area of concern, but that’s perhaps for another time. Here’s to 2013... Gareth Evans Editor
CONTENTS 4
12
37
The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK
8
The thoughts of industry figures on 2012 and their outlook on 2013
20
Climate control and WiFi systems to impove vehicle interiors
First Euro 6 coaches for Rhineland, BYD expansion to US and Bulgaria
10
A recap of all the major news stories to break throughout 2012
28
A lighthearted look at the industry. Plus Office Diary column
What’s happening across the country’s regions. Plus events diary
A Solaris Urbino electric bus at a wintery Hamburg Airport
All the latest people moves from across the industry
News
International News Regional News
Big Question
Year in Review
The Big Picture
Industry Guide
53
Last Stop
54
People
The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Coach & Bus Week are not necessarily those of the Editor or its publisher Coach and Bus Week Ltd.
For all your relief coach driver needs call us today 0845 2416 288 www.justcoachdrivers.com www.coachandbusweek.com
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news
“My personal achievement this year would be passing my full motorcycle test, despite fracturing my shoulder blade on my second lesson as a result of a static wheelie.” Richard Grey Gre’y of Ely
briefly Hertfordshire independent Sullivan Buses has won another Transport for London contract in the latest bus tendering tranche. Route 626, which has a PVR of four, is a school service linking Finchley Central Station with Dame Alice Owen’s School in Potters Bar and is currently operated by Metroline. Other contracts have been retained by their current operators, Arriva The Shires and London Sovereign. The latter comprises 13/N13 (Aldwych – Golders Green Station), whilst the former include 288 (Queensbury – Broadfields Estate), 303 (Colindale – Edgware) and 305 (Kingsbury – Edgware). With the exception of route 13/N13, which will use new double decker hybrids, all other routes in this tranche are for existing diesel-powered vehicles. At the end of December, Guide Dogs for the Blind created a 12 days of Christmas inspired list of some of the memorable events for the charity throughout the year. The events included; Over 1,000 new talking buses on the roads across the UK after announcements made this year; the new Safe and Sound campaign winning 3 awards at the Party Conferences and the 700 personalised birthday messages sent to the Minister for Buses, Norman Baker, to promote the Talking Buses campaign. In addition, Guide Dogs announced that 10,000 campaign actions had been completed this year using its campaigns website. The Traffic Commissioner for the East of England, Richard Turfitt, has relocated to a new office in Cambridge. Operators in correspondence with the Traffic Commissioner’s Office should use the new address for all future contact. Operators and licence applicants who are in correspondence with the Central Licensing Office should continue to use the address in Leeds, unless instructed to liaise with the Traffic Commissioner’s Office direct. The full address for the Traffic Commissioner and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner for the East of England is: Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 8DR www.coachandbusweek.com
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The Big Question p12
Optare on road to recovery From July to September 2012, EBITDA profit of £146,000 posted as turnaround actions bear fruit Optare has hailed a return to profit following a period of turnaround and restructuring. The firm, which closed factories in Blackburn and Rotherham, moving to a new factory in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire, said that in the July to September quarter it posted an EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) profit of £146,000. For the six months ended September 30, sales revenues increased by 106% to £46.7m, which Optare said was due to increased sales of hybrid and electric buses in the UK and export
sales to South Africa. Over the full interim period, EBITDA losses were reduced by 54% from £2.54m to £1.18m. Optare said the loss was incurred during the first quarter of the period before the closure of its Blackburn site, the sale of its Rotherham facility and increase in sales output. The loss on ordinary activities before taxation was £3.3m, down from £4.4m. It increased year-on-year UK bus market registrations by 46% over the period with export sales revenues reaching a record £10.5m. As a result, Optare’s share price rose 7.14% to 0.60p. During the year, the company’s accounting reference date was changed from December 31 to March 31. As a result, the firm
An 11.7m Optare Versa on its stand at Euro Bus Expo 2012
Fleet investment for Stagecoach in Wigan Stagecoach has taken delivery of 31 new buses for its recently acquired Wigan operations. The new vehicles, manufactured by ADL, went into service before Christmas. The £3.9m investment follows Stagecoach’s completion of its acquisition of Wigan bus operations from First Manchester, and includes 11 ADL Enviro 300 single-deckers and 20 ADL Enviro 200 midibuses.
These buses are in addition to 30 mid-life single-deck vehicles already transferred which will improve the fleet profile. The new vehicles run both on Wigan local routes and the inter-urban services to Ashton-in-Makerfield, Leigh and Bolton. Stagecoach Manchester MD Christopher Bowles said: “We are committed to improving services in Wigan and this is the first step
stated references throughout to H1 2011 were for the period from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 and references to H1 FY2013 were for the period from April 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012. Outgoing CEO Jim Sumner said: “I am delighted with the significant progress we have made against the turnaround plan and would like to thank the board for their support and the efforts and commitment of the entire organisation over what has been a very challenging period for the business. I have every confidence Optare will go from strength to strength as part of Ashok Leyland’s global business.” Discussing future prospects, Chairman John Fickling said: “As the board anticipated, the period from July to September 2012 saw the company achieve a positive EBITDA for the first time following execution of the key turnaround actions. We also continued to invest in new factory and product developments and the Group is now positioned to increase sales in both retail and fleet segments. “Finally I take this opportunity to again thank Jim Sumner for the outstanding job he has done and wish him all the best in the future.” In addition, Optare has won £6.2m order from Arriva for a mix of 50 single deck 11 and 11.7m Versas scheduled for delivery in March/April/May of 2013. Nick Gordon from Arriva confirmed to CBW that five of the vehicles were going to Arriva Midlands, ten to Arriva the Shires and 34 to Arriva Southern Counties. Jim Sumner said: “This is great news going into the New Year and demonstrates that investing in new fuel efficient products targeted at the major fleets is the right strategy.” towards that. We’re also pleased to be providing customers with the same good value fares Stagecoach passengers benefit from across Manchester and we look forward to attracting even more people on to our greener, smarter services.” The Wigan business operates commercial bus services and a small number of school contracts and has around 300 employees. The recent purchase included the owned Lockett Road depot in Wigan, as well as some leased premises in Wigan bus station, staff facilities and approximately 120 vehicles.
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Liverpool grows its welcome to coaches Coaches can now get right alongside Liverpool One retail and leisure complex by dropping off at the Liverpool One Bus Station – for no cost. From here visitors to the CPT calls a ‘coach friendly city’ of Liverpool, can walk straight into Liverpool One or across the road to the Albert Dock and waterfront attractions. Already more than 90 coaches have taken advantage of the new Liverpool One bus station facility. Coach operators need to book in advance to reserve a bay at Liverpool One Bus Station and for the coach welcome scheme. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Albert Dock continue to
Uncertain future for NX Manor Royal
Staff at National Express’ Manor Royal coach depot in Crawley have been told their jobs may be at risk. The site is home to a fleet of coaches used on the firm’s own operations. The company said the site is no longer viable due to modernisation requirements. The garage is located next door to Go-Ahead Groupowned Metrobus’ headquarters alongside the Brighton to London
welcome coach visitors with their own welcome schemes and drivers are treated to free refreshments in both places. Coach operators and group tour organisers need to book ahead to ensure their welcome is ready for them. Once coaches have dropped
passengers at their final destination, drivers can move on to the newly laid 54 secure and safe coach spaces at the city centre King’s Dock Coach Park near the waterfront. King’s Dock Coach Park is monitored by CCTV and 24 hour security personnel on site.
Launching the opening of Liverpool One bus station to coaches are: Phillipa Kirby-Girdlestone, Regional Manager CPT; Neil McMurdy of Alfa Travel; Liam Robinson, Merseytravel Chairman Victoria main railway line. National Express has been at Manor Royal since 1996. It told staff of the proposals on Thursday December 13. National Express UK Coach MD Tom Stables said: “National Express is considering the future of its Crawley operation. While the depot staff perform very well, the modernisation required means it is no longer viable. Talks will take place in the New Year and we will work to support all those involved to consider available options. “We are committed to keeping redundancies to a minimum and are hopeful many of those affected can transfer to other business areas.”
Skills buy Nottingham City Coaches Skill’s Motor Coaches has purchased the Nottingham City Coaches business from the administrators of Bowen Travel Group. Nigel Skill told CBW he had acquired the name, website, telephone numbers and customer databases. NCC’s Commercial Manager, Paul Harper, has been retained along with two mechanics and three or four drivers. All the NCC coach fleet had been
A new variable tariff makes the parking more attractive. Enquiries can be made in advance, by ringing the security manager on 0151 709 0120. Once a ticket has been purchased, the driver may use the leave-and-return coach park for the duration of the ticket. The new tariff for King’s Dock Coach Park: n Up to 1 hr. £4 n Up to 3 hrs. £8 n Up to 24hrs. £15 n Up to 12 hrs. £10. Bookings for Liverpool One Bus Station can be made by email to: coachbookings@ merseytravel.gov.uk. To book a coach welcome at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, operators should call 0151 702 7284 or go to the website www. liverpoolcathedral.org.uk. The Albert Dock coach welcome can be booked via the email: groups@albertdock.com or call 0151 707 0729
repossessed by various dealerships but, at the time of speaking, Nigel confirmed he had managed to secure five of them so far. He said: “We will run the NCC operation from our premises. It remains a strong brand and we’ve discovered a great deal of loyalty. In addition to a large programme of excursions NCC had a strong relationship with a number of tour operators and some very good private hire customers so this acquisition has proven positive in building our overall customer base. “We’ve had a very good year and managing to purchase Nottingham City Coaches is a further boost. The signs are currently very positive.”
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news
£310m
Alleged shortfall in Nexus’ figures on the benefits of a QC, according to an independent report commissioned by Stagecoach in October
briefly According to Falkirk Council, A & A Mason of Bo’ness ceased trading in the run up to Christmas. The firm’s school contracts with the authority were covered by other local operators, including Prentice Westwood, R.W.Sneddon, First Scotland East and James Adamson Minibuses. The transport association Luxembourg has awarded INIT with the delivery of an integrated system for control, passenger information and electronic fare collection (e-ticketing). Over the next four years INIT will install its systems and technology across the association of 34 private and 3 public transport companies. This includes operation control centres, stops and around 920 vehicles. The project connects to neighbouring light rail systems in Belgium, Germany and France. INIT will implement the interfaces for Luxembourg’s cross-border ticketing in these countries. The order also includes the supply of stationary ticket vending machines and information displays. In the final stage a further 400 vehicles are to be equipped with hardware and software from INIT. Eastleigh-based operator Bluestar has converted one of its Mercedes Citaro single deckers following feedback from customers using route 18 which operates a high frequency route between Thornhill, Bitterne, Southampton, Shirley and Millbrook. Parents were concerned with the lack of room for baby buggies on the buses so Steve Prewett, Area Engineering Manager for Bluestar, designed an alteration to the interior which would replace three standard seats with special wall-mounted flip-up seating. Steve said. “The conversion takes about a day for the engineering team to do but we can now transport between three and four baby buggies or provide the same amount of seating for other customers.” Jersey’s pre-pay travel card will be called the AvanchiCard after a vote by island school children. Avanchi is the Jerriais word for advance or to move forward. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Kent County Council’s Top Travel to be shut The municipally-owned operation is incorporated into Kent Top Temps, Kent County Council’s other principle operation Kent County Council (KCC) has announced its municipal bus service, Kent Top Travel (KTT), is to end operations and will no longer compete for commercial services. The County Council’s decision comes after a wide-ranging review of all its commercial and trading operations, which has examined
whether KCC should continue with some of its activities. The review followed a critical report by independent consultants who said KCC had taken an “opportunistic approach” to the development of its trading companies to meet financial targets. Other operators in the region claim they have lost contracts to the KCC-run company, which was set up in 2005 and is based at Aylesford, near Maidstone, and employs around 100 people. KCC maintained it was helping to
A Kent Top Travel Plaxton Profile-bodied Volvo B7R is seen in central London in July 2012 while engaged on Olympic work
Over a century of service in pictures
The pictures depict the history of Yellow Buses, originally known as Bournemouth Corporation Transport
Staff at Bournemouth-based Yellow Buses uncovered numerous unseen images showing transport history. The pictures plot the evolution of transport from 1902 right the way to modern times and highlight some of the types of vehicles that have been used. Originally known as Bournemouth Corporation Transport, the company began life running trams that were also in service in the neighbouring towns of Christchurch and Poole. As well as the trams, the early days saw the introduction of motorbuses, which began to travel around the town from 1906. There is an early photo of
moderate contract prices through competition. KTT has been incorporated into the council’s other principal commercial operation, Kent Top Temps, a recruitment company and has seen profits fall in 2011-2012 to £220,000 from £420,000 the previous year. In a statement, KCC said it would continue to run services until contracts were completed and plans a phased withdrawal from the bus market. Ian McPherson, Managing Director of Commercial Services, said: “This is part of a wider strategy to remain in markets in which we have a competitive advantage thus ensuring value for the taxpayer. “Our planned exit from the transport market will be phased over next year to ensure that we honour current contractual commitments whilst ensuring no disruption to service users. We are confident that there will be minimal detrimental effect to staff.” As well as operating a range of routes across all parts of the county, KTT also has the contract to operate the park and ride service for Canterbury City Council. Tramcar No.1 – a saloon, single decker known as the Mayor’s Car and another shows a bus from 1937 decorated with over 1,000 lamps to mark the Coronation. Other photographs show trolleybuses in the centre of Bournemouth with Second World War bomb damage still visible. Jenni Wilkinson, Yellow Buses’ Head of Marketing, said: “We have such a long and varied history and these photos are fascinating. “Some we have seen before but others are new to me and it’s wonderful to look back through the decades. “It’s satisfying to think that we started carrying passengers 112 years ago and are still transporting people in the same area, albeit on different types of vehicles. “We will archive the photographs so future generations have a record of the company.”
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2.5m
Passenger journeys made on the Cambridge Guided Busway in it’s first year
Quartix reveals new user interface Following months of development work, Quartix has released the new user interface of its vehicle tracking system. It is available to all users at no extra cost. The system boasts a new look and optimised usability. Users can access Google Maps (with its Map, Satellite, Street View options and full zoom levels) directly from any online log along with the live tracking. The revamped features include Daily Vehicle Logs, Daily Route Maps and Real-Time Live Tracking. As well as the new design, some features have been entirely reviewed and released in easier to use formats, such as the interactive Daily and Weekly Route Charts which are now fully available online and no longer require a download. Andy Kirk, Quartix Sales & Marketing Director, said: “The Quartix system is renowned for its ease of use and this development takes it to a new level of simplicity.” For further information on the Quartix system call 0870 013 6663
The new interface gives access to Google Maps software
January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7
70%
Proportion of the industry controlled by the ‘big five’ operators, according to turnover figures from TAS Partnership in February
Operator faces licence reduction after PI
Lothian Buses has trialled an ADL E500 tri-axle double-decker. The bus, pictured here by Donald Stirling, operated on several routes, including the firm’s flagship Airlink service, to check its 12m length wouldn’t be a problem. It passed all tests with flying colours including a full 180-degree turn around the Waverley Bridge roundabout. The demonstrator was with Lothian for a day before being loaded onto a ship and transferred to new owners in Hong Kong. The Chinese characters on its destination display turned many heads, with several tourists taking photographs. Depending upon the seating configuration, the bus can carry up to 120 passengers on normal seats, or around 100 on Airlink coach seats.
Silverdale Tours orders a Scania Irizar i6 for 2013 Nottingham-based coach operator Silverdale Tours has ordered a new Scania Irizar i6 for delivery in April 2013. The 12.45m long vehicle has a Scania K 360IB4x2 chassis and is powered by Scania’s 360 horsepower engine, which meets the Euro 5 exhaust emissions standard by way of EGR and as such does not require AdBlue, and Scania’s fully-automated Opticruise transmission system. The vehicle
includes 53 seats, three-point seatbelts, DVD Player and two monitors, seat-back tables, centre sunken toilet and a drinks machine. Silverdale Tours Director Shaun Doherty said: “This will be our first new touring Scania since 1987, although we have several Scania Caetanos within our National Express fleet.” The vehicle will come complete with Scania’s full two years repair and maintenance package.
The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken, has made an order to reduce the operator licence of Executive Hire Limited, operating from Cambuslang and East Kilbride. Its O-licence, which currently allows the company to run 14 vehicles, will be cut by four from February 1 for two months. Miss Aitken’s decision follows an investigation by VOSA into maintenance and safety standards – including the issue of prohibitions to the company’s vehicles, which are used on school contracts, rail replacement services and for private hire and tour work. The TC gave the company a period of grace until the end of March 2013 to provide further evidence of its financial standing. She also asked the company to provide evidence that its new Transport Manager had taken up residence in the East Kilbride/ Greater Glasgow area by January 31, 2013. Miss Aitken noted: “The prohibition history needed to be addressed and will improve if the operator pays the additional attention to detail. This PI should serve as a nudge in the right direction. “This case has highlighted just how important it is that drivers know their vehicles and the locking mechanisms, for loaded or not, they do need to know that doors will be open or operable in an emergency.”
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news › international
BYD to make electric buses in US and Bulgaria The Chinese company has announced expansion overseas in both Europe and North America USA/ BULGARIA The Chinese battery and electric vehicle producer BYD aims to establish its first wholly owned manufacturing plant overseas in 2013. The factory will reportedly be in California with an exact location expected to be announced in March or April. Li Ke, BYD senior vicepresident said the Warren Buffettbacked company will put the plant into operation in 2013 and will be able to produce 50 to 100 buses there in 2014 and “starting in 2015, the production capacity will exceed 500 vehicles.” Li said managerial and other positions at the plant will be filled with local residents, but some of the parts and production lines would come from China. BYD’s K9 electric buses, which have already passed road tests, will carry a price of $550,000 to $600,000 each. They are scheduled to enter the US market in March and first be used at Apple Inc’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, Los Angeles International Airport and Stanford
University. Besides Europe, BYD also has agreements with local governments in Singapore, Uruguay, Canada and the US over the use of its buses in public transportation. According to electric vehicle geographic forecasts recently released by the US-based market research and consulting firm Pike Research, California will remain the main market for electric vehicles in the US in the next eight years. Analysts said local government policies in California will help BYD establish a presence in the state. In addition, the Shenzhen-based company signed a joint venture agreement last week with a Bulgarian company to set up its first factory to assemble electric vehicles in the country. Situated near the country’s capital, Sofia, the plant will mostly produce electric cars and buses. “Starting in February, it will roll out 50 to 60 of the company’s K9 electric buses each month,” said Alexander Usachev, CEO of BYD’s Bulgarian partner Bulmineral Ltd. As part of an expansion into Europe, BYD has signed agreements to export the vehicles to the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark.
The S411 HD is the 750th touring coach from the TopClass 400 model series produced by Setra and was delivered to Austria www.coachandbusweek.com
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Omnibus und Reiseverkehr Lasche GmbH has acquired two Mercedes-Benz Travego Edition 1 with Euro 6 and one Setra touring coach S 416 GT-HD
First Euro 6 coaches for the Rhineland GERMANY Family-run Omnibus und Reiseverkehr Laschke GmbH has received two Mercedes-Benz Travego Edition 1 coaches and a Setra ComfortClass S416 GT‑HD. The Euskirchen-based operator is the first in the Rhineland to use touring coaches fitted with Euro 6 engines. Laschke GmbH has been relying on Mercedes‑Benz and Setra for three generations and the company celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2011. The first multi-day tour headed off to South Tyrol in 1962. In 2010, Stefan and Joachim Laschke took over the family business from their father
Reinhold Laschke, who had led the company through its second generation since 1976. Today, the bus operator offers its customers a wide range of daytrips and holidays tours throughout Europe – from the North Cape and Iceland via St. Petersburg right down as far as Spain and Portugal. Joachim Laschke said: “Traditionally, our fleet has been solely made up of touring coaches from both Mercedes-Benz and Setra as they offer high levels of efficiency, reliability and comfort. With this order, we are continuing down a path which we’ve been walking along for three generations already.” The German manufacturer claims the Travego Edition 1 is the world’s first touring coach model to meet the requirements for Euro 6. Power comes from the new OM 471 BlueEfficiency Power engines whose 12.8-litres of displacement supply 350 kW (476 hp) at 1800 rpm.
AUSTRIA Upper Austrian coach operator Neubauer recently took delivery of the 750th Setra S411. Company Directors Regina and Erich Neubauer together with their son Christian received the TopClass 400 model series. Speaking at the New-Ulm Setra Customer Centre for the ceremonious handover, Regina Neubauer said: “Setra is one of the best quality touring coach brands on the market. What’s more, we also feel as though we’re in good
hands with the Europe-wide OMNIplus Service network. “With its 39 seats, passengers can get nice and relaxed in the latest-generation Setra. Their safety is assured by such systems as adaptive cruise control (ART).” Neubauer was established in 1966. In 1989, trained tourism expert and daughter of the founders, Regina Neubauer decided to start her own coach firm, which she ran for 10 years in parallel to that of her parents. Then in 1992 she opened her own travel agency, followed in 2003 by the acquisition of a Setra S315 GT-HD with a wheelchair lift. The firm focuses on four areas: tours, school contracts, transport of disabled persons and the running of the travel agency.
Setra delivers 750th S411 HD to Austria
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news › REGIONAL
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
State-owned Bus Éireann has announced cost-cutting measures aimed at addressing a projected loss of €16m. The company said it had informed employees and trade unions of its intention to implement a series of changes to the terms and conditions of staff from January 13, 2013. The measures include a reduction in overtime rates from 1.5 to 1.25 times as well as an increased working week for clerical and executive staff from 36 to 39 hours. Premium and rota payments will be reduced but these will be reviewed again in 2014 if the firm’s financial situation improves. The plan will see a reduction in annual leave entitlement for all staff by three days for the next three years. A range of allowance and expense payments are also to be reduced by 33.3%. A spokesman for Bus Éireann said: “This level of potential losses must be addressed in order to protect services and jobs and ensure the company can continue to invest in providing a quality service.” “As it is imperative the company make the required savings and there is now no option but to implement changes to employees’ terms and conditions. It is regrettable that these steps have to be taken, however they are necessary in order to protect basic pay and jobs.” As this issue went to press, the main trade unions had yet to formulate a response to the announcement.
NORTH
Members of the Police and Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Doncaster boarded buses in both uniform and plain clothes to engage with young people and deal with any issues at school run time. The patrols coincided with National Anti Bullying Week and a variety of informational leaflets and advice was given to pupils by officers during the journeys. Throughout the operation, most of the young people were well behaved and only nine were dealt with for their behaviour. Six were referred for antisocial behaviour contracts, which will mean their behaviour is closely monitored for the next six months, and three were warned about their behaviour www.coachandbusweek.com
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University, Parkeon, CBS Outdoor Advertising, Pennine Signs, Alexander Dennis Ltd and Scania.
KEY
SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND REP OF IRELAND NORTH WALES MIDLANDS EAST LONDON SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST
and the consequences should they continue to act in an antisocial manner. Chief Inspector Neil Thomas said: “Hopefully the operation has sent a clear message to pupils that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and also a reassuring message to our residents that we will deal with any concerns raised and should there be any further issues, we will repeat the operation.” Mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies said: “Unacceptable behaviour on buses needs to be tackled and this is a good way of showing people from an early age that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. The safety of residents and visitors in Doncaster is a top priority and operations like this help to ensure that travelling on public transport is a safe experience for everyone.”
WALES
Newport Transport spent £2,000 on Christmas presents for 70 children across Gwent affected by poverty, illness or neglect. To add to the festive cheer, the municipally-owned operator decorated one of its buses with a scene of Christmas reindeer to help deliver the presents to organisations including Sparkle, Action for Children and Newport Women’s Aid. Each child received a bag of presents worth up to £40 from Newport Transport’s festive
EAST
Christmas bus. The bus, which also featured Father Christmas, two of his closest elves and a sleigh, dropped the presents off to children at each of the charity’s centres in Newport in the run-up to Christmas Day. Scott Pearson, Managing Director of Newport Transport, said: “Christmas really is a time of giving, but that isn’t easy for some families affected by poverty or illness. As the City’s main bus operator our job is to help people get to where they need to go. This Christmas we wanted to go one step further by helping children who without our support might not get the kind of Christmas Day many of us take for granted.” Lisa Thomas, from childrens charity Sparkle, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of Newport Transport. This is such an amazing thing to do for children at the Serennu Centre in High Cross supported by Sparkle and really will bring a lot of joy to their lives. “As a charity we are reliant upon the generosity of local businesses to support our work. Many of the children we support don’t get the same opportunities other kids do because of their disability or illness. Christmas can be difficult time for these children and their families, which is why Newport Transport’s presents really will make such a difference to their lives. We can’t say thank you enough to the company.” The festive bus was supported by Newport Unlimited, Newport
The extension of the Babraham Road park & ride site in Cambridge has been completed. Babraham Road is the most used of all the city’s P&R sites and shoppers and commuters will now benefit from an extra 500 car parking spaces and 80 sheltered cycle parking spaces. The £1.6m construction, by Cambridgeshire County Council, included widening of the exit road, construction of an alternative drop off point, and installing lighting and CCTV cameras. The scheme was funded from developers and is also one of the measures under the Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF) which aims to help improve bus journeys, make it easier for passengers to access services and reduce pollution in the historic Cambridge city centre. Cambridgeshire County Councillor Ian Bates, Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, said: “The Cambridge park & ride is an award-winning system with almost four million trips made each year. The extension has added much needed capacity to ensure the Babraham Road site has spaces available.”
SOUTH EAST
Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company has opened a new travel shop with integrated IT systems which combine the purchase of bus tickets with tickets for National Express coaches and train journeys, making it a fully integrated public transport information and sales outlet. The expanded shop has 11 counter positions and sales opportunities have now all been combined so that sales assistants have touch-screen multi modal option to offer the full range of tickets. Roger French, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove, said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant arrangement which our IT Manager, Matthew Broadberry, has developed. It enables us to sell any public transport ticket to our customers and offer them the best deals.” The new shop is open on weekdays from 0730 to 1900hrs with reduced hours at the weekend and there are plans to install selfservice machines for both National
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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’d like us to cover, contact James Day on james. day@coachandbusweek.com. Express coaches and Southern trains in the New Year as well as self-service top up machines for Brighton & Hove’s key smartcard used on its buses as well as on Southern trains.
LONDON
TfL has begun consulting on proposed changes to bus routes in preparation for the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is being transformed over the next two years. There will be new neighbourhoods including the former Athletes Village, renamed East Village, providing new homes, schools, nurseries, a library, health centres and other facilities. The Park will help generate thousands of new jobs and sporting venues from the Games will provide leisure facilities for the whole community. In preparation for the transformation, TfL has developed proposals for a number of bus routes to connect the Park and Stratford City with surrounding areas. The consultation period is open until February 22, 2013.
Peter Bradley, Head of Consultation Delivery, said: “The services we provide in and around the Park will be used by many thousands of people for years to come so we want as many people as possible responding to this consultation. It’s an opportunity to be involved in the development of such an historic area that holds some very special memories.” Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the changes will start being made during 2013 when the new roads become available and tenants start moving in. The proposals concern the following routes: 97 (Chingford Station – Stratford City bus station), 308 (Wanstead, Woodbine Place – Clapton Park, Millfields), 339 (Stratford City bus station – Shadwell Station), 388 (Hackney Wick – Blackfriars Station), D8 (Crossharbour – Stratford City bus station), 205 Night Service (Paddington – Bow Church), 26 (Hackney Wick, Chapman Road – Waterloo), 30 (Hackney Wick, Eastway – Marble Arch) and 241(Stratford City bus station – Canning Town, Hermit Road).
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
EventCity in Manchester plays host to the ‘Great Days Out’ show on February 9, which is aimed at coach operators and group organisers
2013 n January 24 CPT Annual Dinner 2013, Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London E1 8GP. Call 020 7240 3131 or visit www. cpt-uk.org n January 28-30 Transport Ticketing 2013, Park Royal Plaza Riverbank Hotel, Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London SE1 7TJ. Call 0207 384 79201 or visit www.transport-ticketing.com n February 9 ‘Great Days Out’. EventCity, Manchester, 0161 237 1010. www.greatdaysout.com n February 24-25 Coach Holiday Conference. Bristol Filton Holiday Inn. www.coachtourismcouncil.com n March 13-14 Best of Britain and Ireland (BoBi). Travel Trade Forum at the NEC in Birmingham. 01926 834796. www. bestofbritainandirelandevent.co.uk n March 19-21 The Cleaning Show. NEC, Birmingham. 01737 855 086 www.cleaningshow.co.uk
trent barton recently provided a memorable day out for a group of adults with autism and other learning difficulties who were given a tour of the firm’s Langley Mill depot. They received a behind-the-scenes peek at the day-to-day running of a busy transport company after being driven there on a specially arranged bus. The trip was requested by Nottingham-based Space Inclusive, a social enterprise project providing educational, social and employment support. David Bingham, a Partner in Space Inclusive, said: “As well as providing practical support to help them lead more independent lives, we encourage our members to engage in a hobby or interest to develop their social skills. “As a result, a group of them discovered a passion for all things transport related, including buses, trains and planes.” Alex Hornby, trent barton’s Commercial Director, said: “We were only too pleased to help the project and it was fantastic to see people so enthusiastic about our buses. “The visit also gave us the opportunity to demonstrate how easy it is to get out and about by using our services.”
n March 20-21 UK Bus Awards Annual Conference. The conference is booked to take place in Fareham and will feature a visit to Hampshire’s Eclipse BRT project. www.ukbusawards.org.uk n April 6 South East Bus Festival 2013. Kent Showground, near Maidstone, Kent, brought to you by the organisers of ‘M&D 100’ and ‘M&D and EK 60’. www.facebook. com/southeastbusfestival n April 9-11 CV Show 2013. NEC, Birmingham. www.cvshow.com n April 20-21 UK Coach Awards & UK Coach Rally. Alton Towers, Staffordshire. 01753 631170
www.coachdisplays.co.uk or www. ukcoachawards.co.uk n April 21 London Bus Museum Spring Gathering. Cobham Hall, Weybridge, Surrey. 01932 837994. www.londonbusmuseum.com n May 14-15 ALBUM Conference. Belton Woods Hotel near Grantham, Lincolnshire. www.albumconference. co.uk n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition. Palexpo, Geneva. www.uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 610 n June 11-13 ATCO Summer Conference. Merseytravel HQ, Liverpool. www.atco.org.uk n June 16 Swansea Festival of Transport. Free to enter & attend. Call organiser Ashley Lovering on 07814958379 or email swanseatransport@aol.com. Visit www.ntfwswansea.co.uk. n July 21 Alton Bus Rally. Anstey Park, Anstey Lane, Alton, Hants. www.altonbusrally.org.uk n July 28 The Annual Peterborough Bus & Commercial Vehicle Rally. Sacrewell Farm (A47/A1 junction). All buses and commercials welcome. Free entry. 07828 754412 or 01462 626750k n September 8 Bus & Coach Wales 2013. Rhyd y Car Leisure Centre, Merthyr Tydfil n September 22 Showbus 2013. Long Marston Airfield, Warwickshire. www.showbus.com n October 2-3 Coach & Bus Live 2013. NEC, Birmingham. www. coachandbuslive.com
Send your event details to gareth.evans@ coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com
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the big question
A challenging 2013 on the horizon As 2012 came to a close and the industry looks ahead to the New Year, Coach & Bus Week asked some of the coach and bus industry’s key figures for their memories of last year and their hopes and concerns for 2013 What do you consider to be your best personal achievement of 2012? do you consider to 2 What be your best professional achievement of 2012? are you looking 3 What forward to in 2013? are your prime 4 What concerns for 2013?
1
Steve Dewhurst Volvo Bus Teenage Cancer 1 Completing Trust Charity Challenge of raising £100,000. orders for over 300 2 Taking hybrids for delivery to many of the major UK cities. Preston North End 3 Watching re-establish their rightful position in the Football world: Promotion, FA Cup Winners and Europe! economy and Preston 4 The being relegated!
Peter Newman EnsignBus usual answer is ‘just 1 The being here’ and that is more relevant the older you become! the ‘Independent 2 Winning Operator of the Year’ award at the UK Bus Awards was very good, together with Ensignbus celebrating 40 years of trading. a more stable 3 Hopefully market, both on the operating and dealing sides of the business. withdrawal of BSOG from 4 The dead mileage and tendered services. If the Government decides to withdraw BSOG from commercial services too it will completely decimate bus services as we know www.coachandbusweek.com
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them and have calamitous effects for the industry as a whole.
Peter Shipp EYMS 50 years in the bus 1 Reaching industry without giving up in the face of the onslaught, selling up, or dying first! a reasonably 2 Organising successful ALBUM conference. the government will 3 That abandon its ironically-named ‘Better Buses’ BSOG plans, provide proper funding for concessionary travel and then leave the industry alone without any more interference. the things in answer 4 That three won’t happen!
Peter Shipp, EYMS On what to look forward to in 2013:
“That the government will abandon its ironically-named ‘Better Buses’ BSOG plans.” Peter Shipp
Andy Campbell MD, Stagecoach East a white goatee beard 1 Growing for Movember. a successful 2 Maintaining business despite cuts to BSOG and tenders. Receiving my pension.
3 4
More interference in an industry which doesn’t need it.
Richard Grey Grey’s of Ely personal achievement this 1 My year would be passing my full motorcycle test, despite fracturing my shoulder blade on my second lesson as a result of a static wheelie, I finally passed in October. professional achievement 2 My this year would be winning Coach Driver of the Year at the UK Coach Rally, which has served to raise our company profile. 2013, personally I am 3 In hoping to get out to Le Mans again and have also been asked to accompany a friend on the Lions tour in Australia, but that might not get past the ‘War Office’. Professionally we are really looking forward to 2013 as we have already had significant bookings and enquiries and with new innovations we are working on should make for an exciting new year. concerns for 2013 are 4 My the increased business costs, with the commencement of the Driver CPC in September and the on going roll out of the government’s Pensions Reform, which although not potentially due until 2015, planning and staff understanding will be key. These new costs, along
with the time honoured costs of fuel, tax and other business overheads need, to be accounted for and passed on in the hire charges. Being able to apply these in a slowly recovering market place where predicted economic growth for 2013 is 1.2% will not be easy. There is a good saying, which goes: “Better to work on improvements than to create detailed documentation to show what we did.”
Alan Eatwell MD, Metrobus clear of 1 Remaining undiscovered crime and ducking challenge to my competence for 43 years to not only survive NBC and a management buy-out, but with 19 of those years at Go-Ahead Group and nearly 18 in a contractual relationship with TfL! ‘my’ best achievement, 2 Not but certainly the Metrobus
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January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 13
Richard Grey from Greys of Ely at last year’s UK Coach Ralley at the Peterborough Showground
team’s best achievement was unquestionably our recognition as Bus Operator of the Year at October’s National Transport Awards and our Crawley depot’s subsequent accolade as Top National Bus Depot at November’s UK Bus Awards. Retiring in June!
3
My professional concerns are for those I’m leaving behind in an ever more challenging environment: From the passengers’ perspective the industry’s never been so good at satisfying their aspirations, yet none of us can be complacent as any eye off the ball would soon result in slippage. As an industry we’ve selfpromoted quality without having it thrust upon us, yet at the same time we’ve been deprived of another 20% of our already diminished
4
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fuel duty rebate heritage of the 1960s which helped sustain that quality. Fuel duty will surely increase hereafter, yet the help our passengers have enjoyed for three generations will inevitably soon disappear altogether. The diminished funding suffered by County Councils has either left off-peak and rural passenger demand unsatisfied or has encouraged healthy innovation by those operators which have been able to find other ways to serve. This has inevitably resulted in some compromise to chrome-plated service frequency in lieu of gold, yet as an industry we’ve generally managed. We have to hope it doesn’t give a signal that we’ll always be able to repeat that trick. The sophistication required to effectively manage our businesses now far exceeds that which ever confronted our predecessors and
among our ‘plates on sticks’ are the aspirations of our passengers, our employees, our regulators and our shareholders, all nonnegotiable and all interdependent. It is important we invest more in succession and cultivate the generations of Managers and Directors to follow (to keep investing in the pension schemes) and to cope with that challenge.
Peter Newman, MD, Ensign Bus On best professional achievement:
“Winning the ‘Independent Operator of the Year’ award at the UK Bus Awards.” Peter Newman
Dean Sullivan Sullivan Buses – where’s it gone? 1 2012 I cannot believe we have reached 2013 already! Last year has flown by and has certainly been action packed. Personally my biggest achievement was to squeeze in a two-week holiday to India to sample the Indian Hill Railways. Although perhaps our reputation followed us when the train broke down and replacement www.coachandbusweek.com
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the big question
buses had to be ordered. Mala and I have not had a holiday for a couple of years, so it was great to get away knowing the business was in safe hands. choose one would be 2 To very difficult. We started the year by re-entering London Bus operations with the takeover of a five-bus contract for TfL route 298. Christmas and New Year was packed with recruitment, selection and driver training for this new contract. Later in the year we took over at very short notice a commercial service route 306 between Borehamwood and Watford when the incumbent operator decided to withdraw from the area. This entailed further fleet expansion and a further recruitment drive. Much of the spring was taken up with purchasing and refurbishing 10 double deckers for another new TfL contract which commenced in September. I particularly remember driving one bus up the motorway to Rowan Telmac in Coventry for refurbishment, thinking I will look back at this moment in time as a major achievement. And looking back, with a fast approaching deadline it certainly was! We TUPE’d over a number of drivers from Arriva London. Given the pitfalls, both companies worked extremely hard to ensure a smooth transition for the drivers and customers. I am aware legal pitfalls of TUPE are a major worry for both incoming and outgoing employers. It’s further compounded with a culture shock when staff transfer from a large organisation to a smaller family-run business, but I have to say this transfer has gone especially well. We have gained a well-motivated workforce who know the routes and customers and who have continued to deliver to the standards set by TfL. All the new drivers are proud to work for Sullivan and their positive work ethic is a testament for the quality of their former employer. The year was sullied perhaps by our local authority having to withdraw funding for school services across the county. We operate a number of school services in Hertfordshire and all were affected in some way or another. We spent several hours burning the midnight candle, looking at passenger travel trends, meeting with schools, consulting with users, setting routes, recosting and recosting again, producing publicity www.coachandbusweek.com
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and so on. The end result is a school bus network which works well with the resources we have available. It’s a miracle operators in Hertfordshire have managed to achieve so much with so little (or no funding). Of course the best highlight, I have left to last – how can we forget the Olympics! I remember sitting in my office in July 2011 thinking it’s just a year away and pondering if will London be ready. And you know what, one year on – I think we all delivered a first-class public transport system UK bus and coach operators can be justly proud of. It’s a legacy not just for London, but for the UK as a whole. We have shown to the world just what we can all achieve. I am very proud of the role Sullivan Buses, our staff and engineers played in making the games a success. has been a year of 3 2012 many challenges. It’s been a great year where we have pushed the business forward. I hope to continue that growth through 2013. Talking of growth, at nearly 18 stone perhaps it’s time I went on a diet! challenges we face 4 The are possibly shared by all operators throughout the county. Operational costs for bus operators continue to rise, while essential local authority and government subsidies continue to decline at an alarming rate. I suppose this has been an age old problem and operators have expressed similar concerns in CBW over many years. But I think these current austerity measures are damaging the reputation of the industry. Customers only seem to hear successive governments rhetoric about the so called massive subsides paid out to bus and coach operators. As a result customers are quick to condemn bus and coach operators when essential services are withdrawn due to subsidy cuts or the increased cost of service provision. The industry could perhaps have absorbed this to a degree, but outside the capital we are faced with the perfect storm of subsidy cuts, cost rises and the potential withdrawal of BSOG. If services are to remain stable we need to pass these additional costs on to our customers. Unfortunately bus passengers are often struggling with budget issues of their own, so can ill afford inflation busting fare rises. As a result we risk pricing the very vulnerable off our buses. I
Dean Sullivan and his wife Mala took a trip to India in 2012 On best professional achievement:
“How can we forget the Olympics! – I think we all delivered a first-class public transport system.” Dean Sullivan
Steve Dewhurst, Managing Director of Volvo UK Bus On best professional achievement:
“Taking orders for over 300 hybrids for delivery to many of the major UK cities.” Steve Dewhurst
suspect this debate will rumble on throughout 2013.
Roger French MD, Brighton & Hove the lounge 1 Getting decorated! our new smartcard a 2 Making popular choice of payment for thousands of our customers. retirement in 3 Following March, spending my newly acquired leisure time travelling by public transport all over the country to enjoy the beautiful scenery and places of interest. to not checking 4 Acclimatising for new emails all the time! Sir Brian Souter CEO, Stagecoach Group during the Olympics 1 Driving with Usain Bolt on my bus. Group’s Coach America 2 The transaction. delivery of new sleeper 3 The coaches. vulnerability of the UK 4 The to European problems and ensuring the re-establishment of railway franchising.
Adrian de Courcey Director, Travel de Courcey most significant personal 1 My achievement of 2012 has been becoming more actively involved
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services, value for money fares and modern, low-emission vehicles, we offer a very strong and viable alternative to cars. I just feel that we need to be better at communicating the benefits of buses to potential users. key concern is the future 4 My of public sector funding and, in particular, BSOG for our industry. According to the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies), there is a £27bn shortfall in funding after the chancellor’s autumn statement and I fear our industry will take a disproportionate cut in government funding despite the key part we play in generating economic activity.
with a local hospice organisation, Myton Hospice, which operates a local network of three hospices. Sadly, two valued members of our driving team contracted terminal stage 4 cancer during 2012 and I have seen the tremendous work Myton Hospice does to help those nearing the end of their lives. In our efforts to help, we have decided to make Myton Hospice our charity of the year and are planning a number of innovative fundraising events using our fleet during 2013 to raise much needed funds for the hospice. were many 2 There achievements for our company in 2012 with the launch of the electric buses and some contract wins but I would put securing the contract to provide shuttle bus transport at the NEC as my best professional achievement of 2012. It is great to be working with such a prestigious and highprofile customer – taking delivery of the 10 new Citaros and watching them in action during the Euro Bus Expo 2012 were very proud moments! looking forward to seeing 3 I’m further evidence of modal shift from car to bus with strong passenger growth across our services. I’m positive about the long-term future of our industry and with high quality, frequent
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Ian Craig Lothian Buses at the Institute 1 Recognition of Directors Scotland and Scottish Transport Awards for services rendered – all very humbling for a boy from Campbeltown! with the team, 2 Together managing the business successfully through a period of very considerable on street disruption due to tram construction works. works being brought to 3 Tram a successful conclusion and the city pulling itself together again. Government 4 Scottish concessionary travel scheme funding arrangements and whether or not the sun will ever shine again during the Scottish ‘summer’! Ian Manning MD, Stagecoach West having succeeded in 1 Not doing any meaningful work on my next book about Portuguese bus operations for various reasons, I am not sure I have had any good personal achievements this year but I did notch up a 20-mile drive of a 1923 vintage electric railcar on a working Austrian branch line in May without incident, with my only previous drive of a train being one of the Tyne and Wear PTE prototype cars on the Test Track in 1979! a year of increasingly 2 In difficult economic circumstances, it was good to have reached the point of doubling the patronage on our Service 66 Swindon-Oxford over a two year period, first through low floor conversion and peak frequency improvements which then led to a total doubling from the original
Ian Craig, Managing Director of Lothian Buses On best personal achievement:
“Recognition at the Institute of Directors Scotland and Scottish Transport Awards for services rendered – all very humbling for a boy from Campbeltown!” Ian Craig
Stagecoach West MD Ian Manning driving an Austrian electric railcar On prime concerns for 2013:
“The fact that road building is again seen on the political agenda as some kind of saviour to economic growth, which it clearly is not.” Ian Manning
timetable when converting it to full Stagecoach Gold Scania double deck specification in January. I had always doubted our ability to achieve that level of growth on the route. It proves the power of marketing in the bus industry. to restart stalling 3 Trying organic passenger growth by the spring and of course visiting 2013’s choice of holiday destinations since holidays have always been the fifth most important thing in life... with unringfenced 4 Localism budgets, the future effects of the gradual dismantling of the planning system, the fact that road building is again seen on the political agenda as some kind of saviour to economic growth which it clearly is not and my future ability to deal with my Mother’s vascular dementia.
Steven Nendick Commercial Director, Cummins achieving a high 1 Successfully level of work objectives whilst maintaining my personal values of integrity and treating others as you would wish to be treated. Cummins Euro 6 launch 2 The through 2012 has worked very well for us. The events, advertising and website have hopefully established us as the “engine experts”, being able to explain the complex legislation and related technologies to the industry. Managing the whole process from the start has been very challenging and rewarding to work on. The “Natural Choice” theme has been quite different from previous campaigns, and it has been interesting to see people’s reactions to this. The support from our Senior Management in conveying the message at the IAA show in September was an additional benefit. date, our Euro 6 campaign 3 To has been mainly targeted to vehicle manufacturers, so I am looking forward to adapting this in 2013 to be more operator-focused. Hopefully we can alleviate the operators’ concerns around the implications of the legislation, so they can choose new Cummins Euro 6-powered vehicles with confidence. economic situation 4 The remains challenging across Europe and many businesses are focusing on surviving through difficult times. This means they are perhaps putting off www.coachandbusweek.com
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the big question
how they will manage upcoming initiatives like Euro 6, which could come back to bite them at a later date.
Ross Prentice Prentice Coaches and co-chairing 1 Organising a ‘Business Question Time’ at Knox Academy, my old High School, in front of around 70 pupils and invited guests. A few years ago I would never have considered participating let alone being in charge of an event like this. 2012! It was our 2 Reaching 21st birthday year! But mostly, stepping in to take over two supported service routes cancelled by a large group, with less than two months notice from being awarded the contracts to starting to operate. At the time of initial announcement we had no suitable vehicles or ticketing equipment etc. By the start date two brand new ADL Enviro 200s had been delivered and, together with an older back up vehicle, were fully liveried and ready to start operating on the first day. From day one we have had nothing but praise and great comments from the local community. further 3 Implementing enhancements to our business and ensuring we get ever better at what we do and seeing Bruce Springsteen at Hampden Park again! And maybe taking my son to Barcelona’s Nou Camp. costs in particular fuel, 4 Rising but also ever deeper budget cuts for Local Authorities, schools etc. Nikki Honer Commercial Manager, more bus/Wilts & Dorset to sunny Dorset and 1 Moving decorating all of the rooms in the first two weeks! at the annual 2 Speaking Album conference 2012 and becoming the Commercial Manager of more bus – oh yes and that amazing video – Get it morebus style! with the rebrand 3 Continuing of Wilts & Dorset into more bus, getting a new kitchen and thinking of somewhere exciting to take my hubby for his 50th birthday whilst keeping it a secret. rid of the excess 4 Getting Christmas flab after my Quality Street binge and wondering what ridiculous photo pose our PR is going to get me to do next! www.coachandbusweek.com
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Michael Renshaw, Bus and Rail Director at TfGM On best professional achievement:
“By working with operators to bid for government funding, Greater Manchester now also has more new hybrid vehicles than in any other part of Europe outside London – 230 in total.” Michael Renshaw
Mark Yexley, Operations and Commercial Director, Arriva UK Bus On best personal achievement:
“Being CPT’s president this year has been a fabulous experience. I have hugely enjoyed it – it’s been an enormous pleasure being involved.” Mark Yexley
Mike Attfield CEO, Energenics Europe satisfaction of watching 1 The the continued maturing of my older children into young adults, and the progress of our younger staff at Energenics. are 2 important ones: 2 There (1) Seeing the likes of EYMS and other quality UK operators become customers of Envirox, and sensing that the widely held (aside from Stagecoach) scepticism that a fuel additive can improve fuel economy is starting to be overcome. (2) Launching Envirox DPF Assist and receiving such positive feedback through early sales, customer testimonials and a Top Product of 2012 award from CV Workshop magazine. to serve this 3 Continuing industry which we have grown to love and hopefully being allowed to play a wider role in combating rising fuel costs. the continued difficult 4 That economic climate will reduce the willingness to embrace new technology – particularly for environmental improvements, although I have faith in this industry that this will not be the case. Michael Renshaw Bus and Rail Director, Transport for Greater Manchester was heavily involved in the 1 Iwork we carried out to ensure smooth transport arrangements for the football events held in Manchester during the Olympics. It brought back memories of our success 10 years earlier in delivering transport arrangements for the Commonwealth Games. By working hand in hand with operators across all modes of transport, we showed once again that Manchester is capable of rising to the transport challenge for international events and delivering a world-class service. was delighted TfGM was 2 I‘Highly Commended for Improvements to Bus Services’ at this year’s National Transport Awards. This reflected the excellent partnership work we’ve carried out with bus operators, which also contributed – alongside many other achievements – to TfGM being named ‘ITA of the Year’ for 2012. In recent years we’ve introduced a ‘Supplier Rating System’ on the bus services we pay for, a ‘Punctuality & Reliability Monitoring System’ and a voluntary Code of Conduct for the wider
network. They are all bearing real results. The Supplier Rating System on the subsidised network has really encouraged all operators to improve continually to deliver higher and more consistent standards. It measures performance against 15 areas, such as reliability and vehicle quality. The percentage of our operators scoring 90% or over rose by 50% compared with last year, when benchmarking began. And these are improvements that we are starting to see spill over into the wider bus network. Network punctuality and reliability is improving, and passengers are also benefiting from much cleaner, greener services. By working with operators to bid for government funding, Greater Manchester now also has more new hybrid vehicles than in any other part of Europe outside London – 230 in total, including a fleet of Green Yellow School Buses. We also launched Greater Manchester’s first bus Quality Partnership Scheme in April. It’s on one of the busiest bus routes in the UK, the A6, which operates with the most frequent single service in Greater Manchester (the 192), carrying almost 10m passengers every year. We’re already seeing high standards achieved, with improvements to reliability and punctuality and the operator investing still further in vehicles. We are certainly not complacent, but I’m pleased our partnership working is making a tangible difference for passengers. looking forward to seeing 3 I’m Stagecoach run services in the Wigan area for the first time, after investing £12m taking over existing bus operations. We hope to see a quality performance which drives an increase in bus use in the area. It’s encouraging that Stagecoach has already committed to renewing two thirds of the bus fleet they are taking over in the first few weeks. Elsewhere, 2013 is going to be a big year in terms of improvements to both bus services and infrastructure. We’ll see some of our flagship bus priority projects – including the Leigh Guided Busway – really start taking shape on the ground. In Greater Manchester we’ve already led the way with bus priority. In the last twelve years or so, £88m has been invested in Quality Bus Corridors. As a result we’ve seen nearly 8m extra
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journeys made by bus. In developing our future bus priority package we’ve targeted a further 40km of the network where bus services are experiencing delays and congestion. In particular, there is not currently enough bus priority infrastructure within Manchester city centre to encourage bus operators to run services across the city centre. So passengers have to change buses and perhaps have a 15-minute walk to their connecting service. Our Cross City Bus Priority Package will introduce the right infrastructure to help address that. We consulted with the public extensively this year and work will start in 2013. This will, of course, bring its own challenges, but I’m really looking forward to seeing improvements start to take shape on the ground, so bus operators can plan to introduce services which will benefit passengers for years to come. Encouragingly, both Stagecoach and First have already taken the initiative to introduce their own cross city service on two different routes (services Stagecoach 50 and First 18). So for the first time in years, people in north Manchester can take a bus straight through to the Universities and Hospitals just south of the city centre. a nutshell, bus fares and 4 In smartcards. In Greater
Manchester we have a huge disparity in the prices of bus fares between services in the north and south of the conurbation. A weekly ticket will cost you £12 if you travel with the major operator in the south, and £18 in the north. This is a differential which is extremely hard to explain and which is discouraging bus travel. We were very pleased that towards the end of this year, our prolonged talks with First led them to try out much cheaper daily and weekly products on some of their services. But on the face of it, their lower fares initiative comes to an end in January. I am very anxious to ensure that their revised offer becomes a more enduring approach. Not just because it is unfair that a large part of the conurbation has to pay up to 30% more to catch their local bus, but also as we are striving to introduce multi-modal smartcards in Greater Manchester. Our first phase will be smartcard-style ticketing system on the Metrolink tram network, planned for 2014. Greater parity in operators’ bus fare structures is absolutely essential to our plans to roll smartcard ticketing out to buses. So, for me, a prime concern is that all operators get on board and commit to a reasonable fare structure. That is essential so that
we can really integrate ticketing and offer passengers a multi-modal smartcard. This will truly make bus travel an attractive proposition for ALL people across Greater Manchester, not just those fortunate enough to live in a certain area.
Sarah Elliot, Stagecoach East Scotland Marketing Manager On what to look forward to in 2013:
“I’m looking forward to some new industry developments I will be involved in, for example the hydrogen buses which will be coming to Aberdeen in 2013.” Sarah Elliot
Nikki Honer, Commercial Manager at more bus, enjoyed speaking at last year’s ALBUM conference
Sarah Elliot (née Anderson) Marketing Manager, Stagecoach East Scotland, Bluebird and the Highlands married! I became 1 Getting Mrs Elliott in July, it was a lot of planning but we had an amazing day and it was fantastic to spend time with all our family and friends. say the sheer volume 2 Iofwould projects and campaigns my marketing team and I have managed to pull together this year, many with significant and measured success. There was so much going on in 2012 for each of the companies I cover, each had new vehicles coming into the fleets, significant network changes and exciting marketing campaigns to complete. While everyone in the bus industry was preparing for the effect of the Olympics beforehand and during the summer, for us, most of the pressure was when the vehicles returned. New vehicles came into the fleet which were used in London, but once they returned we had a very short turnaround time to complete a large number of branding projects and extensive marketing and media campaigns. For many of these campaigns, we’ve seen passenger increases, a positive media response and customer and industry praise so the hard work has all paid off. looking forward to some 3 I’m new industry developments I will be involved in, for example the hydrogen buses which will be coming to Aberdeen in 2013. I’m also involved in a social media trial for Stagecoach in the East of Scotland. We’ve been doing it for the last year; it’s going well but it will be exciting to see how we can develop it further in 2013, not just to improve the customer service experience we can provide but to integrate it into our overall marketing strategy and hopefully expand the pilot to other operating areas. uncertainty of the 4 The concession scheme in Scotland is a concern for the whole industry and could have a huge impact on what we can offer our customers locally. On a marketing level this could
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the big question
bring challenges in customer and media communication and perhaps even affect marketing budgets.
Ray Stenning Director, Best Impressions at long last 1 Probably managing to install a beautiful-sounding, beautifullooking Steinway grand piano in my home. difficult. Some of these 2 That’s things can only be gauged with the benefit of a bit more hindsight than a few months. I’d like to think we can be proud of most of the work we do. However, one individual professional moment that stands out was giving a talk with my good mate Alex Hornby at the Eurobus show in Birmingham. The big buzz was having a full to bursting audience and people ‘hanging in the aisles’, as it were, but mostly the attentive, appreciative look on the faces of many of them, which made me feel that I may have achieved some form of standing in this industry and the seeds I have to sow might just be falling on fertile ground. forward in anything 3 Looking other than a superficial, inconsequential way is quite a childlike action. Life is a continuum, what will be will be, and although we can influence and shape what that ‘might be’ is, and it is our duty and nature to do so, it is far better to appreciate the present as it happens and make the best of every moment as it comes. As Rudyard Kipling said: “If you can fill every minute with 60 seconds’ worth of distance run...” the young managers 4 That rising up at the moment are not dumbed down by the worst aspects of corporatism, that they don’t become boring, lacklustre, grey yes-men, they are enterprising and have vision for this great industry and understand it is all about persuading more and more people to choose public transport by making the product the best it can possibly be (and then some) and that they understand the power of good design and clever marketing in achieving those goals more easily. In a word, that they have passion. Are they listening? David Blainey Integrated Transport Operations Manager, Merseytravel I moved to work in 1 When Merseyside from North Wales four years ago it was on the www.coachandbusweek.com
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basis I would commute by public transport. Sceptical friends gave this six months at the most but apart from a 10-minute car ride because my former colleagues withdrew the bus I used to use I have continued to use the much maligned but usually reliable Wrexham – Bidston railway line and the top of the performance league Merseyrail network despite the occasional failed connection resulting in an hour’s wait in the wilds of Bidston Moss. to work in 2 Continuing partnership with our commercial bus operator partners to improve the quality of bus services on Merseyside for the benefit of our customers. Chair of ATCO and 3 Being working with colleagues in local government to promote our role in the passenger transport field. Another year working in public transport, an area in which I have a passionate interest and nearly 40 years experience. there will continue to be 4 That a lack of understanding of the role of public transport in reducing carbon emissions and improving accessibility for the whole community and therefore not the commitment in funding, priority and legislation that is needed to enable public transport to fulfil its potential.
Kathy Tilbury Excelsior Coaches has to be taking part and 1 Itcompleting my first Great South Run on October 28 in a time of 2 hours 1 minute and 34 seconds. I made the decision that I was going to run it at the start of the 2012 and that I was going to get fit. Sweat and perseverance has meant I was able to run 10 miles and be in a fair state afterwards! I am the fittest (and leanest!) I have been for a good while. 2011 financial year saw 2 The Excelsior operate the last of its in-house Coach Touring Operation. The primary achievement this year was the consolidation of Excelsior’s business as a provider of B2B Coach Hire Services and the transformation which has seen Excelsior move from being a small coach operator to a large operator, in ,at times, a challenging environment, while improving standards across the business and at the same time receiving recognition from the various industry awards we have won and
Giving a talk at the Euro Bus Expo was one of Ray Stenning’s highlights
Kathy Tilbury, Managing Director of Excelsior Coaches, Bournemouth On best personal achievement:
“It has to be taking part and completing my first Great South Run on October 28 in a time of 2 hours 1 minute and 34 seconds.” Kathy Tilbury
been nominated for. In particular, winning the Medium Coach Operator awards in the 2012 UK Coach Awards as well as being the overall runner up. the Great South Run, 3 After we signed up for next year’s on the following day. We have also signed up for the full 2013 Bournemouth Marathon. So as much as the fitness is at a plateau now and I am just doing regular maintenance training – come next spring it’s going to be full on physical and mental training in preparation for the marathon. Preparing for the Marathon!
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Mark Yexley Operations and Commercial Director, Arriva UK Bus CPT’s president this 1 Being year has been a fabulous experience. I have hugely enjoyed it – it’s been an enormous pleasure being involved. On a lighter note, it was great being asked to give out prizes at the National Bus Driver of the Year event. I was also talked into taking part. I’m glad I didn’t crash the Stagecoach bus I was lent and that I didn’t finish bottom – 83rd out of 96 actually. professional 2 Regarding achievements, the stand out
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of kneejerk reactions, particularly when it comes to investment decisions.
Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport On prime concerns for 2013:
“A perfect storm could hit bus funding next year. Central government cuts, pressure on local authority spending and changes to BSOG will come to a head.” Michael Renshaw one is the work we carried out on the Olympics – where we operated over 600 buses and coaches. There were a few qualms but it worked out well. I am proud of the team and delighted that, in the wider sense, it’s a case of ‘transport done well’. the bus front, I am 3 On excited about the industry moving forward using technology to improve what we offer. More development on the smartcard front would make it easier for passengers to buy tickets online and on their phones and there has been a big jump forward with the ease people can see timetables through the use of apps. Technology is coming to our rescue. We can offer more to help compensate for the setbacks in the industry which have hit customers. With coaches, some of the advances to parking in London have been very positive and more of the same would be great in 2013. concerns for 2013 are all 4 My to do with the economy. I’m praying the Eurozone crisis will not be strung out for much longer. I’m also hoping we don’t get hit with the reductions in BSOG like in Scotland and Wales. You just don’t quite know what’s going to strike next. If things have to change, then more advanced warning will decrease the chance
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David Sidebottom, Director of Passenger Focus On best personal achievement:
“Displaying just about enough emotional restraint in a bar full of Manchester United fans in Lucerne, Switzerland, while celebrating my beloved Manchester City’s dramatic lastminute winning of the Premier League.” David Sidebottom
David Squire MD, Network Warrington up swimming and 1 Taking losing half a stone! been a big year at Network 2 It’s Warrington, winning GBF funding and putting in six new Optare hybrids, winning LSTF funding to kick-start a service and the continuing achievements of our staff through our exceptional customer survey scores are all likely contenders. However, I will opt for winning the industry best practice award at the CILT North West region. To be honoured in such a way by such an esteemed judging panel lead by the STC was indeed an honour. looking forward to a 3 I’m stable year; we have put a lot of effort into reshaping the business to make it more sustainable and we will see full year effects for the first time. concerns remain the 4 My economic squeeze and uncertainty this brings, whether it is Local or Central Government spending, the local economy and the burden of red tape.
Stephen Joseph CEO, Campaign for Better Transport not really a personal 1 It’s achievement as such, but it was wonderful to finally see the completion of Orbirail - the London overground network which started operation in early December. This is an excellent addition to public transport in the capital. It means many more journeys can be taken without having to battle through central London. I was part of the original campaign for the project way back in the 1970s. I’m proud 2 Professionally, of the part we’ve played in Network St Albans. The idea was to offer a better and more sustainable alternative to the car for those who live and work in St Albans and the surrounding area. We’ve worked alongside the University of Hertfordshire, local authorities and bus and train operators to make services more joined up, more frequent, and to give passengers better information. The first year has been a huge success and plans to expand the network are already being drawn up. We will be working to stimulate similar initiatives across the country next year and beyond.
There are a number of Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) projects which will come to fruition in the coming year. Collectively, this is in itself very exciting. I’m particularly keen to see the development of projects in rural areas such as the Lake District. These are also exciting times for the LSTF itself, with the Chancellor announcing another round of the Fund in the Autumn Statement. perfect storm could hit bus 4 Afunding next year. Central government cuts, pressure on local authority spending and changes to BSOG will come to a head. The results could mean many more services will not be viable, with the risk that our bus networks enter a spiral of decline. This would be bad for passengers, bad for local authorities and operators, and bad for the economy. It doesn’t have to be like this. Both our work in St Albans and the success of relevant LSTF projects show how investing even small amounts can make a big difference. Through our Save our Buses campaign, we will continue to make the case for investment not cuts.
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David Sidebottom Director, Passenger Focus just about enough 1 Displaying emotional restraint in a bar full of Manchester United fans in Lucerne, Switzerland, while celebrating my beloved Manchester City’s dramatic last-minute winning of the Premier League on May 13, 2012. delivering a 2 Successfully presentation on the work of Passenger Focus to a crowded transport conference in Moscow. I was one of two English speakers on the agenda in a room of about 250 Russian speaking delegates and an equal number of journalists. I’d been asked to talk about the work of Passenger Focus because there is a desire to create a “transport ombudsman” in Russia! successful publication 3 The of the next round of the Passenger Focus Bus Passenger Survey in March 2013. Each year the scope and usefulness of the work grows and I’m sure the results will create an interesting set of challenges from passengers to operators, transport authorities and Government. impact on bus passengers 4 The of rising fares at a time when there is so much uncertainty with jobs and the economy.
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review of 2012
The year in review Looking back over the year’s events it’s clear 2012 has been a momentous and eventful year for the industry despite the overhanging depression caused by the recession. Over the following pages Coach & Bus Week has compiled the more interesting and significant stories to present a complete round-up and review JANUARY
McGill’s acquisition of Arriva West Scotland under OFT scrutiny Labour MP Jim Sheridan called on the OFT to investigate the proposed £10m acquisition of Arriva West Scotland by McGill’s. The deal would see McGill’s double in size, becoming the third-largest operator in Scotland. Sheridan expressed concern over a lack of competition in Renfrewshire, fare increases and a detrimental effect on the terms and conditions of employees. TfL launches ‘no idling’ campaign TfL launched a ‘no idling’ campaign encouraging drivers to switch off their engines if they are at idle for more than a minute.
McLeans of Witney in administration McLeans Coaches of Witney, Oxford, went into administration. It ran 19 school contracts for the County Council. McLeans said it had gone into administration due to a dispute with its insurer. It claimed the insurer had discovered McLeans had an investor and suddenly hiked the premium from £43,000 to £60,000. The firm offered to pay £30,000 down and £10,000 for each following quarter but this was refused. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Wales BSOG blow With less than eight weeks to go, the Welsh Government announced BSOG would drop by 25% on April 1. By contrast, operators in England were told in October 2010 their BSOG would drop by 20% over three years from April 2012 – giving 18 months to prepare. CPT Wales said Welsh operators were warning of big fare rises and job losses as a consequence. The net result meant a duty increase of 108% as diesel priced currently at 10.9p/litre would more than double to 22.6p/litre. Combined with cuts in the Local Transport Services Grant local authorities in Wales said it meant major service reductions alongside major fare increases across the country. £2m for Scottish Green Bus Fund 2 The second round of Scottish Green Bus Fund grants was released to support the acquisition of low carbon buses. A limit of £750,000 was placed on any individual bid and also related to a bidder’s subsidiary companies – although joint projects could attract greater funding. BMC splits from King Long UK BMC parted company with King Long UK after an amicable divorce. The King Long operation will now concentrate exclusively on sales
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2 and aftersales of the Chinese-built coach and bus range. The firm said there had been no initial conflict within the model ranges but recent expansion by Xiamen King Long had seen it launch into new markets in Europe and elsewhere with six new vehicles added to the range and more expected. BMC said it anticipated better opportunities in the UK market and had received a number of applications from potential distributors.
Centaur launches commuter service from Tunbridge Wells Centaur Coaches launched Centaur Commute, the first commuter coach service between Tunbridge Wells and London. Season tickets offer a £1,500 saving over rail fares. Phoenix Holidays in administration Gloucestershire tour operator Phoenix Holidays went into
3 administration. Formed in 2008 following the collapse of forerunner Travelscope, Phoenix suffered a drop in bookings during the fourth quarter of 2011. Travelscope had been wound up in 2008 following litigation over a cancelled cruise.
TAS survey shows fare rises are below inflation A TAS Partnership survey of over 1,000 bus fares showed operators managed to keep fare increases below the rate of inflation. A typical three-mile journey coating £1.74 in 2009 had risen to £1.91 in 2011 – an increase of 9.8% versus a 10.1% rise in RPI over the same period.
February
TSC to investigate CC report The TSC announced it was to undertake an inquiry into the Competition Commission report on the local bus market. The report
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Peter Huntley dies in fell walking accident Peter Huntley, Chairman of the TAS Partnership and former MD of Go North East, died in a fall while walking High Street Fell in the Lake District. Peter, 54, was highly respected across the industry for his in-depth knowledge and total commitment to public transport.
Cornwall backs 50p flat rate from concessions Cornwall Council backed plans to allocate £2.4m in support of rural bus routes under threat of withdrawal and proposed seeking permission from Central Government to charge a 50p flat fare per journey to concessionary passengers. The council’s own funding was cut by £2.3m. It said the proposal would protect 95 subsidised routes under threat.
1: In May the first NBfL entered service on Arriva’s route 38. 2: Go-Ahead bought Carousel of High Wycombe in May. 3: Peter Huntley. 4: In January, York’s Labour Council vowed to banish First’s FTRs after the local council elections. 5: Ashok Leyland thwarted ADL’s takeover of Optare, stating it would not sell its stake in the firm “to anyone at any price.” Production of the Solo would focus on the face-lifted SR version found head to head competition uncommon and operators tending to avoid a competitor’s core territory. The CC believed this to be adverse to promoting competition, a detriment to passengers and costly to local authorities.
Stagecoach close to market leadership A TAS Partnership report showed just under 70% of the industry,
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Reading confirms viability of MAN’s gas bus Reading Buses described the CNG-fuelled MAN EcoCity as a “feasible option” for use on intensive urban services after a five-week demonstration. CEO James Freeman was impressed by the low emissions and believed the technology had ‘come of age.’ GNE Charter for Positive Change Charter for Positive Change was introduced by Go North East in response to Nexus proposals to implement Quality Contracts. The charter proposes a working
partnership with Nexus and the ITA to eliminate bureaucracy, protect customer choice, keep fares competitive and protect jobs and the interests of passengers.
Hind to retire Arriva Midlands MD Bob Hind announced he was retiring in July after 44 years in the industry – 28 of them at MD level.
Hydrogen buses for Aberdeen Aberdeen City councillors agreed to take part in a £20.5m European project to operate up to 12 hydrogen-fuelled buses. A fuelling station will provide gas for the buses and also to hydrogen fuelled cars as they become available. Aberdeen secured £9.2m of EU funding and will provide £2m over four years. It was also to secure £9.3m from project partners.
Beulas Jewel joins BASE line-up BASE added right-hand drive versions of the Beulas Jewel double deck coach to its portfolio. Built to meet UK requirements, it is based on a 480bhp MAN R37 tri-axle chassis and has optional lengths of 13.3m, 13.9m or 14.6m. Plaxton unveils Elite interdeck coach Plaxton presented an artist’s impression of the 15m Elite interdeck model which provides roll-on-roll-off access for wheelchair users.
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New TCs appointed Nick Denton was appointed Traffic Commissioner for the South Eastern & Metropolitan Area and Kevin Rooney as TC for the North Eastern Area.
WAG under pressure over cuts The Welsh Government came under sustained pressure from the industry, the media and the public over its cuts in BSOG and LTSG. First Minister Carwyn Jones restated the WAG’s position in also having to deal with funding cuts and how operators in Wales were still receiving more BSOG per litre of fuel than operators in England.
measured by turnover, is controlled by the five major groups – up from 64% in the previous report. The upward surge was attributed to Stagecoach re-entering the London bus market. The move also placed Stagecoach just behind FirstGroup in market share with 19.2% against First’s 19.6% – the latter being First’s lowest proportion since 1996.
Stagecoach orders 390 vehicles Stagecoach announced orders for 390 buses and coaches, worth £60m. They included eight extra buses for the Cambs Busway, 19 hybrids and ADL E400s on ADL and Scania chassis. Coaches included in the order were seven Van Hool Astromega double deckers, nine 15m Volvo B13 Plaxton Elites and 11 new Volvo Plaxton 15m with an interdeck.
HCT preferred bidder for Jersey services HCT Group was named as the approved tenderer to provide bus services on Jersey. The firm was also given preferred bidder status to run services on Guernsey a few weeks previous.
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Nat Ex relaunches cross-country routes National Express relaunched its cross country coach network with 230 new journeys.
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review of 2012
MARCH Oxford proposes Euro 5 LEZ Oxford applied to the Government to allow the introduction of new emissions for the city which would see the country’s first Euro 5 LEZ limit imposed. This would means all local buses would have to meet Euro 5. Buses operating in the city would also have to stop their engines at bus stops if they are idle for more than a minute.
Stagecoach bids £2.8m for First North Devon Stagecoach agreed to buy First’s North Devon operations. The £2.8m sale was pending approval by the OFT. The deal would have seen a transfer of operations this summer involving the 10 routes, 30 vehicles and First’s Barnstaple depot along with 100 staff. First said it was a business decision which would better position its UK Bus operations overall.
Change at TfL coaching unit TfL announced Darek Podwiazka was leaving his role at the Coach and Licensing unit after eight years as manager to take up a new position within the organisation. Coach responsibility now rests within the Delivery Planning area of Surface Transport under the Public Transport and Road Network team. New coach lead is Rhys Millier, working alongside Robert Hall. Pelican takes on BMC Pelican Engineering Group formed BMC UK and became the official distributor for the Turkish-built buses and coaches. Pelican already held a BMC distribution agreement within its truck franchises which was for the low-entry cab models favoured by traditional markets for street sweepers and dust carts.
First Manchester fined £285k First Manchester was fined £285,000 for late running by North West Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell. She ruled First had failed to meet the industry regulation for 95% punctuality. A VOSA investigation revealed 25% of buses were not running to time and First’s compliance rate was just 82.5%. The TC said despite recent improvements First had failed to do enough to rectify the problem. Go-Ahead buys First depot Go-Ahead bought Northumberland Park bus depot in northeast www.coachandbusweek.com
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1 1: Lincolnshire coach operator AC Williams was saved in March when an investor, Glen Pratt, stepped in to secure its future. 2: In April GoAhead Group bought Hedingham Omnibuses and Anglian. 3: Scania announced in April it would be introducing its gas bus range to the UK in partnership with ADL. 4: Lucketts took over Coliseum after the retirement of brothers Kerry & David Pitter in March. 5: In March EYMS Chairman Peter Shipp warned of the effects of fuel tax on the UK’s bus network. 6: In April RATP bought Epsom Coaches Group
2 London from FirstGroup for £14m. The site employs 400 people and houses 130 buses operating 13 TfL contracts and some school contracts. It has a turnover of around £24.5m.
GBBN completed The four-year Greater Bristol Bus Network project concluded. It saw 40 routes and 70 services improved, investment in 120 new buses, the erection of almost 1,000 new bus shelters and the creation of 8.6km of bus lanes. The project was jointly funded by the DfT, FirstGroup and four local councils which contributed £42.4m, £22.5m and £13.9m respectively. EYMS Chairman warns Chancellor over fuel tax EYMS Chairman Peter Shipp wrote to the Chancellor in an attempt to stop the 58% increase in fuel tax faced by bus operators. He emphasised the 20% cut in BSOG would cost EYMS £600,000 on top of any increase in fuel
cost plus the £700,000 per year reduction in concessionary travel reimbursement from local authorities. He suggested using a tiny fraction of the January tax windfall to restore all or some of the BSOG cuts. Shipp pointed out the 20% cut in BSOG represented 8.6p per litre on the price of diesel. If the proposed August rise of 3p per litre went ahead this would mean an unprecedented 79% rise in fuel tax imposed on operators.
Go-Ahead and Williams in hybrid development Go-Ahead and Williams Hybrid Power announced an agreement to develop a flywheel energy storage system for buses. They planned to develop six buses retrofitted with the device which aims to deliver improvements in fuel economy and reduced CO2 output. AC Williams saved Lincolnshire coach operator AC Williams was rescued after an
investor stepped in to secure its future. The Ancaster-based business had been trading for nearly 60 years and had healthy forward bookings but was threatened by the closure of the associated AC Williams Renault car dealership. Administrators had wanted to close the coach business until employees pointed out the value of its contract work. Investor Glen Pratt stepped in to turn the business around and involve staff in a profit-share. Former Directors David Williams and Allison Parker remain at the company with nonmanagerial functions
£101m boost for regional bus initiatives Transport Minister Norman Baker announced £101m in support grants through the Green Bus Fund and Better Bus Area fund. GBF grants worth £31m were awarded to 26 operators towards the acquisition of 439 low-carbon buses. £70m was divided between local authority regions to assist
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all the buses elsewhere and make the staff redundant.”
Scania and ADL gas bus Scania and ADL announced they were jointly launching a gas bus for the UK market, based on Scania’s KUB chassis with a 43-seat 12.2m Enviro300 body. It features a 9.3-litre, 270bhp five-cylinder EEV lean-burn gas engine capable of running on CNG or biogas.
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First Scotland East slashes operations First Scotland East announced plans to rationalise services in East and Mid Lothian when it began talks with unions over redundancies at the Musselburgh and Dalkeith depots.
Wales delays bus funding cuts Amid urgent ongoing talks between the Welsh Government and representatives of regional transport consortia, Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant agreed to continue funding at the present level for six months provided progress was made was made on devising a new system focused on services rather than the present fuel usage-based system.
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APRIL
London bus drivers balloted London bus drivers belonging to the Unite union voted to support industrial action over the failure of operators to agree an Olympic bonus payment. A 49.6% turnout saw nine out of 10 vote for action. Unite believed the extra work created by the Games should result in staff receiving a bonus of £500. OFT refers McGill’s to Competition Commission McGill’s £10m acquisition of Arriva Scotland West was referred to the Competition Commission by the OFT. McGill’s was thought to be too strong in the area compared to other operators, resulting in a loss of competition. The OFT also said some routes where McGills and Arriva competed now ran under a monopoly. MD Ralph Roberts was disappointed at the decision after
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McGill’s had made guarantees to the OFT in relation to fares, route, frequencies and the introduction of multi-operator tickets. He also pointed out McGill’s saved jobs and routes in Renfrewshire following Arriva’s decision to withdraw.
Uproar over Nexus QC plans Nexus’ plan to introduce Quality Contracts in the north east met further operator resistance at talks involving Nexus and Tyne & Wear councillors on the ITA. Nexus accused operators of ‘carving up’ the region with limited competition. Stagecoach’s Les Warneford said: “I will not see my buses taken away by some foreign train operator,” referring to the Metro rail network having been won by Deutche Bahn. Comparing Nexus and the ITA to Marx, Lenin and Trotsky, he warned: “If the ITA were successful in the European court it would need to take over services straight away as we would immediately cease operations. We would not hand any depots over Nexus. We would move
Morrow sells up Scottish independent John Morrow retired after operating services around Clydebank for 30 years. He sold the business to fellow independent Glasgow Citybus – which John described as ‘secure hands’ in which to leave the company. He was pleased his daughter and grandson were to remain with the company after the transfer to Glasgow Citybus. £1.8m for Scottish GBF2 Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown announced the successful bidders for the second round of Scottish Green Bus Fund for 26 ‘low carbon’ vehicles. They included Henderson’s Travel, National Express Dundee, Lothian Buses, MacEwan’s Coach Services and Deveron Coaches. Lothian confirmed it had ordered 10 Volvo 7900H single decker hybrids – the first of their kind for the UK.
Working time tightened for self-employed Legislation was passed to implement EU Directive 2002/15/ EC requiring self-employed drivers to limit their working time to an average of 48 hours work per
week. They are now required to keep detailed records. CPT Director General Simon Posner said it was not good news for small businesses and would restrict their ability to operate effectively – just adding red tape and additional cost.
Passengers double at East Kent Stagecoach East Kent reported a doubling in passenger numbers in less than 10 years. More than 28.6m passenger trips were made on East Kent in 2011 compared with 14.3m in 2003. Current figures show over 500,000 passenger trips per week from just over 275,000 seven years ago. Stagecoach says this is three times high than growth seen in London over the same period. megabus.com launches into Europe Stagecoach’s low-cost coach network expanded into mainland Europe with a fleet of new Plaxton Panther Volvo B9s. They provide links with Paris, Boulogne, Brussels and Amsterdam. Day and night services run from London’s Victoria Coach Station and Sir Brian Souter also revealed plans to add sleeper services.
Warneford announces retirement Stagecoach UK Bus MD Les Warneford is to retire in May 2013 with Robert Montgomery to take over, who became Deputy MD from May 2012. Warneford started as a conductor and progressed through management positions to become one of industry’s longest-serving MDs. Ozbus ceases Trading Ozbus, the company offering overland trips from London to Sydney and which recently bought the Kings Lynn-based Harrison Holidays business, ceased trading. Director Daryl Jones said neither Ozbus Tours nor Harrison Tours were able to pay their debts and there were insufficient assets to meet the costs of winding them up either voluntarily or compulsorily.
South Hants BRT phase 1 open The first phase of the £25m South Hants Busway, which links Fareham to Gosport via a disused railway line, was officially opened. Services provide a 15-minute frequency Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays. Wrightbus Eclipse-bodied Volvo buses were selected for the project.
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review of 2012
MAY Free travel explosion on Welsh buses Statistics revealed fare paying passengers could soon be outnumbered by people entitled to free travel under the scheme introduced 10 years ago. Bus passenger numbers fell 10% in the last two years despite a growing number of passengers using the free pass. Bus operators were initially compensated by a £30m fund. This has since risen to £69m calculated on average single fare prices.
Keith Dyball Keith Dyball, popular Engineer Director at Stagecoach Midlands, died aged 64. He had 13 years in the army and entered the bus industry as Chief Engineer at Midland Fox in 1988. He joined Stagecoach as Engineering Director at Burnley & Pendle in 1997. Two years later he moved to East Kent and then to Stagecoach East (later Midlands). Edwards expansion Wales’ largest independent operator Edwards Coaches expanded with the takeover of First Cymru’s National Express work and opening a new depot in Swansea as a base for the services linking the city with Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Edwards acquired 16 Caetano Levante-bodied Volvo coaches – in addition to the five B9Rs it already had on order for existing work. First Cymru staff transferred to Edwards Coaches.
Bristol threatens QCs Bristol City Council (BCC) said it was looking into introducing Quality Contracts after First failed to operate a number of services on Good Friday and Easter Monday. BCC said it had concerns over the withdrawal of services and did not feel First was working in partnership. BCC’s Tim Kent said any QC was at least two years away as the council had no idea what it would cost or the extent of the financial implications. He was also concerned as First’s routes extended into territory involving other authorities so it would mean at least one more authority, probably South Gloucestershire, would need to be involved in the QC. First said it felt BCC would be better advised seeking to qualify Bristol as a ‘Better Bus Area’ www.coachandbusweek.com
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directorship for 15 years. VOSA enforcement officers carried out bus compliance checks on 10 of the firm’s vehicles and found six displaying false O-licence discs. The firm was only authorised to use five vehicles. Investigations showed that between 2008 and 2011 Mann’s tendered contracts required weekday use of at least 11 vehicles. The firm also operated private hires – indicating the use of at least 13.
1 1: Liverpool’s Merseytravel City Link services run by Cumfybus gained 13 Optare Solo hybrids. 2: John Horn shut the gates for the last time at Optare’s ex East Lancs plant in Blackburn. 3: Lothian Buses stepped in to cover routes in Midlothian and East Lothian withdrawn by First Scotland East
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First to continue disposals First said it would continue with its programme of UK bus disposals and focus on areas with the greatest potential for growth. Falling profits in two divisions were revealed in First’s March end of year results which prompted calls for Chairman Martin Gilbert to step down. Falling profits in First Student and UK Bus were offset slightly by higher than expected profits at Greyhound and UK Rail.
3 and gain DfT funding to upgrade facilities and infrastructure to generate passenger growth.
National Express buys Petermann National Express completed its £126m acquisition of US school bus operator Petermann Partners. Operating from Ohio, Petermann is the fifth-largest of the student transport providers with services in 10 States. It runs a fleet of 3,300 buses – increasing the size of the US National Express operations by 20%. Bike buses for Lake District Stagecoach Cumbria converted buses to carry bikes in order to attract cyclists and mountain bikers to its new route 800, part of the GoLakes Travel sustainable transport programme. The services operated between May and September. A pair of open-top
Aircoach express link from Cork to Dublin FirstGroup’s Aircoach operation launched a new hourly express service direct from Cork to Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport. Each journey is scheduled to take three hours between the two cities plus 30 minutes for the final leg to the airport. The timetable includes early starts and late evening departures. The return fare is €22.
sightseeing double deckers on the Stagecoach 599 route, between Windermere and Grasmere, were also adapted to carry bikes.
Public consultation begins for Bristol BRT Plans for the £200m Bristol Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system were published to coincide with a twomonth public consultation. The South Bristol Link secured £120m backing from the Government with the remainder being funded by local councils. The scheme involves new roads, dedicated bus only roads, new stops, passenger information system and smartcard ticketing. Mann jailed for fraud Terence Mann, Director of Spondon Mini Travel, Derby, was jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud. He was also disqualified from holding a
Stagecoach pioneers contactless payment Stagecoach launched a contactless payment trial on its Cambridgeshire network – the first ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) standard commercial deployment of mobile contactless ticketing. It enables customers to receive, store and validate tickets via Quick Tapenabled mobile phones. Stagecoach was partnered by Everything Everywhere (the Orange NFC service) which provided all trial customers with Quick Tap handsets and a specially designed app. TfL wins injunction against Addison Lee TfL won a High Court injunction against Addison Lee to prevent its minicabs using bus lanes. Addison Lee believed bus lane legislation, which allows licensed Hackney black cabs to use them, was unfair discrimination. Addison Lee said it would appeal against the decision.
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review of 2012
JUNE £113m awarded to ‘Green’ transport schemes Thirty local transport schemes were awarded £113m through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. Among successful applicants were: Smarter Travel Slough; Walk to School Outreach; Travel Torbay Regeneration Project; Access to Jobs, Training and Services in Stafford; and Sustainable Transport Access to Tourism on the Isle of Wight. All the schemes are aimed at reducing congestion to help stimulate economic growth, reduce carbon emissions and delays.
Manchester to get park and ride Plans for Greater Manchester’s first P&R scheme were submitted to Stockport Council. The £3m scheme was proposed by Sir Brian Souter who first outlined his plans in 2005. It encompasses a free 455-space car park built on wasteland in Stockport, where users can catch Stagecoach route 192 into central Manchester, paying the standard fare. It is calculated this would cut more than 6,000 car journeys a month. The plans included a waiting area, toilets and a refreshment facility at the site. Telematics improves safety London United reported improved safety records thanks to a risk reduction programme developed by parent company RATP and Mix Telematics. Since its implementation the level of personal claims has fallen 21%. Continuous use of the system has seen steady improvement in safety alongside a welcome 10% improvement in fuel economy.
£500 per bus driver because of the extra workload expected during the Games. TfL expressed its disappointment over the decision which jeopardised smooth running of essential services. It also took no account of the 70% of drivers and services unaffected by Games traffic – and yet a blanket payment to the 24,000 bus drivers in London would cost £12m. TfL pointed out operators would receive no more money for carrying extra passengers as fare revenues go directly to TfL. Unite’s Peter Kavanagh accused TfL bosses of hypocrisy saying they were due to receive Olympic bonus of 160 times that being sought by driversdespite being on six-figure salaries. Leon Daniels, MD of Surface Transport, categorically denied the existence of any proposed bonus payment to TfL management
Solo SR EVs in Poundbury trial A pair of electric Optare Solo SRs entered trials on route between Dorchester and Poundbury. The buses can be charged overnight on cheap-rate electricity. The full
Kathy stars on TV Excelsior Coaches MD Kathy Tilbury spent time working with a BBC TV documentary team creating ‘Women at the Top’ which was screened in the autumn. The programme focused on the employment of women who are of child-bearing age and the effect maternity laws and legislation and maternity pay and time off has on small and medium businesses. Dragon’s Den star Hilary Devey also featured in the documentary and interviews Kathy. WYITA proposes SQP framework for bus services West Yorkshire ITA asked its members to support the introduction of a Quality Contract framework for the county’s bus services. Metro recommended councillors approve the scheme, which it said would provide significant passenger benefits
of integrated ticketing, higher service standards, network and pricing stability and improved local accountability. Metro rejected partnership proposals forwarded by the Association of Bus Operators of West Yorkshire as it offered no integrated ticketing system
Classics exempt from MOT Roads Minister Mike Penning said from November 18, 2012, all classic and historic vehicles built before 1960 are to be exempt from MOT testing. General thinking across all sectors seemed to confirm the majority of classic or historic vehicles were owned by enthusiasts who cherished them and maintained them in good condition. ADL buys Custom Coaches Alexander Dennis bought the Australian bus manufacturing concern of Custom Coaches. Based in Sydney with another plant in Adelaide, it employs 400. Annual sales for Custom Coaches have been around £55m and it enjoys a 24% share of the Australian market. The brand was established in 1955 and
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Arriva opens new Telford depot Arriva Midlands officially opened its new Telford depot, replacing the historic Midland Red Wellington garage. The new 2.5 acre facility is home to 63 buses and 168 employees. The £400,000 investment saw the introduction of an intelligent heating system with heat recovery ventilation and a low energy heat exchanger. Unite set for Olympic strike action Unite encouraged strike action over the Olympic Games period after balloting members. It demanded bonus payments of
charge process takes six hours. They can achieve a daily range of around 90 miles without any incremental top-up.
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The busy month of June. 1: Stagecoach submitted plans for a £3m p&ride site in Stockport. 2: Wrightbus unveiled the 11.5m variant of its StreetLite. 3: First’s Eclipse BRT between Gosport & Fareham carried 100,000 passengers in less than a month. 4: Beverley Bell was appointed Senior Traffic Commissioner. 5: Bob Pillbeam, the respectecd former CPT Coaching Consultant died on June 6
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it became an icon for quality and customer support.
Go-Ahead acquires HC Chambers Go-Ahead Group acquired HC Chambers & Son of Bures. Chambers claim to be the oldest UK bus firm and it dates back to 1877. It operates on the Essex/ Suffolk border with 27 vehicles and employs 33 staff. All operations were transferred to Hedingham’s Sudbury depot. Sullivan takes over Borehamwood 550 route The change of operator from Arriva to Sullivan Buses on the 550 Borehamwood to Bushey and Watford route closed a lengthy chapter of history. Arriva had inherited it when it acquired London Country which had sprung from original route operator London Transport.
Buzzlines fined over drivers’ hours Buzzlines was fined £44,000 after pleading guilty to 32 Drivers’ Hours offences, 10 charges of failing to
produce drivers’ hours records and 34 similar offences were taken into consideration. The firm also faced costs of £50,000. Director Nigel Busbridge admitted 17 offences and was fined £9,000 plus £15,000 costs. Thirteen drivers pleaded guilty to 37 hours offences including three of making false records and two driving licence offences. They were fined a total of £1,800 with costs of £1,050. All were charged a further £15 victim surcharge.
Brighton & Hove on the move Brighton & Hove announced plans to relocate from its historic HQ and depot on Conway Street to a site in Crowhurst Road in the industrial estate at Hollinbury. B&H will acquire the site subject to gaining planning approval. B&H is aiming to lease a warehouse in Newhaven to relieve pressure on maintenance facilities at its Whitehawk depot. WYITA approves LeedsBradford BRT scheme West Yorkshire ITA, Metro, Leeds City Council and Bradford
Metropolitan District Council started working with First to instigate the first phase of a rapid transit service. First was to redeploy its FTRs on the new project after refurbishment and installation of WiFi. The councils jointly came up with £74,000 to improve roadside infrastructure.
Licence curtailed Harrison’s Coaches (Morecambe) trading as Battersby Silver Grey had its licence curtailed from 40 to 35 vehicles following a PI. Deputy TC Simon Evans imposed the sanction after hearing 11 drivers had, over a five month period, failed to record their positioning journeys. He was dismayed transport managers and trainers were complicit with the offences. The period of licence reduction was set as ‘indefinite’.
Premiere Buses introduces m-ticketing Nottingham’s Premiere Buses partnered with My Mobile Tickets to introduce mobile phone ticketing for its customers. Passengers can purchase tickets online for almost all Premiere’s services and download them to their mobiles. A ‘mobile wallet’ enables tickets to be obtained on demand via SMS if passengers they have no coinage..
Boris hits out at Unison In spite of an offer from London Mayor Boris Johnson offering £8.3m to cover demands for an ’Olympic Bonus’ for London bus drivers, Unite allowed its members to carry out a 24-hour strike affecting two-thirds of services in the capital. A furious Johnson told Unite it was disgraceful the offer he had brokered had not been put before members as it met the demand for a £500 bonus payment. NCT has full wheelchair access Nottingham City Transport now has comprehensive wheelchair access across its 330-vehicle fleet following the introduction of five new buses to its Yellow Line operation. NCT also began introducing next-stop audio announcements and has 84 buses equipped to date.
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Eurolines seeks development to support coach travel Eurolines President John Gilbert chaired a meeting of senior EU figures who were calling for improved infrastructure for coaches in European cities. Brian
Simpson MEP, Chairman of the Transport & Tourism Committee of European Parliament, said the EP was in favour of intermodality and integrated public transport but regions and cities had a key role to play in developing stations which would allow seamless transfer between coach and other modes. Gilbert said coaches were the most flexible, green and affordable mode of transport available, yet the lack of infrastructure such as interconnected and well-located stations holds back development.
JULY
£266m for Sustainable Transport schemes Norman Baker announced availability of £266m from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund for 12 major projects across England plus £41m from the DfT to be share across 15 smaller schemes. 10 years of wheelchair accessible express service Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, along with Paralympic hopeful Josie Pearson joined National Express at Victoria Coach Station to mark the 10th anniversary of wheelchair accessible express coach services.
WYITA rejects partnership proposals West Yorkshire operators expressed both surprise and dismay the rejection of their partnership plans by the region’s ITA – which said it would continue to introduce Quality Contracts. Keith McNally, Chairman of the Association of Bus Operators in West Yorkshire, pointed to numerous examples around the UK where partnership had flourished. He said: “QCs will take years to introduce and cost millions – £3m for administrative and consultants fees alone – and it will cost millions more to operate it. Neither Metro nor the ITA have said what the precise cost will be to local rate payer or demonstrated if it affordable.” Reading to support RailAir services Reading Transport and First Beeline agreed Reading to provide the engineering services for the 10 coaches First Beeline runs on its RailAir service between Reading and Heathrow Airport. They currently operate out of First’s Slough depot.
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THE BIG PICTURE
Currently on a demonstration tour of Germany, the Solaris Urbino electric has completed a trial at Hamburg Airport. The battery bus showed electric mobility can be an option for aviation ground handling such as airside transfers. Polish manufacturer Solaris said it will use the experience gained in the trial with Hamburg Airport’s subsidiary Special Transport and Ramp Services (STARS) to tailor its electric buses even more closely to the requirements of airports. Hamburg Airport is no stranger to ’green’ options for its ground transport – it already operates vehicles powered by compressed and liquid gas for apron services. The fleet comprises half a dozen Solaris Urbino 12 CNG, which are used on airside and on car park shuttles. By testing the Solaris Urbino electric, STARS evaluated whether battery buses meet the airport’s specific operational requirements. Solaris unveiled its Urbino electric in 2011. The drive technology is supplied by German specialist Vossloh Kiepe. The Urbino electric is also available as a 12m standard bus, while an artic version is under development.
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review of 2012
AUGUST Sir Brian Souter announces he is to step down The news that Sir Brian Souter is to step down as Stagecoach Group CEO, to take the role of Chairman and be replaced by FD Martin Griffiths in May 2013, broke towards to the end of August. The news came as a surprise following Sir Brian’s comments in his face to face interview with CBW, where upon being asked about succession planning, he replied, “Do I look worn out?” This is the second time Sir Brian has stepped down from his role as CEO, the first being in 1998. He said he would devote whatever time is necessary to effectively discharge his responsibilities as Chairman “when the time comes”.
1 1: Over 2.5m passenger journeys were recorded on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway in its first year on Stagecoach and Whippet services. 2: Sir Brian Souter said he would step down as CEO in May 2013 but remain as Chairman. 3: The UK’s first hybrid minibus went to Bluebird Tours
McGill’s Arriva takeover gets green light from CC The Competition Commission (CC) found that due to the “credible threat” of First Glasgow, McGill’s takeover of Arriva Scotland West could go ahead. McGill’s had announced the plans in December 2011, with the provisional decision made by the CC following a four month review. The CC found there would not be substantial loss of potential competition.
First to axe Glasgow Greyhound in September First announced its Anglo-Scottish overnight Greyhound coach service was being withdrawn. The service became a Greyhound route in early 2011 after being acquired two years previously from Silver Choice, but First Glasgow MD Ronnie Park blamed rising operating costs making the service unsustainable. The last service ran on September 29. Reading Buses invests £3.5m in 19 CNG ADLs Reading ordered 19 ADL Enviro300-bodied Scania KUBs, the first of their kind in the UK. Under Reading Buses’ contract with the Gas Bus Alliance, it will inject a kilogramme of bio-methane into the national grid for every kilogramme used by the buses, making their operation effectively carbon neutral.
Sheffield Bus Agreement approved The South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority decided against the QC route and instead opted for a partnership model, www.coachandbusweek.com
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3 admitting it was the way forward. The Sheffield Bus partnership brought together South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach Sheffield TM Travel, Sheffield Community Transport and Sheffield Council, with the launch of the new network set for October 28.
First Manchester reduces fine following appeal First Manchester succeeded in reducing a £285,000 fine imposed by Traffic Commissioner Beverly Bell. The TC originally cited a compliance figure of 82.5% to work
out the penalty, but the tribunal believed a TfGM monitoring exercise should have been considered, with a compliance rate of 86.3% given. Based on this new figure, the fine was adjusted down to £213,750.
Funding announced for Aberdeen hydrogen buses A total of £3.3m funding for a 10-strong Van Hool hydrogen bus fleet to be used on First and Stagecoach routes in Aberdeen was announced by Scottish First Minister Lex Salmond. The Scottish Government and Scottish
Enterprise committed £1.65m each to support the initiative, which also received funding from the European Commission and the UK Technology Strategy Board. It is anticipated the vehicles could be in operation in early 2014.
Arriva Midlands acquires Midland Arriva Midlands announced it had reached an agreement to acquire the West Midlands operations and assets of Midland, formerly Choice Travel of Wednesfield. The application is subject to OFT approval, which CBW understands is currently expected on January 14. 110 employees will transfer over and Midland’s 61 buses are expected to be incorporated in the Arriva fleet.
Nexus QC plans emerge Tyne and Wear PTE Nexus announced its plans to introduce a quality contract, with broad frequencies and zonal fares at a cost of £100m per annum for 10 years. The North East Bus Operators Association warned the public would have to cover any losses, and claimed there was nothing in the proposals which a voluntary partnership could not meet.
Buzzline’s Van Hool T911 coaches return from torch tour August saw the latter half of the London 2012 Olympic Games and also the return of two Van Hool T911 coaches from Buzzlines of Hythe which travelled with the Olympic Torch Tour. The coaches travelled approximately 8,000 miles around the UK.
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SEPTEMBER Wright Group restructures Wright Group announced a divisional restructure geared to focus on its rapidly expanding international development and accelerated product innovation. Newly-formed Wrightbus International is led by MD Damon McGarry and is to develop and support overseas markets. It has an established base in Singapore employing local staff and further expansion is planned. Dermot Sterne, newly appointed MD of Wrightbus, takes control of UK production and development, the Customcare aftersales division and will manage customer relations within Europe. Scottish GBF3 finds a further £3m Scottish government Green Bus Funding found a further £3m for its third round application which is sufficient to assist the purchase of around 40 new hybrid buses. The two previous rounds provided funding towards 74 hybrids.
Lightweight Versa challenges heavyweights Optare’s new lightweight 11.7m Versa matches the seating capacity of 12m buses while weighing below eight tonnes – with considerable potential for double-figure fuel consumption. Optare based the development on recent work to create an extended platform school bus version of Versa which yielded a 57-seater at 11.7m long with three-plus-two seating installed.
Coach access to Liverpool One Merseytravel agreed to provide two designated coach drop off and pickup bays at its Liverpool One bus station. Keen to encourage visitors, Merseytravel said visiting operators needed to book their arrivals and departures by e-mail and secure a 15-minute slot to coincide. Irish fuel duty crippling coach tours Ireland’s Coach Tourism and Transport Council claimed high taxes on diesel were killing the Irish coach tourism industry. CEO Gerry Mullins said half the money went to the government and warned high taxation was a false saving as it would end up covering the cost of jobs lost from tourism. At 1 euro 54 per litre, 50% went in taxes including fuel duty, VAT, Carbon www.coachandbusweek.com
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tax and National Oil Reserves Levy. A previous rebate scheme had aided operators by allowing them reclaim 34.5 cents per litre but this had been rescinded. He was annoyed the government had paid CIE companies 36m euro to ‘head off the perfect storm’ and pointed out private operators faced a more severe storm as they didn’t receive subsidies or free buses.
London, Nottingham and Brighton top the sustainability table CBT’s report ‘Car Dependency Scorecard 2012’ which determines the least car-dependent cities in England, found London, Nottingham and Brighton & Hove as the top three performers. Those faring worst were Wigan, Peterborough and Colchester.
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The Green Bus begins school operation in Guildford Birmingham-based The Green Bus began operating a school service network in Guildford after Surrey County Council withdrew funding for all coach-based contracts. The eight services employ 10 refurbished Dennis Tridents. Transport Minister Norman Baker was on hand to launch the services.
West of England multioperator ticket Passengers in Bath, Bristol and North Somerset regions can obtain an Avon Rider Card which offers unlimited daily travel on all major bus services in the former Avon area – regardless of the operator. The introductory card was offered at £7.20 per day but set to rise to £7.50 later. The scheme was developed in partnership between all local operators.
Nottingham gets largest UK EV fleet Nottingham City Council has the largest fleet of electric buses in the UK following investment of £1.6m in eight Optare Solo EVs. The council gained support funding for the vehicles through the GBF. Four immediately replaced diesel buses on the free centrelink service which is operated by trentbarton. Four more were set to be phased in later. CT Plus orders 33 Solos for Jersey LibertyBus Jersey’s LibertyBus operation, to be run by CT Plus, will see the introduction of 33 Slimline Optare Solo SRs from January 2013. Part
2 of the social enterprise HCT Group, CT Plus won a contract last year to run the services on neighbouring Guernsey.
Go-Ahead sees record passenger numbers Go-Ahead Group’s full results to June 31 showed it carried a record number of bus and rail passengers and returned increased revenue of £2.42bn compared to £2.3bn last year. Pre-tax profits were down marginally at £94.2m from £97.6m but were affected by a £13m one-off rail contract management payment.
TSC reports on bus competition The TSC report on competition in the local bus market followed a similar exercise by the Competition Commission which determined the need for more competition. The report acknowledged this requirement but was wary too much direct competition provided only short lived benefits to passengers and proved unsustainable. The report was
also broadly in favour of increased regulation and franchising through widespread adoption of QCs but conversely was in favour of partnerships wherever they could be implemented and especially in areas with a large single operator dominating. Sensibly, the report called on government to make it easier for operators to pursue joint ticketing and co-ordinated timetables without overhanging constraint from competition authorities which only acted against passenger interests.
TfL to buy 600 NBfLs TfL is to buy 600 hybrid NBfL, affectionately known as ‘Borismasters’ which it will lease to operators. Leon Daniels, MD of Surface Transport, said TfL could secure a much better unit price by purchasing a large quantity than operators would obtain by ordering small batches. He confirmed this was a ‘one off’ and TfL would not do it for the other 8,000 buses on contracted services.
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surveyed said they were very satisfied with the service although value for money was a concern. Top performers were konectbus, Oxford Bus Company and Oxford Park & Ride with 97%, 92% and 92% overall. The remaining eight companies all scored between 82% and 91%. From virtually all passengers there were concerns over value for money.
OCTOBER
1: Arriva’s 11 new Wrightbusbodied Volvo B7RLEs for the LutonDunstable Busway. 2: Weavaway directors acquired Tappins Coaches. 3: Dermot Sterne (pictured) is part of Wright Group’s divisional restructure. 4: Johnsons of Henley-in-Arden received the first new right-hand drive VDL Futura coach. 5: A London to Paris cycling marathon featuring Peter Hendy raised over £100k for Transaid
Three die in coach accident Three people were killed and several seriously injured in a coach crash on the A3. The driver, 63 year old Colin Daulby, was one of those killed. The coach was returning to the Merseyside area from Bestival on the Isle of Wight. It left the road near the Hindhead tunnel and struck a tree. The coach was operated by Merseypride Travel.
Bowen Travel Group in administration Serious cash flow problems resulted in Bowen Travel Group entering administration. The firm employed 448 staff across the UK, of which 393 were made redundant immediately, with 55 remaining on as a skeleton crew to assist administrators Deloitte. The group consisted of Bowen Travel Ltd, LF Bowen Ltd (trading under Bowens, Applebys and Yorks), Jeffs Coaches, York (Bros) Northampton, Bowen Travel Transport and Woottens Luxury Travel.
Roger French announces retirement Roger French, MD of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, announced his retirement after overseeing operations for 30 years. Go-Ahead CEO David Brown said he would retire safe in the knowledge
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National Express hits 40 National Express turned 40 years old and its landmark birthday was celebrated with the release of promotional footage and photos from the 70s showing classic days out at the seaside and onboard scenes showing hostesses serving passengers with snacks.
Go-Ahead success in passenger satisfaction tables Passenger Focus surveys across 11 Go-Ahead companies outside London returned strong evidence of high levels of satisfaction. Some 5,680 of 6,380 (89%) passengers
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he will leave behind a legacy of excellence. He leaves the company in March 2013.
Stagecoach-commissioned report finds £310m shortfall in Nexus figures Stagecoach commissioned an independent report from economic consultancy Oxera, which looked into Nexus’ QC figures and claimed the PTE had overstated the benefits of its bus contract plans by at least £310m. Oxera found some of Nexus’ claims were contradicted by DfT research and even Nexus’ own research. McGill’s takeover McColl’s commercial services McGill’s announced it had agreed a deal to acquire Dumbartonbased Loch Lomond Bus Services Ltd (trading as McColl’s) for an investment of around £3m. McGill’s purchased the limited entity, buses and Dumbarton depot of McColl’s, and its staff, 35 in total, were offered continued employment. McGill’s began operating McColl’s services on December 10. Hyperlink launched between Leeds & Bradford First’s ‘Hyperlink’ service between Leeds and Bradford started operating on October 28, using a refurbished £6m fleet of articulated Wrightbus Streetcars
on the existing 72 route. First spent £400k refurbishing the vehicles, which feature Wi-Fi, leather seating and new ticketing systems. The company boosted frequency to every seven minutes during Monday to Saturday daytime.
RNIB Stop for Me, Speak to Me Campaign launches RNIB launched its campaign to ask bus drivers to do more to help blind and partially sighted people. The campaign asked bus drivers to pull in to any stop with a waiting passenger in case they could not see a bus to flag it down and to make sure they make the effort to communicate effectively with the passengers when they board.
RH Transport goes into administration Oxfordshire coach and bus operator RH Transport went into administration, with its commercial routes and 30 school services ceasing to operate on October 5. Oxford Bus Company took over some of its services, with RH Transport season tickets remaining valid.
Countryliner Sussex goes into administration A petition to wind up Countryliner Sussex was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on October 8. East Sussex County Council was informed of the situation at 1700hrs on the day, giving little time to organise replacement school and bus services. Quality Line, the bus operating arm of Epsom Coaches, and Abellio Surrey stepped in to help with scheduled bus services.
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South Coast Greyhound withdrawn Following the withdrawal of Glasgow-London Greyhound service, First announced it was ending the service from London to the South Coast. The service saw its frequency reduced in September and was withdrawn on November 17, leaving the Swansea-Cardiff route as the only remaining UK Greyhound service.
New Mercedes-Benz Citaro K unveiled The first short Mercedes-Benz Citaro available in the UK, the Citaro K, was unveiled at Evobus’ Coventry dealership. The Euro 6 bus is 10.5m in length, two metres shorter than a standard Citaro.
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NOVEMBER Euro Bus Expo 2012 Figures released by Euro Bus Expo organisers claimed £250m of orders were announced there, the bulk of which were announced by ADL. The manufacturer stated it won orders worth £220m for almost 1,000 vehicles to be delivered over the next 18 months. Scania enjoyed a successful show, with 16 orders taken from nine operators, with Lucketts ordering five of them. Maynes of Buckie ordered seven vehicles, including the first BMC coach the firm has bought. MAN officially handed over Arriva’s first MAN EcoCity gas bus, the first of an order of 21 vehicles. Arriva said the gas buses are part of a much larger £26.7m investment in environmentally friendly vehicles, including Europe’s largest order of 153 diesel-electric hybrids. The 2012 UK Bus Awards At the 17th UK Bus Awards, Nottingham City Transport won the award for UK Bus Operator of the Year, after it took the City Operator of the Year award. Stagecoach’s megabus sleeper coach won the innovation award, while First’s ‘Small Changes, Big Difference’ initiative won the environmental award. The new ‘Making Buses a Better Choice: Peter Huntley Memorial Award’ was won by trent barton, with its rapid 1. Peter Hendy won the award for services to the industry.
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First slashes Manchester fares by 25% First cut its Greater Manchester fares within the M60 ring road, the Oldham Metropolitan Borough area and on journeys between Oldham and Manchester City Centre on November 18. Transport for Greater Manchester welcomed the 25% drop, which it called “a significant step in responding for public demand for affordable fares.” Alan Eatwell to retire Metrobus MD Alan Eatwell announced he is to retire next year after 44 years in the bus industry. He joined the Carlyle Works of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company (Midland Red) as a ‘fitter’s boy’ in 1969. He will retire at the end of June 2013.
5 profits, while Stagecoach and National Express gave largely positive results. FirstGroup’s statement was less positive after it was hit hard by the West Coast main line fiasco, resulting in the company freezing its dividend.
Buyers found for Jeffs Coaches and Applebys Two of the firms which had been part of Bowen Travel Group found buyers in November. Applebys went to Lincolnshire businessman Rob McQuillan, who also owns Appleby’s Ices, which until 2000 was part of the same company as the coach operator. The name and
telephone number of the company were purchased by rival operator Radley Coach Travel. Jeffs Coaches was sold on November 2 to an unnamed buyer.
Stagecoach acquisitions in Manchester and Cheshire Stagecoach made an offer to buy Bluebird of Manchester and First’s Birkenhead & Chester. The £2m Bluebird deal remains subject to OFT approval. Subject to no CC referral, the deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. The £4.5m acquisition of First’s operations is also expected to go through this month.
Wright Group acquires Nu Track Antrim-based coachbuilder and accessible minibus specialist Nu Track was acquired by the Wright Group in a deal conducted by Chairman Jeff Wright on November 20. Nu Track at the time had 65 employees, with its products in service with education boards and health trusts in Northern Ireland, along with a number of local authorities in Scotland and England. Scania fuelcard launched Scania introduced its own fuel card on November 5, available to all UK operators. The card enables companies of any size to take advantage of bulk fuel prices. The card is free for the first 12 months. Optare builds 10,000th bus Optare completed its 10,000th vehicle since the company was formed in 1985 – a wide Slimline version of the Solo SR. It is part of
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a fleet of 33 vehicles operated on Jersey by CT Plus, with the white Libertybus livery designed and voted for by islanders.
DECEMBER
Arriva senior management changes Arriva announced a number of senior management changes after David Evans MD for Arriva Mainland Europe decision to retire on December 14. Changes included the promotion of Executive Director Mike Cooper to Deputy Chief Executive, the appointment of Bob Holland as Managing Director UK who also took on the role of leading the Arriva UK Bus division from January 1 and Steve Murphy becoming Chief Operations Officer for the Arriva UK Trains division.
New coach parking in the West End Westminster City Council unveiled 24 new coach bays at the gateway to the West End- within metres of Drury Lane and the Strand. The effort which was backed by theatres and operators, notably Redwing, was seen as a way to help tackle the amount of coaches which park up on narrow streets in the city, a problem highlighted by local residents. As many as 40% of theatre goers arrive by coach.
The Autumn Statement George Osborne, made his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons on December 5, updating forecasts for Government finances and outlining fiscal policies for the coming year. Notably, the Government cancelled the 3.02 pence per litre fuel duty increase that was planned for January 1 2013, instead deferring it to September 1, 2013. Reduction to corporation tax and an increase in the Annual Investment Allowance were also welcomed by the industry.
Free buses for the unemployed It was announced that more than 800,000 jobseekers were set to benefit from free bus travel in England, Scotland and Wales as part of a new industry initiative, Bus for Jobs. The scheme organised by the Greener Journeys sustainable travel campaign enjoyed support from the big five operators and allowed jobseekers, especially the young, to use their routes free of charge during January 2013.
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DfT releases accessible action plan The DfT published an accessibility action plan entitled “Transport for Everyone: an action plan to improve accessibility for all.” The plan focused on three areas – improving physical accessibility, providing better information for the disabled traveller and improving attitudes and behaviour towards disabled passengers, highlighting the importance of maintaining improvements brought in during the London 2012 Olympic Games. The plan identified tasks which the DfT aims to carry out and the delivery deadlines for each.
CBT confirms local authority cuts Freedom of information requests from the CBT revealed funding for local authority-supported bus services had been reduced by £18.3m this financial year, with
more than 40% of local authorities cutting spending in this area. The group said more than 100 supported services in south-west England were lost this year, while the east of England saw cuts of £4m.
STC advises operators on financial limits It was announced HGV and PSV applications determined from January 1, 2013, would be assessed against the new financial standing levels. This affects holders of standard national and standard international licences but Traffic Commissioners retained their discretion to set the financial standing levels for restricted licence holders. The decision followed the DfT’s decision that the minimum financial standing requirement for standard national and international licence holders and applicants fell from January 1, 2013.
Contactless payment launched in London Contactless payment was introduced across the entirety of London’s bus network after TfL worked with the likes of American Express, MasterCard, Visa Europe. The system allows the use of contactless debit, credit or charge cards to touch in on the yellow Oyster card readers and pay the single Oyster fare.
Irizar market leader Irizar claimed to be one of the market leaders in the UK coach sector, after achieving a market share of over 20% through sales of its conventional coaches on Scania chassis and its range of integrals powered by Paccar-DAF. According to Irizar the number of coaches registered until September 2012 in the UK revealed a 200% increase in Irizar registrations compared with the same period last year.
6 1: A further £20m was allocated to the GBF, aiding the purchase of 300 buses. 2: Stagecoach acquired First Manchester’s Wigan business. 3: NatEx appointed Sir John Armitt as Chairman. 4: Optare CEO Jim Sumner stepped down at the end of December. 5: Stagecoach agrred to buy Bluebird of Manchester for £2m, subject to OFT approval. 6: Shearings ordered 30 new Setra coaches in a £7m deal. 7: TfL launched a campaign outlining the rules regarding the use of wheelchair space
7 www.coachandbusweek.com
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January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 37
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TO passenger comfort & entertainment
M
Stagecoach’s Gold routes have luxury interiors, which include e-leather seating, free WiFi and extra legroom
Providing a passenger comfort zone Luxury interiors are becoming the norm and it’s important to make sure the place your passengers spend the most time is somewhere they’re happy to be. This week’s Industry Guide features suppliers who are dedicated to making bus and coach interiors pleasant and comfortable IndustryGuide.indd 37
any people view travelling long distances, whether it’s by bus, train or aeroplane, as a chore. It can be loud, uncomfortable, stressful or boring. Creating an environment which is comfortable to be in and providing something to keep passengers occupied can transform a long journey from something to be endured into something to be enjoyed, or simply allow them to catch up on some sleep. Proper climate control is becoming standard and expected in the industry, so it’s important to make sure it is well maintained. Fortunately there are well established and well stocked specialists offering round-the-clock support. As is widely suggested, the biggest competition faced by bus and coach operators is not other operators, but other forms of
transport. One of the best ways to convince potential passengers to leave the car at home and board a bus or coach is to provide a service which passengers are unable to use while at the wheel. On board WiFi is sure to be a major attraction to the smartphone generation, allowing them to stay connected without eating into the limited monthly internet usage they are given on their mobile phone contracts. Keith Watson, ADL’s Director of Customer Development, revealed in a recent interview (due to be published in CBW next week) that First’s route 66 in Glasgow has seen a noticeable increase in young passengers following the introduction of vehicles featuring WiFi. Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, also stated in his Face-to-Face interview swith CBW that WiFi has proven to be “a real competitive tool in gaining modal shift.”
www.coachandbusweek.com
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INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TO PASSENGER COMFORT & ENTERTAINMENT AIRCONCO LTD Airconco Ltd styles itself as the original ‘one stop shop’ for coach and bus heating, ventilation and air conditioning, with the aim of removing the hassle of dealing with multiple suppliers for different manufacturer parts and service needs. The company is an official dealer for Eberspacher Sutrak (formerly Carrier Sutrak), Heavac, Pedro Sanz and Webasto and offers aftersales service and parts support from its Manchester HQ throughout the north of the UK. It also has direct links to Hispacold and as a Thermo King service affiliate it is able to provide full serivce and parts support for these brands too. Airconco’s service department is now taking bookings for air con servicing as well as dealing with all heating breakdowns. Between now and March is the time for operators to get systems serviced ready for next summer. The service department has added two brand new Iveco Daily vans to its fleet in the last 12 months with another one due in March. With an extensive stock kept on service vans Airconco has a proud record of completing most jobs it is called out to in one visit. This makes its service department recognised as one of the most skilled in Europe and is able to offer the following services: ■ Routine preventative maintenance ■ Warranty support for Sutrak, Heavac & Webasto ■ 24/7 product support and repair ■ Unrivalled technical expertise ■ All makes of HVAC systems supported Computer diagnostic capabilities include: ■ Mercedes Evobus Star System ■ Plaxton Actia Coach 2000 ■ Thermo King Clima Aire & CAN Diag ■ Webasto Thermo Test Airconco’s dedicated parts warehouse has all the heating parts a bus or coach will require during the winter. Readily available spare parts include boost pumps, heating valves and heater matrixes. The company carries large quantities of parts stock for Eberspacher Sutrak, Heavac, Webasto, Bock, Lining, Pedro Sanz, Thermo King, Spal and UWE. So if it’s a compressor and clutch, a filter drier and receiver tank or a climate control ECU, Airconco can supply all with next day delivery or the client www.coachandbusweek.com
IndustryGuide2.indd 38
Airconco is an official dealer for Eberspacher. The Eberspacher Hydronic 2 is compact and can run on 100% biofuel
Airconco carries large quantities of parts stock for many different heating and air conditioning systems, such as those manufactured by Webasto can come to its trade counter and have the part the same day. Airconco is also introducing a price matching scheme and guarantees to match any price or even better it. The offer is on all parts in stock as long as proof of price elsewhere is provided and can be verified. All items in the catalogue are available to buy online at www.airconcoltd.com. Links are provided on the parts section for the ecommerce site. The company is adding its existing customers to this site so clients can log in and buy on their account. Non account customers can register and receive a 10% discount on all parts shown and pay by credit or debit card.
In March 2012 Airconco successfully launched the third edition of its parts catalogue. Work is already under way on the fourth edition which is hoped to be launched in March 2013. With new products being added to its stock listing all the time, it promises to be are biggest and best catalogue so far. The new edition will be posted out to all customers on our database as soon as it is printed. If you require a copy of Aircono’s 2012 or wish to order the 2013 catalogue it can be requested via parts@airconcoltd.com . Airconco was formed in 1996 by Eric Stott and youngest son Justin who has now been MD
for over two years since Eric’s retirement in 2010, and still keeps its familty roots with one of Eric’s other sons Jaimie heading up the service department of the company. Over 15 years on, it is now one of the leading specialists of climate control systems in the PSV industry. Airconco now hold around £250,000 of common stock between stores and service vehicles and are able to supply most other items next day. It now works for some of the largest coach and travel companies in the UK and prides itself on the personal service it provides, giving the customer complete confidence they can offer a climate controlled vehicle at all times to their customers. T: 0845 402 401 4 E: mail@airconcoltd.com W: www.airconcoltd.com
Airconco’s service department has added two new Iveco Daily vans to its fleet over the last year. Another is due for delivery in March 2013
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INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TO passenger comfort & entertainment
The Beam WiFi unit’s web server allows operators to have branded landing pages which appear when passengers first access their WiFi service. The unit includes an on-board web server with a generous amount of storage
Mobile Onboard While free passenger WiFi may seem like an unnecessarily luxury in terms of running a bus service, it can actually be a great tool for increasing passenger numbers and satisfaction by making their journeys more enjoyable, given that the mobile generation is literally glued to their phones and tablets nowadays. In the UK, unlimited data plans are still not commonplace, so if a passenger can use someone else’s internet connection at no cost to themselves, then that’s appealing. For tablet users, this is even more appealing, since most tablet devices and iPads are still WiFi only with no 3G connection. For coach operators, especially those which operate tours for foreign visitors, offering on-board WiFi is now a must, since tourists still want to be connected when away from home, but the cost to them for roaming abroad on the mobile internet can be very expensive. Offering them free connectivity is a much welcome value-add service. In comparison with similar systems, Mobile Onboard’s Beam WiFi units are more than just Internet gateways; they also include an on-board web server with a generous amount of storage, which connects users to an operator-branded landing page before they start surfing the wider
web. This landing page is always available whether or not there is a mobile signal available to the bus. This gives the operator an ideal opportunity to engage with the passenger, either via information pages, entertainment features or targeted advertising. As the user is connected to the local landing page using a fast WiFi connection, it’s a perfect platform to offer content such as bespoke video destination guides, audio tours and podcasts, which can even be sponsored to generate additional revenue. In addition, by connecting buses to the mobile data network, this opens up other opportunities
for making buses smarter, such as receiving real-time travel information and allowing ticket machines to send and receive data wherever they are. Mobile Onboard operates its own data network in the UK as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), running on the back of the UK’s best 3G network. This means it can offer compelling and all-inclusive data packages with its own SIM cards installed within the units – and in fact, every unit comes with an unlimited 3G data package in the UK as part of the low monthly management fee. They also have partnerships in Europe offering data packages in key European countries,
Mobile Onboard’s Katie Luckwell, Marketing Assistant, and Matthew Poole, Director of Technology, at the Euro Bus Expo 2012
as well as roaming data options. Mobile Onboard’s standard units are self-contained, compact and robust and can be installed into the vehicle within 10 minutes, and without the need for external antennas in most cases. Their larger units can support multiple SIM cards and contain multiple networks which can be used to send and receive other data securely and separately from the passenger’s network. All of their systems are pre-configured before shipping and work as soon as they are installed and switched on. When configuration changes are required, this can be done remotely by their network operations team. Smarta 100 Award winner Mobile Onboard proudly designs and builds its products right in the UK, and has recently supplied its WiFi system into several operators in Hampshire following a successful bid by Transport for South Hampshire to the DfT’s Better Bus Area Fund One of the operators using Mobile Onboard’s technology, and speaking on behalf of the South Hampshire Bus Operators Association (SHBOA), the Managing Director of Eastleigh-based Black Velvet Travel, Phil Stockley, said: “This region benefits from a strong culture of partnership between bus operators and local authorities. Free WiFi on-board is just the first of many examples of how the open-minded exchange of ideas, inspiration and innovation is bringing real benefits for bus passengers in the area.” Mobile Onboard has continued to develop its services and believes it now has one the most innovative and flexible passenger WiFi systems available, which focuses on the needs of the passenger, and provides absolute simplicity for the operator by managing every aspect of the service. In summary, Mobile Onboard provides simple and cost-effective products which are designed to make passenger journeys more enjoyable. My Mobile Tickets is a leading mobile and online ticketing product requiring no capital investment and its Beam WiFi boxes can be fitted in just 10 minutes giving passengers free unlimited internet access. T: 44 (0)8432 899 897 E: contact.us@ mobileonboard.com W: mobileonboard.com
www.coachandbusweek.com
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U P B E W F S U J T F P O U I F T F Q B H F T G P S B T M J U U M F B T c K V T U D B M M 1993 Volvo B10M VanHool
1997 Scania K113 VanHool Alizee
2002 Iveco Daily 50c13
UNVI RIADA GT -2008 T8 bodywork, 12 months MOT, toilet, DVD/ monitor, 49 seats with belts. £10,250 Maypole Coaches – Tel: 0151 547 2713 or 07802 235778
13 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, white, diesel, 65,000 miles.
£16,495
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
2004 (54) Neoplan Starliner Tri-Axle Corporate/Team Coach
1996 Toyota Optimo
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.
Call Patrick 01787 477701/ 07730 671064 email: info@coachcompany.co.uk
18 high backed seats with belts, MOT 23rd May 2013 re-panelled and re-painted August 2012, looks good and drives well. £5,000 For further information please contact: Nigel Busbridge on 01303 261870 or email nigel@buzzlines.co.uk
Scania K360 Irizar Century
Back off contract hire. Euro 5 EGR (no AdBlue), 2-pedal Opticruise automated gearbox, 49 seats, climate control.
£75,000 + VAT o.n.o.
Mercedes-Benz 0816 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 29 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts, courier seat, dark tint double glazed windows, air con, radio/CD & PA system, DVD player and monitor, full draw curtains, large boot space and side lockers. Full service history. £56,900 + VAT Call Dougie at HAGGIS Adventures on 0131 554 9192
2002 Futura
D L SO Eminox exhaust fitted to euro 4, comfort shift gearbox, converted this year to a 70-seater using Cogent seating, very clean and tidy.
£33,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365
2000 Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 10.1m
£55,000 + VAT L.J. Edwards: 01323 440622 option 2 or John 07974 369570
28 seats + 29 standees, Cummins/Allison, DDA compliant, very clean ex-lease vehicle, supplied with new MOT. £8,000 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
2004 Setra S415 HD
Iveco Daily 50c13 Iris Bus
VW Crafter CR50 UVG Treka
3.0 manual, high roof, PAS, LWB, power front door, 16 rear high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Eberspacher heater, Ratcliffe tail lift, COIF, 63,371 miles.
2007, auto gearbox, climate control, nsf electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, COIF’d 81,280 kms.
Full exec spec, Eminox euro 4 exhaust, 49 seats, green cloth, manual, 792K kms, new MOT on sale.
£175,000
ASTronic, retarder, aircon, 2 x monitors, radio/cassette, crew seat, fridge. Vehicle currently undergoing MOT preparation and test.
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
£79,500
P.O.A.
P.O.A.
Evobus - 02476 626046
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
20098 Scania K340 Irizar Century
2002 DAF SB120 SLF Wrights Cadet 10.8m
Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI UVG Treka
2008 VW Crafter CR50
ZF automatic, 49 seats, climate control, TV/DVD, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue required).
£145,000
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
39 seats + 23 standees, fully DDA compliant, Hanover LED, Cummins/Allison, very clean ex-lease vehicle. £21,950 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
Auto gearbox, LWB, PAS, climate control, nsf electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, COIF’d, 82,180 kms.
LWB, semi high roof, BC conversion, PAS, SLD, side step, 12 rear high back seats, front storage area or double passenger, aircon, Unwin tracked floor, space for wheelchair, AMF internal tail lift, only 25,000 miles.
P.O.A.
P.O.A.
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com
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U P B E W F S U J T F P O U I F T F Q B H F T G P S B T M J U U M F B T c K V T U D B M M 54 plate Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 2
31 seater with one passenger door, 15 standees, automatic gearbox, manual destination and front ramp. In good condition, a good work bus.
2004 Iveco Daily 45c13
2006 Setra 416 GTHD
1998 Volvo B10M Jonckheere Mistral
Ventura Sales 01342 835206
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
49 reclining seats with lap belts, toilet/fridge/hot water boiler, CD/DVD player, Euro 4 certified, owned by us from new, good condition. £90,000 + VAT For further information please contact: Nigel Busbridge on 01303 261870 or email nigel@buzzlines.co.uk
2002 DAF SB220 SLF Ikarus Polaris 12m
2009 Scania K340 Irizar PB 12.2m
58 reg Iveco Daily 50c13 Iris Bus
59 reg Vauxhall Movano LM39 2.5TD
44 seats + 25 standees, DDA compliant, Hanover LED, DAF/ZF, very clean ex-lease vehicle. £15,000 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
49 seats, climate control, WC, TV/DVD, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue).
£159,000
58 reg, 3.0, manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, power front entry door, 16 rear high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Eberspacher, destination board, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, COIF, 63,371 miles.
Manual 6 speed, high roof, PAS, LWB, new conversion, side loading door, new AVS side step, 14 high back seats, new AMF M2 fully tracked floor, new Ricon tail lift, tacho, only 35,749 kms (22,214 miles).
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
P.O.A.
P.O.A.
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
H.W. Pickrell 01268 521033
1988 Volvo B10M VanHool Alizee
2003 Futura
2000 SCANIA T9
2008 DDA Iveco Beulas Cygnus
Full exec spec, Eminox euro 4 exhaust, 49 seats, green cloth, manual, 695K kms, new MOT on sale.
53 seats, excellent condition, PSV 26/5/13, Taxed 30/4/13, service records. Lovely bus all round and just had an interior re-trim.
53 seats, centre wheelchair lift (PLS), Hanover destination equipment, Cursor 10 450bhp engine, ZF AS-Tronic gearbox, Euro 4.
£37,000
Manual gearbox, converted this year to 70 seater, MOT’d till March 2013, CCTV fitted.
11 seat front entry wheelchair accessible minibus, white, diesel, 80,000 miles.
£10,000 - no VAT
£17,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365
£65,000 + VAT L.J. Edwards: 01323 440622 option 2 or John 07974 369570
2008 Scania K340 Irizar PB 12.2m
2003 Dennis Trident 2 SLF Alex 400 10.5m
ZF automatic, 49 seats, climate control, WC, TV/DVD, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue), white.
£145,000
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
67 seats + 18 standees, Cummins euro IV/ZF, conversion to single door available – please call for details. Very clean ex-lease vehicle. £27,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
Converted to 70 seater in September using Cogent 3+2 seating all fitted with 3 point belts, MOT till Oct 2013 and has no known defects.
£35,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365
£24,750
£120,000 – PX accepted
Contact Eric on 0792 138920
Scania Bus & Coach 01909 553102
2008 Scania K340 Irizar PB
Setra S315 GT HD
ZF automatic, 49 seats, climate control, centre sunken toilet, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue required).
£149,000
ASTronic, toilet, aircon, Webasto, retarder, fridge, servery, boiler, crew seat.
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
Evobus - 02476 626046
£67,500
Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com
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Ensig DOUBLE DECK 1999 T/V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS
LEZ
COMPLIANT
Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps, Plaxton President bodies, 62 seats dual door (£13,000) or 70 when converted to single door (£16,000).
1999/2000/2001 V/X/51 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats.
2000 DAF SB120
Cummins / Allison, Wrights Cadet body, ramp, wheelchair space, Hanover LED’s, CCTV, 39 retrimmed individual seats, from our own fleet and very tidy.
1999 T/V REG DENNIS DART SLF’S
Caetano Compass bodies, 39 seats, ramps.
1995 M REG OPTARE SPECTRA’S
2000 W REG MINI POINTER DART
DAF engines, Voith gearboxes, low height, 77 seats.
Cummins / Allison, 8.8m, 29 seats.
1998 R/S REG OPTARE SOLO’S
2001 Y REG DAF SB3000
ZF automatic, LEZ compliant, Van Hool T9 body, 53 seats.
Merc engines , 8.5m long, 30 seats. £4500 each plus tyres.
2001 Y REG DENNIS DARTS
Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 10.1m , Cummins Euro 2 engines, DDA, 31 seats, CCTV, particulate traps fitted, LEZ compliant, only £6000 each plus tyres.
2005 MINI POINTER DART Cummins Euro 3, Allison automatic, 8.8m, 29 seats, new MOT.
OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -
Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 8 Visit our website for current s
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nbus
K ER SPECIALIST 1998 R REG DAF SB300
1998 R REG VOLVO B10BLE’S
Manual, Ikarus body, 53 seats, air-con.
1998 R REG DENNIS JAVELIN ZF 6 speed manual, Plaxton Premiere 350, 53 seats.
1989 F REG DENNIS JAVELIN 8.5m long, ZF manual gearbox, 33 seats, belts, tidy little coach.
1992 LEYLAND OLYMPIAN
Cummins L10 / ZF, Alexander RH body, 78 seats with retractable belts, MOT Oct 2013, tacho.
2002 52 PLATE VOLVO B7TL’S
Voith automatic gearboxes, SLF, Alexander ALX300 bodies, 44 seats and 27 standing, heavy duty low floor buses. They can also be converted to be DDA compliant.
2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS
Euro 3 Cummins engines, DDA compliant , Plaxton President bodies, Hanover LED’s, 67 seats converted to single door or 62 seats as dual door.
1993 K REG DAF MB230
Van Hool Alizee body , 55 seats, MOT 10/13, £4500 plus tyres (£275).
1995 M REG VOLVO B10M
ZF 6 speed manual, Caetano Algarve body, 49 seats, centre sunken toilet, very smart for age.
2002 52 plate Volvo B7TL’s, Euro 3 with particulate traps, LEZ and DDA compliant, Alexander ALX400 bodies, 67 seats converted to single door or 62 seats as dual door.
2001 Y REG DARTS
Cummins / Allison, Alexander ALX200 bodies, 9.2m, 27 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.
- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com
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The North West’s Premier Minibus Sales, supplying nationwide for over 40 years
LEZ
LEZ
LEZ
LEZ
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
06 VOLKSWAGEN LT 35
08 CITROEN RELAY
58 IVECO 35C12 FITTED
08 VAUXHALL MOVANO
MWB covered 30,000 miles, 8 highback passenger, seats lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with cassette step, Ricon internal Clearway tailift, showroom condition inside and out £10,995
LWB covered 17,000 miles, 8/9 highback passenger seats in coach trim, Unwin tracking, full carpetlined, Ricon internal Clearway tailift, SLD with electric side step, totally immaculate inside and out POA
12 highback passenger seats in coach moquette, 3 point belts, lots of Unwin tracking, powerdoor front entry, covered 58,000 miles, external Ratcliffe tailift, PSV tested, totally immaculate inside and out £14,995
LWB, low mileage, 8 highback seats, lots of Unwin tracking, Ricon internal fully automatic tailift, SLD with cassette, step totally immaculate, choice of 4 £13,995
PSV’d
LEZ
LEZ
PSV’d
LEZ
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
PSV’d
Wheelchair Accessible
55 MERCEDES SPRINTER 308 CDI
55 MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI
58 VAUXHALL MOVANO
04 FORD TRANSIT 350
8/9 highback passenger seats on Unwin tracking, complete flat floor, SLD with side step, external PLS cassette tailift, COIFed, excellent drive and exceptionally clean, excellent value £8,495
15 highback passenger seats all quick release, lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with side step, external PLS cassette tailift, analogue tacho, Euroliners, 12 months PSV test, drives and looks superb, ready to work £12,495
LWB covered 41,000 miles, 8 highback passenger seats, lots of Unwin tracking, Ricon internal fully automatic tailift, totally showroom condition, SLD with cassette step £15,995
17 seat factory minibus, 1 owner, excellent condition, highback seats, 3 point belts, analogue tacho, 12 months PSV test, ready to work £5,495
LEZ LEZ
LEZ
PSV’d
PSV’d
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
LEZ
58 IVECO 50C15 IRIS BUS
09 VAUXHALL MOVANO
58 IVECO 50c15
09 FORD TRANSIT MWB 115
Powerdoor front low step entry, 15/16 highback passenger seats, euro 4, soft trim, totally immaculate, plant on panoramic windows, 12 months PSV test £15,995
LWB, PTS spec, covered 41,000 miles, 8 highback passenger seats, Ricon internal tailift, lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with cassette step, totally totally immaculate, LEZ compliant, choice of 2 £16,995
Low miles, 16 highback passenger seats in coach moquette, lots of Unwin tracking, powerdoor front entry, destination pod, external cassette tailift, good quality conversion, will come with 12 months PSV test £16,995
Covered 5,100 miles, totally totally like new, 8/11 highback passenger seats, twin SLDs, central locking, electric windows, unmarked silver metallic, where can you find these £12,995
PSV’d
LEZ
LEZ
LEZ
LEZ
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
57 IVECO 50c15 IRIS BUS
06 RENAULT MASTER
57 MERCEDES SPRINTER 511
08 FORD TRANSIT LWB
16 highback passenger seats, lots of Unwin tracking, powerdoor front entry, external cassette tailift, plant on panoramic windows, low miles, totally immaculate POA
LWB, covered only 22,000 miles, 8/9 highback passenger seats, lots of Unwin tracking, Ricon internal Clearway tailift, SLD with cassette step, totally immaculate in every way £10,995
16 high back passenger seats, lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with side step, external PLS cassette tailift, tinted windows, showroom condition inside and out POA
High roof, covered 38,000 miles, external Ratcliffe fully automatic tailift, totally immaculate, 12 highback passenger seats lots of Unwin tracking £17,995
PSV’d
LEZ
LEZ
LEZ
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
55 VOLKSWAGEN LT 35 LWB
08 MERCEDES SPRINTER 511
56 FORD TRANSIT
08 FORD TRANSIT MWB
Covered 40,000 miles, 8 highback passenger seats, Unwin tracking, SLD with electric side step, Ricon internal Clearway tailift, totally showroom condition inside and out, excellent value £10,995
16 high back passenger seats, lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with side step, external PLS cassette tailift, tinted windows, showroom condition inside and out POA
39,000 miles, factory spec, 8 high back passenger seats plus lugguage space. twin SLDs, totally immaculate £7,495
High roof, lots of Unwin tracking, 8 high back passenger seats, Ricon internal tailift. £11,995
Tel: 01942 864222 • WWW.HEATONSMOTORCO.CO.UK Contact us 24/7 07818 031725 - Wayne 07715 231694 - Phillip
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.
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January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47
N Reg Bluebird American School Bus 60 seats with 3 point belts, Cummins engine/Allison gearbox
£5,950
56, 57, 58, 59 & 11 Reg Ford Transit Factory Minibuses 15 and 17 seaters, PSV and Class 5 Choice of 10
Also 2000 W Reg at
£12,000.00
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
Southdown PSV - 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk
• • • • • •
New Man 14.250 CitySmart
37 seats / 32 standees MAN Euro V engine ZF auto Mobitec destination Bonded glazing £116,000 + vat - choice
• • • • • •
2003 Trident 2 Alexander ALX
67 seats / 18 standees Cummins Euro 3 engine ZF auto LEZ compliant to Euro 4 CCTV £27,500 + vat - choice
• • • • • •
2002 Daf SB220 Ikarus Polaris
44 seats /25 standees DAF 8.65 Euro 2 engine ZF auto Hanover destination Wheelchair ramp & bay £15,000 + vat - choice
Part exchange possible | Finance available – subject to status | Full inspection facilities
Viewing by appointment please - we are 10 minutes from Gatwick Airport Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN
2002 52 Reg Mercedes Sprinter 413D
UVG body, 16 seats + wheelchair, PSC and tachograph, low mileage for year
£8,450.00
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
1999 V Reg Mercedes 814D Vario Plaxton Beaver 2
31 bus seats with belts, new paint and test, Allison auto.
£9,950.00
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
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48 | COACH & BUS WEEK | January 2, 2013
2007 56 Reg ADL Enviro 200 Prototype
28 seats, 40 standing, built as demonstrator for London with flat floor front to back and extra doors at rear. Phone for more details.
£19,950.00
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
1999 T Reg Dennis Trident
East Lancs body, extra long wheelbase and fitted with 78 seats and still DDA compliant, single door (never been twin door), would re-seat to between 80-90 seats and could be belted – 4 available
£17,950.00
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
49 reclining seats, Manual, LEZ compliant, A/C, W/C, CD, Radio, DVD, 2 Monitors £40,000
Mercedes Touro
65 reclining seats, Automatic, A/C, W/C £40,000
Jonckheere Mistral, MAN
49 reclining seats, AS Tronic gearbox, LEZ compliant, A/C, W/C, CD, Radio, DVD, 2 Monitors £95,000
31 reclining seats, Manual, LEZ compliant, A/C, W/C, CD, Radio £68,000
61 reclining seats, AS Tronic gearbox, LEZ compliant, A/C, W/C, CD, Radio, DVD, 2 Monitors £120,000
65 reclining seats, One Shift gearbox, LEZ compliant, Disabled access, A/C, W/C, CD, Radio, DVD, 2 Monitors £125,000
MAXI 3, Iveco
Neoplan Euroliner, MAN
Plaxton Panther, MAN
Plaxton Panther, Volvo
Contact Daniel Gillison dan@applegates.co.uk 01453 810314
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January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 49
V d PS ste te
2011 11 REG FORD TRANSIT
AUDIO & VIDEO
CHECKPOINTS
15 seat factory bus, PSV, COIF and tacho, 20K miles, ready to go
£16,450
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
Wheel Nut Indicators and Retainers
++44(0)1524 44(0)1524 2271200 71200 checkpoint-safety.com
www.
2002 (52 reg) Optare Solo M850 Mercedes engine, 27 seats 23 with belts, currently undergoing body prep and paint.
£17,950
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
Dennis Dart Super Pointer 45 seats with belts, Tacho, Euro4 with RPC/LEZ, ready to go
£13,950
For more information visit
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552
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ENGINES
CRAIG TILSLEY Suppliers of Reconditioned Tel: 01782 791524 or 01782 791527 Fax: 01782 791316
Email: info@craigtilsley.co.uk www.craigtilsley.co.uk
DAF MAN MERC, VOLVO SCANIA, GARDNER LEYLAND, CUMMINS ENGINES CYLINDER HEADS CRANKSHAFTS CRANKCASES CAMSHAFTS PUMPS ETC
Moorfields Industrial Estate, Cotes Heath, Stoke-on-Trent ST21 6QY
THE CUMMINS ENGINE SPECIALISTS PARTS & SERVICE DIVISION
D.I.E.S.E.L. LIMITED OFFER A VAST RANGE OF SERVICES FOR ALL TYPES OF CUMMINS ENGINES FREE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT FULL OR 3/4 BUILT RECON ENGINES COMPETITIVE & COST EFFECTIVE SERVICE REPAIRS FIXED PRICE ENGINE REPAIRS/OVERHAULS COMPREHENSIVE PARTS STOCK – NEW AND USED ON SITE REPAIRS FULL ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS CONTACT US TODAY FOR ALL YOUR CUMMINS REQUIREMENTS TELEPHONE UK: 01708 859625 FAX UK: 01708 857630 EMAIL: SALES@DIESEL.UK.COM
GARAGE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
Experts in Commercial Garage Equipment
www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381
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GARAGE EQUIPMENT
TRAINING
Mobile Column Lifts FREE
Set of Axle Stands when you purchase your Mobile Columns JHM Butt & Company Limited Sales: 01302 718226
www.buttsequipment.com equipment.com INSURANCE
THE DRIVER CPC IS HERE SAME DAY J.A.U.P.T. REGISTRATION SAME DAY C.P.C. CERTIFICATES DELIVERED AT YOUR OWN DEPOTS
REMEMBER-REMEMBER 10th SEPTEMBER WE WILL HOLD OUR PRICES FOR 5 YEARS
PCV DRIVER HIRE 0800-731-5007 CORPORATE DEALS AVAILABLE
MERIDIAN PCV DRIVER LTD www.meridianpcv.com
Rising above all others
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REGISTRATIONS G £750 DRZ 40 DRZ 60 LAZ 87 MHZ 24 MHZ 25 PEZ 66 RNZ 99 SNZ 55 UIB 69
astgate
SPEEDY REGISTRATIONS CO LTD G ‘Buy with confidence – CNDA Member’
£350 £99 £99 £50 ACZ 727 DXZ 1150 LIG 1238 CXZ 4470 AJZ 262 FRZ 1558 LIG 1239 DXZ 2267 CEZ 979 HIG 5338 MJZ 6749 DXZ 2268 KBZ 181 IIG 2278 MNZ 1195 ERZ 6181 RBZ 696 IIG 2279 REZ 9451 FRZ 1517 SBZ 171 JIG 9792 RUI 2117 FRZ 1518 VIW 979 JIG 9793 SUI 8836 JFZ 8261 WJI 848 KIG 6556 SUI 8837 JFZ 8262 XJI 474 KIG 6557 TJZ 1119 KIG 8781 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange
Tel: (028) 6638 7124 Fax: (028) 6638 7771
Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ
COACH TRIMMERS LTD
£50 KIG 8782 LIG 1621 LIG 1622 LIG 1623 RNZ 9198 SNZ 2274 SNZ 2275 TUI 7991 TUI 7992
Supplying the Bus and Coach Industry with quality seat retrims and interior refurbishment. Full floors re-laid and centre gangways. Collection and delivery service anywhere in the UK, seven days a week.
01751 472229
Email: info@eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk Web: www.eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk
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TYRES
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MANAGEMENT & REPAIRS
MOUNTAIN TYRES LTD VEHICLE CERTIFICATE AGENCY
QUALITY AVON TREAD USED
Mountain Tyres is a newly established company making commercial retreaded tyres. We have a modern retreading plant based near Caerphilly, and we only use Grade One Tyre Casings in the production of all our tyres to produce a top quality tyre. All our tyres are guaranteed against failure.
• FREE DELIVERY FOR ALL ORDERS OVER 10 TYRES • Our staff have over 25 years experience in the Retreading industry and we are Certified by the Vehicle Certificate Agency
PRICE LIST
205-75-17.5 from ........................................................£50.00 215-75-17.5 from ........................................................£50.00 245-70-19.5 from ........................................................£60.00 275-70-22.5 from .....................................................£120.00 295-80-22.5 from .....................................................£125.00 315-80-22.5 from .....................................................£125.00 385-65-22.5 from .....................................................£135.00 MAJOR REPAIRS ..........................................................£35.00 MINOR REPAIRS ..........................................................£15.00 All Prices Plus VAT
Email: bernard.llewellyn@btopenworld.com Ffynonau-Duon Farm, Pentwyn, Bargoed, Caerphilly, CF81 9NP
TYRE EQUIPMENT
VEHICLE SPARES
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
Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com
www.twigley.com
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52 | COACH & BUS WEEK | January 2, 2013
WIPERS
Manufacturers, Designers and Suppliers of windscreen wiper equipment and bus/coach products
FOR ALL YOUR WIPER EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT OUR NEW ON-LINE CATALOGUE
Unit 3, Seaview Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 4DU
T: +44 (0) 151 922 5933 T: +44 (0) 151 933 4272 F: +44 (0) 151 922 5468 E: sales@transervex.co.uk W: www.transervex.com
A Clear Vision
January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 53
Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@coachandbusweek.com, fax 0845 2802927 or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX
Monday: Press day. Start off in a healthy position and I’m cautiously confident of leaving the office at a decent time. However, rather like traffic on the road, there’s always a risk things can go wrong when producing this magazine – such as the internet playing up. Thankfully, we’re finished at a civilised time of the day. Far from darting out the office, we have an impromptu team meeting.
Wilts & Dorset’s more bus services and features are being promoted in a video parody of the Korean internet megahit ‘Gnagnam Style’, featuring a mix of actors and the company’s staff. Bus driver John Burns was chosen to mime and drive to new lyrics presented in a karaoke format which extol the benefits of using the more network and the new online purchasing facilities, the m-ticketing mobile phone app and the company’s successful key smartcard system of pre-paying for travel. Nikki Honer, Commercial Manager for more bus and Wilts & Dorset said she hopes viewers enjoy their take on the Gangnam theme as much as the team creating the video. “We wanted to break away from the traditional way of portraying our services and we felt the song would appeal to our younger demographic of customers,” said Nikki. The video can be viewed by visiting www.morebus.co.uk
You can help some of the people… Phil Stockley of Velvet wrote a piece on his blog http://philstockley. blogspot.co.uk which is sure to strike a chord with many of you: “While I love all our customers, some are easier to help than others. I’m unsure whether a passenger I met on Saturday should be chided for his stupidity or commended for
Dilbert
his honesty. “Two teenage boys got on together and one asked how much it cost for a return to Eastleigh. ‘Five pounds,’ I replied. Crestfallen, he turned to his friend and said, ‘Sorry mate I haven’t got enough.’ “Not one to lose a sale easily, I asked his age. After he asked why I wanted to know, I explained, with heavy emphasis, child fares apply up to 15, so if he told me he were 15, the fare would be £3. “The penny dropped with his mate and we looked expectantly at our friend while we waited for
him to spot his cue. Eventually, after much thought, he got ready to speak... ‘Aw man, that sucks, I’m 16!’ “I gave the lad the chance to reconsider his age and after further thought (assisted by a hefty thump in the back and some unflattering name-calling from his friend) he remembered he was in fact only 15. By an amazing coincidence, his mate turned out to be 15 too! “So that’s £6 gained as opposed to nothing and they went off down the bus calling me a “legend”, good for the prospect of repeat business the ultimate objective.”
Tuesday: Spend the day in the office doing admin and (trying) to take care of IT matters. Having rectified the absence of loo roll yet again, I joke to Art Director Keith that he needs to change the ‘flannel panel’ on p3 to extend my job title to include ‘dish washer supervisor’, ‘gents loo attendant’, ‘cobweb remover’ and ‘chief office recycler’ – not to mention ‘bantermeister’. In his familiar lightening speed, he replies: “That will take it to two pages!” Wednsesday: Sub-edit a number of pages for this issue and some for a forthcoming magazine – it’s always nice to get ahead. Ring round several operators for news and arrange some visits for the New Year, including a respected indepdent coach and bus operator. However, I arrive home to find we’ve got a leak under the kitchen sink. Call a trusted plumber, who confirms he can fix it tomorrow. Thursday: To save him waiting in the rain for his currently unreliable morning peak Stagecoach citi2 and the weather being unfit for cycling, I pick Alex up after dropping my fiancée off at work – Gaz’s Taxis as I jokingly call it. I pop home mid afternon – the plumber turns up bang on time and doesn’t rip me off. Arrive back in the office and continue sub-editing. Friday: The second press day of the week. An external IT support lady visits the office for the first time– she certainly comes up trumps. www.coachandbusweek.com
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RECRUITMENT
Henk Groeneveld receives Gold Medal Award at PEMIC Henk Groeneveld, CEO and President of Groeneveld Group, has been awarded the Gold Medal Award for his lifetime achievement and contribution to the plant and equipment industry. Groeneveld received the award during the annual PEMIC (Plant and Equipment Management Innovation Conference), held at JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester/Staffordshire. During the IAE Award Ceremony, Professor Dr. David J Edwards, driving force behind the PEMIC conference, presented Henk Groeneveld as “one of Europe’s finest entrepreneurs and businessmen”. Dr Edwards said: “He has built up a company which now operates in over 30 countries worldwide and services sectors ranging from transport and industry, to rail and off-highway, with its main product
New Chief Executive for RATP Dev
The RATP Dev supervisory board has appointed François-Xavier Perin as Chief Executive of RATP Dev. François-Xavier Perin had previously served as a member of the supervisory board and will also participate in the RATP Group executive board. François-Xavier Perin graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris before beginning his career in 1976 at the Banque Française du Commerce Extérieur. In 1985 he joined the Progecar group as Director of Financial Studies and Treasury before beginning at Transdev in 1988, where he remained until 2009. After initially serving as Transdev’s group CFO, François-Xavier Perin became Managing Director of Semitag (Grenoble urban transport) in 1993.
www.coachandbusweek.com
People.indd 54
Ruth Waring joins CILT board
Henk Groeneveld range of Active Safety, Automated Maintenance and ICT Solutions. Since joining the company in 1973, his vision and investment into research and development has reaped plentiful rewards. A great gentleman on a personal note and a respected industrialist.” Henk Groeneveld is the sole shareholder of the Dutch-based Groeneveld Group, active in the development, manufacture, sale and service of automatic lubrication, oil management and active safety systems for a wide variety of applications. The Group celebrated its 40th anniversary in last year, while Henk Groeneveld will celebrate his 40 years of service in the company in 2013. From 1997 to 2006, FrançoisXavier Perin worked as CEO of Transdev UK, Transdev Australia and Executive Chairman of Eurailco, the regional rail operator in Germany and at the time a subsidiary jointly owned by Transdev and RATP Dev. In June 2006 François-Xavier Perin was appointed Executive Vice-President for operations before becoming Executive VicePresident of Transdev from October 2008 to October 2009. RATP CEO Pierre Mongin said: “François-Xavier Perin is a respected professional in the public transport industry in France and internationally. “His experience, in particular as the head of specific networks subsequently acquired by RATP Dev, along with his qualities as a developer, manager and administrator, will be vital assets for RATP Dev and for RATP Group as a whole”. François-Xavier Perin’s position on the RATP Dev supervisory board has been filled by Emmanuel Pitron, RATP Group General Secretary.
Labyrinth Logistics Consulting MD Ruth Waring has joined the Board of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT). Ruth is a well-known personality in the world of logistics and is familiar for her career at companies such as Exel Logistics, Gefco UK and Pearson Education, before becoming MD of Labyrinth Logistics Consulting. However, it is for founding Women in Logistics UK (WiL) that she is most recognised. Ruth started the organisation in 2008 as a group on the professional networking LinkedIn website, and within three years it had 2,000 members and was hosting educational, industry and networking events. Ruth said: “I am honoured to
be joining the Board of the CILT to represent the interests of women in the logistics sector. I have been a member for my entire professional career and I am an enthusiastic advocate of the Institute’s work. However I am delighted that the Board has recognised more can be done in this vital area and I very much look forward to meeting the challenges ahead by working together.” CILT Chairman Neil Ashworth said: “I, alongside the entire Board, am delighted Ruth has accepted our invitation to join CILT’s Board of Trustees as a co-opted member. Her experience and passion to make our profession an exciting choice for talented women and men exactly reflects the aims of CILT. Ruth brings not only her insights and perspectives from WiL, but also as a recognised expert in legal compliance, safety and quality management within transport operations. I look forward to Ruth’s impact on our discussions and developments.”
WJF Technical Support require Mobile Mechanical PSV Bus and Coach Fitters and Technicians. All applicants must be fully qualified, experienced and have an excellent working knowledge of bus and coach repairs. Candidates will be expected to have good technical ability and be extremely competent, highly motivated and capable of delivering a quality service to our customers. You must have a minimum of 2 years experience and have completed a recognised apprenticeship or be qualified to NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent). All fitters must have their own tools and a valid full UK driving licence. WJF are looking for diesel mechanics, electrical technicians and coach builders both on a permanent and a self-employed basis. References essential. Please submit you CV to simon.egan@wjftechnicalsupport.co.uk Further contact details available at www.wjftechnicalsupport.co.uk
21/12/2012 18:05
Deadlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm
Senior appointments at Stagecoach UK Bus Division Stagecoach has announced a series of appointments at its UK Bus division as preparations continue for Robert Montgomery to take up the post of MD at the business unit from Les Warneford in 2013. Elizabeth Esnouf has taken up the new post of MD of Coaches and Special Activities. She is responsible for the megabus.com and Scottish Citylink businesses, as well as rail replacement services and other special contracts. Her previous role was as Stagecoach Midlands Operations Director. She was seconded to the position of Olympic Project Director in 2011 and played a key role in Stagecoach’s contract to deliver athlete and media transport at London 2012. Gary Nolan, MD of Stagecoach East Midlands, is appointed Regional Director (North) from February 1, 2013. His role will
Robert Andrew
Elizabeth Esnouf
January 2, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 55
oversee Stagecoach companies in the North West, North East, Yorkshire, Manchester, Merseyside, East Midlands and East. Stagecoach will recruit a new MD for its East Midlands business in due course. Robert Andrew, currently Regional Director (North), becomes Regional Director (South) on March 1, 2013. A former Regional Director (Scotland), this means he will have had senior management responsibility for each of the bus division’s regions. In his new post, he will work with Stagecoach companies in the Midlands, Oxfordshire, West, South Wales, South West, South and South East. In addition, Les Warneford will continue to undertake special project work for Stagecoach after he retires in May 2013. Robert Montgomery said: “I would like to congratulate Elizabeth, Gary and Robert on their new roles. We have a talented and experienced senior team at our UK Bus division, and a strong network of regional bus companies.”
Contact Ian Gillis 01733 293484
ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com
Coleman gains new role at Allison Allison Transmission has appointed Jim Coleman as Area Manager, UK and Ireland. Coleman has worked for Allison for more than 30 years and was previously Commercial Director for Russia CIS and Caribbean – Central American Operations. In his new role, Coleman will co-ordinate marketing, sales and service activities for Allison in the UK and Ireland, as well as the Russia CIS region. Coleman replaces Riccardo Sardelli who has left the company to pursue other business interests. Jim said: “I hope to use my past experience in North America, Latin America and Asia to work with regional OEMs on new vehicle applications for both domestic and international export opportunities.”
Heavy Vehicle Technician Do you have the right stuff to join our highly experienced team, based at our excellent workshop in Lower Sydenham, South East London? Requirements for the successful candidate will be: • Fully skilled HGV/PCV Technician • Experience of all types of repairs to commercial vehicles • Background in Mercedes/Setra/Scania coaches preferred but not essential • HGV/PCV licence essential • Conscientious and reliable, able to work on own initiative. We offer: • Competitive salary • Training and development programme • Excellent working facilities, friendly team, modern vehicles • Group personal pension scheme • Paid holiday For more information or for an application form please call 0208 768 9637 and ask for Steve Holden. Alternatively please complete and application form online at our website www.clarkescoaches.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com
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AT PLUS V
tel: 08450 575 111
email: julia.davies@backhouses.co.uk