Wednesday February 6, 2013 Issue 1073 | ÂŁ2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com
COACH:
60% O-licence curtailment for Olympic (South) p8
SMART CARDS: Mastercard explains contactless ticketing ambitions p18
BUS:
Regional Transport Funding Grant unveiled for Wales p6
CV SHOW:
An early preview from selected exhibitors at the 2013 event p28
for recruitm
Walton's: Business built on diversity
JOB ADVE ent EVERY WERTS EK
RECRUIT N
OW
p24
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Funding changing times
T
he new financial year is only weeks away – and bus funding is changing in Wales and Scotland (see p4 & 6). As we’ve seen previously, what happens in one part of the UK is almost certain to be mirrored elsewhere – forget devolution. ‘Sharing best practice’ is not always a good thing. In Wales, after it was slashed without notice a year ago, BSOG has been abolished. It’s replacement, entitled Regional Transport Services Grant (RTSG) is a £25m single funding scheme, which also soaks up the Local Transport Services Grant (LTSG) and Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative (CTCFI). It will be administered through the Regional Transport Consortia which are made up of local authorities. North of the border, the concessionary fares scheme has been dealt another blow. In short, the current concession rate is 67% of an adult fare. This will be reduced to 60% in 2013/14 and then 58.1% in 2014/15. Yikes! While CPT has perhaps understandably downplayed matters,
fearing political reprisals, the respected McGill’s MD Ralph Roberts has commendably hit out publicly via The Herald newspaper. Doing so perhaps helps the public to understand the reality – as opposed to spin, such as referring to reimbursement as a ‘subsidy’. Ralph is quoted as saying: “Bus companies, private ones at least, are not making huge profits, so there is no fat to be trimmed off to absorb this cut. Bus companies are not daft, we have our customers at heart – they are our future, after all – and we will work hard to minimise the impact, but without doubt, change is on its way.” As Damien Henderson, the paper’s Transport Correspondent, rightly states: “The comments reflect a wider frustration in the bus industry that, because funding for concessionary travel is capped by the Scottish Government, operators effectively have to carry passengers without any reimbursement once the money runs out.” Gareth Evans Editor
CONTENTS 4
22
34
The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK
14
New driving licence checks from Tachodisc and SIP space heaters
24
Your Editor reports on his latest installment of Driver CPC training
What’s happening across the country’s regions. Plus Events Diary
16
Family-run Lancashire firm Waltons Coaches profiled
28
Forthcoming changes in employment law
All the latest vehicle deliveries in operators’ yards across the country
18
A sneak preview of interesting products at this year’s show
32
A lighthearted look at the industry. Plus Office Diary column
Mastercard argues its EMV PayPass system is the future of fare payment
A Stagecoach in South Wales Optare Solo at Big Pit mining museum
All the latest people moves from across the industry
News
Regional News Deliveries
Smart Ticketing
Products
Operator Profile CV Show 2013 Big Picture
AA DriveTech DCPC
38
Legal Update
61
Last Stop
62
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
“In respect of the operator’s repute, it is severely damaged but ultimately not lost. Repute can be repaired over time if the operator gets it right...” Nick Denton Traffic Commissioner
briefly MAN Truck & Bus AG has appointed Heinz-Jürgen Löw as a Member of the Executive Board. He will assume executive responsibility for Marketing, Sales & Services with effect from March 1, 2013. was born in Germany in 1964. In 1999, he joined Renault Trucks SAS, where he was appointed to various positions of responsibility. His most recent role was as President of Renault Trucks in Lyon, France. The latest pteg report shows spending on local transport outside London is down by 27% in 2012/3 when compared with the pre-election transport budget for 2010/11. The report also shows that although national roads took a huge hit after the election, the 2011 Autumn Statement saw the biggest transport spending change since the election, with spending projections increased (although still below the pre-election transport budget for 2010/11). Transport spending in London has seen reductions, but unlike the rest of the country, cuts in London’s transport spending are backloaded rather than frontloaded. London also benefits from the skewing of national rail spending to the South East and additional funding for Crossrail. Download the number crunch report from: www.pteg. net/PolicyCentre/FundingCase/ numbercrunch. Councils will find it easier to tackle disruptive road works thanks to changes announced by Norman Baker. Road works permit schemes give local authorities power to control when and how utility companies dig up their roads. They also allow local councils to set conditions on the length of time it will take utility companies to complete the work and the amount of road space to be left available for road users. Companies who work without a permit or break the conditions are fined. Currently councils wanting to introduce a permit scheme need approval from the DfT. Following consultation, this requirement will be removed to give councils more freedom in reducing congestion and making it easier to put new permit schemes in place. www.coachandbusweek.com
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News p8
New concessionary deal for Scotland The concession rate to be reduced from 67% to 60% of adult fare, with a further reduction to 58% to follow Transport Scotland and the bus industry have signed up to new fare reimbursement arrangements which include a phased reduction in the reimbursement rate over the next two years. The new deal, brokered in part by CPT Scotland, ensures bus firms receive all of this year’s budget and a further £10m. Arrangements have been made to help them with the reduction in the reimbursement rate. Currently, the concession rate is 67% of an adult fare. This will be reduced to 60% in 2013/14 and then 58.1% in 2014/15.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Concessionary travel is a key part of the Scottish Government’s social wage and makes a real difference to many of our elderly and disabled. Our track record in funding bus travel speaks for itself. We are continuing to provide £250m annually to the industry, investing not just in concessionary travel but support for services and new green buses. “The changes to the reimbursement arrangements are based on hard evidence and we have worked with the industry to provide them with some muchneeded stability going forward. But the needs of the passenger must come first and we are encouraging operators to continue to work with
The CPT said it appreciated the Scottish Government’s transitional aid but said the cut would be difficult for the industry to absorb
Backhouse Jones Free Compliance Seminar Renowned legal firm Backhouse Jones is inviting operators to its latest Free Compliance Seminar, which will be held on Wednesday March 6 at Brockholes Conference Centre just off J31 of the M6 near Preston. Jonathon Backhouse will
focus on a review of O-licence undertakings and examine the role of the Transport Manager and their relationship with the board of directors, the Traffic Commissioner and VOSA, auditing and levels of authority. Steven Meyerhoff will provide an employment overview focusing on forthcoming changes and how to manage your drivers. Accounting and consultancy specialists RSM Tenon will provide a feature on ‘The Generation Game’ and succession planning for a business.
us to deliver services for passengers at affordable prices.” Paul White, Communications Manager for CPT Scotland, told CBW: “CPT Scotland has engaged with Transport Scotland heavily in recent months in an attempt to ensure that the National Concessionary Travel Scheme remains sustainable and that bus operators are reimbursed at a fair and proper level. “One outcome of this work is a model which will be used to forecast reimbursement levels in future years. If the government commits to setting its budgets for the scheme at the levels indicated by this model we should avoid the large discrepancies between the scheme’s costs and its capped budgets which have sorely disadvantaged the industry in recent years. “We appreciate the Scottish Government is set to provide a degree of transitional aid to soften what is a significant reduction in the reimbursement rate resulting from this review of the scheme. However, it should be acknowledged that this cut in reimbursement, taken alongside other financial pressures, will be difficult for the industry to absorb. Hopefully this work will at least allow a degree of budget certainty for all parties and enable the Scotland’s bus operators to concentrate on the business of carrying passengers and growing services.” Finally, a Backhouse seminar wouldn’t be complete without Ian Jones, who will play host and provide his entertaining anecdotes to help everyone along the way. A morning not to be missed. Asked how popular the event was proving to date, Julia Davies of Backhouse Jones replied: “We already have bookings from in excess of 80 operators – both from the PCV and haulage sectors.”
For more details, call 0845 0575 111 or visit www. backhousejones.co.uk
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Lower income and sales figures for Scania Scania has released its year-end report for 2012, which indicates the company has experienced drops in operating income, earnings per share and net sales. The manufacturer says lower vehicle volume, lower capacity utilisation and a higher level of costs pulled down earnings. However, order bookings for trucks rose during the fourth quarter of 2012. A summary of results for the full year, 2012: n Operating income fell to SEK 8,300 m. (12,398), and earnings per share fell to SEK 8.31 (11.78) n Net sales decreased by 9% to SEK 79,603 m. (87,686)
New Optares for Stagecoach
The Stagecoach order for a further 32 Solo SRs and one Versa from Optare as part of its 2013 fleet replacement programme reveals a new driveline option for the Solo. All the Solo SRs are the familiar 9.0m SlimLine model with a narrow width of just 2350mm but the new driveline has been engineered to meet the specific requirements of Stagecoach and creates a version to directly compare and compete
n Cash flow amounted to SEK 3,025 m (6,970) in Vehicles and Services n The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 4.75 (5.00) per share. Martin Lundstedt, Scania’s President and Chief Executive
Officer, said: “Order bookings for buses remained at a low level. We have seen an upturn in Europe and a downturn in Latin America compared to the third quarter of last year. Order bookings for engines improved compared to the very low level in the third quarter
Scania’s net sales were down 9% on the previous year with the Wrightbus StreetLite. The new drivetrain option comprises the four-cylinder Cummins ISBe engine delivering 118 kW (160 bhp) matched to a four-speed Voith D 824.5 DIWA 4 automatic transmission with integral retarder. Optare Commercial Director Chris Wise said: “We’re delighted to once again feature in the Stagecoach annual fleet replacement programme. This repeat order results from the good reliability, fuel efficiency and both driver and passenger acceptance of this and its predecessor model in a variety of demanding operating conditions. “The Cummins-Voith driveline is
new to Optare and is being fitted at the specific request of Stagecoach. It further demonstrates our ability to meet a wide range of specific customer requirements in terms of vehicle drivelines, whether it’s alternative fuels, hybrid, full electric or conventional diesel.” Since the inception of the Solo it has always offered a Cummins engine option but it has been the six-cylinder B-Series. Optare recently announced its MetroCity, designed specifically for the London market, was to be equipped with the smaller four cylinder Cummins. As such, a great deal of the preliminary installation and testing has already been accomplished. An
of last year. “Service sales are generally at a stable level with increased demand in several regions outside Europe during the full year 2012. Lower economic activity is adversely impacting service demand in southern Europe. “Given the low demand for vehicles in Europe and the Middle East, the daily production rate has been reduced by about 15% in Europe in the beginning of the first quarter of 2013 compared to the end of 2012. A total of about 700 personnel on hire have been affected. “An adjustment of the general cost level to lower demand is also under way. “Looking ahead, there some are good growth opportunities. Therefore, this company will continue to prioritise investments in core development projects and will expand the sales and services organisation in the emerging markets.” example of the new combination is currently under construction and expected to enter an evaluation and homologation period in the near future. Chris Wise added: “While the new development is an exciting change it is the result of us responding to a customer request. We remain firmly committed to the Mercedes-Benz engine as the standard installation for Solo SRs and it is highly likely we will investigate the possibilities for combining it with the Voith transmission as a further option.” Deliveries under the multimillion pound order will commence in June.
Driver CPC Periodic Training
If you would like further information please call 01543 897505 or visit www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com
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1.5bn
news › BUSeS
The number of EMV cards currently in circulation across the globe
briefly National Express West Midlands’ (NXWM) cleaners are ‘blitzing’ buses of rubbish, as they wait to do the return legs, at bus stations in Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull. They have been introduced as part of the Transforming Bus Travel partnership between Centro and NXWM. James Webster, Centro’s Transport Partnerships Coordinator, said: “Passengers told us they disliked litter. For operational reasons we can’t send cleaners on to every bus and passengers can be assured those vehicles will be cleaned in the usual way at the end of service, but people can also play their part by taking their rubbish away with them.” Peter Coates, NXWM MD, said: “The cleanliness of our buses is important, which is why we have invested in all-day cleaning squads. Cleaners will ensure people making a journey in the middle of the day experience the same level of cleanliness as those on the buses which leave our garages spotless every morning.” Travel de Courcey has received enquiries about its three Optare Versa EV electric buses from countries including Germany, Holland, USA and Malta, and hosted delegations from Switzerland, China and Egypt interested in adopting the pioneering technology. The operator invested £500,000 as part of a £1m initiative supported by the Green Bus Fund, Centro and Coventry City Council. Bob Wildman, the firm’s General Manager, said: “The level of international interest has been tremendous and it’s great to be part of putting Coventry on the map once again for transport innovation.” Suffolk County Council is reintroducing a concessionary fares scheme for 16 to 19-year olds. The Conservative-run council’s cabinet has voted to provide a 25% discount two years after the previous regime withdrew a similar scheme. The old Explore card entitled holders to 50% off adult fares. The council said the new card would cost £1.4m over five years, whereas the Explore card cost £1.8m per year and was “unsustainable”. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Wales: single funding scheme is the future Operators will now be “rewarded” for delivering a range of ‘measurable targets’ rather than receiving compensation for fuel consumption Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant has announced changes to how bus operators, community transport and local authority bus services are funded across Wales. The new Regional Transport Services Grant (RTSG) is a £25m single funding scheme which will replace BSOG, the Local Transport Services Grant (LTSG) and Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative (CTCFI). It is said the new scheme will help tackle deprivation and support independent living across Wales by rewarding private companies which deliver measurable targets that passengers most wish to see, rather than compensating bus operators on the basis of fuel consumption. Bus operators will now be rewarded for delivering targets such as: n maintaining a strategic network of core bus routes n offering affordable fares for all groups n improving timetable planning
n delivering multi-operator ticketing schemes which simplify ticketing arrangements and reduce costs for the passenger. The scheme will be administered through the Regional Transport Consortia (RTC), which is made up of local authorities. The RTCs will be responsible for working with bus and community transport operators, passenger representatives and others to develop Regional Transport Network Strategies which will support their decisions on spending their RTSG allocations. Carl Sargeant said: “Bus services play a vital role in meeting our social, economic and environmental
Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant doesn’t want empty trips
70% of London’s bus stops now fully accessible TfL’s plan to improve bus stop accessibility through making 70% of bus stops fully accessible has been completed two months early. Bus stop accessibility has risen from 29% in 2008. An additional £18m funding will ensure at least 95% of bus stops will be accessible by 2016. Making stops accessible means ensuring the kerb is at the correct height, ensuring that the bus can stop parallel to the kerb and removing any street clutter from where the bus doors open. Boris Johnson said: “We are building on the legacy of the Paralympic Games to ensure London continues to have the most
accessible transport network in the country. The capital already has one of the most accessible bus fleets in the world but there is still more we can do. That is why I have set a new target of making 95% of bus stops in London accessible by 2016 and will also be investing an additional £50m to improve bus driver training.” Leon Daniels, TfL’s MD of Surface Transport, said: “London already has the most accessible bus network in the country – however we are far from complacent and are striving to improve the service we offer to disabled and older passengers. We will continue to
objectives – particularly in rural Wales – which is why I’m committed to ensuring we have a bus network which is reliable, affordable and viable. “This new funding arrangement, which has been developed in collaboration with bus operators, will put the passenger first and incentivise operators to deliver services which help tackle deprivation and truly support independent living across Wales. “This new scheme, rather than rewarding operators for the fuel they’ve consumed – whether there are passengers on the bus or not – will now place an emphasis on companies to run services which serve the needs of the community and are used by passengers. It is essential operators work with us to increase the number and proportion of passengers who pay for their journeys if the bus network is to become secure and sustainable, and if their own businesses are to thrive.” John Pocket, Director of Government Relations at CPT Cymru, told CBW: “While cuts to funding are never welcome, these are difficult times and the CPT is playing a large part in the ongoing discussions with the work with London boroughs and the City of London to deliver fully accessible bus stops that allow buses to deploy wheelchair ramps.” TfL has worked with Local Authorities to achieve this – as a significant proportion of the capital’s 19,500 bus stops are not on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). All 8,500 buses in the TfL fleet (apart from a handful of Routemaster buses operating for tourists on routes 9 and 15) are low floor, wheelchair accessible and fitted with wheelchair ramps that are checked every day before the bus enters passenger service. All buses have the iBus system, which provides passengers with audio and visual next stop information that is of particular use to people with sight or hearing impairments.
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The fleet size of Lancashire firm Walton’s Coaches
Welsh government and the RTCs to continue to serve bus passengers in Wales.” The Bus Funding Steering Group included the four RTC, Bus Users UK in Wales, Traveline Cymru, the Public Transport Users’ Committee, the Community Transport Association in Wales and the CPT. The scheme will also provide ring-fenced funding for community transport services, which to date have been supported by LTSG and BSOG. In the current financial year, this funding is expected to total approximately £1.3m. Welsh Government funding available for community transport services in 2013-14 will be £2.5m. A review into the pilot CTCFI scheme has found that an all-Wales roll-out of the scheme remains unaffordable. Future funding for community transport services, potentially including the 15 CTCFI projects, will be mainstreamed through the new regional approach with more emphasis being placed on collaborative and partnership working with RTCs, local health boards and across the sector. The RTCs will be responsible for determining how their RTSG allocations will be used to support bus and community transport services within their regions. The new RTSG will be introduced on April 1, 2013 and the RTCs have already begun work with bus and community transport operators to identify the sort of networks that are likely to operate from this date.
4%
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SHARE WATCH
The percentage of road traffic collisions which happen on a motorway
Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, February 4. Optare saw the greatest proportional rise, while 21st Century saw the greatest proportional drop. Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk
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The first of the 2013 batch of ADL E400 Hybrids have started arriving
40 new hybrids for Stagecoach Manchester Stagecoach Manchester is introducing 40 brand new ADL Enviro 400Hs to its 192 service in a £11.3m investment. The route serves Hazel Grove, Stockport, Levenshulme and Longsight and carries an average of 187,000 passengers per week. The first 12 buses arrived on Friday (February 1), with a further 16 arriving on March 1 and the remaining 12 will arrive between March 2 and March 15. The new fleet has been purchased with the assistance of the DfT’s Green Bus Fund, which
Arriva SC takes Wrightbus StreetLite Max for evaluation Arriva Southern Counties has added an 11.5m Wrightbus StreetLite Max to its fleet for longterm evaluation for use initially at its Tunbridge Wells, Kent, depot. The 45-seater bus is powered by a four-cylinder Cummins 207PS ISBe5 engine coupled to a Voith D854.5E four-speed automatic gearbox and has entered service on the hourly route 402 which runs from Tunbridge Wells (TW) through Tonbridge and Sevenoaks to Bromley in the TfL area. It is running alongside a fleet of Optare Versas bought for the service towards the end of 2011. The firm already runs StreetLite
February 6, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7
The StreetLite Max is currently allocated to route 402 DFs, the first five 10.1m examples having entered use at Gillingham depot 12 months ago. These were followed by five 10.8m versions last August for use at Northfleet depot on commercial
provided approximately £3.5m funding to supplement Stagecoach Manchester’s £7.8m spend. The launch of the new hybrid fleet will mark the largest ever single investment into buses on a single route in Greater Manchester. Christopher Bowles, MD of Stagecoach Manchester, said: “The commissioning of 40 new hybrid buses for the 192 route is yet another significant investment in our region-wide operations. “This route is one of the most intensive services outside London and we hope our initiative will be welcomed by all local residents. “We will be developing and expanding our fleet and services further in 2013 to ensure that local residents can continue to enjoy excellent service, increased convenience and a greener, more environmentally friendly way of travelling.” service 477 from Dartford to Orpington. Arriva’s Regional Publicity Manager, Richard Lewis, said: “As we already have experience of two versions of the shorter doorforward StreetLites in our region, the StreetLite Max will make an interesting comparison with these and with other vehicles in our fleet. “We also have on loan and waiting entry into service a TfLspec 10.2m two-door 29-seater StreetLite DF which will be used at our Dartford depot on TfL route 428 between Erith and Bluewater.” After its period at TW, the bus will move to Northfleet for use on high-frequency routes 480 and 490 linking Gravesend, Northfleet, Bluewater and Dartford, where it will run alongside Wright Pulsar bodied-VDL Bus SB200s.
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news › coaches
briefly The M6 will be closed northbound and southbound on Friday and Saturday nights, from 2200 to 0800hrs, over eight consecutive weekends starting on Friday February 1, 2013, and continuing until Saturday March 23, 2013. Diversions will be in place during the closures to enable a number of existing gantries to be dismantled and removed and new gantries to be installed. Between these dates, various mid-week overnight lane closures and slip closures may also be in place. Further overnight weekend closures on various sections of the M6 between junction 4 and junction 10 are planned after Easter, until autumn 2013. A project to improve safety along the M602 into Manchester and Salford gets underway next month. The eastbound carriageway near the end of the motorway on its approaches to Regent Road roundabout at junction 3 is to benefit from an extra lane. Preparatory work starts on Monday February 18 with the first traffic management being set out on Monday March 4, 2013. The scheme is due to be completed by Sunday April 21, 2013. Most of the work will be taking place overnight with the possibility of limited daytime working in the hard shoulder without disrupting drivers’ journeys. Some full eastbound carriageway and lane closures will be taking place overnight to install and remove traffic management and to help complete the works. Bridge maintenance starts next week on the A404(M) near Maidenhead in Berkshire. The work requires carriageway closures overnight between 2200 and 0600hrs, Monday to Friday and is due to be complete in two weeks. The closures are currently planned, weather permitting, for the northbound carriageway on February 12, 13, 14, and 15, with southbound closures on February 6, 7, 8 and 11. In addition to the southbound carriageway closure on February 11, one lane will be closed on the northbound carriageway. A fully signed diversion route is in place. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Operator has O-licence reduced by 60% TC Nick Denton orders Director to attend PSV O-licence awareness course and says repute is severely damaged but not ultimately lost Olympic (South) Ltd, operating as Healthcare and Transport Services, had its maximum number of vehicles held under its O-licence reduced by 60% following a public inquiry heard on January 22. The firm runs taxis, minibuses and coaches. Director Henry Bilinski was ordered to attend a PSV operator licence awareness course by May 31, 2013. The operator’s maintenance systems, documentation and vehicle inspections will also be audited by a trade body or equivalent independent third party twice between February 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. When making his decision, TC Nick Denton considered positive developments about the operation. He saw it already had multiple audits carried out of its compliance systems by outside companies and the evidence of Transport Manager Sean Hearty showed action had been taken to address the findings of the VOSA investigation, although things remained to be done. A training exercise had been provided by the Lloyd Morgan Group to the Transport Manager
Traffic Commissioner Nick Denton said Olympic South’s repute could be repaired if it “gets it right from now on” and the Transport Controllers and all vehicles now have PSV MOT certificates. The TC said the importance of compliance seemed to have finally been properly grasped. However, the licence was considered to have previously been run in a slapdash fashion. The Transport Manager went from being internal to external without a contract setting out the position clearly. Robert Campbell could not in any event have been a legal external Transport Manager for Olympic South Ltd on December 4, 2011, as he was already transport manager on another licence and would have exceeded the new 50 vehicle limit at that point. Ignorance was shown of the rules, in that Mr Bilinski believed an operator was
Rising passenger numbers – a major boost for Eurolines National Express Group’s Eurolines has announced increasing passenger numbers across its network, with services to Brussels seeing record passenger numbers, up over 50% year-on-year compared to 2011. Originally launched as a seasonal summer service, popular demand has seen Eurolines develop a yearround Brussels service, more than doubling the number of coaches on the network. Services now operate from London Victoria up to seven
The increased passenger numbers follow a £2m investment in the Eurolines network
automatically given three months to find a new Transport Manager. He was also aware the maintenance situation was serious enough to warrant the FTA being called in to carry out an audit, yet did not take the trouble to find out what the FTA’s findings were. He said “I was told it was positive…it went to the back of my mind. I should have drilled down more… I didn’t.” Poor maintenance records, inadequate maintenance facilities (particularly lifting equipment) and a sub-par driver defect reporting system were also highlighted. Many of the vehicles had the wrong class of MOT certificate and some were parked away from stated operating centres. A double-decker bus used during the London Mayoral Campaign was not properly subjected to EU tachograph rules and some of the company’s vehicles incurred prohibitions. TC Nick Denton said: “I have reduced the vehicle authorisation to 40 to allow the current operation to remain in place but with a small margin of flexibility. However for a sizeable expansion the company will need to demonstrate a period of compliant operation. “In respect of the operator’s repute, it is severely damaged but ultimately not lost. Repute can be repaired over time if the operator gets it right from now on.” days a week during peak summer season. Passenger numbers to Paris and Amsterdam are also up, with an extra 10,000 people choosing Eurolines to get to these destinations compared to 2011. Eurolines Europe President John Gilbert said: “There is a huge appetite for affordable travel to the continent as the numbers taking advantage of our services show. In particular, our increased frequency Brussels service has proved phenomenally popular. We are looking forward to building on our success in 2013 and people should watch this space for a new menu of services to choose from.”
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“Purely a personal view, but I feel speed limiters are an absolute menace. The dangerous practice of bunching is encouraged...” Richard Bratton AA Drivetech
UK Coach Rally on track for success at new venue Entries for the Rally competitions for the UK Coach Rally & Awards are well ahead of last year according to the event organisers. According to Rally Director and Organiser Paul Cousins, nearly 30 operators have already entered the 2013 Rally, with more entries arriving daily. A few of the operators confirmed so far include; Epsom Coaches, Homesworth, City Circle, Blakes, Greys of Ely, DJ Thomas, York Pullman, Stanley Travel, Galloways, Bibbys of Ingleton, Prentice Westwood, Stansted Coaches and Clarkes of London. In addition, the Exhibitors’ Park will be hosting over 20 exciting new vehicles brought by a number of manufacturers, including Irizar, Volvo, Scania and Plaxton. The combined event, which takes place on April 20-21, is being
hosted by Alton Towers Resort. In addition to the Rally events, the annual UK Coach Awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony on the Saturday night. Paul Cousins, said; “We’re delighted with the response from the industry, which is well ahead of last year. And we’re really looking forward to welcoming old friends and new from the industry to our exciting new venue.” “If you’re thinking about entering
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this year’s event, please get in touch with us very soon, as only a limited number of places remain,” he added. With Alton Towers Resort hosting the event, there are opportunities for operators to take advantage of attractive package offers, both for staff and family and for excursion customers.
For more details, visit www. ukcoachawards.co.uk
Nearly 30 operators have entered the 2013 rally, including DJ Thomas, which took part in last year’s event in this smart Volvo 9700 tri-axle
Arrow moves to more permanent premises
Brighouse-based Arrow Coach Travel has moved into a new depot. The operator has moved from an open yard with portacabins to a purpose built premises with office space, just 50 yards or so up the road. The new depot has three offices, a training room and a dedicated driver’s area. It also holds two full length pits in its workshop area along with a brake tester. Similar to the old depot, there is space to comfortably house eight vehicles, with two of them kept indoors, giving some room for Arrow to expand its five vehicle fleet of four touring coaches and school bus. Richard Jessop, Managing Director, told CBW: “Although we’re continuing to use external providers we can now do the smaller things ourselves, which used to cost a fortune. We recently saved a figure in the region of £150
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West Yorkshire-based Arrow Coach Travel’s new Brighouse depot includes valuable workshop facilities and much needed office space for a faulty brake light which we could repair in the new workshop instead of calling out an electrical engineer. “Our training room also gives us the option of doing Driver CPC training on site, which saves the cost of hiring out a room.” Richard said this was something Arrow used to do together with other neighbouring small operators, but they can now go to Arrow itself, since the training room and
vehicles are all on site. Arrow Coach Travel is a young operator, which entered the industry in 2008. Its flagship coach is a Neoplan Starliner, which used to be the Nottingham Forest team coach, where it carried an appropriate personalised number plate. The fleet also includes a Plaxton Premiere, an Hispano Vita on a Mercedes-Benz O404 chassis and a 33-seater Berkhoff Axial on an MAN chassis.
A9 Kessock Bridge Upgrade Transport Scotland (TS) has announced its £13.2m Kessock Bridge project will see extensive resurfacing and upgrading works carried out on the 30-year-old bridge between February and June 2013 and between February and June 2014. The structure carries the A9 trunk road north from Inverness to the Black Isle across the Beauly Firth. Traffic restrictions will be in place during the works, with a reduced speed limit of 30mph on the bridge for the safety of motorists and the workforce. A contraflow system will be running for 24 hours a day, providing one running lane of traffic in each direction across the bridge. The layout of roads leading to and from the bridge is to be completed before the work starts on February 11. TS said the changes will include new traffic lights and roundabouts. New lights are being installed at the Longman Island south of Kessock Bridge, Rose Street Roundabout and at the junction of Henderson and Longman Road. A dedicated bus lane will be put in place on the A9 south running from the south of Tore Roundabout to the Kessock Bridge. A new southbound slip road is being constructed from Stadium Road to the A9 south. A dedicated bus lane will also be in place at Stadium Road approaching Longman Roundabout. TS said the permanent changes have been designed in conjunction with Highland Council to reduce congestion, both during the works on the bridge and in the future. “There is no getting away from the fact that road works on the bridge will increase journey times noticeably,” a TS spokesman warned Steve Walker, MD of Stagecoach in the Highlands said: “We’re pleased traffic modelling suggests delays to buses will be minimal and of course the permanent road improvements will continue to benefit bus users upon completion.” Drivers in and around Inverness during the works can access up to the minute journey time information at http://trafficscotland.org/
www.coachandbusweek.com
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news
Stagecoach doubles Hybrid fleet in Sheffield Stagecoach takes its number of hybrids up to 40 in the city Stagecoach has doubled the size of its hybrid fleet in Sheffield following the launch of 19 new ADL Enviro 400Hs in a £6m investment. The introduction of the vehicles, which have free WiFi and are now operating on route 52, was celebrated with a day of green activities in the city. Hallam FM’s Big John @ Breakfast show was broadcast live on the 52 and in the city centre, where there was a chance to tour one of the new buses. The public was also treated to a series of greenthemed flash mob performances. There was also an outdoor garden display with hybrid bunting, eco-friendly giveaways and a VIP reception inside Sheffield City Hall. Paul Lynch, MD of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “We have been using this type of bus on the 120 service in Sheffield since September 2011. They have proved extremely popular with passengers and staff so we are delighted to introduce this fleet on what is one of Sheffield’s busiest bus routes carrying about six
million passengers a year.” Martin Griffiths, who will take over from Brian Souter as CEO of Stagecoach later this year, said: “Stagecoach has a really strong association with the city of Sheffield and the 19 state-of-the-art double deckers are great news for local communities. With 40 electric hybrid vehicles, it makes it one of the cleanest, greenest fleets in the UK. “Regardless of the economic conditions, we have continued
to invest and build our presence in the city demonstrating our commitment to getting people out of cars and onto public transport.” John Smart from South Yorkshire PTE said: “We welcome the investment made by Stagecoach in these vehicles. They are comfortable, quiet and the WiFi will really benefit everyone. Importantly, passengers can be safe in the knowledge they are travelling in an eco-friendly way.”
Martin Griffiths (left), Stagecoach CEO designate, launches the Hybrids
CV Wheel safety issue goes before EU Parliament Motor Wheel Service Distribution has taken the issue of CV wheel safety to the European Parliament, with John Ellis invited to present expert testimony to the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) at a public hearing into the Roadworthiness Package. Ellis, Director of the Northwest Automotive Alliance (NAA), called for five measures, most prominently the light regulation of the supply chain to enforce existing standards and improved inspection procedures across the EU. He asked for wheels to be identified as a safety critical item, that all wheels and axles be tested to meet European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) standards and for all wheels periodically to undertake a 10-point check plan. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Ellis backed up his speech with a booklet on wheel fatigue which included evidence that found noncircumferential hubs (which give only partial contact between axle and wheel) are causing untested load stresses that cause cracks and half life expectancy. Ellis said: “There is a lack of knowledge in the CV sector which means wheels are not being replaced when they are fatigued, or worse still are being replaced with inferior products which have not been properly tested and this includes both the wheel and the hub. “This is compounded when OEMs find and address major issues, such as hub shape, but then fail to disseminate the information to the aftermarket. Specific wheels exist for non-circumferential hubs,
John Ellis, Director of the Northwest Automotive Alliance but when this wheel is replaced or interchanged if an identical wheel is not used we have an item which will start to crack and fatigue at under 50,000km and will stay in the supply chain. “The changes I have presented are not designed to place extra financial burden on the CV sector but they will create a far cleaner, far safer sector which will recognise wheels as the safety critical item they truly are.”
Arriva’s new link for Northfleet housing development Arriva Southern Counties has enhanced its route 495 from Kings Farm to Pepper Hill, via Gravesend by extending it to run to Springhead Park, Ebbsfleet International Station and the Bluewater shopping and leisure complex. A new Sunday service across Gravesend linking Springhead Park with Kings Farm has also been added to the network. The extended route has been introduced in partnership with the developers of Springhead Park which will ultimately contain 600 homes on a site near to the Sainsbury’s superstore at Pepper Hill. As well as bringing a half-hourly bus service to the residents of the new development, the changes to the route and timetable are also benefiting people living in the Kings Farm and Darnley Road areas to the south of Gravesend who now have a greater choice of buses direct to Bluewater and new links to Ebbsfleet. Swanscombe village also gains its first direct bus service to Ebbsfleet and to Sainsbury’s at Pepper Hill. Peter Mail, Development Manager of Land Securities, one of the partners in the development, said: “Land Securities is pleased to help facilitate this new bus service at Springhead Park, in partnership with Arriva. “The service will provide the development with a public transport route to Ebbsfleet station, which we realise is important to residents. We are committed to making sure that Springhead Park, and the wider Ebbsfleet Valley regeneration, are sustainable developments. “This bus service, along with the community centre which is due to open later this year, is a demonstration of that commitment.” Route 495 operates out of Northfleet garage which is home to the well-known Fastrack fleet and which provides the company’s network of commercial services across the Kent Thameside area.
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KMB gets green light for network review Operator says 70% of its 400 routes are running at a loss HONG KONG Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) has announced about 55% of its 400-route network has a pressing need for reorganisation and upgrade. Over the past few years, KMB has been trying hard to reorganise its routes, but progress has been rather slow and limited. With the support of government policy, the firm hopes it will be better placed to effectively communicate plans for consultation with the District Councils so the Area Approach for route reorganisation can be successfully implemented.
New heavy vehicle regulator opens
AUSTRALIA Australia’s first National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has opened. It will manage the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) and Performance Based Standards (PBS). As previously reported, operators will now deal directly with the NHVR for all NHVAS business Meanwhile, Australia’s heavy vehicle operators will continue to do all remaining business with state and territory road transport authorities, including any concession schemes, driver licensing and all matters related to the carriage of dangerous goods. The full extent of the NHVR will be in place later in the year when the states and territories have adopted the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) which covers critical aspects of heavy vehicle operations including mass, dimension, loading, fatigue, speeding compliance, chain of responsibility and vehicle standards. For more details, visit www.nhvr.gov.au
www.coachandbusweek.com
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A statement from the CEO said: “It is envisaged that bus route reorganisation should be carried out in four areas, namely: providing more “point-to-point” express routes in place of some existing routes; introducing more direct routing; providing additional interchange services for various districts along the lines of the Tuen Mun Road BusBus Interchange; and reorganising outdated routes with low passenger demand and patronage. “Our plans will help revive the outdated network and enable passengers to arrive at their destinations faster, while reducing the number of empty buses on the roads, thus bringing about a
win-win situation as it can ease traffic congestion, enhance the productivity of the city as a whole, improve environmental quality by reducing roadside air pollution, and ease the pressure for fare increase by better utilisation of resources.” Spare buses resulting from the reorganisation will be redeployed to operate on new or existing routes with higher demand. About 70% of KMB’s network runs at a loss. These routes are being subsidised by the remaining 30% of its bus routes, the company said in a statement. “According to the user-pay principle, such a situation is not fair to passengers of the 30% of its bus routes.”
The 60-bus order will be VDL’s largest ever for a German customer
VDL gets a flying start GERMANY VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland has enjoyed a flying start to 2013 after gaining the contract to supply 60 Citea LLE buses to Rheinbahn of Düsseldorf. “This is the largest order VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland has ever won. A sign that the experiences with the first two buses have been extremely positive,” said Boris Höltermann, Public Transport Manager of VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland. In the spring of 2010 Rheinbahn evaluated the performance of two VDL Ambassador buses, the predecessor of the LLE. VDL claims its buses employ
a lightweight construction with the focus on improving fuel economy. The Citea LLE has a net weight of around 9t and, based on Rheinbahn’s own experiences, uses 25% less diesel than comparable products. This means the Citea meets the standards expected of hybrids without incurring the additional cost of the technology. Rheinbahn AG operates in Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and substantial parts of the district of Mettmann. Currently 400 buses, 91 bus routes, seven light rail routes and 11 tram lines are in use. The rail network extends as far as Neuss, Krefeld, Duisburg and Ratingen and is part of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (Rhine-Ruhr public transport association).
Arriva is pleased with the “excellent cooperation” from VDL
77 Citea XLEs Arriva in Sweden start operation SWEDEN Since January 7, 77 VDL Citea XLEs (Low Entry) have entered scheduled service in Stockholm with Arriva in Sweden. The vehicles represent the largest ever order for VDL Bus & Coach from Sweden. In addition, Arriva in Sweden introduced 85 articulated buses which were refurbished by VDL Bus & Coach. The first 44 began operating in August 2012 and the remainder have been placed in service alongside the new buses. “Arriva is very pleased with the new Citeas and with the excellent co-operation during the complete project to get the buses into operation,” said Kjell Strandljung, Technical Director of Arriva in Sweden. “We’ve had an excellent cooperation with Arriva during the production and handover process. The order for 77 Citeas has given us a good base for forming a strong aftersales organisation in Stockholm to support our customers. We’re looking forward to developing this partnership with Arriva,” said Anders Lundström, MD of VDL Bus Sweden. Rémi Henkemans, Managing Director at VDL Bus & Coach, said: “The introduction of Citeas to Sweden is an important step to strengthening our brand in Scandinavia. Arriva is one of our most important customers. The deal shows the strength of partnership between both firms.” The Arriva order consisted of 21 Citea XLE-137s and 56 XLE 145s at 13.7m and 14.5m long respectively. The 137s feature 46 seats plus room for 61 standees and the 145s have 49 seats and 65 standees.
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news › REGIONAL
SCOTLAND
First Aberdeen Director and General Manager Duncan Cameron has paid tribute to his team of drivers and support staff for keeping bus services moving during the recent weather conditions. Duncan said: “I could not be more proud of our drivers and their support staff. Over the last couple of weeks the team has battled against some horrific weather and poor road conditions, but despite that all our buses have been in service and we’ve battled through. “Our engineers and mechanics have worked wonders keeping our vehicles on the road, while our drivers simply take the weather conditions in their stride. Indeed feedback from our customers suggests many of our drivers have gone well beyond the call of duty.” A number of staff were nominated in January by customers and colleagues for an internal ‘Superstar’ award, which recognises outstanding conduct. Paul MacLeod, a Driver with First Aberdeen for more than 10 years, was nominated for a Superstar Award by one of his Supervisors. A passenger had boarded his service late on January 19, but rather than travel through to Torry as he had expected, the service was scheduled to terminate at Guild Street. Paul radioed his Control Room and asked for permission to simply drive the customer home. “It was a freezing cold night,” said Paul. “I knew there were no further services to Torry that evening so I did what I think most drivers would have done and drove him more or less to his front door. I didn’t want to see him stranded in town; he was incredibly grateful.” Duncan added: “Paul’s actions were typical of many of our drivers. They deserve a great deal of credit. “Unfortunately where there are no bus lanes, our services get stuck in the same traffic as other road users and so a few of our services have experienced delays when the weather has been at its worst. It can be frustrating, but our customers have recognised there is little anyone can do about the weather and have dealt with delays in good spirit.”
EAST
Ipswich Buses is building on its promotional period which started in July 2012 through the use of strategic marketing, customer communications and customer service plans for 2013 and beyond. www.coachandbusweek.com
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KEY
SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND REP OF IRELAND NORTH WALES MIDLANDS EAST LONDON SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST
With a new livery and new routes introduced, route-by-route marketing, summer promotions, Christmas Cracker bus hunts and now the three-month loyalty scheme – Tickets Please! – it’s been a busy time for the local operator. In addition, fares on the two main adult tickets have stayed the same since October 2009 despite local rail fares increasing by over 4.2% in January. In the last five years rail fares in East Anglia have risen by 40% and bus fares nationally by an average of 33%. Despite this local and national backdrop of price increases Ipswich Buses has introduced some competitive offers, like the 10 trips for £10. Malcolm Robson, MD, said: “We needed to up our game and knew fairer fares and customer engagement was the first step to achieve this if we were going to retain and attract bus users in this challenging economic situation. We have been collecting customer data which we are using to understand travel patterns and build our targeted marketing and customer service plan for 2013.” Tickets Please!, the new campaign, lets customers collect tickets to win an iPad every month for the next three months, which the firm hopes will build loyalty and encourage modal shift with targeted marketing. Ipswich Buses passenger numbers on the local town network have grown by over 9% year on year.
SOUTH EAST
Reading Buses has received customer praise for keeping services running during recent snowfall. The company’s weather webpage had nearly 45,000 hits in less than 24 hours during the worst of the snow and the number of Twitter followers and Facebook likes greatly exceeded the average monthly increases. CEO James Freeman said passengers and councillors had been quick to praise Reading Buses for overcoming the conditions. He said: “The reaction to our operation has been fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for a better response.” Social media was key to the firm’s strategy to keep people informed and was recognised by local councillors from all parties who showed their support by tweeting their praise to the company. With a story posted on the company’s website on Wednesday morning to prepare people for how services may be affected and how people could keep informed, Reading Buses urged their customers to utilise all methods of communication. Freeman added: “Staff worked overtime to keep people up to date, using Twitter and Facebook and regularly updating the website as well as bringing in extra staff to answer phones.” The cleaners and engineering team also helped keep the fleet on
the road, clearing the yard, fixing buses whose heaters had struggled under the pressure and generally working as hard as possible. Freeman concluded: “Thank you to all our staff for your efforts in keeping the buses on the road – in Reading and Newbury – especially the drivers who were willing to keep going through sometimes very treacherous conditions to keep our customers on the move.” Runnymede Borough Council is aiming to find a way to ensure the First-run Yellow Bus school transport scheme continues to run, despite financial shortfalls. The council’s environment and sustainability committee reviewed a report which detailed how the borough needs to find £40,000 before April to break even on the service. It replaces 250,000 car journeys annually. The scheme is reliant on funding from developer Section 106 agreements and sponsorship, both of which have slowed during the recession. Councillor Peter Taylor, committee Chairman, said he did not want to see the service ‘abandoned or degraded’. “Our deficit may be larger or smaller as we run to the end of the year. We agreed to run this service until the end of the academic year and I have concerns about what happens as we go forward,” he said. “The key issue is, do we want to keep this service? This is an important service and people value it. I have not heard anyone say ‘We just want to abandon it’ and I do not think anyone thinks that.” The council’s Chief Technical Officer, Peter Sims, said: “When it started, parents appreciated what we were providing. It’s unique in this county that we do this as a basic condition. “One of the problems is residents thinking ‘this is a service we have as a right’ but it is a service we run on the back of other activities. “This is purely discretionary and when things like fares go up, it is to keep this service running.” Cllr Mike Kusneraitis said: “It would be sorely missed if it did have to go. It is a service I would like to keep. “It is the safety it gives parents, knowing their child will be dropped off and picked up at a certain point. It is an important service.” Cllr John Edwards said: “We have to have the confidence that the economy will pick up. We might have to make some tricky decisions to do
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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. it. If we fund the Yellow Bus service, it may mean putting off something else but it is a decision we will have to make when it comes to it.”
SOUTH WEST
First is to hold a consultation on the price of its fares in the Bristol area following an online campaign signed by more than 2,600 bus users asking for the price of bus travel to be lowered. Bristol MP Stephen Williams said the city’s economy is suffering because of the firm’s prices. He added: “I hope [the consultation] is an admission that there is scope for reducing fares or creating a simpler fare structure. “The major issues I’m hearing about are that fares are too expensive or if there are cheaper alternatives it’s hard to find out what they are.” Justin Davies, Regional MD for First in the South West and Wales, said: “We are aware the issue of fares in Bristol has often been a contentious one with a perception that the cost of travel here is significantly higher than elsewhere. “This is frustrating for everyone and is something we have wished to tackle for some time.
“We want to heighten awareness about the industry and allow people to better understand the economics of running buses and the cost pressures we face. “In return we want to hear from the public and their representatives, in particular what they think we could do differently to both attract more people on to buses and deliver the best possible value for money for our customers. “We are appointing a third party to work with us on this, and hope to complete the process by the end of the summer, using the findings of the consultation in our decision making going forward.” Bristol Mayor George Ferguson welcomed the consultation plans. “This is a sensible response to the understandable concern by the travelling public, myself and other local representatives,” he said. Mayor Ferguson said the consultation “must be genuinely open and transparent” and he hoped it would deliver “some very significant improvements in value and passenger numbers”. He also called for Daniel Farr, who set up the petition, to be included in the process.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
In place of its Imperial War Museum home of recent times, Showbus is this being held at Long Marston airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon
2013 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 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
Stagecoach Bluebird has introduced a £1m fleet of new ADL E300s for the ‘Coastrider’ routes in the Stonehaven and Portlethen areas. The seven vehicles, introduced throughout December, are now operating between Stonehaven, Portlethen, Newtonhill and Aberdeen on route 7, on the Aberdeen to Stonehaven express service X6 and between Portlethen (including Badentoy Park), Cove and Aberdeen on route 8. The buses feature an updated version of the previous Coastrider livery, following the style of the X7 Plaxton Elite-bodied Volvo coaches which operate the longer distance express route to Dundee along the Mearns coast. The vehicles now also offer free WiFi on board, adding to the already high proportion of the WiFi-equipped Stagecoach Bluebird fleet. Andrew Jarvis, MD of Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “Our continued investment, despite a tough economic climate, is helping us with our goal of improving public transport in the North East of Scotland. It’s also allowed us to create more jobs in the bus industry as we’ve recently been recruiting for bus drivers, particularly in the Mearns area. We have found WiFi is an added incentive for commuters who want to catch up with the latest news, gossip, or check their emails before they even get into work.”
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 2 Clacton Bus Rally & Running Day, Clacton Factory Outlet, Essex. Classic and current vehicles. Entry forms & more details available at http://www. colneestuarypb.co.uk/ 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). Free entry. 07828 754412 or 01462 626750 n September 7-8 Bus Driver of the Year Final. Blackpool. Call 01303 251462. www.bdoy.co.uk n September 8 Bus & Coach Wales 2013. Rhyd y Car Leisure Centre, Merthyr Tydfil n September 10 Association of Trainers AGM. 1400hrs, Wembley. For details call 01797 344251. 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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DELIVERIES
KEITH’S COACHES Newcastle Upon Tyne-based Keith’s Coaches has taken delivery of a new Irizar i6 integral coach from Irizar UK. Measuring 12.9-metres long and standing 3.5-metres high, the vehicle is powered by a DAF PR265, generating 360BHP, coupled to a ZF
ASTronic 12-speed gearbox. Internally, the 57-seater coach is equipped with three-point seat belts, a toilet, DVD system, Bosch audio equipment, two LCD monitors, reverse camera and alloy wheels. The coach was delivered to Keith’s in May 2012 and is being used for local and continental tours. Commenting on the
new coach, Keith Grimes, Managing Director said: “It was the right deal at the right time. I found Ian very accommodating and nothing was too much trouble. As a member of BUSK’s Simply Safe...the way to go (sic), passenger safety is high on our list of priorities as it is with most operators and the quality of vehicle caught our eye.” Established in 1999, the firm operates a 10-strong fleet, with seating capacity between 22 to 70.
NEW BHARAT COACHES Southall-based New Bharat Coaches has recently taken delivery of a new Van Hool TX16 Astron from Moseley in the South. The 13.26m vehicle is powered by a 480 bhp MAN EEV engine, coupled to a 12-speed ASTronic gearbox, with ZF Intarder and ASR traction control.
FACT FILE
Chassis/body Irizar (integral) Engine DAF PR265 Transmission ZF AS-Tronic Seats 57 Spec Touring Supplied by
Irizar UK 01909 500514 www.irizar.co.uk
HIGHLAND TRANSLINK Mistral Bus & Coach plc has recently supplied a new Wrightbus Streetlite to Highland Translink in Inverness. Interestingly, the operator has acquired the inaugural 8.8m-long seatbelted Streetlite in Scotland. Powered by a Cummins Euro 5 engine, coupled to a Voith gearbox, the bus is fitted with a Lazzerini seats and Mobitec electronic destination equipment. The bus is being used to operate route 809 between Ullapool and Lochinver, on behalf of Highland Council. Based on a one-acre site on Longman Drive in the city, Highland Translink is the coach and bus operation
Internally, the coach is fitted with 57 ‘Grand Lux’ reclining passenger seats with contrasting leather trim to the headrest pad, side bolsters and moquette seam piping. The wood effect flooring is complemented by a fibre optic strips to step edgings. Entertainment is provided by a radio, PA, CD and DVD system with drop down flat panel monitors. There is also a foot-activated microphone
between Lochinver and Ullapool takes about an hour, so it’s important the journey is pleasant for everyone. “It is a well-used service which has many regular customers. I’m really looking forward to the summertime when the backpackers and holiday-makers come. The route is very popular for its beautiful scenery, so the new bus will make the journey even more enjoyable for both visitors and locals.” FACT FILE
which marked the recent return of Sandy Rapson to the industry. Sandy sold his previous business, Highland Country Buses, to Stagecoach in 2008. Another recent
addition to the Highland Translink fleet is a brand new VDL Futura. Commenting on the new Streetlite, Annella Bulch, driver of the Ullapool to
Lochinver service, said: “It’s a real pleasure to drive such a modern, clean, warm and comfortable bus and the passengers are really enjoying it too. The trip
Chassis/body Wright Streetlite (integral) Engine Cummins Euro 5 Transmission Voith auto Seats 33 Spec Seatbelted Supplied by
Mistral Bus & Coach 0800 781 4144 www.mistral-group.com
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February 6, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17
Have you taken delivery of a new vehicle and want to tell the world about it? Email all the details and pictures to james.day@ coachandbusweek.com
and bluetooth capability. Additional specification includes front destination gear, vertical lift luggage locker doors with central locking, extra luggage locker over rear axle and Alcoa Durabright alloy wheels. Founded in 1977, the firm currently runs a fleet ranging from 32 to 71 seats. New Bharat not only deals with private hire and school contracts but also runs scheduled services to Wolverhampton and Bradford. FACT FILE
Chassis/body Van Hool TX16
Astron
Engine MAN D2676 LOH27 Transmission ZF ASTronic Seats 57 Spec Touring Supplied by
Moseley in the South 01823 653000 www.moseleysouth.co.uk
LASER TRAVEL Worksop-based dealer Irizar UK has supplied South Wales coach firm Laser Travel Minicoach & Minitravel with a new Irizar Integral i6. The coach is a 12.9-metre long and 3.5-metre high version of the popular i6 equipped with a DAF PR265, 360BHP engine and ZF ASTronic 12-speed gearbox. Boasting 55/57 seats with lap belts, leather headrest, toilet, fridge, hot drinks console, the interior comes with the usual Irizar UK high specification of DVD system, Bosch audio equipment, two LCD monitors, reverse horn and alloy wheels. All Integral Irizars come equipped with WABCO ECAS/ EBS/ABS-ASR/ESP, ZF Axles and Knorr Bremse Tyre Pressure monitoring system
a used vehicle from Irizar in the summer and was impressed by the easy nature of the sale and the friendless of the team. This made the decision to purchase a new coach from Irizar UK easy. I was already impressed by the Irizar Integral i6 coach and this coupled with the service I had received made it a really easy decision. I was kept up to date with the progress and the local DAF dealer contacted me to introduce themselves.” FACT FILE
Chassis/body Irizar i6
(integral)
Engine DAF PR265
and as part of Irizar UK’s commitment to supporting its customers, the vehicle is supplied with a two-year body and driveline warranty as standard.
The coach has been put to use straight away on the firm’s tour programme. Nigel Williams, Proprietor of the Tonypandy-based operator commented: “I purchased
Transmission ASTronic Seats 55/57 Spec Touring Supplied by
Irizar UK 01909 500514 www.irizar.co.uk
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Insight › Mastercard
PayPass: a fast and fluid future James Day meets with Anouska Burrage and Mike Cowan of Mastercard at the Transport Ticketing 2013 Conference and Expo to discuss the contactless PayPass system, an upgrade to the existing Oyster system, which has just been rolled out across London
T
he general consensus at the Transport Ticketing 2013 Conference and Expo was that it was a very well targeted event. Exhibitors said almost all of the delegates present were either current or potential customers and it was very useful for collaborating with other firms in the industry. Amongst a number of heavyhitting sponsors for the event was Mastercard, Transport Ticketing’s ‘Platinum and Awards Sponsor’. The company recently held a top consulting role in TfL’s implementation of contactless bankcard payment across the 8,500-strong bus fleet in London, an undertaking which was recognised by the Transport Ticketing Awards on the evening of the event’s second day. The system in London went live in December, although the Thames Clipper used a Mastercard PayPass system before this. Later in 2013, the same system will be installed fully on the London Underground, making London the first city in the world with a fully open-loop contactless payment method for transport. The scheme is still in its early days, but it is predicted that 25 million www.coachandbusweek.com
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bus journeys will be made using a contactless payment card by the end of 2013. I spoke to Anouska Burrage, Head of Travel, Transit and Leisure in the UK and Ireland, and Mike Cowan, Vice President of Product Management at Mastercard, to find out more about Mastercard’s involvement in our industry. They told me bus ticketing is a big focus, which they are putting considerable resource and investment into. “The debate and discussion events like this really help educate operators,” Anouska said.
PayPass
Mastercard’s PayPass system is the basis for its contactless ticketing technology. It is based on the Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) standard. There are over 1.5 billion EMV cards in circulation worldwide, although London is the first city to install the contactless technology on such a large scale. Manchester is also putting a system in place, as is Chicago in the USA. Mike said a lot of private conversations are ongoing at the moment, with eight European capital cities, including Paris, considering updating their own public transport. “It’s a proven, stable and interoperable system,” Mike stated.
“Our ultimate ambition is to create a world beyond cash. It makes trading secure, safe and fast.” Anouska Burrage
“A PayPass system is sure to have stability and longevity. “Our ultimate ambition is to create a world beyond cash,” Anouska added. “It makes trading secure, safe and fast. “We do talk to operators and help them with the system’s implementation.” The future-proofed nature of PayPass was also stressed. Although currently contactless cards are most prevalent, the PayPass systems
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Mastercard: key players
Anouska Burrage – Head of Travel, Transit and Leisure for Mastercard in the UK and Ireland. Anouska has experience across a range of disciplines, including business development, customer experience, business strategy and sponsorship development. She joined Mastercard in 2007 to work in Sydney as leader of the customer marketing division. While there, she was involved with the launch of Air New Zealand’s FlyBe product, numerous Quantas credit card programmes and Woolworth’s/ Quantas reward platform. Anouska joined the UK and Ireland division in 2011, leading the core business development function. She was assigned her current role in 2012, assuming commercial responsibility for innovative solutions such as TfL.
Above: Mike Cowan, Vice President of Product Management. Left: Anouska Burrage gives a presentation at Transport Ticketing
which are currently being rolled out will not require any changes to be made to their readers for the technology to function correctly with mobile phone handsets. When asked whether Mastercard usually dealt with governing bodies in cities or the operators themselves, Anouska said it was a bit of both. “The biggest reasons we get from operators for not using the technology are to do with
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infrastructure,” she said. “Operators don’t want to upgrade their vehicles with contactless technology if they’ve just gone through a fleet upgrade cycle. They don’t want to mess with the new kit. “If anyone is replacing their fleet we talk to them about upgrading their payment methods with it. Parkeon has also been great about implementing this technology into its new ticketing machines.” TfL recently ran a trial of an
Oyster app in a mobile phone. Since TfL administrates the Oyster system, it had to be heavily involved with the mobile phone technology as well. With PayPass, all the administration is taken care of by the banks, meaning the infrastructure is easier to maintain and TfL don’t need to get involved. Careful consideration was given to the transaction model used in London. Having each ‘tap’ constitute a payment
Mike Cowan – Vice President, Product Management. The Transport Ticketing 2013 literature named Mike as one of the payment industry’s leading experts in the field of transit fare collection. His experience has been gained through involvement in complex transport projects such as TfL’s Future Ticketing Project. According to the show guide: “Mike is perhaps the only representative of the payments industry who has worked continuously with TfL throughout the entire lifecycle of the project from its original conception in 2006 to its public launch in 2012.” Mike joined Mastercard in 2000 and has been instrumental in transport projects across the world from South Africa and Australia to France and the UK. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Insight › Mastercard
transaction was considered, but rejected since more than one tap may be required to establish the transaction amount (whether or not it is a return journey, for example). This is made possible thanks to the system being able to track what and when passengers are spending. “The system uses the concept of aggregation,” Mike explained. “Passengers can ‘tap’ their card multiple times over the course of a day, on multiple buses and journeys, which are converted into price. “These are then all bundled together into one single payment transaction. “We set the rules on how the cards are used and already had a transit rule in place, but we did have to tweak and adapt it to suit London.” However it was decided that having a single payment transaction covering multiple days of travel would not be used, since one transaction per day was deemed to
be the easiest way for cardholders to relate the amount charged to travel undertaken.
Dispelling the myths
A common concern with contactless technology is security. Many people who may not fully understand how the system works have been reluctant to use it, believing they could pay when passing close to a PayPass terminal without meaning to. Mike explained this simply would not happen. “The technology is designed from the ground up so that you have to do something deliberate,” he explained. “It’s designed so you cannot use it without meaning to or without realising. “You have to tap and hold the card on the sensor – it has to be a purposeful, deliberate action. “With many concerns like this it’s all about educating customers and operators.” Anouska added: “Our ambition is about working with bus operators
PayPass works similarly to Oyster on London buses
“PayPass makes the most sense in an environment where queues tend to form, which may dissuade people from using the service.” Mike Cowan
The Mastercard Transport Ticketing Awards: the winners
On the evening of Tuesday, January 29, more than 200 leaders and pioneers from local authorities, transport operators, banks, MNOs and regulators attended the MasterCard Transport Ticketing Awards ceremony. The awards recognise organisations which have successfully established and delivered the infrastructure, services and technology which is shaping the future of transport and ticketing worldwide. After more than 3,500 experts within the transport industry voted across five key categories, the winners were announced as: Overall service winner IETT Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Runners up – Cubic and Parkeon’s SmartRider system in Perth Australia Bank-card ticketing winner - Transport for London – Launch of contactless bankcard acceptance on London Buses Runners up – BKK and Garanti Bank Smart-card ticketing winner – Yellow Buses, RATP Group Runners up – Go-Ahead and NXP – BSS Rabbit card Ticketing Tech winner – Siemens: dual functional www.coachandbusweek.com
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L-R: Hayri Baracli, General Manager IETT Istanbul Metropolitan University, Shashi Verma, Director of Customer Experience TfL Rainer Lutz, Global Marketing Manager NXP, Mike Cowen, VP Product Management PayPass Europe MasterCard, Tom Quay, Digital Director Base (representing Yellow Buses, RATP group), Marcel Kalbermatter, Head of Rail Solutions Siemens smartcard Runners up – Connecthings and Masabi Mobile Ticketing winner – NXP for Dubai Roads and Transport Authority Runners up – Snapper and Veolia Transdev Mike Cowen, who was at the event, said: “We’re delighted that the introduction of PayPass technology on London buses has resulted in consumers actively
using their MasterCards in a new environment. This is another step towards making a world beyond cash a reality, while also making consumers’ lives easier as they move around the city. “The MasterCard Transport and Ticketing Awards are a great way to recognise the organisations making significant contributions to the transport and ticketing industry and to credit them for their achievements.”
and driving awareness. We want them to know, if they’re scratching their heads, that we’re here to help advise them.” Turning to the mobile phone, a platform which is expected to make greater use of PayPass in the future, a question was raised during Mastercard’s presentation on Wednesday, January 30, stating how easy it would be to steal a passenger’s phone and use it on the contactless system. After finding that the key concern for many people with contactless payment technology built into phones was the thought of ‘losing everything’ if they lost their phone, Mastercard asked how many of them knew their 16-digit bank card number. Very few people knew it off hand, while a far greater number could recite their mobile phone number. It was then explained that because of this it is actually easier to deactivate the application on a stolen phone than to deactivate a bank card, with a single call.
Easier for everyone
Perhaps the clearest benefit of contactless technology is speed. “PayPass creates a seamless connection for the user,” Mike said. “Ultimately we want to make travel easy, safe and simple. Contactless systems make it easy to board buses, since passengers don’t have the hassle of boarding a bus and discovering their Oyster card needs topping up, or fumbling for change. Consumers are already entering into this behaviour as they become educated on the benefits of PayPass.” Mike said the system in London is a pioneering one and a real tipping point in the acceptance of contactless ticketing technology. “PayPass makes the most sense in an environment where queues tend to form, which may dissuade people from using the service,” Mike continued. “It’s here where the most time is saved. “On the network in London it is a great example of enabling something which wouldn’t have worked before. Payments by card on a bus would be far too slow to be practical without it. “Just like if they were using credit or debit cards, passengers don’t have to worry about topping it up, as long as there is money in their bank account. It makes consumers’ lives as easy as possible. “Why should I need to buy a voucher to exchange for a bus journey?”
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Vital skills for success
Courses on Network and Timetable Planning Bus and Crew Scheduling
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New Alphabet House Carden Street Worcester WR1 2AT Phone 01905-613527 Fax 01905-767509 e-mail courses@qv-associates.co.uk
22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 6, 2013
PRODUCTS
MC truck & Bus sticks with Stertil Koni Following the expiry of a five year hire contract, MC Truck & Bus (MCTB) has renewed its successful association with Stertil Koni by replacing 19 sets of cabled, mobile column lifts with the company’s 8.2 tonne wireless versions, type ST1082FWF-4. A member of the respected MC Group, MCTB is a Volvo dealership providing commercial vehicle sales and hire across the South East. December 2012 saw the end of two separate five year contract hire deals covering lifts provided by Stertil Koni and another supplier. Both firms were then invited to put forward wireless versions of their respective lifts for extensive trialling after which MCTB specified the Stertil Koni electrohydraulic units. Subsequently, 19 sets of lifts were supplied to the firm’s depots in Blandford, Burgess Hill, Hythe, Maidstone, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Thurrock and Witham. Stertil Koni’s latest generation ST1082FWF-4 vehicle lift uniquely incorporates a wireless control system providing maximum access to the underside of a raised vehicle. Each column is equipped with two longlife deep cycle batteries which, when fully charged, power the fully-laden column for more than 20 lifting cycles – easily a full week’s use. Batteries can be charged overnight via a 230v
single phase supply. Since there are no cables on the workshop floor, the risk of tripping is removed. Also, with no power or communication cables to connect, set-up time is drastically reduced thereby making the system fully operational much more quickly. Each 8.2 tonne column is fitted with a user-friendly control box allowing operation of the set from the most convenient point for the operator. The fitting of an additional remote control hand unit, with a 10m lead to each set, was specified
by MCTB to ensure even greater operational flexibility for the firm’s technicians. The ST1082FWF-4 ensures safe lifting up to a height of 1.85m which can be reached in just 89 seconds. The lowering speed is pre-selectable and each column can be lowered manually in the event of a power failure. Positioning of the wireless columns is flexible: they can be used in any configuration around a vehicle. Call Stertil UK on 01604 662049. www.stertiluk.com Stertil Koni wireless lifting sets offer increased safety due to elimination of connecting cables
King Long selects Allison Transmission Kinglong Direct Limited has specified an Allison fully automatic transmission in its new XMQ6800 eight-metre mini coach for the UK market. The coach was unveiled at the Euro Bus Expo 2012 at the NEC in Birmingham in early November. Allison Transmission was chosen as its broad range of transmissions offer a unit which fit perfectly alongside the XMQ6800’s Cummins ISBe5 207bhp engine and because of its reputation as a brand offering reliability, durability and performance. Paul Bicknell, Director of Kinglong Direct Limited, said: “As part of our strategy, we look to offer the highest quality componentry from wellrespected global brands. “When we looked at the XMQ6800’s drivetrain, it had to have an automatic from Allison Transmission. In a market where manuals and automated manual transmissions are the norm, our offer of the Allison is a distinctive advantage. “We conducted rigorous trials of the transmission in China and found the Allison transmission performed very well.” Call Allison’s UK sales team on 01525 408 600. Visit www.allisontransmission.com. Call King Long Direct on 02476 363004. Visit www.kinglonguk.com
Michelin celebrates 60th anniversary of radial CV tyres The launch of the first Michelin X Radial truck tyre in 1952 helped to transform the road transport industry, which until then was using cross-ply tyres. The introduction of radials made trucking safer and more efficient – and incited other manufacturers to pursue the same path. In 2011, radial tyres accounted for 100% of the Western European truck tyre market. Michelin researcher Marius Mignol invented the first Michelin X steel radial tyre for cars in 1946, following it with the launch of the X Radial truck tyre in 1952. The ‘X’ is Michelin’s trademark for its radial tyres and is making its most
recent appearance in the truck market on the revolutionary X MultiWay 3D tyre, which has just been launched in the UK’s most popular commercial vehicle tyre size, the 295/80 R 22.5. Sharn Samra, Head of Michelin Truck Marketing for the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “Michelin’s history has been shaped by innovation and there’s no better example than the radial tyre. “Marius Mignol conducted secret research in occupied France during World War II to develop the Michelin X. All these years later his dedication to innovation continues to run through our technical culture – just look at the €592m of investment we channel into research and development every year! That is more than any other tyre manufacturer.” A decade after launching the X Radial truck tyre and, as word about
the tyre’s benefits was spreading throughout the transport industry, Michelin ran a series of high-profile field tests across Europe in 1962. For example, Michelin compared the performance of a set of Michelin X Radial truck tyres with conventional cross-ply truck tyres on two trucks undertaking a 435 kilometre journey from Thiviers, in the Dordogne region of France, to Paris. The truck running Michelin’s X Radial truck tyres reduced fuel consumption by 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres compared to the truck running on cross-ply tyres, a saving of 13.8%. Worldwide, the proportion of radial tyres produced now amounts to 73% of all commercial vehicle tyres, Michelin estimates. For more information visit www.michelin.co.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
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Email martin.cole@coachandbus week.com to get your new product or service in the spotlight
SPACE HEATERS FROM SIP SIP Industrial Products Ltd, the industrial heating, welding and compressor specialists, have launched a new range of propane space heaters designed for use in workshops, garages and factories. The units come with a choice of body finishes – heavy duty painted finish or durable, stainless-steel (supported by a two-year warranty). The range starts with the Fireball 365, a powerful machine yielding a heat output of 36,500 BTU/ hr (10.7kW). The Fireball 365 will efficiently heat a workspace of approximately 257m3. Top of this new range is the powerful Professional Fireball 3711DV Propane Space Heater. This heater has a dual voltage (230v/110v) supply, a stainless steel body and will heat a huge workspace of approximately 2610m3. The Fireball 3711DV is wheel mounted and is supported by a full two year warranty. Paul Ippaso, Director of SIP, said: “Our industrial heater range now fits perfectly within the market. We can
LICENCE VALIDITY CHECK FROM TACHODISC
SIP’s new range is suitable for small workspaces right through to larger workshops, garages and factories. SIP can also supply waste oil burners supply heaters suitable for small workspaces right through to larger workshops, garages and factories. Our full range includes electric, waste oil, diesel and propane powered heaters. These latest additions mean we can now satisfy almost any customer’s requirement”.
Simple rules from Eminox for staying London LEZ compliant Roughly a year ago year tens of thousands of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) were fitted to vehicles for London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ). It’s therefore time for operators to think about how they’re looking after that investment, ensuring continued compliance. The specialist particulate filter within a DPF is designed to regenerate during normal operation. However, over time incombustible residues and soot accumulate inside the filter which needs to be periodically removed. Rules to help you stay LEZ compliant and avoid unexpected costs: The particulate filter should be 1 cleaned at least once a year Most have a service 2 indicator which will give advance warning (usually an amber light) if the filter needs to be serviced earlier. this occurs it’s 3 Once important to get the filter service scheduled as soon as possible to maintain fuel economy and emissions reduction
performance. RPC (Reduced Pollution 4 The Certificate) or LEC (Low Emission Certificate) is proof a vehicle complies with the London LEZ standards and needs to be renewed every year, so there’s no sense in delaying. continue to drive a 5 Never vehicle which is displaying a red or final warning light as you risk permanently damaging the filter. This is a key component of the DPF system and would therefore leave you with an unexpected bill many times higher than the cost of servicing it. a specialist 6 Choose particulate filter service provider that includes inspection of the serviced filter and offers a guarantee that it is really clean. A filter that has been returned to ‘as new’ condition will last longer between services, providing better value and less vehicle downtime. There are lots of different options for getting a particulate filter serviced quickly and conveniently to avoid vehicle downtime. Eminox uses the
Full technical specifications for the new heaters are available on SIP’s website at www.sip-group.com. Alternatively email your postcode to sales@ sip-group.com for more details and your nearest SIP Authorised Distributor.
patented Xpurge system which removes more soot and ash than conventional cleaning methods. It can also be carried out much faster than conventional cleaning, which can involve lengthy oven baking. Advanced Xpurge cleaning is offered in conjunction with the patented Veritex inspection technology - this gives a picture of the internal condition of the filter and offers a guarantee that it is really clean not just on the visible surfaces, but throughout Eminox, whose CRT system was the number one choice for upgrading vehicles to the London LEZ, offers a range of filter servicing packages including ‘while-you wait’ servicing, self exchange and full service on-site exchange. As the original manufacturer of the system Eminox can also offer health checks and troubleshooting services to determine if the condition of the filter may be an early indicator of a problem elsewhere in the engine or DPF. In these tough economic times we’ll all keep a close eye on the balance sheet. So service particulate filters regularly to avoid unexpected costs.
Tachodisc has added a new driver licence validity programme to its suite of compliance services. Driving licence validity checks are recommended by the Health and Safety Executive and the DfT in their joint ‘Driving at Work: Managing Work-related Road Safety’ document. These checks are established as the blueprint for occupational road risk management best practice. Karen Crispe, Tachodisc’s MD, said: “The DfT estimates up to 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week result from crashes involving ‘at work’ drivers and authorities are actively working to reduce these numbers. Therefore, employers have a duty of care to check the competency and capability of their at-work drivers, ensure they have a valid licence and are legal to drive. Implementing best practice techniques effectively provides protection for the employer and employee in the event of an accident – and other road users. “However, the amount of information a driving licence carries can be a minefield for the untrained and the administration involved in conducting regular checks can be real burden on resources.” Tachodisc’s driving licence checking service is designed to reduce the administrative burden for fleet managers and provide an up to date check to ensure full compliance. It is based on a Data Protection Act release form with a three-year mandate which allows Tachodisc to check driving licences with the DVLA on an on-going basis, as per the company’s ‘check’ requirements, without reference to the driver in question at any time over that period. The system logs all the information employers need to know about each driver, including restrictions, medicals, points and license categories. These details are held on a portal for companies to access either via Tachodisc’s analysis software packages or as a stand-alone service. Multiple controls can also be set for the levels of information each company department and individual manager can access. When mandates are due to expire, the system sends out an automatic email reminder. For further information visit www.tachodisc.co.uk or email sales@tachodisc.co.uk or call Tachodisc on 01925 283328. www.coachandbusweek.com
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operator profile › walton’s coaches
Primed for the future Tim Deakin visits Lancashire operator Walton’s Coaches to find out about the firm’s varied fleet, its training solutions and its customer base
S
ome operators elect to do things a little bit differently to the rest, and in a number of ways Walton’s Coaches, based west of Preston in the Lancashire village of Freckleton, is one of them. Founded in 1982, the company moved to its current premises 15 years ago. Expansion soon followed and Walton’s was able to purchase its first new coach in 2001. “We always buy new now,” said Jill Walton, Assistant Transport Manager and daughter of founders Peter and Mary. Indeed, three 13-plate BMCs are expected to enter service during the coming weeks, a third batch of the Turkish manufacturer’s products to join the Walton’s Coaches fleet. Peter and Mary both remain firmly involved with the day-to-day running of the business and the repeated choice of BMC is largely down to Peter’s fondness for something a little unusual when purchasing vehicles. He remains the face of the company while Mary is Transport Manager.
From small acorns
New coaches and a policy of regular fleet replacement demonstrate how far Walton’s Coaches has come in 31 years. “It was my dad’s dream,” Jill explained. “He had one coach while still working for British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) as a lorry driver. It grew from there really. We got involved in National Express work early on; we used to dupe the 570 to London back in the www.coachandbusweek.com
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One of two of Walton’s Coaches BMC Karismas
days when they had hostesses. “That led us to purchase more vehicles, which we had painted in National Express livery. While we were doing that my dad finished at BNFL to concentrate solely on coaches and we then decided we would go into the disabled market. “He contacted Ribble Vehicle Services and they converted one of the coaches we had then, putting a side lift on it. It was over 20 years ago we hit on that idea and it was really popular. We’ve had one ever since.” National Express work has not featured for a decade and a half. Wheelchair-accessible requirements are currently met by a Beulas-bodied MAN, which is able to accommodate up to eight less mobile passengers. Jill mentioned the market for this specialist work has declined a little over recent years, although it remains a worthwhile niche. “It’s dropped a bit from how it used to be. To a degree that’s down to health and safety and liability when we take residents out from nursing homes, but it’s still a popular market,” she said. With its removable seats the Beulas remains able to function as a conventional coach when not required for wheelchair-accessible work.
Varied fleet
Walton’s fleet of today numbers 23 and extends to both ends of the size spectrum. A handful of prestige cars are used on a VIP contract for one important client and five doubledecker buses work school services local to the Freckleton base. In
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operator: Walton’s Coaches location: Preston, Lancashire FLEET: 23 Contact: 01772 634563 www.waltonscoaches.co.uk
between are full-size coaches, three 35- and two 28-seaters, a 22-seat Toyota Coaster and a single 16-seat Unvi-bodied Mercedes Sprinter. The latter vehicle, a 2010 model, is kept busy on corporate hires and is highly specified. “It’s got WiFi, a DVD player, air conditioning and leather trim,” Jill explained. “For the work it does, it’s got to be right. We ordered it with WiFi from the start. A company from Leeds fitted a Moovbox and we have it on a Vodafone monthly contract.” “WiFi was specified because of where the vehicle goes: up and down the country with corporate clients. They want to be able to work while they’re on board.” Although still comparatively youthful it may be replaced this year. “We really like to keep it bob-on the mark,” Jill said. “That’s the only reason it would be changed. But if we don’t find anything we like to replace it with and it ends up being next year instead, then that’s OK. We’ll probably change some of our larger coaches during 2014 too.” Although the existing 16-seater may leave the fleet soon, WiFi is destined to be a long-term part of the business model. Recent developments have seen portable units come onto the market and testing has shown they are powerful enough to work throughout a full-size coach. Onboard connectivity is becoming an increasingly potent selling tool and it is one which will be used by Walton’s. The bigger vehicles themselves are employed on the full gamut of coaching work, with one exception. “Any enquiry we receive, we give a price for, with the exception of stag nights,” Jill noted. “We’re in a position now that we can turn them down. “At the beginning you take anything and everything, but from experience we’ve lost windows and all sorts. You can kind of work out when people are asking for a price that it’s a stag do. The odd few slip through the net but we’re in the position now where we can say no. I know some other operators nearby and we’re all of pretty much the same opinion.” Conveying football fans to away fixtures is another line of work which is given some consideration before being accepted. “It’s not something we like to do if we don’t know them,” Jill outlined. “We do have some regular football supporters we’ve carried for
www.coachandbusweek.com
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OPERATOR PROFILE › WALTON’S COACHES
years, particularly Blackpool fans. Because of that we know we’re safe doing it. “We also do a coach for the local team, AFC Fylde, and we’re quite involved with them. They’ve had one of our double-decker buses specially-liveried and we do a shuttle for them when they’ve a home game. We have no problems with that. We take their supporters to away fixtures, but it’s not a big market for us.” Apart from private hire duties, a variety of theatre trips, day excursions and short breaks feature in Walton’s Coaches’ workload. In a situation no doubt familiar to most coach operators, bookings for these offerings remain almost entirely unpredictable. “It’s quite surprising really,” Jill explained. “You think that something will really go, but then another trip you thought wouldn’t really appeal is the one that’s really popular. It’s really difficult to predict. One year the theatre trips can book really well, but not the next. I can’t say from one year to another whether they’ll be hot or not.” Theatre trips run predominantly to Liverpool and Manchester, occasionally extending to overnight London jaunts, although the latter are usually run on behalf of a Lancaster-based tour company. “They organise it and we just provide them with a coach, which works very well,” she noted. “They’ve got a very good reputation and advertise week-in, week-out with the local newspapers.”
Two rare breeds
The fleet of larger coaches is varied, and includes several vehicles which remain comparatively unusual sights on the UK’s roads. “My dad has a thing about taking on vehicles that haven’t been tried by anyone before,” Jill explained. “We were the first operator in the country to have an Ayats; we took the first Atlas in 2001. “We started taking BMCs in 2004. When we had the first one, we had some problems with it, but to be fair to BMC they worked them out. If nobody tries them they’re never going to get off the ground, are they? Someone has to be brave enough. It’s about giving them a chance.” Of the fleet of BMCs at the time of writing, two are 10-plate, 35ft Karisma coaches complemented by an identical 59-registered example, and the other is an 07-registered www.coachandbusweek.com
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Left: Walton’s Beulas Stergo Spica-bodied MAN. Right: Jill Walton, Assistant Transport Manager
Walton’s online: a vital presence
Walton’s Coaches’ website is a smart yet relatively simple affair, featuring the blue, yellow and metallic silver which makes up the operator’s fleet livery, and is to be updated shortly. It’s vital to the business, Jill reported. “I know there are a few people out there who don’t have a website, but it’s a big thing to us,” she said. The ubiquitous smartphone has meant an online presence is ever more vital. “I rarely get my laptop out any more; I just go on my phone instead. We’ve just had a QR code done, which has gone on a lot of advertising. It takes people to a video about the company that we had made which is part of the package.” Jill continued: “I get quite a lot of enquiries through the website, because if people click on the email link it comes to me and lets me know it’s been generated from there. I get five or six emails a day through it. For a company of the size we are I think that’s pretty good going.”
wheelchair-accessible Hawk bus. The trio of Turkish-built coaches seat 35 and have proven themselves highly popular with hirers. “They’re out every day,” Jill reported. “It’s very rare that there’s one left here and it’s not booked out on anything. We always advise people to reserve early to guarantee them; our regular customers have become accustomed to that. Particularly from March onwards, the sooner they can let us know the better.” Parts availability for the earlier BMCs in Walton’s fleet was sometimes sketchy, but Pelican Engineering’s recent takeover of the UK concession has vastly improved matters. In the past it was sometimes necessary to wait for spares to arrive from Turkey, but Jill reported Pelican is holding a much larger range of stock than was the case previously, some of which can be delivered same day via courier. “Pelican have also guaranteed that the three new BMCs are going to be right,” she continued. “I can believe that because Pelican aren’t a new company. They’ve been around for a long time and have a reputation to protect. I can’t see them jeopardising their good name by taking on a product they’re not confident about.” This is welcome, for regardless of the vehicle’s manufacturer, Jill noted it is often aftersales support which lets down the whole purchasing process, sometimes badly. “I’m hard pressed to find a dealer we’ve worked with which has been good,” she said. “That’s the real let-down of it. Once they’ve taken your money and handed over the vehicle they almost don’t want to know if you’ve got a problem.” She recalled one coach which
proved particularly troublesome during its first year. “We always said the garage was built to hold it, as it spent more time in there than it did on the road during those 12 months. We had tremendous problems, to the point that my mum spoke to the finance company about it. “She said: ‘You own this vehicle; help me.’ And they did actually take notice of her and get something done about it. That’s the frustrating part about buying vehicles – the abandonment afterwards.”
Chinese success
One member of the fleet for which the main dealer’s support is showing promising signs is Walton’s Coaches’ King Long. A twoaxle, 49-seat XMQ 6127 bearing a 59-plate registration, its purchase was almost a by-product of the company’s involvement with BMC vehicles. “We got our BMCs through the people who sell King Long now,” said Jill. “[King Long Sales Director] Ray McNally was here talking to us about the BMCs and he gave us a King Long brochure. My dad had done his research as well because we’d read about them and done some browsing on the internet. We liked the look of the product.” Walton’s King Long is fitted out to a high internal specification, complete with leather seating and heavily tinted windows. Jill said it has proven itself popular with customers. “If I have my way, we will have more King Longs,” she added. “I like the look and style of them and they’re great to drive. You wouldn’t even think you were driving a coach, it’s so light. But like
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The UNVI-bodied Mercedes Sprinter is kept busy on corporate hires everything it comes down to price. It’s what deal somebody’s going to give you, what part-exchange they’ll offer against your trade-in. It comes down to the best deal for us at the time, and the best specification.” Unlike some operators Walton’s doesn’t operate a one-vehicle, one-driver system and the Chinese coach has a handful of regular pilots. “They like it,” Jill said. “And drivers tend to let you know when they’re not fond of something.” As with the BMCs, spares availability for the King Long appears to be improving. “I know this because I spoke to somebody between Christmas and New Year, when I needed a part that’s not really a stock item,” Jill explained. “It’s a new interior panel to replace one that somebody decided to put a hole in. The gentleman I spoke to told me there’s a plate by the door and he needed a number off it, because it’s unique to our vehicle. “Nobody has ever asked me for that before when I’ve called them. They really seem to be making an effort, so fingers crossed it’s going to go in the right direction – but I will be speaking to Ray if it doesn’t!”
Staffing solutions
Walton’s Coaches employs 20 fulltime members of staff and is able to draw upon a number of part-time and semi-retired casual drivers who live locally when needed. Both these and the full-time complement have almost completed their Driver CPC training, which is administered inhouse and delivered by Jill Walton. “When DCPC was first announced we looked into it and found out what was required to become a trainer,” she said. “We found a college locally which was
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doing the ‘trainer’s training’. We paid a nice sum of money and I just went and did it. “It went on for about a month and was very intense. I got it done because I thought there was no point dragging it out over a year as that would have put me 12 months behind on what we need to do.” Besides training Walton’s own drivers, those from a handful of smaller operators locally have also taken their DCPC modules at the Freckleton premises. Such classroom sessions usually take place during school holiday periods. Among Walton’s drivers there is a full crossover and all are accustomed to driving both coaches and the company’s doubledecker school buses as necessary. “Anybody who comes to us has to be able to do everything,” Jill said. “It has worked well.” When recruiting it’s not always a case that experience counts for everything and some long-time bus drivers have successfully been ordained into the coaching way of life. Insurance considerations mean it’s impractical for Walton’s to employ people with less than 12 months’ category D experience, but subject to meeting the standard in terms of attitude and presentation the operator is willing to give newer drivers a chance. “We will take on people with relatively little experience, because by doing that you can train them to be how you want them to be,” Jill said. “We have in-house training here so it’s something we’re willing to do, because you can mould them, to a degree.” Besides DCPC tuition, refresher training is undertaken as necessary with the help of Powerpoint presentations.
Future endeavours All drivers are accustomed to driving both coaches and the deckers
School Buses:
a guaranteed income
Although Walton’s started out as, and remains principally, a coach operator, its fleet of five Optare Spectra-bodied DAF double-deckers is occupied on a number of home-to-school tenders locally. “We bought the doubledeckers when we moved to where we are now, so we’ve been running them for about 15 years,” Jill explained. “Because we then had the space to house them it seemed like a logical next step to do contract work for the local council. They’re five-year deals, so it’s a guaranteed income. Almost everybody now has at least one or two school services.” She doesn’t rule out any more in the future subject to them fitting in with the business as a whole, although for the moment the services run with the Spectras are “quite enough”.
Although Jill’s job title is Assistant Transport Manager she handles much more than the duties which might be expected of such a role. “I deal exclusively with one of our bigger clients. I’m constantly over there having meetings about new work they want us to do. I also look after another of our large clients, Lancashire County Council.” With all her requisite qualifications and more – transport manager’s CPC, health and safety assessor accreditation, an Institute of Leadership and Management certificate and a degree in marketing and business – Walton’s Coaches is in safe hands as a family firm for the future.
www.coachandbusweek.com
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cv show › preview
Something for everyone at the CV Show Coach & Bus Week’s Martin Cole gives an early preview of some of the attractions at the 2013 CV Show SmartWater Technology
SmartWater marking of major assets has been around for a long time and proved invaluable in wide-ranging applications to assist in tracing stolen property – from banknotes to heavy plant equipment. SmartWater technology has now developed a marking system suitable for application to catalytic converters which withstands temperatures of up to 800 degrees centigrade and lasts for up to 100,000 miles or five years. Each application of SmartWater costs around £35 and places an indelible and unique signature on the item. It is invisible to the naked eye but shows up under a UV light. With catalytic converter theft having developed into a major concern, particularly in the light commercial and minibus sector, having the vehicle’s catalytic converter marked means the item is directly traceable back to the owner. Thieves stealing the units and trying to move them on to either scrap dealers, typically for around £250 each, or to sell on to people looking to upgrade emissions systems on older vehicles has become rife. Police investing thefts often discover heaps of catalytic converters in scrapyards but have no way of identifying or tracing where these units have come from. Where SmartWater has been applied, stickers clearly stating its presence can be attached to the vehicle as a deterrent to would-be thieves – effectively warning them that the chance of selling a marked catalytic converter is limited. If they heed the notice it can also prevent additional damage to a vehicle www.coachandbusweek.com
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where they may break windows or force entry to gain access to the bonnet release. Wide uptake of such a marking system would quickly diminish the market for stolen catalytic converters and remove the incentive from thieves. The company is offering a 30% discount for any orders placed at the show.
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Schumacher UK
Schumacher UK is a newly formed division of TCS Products which has been established to market Schumacher battery boosters and chargers into Europe. Made in the USA, Schumacher equipment has been produced since 1947 where it has a solid reputation for high quality, reliability and competitive pricing. An example on display was a compact, portable and extremely robust 12/24v booster pack suitable for assisted starting of engines up to 500bhp. The unit has an integral Enersys battery and a tough moulded casing with a clear display. Switches are recessed for protection in case they fall over and the base is designed as a shock absorber to prevent damage if dropped. Cables are extremely flexible and the strong connection clips are firmly attached. The range includes bench-top and wheel-around boosters and chargers for 6-24v electrical systems. All chargers except one are governed by SmartCharge software to optimise charging rates without causing gassing which can seriously damage AGM or Calcium batteries. The company also produces memory Saver, a module designed to provide a continuous source of power to ensure there is no memory
1: Schumacher PBI4424 Professional Booster. 2: TyrePal’s dashboard display. 3: Eberspacher Hydronic and Airtronic independent heating. 4: Schumacher PMI 7A OBD memory saver. 5: Wigam Centociquanta loss should the batteries need to be removed from the vehicle. It plugs into the EOBD socket and ensures things like radio codes do not get lost and need special reprogramming to reinstate.
TomTom Business Solutions
Navigation and vehicle management specialist TomTom Business Solutions will continue to promote its successful WorkSmart which is now making inroads into a number of coach operations which are finding the navigation system’s use of IQ Routes to be a major assistance in reliable journey
scheduling, especially its ability to interact with live traffic information and alert drivers to congestion or blockages ahead - best served via re-routing to avoid delays. IQ Routes analyses route options and makes its decision based on traffic flow data. The comprehensive WorkSmart portal gives operators full access to vehicle location and movement and allows driver messaging to relay any itinerary changes. The system allows vehicle management data to be compiled into detailed reports for respective departments. Sales & Marketing Director Giles Margerison said TomTom was currently engaged with vehicle
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OEMs over the use of its system as an integral part of the on-board telematics.
AA DRIVETECH
AA DriveTech can now deliver its Driver CPC courses at 20 new venues throughout the country. In addition to worthwhile courses designed to deliver real business benefits, delegates can benefit from improved comfort, courtesy of high quality seminar rooms, convenient location, easy parking, quality refreshments and overnight accommodation if they require it. The nationwide venues are
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of particular benefit to smaller companies who only want a couple of drivers to attend a course. Being able to send those drivers to a nearby course, with others, is a more economical way of them being able to access AA DriveTech’s training. Drivers can now also book themselves onto AA DriveTech courses by phone (0845 345 9626) as well as online at www. AAdrivetech.com “We pride ourselves on delivering quality Driver CPC training at an affordable price. Now with even greater national coverage we offer modern, quality surroundings available across the country,” said Jason Vallint of AA DriveTech. “With our extended national reach, flexible selection of courses, high levels of service and quality products, operators can depend on us to provide their driver training anytime, anyplace.” “LGV drivers have until September 2014 to complete their 35 hours of mandatory training so time is of the essence. We think many are resisting course take-up because of the poor quality of courses and venues being offered by some suppliers. At AA DriveTech we are aiming for a quality experience from start to finish.” AA DriveTech and the British Red Cross have teamed up to provide both essential driving and life learning skills which qualify for the mandatory Driver Certificate of Professional Competence [Driver CPC] training required by truck, bus and coach drivers. This is a unique and unrivalled collaboration for developing one of the most valuable of all life skills. Both organisations can provide national coverage, which enables customers to buy with confidence. Jason Vallint said: “To be able to offer first aid skills through one of the very best recognised global brands fits very well into our Driver CPC course offering, as we continue to develop a comprehensive course portfolio. This course is particularly applicable to passenger carrying vehicle operations operating both at home and abroad.” The seven hour long, workshopbased course can accommodate up to ten people and can be delivered at client premises throughout the UK. Weekend delivery is also possible and open courses may be made available at a later stage, subject to demand. “Professional drivers need
professional skills,” said Angela Morrison, National Training Manager of the British Red Cross. “They are often lone workers and tend to be the first on scene in road incidents where they could potentially provide emergency assistance to other road users. But they may not have the basic knowledge, confidence and capability to administer simple life-saving interventions.” Enquiries about this new course should be directed to Norman Brennan on 01256 491964 or norman. brennan@AAdrivetech.com Also new from AA DriveTech are the latest additions of Winter Driving Workshop and Application of Roadside Safety & Working Practices. Given the recent bad weather, many drivers will be aware of the need for specialist skills to stay safe in wintery conditions. The 3.5 hour workshop is designed to prepare drivers for all the dangers winter driving can bring from snow, ice, wind, fog and rain. Participants will brush up on their skills in hazard, visual and knowledge perception as well as studying defensive driving techniques and skid control. The Application of Roadside Safety & Working Practices is a 7-hour specialist Driver CPC and IVR (Institute of Vehicle Recovery) accredited course that deals with working at the roadside for breakdown and recovery technicians. It covers the correct procedures for safely approaching breakdowns if intending to repair or to carry out direct recoveries; being able to carry out a dynamic risk assessment prior to repairing or safely recovering casualty vehicles.
TYREPAL
TyrePal, specialist in retro-fit tyre pressure monitoring systems, is launching an innovative heavy duty tyre pressure monitoring system suitable for fleets or individual vehicles. The TyrePal system continuously measures both temperature and pressure of tyres while the vehicle is moving and continues checking while it is parked. The system can detect a slow leak that could easily go unnoticed for thousands of miles, damaging the tyre and racking up excess fuel costs. Temperature sensing means any unusual stress on a tyre is also detected, and a warning given before it results in a
blowout or tyre fire. Advanced warning means any issues can generally be dealt with on site instead of at a roadside breakdown. Tyres are systematically checked before every journey and continuous monitoring means problems picked up en route can be dealt with before they cause an accident or a breakdown. A monitor in the cab gives clear and distict alerts for: Air loss (puncture etc.); Low pressure; High pressure; and high temperature. If preferred, an intelligent communications link can be provided between the tyre pressure monitoring system and external systems. This can be used to connect to a telematics link, custom instrumentation or for communication with a gateway base station. The system uses sensors on each tyre which transmit pressure and temperature data to the monitor or data node at 433MHz. External sensors simply screw on to the tyre valve in place of the standard dust cap and an integral security shroud prevents them being removed without using a special tool. Internal sensors are also available. These fit inside the tyre behind the valve, so the tyre must be removed to fit them. The new TyrePal system is available now, with prices starting at £225 + VAT for a six-wheel system and an in-cab monitor.
CITROEN
Citroen is to announce the availability of a Stop & Start system for two additions to its Relay range which will become available from May. These are a Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual and a Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual. Already one of the most fuel efficient and lowest emissions large panel vans available, the new Relay Stop & Start models are claimed to deliver further fuel economy gains of up to 2.2% and to cut CO2 emissions by up to 5g/km. Pricing and full specifications will be released closer to their May ‘on sale’ date.
BUSINESS LINES
The supplier of Checkpoint CV loose wheel nut indicators will promote its popular range of products which has been expanded to include complete nut rings. Available in a range of popular sizes
www.coachandbusweek.com
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cv show › preview
for UK and American specification wheels and mountings, these require fitting by hammering into place with a rubber mallet. The plastic grips the wheel nut firmly and prevents it from backing off. Also new is Checktread – a complete kit to monitor and check the condition of threaded studs and wheel stud holes in addition to determining the correct nut type for use with a specific wheel. The kit contains four thread testers. These are threaded cylinders (one for each of the four popular stud sizes – M18, M20 & M22 plus Scania 7/8 UNF 11) which are run onto the stud using just fingers. If it encounters obstruction or becomes too tight to move by hand it is likely the threads are either stretched or damaged and replacements are required. Included in the kit is a stud hole elongation tool which is a dummy stud with stepped diameters of 21mm, 24mm and 26mm. This can be routinely inserted into stud holes. Unless it is a snug fit and movement can be detected it indicates the hole is becoming worn and the wheel need replacing. An additional tool to check whether the nut needs to have a spherical or conical profile to fit the stud hole seat correctly.
OSS Group
OSS Group specialises in contracted waste disposal and if offering package deals to operators. One deal offers payment for waste oil while providing free disposal of other waste material. This package includes special rate for interceptor clearance, parts washer rentals, low cost tyre collection, spill kits and other workshop waste such as filters, batteries brake fluid and friction materials. An alternative deal offers free oil collection and disposal while providing full workshop waste services and parts washer rental for £25 per month – depending on minimum oil quantities. OSS Director Mark Bridgens said: “We are at the show to make deals. We understand the needs of workshops and we understand waste. We are happy to pay for good quality waste oil and subject to the amount we collect we can structure a tailored and very attractive package – and by attractive I mean low or even no cost deals which include numerous associated services and products.” www.coachandbusweek.com
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MiX Telematics
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Top: MiX Rovir combines a range of telematics functions with navigation Above: Eberspacher controller - clear and simple to operate All waste management services offered by OSS or its subcontractors provide fully traceable paperless records and certification for required audits. All details are available to customers from a dedicated website.
Eberspacher
Eberspächer UK is launching new minibus and commercial vehicle heating and air conditioning products. The stand will also include a display of minibuses, welfare and utility vehicles from prominent specialist coachbuilders and converters featuring installations of the latest Eberspächer heating and climate control systems. New this year are the Eberspächer UK-designed and manufactured EV and HV ranges of compact, modular air conditioning and climate units. Claimed to be highly efficient, both EV and HV ranges, are available in cooling only or combined cooling / heating versions. They include the HV407, EV407, HV510 and EV814 models which provide heating and cooling outputs from 7kW to 16kW. The
range is to be expanded through 2013 to include lower and higher output units. Eberspächer’s Airtronic and Hydronic, independent, diesel fuelled air and water heating systems are also highlighted. These offer complete heating solutions for all sizes of minibuses, coaches and commercial vehicles. Specific Airtronic and Hydronic models are available for use with environmentally friendly bio fuels. Other products marketed through Eberspacher are the Euroengel range of mobile refrigeration boxes and Wigam air conditioning workshop equipment. The latest Wigam Centociquanta fully automatic charging station will work with the new R1234yf refrigerant as well as the existing R134a. The Wigam “Amica Bus” air conditioning charging system enables bus and coach workshops to quickly re-gas large air conditioning systems. Also new this year is a range of Eberspächer controllers featuring L.E.D. backlit displays, 1/2 DIN size fitting and on-board diagnostics. They are clear and easy to use.
MiX Rovi is an in-cab telematics system combining a range of functions into a single dashboardor windscreen-mounted unit. It can connect drivers with the office via integrated jobs and messaging systems. MiX Rovi provides satnav, RIBAS alerts to help boost fuel efficiency and road safety. It is housed in a compact unit with a choice of five or seven-inch colour touch screen. Customised data inputs allow a wide range of operation-specific functions to be monitored. MiX Rovi allows fleet managers to create their own data inputs based on the nature of their operation. Using an intuitive web front-end, an operator can set up inputs ranging from a daily vehicle inspection checklist to events such as ‘arrival time’, ‘quantity of goods delivered’, or ‘number of returns’. Inside the vehicle, these inputs are accessed via icons on the MiX Rovi display to provide real-time communication between drivers and fleet managers. Information captured is relayed to the fleet manager by way of FM-Web, MiX Telematics’ secure online portal which is available to operators 24/7.
Grayson Thermal Systems
Grayson Thermal Systems will display a range of its cooling systems. This is being expanded considerably as the company is now manufacturing products for the truck market.
Brigade Electronics
Brigade is launching its new ‘Smarteye’ intelligent camera monitoring system which gives drivers a 360-degree birds-eye view of the area surrounding the vehicle. It employs cameras with 187-degree lenses. The images are processed by software developed by ASL to stitch them together and allow a top-down view of the area surrounding a vehicle – with no blind spots. Also on display is a digital wireless reversing camera which is simple to install as the only wiring required is to link the camera and transmitter and between the receiver and the monitor. Available in 12/24v versions comes with a two-year guarantee.
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THE BIG PICTURE
We thought we would go somewhere a little different this week – a bus in an industrial landscape. Dominating the scene is the winding gear of Big Pit in South Wales. While coal mining at the site can be traced back to the mid 19th Century, today it forms part of the National Museum of Wales and as such it is a popular free to enter attraction. A visit comes highly recommended by CBW’s Editor, particularly one of the two underground tours. Back to buses, a Stagecoach in South Wales/ De Cymru Optare Solo no.47526 (CN57BXE) is seen awaiting departure with a journey on service 30 to Newport on August 28, 2012. The route operates from Brynmawr via Blaenavon and Abersychan. The moment was caught on camera by Gareth Evans from the car park after he had arrived at the site with his better half. Railway enthusiasts will doubtless note the Andrew Barclay-built engine ‘Nora’ on the right, which worked at the pit in its heyday, while the green Hudswell Clarke loco on the left became resident at Big Pit in the preservation era.
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training › aa drivetech d-cpc
Training with the AA Team Coach & Bus Week’s Gareth Evans reports on a day’s Driver CPC training with AA DriveTech at a Premier Inn just off the A1 in Peterborough www.coachandbusweek.com
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A
s Saturday morning dawned, the weather perhaps reflected my mood – freezing cold, dark and miserable. After a particularly stressful week, with the resultant lack of sleep, frankly the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a room and be forced to listen or indeed, worse still, actively participate in a ‘boring’ load of politically-correct theory. In my head, I felt like a teenager again – I wanted a few extra hours in bed and didn’t want to talk to anyone. My mind was full of things and people which would perk me up. Even the cheeriest among us can’t run like the rabbit in the Duracell batteries advert. However, being the professional I aim to be, I put my troubles to one
side. Representing CBW publicly, I tried to be my familiar bubbly self. As I arrived at the Premier Inn at Norman Cross, off J16 of the A1M in Peterborough, I was greeted by a friendly face in the shape of the trainer, who was recognisable by his yellow AA-branded lanyard. Richard Bratton is a retired policeman, something I spotted a mile off. Put simply, he had that natural air of authority one associates with a traditional officer of the law but far from being aloof, he was friendly and approachable. It was clear this day’s training was not going to be an unexciting one.
Course intro
The day started as it almost always seems to do in such situations – with an explanation about what the D-CPC is, the requirements and the reasoning behind it.
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SUPPLIEr: AA DriveTech location: Available nationally Contact: 0845 345 9626 drivercpc@AAdrivetech.com www.aadrivetech.com said a powerful group out there who have not made the progress they should have on it are the 7.5 ton and agency HGV drivers. “I think next Spring is going to be very busy for trainers as there will be mass panic.” He added that for tachographs, the day was to be classed as ‘other work’. He also reminded delegates that upon full completion, each driver will automatically be sent their DQC (Driver Qualification Card), by the DVLA, the cost of which is covered by the standard £8.75 upload fee. He advised us to ensure we’ve got a photocopy of our driving licence and a photocard first “because the DVLA will recognise you by your licence number as it may go amiss in the post”. Richard revealed he spent 30 years in Bedfordshire Police doing vehicle examinations and crash investigations. After four years as an LGV driving instructor at a college, before being invited to work for AA DriveTech.
The course itself
This was followed by each delegate and the tutor giving a brief introduction. It was immediately clear almost all those present had chosen and booked the course online as individuals. In that respect, Tanat Valley’s Daniel Stephenson’s observation (CBW1073) about the stark contrast between the provision of D-CPC in the PCV and HGV sectors was all too apparent, with this AA DriveTech course being dominated by truck drivers. On that note, Richard said: “A fortnight ago we ran a course with a much smaller group. I typically find that if there are 20 people are on a course, two or three won’t get involved but 17 will. When the group is small, the day can sometimes drag as there is little interaction and discussion, but I can see this won’t be the case today.” Talking about the D-CPC, Richard
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“Where do collisions happen?” asked Richard. “Motorways are the safest.” He went through the hazardous groups, which include horses, pedestrians, cyclists and learner drivers. “All the tricky, risky dangerous stuff is banished from motorways. Rural roads are by far the most dangerous.” He showed a photograph and diagram of a bend, before explaining: “The speed limit may be 60 but the maximum you’ll get round it is 40.”
Above: Trainer Richard Bratton is a retired police collision investigator. Left: Unlimited Costa coffee was on tap at the Premier Inn
“Distractions are so bad today, particularly mobile phones. I regard the hard shoulder as the singularly most dangerous piece of real estate. When I was at Bedfordshire Constabulary, I investigated fatalities. The life expectancy for a motorist stuck on the hard shoulder was just 30 minutes.” Richard Bratton
Motorways are statistically the safest roads but there is a risk of a pile-up
What percentage of crashes happen on a motorway? 4%. “They’re amazingly safe roads. In fact, we’ve got the safest motorways in the world,” he continued. The rest of the stats can be broken down into rural roads (25%) and urban (71%). He said a contributory factor for rural roads is the so-called ‘golden hour’ – the clock starts ticking the moment you need medical attention. “If you crash on a motorway it’s only seconds before someone reports the incident. Emergency services can generally respond fast too. “The saving grace in urban areas is lower speed and chances are you will be near medical attention. 30mph has served us well since the 1920s but 20mph doesn’t tend to kill people. “2010 was a red letter year – the first time since the mid 1930s the number of people killed on roads fell below 2,000 – at 1,850. However, more cyclists and pedestrians were killed than in previous years.” Turning to the breakdown of fatalities, Richard said it 6% on motorways, 60% on rural roads and 34% in urban areas. “The golden hour and speed are the greatest factors. “As for motorways, I call it the 6% club. You don’t want to be there as it must involve huge differences in speed, i.e. a vehicle hitting stationary traffic. Realistically, people drive 80–85mph on motorways. However, shunts usually happen at 20–22mph in clear visibility. In poor visibility, if anything, people are closer in real terms, so there is a high impact when a vehicle hits stationary traffic. “Distractions are so bad today, particularly mobile phones. I regard the hard shoulder as the singularly most dangerous piece of real estate. When I was at Bedfordshire Constabulary, I investigated fatalities. The life expectancy for a motorist stuck on the hard shoulder was just 30 minutes.” Turning to risk factors in an urban area, Richard said that while PCV drivers are under timetable and perhaps tachograph pressure, HGVs are under far more, with the widespread practice of 30-minute delivery windows. As a result, he said, “stress levels shoot up”. In words which will doubtless strike a chord with many CBW readers, Richard said: “Purely a personal view, but I feel
www.coachandbusweek.com
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training › aa drivetech d-cpc
speed limiters are an absolute menace. The dangerous practice of bunching is encouraged – HGVs end up fighting over just one mph for example. What’s the government’s response? To introduce overtaking bans on stretches of the A14 and M11 for example at certain times of the day. A limiter removes the discretion from a driver.” On the subject of stress levels, Richard advised: “Should you inadvertently do something to make another driver angry, how do you deal with this? Say sorry by smiling or raising your hand. Give them space – distance works. Never get out of your vehicle.” As for height limits, Richard said he knew of one operator which had been charged £70,000 by Network Rail for a bridge bash. The standard UK height is 16’ 6” (5.03m). Anything less must be plated. The UK recommended maximum height vehicle is 16’ 3” (4.93m). Richard said a ‘dynamic risk assessment’ is something each of us do all the time. A course participant highlighted the example of roofing timbers being delivered for a school extension just when the children were about the leave for home at 1530hrs. Clearly, if the driver had waited 20 minutes, the schoolyard would have cleared to allow the truck to safely manoeuvre. I mentioned Google Streetview as a useful aid to checking out an unfamiliar location. Richard continued: “As a policeman I investigated a crash in a town centre where an HGV had hit a pedestrian while delivering to a tight spot. The walls were all scraped so there was clear evidence of danger. The driver had reported it previously to no avail. The operator and shop had logs of incidents but didn’t do anything about it. The Health & Safety Executive was involved too. All parties were prosecuted.” He then talked about safe manoeuvring, including in yards. “If in doubt, get out,” he stressed. When it comes to turning round, Richard advised us to go to the opposite side of the road and then reverse, “so you’ve not got someone up your rear and you don’t have to worry about seeing who’s behind you in the same way. Use your hazard lights too.” He then talked about route planning. Richard continued: “One of the tenets of UK law is innocent until proven guilty but there are exceptions, one of which is load www.coachandbusweek.com
AADrivetech.indd 36
Above: Extreme care must be taken while driving in town. Below: Richard used both PowerPoint and paper diagrams to help explain his points
“While driving in pedestrian streets, keep your speed down. The engines in modern vehicles are far more quiet, particularly hybrids and electric vehicles. Pedestrians may not hear such vehicles approach.” Richard Bratton security. The other is being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” On the subject of the former, he said: “As Brits we’re easily fooled by uniforms – even hi-vis vests can be perceived to make someone act in an official manner. You can buy a visi vest for £2 off the market. Be wary of people impersonating the police, especially unmarked cars
with ‘staged’ accidents.” Turning to fuel theft, one of the delegates said the only way to combat it effectively is to have a cage around the fuel tank. He said rather than siphoning, a far more common method today for thieves is to use a cordless drill to create a hole to drain it. Some operators feel it’s cheaper not to have antisiphoning devices fitted as it’s more cost-effective to allow fuel to be stolen than to have to repair a damaged tank. He then turned to the topic of sharing the road. “Vulnerable users are those which are smaller than you, i.e. cyclists and pedestrians,” he said. He talked about drink driving. “It’s not sexist remark but ladies’ metabolisms are usually not as good as dealing with drink as men. Women will often blow 50% higher than men. The best way to remain legal is for a person not to drink any alcohol before driving.” “Road workers have the second most dangerous occupation,” he said. “Every time there are longterm road works, there always
seems to be fatalities involving either roadmen or other vehicles. That’s why long-term road works are protected by a 50mph limit and concrete barriers.” While driving in pedestrian streets, he advised: “Take your time and keep your speed down. The engines in modern vehicles are far more quiet, particularly hybrids and electric vehicles. Pedestrians may not hear such vehicles approach.” He said so-called Home Zones are popular in London and are increasing in number in the provinces. “The idea is shared road space. If you hit a pedestrian, it’s your fault. The thinking behind it is that it’s giving a street back to the people who live there. I think we’ll see more of them as it will replace a forest of signs.” After looking at road humps, speed tables, rumble strips and build outs, Richard warned: “A green traffic light doesn’t mean go – it means go if it’s safe to proceed. Green gives you some right but it’s not carte blanche. “It’s not about who’s right, it’s about who’s left, i.e. not dead.” The session concluded with a film of the infamous M4 Hungerford pile-up in the form of an animated reconstruction. Richard talked us through it. The incident involved 51 vehicles in 1991 and frighteningly, in real-time took just 25 seconds.
Conclusion
While I was tired, I certainly ended my day’s training in good spirits. Richard’s enthusiasm was infectious. I enjoyed the fact he was able to draw on his own experiences to illustrate points with, but I must stress he was not the irritating ‘look at me’ type. For example, we all know the hard shoulder is not somewhere one wants to hang around, but I was really struck by Richard’s claim about the 30-minute life expectancy for a driver stuck there. Watching the Hungerford pile-up was also moving. I also liked the fact Richard encouraged us to participate. He said he genuinely felt he’d learned something from each of us due to our differing backgrounds and experiences. It’s enough to say the day was not a one-way lecture. Importantly, this helped us to remember what we’d been taught. Check your D-CPC at www. direct.gov.driver-cpc. You’ll need your licence number.
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LEGAL update
In association with
Redundancy after maternity: discriminatory or unfair? Discrimination could occur if the redundancy is due to the employer treating the employee unfairly because of her decision to take maternity leave In SG Petch Ltd v English-Stewart [2012], the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) overturned a decision of the tribunal which found, where an employee had been made redundant after a period of maternity leave, that redundancy was not in itself a discriminatory act due to her maternity leave. This case concerned a part-time Marketing Manager, who was told at the end of her maternity leave she was redundant, as it had become apparent to her employer during her leave that the work she carried out, could be carried out by the other members of the marketing team who covered her work during the maternity period. Under the Equality Act 2010, maternity discrimination occurs because the employer treats the employee unfavourably because she is on maternity. However, the EAT found that due to the employer finding the work of the employee could be achieved by the other remaining members of staff, the reason for dismissal was obviously redundancy and could not be for the reason of maternity leave. However, the tribunal had also made an error, given the dismissal
New Year, New Changes….
Many of the government’s plans to reform employment law are due to come into force in 2013, including the new employee shareholder status in April and fees in the employment tribunals in the summer. Later in 2013, the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill 2012-13
was for redundancy and not for maternity leave, the tribunal could not find that the dismissal was automatically unfair as they had to consider the three-stage test under the Maternity & Paternity Leave Regulations 1999, which state at section 20, a dismissal will be automatically unfair where; The reason or principle reason for the dismissal is redundancy; The circumstances constituting a redundancy applied equally to one or more employees who had similar positions to the dismissed
employee; and The reason or principle reason for the employee’s selection for redundancy are reasons connected with the fact that the employee took, sought to take or availed herself of the benefits of maternity leave. In this case the EAT found two of the three conditions were satisfied, but the EAT could not be satisfied the circumstances applied equally to Mrs Stewart’s colleagues who may or may not be a similar position to her. The EAT has therefore remitted the question back to the tribunal.
Redundancy may not itself be a discriminatory act due to maternaty leave will bring in wide-ranging reforms and new employment tribunals rules of procedure are expected to be adopted. The information below summarises a number of changes which are expected in the weeks ahead: Tribunal compensation limits will increase under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2012; and Rounding up of increases to statutory redundancy
Backhouse Jones acts for clients in the private and public sector, both national and international operators from one to several thousand vehicles. Backhouse is absolutely “industry specific”. Whilst the company can trace its heritage to 1819 it only represented its first Road Transport Operator in 1930. The explanation for this is that the
payments and tribunal award limits. Implementation of the Revised Parental Leave Directive. A collective redundancy consultation period involving 100 or more employees is to be reduced from 90 to 45 days and employees whose fixed-term contracts are due to expire are to be excluded from consultation requirements;
Lawyer rates Under European Law, with few exceptions, a person who holds legal expenses insurance is free to choose a lawyer of his choice and should not be restricted to choosing a panel lawyer offered by the insurer. This position was confirmed by the European Courts in the case of Stark v DAS [2011] and since then, while the insured has difficulty in using their own lawyer, that choice is allowed. One bone of contention since the Stark decision is whether the insurer is then allowed to restrict the chosen lawyer to the usual panel lawyers’ hourly rates (often considerably lower). The Court of Appeal in the case of Brown-Quinn & another v Equity Syndicate Management Ltd & another clarified the position somewhat. The insured approached the insurer with their own choice of solicitors and the insurer refused to indemnify the insured for their solicitor’s rates as they were far in excess what was provided under the terms of the policy. The insured appealed to the High Court (HC) seeking a declaration that the insurer had to indemnify the insured for the costs as failure to do so would restrict the insured from chooing their own legal firm. The HC granted the declaration. The insurer appealed the decision and in granting the appeal. The court stated when the insured instructs a firm of solicitors who charge more than the appropriate non-panel rates, the policyholder is only entitled to recover the rates set out in the terms & conditions. A public interest requirement to whistleblowing disclosures will be introduced; The new Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure will come into force; and The Growth and Infrastructure Bill 201213 is planned to come into effect introducing the concept of employee shareholder status. Fees will be introduced into the employment tribunal.
first transport act was only introduced in 1930 n The Independent Chambers Guide 2009 describes Backhouse Jones Limited as a specialist company with a national reputation for “first class strength, experience and understanding of the transport industry”. n Contact 01254 828300. Visit www.backhousejones.co.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
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" E W F S U J T F P O U I F T F Q B H F T B M M Z F B S G S P N K V T U c D B M M 2000 SCANIA T9
2007 Mercedes Vario 814D 7HO
All Vehicles Direct Fleet Many With COIF’s, PSV’s, Wheelchair
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.
24 seats + guide with 3 point belts, curtains, luggage racks, forced air, spotlessly clean, silver, 79,535 miles.
ÂŁ24,750
POA
Contact Eric on 0792 138920
EVM – 07749 103203
6 x 2007 (57) Optare Solo M950 Slimlines
2009 Scania K340 Irizar PB 12.2m
32 seats + 17 standees, Cummins engines, Alison gearboxes, full service history, all with current MOT, average mileages.
ÂŁ159,000
Courtney Buses 0118 973 3486
2004 Iveco Daily 45c13
2006 Setra 416 GTHD
11 seat front entry wheelchair accessible minibus, white, diesel, 80,000 miles.
ÂŁ10,000 - no VAT
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
Dennis Plaxton Coach
Cummins 420, Plaxton Paragon body, Asotronic gearbox, air con, long MOT, excellent MPG. Has been used exclusively on our tour programme. Regd March 2004.
£48,000 – choice of 5 Contact Tom Smith or Peter Tetlow on 0845 130 5777 for more details
& Ramps
49 seats, climate control, WC, TV/DVD, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue).
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
POA
Access Lifts
New MAN 14.250 SLF CitySmart 10.8m
1998 Volvo B10M Jonckheere Mistral
49 reclining seats with lap belts, toilet, fridge, hot water boiler, CD/DVD player, Euro 4 certified, owned by us from new, good condition. POA For further information please contact: Nigel Busbridge on 01303 261870 or email nigel@buzzlines.co.uk
37 seats, MAN Euro V engine, ZF auto gearbox, Mobitec destination, bonded glazing, Kiel high back cantilever seats . £16,000 – PA/Finance Available Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
2003 Futura
Neoplan Starliner
2007 Ford Transit
32 leather seats, full rear servery, airline style overhead lockers, 240V inverter and onboard generator, Blaupunkt sound system with DVD & Sky TV, ASTronic gearbox, A/C, WC, fully carpeted, removable ski box.
12 seats, twin slide loading doors, 61,000 miles, 2 months MOT, excellent condition.
Full exec spec, Eminox euro 4 exhaust, 49 seats, green cloth, manual, 695K kms, new MOT on sale.
ÂŁ65,000 + VAT L.J. Edwards: 01323 440622 option 2 or John 07974 369570
ÂŁ67,000 + VAT o.n.o.
Florida Taxi Coaches 01787 477701
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.
ÂŁ35,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365
ÂŁ8,995 + VAT
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com
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February 6, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41
" E W F S U J T F B T J O H M F W F I J D M F G P S B T M J U U M F B T c D B M M
Scania K360 Irizar Century
2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313
2010 EVM Mercedes Sprinter 515CDI
84,000 miles, 16 seats + 1, one owner, full service history, superb condition, converted to an exceedingly high specification.
16 seats with 3 point belts, TV, DVD, plug door, air-con, 140,000 miles, new engine/ gearbox/diff, mint condition, warranty to May.
2005 Bova Futura
ÂŁ29,995
ÂŁ39,950
49 seat executive, excellent condition inside and out, used only for touring and excursions, 12 months MOT, 470K kms, owned since new, genuine reason for sale. ÂŁ75,000 + VAT o.n.o.
Kripton UK - 07845 808096
EVM – 07749 103203
Call Paul – 07968 106891
2000 W Reg MINI POINTER DART
2011 Ford Torneo
2006 Volvo B12B Enigma
Back off contract hire. Euro 5 EGR (no AdBlue), 2-pedal Opticruise automated gearbox, 49 seats, climate control.
49 seat exec coach, centre toilet, DVD, drinks machine, 580,000kms from new, MOT until end May, Eminox LEZ exhaust to Euro 4, excellent condition, drives superb.
ÂŁ175,000
Cummins/Allison, 8.8m, 29 seats.
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
EnsignBus 01708 865656
Choice of 5, mileage between 60-100k, 60 plate. POA For further information please contact: Nigel Busbridge on 01303 261870 or email nigel@buzzlines.co.uk
2011 EVM X-Clusive Sprinter 519CDI
200 DAF SB120
2003 Iveco Daily 45c13
2009 Renault
13 seat front entry wheelchair accessible minibus, white, COIF, tacho, 129,000 miles.
16 reclining seats, perfect for airports, takes 20 big suitcases, A/C, TV, DVD, hot drinks & fridge, 3 point belts, overhead racks, front entry, 166,000kms, great on fuel, sale due to fleet restructure.
POA
16 seats with 3 point belts, TV, DVD, plug door, air-con, 60,000 miles, mint condition, under warranty to April.
Cummins/Allison, Wrights Cadet body ramp, wheelchair space, Hanover LED’s, CCTV, 39 retrimmed individual seats, from our own fleet and very tidy.
ÂŁ59,950
POA
EVM – 07749 103203
EnsignBus 01708 865656
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
2004 Setra S415 HD
1998 Volvo VanHool B10M Alizee
2002 Futura
ASTronic, retarder, aircon, 2 x monitors, radio/cassette, crew seat, fridge. Vehicle currently undergoing MOT preparation and test.
48 reclining & belted seats, air-con, PA/Video/ DVD/VCR, floor mounted WC, full servery, full service history, MOT to December 2013.
ÂŁ79,500
ÂŁ25,000
Evobus - 02476 626046
Royal Blues - 01803 872422
ÂŁ6,495 + VAT
Full exec spec, Eminox euro 4 exhaust, 49 seats, green cloth, manual, 792K kms, new MOT on sale.
ÂŁ55,000 + VAT L.J. Edwards: 01323 440622 option 2 or John 07974 369570
£69,950 – PX considered
Llew Jones 01492 640320
ÂŁ19,500 + VAT
Florida Taxi Coaches 01787 477701
1993 Volvo B10M VanHool
T8 bodywork, 12 months MOT, toilet, DVD/ monitor, 49 seats with belts. £10,250 Maypole Coaches – Tel: 0151 547 2713 or 07802 235778
Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com
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" E W F S U J T F P O U I F T F Q B H F T B M M Z F B S G S P N K V T U c D B M M Network Warrington have the following vehicles for sale
2007 Daf SB4000 – Van Hool Alizee T9 48/9 seats, rear floor mounted toilet & servery, A/C, 368,000 kms, one owner, mainly used for tours and private hire. Sold with 12 months MOT, excellent condition.
ÂŁ100,000 +VAT Phone Ernie 07932 734273 or office 01253 725999 ask for Pam G-Line Holidays Ltd www.g-linecoaches.co.uk
MAN Tourliner
Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m 2000/2001 V & Y Plate, Cummins 6BT, Allison AT545 4 speed auto, Marshall body, 40 seats.
460bhp Euro V engine, 12 speed AStronic gearbox, white with removable vinyls, no scrapes or scratches, Durabright alloys, many extras, MOT till September 2013.
Contact Ian Parker (Engineering Manager) Warrington Borough Transport Ltd Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6PT. Tel 01925 634296
ÂŁ168,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365
1996 Volvo VanHool B9M
Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton
2010 MAN Beulas
71 seats, LEZ, Glory Euro 5 + EEV, WC, climate control, hot drinks, amazing luggage capacity, fantastic condition, MOT 31/10/2013, fully DDA, only 149,000km, sale due to fleet restructure.
ÂŁ230,000 + VAT
Florida Taxi Coaches 01787 477701
2003 VW LT35 TDI
UNVI RIADA GT -2008 38 reclining & belted seats, air-con, PA/Video/ DVD/VCR, floor mounted WC, full servery, full service history, MOT to October 2013.
ÂŁ15,000
Royal Blues - 01803 872422
17 seat, 2.8 diesel, side entrance, two rows of seats on quick release Unwin tracking to take two wheelchairs, underfloor tail lift.
13 seat medium roof minibus, diesel, 86,000 miles, excellent condition, 12 months MOT.
ÂŁ7,495
ÂŁ5,495 NO VAT
Pembridge Vehicle Management 01633 485858
Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076
Take the photos, write the ad and change it later if you want to, all from your online dashboard. Selling a vehicle is simple on . . .
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. ÂŁ56,900 + VAT Call Dougie at HAGGIS Adventures on 0131 554 9192
2 x 2005 Optare Solos
2008 Scania K340 Irizar PB
9.2m, 33 seats, Mercedes engine, approx. 220,000 miles, good order throughout, new MOTs – more pictures available.
ZF automatic, 49 seats, climate control, centre sunken toilet, Euro 4 EGR (no AdBlue required).
ÂŁ32,500+VAT (Discount for both)
Scania Bus and Coach 01909 553102
Dartline 01392 872900
ÂŁ149,000
Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com
681973-1071-Pembridge
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NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS
New Ford Transit 17 seat 4.3ton 135ps minibus. From £20,595 + VAT
FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES
(12) 2012 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus 2.2tdci 135ps, tacho, 2300 miles only, ex-demo in silver, COIF/PSV £20,695 (12) 2012 Ford Transit Tourneo 9 seat Trend 2.2 125 PS, air-con, Bluetooth, in Midnight Sky Blue, 2,608 miles £14,900 + VAT (11) 2011 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle Bus, twin side loading doors, large rear luggage area, delivery miles only £16,995
D L O S D L O S
(11) 2011 Ford Transit 15 seat 3.5 ton, 2.4tdi engine 115ps, tacho, 10,000 km £17,500 (59) 2009 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi 115ps, tacho, air-con, 15,000km only £17,495 (07) 2007 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdci 115ps air-con, tachograph, 76,000kms, COIF/PSV £11,995 (57) 2007 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4TDi 100ps, six speed gearbox, tacho with 16,000 miles, COIF/PSV £11,995
LDV MINIBUSES
(57) 2007 LDV Maxus 17 seat, high back seats with three point belts, twin side doors, COIF/ PSV, silver £7,500
OTHER MAKES
New Peugeot Boxer 16 seat 3.5 ton and 17 seat w/chair accessible minibuses, 2.2 diesel 120ps, six speed gearbox LEZ COMPLIANT From £24,750 + VAT Volkswagen Crafter 2.5 diesel, 17 high back seats with three point belts, 30,000 miles, COIF/PSV £15,750 (56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat LWB minibus, 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point seat belts, 19,000 miles only £9,450
(06) 2006 Volkswagen Transporter 9 seat minibus, 85PS, rear tail gate, twin side loading doors, 112,000 miles £7,995 (56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5t on 17 seat minibus 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point belts, 33,000 miles £8,995 (55) 2005 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat minibus 2.8 diesel, with three point seat belts, tow bar, removable seats to rear, 77,000 miles £6,995
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
(55) 2005 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, tracking to take two wheelchairs, low side entrance step, easy clean floor £7,495
(07) 2007 LDV Maxus 13 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, under floor lift, space for two wheelchairs, electric side step £8,495 (06) 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 cdti 9 seat, inboard lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 45,000 miles £8,995 Y 2001 Renault Mascot 2.8 diesel, 16 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, front entry drop step, fully tracked floor to take five wheelchairs, under floor lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £6,495
Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk
Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304
Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only
Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist
All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%
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Ensig DOUBLE DECK 85
SEAT S
2000 DENNIS TRIDENTS Alexander ALX400 bodies, converted to high capacity 85 seat school buses.
LEZ
COMPLIANT
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.
1999 T/V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS
1999 T/V REG DENNIS DART SLF’S
Caetano Compass bodies, 39 seats, ramps.
Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps, Plaxton President bodies, 62 seats dual door (£13,000) or 70 when converted to single door (£16,000).
1995 M REG OPTARE SPECTRA
1996 LEYLAND OLYMPIAN TRI-AXLE
Gardner engine, Voith gearbox, 100 seats with seatbelts.
DAF engine, Voith gearbox, low height, 77 seats.
1998 R/S REG OPTARE SOLO’S
1999 VOLVO B7TL’S
SWB, CCTV, particulate traps so LEZ compliant, Plaxton President bodies, dual door 62 seats or single door 71 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.
2010 ENVIRO 400 Euro 5 Cummins engine, currently 62 seats with tables and luggage area but can upseat to 70.
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 VOLVO B10BLE’S 1998 R REG DAF SB300
Manual, Ikarus body, 53 seats, air-con.
1998 R REG DENNIS JAVELIN ZF 6 speed manual, Plaxton Premiere 350, 53 seats.
1997 DENNIS DARTS
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.
2011 ENVIRO 200
Cummins / Allison, East Lancs bodies, 40 seats, Mobitech LED’s.
10.7m, Euro 5, 35 e-leather seats, very low mileage, Hanover destination, DDA compliant.
1992 LEYLAND OLYMPIAN
2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS
Cummins L10 / ZF, Alexander RH body, 78 seats with retractable belts, MOT Oct 2013, tacho.
2000 VOLVO B7TL’S
Euro 3 Cummins engines, DDA compliant , Plaxton President bodies, Hanover LED’s, 67 seats converted to single door or 62 seats as dual door.
2000/2001 VOLVO B7TL’S
LWB, CCTV, particulate traps so LEZ compliant, Plaxton President bodies, dual door 67 seats or single door 77 seats, DDAS compliant.
1995 M REG VOLVO B10M
ZF 6 speed manual, Caetano Algarve body, 49 seats, centre sunken toilet, very smart for age.
1995 M REG VOLVO B10M
ZF 6 speed manual, Plaxton Premiere 350, 53 seats.
- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS Alexander ALX400 bodies, 74 seats.
Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com
682717-1073-Pickrell
H. W. PICKRELL
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MINIBUS AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES
Gardiners Lane North • Crays Hill • Billericay • Essex • CM11 2XE Tel: 01268 521033 • Mobile: 07860 894331 • Fax: 01268 284951
Email: sales@hwpickrell.co.uk - www.hwpickrell.co.uk Finance available on all vehicles (subject to status) Written details on request.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINI BUSES For latest stock arrivals follow @h_w_pickrell
07 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 313CDI 2.5 TD
07 REG VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER CR50 UVG TREKA
08 REG FORD TRANSIT 430 JUMBO 2.4TDCI
08 REG RENAULT MASTER LM35 2.5TD
Manual, semi high roof minibus conversion, twin side entry sliding door with electric step, 14 x high back seats plus driver, air con front & rear, fully tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, ex NHS, only 25,000 miles.
Auto gearbox, climate control, n/s/f electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, ex local authority, COIF'd, 81,280 kms.
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, side loading door, AVS side step, 13 rear high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Eberspacher heater, air con, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, tacho, 53,946kms.
Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, AVS side step, 8 high back seats plus 2 x w/chairs & driver, Unwin tracked floor, ricon internal tail lift, 33,175 miles only.
06 REG FORD TRANSIT 430 JUMBO 2.4 TDCI
06 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 411 CDI
09 PEUGEOT EXPERT TEPEE 1.9 HDI
2008 57 REG VAUXHALL VIVARO LH28 2.0 TD
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, side loading door, side step, 11 rear high back seats, full Unwin tracking, Eberspacher heater, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, 31,813 miles.
Auto gearbox, LWB, PAS, Frank Guy conversion, n/s full height electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, ex local authority, COIF’d, 103,080 kms.
Manual 5 speed gearbox, PAS, CD player, air con, twin side loading doors, 2 high back seat in rear, double passenger seat front, cut out floor, fold down ramp, blue metallic silver, alloy wheels, 14,932 miles.
Manual gearbox, hi roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 5 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 30,280 miles only.
2009 59 REG VAUXHALL VIVARO SL28 2.0 T D
57 REG CITROEN RELAY 2.5TD
60 REG FORD TRANSIT 330 2.4TDCI
10 REG RENAULT MASTER LM39 2.5TD
Manual gearbox, low roof, O & H conversion, PAS, twin side loading door, side step, 4 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, modified low floor, electric winch & fold out ramp, 15,491 miles.
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, Atlas conversion, side loading door, AVS side step, 12 rear high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, ex local authority, 11,587 miles.
6 speed manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, MWB, tacho, SL door, 12 rear standard factory high back seats, no tracking (can be fitted), underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, one owner local charity, 20,104kms.
Manual, high roof, PAS, LWB, new conversion, side loading door, AVS side step, 14 high back seats, AMF m2 fully tracked floor, full air con, Ricon tail lift, tacho fitted, only 46,750kms.
54 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI UVG TREKA
07 REG FORD TRANSIT 100 350 2.4 TDCI
56 REG RENAULT MASTER MM33 2.5TD
06 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI UVK TREKA
Auto gearbox, LWB, PAS, climate control, n/s/f electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, ex local authority, COIF'd, 104,180 kms.
Manual, MWB, high roof, PAS, DL conversion, side loading door, AVS side step, 8 high back seats, fully Unwin tracked floor, Eeberspacher heater, Ricon tail lift, 28,779 miles.
Manual gearbox, high roof, Widnes conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 9 rear high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 42,300 miles only.
Auto gearbox, LWB, PAS, climate control, n/s/f electric power door, 16 high back removable seats on NMI quick release, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor tail lift, ex local authority, COIF'd, 82,180 kms.
57 REG RENAULT MASTER LM 35 2.5TD
NEW UN REG IVECO DAILY 50c17 IRIS BUS 3.0
59 REG VAUXHALL MOVANO LM39 2.5TD
58 REG IVECO DAILY 50c13 IRIS BUS 3. 0
Manual gearbox, PAS, LWB, Euromotive conversion, SLD, AVS side step, 12 rear high back seats, Unwin tested Innotrac floor, Ricon tail lift, ex local authority, 20,775 miles.
Agile gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, power front entry door, 16 rear high back seats, Unwin Innotrax flat floor, underfloor Ratcliff t/lift, COIF/IVA to take up to 5 wheelchairs.
Manual 6 speed, high roof, PAS, LWB, Mellor conversion, side loading door, new AVS side step, 14 high back seats, new AMF m2 fully tracked floor, AMF tail lift, tacho fitted only 35,749 kms. (22,214 miles).
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, power front entry door, 16 rear high back seats,Unwin tracked floor, Eberspacher heater, destination board, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, COIF, 63,371 miles.
08 REG FORD TRANSIT 430 JUMBO 2.4 TDCI
56 RENAULT MASTER MM33 2.5TD
57 REG PEUGEOT BOXER 2.5TD
06 REG IVECO DAILY 50c13 IRIS BUS 3. 0
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, side loading door, electric side step, 11 high back seats, Unwin tracked floor at rear, Eberspacher heater, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, tacho, 34,955 miles.
6 speed manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 6 rear high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 14,300 miles only.
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, O&H conversion SLD, AVS side step, 8 rear high back seats plus 1 x wheelchair space, Unwin tracking, Eberspacher heater, Ricon tail lift, ex local authority, 20,286 miles.
Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, power front entry door, 16 rear high back seats, Unwin tracked flat floor, Eberspacher climate control, underfloor PLS tail lift, COIF, 67,671 kms.
681297-1073-Connaught
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Mini Coach Sales
BRAND NEW COACH BUILT MERCEDES 516 FERQUI SOROCO 16 high back leather trimmed reclining seats, courier seat, A/C, D/G, power door, large boot, DVD, silver metallic. AVAILABLE NOW.
BRAND NEW MERCEDES FERQUI TORO 32 high back seats + courier, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot. Order now for April delivery.
MORE PHOTOS AND DETAILS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE:
BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ FERQUI SOROCO 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights and boot. Order now for May delivery.
BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ 516CDI EVM SHUTTLE 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks and A/C.
www.connaughtpsv.co.uk
BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ 513CDI EVM CLASSIC 16/19 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks and A/C.
2009 MERCEDES BENZ 816 UNVI RIADA GT 29 high back seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, DVD, power door, boot, silver metallic, private plate.
2008 08 REG MERCEDES 515CDI SOROCO 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, boot in silver metallic.
2006 56 REG MERCEDES 616 SOROCO PLUS 16 high back leather seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, fridge, DVD, power door and boot.
2005 05 REG MERCEDES 814 VARIO MELLOR 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot.
2004 54 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SOROCO 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, A/C, power door and large boot.
2002 02 REG MERCEDES 413CDI SOROCO 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, forced air, A/C, reading lights, power door, large boot.
Steve Peach Tel: 01302 770863 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: steve@connaughtpsv.co.uk www.connaughtpsv.co.uk
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682715-1073-Epsom
31/1/13
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RA RE O P P O RTUN ITY Single Deck, Double Deck & Hybrid
2005 28 st Pointer
2005 Scania E/Lancs
2007 Wrightbus Electrocity
For more details or to arrange a viewing call 07979 295668
682251-1073-Ventura
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Southdown PSV - 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk
Ex-lease 2002 (52) & 2003 (53) Volvo & Dennis SLF ALX400 • 2002 (52) Volvo B7TL • Alexander ALX 400 72 seats • DDA compliant • Tax class: RPC Bus £165 pa • ZF auto gearbox • Repainted to single colour • Long MOT’s • Very clean ex-lease buses • £29,995 + VAT - choice
• 2003 (53) Dennis Trident 2 • Cummins / ZF • Alexander ALX 400 67 seats • DDA compliant • Tax class: RPC Bus £165 pa • Repainted to single colour • Long MOT’s • Conversion to single door available - call for details • Very clean ex-lease buses • £27,500 + VAT - choice Finance available – subject to status
Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN
06 (55) MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDi TREKA BUS W/CHAIR ACC 97000KMS COIF/PSV £18,495 CHOICE
07 (57) VW CRAFTER LT35 16 SEAT INC DRIVER WHEELCHAIR ACCESS INBOARD LIFT 43,000 MILES SILVER METALLIC COIF/PSV £19,995
2010 (10) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS 115PS HIGH ROOF SILVER METALLIC 60,000 MILES COIF/PSV DIGI TACHO £15995
2005 (05) MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT MINICOACH OLYMPUS CONVERSION 220,000 MILES AIR CON LUGGAGE RACKS £ 18,495
07 (07) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS 115PS COIF 47,000 MILES £11995
2006 (06) MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT MINICOACH 189,000 MILES COIF/PSV OLYMPUS CONVERSION. DROPWELL BOOT £20,500
MULTIPART & LDV/MAXUS PARTS STOCKISTS
(PONTYPOOL) LTD
P.O.A.
• ALTAS CONVERSION • 17 SEAT MINICOACH • DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS • FULL AIR CONDITIONING • POWER DOOR LOW ENTRY STEP
NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 519CDI
Tel: 01495 757111 Mob: 07850 739446 (Haydn) or visit our website www.minibussales.biz to view the above stock
03 (53) IVECO DAILY 50c13 17 SEAT MINIBUS COIF/PSV £7,495
14:15
05 (05) VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T30 104 TDi WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS £8,995
4/2/13
2011 (11) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS HIGH ROOF T430 115PS SILVER METALLIC 48000 MILES DIGI TACHO AIR CON CRUISE CONTROL. £16,995
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www.staffordbuscentre.com email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Telephone: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552
View our latest arrivals on www.staffordbuscentre.com
DENNIS TRIDENT EAST LANCS BODY EXLWB 1999 T/V REG
VOLVO OLYMPIAN, NORTHERN COUNTIES “LOW HEIGHT” BODY 1998 R REG
DAF SB220 ALEXANDER 1998 R REG
VOLVO OLYMPIAN NORTHERN COUNTIES (Low Height) 1998 R REG
Volvo engine/ZF gearbox, 76 seats plus 8, can be belted if required.
42 seats + 26 standing, good quality replacements for those unreliable, expensive to run Darts.
Phone For More Details
Fitted with 76 high back seats with 3 point belts, fully repainted and new test.
DENNIS DART PLAXTON SUPER POINTER 1999 V REG
DENNIS DART MARSHALL BODY 2000 W REG
DENNIS DART WRIGHT BODY 1999 V REG
MERCEDES 815D MEDIO 2005 05 REG
From £12,950
£6,950
78 seats and wheelchair space, could be re-seated to 88/90 and belted.
£17,950
Undergoing total internal re-fit to include 45 seats with belts.
DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER 2002 51 REG Fitted with 70 highback coach seats, new MOT, manual gearbox.
£39,950
FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT FACTORY BUS 2008 58 REG
27k miles, tacho, PSV COIF etc.
£12,450
£11,950
Fitted with up-dated body panels, new MoT and paint, 35 seats plus wheelchair.
BLUEBIRD AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS 2000 W REG
60 high back coach seats with 3 point belts, Cummins engine and (reconditioned) Alison gearbox, very simple and rugged construction
Phone For More Details
Fitted with 25 high back coach seats plus belts, super low floor, wheelchair accessible, only 9mtr long, choice of 2
Mercedes built mini coach with 25 seats, large boot etc. Currently being repainted white.
FORD TRANSIT 15 SEAT FACTORY BUS 2011 11 REG
OPTARE SOLO M920 1999 V REG
£5,950
C.O.I.F plus PSV MoT, very low miles, as new.
£15,950
FORD TRANSIT 15 SEAT BUS 2007 07 REG
MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 UVG BODY 2002/3/4 REG
£9,950
£8,450
Very low mileage, suitable for school use if required as its 3500 cwt, can be driven on any full car licence.
OPTARE SOLO ALL MERCEDES ENGINE ALLISON BOX W Reg, 25 seater, very short with new belts plus new paint. £12,950 W Reg, 29 seater, 9.2mtr with new belts plus new paint (in build now). £12,950 52 Reg, 29 seater, 8.5 mtr with belts plus new paint. £16,950 MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER R 2004 04 with manual box, 33 removable seats, power door and destination, tail lift etc. £16,950
£13,950
16 seats plus wheelchair space, super clean condition, tacho, PSV test etc, choice of 3.
£27,950
Currently being panelled/painted and belted to 31 seats plus wheelchair.
£12,950
FIAT DUCATO TRI AXLE PSV 16 SEAT BUS 2002 - 02 REG Power door etc.
£4,450
1999 V with auto box, 33 bus seats with belts (cert for 31), new paint and test. £8,950 1999 T with auto box, 29 coach seats but LWB, so plenty of room, destination and power door. £8,950 FORD TRANSITS x 10 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 Mostly PSV - all 17 seats, tacho etc, all below 60k miles.
WE ALSO HAVE AVAILABLE
Vehicles available for short or long term lease
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682633-1073-Eastwoods
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DUE TO ILLNESS OF THE MD, MASSIVE SALE WITH HUGE REDUCTIONS – ALL STOCK MUST BE SOLD!
DRIVER TRAINING VEHICLE
DENNIS JAVELIN
47 seater, ABS brakes, new Class 5 for driver training, Cummins 220 engine, 6 speed gearbox, new stretch panels repainted white, ready for service.
£14,250
682955-1073-Redwing
4/2/13
Available Now!
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Choice of 2 58 plated Setra 53 reclining seat with three point seat belts £110,000 + VAT
Choice of 2 59 plated Mercedes Benz Tourismo 49 reclining seats, executive finish £130,000 + VAT
Choice of 4 59 plated Mercedes Benz Tourismo 49 reclining seats, super executive finish £135,000 + VAT
Contact Paul Hockley on phockley@redwing-coaches to view or for further information
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HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
• Bus Workshops • Secure Storage
• Supplied any width, any length • Building to BS5590 • Doors high enough for Double Deckers • Finance available
Phone for further information
BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime CHECKPOINTS
HEATING
Heaters • A/C Equipment Blowers • Motors • Radiators Silicone Hose • Ducting Wiper Equipment • Gas Struts
Wheel Nut Indicators and Retainers
++44(0)1524 44(0)1524 2271200 71200 checkpoint-safety.com
www.
Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920 Email: sales@thhs.co.uk
www.thhs.co.uk
UNIT 9 NIMROD BUSINESS PARK DE HAVILLAND WAY, WITNEY OX29 0YG
GARAGE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
Experts in Commercial Garage Equipment
www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381 SIGNWRITING
Sign Writing Services • School bus sign sets with suction cups – £15 + VAT • Vehicle livery design & supply – fitting by arrangement if required • Legal lettering & graphics supplied by post
Tel: 01884 290818 Mobile: 07583 334455 www.kjsupport.co.uk
SNOW CHAINS
5 I F NB S L F U G P S 7 F I J D M F T 1 S P E V D U T B O E 4 F S W J D F T TRAINING
ENGINES
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
If you would like further information please call 01543 897505 or visit www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk
Driver CPC Periodic Training
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TRAINING
THE DRIVER CPC IS HERE Now taking bookings for driver CPC training at our centre in Lincolnshire. Companies and individuals catered for.
SAME DAY J.A.U.P.T. REGISTRATION SAME DAY C.P.C. CERTIFICATES DELIVERED AT YOUR OWN DEPOTS
Immediate dates available: 12 - 13 February School holiday 19 - 20 - 21 February
REMEMBER-REMEMBER 10th SEPTEMBER
For information contact Jemma: Call 01529 414242 / 303333 or visit: www.sleafordian.co.uk
PCV DRIVER HIRE 0800-731-5007
PVC DRIVER CPC TRAINING CREATED BY A COACH COMPANY FOR THE COACHING INDUSTRY
WE WILL HOLD OUR PRICES FOR 5 YEARS
CORPORATE DEALS AVAILABLE
MERIDIAN PCV DRIVER LTD Rising above all others
www.meridianpcv.com
Take the photos, write the ad and change it later if you want to, all from your online dashboard. Selling a vehicle is simple on . . .
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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WINDSCREEN 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
February 6, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61
Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@coachandbusweek. com or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX
Monday: Press day. CBW is finished at a highly civilised time of the day but Alex & I remain in the office after a problem with a couple of pages at the printer. Tuesday: After caffeine has entered our systems, convene a team meeting to review this week’s issue and plan forthcoming editions. Forge on with a feature.
The Mr Hearty mascot with the BHF’s Helen Mair & NCT’s Anthony Carver-Smith
NCT has some heart Nottingham City Transport donated 10% of its cash takings from the Red Line 43 and 44 on Friday (February 1) to the British Heart Foundation, in celebration of the charity’s ‘Rock up in Red Day!’ Thousands of people across the country ‘rocked’ their red outfits for the day and donated £2 to support the BHF’s life-saving work and its National Heart Month. To show its support for the cause, NCT branded 14 buses on the Red Line and donated a hearty 10% of the day’s cash takings. Nottingham City Transport Marketing Manager Anthony
Dilbert
Carver-Smith presented the contribution to Helena Mair, the BHF’s Fundraising Manager for Nottingham, who came along with mascot ‘Mr Hearty’ to see one of NCT’s buses ‘rock up’ in the city centre in all its red glory. “The British Heart Foundation is a fantastic organisation which has provided us with Defibrillators for our mobile inspector, all of our garages and even our staff canteen.” said Anthony. “As they’ve also given us training for this vital, life-saving equipment, we thought the least we could do was support their very worthy cause.” The CBW office is glad NCT didn’t miss a beat when deciding to support the BHF. We believe the operator’s heart is in the right place with the lovely gesture.
Cardiff song proves a hit The Cardiff Bus Song video on Youtube, which first came to our attention in October last year, has now surpassed 100,000 hits online. The video celebrates the municipal operator’s bus services and was put together by cult Cardiff brand I Loves the Diff. The video’s tagline reads: “We hope you enjoy The Cardiff Bus Song, a tribute to our hometown and its most mobile of icons, the Cardiff Bus.” If you haven’t already watched it, help the video hit its next milestone by visiting http://youtu.be/hyy6KU6C3EI
Wednesday: Martin is at the CV Show and James is with Jonathan and Ian in London at the Transport Ticketing show. Andrew speaks to a contact for the first time. I tell him to watch out for a particularly quirky characteristic which always makes me chuckle – and I give him my impersonation. Afterwards, Andrew laughs and says the individual did indeed do the mannerism. Andrew’s better half Vicky observes: “Nobody is safe from the CBW editorial team.” My job can be stressful at the best of times, so I’m a firm believer that if we’re happy, we’re productive – and that includes making time for the odd laugh. With the Editor of CBW’s sister title Group Travel World (GTW) Caroline in the sick bay, I fill the void. Thursday: A day of meetings. Spend the first part of the morning writing and sub-editing. Andrew & I put faces to names from two friendly reps from Passenger Focus when the visit the office. After working on GTW, discuss managerial matters over a working lunch with Jonathan. Don’t get to my desk till almost 1600hrs. Friday: Catch up with a contact in my mother tongue. Brian, the newest recruit to our sales team gives me strange looks. Afterwards he says he thought I was dealing with a PPI call or some such rubbish by doing one of my character voices – but of course, this is the first time he’s heard me speak Welsh in the office. A weekend doing domestic chores beckons. www.coachandbusweek.com
LastStop.indd 61
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Experienced Coach Drivers Required LONDON
Due to our continued expansion we are currently inviting applications for a limited number of coach driving positions to join our elite team based in London.
We are looking for professional, enthusiastic individuals who possess the attitude to always go ʻthat extra mileʼ. You will be responsible for providing a safe, reliable and courteous service, whilst also continuing to maintain and develop our unrivalled reputation. We welcome applicants with experience of dealing with the incoming tourist and corporate charter business. Ideally candidates can demonstrate a sound geographical knowledge of London and the UK, have a proven record of safe driving and have the ability to drive forward our commitment to customer service.
Get your vacancy seen by quality candidates Full colour as standard All vacancies posted to www.coachandbusweek.com/jobs Details of all vacancies posted to our Facebook, Twi�er &
Linkedin pages
We are pleased to be able to offer the following benefits: • • • • • •
Industry leading rates of pay Generous company pension scheme 28 days paid holiday Role involves both touring and local based work Prestige clients Finest fleet of Mercedes and Neoplan vehicles
If you consider yourself to be an industry leading professional driver and wish to be part of this fabulous opportunity then please contact us on the following. Either download an application form from www.citycircleuk.com or Call us on: 020
8561 2112
eek, get a w e n o k o Bo alf price h k e e w d secon eek FREE! w d ir h t a 13 and 27 May 20 Offer valid
un�l
Contact Ian Gillis
01733 293484 ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com
Operations Director
Alfa Coaches is the coach operating division of the Alfa Leisureplex Holiday group, which consists of three divisions: hotels, tour operation and coaches. The Coach Division operates 46 touring coaches and is responsible for the regular hire of approximately 30 more vehicles on any given day during the summer to operate the group’s holiday programme. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced high quality candidate to build upon a strong legacy and be part of a small and highly motivated team driving forward a well respected, growing and financially stable holiday group. The Operations Director of Alfa Coaches will report directly to the Group Managing Director. Responsibilities will include all commercial and operational aspects of the coach operation. Candidates will normally be graduates and hold an International CPC. They must be passionate about delivering the highest standards of coach operation and have the operational and commercial expertise to take an already successful team to the next level. Attractive remuneration package including company car and profit related bonus. The role is based at the group’s headquarters near Chorley. To apply, please email your c.v. and a covering letter to Lucia Westhead, Human Resources Manager, Alfa Leisureplex Group, Alfa Building, Euxton Lane, Chorley PR7 6AF. Email: lucia.westhead@alfatravel.co.uk Closing date 22 February 2013
www.coachandbusweek.com
People.indd 62
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RECRUITMENT & people
February 6, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 63
In association with
Deadlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm Contact Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com
OFT appoints two new directors The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has appointed two new directors. Gordon Ashworth has been appointed Director of Consumer and Markets Policy in the OFT’s Policy Group, led by Senior Director Jackie Holland. Gordon joined the OFT in 1987 and in that time has worked on a range of policy projects and enforcement cases across the organisation’s consumer and competition work. Most recently, he
led the OFT’s response to the BIS review of the consumer landscape institutions and is currently leading OFT’s work on the extensive UK and EU legislative reform programme for consumer law. Andrew Groves has been appointed a director in the OFT’s Goods and Consumer Group. A qualified lawyer, Andrew joined the OFT in 2003 and has worked in the Goods and Consumer group since its creation. He previously worked in the OFT’s Policy and Cartel Divisions and has led a significant number of Competition Act investigations. Prior to joining the OFT Andrew worked in private practice at Baker and McKenzie.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, has announced the appointment of six new members to the board of Passenger Focus, the statutory passenger watchdog. Marian Lauder and Bob Linnard joined the board on February 1 while Isabel Liu and Paul Rowen will join March 1 and Professor Paul Salveson and Dr Stuart Burgess from April 1, 2013. Marian Lauder is a former senior Army officer who has also recently spent three years as chairman of a sustainable transport charity, and brings a wide level of experience in delivering effective governance at board level. Bob Linnard is a recently retired senior civil servant with a deep knowledge of transport policy and people, particularly in relation to
rail and local transport. Isabel Liu has an impressive background in investment, including senior positions at John Laing Investment (Hong Kong) Ltd, Bank of America and Citigroup. Paul Rowen has been an MP, Local Councillor and deputy head teacher. He is currently a Director of the Light Rail Transit Association. Professor Paul Salveson is a rail professional with 35 years experience in a range of sectors and disciplines, including at Northern Rail. He developed the community rail concept and was involved in the establishment of a large number of community rail partnerships. Dr Stuart Burgess is the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities and he has also been active in third world debt reduction at the highest levels.
UKBA winner is new Kinchbus GM Tom Morgan, winner of the Young Bus Manager of the Year title at the UK Bus Awards 2012, has been appointed General Manager of Loughborough-based Kinchbus. A graduate of the University of Liverpool, the 25-year-old started
Six new members appointed to Passenger Focus
Tom Morgan at the UK Bus Awards
his career in the transport industry as a trainee with independent operator Norfolk Green, before moving to trent barton in 2009. For the past three years he’s worked in just about every area of the business, from engineering to customer services, as well as regularly driving buses. Most recently Tom has worked as a Service Delivery Manager in Derby before taking up his new role. Tom said: “The last few years have been fascinating and equipped me with the skills needed to drive forward the development of Kinchbus. “These are exciting times as we look to forge closer links with the communities we serve and introduce a number of initiatives to improve the customer experience.” Jeff Counsell, MD of trent barton, Kinchbus’ parent company, said: “Tom’s talents have already been recognised nationally and he’s determined to help Kinchbus develop by listening and responding to the needs of its customers.”
Community Transport (Swadlincote)
Opera ons Manager Salary c. £22,000 - £25,000
An exci�ng opportunity has arisen within Community Transport Swadlincote for the full �me posi�on of Opera�ons Manager. The purpose of the role is to manage all the day-to-day opera�ons of the organisa�on including the vehicle fleet, premises and driving and passenger assistant team. Working closely with the General Manager you will ensure that the organisa�on con�nues to run its opera�ons in a safe, efficient, sustainable and customer focussed manner. You will have a good understanding of the transport sector, be a natural communicator/mo�vator and be keen to take on a wide range of diverse and challenging responsibili�es within your role. For an applica on pack please contact Sheila Neat at Community Transport (Swadlincote), George Holmes Way, Swadlincote DE11 9DF. Tel 01283 550764. Email: sheilan@swadlincotect.org.uk Closing Date: 1st March 2013 Community Transport (Swadlincote) Reg. Charity No: 1033035
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