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T
he Electoral Accountability Commission (EAC) has announced it plans to end the dominance of the ‘big three’ – Labour, Conservatives and Lib Dems – by making it easier for smaller parties to play an active part in government. Amid plummeting turnouts, widespread disillusionment from the electorate with the ‘big three,’ it is anticipated the almost certain creation of coalition governments in partnership with smaller parties will go some way to addressing the long-held criticism that politicians no longer serve the needs of the communities they operate in. Prime examples of smaller parties include The Green Party, the UK Independence Party and the Monster Raving Loony Party. An EAC spokesman said: “The political scene is broken. Following in the footsteps of governments in Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh, introducing proportional representation to Westminster will help rebalance the English political landscape. It will help ensure a vote is not wasted if someone casts a vote for someone other than the winning candidate. It will also help break the stranglehold the ‘big three’ have over politics, addressing voter apathy, so that the public rather than politicians come �irst.” Yes, I have written that tongue-in-cheek, based on Labour’s plans to “break ‘the stranglehold’ big private bus
operators have over services (see p9) – but I think it proves a point. In a similar vein, as one individual commented on CBW’s Facebook page: “It’s a bit like saying the UK shop network is broken and conning voters they’ll �ix it by taking away the stranglehold of the High Streets held by Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda with franchises for not-for-pro�it volunteer-run greengrocers. It’s ludicrous.” So why is it acceptable to tout such ideas about buses? I cannot help but conclude it’s a case of double standards for our political class. With the general election only weeks away, I know it’s silly season and that politicians appear to be going to great lengths to gain media coverage, but it really is worrying that if we as an industry do not attempt to ‘educate’ them, these ideas are likely to enter the statue book. As you know, pro�it is required to enable investment to be made in vehicles, staff and growing patronage. Labour’s plans have apparently come from Shadow Transport Secretary Michael Dugher MP (Labour, Barnsley East). If you follow his Twitter feed, he seems a �irebrand sort. I admire his apparent passion for his role, but he would appear to need someone from the bus industry to talk to him. I would love to interview him.
Gareth Evans Editor
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February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3 02/02/2015 19:24
CONTENTS p40
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Top Stories 6 l Strong criticism for TfL’s plan to push ahead with the Cycle Superhighway
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10 l Fare-paying passengers are up 6% in Rotherham following the launch of the Bus Partnership in July 2014 12 l First is to withdraw the Cardiff – Bristol Airport section of its last Greyhound service
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London Cycle Superhighway heavily criticised Industry trade bodies express their concerns about what Transport for London is planning The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) is very disappointed that TfL (Transport for London) intends to proceed with the London Cycle Superhighway which as it stands will result in fewer coach parking facilities, inconvenience to visitors and increased traf�ic congestion which will inevitably add to operator costs. CPT’s Coaching Executive, Andy Warrender said: “Throughout the consultation process CPT has made very robust and consistent representations to TfL about the effect on coach parking and how this adversely affects a large proportion of almost 50m visitors a year who travel to the capital by coach. “We understand that subject to �inal rati�ication next week, TfL intends to press ahead quickly with works to create the Cycle Superhighway and we are concerned that this haste will result in the loss of coach parking facilities before adequate replacement parking has been identi�ied. This disruption, at the start of the summer season, is a double whammy for the tourist industry. “TfL has indicated that discussions can continue and we welcome the opportunity to further press for proper facilities for coaches. We remain very concerned that at this late stage there is still scant information available about the impact on the wider road network, traf�ic �low
Cycle Superhighway will result in fewer coach parking facilities, inconvenience to visitors and increased traffic congestion and on general congestion across London which has the capability to drastically add to journey times for visitors and Londoners alike. “Overall we still believe this scheme has the potential to cause more disruption and inconvenience to a major part of London’s economy than the bene�its it will deliver.” Bus Users UK CEO Claire Walters told CBW: “Cycling is a healthy activity that can have a positive environmental impact on towns and cities. However, we would be concerned if plans for a Cycle Superhighway compromised existing bus lanes. The resulting increase in congestion would negate any environmental bene�its and put the needs of the few above the needs of the many.” Responding to the TfL announcement the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has voiced its disappointment and concern. FTA has stated that whilst it isn’t
6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 006_007_CBW1174_News.indd 6
opposed to Cycle Superhighways in principle, it is concerned over the speed that the plans are to be introduced, saying: “these projects will be in place for decades and therefore, more time should be spent now getting all of the aspects understood and correct before work begins.” The Association added that the root of the problem is the speed with which the Mayor, Boris Johnson, appears to be pushing the changes through. FTA raised the point that the environmental impact report and business case were only published on January 27 when versions of these should have been involved in the consultation, and that the �inal picture on loading restrictions is still not set. FTA’s Head of Urban Logistics Christopher Snelling commented that despite there being ‘positives’ in the announcement – overall the package of routes still raises cause for concern.
“The information published on delay times still does not re�lect how industry and private motorists actually use these roads,” he said. “And yet the �irst road-works to build these superhighways will start in just a few weeks’ time. “By this April we will see works underway on all the proposed routes, affecting some key routes into the centre of London. It seems that the target pushing this is the aim to �inish the routes by May 2016 – when the Mayor leaves of�ice.” FTA has also said that there will still be considerable impact on traf�ic not just on the routes themselves, but also across London and even out to the M25, as TfL re-sequences red lights to make it harder for motor traf�ic to get on the routes. Christopher added: “Given the tight constraints of drivers’ hours rules, this could result in signi�icantly increased costs to the logistics industry. And that means increased costs for the businesses and residents in London who rely on them. “The improvements that have been announced today show how careful work can improve the situation to better re�lect the balance of London’s transport needs, and the revised plans issued are an improvement on those previously put out – traf�ic delays have been reduced somewhat and more loading capacity has been added than was planned before. TfL has also committed today to work further with the freight industry to re�ine the loading facilities on the routes before they go live, which we welcome.”
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More London bus strikes announced
CPT announces 2015 president
FORS goes national
Bill Hiron is Managing Director of Stephensons of Essex
Further London strike action has been announced. The latest stoppages running from 0001 to 2359hrs on February 5, February 13 and February 16 follow a dispute over pay disparities. Unite Regional Of�icer, Wayne King, said: “We believe that there is a simple solution to be had but the refusal by operators to engage in collective talks is risking the inevitable disruption strike action will bring to passengers.”
In response, Mike Weston, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “I am sorry that the leadership of Unite is threatening to further disrupt the journeys of passengers, especially given that only 16% of the bus drivers voted for strike action. “As the operators who employ the drivers have said, it makes no sense to pay all drivers precisely the same amount. As in all professions, bus drivers have different levels of experience and it is only right that
this can be re�lected in pay. “A ‘levelling up’ of pay to the highest rates would cost around £100m a year and would result in a cut to bus services, an increase in fares, or both. “London has one of the best bus networks anywhere in the world. It would be better if Unite actually worked with the operators to ensure that it remains that way rather than disrupting bus passengers.”
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is going national. FORS aims to improve road safety as well as reduce the environmental and traf�ic impacts of �leet operation. FORS accreditation is
underpinned by a �leet quality standard. Accredited operators must demonstrate a commitment to managing road risk, reducing environmental impact and improving operational ef�iciency. Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “This concession is good news for the future of road safety and the wider impacts of freight and �leet operations not just in London, but across the country.”
From February 17 all new companies joining FORS will pay an annual subscription fee based on �leet size and an audit fee based on the number of operating centres they wish to have accredited. For companies already FORS accredited there will be a charge for the annual renewal, although this charge will be waived or reduced in the �irst year, depending on the company’s renewal date.
The DfT has launched a review of England’s bus market outside London as interest in franchising grows. Six key questions were identi�ied by the DfT: ● Under what circumstances would a change in the bus market operating model be a better option for passengers and deliver better value for money? ● Are there likely good candidate places where these circumstances occur, and what are their characteristics? ● How can we best assess the costs and bene�its of a different
operating model in a local bus market, so that we have an available framework to assess the value for money of a different operating model robustly, in speci�ic, localised bus markets, for conurbations that may be considering it in the future? ● What are the commercial consequences of changes to the bus market driven by the desire of conurbations to sacri�ice competition for simpli�ied fares, smart ticketing and greater service co-ordination? ● Is a different operating model likely to lead to reduced margins
and, if so, who would bene�it and what scope is there to recycle the savings? ● What would the English bus market outside the conurbations have to look like to preserve adequate coverage and see continued investment in quality services? The department has appointed consultant KPMG to assist the work, and the project will inform the 2015 spending review. KPMG has been asked to have regard to the ongoing review of Bus Service Operators’ Grant (BSOG).
DfT launches bus market review
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The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has announced that Bill Hiron, MD of Stephensons of Essex, has been appointed CPT President for 2015. He takes over from Chris Owens, MD of Alpine Travel. Bill has spent his entire career in the bus industry, starting with a degree in Transport Management and Planning at Loughborough University during which he spent a year with Trent in Derbyshire. He went on to join Cheltenham and Gloucester, Midland Red South, Stagecoach, Badgerline and took a seat on the FirstGroup UK Bus Board as Divisional Director, Midlands and East Anglia. Since 2001 he has been MD of Stephensons, the largest independently-owned bus operator in Essex. Bill Hiron said: “Our industry faces challenging and uncertain times, but I am confident that through continued innovation, partnership working and commitment to our passengers, coach and bus operators will continue to be recognised for the enormous contribution they make to the travelling public and the local economy.”
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7 02/02/2015 18:10
5.3%
NEWS
The year-on-year growth being experienced on First Aberdeen’s Platinum standard routes
Catching the bus is cheaper Despite the current low fuel prices, catching the bus can still be £1,200 a year cheaper than commuting by car, according to Stagecoach Catching the bus is around 60% cheaper than commuting to work by car despite falling pump prices, according to new research published by Stagecoach. The study found that bus users save an average of £1,200 a year – or £100 per month – by leaving their car on the driveway. The saving is reportedly enough to pay almost all of the average household’s gas and electricity costs for a year. Pump prices are at their lowest level for four years, but the
Stagecoach survey of around 40 key commuter corridors in England, Scotland and Wales found that the bus was still cheaper than the cost of fuel and car parking. The study, carried out between January 13 and 16, 2015, found that the biggest savings were for people in the east of England. Bus passengers travelling between St Ives and Cambridge could potentially save 83% compared to the car, amounting to more than £5,500 a year. Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Grif�iths said: “People may be surprised to hear that, despite lower fuel prices for motorists, it is still possible
30m
to save a signi�icant amount of money by commuting by bus. “We have been independently found to offer the best value fares in Britain and we are continuing to deliver savings for customers, particularly through our multijourney tickets which are used by the majority of our passengers. “There are also other bene�its to switching from the car to the bus, including avoiding the stress of driving in traf�ic jams, having to pay potentially costly parking charges and being able to go online and check emails on the increasing number of our vehicles that have onboard WiFi.” The study assessed the cost of making the journey daily by car, taking into account the cost of fuel, parking and any toll road payments – no other costs associated with car ownership were included. The survey then compared the motoring cost with the cost of purchasing a
Number of passenger journeys undertaken across the entire TfL network every day
weekly multi-journey ticket on Stagecoach buses which allows unlimited travel on Stagecoach services within the designated area. The results showed that, for every route assessed, taking the bus cost signi�icantly less than commuting by car. Martin added: “Delivering highquality, good value, reliable bus services is a shared responsibility between operators and local and central Government. Bus priority measures are essential to enable operators to deliver the reliable services that customers quite rightly expect but these can only be implemented with the support of local authorities. “However, we believe it is vital to deliver affordable travel for our customers and this survey shows that we are continuing to offer fares that represent better value than taking the car. That is a crucial part of our strategy to continue attracting more people on to greener, smarter bus travel.”
The research found that commuting between St Ives and Cambridge by bus could save thousands compared to travelling by car
8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 008_009_CBW1174_News..indd 8
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Labour announces plans to assist not-for-profit operators
Labour has announced plans to hand local bus services to ‘notfor-profit’ operators including community groups, with the aim of ending the market dominance of the big five bus operators, The Independent has reported. An incoming Labour government would give councils the power to award local licences and make it easier for non profit-making groups to run services. Labour claims the move will throw a lifeline to rural areas, and likened the policy to its interventionist plan to reduce the power of the ‘big six’ energy companies. It argues the local bus market is not working for passengers because 2,000 routes have seen services
Rotala making modest progress
Rotala has announced a trading update for the year ended November 30, 2014. The operator said that pre-tax profits, on a slightly reduced level of turnover and before exceptional items, were modestly ahead of those of 2013 and were broadly in line with management expectations. Operating cash flow enabled the group to improve the balance between current assets and current liabilities by £2.5m in the year compared to the position at the end of 2013. Net debt, which at November 30, 2013 stood at £20.0m, had fallen to £18.4m by November 30, 2014.
reduced or cut since 2010, while fares have risen by 25%. Labour wants to reduce the market share held by Stagecoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead, FirstGroup and National Express, which stands at 72% of the market in England. An incoming Labour government would set up an immediate review of how to boost the not-for-profit transport sector, with the aim to assist local groups or cooperatives to run mini-buses or traditional buses. The party cited Hackney Community Transport (HCT) as an example, formed in 1982 to provide low-cost minibus services for residents in the London borough, which has since expanded into Yorkshire,
Rotala said pre-tax profits are slightly ahead of 2013 John Gunn, Chairman, said: “Current market prices for fuel offer an opportunity to fix a key operating cost at a much lower level for a number of years ahead. This will underpin the board’s commitment to a progressive dividend policy which reflects improvements to underlying
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Humberside and the South West. (CBW understands the Hull operation has closed – and Labour makes no mention of HCT’s Jersey or Guernsey operation). Michael Dugher, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said: “Like the energy market, the bus market is broken. Developing a thriving notfor-profit sector is one way Labour will rebalance our bus market. The significant development of not-for-profit model will help city and county regions break the stranglehold that the big private bus operators currently have. “There is a proud and growing British tradition of community transport in the UK. It is a sector that serves both rural and urban
earnings and cash flows. “Our determination to deliver value for shareholders has been reflected in a stronger share price over the past two years and this strength should be underpinned by the certainty of lower fuel prices over the next three years as the result of our hedging activities.“
areas, often operating in areas the commercial operators have turned their back on. In government, Labour will ensure that communities cannot be held to ransom by operators threatening to pull buses and cut services.” According to the DfT, passenger journeys on local buses in England increased by 2% to 4.7bn in the year to March 2014, the highest figure since the mid-1980s. Bus service mileage fell by 0.3%. CPT denied that services are in crisis. It insists that operators have underpinned routes for many years after councils withdrew subsidies. For reader responses to this story, see Last Stop on p85
More ADL Envrio400s en-route to NCT Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is expecting to take delivery of 22 ADL Enviro400-bodied Scanias this year, all at full height. Anthony Carver Smith, Marketing Manager at NCT, told CBW: “The first seven are due on the road in March and will be 15-plate and used on South Notts 1 between Nottingham and Loughborough. “They are largely the same spec as the 40 we had last year, but the seven for South Notts will have high back upper deck seating, given the length of the route. Total seating capacity is 74. “The final 15 are due on the road in September and will be used to upgrade key City routes. They’ll be identical to the other seven, but the upper deck will have the normal low-back seating.”
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Rotherham bus partnership hailed a success Sharp rise in fare-paying passengers attributed to service improvements as a direct result of voluntary partnership Patronage is on the rise in Rotherham, with fare-paying passengers increasing by 6% in the six months since the Rotherham Bus Partnership was introduced in July 2014. The increase in passenger numbers is being attributed to improvements in the area’s bus services as a result of the partnership. Representatives from the voluntary partnership between the council, South Yorkshire Passenger
Transport Executive (SYPTE), and bus operators Stagecoach, First and TM Travel marked the six-month milestone at Rotherham Minster Gardens. Fare-paying passengers have risen sharply by 240,000 since its launch, an increase of 6%, and child passengers by 20,000 (2.7%). Latest records show improvements in punctuality and reliability, with 92% of buses running on time and 98.6% as scheduled. The introduction of the multi-operator Rotherham Connect tickets which can be used across different buses has also seen some fares fall. The improvements have led to higher customer satisfaction and comments have fallen an average
of 27% over the last six months, a reflection of significant positive network changes. The partnership monitors and identifies locations and causes of bus delays that affect the punctuality and reliability of services. Timetable and service changes have been made in January 2015 to further improve services. Managing Director at Stagecoach Yorkshire, Paul Lynch, said: “Rotherham’s bus network offers a convenient, stress free and friendly way to get around. The partnership has achieved clear improvements to buses in the town, making it an attractive alternative to the car. “I hope that people in the area continue to see the improvements that the partnership has brought so far, and continue to use the bus whenever it’s the best travel option.” Managing Director for First South Yorkshire, Ben Gilligan said: “By working together in a single united approach for our customers the
Bus Partnership is delivering real benefits for Rotherham. “Value-for-money bus services help connect communities with places of education, work and leisure are providing a real alternative to the car and I’m sure these strong results will give us the platform to continue this improvement.” Phil Stockley, Development Director of TM Travel, added: “This success in Rotherham proves that the best route to better bus services is partnership between innovative bus companies and forward thinking local authorities.” Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee Chairman, The Council’s Cabinet member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, Cllr Maggie Godfrey, said: “Our bus service plays a major role in making sure Rotherham has an efficient transport network which all helps to contribute to a stronger, local economy. “These latest figures reflect
First Manchester makes successful bid to operate flagship busway services
First has been successful in winning the contract to operate services on a new flagship bus priority route between Leigh, Salford and Manchester – including the region’s first guided busway. Following a comprehensive procurement process, First was selected by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to run the high frequency busway services, which are due to start later this year. The 14-mile route will link Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and Salford to Manchester city centre and through to the universities, Central Manchester Hospital site and businesses along Oxford Road. The route includes a 4.5-mile guided busway currently under construction between Leigh and Ellenbrook. Regular services will continue along new and existing bus lanes on the East Lancashire Road and dedicated bus routes into Manchester city centre – ultimately expected to cut the overall journey time between Leigh and central Manchester to around 50 minutes. First has committed to running a premium commercial service – with no direct public subsidy – at normal network prices. All TfGM concessionary passes and permits will be valid for travel. The service will be using brand new double-decker buses
An artist’s impression of the guided section of the route which will be replaced every five years. They will include AV announcements and CCTV, alongside free WiFi, climate control and high quality seating. Cllr Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, commented: “This is great news not only for bus passengers – but also for the communities along the route who will have a high quality, reliable and affordable alternative to the car right on their doorstep.
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“The process we’ve followed and standards we’ve set mean quality is built into the busway services contract. First has a strong presence across the wider bus network and is well placed to bring this fantastic new corridor into service. “We will work closely with them and other operators to ensure that the very best bus services are in place for both residents and businesses. “This is a flagship transport
scheme and I very much look forward to seeing it coming into service.” Teresa Broxton, Managing Director for First in Manchester, commented: “First has a great track record of delivering high quality, reliable services and we look forward to working in partnership with TfGM and local councils to provide innovative travel solutions for our new and existing customers.”
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our original partnership aims to create a network that is simple to understand, easy-to-use and is affordable and we’re pleased to see the positive increases in passenger numbers, customer satisfaction and service levels. We’ll continue to work on encouraging more people to use their local bus service and make further improvements as needed.” Cllr Bill Mordue, commented: “We are delighted that more people are travelling on Rotherham’s buses. We have tried very hard to listen to customers and local communities to provide a bus network that is designed around their needs, and which people can depend on. “Together with a flexible network, value-for-money tickets, and figures showing improvements in punctuality and reliability, the passenger numbers at this six-month milestone highlights the potential of Rotherham Bus Partnership and the difference it continues to make.”
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Pictured left to right are: Phil Stockley, TM Travel; John Young, Stagecoach; Cllr Maggie Godfrey, Rotherham Borough Council; David Young, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive; Ben Gilligan, First South Yorkshire; and Ian Ashmore, Rotherham Borough Council
The first Wrightbus StreetDeck has gone into active service with Arriva Midlands. The vehicle was showcased at Euro Bus Expo 2014 with its distinctive glass-walled stairway. It is allocated to the Arriva Sapphire service 38, from Derby to Sinfin, and will remain there indefinitely. STEVE HODGSON.
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First runs BioBus in Bristol
The UK’s first ever bus powered on food waste and human poo made an appearance in Bristol city centre on January 24-25, thanks to a partnership between bus operator First West of England, GENeco, Scania GB and RoadGas. The bus – which First hopes to bring into service in the city in the coming weeks and months (as a demonstration vehicle) – was initially used on January 24 as part of the Bristol Green Capital launch weekend activities. Supporting its commitment
to Bristol Green Capital, and following agreement with GENeco – a subsidiary company of Wessex Water, Scania GB and Roadgas, First operated the bus last weekend, using it to run a series of short round trips from Bristol city centre. The bus ran between 11-1300hrs, and then between 14-1600hrs, leaving the city centre roughly every 20-30 minutes. It was free to travel on the bio-methane bus on the day. Karen Duffett, PR Manager (West & Wales) for First UK Bus told CBW: “We are still in discussion as to what will happen to the bio-bus after this weekend. Most likely it will be used as a duplicate on different routes across the city.”
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NEWS › COACHES B R I E F LY l ALISTER WILSON, Parts Manager for Moseley Distributors Ltd, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, January 25, 2015. Paying tribute, Jim Tweedie of Lanarkshire-based dealership Moseley Distributors said: “Alister was part of the hub of this company, one of the original group that moved with us to Glenmavis from Coatbridge. He will be badly missed, not only as a valued member of the company but as a friend and person who was dependable, loyal and honest.” l AN EDWARDS COACHES of Llantwit Fardre driver passed away on Friday (January 30). Gwent police said it is suspected that Keith Sansom, 62, from Newport suffered a medical episode prior to the collision occurring between the empty Irizar-bodied Scania coach he was driving and a Ford Transit pickup. Two cars were also involved in the collision, which took place in Caerleon, Newport. Mike Edwards, from Edwards Coaches, said in a memo circulated to staff: “It is with much regret that I have to inform you that our driver Keith Sansom has sadly passed away after a heart attack whilst driving an empty coach this morning in Caerleon. “Keith worked from our Newport depot. After the incident he was rushed to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he later died. There was a third-party driver injured also, who was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. I would like to thank all members of staff who were involved this morning for the professional way they dealt with this serious incident, informing the relatives, recovering the coach and informing the authorities.” l ACCORDING to the Guild of British Coach Operators, Bakers Coaches of Stoke-onTrent has decided not to renew its membership of the industry body. As a result, the Guild said the firm’s membership ended on December 31.
Greyhound to be withdrawn from Bristol Airport First Cymru says date remains to be confirmed but resources will be focussed on ‘core’ Swansea – Cardiff corridor First Cymru has confirmed it is to withdraw the Cardiff to Bristol Airport section of its Greyhound coach service. A spokesperson told CBW: “Since the Greyhound coach service to Bristol Airport began in March 2013 we have worked hard to grow passenger numbers. Unfortunately, in spite of the hard work and commitment of all of the staff involved in Greyhound, we have not been able to reach a point where the service is economically viable along this section of route. “As a result, we have made a decision to withdraw the section of route between Cardiff and Bristol Airport – the exact date that this will happen, will be confirmed shortly. “Instead of running from Swansea all the way through to Bristol Airport, we will instead focus on strengthening our core service between Cardiff and Swansea. Our intention is to try and expand this in the months and
Excursions 2015 show attracts nearly 1,250 visitors
Excursions 2015 has been proclaimed a great success with nearly 1,250 visitors packing the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday, January 24 following the show’s successful move into the larger space last year. Many hadn’t attended the exhibition before and were genuinely keen to discover what exhibitors had to offer. The popular one-day group travel show attracted 306 tourism businesses with 46 booking space for the first time, including attractions, destinations, accommodation providers and tour operators. There was also a significant increase in European exhibitors from France, Belgium, Ireland and for the first time, Croatia. Delighted with the show’s ongoing success, Excursions 2015 Co-organiser Joanne Channon
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Prior to being refurbished to Greyhound standard, the Irizar PB coaches started life on National Express duties years ahead, to keep pace with developments along the route (such as the Coed Darcy housing development, and the Swansea Bay University Campus). “People wishing to travel between South Wales and Bristol Airport after the changes take effect should look to use rail services, connecting with bus services in Bristol instead. For instance, you can catch a First Great Western train to Bristol Temple Meads station, changing from Tourism South East said: “We were very pleased to welcome such a large number of quality visitors at the show. Many took advantage of the exclusive showonly offers and our new London product familiarisation trip for coach and tour operators was a great success with all tickets sold out well ahead of the date. Exhibitors were also able to make important new business contacts and even take bookings during the day. We look forward to welcoming both visitors and exhibitors back in 2016.” Among those flying the flag for the coach industry was Epsom Coaches, which displayed one of its Setra S416GT-HDs at the show. Epsom Coaches Melanie Cox said: “We are confident we will gain new business from the event.” Epsom’s Product Manager, Alistair Scott said he was impressed with the number of exhibitors at the event enabling him to gain new ideas for future tours and excursions. Excursions 2016 will be held on Saturday, January 23 at Alexandra Palace. More details can be found at www.excursions.org.uk.
there to the fast and frequent Bristol Flyer bus service to the airport. The latter leaves from just outside the station forecourt.” With an ageing coach fleet expected to require replacement in the near future, asked whether the remaining Swansea to Cardiff coach service would be integrated into the Cymru Clipper interurban bus network, the spokesperson said she was “not in a position to comment on either of these things at this stage.”
Mayday Travel orders three Neoplan Tourliners
Croydon-based coach operator Mayday Travel will be taking delivery of three 49-seater Neoplan Tourliners in time for the start of the new season at the end of April or beginning of May this year. The company stated that it is “replacing and expanding” its fleet. The new Tourliners will replace two MercedesBenz Tourismos and one Setra S415GT-HD. The vehicles will be used across the company, mainly for corporate travel and Japanese Tourist Board work. Asked why it had selected Tourliners, the company told CBW it is updating its fleet and chose the Tourliners after having a good experience buying two Neoplan Starliners from MAN.
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Fifth anniversary of ‘new’ Digbeth coach station marked Birmingham Coach Station marked its �ifth anniversary last week with a visit from city council leader Sir Albert Bore. During a walk-round visit of the £15m station, which became the �irst of Birmingham’s new transport gateways when it opened in 2009, Sir Albert, who also got behind the wheel of a coach, praised the contribution of the coach industry to the region’s transport. In the �ive years since opening, an estimated 10m journeys have taken place at the Digbeth-based station which employs almost 400 people including frontline staff, of�ice staff, graduates and apprentices. Sir Albert Bore said: “I was pleased to visit Birmingham Coach Station, which, ahead of the redevelopment of New Street, was the �irst of Birmingham’s new major transport gateways and has played a key role in the on-going regeneration of Digbeth. Coach travel plays an essential role in enabling people to get about
affordably and it is great to hear that it is going from strength to strength in our region.” Tom Stables, National Express UK Coach Managing Director, said: “It is with great pleasure we mark the �ifth anniversary of Birmingham Coach Station, which is a 24/7 operation at the heart of the city. “Birmingham Coach Station is a core part of the both our and the regions transport network.” Two million passenger journeys – a �igure almost double the population of Birmingham – are taken every year with the station providing the city with an important connection to around 1,000 destinations in the UK. 158 departures are made every day from Birmingham Coach Station.
Skills of Nottingham-operated VDL Futura 2 ‘YJ13HVC’ is seen at the Peterborough event on Thursday. GARETH EVANS
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tom Stables talks to Sir Albert Bore
Leger Holidays roadshows tour England
Leger Holidays has been visiting a number of English town and cities as part of a series of roadshows to promote its 2015 brochures. Starting on Tuesday, the Silver Service roadshow took place in Lincoln, Newark, Peterborough and Kettering over the following days last week. Drivers and sales staff were on hand at key locations with a coach between 1000 and 1600hrs. Potential customers were incentivised to book at the events with the offer of a 10% discount. In the coming weeks, the Silver
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Service roadshow is due to visit Wigan, St Helens, Liverpool, Bedford and En�ield. The Rotherham-based tour operator has announced that it is to take its new premium standard Luxuria VDL Futura 2 tri-axle coach, also run by Skills, to two locations this month. The vehicle made its trade debut at November’s Euro Bus Expo. Members of the public will be able to board the vehicle in Preston on February 9 and in Luton February 26.
Heritage vehicles will boost Delaine Buses’ normal Sunday service on April 26. Buses such as this Leyland PD2 will be in action alongside modern low floors. ANDY IZATT
2015 ■ March 3-6 QV Associates’ course Introduction to Bus & Crew Scheduling. Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-associates.com/
qvcourses.htm
■ March 17-20 QV Associates’ course Route & Timetable Planning. Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-associates.com/ qvcourses.htm ■ March 18-19 Young Bus Managers Network Conference Nottingham. www. youngbusmanagers.org.uk ■ March 25-27 Busworld Asia, Suzhou International Expo Centre, China. www.busworld-asia.com ■ March 28 South East Bus Festival Kent Showground www.facebook.com/southeast busfestival ■ April 14-16 CV Show 2015 NEC Birmingham 020 7630 2102. Email enquiries@cvshow.com www. cvshow.com
■ May 11-13 ALBUM AGM & Conference Carden Park Hotel, near Chester www.albumconference2015. com ■ June 7 Southdown Centenary Rally Southsea Common www.southdown100.co.uk ■ June 21 Welsh Coach Rally National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. For details, call Ashley Lovering on 07814958379. ■ June 28 Wessex Transport Society Bus Rally Lorry park, Ringwood, Hants. Contact Mike Caldicott 01202 293245 or email mikepenny.wts@gmail.Com ■ July 12 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Classic Bus Rally & Running Day Toddington, Gloucestershire. www.gwsr.com ■ August 2 Thames Valley 100 Celebrating the centenary of the start of bus services between Reading and Maidenhead by the forerunners of the Thames Valley Traction Company. www.tvagwot.org.uk
■ April 18-19 UK Coach Rally Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire 01753 631170. www.ukcoachrally.co.uk
■ August 23 Buses Festival Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon. 01780 755131 www.busesfestival. com
■ April 19 Spring Bus and Coach Gathering (formerly Cobham Rally). London Bus Museum. 01932 837994
■ September 5-6 UK Bus Driver of the Year National Final Blackpool.
■ April 23 UK Coach Awards Mercure Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester. www.ukcoachawards.
www.bdoy.co.uk
■ September 9-10 Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire www.
co.uk
cenex-lcv.co.uk
■ April 26 Delaine Buses Heritage Running Day 01778 422866. www.delainebuses.
■ September 30-October 1 Coach & Bus Live 2015 Halls 19 & 20, NEC, Birmingham www. coachandbuslive.com
■ May 2-4 Llandudno Transport Festival Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales. info@llantransfest.co.uk; www.llantransfest.co.uk
■ October 16-21 Busworld Kortrijk Kortrijk, Belgium http:// kortrijk.busworld.org
■ May 3-4 Friends of King Alfred Buses Running Day Winchester www.fokab.org.uk
Send your event details to gareth.evans@ coachandbusweek.com
com.
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 13 02/02/2015 19:12
NEWS › INTERNATIONAL
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ticketing New VDL Futura for PSV Eindhoven Mobile in Athens
New coach will be used by PSV Eindhoven for the next five years Leading Dutch football team gets new VDL Futura team coach HOLLAND The new team coach for PSV Eindhoven over the next five years is a VDL Futura FHD2-139. It has been handed over to operator BBA Tours BV/de Mol-Pelikaan, being presented to the player and staff of the football team at the same time. “We are very proud that PSV has once again chosen to travel in a VDL coach,” said Jennifer van der Leegte, Deputy Director VDL Groep. “As an official partner it should be clear that VDL Groep is a stringer supporter of PSV. And such a great club naturally deserves a great coach.”
Annie Vrugt, Director of BBA Tours BV/de Mol-Pelikaan added: “We are a very experienced player in the transport field, including for sports clubs, and offer the right solution for safe transport. It is recognition of our work and a great challenge to be entrusted with the transport of a major club like PSV.” The tri-axle, 13.9m team coach is equipped with the very latest in technology and safety. There is a kitchen at the rear and 220-volt sockets at all the seat positions. VIP tables have USB connections, and there is wireless internet on board. Players can also watch digital television on various LCD screens. A light-hearted campaign on Facebook offered PSV supporters the chance to win a place for their
name on the rear side of the coach. The response to symbolically support PSV each trip was overwhelming with over 6,000 responses. This has resulted in 1,500 names added to the coach. BBA Tours BV/de Mol-Pelikaan is a specialist in recreational, sporting and commercial passenger transport. BBA Tours provides charter passenger transport for many companies, educational institutions, associations and other organisations. A motivated staff of around 80 plan, arrange and carry out these trips. The fleet offers a complete range of luxury coaches and minibuses ranging in capacity from 16 to 90 people of which 60% were supplied by VDL Bus & Coach.
Yutong’s 60,000th bus of 2014 rolls off the line CHINA The 60,000th Yutong bus built in 2014 rolled off the Zhengzhou production line on December 26. This is a 50% increase from four years ago when 40,000 vehicles were built in 2010. The 60,000th vehicle was an E7 full electric bus used for receiving the customers who visit Yutong. Yutong’s new energy bus production reached over 10,000 units in 2014, confirming Yutong as not only the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturer, but also the first one to have sales of over 10,000 new energy buses. The figures also confirmed Yutong as the undisputed market leader in China with a 30.21% market share in 2014. This was followed by Higer in second place
60,000th bus will be used by Yutong with a 9.3% share and King Long with 7.34%. Commenting on the success, European Sales Manager Roger Zhou said: ”Yutong is committed to becoming a globally recognised
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bus and coach manufacturer. From our secure base in the Chinese market we continue to expand sales into new countries each year. In 2015 we will commence sales in both Spain and Sweden.”
GREECE Athens’ public transport network is ditching its current cash-only fare system for a mobile ticketing platform from MasterCard and Masabi. The deal is the first combining the former’s payment technology with the latter’s JustRide mobile ticketing platform. One million daily travellers will be able to purchase and display tickets for immediate and future journeys through their phones. Transport for Athens will be able to massively reduce the cost of handling cash, enabling new investment in infrastructure and services, said Masabi. Hany Fam, President of MasterCard Enterprise Partnerships, said: “By combining our expertise, MasterCard and Masabi are removing the friction that slows down how people move around, while also improving quality of life in cities and helping authorities to better manage population growth and urban development.”
Ozzie operator hits back at political slight AUSTALIA According to Travel Weekly, Australia’s largest day tour operator, AAT Kings has “strongly rejected” claims that tour coaches are to blame for increasing traffic issues in and around Sydney. Rcently appointed NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley unveiled plans to remove the “conga line” of tourist coaches from popular vantage points such as Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and the Royal Botanical Gardens saying it was an “eyesore” for the city, a move refuted by the tour operator which clams its tours provide a “cash boost” for the local economy. “We believe recent comments made by Mr Foley are illadvised and simply incorrect,” said AAT Managing Director Anthony Hayes. “Our day tours coaches can carry an average of around 50 guests. That’s up to 50 cars we are helping to keep off the streets, every time we operate a day tour.”
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NEWS FOCUS › TRANSPORT TICKETING
Travelling the smart way James Day visits the growing annual Transport Ticketing conference, which is looking like the place to be for the latest ticketing technology
A
fter catching a very early train into London to avoid eye-watering peak time rail fares, I decided it was time to get myself an Oyster card, both for traversing London to get to the Lancaster London Hotel where Transport Ticketing was hosted this year, and to help me travel through the capital more smoothly on subsequent visits. Had I done this sooner, I may well have been bombarded with messages about ‘Card Clash’ ahead of Transport for London’s (TfL) launch of contactless payment as an alternative to Oyster. Card Clash is a term coined by TfL, and is when a smartcard in a wallet is tapped on a smartcard reader, and the reader manages to charge both the Oyster card and a contactless bank card within the same wallet, effectively charging the passenger twice for the same journey. It was an impending problem which was spotted by TfL, who launched a nine-month awareness campaign. As someone who only occasionally visits London, I remained ignorant of this, but as I learned at this year’s conference, it was impossible to miss at the time, to the point that parody film posters for ‘Card Clash: the Movie’ starting surfacing on Twitter. Nevertheless, it meant once contactless payment was launched, the problem was far rarer than it might have been. Luckily, I don’t have a contactless bank card of my own yet, or I may have fallen foul of this and felt a bit silly when TfL automatically reimbursed me. The concern shown by TfL shows how important passenger confidence in a smart ticketing system is – one of several themes at Transport Ticketing 2015. If the system double-charges a customer
or doesn’t provide them with the best value fare, they’re unlikely to use it again. I previously attended Transport Ticketing in 2013 and it is safe to say it has grown massively since then. Two years ago, it was tucked away like a dungeon underneath a hotel, with a relatively modest number of exhibitors and delegates and small conference rooms. This year, hundreds of transport professionals were present, with attendees from Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, North America and even Australia, amongst others. It seems to be the place to be to learn about the latest ticketing innovations and what they can do for businesses.
The keynote speech
Vernon Everitt, Managing Director of Customer Experience, Marketing and Communications at TfL, gave the keynote speech. He began by speaking about the challenges of a city with a rapidly growing population. “We currently have a population in London of 8.4 million people,” he said. “By 2030, that will be 10 million. That’s the equivalent of moving a city the size of Birmingham to London over the period. The city is growing at an extraordinary pace – one full tube train of people every three days. “We need to have modern technology to take the hassle out of travelling, so that we can accommodate that growth.” Vernon described the city’s bus network as the backbone of transport in London, carrying 6.25m people per day. He also said there are nearly 10 million Oyster cards in regular use now, and overall there are about 30 million journeys per day across the entire TfL network. Turning to the ticketing technology used by TfL, he
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Clair Fiet from the Utah Transit Authority made the trip across the Atlantic to talk about account-based smart ticketing in Salt Lake City said: “Integrated ticketing and information is at the heart of what makes a growing city work. As an industry we sometimes need to remind ourselves of what our core purpose is, which is to keep our towns, cities and countries running. We also need to plan ahead to meet the challenges of economic growth.
“We try to examine everything we do at TfL through the eyes of people who use our services. They tell us they want a safe and reliable transport service, with value for money. This is not just about ticket prices, but also how you treat people – whether you take the hassle away and the information you give to them. www.coachandbusweek.com
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TfL had a significant presence at the conference, following the success of contactless payment
Baroness Kramer’s welcome address
“Staff training is important too. Our staff need to have just as good information as the passengers, not least because all of our data is freely available and there are 364 (at the last count) travel apps in London which are powered by it. Our staff need to be just as informed as our passengers.” Vernon described some of the guiding principles which should be followed to maintain a successful transport network. “First of all it has to be joined up. Passengers do not care whose logo is on the side of the bus. What they want to know is how is their journey going to go. We need to get disruption information to them and help them avoid it. “One of the business cases we’ve come to realise through the Oyster scheme is that when you integrate everything, more people will use your service. “Information needs to be real time, since people live their lives in real time. It also needs to be human – not transport control centre speak. “And it needs to be personalised. Our customers tell us they don’t want general information about the transport network, they want to know how their individual lives are being affected. We target information at people according to their travel patterns and it has been fantastically helpful for us.” Interestingly, despite the phenomenal success of the Oyster www.coachandbusweek.com
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card, TfL appears more keen on more recent technology, with Vernon highlighting that Oyster was first proposed back in 1995. “We are trying to get out of the ticketing business, through the extension of contactless payment,” he said. “We will always offer our own ticketing product I suspect, but we want to take the hassle out of it. “One of the major things we have found in operating the Oyster system is that it gives confidence. If customers know that they’re going to pay the best fare automatically, you really are in business. “People don’t need to sit there and break down a list of fares, tables and goodness knows what else – they’ve come to know if they tap that card, they will pay the lowest fare. That’s absolutely critical to giving people the confidence to use these products. “We also offer a no-quibble resolution of problems. If people have Card Clash, we refund them automatically, without any fuss. We’re increasingly refining the system so if there is any major disruption in the network, we can send people refunds before they even apply for them. “There is a lot of innovation out there, but the basic customer requirement is straightforward. They want things simple, easy to use and the confidence that they are paying the right fare.”
Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport, could not attend the conference due to a diary clash, though she did address the conference through a recorded message. She began: “Smart ticketing is a technically and commercially complex area, and progress has not come at the rate I would have wished. However, seeds are now developing into shoots and over the last year this paints an emerging positive and progressive story for passengers. “I was pleased to launch the Southern Travel Card in September. DfT funding allowed the technologies behind ITSO and Oyster to talk to each other. “For the passenger, a seamless smart journey around the capital is quickly becoming a reality. The emerging figures of 200,000 uses a day show that contactless bankcards are proving a big win with passengers. “But it’s not all about London. In August, SolentGo launched its multi-operator smartcard. It is a real case study for what can be achieved. Four transport authorities coming together along with nine bus operators and four ferry operators. It was achieved through mature negotiation between partners who understand the customer and business opportunities. It was about addressing the commercial and technological complacencies through pragmatism, and then finding solutions. My congratulations to SolentGo. “Last year was the first year of the smart cities partnership. During the year I chaired two industry round tables with major bus operators and senior people from the big cities outside London. “Most new partnerships go through stages of storming, forming and norming. It is fair to say that we had the storming phase in the first meeting. I’m delighted to say that we’re now at the forming stage. As a consequence, the major operators now have made a commitment to deliver smart multi-operator bus tickets in each of the nine major cities during 2015. This is a significant step forward, with the bus operators clearly understanding their collective contribution to a modern public transport system. “As I’ve said before, I will hold the bus operators to their 2015 commitments.” The minister highlighted a
SUPPLIERS INIT n Innovations in Transportation is well-known for the products and services which it currently has in use around Nottingham. Smartcard validators seen on buses in the Nottingham City Transport fleet were being shown on the stand, as well as a live feed from the company’s bus tracking system from which real-time data is pulled, displayed through a monitor.
PARKEON n Well-known for its ticket machines, Parkeon was
present at the show promoting itself as a service provider as well as a manufacturer. Parkeon also won an award later in the day for its work with Northern Rail, showing the value of its unmanned ticketing terminals. TRAPEZE n Trapeze was displaying a proof of concept application,
which combines real-time information and disruption updates with the mobile ticketing and journey planning more frequently seen on apps. Perhaps the most highprofile mobile ticketing customer for Trapeze is Arriva, and the partnership between the two companies won a UK Bus Award for innovation in 2011. As before, the mobile ticket is designed to be an on-screen paper ticket, which is shown to the driver upon boarding the bus. For Arriva this is largely because of the cost involved in installing validators across a 4,000-strong bus fleet. However, an innovative new fraud prevention system has been added to the app. It utilises the smartphone’s front-facing camera to display a live feed beside the ticket, meaning all the driver needs to do to judge whether the ticket is genuine is check the date and recognise the image of himself which appears below it. This should help cut down on the training drivers need to receive to recognise invalid or fraudulent mobile tickets.
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17 02/02/2015 11:22
NEWS FOCUS › TRANSPORT TICKETING developed transport strategy for the north as one of the things she would most like to see in 2015. “At DfT we’ve established a team to work in partnership with cities in the north to understand the infrastructure and connectivity requirements,” she continued. “The first step will be to report those requirements to the chancellor in March. In tandem, we’ll be working in greater detail on the smart ticketing proposition in the north to develop an outlying business case in time to inform the autumn statement later this year. Getting this right and realising the potential to deliver a passenger experience comparable to London is not a luxury, it is a social and economic necessity. “I started 2014 concerned that the aims and efforts of the government and those of bus operators were poles apart when it came to smart ticketing. I start 2015 reinvigorated by the more positive approach and commitments coming from the operators. For the sake of the passengers, I will hold the operators to their word. There will be no let up as we push forward on smart ticketing in all areas of public transport.”
SUPPLIERS SCHEIDT & n BACHMANN A variety of FareGo ticketing
The INIT smartcard readers seen on Nottingham City Transport buses
Another TfL presentation was provided by Mike Tuckett, Head of Transformation Delivery. The talk was entitled ‘What is the reality of launching and operating a major contactless scheme in transport.’ The contactless payment system works alongside Oyster in London, accepting contactless payment cards which customers already
“There has been about a 10% week-on-week growth in use of the service. We have to blink to really believe that 12% of the market which was using Oyster has already switched to contactless, which I think is a stunning result. “Since the service was launched earlier on buses in 2012, the figure sits a bit higher at 13%, but we expect contactless payment on rail to overtake this very soon. “In total we’ve now seen 40 million journeys made on contactless since launch. “On a typical day we see 200,000 contactless bank cards used, and usually 10-15,000 of those are brand new ones. “Only about 100,000 users have registered with us. For the vast majority of people, it’s about just turning up and using the services, without choosing to have any kind of relationship with TfL.” Mike said that operational feedback has been ‘calm and quiet,’ with very few calls to the customer
hold, without any registration or new purchase necessary. Mike said: “The take-up by customers has been beyond what we could possibly have hoped for. Operationally it has been extremely smooth, and technically flawless.” Mike showed a graph on screen displaying extremely strong growth figures for the service on rail. Contactless payment was rolled out across London’s rail network in October 2014. There were two obvious spikes where Mastercard offered free travel promotions on two separate Fridays, which would certainly have helped to generate new users, but Mike really put the rapid growth into perspective.
service centre. “The overall impression we get is that customers are just getting on and using it,” he continued. “There’s no fuss at all. It’s quite surprising in a way, as some aspects of this proposition are quite different to using Oyster. Customers using contactless actually have a satisfaction rate which is higher than those using Oyster.” Mike did point out that there are some minor disadvantages to contactless payment. It does have a slightly slower transaction time than Oyster – about 150200ms. This is not severe enough to prevent anyone from using it, but it is noticeable. There’s also a
TfL’s contactless success
“I will hold the bus operators to their 2015 commitments,” – Baroness Kramer
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stronger feeling that people should be able to pay for multiple people with a contactless card, though for technical reasons it is not practical to allow this. The third small issue which has been brought up is that people miss seeing their fare displayed when they pay it.
ViX Technologies and account-based ticketing
The presentation from ViX technology was presented by the company’s Global COO Matthew Beeton. The talk opened by discussing urbanisation and how it affects the transport needs of the population. Matthew said urbanisation – the proportion of people living in built up town and city areas – is increasing and will continue to do so. Over the past six years urbanisation has increased by 6%. By 2050, it is expected to reach 70% of the world’s population. That is not 70% of today’s population of around seven billion, but tomorrow’s population of around nine billion. “Around 3.5 billion people live in an urbanised centre at the moment,” Matthew said. “In the future, that figure will nearly double. Cities will need to stay economically viable, which will mean a lot of investment in transport. This is not just about more buses and bums on seats, but the whole structure of transport. “In the next four years, around 30 new metro schemes will be launched, in addition to expansion of existing schemes. Today we have around 160 BRT systems around the world. In 10 years, that’s predicted to be around 250. Urbanisation is already taking effect.” Matthew also touched on the aging population. Around 11% of
products and services were being presented by Scheidt & Bachmann. FareGo mobile ticketing allows passengers to order a specific fare type through a smartphone app. Once paid for, the ticket is issued and delivered to the customer’s barcode app. Scheidt & Bachman handheld devices on the bus can then validate the ticket, or visual validation can be used, through use of specific animation and colours, though this would require some staff training. All sales and validation data is gathered for back office analysis. The FareGo Val OV|40 mobile e-ticketing validator is designed to process contactless smartcards, capable of processing ITSO applications in the UK, as well as Scheidt & Bachman’s own smartcard products. The device also contains a 1D/2D barcode reader, allowing it to authorise barcode-based tickets. The small size of the system makes it ideal for bus applications, as it can easily be attached to a handrail near a door, or positioned close to the driver’s cab. The FareGo Val OV|50 is a larger, stationary version, which would more typically be seen with barriers in a railway station, underground or similar application. The Move FareGo Move MT|60 is a handheld tablet device specifically designed for fare management. It can support all ticketing processes and also be used as a sales system in kiosks and other sales outlets, utilising a fast ticket printer contained within. The battery life of the system is around 10 hours, enough to cover a day’s work for many vehicles, but the battery uses an innovative concept which allows it to be changed without shutting down or restarting the device, if longer usage is required.
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02/02/2015 11:22
NEWS FOCUS › TRANSPORT TICKETING people today are aged 60 or over, a figure that could double by 2050. This could result in increased demand for public transport. It was also stated that young people are driving less, as the cost of owning a car increases and people decide to move closer to work. Moving on to how payment and ticketing technology has changed over time, Matthew showed a timeline, beginning at coins and magnetic stripes and ending with contactless payment and smartphones.
currently in use, Matthew called account-based ticketing the most flexible form of ticketing. “Account-based ticketing allows any token to be your method of payment. Anything registered with the system can be used. “The Utah Transit Authority and ViX launched the world’s first account-based solution in Salt Lake City.” With that, Clair Fiet, Chief Information Officer from the Utah Transit Authority was invited onto the stage to speak.
“This change is categorised by decreasing friction and lower cost of operation,” he stated. “The information we can get from the consumer now is also very rich compared to the past. “Technology is absolutely driving consumer demand. With the advent of mobile phones, consumers are demanding easier ways to plan their lives, whether that be personal or professional.” Matthew highlighted some survey results, which indicated that 70% of passengers would prefer a paperless ticket, though only 50% of those people thought it was currently possible. The survey also stated that most passengers are happy to pay a little extra for their tickets if it means having more advanced ticketing and more convenient technology. After talking briefly about some of the advanced mobile ticketing and contactless payment options
Clair opened by saying that while Salt Lake City is a tenth of the size of London, the two cities’ concerns are identical. “Payment is not our core business, we want to offer mobility,” he said. “Payment is something that should be easy and not a concern for the patrons. “In 2009 we launched a back office account-based system for the entire Utah Transit Authority. ViX had the same vision as us. “There are four ski resorts out of Salt Lake City who we worked with to trial the system. The resorts had contactless ski passes, and we felt the same cards would work to ride the buses up and down to the ski areas. “We wanted a very affordable, secure system which easy to move into new areas.” The authority is now talking to the government to take the system further, to include applications such
“There has been about a 10% weekon-week growth in use of [contactless payment],” – Mike Tuckett, TfL
as car tolling within the same backoffice account as public transport ticketing, further simplifying transport in the city.
Transport Ticketing Awards
The Transport Ticketing Awards aimed to recognise the biggest developments in smart ticketing throughout 2014, with a ceremony taking place at the end of the conference’s first day. The award winners are as follows:
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CAMMAX n On the stand of Castleford-based Cammax
was its outdoor totem kiosk, branded for Peterborough City Council. At almost 2.5m tall, it was quite prominent in the exhibitor area.
BEST BANKCARD TICKETING SCHEME: TfL and Cubic London has become the first major city in the world to accept contactless payment cards for travel. In September 2014, the system was rolled out across all of London’s rail services and included a weekly cap as well as a daily cap on fares. BEST CUSTOMER SERVING OPERATOR: Northern Rail and Parkeon Northern Rail partnered with Parkeon to provide 96 self-service ticket vending machines, helping to counteract understaffed railway stations. BEST SMARTCARD TICKETING SERVICE: Nexus, Scheidt & Bachman and Ecebs The award was won thanks to the introduction of smart ticketing system meeting the ITSO standard on the Tyne & Wear Metro. The system was transformed from having coin-only machines to full smart retailing in less than three years.
MOST SUCCESSFUL MOBILE TICKETING PROGRAMME: SNCF After Transport for Edinburgh was called up in error, SNCF collected the award for mobile ticketing. The technology allows customers to buy and validate regional rail tickets with an NFC-enabled smartphone. TICKETING TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR: Snapper Services The Snapper Services system is an interface which allows a smartphone app on an NFCenabled mobile to communicate with an existing transit card. The interface provides app users with a means to view their balance and transaction history, top up their balance, and purchase or download a ticket.
Adam Loverock from Trapeze with a display from the firm’s prototype app
SUPPLIERS
INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTOR: Nick Mackie, VISA
The freestanding kiosk is designed to be used in unattended public locations. A larger 32” screen at the top displays real-time information, while other services, such as wayfinding, journey planning and even ticket purchasing, can be accessed through the lower and smaller 19” screen. While primarily used as a source of information, optional extras include chip and pin, a receipt printer, SMART card reader, card dispenser and barcode scanners, allowing it to function as a smart ticketing terminal. The example at the conference was showing bus information for a number of Peterborough’s services to surrounding areas like Werrington and Cardea, along with other information, such as local news from the Peterborough Telegraph, accessible through the totem’s touch screen. The company also offers dedicated smart ticketing kiosks, one for indoor and another for outdoor use. Cammax saw significant growth in the public transport sector in 2014, winning contracts to supply hundreds of ITSO-compliant kiosks.
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February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21
DEBATE › TRANSPORT TICKETING 2015
Industry Debate: Can you deliver smart integrated ticketing without franchising?
T
he room was packed for the debate on smart integrated ticketing, with dozens of people standing at the back of the room. Chaired by the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Steve Salmon, the panel featured Jon Lamonte, CEO of Transport for Greater Manchester; David Bartlett, HR Director and Smart Ticketing Programme Manager for Nexus; Chris Perry, Head of Smarter Travel at Centro; and Bob Montgomery, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus. Steve Salmon opened proceedings by asking attendees not to take anything said as the official policy line from the represented organisations. He described recent transactions on his contactless bank card. He pointed out that while the products purchased were from the private sector, the transport was public sector controlled in London. “The possibility of using this form of payment on public transport is currently quite small,” he said. “This brings us to the question of whether you can deliver smart integrated ticketing without local bus franchising.”
Making introductions and initial responses
The microphone was first handed to Bob Montgomery from Stagecoach. He highlighted another role he has, which is chairman of a steering group of the big five major bus operators, committed to delivering smart multioperator ticketing. He said: “The question is calling my bluff. I could come back here in a year’s time and show you what can be done in public-private partnership. “We don’t believe there is a need to take total control of everything in order to sort out ticketing. It can be done in partnership.” David Bartlett was next in line. He said: “This debate is about changing behaviour – getting people out of cars and onto public transport. “There are two types of public transport user. The convert, who regularly uses it, and the occasional, pay as you go user. This is where there are limitations in multi-operator ticketing in a non-regulated environment. “It’s not about bus franchising, but whether you can attract people to use public transport by discounting the product the more they use it, in an environment where there is on-route competition. In my view that is illogical and can’t happen.” Jon Lamonte followed: “We’ve been told we can pursue bus franchising, but the powers that go with that need to be devolved to one accountable 22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
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One of the events which drew the most attention at Transport Ticketing 2015 was a debate on whether effective smart ticketing requires regulation. James Day reports
individual, who will be an elected mayor. “How can we achieve economic growth across Greater Manchester in the best way? “To a certain extent I agree with Bob. We want more people on buses, but I want to give an integrated offer that makes transport easy for people from the moment they leave the door.” Finally, Chris Perry introduced Centro’s point of view: “I would say the answer to the question is yes. In the Midlands, we’ve delivered that. We have, through partnership, a scheme where we have just over 10,000 people using a multi-bus operator season ticket which is wholly smart.”
The value of smart ticketing
Steve Salmon asked the panel what the additional value people were expecting from ticketing was. Chris said: “People want to jump on a bus without knowing what the fare is and just travel. “People also want daily and weekly capping. This is more challenging to achieve in a deregulated environment. It’s not impossible, but needs partnership to go the extra mile.”
we’re trying to solve.” David was next to speak: “It is about a pay as you go product which is available for multimodal use with a price cut. That has proved a bridge too far in the north east. “We have worked very hard in partnership with bus operators to develop a pay as you go product, but what was clear from the outset was that for very sound business reasons, they were not prepared to discount their normal single fare. And why would they? Why would Tesco offer double clubcard points if your previous shop was at Morrisons?” Bob was last to answer: “I think there is some twisted logic in some of those explanations. “Jon’s example of when you arrive in Piccadilly – I have the same issue when I arrive in Paddington. When I arrive there and the tube isn’t running I haven’t got a clue which bus to get. It’s not easy to find the information unless
‘I could come back here in a year’s time and show you what can be done in public-private partnership.’ – Bob Montgomery Jon added: “When I use my Oyster card in London, I feel like I can go anywhere and don’t know or worry about the price. I have the confidence that the back office is sorting out the best rate for me. “Now, I use contactless. Oyster is almost a misnomer now. “If you arrived in Manchester Piccadilly now and tried to work out where to go, it would be a real challenge, and you’d be doing really well to work out the fare structure. That is the problem
you are a Londoner, for the same reason it is easy in Manchester if you are Manchurian. (At this point, murmurs resounded around the room from TfL employees, though Bob later clarified he meant it was hard to know which bus to catch in any major city which you are unfamiliar with). “It’s not about whether the system is controlled by the local authority or by operators. It is about the quality of the technology and information. “There’s been a lot of talk about growing public www.coachandbusweek.com
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The debate panel. (L-r) Steve Salmon, CPT Director of Policy Development; Chris Perry, Head of Smarter Travel at Centro; Jon Lamonte, CEO of TfGM; David Bartlett, Nexus HR Director and Smart Ticketing Programme Manager; and Bob Montgomery, Stagecoach UK Bus MD
‘Something that frustrates me is that technologies bubble up and suddenly become the panacea to all evils.’ – David Bartlett
transport by giving people access to all modes of public transport in an area with one ticket. The thing which has held that back has been the technology. “What undermines commercial operator con�idence in being prepared to offer good value fares in a multi-operator environment is making sure you get your money back. With smart ticketing, you can know who has travelled where, and you can divide that revenue up between commercial operators based on use. “All of the things we see in London, we’ve looked at implementing in places like Manchester and Newcastle and said yes, we can do it, and if we all work together and use the technology correctly, we can do it in a way where we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater and keep the innovation and competitive spirit.”
Smartcards or accountbased ticketing?
Steve Salmon’s next question to the panel was about smartcard ticketing against the examples of account-based ticketing which had been presented at the conference. He asked if operators and local authorities were busy ‘perfecting the scythe, when elsewhere there is a combine harvester working.’ Bob was �irst to respond. He said: “The key thing is being able to offer people in major cities products which give them what they want. That might be a weekly pass which allows them to travel on any mode in a city, or something which www.coachandbusweek.com
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allows passengers to get on public transport at random, knowing they will be charged the best value fare. “How you get there is changing rapidly. There’s an argument that smartcards are old-fashioned – they’re not, they still have a fundamental purpose. Credit cards have a purpose and so do mobile phones. “The key is the transport product and what access it gives. It’s not what it says on the card, or whether it is a card or phone. You can argue that you can do all this on Mastercard and Visa, so why have smartcards? Well, I haven’t seen a seven year old with a Mastercard or Visa too often, and therefore if you want to give a child the ability to travel you’ll still need smartcards. “It’s not about imitating London. We need to offer customers products which give them the access they want which they can buy in the way they want.” David Bartlett, after stating that he ‘for once’ agreed with Bob, spoke next. He said: “Something that frustrates me is that technologies bubble up and suddenly become the panacea to all evils. Some people when you talk to them about account-based products seem to think it’s the cure for cancer. “It has its place and I can see the value it will add, but it’s not going to be the answer for everybody. There must be a solution for those people where an account-based solution is not appropriate. Look at mobile phones – that is an account-based solution, but alongside there is a
pay as you go.” Jon continued a similar sentiment: “I think the front end doesn’t matter, but there needs to be �lexibility of choice. “We have issues with literacy in Greater Manchester. Not everyone has a mobile phone and so on. You need to have a suf�icient back of�ice to make any of these solutions work. “At the end of the day, why are you paying for integrated transport solutions? It doesn’t matter whether you have a smartcard or phone or whatever you have, if the bus isn’t there you can’t get on it. If the tram isn’t there you can’t get on it. If they don’t join up effectively, passengers get irritated. “The important bit is the integrated transport solution, not simply the ticket.” Chris Perry added: “I’m really excited about mobility accounts, new technology and innovation, but we can’t forget about the people we would otherwise leave behind. “Also, we have to think about who our current market is. We have a lot of examples with our current system of people who every Friday buy a weekly ticket. Anyone in their right mind would not buy 10 weekly tickets one after the other – it’s much cheaper to buy a four-weekly ticket. We think those people are living on a week-to-week basis. “We’ve got to make sure that the technology and back of�ice systems allow for innovation, but we can’t forget about those people who will always need some kind of smart ticketing which is not contactless payment, a mobile phone or account-based solution.”
Needs of operators before passengers?
A representative from TfL highlighted his experience with a city authority which was considering a smart integrated ticketing scheme. He said the principal concern of the authority was ‘how can we keep the operators on board?’ instead of ‘how can we please the customers?’ Reacting, Bob Montgomery simply said: “An authority that starts planning a system based on how to keep the operators happy is mad.” Jon said: “I agree entirely. In a city region of approximately 2.7 million people, one of the biggest problems I have is that the road congestion is second only to London. What we have is traf�ic building up by around 46% between now and 2025. We’ve got to do something about it. “Again, quality in the centre of the city is a big issue, along with the degree of coordination of all modes of transport. It’s the customer we’re thinking about. They vote and pay our wages. We absolutely need to put them �irst.” Chris chose to challenge the statement. He said: “Is there much difference between putting the customer �irst and putting the operator �irst? Most operators are very much about putting their customers �irst, because they are at the heart of their business. “Yes, we might have a slightly different take sometimes, but when we sit down and have a discussion, there’s a huge amount of commonality between us. I don’t get why an operator should have a different view of customers than the local authority.” ■
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23 02/02/2015 17:45
OPERATOR PROFILE › WOODS COACHES, LEICESTER
Raising the
ame
I
t’s just eight months since Andy Cotton and Chris Howell, co-owners of Stewarts Coaches of Reading, bought Woods Coaches of Leicester, but already there has been a massive £2.2m investment to kick start the business and give it the best chance to prosper. The �leet has been transformed. The midlife Neoplan Starliners and ageing Plaxtonbodied Volvo B10Ms that dominated the old Woods operation – all beautifully maintained and presented – have all but been replaced by an in�lux of new or nearly new DAFpowered Irizar i6s. That’s Stewarts’ �leet standard complete with Andy’s preferred blue moquette nicknamed ‘Cosmic Cotton’. New to Woods are three 14-plates, a 13-metre 53-seater and two 14-metre 53seat tri-axles. A newer 64-plate 13-metre 53-seater is con�igured with a side-mounted lift and can accommodate up to three wheelchair users, meeting a requirement from Leicester City Football Club supporters. Woods also carries all of the club’s Academy teams. Transferred from Stewarts is a 61-plate 13-metre 53-seat i6 and a 60-plate Volvo B9R Plaxton Elite 49-seater. Woods had a 63-plate 13-metre 53-seat i6 delivered new before the takeover while a pair of late model Volvo B10M Plaxton Paragon 53-seaters are still operated. Like a Beulas Cygnus-bodied Iveco EuroRider and Volvo B12B Sunsundegui due for early replacement, both the B10Ms have been re-sprayed in Stewarts’ silver livery. Since last August, Woods’ General Manager has been Bill Tanser who is a long-term company employee and a true coachman at heart. He believes in maximising �leet utilisation, hence the preference for executive speci�ication 53-seaters. Also still operated from the pre takeover Woods �leet is a wheelchair accessible Iveco Daily 16-seat conversion. The coachbuilt Vega GT Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 16-seater that was displayed by UNVI at Euro Bus Expo was expected imminently when CBW visited and a new 29-seater is also due. Overall there
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Leicester-based Woods Coaches is a different company since it was acquired by the owners of Stewarts Coaches of Reading last year. Woods’ General Manager Bill Tanser talks to Andy Izatt about the new focus that’s being brought to the business
has been a �leet reduction from 19 to 14. The investment hasn’t just been con�ined to vehicles. A new website that will be in Stewarts house style is to be launched in March and there’s been signi�icant investment in of�ice IT systems. As well as a new server, staff have new workstations and the Roeville booking system has been upgraded to t3. Much greater use is being made of Twitter and Facebook to reach customers. Woods publishes two holiday and two day excursion and theatre trip brochures a year. While in the past they have all been printed and posted to the �irm’s extensive mailing list, in the future one will be distributed via the internet. While every effort is made to keep the mailing list as clean as possible, it numbers many thousand so production and post costs for the paper versions are signi�icant. Issue one of both brochures for 2015 are now out and they have been redesigned in Stewarts’ style. The holiday programme has eight pick-up points. Taxis can be arranged from home to the nearest one and are charged based on a standard price within zones. All staff have new uniforms and drivers who haven’t had a pay rise for three years have received an increase and also have improved restroom facilities. Andy is passionate about improving conditions for his people, particularly drivers who he feels are undervalued despite the hugely responsible nature of the job. “For some, our drivers are the only point of contact they have with us,” explained Bill. “Drivers don’t just drive. They’re our representatives, can be negotiators and agony aunts. It’s our reputation. “ Drivers are responsible for cleaning their coaches. “We’ve always looked after our vehicles,” Bill continued. “Mark Wood used to say that if a customer had a complaint, the coach was always the last thing that they would want to talk about. Our Starliners were popular with customers, but were very www.coachandbusweek.com
02/02/2015 19:16
‘Our coaches are no longer blue and people have noticed that, but what’s important is the ingredients of what we offer haven’t changed. We’re still as passionate about what we do as we have always been’
The DAF-powered Irizar i6 integral is Stewarts, and now Woods standard vehicle
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February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25 02/02/2015 19:16
OPERATOR PROFILE › WOODS COACHES, LEICESTER high maintenance. It was very much a case of one driver, one coach. “Our coaches are no longer blue and people have noticed that, but what’s important is the ingredients of what we offer haven’t changed. We’re still as passionate about what we do as we have always been.”
Playing to strengths
Both Stewarts and Woods have enviable reputations within different sectors of coaching. The Stewarts name has become synonymous with corporate transport in Berkshire while Woods is well-known in the East Midlands for its holidays and day excursions programmes. Andy and Woods’ previous owner Kevin Brown knew each other through the Guild of British Coach Operators. Andy has a reputation for taking a bold approach and the investment that
Above: The last new vehicle delivered before the takeover was an i6 integral Left: Rebranding extends to everything including the offices. ANDY IZATT
has been made is indicative of that. Said Bill: “Woods and Stewarts are two separate businesses, but they’re the perfect fit. At Woods we’re still feeling the effects of the recession. Private hire margins in particular have been hit. There’s a team of ambitious people at Stewarts and their enthusiasm and that of Andy rubs off on us. Andy likes to be radical and over the six months since I was appointed General Manager, I’ve learned a lot from him.” When he was Traffic Manager, Bill had responsibility for private hire and it’s an area
A BRIEF HISTORY
About Bill Tanser Woods’ General Manager Bill Tanser is passionate about coaching. He says that dates back to school days and travelling on the coaches of N&S Travel of Market Harborough. “There was something about the drivers,” said Bill. “They were always smart. They had a responsible job. I’m from an agricultural background and I’ve always been hands-on. My first work was as a building labourer for the family firm, but my dream was to become a coach driver.” Bill trained with J Coates (HGV Services) of Leicester to obtain his PCV licence when he was 21 years old. He learned how to doubledeclutch when changing gear on a Leyland Leopard, a technique he still likes to employ when driving coaches today. “I then wrote to all the local operators, bus and coach,” said Bill. “People told me that I must go and work for Woods, but they were the one firm that didn’t reply
Bill Tanser: ‘If I could have chosen anyone to buy the business, I would have chosen Andy. It’s his passion and drive.” ANDY IZATT to me. Then I got a phone call from them and I started as a bus driver on Leicester County Council routes. I did that for a year and then was able to move across to coaching. I was 22 at the time. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve always been in the right place at the right time. Kevin Brown helped me. He was Sales Manager at the time.” Kevin, who bought Woods in 2011 and sold it to Andy Cotton
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and Chris Howell in April 2014, also started as a bus driver just six weeks before Bill. He’s now Coach Operations Director at Coventrybased Harry Shaw. “Coach driving was everything I hoped for,” Bill continued. “Going different places and meeting people. I travelled all over Europe, but my personal life changed. I’d met someone when I was bus driving and married her.
She understood about my coach driving, but then we started a family.” Woods’ longstanding Traffic Manager John Trigg retired and Bill secured the job. He enjoyed understanding the mechanics of how the business operated, priding himself on taking drivers’ preferences into account when allocating work. “I just love the industry,” said Bill. “It’s not a nine to five job. I’ve worked with some really good drivers and it’s important to listen to them. “I tried to help them more in their personal lives. The regulations were changing. The Working Time Directive had come in and drivers’ hours changed in 2007. I’m a Guild CPC trainer. We do things properly at Woods. The emphasis has always been on drivers not vehicles. If the driving staff are happy we give our passengers a good time.” Bill was appointed General Manager at Woods in August 2014 following the Stewarts takeover in April.
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OPERATOR PROFILE › WOODS COACHES, LEICESTER that he’s keen to develop with the new coaches. “I think it’s one of the reasons why Andy thought I was right to lead the business,” he explained. “Stewarts do a lot of corporate hire and contract work.” As well as work for Leicester City Football Club, valued contracts are with Next Plc for staff transport and the Santander Staff Sports and Social Club. However, Woods has effectively pulled out of the local authority home to school market since the takeover. It now has just one contract with Leicestershire County Council and Bill has no plans to tender for any new work although he does monitor rates. “You can’t compete with people who park a coach outside their house,” he pointed out. “I still look at what’s going on, but I don’t bid.” Woods also no longer undertakes regular National Express diagrams, the Sunsundegui Volvo having been bought for such work. Emergency cover is still provided if the rate is right. A new Stewarts-style private hire pricing structure that reflects real costs of operation has been introduced, but with competition intense from ‘budget’ suppliers in the East Midlands, particularly Leicester, it’s not an easy sell. Some long-standing customers have chosen to go elsewhere, but Bill is confident that many will be back when they don’t receive Woods’ quality of service. He has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of work that has been secured once customers understand better what’s on offer. It’s not just about price. “We want to take the quality that Stewarts brings to us and educate our market,” said Bill. “One customer has already booked £18,000 of business this year. I think we undersold ourselves in the past. Andy has snapped us out of that mindset and I totally agree with what he’s saying. Quality without compromise. Having proper promotional material is helping us achieve those higher rates. “Andy explained what he wanted and why, and I like that. He’s very good at investing time with people. I’ve been down to Reading several times to sit in with staff there.” The learning process is two-way. “Stewarts wants to expand its portfolio into day excursions and holidays,” he continued. “They want to learn about the market up here. “The majority of our focus is on holidays and day excursions. We start from nothing and fill a coach. The business was purchased
Part of the office team: Marketing Assistant Jenny Moon and Sue Curry (Reservations). ANDY IZATT 28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 024_030_CBW174_Woods.indd 28
BACKGROUND
Substantial investment of £2.2m is there to kick start the business. ANDY IZATT
Stewarts and Woods: BRIEF HISTORIES Stewarts Coaches Group was founded in 2003 by CEO and co-owner Andy Cotton when he bought a small Readingbased coach operator that had been advertised in Daltons Weekly. Andy had started his career as a trainee accountant, but rapidly progressed with IT companies, becoming Managing Director of a small software company when he was just 30 years old. “For four years I hardly saw my wife or my daughter as we grew the business,” he told CBW over a year ago (Operator Profile Stewarts Coaches, November 6, 2013). “That’s when I first thought I should be doing my own thing. “February 1, 2003 was when I took (Stewarts) over. I’d employed an accountant to do due diligence, but I did not know what I’d bought. There were 12 staff. We had five LDV Convoys, a Mercedes-Benz Nouvelle and a 10m Dennis Javelin all of which had seen better days. A Toyota had a blown engine and was in bits. The saving grace was buying an ex Epsom Coaches Dennis Javelin. “Buying the business used up all my savings and I remortgaged the house. I worked out that the only way
I could take Stewarts forward and make it really have any impact was to replace the old fleet with something new. “I bought two new Plaxton R-Series, three Cheetahs and a 16-seater. I spent four months phoning everybody trying to find work for them. One day I was called in to Cable & Wireless in Bracknell and met with the facilities people there and convinced them that we could do the job. That was our first major corporate client. That was in 2006 and this business (Stewarts) has reinvented itself since.” In 2011 Andy sold an initial stake in Stewarts to Chris Howell, founder of DriveTech who had sold his business to the AA in 2009. The business partners invested £2m in buying, converting and refurbishing a former shelving distribution centre in Woodley into a bespoke facility for what had developed, by the time it opened in 2013, into a 42-vehicle operation. Work is undertaken for a large number of corporate clients and there’s also the Thames Valley Park shuttle bus service, which serves more than 50,000 passengers a month. Turnover was about £4.5m. The acquisition of Woods Coaches of Leicester last April took the Group fleet to over 60 vehicles. With a turnover of around £3.3m, Woods also offers corporate and private hire services, but the business is primarily focused on the
holiday and day trip market where it has an excellent reputation. It was founded by George Wood in 1950, son Mark joining his father in 1967 and becoming a co-director when the firm became a limited company in 1970. In 1999 Mark became Managing Director, but decided in 2011 that he wanted to retire. His own children had chosen to make successful careers elsewhere so Kevin Brown who became Managing Director in 2007 bought the business including the associated Woods Reisen holiday company although the property remained in the ownership of the Wood family. Stewarts with a national O-licence for 43 and Woods with an international O-licence for 25 are members of the Guild of British Coach Operators, which has a money back guarantee for customers, and the Confederation of Passenger Transport. Stewarts are CoachMarque-accredited while Woods is a member of the Coach Tourism Council. Both companies and their staff have won numerous awards. At the time of the Woods acquisition, Chris Howell said: “We are delighted to unite these two strategically located businesses under the Stewarts Group banner and we look forward to expanding the range of services we offer across the Midlands and Thames Valley regions.”
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OPERATOR PROFILE › WOODS COACHES, LEICESTER
Beulas Cygnus-bodied Iveco EuroRider due for early replacement. ANDY IZATT Left: Andy Cotton’s preferred blue moquette is nicknamed ‘Cosmic Cotton.’ ANDY IZATT Right: Two late model Volvo B10M Plaxton Paragons are still operated. ANDY IZATT
for that expertise. Stewarts doesn’t have an international O-licence. We do, so we’re their international division. We understand what’s required. I think there will be a holiday/ day excursion business developed down in Berkshire, but it’s not going to happen overnight.” In 2014 the average loading at Woods on 95 holidays was 36, down 1.52% compared with 2013. On 496 day excursions it was 39.5. This year 93 holidays are planned with a similar number of day excursions as in 2014. “We’ve introduced a small day excursion programme based in Market Harborough and Lutterworth where we had a garage when I first started at Woods,” said Bill. “As an initial pilot we used spare tickets we had for the Thursford (Christmas Spectacular). We’re promoting what we’re offering in local newspapers and on the internet. We’re doing some leaflet drops as well. We have agents in the towns and in Rugby. We’re also selling holidays in Northampton. “In 2016 we’ll be looking to introduce higher end holidays using four and five star hotels, not just three star – a broader spectrum.” 30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 024_030_CBW174_Woods.indd 30
Coaching in the blood
“I’ve been here a long time,” Bill pointed out. “I live round the corner. Being General Manager is something new for me. I think Andy is comfortable with the way the business is being run. He would like it to break-even in the first year.” Woods employs 34, 17 of them full-time drivers, although there are also three casuals. Peter Skinner is Driver & Business Development Manager reporting to Bill. Ian Trigg is Garage Manager and Jim Steele, a mechanic. Alison Wayman has responsibility for marketing supported by Jenny Noone. Tour Administrator is Nicola James while Karen Runagall is Day Trips Manager. “This is still a very family orientated business,” said Bill. “I’ve grown up with people who work here. We’ve worked so well together for 20 years. That longevity is important and now we have financial backing and modern technology.” He explained how a poorly supported trip to Rhyl went out full when the itinerary was amended to include a stop at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet at Ellesmere Port. “That
made it profitable.” He explained. “We were able to do the same for a trip to Rochester by calling in at Bluewater. We’re pushing to look for any opportunities. I know what passengers want in terms of customer service, but knowing the right product is another matter. Whoever knows the answer to that one would make millions. “I’ve always thought that Woods Coaches is the best operator in the East Midlands. We have a 100% rating with the Guild (of British Coach Operators), ‘G00 G00’ OCRS ratings with DVSA, but what we need to do is trim our costs and be more efficient. “If I could have chosen anyone to buy the business, I would have chosen Andy. It’s his passion and drive. He’s straight talking and tells it as it is. I have to look after his money, but we can push forward now and be bolder. The challenge is to better understand the dynamics of our markets. Lowering our game is the danger. Respect the product and see where we can take it. “We have now got a fantastic opportunity. I think Andy has bought into what could be a very profitable business.” n www.coachandbusweek.com
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FACE TO FACE › RICHARD EMERTON
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nt bus driving Jade Smith talks to London United’s Richard Emerton about his role and recent win of the Silver Top London Bus Driver award at the UK Bus Awards
O
n a dark January afternoon I arrived at Fulwell bus garage in West London to meet Richard Emerton. The garage is familiar to me – my family home is nearby and I walked past Fulwell every day for five years on my way to school. The memorable sight of red double-deckers leaving the garage brought along a wave of nostalgia. I spotted Richard amongst a group of chatty bus drivers. He broke out into a smile when I told him who I was and took me into the building away from the outside chill. It was clear why Richard had won an award – his welcoming attitude and infectious smile makes him polar-opposite from the stereotypical moody bus driver. Extremely animated, Richard told me about working for London United and his experience of the bus industry over the past 11 years. CBW How did you get into the industry?
Richard Emerton (RE) Before the buses I was doing security work and back then I didn’t have a driving licence. At the time I was living in Hanworth and my neighbour was and still is a Controller Inspector at Fulwell. He used to say to me “Why don’t you come to the bus garage?” and I thought I may as well give it a try. I was quite late taking my driving test – I was around 25 when I passed. I had to wait a year to get some practice before I could take my PCV test and then I started at Fulwell in November 2004. Some other jobs I’ve dreaded – you get up in the morning and can’t be bothered. In this industry every day is different and I enjoy the driving. People ask me if I get bored driving the same route over and over again – but every trip is different. Because I couldn’t drive until I was 25 I was always on buses travelling around, but I never dreamt I’d be driving a double-decker. When I was younger I had Matchbox toys of buses, so I’m happy doing what I do now. CBW What did you pass your test in?
Richard Emerton with his favourite bus type, an Alexander Dennis Trident. JACK MARIAN
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RE An old MCW Metrobus double-decker. I did it out of Stamford Brook. It was in October with dark mornings, but I suppose it’s the best time to pass – if you pass in those conditions you can drive in any type of weather. I remember my induction day in Stamford Brook and the next day I met my instructor. When I joined there were already a couple of people there, about a week into their training. Someone else was driving first, and we got on the A316 up near Dairy Crest with the iconic model cows on top of the building. He pulled the bus into the bus stop and said “Richard, you’re up next.” I was fishtailing, trying to keep the bus between the lanes, even though it was quite a wide and straight road. So for the first couple
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of days I thought that this job wasn’t for me – I couldn’t get into driving the bus because it was so big and there was no power steering back then. After about two days I got the hang of it and after then I was fine. CBW What’s your favourite vehicle type?
RE An Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident, or TA as we know them in London. When I started in 2004 we had some 03 plates so they were quite new then but now we’ve only got five to 10 left because they’re being phased out. We’re getting some new Scanias in their place. I like the TAs because they’re what I’m used to. They’re solid, they drive smoothly and the brakes are responsive. I feel some of the newer vehicles are more restrictive to improve passenger comfort. Even if you’re running empty out of service going to Tolworth, for example, you’ve got to go down the A3 with a 55mph speed limit and you’re stuck at 38mph – whereas a TA would just go and go. The three buses I’d love to drive are the old-style Routemaster – we have got one, but there’s just no reason to drive it now – the new Routemaster, and I’d love to drive a bendy bus, but we don’t have one of them in our company. CBW How about your least favourite vehicle type?
RE The Optare Versa. They’re the only Optares we have in this garage. We’ve got them now on the 391 route. They’re very bouncy buses due to their lightness and they’ve got electric destination blinds which tend to break a lot. The cab in an average bus is blacked out, whereas in the Optare Versa there’s glass and you can feel a little exposed. They’re also one of the few buses that you need to put into neutral before you can let the ramp down for a wheelchair user. That can be confusing if you use various buses, like I do. I don’t mind them, but the way they drive makes them my least favourite. CBW Is there anything you’d like to see changed by manufacturers to improve the driving experience?
RE Something as simple as the horn. The Scanias have a great horn – you press it and people can hear it a mile away. By contrast, the TAs had a pathetic horn – not one you’d associate with a vehicle that big. The newer buses are getting electric blinds which are nice, but if they break you’ve got no way of overriding it. At least with the manual ones you could mess around with them to fix them temporarily. The new Scanias have heated driver seats – comfort is important as you can be in that cab for up to five and a half hours. You want a nice warm cab in the winter and the opposite in the summer. CBW Tell us about your current role.
RE I was promoted last February, so I’m a Garage Driver Trainer (GDT) now. The
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FACE TO FACE › RICHARD EMERTON brand new drivers do their training with the instructors at training school, but once they’ve passed their test and they’ve done their classroom work, they get passed to whichever garage they’re going to go to. It’s down to me to welcome them to the garage with inductions and going through health and safety. Then we do type-training on all the different style buses we’ve got, take them out on the road and show them the different routes. They’ve passed their test so I’ve just got to show them the real life experience. Usually the new drivers are with me for 10 days, but it depends on how they get on. We show them three routes, two days spent on each route, and then they have a re-cap day and after that they actually go into service – I have to go out with them to make sure they’re alright. After the 10 days, if they’re happy and I’m happy, I send them out on their own. We’ve got each other’s numbers so they can contact me whenever they want. The past few months have been hectic – as soon as I finish with one, another one or two more come in. It’s because they’ve had this big shuffle around with the garages and the routes. We had the 131 transferred to Tolworth and they brought the 391 here, so there’s been a lot of recruiting. CBW Describe an average day for you.
RE Lately it’s mainly just been training. Usually we start at 0800hrs and finish around 1600hrs. We have to do an early drive, just to show them what it’s like with checking the buses, so that day starts at 0600hrs. One day we have to do a late drive to get them used to driving in the dark. So we finish around 2100 or 2200hrs. An average day is 0800 to 1600hrs. We usually meet up with the other trainers over the road – have a coffee and a chat to sort out the plan for the day. Then we hunt down a bus and start
RECOGNITION
Fulwell Garage is Richard’s home away from home. JADE SMITH whatever route we’re doing that day. If I’m not training, I’m out on the road. I know all the routes so they can stick me on anything. I might need to do a tree survey – recently we had a lot of buses damaged by low-hanging trees – so I had to get on every single route and check for low branches. Sometimes we might be doing a high-profile presence at Hammersmith, checking that the drivers are alright and handing out leaflets. With this job now, I work Monday to Friday so I get weekends off. I usually work Saturday or Sunday as well though, to get a little extra income. I normally work 0800 to 1600hrs, but if I’m driving I might start as early as 0430hrs. On Boxing Day I was doing the run-out, and I had to be in for 0330hrs that morning. I was on the gate helping drivers with pre-service checks.
having cliques with drivers from different routes all separated from each other. There’s none of that here. Out of all of the London United garages, Fulwell is the main garage with the head office. I know all the routes and it’s local to me as well so it’s convenient.
RE I do. They’re a nice, friendly bunch and we have a really friendly atmosphere here. We’ve got a range of cultures as well which is nice. I’ve heard stories about some other garages
RE Before I was a GDT I was a 131 driver. When I was doing my training I was shown four routes – the 131, 281, 65 and 33. I said to my trainer at the time. “This is the route for me.” I loved it back then in 2004 – it only went from Kingston to Wimbledon. A few years ago it got extended to Tooting and it wasn’t as nice, because once you pass Wimbledon you’re sitting in a lot of traffic. I loved that route and I was gutted when they did the shuffle around. I still like the 131 but it runs out of Tolworth garage now. My favourite route here now is the 216 which runs from Kingston to Staines. It’s a nice little route once you pass Sunbury Cross and you go into Surrey. It’s a single-decker route so it’s quieter than some others. I do prefer driving a double-decker. They’re more solid vehicles than the single-deckers – people seem to get out of your way more. I feel like a proper bus driver in a double-decker.
CBW Do you enjoy working at Fulwell?
UK Bus Awards Judges’ remarks Richard’s love of bus driving, his outstanding approach to the job and first-class driving skills have not gone unnoticed by his managers. Equipped with 11 years’ bus driving experience, he relishes the positive contribution he makes to keeping London on the move and in passing on his skills to new recruits. Visitors and tourists find him a mine of information about the capital and its public transport network and he is particularly sensitive to the needs of less mobile customers, doing whatever he can to ensure they feel welcome. He is also extremely supportive of TfL’s measures to boost reliability,
Richard receiving his award
RE I’ve done a private hire before – it was a driver’s daughter’s 18th birthday and she asked me if I could help out with the surprise birthday party. So I drove them out to Brighton for the day. I went round to Ashford and did the bus up with decorations. It was mainly on the motorway though, so I can’t really compare it to driving in London. CBW What is your favourite route?
CBW Your least favourite route?
valuing small measures such as maintaining headway as important as the larger
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CBW Have you driven buses outside of London?
initiatives, and it was clear to the judges he fulfils his role to a high standard.
RE The 267 which runs from here to Hammersmith. From Gunsbury roundabout, Chiswick roundabout, Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre – it’s one straight road which seems to make the time drag for me. Chiswick High Road is busy, so you’ve got to have your wits about you all the time looking out for cycles, pedestrians and cars. It seems like a lonely route to me. I don’t hate it, but it’s my
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FACE TO FACE › RICHARD EMERTON least favourite because it’s boring. I don’t like being stuck in traffic – that happens a lot in Fulham. It’s hard being in a jam and thinking I could be in Ashford and Staines with relatively clear roads. My ideal routes would be the 465, Kingston to Dorking. It wouldn’t be as repetitive as some routes. Or the X26 Heathrow to West Croydon, limited stop. I like going long distances – maybe I should have been a coach driver – except the motorway driving would probably bore me. CBW What are the challenges of driving in London?
RE Traffic, cyclists, people just crossing in front of you – especially on Eden Street in Kingston and Richmond’s George Street. You’ve just got to have your wits about you all the time. You’ve got to keep your bus to a headway too, which means trying to keep the buses regular, as well as keeping the passengers happy. Some people have been waiting at the stop for ages because you’re stuck in traffic and you have to explain the situation to them. I’m quite easygoing – you have to be otherwise the situation just gets worse. CBW What are your experiences with wheelchair users?
RE I’ve never really had any issues with wheelchair users. Every time a wheelchair user has got on there’s either not been a pushchair in the bay or people make room for them. In my experience, generally people are quite happy to fold their pushchairs up, but if they refuse there’s nothing you can do. I’ve never experienced that though. CBW How do you feel about winning the Silver Top London Bus Driver award at the UK Bus Awards 2014?
RE That was brilliant – it was a shame I couldn’t get Gold, but I’m happy with Silver. Gary Jones was the last person from Fulwell to win that award in 2011.
Double-deckers are Richard’s favourite type of bus to drive. JACK MARIAN CBW What makes a good bus driver? RE Not to blow my own trumpet, but someone like me – someone quite easy-going and happy with a good sense of humour. If you don’t like sitting in traffic, you’ve got a short temper, you’re not very patient or you don’t like dealing with people then this isn’t the job for you. CBW How have things changed since you first started in the industry?
RE When I started there was none of this headway stuff – it was all time cards. It was a bit more relaxed back then, but in a way it’s better now. People used to just run to their time cards, so you could have three buses all together where one is late, one is early and one is on time. You see that a lot less now. There were also no audio announcements so the visually impaired and tourists were at a disadvantage. There’s a lot more demand now due to the increased population. Back then, the 281 wasn’t
‘Comfort is important as you can be in that cab for up to five and a half hours. You want a nice warm cab in the winter and the opposite in the summer’
The food at the event was really good, especially the duck. I’ve kept all the menus and paperwork from the day as mementos. The company ordered the new uniform for me so I could wear it to the UK Bus Awards. I had so many people at Fulwell asking me how I’d got it so early. It was good to be able to show the drivers what they would be getting in the future. With the new uniform, the trousers are mainly the same, the shirt is blue instead of white, and the jacket is different. It’s only been around for the last few months. The only thing I miss about the old uniform is the white shirts had epaulettes on them which I think looked a lot smarter.
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a 24-hour service. The 65’s been improved too – it’s been extended to Chessington at night-time now. For the last couple of years the 216 has had four night buses on New Year’s Eve. Overall I think our services are continually improving. Going cash-free has made things a lot easier. I don’t have to worry about sorting out change, or carrying around a heavy cash tray. At the beginning there were a few problems with people not knowing we didn’t take cash – mainly people outside of the area like tourists – but now it’s settled, it’s a lot easier. CBW Do you have any advice you would give to anyone wishing to follow your footsteps?
RE When I started I never dreamed I would be where I am today. Back then I was a stick-in-themud – I was set to my routine and I wouldn’t do anything outside of it, but now I’ve done all the routes out of Fulwell. Just keep your nose clean and enjoy the job you’re doing. It’s very rare for me to be sick or late for work because I enjoy it. There are always jobs coming on the board and promotions. As long as you enjoy the job and you’re good at it you can progress very far. It’s a job for life really. Once you’ve got your licence you’re set – they’re always going to need bus drivers. CBW What aspirations do you have for the future?
RE I’ve been here 11 years, so my plan is to just progress in the company. I’ve got 11 years of driving experience, and I’ve been doing this GDT role for almost a year, so I’ll spend a couple more years doing this. I will always keep the door open for something else and take it as it comes. Most of the General Managers here started as drivers, so I have a lot of options available to me. CBW Any final thoughts?
RE Recently after winning the award my manager called me and I had an interview with TfL and the BBC. They were doing a short video segment on the Year of the Bus and we had to do a screen test. I was hoping I would get my own show! I’ve been in the Richmond and Twickenham Times, as well as our own quarterly company newsletter. I’ve enjoyed the attention – sometimes I’ve had people say “Oh, here he comes” and I say “I’ve just come to get another award” just to wind them up. You get some people who don’t take the bus very much. When we used to take money and people asked me how much it was I used to joke with them and ask “Top deck or lower?” Some of them fell for it. “It’s a pound for the dog” – things like that. I like having harmless fun in my job, and most of the passengers enjoy it too. n www.coachandbusweek.com
02/02/2015 13:44
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ENDEAVOUR COACHES Birmingham-based Endeavour Coaches has purchased a Plaxton Leopard coach based on a Euro 5 Volvo B9R chassis. Director John Mitchell said: “The new Leopard is a goodlooking vehicle and the Volvo chassis gives us the reliability we need. It has been well received by our customers and drivers. “Offering us maximum capacity, it feels spacious in comparison to other 70-seaters and we have received positive feedback from adult groups who have hired it. On taking up its regular school contract, the children described it as ‘brilliant!’” The new Leopard features 70 fixed seats in three plus two formation with three point seatbelts trimmed in
IMPACT GROUP London-based Impact Group has taken delivery of another three King Long XMQ6900 midi coaches. It has bought a number of King Long vehicles over a number of years including 12-metre executive specification coaches, DDA-compliant coaches and city buses, and has been pleased with their performance and reliability. Engineering Director,
red patterned moquette. The specification includes gold curtains and red soft trim to the luggage racks, contrasting with grey carpeting and roof lining, together with climate control incorporating a forward roof-mounted Thermo-King air-conditioning unit. Endeavour Coaches has specified a radio/CD entertainment system with a public address facility. The Volvo B9R chassis incorporates a rear mounted Volvo D9B 9.36 litre engine delivering 380bhp and Volvo I-Shift automated gearbox. The vehicle has Alcoa DuraBrite alloy wheels and a select registration mark. The new Leopard is being used on a school contract, but is also popular with adult groups on local journeys. Endeavour Coaches is a long established business acquired by the current Satnam Cheema, said: “I have only recently joined Impact, but I understand that our team are very happy with how our King Longs have performed, hence our willingness to do repeat purchases. I hear that the relationship with King Long has gone from strength to strength. “I am now looking to standardise on one or two brands for our whole fleet, and King Long are definitely
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Directors, brothers Graham, John and David Mitchell over 30 years ago. Concentrating on quality private hire and contract work together with its own holiday and day tour programmes, the company operates fifteen vehicles from its premises in the Aston area of Birmingham. Seating capacities from 16 to 70 are offered and the company also specialises in offering wheelchair accessible vehicles in various sizes. FACT FILE
Coach Services Ltd of Thetford, Norfolk has added three Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200s to its fleet. Following the successful operation of a 10.8m example delivered towards the end of 2013, a further two have been acquired during 2014. The 9.6m and 10.8m vehicles are the latest ADL products added to the growing bus fleet. Transport Manager Robert Crawford said: “With their reputation for fuel economy and the attractive deal ADL offered us, the Enviro200s were ideal for upgrading some of our key routes. The support from ADL has been excellent and, at over 13.5mpg, the vehicles have delivered the expected economy in operation.” The new Enviro200s feature blue moquette trimmed Esteban Civic V2 seats, 39 in the 10.8m vehicles and 33 in the
9.6m vehicle. They have bonded side glazing and are equipped with Mobitec destination displays together with a fold-out ramp. Power is supplied by the Cummins ISBe 4.5l Euro 5 diesel engine driving through an Allison automatic gearbox. Coach Services Ltd has specified the vehicles with a radio/CD entertainment system. The 9.6m example is intended for the Thetford town service whilst the 10.8m examples cover routes 81, Thetford to Watton and 86, Brandon to Bury St Edmunds. FACT FILE
BODY/CHASSIS: ADL Enviro200 ENGINE: Cummins ISBe 4.51
Euro 5 TRANSMISSION: Allison
Automatic SEATS: 33/39 SUPPLIED BY: ADL Bus and
Coach Sales 01909 551166 www.plaxtoncoachsales.co.uk
BODY/CHASSIS: Plaxton Leopard Volvo B9R ENGINE: Volvo D9B 9.36litre 380BHP Euro 5 TRANSMISSION: Volvo I-Shift automated SEATS: 70 SUPPLIED BY: Plaxton Coach
Sales at Anston 01909 551166 www.plaxtoncoachsales.co.uk a strong choice to be one of them.” FACT FILE
BODY/CHASSIS: King Long
XMQ6900 ENGINE: Euro 5 Cummins
ISB6.7E5 250bhp TRANSMISSION: ZF 6AS1200 SEATS: 33 SUPPLIED BY: Kinglong Direct
02476 363004 www.kinglonguk.com
www.coachandbusweek.com
02/02/2015 11:57
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BUCKINGHAM 3 & 2 • Ideal for 3 & 2 configurations • Ergonomic design for maximum support, comfort and legroom • Tried & tested: fitted into many new coaches as OEM • Full range of legs and fitting options make the Buckingham ideal for upseating to 70+ seats • Lighter weight makes easier for installation Prime Passenger Seating Limited 6/7 The Apex Centre, Clywedog Road South, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham LL13 9XS Telephone: 01691 898 665 Fax: 01691 770 798 Email: johnm@primeps.com
www.primeps.com
www.coachandbusweek.com
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 39
SERVICE UPDATE › FIRST ABERDEEN PLATINUM
Platinum at One A
little over a year ago, First launched the first of its new premium-branded Platinum routes in Aberdeen, joining the likes of Stagecoach ‘Gold’ in going above and beyond the traditional expectations of a bus service. The refurbished fleet of buses – 11 Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B9TL doubledeckers and a solitary Wrightbus Eclipse Urbanbodied Volvo B7RLE single-decker – were launched to the press and public with fireworks, smoke and music, unveiling a new gloss black and grey version of First’s corporate livery. A 12th double-decker was added later, joining the others in carrying not just a new external livery, but matching internal vinyls on the stair panels, stairwells and central area of the ceilings, as well as cove information panels, all reinforcing the new brand and creating a unique visual atmosphere on board. All of the buses were repainted and refurbished by Thornton Bros in Northumberland, and now feature black leather seats with embroidered headrests bearing the Platinum logo. The buses would be used on the company’s route 19, linking the affluent areas of Culter, Milltimber, Bieldside and Cults with the city centre, the University of Aberdeen and Tillydrone. In line with the route’s previous ‘Turquoise Line’ branding, the black and grey base livery is brightened up by turquoise stripes and vinyl route branding. For the most part, the route runs along main roads, with a traditional terminus at the Culter end, and a loop around 40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
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Over a year since its launch, Jim McWilliam reports on the development of First Aberdeen’s Platinum concept, the firm’s premium service standard, which is enjoying year-on-year growth
the housing estate of Tillydrone at the other, and is busy with a wide range of passengers throughout the day – commuters and shoppers, schoolchildren and students.
Service standard
First realises that is not just about the quality of the buses – the ‘wow’ factor is important, but will eventually become the norm. What keeps people coming back is exceptional customer service, and Platinum encourages this and markets it. The philosophy is that ‘every journey should be a special journey’ and drivers – who are dedicated to the routes, which helps build a better rapport with passengers – are encouraged to go the extra mile to help passengers. Of course, as First itself says in the training, lots of what Platinum is about is the things drivers would normally be doing anyway – greeting passengers, being polite, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and this is what First expects from drivers across its networks. In addition, Staff Manager Alan Cheyne explains that not only are drivers encouraged to – and importantly made to feel empowered to – go that extra step to help. If a passenger is not
satisfied with any aspect of the service, they can have a free journey voucher issued on the spot. Based on an idea developed by respected East Midlands operator Trent Barton, this helps defuse any potential conflict, as well as ensuring that any person for whom the service has not lived up to expectation is encouraged to give it another go. Despite some initial reservations, especially from drivers, figures show that to date, only 62 free journey tickets have been issued on route 19. Of course, it is not just about drivers, and other staff are on board too, with dedicated managers, cleaners and other staff supporting the service behind the scenes.
Reaction
Passenger reaction to the new service was very favourable from the start, and patronage has steadily increased over the 12 months since Platinum was introduced. Indeed, many passengers were quick to praise the ‘new’ buses, some even commenting how much quieter and smoother they were than the ‘old’ ones. To help maintain a quality environment on board, buses are also cleaned at the terminus during the day, and the service is backed up by a dedicated
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02/02/2015 10:12
Route 12 is operated using refurbished Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs
website providing information on the concept and service, timetables and clear route maps in First’s house style. After just seven months, in June 2014 the service won the prestigious Best Bus Service award at the Scottish Transport Awards.
Expansion
Following the re-launch of route 19 in December 2013, and the promising initial signs, a second Aberdeen route was given the Platinum treatment in the summer of 2014. The very different route 12 was to be the second candidate, again with refurbished buses – in this case Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs displaced from routes 3 and 23 by the arrival of new Wrightbus StreetLites. The 12 is a much shorter route, with a very different demographic, which also faces strong competition on some segments from Stagecoach’s Hospital Direct-branded route 59, operated by ADL Enviro 350 Hybrid singledeckers. Again retaining the previous route colour, the buses are liveried in the same base black and grey, this time with dark green route branding, which is continued inside with vinyls covering the cab partition and ceilings. At the same time, an extra bus was given a gold version of the livery, to be used as a spare bus on either route. Whilst on route 19 First fitted on-board TV screens featuring BBC News 24, the 12s were fitted with audio-visual next stop announcements to give confidence to those with visual impairments as well as those unfamiliar with the city or the route, becoming www.coachandbusweek.com
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one of the first operators in Scotland to do so. The interiors were also fitted with bright LED lighting, giving a very cool modern feel, and of course, all Platinum buses are fitted with free WiFi, which is quickly becoming de rigeur for bus operators.
Future
Now that both routes are established, First is not resting on its laurels, and continues to look for new ways to improve and keep the routes and brand fresh. At the end of November, in a tie-up with the Jack Tierney Gallery in Cults, on the route of Platinum 19, one bus on that service has been turned into a moving gallery to showcase local artistic talent. Every year, the gallery sets artists a 9x9 challenge, in which the artists are given a theme, and have to produce a nine-inch by nine-inch piece of art – this year’s theme of course being turquoise and route 19. “We’ve never quite had a bus service as our inspiration nor has the exhibition taken to the roads quite like this. We want to make art accessible to all and First’s gallery bus will take these excellent pieces to a whole new audience,” said the Gallery’s Fiona Jack. Platinum is about providing a quality service, and proves that this does not need to mean new buses, showing that vehicles between five and 10 years old can be brought back to front line standards for a much lower cost than new ones, and provide another avenue to entice people onto public transport. For the average passenger, what matters is not age, it is quality,
and if a service is consistent in meeting those expectations, passengers will continue to use it. By investing in Platinum, in a very short period of time the company has been able to introduce ‘new’ refurbished buses on two routes, along with brand new buses on another two routes. All current indications are that the investment has paid off, with an overall increase in ridership of 2% across the network. “Passenger growth is currently running at 5.3% year-on-year,” explains Aberdeen’s new marketing assistant Rachael Gordons. To help celebrate the two millionth Platinum passenger milestone in December, the company launched a competition on social media – a number of stickers were applied to buses, with passengers asked to Tweet a picture to #futurebus, with the chance to win a month’s free travel or an iPad Mini. Around 35, 000 people use Aberdeen’s Platinum services every week, and the team behind it are clearly proud that it has achieved or exceeded every expectation and target set. n l Visit the dedicated First Aberdeen Platinum webpage at http://www. firstgroup.com/ukbus/platinum/platinum.php. l Watch the launch video at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=z6drTeILDXc . l See examples of the ‘9x9 challenge’ online at www.jacktierneygallery.com/exhibitions/ turquoise-platinum-line.
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41 02/02/2015 10:12
LEGAL NEWS › Y E P COACHES
Y E P Coaches loses licence after falsifying documents The production of fake bank statements and documents to present false evidence of financial standing causes operator to lose the trust of the Traffic Commissioner. James Day reports The O-licence of Y E P Coaches has been revoked by the Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the North East of England, Kevin Rooney. The decision followed a Public Inquiry (PI) which took place on October 15, 2014, and took effect from 2359hrs on November 30, 2014. The operator, Yusuf Ebrahim Patel, was disqualified from holding an O-licence for three years, while the firm’s Transport Manager, Kevin Harrision, lost his repute.
Background
Yusuf Ebrahim Patel, trading as Y E P Coaches, was the holder of a standard national PSV O-licence authorising the use of three vehicles. The licence came into force on December 6, 2006. On July 3, 2014, Mr Patel submitted an application form with a fee to increase the licence authorisation to five vehicles. The financial information which accompanied the application caused concern to the PSV team in the Central Licensing Office in Leeds. Bank statements were submitted, along with the application on July 3, 2014 and covering the months of April and May 2014. However, no overdraft facility was apparent. The documents were accompanied
by a letter purporting to be from a Rachel McIver of Lloyds Bank confirming the overdraft was in place with effect from May 9, 2014. The letter was unusual as the signature appeared in blue ball-point pen. The caseworker called the number on the letter to speak with Ms McIver. The number
question on the bank statement was in a different font to the remainder of the text. Enquiries with the bank followed. On Friday, August 29, 2014, Andy Horsley, Senior Manager of Investigations at Lloyds Bank provided a statement. He commented: “The addition of the planned overdraft limit is a
also included a small amount of school work. Fresh finances were provided in the form of further bank statements for the same account. No planned overdraft facility was shown but two large cash deposits had been made and the positive balance was in excess of the financial standing requirement.
‘It is difficult to understand how the person who effectively and continuously manages the transport activities was unaware of an application to increase the licence authority by 60%’ was not for Lloyds Bank but for a branch of Saville’s Estate Agents. Mr Patel was advised to have Ms McIver contact the Central Licensing Office to explain the apparent anomaly. On Thursday, July 24, 2014, a further set of bank statements was received, which showed a planned overdraft facility of £22,000. This time however, the caseworker was concerned at the form of words used and the fact that the single line of text in
Yusuf Ebrahim Patel claimed he kept money in a safe instead of depositing it in the bank to avoid bank charges
forgery.” He confirmed no overdraft was in place, and said: “The signature of Rachel McIver on the letter bears no resemblance to her true signature.”
The Public Inquiry
Yusuf Ebrahim Patel attended the PI in Leeds unrepresented, as did Kevin Harrison. Mr Patel told the TC that he owned three vehicles and had also bought his yard. The work was mostly private hire but
Mr Patel explained that he preferred to keep bank charges low by working largely in cash. The deposits had come from his own money that he kept in a safe. He had not put his funds into his account earlier as he did not want to incur bank charges by running all transactions through his funds into his account. He said falsifying the letter and the statements had been an act of foolishness designed to avoid bank charges. Mr Harrison confirmed that Mr Patel dealt in a lot of cash, having worked 16 hours a week for him. Mr Harrison completed his CPC 30 years ago and had not received refresher training, but would be willing to do so if the TC recommended it. He said he took care of
‘I have only Mr Patel’s word… and the word of a person who produces false documentation can carry little weight’ 42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 042_043_CBW1174_Legal News.indd 42
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Kevin Rooney, Traffic Commissioner for the North East: “Can an operator who forges such basic and fundamental documentation as bank statements be trusted… not to forge maintenance records or other licence documentation? No” service and maintenance and was not aware of the new application to increase the licence authorisation, nor was he aware of Mr Patel’s financial position. He said he was not aware of the full range of duties expected of a Transport Manager.
Consideration of evidence and findings
The TC said: “It is clear that Mr Patel forged bank statements and a bank letter. “It was disappointing that Mr Patel believed that all he needed to do was show financial standing now and all would be well. That shows a significant lack of insight. “In the event, financial standing was shown only for a few days leading up to the inquiry. That he went to the lengths of producing forged documents to deceive me and the licensing caseworkers raises significant questions over whether the money was available at that time. I have only Mr Patel’s word that it was and the word of a person who produces false documentation can carry little weight. “I therefore tend to the view that the cash, wherever it came from, was not available at the time of the initial application. “Mr Harrison told me that he knew nothing of the new variation application, nor Mr Patel’s finances. The Transport Manager is the person who is supposed to effectively and continuously manage the transport activities of the undertaking. The tasks to be specified shall comprise, in particular, those relating to vehicle maintenance management, www.coachandbusweek.com
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verification of transport contracts and documents, basic accounting (my emphasis) the assignment of loads or services to drivers and vehicles, and the verification of safety procedures. “It is difficult to understand how the person who effectively and continuously manages the transport activities was completely unaware of an application to increase the licence authorisation by 60%. “Mr Harrison was clearly not carrying out his duties responsibly. Neither was he aware of the operator’s finances however it would be unfair of me to attach significant weight to this finding as many other transport managers find themselves in a similar position. “I do not find that Mr Harrison was in any way complicit in the attempt to deceive using fraudulent documentation so, whilst I find him unfit to act as a Transport Manager, the remedial measure I will specify is at the lowest end of the scale. “The production of false documentation to achieve the grant of a licence variation is an extremely serious matter. This is clearly an area where disqualification of an operator needs to be considered. “There is a positive feature in that there are no previous compliance concerns with this
Key Points
Yusuf Ebrahim Patel n submitted bank statements to the Central Licencing Office to prove financial standing, as part of an application to increase his O-licence from three to five vehicles. It was discovered that the n documents submitted, and another bank statement
submitted later, were both fabricated. The signature appeared in blue pen with no resemblance to the bank worker’s signature and details of an overdraft agreement were poorly worded in an alternative font. Mr Patel said he preferred n to deal in cash to avoid bank charges, and had falsified the documents in an act of foolishness. However, the TC felt he hadn’t grasped the seriousness of his offence by
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licence which has been running for nearly eight years. I might then consider this action as a one-off, a blip in an otherwise blemish-free history. My problem with that is that the breach of trust, on two separate occasions with the false bank statement being provided some time after the false overdraft letter, is just so severe. “However, I give credit for the
“Had he been able to get away with his deception, Mr Patel would have continued to enjoy a licence authority for an increased fleet. Can an operator who forges such basic and fundamental documentation as bank statements be trusted, for example, not to forge maintenance records or other licence documentation? No.
previous history in that I am not disqualifying for a period of five years or longer which I would have done had the previous history not been present. “Such serious breaches of trust and failures in vehicle maintenance lead to an inevitable answer to the ‘Priority Freight’ question of how likely is it that this operator will, in future, operate in compliance with the operator’s licensing regime, of “very unlikely.”
“The seriousness of the events support an answer in the affirmative to the ‘Bryan Haulage’ question: is the conduct such that the operator ought to be put out of business? “Many operators struggle to demonstrate financial standing and suffer application refusals or licence revocations as a result. To allow this operator to stay in business would undermine the whole basis of O-licensing.”
‘There is a positive feature in that there are no previous compliance concerns with this licence which has been running for nearly eight years, [but] the breach of trust, on two separate occasions… is just so severe’
assuming all would be well after submitted new documentation proving financial standing shortly before the public inquiry. Despite an unblemished n record, the TC said the false documents made it difficult to trust the operator to not falsify other records, and revoked the licence, disqualifying Mr Patel from holding a licence for three years and referring the evidence to DVSA for potential prosecution.
While the Transport n Manager, Kevin Harrison, was found to have had no
involvement in producing false documents, his repute was lost due to his poor understanding of the role. However, the TC was lenient, and only required him to attend a two-day refresher course in order to restore it.
Decisions
The TC gave his decision in writing. Under Section 17 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, the O-licence was revoked with effect from 2359hrs on November 30, 2014, allowing a period of time for the operator’s customers to find new providers and the business to be wound down. Under Section 28 of the Transport Act 1985, Yusuf Ebrahim Patel was disqualified from applying for or holding an O-licence in Great Britain for three years. The variation application – that to increase the authorisation from three to five vehicles – was refused. Kevin Harrison lost his repute as Transport Manager and was declared unfit from acting as such in any member state until he has undertaken a two-day CPC refresher course. The evidence in the case was also referred to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for consideration of a prosecution for fraud. n
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 43 02/02/2015 10:26
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02/02/2015 10:52
THE BIG PICTURE For many parts of the country winter made its mark last week. This Stagecoach East Alexander ALX300-bodied MAN 18.220 was making its way into Spalding on route 37 from Peterborough on Saturday when Andy Izatt photographed it during a snow shower. The bus carries branding for this service. Two or three minutes later the snow had stopped falling and within half an hour it had melted without trace.
044_045_CBW1174_Big Picture.indd 45
02/02/2015 10:52
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TELEMATICS & TACHOGRAPHS
Keeping safe and compliant This week’s industry guide focuses on providers of tachograph and telematics products and services, helping to ensure drivers stick to the required regulations and drive in a safe and fuel ef�icient manner
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P
roper tachograph management is an essential part of operating in our industry. Tachographs are a requirement for a good reason – ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers by preventing vehicles from being driven by drivers without suf�icient rest. Not respecting regulations can see operators hauled over the coals at public inquiry. However, managing tachographs doesn’t need to be burdensome. There are many suppliers offering services to help download and analyse tachograph data, taking some of the hassle away. These services will also help to keep the records well organised, making it easy to show DVSA the information if the operator is inspected.
While it may be viewed as another unnecessary expense, many operators believe telematics can deliver signi�icant savings by promoting a safer and more ef�icient driving style. Drivers can be suspicious of the systems at �irst, but once they realise they can just as easily be rewarded for good driving as spoken to about poor driving, they appreciate the system more. As well as fuel savings and a reduction in accidents thanks to safer driving, telematics can help operators secure more work. If customers can see how seriously safety is taken by your company, they are more likely to trust you with a coach load of people. This is particularly true for school transport, where safety is a high priority for both schools and parents. www.coachandbusweek.com
02/02/2015 15:39
QUARTIX
Telematics systems are powerful tools for transforming day-to-day operations for commercial �leets across all sectors. The breadth of data provided by telematics proves to be an ef�icient and measurable way of reducing fuel consumption. Indeed, the bene�its of vehicle tracking are evident for many operators looking to save fuel, time and money as well as improve the safety of their drivers and customers and reduce their CO2 emissions. There are two main axes to look at when working to lower fuel consumption – reducing idling time and improving driving behaviour. With the real-time tracking from Quartix, operators are able to tell at any time if one of their coaches or buses is idling, and the daily and weekly reports will give operators all idling details and totals for each vehicle. Cutting idling times can have a huge impact on reducing the fuel bill. Another key feature to help reduce fuel consumption is Quartix’s Driving-Style Monitoring suite. The module monitors and reports on harsh acceleration, braking and speeding, providing the ability to make substantial fuel savings whilst dramatically improving the safety of both drivers and customers. Using a combination of GPS data and the sensitive ‘black box’ style monitoring built into the Quartix Telematics device, rapid acceleration and braking can be accurately recorded and processed. The management information is presented in simple and easy-toread graphical reports. Unlike other driving analysis systems, the Quartix Driving-Style feature is not connected to the vehicle’s CAN-Bus, which allows
reliable driver comparisons across all vehicle types, makes and models. It also means the system is remotely con�igurable, does not need vehicle manufacturers’ approvals, comes at no additional cost and can be used on new and old vehicles alike. Drivers who accelerate and brake harshly cost a business much more than those who don’t for the same journey. Harsh braking not only wastes fuel and increases servicing costs (tyres, brakes, etc.) but is also known to be a driving style which leads to an increased risk of
accidents, which is why managers are now seeing monitoring good driving as a top priority. Operators can make real fuel savings by using the system and working with their drivers to improve driving style and reduce idling times. Reducing top speeds by 10mph alone could cut 8-9% off the fuel bill, and modifying the acceleration and braking style could cut a further 6% off the bill.
The savings mentioned above are made exclusively by improving driver behaviour – reducing idling will mean further savings. It is widely recognised that a diesel engine left running idle will consume around a gallon of fuel per hour, so cutting down on this practice could mean valuable cuts on the fuel front. To encourage their drivers to adopt a more economical and safer driving style, managers have found that using carrots, not sticks, often works best – giving incentive to better drivers and rewarding top performers, who are easily identi�iable thanks to league tables on the Quartix system, has shown to be one of the most effective ways. Without singling any drivers out, another method is to look at the driving scoring average across the �leet and working with the team to increase it. Avril Palmer-Baunack, a prominent �igure in the �leet industry with a wealth of international experience in the insurance, automotive and logistics sectors, has been appointed NonExecutive Chairman of Quartix. “I am very pleased to join Quartix and excited by the potential that it has for further development in the UK and internationally,” explained Palmer-Baunack. The appointment of Avril Palmer-Baunack as Chairman spells exciting times for Quartix, which also operates in the USA and France and is expecting further growth in the �leet and insurance sectors. Furthermore, Quartix’s highlyrated mobile app enables users to view the real-time location of their vehicles and access the core features of the system while on the move. The app is free to download on the App Store, Google Play and Windows Phone Store. T: 0870 013 6663 W: www.quartix.net
The Quartix Telematics information is easy-to-read
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046_54_CBW1174_Industry Guide_xx.indd 47
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47 02/02/2015 15:39
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TELEMATICS & TACHOGRAPHS LLOYD MORGAN GROUP
Lloyd Morgan Group (LMG) is a transport compliance business already used by some of the UK’s largest PLC and SME transport companies, offering a nationwide and international service. LMG’s services are made suitable to both managers and their operation and are quality driven and competitively priced.
LMG TACHOGRAPH ANALYSIS
LMG Tachograph Analysis provides a comprehensive solution for the management of analogue and digital tachograph analysis, hours’ law legislation compliance and working time directive compliance, providing targeted analyisis and reports for key personnel at every level of the organisation. Tachograph Analysis Service makes a direct contribution towards meeting the increasing and changing legal and regulatory obligations, including compliance with drivers hours law, domestic drivers hours law, working time directive, and operational process streamlining. Tachograph Analysis Service offers an unrivalled means of moving smoothly between the old analogue and the new digital tachographs. Because the service can handle information from both paper-based tachographs and digital tachograph smart cards, it eliminates any operational and management concerns associated with the move into the digital era. The service is equally suitable for small, single site operations through to large multinational organisations spanning many geographic locations. Because the system is internet based, with access available to all relevant and approved personnel, the data contained can be utilised at any time from any location. This means delays in waiting for reports to be analysed and returned have become a thing of the past, allowing for instant centralised management of drivers, vehicles and tachograph data. All data is securely stored and backed up, the information is held in an extremely safe, secure and centralised environment. There are many additional
‘There are no upfront costs to use Tachograph Analysis Service’
The company is well versed at helping operators transition away from analogue tachographs
Pete Thomson, Director at Lloyd Morgan Group
LMG helps ensure licenses are valid
features available on the system via the dashboard where information can be recorded and stored, available at no extra charge. There are no upfront costs to use Tachograph Analysis Service. It is operated on a pay-as-you-go basis.
soon. All future vehicle inspections and audits undertaken by the company’s inspectors and auditors will input as the work takes place. This will allow clients to have access online through their own gateway to their records of all the work LMG has completed for them. This will also include access to statistics to allow the operator to complete trend analysis to assist operators moving forward as a business. This is a secure site with secure logins and passwords.
LMG DRIVER LICENCE CHECKS
Whether a business has two drivers or 20,000 drivers, LMGlicence is the solution to effectively managing licence checks without taking vast amounts of staff time and relying on staff to provide their licences. The LMGlicence check service can be used in conjunction with LMG’s tachogaph analysis system, enabling operators to store and monitor all their data in one secure, safe place. The system can also be used independently if this suits business requirements. LMGlicence is a comprehensive and effective online tool for managing the driving licences
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of any member of staff driving on behalf of the company. It will safeguard compliance with regulations and provides evidence to the authorities that the operators has effective systems and processes in place to ensure employees are entitled to drive. As this is an online system, there are various reports that can be generated to interrogate the information received from the DVLA – for example how many drivers have three or more points on their licence or whose photo id is due for renewal. It is recommended that staff licences are checked quarterly. Using LMGlicence is an easy, factual and fast process. Online support is available for both systems, or LMG can provide in-house training.
VEHICLE INSPECTION SERVICE LMG’s new vehicle inspection software will be available very
LMGSHOPPER
LMG’s new online shopper is now available offering a wide range of Tachograph Supplies, PPE and also the day-to-day paperwork, with all orders delivered direct to the operator’s depot.
co.uk
T: 01543 879505/897535 W: www.lloydmorgangroup.
www.coachandbusweek.com
02/02/2015 15:39
700811-1129-LloydMorgan FP 02/02/2015 09:00 Page 1
Driver CPC Periodic Training Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Compliance Services Digital and analogue tachograph analysis Specialist vehicle Inspection training with optional IRTEC accreditation DRIVING LICE
NCE
Driver Licence Checks
“Your flexible compliance partner” If you would like further information please call 01543 897505 Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TELEMATICS & TACHOGRAPHS MIX TELEMATICS
Ipswich Buses, the council-owned company which provides bus services in and around Ipswich, has renewed its �leet management contract with MiX Telematics. Since �irst opting for MiX Telematics’ Fleet Manager Solution in the spring of 2011, Ipswich Buses has recorded sustained fuel savings and now enjoys a top rating for passenger satisfaction in the independently-conducted Passenger Focus survey. “We began saving fuel as soon as the system was installed across our 85-vehicle �leet,” reported Ipswich Buses Operations Manager, Dean Robbie. “Those savings have remained a constant for us since then. While it is obviously important that we should minimise our fuel consumption, the fact that the passenger experience has been so enhanced by Fleet Manager is a critical factor for us. “Nothing is of greater concern to us than the safety and comfort of those we carry, so we were delighted to be voted the UK’s second highest performing bus
Ipswich Buses first opted for MiX Telematics’ Fleet Manager in 2011 company in the annual Passenger Focus passenger satisfaction survey. This was a key reason for renewing our contract with MiX Telematics.” For Ipswich Buses, an integral part of delivering an enhanced customer service is the in-cab RIBAS systems �itted every vehicle in its �leet. These provide the driver with an instant alert if one of �ive driving-style parameters is in danger of being exceeded.
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The parameters covered are over-revving (R), excessive idling (I), harsh braking (B), harsh acceleration (A) and over-speeding (S). When the vehicle is being driven within the limits of its parameters, RIBAS displays a single green light. When a parameter is close to being exceeded an amber light displays, giving the driver an opportunity to make a correction to his or her driving style. If the parameter
should be exceeded, a red light is displayed and the infringement recorded by the system. All data captured by Fleet Manager, including RIBAS infringement data, is relayed to MiX Telematics’ secure server, which generates customisable reports for the operator. “We have opted for ‘RAG’ (red-amber-green) reports, which indicate a driver’s overall performance and thereby provide us with a mechanism to determine where additional training may be required,” said Dean Robbie. “The fact of that matter is that our drivers have responded extremely well to Fleet Manager, as demonstrated by our improved fuel performance and passenger experience results. “Accordingly, we see few red reports and are overall extremely satis�ied with the long-term bene�its delivered by our investment in MiX Telematics’ service.”
T: 0121 717 5385 W: www.mixtelematics.co.uk
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02/02/2015 15:39
SYNECTICS
Winter weather takes its toll on coaches and buses, with harsh driving conditions leading to more wear and tear and potentially a higher risk of accidents. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Synectics – a technology leader in coach and bus CCTV – is suggesting to coach and bus drivers that now is the time to show their vehicle and passengers a little more love. Synectics’ advanced journey analysis and data management system, Genius, facilitates a low-risk approach to transport management. This cab-mounted telematics system provides drivers with instant feedback on their performance through its easyto-understand green, amber and red LED feedback indicators. This creates a focus on the most fuelef�icient way in which to complete the journey, achieving more miles to the gallon. The pro-active Genius automatically collects vehicle and driver data, including spells of excessive vehicle movement, acceleration, and braking, and
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picks up on speeding and cornering. Through real-time analysis, it encourages a driver who could be under stress, or coping with heavy traf�ic or poor weather conditions, to rectify their driving behaviour. This ensures a smoother journey for passengers and lowers the odds of having to make an insurance claim – something insurers look at favourably when setting premiums. Synectics’ Genius has been proven to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, as well as wear and tear, delivering bene�its in the form of lower running costs and increased vehicle longevity. It also identi�ies route and journey hotspots – the points at which problems are predicted to peak. The in-cab assistant, with a 2MB internal cache, provides a suite of reports that can dovetail with a driver training programme, to optimise a vehicle’s on-theroad performance. Reports highlight driver, vehicle and route performance and can be viewed
The Genius telematics system from Synectics
online in a web browser, or downloaded as an Excel �ile. With map-plotting of events and incidents during the journey, it offers all the data a �leet manager requires to draw comparisons between vehicles and assess what could be corrected, or which routes could be changed to avoid problematic hotspots. This could perhaps be where a vehicle idles for too long, or excessive use of clutch and brake is required. By automatically checking that all CCTV systems are fully operational during vehicle start up, drivers have the assurance of knowing that monitoring is in place – important in cases of accidents, or incidents
on board involving passengers or theft. Jeff Fail, Managing Director at Synectics, said: “Genius is a valuable asset for any �leet manager looking to lower costs and insurance premiums and enhance driver performance. It is neat, pro-active and performs the vehicle data health-checks that lead to total peace of mind.”
T: 01253 891222 W: www.synecticsmobile.com
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 51 02/02/2015 15:39
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TELEMATICS & TACHOGRAPHS TRAFFILOG
Traf�ilog demonstrates that its comprehensive range of devices has the ability to provide technology that will go far beyond an initial three year contract. Traf�ilog customers can expect to match and exceed the potential cost savings and ef�iciency measures anticipated by operators using traditional telematics. It is widely recognised that fuel consumption and maintenance bills make up over 30% of the total cost of owning a vehicle. Both factors are affected by driving style. It’s Traf�ilog’s proven technology that makes it easy to understand why companies like the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Travel de Courcey, National Express, and Travel West Midlands are turning to one of the world’s leading telematics company, Traf�ilog. Traf�ilog empowers drivers to adopt a better driving style and encourages self-management. With real-time driver feedback indicating driving events that are unsafe and uneconomical, the driver is aware of the need to adopt a safer and more fuel-ef�icient driving style. The mechanical driver skills are a unique part of the Traf�ilog’s real time remote diagnostics module. Remote diagnostics is enabled by the telematics hardware’s special ability to connect to the vehicle’s ECU via CAN bus (Controller Area Network), a standard automotive communication protocol used to communicate between the various engine parts / sensors and the managing computer. This unique capability allows Traf�ilog to read, analyse, display and build a set of critical events based on the various parameters that are found on the CAN. These parameters help to create events for preventive maintenance of the vehicles but more importantly, also analyse the driver’s mechanical driving skills moving telematics into a new dimension and not relying on traditional G-sensor driver pro�iling. By combining driver behaviour data from the G-sensor readings along with mechanical driving skills data from the CAN bus, this provides a truly comprehensive picture regarding an individual’s overall driving behaviour. Live diagnostics are needed where engineers or traf�ic of�ice controllers make decisions on how to react to a driver saying there is an issue with a vehicle that is in service. These can be clear-cut issues like a red oil lamp
The Traffilog system provides immediate driver feedback or more unclear issues like amber warnings or strange sounds or smells. By remotely being able to see diagnostic information (oil temperatures, coolant temperatures, RPM, etc.) users can, in many situations, prevent vehicles being brought back to depot without faults, vehicles being driven with faults or engineers/ tow trucks going to vehicles with incorrect information on the actual fault. The Traf�ilog solution supports live diagnostics via the real time diagnostic report. When a user selects this report the system automatically sends a message to the vehicle. This message instructs the telematics unit to continually stream CAN bus data from the vehicle, which is then displayed to
Travel de Courcey is a strong advocate of Traffilog. DAVID BELL
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the user. There have already been many examples of major vehicle failures that have been prevented using this solution within the UK. One Manchester operator managed to identify a vehicle that was driving without enough coolant due to a loose pipe. The driver had not noticed the warning light and was continuing to drive the vehicle not knowing that he was causing irreparable damage to the engine. The traf�ic of�ice contacted the driver and ensured he stopped the vehicle, on investigation when the vehicle was towed to the of�ice it was found that had he continued to drive the entire engine would have needed replacement. The traf�ic of�ice could even tell the tow truck
exactly where to �ind the vehicle thanks to the mapping module within the Traf�ilog system. Whether a user is back in the of�ice, at home or enjoying a holiday, it’s easy to see how each driver is performing on safety and fuel ef�iciency whilst also keeping an eye on the vehicles’ health ensuring that potential downtime is avoided. Traf�ilog’s web-based solution is modular and with automated reports, Traf�ilog makes sure that the relevant facts are delivered to the right person at the right time. Traf�ilog’s greatest asset is the company’s human resources – where a team of world-class researchers and leading experts in the �ields of transportation, communications, logistics and operations, and software development, are teamed with strategic global partners. New customers’ choose their entry level from basic GPS tracking and driver pro�iling to mechanical driver skills and preventative maintenance. Traf�ilog is a privately owned business which is backed by a private group of investors, with of�ices in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. The Group headquarters and development centre are in Israel.
T: 0208 236 0545 E: sales@traffiloguk.com W: www.traffilog.com
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02/02/2015 15:39
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W W W W W What if you could prevent problems W before they happen?
Our expertise is wide reaching and covers three key areas:
Improving driver mechanical skills Assessing & preventing vehicle failures Managed Managed support support for for your your systems systems Managed support for your systems Managed support for your systems Managed support for your systems Managed support for your systems Managed support for your systems
Traffilog UK Traffilog House Elstree Road Elstree Herts WD6 3BS
sales@traffiloguk.com
0208 236 0545
Simply saving you money
INDUSTRY
GUIDE
TELEMATICS & TACHOGRAPHS LYTX
TACHOSYS
Operators who have a coach �itted with a Tachograph unit built in 2010 or later, which is in turn �itted with a 3G or 4G router, could take advantage of a low cost remote tachograph download solution for the vehicle and driver card. The digiDL is recognised as a leading solution for remote download in the UK. Tachosys’ new LAN derivative can plug directly into a coach’s 3G or 4G
router and utilise the existing data SIM. The Tachosys remote download solution allows operators to hold the company card(s) in their of�ices. The card is placed permanently in a card reader on any PC which has a connection to the internet. The digiDL makes a connection via the coach’s in vehicle router over 3G or 4G to the internet and in turn to the
54 | COACH & BUS WEEK | Febraury 3, 2015 046_54_CBW1174_Industry Guide_xx.indd 54
Many companies are installing telematics devices on vehicles within their �leet. However, �leet managers may underestimate the operational burden that can follow the purchase of basic telematics devices. Although initial improvements can be made to driver productivity and safety, eventually the volume of data can become overwhelming, preventing any effective and long-lasting ability to review the actions and alter behaviour. To combat this, Lytx offers a fully managed service that includes exception-based video, telematics and predictive analytics. The Lytx DriveCam Programme uses the data collected to predict the type of risky manoeuvres and collisions that drivers are likely to be involved in based on their driving habits. The information is then prioritised and passed to �leet managers in manageable updates, so that they can then use the data to help drivers make positive changes to their driving habits. A survey by Shell last year found that two-thirds of UK �leet managers felt that driver behaviour was a key component to reducing �leet fuel
consumption. But in this case, nearly all of the respondents said that they were only able to act on a fraction of the insight they had received due to resource issues. In order to fully capitalise on the technology that is now available, �leet managers need to make the most of their time and resources without suffering from data overload. The Lytx DriveCam Programme can provide this and more. Fleet managers can be con�ident that the data they analyse is not misleading, which can sometimes be the case when relying on only one form of data collection device. Lytx’s managed service empowers �leet managers to make key decisions to improve their �leet. The programme will also bene�it in-house coaches, directing their coaching with more speci�ic information to help drivers become better, safer drivers. Lytx was founded in 1998 as DriveCam inc. It rebranded itself to Lytx in November 2013, and today employs more than 240 people.
company card(s). Downloaded data can be passed to the operator’s online analysis provider or collected locally using a digicentral-local server. Operators could save up to three man days per vehicle per year by automating the tachograph download process and at the same time protect their O-licence. If the vehicle is not �itted with WiFi, there are still cost effective
options using GPRS or 3G. Tachosys is a trading name of Prosys Development Services. The company is a leading provider of Digital Tachograph hardware and software solutions. Established in 1991, the company is headquartered in Reigate, Surrey, UK.
T: 0208 834 1062 W: http://lytx.co.uk
T: 0208 687 3900 W: www.tachosys.com
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02/02/2015 15:39
THE BEST WEBSITE FOR BUYING AND SELLING VEHICLES OVER one Million AD VIEWS Since november 2011 Operators - advertise your vehicles for sale on coachandbusmarket.com from just 35p per day with a Market Unlimited package for ÂŁ129 +VAT per year. Unlimited online vehicle-for-sale advertisements on coachandbusmarket.com Up to 4 per week of 5x1 print advertisements in Coach&BusWeek magazine Half price recruitment ads in Coach&BusWeek magazine 3 annual digital subscriptions to coachandbusweek.com *NEW* exclusive discounts, across the range of LLOYD MORGAN services
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2003 Setra 315 GTHD
1998 Volvo B10M Enigma
1992 Setra 215 HD
2009 Iveco Library Bus
49 recliner seats with retractable seat belts, magazine nets, foot rests, individual tables, DVD + 2 monitors, centre toilet, centre power door, boiler, dash fridge, air con, Eminox exhaust 2015, Mercedes 6 cylinder engine, Merc 6 speed box, test September 2015.
49 recliner seats with retractable belts, DVD + monitor, centre toilet and door, Volvo engine, ZF gearbox, test until August 2015.
53 seats, MAN engine, MOT Nov 2015.
Euro 5, superb example, as new, all keys and manuals, only 29,000 miles warranted, direct council, viewing on site in Manchester.
£37,500 + VAT o.n.o.
£15,000 + VAT o.n.o.
£5,000 ono
£25,000 o.n.o.
07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com
07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com
Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425
Tel: 0161 223 3882 juliej@stoodley.co.uk
2003/03 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI UVG Treka
2002/02 Mercedes 814 Vario Plaxton Beaver 2
2008/08 LDV Maxus 3.5T 95 LWB (euromotive) Welfare
17 seater, welfare/accessible, Sprintshift, front entry, power door, COIF, tacho, MOT, 160,000kms, very good all round order.
29 seater, automatic, tacho, big MOT, power door, 283k.
6 seater, internal AMF-Bruns chair lift, full tracking, Eberspacher, AVS, A/C, 103K.
£7,450 + VAT
£11,950 + VAT
£6,495 + VAT
B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390
B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390
B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390
2012 Mercedes Benz Sprinter
2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 515
New Mercedes Benz Sprinter Grand Tourer
2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Minicoach
Automatic, graphite grey, power door, panoramic roof & windows, privacy glass, coach rear end, large drop boot, 16 leather seats, 15 monitor + DVD player, Euroliners, 3 point seat belts, air con front & rear, 100,000 miles, coolbox, MOT Oct 15.
Manual gearbox, 252,000 miles, white, manual entry door, double rear doors, large drop boot, full draw curtains, 16 moquette seats, air con front & rear, luggage racks.
7 speed G Tronic auto, power door, panoramic saloon side windows and windscreen, powered elevating boot door, large boot and side lockers, 19 leather seats + driver + courier, air con.
16 moquette seats, automatic, manual entry as well as saloon sliding door, luggage racks, full drawn curtains, double rear doors, monitor/DVD.
£47,500 + VAT
£25,000 + VAT
£POA
£28,500 + VAT
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
56 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
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VEHICLES
1996 Dennis Lance
2003 (53) Volvo B12M
2000 Dennis Dart
2000 Neoplan Starliner N513 Tourer
47 belted seats, excellent condition, long or new MOT, excellent reliability, choice of three vehicles, 2nd owner from new, ex Brighton and Hove.
51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, Berkoff, LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition. NOW £44,000 – MAY CONSIDER PX
Low floor, seating capacity 30 including driver. £3,500 + VAT
60 leather seats, comfort shift, resprayed, PSVD & seatbelt cert, toilet with hand dryer, sink, 3 x TVs, satnav, DVD, fridge, air con, electric sunroof, alloys.
01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd
Tel: 01291 625449 chepstowclassic@btconnect.com
Call Carl on 00353 86857 0885
1996 Caetano Optimo
1996 Volvo Olympian Alexander RH
2003 Dennis Trident 2 SLF Alexander - choice
£POA
Peakes Coaches – 07773 793239
Volvo B12B Sleeper
£24,000 NO OFFERS
• 18 seats • MOT January 2015 ZF auto, 14 berth sleeper, Euro 4 LEZ, static AC/heating, 240v, alloy wheels, normal band bus stuff! MOT June 2015, good condition for age.
• Good runner
£3,500 + VAT
£19,500 + VAT
01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk
L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622
2002 Bova Futura
2002 Iveco Beaulas
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.
78 seats + 10 standees, from our own fleet, Cummins L10 engine, August MOT. £4,950 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
62 seats + 20 standees, Cummins euro 1V / ZF, conversion to single door available – please call for details. Daf DB250 Plaxton & Alexander double deckers also available. £15,500 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk
Nigel McCree
Automatic gearbox, air conditioned, twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge, 49 seats, Euro 3, MOT March 15.
£40,000 + VAT
£25,000 + VAT
L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622
L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622
2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere Euro 3
2009 Iveco Plaxton Panther TWO LEFT
Choice of 2 remaining Coaches from 8. 48 x 3 point belted seats + crew, air con, saloon mounted WC, rear continental door, MOT November 2014. £POA – NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED
Nigel McCree - 07817 542113
ZF auto, 61 seats, Euro 5, A/C, 3 point seat belts, crew seat, reverse camera, huge locker space, Webasto, good condition, MOT April 2015.
£00,000 + VAT
01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk
2001 Volvo B10M Berkhof Axial
1998 DAF SB3000
50 reclining seats, TV/DVD, PA, fridge, hot drinks servery, air con, Webasto, alloy wheels. Last coach remaining. £23,750 + VAT
13 berths sleeper coach, static AC/heating, 240v, normal band bus stuff, towbar, MOT Feb 2015, good condition for age.
Snowcoach Holidays 01727 866177 / 07831 612125
01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
£9,500 + VAT
2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere 48 x 3 point belted seats, 1 crew seat, can be 53 or 55 easily. Air conditioned. Full service history. Saloon mounted w/c. Rear conti door.
£32,000 + VAT ovno Direct from Shearings Holidays fleet
Tel: 01805 938036 Mob: 07817 542113 Email: nigel@nigelmccree.com Insurance Insurance Stock updated weekly on the website:
www.nigelmccree.com SHORT OF CASH? RE-FINANCE YOUR VEHICLES WITH US – CALL 07808 856390
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 57
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Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com
VEHICLES 1996 Scania Irizar Century
1994 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 350
1999 Volvo B7R Plaxton Prima
2010 VDL Futura FHD 127.365PR
67/70 seats, luggage racks, curtains, 3 point belts, reading lights, power door, double glazing, ZF automatic gearbox, DVD monitor, tinted windows, Telma Retarda, air conditioning, underfloor lockers.
49 reclining coach seats, lap retractable belts, N/S/R floor mounted toilet, ZF auto, tachograph, power door, aisle carpet, radio/CD, air con, newly retrimmed seats, curtains, new repaint in white, double glazed.
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.
53 reclining seats, seatback tables, courier seat, plug door, double glazing, air con, radio/AP/CD audio, DVD and monitors, centre sunken toilet, water boiler, fridge, continental exit with powered door, Webasto, reverse camera, cruise control, digitacho, retarder, automatic.
£17,500 + VAT
CHOICE OF 2 – £9,000 + VAT
£25,000 + VAT
£POA
Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524
Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524
Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
1998 Dennis Dart ALX200
2000/2001 X/Y Reg Volvo B7TL’S
FORD TRANSIT 115 17 SEAT BUS OCT 2011 61 REG PSV, COIF AND TACHO ONLY 39K MILES READY TO WORK £13,950 + VAT
37 seats or 33 plus 1 wheelchair, manual ramp, Cummins engine, Allison auto gearbox, power door, new MOT, very tidy.
£4,500 + VAT
Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524
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
www.staffordbuscentre.com
Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com
EnsignBus 01708 865656
Low Floor Euro 6 Sprinter 516 or 519
New EVM Sprinter 516 Classic
2011 Volkswagen Crafter
2006 Mercedes Benz Vito 111 CDI
Maximum seating capacity of 22 mixed between seating/standing and wheelchair, multiple drop box combinations for luggage storage.
7 speed GTronic gearbox, white, new EVM plug type door, saloon privacy glazing, decorative curtains, 22 seats + driver, Euroliners, EVM chrome pack, saloon air con, 3 years unlimited mileage chassis warranty.
16 seats finished in moquette, manual, white, large boot, double rear doors, panoramic windows, curtains, emergency exit in saloon, 63,500 miles.
8 seats, 202,000 miles, twin sliding saloon door, large boot, 6 speed manual, in-dash & saloon air con, MOT March, clean & tidy vehicle, been very well maintained.
£POA
£54,750 + VAT
£28,500 + VAT
£4,800
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
EVM Direct – 0845 5205160
2010 Optare Versa
2008 Iveco Eurorider Beulas Cygnus
WANTED MERCEDES COACHES 1999 to present year,16 to 35 seats, finance settled, with or without MOT, accident damage etc.
MAN Euro 5 engine, airport spec, only 93,000 miles since new. £POA
EnsignBus 01708 865656
53 seats + courier, 3 point seat belts OR 49 reclining seats with ONE wheelchair position, plug door, air con, wheelchair lift & access, radio/PA/CD, DVD & monitor, fridge, continental door, driver’s safe, cruise control, digital tachograph, integral retarder, automatic.
CONTACT TIM FOR AN IMMEDIATE DECISION
£POA
Tel: 01404 47502 / 07790 966667 Email: parnell-coaches@supanet.com
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
2008 VDL Futura FHD 127.365
2005 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle
2004 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle
53 reclining seats with leather headrests, seatback tables, courier seat, plug entrance door, double glazing, air con, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD and monitors, centre toilet, water boiler, fridge, continental exit, Webasto, reverse camera, cruise control, digital tacho, retarder, automatic.
63 reclining seats, leather headrest inserts, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air conditioning, CD audio, video & monitor, double glazing, manual transmission, intarder, Webasto.
63 reclining seats, leather headrests, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air conditioning, CD audio, wired for DVD, double glazing, manual transmission, intarder, Webasto.
£POA
£POA
£POA
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
2001 Y Reg Tridents
Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats. Why pay more for less. FROM £18,000 + VAT
EnsignBus 01708 865656 www.coachandbusweek.com
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VEHICLES Scania Irizar Century K114
Ford Transit 17 seat minibus
2005 Sunsundegai
2009 Levante
Full executive specification, ZF automatic, based on Volvo B12M, 49 reclining seats, moquette trim, crew seat, air con, sunken mid WC, DVD, radio & PA, air-suspension driver’s seat.
National Express specification, disabled access lift, Alcolock, automatic, reclining seats with leather trim, air con, washroom, powered lockers, radio & PA, air-suspension driver’s seat.
Immaculate condition throughout, in-dash air conditioning, recent new clutch and flywheel.
£60,000 – 4 AVAILABLE
£89,000 – 2 AVAILABLE
£11,500
Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944
Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944
keith.cabincoaches@gmail.com
2005 Volkswagen
1997 Volvo B12R Jonckheere Monaco
Low floor disabled access vehicle, suitable for wheelchair-bound and able bodied passengers.
£6,000 – 2 AVAILABLE
71 reclining seats including lap belts, leather headrests and footrests, courier seat, manual crew door, powered centre entrance door, air con, radio/PA/cassette, DVD and monitors, toilet compartment, servery unit, fridge, two lower saloon tables, Telma retarder, cruise control.
£POA
53 seats (no toilet) ZF auto. 480,000 km. Good tyres, good condition, ready for work. LEZ Eminox exhaust, recent service. Sale due to purchase of another coach.
£46,000
Cabin Coaches Tel: 07725 252402
VOLVO OLYMPIAN ALEXANDER BODY 1998 WITH PVT PLATE FITTED WITH 78 SEATS WITH BELTS MOT AUG 2015 READY TO GO £9,950 + VAT
www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com
Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
Volvo B10M
Volvo B10M
BMC Service Bus
Mercedes Sprinter
55 seats, two available. £POA
53 seats, several M reg coaches available. £POA
57 service seats plus the driver, 12m, 3 point belts, air suspension, front destination, power door, taillift, auto gearbox, Cummins engine, luggage racks.
16 highback coach seats + driver, side sliding door, 6 speed gearbox, luggage pen, courier seat, air con, electric windows, central locking, steering wheel controls, electric side step, Ad Blue tank, digital tacho, Bluetooth.
Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com
Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com
£POA
£POA
Blythswood Motors 0141 889 9730
Blythswood Motors 0141 889 9730
2002 Scania Irizar K114
Ford Tourneo Custom 300L
Volvo B10M
2006 Volvo B12M
57 seats. £POA
51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, auto, Berkoff LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition. NOW £65,000
NOW £37,000
94bhp, 8 leather seats + driver, 6 speed gearbox, air con, electric mirrors & windows, central locking, alloys, parking sensors, auto lights, park pilot, auto start/stop, heated front seats, Bluetooth, heated screens, cruise control.
Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542
Blythswood Motors 0141 889 9730
Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com
01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd
2006 ADL East Lancs Esteem
2001 Scania L94UB Wright
2004 Dennis Enviro 300 Service Bus
2013 Volkswagen Transporter
25 seats, automatic, air con, manual front and back destination, electric middle ramp, CCTV cameras, assault screen, LEZ compliant.
44 seats, automatic ZF gearbox, LED front, side & rear destination, front manual ramp.
8 seats, manual gearbox, air conditioning, 3 point inertia seat belts, plain silver with no previous livery. £21,500
Ventura Sales 01342 835206
49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 21/5/15, excellent condition.
£POA
£POA
£12,995
44 seats, automatic gearbox, LED front, side & rear destinationm front manual ramp, DDA compliant, MOT until May 2015. £24,995
Ventura Sales 01342 835206
Ventura Sales 01342 835206
Ventura Sales 01342 835206
www.coachandbusweek.com
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59
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Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com
VEHICLES 1999 Dennis Dart SLF
33 seats + 19 standees, MOT July 2015, choice of 3.
2005 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI
16 seat luxury minicoach, air con, mood lighting, London compliant, PSV MOT, COIF, extended rear, huge boot, in superb condition, one owner, loads of history, alarm, reverse sensors etc, top spec vehicle, panoramic windows, ready to go staight to work.
2004 Dennis Tridents
2001 Mercedes 814D
Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, LEZ compliant, DDA compliant, Alexander ALX400 bodies, dual door 67 seats or single door 77 seats.
27 seats with 3-point belts, RPC, manual, MOT April 2015.
£POA
Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk 01795 423982
£6,995 + VAT
£12,500 + VAT
Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982
01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com
2001 Setra 315 GTHD
2011 61 plate Sitcar Marlin
49 seats, full executive, Merc V8, LEZ compliant, MOT Apr 2015 .
33 seat + guide, finished in Moquette and leather, carpeted, A/C, PA & DVD, MOT Oct 2015, 123k kms
£28,000 ono
£85,000 + VAT
16 highback coach seats + driver, side sliding door, 6 speed gearbox, luggage pen, courier seat, air con, electric windows, central locking, steering wheel controls, electric side step, Ad Blue tank, digital tacho, Bluetooth.
Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425
Grange Travel – 01474 357743 info@grange-travel.co.uk
£POA
12.8 metre, 55 seat executive, automatic, air con, centre sunken WC, clean & tidy. £50,000 + VAT
Blythswood Motors 0141 889 9730
Nigel McCree - 07817 542113
2011 Volvo B9 Plaxton Panther
1998 Bova Futura FHD
2009 Scania PB Irizar ZF
2002 Volvo B12M VanHool T9
Manual, 12.2m, 70 Cogent seats + driver + courier, curtains, air conditioning, 3 point belts, double glazing, MOT Aug 2015, mileage 742,541 km.
Automatic, 49 seats + courier + driver, centre sunken WC, continental door, fridge, air conditioning, radio/ PA, CD player, twin monitors, double glazing, curtains, alloy wheels, 350,000km, new MOT.
Manual, 12.2 metre, 49 seats + courier + driver, power entrance door, centre sunken WC, lap belts, luggage rack locker doors, fridge, boiler, radio/PA, DVD, monitor, air conditioning, new MOT.
Automatic, 12.8m, 61 seats + courier + driver, power entrance door, 3 point seat belts, rear continental door, radio/P/A, CD player, air-con, LEZ compliant, MOT September 2015, 157,519 km.
EnsignBus 01708 865656
Mercedes Sprinter
£14,950 + VAT
2005 Scania K114 Berkhof Axial
£POA
£POA
£POA
£POA
Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501
Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501
Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501
Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501
2008 Mercedes Sprinter 311 CDI
2000 Mercedes Vario 614 7HO
16 seat front entry luxury coach, PSV, COIF, electric windows, Elite Conversion, forced air, rack lights etc, rear seats on quick release tracking, like new inside and out, drives superb, 120K miles, digi tacho.
24 seater, power door, private plate, manual, 3 point belts, low mileage, wood dash kit, very good condition, drives great, long PSV MOT, COIF.
£15,000 + VAT – MAY PX
£8,000 + VAT – MAY PX
01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com
01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com
Dennis ‘R’ Series Plaxton Panther
Optare Solo Slimline
53 reclining seats, 3 point seat belts, courier seat, plug entrance door, double glazing, air conditioning, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD and monitor, AS-Tronic transmission, intarder, LEZ compliant.
£POA
Mercedes engine, 3 point seat belts, low floor, wheelchair access and tacho. Sale due to loss of contracts.
Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South
gillandersabbeycars@yahoo.co.uk
£20,000
60 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
www.coachandbusweek.com
p61_CBW_1174.qxp 02/02/2015 13:13 Page 61
www.coachandbusmarket.com 2000 MAN VanHool EOS 90
48 reclining seats plus courier, WC/washroom, double glazed windows, forced-air ventilation, radio/CD and PA system, clean condition, MOT Jan, 640,000 kms.
£21,500
Coachtraders - 01501 744000
Mercedes Benz UNVI Touring
Atego chassis, air suspension, 41 Esteban Ergos seats with 3 pt belts, in Holdsworth moquette, courier seat, air con, double glazed, radio/CD/PA, large luggage capacity, new test.
VEHICLES 2004 Mercedes Sprinter 311D Traveliner LWB
2009 MAN 18.400 BEULAS CYGNUS 53 SEAT + CREW SEAT AIR CON, SAT NAV, ASTRONIC GEARBOX, NEW MOT CHOICE OF 3
16 seats, LEZ compliant, 161,000km, PSV MOT Sept 2015, analogue tacho, good reliable coach in good condition.
£89,950 Sea View Coaches Tel: 01202 741439 info@seaviewcoaches.com
2005 (55 reg) Mercedes Vario 814 LWB
19 reclining seats, quality conversion, air-con, large boot, LEZ compliant Euro 4, 281,000km, FSH, owned from new, MOT Nov 2015.
2008 Volvo B7
£6,595 + VAT
Rainham Coach Co Ltd, Kent 01634 852020/07850 657653
New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516cdi
Euro 5, 43 seats, 30 standing, DDA, RPC, Esteem bodied buses. Choice of 4.
19 seats, power door, panoramic d/g windows, in-dash A/C, saloon forced air, large luggage space, bulkhead and deep drop boot, UK chassis, 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty. £POA
£18,950 + VAT
£78,500 + VAT
Rainham Coach Co Ltd, Kent 01634 852020/07850 657653
Heritage Coaches Tel Russell – 01403 711238
2003 Mercedes 614D
2002 Scania Irizar Century
2003 Dennis Dart
15 seats or 6 wheelchairs, wheelchair lift, MOT May 2015.
49 re-trimmed seats, toilet, air-con, auto, MOT May 2015.
£4,750 + VAT
£37,500 + VAT
Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982
Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982
Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426
2011 VW Crafter CR50 TDI L MAXI H-R
2006 Ford Transit 430E
2007 LDV Maxus LWB EHR 15STR
2011 Vauxhall Vivaro Combi LWB Tecshift
16 seats, front entry, luggage racks with blown air and reading lights, show curtains and large boot area. £28,495 + VAT
16 seats, side loading door, 3 point seat belts, rear emergency exit, radio/cassette, tachograph, MOT till Oct 2015. £5,495 + VAT
14 seats + driver, digital tacho, 3 point seatbelts, headrests, side loading door, COIF at cost. £4,995 + VAT
Very well maintained, massive boot via lift up tailgate rear, bodywork in very good condition for mileage. £11,995 + VAT
UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk
UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk
UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk
UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk
1998 Mercedes Sprinter
Volvo B7 Optare Esteem
£POA
Coachtraders - 01501 744000
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 www.coachandbusweek.com
Coachtraders - 01501 744000
2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515cdi
Cummins/Allison, Plaxton Pointer body, 47 seats with 45 belted, test 30th June 2015, immaculate throughout, spare gearbox also included.
Offers invited – need space for new vehicles!
UNVI Vega conversion, 16 seats, large d/g windows, A/C, saloon forced air, large boot space, deep drop boot, 190k miles, good condition, new test, can re-paint at extra cost. £24,950 ono + VAT
Coachtraders - 01501 744000
2002 Scania VanHool K124
EURO 5 – RPC 43 SEATS, 30 STANDING FULLY DDA COMPLIANT CHOICE OF 4 AVAILABLE WOULD DO A BULK DEAL
49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 30/9/14, excellent condition.
£78,500 + VAT
NOW £39,000
Round and About – Telephone 01293 852032
Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61
704845-1174-Ensign.qxp_Layout 1 02/02/2015 14:38 Page 1
Ensig DOUBLE DECK 2011 11 plate OPTARE SOLO SRs
2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814
9.95m long, 35 DP seats, DDA compliant, Cummins 6 cylinder engines.
manual, 23 coach seats, side wheelchair lift, tacho, boot, luggage racks.
2002-2005 MERCEDES VARIO 814s Good selection, various specs with and without 3 point belts, all manual gearboxes.
2005 55 PLATE OPTARE SOLO M880 Cummins engine, 28 seats, new MOT.
2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENT
2002 MINI POINTER DART
Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, Plaxton bodies, DDA and LEZ compliant, 78 seats.
8.8m, Cummins ISB / Allison, 29 seats, DDA compliant.
2000 VOLVO B7TL
2004 54 PLATE OPTARE SOLO
Voith gearbox, Euro 2, 80 seats, painted white, new MOT.
2003 53 PLATE DENNIS DART SLFs 10.1m, Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, 36 seats, LEZ and DDA compliant.
2006 VOLVO B12M I-Shift, LEZ compliant, Plaxton Panther body, 50 seats, air-con, toilet and servery.
Mercedes engine, M920, 33 seats Hanover destination, DDA compliant.
2002 DENNIS DARTS Cummins Euro 3 / Allison, Plaxton Pointer bodies, dual door, 30 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant, can be converted to single door. ABS fitted – ideal driver trainers
1998 R REG VOLVO B10M Voith automatic, 48 DP seats, long MOT.
OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -
Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 8 Visit our website for current s
704845-1174-Ensign.qxp_Layout 1 02/02/2015 14:38 Page 2
nbus
K ER SPECIALIST 1997 VOLVO OLYMPIAN Volvo Euro 2 engine, Voith gearbox, Alexander RH part open top, 74 seats.
2001 Y REG TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats.
1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENTS
£18,000 + VAT
Cummins C series engines, ZF gearbox, East Lancs bodies, 74 seats, long MOT’s
2010 OPTARE VERSA
2001 & 2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS
MAN Euro 5 engine, Allison gearbox, currently airport spec with 23 x 3 point belted seats, but could be 37 seats with 3 point belts.
ISC Euro 3 engines, DDA and LEZ compliant, Alexander ALX 400 bodies, 62 seats dual door or can be upseated and converted to single door.
2007 ENVIRO 200
2000 X REG VOLVO B7TLs
Cummins Euro 4 , Voith gearbox, East Lancs body, 9.4m, 26 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.
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.
Euro 2, LEZ compliant, Plaxton President , CCTV, dual door 62 seats or single door 74 seats. £9,000 + VAT
2003 DENNIS DART SLF Cummins ISB Euro 3 engine, Caetano body, 27 seats, dual door, single door option available. ABS fitted – ideal driver trainers
2005 NEOPLAN SKYLINER 89 seats, air-con, toilet, MAN engine, ZF gearbox.
2008 57 PLATE OPTARE VERSAS 10.8m long, 38 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins 6 cylinder engines.
1996 VOLVO B10MA ARTICULATED COACHES
- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS ZF automatics, 71 seats.
Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com
p64_CBW_1174.qxp 02/02/2015 11:24 Page 64
Call Tim 01404 47502 or 07790 966667 Email: parnell-coaches@supanet.com
16 seater, luxury minicoach, air con, mood lighting, London compliant, PSV MOT, COIF, extended rear, in superb condition, one owner from new, drives excellent, loads of history, alarm, reverse sensors etc, top spec vehicle, panoramic windows, ready to go staight to work. £14750
2002 Mercedes Vario 815 Sitcar Beluga
1999 Mercedes Vario 814 Plaxton Cheetah
Mercedes Vario 814 Plaxton Beaver
2005 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI
Air-con, manual, 25 reclining seats + crew seat, COIF’d at 27, will take 29 seats, wood dash etc, tidy coach, drives well, may PX. £14,999 + VAT
29 seater, PSV MOT, drives well, manual gearbox, 3 point belts etc, bodywork straight, paintwork a little dull, original interior, May PX. £10,750 + VAT
Boot, manual, 3 point belts, private plate included, wood dash, new tyres and brakes etc and a brand new MOT, COIF. £7,999 + VAT
16 seats, air con, LEZ compliant, PSV MOT, COIF, alarm, reverse sensors, panoramic windows etc, top spec vehicle, ready to work. £12,500 + VAT
D
L O S
Mercedes Vario 814 Plaxton Beaver
31 belted seats, manual gearbox, good runner, taken in PX. £5,999 + VAT
64 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
2008 Mercedes Sprinter
PSV, COIF, 6 speed, very nice Elite Conversion, forced air, rack lights etc, rear seats on quick release tracking, may PX. £15,000 + VAT
2000 Mercedes Vario 614
Power door, manual, 3 point belts, low mileage, wood dash kit, very good condition, drives great, long PSV MOT, COIF, may PX. £8,000 + VAT
WANTED: MERCEDES COACHES
1999 to present year, 16 to 35 seats, finance settled, with or without MOT, accident damage, etc.
www.coachandbusweek.com
702678-1173-Moseley Dist 26/01/2015 13:13 Page 1
p66_CBW_1174.qxp 02/02/2015 13:26 Page 66
SETRA 415 GT-HD
SCANIA IRIZAR i6
12.0 metre, 49 seats, toilet, air conditioning, DoFR April 2008, MoT January 2016.
12.5 metre, 53 seats, toilet, air conditioning, DoFR March 2013, MoT March 2016.
£89,000 + VAT
£189,000 + VAT
ALL OVER WHITE • AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY • PICTURES AVAILABLE
Talisman coach lines The
Stafford Bus Centre Specialist Bus & Coach Sales
01206 252472
VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR SHORT AND LONGER TERM HIRE
www.staffordbuscentre.com
Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com
FORD TRANSIT FACTORY 16/17 SEAT BUS 59 reg with 38K miles, tacho, new COIF and PSV MOT £12,950 Also 10 reg £13,950 Others also available
BLUEBIRD AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS 2000 W reg Fitted from new with 60 high back coach seats, fully repainted and long MOT, ready to go. "What a machine for little money" £6,950
MERCEDES SPRINTER 616 CDI 56 & 06 reg 24 seats and full DDA spec 1 and 2, manual gearbox, very rare £18,950
MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2001 Y reg 29 bus seats with belts, full body overhaul where needed and repaint into white, long or new test £9,950
LEYLAND OLYMPIAN TRI AXLE 1993 but reg’d in UK 2004 Fitted with 87 belted seats and 28 standing, Nov 15 MOT. £9,950
MERCEDES 814 VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2004 54 REG. Fitted with 20 seats on tracking, and up to 10 wheelchairs, SOLDgearbox, power door, PSV, COIF and MoT, manual destination etc. long wheel base so could go to 32 seats. £14,950 IVECO DAILY 45 15 LWB HIGH ROOF 2005 55 REG. 16 seats wheelchair accessible with power door, new MoT £5,950 DENNIS DART PLAXTON SUPER POINTER. 47 fully belted D L seats, ideal for schools SO £9,450 DAF PLAXTON PREMIER 1996 PP. Fitted with 55 seats, automatic gearbox, new MOT upon sale £9,950
VW CR50 WITH STANFORD CONVERSION 2007 07 REG. Very expensive and high spec conversion by Stamford who are recognised as the best in the industry, fitted with 14 high back seats with 3 point belts, Palfinger Hideaway tail lift and capacity to carry up to 9 passengers and 2 wheelchairs, it has only covered just over 60k miles from new and is in outstanding condition, all paperwork and spare keys, ready to go £17,950
ADL ENVIRO 300 2006 56 REG. SLF BUS - dual use options, with 60 x 3 point belted seats, LDuse on bus services or SO school contracts. PHONE FOR SPEC AND PRICE DENNIS DART CAETANO CUTLASS. Step entrance with 38 LD contracts etc. £3,450 SOschool seats and 3 point belts. Ideal 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 413D SPRINTER 2004 04 REG. Extra long body D boot, COIF and long OLheight with 16 seats and hugeSfull MoT. £11,950
66 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
SOLD
ADL ENVIRO 300 2002 reg Currenty fitted out as exibition / classroom, very low miles, very good condition, see website for details £17,950
OPTARE SOLO M850 2000 W REG. One remaining with 23/25 coach seats with ramp, DDA etc £4,950 VDL SB180 2010 59 REG Cummins 6 ISB engine with MCV Evolution body, only 20k miles £POA
www.coachandbusweek.com
705802-1174-Moseley Atego.qxp 31/01/2015 08:19 Page 1
Mercedes Atego Indcar Next
10 tonne version – 33 passenger seats + driver + courier 12 tonne version – 37 passenger seats + driver +courier Now taking orders for Summer delivery
MOSELEY (PCV) LTD Elmsall Way, Dale Lane South Elmsall Pontefract West Yorkshire WF9 2XS
Tel: 01977 609000 Fax: 01977 609900 enquiries@moseleycoachsales.co.uk www.moseleycoachsales.co.uk
p68_CBW_1174.qxp 02/02/2015 11:25 Page 68
Southdown Bus Sales- 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk
2002/3 DAF DB250 PLAXTON PRESIDENT & ALEXANDER ALX400 65 seats – choice
Options Available – £POA
• Daf PE 9.2 litre euro 3 engine • Voith D851.3 gearbox • Plaxton President body • 65 seats + 26 standees • DDA compliant • Fitted with CCTV cameras • Long MOT • £13,500 + VAT
• Conversion to single door • Up-seated to 72 + 19 standees • Full Re-trim • New floor covering • Retractable lap belts on ALX400 • Repainted into your livery • Hanover LED Destination • All changes certified by DVSA • New COIF & DDC certificate • New MOT • Finance available – subject to status To discuss your requirements please call
01342 711840
• • • • • • • •
Daf PE 9.2 litre euro 3 engine Voith D851.3 gearbox Alexander ALX400 Body 65 seats + 26 standees DDA compliant Fitted with CCTV cameras Long MOT £13,500 + VAT 01342 711840 Viewing by appointment please
Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN
68 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
www.coachandbusweek.com
704204-1173-Eastwoods 26/01/2015 13:20 Page 1
Plaxton Paragon 49 seats plus courier, Volvo B10M engine, manual gearbox, red moquette with matching curtains, reversing camera, sunken toilet, stainless wheel disks, air conditioning, aircraft lockers, MOT tested, excellent condition throughout, must be seen.
REDUCED TO £25,750 + VAT
02 Setra Model S-315 GT HD, 6 cylinder MAN engine, manual 6 speed gearbox, 49 seater, continental door, full air conditioning, many extras, full year MOT, part exchange considered.
REDUCED TO £33,750 + VAT
55 reg Volvo Plaxton 70 seat bus, 190,000kms from new, direct from county council, 60 seats on Unwin tracking plus 10 fixed, CD player, cruise control, power steering, cloth interior, central locking, ABS, TV, DVD, PA system, Powermatic wheelchair access door, reverse camera, Webasto night heater, CCTV installed, air suspension.
REDUCED TO £59,750 + VAT EASTWOODS COMMERCIAL MOTORS LTD 229-241 Tyburn Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B24 8NB Telephone: 0121 328 5959 • Fax: 0121 327 3800
p70_CBW_1174.qxp 02/02/2015 15:10 Page 70
The
Stafford Bus Centre Specialist Bus & Coach Sales
VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR SHORT AND LONGER TERM HIRE
www.staffordbuscentre.com
Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com
RENAULT MASTER TRI AXLE BUS WITH CRAZY LOW MILES OF ONLY 20,000, BUILT TO CARRY 16 SEATED PASSENGERS OR UP TO 7 WHEELCHAIRS, POWER ENTRANCE DOOR, TACHOGRAPH, MANUAL FOLD OUT REAR RAMP, REVERSING CAMERA, NO EXPENSE SPARED WHEN BUILT, FULLY REPAINTED INTO WHITE AND MOT TO MARCH 2015, CAN BE PSV WITH COIF IF REQUIRED
WANTED £14,950
Short of cash? Behind with your payments? Too many vehicles and not enough work? Want out of the industry?
We are looking for minicoaches and coaches in good clean condition or in need of refurbishment
Mercedes 29/33 seat Plaxton Beaver/Cheetahs 2002 onwards
Volvo, DAF & Scanias, 2001 onwards, preferably automatic
Single or multiple purchases arranged, same day decisions with fast payouts 07721 612075 • 0161 231 777 Ask for Jimmy and tell him you saw the advert in CBW 70 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
www.coachandbusweek.com
000000-1174-Blythswood.qxp 02/02/2015 16:45 Page 1
698956-1159-Pembridge 13/10/2014 16:25 Page 1
FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES
OTHER MAKES
(63) 2013 Ford Transit 9 seat shuttle, 2.2d six speed manual, air-con, twin side loading doors, 25,000 miles £15,500 + VAT
(56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5t on 17 seat minibus 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point belts, 33,000 miles £8,995
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS (61) 2012 Ford Transit 16 seat minibus 2.4 COIF/PSV, 4,500 miles only £15,995
D L O S
(12) 2012 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle twin side loading doors 18000 miles £12,995
(58) 2008 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus 2.4 diesel with six speed gearbox, 16,000 miles FSH £10,495 (02) 2002 Ford Transit 2.4 diesel 3.5 ton, automatic gearbox, 8 seats, inboard Ricon wheelchair lift, rear heating, tracking to take 3 wheelchairs, overhead lockers £5,995
D
SOL
OTHER MAKES
(13) 2013 Peugeot Expert Teepe 2.0 diesel six speed, wheelchair accessible, lightweight ramps, twin side doors, air-con, red, 5,500 miles only £16,995 (62) 2013 Citroen Berlingo Automatic, 8,000 miles only, low floor, lightweight ramp, electric reals, high spec £12,850
(13) 2013 Renault Trafic LL29 Sport 9 seat, sat-nav, Bluetooth, six speed, 29,831 miles £16,950 (61) 2011 Renault Master 3.5ton 17 seat 2.3 diesel six speed, sat-nav, Bluetooth, tachograph, fully tracked floor, COIF/PSV, 33,000 miles £15,995
New Peugeot Boxer 16 seat 3.5 ton and 17 seat w/chair accessible minibuses, 2.2 diesel 120ps, six speed gearbox LEZ COMPLIANT From £24,750 + VAT
(58) 2008 Renault Master MWB 2.5TD 6 speed, tracking for two wheelchairs, in board lift, aircon, rear heating, low entrance step, 62,000 miles, one owner £9,995
Electric Peugeot Boxer E Monarch automatic 13 seat minibus, twin side doors, fully tracked floor, road fund exempt, White, 1600 miles only £19,995
(07) 2007 Fiat Doblo 1.4 petrol, 11,500 miles only, five speed manual, three seats plus wheelchair space, low floor, lightweight ramp, electric reals, air-con £6,995
(60) 2010 Renault Master 3.5 ton GVW 17 seat minibus, 2.3 diesel, 6 speed manual, fully tracked floor, high back seats, tacho, 38,000kms, sat-nav, Bluetooth, COIF/PSV £15,995
(06) 2006 Iveco Daily Iris Bus 16 seat, 2.8 litre, six speed, front entry drop step with power door, fully tracked floor, full power under floor tail lift, rear heating, 65,000 mile £10,995
(60) 2010 Renault Master 9 seat Shuttel 2.3 diesel six speed, large boot, sat-nav, Bluetooth £10,495
(05) 2005 Citroen Dispatch 1.9 diesel, five speed manual, four seats plus wheelchair, low floor with lightweight ramp, 57,000 miles £4,495
(56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat LWB minibus, 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point seat belts, 19,000 miles only £9,450
(05) 2005 Renault Traffic 1.9 diesel, six speed manual gearbox, 4 seats plus wheelchair access, lightweight ramp, air-con, electric windows, blue, 53,000 miles £6,495
D L O S
Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304
Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk
Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist
All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%
701915-1174-DrewWilson.qxp 02/02/2015 16:48 Page 1
DREW WILSON coach sales
2003 MERCEDES VARIO 614D 24 coach seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, forced air ventilation, reading lights, large drop well boot, curtains, aisle carpets, manual, slam door, new paint, 418,273 kms. £13,000 + VAT
2000 DENNIS JAVELIN 49 seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air heating, MOT April, 154,243kms.
2001 DENNIS DART MINI POINTER 28 seats, 1 wheelchair, automatic, luggage racks, front destination.
2000 MERCEDES HISPANO 49 seats, semi auto, lap retractable belts, centre toilet, forced air heating, reading lights, TV monitor, 542,190kms.
£5,000 + VAT
£10,000 + VAT
£22,000 + VAT
1994 TOYOTA CAETANO OPTIMO 3 GL 22 coach seats with belts, power door, manual box, new paint in white, current MOT.
2002 IVECO MAXIM 29 coach seats, lap retractable belts, crew seat, power door, manual gearbox, forced air, reading lights, curtains, radio cassette. £19,950 + VAT
2004 OPTARE SOLO 18/20 seats plus 2 wheelchairs, wheelchair ramp, 3 point seatbelts, automatic, tacho, Mercedes engine, choice of 2. £17,500 + VAT
2003 VOLVO B12M JONCKHEERE MISTRAL 50 leather coach seats, manual, 3 point belts, curtains, rear toilet, CD/radio, monitor, forced air heating, reading lights, power door. £42,000 + VAT
1997 SCANIA IRIZAR CENTURY 51 reclining seats, toilet, lap retractable belts, crew seat, comfort shift, double glazing, tinted windows, power door, air con, repainted in white, tidy condition, 199,039kms. £9,000 + VAT
2002 MERCEDES SPRINTER 16 seats OR 6 seated and 3 wheelchair, slam door, manual, cd/radio, 3 point belts.
1994 MERCEDES VARIO 711D Autobus conversion, 19 seats, curtains, radio/cd, lap belts, slam door, manual.
1998 MERCEDES 0404 HISPANO CARROCERA 49 seats + crew seat, lap belts, luggage racks, TV monitor, centre toilet, reading lights, forced air heating, automatic.
£4,000 + VAT
£3,000 + VAT
£18,000 + VAT
2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814D OPTARE NOUVELLE SR 29 coach seats, 3 point seatbelts, large boot, air con, luggage racks, forced air, power door, new MOT, genuine 22,6000 km, absolutely mint condition inside and out. £34,000 + VAT
1998 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIERE 320 70 coach seats, Cummins engine. MOT March 2015, 417,119kms, radio cassette, 6 speed ZF manual gearbox, power door, double glazed, tinted windows, tidy retrimmed interior. £23,500 + VAT – PX CONSIDERED
1999 MERCEDES 612D VAN CONVERSION 16 seats with belts, Unwin tracking, electric wheelchair lift, manual gearbox, MOT 09-2015.
1995 VOLVO B9M VAN HOOL ALIZE 36 reclining seats, rear floor mounted toilet, manual, double glazed, tinted windows, power door. New MOT, rear servery, air conditioning. £12,000 + VAT
1999 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER 350 51reclining seats, lap belts, centre toilet, boiler and servery, 6 speed ZF gearbox, luggage racks, forced air, reading lights, power door, very tidy, 843,751kms, new MOT. £12,000 + VAT
1999 MERCEDES BEAVER 2 31 bus seats, lap belts, luggage holder, manual, power door.
1998 DAF SB3000 PLAXTON PREMIERE 320 51 recliners, ZF automatic gearbox, curtains, double glazing.
£7,000 + VAT
1998 SCANIA IRIZAR INTERCENTURY 55 seats with belts, comfort shift, double glazed, air conditioning, CD player, crew seat, can be made to 70 seats, MOT May 2015. £18,000 + VAT
2006 MERCEDES BEAVER 2 814D 33 coach seats, automatic, luggage racks, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, 3 point seatbelts, power door, SIDE LIFT, Purmo heating, destination front, side and rear. £25,000 + VAT
1989 VOLVO B10M VAN HOOL 57 seats with lap retractable belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air heating, manual, crew seat, power door. 121,446kms, new test, new retrim, repainted in white. £5,000 + VAT
2002 TOYOTA OPTIMO 23 reclining seats, power door, analogue tacho, radio/cassette, luggage racks, forced air heating, reading lights, MOT’d. £14,950 + VAT
2006 OPTARE SOLO WIDE BODY 29 seats, 1 wheelchair, wheelchair ramp, Allison 2000 auto gearbox, front and rear destination.
£4,000 + VAT
£3,000 + VAT
£12,000 + VAT
£30,000 + 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
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BEN WEAVER PSV
2007 07 MERCEDES 816 33 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, silver, cerificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric b-fold front door, 172,000 kilometers/107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 24,995 + VAT
PSV
2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 616CDI SPRINTER LOW FLOOR ACCESSIBLE SERVICE BUS 2.7CDi turbo diesel 160ps engine, 6 speed automatic, double electric front access plug entry doors, rear emergency exit door, fold out wheelchair access ramp, low floor with tracking for upto 3 wheelchairs, COIF for 15 seated plus 1 wheelchair or 13 seated plus 3 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, PSV tested, ex local authority owned, 147,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £17,995 + VAT CHOICE OF 2
PSV
2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 49,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT
PSV
2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 50,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT
PSV
2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 54,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT
PSV
2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 616CDI SPRINTER LOW FLOOR ACCESSIBLE SERVICE BUS 2.7CDi turbo diesel 160ps engine, 6 speed automatic, double electric front access plug entry doors, rear emergency exit door, fold out wheelchair access ramp, low floor with tracking for upto 3 wheelchairs, COIF for 15 seated plus 1 wheelchair or 13 seated plus 3 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, PSV tested, ex local authority owned, 166,000 miles, very good condition supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £17,995 + VAT CHOICE OF 2
PSV
2008 57 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER FRONT ENTRY WELFARE BUS 2461cc TDI turbo diesel 161ps, 6 speed automatic gearbox, white, rear air conditioning, underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, digital tachograph, electric front entry plug door, AVS electric side entry step, CD player, electric mirrors, rear blinds, currently fitted with 13 seats but 8 more can be to make 21 seats inc driver, 92,000 kilometers/57,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 16,995 + VAT
2004 54 MERCEDES 814 PLAXTON BEAVER 2 33 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 £ 14,995 + VAT
PSV
PSV
2008 08 PLATE NEW SHAPE MERCEDES SPRINTER 311CDI LWB 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2200 CDi turbo diesel 110ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, Frank Guy conversion, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 3 wheelchairs plus 8 passengers, uplift skylight, CD player, electric mirrors, currently fitted with 10 passenger seats but 4 more can be added to make 14 passengers, 172,000 miles but looks and drives like 72,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,995 + VAT
PSV
2005 05 MERCEDES VARIO 814 16-24 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, Frank Guy conversion, green, Certificate Of Initial Fitness for 16 passengers, analogue tachograph, PSV, PLC Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 8 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, fold-out side access step, 169,000 kilometers/105,000 miles, ex local authority owned, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months parts and labour warranty £ 12,995 + VAT
PSV
2005 55 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 614 VARIO 20 SEAT MINICOACH Onyx conversion, analogue tachograph, certificate of initial for 19 passengers, PSV’D, electric plug front entry door, coach style velour seats, overhead luggage racks, large boot, uplift skylight, waiting for full respray, can be painted into any colour of your choice, supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 11,995 + VAT
BEN WEAVER commercIals
2008 58 PLATE FORD TRANSIT XLWB JUMBO HIGH ROOF 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 turbo diesel 115ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, frozen white, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, currenlty fitted with 8 passenger seats but can be made up to 16 passnger seats, 65,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,995 + VAT
PSV
2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 76,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,995 + VAT
PSV
2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tachograph, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, currently fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 16 passenger seats, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 121,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 11,795 + VAT
2003 03 MERCEDES VARIO 814 33 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, currently yellow, waiting for white respray, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 30 seats, currently fitted with 28 seats, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, Leicester Carriage Builders conversion, 230,000 kilometers/144,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,995 + VAT
2005 05 MERCEDES 814 25 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, Frank Guy conversion, blue, certificate of initial fitness for 16 passengers, analogue tachograph, PSV, PLS Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 8 wheelchairs, electric bi fold front door, fold out side access step, 150,000 kilometers/93,000 miles, ex local authority owned, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months parts and labour warranty £ 13,495 + VAT
PSV
2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tachograph, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, currently fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 16 passenger seats, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 97,000 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
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
2000 W REG MERCEDES VARIO 814 AUTOBUS NOUVELLE 2 29 SEAT MINICOACH 4.25 turbo diesel, white, Certificate of Initial Fitness, PSV'd until 12th November 2015, analogue tachograph, large rear boot, 588,000 kilometers/367,000 miles, very clean tidy bus that can go straight to work, supplied fully serviced to FTA standards £ 11,495 + VAT
2005 55 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 416CDI 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 160ps, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, red, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, 107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 10,995 + VAT
Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076
www.minibuses.co
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commercials 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 £ 8,795 + VAT
PSV
2004 54 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 25 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 22 passenger seats, 2 more can be added, analogue tacho, Certificate of Initial Iitness for 22 passengers, PSV, overhead luggage storage 1 local authority owner from new 93,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT
PSV
PSV
2005 05 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, COIF, PSV, electric plug side entry door, analogue tacho, LEZ compliant, 66,000 miles, one local authority owner from new, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,495 + VAT
PSV
PSV
2003 53 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed sprintshift automatic, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, currently fitted with 8 seats but 9 more can be added, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, PSV, LEZ compliant, CD player, 2129,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,295 + VAT
2004 54 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 25 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 22 passenger seats, 2 more can be added, analogue tacho, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 22 passengers, PSV, overhead luggage storage, LEZ compliant, 1 local authority owner from new 93,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT
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 £ 7,495 + VAT
2003 53 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER LWB 313CDI WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.2 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, silver, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 132,000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty. £ 7,495 NO VAT
LEZ
2006 06 REG IVECO DAILY 40C14 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel 140ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, COIF for 12 passengers, analogue tacho, current PSV expires 3rd April 2015, tracking for 4 wheelchairs, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, LEZ compliant, fold out side door, access step, 4200kgs gross vehicle weight so can be driven without a d1 licence, 151,000 kilometers/94,000 miles, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,495 + VAT
PSV
PSV
PSV
CHOICE OF TWO 2005 54 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, COIF, PSV, analogue tachograph, LEZ compliant, 187,000 kilometers/116,000 miles, 1 local authority owner from new, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,495 + 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 £ 6,495
PSV
2004 04 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 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, currently fitted with 8 seat seats but more can be added to make up to 16 passenger seats, 144,000 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 £ 5,695 + VAT
2002 02 PLATE (ON PRIVATE REG) MERCEDES SPRINTER 411CDI 17 SEAT MINIBUS/MINICOACH 2.2CDi turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, silver, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, overhead storage with reading lights and forced air, curtains, sunroof, CD player, 313,000 miles, good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT
2003 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 16 TO 23 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, metallic light green, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 16 passenger seats, 6 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF, PSV, overhead luggage storage, 132,000 kilometers/82,000 miles, very good 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
PSV
2004 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 16 TO 23 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, metallic light blue, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 10 passenger seats, 6 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF, PSV, 214,000 kilometers/134,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,495 + VAT
2003 (03) IVECO DAILY 65C15 23-25 SEAT WELFARE BUSES Analogue tacho, PSV, COIF for 22 passengers, PSV, 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear chairlift, tracking up to 8 wheelchairs, 1 local authority from new, excellent condition, 12 months PSV and MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,495 +VAT
PSV
2003 53 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT35 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, blue, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, ex local authority owned, 51,000 mile,s very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,295 + 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 £ 5,795 + VAT
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 £ 4,995 + VAT
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 £ 4,795 + 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 £ 4,995 + 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
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706556-1174-Connaught.qxp_Layout 1 02/02/2015 12:41 Page 1
Brand New coach-built Mercedes 516 CDi Euro 6 Ferqui Soroco 19 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, reading lights, power door, tow-bar and boot.
Brand New Coach-built Mercedes Atego Ferqui F5 34, 36 or 38 high back seats, 3 point belts, air conditioning, double glazing, reading lights, power door, curtains, large boot. Orders now being taken.
Brand New coach-built Mercedes 516 CDi Euro 6 Ferqui Soroco 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, reading lights, power door, and large boot.
2011 Mercedes Benz 516 CDi Sprinter 16 high back leather trimmed seats, 3 point belts, air conditioning, forced air, reading lights, large boot, metallic paint, low mileage.
2010 Mercedes 516 CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.
2010 Mercedes 515 CDi Soroco 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, power door, metallic paint and boot.
D L O
S 2008 58 Reg Mercedes 816 Unvi Riada 29 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.
2008 08 Reg Mercedes 515 CDi Soroco 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, air conditioning, double glazing, curtains, power door and boot.
2007 57 Reg Ford Transit 16 high back seats, 3 point belts.
2007 57 Reg Mercedes Soroco 16 high back leather trimmed seats, 3 point belts, AC,DG, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.
2006 56 Reg Mercedes 413CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, curtains, power door & large boot.
1999 S Reg Mercedes 814 Plaxton Beaver 33 seats, 3 point belts, power door, manual gearbox, new test.
Steve Peach Tel: 01405 814064 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: info@connaughtpsv.co.uk Web: www.connaughtpsv.co.uk
706532-1174-Eurotaxis FP.qxp 02/02/2015 12:40 Page 1
07970 096 262 2005 Volvo B12M VanHool Alizee T9
2000 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD
New MOT, 49 seat executive coach with DVD, A/C and 2 screens, LEZ and automatic, 527k kms.
MOT May 2015, manual gearbox, 48 seats, centre toilet, 706k kms.
£59,995
£POA
2003 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD
2003 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD
1 years MOT, 48 seats, LEZ compliant, manual gearbox, centre toilet, DVD screens, 756k kms.
48 seats, LEZ, MOT November 2015, manual gearbox, 401k kms.
£30,000
£30,000
2005 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD
2004 Volvo B12B Sunsundegui Sideral
LEZ, auto gearbox, A/C, LEZ, 48 seater, MOT August 2015, 659k kms.
LEZ, auto gearbox, MOT Sept 2015, 2 flat screens, centre toilet, A/C, 515k kms.
£49,000
£34,995
2003 Volvo B12B Sunsundegui Sideral
2004 Mercedes Setra S415 HD
LEZ, manual gearbox, MOT Sept 15, centre toilet, 2 flat screens, 464k kms.
MOT Apr 15, 680k kms, 48 seats, LEZ automatic gearbox.
£29,995
£45,000
www.eurotaxis.com
706480-1173-Moseley South 26/01/2015 14:26 Page 1
BUS & COACH
IN THE SOUTH LTD.
High seating capacity vehicles
2011 IVECO EURORIDER PLAXTON PANTHER–AUTO (EURO 5) 61reclining seats with 3 point seat belts, leather headrests inserts, individual footrests, aisle & centre armrests, courier seat, powered plug entrance door, double glazed side windows, AIR CONDITIONING, curtains, radio p/a CD audio, DVD player with front motorised monitor, reverse camera, Webasto, wired for CCTV, powered drivers window, panelled rear, integral retarder, automatic transmission, digital tachograph.
2006 VOLVO B12BT BERKHOF AXIAL 100 – ‘I’ SHIFT (EURO 4 PM) 72 reclining seats (16 lower & 56 upper) including lap belts & seatback tables, courier seat, powered central entrance door, manual crew door, double glazed side windows, AIR CONDITIONING, curtains, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD equipment with 4 monitors, toilet compartment at o/s lower saloon, servery unit including hot & cold water sink, fridge & storage, drivers bunk, Blaupunkt navigation system, integral retarder, cruise control, dedicated ski-box, digital tachograph, Eminox CRT exhaust system.
1997 VOLVO B12R JONCKHEERE MONACO - 12mtr & EURO 4 (PM) EMISSION 72 reclining seats with leather headrests & individual footrests, courier seat, plug centre entrance door, crew door, double glazing, AIR CONDITIONING, radio/PA audio, DVD & 4 monitors, lower saloon toilet compartment, water boiler, fridge, cruise control, towing equipment, Telma retarder, alloy wheels, Puritech exhaust system.
1997 VOLVO B12R VAN HOOL ASTROBEL – AUTO (EURO 4 PM) 71 reclining seats (14 lower & 57 upper) including lap belts & individual footrests, twin courier seat, manual crew & drivers doors, powered central entrance door, double glazed side windows, curtains, radio/PA/cassette, wired for DVD equipment, toilet compartment at o/s lower saloon, servery unit including hot & cold water sink, storage, two lower saloon tables, integral retarder, cruise control, reverse warning, Allison automatic transmission, Eminox CRT exhaust system, refinished white.
We have a comprehensive selection of quality used vehicles including touring coaches, double deck coaches, school buses and mini coaches on site at Wellington
Summerfield Avenue, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JF
www.moseleysouth.co.uk @MoseleySouth
/moseley south
Telephone (01823) 653000 Fax: (01823) 663502 Email: sales@moseleysouth.co.uk
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BUILDINGS
AUDIO VISUAL
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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
CHECKPOINTS
HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS
Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone
BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime
CLEANING PRODUCTS & SERVICES
• 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
The complete transport washing solution
FULLY AUTOMATIC UNDER CHASSIS WASHING TO MOT STANDARDS
UK and Ireland Distributor
www.autosound.co.uk Tel: 0044 (0)1274 688990 Unit 4, Lister Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 9PQ
Caroline Hallam T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam @coachandbusweek.com
• No operator • No Health & Safety issues • No damage to vehicles • No MOT returns WNV-systems specialise in manufacturing, installation, chemical supply and after sales servicing of commercial vehicle cleaning systems, automatic under chassis washing, pressure wash systems, automatic top washes, water reclaims & rain water harvesting throughout the UK using our nationwide engineers. A WNV-systems fully patented under chassis wash will result in your chassis cleaned for less than £2.20 and completed in 25-35 minutes. Our systems are fully programmable to wash a full range of commercial vehicles. Contact us for a free site survey, quotations or more information.
Tel: 0208 641 5601 Email: geoff@wnv-systems.com www.wnv-systems.com www.coachandbusweek.com
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Call Caroline Hallam Tel: 01733 293488 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com
CLASSIFIEDS ENGINES
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
E & E Potts Ltd
DIESEL ENGINE RECONDITIONER
COMMERCIAL GARAGE EQUIPMENT
VOSA AUTHORISED TESTING FACILITY Commercial Garage Equipment Midlands Ltd (CGE) are one of the main providers of ATF Lanes to the CV Market ATF lane includes:
Specialists in Cummins, Perkins, Caterpillar, Mercedes Commercial, Volvo, MAN, DAF, Scania. All Engines are Dynamometer and Smoke Emissions Tested. Full Engines, Long Engines and Short Motors Available. Cylinder Heads, Blocks, Crankshafts, Camshafts, Pistons, Turbochangers, Gaskets and Bearings always in stock.
Call us today on 0161-737-4666 Email: eepottsltd@aol.com Engine House, New Thomas Street, Salford, M6 6WF
- CAD drawing - Civil work - Brake tester approved for all classes - Prefabricated steel pit - Headlight tester - Play detectors - Radius plates - Pit jacks / jacking beams - Optional class 4 / 7 testing - Gas & smoke analyser
Above: Various stages of completion of an ATF Lane at Aldridge Transport, Launceston
Other equipment supplied: - Commercial scissor lifts - Galvanised commercial scissor lifts - HGV 4 post lifts - Brake testers - MOT bays (all classes) - Prefabricated steel pits - Inspection pits - Gas & smoke - Jacking beams - Car lifting equipment - Column lifts - Civil work with drawings - Leasing & finance available T: 01386 244758 M: 07538 218194 E: sales@commercialgarageequipment.co.uk W: www.commercialgarageequipment.co.uk
EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
MAN VOLVO CUMMINS SCANIA DAF ETC Caroline Hallam
EXHAUSTS
GARAGE EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Specialists in Brake Testers & Column Lifts www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381
T: 01733 293484 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com
REGISTRATIONS
LEZ BOXES FOR SALE 1 x USED EMINOX LEZ EXHAUST BOXES USED FOR SIX MONTHS 2012. CLEANED/RECONDITIONED. TO FIT A BOVA FUTURA. With full fitting kit or can be fitted while you wait! £3,000 each + VAT PARNHAMS COACHES LTD Contact Ray 07747 071071
REPAIRS
Express Coach £750 70 TXN AEZ 17 BCZ 85 DRZ 60 KNZ 25 LAZ 39 PAZ 64 RUI 46 XIL 46
£350 CRZ 434 DKZ 494 FKZ 191 GJZ 585 HKZ 262 MUI 292 UKZ 494 WXI 373 XKZ 545
£50 FXZ 2081 GXZ 9310 GXZ 9311 GXZ 9312 IRZ 5560 IRZ 5561 JFZ 9752 JFZ 9753 LIG 9150
£50 LIG 9151 LIG 9152 MIG 9317 MIG 9318 OIG 2202 OIG 2203 OIG 2204 RHZ 5661 RHZ 5662
£50 SFZ 5793 SFZ 5794 SHZ 8507 SHZ 8508 SHZ 8509 TNZ 2298 TUI 9914 TUI 9915 UNZ 3142
£50 UUI 8252 UUI 8253 UUI 8254 VJZ 8502 VJZ 8503 VJZ 8504 WJZ 2931 WJZ 2932 WJZ 2933
Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ Tel: 028 6638 7124 · www.speedyreg.co.uk · sales@speedyreg.co.uk
Repairs
ESTABLISHED 1982
• Re-spray & refurbishment specialists • 70 seat conversions • All insurance work undertaken • Accident damage specialsts • 33 seat mini coach conversions • All aspects of exterior and interior work undertaken
TEL: 01751 475215 expresscoachrepairs@hotmail.co.uk 82 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
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www.coachandbusmarket.com
ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
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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
Lancashire based public DCPC & Operator/Management courses available OR we can come to you*!
0800 328 3297 enquiries@specialisttraining.co.uk www.specialisttraining.co.uk * subject to numbers
TRAINING
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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
cts
If you would like further information please call 01543 897505
Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk
TYRE EQUIPMENT
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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
www.coachandbusweek.com
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Call Caroline Hallam Tel: 01733 293488 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com
CLASSIFIEDS VEHICLE SPARES
Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales OUR SERVICES: • Recovery
• Refurbishment • Testing
• Repairs
• Engine/gearbox rebuilds • Fault finding
• Buying & selling vehicles
DISMANTLING/SPARES: • Reconditioned engines • Reconditioned gearboxes • Engine spares • Windows
• Windscreens • Seats
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
• Export to foreign markets • Repairs
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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
Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com
www.twigley.com
www.transporttravelclub.com
84 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015
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In association with
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: The familiar manic press day. Tuesday: A busy day doing admin and writing features. Also prepare material submitted by a contributor for publication in a forthcoming issue. Wednesday: A particularly hectic day in the office. I feel under immense pressure in the morning when I realise I am about to miss my own self-imposed target to complete a feature for a forthcoming issue. It’s annoying when you are unable to make the progress you had hoped. Thursday: Spend much of the morning working on sister title Group Travel World, which is on press. Then crack on with news gathering, feature writing and proof reading for CBW. A respected of MD of one of the ‘big five’ operators asks me if I would like to give a talk to a group of graduates. Friday: An icy and decidedly slippery start, I catch a Great Northern train from Peterborough to London Kings Cross. One-time FirstGroup man Richard Mayes, who now works at Peterborough City Council, happens to board my carriage. Enjoy a catchup with him. I head to Abellio’s Walworth Garage, where I test drive the London-spec ADL MMC doubledecker bus. I also interview former Harris Bus General Manager Bernie Walters, who is now a Driver Mentor at Walworth. Bernie accompanies General Manager Jon Batchelor and I on the test drive. Late in the afternoon, call the office to check the state of play with production of this issue while I wait for my train home.
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Toddler toddles onto bus alone
CBW TRADE
TWEETS Minibus Big Picture
Bus CCTV footage broadcast by China Central Television (also CCTV) has emerged online which appears to show a one-year-old boarding a public bus alone in Changsha City in Central China. The Irish Independent reported that as the toddler boarded the bus, neither passengers nor the bus driver could see anyone accompanying the baby. The bus driver stopped the bus and called police for help when he saw the toddler board the bus alone. The child only took a few seconds
to board the bus completely alone. It was only after a few moments that passengers realised he was by himself. Passengers volunteered to take care of the young boy while the parents were located. Officers managed to track down his parents an hour later. His mother said the toddler was playing outside her store and she suddenly realised that he had wandered off. “Luckily, there was no harm done in the end,” she told reporters.
SOCIAL MEDIA
UPDATE Labour plans for bus industry Nicholas Truscott: Where will the funds for reinvestment come from? Time for the government, whatever colour, to stop interfering with the industry with repeated disruptive legislation and funding stream changes and let operators do what in the whole they do best. David Fricker: A bit like saying the UK shop network is broken and conning voters they’ll fix it by taking away the stranglehold of the High Streets held
Credit to Ray McNally I read the article about King Long and Henderson
by Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda with franchises for not-forprofit volunteer-run greengrocers. Ludicrous. John Upton: More badly informed utter rubbish from the idiots in Whitehall. Paul Harley: The idiots aren’t in Whitehall yet! They’re hoping to get there later this year.... John Upton: They are all the same beneath the press office polished and spun surface, just fly under different coloured flags. Terry Wightman: The big five generally
provide a good service to areas where a bus service can support itself without subsidy. No intervention is needed. Labour are using the example of rural service cuts to tear up the entire bus industry, a process that began through subsidy cuts when they were last in power, and continued by the current government. In other words, using their own failings to argue for more control! The recent Nexus shenanigans has shown that a TfL style system would be hugely expensive and would bring no real benefits.
Travel with interest in CBW this week. Obviously I don’t want to get embroiled in anything, but I would like to say that I found Ray McNally a gentleman to deal with on
@OTSFalmouth We are well chuffed to be in @ CBWtweets magazine. Now the boss is off to @TragoMillsUK to find a frame!
Quality Contracts Phil Tonks @PhilTonks2 More thoughts from me on the Quality Contract debate in this week’s @CBWtweets Ray Wilkes @RWilkes1 Great article. QCs are really stupid, should be dropped for Q Partnerships & real progress Roger Davies @RogerDavies24 Reasoned argument must counter current enthusiasm after Manchester announcement Ian Mack @ianmack68 Balance is essential. I hope CBW will publish opposing views so we get a proper airing of the issues. Phil Tonks I welcome it Ian! Why don’t you pen something? Ian Mack Excellent! I might be tempted, limited to the West Midlands... Phil Tonks I appreciate there’s more than one side to the discussion. Persuade me as a passenger!
the recent Bakers deal. He and his colleagues went out of their way to ensure that the Bakers staff were looked after in the transition.
Regards, David Reeves, Managing Director, D & G Bus and South Lancs Travel
February 3, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 85 02/02/2015 19:23
M O C . S B O J S U B D COACHAN in association with DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com
THE LATEST RECRUITMENT
Contact Ian Gillis Tel: 01733 293484 Email: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com
DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm
National Express appoints Finance Director National Express has announced the appointment of Matthew Ashley as Group Finance Director. Matthew was previously interim
Group Finance Director, having been appointed in October 2014, following the announcement that Jez Maiden would be leaving the Group to take up the role of Group Finance Director of Croda International Plc. Matthew joined National Express as Group Financial Controller in early 2010 from Deloitte, where he was a director specialising in transport and infrastructure and the auditing of
listed companies. Matthew was then promoted to the role of Finance Director of UK Bus in 2013 before becoming interim Group Finance Director last year. Sir John Armitt, National Express Chairman, said: “I am delighted that Matthew is joining the Board of National Express as Group Finance Director. “He has been appointed following a thorough search process and brings
significant financial, corporate and operational experience.” Matthew Ashley said: “I have greatly enjoyed being part of National Express’ success over the last five years. The strength of our existing businesses and opportunities presented by our new markets, demonstrates that National Express has a strong future and I relish the opportunity to play my part in that as Finance Director.”
Out of hours Operations Supervisors (two posts) £24K Coach Operator, near Folkestone, Kent. Week-on, week-off 0500-0900 and 1700-2100 daily, plus first on call overnight and through weekends and Public Holidays. Experience in a similar role is essential. PCV and CPC licences would be an advantage. For a full job description call Nigel Busbridge, Operations Director on 01303 261870 or e-mail Nigel@buzzlines.co.uk www.buzzlines.co.uk 86 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 3, 2015 086_087_CBW1174_People_Recruitment.indd 86
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More jobs available online – see our website
Nathan Stanislawski promoted to Operations Manager for Stagecoach North East Stockton on Tees Stagecoach North East has welcomed new Operations Manager Nathan Stanislawski to the team at its Teesside bus depot in Stockton on Tees. Lincoln-born Nathan was previously Operations Manager for Stagecoach in Ardrossan in West Scotland, which involved running the depot and managing 115 employees. As Operations Manager, Nathan is responsible for a team of 170 drivers and office staff at the depot, which operates 76 buses around the Teesside area, as well as building relationships with the local community and businesses. His role involves the smooth running of the bus services across the Tees Valley on a daily basis. Nathan joined the company in 2006 as a driver, working through the ranks as a leading driver and then a controller. In 2010, Nathan enrolled onto the one-year Staff Development course, and was appointed Assistant Operations Manager at the Kilmarnock depot in West Scotland, before joining the Stagecoach team at the London Olympics. After gaining invaluable experience at the international sporting event, Nathan returned to Scotland as Acting Operations Manager at the Ardrossan depot before being promoted to the position full time. During this time he also worked at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, furthering his experience, before taking up the role in Stockton. Nathan said: “I saw this role at a bigger depot in the famous north east as an opportunity not to be missed and a chance to build on my experience in the operations and management of a depot. I previously worked as a butcher,
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Nathan Stanislawski joined Stagecoach as a driver in 2006 and it was here that I developed my skills and enjoyment in customer services, dealing with customers on a daily basis. “I am looking forward to my new challenge and working with my new team. I endeavour to make Stockton a great place to work for all employees and provide a fantastic service for our customers.” Nathan’s appointment follows the promotion of former Operations Manager Abbey Pettigrew, who has
taken up the role of manager for Oxford Tube. In addition to Nathan joining the team, Acting Assistant Manager Carl Trodden has also been formerly appointed as Assistant Operations Manager for the Teesside depot. He brings almost five years’ experience and skills in operations management and logistics to the role, having previously worked as Duty Manager and Duty Administration Manager at the company’s Walkergate depot in Newcastle.
Arriva Southern Counties driver supports Southend Hospital baby unit Arriva bus driver Mark Ewens recently visited Southend Hospital to present a cheque to the staff at the special care baby unit. In the run-up to Christmas, Mark drove his bus dressed as Father Christmas in order to raise money for the hospital’s charity and collected a total of £820. Impressed by Mark’s efforts, Arriva bosses topped up the donation to £1,000. Mark said: “I felt the need to raise some money for charity, especially as it was Christmas, and, being a father of two small boys, the obvious choice for me and my partner was the special care baby unit. “I feel it went really well and was surprised at the generosity of the public that travelled on my bus. I would also like to mention two other drivers, Ray Ambrose and Phil Parkins, who covered on my days off.” Arriva’s Marketing Manager, Richard Lewis, said: “We are very proud of Mark and his interaction with his passengers that resulted in this big donation for the hospital. It shows that a little bit of festive cheer can go a long way towards helping others and we would like to thank our generous customers who put cash into Mark’s collection bucket.” Mica Day, Community Fundraiser at Southend University Hospital NHS Trust, said: “It’s so lovely to see community support from Mark and his colleagues at Arriva. Mark has said he is already thinking about how he can support the unit in the future by getting involved in more fundraising activities here at the hospital which is brilliant.”
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