Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1148 by Coach and Bus Week & Group Travel World

COM New travel shop for Over 80m passenger CPT, Lloyd Morgan HANDBUSMARKET. Bakers Dolphin p11 journeys on Translink p8 Group and People 1st p7 COAC BUYING

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NEWS...

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

EDITORIAL Publisher Jonathan Taylor 01733 293240 jonathan.taylor@coachandbusweek.com Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@coachandbusweek.com Deputy Editor Andrew Izatt 01733 293244 andrew.izatt@coachandbusweek.com Digital Editor James Day 01733 293482 james.day@coachandbusweek.com Art Director Ian Blaza Contributors Martin Cole, Jonathan Bray, David Bell, Tony Hunter, Steve Hodgson

The HGV speed limit will rise from 40 to 50mph in ‘early 2015’

ADVERTISING, MARKETING & EVENTS

Is it time to revise PCV limits too?

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www.coachandbusweek.com ISSN: 1351-3877 © 2014 Coach and Bus Week Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or system or in any means without the written permission of the directors. This is considered a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs. This magazine must not be lent, sold, hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any authorised cover by way, or by trade, or annexed to any publication or advertising matter without first obtaining written permission from the directors. 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. xxxxxxx

EYMS buys MCV Volvos p9

Sleafordian Coach celebrates 50 years p11

Ian Manning recalls his time at Clydeside Scottish p22

Plans for 2015 UK Coach Awards p10

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xxxxxxxx p18 Black Velvet Travel ceases trading p6

Brighton & Hove route 7 put to the traffic flow test p52

Bluebird Vehicles in administration p7

INDUSTRY JOBS

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Top Stories

6 l Job loses and cancelled holidays as Hatts Travel Group ceases trading 9 l Transport Select Committee says importance of public transport needs to be recognised 11 l New travel shop is opened by Bakers Dolphin in Broadmead, Bristol 11 l Another Irizar i4 Scania for Birmingham-based Attain Travel

Regulars 06 l News 08 l Bus News 10 l Coach News 12 l Regional News 40 l Big Picture 76 l Last Stop 77 l People

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13/06/2014 18:00 12:12 28/07/2014

NEWS B R I E F LY l THE APPEARANCE OF NEW Routemaster prototype LT2 in Leeds, following a repaint in green at Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, has created speculation about its possible use. CBW understands that New Routemasters are being loaned to both Leeds and Dundee for trial purposes. FirstGroup used a modified picture of greenpainted New Routemaster earlier this year when it unveiled plans for an alternative to the NGT (New Generation Transport) scheme in Leeds. l THE FUTURE OF Black Velvet Travel could be determined “in a matter of days” – insolvency and restructuring specialists from accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott have told CBW. Matthew Fox, a partner at Chantrey Vellacott, said: “Talks have been taking place over the last week with a view to a well-established company resurrecting Black Velvet Travel and Velvet buses returning to the road on a long-term basis. Those talks are at a vital stage and, while nothing is certain, I would hope they would be concluded positively in a matter of days.” l THE UK BUS AWARDS (UKBA) has received a record number of nominations. The 2014 finalists announcement and luncheon will be held at the London Transport Museum on October 9, and the winners will be revealed at the presentation ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel on November 18. For more details, visit www. ukbusawards.org.uk.

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Hatts Travel Group ceases trading Bakers Dolphin throws a lifeline to holidaymakers who might have lost out following the collapse The Foxham, Chippenhambased Hatts Travel Group ceased trading last Friday morning (July 25) with Andrew Sheridan and Gareth Morris from FRP Advisory appointed as Joint Administrators. Around 108 staff were employed and according to BBC News Wiltshire, as many as 1,000 customers may have had specialist coach and holiday bookings with the firm. The Wiltshire Times quotes an FRP Advisory statement that says: “The joint administrators are not aware of Hatts Quality Travel being a member of ABTA or equivalent travel agent association nor the existence of any travel security bond.” Andrew Sheridan told BBC News: “Our priority right now is to contact and provide dedicated helpline support for those members of the general public who have paid for holidays, day trips and other private hire with Hatts. We will ensure that they are advised of their statutory rights under the Consumer Credit Act where, in the first instance, if they have paid by credit or debit card they should make contact with their card providers.” The Gazette & Herald quotes Andrew as saying: “It is deeply regrettable and sad for all concerned that the majority of Hatts operations should have stopped trading. The businesses

simply ran out of money.” When CBW contacted FRP Advisory, it wasn’t prepared to comment or give a statement. The joint administrators have been appointed to: Hatts Quality Travel Ltd, Adrian Charles Hillier, Jill Hillier & Michael William Hillier trading as Adrian Hillier & Partners, Adrian Charles Hillier & Partners, Hatts, Hatts Travel, Hatts Coaches, Hatts Hire, Hatts Garage Services and Hatts of Salisbury. Also Adrian Charles Hillier & Charles John Bodman trading as C Bodman & Sons, Bodmans, Bodman(s) Coaches Wiltshire Buses and The Bodman(s) Partnership. “All of the above businesses have ceased to trade with immediate effect except Hatts of Salisbury which operates the Park & Ride operation (12 vehicles) for Wiltshire County Council that continues to be operated by the Administrators,” says FRP Advisory on Hatts’ website. Despite this some Hatts vehicles were observed in use on tour and private hire work on Friday and Saturday, and it is understood that they may have been allowed to continue until Sunday although it has not been possible to clarify this. It’s also understood that the administrators are continuing to operate Connect2 Wiltshire services in the Pewsey Vale. Hatts has an O-licence in the name of Michael William Hillier & Partners trading as Hatts. It has operating centres at Foxham, Chippenham (40 vehicles), Langley Park, Chippenham (15 vehicles),

Hatts of Salisbury continues to operate the Salisbury Park & Ride for the time being

High Post, Salisbury (36 vehicles) and Worton, Devizes (12 vehicles). Adrian Charles Hillier and Charles John Bodman have an O-licence in the name of Devizes-based Wiltshire Buses for 20 vehicles. Wiltshire County Council had 36 hours notice of Hatts’ demise, enabling it to put in place prevision for contracted local services so no journeys were lost. The task was eased as the closure was the day after the last schools finished for the summer recess. The local authority is grateful to the operators that were able to step in and cover what is 14

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CPT launches new industry engineering standard

vehicles worth of work. A council spokesman told CBW: “We were fortunate this happened at the beginning of the school holidays. Operators have been very helpful in supplying drivers and vehicles at extremely short notice, which meant we didn’t lose a bit of service.” Stagecoach West is running the Devizes town services while Thamesdown Transport is covering routes 19, 20, 21, 22, X20 and X22 in the Malborough area. AD Rains Coaches of Chippenham is running shoppers’ services 97 and X76, Wootton Bassett-based

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APL Travel is covering Connect2 Wiltshire lines 4 and 5 (Calne – Malborough) and Beeline Coaches, Warminster is operating shoppers’ buses 39, 64 and X88 in west Wiltshire. Frome Minibuses is covering Saturday journeys on services 77 and 87 (Trowbridge – Devizes). Significant support has come from Go South Coast. Damory Coaches is operating route 29 (Salisbury – Shaftesbury) while Wilts & Dorset (Salisbury Reds and Tourist Coaches) are covering Hatts’ journeys on services 7, 8A, 12, 14, 44, 66, 67 and 217.

Hatts had eight Wiltshire school contracts with several runs that will need to be reassigned in time for the start of the new school year. Weston Super Mare-based Bakers Dolphin has thrown a lifeline to holidaymakers affected by the collapse, offering 50% off its holidays. Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington said: “We are members of Bonded Coach Holidays and have protection in place so that customers are never at risk. When this sort of thing happens it undermines the industry’s good reputation.”

CPT in conjunction with Lloyd Morgan Group & People 1st has launched a new industry professional standard – the Bus & Coach Engineering Manager Accreditation. The Accreditation, designed by CPT’s Engineering Committee for CPT members, assesses Engineering Managers against a series of new professional standards, whilst allowing them to demonstrate they have the necessary skills and attributes to carry out the important role. Candidates put forward for the Bus & Coach Engineering Manager Accreditation will be assessed by CPT’s compliance partner, Lloyd Morgan Group, on a wide range of competences over an intense two day period. CPT’s Operations Director Stephen Smith said: “This unique accreditation – an industry first – has been developed to recognise and reward the outstanding work of the coach and bus industry’s Engineering Managers. It will also help operators further improve and maintain the very highest levels of engineering and safety standards. “CPT has also agreed with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) that Engineering Managers successfully completing the two day assessment will automatically qualify for affiliate and associate membership of the institution – one step closer to becoming a fully qualified engineer.”

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7 28/07/2014 19:11

NEWS › BUS

380

The number of nominations made for this year’s UK Bus Awards

55,895

Number of passenger journeys on the Cambridge Guided Busway in its first week of operation

Translink Annual Review reveals patronage rise Passenger numbers for rail and bus have increased by 2.7m in the last two years Over 80 million passenger journeys were made on Translink bus and rail services in 2013/14 – beating Northern Ireland Government targets of 78 million. The figure was revealed following the launch of Translink’s Annual Review 2013/14. Significantly, over a million more fare paying passengers chose to use the bus or train compared to the previous year and, over the last two years, Translink has increased patronage by 2.7 million. Speaking about last year’s performance, Gordon Milligan, Translink Interim Group Chief Executive, said: “Customer satisfaction remains at a high level. This is down to us delivering good quality bus and train services with great customer care and good value fares. “Highlights of the past year include significant investment in our bus fleet with last July’s announcement of over £30m funding for new Metro buses and Goldline coaches. “Ulsterbus also introduced 23 new interurban buses on key routes across Northern Ireland. In particular, customers are enjoying the added benefit of free WiFi now on board all Goldline coaches along

Konectbus September service changes

Konectbus has said that from September 1 it is revising its network due to customer feedback, demand analysis and the addition of a service from Anglianbus. The operator will provide a service between Wroxham, Salhouse, Dussindale, Norwich City Centre and Tuckswood. Service 9A will be revised to cater for the differing closing times of Hethersett High School. The Norfolk Coaster open top service will be withdrawn for the winter, and two Sunday journeys on the 2/2A are also being withdrawn. Revised too are Dereham services 2A, 12, 20 and 21. New timetables are expected to be on the firm’s website www.konectbus. co.uk shortly, with printed ones distributed in mid August.

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with leather seating, additional leg room and timetable enhancements – indeed passenger numbers have grown by over 45% on Goldline in the last 10 years. “To compliment these fleet enhancements, we continue to offer customers attractive travel tickets with good value-formoney – our bus and rail fares remain frozen for the second time since 2011 offering increasingly affordable travel choices. We have invested in customer information services and ticketing with a new mobile website and Journey Planner app. “Our bus passengers can now benefit from the introduction of ‘dayLink’ – a new smartcard providing flexible unlimited day travel in Belfast for adults and children. We also launched a ‘Life’s better’ campaign to outline all the lifestyle benefits of passenger transport. “Park & Ride usage has continued to grow and we are looking forward to opening a new 520 space facility in Dundonald later this year which will be an important development to support the new rapid transit network. ‘Eco driving’ technology was successfully introduced across the bus fleet reducing overall fuel consumption. “Key infrastructure developments included the construction of Northern Ireland’s

Translink’s Goldline service has seen passenger numbers grow by 45% in the last 10 years

first environmentally sustainable, integrated bus and rail station opened in Antrim and a substantial refurbishment of Portadown train station. These improvements ensure our customers and employees enjoy attractive facilities and support further growth in passenger numbers. “We have been able to deliver this considerable investment in our services due to essential funding from the Department for Regional Development and our performance continues to meet public transport requirements as laid out in the programme for Government. “Our services have transported thousands of additional passengers

on special and scheduled services to and from major events, most notably the World Police and Fire Games, UK City of Culture programme, Balmoral Show and the G8 Summit. “Looking ahead, we believe more people using passenger transport is at the heart of a healthy, sustainable and vibrant development for Northern Ireland and we will strive to deliver our service efficiently, giving our customers excellent, value-formoney travel choices.”

Translink’s Annual Review 2013/14 is available to view online at www.translink. co.uk/annualreview

Optare Gold in Australia Donric Group has recently taken delivery of two Optare Solo SRs which are being operated by Gold Bus, one of six companies within the group. They’re aptly named after the area in which they operate in Ballarat, Victoria known for its gold mining. Donric Group is family-owned and Chief Executive Peter McKenzie and his wife Linda visited Optare at Sherburn in Elmet on a recent trip to the UK. The Donric Group has grown from a fleet of eight in 1980 to in excess of 360 vehicles today. Everything from school and route services to a wide range of charters and extended touring are catered for. The Solos operate as special education school buses in partnership with the Department for Education in Victoria, serving Ballarat Specialist School. Located not far from the banks of Lake Wendouree, it provides educational programmes for three to 30 year old students with mild, moderate and profound intellectual disabilities associated with physical, social, emotional, behavioural, multiple and sensory impairments. Peter said: “The application of the low-floor, mid-

Donric Group-subsidiary Gold Bus in Australia is now operating a pair of Optare Solo SRs size Solos as a special education school bus, is a new concept in Australia, with the growing demand for special education services and access for multiple wheelchairs. The Solo provides a higher capacity whilst still able to navigate through the urban streets. “Optare’s selection of well known global brands in the Solo’s driveline adds to the maintainability of the vehicles and their performance in high temperatures was also another deciding factor. The vehicles have been very well received by both customers and drivers.” www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 19:07

Number of new Wrightbusbodied Volvo B7RLEs acquired for Crawley Fastway in April, at a cost of £3m

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TSC asks for improved passenger transport services for isolated communites MPs on the Transport Select Committee (TSC) have warned that policy makers across all Government departments must recognise the fundamental importance of passenger transport for providing access to education, healthcare and employment for isolated communities. The cross-party committee warned that neglect of these services would reduce access to essential services. Launching the report, Transport Select Committee Chair, Louise Ellman MP, said: “Old and young, unemployed people, those on low incomes and disabled people who live in isolated communities rely on passenger transport. For example two out of every �ive job seekers cite lack of transport as a barrier to �inding work. “All these groups are disproportionately affected by inadequate or reduced services. It is vital that all ministers recognise the fundamental importance of passenger transport in providing access to education, healthcare and employment. “Policy makers sometimes

Louise Ellman: “We reiterate our long held concern that subsidised bus services continue to disappear as funding is cut” equate ‘isolated’ with ‘rural’ or island communities, but we found that some urban and suburban areas have inadequate passenger transport. The DfT should draft a de�inition of ‘isolated communities’ for use across central and local government to target scarce resources in ways that reach all types of isolated community. “We reiterate our long held concern that subsidised bus

services continue to disappear as funding is cut. The bus industry must work with local authorities to deliver essential local services through the development of quality contracts similar to arrangements that operate in London.” The Committee also challenged the DfT’s assertion that community transport schemes run by volunteers can compensate for decreased bus services in isolated communities. Louise Ellman added: “We recognise their value but many community transport schemes are tiny and only serve particular groups in the community. It is unrealistic to expect volunteers to replace local bus services.” MPs also highlighted the need for ‘total transport’ - the pooling of existing transport assets to deliver a broader range of services. “If, for example, hospital transport were combined with local bus services, it might revolutionise services for isolated communities. We want to see the DfT test that concept in practice by co-ordinating large-scale pilot schemes,” said Louise Ellman.

Beccles-based BorderBus has acquired four Enviro200s for its new service 146 between Norwich and Southwold. It already runs the 521 Halesworth to Aldeburgh via Saxmundham and Leiston. Another three school services have also been registered to the Sir John Leman High School in Beccles from September. BorderBus has a 14 vehicle O-licence. Proprietor is Andrew Pursey who was previously Managing Director of AnglianBus which was sold to Go-Ahead Group. DAVID BELL

Lothian receives 20 new Volvo 7900Hs

Lothian Buses has received its latest batch of hybrid buses. The company’s latest delivery again consists of 20 singledecker Volvo 7900Hs with Euro 6 engines. Lothian claims they feature signi�icant interior improvements from the original 10 vehicles received last year, with a ‘more passenger friendly’ seating arrangement and interior �ittings in the Lothian Buses www.coachandbusweek.com

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‘Classic’ interior �inish. All of the vehicles are �itted with free WiFi and real-time information screens with next stop announcements. The new vehicles are expected to enter service over the next few weeks on route 30, which runs from Clovenstone to Musselburgh. Ian Craig, Chief Executive of Transport for Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to have been

able to introduce a further 20 Volvo 7900 Hybrid’s to our �leet. This re�lects our commitment to providing a greener and more sustainable travel offering to our passengers and to the local environment. “Service 30 is very popular with our passengers and we hope that everyone along this route will see the bene�it of using these vehicles.”

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SHARE WATCH Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, July 28. FirstGroup saw the greatest proportional rise, while National Express saw the greatest proportional drop. Most figures obtained from www.lse.co.uk

428.40p

Price: Year High: 471.00p Year Low: 374.10p

+6.50 on last week

128.50p

Price: Year High: 146.10p Year Low: 96.90p

-1.30 on last week

2223.00p

Price: Year High: 2442.00p Year Low: 1465.00p

-40.00

257.70p

Price: Year High: 307.70p Year Low: 244.70p

362.80p

Price: Year High: 401.40p Year Low: 307.00p

0.21

Price: Year High: 0.36p Year Low: 0.20p

55.125p

Price: Year High: 58.50p Year Low: 42.50p

342.50p

Price: Year High: 620.00p Year Low: 302.50p

6.125p

Price: Year High: 10.50p Year Low: 4.38p

on last week

-1.50 on last week

-3.70 on last week

SAME on last week

+0.625 on last week

-2.50 on last week

-0.125 on last week

FTSE 100

6,792

Index: Year High: 6,878 Year Low: 6,338

+62 on last week

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9 28/07/2014 19:07

NEWS › COACH RO A D WATC H n MAINTENANCE WORK on three bridges on the A47 near King’s Lynn will continue until August 12 due to unavoidable delays. The delays are due to additional repairs needing to be carried out to the bridges and rain when waterproofing work was scheduled to take place. The current contraflow system and 30mph limit on the A47 will remain in place between Pullover Roundabout and Hardwick Roundabout until August 8. The maintenance work was originally planned to be complete on July 29. n RESURFACING WORK has started on the westbound carriageway of the M56 between junction 12 at Runcorn and junction 14 at Hapsford. The work is scheduled to be completed by Friday, September 26. All of the resurfacing will be done overnight between 2200 and 0500hrs, Mondays to Fridays. The motorway may be reduced to a single lane running overnight with access to the westbound carriageway at junction 12 closed occasionally overnight. There may be hard shoulder closures during the day. n WORK IS UNDERWAY on the A5 Churchbridge junction with the M6 Toll in Cannock. The Highways Agency is realigning the approaches to the junction as well as the junction itself to increase its capacity. There will be additional traffic lights at approaches. Work will be carried out between 2000 and 0600hrs. During the course of the work there will be phased lane closures and some full closures.

ABH convictions after assault on coach driver

Image source: www.google.co.uk/maps

The court heard that Balbir Singh Rai was attacked for ‘poaching’ passengers from New Punjab Coaches Court hears that four men attacked driver, leaving him with a grazed head and bruises to his arm and chest Inderjit Singh, of New Punjab Coaches (NPC), and his nephew Harsimran Sran, have both been convicted of assaulting Balbir Singh Rai of Rai Coaches at a Southall petrol station, Get West London reported. The two men attacked Balbir Singh Rai, who they believed had poached their passengers. Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard how they had waited with two other men for the 38-year-old driver before attacking him as he helped an elderly passenger disembark at a bus stop in Hayes Road, Southall, on the evening of August 20, 2013. Mr Rai had then run across the busy dual carriageway to the forecourt a Murco garage where the assault continued, leaving him with a grazed head and bruises to his left arm and chest. Singh, 53, and Sran, 29, were

convicted of ABH (actual bodily harm). Both men were cleared of the more serious charge of robbery. Mr Rai had told the court he was punched and kicked as he lay on the ground, and he heard his attackers say words to the effect of: “We rule Middlesex. Do you know who we are?” Sran had denied assault, telling jurors Mr Rai was the aggressor. Having punched Sran’s friend after being confronted, Sran claimed the driver then removed his shirt and beckoned the men to follow him across the road, saying ‘I’ll show you what I can do.’ Singh, who runs New Punjab Coaches, in Western Road, Southall, also denied taking any part in the attack. He claimed he had attended the scene following a call from a concerned passenger but had quickly left after seeing Mr Rai direct what appeared to be a gun gesture at him. Mr Rai said he had been pointing in the direction his attackers had fled. The court was told how Mr Rai worked for his family business based in Birmingham and had

ferried about 10 passengers that day on the popular route from Birmingham to Southall. Singh and Sran both claimed Mr Rai had told those passengers he was from NPC, though Mr Rai denied this was the case. When the driver announced a bus stop near Toys R Us would be his final destination, Sran claimed one passenger had called New Punjab Coaches to complain as he had expected to be dropped off at Southall Coach Station. Sran told the court he and a friend had confronted Mr Rai, initially believing he was an NPC driver who was keeping fares for himself. However, Chloe Fordham, prosecuting, said Singh, Sran and two accomplices who have not been arrested had been laying in wait to attack Mr Rai that day. “Mr Rai was the victim of people with a grudge against him; people who believed he was harming their family business. He was bullied, beaten and intimidated,” she told the court. Sran and Singh’s sentencing was due as CBW went to press.

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Bakers Dolphin opens new travel shop Bakers Dolphin is returning to the High Street after more than a decade with a ticket shop and travel centre in Bristol, promoting British and overseas days out and coach holidays and creating three new jobs. The operator, which once had over 100 travel shops throughout the region, has opened a new shop in Broadmead. Part of the service will be booking people into London West End shows and enabling them to walk out with their tickets straight away. The holiday company, with its headquarters in Weston-superMare, has a history dating back to 1889 and is still in the ownership of the same family. Since 1998, when its travel division was sold to First Choice, Bakers Dolphin has concentrated on its core business of coach holidays in the UK and Europe,

coach hire and days out to events and shows. Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington said: “The new shop is strategically positioned between Cabot Circus and Broadmead in Bristol. Although we now take lots of bookings online there are still a lot of people who want to talk to a travel adviser, discuss special requirements or have help deciding on what to book. “Our coach holiday shop in the Sovereign Centre, Weston-superMare has been a major success and we decided to bring it to Bristol. Our London events are hugely popular and we will have the same facilities as the London ticket bureau so people will be able to have their show tickets in the hands before they leave Bristol. “We will continue to expand our

Staff Heidi Morgan, Nicki Rich and Joanne Cook outside the new travel shop coach holidays, which we provide ourselves with our own fleet of 60 vehicles with destinations throughout the UK and Europe, including our popular Gold Service luxury service.

Attain Travel chooses Scania Irizar combination again

Birmingham-based Attain Travel has taken delivery of a new Scania Irizar i-Skool coach. The 70-seater vehicle is equipped with three-point all-age seatbelts, climate control air-conditioning, a DVD player and extra dark tinted glass. The vehicle’s Scania K 320 IB4x2 chassis is powered by a 320hp, Euro 5 Scania engine and Scania’s fully automated Opticruise gear selection system. Attain Travel Director Dave Costello said: “When we first heard Scania was building a 70-seat coach based on the Irizar i4, we jumped at the chance of buying one. We have several 70-seat Scania coaches and also 59-seater Scania Irizar i4s, so the combination was perfect for our operation.”

The new Irizar i4 at Scania’s Worksop premises

“The travel shop will take advantage of the latest technology so it will be small and efficient and wired in to the best deals and late offers and will be staffed with experienced travel specialists.”

New A684 bypass announced

Some £29m of investment has been pledged to allow the construction of the A684 bypass, which the DfT hopes will improve journey times on a major east-west tourist route in North Yorkshire. The new link will also bypass the villages of Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar. The project involves the construction of a new three mile (4.8 km) single carriageway road from the A684 north of Bedale to the A684 east of Leeming Bar, which links into junction 51 of the A1(M).

SCRT® Systems Approved for The Clean Vehicle Technology Fund Quality Emission Abatement Systems – Made in Germany The HJS SMF® (Sintered Metal Filter) has enabled public transport buses to operate within Low Emission Zones throughout Europe for a number of years now. HJS are also pioneers of the innovative SCRT® retrofit solution to significantly reduce the level of harmful pollutants emitted by buses including Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). HJS SCRT® systems are TfL approved and meet the requirements of the Clean Bus Technology Fund 2014 Systems are modular in design with separate CRT and SCR units for easy maintenance Direct fit technology and Millbrook tested vehicle specific applications Manufactured in Germany to the highest OE quality standards

SCRT® – The most cost effective solution for cleaner buses

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July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 11 28/07/2014 19:03

NEWS › REGIONAL EAST

KEY

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES has invested £25,000 in free WiFi on its 16 Wrightbus Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TLs dedicated Blue Line buses, which operate on routes 25/25A from the University of East Anglia to Norwich Railway Station. All buses which operate on the firm’s high-profile X1 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth will also be fully equipped with free WiFi. Steve Wickers, Commercial Director of First Eastern Counties, said: “Following a successful trial on our X1 service, we are pleased to introduce WiFi on our Blue Line university services in Norwich. We are committed to delivering better journeys and we hope the free WiFi enhances our passengers’ experience when using this service in the city. The investment follows a close working relationship with the UEA and acts upon feedback from a recent passenger survey.” CONSTRUCTION of an extension to the Cambridge Guided Busway is under way. Staff from contractor Balfour Beatty are now on site on the old railway cutting between Milton Road and Chesterton sidings after the land was cleared of vegetation and lizards. The £6m road and cycleway will link the existing busway to Cambridge Science Park station, which is set to open in May 2016. The county council decided to build the Government-funded busway extension as a 600m-long

App which has offers, events and promotions. First is a ‘Tier 1’ sponsor of the app. The leaflets are to be distributed this week ahead of the introduction in September to the Falkirk network of nine brand new Micro-Hybrid Wrightbus Streetlites worth £1.3m. First said it will reveal which route (or routes) the new buses are to operate on later in the summer.

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

WALES

road, not a guided route, after being told this was less risky. This part of the project should be finished by March next year. Network Rail is preparing to start work on the £30m station, which will offer trains to Kings Cross and Liverpool Street in London, plus Norwich, King’s Lynn, Stansted airport and Birmingham. It is hoped that 800,000 passengers will use the station annually within three years of opening, taking pressure off the main station and reducing congestion in the city.

SCOTLAND FIRST BLUEBIRD is sending bespoke bus information leaflets to 31,902 households in the Falkirk area containing bus travel vouchers worth more than £125,000 – the largest ever undertaken by the operator. Each leaflet contains a voucher worth up to £4, valid for single tickets on services 1, 2, 5, 6 or7. The information leaflets also contain specific details about services, timetables, places to visit and details about the ‘mi Falkirk’

ARTWORK BY ROTHERHAM n primary school pupils is putting Stagecoach Yorkshire

passengers in the picture when it comes to environmentally friendly travel. Poster designs drawn by Millie Clarke and Charlotte Tonge are now on display on the bus operator’s vehicles, after the Lacewood Primary School pupils were selected as winners of Stagecoach’s Green Week competition. Millie’s poster focuses on how Stagecoach’s driver uniforms are made from recycled plastic bottles, while Charlotte’s design encourages people to walk to the bus stop to help keep fit, as well as cut pollution. The pupils, both aged 10, also won a visit from a Stagecoach bus and the Stagecoach Yorkshire

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COUNCILLORS in Merthyr Tydfil have voted in favour of relocating the town’s central bus station to a new site on at the lower end of the High Street. The local authority said in a statement: “The development of a new bus station is required as although the current bus station is well publicised and functional, it does not provide a suitable environment to attract potential bus users and is a poor gateway for visitors coming into the town. “In addition to this, the layout structure and enclosed tunnel bus bay waiting areas is a location of high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime.” According to the report presented to full council, advantages of relocating to Swan Street include that disruption will be minimised as no temporary facility will be needed as there would be if the current facility was refurbished. The bus station will also be closer to the railway station, improving transport links – while it also creates the opportunity for further retail development on the current bus station site to be ‘maximised.’ The council said it hopes to submit a planning application by the end of the year.

SOUTH WEST

green team for their school. Mrs Bev Bailey, class teacher at Lacewood Primary School, in Bolton upon Dearne, said: “We were so proud to see Charlotte and Millie presented with their

certificates and copies of their posters and the whole class had such a great time learning about eco-friendly travel.” Pictured here are Millie and Charlotte.

PLYMOUTH Citybus has handed over a £1,000 cheque to Young Devon. The sum came after the Go-Ahead Group-owned operator decided to donate 10% of the money taken during the firm’s Catch the Bus Week mobile ticketing promotion to the charity. Catch the Bus Week of course, ran from April 28 to May 4 – Citybus offered 10% off all mobile tickets. As a result, Citybus’ sales of m-tickets increased. Young Devon is a county wide organisation seeking to support and sustain young people’s services across the region and to www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 16:02

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change the odds in favour of young people. Young Devon was recently presented with a cheque from MD Richard Stevens outside of the Citybus Travel Shop on Royal Parade Tim Tod, Young Devon CEO said: “We would like to extend huge thanks to Plymouth City Bus for the generous donation from the firm’s Catch the Bus Week initiative. We are most grateful for the continued support of a local organisation. It’s fantastic to be working so closely with Plymouth City Bus.”

NORTH

TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has worked with Stagecoach Manchester to extend route 78 – which it pays for – to run to the youth zone during

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets

Monday to Saturday evenings on a trial basis. The change will also reinstate evening bus links from the Lime Green Road area to Oldham and Manchester, and make it easier to get from the Mahdlo youth zone to Oldham Bus Station and directly on to Limeside, Hollinwood and Failsworth. The move follows a review of local bus services alongside Oldham Council as part of the ‘Get Oldham Working’ campaign. It highlighted the need for improved evening access to employment opportunities and better bus links to provide safe access to the Youth Zone. The Mahdlo Youth Zone, which opened in spring 2012, offers range of activities and opportunities that all young people from across Oldham can access for just 50p as a member.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The date for next year’s Welsh Coach Rally has been confirmed – June 21

2014 n August 1 – 3 Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester. 01453 890891 www. glossteamextravaganza.com n August 24 – 25 The Big Operating Day and MetroCammell Celebration The Transport Museum Wythall. Celebrating a Birmingham company whose buses and trains could be found all around the globe.. 01564 826471. www. bammot.org.uk n August 25 Imberbus special bus service to abandoned settlements on Salisbury Plain, 10–1800hrs.

http://imberbus.wordpress.com

n August 29 – 30 King Long Road Show. Kinglong Direct Limited, Three Spires Industrial Estate, Ibstock Road, Coventry CV6 6JR. 0930 – 1630hrs. Call 02476 363 004. n August 30 EYMS Big Bus Day. Streetlife Museum, Hull 01482 222444 www.eyms.co.uk

FIRST CYMRU has been n helping to raise awareness of an exhibition in Llanelli at a

time when the town hosts the National Eisteddfod by carrying some specially created cove panel adverts on its buses. The company has donated advertising space worth £1,500 on 50 of its vehicles, and has also covered the cost of producing special cove panels too. The panels, which will be fixed on the interior of buses for up to three months, feature poems written by well-regarded Welsh author and academic David Greenslade, along with illustrations by internationally renowned Welsh artist John Welson. David works at Cardiff Metropolitan University while John is a retired civil servant who worked with William Hague and John Redwood. The poems and painted

illustrations celebrate the colours, sights and sounds of the Eisteddfod and particularly the many thousands of wandering festival goers who explore all the Welsh cultural festival has to offer them come rain or shine. In running the advert on its buses for free, First hopes to also raise awareness of an exhibition taking place at Carmarthenshire County Library until August 9, featuring more poetry and illustrations – and the Eisteddfod itself, which takes place in Llanelli between August 1 and 9. Similarly it is hoped it will generate interest in a new book of poetry (Y Gwiblu Brith), written by David Greenslade and illustrated by John Welson, which was inspired by the Eisteddfod. Pictured here are David Greenslade, First’s Huw Morris and Jon Welson.

14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 012_014_CBW1148_Regional News.indd 14

Join the group

Join our flickr group. Search groups – coach and bus week magazine

n August 31 Buses Festival. Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon. 10 – 1700hrs. Contact: michelle. withers@keypublishing.com n September 7 Dartford Bus Garage Open Day. Arriva London, Central Road, Dartford, DA1 5BG 1000 – 1600hrs. www.arrivalondon.com n September 9 Association of Trainers AGM. Birmingham. 01797 344251 www.asot.org.uk/index.php/ asot/come-to-meet-us-menu n September 10-11 Low Carbon Vehicle Event, Millbrook, Bedfordshire. 01509 635 750. www. cenex-lcv.co.uk n September 14 Bus & Coach Wales Merthyr Tydfil n September 14 UK Bus Driver of the Year 2014 Blackpool. bdoy@ btinternet.com n September 21 Showbus 2014. Imperial War Museum, Duxford. www.showbus.com

n September 25 Group Leisure Show Hall 8, NEC Birmingham. 01908 613323 http://leisureshow.com n September 25 - October 2 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. Hannover, Germany. www.iaa.de n September 27 Lothian Buses Doors Open Day Central Depot, Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AZ 12 – 1600hrs http:// lothianbuses.com/our-community/ community/events n October 5 Bluebell Railway Vintage Bus Day. 01825 720800, visit www.bluebell-railway.com or email d.morgan52@btinternet.com n October 5 Oxford Bus Museum Bus & Classic Vehicle Rally & Running Day Station Yard, Long Hanborough,OX29 8LA. 01993 883 617. www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk n October 6–7 CPT Scotland Annual Conference. Cameron House Hotel, Alexandria. 0131 272 2150. www.cpt-uk.org n October 28-31 International Bus and Coach Trade Fair Feria de Madrid Avda del Partenon, 5 28042 Madrid, Spain www.ifema.es n November 4-6 Euro Bus Expo Expo 2014 NEC Birmingham www. eurobusexpo.com n November 4 – 7 QV Associates Introduction to Bus & Crew Scheduling course. Birmingham. 01905 613527. http://qv-associates. com

2015 n May 3 – 4 Friends of King Alfred Buses Running Day Winchester www.fokab.org.uk n June 21 Welsh Coach Rally National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. For details, call Ashley Lovering on 07814958379.

Send your event details to gareth.evans@ coachandbusweek.com

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INTRODUCTION › SOUTH EAST BRT

Riding the BRT In CBW’s latest superfeature, Gareth Evans, Andy Izatt and James Day are joined by Mark Curren and Jack Izatt, each riding on one of the �ive Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) schemes that surround London. They relate their different experiences on what was encountered from a passenger point of view while Andy Izatt provides this introduction to BRT in the UK

ith worsening urban traf�ic congestion, bus passenger surveys consistently identify service reliability as a key consideration. One potential solution is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which is seen as an effective mechanism for giving priority where it’s needed the most. Investment in infrastructure, vehicles and customer service training, all at a lower cost compared to trams or light rail, help to deliver predictable journey times and a better passenger experience. BRT is a high pro�ile solution which demonstrably shows that an enhanced level of service is on offer. Road priority measures can range from conventional bus lanes and traf�ic light priority to segregated roadways and kerb or tram-like central guideways. Segregated roadways have the advantage of being available to any bus, but can potentially be violated by other traf�ic as well. Utilising relatively straightforward technology, guideways restrict access and enable buses to travel at speed on what can be narrower alignments than are found on normal roads. While pragmatism, practicality and cost seem to have tempered what has been introduced in the UK so far, that has not necessarily been the case elsewhere. It’s why BRT is usually de�ined in

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terms of rubber-tyred vehicles, not just buses. An example would be Wright’s StreetCar, although it’s use in the UK has not always been supported with appropriate infrastructure. BRT can be found in numerous cities in the USA and is also popular in parts of Canada, China, India, South Africa, South America, the Far East and Europe. Well known are the O-Bahn guideways in Essen, Germany and Adelaide, Australia, but perhaps best know of all is the unguided system in Curitiba, Brazil where 25m-long 270-passenger capacity bi-articulated vehicles are amongst those operating on a citywide network. The Curitiba approach is not unique. It’s seen as the solution in a number of cities in the developing world. An important dividend of BRT is its ability to raise the pro�ile of public transport amongst potential users while the relentless development of new technology opens up more sophisticated ways of delivering it. VDL’s Phileas, which achieved signi�icant sales in Istanbul several years ago, can use magnetic guidance. Electric guidance using underground cables to transmit signals to an on-board receiver is another option – it’s used by Channel Tunnel service vehicles – while optical guidance relying on a camera to pick up road markings was a feature of the

Irisbus Civis. Leading European manufacturers, often working in collaboration, are amongst global suppliers that continue to push the technological and design boundaries. The ELLISUP concept vehicle, unveiled by Iveco Bus at Busword Kortrijk last October showed some of the latest thinking. But what’s interesting is that much of the focus in recent years has been on delivering solutions to what are seen as more immediate practical issues than perhaps enhancing the passenger experience. Reducing emissions and diesel fuel consumption are today’s key motivators with the development of viable electric traction seen by many as the ultimate goal.

Where does BRT operate?

BRT in the UK can trace its origins back to the opening of the Runcorn Busway in 1971. An 11.25km segregated roadway, later extended to 20km and forming a �igure-of-eight around the new town, it links residential areas with schools, the railway station and the Shopping City retail centre. Housing estates were laid out so that homes were always within 500m of a busway stop. Schemes have come and gone since, but today

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LOOKING AHEAD

Future BRT in the UK

Riding on different BRT systems was all about seeing how they deliver for passengers

BRISTOL: Three rapid transit schemes are proposed. Approval for Ashton Vale to Temple Meads MetroBus was given by the Secretary of State for Transport last November. Other routes connect North Fringe with Hengrove and Long Ashton with Hartcliffe. BELFAST: An outline business case has been made for a BRT scheme over three routes linking Dundonald in the east, the proposed Colin Town Centre in the west, and Titanic Quarter via the city centre. Work started on one of the routes earlier this year. EDINBURGH: The South East Scotland Transport Partnership proposed an orbital BRT network south of the city in 2010. Park-andRide sites would be linked via the southern bypass. GLASGOW: Approval has been given to a new highfrequency bus link along the banks of the River Clyde. Glasgow Fastlink will run between Buchanan Street bus station to the Southern General Hospital via Central and Queen Street rail stations, the International Financial Services District, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, and Govan.

Istanbul, like many growing cities has invested heavily in developing BRT schemes

LEEDS: (NGT) is a cross-city trolleybus scheme jointly promoted by Metro and Leeds City Council. Construction could start in 2016 with the first trolleybuses in operation by 2018. LEIGH & MANCHESTER: Work has started on this scheme which will run via Salford and is scheduled to be completed next year. It includes 4.5km of guideway between Leigh and Ellenbrook. PENNINE REACH: Application for final approval has been made for a scheme that would aim to improve public transport between

SHARED EXPERIENCE

About Bus Rapid Transit UK Mark Curren, one of our superfeature contributors, works for Transport for London. He was a founding member and first secretary of Bus Rapid Transit UK (BRTuk), a company limited by guarantee and an association dedicated to the sharing of information about evolving bus-based rubber-tyred rapid transit technology. Chairman is UK guideway pioneer, Dr Bob Tebb and its membership includes manufacturers such as Wrightbus, government institutions and local authorities, transport authorities including Transport for London, a wide range of leading

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suppliers and consultants, and operators ranging from Lothian Buses and Reading Transport to Stagecoach and First. Objectives are to establish and promote good practice in the delivery of BRT; to seek to establish/collate data on all aspects of BRT and to disseminate it within the industry; to disseminate the benefits of bus rapid transit to opinion formers, decision makers and stakeholders; and to engage with Government on key regulatory, legal and financial aspects governing the implementation and operation of bus rapid transit. Also to promote and drive

Leigh-Manchester soon improvements in the quality of integration, infrastructure, vehicles, information and operations; to identify and promote areas of BRT related research; to provide its members with a range of benefits aimed at helping the professional in their day to day work; and to co-ordinate and engage with other organisations with similar objectives.

Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen. ROTHERHAM & SHEFFIELD: Work has started on BRT North, promoted by South Yorkshire PTE and local authorities, which will link the two towns via Meadowhall. North and south routes are proposed. SOUTH ESSEX: A busbased rapid transport scheme proposal was developed by Essex County Council, Southend-onSea Borough Council and Thurrock Council that would link main housing and employment sites in the south of the county.

there are several around the country that use busways or guideways. Starting in the north, there are two small ones in Tyne & Wear. Go North East operates the Centrelink service between Gateshead and the Metrocentre via a busway that partly runs along the banks of the Tyne and there’s also a short busway used by route 19 at the Cobalt Business Park. Guideways have been built in Bradford along Manchester Road and in Leeds along Scott Hall Road and York Road. Swansea’s ftrmetro operated by First with Wright StreetCars uses busways and there’s a short 200m section of guideway used by First route 66 buses in Ipswich. Short sections of busway are also in place as part of the East London Transit scheme linking Ilford with Dagenham Docks via Barking. There are other bus only roads around the country, often in new towns like Peterborough and Redditch. CBW’s superfeature this week focuses on the BRT schemes that have been built in the south east of England around London. Gareth Evans visits part-guided Fastway in Crawley. Andy Izatt goes to Kent Thameside’s Fastrack while James Day tries the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. Jack Izatt tells us about his experiences of Eclipse in Hampshire and Mark Curren travels on the Luton – Dunstable Guided Busway. ■ July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTWAY

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The Fastway F Gareth Evans visits Crawley and reports on his experience of travelling on Fastway route 10 and the story behind what has become a key part of the local transport infrastructure

astway is undoubtedly impressive. Buses glide along, largely unhindered in a manner not too dissimilar to a motorcycle in heavy traf�ic. In bus infrastructure terms, Fastway is something of a pick and mix – it bene�its from sections of guideway, bus lane and bollards where required. Put another way, Fastway has been engineered to use the most appropriate measures to keep buses running smoothly and reliably – rather than being completely segregated from all other local traf�ic. The service is easy to use for both regular passengers and visitors alike. Drivers give change for example, and there is also smartcard and m-ticketing options. Information is provided at bus stops and can be easily found on the dedicated website www.fastway.info. The service frequency, which is largely turn up and go, make it attractive to use too. Indeed, its hours of operation re�lect the fact it serves Britain’s second largest airport – with suppliers such as air catering �irms located along its line of route. Such businesses operate 24 hours a day. Thus Fastway offers a viable alternative to the private car. It’s also high-pro�ile – buses carry distinctive branding, making no secret of the areas they serve, promoting the concept to potential users. Such as its success that Fastway is now on its third batch of new buses. In April, Metrobus invested over £3m in 18 Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs. Indeed, it’s striking to think that it is now 11 years since Fastway was launched. The brand has been refreshed for the new buses, which operate on routes 10 and 20 – the 100 still being in the hands of 08-plate Scania OmniCitys.

Background

A service 10 journey is about to depart Bushfields

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The ‘Urban Transport Plan’ for Crawley (June 1996) recognised a primary need for improved public transport provision. A public-private partnership developed the proposals between West Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council, Crawley Borough Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, BAA Gatwick, British Airways (BA), and Go-Ahead Group-owned Metrobus. With the exception of BA, the organisations would go on to sign a Voluntary Quality Partnership. Several forms of public transport were investigated, including tram and light rail. Studies con�irmed that a part-guided bus system was the most appropriate for the area for a number of reasons. Such a system offered greater accessibility by providing more penetration into residential areas, while also not being constrained by costly �ixed infrastructure and power supplies. It also minimised land use without cluttering the street scene. Another factor was �lexibility – services could be extended to other towns and locations in the future, adapting the network to suit local changes and demands. Then there was the issue of lead time. It was said that a tram would have taken 10 years to construct, at 10 times the cost of Fastway. According to a September 2004 report in New Civil Engineer, West Sussex County Council Fastway Project Director Paul Wreyford said: “The relative costs of Fastway type schemes as opposed to tramways are very attractive

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTWAY

An offside view of one of the dedicated Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs showing off the distinctive livery

Onboard a route 10 journey on the return from Bushfields

A close-up of the seats on the Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs 20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 018_022_CBW1148_Fastway.indd 20

– and they can be constructed under existing Highways Act powers.” The system was designed from the outset to have a competitive edge over the private car for some journeys. To this end, Fastway aims to offer people real choice and the infrastructure has been designed to bene�it all users, including cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The system also complements existing rail, coach and bus services. By giving buses priority at traf�ic lights if they are running late, plus the use of guided sections, means that services can be protected from congestion and delay. The actual infrastructure is adaptable and has been varied to re�lect levels of congestion. Construction began in May 2002, and was scheduled to be completed by June 2005. However, in October 2006, major work paused due to budgetary concerns, which led to an inquiry being held. This came after having completed around 60% of the planned work 1.5km (0.9 miles) guided and 5.8km (3.6 miles) bus lanes were constructed, of the planned 2.5km (1.5 miles) guided and 8.8km (5.5 miles) bus lanes. The planned 24 traf�ic lights and 11 roundabouts were changed to 40 traf�ic lights and two roundabouts. The construction team for Fastway, led by Edmund Nuttall Ltd, made use of what was then an advanced technique called ‘slipforming’ to speed up the construction of the concrete bus guideways. At the time it was claimed to be the �irst time that slipforming had been used in the construction of bus guideways in the UK. Wherever possible mature trees were left in place, but when trees and shrubs had to be removed, at least two new trees were planted in replacement. www.coachandbusweek.com

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Metrobus invested in a �leet of Scania OmniCity buses dedicated to Fastway operation. Phase 1 was of�icially launched on September 1, 2003, which comprised route 10 between Bewbush and Gatwick. On April 13, 2004, just seven months after its launch, Metrobus recorded the millionth passenger journey. Around-the-clock services were launched in May 2004 between Bewbush and Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal. The new timetable was one of a series of improvements made by Metrobus to the whole of the bus network in Crawley to improve the frequency, reliability and accessibility of all services. An additional bus was also added to the Fastway �leet, taking

while the 20 operates along London Road, bypassing this location. Exiting the North Terminal, I am faced with a sign pointing right to the local buses – the bays immediately in front of the main doors are dedicated to coach services. I then follow a curved walkway. Signs countdown the minutes of walking time to the bus stops - three, two and �inally one minute. A helpful little map and information board at the start of stops 6 – 11 shows the layout of stands and the services which operate from them. A route 10 bus is on stand, another having departed when I entered the concourse by the National Express stops. A notice on the �lag pole

the total number of vehicles up to 11. In July 2004, it was said the Fastway night services had proved to be a success, attracting around 100 - 150 passengers a night. Metrobus reported an overall 14% increase in passenger numbers on all bus services across its network since June 2003, which meant Crawley boasted one of the fastest growing bus networks in the UK. On August 27, 2005 Fastway service 20 was introduced between Broad�ield and Langshott, via the airport. Route 100 followed in May 2008.

displays the Fastway route network. The driver greets me with a partial smile. I bid him a ‘good afternoon’ and ask for a day ticket. I thank him – but he doesn’t acknowledge me, apart from a little nod. That said, he waits for a lady running for the bus and she smiles and thanks him. He replies with a smile: “That’s alright.” The bus pulls away – the next stop being the South Terminal. I’m immediately struck by the fact the Audio-Visual (AV) system is not as chirpy as some I’ve experienced. While the next stop is displayed on the screen, the voice announcement is not made until shortly before the stop – under the bridge. The AV screen trumpets the bene�its of free WiFi, the key

‘The driver takes her pass, swipes it over the ticket machine reader, before handing it back to her. As she makes her way down the bus, he pokes his head out the cab, ensuring she’s sat comfortably before pulling away’

A trip on route 10

Gatwick North Terminal marks the start of route 10 – service 100 continues to Redhill,

INSIGHT

FASTWAY ROUTES & FARES Fastway is made up of three core routes, which although they operate along a broadly similar corridor, take in different sections of road (although there are several common parts), creating important links around the area. ROUTE 10 connects residents south of Crawley to the town centre, with links to Crawley and Gatwick railway stations, Gatwick Airport – plus the town’s main business district and leisure complex. ROUTE 20 links Langshott and Oakwood School in Horley, Horley rail station, Horley town centre, Gatwick Airport and the eastern part of Crawley by way of Three Bridges Station.

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ROUTE 100 provides a direct link between Redhill and Maidenbower by way of East Surrey Hospital, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Manor Royal Industrial Area, Crawley Town Centre and Three Bridges Station. In terms of service level, routes 10 and 20 operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, about every six minutes during the day, every 10 – 15 minutes in the early mornings and evenings, broadly every half an hour from 2250 until 0400hrs. On Sundays the service operates every 10 minutes during the day and every 15 – 20 minutes at all other times. The 100 runs hourly at night and about every 20 minutes during the day. As for fares, the adult single fare for most Fastway journeys is £2.10. There is

also a ‘short hop’ fare of £1.40 for shorter journeys on routes 10, 20 and 100. Longer journeys on route 100 have an adult single fare of £2.60. Return fares are not available but day Metrorider (local day tickets) and Metrovoyager (valid on all Metrobus services across Sussex, Surrey and Kent) passes are valid which offer a discount compared to single tickets. These can be bought both as day and weekly tickets. A Crawley Area Metrorider ticket bought on the day of CBW’s visit for route 10 cost £4.50. Helpfully, and unusually for a bus operator it has to be said, a fare table for each route can be found at www. metrobus.co.uk/travel-info/ and multi-journey ticket details are at www.metrobus. co.uk/tickets/metroriders

PRIORITY ENFORCEMENT

Why are there rising bollards at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley? A short stretch of road was constructed near Broadfield Stadium (home of Crawley Town Football Club) to provide a bus-only link between Coachmans Drive and the A23 Brighton Roundabout. The link road is for the exclusive use of Fastway buses in order to minimise journey times. The bollards are in place to prevent it being used by unauthorised vehicles, and to protect local residents from an unwanted increase in traffic volume. Originally a barrier was in place at this location but it was replaced after being vandalised – hence it’s the installation of more robustly-designed bollards. One side of the carriageway is now blocked by two rising posts which are lowered electronically by the driver of the approaching bus. On the other side of the road, another two posts have been locked into vertical position to prevent use of the carriageway. smartcard and group fares. The bus is tidy – the lack of litter being notable. However, it’s clearly been in service for several hours as the �loor looks like it’s in need of mopping. I travel on a Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLE, which carries a distinctive, eye-catching livery. Externally, it certainly be�its the image of a highquality, high-pro�ile service. Inside however, the buses while still new, are not entirely free from rattles. It would seem the screens, made from a Perspex-like material alongside the centre door appear to vibrate. The high-back seats are comfortable. Back to the journey in hand, an old lady boards with a zimmer frame at the London Road stop. The driver takes her pass, swipes it over the ticket machine reader, before handing it back to her. As she makes her way down the bus, he pokes his head out the cab, ensuring she’s sat comfortably before pulling away. While the timetable informs me that Fastway operates around the clock, I’m struck by the fact that even Dominos pizza in Crawley town centre boasts that it ‘delivers until 5AM.’ Upon arrival in the town centre, the driver again pokes his head out of the cab to ensure the old lady is safely off the bus. The next stop, Crawley Bus Station, is rather congested – but then it is 1305hrs, at the height of lunchtime. Of�ice workers clutch their meals and OAPs appear to be enjoying their cream cakes on the benches. Rather than keeping passengers waiting, the original driver issues tickets and clears the small queue. The new driver then takes over. The driver relief is commendably conducted with the minimum of fuss – such procedures make for excellent customer service. Upon departure, I spot the Metrobus travel shop and waiting room alongside the traf�ic July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTWAY

The modern, attractive, yet informative branding is shown to good effect in this view. Note also the centre door. lights. Notably, I’m one of two passengers to remain onboard beyond the bus station. Along Southgate Avenue, the driver chooses not to use the guideway but does make the most of the Southgate Avenue Centre bus lane. He uses another stretch of guideway at Southgate Avenue South – a group of young girls are at the stop which marks the commencement of that piece of priority. Approaching the roundabout that is the junction with Crawley Avenue and Brighton Road, the lights change to red for other traf�ic, allowing the bus to go onto the roundabout without stopping. Exiting the roundabout, passing the home of Crawley Town Football Club, the bollards which manage a stretch of bus-only road, fall and the traf�ic lights change. While the previous driver was smooth, this one is rather rough when stopping – making sharp brake applications rather than bringing the vehicle to a steady halt. Credit where it’s due, despite shutting the doors on Pelham Place, at the rear of Morrisons,

‘The driver relief is commendably conducted with the minimum of fuss – such procedures make for excellent customer service’

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Scania OmniCitys continue to serve route 100, as seen here in Crawley town centre on July 2 the driver re-opens them when a young man realises it’s the stop he wants. Again, this is an example of good customer service, avoiding potential bad feeling and even a source of con�lict. Leaving Broad�ield Barton, the driver gives a friendly wave to a group of old men who are sat on a bench – they smile and wave back. I jump off the bus at the terminus at Bewbush – the adjacent Co-op providing a useful opportunity to grab lunch after snapping some photos. The driver asks if I would like to board for the return but I politely decline. I have not informed him who I am or what my business is as it risks spoiling the purpose of this feature – to gain a feel from a passenger’s perspective. I catch another service 10 journey. Approaching Broad�ield Stadium on the return, the bus has to wait for another bus coming the other way, followed by a second bus which is picking up at the stop. Then the lights change

to green, while the other bus is still at the stop. There is no suggestion of bunching here – the section of route being served by both service 10 and 20. The driver uses the bus lane on Southgate Avenue but the hedges are noticeably in need of cutting back on the approach to the Southgate Avenue South stop – they scrape against the side of the vehicle. The driver uses the guideway but the ride quality is rough, the vehicle moving from side to side – in a manner akin to some narrow gauge railways. Upon arrival at Crawley bus station, it’s time to disembark for photos – which also allows me to experience another driver’s manner behind the wheel. On a route 10 journey to the South Terminal, the driver doesn’t use the short section of guideway on London Road, approaching the roundabout which forms the junction with Radford Road and James Watt Way. He does however, use the bus lane for the turn into the City Place business park. The small stretch of dual-carriageway road before the South Terminal is the only part of route 10 where the bus can reach any sort of speed – it being a 50mph limit. After alighting, I follow the signposted pedestrian route from the bus stops to the airport and railway station. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to explore the wheelchairfriendly alternative to the stairs. In the terminal itself, while signage to the railway platforms seems to be all too clear, the bus network does not appear to bene�it from quite the same level of publicity. ■ www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 12:58

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTRACK

‘The journey begins…’ Fastrack was widely acknowledged as being the UK’s leading Bus Rapid Transit scheme when it was �irst introduced in 2006. Eight years on, Andy Izatt asks, does it still deliver?

astrack in Kent Thameside describes itself as the ‘award winning Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system,’ with some justi�ication. Amongst the accolades received were top honours for infrastructure and innovation at the 2007 UK Bus Awards. It was also named runnerup for the ‘Street Transit Award’ and highly commended in the category of ‘Winning New Customers.’ Since its launch, over three million passengers have been carried and surveys showed that 19% of passengers had switched from their cars to the bus. Project Manager David George said about the UK Bus Awards: “We are particularly delighted to have won both awards which underline that Fastrack really is the leading UK example of an innovative bus rapid transit system that can attract people from the car. Much more than a bus, this is exactly what…Fastrack…is designed to do.” The �irst route was given a high pro�ile launch when it opened on schedule in March

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2006. A second service followed in June 2007, also opening on time, and there have been signi�icant infrastructure improvements since.

Why introduce Fastrack?

Dartford and Gravesham form Kent Thameside, a 22 square mile regeneration area within Thames Gateway where the progressive creation of 30,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs is planned over several decades. Recognising the pressure this would place on the existing road network, a strategy to fully integrate land use and transport planning was developed by a partnership between Kent County Council as the transport authority, Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils as the local planning authorities, and landowners and developers. A key objective was that residents of new high-density housing and existing communities should have nearby access to high-quality public transport links. That was enshrined in the public transport-orientated development

document, which all major development schemes within Kent Thameside are required to adhere to. A tram network was perceived as too costly and in�lexible. BRT, on the other hand, could use rubber-tyre vehicles on a combination of dedicated busways and priority lanes where possible, and normal roads with traf�ic light priority when it wasn’t. It was always planned that the Fastrack network would ultimately be delivered by the private sector. The Fastrack Delivery Executive with local authority and private sector partners was initially set up as a ‘virtual owner’ to oversee development and implementation of Stage 1 of the network, paving the way for the later implementation of a private sector concession (Stage 2). The �irst route to be implemented was Fastrack B between Dartford and Gravesend via the Bluewater shopping centre and Greenhithe and Ebbs�leet railway stations. According to the Homes & Communities Agency, it was built www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 12:58

with around £30m capital funding from the Government. Fastrack A, which connects at both ends to Fastrack B at Dartford and Bluewater, serves The Bridge development on the site of the old Joyce Green Hospital. The Homes & Communities Agency says it was funded by private developers to the tune of £25m. Figures quoted by other sources estimate the total funding at around £80m for delivering Stage 1 with at least half coming from private sector developers. Frequency on both routes is currently up to every 10 minutes. Fastrack C, a circular service that would link Bluewater with Greenhithe and Ebbs�leet stations, and Fastrack D between Greenhithe and Gravesend via North�leet were also proposed. It seems Fastrack D was later dropped in favour of a still to be introduced ‘C’ that would follow a similar route to the ‘B’, from Dartford to Gravesend, but via Ebbs�leet and North�leet.

campaign that used the strapline ‘The journey begins…’

What the money bought

Some impressive infrastructure has been built. A major feature of the 15km-long Fastrack B is the 5.5km section between Dartford and the Bluewater shopping complex which includes 4km of specially-built dedicated busways supplemented by additional bus-only lanes, crossovers and traf�ic light priority on public roads. Clear Channel supplied the shelters. Beyond Ebbs�leet International station, rather than running through North�leet, buses were rerouted along Thames Way from November 2007. Bus lanes and traf�ic light priority deliver almost unimpeded progress virtually to the centre of Gravesend. The most impressive recent infrastructure enhancement has been the 0.5km bus-only Everard’s Link opened in December 2012, which connects Greenhithe

While Arriva’s drivers continue to be smartly dressed, courteous and friendly, it was a day travelling on tired vehicles using often neglected infrastructure

A Fastrack A Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLE traverses the bridge over the toll plaza for the Dartford Crossing’s tunnels and under the QE2 bridge

When Fastrack B was �irst launched, it was expected that the �inal planned network would be in place by 2018 with 12,000 new homes and up to 15,000 new jobs directly bene�iting. The Homes & Communities Agency makes the point that, “with no speci�ically-formed joint venture or operating company, signi�icant consultation, cooperation and trust were required to overcome substantial regulatory hurdles,” and negotiate what was initially a �iveyear contract under ‘de minimis’ rules for the �irst service. Arriva operates Fastrack “as an integral part of its local commercial bus operations, while still delivering the necessary distinct and unique characteristics of the transit system,” it says. The launch in 2006 was preceded by a publicity

FWT’s Fastrack map indicates where busway and priority lanes are in place along the routes

www.coachandbusweek.com

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railway station with the nearby Ingress Park housing development the other side of a hill. Fastrack A, which is 9.5km long, uses bus only roads through The Bridge development, access to which is controlled by barriers although they appear to be activated by any vehicle. I saw a car using one of the roads. For the �irst four months the route used a temporary alignment via Junction 1a on the M25 motorway to connect with the Crossways Business Park. From September 2007 it was rerouted via a dedicated bridge under the QE2 Bridge and over the toll plaza for the Dartford Crossing’s tunnels. For Fastrack B, Cityspace designed and delivered 16 in-shelter ‘smart panels’ and two stand alone ‘smart columns’ operated and managed on a wireless broadband network, to provide real-time travel information. As well as timetables, journey planning and road and rail travel news was available as were other interactive services such as BBC News, weather, free email and printable maps. Fastrack video clips could be viewed as well and user feedback left. In addition to providing a similar, but more limited range of services at stops along the route of Fastrack A, Cityspace won the contract to provide off-bus ticketing. In theory passengers would buy their tickets before boarding and, buses on the route were originally not equipped with ticket machines. Fastrack was divided into three zones and zonal tickets were amongst those, as well as a short hop fare, that were available from the machines. Arriva trialled its mobile phone M-ticketing on Fastrack for 12 weeks in early 2008 and that was subsequently successfully rolled out nationally across its network. Operator of both Fastrack routes is Arriva Southern Counties using 26 Wrightbus Eclipse Urban-bodied Volvo B7RLEs. The �irst 14 with Carrier Sutrak air-conditioning for route ‘B’ July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTRACK were funded by Kent County Council through the Of�ice of the Deputy Prime Minister. Developer ProLogis paid for the remaining 12 with Heavac air-conditioning for service ‘A’ the following year. On the ground experience indicates that the two batches of buses are not normally intermixed. The �irst 14 buses seat 40 with spaced individual two-by-one seating in the low�loor area. Those in the second batch have an extra seat and mid as apposed to rear offsidepositioned emergency exits. Esteban Civic V3 seats are upholstered in mainly blue moquette with the Fastrack logo embroidered into the headrests. As well as passenger information screens, there are voice next stop announcements and CCTV. Free WiFi is also available.

Experiencing Fastrack B Both Fastrack routes are a popular choice for mums with children in buggies. This was Ingress Park

Bluewater, where there is a substantial bus station, is a key destination for both Fastrack routes

A Fastrack B bus makes a U-turn at Greenhithe because of the closed Everard’s Link road 26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 024_030_CBW1148_Fastrack Kent.indd 26

What’s the passenger experience like on Fastrack? I’d travelled on both routes when they were �irst introduced. They had impressed in different ways, but I came away this time with a sense that time and the post recession economic climate had not been as kind to the scheme as it could have been. While Arriva’s drivers continue to be smartly dressed, courteous and friendly, it was a day travelling on visibly and audibly tired vehicles using sometimes neglected infrastructure. The Everards Link which I hoped to experience for the �irst time was closed, the consequence of subsidence caused by rain last February apparently. Someone had scrawled on a sign apologising for the remedial works at the Ingress Park end “What works?” And what’s happened to all that expensive Cityspace interactive technology on Fastrack B? It’s gone, screens have been panelled over and what’s left has often been vandalised. Real-time information remains, but not necessarily at all the new stops introduced since I last used the route. The stop at the end of Ingress Park Avenue, for example, didn’t have one although there appeared to be a mounting for it. Realtime information for Ingress Park stops didn’t seem to be available on the Fastrack website either. Receiving a signal maybe the issue. The displays at Fastrack A stops still give weather and news, but, while the ticket machines remain, it’s hard to believe anyone would want to use them. All Fastrack buses are equipped with on-board ticket machines now, as perhaps they should have been from the start, and prospective users are advised to buy from the driver, website or use their mobile phones. There’s no reference to using ticket machines that I could see on the Fastrack webpages. However, there’s no signage saying, ‘don’t use’ on the machines themselves. I made eight journeys covering the network over a day. I bought my Thameside Zone Day ticket for £6.50 on the 1053hrs Fastrack B departure from Ebbs�leet International. It was 10p more than I was expecting, and issued from a smartcard-enabled Wayfarer 200 ticket machine. The lea�let I’d downloaded from the Arriva website (dated August 4, 2013) quoted £6.40. The website has since been updated with a lea�let dated June 22, 2014 showing the current price. However, if you download the www.coachandbusweek.com

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTRACK lea�let outlining Fastrack ticket zones, this ticket is quoted at £6.20 so, presumably, that one is even more out of date. The driver was pleasant, polite and helpful, and had no reservations about changing a £10 note. First impression of the bus interior was that it looked tired with well-worn seats and ingrained dirt on the �loor. There was also a little litter, some of it stuffed between the seats. It was a warm summer day and the hopper windows were open. I was not convinced that the air conditioning was working, a view not dispelled by any of the other buses I travelled on. Some of the noises emanating from under the saloon �loor as we made our way to Gravesend suggested that this bus as well as others would bene�it from a full mid-life refurbishment. Monitoring the 1128hrs departure from Gravesend in more detail, we left on time with the smiling driver pausing momentarily to let me board, a colleague on the pavement having indicated to him that I was running for the bus. There were �ive passengers already seated. The saloon monitor wasn’t giving any information – just showing the Windows XP symbol from time to time, and there were no next stop announcements either. It’s important to point out that the equipment was working on all the other buses I travelled on. At the ASDA stop reached two minutes later there were �ive waiting including two women with children in pushchairs. They knew the drill and made space for each other. At the traf�ic lights on the A226 Thames Way before the Vale Road stop, we cruised passed other traf�ic held by a red light. There were two passengers off

Last time I visited The Bridge on Fastrack it was like a moonscape – roads, bus stops and buses, but little else. There has been significant commercial and residential development since and four on at the stop, the driver waiting until they were seated before moving off. On the approach to Ebbs�leet International we slowed in plenty of time to let a pedestrian cross the road. At the station at 1138hrs one passenger left us. A teenage girl joined and she knew the driver. At the Stonebridge Road stop near Ebbs�leet United Football Club’s ground two more boarded including another woman with a child in a buggy. There were �ine views of the QE2 Bridge as we approached the Swanscombe railway station halt where two of the women with buggies were amongst those disembarking. Temporary roadworks (they’d gone later in the day) momentarily held us, but traf�ic was light and the queue short. We made the right turn into Ingress Park Avenue at 1148hrs and that’s when it became apparent that the Everard’s Link road was

closed. At the Ingress Abbey stop another woman with a buggy boarded. She chose to remain standing by her charge. Ingress Park Avenue, festooned with parked cars, is tight for buses, but by 1152hrs we were back on the A226, now the London Road, heading west. One passenger left us at Greenhithe station, but we still had a healthy load of 18 as we approached Bluewater. We were on the shopping centre’s bus station stop at 1159hrs where around half that number disembarked. The �ive that joined included another woman with a small child. The importance of those wheelchair and buggy spaces at the front of the bus was becoming all too apparent. The specially-built 30mph busway that climbs out of the shopping centre to link with the A296 Watling Street is one of Fastrack’s more impressive features. We were on it by 1201hrs. Vegetation was starting to overgrow the roadway in places forcing the drive to move more towards the centre of the road. Buses have a dedicated approach to Darent Valley Hospital, although they have to cross a busy access road which rather negates some of its value. Pedestrian access to the Dartford direction stop outside the hospital is currently restricted by what looks like utility maintenance works – a substantial hole in the ground is right next to the halt. Although one passenger left us, six joined and we were away, by my watch, at 1205hrs. As had been the case at other junctions, we made an unimpeded ‘green light’ exit from the hospital, joining the �irst section of busway that runs along the side of Princes Road towards

Bus only roads on The Bridge site used by Fastrack A are protected by barriers

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SOUTH EAST BRT › FASTRACK

One of the attractive shelters that were erected at The Bridge for Fastrack A

Vandals had left their mark at both the Central Park stops near Dartford

Inside the Greenhithe shelter for Fastrack A with some of the ticket machines Dartford. Again, this is Fastrack at its most impressive as best use is made of the available road space to give buses priority. The Princess Avenue stop is where the woman who had remained standing next to her buggy, departed. At the Princess Park stop our driver waited for someone running to catch the bus. It was 1210hrs. Vandals had left their mark at the Central Park stops on another section of purpose-built busway on the �inal approach to Dartford town centre. Glass in the shelters had been broken and the debris was strewn across the ground. Braking was a little harsh as we approached the Royal Victoria Mill stop where �ive passengers departed. We were momentarily held at traf�ic lights where the route rejoins the A226 before reaching the Home Gardens stop outside Dartford railway station at 1215hrs. That’s where the bus emptied apart from me and two others. We were on our way again a minute later. From that point Fastrack B navigates its way along ordinary estate roads as it makes its way through Temple Hill. Parked cars and traf�ic calming are constant hazards and to aid access at stops, platforms have been built out into the road. We reached the terminus at Joyce Green Lane at 1225hrs, by my watch three minutes late. My ‘thank you’ to the driver was reciprocated with a smile, as it had been for other passengers throughout the journey. 30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 024_030_CBW1148_Fastrack Kent.indd 30

The busway adjacent to Darenth Road, Dartford represents Fastrack at its best

On to Fastrack A

Like Fastrack B, Fastrack A starts and terminates in Dartford town centre. The two routes come together again at Joyce Green Lane although the ‘A’ reaches that point by taking a more direct route along Trevithick Drive. I joined what had been the 1245hrs Dartford departure of Fastrack A at the Joyce Green Salmon Road stop at 1252hrs. The female driver was smiling and pleasant. Eight passengers already onboard included three children, but that number was depleted when parents and a buggy rider departed two stops later. Last time I visited The Bridge shortly after Fastrack A was introduced, it was like a moonscape – roads, bus stops and buses, but little else. There has been signi�icant commercial and residential development since, but there’s still plenty of land waiting to be built on. The journey through the site was uneventful. At Galleon Boulevard we gained a passenger, another departing at the next stop, Stone Crossing. As our bus approached the Greenhithe station stop we were treated to an announcement and display on the onboard monitor saying we were approaching Bluewater. It happened on another journey as well. As well as next stop information, fare prices and a route map had been displayed at different times on the monitor. A young man with his girlfriend boarded at Greenhithe. He didn’t seem to understand

Fastrack routing or the information given by our driver and commented to his companion as he walked up the aisle that she had been rude. She hadn’t been. There was then a long delay as a woman struggled to �ind money to pay her fare – perhaps off-bus ticketing wasn’t such a bad idea after all, although I do remember a driver having to get out of his cab to show a perspective passenger how to use one of the ticket machines on a previous visit. Our driver on this occasion remained polite throughout. We reached Bluewater at 1207hrs, two minutes late by my watch. There were plenty of polite exchanges with departing passengers.

The test of time

There are many aspects of Fastrack that remain impressive, notably the people aspect – the drivers - but the neglect of some aspects of the infrastructure was a disappointment, especially having seen it operate in better days. A not inconsiderable amount of money, much of it from the public purse, was spent creating this system. We’re all aware that a different economic reality now exists and money is tight, but surely there’s a case that having made the investment, it should be maintained as it was originally intended. Or should there have been more realistic long term objectives in the �irst place? ■ www.coachandbusweek.com

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SOUTH EAST BRT › CAMBRIDGE BUSWAY

Beating the traf�ic on the busway

he Cambridge Guided Busway is perhaps the most famous rapid transit scheme in the country, holding the title of the longest guided busway in the world, with 16 miles of guideway. It is more than twice the length of the Adelaide O-Bahn (7.5 miles) which previously held the record. One of the principal reasons for constructing the busway was to ease congestion on the A14, a well-known high traf�ic route, and provide a faster route into Cambridge during peak times. It was judged that the more door-to-door service provided by a bus was preferable to either a light or heavy rail service. The northern section of the guideway uses the course of the former Cambridge and Huntingdon Railway, which runs almost parallel to the A14. The St Ives to Huntington section

32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 032_035_CBW1148_Cambs Busway.indd 32

James Day shares his experiences of travelling on the world’s longest guided busway closed on June 15, 1959, while the passenger service from St Ives to Cambridge continued until October 5, 1970. Freight trains continued to use the line until 1992. The busway is designed for vehicles travelling at 55mph, which slow to 30mph when crossing public roads. Guide wheels attached to the front wheels of the buses using the guideway ensure the vehicles stay on course, without the driver even needing to hold the steering wheel. The guideway is just six metres wide, more than three metres narrower than a singlecarriageway rural all-purpose road built to 2009 standards, consisting of two 2.6m wide

tracks separated by a 0.8m central reservation. The previous use of the route as a railway line necessitated this narrow width. Much of the route features a 0.7m evacuation strip to one side and a four-metre bridleway to the other, which can be used by maintenance and emergency services. The busway had a fairly turbulent development period. Originally scheduled to open in early 2009, the project was repeatedly delayed, �inally opening on August 7, 2011, with the total cost ballooning from £83.9m to more than £150m. It did enjoy plenty of success after the opening, however, with 55,895 passengers

www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 16:00

journeys in the �irst week of operation and 2.5 million passenger journeys in its �irst year of operation, 40% higher than predicted.

Arriving and boarding

With the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway not particularly far away from the CBW of�ice, I chose to wait for a clear, bright day to travel on it. One such occasion presented itself on July 9, so I left the of�ice shortly after arriving in the morning and travelled to the St Ives Park & Ride. Rather than wearing a suit like I usually would when on a feature visit, I had adorned my best general public disguise – beaten jeans and trainers along with a geeky t-shirt which read ‘I went outside once. The graphics are not that good.’ I had deliberately done minimal research before travelling to the St Ives Park & Ride site to get the experience of a tourist – someone who was using the service as a one-off for a day trip and would consider returning if they had a good experience. For the most part, the Park & Ride site was very good, although there were rather a lot of cars parked at the side of the road on the approach.

The map of the Cambridge Busway, designed by Best Impressions

I found this a bit strange, seeing are there is currently no parking charge in the Park & Ride car park and there were plenty of spaces to go around. The site itself was well looked after and aside from an unsightly pile of rubble in a skip depot nearby, the surrounding scenery was pleasant. The bridleway running alongside the busway appeared to be well used, with several cyclists and the occasional dog walker. My �irst task as a busway virgin was buying the right ticket. There were plenty of signs telling me I must purchase a ticket before I boarded a bus. I found the machines were quite clear and user-friendly. I was a bit perplexed that a multi-operator ticket does not exist and I had to select whether I wanted to travel with Stagecoach or Go Whippet, but there were clear timetables and route information to refer to if necessary. I chose to travel with Stagecoach on my way into Cambridge and bought a single ticket for £4. I turned away from the machine to see one of Stagecoach’s ADL Enviro400-bodied Scania N230UD biofuel buses approaching, registration number ‘AE09GYG’ – which was operating on busway service B. The timing was perfect, I thought.

Journey into Cambridge Stagecoach

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The bus was reasonably busy. I had hoped to get a seat at the front of the top deck to take some photographs, but I couldn’t get anywhere close. We left the St Ives Park & Ride on time at 0948hrs. Quite hastily I might add – while I had a chance to take my seat, several of the passengers boarding with me hadn’t and were taken slightly off guard, judging by their audible surprise. The vehicle really does move quickly down the busway. Being driven down the mostly-straight guideway feels more like you’re on a tall train

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33 28/07/2014 16:00

SOUTH EAST BRT › CAMBRIDGE BUSWAY A Wrightbus Eclipse-bodied Volvo B7RLE leaves St Ives, bound for Trumpington

Other Stagecoach Park & Ride services in the city appeared well used

Like Stagecoach, Go Whippet now uses Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs than a bus, although the ride in the doubledecker was not as smooth as I expected. The ‘track’ has been maintained well as far as I could see, although we did collide with a couple of trailing branches on nearby tall trees. The leather seats were exceptionally comfortable and in good condition. However, the interior of the bus as a whole could de�initely have been cleaner. The exterior was quite dirty too, with a lot of water marks covering all of the windows which really showed up in the sunshine. What was most disappointing for me, however, was the fact the free WiFi didn’t work. I’ve said before that if anything would persuade me to be a regular bus user, it would be WiFi, and I was looking forward to giving it a test. I went to the connection settings on my phone and there was a nice and obvious ‘Stagecoach’ network to connect to. It connected, I accessed one of my internet-based apps and nothing happened. I was connected, wasn’t directed to any kind of landing page and had no internet access. I know for sure that my phone has worked with WiFi before in hotels and restaurants, so something was de�initely amiss. Since I couldn’t try the WiFi, I decided to test whether I could concentrate on something within the bus without feeling unwell and took out my Nintendo DS for a while. The last time I’d tried to play it on a bus, I’d had to put it away after a few minutes because the ride had been quite uncomfortable and I’d started to feel travel sick. This time however, I was �ine. It made it a bit more frustrating that the WiFi 34 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 032_035_CBW1148_Cambs Busway.indd 34

wasn’t working, because I could now envision using the service as a commuter and checking emails on the way to work, but it did prove the journey is comfortable enough that passengers can do more than admire the scenery. There were sockets available for charging phones and laptops which was another positive. We arrived at the Swavesey stop at 0954hrs, one minute behind schedule, where two passengers boarded. At 0958hrs we reached Longstanton, on time, where six people boarded. Again the driver was quick to move off,

time users if a different system was used where the word doesn’t appear until the button is pressed, though the current system is obviously �ine for regular users. I didn’t spot the Histon & Impington stop, so presumably the bus didn’t stop there. We arrived at Orchard Park East at 1008hrs, where several more passengers boarded. After this, the guideway splits into two different routes and our bus turned right into a housing estate. This is necessary because the double-deckers on the busway need to avoid a low bridge closer to

before an elderly couple had been seated. After leaving the stop, there was some harsh braking as we approached traf�ic lights. At the speed the vehicle was travelling and with no seat belts, this was uncomfortable. I found myself sliding around the frictionless leather seat quite a bit. We passed Oakington at 1003hrs, not stopping and two minutes behind schedule. At this point I noticed the ‘stopping’ sign on the bus. The word ‘stopping’ is always visible, turning red once a stop request has been made. At the risk of sounding nit-picky, it would be clearer to �irst-

Cambridge. We arrived at Orchard Park West at 1011hrs, three minutes behind schedule, where three more passengers boarded. After this the vehicle left the bus only road and joined the local Cambridge road network. While I had been able to tell exactly which stop I was at on the busway, as I could clearly see their names from the top deck, this was no longer the case in the city centre. Progress felt slower of course, but there wasn’t a great deal of traf�ic to contend with. We reached Drummer Street bus station at 1023hrs, a minute behind schedule. The

‘What was most disappointing for me, however, was the fact the free WiFi didn’t work. I’ve said before that if anything would persuade me to be a regular bus user, it would be WiFi, and I was looking forward to giving it a test’

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The St Ives Park & Ride site can hold a large number of vehicles

The guideway is still well maintained journey was therefore a total of 35 minutes from St Ives to Cambridge bus station. While this was quite a fast journey, it had felt like we were in a hurry the entire time, despite being well within the one minute early to �ive minutes late punctuality window of tolerance allowed by the Traf�ic Commissioners. The driver was friendly and thanked each of the passengers as they left the vehicle.

Journey back to St Ives – Go Whippet

When checking the times for the Go Whippet services, I saw a helpful notice about service disruption during the Tour de France, which had travelled through Cambridge on July 7. While the event had passed at this point, it was still nice to see that busway passengers had been considered. After taking a number of pictures around the station, I made myself scarce for a while to maintain my cover as a passenger rather than a journalist, taking stock images elsewhere and having an early lunch. I returned to the bus station and boarded a Go Whippet Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLE singledecker, registration number ‘BG59FYB,’ operating on busway service C. I purchased a single ticket to St Ives for £3.60. I was just slightly short of change and had to pay with a £20 note, but the friendly driver didn’t seem to mind. The vehicle had moquette seats and I chose a raised seat towards the rear of the vehicle for a good view. Overall, the interior appeared very clean, as did the windows. I also noticed a www.coachandbusweek.com

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next-stop and information display behind the driver’s cab. When we left the station, on time at 1155hrs, there were 17 passengers on board, including a buggy. Shortly after we left I attempted to try the WiFi on the bus. The network didn’t have such a clear name this time – Support-Teltonika. Again, I was able to connect to the network, but had no internet access and couldn’t do anything with the WiFi service. There were no power sockets which I could see from where I was sitting. After being held up at some traf�ic lights for about a minute at 1203hrs, we joined the busway. The driver paused at a stop close to the Science Park at 1206hrs, where no passeneger embarked or alighted. We then reached the Science Park stop at 1208hrs, on time. The ‘bus stopping’ sign was not visible until the button was pressed, but it was quite faint and dif�icult to see in the vehicle’s bright interior. The ride felt very smooth in the Go Whippet bus. I didn’t feel like I was being moved around in my seat and I didn’t hear any passengers taken by surprise with the bus leaving too quickly. On the other hand, very few passengers were boarding and it felt like the driver was under less pressure to maintain punctuality. We reached Histon & Impington at 1211hrs, one minute ahead of schedule. We then reached Oakington at 1214hrs, again a minute ahead. Between the stops the braking was not excessive when the bus had to slow down for traf�ic lights. Longstanton was reached at 1217hrs, with Swavesey reached at 1220hrs, still a minute

ahead. The vehicle arrived at the St Ives Park & Ride site at 1224hrs, on time. The total journey time was therefore 29 minutes. The driver thanked me as I left, along with the majority of the remaining passengers. Overall, Go Whippet provided a very positive and punctual service, though it’s a shame that the WiFi had failed again.

Comment

The speed at which the busway services operate, albeit without any disruption from traf�ic in Cambridge, was very impressive. It wouldn’t surprise at all if the journey was quicker than can be achieved by car and passengers do not have to contend with the dreadful A14 for an extended period of time as they would in their personal cars. Both services I tried were very punctual and ful�illed their most important role of rapidly transporting passengers. The busway still appears to be well used, along with the parallel footpaths and bridleways. All of the stops were in good condition, as was the guideway itself, if a little bit overgrown. The cleanliness and driving standards of the Stagecoach service showed room for improvement, but admittedly the service was picking up substantially more passengers on the way into Cambridge, which could explain the haste with which the vehicle left the stops. However, to have the free WiFi on both services fail was very disappointing and would certainly be a mark against the busway if I was considering using it as a regular commuter. ■

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SOUTH EAST BRT › ECLIPSE

A rising star Jack Izatt takes a closer look at the Eclipse BRT scheme introduced between Gosport and Fareham in south Hampshire in April 2012

outh East Hampshire is an area bounded by Waterlooville in the north, Havant in the east and includes Portsmouth, Gosport, and Fareham to the south and west. It is densely populated and has a challenging geography, exploited by the Royal Navy in the past, which now presents considerable challenges to landbased transport. An ambitious plan including a tunnel under Portsmouth Harbour for a light rail connection to Gosport was formulated in the 1990s to help solve these problems, but it created much controversy and was �inally cancelled in 2006. In 2007, Transport for South Hampshire (TfSH), a partnership between Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council was formed (joined in 2013 by Isle of Wight Council) to create transport proposals for South East Hampshire. Its recommendation was a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network for the area, the �irst phase of which is Eclipse running between Fareham and Gosport. More than 80,000 people live in the Gosport area, about a quarter of those commuting daily to destinations outside the peninsula with the result that congestion on the A32 is a real issue. There is little opportunity to put in new roads, so Eclipse makes good use of the old railway line from Fareham to Gosport to provide a 3.4km bus-and-cycle-only road which has generous access points for users. In addition, priority measures along the rest of the routes – mainly at roundabouts – help buses avoid the worst of the congestion. Extensions to the busway are planned at both ends, but have not yet been implemented. Eclipse routes E1 and E2 replaced the 86 and 82 from April 24, 2012, making full use of the

busway except for a few early morning and late evening workings that use the main road when the busway is closed. Only cycles are permitted on it apart from buses. Even taxis are prohibited. Where the busway crosses a road, specially triggered traf�ic lights ensure no hold up. Preventing unauthorised access during the hours when the busway is not operational (2315hrs to 0545hrs) is a requirement of the Planning Permission for the scheme and includes the provision of rising barriers, anti-ram bollards, Traf�ic Regulation Orders, appropriate signage and an enhanced system of monitoring.

Partnership working

Eclipse is a £26.8m joint venture between First UK Bus and Hampshire County Council and involves much more than just building the new busway. A quality partnership speci�ies the standard of vehicle and First UK Bus bought 14 Wrightbus Eclipse 2-bodied Volvo B7RLEs at a cost of £2.3m. They have 42 individual E-Leather covered Esteban Civic V3 seats, wood-effect �loors and under-seat lighting. Livery, branding and saloon décor were all designed or in�luenced by Best Impressions. Also included in the speci�ication are CCTV, free WiFi and automated passenger announcements and infotainment screens that display local news in addition to real-time arrivals and train and ferry departures. The busway itself was largely funded by a £20m grant from the Department for Transport and Department for Communities and Local Government’s Community Infrastructure Fund. In addition to the roadway, the 14 bus stops have Trueform shelters, real-time arrivals displays and CCTV coverage as well as ample lighting, some of it solar powered. Information pillars display local news, weather forecasts and connecting rail and

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The combined headway on the busway provided by routes E1 and E2 has been increased since the launch

Strong branding all helps to sell the Eclipse concept to potential users www.coachandbusweek.com

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ferry times. Maps show places of interest within a 15 minute walk. Cycle parking has been provided at the junctions with Redlands Lane, Palmerston Drive, Wych Lane and Tichborne Way. Security and crime prevention have been prime considerations so that, in addition to CCTV at the stops and other key locations, there are eight high level masts; data is recorded at all times. There are pad style seats with armrests at all stops. Putting accessibility at the top of its design agenda, the local authority has incorporated tactile signs that will help the elderly and anyone who is visually impaired know where to board. ‘Accessibus tick and cross’ guidance aids are �ixed to shelters. The local authority and RNIB have worked together to enable blind and partially sighted passengers to obtain verbal con�irmation of the real-time bus information displayed on the www.coachandbusweek.com

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information pillars. An aural mode is activated by a RNIB React system fob. Infrastructure improvements are incorporated in an on-going programme of change affecting the non-busway parts of the routes. These have included enhancements to Fareham and Gosport bus stations, information pillars displaying train and ferry times and real-time bus information for E1, E2 and service 10 which also connects Gosport with Fareham, but not via the busway. The screens display the next four buses to depart from the bus stations and the arrival times for the bus stops near Fareham rail station and at Creek Road in Gosport. 134 bus stops have been refurbished, with new larger shelters near Fareham railway station and, most noticeably, at Creek Road, Gosport. Buses now have priority at the A27/Redlands Lane and the Tichborne Way/A32 junctions

while the works at the Brockhurst Roundabout have created a bus lane as well as giving E1 and E2 buses traf�ic signal priority. A contra-�low bus lane at the Forton Road/Lees Lane North junction has a similar purpose. Later this year the four existing bus stops for Brune Medical Centre and Fort Brockhurst are being upgraded. Each will receive a new Eclipse branded shelter with lighting, seating, real-time 24hr CCTV, a walking and cycle map of the area and a real-time information screen – Clear Channel is contractor. Further works are scheduled for later this year and early 2015. Although generally welcomed, the new Eclipse services came in for some criticism initially because the E2 service was timetabled to take longer than its predecessor, primarily due to the extended route serving more people south of the busway. Originally, the E1 and E2 routes operated

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SOUTH EAST BRT › ECLIPSE

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the services. The livery on the buses is very distinctive and has a noticeable impact while the décor inside is both attractive and seems to be hardwearing. Some of the seats are now starting to rattle and bang when empty on indifferent road surfaces, but the weight of a typical passenger is suf�icient to quell the noise. I found there was ample legroom. I liked the wood-effect �loors and the space for buggies, wheelchairs and luggage seems to work well. However, on one trip the passenger announcements were inaudible and the information screen never changed so there was presumably an issue there. Drivers have received training that encourages environmentally sensitive driving and reduces emissions. Tickets were issued ef�iciently from Almex ticket machines although most passengers had passes of some kind. An adult return from Gosport to Fareham was £4.70 but a First Day Hampshire ticket was not much more at £5.90 giving unlimited travel for one day. I bought the First Day Hampshire + Gosport Ferry ticket at £7.50 which enabled me to do The important the following trip from Portsmouth to contribution that the busway makes Fareham using the ferry – followed by Eclipse E1. to deliver both Portsmouth ferry to Gosport starts routes is evident from Portsmouth Harbour railway station. A ramp leads down from the platform; there are no seats, but passengers can presumably wait at the station until the ferry is likely to leave. On the day I travelled, about 80 people arrived from Gosport when the ferry came in and about a quarter of that number embarked for the �ive-minute journey across the harbour. A few passengers took advantage of the generous space for cycles and motorcycles. In contrast to the Portsmouth end, the ferry arrives at Gosport to a pleasant spacious modern building on a pontoon and it was only a two minute walk to the bus station, half of that being under cover – very enjoyable in July but possibly cold and windy in January. The Tourist Information shop makes for a pleasant start to a journey by Eclipse (both E1 and E2 leave from just outside it) in contrast to the other end of the building which is rather bleak, both the First and Eclipse of�ices being closed and directing wouldbe passengers to the Tourist Information. My E2 bus was due to leave at 1104hrs, the Busway stops have pillars that display local driver arriving a couple of minutes before that news, weather forecasts and connecting rail and to let eight women and a man on board. He was ferry times very pleasant, if distant, and the bus left on time. One woman was picked up at the next stop and then six women and four men at the Creek Road at 15-minute intervals throughout the day, bus stop which has the largest shelter on the interleaved so that the frequency on the busway routes being adjacent to a supermarket and the was approximately seven minutes but the new main shopping area. timetable which started on October 6, 2013 has One woman left at the next stop where a couple more journeys providing six-minute headways. got on and then at the Waitrose stop, four women More than a million passenger journeys left while three joined us. Four more passengers were recorded in the �irst year of operation boarded at Bury Road where one woman left and and Matt Callow, First Hampshire and Dorset’s for the �irst time someone boarding paid in cash. Commercial Manager, was able to report in the Up till then all passengers had passes of one kind Portsmouth News on January 4, 2014, a 64% or another. increase in passengers. Services on Sundays have At the next stop, the driver kneeled the bus to also been increased and more late night timings let a blind man and his companion off and we introduced. There’s a dedicated Eclipse website then proceeded in similar fashion, gradually at www3.hants.gov.uk/eclipse increasing the number of passengers. The route goes along the A32 at one stage and as Enjoying Eclipse if to demonstrate the value of the busway, we I made a number of trips on Eclipse and can hit severe congestion on the stretch north of generally con�irm the attractive nature of www.coachandbusweek.com

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the Brockhurst roundabouts. Nevertheless, the busway was reached at 1128hrs only three minutes behind schedule. The increase in speed was then quite dramatic, the driver making full use of the 40mph limit. He slowed down as we approached the various traf�ic lights, but did not have to stop as they were triggered to change in his favour. At one bus stop on the busway, I heard a long string of commands from a young lady outside, thus: “Stand, get on, get on, sit.” The object of these was not a dog, but a bewildered young boy. However, he was quite at home on the bus and quietly took a seat while

At the bus station, there were a number of First staff on hand to help. The First shop and ticket of�ice is at the far end alongside the drivers rest area, but the lady in the shop, although wishing to be helpful, could give no idea of when the busway might be extended. Problems with the council was her view. I made a return journey on the E1 route, thinking that it might be less well patronised due to its greater length. This was not the case and the bus departed from Fareham with 26 passengers. I broke my journey at the Palmer Drive stop (on the busway) to see an example of

his mother talked to the driver. At the end of the busway there was a three second delay at lights before we rejoined normal roads. The �irst stop after the busway is at Westby Grove and I could see a man inspecting the information board, a little way from the stop. He realised rather late that the bus had arrived so it was good to see that the driver waited for him to catch up. Only one woman left the bus at the railway station where there is a bus shelter for southbound passengers. None boarded, but that situation might be different early and later in the day. Finally we arrived at Fareham bus station on time at 1139hrs where the 22 passengers remaining onboard disembarked. Fareham bus station is similar in design to that at Gosport and was thronging with people some of whom boarded the bus I arrived on; it left on schedule at 1144hrs to return to Gosport. The bus station is a short walk from the end of the pedestrian area and is thus very convenient for the shops. There are clear signs.

the facilities at the new shelters. It was in good condition and the information display worked as expected except that the disabled icon sometimes failed to appear opposite some of the buses some of the time. While I was at the stop, there seemed to be some dif�iculties with timing on the E2 route, as a number of the buses were late, but the waiting passengers took the situation with equanimity. Finally, I boarded an E1 bus which had 18 passengers, the infotainment system was working and the announcements were clear. Passengers boarded and left in small numbers in a pattern which was similar to the northbound journey. At one stop, a young woman got on with a pushchair and sat on one of the folding down seats alongside. I think the space seems to be well thought out for this purpose. I could see that she watched who was likely to get on and so, when we approached a stop where there was another woman with a pushchair, she got up and stood waiting until the second woman

Security and crime prevention have been prime considerations so that, in addition to CCTV at the stops and other key locations, there are eight high level masts; data is recorded at all times

Cycle racks are an important part of providing viable alternatives to the car

The substantial shelter that has been erected at Greek Road for Fareham-bound passengers

Gosport bus station is adjacent to the terminal for ferries to Portsmouth

Access to the busway is restricted to buses and cyclists

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July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 39 28/07/2014 12:59

THE BIG PICTURE As Jack Izatt explains in his article on the Eclipse BRT scheme in Hampshire, key is the 3.4km section of bus-and-cycle only road that takes advantage of the old railway line between Fareham and Gosport. The nature of the alignment with its railway era bridges is evident in this view. The busway was largely paid for by a ÂŁ20m grant from the Department for Transport and Department for Communities and local Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Infrastructure Fund. In addition to the roadway, the 14 stops have shelters, real-time arrivals displays and CCTV coverage as well as ample lighting, some of it solar powered. Access is restricted by rising barriers and the busway is closed from 2315hrs to 0545hrs.

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SOUTH EAST BRT › ECLIPSE Where the busway crosses a road, bus operated traffic lights ensure no hold up

had boarded. The two buggies were then parked in the space while the pair stood, holding on to the yellow handles provided near the roof until one of them departed at Ham Lane. That was the only occasion when there were any standing passengers. After the busway, the E2 route wound its way through extensive housing which gets older as one approaches Gosport, passengers joining and leaving the bus at most stops. The stop announced in the bus as Priory Road had St Thomas’s Road on the street-side sign and likewise the next stop at the Windsor Castle pub (announced as Windsor Castle) had Grove Road on the sign. Speed humps for a stretch after Fieldmore Road did nothing for passenger comfort, but it is dif�icult to know if the driver could have done better and his task was made more dif�icult by (legally) parked cars on all the roads south of the busway; further on he coped well with road works and their traf�ic lights. There were no on-board announcements at the Bury Road stop where a couple got off, but the announcements remained correct for the remainder of the journey. As expected, the bulk of the passengers left the bus at Greek Road for the shops, a dozen heading straight for the supermarket. Three of the remaining seven left at South Street – also near the shops and the last four at Gosport bus station.

Well thought out system

As can be seen from the map, route E1 makes its way through more areas of housing than the E2. 42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 036_042_CBW1148_Cambs Eclipse.indd 42

Scheduled times are 14 minutes from Fareham to Huck�ield Link at the end of the busway and a further 25 minutes to Gosport. The promised extensions to the busway would improve these �igures, but housing is where the passengers come from. The new bus shelters are clearly welcome, but there was little evidence on my journeys that the cycle racks are, as yet, having much impact. None of our journeys involved disabled passengers so it is not possible to say how well the relevant provisions work. On the buses,

The drivers tended to be a bit distant, but were very friendly when appropriate. The driver assault screen probably accounts for this because it is very visible

announcements were clear except on the one bus where the system was not working, but the infotainment screen is not very effective – even when working – being unreadable from most positions in the bus except on the way out when most passengers have other concerns. The layout of the saloon seems to work well and it was interesting to see the popularity of two

single seats right at the front. The drivers tended to be a bit distant, but were very friendly when appropriate. The driver assault screen probably accounts for this because it is very visible (and off-putting) on boarding and looks opaque (because of re�lections) on the way out. Although there seemed to be some reluctance to kneel the bus, drivers showed good consideration for passengers with dif�iculties. In addition, they were happy to wait if passengers did not move until the bus was stationary and did not move off until people were seated. However, on two occasions, on journeys which were not recorded here in detail, they clipped the kerb. It was pleasing to see that the passengers are treating the buses well so that there was little or no litter. Many were keen to drop their used tickets in the bin near the entrance and it was also clear that most of the passengers were regulars. Indeed, most could press the bell-push without looking – even if it was behind their head. I had the impression a loyal customer base has been created. As described above, a programme of improvements is being implemented, but it was a shame to �ind one or two minor problems (like the lack of announcements on one of the buses) not being corrected; effective maintenance is just as important as appropriate investment for a successful service. Eclipse services are billed as part of an extensive programme of routes throughout the region. I am sure current and potential future users look forward to developments. ■ www.coachandbusweek.com

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SOUTH EAST BRT › LUTON – DUNSTABLE BUSWAY

After leaving Luton town centre, the busway parallels the busy A505 Hatters Way

The

Bedfordshire O

n September 25, 2013 after a gestation period over two decades long, the Luton - Dunstable Busway �inally opened to passenger service. The busway infrastructure links the Houghton Regis/Dunstable conurbation with Luton, Luton Station and Luton Airport, whilst the individual services diverge from the busway to provide enhanced public transport in to Dunstable, the White Lion Retail Park, and Central Bedfordshire College.

Background

The issue of improving transport links in the Luton - Dunstable corridor has been the subject of multiple studies since the late 1980s. The towns were linked by a passenger railway until 1964, and freight trains operated until 1989. It was evident that an ostensibly untouched corridor had greater transport potential, particularly as traf�ic congestion worsened and awareness of environmentally friendly public transport grew. Through periodic studies and public consultation which investigated light rail, a rail shuttle service, a through train 44 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

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Busway

Mark Curran gives the story behind Bedfordshire’s bus rapid transit scheme, which involves two local authorities and three bus operators – and also shares his experience of riding on it service to London, and lower cost options such as on-street bus lanes, the dedicated busway option continually was the best performing. It bene�itted from the �lexibility of bus, able to diverge from the core busway, which more than offset the higher construction cost compared to reinstating a passenger railway. Nonetheless local pressure groups campaigned for passenger rail services. The Luton conurbation came under the control of Luton Borough Council in 1997. The Borough continued as joint promoters of the busway along with Bedfordshire County Council. The Transport Act 2000 provided the catalyst for the busway to be delivered, with the Department for Transport agreeing ‘in principle’ in December 2003 to fund some of the busway’s

costs under its ‘major schemes’ process. By this time the scheme was known as ‘Luton Dunstable Translink’. In February 2004, Bedfordshire County Council withdrew as joint promoters of Translink, at a meeting where they were due to ratify support for the Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO) submission. The TWAO provided the legal means to construct Translink on what were railway lands. By contrast, schemes built on highways have been constructed under more traditional council powers. The Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to continue with Luton Borough Council as sole promoter of Translink, although by the end of April 2004 Bedfordshire has reversed their opposition. Bedfordshire County Council ceased to be in 2009, with www.coachandbusweek.com

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xxxxx

Arriva acquired a fleet of new Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs for its service A its successor, Central Bedfordshire Council, continuing to support and promote the busway. Following a lengthy Public Inquiry, the TWAO was granted on December 13, 2006, giving Luton Borough Council and Bedfordshire County Council the legal right to construct busway and guided busway, in an act known as the Luton Dunstable Translink Order. Whilst Translink was dropped as a brand in mid-2007, it remains prominent on signage at entry points to the busway. Due process meant the DfT undertook an independent review of the business case with some follow up work required by the promoters. Conducted in December 2009, the ‘Full Approval Business Case,’ as it was known, included the construction costs based on those quoted by the winning construction contractor. Final approval on March 10, 2010 included a DfT contribution of £80m towards the scheme. Preparatory work on the busway started in January 2010. Construction began in June 2010 – the lead contractor was BAM Nuttall, which also constructed the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. Cost overruns were identi�ied in early 2013. However, Luton BC and BAM Nuttall entered into a con�idential mediation, focussed on opening the busway and achieving �inancial closure. This mediation avoided the public acrimony which beset the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway.

This view of Clifton Road shows an example of stop infrastructure

INSIGHT

Arriva livery Many of Arriva’s buses on the Busway carry a two-tone livery which heavily promotes the Green Line 757 coach service between Luton and London Victoria. When the 757 was removed from Luton Airport (following a tendering process by the Airport which gave National Express exclusive rights) on April 30, 2013, a connection between the airport and the 757 was introduced. Initially this connection was made at an off-airport car park, but moved to the Interchange when it opened. Service ‘A’ was introduced between the Interchange and the Airport as a 757 feeder before the whole busway opened, initially using three loaned single deck buses. The 757 returned to the airport on March 2, 2014 after doubts were raised about the Airport’s tendering process for exclusive access. The A operates short trips between the Airport and the Interchange overnight, now meaning the 757 and the A duplicate each other between the Airport and Interchange, 24 hours a day.

Infrastructure

The construction technique used for the 7.4km (4.6 miles) of guided busway sections is six-metre long precast blocks. This construction method is cheaper than slipformed (poured on site) construction. Gravel traps are placed on entry to

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the guided sections, designed to prevent cars entering. Unfortunately, at least one sat-nav designer seems to think this is a regular road. The design has allowed a natural �lora to quickly return, helping reduce the environmental impact of the Busway. Not all of the Busway route is guided. Most notably, either side of Luton Station Interchange there are sections which are constructed as ordinary road, but are designated for bus use only. This means that other bus routes can use these roads to access the Luton Station Interchange, such as frequent National Express coaches, and Stagecoach’s service between

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45 28/07/2014 13:00

SOUTH EAST BRT › LUTON – DUNSTABLE BUSWAY

Grant Palmer uses well presented former Metrobus Fastway Scania OmniCitys on its busway services

Stanton Road halt is clean and tidy

This scene almost looks tranquil

Taking pride its operation, Grant Palmer’s attention to detail even extends to appropriate registrations

Luton Airport and Milton Keynes. There are some non-guided sections at the eastern extremity as well, where curvature is too tight for guided operation. Maximum speed on the guided sections is 50mph. Additional kerb stones are located on top of the guideway enabling level boarding on to buses. Arriva is installing the Vix Busnet system to track its whole South East UK �leet from a central control room at Luton – excluding buses operated on TfL contracts. Both Centrebus and Grant Palmer have also acquired Busnet for their busway services. Complementary construction also included a new bus station in Luton, located adjacent to the town’s railway station, initially allowing a number of inter-urban and coach services to relocate from inappropriate on-street stops to a dedicated facility. A number of old railway bridges had to be reconstructed for the busway, as well as the A5065 ‘Hatters Way’ shifted slightly southwards. A footway and cycle route is provided parallel to the busway.

Houghton Regis. Journey time between Luton and Dunstable town centres has been halved compared to existing bus routes. At the time of submitting the �inal business case, FirstGroup and Uno Buses had also expressed an interest in operating on the busway. There remains the future opportunity for inter-urban services in to Luton to also use the busway. Operators using the guided section of the busway are required to be signatory to a voluntary partnership agreement. However, any access charges have been waived for the �irst three years of operation, after which the situation will be reviewed.

Operation

Three operators provide bus services which utilise the guided busway: Arriva, Centrebus, and Grant Palmer. They all follow the same pattern of operating between Luton Station Interchange and Dunstable town centre, before branching off to serve various residential estates within Dunstable and adjacent 46 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 044_048_CBW1148_Luton Busway.indd 46

ARRIVA Arriva is the largest bus operator in the area, and acquired a �leet of new Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs for its service ‘A’ – the eastern terminus of which is at Luton Airport. The western extremity at Parkside estate, Houghton Regis, is the basic route which has been the core of planning assumptions since the mid 1990s. CENTREBUS Centrebus is the operator of the service ‘B’ and ‘E’ on the busway, each running half-hourly. The ‘B’ also operates on Sundays. A �leet of six Scania single-deck buses were transferred from operations in Leicestershire and modi�ied for use on the busway. All vehicles carry the Centrebus corporate orange and blue livery. Service B shares the Luton Station Interchange

as a terminus, while the E diverts and terminates elsewhere in the town centre.

GRANT PALMER The �inal operator on the busway is Flitwickbased Grant Palmer Passenger Services. Grant Palmer acquired three Scania single-deck buses which were previously used by Metrobus on the Crawley Fastway, so came equipped with the required guide wheels. These vehicles are now resplendent white and red livery. The independent operator runs service ‘C’ halfhourly, from the Weatherby area of Dunstable, terminating at Luton Station Interchange.

Ride out

I visited the Luton-Dunstable Busway in early July and took the opportunity to see it in action. A wide variety of customer types were observed using the busway with a reasonable split between concessionary passes, bus passes, and cash fares. However, there is a lot of potential for additional passengers before additional vehicles are required. All buses and bus stops on the busway are equipped with real-time information displays, using the Vix Busnet system (which is the same as Cambridgeshire Guided Busway). However, on my visit it seemed that some on-bus information was permanently showing ‘Stop 1 Luton Interchange’ irrespective of where the bus is. The reliability of three of the routes appeared www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 13:01

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SOUTH EAST BRT › LUTON – DUNSTABLE BUSWAY good, but Centrebus’ ‘B’ appeared to be consistently late compared to both the printed and digital at-stop information. Ride quality felt good, although with the guided sections built of precast sections there is a repetitive minor vertical laceration. Horizontal movement was minimal – it appeared ‘hands off’ driving gave the smoother ride. Stops on the busway were visibly dusty, with those in Dunstable town centre in particular need of cleaning. There are a variety of ticketing products on offer, with each operator having their own range of tickets, as well as multi-operator ticket called ‘Hip Hop.’ A deliberately vague ticket request was made to an Arriva driver, who instantly named the product required. On following trips made on Centrebus and Grant Palmer, the ticket issued on Arriva branded ticket roll was accepted without query. For anyone arriving by train, the Luton Plusbus ticket at £2.80 offers largely the same coverage for nearly £2 less.

‘A wide variety of customer types were observed using the busway with a reasonable split between concessionary passes, bus passes, and cash fares’

Grant Palmer only accepts Hip Hop and Plusbus on its busway routes, and very confusingly Hop Hop tickets issued on a Grant Palmer bus are not valid beyond the busway routes of Arriva and Centrebus. The interiors of all buses operating on the busway were found to be neat, by virtue of being the newest Arriva’s were also the cleanest and least vandalised. Arriva have used advertising space above the windows to promote their own range of ticketing offers, which is a good use of this space. A notable offer is for a bus pass in exchange for scrap cars – a more environmentally friendly ‘scrappage’

The three operators together scheme. There is minimal interior advertising on Centrebus and Grant Palmer, though both provide copies of their timetables. There is no interior busway branding or route information on any operator. Centrebus is the only one to issue a ticket in respect of a concessionary pass, which results in a lot of discarded tickets in the saloon. There is confusion over what exactly Luton Station Interchange is called. Different timetables and destination displays refer to it as ‘Station Interchange,’ ‘Station,’ ‘Rail Station,’ ‘Interchange,’ ‘Bus Station,’ ‘Town Centre’ and so on. The eastern terminus of the Arriva ‘A’ is also confused, with the bus front destination display calling it ‘Parkside,’ the bus interior display calling it ‘Dog & Duck,’ the stop itself ‘Parkside Drive’ and the at-stop timetables en-route simply ‘Houghton Regis.’ Grant Palmer is the only busway operator not to issue its drivers with a uniform. However, the �irm would score highly for customer service – simple greetings, waiting for elderly customers to sit down, etc. were observed traits. Arriva appears to have a confused uniform policy, with drivers on the busway noted wearing at least �ive variations of navy blue, turquoise, or white, as well as some drivers wearing the more formal Green Line uniform.

Bus only roads at Luton Station mean other services can benefit from priority measures

48 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014 044_048_CBW1148_Luton Busway.indd 48

Conclusion

The author admits to some scepticism about Luton-Dunstable Translink ever being built when commissioning BRT-uk’s �irst ever corporate publication in May 2007 – it was not listed as a bus rapid transit scheme with a reasonable degree of actually happening. Looking back, the tenacity of the of�icers at Luton Borough Council were done a massive disservice and for that I apologise. Both the scheme promoters (Luton Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council) and the three operators are understood to be happy with initial ridership. Around 350,000 passengers per quarter are using the busway, some way short of forecast in the business case of around 9,000 per day. However, not all services included in the forecasts are running on the busway, and it is common for new schemes to take some years to ramp up to full potential. The busway and interchange is just one part of transport-led regeneration of Luton. The DfT-funded ‘town centre transport scheme’ to complete the inner ring road is nearing completion, making life easier for both pedestrians and buses around ‘The Mall’ shopping centre. The M1 J10-J10A spur leading on to the A1081 in to Luton Airport is also currently being upgraded with grade-separated junctions, which will aid the frequent Green Line and National Express coaches, whilst the ‘Thameslink’ project upgrading the train service from/to Luton will be complete towards the end of the decade. Finally, for now, the town’s airport is planning to double its passenger numbers, to 18m per annum, after securing planning permission for an expanded passenger terminal. The Luton - Dunstable Busway has been a very long time coming. Neither Luton, Dunstable nor Houghton Regis have the disposable income, inbound tourism, or massive trip generators which comparable schemes in Cambridgeshire or Crawley do. The bus is very much a workhorse to get people to work, to appointments, to school, or to the shops. However, as regeneration continues, new homes get built, brown�ield sites continue generating economic activity, and as the airport expands, use of buses and the busway should meet and surpass its potential. ■ www.coachandbusweek.com

28/07/2014 13:01

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p50_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 13:18 Page 50

M O C . T E K R A M S COACHANDBULES FOR SALE

VEHIC

Contact Gemma Ireland

GREAT VALUE FOR OPERATORS UNLIMITED ONLINE vehicle advertisEments on coachandbusmarket.com

Tel: 01733 293247 Fax: 0845 280 2927 Email: gemma.ireland@ coachandbusweek.com

Up to 4 PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS for vehicles for sale in Coach&BusWeek magazine

HALF PRICE RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING IN Coach&BusWeek magazine

3 ANNUAL DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS to coachandbusweek.com

THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES (Marketplace) – Copy Deadline – 12 noon Friday week prior to publication. (Main) – Booking and Copy Deadline – 12 noon Monday week of publication.

2003 (52) Iveco Daily 45c13 Irisbus

10 seats, PLS chairlift fitted to rear, front entry, full length tracking, all seats on quick release, white, bonded glass, COIF/PSV, tacho.

2002 (52) Mercedes 814 Vario Plaxton Beaver 2

2007 LDV Maxus 3.5T LWB

Fiat Ducato 160 Multijet

29 seats with lap & diagonal belts, automatic, 203,000km, MOT Aug 2015, PLS underslung chair lift.

7 seats, internal chairlift, full tracking, all seats on Unwin quick release, 1 owner and genuine low miles, side loading door, bonded windows.

17 seats, 80,000 miles from new, 1 owner, front and rear aircon, luggage racks, armrests, Bluetooth, 6 speed manual, COIF/PSV, tacho.

£3,995 + VAT

£11,950 + VAT

£6,495 + VAT

£11,495 + VAT

BNL Coaches 0208 363 8572/07811 848 548

BNL Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

BNL Coaches 0208 363 8572 /07811 848 548

BNL Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

New EVM Sprinter X-Clusive

Euro 6 Low Floor Sprinter

Mercedes Benz Sprinter 513 CDI

Euro 6 EVM Sprinter

16 executive seats in leather+ driver, automatic, power door, coach back boot, in-dash and saloon A/C, panoramic windows, monitors and DVD.

22 mixed between seating/standing/wheelchair, sliding 120 cm entry door, multiple drop box combinations are available for luggage storage.

16 seats + driver, LWB, 6 speed manual, electric entry step, in-dash aircon, 3 year Mercedes Benz warranty, optional extras available.

16 comfort class seats, 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, double rear doors, privacy glass, virtual leather and fabric, in dash and saloon A/C, saloon heater, luggage racks with strip lights.

POA

£33,000 + VAT

£POA

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

2011 Bova Futura Classic FHD

2004 Bova Futura FHD

New Mercedes Sitcar Beluga III

1995 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 3200

12m, 49 seats, ZF auto, sat-nav, centre toilet, power continental door, A/C, 2 monitors, radio/PA, CD, DVD, on-board vacuum, Euro 4, MOT March 2015.

12.7 mtr, automatic gearbox, 53/55/57 seats, demountable toilet, radio P/A, wired for TV and DVD, new air conditioning units fitted, LEZ compliant, MOT June 2015.

Auto, Telma retarder, rear air suspension, 29 seats with 3 point belts, luggage compartment & side lockers, double glazing, A/C, radio/PA & CD player.

53 seats, power door, radio, P.A, ZF 6 speed manual gearbox plus, new MOT.

£POA

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

50 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

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D L SO

2003 Dennis Trident Alexander

63 seats: £12,000 + VAT – CHOICE 72 seats + refurb package: £25,000 +VAT Full details on request. Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

VEHICLES D L SO

2002 Scania Irizar K114

2008 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200

2000 Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 10.1m

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 21/5/15, excellent condition.

10.8m, 37 seats, one owner, FSH. £47,000 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

40 seats + 15 standees, belts fitted to all seats. £5,950 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2006 (06) Caetano/ Volvo B12B

NOW £37,000

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

2009 Mercedes 0816 Sitcar Beluga 2

2000 Mercedes Sprinter Treka Coachbuilt

Noge Catalan

25 leather trimmed seats with lap belts, courier seat, power plug door, air con, audio & DVD, fridge, drivers door, drivers electric window, reverse camera, digital tacho, Telma retarder. POA

16 seats with 3 point belts, white, power door front entry, external automatic tail lift, tracking, 12 months MOT. Surplus to requirements.

Sensible offers considered

53 belted recliners with footrests and seat back tables, ZF Astronic Auto, recent MOT, LEZ compliant, DVD + 2 screens, air-con, dashbroad fridge, WC, water boiler, Euroliner wheel trims. Choice of 2 similar vehicles.

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Stanley Travel 01207 237424 / 07768 126136

£80,000

£42,500 ono

Centaur Coaches 01322 625370

Manns Travel - 07796 695675

Luxury VW Crafter

2004 Volvo B12M VanHool

2003 Volvo BR7 Plaxton Profile

2006 Volvo B12M

2007, 16 seats, A/C, DVD, microphone, 135,000 miles, 7 months MOT, excellent condition.

£21,000

Slick Rides – 07823 770978

2002 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI

16 seats with 3 point belts, white, panoramic double glazed glass, external automatic tail lift, tracking, 12 months MOT. Surplus to requirements.

53 seats, w/c, air con, Webasto, water boiler, 3 point belts, double glazed, leather headrests, DVD player, alloys, in white, taxed and tested, very good condition.

57 seats, forced air, ZF automatic, lap belts, rear cameras inside and out, taxed and tested, in white.

49 seats, centre sunken toilet, air con, DVD player, 1 year’s MOT, executive specification.

£49,999 + VAT

£39,990 + VAT

51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, auto, Berkoff LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition. NOW £65,000

Andy Francis, KB Coaches 07939 645492 or 01453 825774

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

2003 (53) Volvo B12M

2004 LDV Convoy

2007 Volvo Plaxton Panther B12B

Luxury 16 seat front entry coach, power door all working well, extended rear, large boot separate from passengers, forced air, wood dash kit, very nice Exel conversion, COIF, 11 months PSV MOT, long tax.

65 seats, WC, front w/chair lift, A/C, 3 point belts fitted, ZF auto, inspection welcome, ready for work, sale due to fleet replacement.

Sensible offers considered

51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, Berkoff, LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition. NOW £44,000 – MAY CONSIDER PX

Stanley Travel 01207 237424 / 07768 126136

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

1999 Volvo B10M Berkhof Axial

2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 515 CDI

Brand New Wrightbus Streetlite

2002 Dennis Dart Caetano Nimbus SLF

40 seats, manual, air con, coffee machine, servery, courier seat, power door, radio/CD/PA, seat belts, toilet, TV monitor, LEZ compliant.

10 luxury leather seats with 3 point belts, auto, air con, tachograph, LEZ compliant, TV monitor, tinted windows, armrests, curtains.

40 seats, automatic, air con, LED front, side and rear destination, front manual ramp, DDA compliant, LEZ compliant.

30 seats, automatic, manual front, side and rear destination, electric ramp, CCTV cameras and recorders, assault screen.

£4,999 + VAT

£75,000 + VAT

£25,000

£19,500

£POA

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

www.coachandbusweek.com

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 51

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VEHICLES

Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com

1994 Volvo B9M Berkhof Excellence

Volvo Olympian Northern Counties Palatine 2

1999 Volvo B7R Plaxton Prima

Mercedes 814 Vario Cheetah

37 recliners with belts, crew seat, toilet, recent re trim, recent paint in black, power door, ZF manual gearbox, luggage racks with forced air, reading lights.

1998, 68 coach seats can be upseated to 73, power door, ZF gearbox, can also be seat-belted, new MOT, high speed diff fitted, new paint in to white.

70 re-trimmed coach seats, 3 point seat belts, luggage racks, forced air ventilation, reading lights, 6 speed manual, Telma retarda, 174,969 kms, radio/ cassette, excellent condition.

33 seats with 3 point belts, forced air, wood dash, manual, taxed with long PSV MOT, radio/PA system, large boot, tidy coach, 1 previous keeper.

£9,000

£8,500

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

2006 (06) Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI

2000/2001 X/Y Reg Volvo B7TL’S

2008 Mercedes Sprinter Executive

2001 Y Reg Tridents

Lowered front entry, extended rear, one owner from new, huge boot separate from passengers,12 months MOT, forced air, wood dash, electric windows and mirrors, COIF, below average mileage.

£14,750 + VAT – WILL P/X

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

2009 Iveco Daily

16 moquette seats with 3 point belts, white, manual, single panoramic privacy glazing, forced air, wheelchair tracking, right hand emergency door, reading lights and air vents, 90,000 miles, very clean.

80 seats, Voith gearboxes, Euro 2 engines with traps, or full Euro 3 with traps, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA with 78 seats. Why pay more for less. FROM £20,000 + VAT

10 seats + driver, DVD stereo system, air con, tables, inverter, leather seats, huge luggage space, black tint rear windows, very good, clean condition, LEZ, ready for work.

£18,000 + VAT

£22,999 – POSSIBLE P/X

Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats. Why pay more for less. FROM £18,000 + VAT

EnsignBus 01708 865656

Steve 0161 775 0800/07980 600597 operations@travel-master.co.uk

New EVM Sprinter Classic

2011 Volkswagen Crafter

22 seats + driver, automatic, power door, double rear doors, privacy glass, in-dash and saloon A/C, saloon heater, 3 stage entry step, luggage racks.

16 seats + driver, automatic, hinged entry door, double rear doors, in-dash and saloon A/C, saloon heater, privacy glazing, PA system.

16 seats finished in moquette, manual, white, large boot, double rear doors, panoramic windows, curtains, emergency exit in saloon, 63,500 miles.

EnsignBus 01708 865656

£18,000 + VAT

POA

£32,500 + VAT

EVM Direct – 01293 852025

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

1998 Volvo Caetano Salvador

2007 Mercedes Sprinter 515 CDI

2012 Ford Transit ELWB

2008 Iveco Beulas Cygnus

49 reclining seat with seat belts, mid toilet, centre door, monitor + DVD, radio + cassette, courier seat, tax and tested, fitted with air con but needs belts and re-gas.

17 seats, silver metallic, 6 speed manual, tacho, radio/CD player, electric front windows, electric power plug door, luggage racks, reading lights, drop well boot, COIF/PSV.

17 seats, medium roof, white, 6 speed manual, ABS, PAS, radio/CD, tacho, electric front windows, M2 seats with all age lap diagonal belts, grab rails to access doors, PSV.

£14,500 + VAT o.n.o.

£26,995

£16,495

49/51 rec seats, 3 point belts, courier seat, auto, power plug & continental doors, air con, double glazing, audio & DVD, reverse camera, powered luggage lockers, floor mounted toilet, low mileage. POA

01833 660471 / 07730 486708 paul.watson@btconnect.com

Autoservice Pontypool Ltd 01495 757111

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

2007 Volvo B12B’s

1997 Volvo B12R VanHool Astrobel

2004 Mercedes OC500 18.36 Touro

Iveco Daily

Auto, 71 reclining seats, twin courier seat, driver & crew doors, centre powered entrance, double glazing, air con, audio & DVD, servery with boiler & fridge, toilet, n/s & o/s doors to luggage compartment.

49 reclining seats with armrests, seat back tables, & footrests, courier seat, Plug entrance door, double glazing, air con, CD & DVD, drinks machine & fridge; centre sunken toilet, continental exit, digital tachograph, manual transmission, retarder.

Euro 5, automatic, 12m, front wheelchair lift, Hanover LED’s, converted and certified with 70 seats and 3 point belts, only 3 available. £80,000 EACH

EnsignBus 01708 865656 52 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

POA

8 passengers plus driver (COIF for 14 seats), front entrance with lowered step, 3 point seat belts, large tinted panoramic windows, MOT Sept, tax Oct 2014. MUST GO - BEST OFFER OVER £3,500 incl VAT

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Tel: 0121 788 8848 Marsden PTS Ltd www.coachandbusweek.com

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VEHICLES

2004 54 MERCEDES BENZ 814 PLAXTON BEAVER

2007 56 MERCEDES BENZ 813

2002 MERCEDES BENZ VARIO 814

2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI FRONT ENTRY MINIBUS

29 seats, 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, yellow/green, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, destination boards, 492,000 kilometers/307,000 miles, VGC, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty.

25 seats, 4.25 turbo diesel, Blutec 4 engine, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, Excel conversion, digital tachograph, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry door, 119,000 kilometers/74,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty.

33 seats, 4.25 turbo diesel, automatic gearbox, white, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry door, 136,000 kilometers/82,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty.

2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed sprintshift automatic, 17 seats, air con, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, tachograph, CD player, 107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty.

£17,995 + VAT

£17,495 + VAT

£11,995 + VAT

Ben Weaver Commercials 0114 275 7076

2001 MAN Neoplan

2006 Scania Irizar Century

1995 Scania K113 VanHool Alizee

2004 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse

Auto, one year’s MOT, 49 seats: new 70 Cogent seats on order and the conversion will be carried out shortly, so pick your own trim.

Converted this year to 70 seater using Cogent seats with 3 point belts, tea machine, TV/DVD.

45 seats, full DDA, ZF automatic gearbox, MobiTec destination, Cyberlyne CCTV with audio recording, choice of four.

Contact Gary – 07930 377051

£90,000 + VAT Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365

£17,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365

yourbus – 01773 714013

1995 Dennis Javelin

1999 Plaxton Excalibur

2002 Volvo B7R Plaxton

2007 Scania K340/ Caetano Levante

Wadham Stringer Vanguard 3 body, 70 seats with three point belts, 6 speed manual, tacho, used daily, LEZ compliant, MOT Aug 2015. £9,995 + VAT

53 seats with three point belts, automatic, air con, large rear luggage space, tachograph, used daily, LEZ compliant, MOT Jan 2015. £12,995 + VAT

53 seats plus courier, automatic, A/C, used only on tour work, removable vinyls, seat belts, available with new test. £39,000 Call Anthony Kelly

Choice of 2, 49 leather reclining seats, ZF automatic gearbox and retarder, Hanover front, side and rear destinations, WC, air conditioning, PLS magic lift, low mileage, recently refurbished and can be used on National Express network until June 2016.

Chalkwell Coach Hire 01795 423982 andy.bates@chalkwell.co.uk

PAB Tours – 0113 320 0780 ant@pabtours.com

yourbus – 01773 714013

12 months MOT & tax, full tank of fuel, one owner driver for the last 5 years, 49 seater, toilet, aircon, drivers bunk, alloy wheels, just refurbished, 2 new 22in Samsung LED monitors, black-out windows, TV tuner, DVD system all fitted 8 months ago, good mpg, 3 new air bags, new belts, hoses and interior LED lights just fitted, 600,000km, based in Glasgow.

£25,000 + VAT

2003 Mercedes Benz Setra

£40,000 + VAT o.n.o.

Contact Coach and Bus Market Co-ordinator Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 Fax: 0845 280 2927 Email: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com

Nigel McCree - 01509 502695

Mercedes Cheetah

49 seats, automatic, good condition for year, removable vinyls, choice of 3, only one remaining. £8,950

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 30/9/14, excellent condition.

NOW £39,000

33 coach seats, 3 point belts, Mellor conversion, air suspension, Telma retarder, power door, 6 speed gearbox, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air ventilation, arm rests, curtains, DVD & monitor, boot, 262,996 miles.

0113 320 0780/0035 386 8138165 Anthony ant@pabtours.com

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

Blythswood Motors 0141 889 9730

www.coachandbusweek.com

£65,000 + VAT each

48 x 3 point belted seats + crew, air con, saloon mounted WC, rear continental door, MOT November, option 53 or 55-seater with WC removed. £36,000 + VAT – CHOICE

2002 Scania VanHool K124

1993 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier

£35,000 + VAT

2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere Euro 3

49 seat with belts, 2 monitors, DVD, centre toilet, centre power door, cool box + boiler, leather headrests inserts, seat back tables, foot rests, good tyres, 6 speed ZF, LEZ box, tax and test ready to work.

01833 660471 / 07730 486708 paul.watson@btconnect.com

£14,995 + VAT

£POA

1988 DAF MB230 Plaxton

53 seats, automatic, very good condition for year, currently in dry storage, additional vehicle also available. £2,750

PAB Tours – 0113 320 0780 ant@pabtours.com July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 53

p54_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 13:21 Page 54

VEHICLES

Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com 2002 52 reg Volvo B12B Jonckheere Mistral 50

1999 Volvo Olympian Alexander

7HO

ZF auto, 53 seats, air-con, monitor, radio, fridge, alloy wheels, RPC/LEZ compliant, MOT February 2015, taxed Sept 2014, good condition.

78 seats + 13 standing, automatic, limited to 90 Kph, seatbelts throughout, ideal for school trips and contract hire, Hannover displays.

£28,000 + VAT

£14,000 + VAT

Diamond Coaches 01243 870010 / 07711 868976

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

1998 Mercedes Sprinter

2004 Iveco Beulas

15 seats, front entry, Mellor conversion, MOT 16/5/14, very good condition, with tail lift.

£ 3,700

1998 Iveco 40 / 10 15 seats, front entry, MOT 22/8/14, very good condition.

£ 2,500

1995 Iveco 49 / 10 19 seats, front entry, power door, MOT 13/1/15, very good condition.

£ 3,000 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

01884 252646 / 07702 626542

D L SO

Auto, 51 seat executive coach, WC, DVD, A/C, drinks boiler, fridge, etc, in exceptional condition for age, MOT July 2014.

£34,500 ono + VAT

Tel 01249 742000/07717 768315

2006 Transit Tourneo

1999/2000/2001 V/Y Reg Dennis Tridents

1998 Dennis Javelin

1999 Volvo B10M

9 seater, tax till Jan, will have new MOT, 190,000 miles, runs well, front and rear air-con, tow bar. £3,500 + VAT

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats. Why pay more for less. FROM £18,000 + VAT

57 seats, low mileage for age, long MOT, full service history, inspection facilities available.

49 seats, low mileage for age, long MOT, full service history, inspection facilities available.

£14,500

£17,500

Tel: 01483 561103

EnsignBus 01708 865656

ahalliday@safeguardcoaches.co.uk

2006 56 plate ADL Enviro School Bus

2006 (06) Caetano/ Volvo B12B

2008 Optare Versa 10.4m

57 belted seats, Cummins engine, CCTV.

Hailstone Travel Ltd 0845 388 3848

2007 Optare Solo SE 7.8m

27 seats, Mercedes engine, CCTV, Hanover destination.

£30,000 + VAT

£35,000 + VAT

49 seats, rear floor mounted toilet, air con, 1 year’s MOT, National Express spec, Hanover blinds.

Henderson Travel 01698 713007 or 07803 002603

Manns Travel - 07796 695675

38 seats, free 12 months Driveline warranty. £42,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2006 Volvo B12M Plaxton

2005 (55) Mercedes 814 Plaxton Cheetah

2007 VW Crafter CR50

2007 Renault Master LH39

13 seats, Kusters conversion, low, floor, 6 speed manual, ABS brakes, PAS, radio/CD, tacho, double opening power doors, tracking for 3 wheelchairs, 4 fold-away seats, M2 passengers seats with lap belts, fold out floor ramp.

17 seats, Tawe conversion, 6 speed manual, ABS brakes, PAS, radio/CD, tacho, electric windows, front lowered entrance step, M2 leather seats with lap belts, forced air, luggage racks with reading lights, front & rear DVD, COIF/PSV.

53 reclining seats, 3 point belts, air con, WC, TV etc, PLS lift, tracking for 4 wheelchairs, MOT Oct, this coach can be painted in to your livery.

33 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, manual gearbox, very low mileage, LEZ, new MOT, owned by us from new.

£87,500 + VAT o.n.o.

£34,500 + VAT

Tel Adrian – 07717 768315

Cruisers Ltd – 01737 770036

54 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

£39,995 ono

£15,995

£12,995

Autoservice Pontypool Ltd 01495 757111

Autoservice Pontypool Ltd 01495 757111 www.coachandbusweek.com

p55_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 14:45 Page 55

www.coachandbusmarket.com 1991 LEYLAND TIGER PLAXTON DUPLE

MANUAL, 70 SEATS, 3 POINT BELTS, SCHOOL BUS YELLOW, NEW MOT JULY 2015, TAXED, NO STEAMED WINDOWS, NEW FUEL TANKS, NEW SPRINGS, ALL SEATS IN GOOD CONDITION. LOSS OF CONTRACT FORCES SALE £10,950 + VAT ONO

CALL GEORGE ON 01403 786303 / 07836 775069

2010 Ford Transit T280 Trend

VEHICLES 2010 Ford Transit

Renault Master

2009 (58) Mercedes Sprinter

8 high back passenger seats, 19,243 miles, lots of Unwin tracking, internal Braun fully automatic tailift, SLD with cassette step, COIF’d, PSV.

8 high back passenger seats, 75,901 miles, lots of Unwin tracking, SLD with electric side step, external fully automatic cassette tailift.

34,000 miles, PSV, choice of 9 – just arrived, in totally immaculate condition, genuine ultra low mileage.

£18,995 + VAT

£6,995 + VAT

£POA

Heatons Motor Co 01942 864222

2004, Dennis Dart

2006 Optare Solo 8.8m

1996 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 709D

£25,000 + VAT

V5C certificate, V10 form, PSV Vehicle Test Certificate from 2010 to 2013, COIF and the original PSVC 4 form. Recent MOT and vehicle excise duty valid until June of 2015.

Heatons Motor Co 01942 864222

Buzzlines Travel - 01303 261870

Henderson Travel 01698 713007 or 07803 002603

Elliot Massey - 07968 069423

2002 Bova Futura

2002 Iveco Beaulas

1996 Caetano Optimo

9/11 passenger seats, 35,912 miles, SLD with cassette step, external PLS fully automatic tailift, full electric pack, totally showroom condition inside and out.

28 seats + 19 standees, 9 metre service bus, MOT October 2014.

£13,995 + VAT

£16,950 + VAT

DAF engine, air conditioned, twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge, Eminox-LEZ, 49 seats, green cloth trim, manual gearbox, ready to go, MOT March 2015.

28 seats, Cummins engine, Look CCTV, Hanover destination.

£1,350

Automatic gearbox, air conditioned,

• 18 seats

twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge,

• MOT January 2015

49 seats, Euro 3, MOT March 15.

• Good runner

£40,000 + VAT

£25,000 + VAT

£3,500 + VAT

L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622

E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com

Setra 315

Dennis Javelin

1995 Setra 250 Special

Mercedes 814 Beaver 2

6 speed manual, 49 seater executive, MOT April 2015, LEZ, Eminox system. £32,000

ZF automatic gearbox, 53 seats, lap belts, double glazed, in-swing power door, seats have dootrests, curtains, ZF intarder. £15,000

53 standard coach seats, 8 speed ZF gearbox, 9 months MOT, LEZ Eminox system. £7,000

31 seats, 3 point belts, new MOT. £POA

Williams Coaches 01874 622223

1996 Volvo Olympian

1995 Volvo Sleeper Coach

1998 Sleeper Coach

CAT engine, Euro 4, LEZ compliant, 75 retrimmed seats, good condition, MOT March 2015.

Cummins engine, 75 coach seats, good condition, MOT Feb 2015.

14 bunks, ZF auto, static A/C heating, 240v, TV’s, DVD, Playstation, toilet, towbar, good condition, MOT June 2015.

13 bunks, 14 seats, static A/C heating, 240v, TV’s, DVD, Playstation, toilet, towbar, good condition, MOT Feb 2015.

Contact Gemma Ireland T: 01733 293247 F: 0845 280 2927

£7,500 + VAT

£5,500 + VAT

£19,995 + VAT

£15,000 + VAT

Telephone: 01487 843333 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 55

698896-1148-Ensign_Layout 1 28/07/2014 13:02 Page 1

Ensig

DOUBLE DECK E 2000/2001 X/Y REG VOLVO B7TL’s

80 seats, Voith gearboxes, Euro 2 engines with traps, or full Euro 3 with traps, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA with 78 seats. From £18,000

LEZ

COMPLIANT

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats. From £17,000

1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

2002/3 52 PLATE DENNIS DARTS

2008 OPTARE TEMPO HYBRIDS

Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Allison gearboxes, 10.7m, 37 seats.

2 door, 30 seats, long MOT’s.

2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS

Mercedes engine, 31 seats, DDA compliant, Hanover LED’s.

2002 OPTARE SOLO M920

Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, Plaxton bodies, DDA and LEZ compliant, 78 seats.

2001 SUPER POINTER DARTS

Mercedes engine, Euro 4, 26 seats, Mobitech LED’s, DDA.

2009 OPTARE SOLO M850

2001 Super Pointer Darts, Allison gearboxes, 11.3m, 41 seats.

70 SEATS

2007 VOLVO B12B’s

Euro 5, automatic, 12m, front wheelchair lift, Hanover LED’s, converted and certified with 70 seats and 3 point belts. £80,000 each Only 3 available.

8.9m, 26 seats plus 3 tip-ups, long MOT’s.

2007 ENVIRO 200’s

2009 OPTARE SOLO M920’s

33 seats, Mercedes engines, Mobitech LED’s, long MOT’s.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY - B

Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Pa Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 86 Visit our website for current sto

698896-1148-Ensign_Layout 1 28/07/2014 13:02 Page 2

nbus

K ER SPECIALIST Cummins Euro 4 engine, 38 seats, Mobitec LED’s, 11.1m long.

2008 OPTARE VERSA

2001 Y REG TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats.

Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Plaxton Pointer bodies, 2 door, can be converted to single door, 30 or 36 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant, 10.2m, ABS, long MOT’s.

2002 DENNIS DARTS

2010 OPTARE SOLO SLIMLINE

Cummins Euro 5 engine, 28 seats, Mobitec LED’s. 8.8m long slimline, long MOT.

Voith gearbox, MCV Sterling body, 39 seats, DDA compliant. £9,000

2003 MAN 14.220

2001/2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS

51 and 02 plate, Cummins Euro 3 ISC engines, LEZ, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA, single door and 78 seats, or dual door 67 seats.

£18,000 + VAT

2003 03 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, DDA and LEZ compliant, 2 door 62 seats or can be single doored and upseated.

2000 X REG VOLVO B7TL’s

Euro 2, LEZ compliant, Plaxton President , CCTV, dual door 62 seats or single door 74 seats. £9,000 + VAT

SLF, ZF gearboxes, Wrights bodies, 44 seats, long MOT’s.

1998 VOLVO B10BLE’s

89 seats, air-con, toilet, MAN engine, ZF gearbox.

2005 NEOPLAN SKYLINER

1996 VOLVO B10MA ARTICULATED COACHES ZF automatics, 71 seats.

2009 WRIGHTS HYBRIDS

65 seats, dual door, can be converted to single door, latest Wrights hybrid drive, brand new battery pack, cooling pack, and Cummins Euro 5 engine, body upgraded to Gemini 2, over £100k spent on upgrade. COMPETITIVELY PRICED

- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com

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701915-1148-DrewWilson 28/07/2014 14:37 Page 1

DREW WILSON coach sales

2006 MERCEDES CHEETAH 814D Power door, 33 coach seats, 3 point seatbelts, luggage racks, forced air heating, reading lights, cctv, CD/radio, manual, 383,725kms, newly repainted in white, new interior retrim. £45,000 + VAT

1998 VOLVO OLYMPIAN Alexander Body, Volvo engine, Voith automatic gearbox, 78/81 seater, power door, front destination, tacho, seatbelts.

2008 MERCEDES 816D PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high backed coach seats, 3 point belts, curtains, manual gearbox, double glazed tinted windows, new Mot, wheel trims, rear boot plus side locker. 145,022kms. £75,000 + VAT

1999 DENNIS JAVELIN CAETANO CUTLASS 70 Cogent seats with belts, 6 speed ZF manual, power door, luggage racks, forced air, reading lights, CCtV system fitted, 330,000 kms, one owner, new test. £21,500 + VAT

MERCEDES 408CDI LWB MINIBUS KVC CONVERSION Manual gearbox, power door, large boot, fridge, DVD player, two monitors, only 1 owner since new, 120,000 kms genuine mileage, new paint in white. £15,000 + VAT

2002 MERCEDES SPRINTER CDI 16 seats. Luggage racks, cd player. Manual. slam door. Lovely condition. £6,000 + VAT

2004 MERCEDES VARIO 814D OPTARE NOUVELLE SR 433,355kms, 33 coach seats, 3 point seatbelts, curtains, air con, luggage racks, forced air, reading lights, large boot, Purmo heating, power door, manual gearbox, Mot Nov. £23,500 + VAT

2002 SCANIA VAN HOOL ALIZEE T9 49/53 recliners with belts, crew seat, air con, luggage racks with reading lights, carpets and curtains, ZF auto box, reconditioned engine fitted, very tidy condition. £35,000 + VAT

2001 MERCEDES CHEETAH 33 seats, 3 point belts, air suspension, telma retarder, power door, luggage racks, forced air ventilation, tinted glass, Purmo heating, mileage 347,332kms, Mot october. £22,000 + VAT

2007 MERCEDES PLAXTON BEAVER 3 33 high back seats with 3 point belts, power door, luggage racks, side wheelchair ramp, manual gearbox, Mot till November £33,000 + VAT

2008 MERCEDES 816D PLAXTON CHEETAH 29 coach seats with 3 point belts, double glazed, air con, large boot, power door, 6 speed manual, DVD/CD/radio/ PA, new/paint, LEZ compliant, new Mot, 293,718 kms. £72,000 + VAT

2000 VOLVO B10M CAETANO ENIGMA 49 recliners plus crew seat with belts, power door, recent retrim, overhead luggage rack with reading lights, ZF manual, centre sunken toilet, Mot till september. £22,000 + VAT

2007 ADL ENVIRO 200 29 seater with 17 standees or 26 seater with 17 standees plus 1 wheelchair, automatic, power door, front, side and rear destination, DDA compliant, wheelchair accessible. £55,000 + VAT

1998 VOLVO OLYMPIAN ALEXANDER BODY 79 high backed coach seats, seat belts fitted, Volvo engine, Voith automatic gearbox, power door, new Mot, choice of 2. £12,750 + VAT

2004 OPTARE SOLO MERCEDES ENGINE 27 seats, wheelchair accessible, destination equipment, power door, auto, on sale due to fleet upgrade. Also available 2005, 2006 & 2007, some with belts. Also slimline model available. £20,000 + VAT

2002 MERCEDES VARIO 814D BEAVER 2 33 high backed coach seats, 3 point belts, manual gearbox, luggage racks, 489,308kms, power door, hopper windows, FsR destination, rear boot. £12,000 + VAT

2004 SETRA S315 GT-HD ZF As-tronic, full luxury executive, leather headrests, seat back tables, magazine nets, clean and tidy. CHOICE OF TWO £54,950 + VAT

2001 DENNIS DART SLF Max capacity 65, power door, new Mot, Hanover front, rear and side destination, manual wheelchair ramp, all seats in good condition, very clean and tidy, choice of 2. WITH BELTS £7,000 WITHOUT BELTS £4,500 + VAT

2001 IVECO BEULAS STERGO E 55 seats with belts, power door, new paint in white, new retrim inside, excellent condition, ZF automatic gearbox, aisle carpet, aircraft lockers, air con, Mot. £25,000 + VAT

2009 MERCEDES TOURISMO Automatic tiptronic gearbox, 53 recliners, crew seat, centre continental door, air-conditioning, 3-point belts, doubleglazed, power plug door, carpet, curtains. £115,000 + VAT

2008 MERCEDES VARIO 517D BEAVER 2 31 coach seats, 3 point belts, Allison automatic, luggage racks, side wheelchair lift, power door, hopper windows, rear boot, side locker, digital tachograph. new Mot, new repaint. £41,000 + VAT

2002 MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 16 seats on tracking fast to remove, luggage racks, slam door, walnut dash, forced air heating, reading lights, curtains, manual, Mot till May 2015. £10,500 + VAT

DAF IKARUS 70 Cogent seats with three point belts, power door, crew seat, freshly re painted into white, ZF automatic, long Mot, ideal school bus. £17,500 + VAT

1996 VOLVO B10M PLAXTON PREMIERE 350 51 reclining coach seats, lap belts, offside rear toilet, servery, fridge, 6 speed ZF gearbox, radio cassette, reversing camera, cctv, forced air, reading lights, tidy condition, current Mot. £12,000 + VAT

£11,000 + VAT

CHOICE OF OVER 350 VEHICLES • OPEN 7 DAYS 08.00-18.00

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.DREWWILSON.CO.UK Tel/Fax: 0141 248 5524 • Mob: 07764 200444 • Email: drew@drewwilson.co.uk Mob: 07827 325474 • Email: graham@drewwilson.co.uk

701473-1146-Ben Weaver DPS 21/07/2014 16:06 Page 1

BEN WEAVER PSV

2007 07 PLATE NEW SHAPE MERCEDES SPRINTER 515CDI 21 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE BUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 150ps, automatic, rear air con, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, digital tacho, PSV, electric front entry plug door, AVS electric side entry step, CD player, electric mirrors, currently fitted with 13 seats but 8 more can be to make 21, 77,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 19,995 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 MERCEDES 814 PLAXTON BEAVER 2 29 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, yellow/green, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, destination boards, 492,000 kilometers/307,000 miles, VGC, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 17,995 + VAT

PSV

2005 55 PLATE FORD TRANSIT MWB 9 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 90ps turbo diesel, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, power assisted steering, remote central locking, AVS side door access step, overhead cab luggage tray, 25,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,995 + VAT

PSV

2008 08 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 23 SEAT LOW FLOOR WELFARE SERVICE BUS Ibis conversion, 2.5 TDI, metallic red, automatic gearbox, COIF, PSV, fold out wheelchair ramp to allow entry through front electric doors, tracking for up to 4 wheelchairs, electric rear emergency/entry door, reversing camera, LEZ compliant, 89,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour £ 16,995 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 40C13 15 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2.8 turbo diesel 6 speed manual gearbox, white, panoramic glass, front entry door, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 166,000 kilometers 103,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995

2008 58 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 15 SEAT WELFARE BUS Bluebird Tucana conversion, 2.5 TDi, automatic gearbox, COIF, digital tachograph, gross vehicle weight of 4100 kgs so can be driven without a D1 licence, fold out rear wheelchair ramp, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, electric front entry doors with fold out wheelchair ramp, reversing camera, LEZ compliant, 69,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Sheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour £ 12,495 + VAT

BEN WEAVER commercIals

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 40C13 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel, electric plug entry door, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 5 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, 4200 kgs gross vehicle weight can be driven without D1 licence, LEZ compliant, 148,000 kilometers/92,000 miles, finished in white, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,295 + VAT

2007 56 MERCEDES BENZ 813 25 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, Blutec 4 engine, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, Excel conversion, digital tachograph, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry door, 119,000 kilometers/74,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 17,495 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130PS, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, air conditioning, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, analogue tachograph, CD player, 171,000 kilometers/107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 14,995 + VAT

2008 08 2008 08 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 23 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH LOW FLOOR Ibis conversion, 2.5 TDI, metallic red, automatic gearbox, COIF, PSV, fold out wheelchair ramp to allow entry through front electric doors, tracking for up to 4 wheelchairs, electric rear emergency/entry door, reversing camera, LEZ compliant, 5,600 kgs GVW, 74,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour £ 16,995 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, chassis developments conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 101,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,295 + VAT

PSV

2004 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 45C13 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2.8 turbo diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, front entry door, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, 189,000 kilometers/118,000 miles, very good condition condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,795 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, COIF, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 116,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 6,495 + VAT NOW £ 5,995 + VAT

LEZ

2002 52 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 15/17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel, can be made into a 17 seater by adding 2 rear seats, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, fold out side access step with twist out access grab handle, Advanced Vehicle Builders conversion, LEZ compliant, 148,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 5,795 + VAT NOW £ 5,495 + VAT

2004 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 95,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, 103,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,895 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 REG IVECO DAILY 50C15 9 - 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, fitted with 9 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 43,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,995 + VAT

PSV

2004 04 IVECO DAILY 45C11 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White 2800cc turbo diese,l 6 speed manual gearbox, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 4 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 147000 kilometers 92000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 5,995 + VAT NOW £ 5,795 + VAT

2002 52 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, analogue tachograph, panoramic glass, LEZ compliant, 226,000 kilometers/141,000 miles,1 local authority owner from new, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,195 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, white, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, PSV, LEZ compliant, CD playe,r 82,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warrnty £ 10,995 + VAT

Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076 www.minibuses-for-sale.co.uk

701473-1146-Ben Weaver DPS 21/07/2014 16:07 Page 2

commercials PSV

2005 55 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 45C13 13 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, electric front entry plug door with low access step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 4 wheelchairs, 189,000 kilometers/118,000 miles excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,295 + VAT

2005 55 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 45C13 13 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, electric front entry plug door with low access step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, 166,000 kilometers/103,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,495 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, AVS side door access step, 92,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 8,995 + VAT NOW £ 8,795 VAT

PSV

2005 05 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT35 LWB HIGH ROOF 17 SEAT MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, green, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, LEZ compliant, 125,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,995 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, 103,000 miles excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,895 + VAT

PSV

2005 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT XLWB HIGH ROOF 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 115ps turbo diesel, blue, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, 4 extra seats can be added to make up to 17 seater, COIF, analogue tachograph, PAS, remote central locking, side loading door, Access step, 113,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT

2005 05 PLATE FORD TRANSIT XLWB HIGH ROOF 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 115ps turbo diesel blue, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, power assisted steering, remote central locking, overhead cab, luggage tray, side loading door, Access step, 215,000 kilometers/ 134,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, fitted with 9 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 75,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,295 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 PLATE NEW SHAPE MERCEDES SPRINTER 515CDI 21 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE BUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 150ps, automatic gearbox, rear air con, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, tacho, electric front entry plug door, AVS side entry step, 13 seats but 8 more can be added, 98,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 19,495 + VAT

PSV

2005 05 PLATE FORD TRANSIT XLWB HIGH ROOF 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 115PS turbo diesel, silver, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, 4 more seats can be added, COIF, analogue tachograph, PAS, remote central locking, overhead cab, luggage tray, side loading door, Access step, 61,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,495 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, silver, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, electric plug side entry door with electric access step, digital tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, LEZ compliant, 104,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,295 + VAT

PSV

2004 04 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, COIF, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 92,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 7,195 + VAT NOW £ 6,995 + VAT

PSV

2002 02 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 40C13 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.8 turbo diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, panoramic glass, electric front entry plug door, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 150,000 kilometers 95,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,495 + VAT

PSV

2002 52 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, white, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, 157,000 kilometers/ 98,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,495 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, fitted with 9 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 100,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,495 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, 1 ex local authority owner from new, 103,000 miles excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,295 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE FORD TRANSIT LWB HIGH ROOF 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS WITH TACHO 2.4 90PS turbo diesel, white, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 5 passenger seats but can be made upto 10, digital tacho, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, remote central locking, 63,000 kilometers, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 7,995 + VAT NOW £ 7,655 + VAT

All vehicles supplied with 12 months MOT/PSV, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards and 1–3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 45C13 11 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LONG WHEEL BASE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel white, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, LEZ compliant, currently fitted with 11 seats but can be made upto 17, 200000 kilometers, 124000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warrantry REDUCED WAS £ 5,695 + VAT NOW £ 5,495 + VAT

PSV

02 52 IVECO 50C13 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE BUS 2.8 turbo diesel, white, Frank Guy conversion, Access rear wheelchait lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, analogue tachograph, sunroofs, 163,000 kilometers/102,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,495 + VAT

PSV

2003 52 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, white, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, analogue tachograph, electric front entry plug door, LEZ compliant,155,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT

p64_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 15:43 Page 64

Southdown PSV - 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2008 (57) ADL ENVIRO 200 10.8m – 37 seats

• Cummins 5.9 euro 4 engine • Alison auto gearbox • Fully DDA compliant • Hanover LED destination • One owner – Full service history • Tested to Jan 2015 • £47,000 + VAT

Finance available – subject to status.

Many more quality buses available – please call 01342 711840 or visit our website: www.southdownpsv.co.uk Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN Call for details on our website conversions, upseating, refurbishment, and change of use conversion. Also vehicles available for hire short and long term.

www.staffordbuscentre.com email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Telephone: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552

View our latest arrivals on www.staffordbuscentre.com OPTARE SOLO M920 2004 04 REG Mercedes engine, Alison gearbox, 31 seats +21 standing, MOT April 2015, repainted white £19,450 Choice of 3

MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2

2004 54 reg LWB fitted with 20 high back coach seats on tracking but could take 32 if recertified, will take upto 10 wheelchairs, also has accessibility cert, re painted and long MOT

£14,950

SINGLE DECKERS ADL ENVIRO 300 2006 56 REG. SLF BUS - dual use options, with 60 x 3 point belted seats, use on bus services or school contracts. PHONE FOR SPEC AND PRICE DENNIS DART CAETANO CUTLASS. Step entrance with 38 seats and 3 point belts. Ideal school contracts etc. £3,450 FORD TRANSITS 15-17 seats, available for short term rental. Rent for one week, month or year. Up to you. Always available. Phone for details MERCEDES 814 VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2004 54 REG. Fitted with 20 seats on tracking, and up to 10 wheelchairs, PSV, COIF and MoT, manual gearbox, power door, destination etc. long wheel base so could go to 32 seats. £14,950

64 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

OPTARE SOLO M850 2000 W REG 2 with coach seats and 1 with bus seats All with ramp for DDA etc All at £6,000.00

MERCEDES 413CDI PLAXTON PRONTO 2006 56 reg 16 seat coachbuilt accessible PSV bus, choice of 2 with low miles £16,950 or rent for £350 per week (4 weeks min)

MERCEDES SPRINTER 313CDI 2011 11 REG 16 seat, new conversion, PSV, COIF and MoT, low miles £23,950

MERCEDES 413D SPRINTER 2004 04 REG. Extra long body with 16 seats and huge full height boot, COIF and long MoT. £11,950 VW LT 46. Extra long wheelbase and super low floor, currently only 8 seats but could be 16-20 seats or make superb accessible camper. CHOICE OF 2 FROM £5,500

MERCEDES 814D VARIO 32 highback seats with 3 point belts, rear hideaway wheelchair lift, manual gearbox, long test £14,950 FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT FACTORY BUS March 2009 09 Reg Only 17,000 miles from new, 6 speed gearbox, electric windows, tacho, etc, COIF booked £12,750

IVECO DAILy 45 15 LWB HIGH ROOF 2005 55 REG. 16 seats wheelchair accessible with power door, new MoT £6,950

DENNIS DART PLAXTON SUPER POINTER. 47 fully belted seats, ideal for schools £8,950

DAF PLAXTON PREMIER 1996 PP. Fitted with 55 seats, automatic gearbox, new MOT upon sale £9,950 MERCEDES 814D VARIO 2004 04 REG. 32 high back seats, 3 point belts, manual gearbox £14,450

OPTARE SOLO M850 2000 W REG. One remaining with 23/25 coach seats with ramp, DDA etc £6,000

OPTARE SOLO SLIMLINE 7.8M 55 REG. Mercedes engine, 21/23 seats with 3 point belts, new paint etc £POA

www.coachandbusweek.com

702678-1148-Moseley 28/07/2014 16:04 Page 1

p66_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 14:44 Page 66

COUNTY COACHES

2004, Dennis Dart !

28 + 19 Standees 9 metre service bus, MOT October 14 £16,950 + VAT

SALE DUE TO RETIREMENT of Essex

1997 Volvo B10MS Berkhof Axial 51 seats + courier seat and toilet ..................... £16,000

1995 Volvo B10MS Caetano Algarve II 53 seats + courier seat .....................................£12,000

1996 Volvo B10MS Jonckheere 57 seats + courier seat ......................................£16,000

1994 Volvo B10MS Van Hool Alizee 67 seats + courier seat .....................................£15,000

1996 Volvo B10MS Plaxton Premiere 305 67 seats + courier seat ..................................£16,000

1996 Volvo B10MS Van Hool Alizee 67 seats + courier seat .....................................£19,000

1998 Volvo B10MS Salvador Caetano Enigma 70 seats + courier seat .........................£25,000

For further information and to arrange a viewing please call !

Folkestone 01303 261870

All prices are plus VAT

Tel: 01277 201505 Mobile: 07710573525

KB COACHES

2004 VOLVO B12M VANHOOL

VOLVO B7R 2003 PLAXTON PROFIL

53 seater, w/c, air-con, Webasto, water boiler, 3 point 57 seater, forced air, ZF automatic, lap belts, rear belts, double glazed, leather headrests, DVD player, cameras inside and out ,taxed and tested, in white. alloys, in white, taxed and tested, very good condition. £49,999.00 + VAT £39,990.00 + VAT OR BEST OFFER WILL BUY

Contact Andy Francis Tel: 07939 645492 or 01453 825774 Email: kbcoaches@yahoo.co.uk 66 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

p67_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 16:17 Page 67

2007 Optare Solo SE 7.8m 27 seater, Mercedes engine, Look CCTV, Hanover destination, choice of 2 ÂŁ30,000 + VAT

2006 Optare Solo 8.8m 28 seater, Cummins engine, Look CCTV, Hanover destination, white ÂŁ25,000 + VAT

2006 (56 reg) ADL Enviro 300 12.5m School Bus 57 seats with seat belts, schoolbus yellow ÂŁ35,000 + VAT Telephone:

Similar vehicle in white

2006 Optare Tempo 10.5m 35 seater, Mercedes engine, ZF auto gearbox, Look CCTV, Hanover destination ÂŁ30,000 + VAT

01698 713007 or

2009 (59 reg) Optare Solo M850 29 seater, Mercedes engine, blue and silver ÂŁ50,000 + VAT

07803 002603

Email: john.henderson@htbuses.com

Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152; Â&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă¤Ă¤Â&#x2122; -V>Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;> >iĂ&#x152;>Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153; iĂ&#x203A;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;i Â&#x153;>VÂ&#x2026;iĂ&#x192; Ă? >Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;>Â? Ă?ÂŤĂ&#x20AC;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;i` VÂ&#x153;>VÂ&#x2026;iĂ&#x192; U {Â&#x2122; Ă&#x192;i>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x2030; vĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E; Â?Â&#x2C6;vĂ&#x152; U Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; Ă&#x2030; U Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC; Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC; U ,i>Ă&#x20AC; Â?Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC; Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; 7Ă&#x2030;

U Â&#x153;/Â˝Ă&#x192; Ă&#x201C;Ă¤ÂŁx

Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC; Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;i `iĂ&#x152;>Â&#x2C6;Â?Ă&#x192; Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; Ă&#x203A;Â&#x2C6;iĂ&#x153; V>Â?Â? >Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D; \ Ă¤Ă&#x2021;Ă&#x2021;nĂ&#x2021; Â&#x2122;Ă&#x2C6;Ă&#x2021;ÂŁĂ¤Ă¤ www.coachandbusweek.com

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 67

• 49 seat executive • WC • A/C • 7 speed C-Shift • MOT 30/9/14 £45,000 £39,000

2002 Scania VanHool K124 • WC • A/C • Auto • Berkoff LEZ • MOT 12/11/14 £79,000 £65,000

• 51/53 seat exec • WC • A/C • Berkoff LEZ 12/11/14 £52,500 £44,000

2006 Volvo B12M 2003 (53) Volvo • 51/53 seat exec B12M

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

ALL COACHES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT. PRICES REDUCED TO SELL – NEW COACHES ARRIVING

• 49 seat executive • WC • A/C • 7 speed C-Shift • MOT 21/5/15 £43,000 £37,000

2002 Scania Irizar K114

Kingdoms Tours

p00_CBW_1146 Kingdoms 11/07/2014 15:50 Page 1

p69_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 14:43 Page 69

COACH E S

Respected family owned SAFEGUARD COACHES offers for sale

D L SO 1998 Dennis Javelin 1999 Volvo B10M 2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere Euro 3 48 x 3 point belted seats, 1 crew, air conditioned, saloon mounted w/c, rear continental door, MOT November 2014. £36,000 + VAT CHOICE Option to 53 or 55 w/c removed.

57 seats £14,500

49 seats £17,500

Low mileage for age, long MOTs, full service history, inspection facilities available.

Nigel McCree Mobile: 07817 542113 Office: 01509 502695 or Nev Simpson Mobile: 07814 716149 Email: nigel@nigelmccree.com Insurance Stock updated weekly on the website:

Tel: 01483 561103

www.nigelmccree.com

Email: ahalliday@safeguardcoaches.co.uk

SHORT OF CASH? RE-FINANCE YOUR VEHICLES WITH US – CALL 07736 850375

www.coachandbusweek.com

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 69

p70_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 17:57 Page 70

Call for details on our website conversions, upseating, refurbishment, and change of use conversion. Also vehicles available for hire short and long term.

www.staffordbuscentre.com email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Telephone: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552 View our latest arrivals on www.staffordbuscentre.com

MERCEDES VARIO PLAXTON CHEETAH 2005 WITH PVT PLATE

33 SEATS, MANUAL GEARBOX, REAR BOOT, INTERIOR RACKS, NEW MOT

ALSO

£36,950.00 NEW MINICOACH CONVERSION TO A QUALITY USED VAN COIF + 12 MONTHS PSV MOT 16 COACH SEATS ON TRACK FRONT ENTRY,LUGGAGE RACKS 2004 MELLOR CHEETAH 33FLOORING SEATER AVAILABLE DRIVERS LOCKER, NON SLIP NEW TACHOGRAPH INSTALLATION OTHERS IN BUILD SO CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR £26,950.00 £25,450.00

70 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

p71_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 14:41 Page 71

Setra 315 – £32,000

Due to fleet replacement, we have the following vehicles for sale:

6 speed manual, 49 seater executive, MOT April 2015, LEZ, Eminox system.

Volvo B12B - Plaxton Paragon - I-Shift Gearbox 2007 (Euro IV): 5 x 49/53 seats £88,000 plus VAT 2008 (Euro V): 6 x 49/53 seats £99,000 plus VAT

All are well maintained, low mileage examples (approximately 62,000km per annum) with reclining seats, 3 point seat belts, air conditioning and demountable toilet with hot/cold water boiler and fridge (unused additional seats to increase seating to 53 included in price). Owned by us from new and used on our own holiday programme. All over cream. Price includes new MOT. Sorry no part exchange facilities! To view contact Neil McMurdy - Alfa Travel on 01257 248003 (Direct Line)

THIS SATURDAY TD TRAVEL RETIREMENT AUCTION

Dennis Javelin – £15,000

ZF automatic gearbox, 53 seats, lap belts, souble glazed, in-swing power door, footrests, curtains, ZF intarder.

Saturday 2nd August 2014, 12 noon Viewing Friday 1st August 2014 Moved for convenience:

Whitehall Industrial Estate, Ashfield Road, Leeds LS12 5JB 1995 Setra 250 Special – £7,000

53 standard coach seats, 8 speed ZF gearbox, 9 months MOT, LEZ, Eminox system.

FREE ONLINE BIDDING AVAILABLE Visit our website for further details of contact

Charlie Foyle or Graham Johnson on 01630 674326 www.malcolmharrison.co.uk auctions@malcolmharrison.co.uk All overseas and first time buyers not known to the auctioneer must lodge £1000 refundable deposit on registration by cash/credit/debit card.

MALCOLM HARRISON AUCTIONS www.coachandbusweek.com

Mercedes 814 Beaver 2 – £POA 31 seats, 3 point belts, new MOT.

Williams Coaches T: 01874 622223 E: office@williams-coaches.co.uk

July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 71

p72_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 13:10 Page 72

AUDIO & VIDEO

CHECKPOINTS

• Audio / PA systems • Video-on-demand systems • Monitor & DVD systems • Hands-free mobile phone kits • Reversing cameras and sensors • Multi or single language systems • CCTV • Alarms, tracking and cruise control • SkyTV systems • GPS commentary systems UK and Ireland Distributor

www.autosound.co.uk Tel: 0044 (0)1274 688990 Unit 4, Lister Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 9PQ

CMS BRADFORD - WEST YORKSHIRE

Coach Multimedia Systems

AUDIO/VISUAL/SECURITY SYSTEMS, LCD/LED MONITORS, DVD/HDD PLAYERS, REAR VIEW CAMERA SYSTEMS, MICROPHONES, CCTV, DIGITAL/SATELLITE SYSTEMS, USB CONNECTIVITY ALL SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE UK WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Phone: 07933 47 48 48 Email: Andy.Baxter@coachmultimediasystems.co.uk www.coachmultimediasystems.co.uk

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

72 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

BUSINESSES WANTED

Wanted

Bus & Coach Businesses

• Are you Retiring • Losing Money • Need Investment • or Just Had Enough

We have Interested Buyers, Cash Investors Waiting

Reply, in con"idence, to PO Box 490, Scarborough YO11 9FF

GARAGE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

Experts in Commercial Garage Equipment www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381

FLEET SALES

RETIRING or

CHANGING YOUR FLEET?

Contact Malcolm Harrison Auctions

01630 674326

auctions@malcolmharrison.co.uk MALCOLM HARRISON AUCTIONS

www.coachandbusweek.com

p73_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 13:12 Page 73

www.coachandbusmarket.com

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES garage equipment

DOOR PARTS

• ATF Lanes • MOT Bays • Vehicle Lifts • Brake Testing Equipment • Column Lifts • Inspection Pits • Repair and 6 Monthly Service Inspections Tel: 01386 244758 Mobile: 07538 218194 www.commercialgarageequipment.co.uk Email: sales@commercialgarageequipment.co.uk

insurance

ENGINES

CRAIG TILSLEY Suppliers of Reconditioned Tel: 01782 791524 or 01782 791527 Fax: 01782 791316 Email: info@craigtilsley.co.uk www.craigtilsley.co.uk

DAF MAN MERC, VOLVO SCANIA, GARDNER LEYLAND, CUMMINS ENGINES CYLINDER HEADS CRANKSHAFTS CRANKCASES CAMSHAFTS PUMPS ETC

Moorfields Industrial Estate, Cotes Heath, Stoke-on-Trent ST21 6QY

REGISTRATIONS

REPAIRS

£750 99 HXY AEZ 17 JXI 38 KIG 80 LAZ 87 PAZ 62 RUI 46 SJZ 90 UKZ 40

£350 AJZ 686 CRZ 434 FKZ 191 GUI 898 MUI 292 PCZ 828 SNZ 535 UBZ 606 UUI 848

£50 FXZ 2160 FXZ 2161 GXZ 2711 GXZ 2712 HRZ 5823 HRZ 5824 HRZ 5825 KIG 7220 KIG 7221

Buy with confidence – CNDA Member We buy for cash, also Part Exchange

£50 LIG 9730 LIG 9731 LIG 9732 MIG 7651 MIG 7652 MIG 7653 RFZ 1685 RFZ 1686 SFZ 5793

£50 SFZ 5794 SHZ 1802 SHZ 1803 SHZ 1804 TNZ 2246 TNZ 2247 TUI 9881 TUI 9882 UNZ 3151

£50 UNZ 3152 UUI 7521 UUI 7522 UUI 7523 VJZ 8551 VJZ 8552 VJZ 8553 WJZ 2931 WJZ 2932

Tel: 028 6638 7124 • www.speedyreg.co.uk Millwo od, L isbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland B T94 5HQ

SEATS & TRIM

Duoflex Ltd

P C R

Special deals on re-trims using stock moquette

COMMERCIAL BODY W ORKS • 15M & 5M COMPLIANT SPRAY BOOTH • INSURANCE APPROVED • REPAIRS AND PAINTWORK • REFURBISHMENTS • METALLIC AND PEARL FINISHES 01507 523980 / 07733 885582 paulclarkrepair@aol.com paulclarkrepair.co.uk HORNCASTLE, LINCOLNSHIRE

www.coachandbusweek.com

Contact Kerry Watson T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: kerry.watson@coachandbusweek.com

Tel: 01280 701366 Fax: 01280 704799 Email: info@duoflex.co.uk www.duoflex.co.uk July 30, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 73

p74_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 14:38 Page 74

Call Kerry Watson Tel: 01733 293488 E: kerry.watson@coachandbusweek.com

CLASSIFIEDS

TRAINING

SEAT BELTS

C. T. T.

PCV/PSV Courses for Minibus, Bus & Coach Train for your D1 or D Licence

We offer CPC Periodic Training and Initial Module 4 Training tel 01525 370862 email cttlimited@aol.com www.cttlimited@aol.com

TYRE EQUIPMENT

TRAINING cts

Whalley Centre for Transport Studies

CPC Management Courses “everyone knows someone who has done their training at Whalley” Tel: 01254 248177 Clitheroe, Lancashire info@whalleytransportstudies.co.uk

www.whalleytransportstudies.co.uk

Contact Kerry Watson T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: kerry.watson@coachandbusweek.com

TRIM

High quality bus & coach retrims

blackpool trim shops

With over 45 years expertise, we guarantee to beat any other quote. We have sets of Plaxton Premieres and VanHools for sale.

Call us on 07968 717115 or email us at: sales@blackpooltrimshops.co.uk 74 | COACH & BUS WEEK | July 30, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

p75_CBW_1148 28/07/2014 13:17 Page 75

www.coachandbusmarket.com TRIM

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES VEHICLE CHECKS

VEHICLE SPARES

ESSENTIAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES QUALITY APPROVED PRODUCTS, FAST DELIVERY

All aspects of coach interior re-trim carried out to a high standard at competitive prices! Tel: 01253 696033 info@westcoasttrim.co.uk Burton Road, Blackpool FY4 4NW

DRIVERS DAILY DEFECT BOOKS, MAINTENANCE WALL PLANNERS, SAFETY INSPECTION PADS, TACHOS, DRIVERS WALLETS ETC. CALL ORDERLINE: 01329 280280 Email: info@wardint.co.uk

DRIVER CPC PERIODIC TRAINING AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE

Ward International Consulting Ltd 70 Marks Tey Road, Fareham, Hants PO14 3UR www.wardint.co.uk

VEHICLE INSPECTION TRAINING

If you would like further information please call 01543 897505

Specialist vehicle Inspection training with optional IRTEC

Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk

Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales OUR SERVICES:

DISMANTLING/SPARES:

•

Recovery

•

Testing

•

Engine/gearbox rebuilds

• • • • • • •

Refurbishment Repairs

Fault finding

Buying & selling vehicles

• • • • • •

Reconditioned engines

Reconditioned gearboxes Engine spares Windows

Windscreens

Seats

Export to foreign markets Repairs

Finance repossession and storage

CALL: 01226 727 769 Bus sales: www.geoff-ripleysbuscoachsales.com Geoff Ripley, Boulder Lane (off Shaw Lane), Carlton, Barnsley S71 3HJ

Mob: 07912 103 497 or 07711 750 434 Fax: 01226 727 607 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com

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

Contact Kerry Watson T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: kerry.watson@coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com

Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com

www.twigley.com

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NEWS › XXXXXX 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: As always, rise early and tap away at home on CBW before arriving at the office before the madness of press day begins in earnest. Tuesday: A manic day in the office trying to write, but I keep getting pulled away on to other things. As is so often the case, leave the office promptly – one of the girls refers to my exit as ‘The National Express’ – as I have my evening CBW shift to start. Wednesday: Text a railway journo friend with a news tip. As one of the admin team on the Coach Driver’s Name and Shame Facebook group, I use an industry contact who I know is a fellow railway enthusiast to get to the bottom of a misunderstanding regarding the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The railway’s staff respond in a friendly manner with the utmost efficiency. Thursday: The same railway journo friend contacts me with a coach story he’s picked up and rightly says we’re overdue a beer. Forge on with proofing the superfeature material in this issue. Friday: Another hectic day in the office. Feel a sense of achievement by the afternoon – we’re in a good place for Monday. It takes me a little while, but I do eventually manage to switch off from work while sat outside in our garden. The only noise is the occasional train horn. Tabby, our cat attempts to catch one of the many dragonflies. As dusk sets in, there is rustling in the shrubs – a hedgehog goes about its evening run.

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Bear with us... Little Hayden Tilley was distraught when he lost his cuddly toy on a bus. Harry Bear had been his comfort since four year old Hayden was born. However, after getting off the sky blue 16 bus in town the little boy suddenly discovered that Harry Bear was missing. Mum Alice immediately began using social media, including Reading Buses enthusiasts’ site, to announce that Hayden’s blue bear, with little white stars, was lost. Reading Buses driver Stephen Saunders saw the Facebook appeal from Alice and under his own initiative – and in his own time – decided he would search for Harry Bear. He didn’t find the bear that day, but kept searching and the following day it came to light in a pile of rubbish. Stephen immediately notified Alice that Harry Bear had been found and she was able to break the good news to a very relieved and excited Hayden. Alice, 41, was personally able to thank Stephen for going above and beyond the call of duty. “I cannot thank him enough,” she said. “Hayden was really upset to lose his Harry Bear and it was very difficult to console him. I tried telling him that Harry Bear had gone on a big adventure, but for two nights he was very tearful.”

Hayden with Harry Bear Stephen said he was only too pleased to be able to help find Harry Bear. “It was nothing. I was glad to help Hayden reunite with Harry Bear. It’s so nice to hear that he now wants to be a bus driver as well.” Having been reunited with Harry Bear, Hayden is now determined that he

wants to be a bus driver. Alice added: “We went to the recent Reading Buses open day and Hayden really loved the buses. “He is even more fond of them now thanks to Stephen. Harry did go in the washing machine before Hayden had him back.”

Live ammunition on NatEx Dundee bus A security alert was sparked on a National Express Dundee bus after a Commonwealth Games shooting competitor left a live shotgun cartridge on board. Police were called to the National Express garage on East Dock Street on Saturday (July 19) after a worker found the cartridge on the vehicle, which was being used to ferry athletes to the Burry Buddon shooting range in Carnoustie. However, the police weren’t gunning for the NatEx worker, as the ammunition was mistakenly taken from the site during a practice session. The person responsible may or may not have been fired…

National Express said it has stepped up security measures and buses are being searched daily. A spokesman for the Commonwealth Games commented: “Ammunition was recovered from a bus which had been travelling between the Apex Hotel (where the competitors are being housed) and the Barry Buddon Games Venue in Dundee. There are no suspicious circumstances. Buses are searched regularly each day to make sure there is no chance of anything being left on the buses before they return to their normal routes.” A spokesman calling the shots for National Express Dundee added:

“As a number of our buses are currently involved in transportation for Commonwealth Games athletes between Dundee and Carnoustie, we have stepped up the security and inspection procedures for these vehicles. “This has proved successful in ensuring that a round of ammunition, recently discovered on a bus within our garage, has been quickly and safely restored to the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre, in line with Games security procedures. “We will continue to work alongside the authorities to ensure the highest safety and cleanliness standards possible across our fleet.”

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RECRUITMENT & PEOPLE DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

Translink staff gear up for TIDY Awards Translink employees will be taking part in the seventh annual TIDY Translink programme. The awards scheme aims to encourage cleaner and brighter facilities, and is designed to ensure local facilities are continuously improving their safety, health and environmental performance. Assessments will begin in the autumn. Each manned location is independently assessed by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (previously branded as TIDY NI) and now includes a select number of engineering, corporate and permanent way pilot locations. The state-owned, operator said the 2013/14 results delivered an excellent performance, with eight facilities across the Group achieving the top Platinum accolade, scoring 95% or above in a rigorous assessment process. A further dozen bus, coach and train facilities scooped the Gold award, while 12 stations received

Translink Group SH&E Business Partner Andy Bate, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s Chris Allen and Translink Inspector Pat Malone celebrate the launch of the annual TIDY Translink Awards at Newry Bus Station Silver and nine achieved the Bronze award. Translink Group SH&E Business Partner Andy Bate said:

RAIL REPLACEMENT DUTY MANAGER Stephensons of Essex, in partnership with Abellio Rail Replacement, provides planned and emergency replacement buses and coaches for Abellio Greater Anglia trains, with operations across Norfolk, Suﬀolk, Essex and surrounding counties. We’re looking for a self-motivated individual to join the small team running our Rail Replacement division. Based in south Essex, you will be responsible for:

“Our results last year set the benchmark and we want to build on this to deliver even better results this year. TIDY Translink

is an important part of our overall business approach in which we are committed to developing a culture of continuous environmental improvement and strive for long-term sustainability right across the company. “It’s great to see our employees coming together and working towards achieving this prestigious accolade and I am con�ident we can achieve the best results to date.” Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Dr Ian Humphreys, commented: “Translink staff have really rolled up their sleeves and shown formidable resolve in order to achieve last year’s heartening set of results in the TIDY Translink Awards. “I am delighted to see so many achieving the very top award, despite us raising the bar. We now need to think hard about how to ensure standards are maintained and improved even further in future.” Coach & Bus Week, First Floor, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

IS THIS YOU?

• Planning and scheduling bus and coaches for rail replacement operations • Sourcing vehicles and controllers from our partner operators • Managing operations (this will entail weekend work) • Being part of an ‘on-call’ rota to cover emergency disruption to rail services. • Liaising with our partners at Abellio London and Abellio Greater Anglia If you have previous bus scheduling, logistics or transport management experience that would be a bonus. However, you must be IT literate, have great people skills, be willing to work unsocial hours and as part of a team, and be able to produce results in a high pressure environment. In exchange, we oﬀer a huge variety of daily challenges, and a salary commensurate with the position. Applications should be addressed to Bill Hiron, at Stephensons of Essex Ltd, Riverside Industrial Estate, South Street, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1BS to arrive no later than Monday 11th August, outlining any relevant experience, your current salary, and why you think this role is for you. Stephensons is an Equal Opportunities Employer

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Do you have a passion for the bus and coach industry, enjoy meeting people, taking photographs and have good writing skills? Are social media and digital publishing of particular interest?

Coach & Bus Week has a great opportunity for the right person as we’re looking for a Staff Writer to join our editorial team. A professional approach, understanding the importance of deadlines and having a good sense of humour all helps, because we enjoy what we do. To find out more and to send your CV please contact Editor, Gareth Evans on 01733 293243 or e-mail gareth.evans@coachandbusweek.com

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GENERAL MANAGER We are seeking to appoint an experienced industry professional to this new position. The successful applicant must hold a management CPC and have a proven track record at managerial level in the day to day delivery and supervision of a coach and bus fleet together with a sound knowledge of transport costs, scheduling and regulations. You will need an aptitude to obtain the best utilisation of resources, be able to motivate staff and generate new opportunities whilst retaining the company’s high level of service. The general manager will have an overall responsibility for all operational, commercial and maintenance aspects of the Company and will report directly to the managing director. An attractive remuneration package is available. For full details please send your CV, together with a covering letter to:Mr M J Walter, Cruisers Limited, Unit M, Kingsfield Business Centre, Redhill, RH1 4DP marking the envelope Private and Confidential. Applications must be made in writing only.

Opportunities have arisen to join our Engineering Department, maintaining North Devon’s luxury fleet of modern coaches.

Applicants will need to be able to work as part of a team and on their own.

Workshop Foreman

We are looking for a fully qualified, enthusiastic, hands-on individual with previous PCV/HGV workshop experience. Good rates of pay, with overtime available if required. Based at our modern, purpose-built workshop in Barnstaple. Commercial Vehicle Mechanic We require a fully qualified Commercial Vehicle Mechanic. Previous PCV experience would be an advantage but not essential, as additional training will be given. Good rates of pay, with overtime available if required. Based at either our Barnstaple or Merton depots.

Assistance with accommodation can be arranged for successful applicants.

Please apply in writing with full CV, in strictest confidence, to: Mr C Laughton, Engineering Director, Taw and Torridge Coaches Ltd, Coney Avenue, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8QJ. Email: chris@tawandtorridge.co.uk

RECRUITNOW GET YOUR VACANCY SEEN BY QUALITY CANDIDATES

ONLINE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

With our combined print, digital and online packages at one all inclusive price Contact: Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

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RECRUITMENT & PEOPLE DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

First Cymru staff celebrate 1,299 in long service awards Almost 40 loyal members of staff from First Cymru recently joined family, friends and colleagues the firm’s long service awards to celebrate the fact that collectively they’ve spent almost 1,299 years delivering local bus services. Of the 37 employees recognised on the night, 13 of them had each completed 40 years (or more) of continual service in the bus industry. The remainder had competed between 25 and 35 years’ service. They were each presented with certificates to mark their achievements and, along with their partners, were treated to a meal by the company at the Village Hotel in Swansea. Other awards were also handed out included nine for outstanding driving performance, three for going the extra mile to help others, and three to those members of staff who organised the recent Family Fun Day in Swansea, held to mark the centenary of the old

South Wales Transport, First Cymru’s predecessor. Peter Nedin, who retired in April was one of the many people recognised on the night. Before he left the business, he had clocked up more than 45 years behind the wheel, having never been involved in blameworthy incident, despite driving well in excess of a million miles. Two others – Peter Johnson

Optare has appointed a new Non-Executive Director. Mr. T Venkataraman has joined the Board as a with immediate effect. Mr Venkataraman Thyagarajan, 54, is an Indian citizen and is currently the Head of Global Bus Business at Ashok Leyland, Optare’s parent company. A mechanical engineer, Mr Venkataraman holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Management. He boasts 33 years of experience in the automotive industry and started his career in 1981 with various organisations such as

Suhail Bahwan & Saud Bahwan Group, Amalgamations Group, McNeil & Magon and Enfield Motors. Mr Venkataraman was a Professor at National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai for three years and has authored four books. Mr Venkataraman joined Ashok Leyland in April 2010 and is responsible for the Global Bus Business. He is a Director of Ashok Leyland (UAE) LC and Irizar TVS. John Fickling, Optare Chairman said: “We are delighted to welcome Thyagarajan to the Board.”

Simon Cursio, Peter Nedin, Peter Johnson, Peter Davies and Justin Davies

Optare Non-Exec Board Appointment

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and Peter Davies – were also recognised for having given 45 years of service. Justin Davies, Managing Director for First Cymru said: “We have an incredible array of people in our business who have devoted much of their professional lives to delivering bus services for people in South and West Wales. “It’s important to celebrate

achievements like this and a real honour for me to present certificates to such loyal staff. “It was particularly nice to be able to recognise those of our drivers who have recently earned themselves a Fleet Elite Award for outstanding driving performance. In total, 44 drivers were given these awards, with the top 10 of them invited to the celebration dinner. Those attending on the night, had exhibited the best possible driving performance continually recording a score of either zero or one on our DriveGreen system. “Finally, it was a pleasure to be able to hand out three Silver Dragon awards to those members of our team who had gone the extra mile to help others. These achievements ranged from improving the environmental performance of our engineering department to assisting an elderly man with dementia who had become confused having boarded a bus.

DANS LUXURY TRAVEL Daytours • Excursions • Coach Hire

Operations / Traﬃc Manager REQUIRED Must hold CPC and possess a full PSV licence. Primarily based in our East London depot. Good rates of pay and good working conditions. In the ﬁrst instance contact Dan Brown, Managing Director on 020 8505 8833.

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