Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1181

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The Arriva training staff came across well in the first episode. ITV

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EDITORIAL Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@coachandbusweek.com Deputy Editor Andrew Izatt 01733 293244 andrew.izatt@coachandbusweek.com Staff Writer Jade Smith 01733 293482 jade.smith@coachandbusweek.com Art Director Ian Blaza Contributors David Barrow, David Bell, James Day, Steve Hodgson, Tony Hunter, Richard Simpson, Phil Tonks

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Driver recruitment on TV

D

id you watch ‘Double Decker Driving School’ on ITV on Thursday evening? The six-part series follows Arriva London trainees. You can view the �irst episode, as I did on ITV’s website at www.itv. com/itvplayer/double-decker-driving-school/series-1/ episode-1.

As Jayne Steer, Arriva London’s Training Manager, rightly said: “Many people who have never driven a bus think that it is easy, but it takes a certain kind of person with skill, ability, patience and a good understanding of customer service, to qualify.”

As those of us with a PCV licence know, she’s not wrong of course. Backing up her remarks, Arriva London said that in 2014, there were over 8,000 applicants for places in the driving school. From those original hopefuls, 371 passed their test and joined the �irm’s driving team.

It’s easy to be cynical about TV programmes, particularly if you’ve ever had involvement with that sort of thing.

However, David Bridson, one of Arriva’s driving instructors featured in the programme, said: “I’m really glad to have been involved. I’ve been a driving instructor with Arriva for 20 years.

Although every day is a challenge, we always get a result in the end. I enjoyed the �ilming process. It was interesting that it was all ‘�ly on the wall’ stuff, so all the trainees were really going through their actual training.”

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The airing of the programme is timely – when the industry is short of drivers. It is also being shown on a primetime slot – between 2030 and 2100hrs.

The �irst episode featured a cross-section of ‘real’ people – including a young man who has moved from the provinces (Gloucester) and a single mum, who is a former van driver. It brought back memories from when I gained my PCV licence at the age of 18 – the ups and downs of con�idence, nerves, stress and success.

My better half, who is not a bus and coach person (despite having put up with me for years) said she felt it was “watchable” and that it “provided a good overview” of what’s involved in learning to drive a bus.

I felt Arriva’s staff came across well too. They showed the necessary characteristics for trainers – get the message across, but be jovial and understanding with it. I look forward to watching the other episodes.

More TV coverage of our industry’s drivers is set to hit our screens imminently with National Express Coaches’ new ‘Go Get It!’ advert. The commercial will show short clips of some of the UK’s best-loved destinations reachable coach, as well as drivers Bob Wilson from Shef�ield and Lorraine Barnes from Bournemouth. All good PR for our industry.

Gareth Evans Editor

Transport Travel Club .com ENTERTAINMENT | ACTIVITIES | HOLIDAYS | HOTELS

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3 23/03/2015 18:58

CONTENTS

20

22

28 30 45 46 50

INSIGHT

CILT is to launch a set of benchmarks for the bus and coach industry to help to drive up standards and provide invaluable data about the sector

NEWS FOCUS

Reporting from the latest Young Bus Managers Network conference

FACE TO FACE

A chat with Network Warrington’s new Managing Director, Damian Graham

PREVIEW

What to expect from this year’s ALBUM Conference

INSIDE TRACK

Leo Pard reflects on the part the trade weeklies play in the bus and coach industry

ANALYSIS

Paul Everson of Trapeze Group explains the differences between apps and responsive websites

TEST DRIVE

The behind the wheel verdict on the vehicles from Aberdeen’s Hydrogen Bus Project

Top Stories

Regulars

6 l Government has approved the final part of the Bristol MetroBus network

06 l News 12 l Bus News 14 l Coach News 16 l International News 48 l Big Picture 60 l Deliveries 91 l Last Stop 92 l People

8 l Stagecoach GreenRoad Fleet Elite drivers represent more than half of those accredited worldwide 14 l Largest ever Mercedes-Benz Tourismo order for the UK sees 38 for Shearings Group

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B R I E F LY ● FIRSTGROUP has agreed a deal to continue the operation of its current Great Western franchise until April 1, 2019, which could also be extended by up to one further year at the DfT’s discretion. First Great Western will pay the government about £68m to run the franchise, which operates services between London, the Cotswolds, South Wales and the South West, from September 2015 until April 2019. Another rail franchise, TransPennine Express (TPE), which FirstGroup runs in partnership with Keolis has also been extended for 12 months from April 1, 2015. TPE operates regional rail services in the north of England and up to Scotland. ● IN A STATEMENT to Parliament on March 20, Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, provided an update of a recent EU Transport Council meeting. An interesting item he said was: “The commission delivered a presentation on their Energy Union Communication of February 25, emphasising that the goal of decarbonised transport called for a gradual transformation of the entire transport system. The commission believe that their planned road package, to be published in 2016, will address reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles and felt that success would depend upon member state actions, not least in implementing alternative fuels infrastructure and supporting local authority sustainable urban mobility plans.”

7,019

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Bristol MetroBus gets approval for �inal piece of funding Northern Fringe route to Hengrove approved by chancellor during the Budget The government has granted full approval to the third and �inal part of the Bristol Metrobus network – the Northern Fringe route to Hengrove.

The 50km MetroBus network, a combination of segregated busways and bus lanes, will provide services from Long Ashton Park & Ride to the city centre via Temple Meads, with an alternative route via Hengrove and Bedminster. There will also be a direct service through Bristol to the University of West England (UWE)

D&G Bus buys Wardle Transport

D&G Bus has purchased the business and assets of Wardle Transport at Moss�ield Road, Stokeon-Trent.

The sale will complete in May 2015, with the operational date for D&G Bus to start operating the Wardles routes set to be Saturday, May 9, 2015.

The deal includes the transfer of all existing Wardles bus contracts, 19 buses and around 90 staff at the depot.

D&G Bus’ directors said they believe that the acquisition will complement its existing portfolio of work which is currently based

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540.50p

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and Parkway station, continuing on to either Cribbs Causeway or Emersons Green.

The scheme is designed to save 27 minutes on the journey from Hengrove in south Bristol to UWE, using a new bus-only junction on the M32. The MetroBus routes will also include segregate cycle lanes and involve a major remodelling of the city centre and the area around the cenotaph, as well as changes to a number of major roads into the city.

Following the Budget, the Chancellor George Osborne told the Bristol Post: “Local MPs Jack Lopresti and Chris Skidmore have all been tireless campaigners for improvement in transport around

the Bristol area, and made a compelling case to support public transport in the area.

“As a result of the Budget I granted full approval to the North Fringe to Hengrove MetroBus proposal and construction is due to begin next month.”

Cllr Brian Allinson, Chairman of the Joint Transport Board, said: “This is terri�ic news, MetroBus is a signi�icant part of a £400m programme of sustainable transport improvements in the West of England until 2020 which will link areas of housing and economic growth, provide greener and better alternatives to travelling by car and as a result reduce traf�ic congestion and air pollution levels.”

D&G Bus will take over the Wardle Transport operation on May 9. ANDY IZATT at Cinderhill Industrial Estate, Longton.

The process of returning to the Potteries began for D&G Bus in April 2014 when the 841 service started operating from Uttoxeter to Stafford. Then in November the

company started the operation of the Orange One between Meir and Newcastle. The next opportunity arose with the purchase of the BakerBus operation.

“Its good to be home,” said Director Dave Reeves.

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Winner of bus audio-visual student competition announced Transport Minister Baroness Kramer has announced the winner of a competition to improve bus journeys for people with sight and hearing impairments.

The Minister unveiled the winning entry – a vibrating wrist band – at the Big Bang Fair at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

The winner of the Dragon’s Den style contest, Daria Buszta, aged 17 from Nottingham, received a cheque for £1,000.

Daria’s winning design is a lowcost adjustable wristband given out by bus drivers incorporating a Bluetooth device that links up with the driver’s ticket machine and vibrates when the passenger is close to their chosen stop.

Daria will now get the opportunity to work with local businesses to have her design

(L-r) BBC Presenter Spencer Kelly, competition winner Daria Buszta and Transport Minister Baroness Kramer developed into a working prototype. This will include using funding worth £100,000 from the Transport Systems Catapult, one of seven technology and innovation centres established and overseen

Translink to review bus services

Translink has released a list of 35 Ulsterbus services that it is reviewing and has asked the public to offer feedback through an online survey.

Translink said public information events would take place in bus stations and the consultation would close on April 3.

However, the Northern Ireland Consumer Council said the length of time the consultation was open for was unacceptable. Scott Kennerly, the organisation’s head of transport policy, said: “We are questioning how meaningful this process will be for consumers given the timescales.

“It is essential that anyone who uses these bus services takes part in the survey and where possible attends the public events to express their views.”

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The �irm is also considering 150 redundancies to cut costs.

The review follows a warning from the company’s Chief Executive, David Strahan, who said the operator could go out of existence unless it makes cuts to services.

Ciaran Rogan, Translink’s marketing executive, said: “We want to continue to offer accessible and good value services where customers need them while ensuring we remain ef�icient and sustainable for the future.

“In addition to reviewing our network to address the current funding challenges, we are also looking at ef�iciency savings through reductions in manpower, reorganising facilities and reductions in areas of general administrative expenditure.”

by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Baroness Kramer, head judge for the All Aboard competition, said: “Disabled people have the same rights as anyone else to access

public transport, but there remain obstacles. This competition, driven by the lack of audio-visual for the deaf and blind, was a fantastic opportunity to make buses more user-friendly for all of the passengers who rely on them.

“Daria came up with a very simple answer to a complicated problem.

Her design was discrete, cost effective and has huge potential.

This isn’t just an idea that will stay on paper. It will get serious backing and will hopefully start changing people’s lives in the not too distant future.”

Daria Buszta said: “I wasn’t expecting to win, but I’m excited that my idea will be made into a real working product. I’m so glad it will help so many people feel comfortable and independent on public transport.”

The Enviro300SG-bodied Scania K270UB that First West of England is operating on the number 2 route from March 25 has received appropriate branding. To fuel the bus First is using the site in Avonmouth where GENeco, the renewable energy and waste recycling company owned by Wessex Water, turns sewage and inedible food waste into biomethane gas. CBW has heard that the prototype Scania double-decker gas bus chassis is due to arrive in the UK for assembly at the end of the month ahead of bodying.

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7 23/03/2015 17:51

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Fleet Elite status awarded to 21% of Stagecoach drivers Operators GreenRoad telematics systems identifies exceptional performance in North East

4,100 Stagecoach drivers attained Fleet Elite status from GreenRoad, representing more than half of the Fleet Elite drivers worldwide.

GARETH EVANS

More than 4,100 Stagecoach drivers have been awarded Fleet Elite status under a performance programme managed by GreenRoad. Of the Stagecoach drivers who reached Fleet Elite standard, 278 were from Stagecoach North East.

Over 1,000 of Stagecoach’s Fleet Elite drivers have achieved the Gold badge for consistently maintaining the Fleet Elite driving standard for three consecutive years, with 130 of these from Stagecoach North East.

Stagecoach drivers account for more than half of the 7,900 drivers across 10 countries who met the Fleet Elite standard in 2014. Some 21% of Stagecoach’s 19,000-strong UK Bus driving team has achieved the benchmark – more than any other bus company using the GreenRoad system.

Fleet Elite standard drivers must clock up more than 500 driving hours in a year and achieve an average of five or less events, such as harsh braking or acceleration, per 10 hours of driving over the calendar year. In fact, 57

Stagecoach drivers scored zero – a perfect score – during the period.

The GreenRoad system is installed on all Stagecoach vehicles and uses a dashboard traffic lightsstyle system to provide instant feedback to drivers to encourage smoother and safer driving.

All employees who meet the Fleet Elite standard receive a special badge in recognition of their achievement. In addition, this year Stagecoach is introducing

special awards in honour of former Stagecoach Ecodriver Project Manager Christopher Ball who sadly passed away last year.

The Christopher Ball Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the best performing company in Stagecoach UK Bus, with plaques presented to the best depot and best driver.

These will be presented in early summer with the winners based on performance over the 2014/5 financial year to April 30, 2015.

Phil Medlicott, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East, commented: “For so many of our drivers to have reached Fleet Elite status, with so many at Gold standard, is a great achievement and reflects the hard work and professionalism that our drivers display on a daily basis.

“Smoother, fuel-efficient driving is safer, provides more comfortable journeys for our customers and helps cut our carbon footprint.”

A Scottish company has unveiled the first sample of a biofuel made from Scotch whisky by-products.

Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables spent the last year developing its process as part of a £1m UK government programme.

The firm says the biofuel, called biobutanol, could provide an alternative to car and aviation fuel, as well as other technologies.

It hopes to build its first demonstration facility at Grangemouth petrochemical plant by 2018.

Celtic Renewables is a spin-out company from the Biofuel Research Centre (BfRC) at Edinburgh Napier University. It was founded by Prof Martin Tangney, the centre’s director.

The firm, in partnership with the Belgium-based BioBase Europe Pilot Plant, produced the first samples of biobutanol from waste in February this year.

The biofuel is produced from draff – kernels of barley which are soaked in water to facilitate the fermentation process in whisky production – and pot ale, the yeasty liquid that is left over following distillation.

The by-products were provided by Perthshire distillery Tullibardine, which has worked in partnership

with Celtic since 2012.

Celtic Renewables Chief Executive, Mark Simmers, said: “This historic sample could herald a new era in sustainable biofuel and the birth of a UK industry worth £100m-a-year.

“The process we have perfected takes residues that present a disposal issue to the whisky industry and creates value by producing not only sustainable biofuel but also green chemicals and high-grade animal feed.

“The exciting challenge for us now as a business is to convert our proven technology into a multimillion pound industry, and building our first demonstration plant is the next critical step to achieving that goal.”

The company is now seeking funding from the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) £25m advanced biofuel demonstration competition.

If successful, it will proceed with plans for the demonstration facility.

Distillery Manager, John Torrance, said: “Tullibardine has enjoyed a great relationship with the team at Celtic Renewables and is proud to be the first distillery in the world to have its by-products converted into advanced biofuel.

“The Scottish whisky industry is expanding, with growth in international markets, and we are very excited about the potential this process offers not just to Tullibardine but to the whole whisky industry.”

Whisky is a new biofuel

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Swansea Coachworks New 16 seat Mercedes Sprinter with large boot and side lockers.

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Mercedes Vario 618 19 seat with boot Based on the Mercedes Sprinter 516, we have designed a truly unique mini-coach. First of all we have added our coach style body extension to facilitate the luggage requirements, then we have created an interior capable of seating 16 passengers in extreme comfort but added the option of 4 tables, 2 double tables and 2 single tables.

Once again you decide what options you require from a vast list available and then pick your own colours to match your requirements.

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Optare supplies play Solo to London Transport Museum

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WiFi rolled out on Manchester Metroshuttle

Custom-built bus will feature in the museum’s new All Aboard play area London Transport Museum will launch a new family play zone, All Aboard, on March 28, for which Optare has provided a custom built bus.

The Solo SR bus was suspended in mid-air before being loaded up into the upper deck of the All Aboard play area by a crew of lifting specialists from Allelys using a heavy duty fork lift.

Young visitors to the Museum will be able to sit in the driving seat and operate the indicators, change the bus blinds and check out the CCTV. As well as being able to get in the driver’s seat of the Optare Solo, they will be able to repair a mini Tube train and play in the ‘Lost Property’ office. They can enjoy ‘sailing’ the Thames Nipper, serve passengers in the Nipper café, fly the Emirates Air Line cable car, make driver announcements and help customers at the mini information desk. Budding musicians can also play musical instruments at the busking spot.

Sam Mullins, Director of London Transport Museum, said: “We are very grateful to Optare for

transforming its Solo bus into a memorable interactive learning experience for our young visitors.

The bus will be a key attraction within our new All Aboard family play zone, and a heavily visited and photographed feature for all our Museum visitors.

“The new play zone will encourage our youngest visitors to learn through imaginative and creative play, using role play and dressing up as they become a bus driver or mechanic, and learn about some of the essential jobs which enable the transport system to function.”

Enrico Vassallo, CEO of Optare,

commented: “When the London Transport Museum told us how popular the previous Optare bus had been with the children in the gallery, we were only too pleased to supply a custom built version of our latest Solo model, which is available in both Euro 6 diesel and full electric, for the next generation of young people to enjoy and learn about bus travel in the new purpose built gallery at the Museum.”

As well as the new play zone, the museum is hosting special family events over Easter inspired by All Aboard. These events run from March 30 to April 17.

After air pollution levels spiked to a three-year high across central and north-east Scotland, there were calls for public transport to be made free until air quality improves, the Scotsman reported.

Analysts at environmental consultancy Ricardo-AEA, which compiles data from Scottish air

quality testing sites, confirmed that the concentration of dangerous particulates in the air had reached its worst level since August 2012. A weather front bringing in dirty air from western Europe contributed to the ‘pollution episode,’ according to Ricardo-AEA environmental scientist Dr Stuart Sneddon.

Friends of the Earth Scotland claimed car exhaust was the biggest contributor to smog levels in Scottish cities and called on the Scottish Government and local authorities to follow the example of

authorities in France, where public transport fares were suspended to reduce emissions.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Data shows that significant reductions in air pollutants have been achieved since 1990 and further decreases are predicted in the future.

“Our low emission strategy, currently out for consultation, proposes further action to reduce air pollution; enhancing the quality of life for communities across Scotland.”

Pollution in Scotland leads to free bus calls

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, launches the service

The bus was raised to the upper deck of the All Aboard play area with the help of a heavy-duty fork lift

TECHNICAL SUPPORT LTD 10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 010_CBW1181_News.indd 10

Manchester city centre’s free Metroshuttle buses have been fitted with free WiFi. The new service will be offered on all 20 Metroshuttle buses linking the city’s main rail stations, car parks, shopping areas and businesses.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) – which owns Metroshuttle’s fleet of Optare buses – worked with Manchester and Salford City Councils and the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to fund the scheme.

WiFi is also being rolled out in all 94 Metrolink trams running across Greater Manchester, as well as 241 key public buildings in Manchester and Salford.

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee said: “Metroshuttle is a huge hit, with passengers making well over 2.5 million trips every year and I’m sure free WiFi will only make it more a more attractive way to get around the city.

“We hope that quick and easy access to free WiFi will give people another option to make best use of their travelling time – whether it’s checking what time a film starts or messaging a friend.

“Metroshuttle coming online is one of the first steps in a WiFi revolution which aims to make Greater Manchester a top 20 worldwide digital city region by 2020.

“We can’t wait to bring Metrolink on board in the coming weeks, bringing benefits to tram users right across the 60 mile tram network.”

Quality mobile bus & coach engineers throughout the UK 01253 340565 www.wjftechnicalsupport.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

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Number of buses operated by Burton-based Midland Classic

140

Operators take on former Levin Valley services

Stagecarriage has taken on services 45 and 84. STEVE HODGSON Croft Coach Travel, Stagecarriage and Arriva step in to cover eight bus routes between them A number of former Levin Valley bus routes have been saved after local operators stepped in, the Middlesbrough Gazette has reported.

Eaglescliffe-based Croft Coach Travel has taken on the 18/19 service from Middlesbrough and James Cook University Hospital through to Hemlington and Stainton, along with the early morning Monday to Friday bus services 605, 606 and 607, running through various Middlesrough suburbs. Under Croft Coach Travel, the 18 and 19 service is running every hour and a half.

Services 603 and 604 have not been taken on by the company due to low passenger numbers.

The 84 Stockton to Stillington service and the 45 Middlesbrough to Wolviston Court, Billingham service have been taken on by

Middlebrough-based Stagecarriage, which operates 11 vehicles from the Bolckow Trading Estate in Grange Town.

Arriva, meanwhile, will run the 7A (formerly the 77) service from Stockton-Yarm via Willey Flats. The company is also revising its service 6 to operate a longer day between Hartburn and Stockton to replace withdrawn peak time services in Hartburn, near Stockton.

As published in CBW last issue, Leven Valley Coaches announced it was to close on March 20. The company partly blamed high insurance costs, as well as tough economic conditions, lower-thananticipated passenger numbers and ending public subsidies.

Croft Coach Travel Director James Wright said: “I am really pleased that Croft Coach Travel has been able to continue service 605/606/607 which are very early morning bus services within Middlesbrough.

“Passengers using these services are predominantly travelling to places of employment and I am

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happy that we are able to continue to provide transport to employment hubs.

“Continuing service 18 will provide the community with a vital east-west link across Middlesbrough.

“Many elderly people use this service in accessing health services at James Cook University Hospital and Croft Coach Travel are passionate about providing public transport which meets the needs of the community.”

Cllr Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for regeneration said: “I’m grateful to Croft Coach Travel and all those involved in the negotiations for their efforts to save these routes.

“While we understand the pressures faced by the previous operator, we also know how important these services are to bus users, especially those who rely on them for travel to and from work.

“I hope the travelling public will use these important services so they can continue to grow and become sustainable in the future.”

Number of members in the Association of Local Bus Company Managers (ALBUM)

Teenager charged for bus arson after appeal goes viral on social media A teenager has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life in connection with a fire which gutted the top deck of a National Express West Midlands ADL Enviro400 after an appeal for information went viral on social media.

The 15-year-old boy handed himself in to West Midlands Police (WMP) on Thursday evening (March 19), two days after the incident.

After questioning, he was bailed to appear before Birmingham Youth Court on April 10.

Bus CCTV footage which was shared by WMP on Facebook and on CBW’s page, showed the young man start the blaze with discarded newspaper on the rear seat at around 1600hrs, before walking off the bus, which was working service 904 along Erdington High Street.

Passengers were evacuated but the top deck was destroyed, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Sergeant Gareth Snyman commented: “We had a huge response to this appeal and we want to thank everyone that came forward to provide us with information.

“The appeal resulted in a teenager coming forward and he was arrested on suspicion of arson and bailed with strict conditions while our investigation continues.”

www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 17:52

£19.87m Work begins on Manchester Park & Ride site Work is set to get under way to create a new 250 space Park & Ride site on the East Lancashire Road (A580) in Manchester to encourage commuters to catch future busway services.

The facility, being developed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) underneath the M60 &

Funding provided for the Aberdeen hydrogen bus project

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M61 junctions, will serve a major bus priority route linking Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton and Salford with the city centre and Oxford Road.

The car park will be free of charge to passengers with a valid ticket.

Work to build a new junction for the entrance to the Park & Ride site has already begun and is being carried out by Galliford Try, the contractor who is currently carrying out work to create dedicated bus lanes along the

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A580.

A further 175 Park & Ride spaces will also be available along the 4.5mile guided section of the busway, at East Bond Street in Leigh, and Tyldesley Interchange.

Over £30m is being invested to deliver more than 2,000 new Park & Ride spaces at key locations for bus, train and Metrolink passengers across Greater Manchester.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, commented: “We know from

Brighton & Hove assists Travel Buddy re-launch Charity Grace Eyre has re-launched its Travel Buddy project for 2015.

The Brighton & Hove travel training programme helps adults with learning disabilities gain the skills and confidence to travel safely by bus or by foot in the city.

The project re-launched with a goal of signing up 30 new users over the next year.

At the launch, Brighton and Hove Bus Company provided a ‘Drama on the Bus’ session for adults with learning disabilities. The sessions offered Grace Eyre users the chance to act out real life scenarios and discuss any concerns they may have about travelling on the bus. Scenarios included situations like ‘You have missed your stop: Stop the bus at the next stop and find out from the driver how to get back to where you want to go’ or ‘You have been bullied by other passengers on the bus: ask for the driver’s help and get an information ticket from him.’

Victoria Garcia, Customer Liaison Officer at Brighton & Hove Bus Company, said: “Grace Eyre do incredible work supporting people in the community with learning disabilities and the Travel Buddy

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012_013_CBW1181_News.indd 13

Brighton & Hove donated a bus for the launch, on which people were able to roleplay bus journey difficulties scheme is one of the fantastic initiatives that they have in place.

“We will of course continue to support this event and look forward to our continued partnership with Grace Eyre. My heart always lifts when I see all the guys and I always leave with a big smile on my face, they are a fabulous bunch.”

Ben Gardiner, Senior Project Worker for Travel Buddy Project, said: “It is clear to me how keen

many people with learning disabilities are to have a bit more freedom and independence within their lives. Imagine always having to rely on other people to go out anywhere.

“To be able to work within a project that aims to develop people’s confidence in what they can do for themselves is incredibly rewarding – you can see it in people’s faces how exciting it can be to have a bit more freedom.”

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experience that a combination of free car parking and first rate public transport will encourage more drivers to switch to more sustainable modes of transport for part, and sometimes all, of their journey.

“When they open later this year, busway services will offer fast, frequent and reliable bus services to employment, education, and healthcare facilities in Salford, Manchester city centre and Oxford Road to the south of the city centre.”

Police commissioner calls for network banning orders

The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands has called for banning orders for criminal offenders on the region’s public transport network.

David Jamieson wants Centro to be able to ban repeat offenders from its entire network. Currently, transport authorities in the West Midlands have to apply for separate injunctions for each local authority.

David said: “The current Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014) gives only TfL the ability to use Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) to ban people, who persistently commit criminal acts on the region’s transport, from using it. It makes no sense that these powers are not available here in the West Midlands.”

Although total recorded crime on public transport in the West Midlands fell by 7.5% between 2011 and 2014, research carried out by independent watchdog Passenger Focus shows a correlation between anti-social behaviour (ASB) and passengers’ perception of personal safety.

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 13 23/03/2015 17:52

NEWS › COACHES

Home Affairs Committee concern over exit checks Government must concede greater exemptions, in addition to coachloads of under 16s, say MPs The Home Affairs Committee (HAC) is concerned about government plans for border exit checks due to be introduced after Easter.

From Wednesday, April 8, all cross-channel ferry and Eurotunnel passengers will be asked to present passports or national identity cards at check-in. The new additional Government process at the ports is expected to result in longer check-in procedures, a point operators and drivers should

take into account.

The HAC report, ‘The work of the Immigration Directorates: Calais’, published on Monday (March 23), forms part of the ongoing scrutiny into the work of UKVI, Immigration Enforcement, and Border Force.

The report focuses on three areas: the situation in Calais, the introduction of Exit Checks, and Criminal Record Checks of people entering the country.

The MPs said they cannot see how the Government can fulfil its pledge to deliver 100% exit checks by the deadline.

Keith Vaz MP, HAC Chairman, said: “The Home Office is asking for exit checks to be carried out by the transport companies

– despite not being clear as to what they want and how they are to be carried out. This entire process has given them inadequate time to prepare for their introduction.

“Four weeks before the deadline there is still no certainty, for example, as to whether closed coach parties will be allowed to cross the channel without checks.

“The way this is being introduced has caused confusion, and will lead to delays, traffic queues and congestion on the road network around Folkestone and Dover.

“We would not be surprised if exceptions, in addition to coachloads of under 16s, are

announced before April 8. The Home Office must publish a definitive list of what is included in the scope of the programme by the time Parliament rises.”

Responding, Don Armour, the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Manager - International Affairs said: “This HAC report confirms FTA’s concerns over the new proposed manual individual passport checks.

“We have already said that we are not convinced that the proposed passport checking system has been thought through properly or that it is as robust as officials would have us believe, and as a result we believe it will cause delays at the ports and exit points – and chaos on the roads leading to departure.”

The Port of Dover has advised that during periods of increased freight traffic, all tourist drivers should use the A2/M2 route towards the Port in order to minimise delays to their journey.

Johnsons launch brochure in style To celebrate the launch of its Summer 2015 Day Excursions Brochure, Johnsons Coach Travel took over 400 customers to the West Midlands Safari Park last Tuesday (March 17) for a ‘roaring’ day out.

The brochure launch event gave the Henley-in-Arden-based operator an opportunity to meet its customers face to face and treat them to a fantastic day out at the Safari Park with first-class entertainment from the Alcester Male Voice Choir. The new Summer Day Excursions brochure features 198 days out, and by showcasing the variety and value for money offered, Johnsons was able to promote its new brochure in a new and exciting way.

Johnsons arranged six convenient pick up points to transport the 400 plus customers to the awardwinning attraction, which included seven coaches departing from the firm’s yard which is conveniently located alongside the A3400.

Coaches also picked up customers in Solihull, Warwick, Bromsgrove, Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham.

Clients were welcomed at the Safari Park’s ‘Tree Tops’ Pavilion located in the heart of the park with a Danish pastry and coffee. Representatives from top

400 customers were coached to the West Midlands Safari Park where they enjoyed the animals and listened to a performance by a local choir

attractions including Blenheim Palace, City Cruises, Continuum Leading Attractions, East Lancs Railway, Gloucester Tourist Office, Historic Royal Palaces, National Memorial Arboretum, Trentham Gardens, Waddesdon Manor, West Somerset Railway, World of Wedgwood, were present to chat to the clients about their fantastic venues to visit in 2015.

John Johnson presented the 2015

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Day Excursions programme to the customers, and to top the morning off the wonderful Alcester Male Voice Choir performed.

Clients were then free to purchase lunch and explore the varied attractions including ‘Walking with Lemurs’, Meerkat Mayhem, the Sea Lion Show, Penguin Cove, Twilight Cave, Seaquarium, Reptile House and Creepy Crawlies before a coach

tour of the four-mile self-drive Safari Park.

John Johnson, Commercial Director at Johnsons Coach Travel said: “This was a great event for Johnsons and we are really proud to have offered our clients a chance to meet our suppliers and experience the fantastic West Midlands Safari Park for themselves. It’s always great to meet our clients face to face and explain the new excursions we have planned for the summer and hear their feedback and comments.

“We would like to say a big thank you to the staff at the Safari Park and also to attraction suppliers for supporting our event.” www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 18:40

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38 Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coaches for Shearings Group

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CCTV Insider Knowledge

O The Tourismos will see the withdrawal of the last Volvo from the fleet The largest ever Mercedes-Benz Tourismo order for the UK market will see Shearings Group take delivery of 38 Tourismo coaches this month. The high-speci�ication coaches will comprise 23 Euro 6 12m Tourismo coaches being delivered in National Holidays livery and 15 tri-axle 13m Tourismos entering service for the �irst time in a striking new version of the Shearings Holidays livery.

Denis Wormwell, Chief Executive, Shearings Group, said: “This represents a signi�icant investment for us – close to £10m.

“We are really pleased with the presentation, comfort and safety standards of the new Tourismo and are delighted to continue working closely with the team at EvoBus following the delivery of over 200 new Setras over the last �ive years.”

The new Tourismos will have a phased entry into service. For the Shearings �leet, their introduction

will see the withdrawal of the last of the Volvos – with the result the Grand Tourer and Shearings vehicles will be entirely Setra or Mercedes-Benz products.

Asked by CBW if there is a split of the new Tourismos between the Grand Tourer and Shearings brands, and about the story behind the new Shearings livery, a Shearings spokesperson replied: “Further details on the new Grand Tourer livery and the investment will be revealed in the coming weeks.”

General Manager of MercedesBenz Coach Sales in the UK, Jonathan Prime said: “It is a pleasure to work with business partners who put customer satisfaction at the heart of everything they do. We too strive to provide our customers with the best products and services and are con�ident that the latest Tourismo models will deliver on safety, comfort, quality and economy.”

After a four-year investigation, Tyne and Wear coach operator Howard Snaith and a number of its employees were found not guilty of conspiracy to falsify tachograph records at Newcastle Crown Court.

In a statement released via Backhouse Jones solicitors, the Snaith family said: “On March 18, 2011, DVSA Officers with the assistance of the local Police executed a search warrant at the business premises of Howard Snaith and Partners of Otterburn. That search began an investigation which has taken four years to conclude during that time the lives and the

good business name of Howard Snaith’s has been dragged through the mud. Both Alison Snaith and the business have always vehemently denied the offence of Conspiracy to falsify tachograph records.

“On March 23, 2015 at Newcastle Crown Court, Howard Snaith and Partners and Alison Snaith along with a number of employees were found not guilty of these allegations, which were without any foundation.

“During the course of an investigation, Alison Snaith foolishly produced four tachograph records to replace four which have been lost. To that extent only, Mrs Snaith pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.”

The sentencing hearing has been adjourned until April 21, 2015.

Howard Snaith found not guilty

www.coachandbusweek.com

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n-vehicle CCTV has become in an invaluable asset to the coach and bus industry.

To help celebrate 25 years protecting operators and their passengers, Synectics delves into its knowledge to share some valuable insight and help maximize investment in CCTV. With over two decades of experience providing more than 20,000 CCTV solutions, the UK’s leading on-vehicle CCTV supplier takes you behind the scenes and shows why CCTV has become such a big part of the day-to-day running of buses and coaches.

With ever-increasing traffic on the UK’s roads it is crucial that every measure is taken to protect vehicles and prevent costly and at times serious incidents – CCTV can play an important role in this.

According to the latest road accident statistics from the Department for Transport, drivers not having clear sight of what’s around the vehicle is one of the major contributing factors in bus and coach accidents.

Over the years, Synectics have worked with customers to help prevent more common types of collisions involving coaches.

Damage from rear tail swipes, for example, is expensive and quite often the cost of the repair comes straight off the bottom line.

Not only do CCTV systems and recorded footage retrospectively mitigate against spurious claims, the cameras also provide a very useful tool to drivers to proactively help avoid rear tail swipes.

On long coaches, rear flank cameras that face towards the very bottom rear corner of the

Call 01253 891222 Email sms.sales@synx.com www.synecticsmobile.com

vehicle and switch to the drivers’ monitor, can prevent accidents and collisions. The addition of these cameras can be relatively quick and inexpensive but has major benefits in the long run.

Another significant contributing factor to bus and coach incidents can be heavy braking.

Following too closely behind the vehicle in front can increase the risk of nose-to-tail collisions, a common type of incident amongst city drivers. In addition to the increased risk of collisions, repeated harsh braking incidents can lead to increased wear and tear on vehicles, resulting in higher maintenance costs.

Modern DVRs can be configured to display incidents of braking, with the overlay on the footage showing exactly when the brake is applied.

The addition of this, alongside the logging of information from the in-built accelerometer data, can be used as a key part of driver training.

In the event of an incident, data can be analysed to gain a better understanding of the events surrounding the incident and help aid driver feedback and future prevention.

Such data is now regularly used to counter fraudulent compensation claims also known as ‘crash for cash.’

Fraudsters deliberately brake sharply in front of an innocent driver to cause an incident. A forward-facing CCTV camera in conjunction with braking and accelerometer data is a valuable tool in helping operators fight bogus claims, which, according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau led to compensation claims of nearly £400m in 2013.

Surveillance Solutions for Transport

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 15 23/03/2015 18:40

NEWS › INTERNATIONAL

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Postbus steps on the gas Besides expanding its own bus network, Postbus is also entering into a partnership with the Estonian bus operator Lux Express/Simple Express GERMANY Deutsche Post (Postbus) is delivering on its announced plans with the initial phase of a significant expansion of its intercity bus network slated to begin in mid-May. Instead of the 60 cities covered to date, Postbus will then reach 120 cities and towns as well as other attractive vacation and leisure destinations.

Its network will stretch from East Frisia to the Mecklenburg Lake District and Lake Tegernsee. In the north, Neumünster, Lüneburg and other cities will be added, and in the south Ingolstadt, Heilbronn and Tübingen. New destinations in the west include Saarbrücken, Trier and Kaiserslautern, and in the east Halle, Cottbus, Zwickau and Görlitz. Effective immediately, tickets for the new destinations can be booked on the internet, on the phone and in 12,000 Post outlets throughout Germany.

In addition, Postbus will be adding its first night trips on selected routes such as BerlinLeipzig-Munich, HamburgFrankfurt or Cologne-Berlin, so Postbus customers will be able to travel conveniently overnight and have the entire day at their disposal when they reach their destinations.

The frequency of service on popular routes will also increase; starting in May, Postbus will provide service from Berlin to Munich and from Berlin to

Solaris develops bi-articulated electric bus POLAND The first Polish ‘mega class’ bus with multi-axle electric motors powered by low-emission gas’ is a joint project between Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., Warsaw University of Technology and Poznan University of Technology.

The project is financially supported

by The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) within the InnoTech programme. The bus

Deutsche Post is planning to significantly expand its network beginning in mid-May Frankfurt three times daily instead of twice, and on the route from Berlin to North Rhine-Westphalia, buses will run nine times instead of six.

Postbus is offering an earlybooker discount to help promote its newly expanded network.

Effective immediately, anyone who books a ticket to or from one of the network’s newly-added destinations in March for travel starting May 13 will pay only half the ticket price. To take advantage of this special offer, all customers need to do is provide the promotion code “HALBERPREIS” when booking.

Besides expanding its own network, Postbus has also

entered into a partnership with the Estonian bus operator Lux Express/Simple Express. Since March 13, Postbus customers have been able to travel from many German cities to Warsaw and Poznań via Berlin thanks to matching timetables from Postbus and Simple Express.

Berlin has become the hub at which coaches from Postbus and Simple Express will meet and where passengers can transfer from one line to the other. Prices for service from Berlin to Warsaw will start at €22, and €17 to Poznań. During the launch of the new routes, special introductory prices will apply for those booking early.

will be over 20 metres long.

“We are working on a biarticulated, 24-metre bus,” said Dr. Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. “Powered by electric motors batteries will be charged with the use of an outside source of energy or through fuel cells mounted on the bus. Not only is the extremely advanced technology extraordinary in this prototype, but it also has an unusual length. This bus could compete with a tram thanks to its unusually big passenger capacity.”

The cost of the project is €3m,

of which almost €1.5m is funding from NCBiR within the InnoTech programme. The implementation of the project was planned for the period from December 2012 to November 2015. However due to the fact that Solaris intends to increase the volume of research and development work, the company currently is consulting with NCBiR about an extension of the project for a further year.

Solaris recently applied similar drive technology in two 18.75-metre articulated electric buses delivered to Hamburg in December 2014. The

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Following the withdrawal of the ADAC from the Deutsche Post Mobility GmbH joint venture last November, the service will now be provided under a new brand, with ‘ADAC Postbus’ changing to ‘Postbus.’ The new figurative mark will largely retain the previous design, with the Deutsche Post parent company’s Post horn to be added. The new design is to be implemented on all buses by April 1.

A further change is planned for August/September, when Postbus will add more new and also international destinations to its network in a second expansion phase. The company will announce details at a later date.

new project is intended to create a more technically advanced product, if only because of its length.

Dariusz continued: “We are at the final stage of engineering works and soon we will move on to building a prototype which will subsequently go through a series of tests and evaluations.”

Apart from the general blueprints of the bus, the new vehicle’s visual design has also been finished. The 24-metre Solaris will be based on the new version of the Urbino family that had its premiere at IAA, Hanover last September.

www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 18:43

p17_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 17:15 Page 17

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CHICHESTER County Hall, 20 April 2015, 13.00–15.00 HORSHAM County Hall North, 19 May 2015, 10.00–12.00 To book your place at either of these events, please email us at school.transport@westsussex.gov.uk – stating your company name, contact name and telephone number, the number of people you would like to attend and your preference of date/venue.

If you’d like more information, please call us on 033 022 25666.

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VDL Citea Electric in Maastricht test Veolia-owned operator transport Limburg takes part in Zero Emission Bus Project HOLLAND A VDL Citea Electric began operating on route 4 (Villapark, Maastricht to Academic Hospital Maastricht) in Maastricht from March 13. The test is part of the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) transport foundation’s nationwide initiative to accelerate the transition to affordable, clean, quiet public transport.

Participants in this project are the Province of Limburg, the Municipality of Maastricht, transport operator Veolia Transport Limburg and the Zero Emission Bus transport foundation. The test is intended as a prelude to a conversion of all existing diesel and natural gas buses to electric powered buses.

“The advantages of electric powered buses are clear,” said Province of Limburg Executive Committee member Patrick van der Broeck, whose dossier includes public transport. “The local emission of harmful substances is zero, no fossil fuels are used and the buses produce almost no noise – benefits which are certainly of great importance in the city centre.”

Maastricht is one of the first

Maastricht pilot with a VDL Citea Electric began on March 13 on route 4 Dutch cities in which an extensive field test with a fully electric 12-metre bus is being conducted as part of the regular scheduled service. Veolia has previously run brief tests with electric buses from various suppliers in Maastricht, but in this case it is a long-term trial lasting at least half a year.

To finance the project a successful application was made to the Elena fund, managed by the European Investment Bank.

An electrically powered bus is currently about twice as expensive as a bus with a diesel engine.

The pilot in Maastricht is

primarily meant to provide practical experience with the use of electric buses. Both the technical reliability and costs per kilometre will be examined closely.

Driver, passenger and mechanics’ experiences will be included in the final assessment.

The bus will be charged using the standardised Combined Charging System protocol. This charging procedure was developed by the German and American passenger car industries and is now also being used for heavy duty buses.

A big advantage is that, thanks to a standardised infrastructure,

various parties will be able to use the same charging system, making operation more economically attractive. This method is of great importance to scaling-up the use of electric vehicles.

With proven success, ever more zero-emission buses are being used. ZEB is committed to a switchover by 2025 of all 5,100 diesel and natural gas buses in the Netherlands to buses with electric motors. The biggest bottlenecks are the cost and weight of the battery. But the battery is expected to become lighter and cheaper in coming years.

ECMF publishes blueprint to double land passenger transport use BEGIUM The European Citizens’ Mobility Forum (ECMF) has proposed a programme of action for EU policy decision-makers with the aim of doubling use of collective land passenger transport by 2025.

Framed around four principles, the programme covers nine action areas, including governance, infrastructure, innovation, funding, sustainability, taxation, service quality, image, and monitoring the progress made in achieving the objective of doubling. It also advocates the creation of a dedicated EU funding instrument to enhance public transport across Europe.

Ismail Ertug, European Parliament Transport Coordinator and ECMF member, said: “Our challenge is to provide the highest possible level of mobility for all EU citizens and, at the same time, tackle resulting issues of congestion, road safety and

Steve Salmon: ‘The next decade will be crucial for mobility’. ANDY IZATT pollution. A key factor in this will be the promotion of wellfunctioning, sustainable collective mobility. Therefore, I fully endorse the ECMF’s proposal.”

Gesine Meissner, European Parliament Transport Coordinator and ECMF member, said: “Promoting collective public

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transport will be on the agenda of the new Transport Committee of the European Parliament. It is not only a major challenge for cities but also for rural areas where more and more elderly people rely on bus and coach services.”

Wim van de Camp, European Parliament Transport Coordinator

and ECMF member, said: “I fully support this initiative because it not only helps to reduce traffic congestion in cities, but also provides safer and cleaner cities.”

The programme aims to improve the collective door-to-door mobility chain as a whole, while stressing the key role of customer satisfaction and choice. It also seeks to further improve the industry’s environmental record and continue its focus on safety, while improving its image and attractiveness for both customers and those working in the industry.

Steven Salmon, CPT’s Director of Policy Development is also an ECMF member. “The next decade will be crucial for mobility in cities,” he said. “Our members are ready to invest to attract new passengers but we need a matching commitment from the authorities so that public transport becomes the logical choice for more people.” www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 09:07

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INSIGHT › BUSMARK

Benchmarking for buses and coaches Q uality is key, we are often told, but in the bus industry, how do you measure it? The respected independent Passenger Focus research provides invaluable data from members of the public, and hence it is widely quoted, but by its very nature, it doesn’t look at what might be termed ‘nuts and bolts’ detail such as the percentage of an operator’s vehicles �itted with CCTV or staff absence rates.

The equally respected data collected by the TAS Partnership will also tell us about pro�itability and costs with its Bus Industry Performance document. While the coach sector can call upon the prestigious quality standards laid down by the Guild of British Coach Operators and CoachMarque, there does not appear to be an industry-speci�ic set of standards for the bus industry.

Now the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the industry’s professional body has recti�ied that anomaly with a set of benchmarks.

LogMark

The idea behind BusMark, as it is known, stems from the established LogMark for the logistics sector, which has been in operation for 15 years.

The aim is to present a new benchmarking and best practice exchange group dedicated to driving improvement in the industry.

Adrian de Courcey of Coventry-based Travel de Courcey, one of those behind the project, took up the story: “In October I attended a LogMark meeting as a guest to see how CILT’s established process with LogMark works in practice and the bene�its. This was held at the 20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 020_021_CBW1181_CILT.indd 20

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is to launch a set of benchmarks for the bus and coach industry, helping to drive up standards across the board, while also providing invaluable data about the sector.

Gareth Evans reports

Sony distribution centre in En�ield, the facility famously burnt down during the riots.

“The meeting was very insightful and the bene�its through the sharing of industry best practice were all too clear. Although the meeting was for logistics operators, the topics covered included ones very relevant for our own industry, including a discussion on a recent European Court of Justice ruling on how to deal with employee absenteeism and Statutory Sick Pay. The discussion regarding European legislation on HR policies and the impact on temporary recruitment and induction processes was very revealing and of signi�icant bene�it to all. Arch rivals such as Asda and Boots, TNT and Norbert Dentressangle, have been brought together by LogMark.

“Another thing I learned at the meeting was that Asda Logistic Services has a deal with local authorities to clear the roads from its

distribution depots to the main roads during times of snow. For a bus depot, which is typically located on an industrial estate, other businesses could chip in to keep the facilities operational.

“I left the meeting with a strong belief that the benchmarking programme pioneered by LogMark could be transformational in helping to raise standards across our own industry.”

BusMark

The BusMark steering group is made up of operators, academics and CILT of�icers.

“We have been fascinated to learn of the power of benchmarking, leading to the identi�ication of, sharing and discussion about best practice in way that provides tangible examples of learning, leading to real bene�it for members’ own business,” explained Adrian.

During the latter part of 2014 some 150 Bus

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23/03/2015 10:00

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and Coach operators across the UK were invited to take part in a detailed snapshot survey.

“Our response rate was 23.5%, which is not bad when one would typically expect that figure to be 10%,” Adrian enthused.

“We felt that demonstrated there is an appetite to understand key industry metrics, gain great confidence in areas of high performance and understand areas for improvement, both in turn highlighting industry best practice and valuable lessons learnt which can be shared in a structured and confidential environment and used my member organisations to drive improvements in their own companies, benefiting both customers and, most importantly, the bottom line.”

He added: “BusMark reviews a range of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) such as health and safety, human resources, operational efficiency. By choosing key KPI criteria, standards of both your own company and that of the industry as a whole can be raised.

“Questions in the initial survey included the average percentage change of adult single fare during between January and December 2014, the average MPG achieved across the fleet, the percentage of the fleet equipped with WiFi and telemetry. It even asked whether rain is harvested.

“The standards are to be reviewed quarterly.

It’s not about improving one company at the expense of another – it’s about the industry as a whole.

“It all began in January 2014 when representatives of Go-Ahead, Arriva and Stagecoach, together with Blackpool Transport, Trent Barton, DRM, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

FirstGroup is expected to come onboard soon.

The steering committee includes Martjin Gilbert, Alex Perry, Austin Birk, Richard Hall and John Carr, who is an academic. It’s taken a year to come up with KPIs.”

How it works

Members complete a survey, anonymously sharing key result data from a sample depot or

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‘BusMark is the only benchmark for the bus industry. It’s supported by the best and high-profile operators, such as Reading Buses, Travel de Courcey, RATP Dev, Arriva, Plymouth City Bus, GHA Coaches and National Express.

It’s a networking club too. Benchmarking attracts positive, likeminded and engaged people from respected organisations, focussed on forward looking business improvement.’ region starting with the basic foundations such as fleet size and mileage and then moving onto key benchmarking areas such as operational performance, fleet, engineering and headcount efficiency, technology adoption, environmental credentials and other topical areas.

Confidentiality of the results is a top priority and whilst full participation in the survey is encouraged, members can choose to only respond to certain questions. Where an answer in submitted, in return the benchmarked average, lowest and highest performance results are returned. The survey is undertaken annually.

As well as data benchmarking, the group meets four times a year on-site at a different members premises to showcase areas of high performance and discuss topical points.

Why sign up?

Asked why operators should take part, Adrian replied: “You may think you’re a good operator, and you may compare yourself against other operators if you’re part of a larger group, but not other firms. There are no so-called ‘bad operators’ on this list.

“BusMark is the only benchmark for the bus industry. It’s supported by the best and highprofile operators, such as Reading Buses, Travel

de Courcey, RATP Dev, Arriva, Plymouth City Bus, GHA Coaches and National Express.

“It’s a networking club too. Benchmarking attracts positive, likeminded and engaged people from respected organisations, focussed on forward looking business improvement.”

Adrian made another valid point: “After the general election, our industry will inevitably face massive challenges – notably the call for Quality Contracts. Before the advent of BusMark, we would never have known for example, that four out of five bus operators donate to charity. Then there’s the rich diversity of our workforce.

“Data we gather can be used to influence local and national politicians. BusMark presents a credible way for operators of all sizes to learn best practice and for the industry as a whole to improve.

“Membership will also serve as a badge of honour, demonstrating a clear commitment to business improvement and innovation.

Operators will be able to display the BusMark membership logo on their promotional and business development material and have their company logo showed on the members list.”

Costs

Asked about the costs, Adrian replied: “Membership of the LogMark forum costs £995 per annum. However, as part of our launch year the CILT is working with key industry sponsors to offer a discounted membership of £495, reflecting our confidence that just one single initiative identified and developed following benchmarking is likely to provide a business benefit many times that amount – let alone the other benefits from the best practice exchange, excellence tours and networking with other organisations committed to improvement.

“Organisations can also achieve even greater business benefit from Corporate Membership of CILT which includes support with individual CPD as well as individual member development and professional recognition.”

Next step?

L-R: Richard Hall (London United), Alex Perry (Arriva Midlands), Chris Ruane (CILT), Adrian de Courcey (Travel de Courcey), Daryl Chesney (CILT), Katie Workman (CILT), John Carr (Consultant/Academic), Martijn Gilbert (Reading Buses) and Austin Birk (Utrack/CILT) www.coachandbusweek.com

020_021_CBW1181_CILT.indd 21

Asked what the next step will be, Adrian replied: “BusMark will be formally launched at the ALBUM Conference hosted by Network Warrington in Chester on May 12-13.” n

For more details on BusMark please call Chris Ruane at the CILT on 01536 740128 or email Chris at chris.ruane@ciltuk.org.uk.

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21 23/03/2015 10:00

NEWS FOCUS › YOUNG BUS MANAGERS NETWORK

Setting an example James Day reports from the Young Bus Managers Network conference at the Nottingham Hilton Hotel, where the city itself was a source of inspiration Nottingham is a city with a public transport network in excellent condition. Passenger satisfaction is very high, dependency on the personal car is low and there is plenty of competition between multiple bus operators as well as the city’s tram network. It is an obvious case study for budding bus managers, which is why it was chosen to host the Young Bus Managers Network (YBMN) conference from March 18-19.

The event was very well attended, with barely any empty seats to be seen and enough young managers to fill two buses – one Trent Barton single-decker and one Nottingham City Transport (NCT) double-decker – on the way to the NCT control room just before lunch.

Proceedings began with talks from three operators based in the Midlands area, all either in or relatively close to Nottingham.

Learning lessons

James Boddice from Burton-onTrent-based Midland Classic was first to speak, as a young manager who owns a business.

After leaving Arriva in 2005, a chance conversation between

James and a former school friend got onto the subject of buying a Routemaster as it came out of service in London to enter the wedding and private hire market in the Midlands. This led to the pair acquiring two from Ensignbus.

“Before that I was training to do my Transport Manager CPC off my own back,” James said. “It’s something which is worth doing, as you’ll never know when you’ll need it.”

After passing his exams, James applied for a three vehicle O-licence (wanting the third vehicle on the licence just in case) in the summer of 2005, which came back in September. The plan was for his business partner to find the work while he ran it. A highlight was taking a Routemaster up to Leeds from which Chris Moyles broadcast the Radio 1 breakfast show. However, this was a one-off, and the business needed something more regular.

“I started a regular service to Alton Towers in the Easter of 2006 from Burton,” James continued.

“I looked at the local network, which had been stable for quite a while and hadn’t been tinkered with, and found service 21 which had been withdrawn in 1999.

Although everywhere on the route was served, it was a different link.

“At no point since have I wanted to compete directly with what anyone else does. It’s just copying service – there’s no benefit to that

An unusual sight: a Trent Barton Plaxton Premiere picks up passengers from NCT’s Parliament Street depot. JAMES DAY 22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 022_026_CBW1181_Young Bus Managers.indd 22

and ultimately someone is going to lose.”

James said on the first day he took £34.35, while the other bus took £35, which was a concern.

He was used to taking home £200 a day on an Arriva job, and while there were some concessions, the reimbursement and funding from BSOG was months away.

“What I needed was some publicity,” James said. “It came from an unlikely source. On the Sunday before the service started, we put up roadside timetables up.

Towards the end of the first week I was driving around and noticed they had all gone. At the end of the road there was an Arriva publicity van unattended, and all our timetables were in the back. We contacted the local paper and got it on the front page.”

James quoted the story as saying ‘Running hourly via the Gresleys,

surrounding villages and the Mead Walk estate in Stanton, it has reduced journey times to Burton to 26 minutes compared with the current 47 minutes under Arriva.’

“I couldn’t have worded an advert better than that,” he mused.

The following September, the business won a school contract in Leicestershire and took on an engineer/driver. Cashflow was tight, and the business was relying on takings to be able to fuel the buses for the next day’s work. This wasn’t helped by a new doubledecker from Scotland breaking down on route, meaning staff wages needed to be used to pay for the tow truck.

James’ business partner parted company with him in 2007, with James buying his shares. He advised: “If you go into business with somebody, always have an exit strategy. You might think ‘Oh www.coachandbusweek.com

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The conference was very well attended this March. JAMES DAY we’re mates it’ll be fine,’ but it may well not be.”

At the start of 2007, Arriva had a network review and completely remade its network in the area.

Because of all of the changes and adjustments, James saw opportunities created for Midland Classic to get more involved in local bus services. However, he was having problems recruiting drivers and engineers and the business began to lose its way.

“During 2008 we moved to another garage,” James said. “I wasn’t driving as much then and was doing a lot of paperwork at home, so I had taken my eye off some of the day-to-day operation.

“In October of that year, we got an S-marked prohibition for a tyre on a school bus. It was bad. When we had a VOSA visit afterwards, as you do get after one of those, it didn’t appear too bad, but in 2009 I got www.coachandbusweek.com

022_026_CBW1181_Young Bus Managers.indd 23

a call up letter to go before Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell.

“I had four separate hearings.

Ultimately I came out of it being cut from 10 discs to five, and I was running eight. At the time it felt like the worst thing possible, and while I don’t agree with the ritual humiliation I was put through, it was the right decision. It gave me a chance to really look at what we were doing.

“I could have packed it in, but I had the support of my drivers, none of which left, and I got some support from Julian Peddle, who wanted to get involved. He also introduced me to David Reeves of D&G Bus and between them they bought a 26% share of the business. I got access to D&G’s Engineering Manager Gary, who helped with the engineering side of things, which both reduced cost and improved standards.

“Over 2009 we concentrated on the five buses we had left and improved the business to an extent that by the end of the year I was able to buy three brand new Volvo buses. They told people we’re here now to stay. The business is now up to 26 buses, with an MOT pass rate of 100%.”

From rock bottom to operator of the year

Nicola Tidy, NCT Marketing Director, took the stand next. She joined the firm in March 2001 from the retail sector, having spent time at Victoria Wines and Boots.

Nicola spoke about how the company has improved since she first joined, when the company was at ‘rock bottom’ and her friends and family ‘couldn’t believe what she was doing.’

“In the year 2000, we were awful,” Nicola said. “Our fleet was

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every shade of green and cream you could possibly imagine. We had an example of every bus ever made – there was no consistency.

“Inside they were no better.

The buses were flea ridden, had moquette ceilings and brown colour schemes. It was revolting.

As well as that we were very unreliable and had an appalling reputation.

“Our neighbours, Trent Barton, were amazing and constantly winning operator of the year and the tram was just about to be built on our busiest corridor. We also made around a £1m loss that year, and NCT had been losing passengers for 50 years before 2000. Something had to be done.”

After Nicola joined, she was told the operator was completely recasting the network within six months. “Bearing in mind I was a girl who knew about make-up and a bit about wine, it was a baptism of fire,” Nicola stated.

“We started a programme of massive investment. One of the most fundamental things we did was staff training. Our drivers were awful – we didn’t select on personality or customer service skills. If you could drive, you were in, and the statutory minimum was invested in terms of getting people on the road. We’ve since spent millions training our staff to perform as we would like.

“We then looked at the network, which hadn’t been touched for 20 years. It was still going to places which had been demolished and not to places where Nottingham had evolved. We simplified it, got rid of loss-making routes, looked at the size of buses on the routes and we stopped cross-city routes.

Less than 3% of people actually used the services to go across the city and they were the ones which were always getting caught in congestion. We also introduced some new routes.

“We looked at frequencies and running times. They were all set up to suit us. I will never forget finding out that some services which passed our depot on the way into Nottingham didn’t take people into Nottingham; they just ran to our depot. Everything was done for the benefit of our engineers and operations.

“We also introduced colourcoded corridors. It was replicated on buses, timetables and displays.

At the time, the media ridiculed this, but six months later our research showed it was making a difference. We did loads of research and consultation as we

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23 23/03/2015 10:25

NEWS FOCUS › YOUNG BUS MANAGERS NETWORK were planning, which was the key.

“September 27, 2001 was the day we launched our new network.

Nottingham had started its phasing of pedestrianisation in anticipation of the tram and changed a lot of the road network, so everything had to happen on the same day.

It was horrendous. Although we spent a lot of time training staff and telling customers, there were still people who didn’t know what was happening. It was a difficult six months. In hindsight, if you’re going to do something like this, make sure you bring your staff into the loop with you.

“About six months on from this hell, things began to change. At the end of our balance year in 2002, we actually saw a passenger increase, despite getting rid of 80 or 90 buses. We also started talking to customers and found they liked the colour coding and were starting to use the network more frequently.

“The best thing was, in 2004 we won bus operator of the year.

That was the best win. After all that effort, to win that award was amazing.”

Nicola then moved on to the lessons the industry can learn from retail – the first of which was that people tend to visit retailers for things they want, whereas bus travel is ‘a means to an end.’

“I know this is sacrilegious to say, but bus travel is not exciting.

To most of us outside this room, it’s not like buying a new car, new dress or whatever else makes you want to spend your money. It’s just about getting you where you want to go. If you start from that premise, it’s a great lesson.

“Another thing about retailers is they display their products magnificently. There are very few retailers which do not pay a lot of attention to display and merchandising. Why don’t we?

There are some pretty ropey looking buses on our roads – would you want your children going to school on them? I wouldn’t. It does not have to be a brand new bus to present it well.

“Within your means, make your product as attractive as possible.

Make people want to get on the buses, make sure your travel shops are nice places to be. Also, tickets and cards are your products – think about what they look like and how you present them.

“Customer service is vital. Your driver is your ambassador. He is the face of your company. It’s about having a friendly welcoming face.

It’s not a hard thing to do.”

NCT offered one of its Alexander Dennis Envrio400s to transport attendees

The young managers onboard the NCT bus as it travels to the company’s Parliament Street depot. JAMES DAY

Packaging services properly

After a short break, Jeff Counsell, Managing Director of Trent Barton addressed the conference. He began by asking: “Are you are a manager, or are you a leader?

Anyone can be given something to manage – and I don’t mean that patronisingly – but what makes a difference is people who can lead.

“The difference is managers make some things happen, while leaders enable others to make more things happen. It’s about acknowledging your own weaknesses – and I’ve got plenty – recognising your strengths and

24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 022_026_CBW1181_Young Bus Managers.indd 24

building a team around you which complement each other. That’s what Trent Barton has been doing for years.

“Do not be afraid to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.”

Like NCT, Trent Barton had to go through something of a turnaround at one point in its history. It recognised in the early 1990s that unless it took a fresh approach to its business, the constant decline it had seen since the 1950s, because of car ownership, would continue.

“We did the unthinkable and talked to our customers. The research we undertook told us that

our customers were sick of grumpy bus drivers, poor customer service and dirty, smelly buses.

“We’re a very customer focussed industry and environment. As operators, don’t do things which are operationally led, like running buses to the depot because it’s convenient for the driver. Make sure you do what the customer wants you to do.”

Jeff moved onto the operator’s network and branding, perhaps the aspect of Trent Barton’s business it is best known for.

“In 1994, which is when we started to brand vehicles, we introduced the Spondon Flyer, which became synonymous in the industry as what to do with a bus product to reinvigorate it,” he said. “It was a little bit of branding which by today’s standards is quite poor.

“Spondon is a commuter area which was served by four vehicles which went all around the world before they finally arrived in Derby city centre. It took forever, so passengers jumped in their cars.

“We took the four PVR, branded it Spondon Flyer and put some of the other areas onto other local services, making Spondon fast and direct. Speed, frequency and directness sells. We hand-picked a select group of top-performing drivers and underpinned the service with a money back guarantee.”

Jeff continued: “Now, of the 45 routes we operate, 40 of them have their own branding. This makes it difficult to sell a network, although it is something we’re addressing by having the ‘that’s Trent Barton’ strapline. But in truth, we don’t operate a great network, and most customers don’t want to ride on a network every day – they are destination loyal and routinely catch the same bus.

“We sell destinations. Nottingham is a fantastic destination. Derby used to lag behind, but has overtaken Nottingham in terms of retail recently. While we cover quite a wide geographic area, the main focus of our business is these two great cities.”

Jeff described research as a vital part of the business: “You can never do enough research. There is a risk of thinking ‘that’s such a great idea that it must work’ and forgetting the research. It takes time – you’ve got to draw up the surveys, take the time to talk to customers, but it stands really well.

Don’t shortcut research. If nothing else, it gives you brownie points with customers. www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 13:33

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NEWS FOCUS › YOUNG BUS MANAGERS NETWORK “Whenever we launch a new product, we’ll talk to people a few months down the line to ask them how it is performing and whether there is any more we could do.”

However, with all of the branding and marketing the company does, Jeff said it hasn’t lost sight of what’s most important to passengers – reliability.

“Customers’ number one priority is punctuality. You can have the best looking bus in the world, with a superb, friendly driver which counts for nothing if you’re not on time. A lot of our efforts go into monitoring punctuality.

“Unforeseen things will happen which will make you unreliable.

The best way to deal with it is real-time information – let your customers know the bus will be here in a few minutes. At least the customer has the assurance that the bus is on its way. We provide it in many ways, through social media, roadside signs and our mobile website. We’re considering best practice before we develop an app – we want to get it right.

“Finally, customer service is something the company takes seriously, down to getting the right people in in the first place with strict recruitment methods.”

“We always emphasise customer service,” Jeff explained. “Anyone we recruit to our team has to complete psychometric analysis. It is very accurate as an assessment of what you are like as an individual. It assesses the personality of the person and whether they will be a good team player.

“When you travel with Trent Barton, you should get eye contact, a smile and a personal greeting.

When someone joins Trent Barton, one of the first things we tell them is there is no script and to use whatever language they feel comfortable with to greet the passenger. If the driver is forced to use language they would not normally use, it’s not sincere.

“Drivers also have to place change in the passenger’s hand, as well as the ticket, not in the cash tray. It’s good retail practice.

“Every customer then gets a thank you when they leave the bus.”

Making the best impression

Ray Stenning from Best Impressions was the last speaker on the day. The company has now been going for 35 years, and Ray pointed out that many people in the room hadn’t been born when it started.

The young managers visit the NCT control room. JAMES DAY

Nicola Tidy, NCT Marketing Director, described lessons learned from the retail sector and how the operator had transformed itself. JAMES DAY Ray’s talk focussed on the importance of design in public transport, something he described as a ‘dark art’ and an area where it is hard to demonstrate return on investment. He provided a very visual presentation, with examples of good design from a number of different industries.

“Design is not a piece of superficial froth,” Ray said. “It is the starting point of good communication and a fundamental building block of good business.

“Big companies will often invest up to 3% of their turnover in design, whether that is product design, marketing design and so

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 022_026_CBW1181_Young Bus Managers.indd 26

on. Presentation of the product is absolutely vital.

“There are beacons of good design in the industry. The Neoplan Starliner looks like it will take you to the moon and back. We’ve been involved in some aspects of that – we worked with Trent Barton and Optare to restyle the Tempo, to get a bit more curvature into a box.

“Good design can make you want to go on public transport even if you don’t know where it’s going.

It helps passengers enjoy their journey and want to enjoy doing it again, not endure going through it again.”

Ray also examined route maps.

He showed some examples of poor route maps, with as much information squashed into a limited amount of space as possible, and some examples of simpler maps which only displayed useful information. They displayed where other nearby stops were, to assist passengers unfamiliar with the area in finding the bus stop they needed, and only displayed the time when the bus would arrive at the stop they were on, instead of bombarding passengers with information about when each bus stops in each area.

Mapping was also a concern.

The strength of colour coding came through here, with clear, coloured bus corridors being far easier on the eye than maps which tried to display dozens of route numbers. The more concise bus route information also left more space to show local attractions on the route, helping passengers to

get their bearings, along with the seemingly obvious feature lost on some network maps – a ‘you are here’ arrow.

Case study – Yorkshire Tiger

Ray invited Martijn Gilbert, currently head of Reading Buses but until recently at the helm of Yorkshire Tiger, to discuss the distinctive branding of the Arrivaowned operator.

“From an operator perspective, you have to do more than just commission the designs,” Martijn said. “We have to make sure we have the attention to detail, keep things clean and match it with quality of service.

“With Yorkshire Tiger we were able to use branding to revitalise the business and the workforce.”

A number of subtle design changes were shown on the screen which Yorkshire Tiger had used for special occasions. This included a ‘Le Tigre de Yorkshire’ design for the Tour de France and a tiger dressed up in a cricket uniform for a photo opportunity with the Yorkshire cricket team. These small changes involved a £300 vinyl and about an hour of Ray’s time, yet were able to generate significant social media traffic – about 8,000 views in the case of the Tour de France tiger.

“Branding and good PR doesn’t have to be expensive,” Martijn said. n

l Visit the YBMN website at www. youngbusmanagers.org.uk.

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FACE TO FACE › DAMIAN GRAHAM

Managing Warrington David Barrow talks to Network Warrington’s new Managing Director, Damian Graham, who has a ‘hands on’ approach, and never forgets where it all started

D

amian Graham has spent almost 40 years with municipally-owned Network Warrington, an operator which for many years was known as Warrington Borough Transport.

He’s risen through the ranks from apprentice to Engineering Director and more recently, Managing Director. So what’s his story? CBW felt it was time to find out.

CBW Damian, what was your first job when you left school and how did you arrive at where you are today?

CBW Did you ever think over these past 37 years that one day ‘I would like to be in charge?’

DG No, I never envisaged it at all. I think it had been a matter of circumstance that I was asked by the shareholder and the board to ‘become a safe pair of hands’ for six months.

I must say I was reluctant at first, but after a period of ‘bedding in’ so to speak, I was asked if I would be interested in taking on the position permanently. So I was interviewed, and was officially appointed last October.

Damian Graham (DG) I finished school on the CBW What’s an average week like for you?

Friday and started work on the Monday in a paint and wallpaper shop in the town centre. I DG I like to keep an eye on all areas of the really enjoyed my time there working behind business. I walk around the depot, see that the counter. However, my father had a different there are no major issues and we have enough view on my job. ‘You need to get a trade so buses to meet our daily PVR (Peak Vehicle you can provide for your family as you get Requirement). We are very health and safety older.’ So I sat an apprenticeship exam at the conscious here – everybody must wear hi-vis local college, passed and got two interviews – jackets and keep to the designated walkways. At one as a maintenance fitter least once a week I like to walk in a local factory and here down to our interchange in the USEFUL INFORMATION town centre to make sure our at Warrington Borough Transport. I came here for services are operating correctly Fleet Size: 102 – 85 singlemy interview. I was told to and to schedule. deck, 17 double-deck bring a sample of something I used to joke that if I ever Employees: 248 – 170 of which I had made in woodwork or got the ‘top job’ I would never are drivers metalwork and a week later forget where it all started, so Customer satisfaction rating: I got a letter saying I had I like to engage with people.

91% (2014) got the job as an Apprentice I have weekly meetings with Area covered: Warrington, Mechanic and started in July the management team and the Northwich, Leigh and Altrincham 1977. I went on day-release trade union. I firmly believe every week at a college in your workforce is your most Manchester, and did that for important asset, so I keep the five years. workforce informed of what is happening. I like A few years later I got the job as Depot to have a good two-way communication.

Chargehand, then Garage Foreman and eventually Garage Manager. Then a vacancy came CBW What is competition like in up for Engineering Director which I applied for Warrington? and was successful – that was in 2008.

Then in April last year the post of Managing DG Competition is not a problem. There is one Director became vacant. I became Interim smaller operator and two of the major groups.

MD for six months and my position was made permanent last October.

CBW You have a small fleet of hybrid single28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

028_029_CBW1181_Warrington.indd 28

deckers bought with help from the Green Bus Fund in 2012. How are they performing?

DG Yes, we have six Optare Versas and they are performing pretty well. They were bought to link the east and west of the town on an orbital route in response to employment in that area.

In April we are going to trim back the service because the new housing development and employment area are about 12 months behind schedule.

CBW What about ticketing and new technology?

DG We have a smartcard of our own that’s called ‘Touch & Go’ which is unique to Warrington. It’s weekly, monthly or annual. You buy the pass from us, it has your photograph and a chip inside, and when you scan the card on the reader on the bus, you get a red or green light. You can only top-up the card at our travel shop.

CBW Do you have plans for any more buses? www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 09:10

‘We are just in the process of turning the corner to improve our financial position. We have had some difficult years since the start of the recession, but we are looking positively towards the future’

These six year old Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs are currently the companys’ newest full-size buses

A BRIEF HISTORY – NETWORK WARRINGTON Before 1974 Warrington was part of Lancashire, but the then local government reorganisation of 1974 created a much larger area for the town. Consequently it became a part of Cheshire.

The company can trace its origins back to 1902 when the electric tramway started.

Buses came along in 1913.

Principally a Leyland town, after the second world war it took batches of Bristols, Crossleys, Fodens and Guys. It returned to Leyland before standardising on Daimler Fleetlines and Bristol single-deckers, then Leyland Atlanteans, Olympians and Dennis Dominators.

Today the fleet is made up of Alexanderbodied Volvo B7TLs, Alexander-bodied Olympians, Wrightbus-bodied DAF SB120s, Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs, and Optare Solos and Versas. The company was rebranded Network Warrington in 2006.

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028_029_CBW1181_Warrington.indd 29

DG Yes, but not until the end of 2016, early 2017. At present we have 10 ex-Dublin Olympians on school contracts, so we are mindful of the DDA requirement of 2016/2017 when these vehicles will have to be replaced.

CBW How do you see Network Warrington in the next �ive years?

DG We are just in the process of turning the corner to improve our �inancial position. We have had some dif�icult years since the start of the recession, but we are looking positively towards the future and we are always looking at ways to expand the business.

CBW This year you are hosting the annual ALBUM Conference, this will be your �irst as MD?

DG We are hosting this at the Carden Park Hotel near Chester in May. We last hosted it in 2007. There is a lot of work involved in organising an event like this, but me and my PA, Gina, are enjoying it immensely. It’s completely

sold out, all 200 rooms in the hotel plus 30 overspill rooms. We have 60 exhibitors and �ive main sponsors, a lot of prominent speakers; one of the main ones being Sir Brian Souter, with the closing speech by the Senior Traf�ic Commissioner/CILT President-Elec, Beverly Bell. There is nobody yet from the government because the conference is the week after the General Election, so we do not know who will be in power.

CBW Damian, thanks for giving me your time. Any �inal comment?

DG I like to take a ‘hands on’ approach to my job and lead by example. I am a strong believer in recognising that our workforce is our most important asset.

The bus industry continues to face some challenging times and the company needs to keep abreast of the many developments to improve the service that it provides to existing customers, and to encourage more people to travel by public transport in future years. ■

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ALBUM

2015

PREVIEW › ALBUM

Conference what’s in store?

An outline of what to expect at this year’s ALBUM conference and what a selection of exhibitors will have on show

A

LBUM, Association of Local Bus Company Managers, was formed on October 8, 1984 at a time when the reorganisation and deregulation of the bus industry was under political consideration.

Drawn from local authority and PTE undertakings, membership was on a personal rather than company basis. The intention was to allow those professionals in the bus industry to offer a personal opinion on relevant matters without being constrained by the political views of their employing authorities.

The current membership in the main comprises Directors and Senior Staff of municipally-owned and independent bus operators.

Membership is by invitation but expressions of interest by eligible individuals are welcomed.

There are clear guidelines to membership in that new members from the large bus operating groups are excluded, staff from operators with less than 30 buses but with a record of high quality operations will be invited at the discretion of the Executive. There are currently around 140 members.

Network Warrington is hosting the 2015 ALBUM Conference, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa near Chester. The hotel has a wide range of leisure, fitness and golfing facilities and can be visited at www. cardenpark.co.uk.

The conference will begin as usual with an informal light lunch on Tuesday, May 12, with the main event starting at 1400hrs. The events will end with the conference dinner on the Wednesday evening, with delegates leaving on the Thursday morning. Numbers for these events are now very tight. Exhibitors must have confirmed their attendance to these events with their booking if they wish to attend.

All delegates and suppliers will have the opportunity to attend the golf competition on one of Carden Park’s Championship golf courses, or take part in archery, air rifle shooting and Segways on the Monday. The activities will be followed by a BBQ Dinner.

On the Tuesday evening delegates and exhibitors are welcome to attend a ‘game show’ and dinner in the conference suite.

The exhibition areas will be located in the

These days the objective is to provide a networking opportunity for bus managers who are in similar circumstances from which any lobbying and responses to consultation documents may then be made.

ALBUM claims it does not exist to compete with the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) but recognises that as CPT represents both bus and coach operators some of their responses may be less strong in representing the bus operator views to satisfy their membership.

As a result ALBUM claims it is in a position to put forward the exclusive views of bus operators.

shooting lodge and the stables. The bus display area will be sited in the car park immediately to the left hand side of the hotel and the main sponsors will be immediately in front of the hotel.

The exhibition area will be open from 0700hrs on the Tuesday. The conference and exhibition will officially open at 1230hrs on the Tuesday.

The exhibition opening times are before the start and then fitted around the conference plenary sessions. An announcement will be made at the end of each session that the exhibition stands are open.

The final exhibition session closes at 1600hrs

‘The objective is to provide a networking opportunity for bus managers who are in similar circumstances from which any lobbying and responses to consultation documents may then be made’

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All exhibition areas are already full for this years’ conference on the Wednesday.

Exhibitors are welcome to join the plenary sessions. The ALBUM conference is unusual in that all exhibitors also have to register as delegates. ALBUM wants trade delegates to take part in the conference proceedings, along with ALBUM members. It is also a great way for exhibitors to network with their customers, or potential customers.

The main sponsors for the conference are Wrightbus, Volvo, Scania and Alexender Dennis, all of which will make up the panel.

Other speakers include Gordon MacDonald from DVSA, Sir Brian Souter, Ian Jones of Backhouse Jones Solicitors, Cy Chambers from Exterion Media, John Miles of ARUP and Beverley Bell, Senior Traffic Commissioner/CILT President-Elec.

ALBUM is still taking delegate bookings, but bookings will close this Friday (March 27). All the exhibition areas are now full.

As this issue went to press the conference had 226 delegates attending and 52 exhibition stands.

Ben Colson, ALBUM’s Chairman told CBW: “I became ALBUM Chairman in September 2014, following retirement from direct involvement in the bus industry the previous year end. I took up the reins when James Freeman resigned, following his move from Reading Buses to First in Bristol. James was an inspirational leader and did a great amount for the organisation as Chairman, building wider recognition on foundations laid in his turn by Mark Howarth, his predecessor. My objective is to continue to build on James’ and www.coachandbusweek.com

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A Sustainable Future for Bus Travel EXHIBITOR HIGHLIGHTS ALTRO TRANSFLOR Altro Transflor has been supplying high-quality safety flooring for buses, coaches and emergency vehicles for decades.

The company offers a range of durable, slip resistant safety floors that have been developed to meet the exacting demands of high footfall environments on public transport.

The Altro Transflor team will be at this year’s ALBUM Conference with two new stylish patterned safety floors – Altro Transflor Wood and Altro Transflor Figura.

Altro Transflor Wood has been inspired by nature, using the tones of cherry, maple and oak to create a stylish wood-look safety flooring range for the executive coach and bus market.

With its sparkle-free finish, the new palette of 13 colours enables operators to vary the mood from cool and contemporary to relaxing and comforting.

The Altro Transflor Figura range offers striking designs in a choice of two contrasting patterns – great for busy city buses and coaches. These dynamic designs are non-directional for easy installation and are also available in a range of attractive colours which have been created with input from customers and industry-leading interior designers.

These new designs are due to officially launch on March 30, 2015. Visit the Altro Transflor stand at the conference to collect a new sample card.

Attendees will also be able to pick up a copy of the new transport edition of World of Altro which brings together the full range of Altro Transflor products.

AUTOSOUND

Altro Transflor’s flooring Mark’s sterling work and take the organisation to new heights, helped by me not having a full-time day-job competing for all my time.

“The bus industry is facing major change at the current time – there are the twin issues of widespread public funding cuts coupled with a post code lottery mosaic of devolutions to the English city regions and counties. At the same time, rightly our customers’ expectations are rising, as is the industry’s delivery standards, winning ever higher customer satisfaction ratings according to the official watchdog, Passenger Focus. In customers’ eyes, then the industry, whether the large groups or equally SMEs (irrespective of their ownership patterns), is clearly fit for purpose in all but a very few places. Despite this, we currently see the www.coachandbusweek.com

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spectacle of politicians falling over each other to say it is not, and that a new legislative framework for the industry is necessary. They have a solution looking for a problem, one that costs public funds, and I have no doubt that the year or two ahead will be characterised by us repeatedly telling them that.

“The ALBUM conference has now become one of the main set piece events in the bus industry calendar. We welcome all who are attending this year, we welcome and particularly thank the industry’s suppliers for their continued support and attendance, and I would personally like to add my thanks to Damian and his team at Network Warrington for the behind-the-scenes organisation of this year’s event. To you all, I say you are much appreciated.”

Autosound will be showcasing its new WiFi Mediarouter from Bosch and its Easyguide system for passenger next stop announcements.

The Coach MediaRouter provides powerful broadband internet access and WiFi hotspot service. Its media server allows music, images and video files to be streamed. Mobile devices will be easily connected via Universal Plug & Play (UPnP). The technology allows a coach to be a mobile WiFi hotspot.

Bosch’s Coach MediaRouter will operate as a link between the inside and the outside world of a coach. Within the cabin the device will provide internet access to passengers. Passengers will be able to get access to a WiFi hotspot by using their mobile devices to browse the internet or to do social networking while riding. So, within the cabin the router will act as a WiFi access point.

Connections are also routed to the internet by using broadband cellular network telecommunication services. Thus, the devices will come with a connectivity module integrated using 4G (LTE) technologies. To enlarge bandwidth on all radios the router will provide capabilities multiple devices to share resources in a distributed network. The device is also intended to be used for deploying multimedia content wirelessly to the passengers.

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A Sustainable Future for Bus Travel

PREVIEW › ALBUM devices will automatically communicate via UPnP. EasyGuide GPS is range of systems that is capable of broadcasting multimedia content to vehicle passengers. Content can be triggered automatically by GPS and manually by the driver.

There are a number of different types of EasyGuide system. These include audio only, video only and audio/video.

Video systems enable operators to create their own on-vehicle media channel. The channel can be entirely stand-alone, displaying locally stored content or, if the system is connected to the internet, web-based content can be displayed.

Audio output can be single language via PA (or headphones) or multi-language in up to 32 channels simultaneously (via headphones).

The simultaneous multi-language version of EasyGuide is compatible with audio distribution systems from many manufacturers, including Actia, Bosch, Funtoro, M&E and others.

CAMIRA FABRICS

Total transport interior solutions provider Camira is reinforcing the message ‘The original just got better’ at this year’s ALBUM Conference – offering customers more designs, more material choices and more innovation.

Last year signalled the start of a new era for Camira, as it changed the name of its transport sales division from Holdsworth to parent

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company Camira. Part of the award-winning Camira Group since 2007, the name change reflects the company’s wider ranging product capabilities, encompassing not only moquette fabrics for seating, but high performance upholstery flat cloths, leathers, vinyls and textile ancillary trims.

Camira’s most recent product launches are Quantum, Vita and Folio. Quantum is a stylish and chic new polyester moquette range suitable for bus and coach interiors. This stock backed collection comprises 36 eye-catching designs across a broad range of colours, many incorporating a textured yarn to give a three dimensional appearance. Unusual colour mixtures, together with trend-focused highlight colours provide a contemporary feel to the palette.

Custom developed over two years, Vita and Folio are high performance vinyls designed to fit the bill for optimum performance, safety and cleanability. Vita is a leather-look vinyl, with a subtle surface grain effect and full matt appearance available in a broad palette of 23 colours. Folio is a textured and metallic effect vinyl, exuding a hint of glamour and industrial modernity. It comes in six modern, versatile, neutrally toned colourways.

CENTRAD

Centrad will be showcasing it’s recently

launched new range of high-specification Mobile DVRs which come with GPS tracking and a comprehensive two-year warranty as standard.

Renowned for their reliability and user friendliness, Centrad’s CCTV systems are also competitively priced, with a four-channel recording system costing under £400 including four 600tvl tamper proof mini-dome cameras.

Eight and 16-camera solutions are also available.

An installation service is available, but many operators fit the units themselves, following Centrad’s simple and illustrated instructions.

Options such as shock sensors, alarm inputs and interfaces to CANbus/OPD engine management systems are also available. WiFi is available for end-of-day downloads, in addition to the standard facility to download direct from the vehicle’s removable hard drive.

For the ultimate in security, there is an option to stream live video footage using Centrad’s PC Software or Apple/Android mobile phone app.

The systems have proved extremely successful in promoting a safer working environment by deterring crime including theft, fraud, vandalism and crimes against individuals.

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORT (CILT)

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is the professional body for transport, logistics and the supply chain. CILT

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FLUIDMASTER el indicator Our ‘at a glance external’ fluid lev

PREVIEW › ALBUM says it is the focus for professional excellence, developing the most modern techniques in logistics and transport and encouraging the adoption of policies that are efficient and sustainable.

The body operates through its structure of professional sectors that provide specialist activity for a particular area of interest while continuing to offer opportunities for involvement across the whole spectrum. It also has over 40 special interest groups, including its public policy committee and young professional forum which span across all sectors.

At this year’s ALBUM CILT will have a member of staff on hand from the business development team who specialises in the bus and coach benchmarking club – Busmark (see p20).

CILT will also have its very own Bus Chairman on hand to help with any questions from membership to training and even buses.

E P MORRIS

Over the last few years there have been significant changes to BSOG legislation, and operators must now categorise the following services in order to claim the full amount due: commercial, tendered, de minimis, Better Bus Area, section 106 and Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

To complicate matters, the BSOG scheme has incentives for ITSO-compliant Electronic

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Ticket Machines (ETMs) and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) devices. These devices can merit an additional 10% on both commercial and noncommercial operations, paid directly by the DfT on certification at year-end.

Since there is some overlap between these schemes and circumstances can change during the year, a single bus journey could qualify for several payments.

Although the BSOG rules last changed in January 2014, errors have only come to light during E P Morris’ recent round of certifications.

The company has identified several instances of under-claiming, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds, where operators have incorrectly categorised operations as tendered rather than commercial.

To simplify the process for operators, and ensure they claim the correct amount from all funding sources for all services, E P Morris has made a number of enhancements to its software systems.

Operators can now easily categorise all their operations according to the official DfT definitions from within E P Morris’ Contract Performance System. This includes categorising all the noncommercial operations, which is sometimes in excess of 50% of the total operations.

The categories are then automatically applied to each journey or part-journey loaded into E P Morris’ Traffic system.

All of this means that operators can quickly

find out how much BSOG they are eligible for and from whom it should be claimed.

In addition, operators can now import TransXchange data, which is detailed down to stop level, into Traffic instead of schedule data, which is only detailed to timing point. This increased granularity will improve the accuracy of their register and, therefore, their BSOG claim.

FIRST CORPORATE CLOTHING

First Corporate is delighted to once more be supporting the ALBUM Conference and its members.

As suppliers of Network Warringtons uniform the company believes it is particularly important for it to be at this years’ event.

First Corporate said it continues to be the company at the forefront of product development and is confident that it can combine practicality with individuality.

The company has the flexibility to design and produce bespoke products from its UK manufacturing facility, giving businesses individual looks. More and more customers are exploring ways in which they can ‘stand out from the crowd’ whilst offering a practical and comfortable solution.

The company will showcase a new range of tailored manufactured garments specially designed for the bus and coach sector. It uses tried and tested fabrics to bring the range

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A Sustainable Future for Bus Travel

Two of the displays Hanover Displays manufacturers together and added waist adjust features and flat front trousers to bring the ultimate in comfort and modernity.

First Corporate’s portfolio of customers both big and small is growing and to ensure that the company maintains its levels of customer service it has recently added 20,000 square feet of warehouse to keep pace with this growth. The team has also seen new members of staff join them to continue to manage and support their customers.

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GROENEVELD Groeneveld will be showcasing the following solutions on its stand – Groeneveld Oilmaster, the new Groeneveld Fluidmaster and Groeneveld Levelmaster Oilmaster is an Automatic Engine Oil monitoring and top up, which eliminates the need for daily checks.

Fluidmaster is a system capable of monitoring and indicating via a panel of LED’s up to eight

fluid levels on a vehicle providing accurate information to assist in daily vehicle checks.

Levelmaster is an Engine Oil level indication only. The system measures oil level and indicates via an LED panel on the side of the vehicle the oil level status Richard Hamper, Groeneveld’s UK Sales Manager, commented: “Incorporating Groeneveld Automatic maintenance systems within a fleet helps create a more rigorous and diligent maintenance regime for a business bringing cost effective management of a fleets’ daily operations.

“What we do is very simple – we manufacture cost effective, reliable and accurate automatic maintenance systems enhancing the efficiency of customers fleets.”

HANOVER DISPLAYS

Hanover Displays says it is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and supply of passenger information systems for public service vehicles.

Combining exacting manufacturing techniques under ISO9001 & ISO14001 with an unsurpassed product warranty enables Hanover Displays to deliver cost effective, robust and flexible solutions to vehicle operators required to provide passengers with accurate, clear and up-to-date information in respect of departure, next stop, interconnections and final destination.

System flexibility allows the transmission of

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A Sustainable Future for Bus Travel

PREVIEW › ALBUM information both on and off-vehicle and can facilitate the delivery of the information audibly and visually in multiple languages, if required.

LUCID NETWORKS

Lucid Networks provides a managed wired and wireless depot data network which connects onboard or in-depot systems including CCTV, fuelling systems or electronic ticket machines to their back office systems. Lucid’s system provides the customer with detailed information about individual devices, connections and network usage.

Each system or application appears on its own network, with guaranteed bandwidth.

For example, critical ticket machine data no longer competes for bandwidth with large CCTV downloads, and each supplier has secure remote access to just the systems they’re responsible for.

Each network is individually monitored and performance managed, so high load on one does not affect the others, and potential faults trigger automatic alerts before they start to impact upon service. Hardware faults are covered via both remote and on-site support services including up to 24x7 response and no-cost hardware replacement, so support costs are predictable for the life of the network.

The whole network is managed by a customised suite of software tools, tailored to each operator’s individual needs, including

multi site operation. Built into the management software is the capability to detect and respond automatically to a range of known problems in other computer systems.

Lucid’s products are based on Cisco networking equipment, but can also be used to manage any standards-compliant device including routers, switches and any equipment with a network interface.

Most of Lucid’s decade of experience in the bus transport sector has been spent working with independent operators, many of whom are ALBUM members.

The firm is delighted to be sponsoring this year’s ALBUM conference at the request of long standing customer Network Warrington, who have been using Lucid’s systems for over six years. Visitors to this year’s conference are invited to visit the Lucid stand to discuss how IT can improve efficiency and lower costs in today’s bus industry.

LLOYD MORGAN GROUP

Already recognised nationally and internationally and used by some of the UK largest Plc’s and SME’s, Lloyd Morgan Group’s ethic is based on providing its customers indisputable, professional, quality services, at competitively priced tariffs.

Lloyd Morgan Group acts as the bridge between companies and the vast amount of legal

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

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conformity they face in many aspects of their everyday business.

The services include but are not limited to: Driver CPC, specialist vehicle inspector training with optional IRTEC accreditation, health and safety, vehicle inspection and maintenance compliance services, gate checks, tachograph analysis and LMG driver licence checking service – fully integrated with the DVLA. Lloyd Morgan Group offers a wide range of bespoke and accredited training courses to suit a company’s operational needs. It aims to be flexible by offering the courses at weekdays and weekend, as both in-house and open courses.

Lloyd Morgan Group is committed to supporting the recruitment needs of vehicle operators. The company provides a broad range of bespoke recruitment solutions to its clients and candidates across a diverse range of sectors, from ‘On Demand’ temporary, contractor and permanent staffing solutions.

With compliance being the company’s core business, this enables it to have a full understanding of individual needs and the Lloyd Morgan Group can match the right candidates with the experienced skills set to match.

A spokesperson for Lloyd Morgan Group told CBW: “Having been an attendee of ALBUM for a number of years, whether you are an exhibitor or a visitor this is a great event with good visitor numbers and generally a great venue for sector professionals to network.

taking the friction out of business…

For all Lubricant, Antifreeze and AdBlue supply solutions please contact our team: www.optimumoils.com Tel 08719 188881

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PREVIEW › ALBUM “The organisers are careful to limit category numbers, so exhibitors get a great rate of return, to forge good business relationships and face-toface contact with new and existing customers.”

MCKENNA BROTHERS

This year sees McKenna Brothers attending its 12th ALBUM Conference in a row. Derek Dawson, Managing Director commented: “The ALBUM conference is a great event – you get to meet both bus operators and coachbuilders on a more social level, the papers are very informative and the conference always seems to run like clockwork, its one event we always look forward to at McKenna Brothers.”

On McKenna Brothers’ trade stand this year the company will be showing a brand new concept in terms of destination displays, alongside this it has its new lightweight Ultima sign, full onboard talking buses system and new Bluetooth destination sign. Mobitecs association with the Luminator Technology Group has now given McKenna Brothers access to a huge range of technology and concepts.

Derek went on to say: “I recently attended an international Sales conference hosted by the Luminator Technology Group, the product road map for the future is staggering with the amount of new products and concepts and we are so excited to be showing one of these new products at this year’s ALBUM Conference.”

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OMNIBUS Visitors to the Omnibus stand at ALBUM in May will see how busy the company’s in-house developers have been over the last year. They have been working on a series of enhancements to the company’s market leading suite of software to meet new needs.

The Omnibus Bus Stop Asset Management module, OmniFLAG, has been re-designed, with a link into OmniMAP to create a powerful tool for local authority clients. OmniMAP, for planning, displaying and editing bus services and stops, now also links directly with OmniTIMES to allow users to extract mileage statistics for networks on a county by county basis.

CrewPLAN has also been improved, with greater flexibility and the potential to solve large and complex scheduling problems faster and with greater ease.

OmniDAS, the company’s driver and vehicle allocation system, has always been at the forefront of developments. With the latest enhancements, OmniDAS gives drivers better access to key information via the internet or a company intranet. Drivers are now able to access personal information, such as holidays and payroll details, view details regarding their shifts and communicate with their depot to request overtime, shift changes, holidays and rest days.

OmniDAS also has a new automated module for engineers and all hourly paid employees, which

allows users to set up timesheets for payroll in the same way as they do for drivers.

Michael Meilton, Business Development Manager for Omnibus, commented: “ALBUM gives us an ideal opportunity to keep everyone up to date with changes that we have made to our software. Even existing clients who use the systems every day will learn something new at ALBUM.”

OPTARE

Assisted by Network Warrington, Optare is organising the golf event and sponsoring the barbecue.

A vehicle will be on display outside – either a low carbon or Euro 6 model. The manufacturer is also supplying a demonstrator vehicle for the partners’ day out.

OPTIMUM OILS

Optimum Oils has been associated with ALBUM for over 15 years, supporting the organisation and its membership over this period.

From Optimum Oils perspective, the ALBUM organisation provides an insight into the real issues that face the organisation from a collective perspective, and in return Optimum provides its deep knowledge and understanding of lubrication, coolants, fuel and associated products to the group.

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PREVIEW › ALBUM At this year’s ALBUM Conference, Optimum will be promoting a new product, Chevron Techron HD, this has been developed by Chevron as one of the world largest oil companies to combat the effects of biofuel (FAME) which can lead to increased fuel consumption and emissions, this is a major concern to the industry and once again Optimum has sought a solution, and has been appointed by Chevron as its exclusive supplier of Techron HD to the industry.

Additionally Optimum will be promoting specific services which are available to operators in a Five Star package for the bus and coach industry: l Optimum ‘Night Exercise’ l Optimum Equipment Audit l Optimum Product Rationalisation and Survey l Optimum Antifreeze Check l Optimum Stock Management Systems for Lubricants, Antifreeze, AdBlue & Fuel

Q’STRAINT

Q’Straint will be showcasing Quantum, the transport industry’s first fully automatic rearfacing wheelchair securement station designed for virtually any bus or rail car.

The product was developed by combining transport insight, intelligent technology and a pioneering new approach to securement.

After boarding a bus or rail car, Quantum

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Q’Straint’s Quantum allows wheelchair and scooter passengers to position their chair and simply push a button to secure themselves in a stable and safe rear-facing position without driver assistance. The process takes under 25 seconds.

“In addition to ensuring the highest level of passenger safety, keeping buses on schedule

and preventing tip-overs, Quantum provides a more respectful experience to the process of wheelchair securement,” said Bob Joseph, Q’Straint VP of Business Development.

Wheelchair users have the freedom to board the vehicle and automatically secure their mobility device without assistance.

Q’Straint engineers ensured Quantum delivers the performance to keep passengers safe and operators productive. When the vehicle is safely stopped, the Quantum unit is ready for the wheelchair passenger. Once the passenger’s wheelchair is centered against the backrest, the press of a button Quantum’s arms move into position and secure wheelchairs and scooters by capturing the wheels – and then continually adjusts grip as needed throughout the journey.

Integration with existing vehicle electrical and interlock systems prevents accidental release of a secured wheelchair while the vehicle is in motion.

Quantum is being introduced after one year of extensive field tests in severe driving conditions.

Tina Richichi of Q’Straint told CBW that the company decided to attend at ALBUM this year in order to exhibit at a professional and high quality event amongst a high profile audience of bus operators and manufacturers.

TIMESPACE TECHNOLOGY

Specialist vehicle CCTV manufacturer Timespace Technology has released an enhanced version

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A Sustainable Future for Bus Travel of its LANLink software and new features on its V400 vehicle CCTV recorder.

LANLink is a mobile WiFi/3G/4G system that enables operators to carry out real-time monitoring of vehicle CCTV, route information and to download recorded footage via time, date and GPS location requests. The software operates in conjunction with Timespace’s market-leading V400 Recorder and earlier X200/X300 based systems.

Hosted by Timespace, LANLink Version 5 is installed with a bus operator and is routed through the Icomera Moovbox passenger WiFi system to provide real time CCTV monitoring via an easy to use web browser login. This offers greater flexibility over a depot-based WiFi system, removing the need to establish a WiFi link at individual depots and allowing monitoring to be easily centralised across a number of depots.

The system enables operators to see at a glance the status of all systems with a traffic light system that indicates those that are working perfectly, those where there may be problem and those that are not functioning. A daily snap shot from each camera allows remote auditing and automatic email alerts enable efficient service/ repair of areas that need attention.

The latest V400 software (V1.3.0) enables the V400 to support megapixel IP cameras, Bridge Alert and 2Tb hard disks.

An IP camera (1080p HD) can now be fitted

to a V400 to provide crystal clear number plate information from a forward facing camera. The V400 supports all readily available vehicle IP cameras and, with a 2Tb hard disk, complies with TfL recording time requirements.

Bridge Alert is a low bridge warning system now available on the V400. It uses licensed industry standard data from Bridge Clear and can be retrofitted to existing V400’s.

TRANSPORT BENEVOLENT FUND The Transport Benevolent Fund (TBF) provides help and advice to those working in the public transport industry in Great Britain. As a registered charity – in England and Wales and in Scotland – it is a non-profit making organisation that pays commission to no one.

The charity was formed in 1923 and at the end

Timespace’s LANLink software

“Very elaborate, very artistic.

Providing beautiful destination blinds for London Buses”.

- Boris Johnson (Mayor of London)

McKenna Brothers helping to maintain London’s Heritage.

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PREVIEW › ALBUM of 2014, had over 44,000 members, making it the fastest growing charity exclusive to the industry.

Anyone engaged in the public transport industry can join TBF at a cost of just £1 a week, which can be deducted through the payroll system or paid for by the employing company.

This £1 covers the member, their partner and dependent children and offers a wide range of benefits when need, hardship or distress arise.

TBF’s aim is to keep people working and getting them back to work.

TBF considers each family member separately – it does not accumulate awards for the whole family. TBF does not make loans, so the money granted is for the member to keep. The main aims are to help keep the member at work and to ease their worries.

Benefits available include financial help to cover short-term hardship from sickness, debt advice, legal help on non-employment matters and bereavement benefits. TBF also offers medical benefits such as second opinions, scans and tests, complimentary medical treatments, medical equipment, prescription season tickets, help with the cost of laser eyesight correction and convalescence.

All benefits are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, all of whom must be working in the industry to serve. TBF’s Patrons include leading figures in the major transport groups and trades unions.

Ian Barlex, TBF Development Director, said:

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 030_042_CBW1181_ALBUM.indd 42

“We are looking forward to the 2015 ALBUM Conference – it is the ideal opportunity to speak with companies that don’t already have employees signed up as TBF members and to showcase the advantages of such membership for both employer and employee. It is also very nice to catch up with current TBF members and old friends.”

UK BUS AWARDS

UK Bus Awards will again be exhibiting at this year’s ALBUM Conference. UKBA Events Director Jamie Cash and Commercial Director Ian Smith will be present for the duration of the conference. Ian said: “It has become an established tradition for us to attend the ALBUM Conference and there are two main reasons: firstly, to encourage members to enter the top awards scheme in the industry and secondly to catch up with our existing sponsors and to meet potential new ones.”

The UK Bus Awards scheme is the original industry awards scheme and widely known as the ‘Bus Oscars’. The scheme is organised and run by a not-for-dividend company which works with a management committee of stakeholders from across the bus industry to devise and run the scheme, now in its 20th year. The reason UK Bus Awards are held in such high regard that the judging panels are independent, there are no vested interests and

winning is not easy.

The UK Bus Awards scheme is funded by industry patrons – the major operating groups including ALBUM – and the suppliers to the industry who normally exhibit at the ALBUM Conference. Ian said: “We really look forward to attending this year’s event: it’s the ideal opportunity to network with our sponsors and explain how they can raise their profile in the industry we know and love. It also a chance to encourage members to enter: it seems a long time ago but I remember encouraging Ben Colson to enter when Norfolk Green was just rising to its pre-eminence as a leading independent. Now Ben is a statesman of the industry and I’m so glad we were able to honour him for that at last year’s Awards.”

VOLVO

Volvo Bus’ will have a stand manned by Phil Owen, Dan Barwick and Phil Fletcher. Volvo will also have a vehicle on display but as this issue went to press, the model remained to be confirmed.

Dan Barwick, Fleet Sales Manager, North of Scotland and Ireland enthused: “ALBUM is something I’ve attended for a number of years.

A lot of customers are in the same place, at the same time. It’s a great opportunity also to see people in a relaxed atmosphere – including the social events.” n

www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 18:59

704900-1178-Voith 24/02/2015 12:31 Page 1

p00_CBW_1181 VAMP.qxp 23/03/2015 12:38 Page 1

VEHICLE APPEARANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

VAMP TRUCK VAN & BUS WASHING

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Bus & Coach Washing/Valeting G MOT Chassis Washing G Based at Heathrow & Purfleet

Gary – 07967 178914 Karen – 07891 787559 www.truckandbuswashing.co.uk

INSIDE TRACK › LEO PARD xxxxxxx

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LOW EMISSION AND MORE GREEN STAGECOACH AND BUS FUNDING ANNOUNCED p7 ARRIVA ORDERS p10-11

The Industry Leader

MARKET.COM

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COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FORNORTH BUYING EAST QUALITY

NEW INTERIM MANAGEMENT AND SELLING YOURCONTRACT VEHICLES DECISION DELAY ARRANGEMENTS AT LOTHIAN SEE PAGES p53-76

The Industry Leader

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SOUTH COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYINGLANCS TRAVEL

TO ROTALA PLC p7 AND SELLING YOUR SOLD VEHICLES

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SEE PAGES p53-78

The industry leader

xxxxxxx

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MARKET.COM

AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES OF SYNECTICS p18

DEBATE ON AIR QUALITY p7

SEE PAGES p53-78

Tuesday March 10, 2015 | Issue 1179 £2.99 | www.coachandbusweek.com

MARKET.COM

Tuesday March 3, 2015 | Issue 1178 £2.99 | www.coachandbusweek.com

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxxx p18

N› OPINIO COACHANDBUS THE NO.1MARKING WEBSITE FOR BUYING SMMT HOSTS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYINGWho’s 25 YEARS the real

WALTERS AND SELLING –CLAIRE YOUR VEHICLES BUS USERS UK customer?

16 NEW HIGH-SPECIFICATION COACHES FOR BUS ÉIREANN

SEE PAGES p43-71

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MULTI-OPERATOR SMART COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING

MARKET.COM

YORK CUTS RATES FOR CHRISTMAS 2015

IN THE NORTH EAST AND SELLINGTICKETING YOUR VEHICLES SEE PAGES p53-76

Tuesday February 24, 2015 | Issue 1177 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING

MARKET.COM

AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES SEE PAGES p51-78 Tuesday February 10, 2015 | Issue 1175 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

Tuesday February 17, 2015 | Issue 1176 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

WESTERN GREYHOUND CLOSES Tuesday March 17, 2015 | Issue 1180 £2.99 | www.coachandbusweek.com

OVER OVER

40

INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY

OVER

50

JOBS INSIDE

SEE PAGES 82-87

OVER

40

JOBS INSIDE

SEE PAGES 83-86

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INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY

OVER

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JOBS INSIDE

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JOBS INSIDE

INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY

JOBS INSIDE

JOBS INSIDE

SEE PAGES 85-87

SEE PAGES 84-87

SEE PAGES 84-87

At your service

Radio to RMs The story behind Ken Bruce’s growing heritage bus company

Making connections

New buses, new image

MINIBUS this week...

● On the

Mark in Lincoln p48 ● Renault unveils technology advances p42 STAGECOACH STUDY SHOWS MORE NOTTINGHAM CATCHING BUS IS CHEAPER SCANIA E400 DECKERS

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Visiting Van Hool p24

Focussing on passengers p16

Going commercial Driving for Lochs & Glens

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Essex man about p46

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p32

Young and talented p28

MARKET.COM

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SEE PAGES p55-79

READY TO SPEAK OUT

MARKET.COM

Tuesday February 3, 2015 | Issue 1174 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

001_CBW1178_Cover.indd 09/03/2015 18:22 1

SEE PAGES p39-63

INDUSTRY

Focus and vision

YEAR PAY & CONDITIONS

Nigel Eggleton Significance of Brighton route 7 face to face CT PLUS NAMED TO RUN CROSS-CHANNEL FERRIES GUERNSEY’S BUSES AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES

EUROTUNNEL TO SELL COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING

MARKET.COM

Tuesday January 27, 2015 | Issue 1173 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

001_CBW1177_Cover.indd 02/03/2015 1 18:46

SEE PAGES p51-71

Lothian directors to change

MARKET.COM

INDUSTRY

001_CBW1174_Cover.indd 1

ownership Always investing

A

s we all know the bus and coach industry is quite a unique place for many reasons. Every morning we leave our beds and wonder what staffing issue, mechanical challenge or office light bulb failure will rise up and smack us firmly in the face at around 0515hrs, just as the sun rises.

Legislative matters also feature strongly during the day, albeit subliminally, but nevertheless the walk around check and latest ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) will be amongst those issues at the back of many minds in some form.

Historically, there is known information which is passed down from father to son, and from the training school, but where do you get your up-to-date information? Many will be in the CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) and join likeminded members groups that give out the information they need to have.

Moreover the majority will take one of the three trade weekly publications, if not all (and yes, other publications are available).

Our very own Coach and Bus Week does take a lead in being proactive in providing news, technical information and sales, and covers all aspects of running what is an expensive business. This publication has been projected into the limelight by being the subject of the ‘missing sentences round’ on the BBC’s Have I got news for you.

The interesting part about Coach and Bus Week, apart from the fact that www.coachandbusweek.com

045_CBW1181_Leo Pard.indd 45

● Guidance on

CT state aid ● All the latest deliveries ● Citroen Relay given a first drive

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London Coach Parking issues p26

COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING PROSPECT OF NEW YEAR

MARKET.COM

Euro 6 Yutongs put through their paces

AND SELLINGLONDON YOUR VEHICLES BUS DRIVERS STRIKE 001_CBW1175_Cover.indd 16/02/2015 18:53 1

SEE PAGES p51-72

p14

SEE PAGES p43-62

NEWS

training mandatory

COACHANDBUS

MARKET.COM

09/02/2015 19:05

NEWS...

Mini King Alfred on New Year’s Day

INTERNATIONAL NEWS...

Three Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrids on the road inp10 Hamburg

INDUSTRY

xxxxxxx

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DELIVERIES p50

Cardiff invests in Enviro200s THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES

NEWS... Labour claims funding for buses down £139m from 2010

INDUSTRY

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGES 70-71

Under new

p32

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p10

INDUSTRY

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGE 78-79

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGE 70-71

A bus pro at work

PLUS...

Are QC’s a fantasy?

p11

SEE PAGES p39-64

INTERNATIONAL NEWS...

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGES 77-79

Phil Tonks

Platinum London driving shines with p40 Richard

001_CBW1176_Cover.indd 23/02/2015 1 19:01

Finnish express competition heats p10go head-to-head up as operators

OPINION ›

StreetDeck debuts

Special Needs Transport

● New Eberspächer premises

● Latest deliveries EURO 6 ENVIRO400 ENVIRO400s FOR FOR UKYOUR COACH AWARDS STAGECOACH MANCHESTER AND SELLING VEHICLES

NEWS... McGill’s secures Henderson services for three years

TEST DRIVES

● Cutbacks at West Midlands

● Connaught PSV profiled

Reasons to visit BoBI p36

Budget cuts for Sheffield City

TAS HIGHLIGHTS BUS SPENDING CUTS IN REPORT

MINIBUS this week...

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DEADLINE COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITEEXTENDED FOR BUYING

Lucketts fleet investment

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGES 70-71

Arriva MAX launch powers up

MINIBUS this week...

NEWS...

INDUSTRY

JOBS INSIDE SEE PAGES 86-87

Leo Pard on Cycle Superhighway inside track p35

xxxxxxxx p18 PLUS...

p20

Safeguard invests

xxxx YOUR ONVEHICLES BUS LANE POLICY AND SELLING

p14

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L WELCOMES JUDGEMENT OPTARE AGREES THREE COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYINGCUMMINS ON EURO KING LONG DIRECTORS COACHANDBUS THE NO.1 WEBSITETfL FOR BUYING

AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES6 AND THE FUTURE

Partnerships that work

Update on Blackpool Transport

London becoming no go

A new London STOP NEXT experience D APP UNVEILE xxxxxxx

Last days of Black Velvet p9

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Green shoots

p26

INTERVIE W ›

Tom still at the End for UBS in Malta wheel

Tuesday January 20, 2015 | Issue 1172 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

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p42

Merry Christmas! p36

All go at INTERVIEW › Parrys Chris Bowles open Director, day p28 Managing Stagecoach Manchester p18

NICK FAICHNEY ON BEING AN ARRIVA YOUNG MANAGER

p32

Tuesday January 13, 2015 | Issue 1171 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

Tuesday January 6, 2015 | Issue 1170 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

Heritage Reds p7

Parrys new direction p7

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001_CBW1169_Cover.indd 06/01/2015 18:37 1

It must be true – I read it in the paper Our coaching insider reflects on the longstanding and important part the trade weeklies play in the industry each and every week it is filled with all you need to serve your business requirement, is that it is on sale to the public. What this does is open up what actually goes on in the industry to a wider, but obviously specialised audience – brave because the scrutiny is immense and the ‘word’ spreads quickly.

So is the trade magazine a tool for your business? How do you use it and what do you require from it?

The Inbox (letters) page is the only interactive part of the publication where contributions are always invited on issues of the day or the past, but most people read it, nod and agree or disagree with the points of view.

The reality of this situation is that more people should write letters to their weekly ‘book’ as these ‘coach comics’ get read right at the top of

Rotherham produced

DISCOUNTED FOR YOU

pp16

Government – and the event industry, tourism industry, and so on. The point is that more people see and know what is happening and that could also be very positive to your business.

What a trade publication does not do is provide you with work for your vehicles, except for the odd tender, but it will give you a means to see what is going on and how companies present its image through pictures of new deliveries, that the acne coach company (apologies if there is one) has rebranded its coaches, changed its drivers’ uniform, and company publicity, and that a member of staff has been promoted, inspiring others to think about what they do.

The trade mags also give important news on driving hours, impending European legislation, the latest vehicles available and how you

Leo Pard on Christmas markets p18

xxxxxx

Tuesday December 23, 2014 | Issue 1169 £2.95 | www.coachandbusweek.com

p18 19/12/2014 18:55

should mend them in some cases.

Perhaps there’s an opportunity for a ‘fix it’ page similar, (for those of you old enough to remember), to the old Car Mechanics days where someone asked Barry Cade how to change a spark plug on a Ford Anglia. Today, it would be can someone help with the fitting of an emissions control system or what to do about that multiplex?

The best read pages are usually the used vehicle section where those for sale ‘in the paper’ are widely discussed on social media. A particular coach or bus is dissected by former owners, prospective owners and merely interested parties. That is a revelation. 30 years ago there was a once a monthly publication that did not have pictures, just registration numbers and you did not have a clue what you were about to go and see.

At that time the tourism industry used those issues to promote and publicise their welcoming venues. Now there are separate publications to highlight those.

So what do you get from your ‘weekly bible’? Does it serve your needs and would you be without it?

In truth whilst you may not read it cover to cover – you do actually scan right through it and take in what the industry has on offer for good or bad.

The readership is huge as it frequently gets passed around a number of people. Staff like to read it to get the ‘inside angle’ and that is a good thing because, as ever, knowledge is power and instructive in making a better business model – and it must be true.

I read it in the paper. ■

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45 23/03/2015 19:08

ANALYSIS › APPS VS RESPONSIVE WEBSITES

The right direction for passenger information Paul Everson, an industry specialist for the information and ticketing sector at Trapeze Group, explains the differences between an app and a responsive website and assesses which best fits an operator’s needs

A

s a provider of public transport information systems, Trapeze is often asked by clients for advice on whether to develop a smartphone app or a mobile website.

Increasingly we are seeing tenders from local authorities which include the requirement for mobile passenger information alongside real-time systems. This is hardly surprising: smartphone penetration is high and rising (to a predicted 90% penetration by the end of 2017) while reduced public transport budgets cannot easily accommodate costly onstreet information displays. If an operator’s requirement is to help the travelling public to be better informed, the most economical way to do so is via their phone.

However, the terminology used within some tenders suggests there is a degree of confusion about the different mobile technologies currently available. We often see tenders where the terms ‘app’ and ‘mobile website’ are used interchangeably, when in fact there are significant and important differences between them.

Technical Differences

Responsive websites are different to mobile only websites – they automatically adapt to the size of the screen they are viewed on 46 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 046_047_CBW1181_Trapeze.indd 46

Mobile applications (apps) and responsive websites (a website which adapts to fit the screen size and orientation of the device on which it is being viewed, not a dedicated mobile website) are very different technologies. An app is a program which must be downloaded and installed on to a mobile device, whereas a responsive website exists online and is visited via a phone’s browser.

At this point it is worth mentioning the requirement for an internet connection, as there is often a perception that once downloaded, apps no longer require a connection. While this is true with many apps, it is typically not the case when you are dealing with public transport passenger information. The information the user requires (usually real-time or incident data) is typically not available locally on the device so an internet connection is required, irrespective of whether an app or responsive website is being used.

There are advantages (and disadvantages) to both approaches.

Accessing an app for the first time lacks the immediacy of a responsive website because it must be downloaded and installed before it can be used, whereas the website merely has to be visited.

However, once installed an app has the benefit in terms of access and prominence. An icon will be added to the phone’s home screen, ready for access by the user. In reality it is also possible for a user to save a website bookmark as a home page icon, but many users aren’t aware of the functionality, so this cannot be relied upon.

There are marketing benefits here too since users are typically familiar with the process they need to follow to find apps. They know to visit the relevant store (for example Apple’s App Store), search for the item in question, and then install it. As an organisation promoting an app you can also make use of readily available images and branding elements such as ‘Available on the App Store’ badges.

When promoting a responsive website, operators need to promote the site to make travellers aware of how to find it in the first place. www.coachandbusweek.com

24/03/2015 09:12

‘Accessing an app for the first time lacks the immediacy of a responsive website because it must be downloaded and installed’ User Experience

In most instances an app and responsive website will outwardly look fairly similar when viewed on a smartphone, but the user is likely to experience differences in terms of the way they interact with them. Because a responsive website needs to cater to a variety of device types and screen size/dimensions, compromises have to be made which in our view tend to prevent them from having the slick look and feel of an app which has been specifically designed for a device.

Gesture controls (swipe to delete/ mark as favourite and so on) tend to be familiar to users and work well within an app environment.

Additionally, integration with the device’s embedded features (such as GPS, camera or microphone) is likely to work better in an app. Trapeze’s ScotTalk app, for example, uses the iPhone’s native VoiceOver feature to read out bus arrivals for blind or partially sighted passengers. This type of functionality is often not available on sites designed for responsive web design.

Anecdotal feedback suggests that users tend to prefer the experience offered by apps over responsive websites and broadly speaking this fits with our experience. However, website technology is improving and this may not always be the case – and there are other considerations, not least of which is cost.

Costs

The most obvious disadvantage of apps when compared with responsive websites is the cost. As we have stated, the best experience will usually come from a bespoke

SUMMARY

Key Advantages FOR APPS l Customised user interface l More popular with users l Incorporates Smartphone features l Easy to find within app stores l Presence on phone’s home screen once installed FOR RESPONSIVE WEBSITES

l Lower development costs

(creation & ongoing)

l Works across different devices l Instant updates (no app store

review/approvals)

l Less affected by Handset OS

update cycles

l Effective SEO

www.coachandbusweek.com

046_047_CBW1181_Trapeze.indd 47

build for the platform in question.

The problem, though, is that mobile apps are native to particular operating systems (for example, Apple’s iOS, or Google’s Android) – so operators are likely to need to develop more than one.

No single platform will reach the entire spectrum of potential handsets, so in order to cater to all (or even most) of the available users, operators will need to pay to develop two or more apps. Recent figures show that Google’s Android has 54% of the UK market, Apple’s iOS has 32%, Windows Mobile has 10% and Blackberry 3.4%.

Clearly there is a calculation required relating to how many app versions are needed, and of course it depends on the devices people use within the operating territory, so the first thing most clients do is examine website analytics to understand how people are visiting their existing website.

Unless that analysis yields unusual results, in most instances we recommend passenger information apps be delivered on at least Android and iOS (combined, they cover 86% of the Smartphone market). Depending on local usage it usually makes sense to include a Windows Mobile app as well (bringing coverage up to 96%).

However, there is of course a cost implication in developing multiple apps. A single responsive website will usually cost more to develop than a single app – but significantly less than three. We estimated that in most instances the overall cost of developing for three app platforms is likely to be around twice that of a single RWD site, which still won’t cover the entire market.

Conversely, operators could reach all of the market with a single responsive website – but the user experience won’t be as strong.

At this point it is also worth considering the on-going costs.

Both apps and websites will require maintenance when the content is out of date. However, apps can also be subject to compulsory redevelopment when the vendor updates their operating system.

In our experience, the timing of handset OS upgrades always seems to conflict with other client priorities.

Finally, although not specifically relating to cost, all apps are required to be submitted to the relevant store and are subject to approval prior to being made available to the public. This process can be subject to frustrating delays.

The conclusion of this section is fairly straightforward: if you are

The passenger experience is said to be better on an app, but for one time users, a responsive website is often more appropriate making your decision based purely upon cost then a responsive website is almost always the winner.

Other Considerations

There is often an issue of branding to be considered. When working with local authorities we find that there is an acceptance that an app may have its own distinct identity that is separate from the authority’s transport branding.

This may take the form of a semistandalone portal providing journey planning, real-time and incident information largely in isolation.

A responsive website, however, shares content with the desktop website and therefore needs to work with the existing website content. In this instance the site is likely to have to cater for other public transport elements, perhaps including multimodal transport information, bus operator contact details, carbon calculators, and details of cycle/foot paths.

Another important consideration is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), which essentially determines how effective your site is at being found by search engines.

Operators may decide that a responsive website is critical, since it can contribute to their SEO requirements (something a mobile app cannot do).

Future Trends

With budgets constrained and the cost of developing for multiple apps proving prohibitive, we believe that an improvement in responsive website technology will result in a shift away from mobile apps towards responsive websites.

However, smartphone technology is developing at a phenomenal rate – more so than bandwidth. We are not far away from the point where an average passenger will own a mobile handset powerful enough

to run a national journey planner, with all the data that is needed to support it stored on the handset too. Once this is commonplace, it would make little sense to use the internet to access data – instead, transport data is likely to be stored locally (in an app), with the Internet accessed merely to download any relevant changes.

Therefore, after a period where responsive websites start to take sway, we anticipate a return to mobile app technology a little further in the future.

Conclusion

If money is no object then the clear answer is to develop both a responsive website and apps for the most commonly used smartphones. This would provide the ultimate user experience for regular users, leaving a functional website to inform irregular or new users who haven’t downloaded the app.

However, in the public transport sector money is always a significant factor, so it is likely that most organisations will have to make a choice.

Ultimately, the decision here should be dictated by a combination of organisational objectives, the profile of potential users (and handsets they use), available budget and the importance of the quality of the user’s experience. n

Paul Everson is Industry Specialist for the Information and Ticketing sector at Trapeze Group. He explained: “My job is a mix of product and account management, which suits my interests and skillset.

I find it exciting to be part of an industry that is constantly evolving.”

Find out more at www. trapezegroup.co.uk/pi or contact Paul directly at paul.everson@ trapezegroup.com

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47 23/03/2015 10:10

THE BIG PICTURE Corgi has used Lucketts Travel’s fully liveried Scania K340EB Caetano Levante as the model for 480 limited edition miniatures. Two versions are available. One has the Isle of Wight Festival as its destination, the other shows Private Hire. The festival version is on general sale from Corgi while the Private Hire option is only available from Lucketts directly. The vehicle the model is based on was originally bought in 2009 to service the firm’s National Express contract and has since been refurbished, reliveried and is now used for private hire. “This is definitely the largest number of vehicles we’ve added to our fleet in one go,” said Joint Managing Director Steve Luckett who’s in the picture. “Our company has grown from a family firm into a large regional business, and our coaches are well-known on roads up and down the UK. As a result of our expansion, and to recognise our success, we thought the time was right to approach Corgi to discuss the possibility of producing these models. Corgi agreed they would be a good addition to their collection.”

048_049_CBW1181_Big Picture.indd 48

23/03/2015 10:29

048_049_CBW1181_Big Picture.indd 49

23/03/2015 10:29

TEST DRIVE › ABERDEEN HYDROGEN BUSES

H2GO–

Hydrogen Future for Aberdeen

50 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 050_058_CBW1181_Hydrogen.indd 50

After much anticipation, March 11 saw the official launch of Aberdeen’s Hydrogen Bus Project, with over 150 guests attending an event to showcase the project, the vehicles and the hydrogen production facility. Jim McWilliam gives his verdict on the new buses from behind the wheel

www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 10:24

VE

I DR ST TE

O

n a slightly grey and very windy Wednesday morning, I am at Aberdeen’s historic Beach Ballroom for the official launch event of the city’s Hydrogen Bus Project.

Originally intended to take to the road last year, the vehicles have been drip-fed into service over the last few weeks and this event marks the culmination of years of planning, construction and training. From the number of people attending, and the organisations and companies they represented, it was clear that behind the scenes there has been a lot of work put into the project to get it to this stage, and the mood was upbeat, all proud that their hard work has

The cab area. The CCTV screen is on the left, eco gauges to the right of the instruments and the emergency isolation switches to right the city centre, and the council is keen to reduce this.

Both First and Stagecoach Managing Directors were keen to point out that they have already invested in low-emissions vehicles: in First’s case, 26 Wrightbus StreetLite singledeckers with micro-hybrid technology, whilst Stagecoach operates a fleet of 13 ADL Enviro 300H buses in the city. Both said they were proud to be involved with the project, and having a hand in leading the industry into the future.

The buses are being introduced on two key routes: four buses will operate First’s X40 Park & Ride route, running from Dubford to Kingswells via the Park & Ride sites at Bridge of Don and Kingswells, also serving Aberdeen University, the city centre and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The remaining six buses will serve Stagecoach route X17, from Aberdeen’s Union Square bus station to Westhill. Both routes are very busy, the former currently operated by Alexander ALX300-bodied Volvos in a pinkbased version of First’s new livery, whilst the X17 has a dedicated fleet of route-branded Enviro300s, though it is no stranger to Van Hool The project products, seeing the occasional use of Megabus Funding for this project has come from a double-deckers to increase peak time capacity. variety of sources, including the city council, Besides the buses, Aberdeen city council will the bus operators, the Scottish government, be operating a small number of hydrogen-diesel Innovate UK, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish hybrid vans, as part of its ongoing commitment Hydro Electric Power Distribution, Scottish Gas to improve the quality of life in the city and Network and the two main funding partners, promoting it as a key player in HyTransit and HighVLO-City, the renewable energy field. which together form the Fuel AT A GLANCE “We’ve got a lot to be proud of, Cells and Hydrogen Joint with plans in place for further Undertaking. The overall budget PARTNERS hydrogen stations which will be is £19m, and the project aims l Scottish Hydro Electric capable of fuelling other vehicles to provide its partners with Power Distribution including cars,” said Councillor valuable experience and data l BOC Laing. on the environmental and l Van Hool The council has a clear strategy economic aspects of the use of l First to encourage the use of public hydrogen, as well as evaluating l Stagecoach transport, and besides the the commercial realisation of l Scotland Gas Network hydrogen bus scheme, runs the technology. In the longer l Element

Energy (technical the CoWheels car club, where term, this will contribute to and analytical elements) members can turn up and drive the reduction of harmful gases a car from a large number of into the atmosphere, as well as PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS locations around the city. Asked decreasing noise pollution in l Scottish Government whether there seemed to be busy urban areas and improving l Scottish Enterprise any conflict of interest between air quality. Aberdeen has a l Innovate UK the two, Cllr Laing pointed number of known poor air l Aberdeen City Council to the success of the car club quality hot-spots in and around finally paid off and is starting to deliver a visible, viable service to the city.

After a brief welcome from Aberdeen’s Lord Provost George Adam, Council Leader Jenny Laing outlined the importance of the scheme to the city, its people and its economy. Praising the way that the industry has come together to deliver the project, Councillor Laing said that it will define the image of Aberdeen as a 21st century city. Looking to the future, the expectation is that “the Hydrogen Bus Project will stimulate further hydrogen projects and attract investment,” securing Aberdeen’s place as not just the UK’s oil capital, but the UK’s energy capital. Renewable energy is already becoming a growing part of the city’s economy, drawing on the expertise already in the northeast, and helping to anchor those skills in the city for many years to come. With so many suppliers and partners, Ms Laing was also keen to stress that “the benefits will be felt locally, nationally and internationally,” the most obvious sign of this being the 10 buses, manufactured by Belgian-based Van Hool.

First Training Manager Norman Wood at the wheel of one of the buses

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encouraging people to think about alternatives to owning a car, and giving them the choice of, for example, commuting into the city by bus, but still having access to a car for journeys where public transport isn’t available, giving a positive benefit all round.

The buses

Costing around €1.1m each (around £830k), and weighing in at over 16 tonnes, the buses themselves are impressive-looking Van Hool A330s. All carry a white-based livery with blue and green swirls advertising their green credentials. Split between the city’s two predominant operators, the buses carry First or Stagecoach logos on the front and rear and apart from a few internal details, are otherwise identical.

From a passenger viewpoint there is little difference to a diesel bus, with a spacious platform, wide aisle, with easy access to low floor seating, a nearside wheelchair bay and ample space for pushchairs and other large items opposite. With the exception of those over the front wheels, all seats face forwards. There are two shallow steps half way down the aisle, those seats towards the rear being raised on pedestals either side of the aisle. An emergency door is fitted in the traditional position, towards the rear on the offside, whilst numerous hammers are provided to break the large glass emergency windows. Above the two rear axles – of which the leading one is steered – there is a minimal amount of wheelarch intrusion, whilst over the front wheels are forward and rearfacing one-and-a-half person seats, in a style typical of many European city bus designs.

For safety, the wheelchair space is equipped with a fold down armrest, as well as a seatbeltstyle restraint to secure a wheelchair against the backrest. Tip-up seats are provided for when the wheelchair space is not required. Heating is in the form of radiators running down both sides of the saloon, which were proving very effective at keeping the saloon warm as we were driven to see the refuelling facility at Kittybrewster.

Although over a metre longer than a standard

Fuel filler and earth point 52 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 050_058_CBW1181_Hydrogen.indd 52

single-decker, most of that extra length internally is taken up by a large rear ‘shelf’ behind the last row of seats. There is a large two-thirds width rear window, ensuring that the rear of the bus feels bright and airy, even though the nearside features a full height cubicle.

The main difference between the two operators’ vehicles is the seating. First’s use purple moquette, with matching purple seat backs and frames, whilst Stagecoach vehicles are finished in green with the firm’s ‘eco’ green moquette, as seen on their hybrid vehicles. All other fittings are in shades of light grey, giving a spacious and airy feel to the interiors. First’s vehicles are also fitted with cash vaults and hoppers, as is standard practice on their buses in the city.

Van Hool’s Head of Engineering, Jan Van Hool, said that it was a huge vote of confidence in the company, and they were confident in their ability to lead the field in producing zeroemissions public transport, despite the many challenges involved. As an added benefit, being part of the Hydrogen Bus Project has enabled Van Hool to develop a right hand drive version of its A330 citybus.

AT A GLANCE

Funding Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking through High VLO-City and HyTransit projects – £8.3m Innovate UK – £2.4m Scottish Govt – £1.7m Scottish Enterprise – £1.7m Aberdeen City Council – £2m First – £1m Stagecoach – £1m Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution – £750,000 Scottish Gas Network – £200,000 BOC – £1m in the hydrogen production/ refuelling facility.

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Panel above cab showing BATtery mode or Fuel Cell (FC) mode and emergency warning panel

Safety

Nathan Palmer, BOC’s Director of Bulk and Packaged Gases, was keen to stress the safety aspects of the Kittybrewster site. As the largest and most advanced of its type in the UK, the modular facility is more than capable of delivering the 80 metric tonnes per annum required to service the fleet of buses, along with a small fleet of vehicles operated by the city council. The site features continuous monitoring of the production, storage and distribution facilities, linked to a central control facility allowing remote diagnostics and maintenance.

In the event of any problems, the systems are designed to shut down automatically, and it was clear from listening to Nathan and his colleagues as they explained each stage of the process that safety was paramount.

Lightning protection has been built in, as have underground earths, to minimise any risks during fuelling. Before a bus can be fuelled, it must be connected to an earth strip, and once the fuelling hose is connected, the system is sealed and will again shut off if any problems are detected. In the unlikely event of a bus being driven away with the hose still attached, it is designed to shear and automatically seal, preventing any gas escaping. In many ways, it is safer than fuelling an equivalent diesel bus, where fuel is pumped into an open fuel tank, and can be spilt onto the floor, causing fire and slip hazards, as well as potential environmental issues.

The production and refuelling facility itself has been designed as a standalone solution, with plenty of scope built in for future expansion. This could take the form of increased production or storage facilities, or could allow the fuelling of other types of vehicles, such as cars, though that would require much further investment and modification. The electricity to run the facility comes from the National Grid via a Scottish Government ‘green’ tariff. In future the ideal would be to power such sites www.coachandbusweek.com

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TEST DRIVE › ABERDEEN HYDROGEN BUSES

A Van Hool representative explains the on-board technology of the hydrogen fuel cell buses independently via renewable sources such as wind or wave energy. The very fact that the site is in an urban location makes this impractical.

The site features a 1MW electrolyser and can produce up to 360kg of hydrogen per day. Each bus can be refuelled in less than 10 minutes.

Indeed, Norman Wood, Training Manager at First Aberdeen explained that whilst it could take up to 10 minutes, the buses have a range of around 260 miles, and are scheduled to operate around 150 in the course of a normal day, so in reality, �illing up will take under �ive minutes.

An important feature of the project was to bring the technology to a point where it is viable, and bringing down refuelling times to something comparable with a diesel bus is a big advantage.

The hydrogen is stored in 10 tanks �itted to the roof of the bus, and in the event of an accident, is automatically discharged harmlessly into the atmosphere, thanks to sensors �itted around the vehicle, or this can be done by the driver using an emergency button in the cab. Should this occur, the bus can still be moved, using batteryonly mode, to a safe location or the refuelling station.

Test drive

Like many people, I found the technology interesting, but I was even more curious to �ind out what the vehicles themselves were like to drive. With all that equipment on board, how different would the driving experience be? First www.coachandbusweek.com

050_058_CBW1181_Hydrogen.indd 55

Aberdeen was kind enough to let me spend an afternoon getting to know the vehicle, and after a very enthusiastic introduction to the vehicles from Training Manager Norman Wood, I was taken out in to the yard by Driving Instructor Colin Buchan.

Both were very enthusiastic about their new buses, and Norman took time to explain the training that has been given to drivers. Broadly similar for both operators, drivers were given a presentation on the project and the vehicles, to help them answer the inevitable questions from passengers, before being taken to the bus, given a thorough look around, and then taking it out on the road themselves. Afterwards, there was time for a question and answer session, the day lasting around �ive hours in total.

Norman was pleased that the drivers were so enthusiastic. Having been selected from a group of volunteers, all of them were keen to learn and to get behind the wheel of the new buses.

Meanwhile engineers were sent to Belgium to be trained on the buses – although any major maintenance will be carried out by Van Hool, with day-to-day work carried out at the �irms’ depots.

The buses are very striking, with a lot of road presence, and as we approached, the �irst thing to note is the extra length – around a metre more than a conventional single decker, and with a second steered axle just ahead of the driven rear wheels. Arriving at the bus, sitting

plugged in to the specially-installed shore supply, I was surprised to see that every panel requires a key to open, including that over the external door controls, something which could prove problematic in service, and already, there were signs of scratches around some of the key holes.

The �irst thing to do is to unplug the bus from the mains supply. The buses have two charge settings, ‘summer’ and ‘winter’, and once the driver has checked that ‘summer’ is selected, to reduce current �low and prevent any power surges, the charger can be switched off and the cable disconnected. In order to maintain the temperature of the batteries and auxiliary systems, the buses are left plugged in at the depot, and whilst in ‘summer’ mode they only consume 0.2 units of electricity per hour to keep the batteries warm, in colder weather this increases to �ive units per bus per hour, with auxiliary functions also kept warm and ready to go.

Once the charge cable is safely stored, boarding the bus and entering the cab gives very little hint that anything is different. The cab is spacious and well laid out, with all the familiar switches and controls within easy reach. In addition, there are gauges integrated in to the dashboard display to show the driver the state of charge of the batteries, and provide real-time feedback on driving ef�iciency. Above the driver’s A-pillar is a display showing

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TEST DRIVE › ABERDEEN HYDROGEN BUSES

whether the bus is running in battery mode or full hydrogen mode – when starting, the driver has a choice, and if the bus is just being shunted around in the depot, it can be driven in batteryonly mode.

Besides the extra instrumentation, there are two extra levers on the dashboard: to the right of the steering wheel, in a similar position to where the wiper stalk often is, is the threestage manual retarder. Drivers are taught to use this as much as possible when braking, rather than the footbrake, to regenerate energy which is used to top up the battery of these hybrid buses, allowing for a greater range and further reducing the consumption of hydrogen.

To the left of the wheel, and mounted on the dashboard, is a shorter control for the tram-like external gong, fitted as a precaution to alert pedestrians and cyclists to the presence of these ultra-quiet vehicles. Also integrated into the dash on the driver’s left is a CCTV screen showing the image from a rear-facing camera.

There is plenty of storage space for a driver’s bag and other items.

After a description of the controls, I adjusted the comfortable driver’s seat, and set the electric mirrors using the in-cab switch. Moving off for the first time is a surreal experience. It feels very unnatural to press the accelerator, and expect to move, with no obvious engine noise, just a message on the dashboard that the

The interior of a Stagecoach bus

Bus plugged in to one of four specially installed charging points at First’s King Street depot

56 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 050_058_CBW1181_Hydrogen.indd 56

‘The bus felt agile and capable of keeping pace on this busy route between the city and University’

bus is ready to drive. Of course, unlike a diesel bus with automatic transmission, there is no ‘creep’ when the brakes are released, and to compensate, a hill-start assist button is fitted.

Aware of the extra length and longer wheelbase, I took care manoeuvring from the bus’ dedicated parking space, using the slow drive around the yard to get the feel of the retarder before we turned left on to the city’s King Street and headed for Bridge of Don. King Street is one of the major routes into and out of the city from the north, and as I accelerated into the bus lane, the bus felt smooth and progressive on the slight downhill gradient, passing the University of Aberdeen’s historic Kings College on our left. Approaching the first roundabout on our journey, I moved the retarder into position one, and found myself smoothly slowing, gradually moving to position two, and a little use of maximum position three before easing back, to bring the vehicle right down to walking pace, before touching the brake pedal to hold us at the junction, awaiting a gap in the busy traffic. The bus felt agile and capable of keeping pace on this busy route between the city and University, with throttle response being instant and sufficient to negotiate a busy junction safely. My immediate impression was of a vehicle that is easy to drive, and, besides the unusual form of propulsion, www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 10:24

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I felt at home straight away, the controls responding as I expected, and the clean simple window lines making the bus easy to position on the road, visibility helped by well-placed window pillars and good-sized external mirrors.

The extra length of the vehicle was noticeable as we entered the roundabout, the back wheels getting closer to the kerb than expected, but it did not feel cumbersome or limiting in terms of manoeuvrability. Heading out across the Bridge of Don itself, and into the suburb of the same name, we turned left onto the Parkway, where I had a chance to push the bus a little more. Despite Colin’s insistence that I should drive as economically as possible, I kept my foot to the �loor as we accelerated uphill, and found myself disappointed at the rate of acceleration, the empty bus taking a long time to top 40mph on a long but none too steep uphill gradient.

Of course, a key part of the driver’s skill will be to drive economically, but at the same time, it left me wondering whether the buses might struggle to keep up with busy schedules, especially on Stagecoach’s interurban X17, which involves a lot of main road and dual carriageway driving. As we crested the hill and descended towards Danestone, I resisted the natural urge to brake with my right foot, and applied the retarder. Even with our speed having crept up on the descent, the level of retardation was strong but smooth, with no noticeable jerk as I applied it or increased the level of braking, and again I felt fully in control, con�ident that the bus was going to come to a stop where I expected it to. Around the local roads in Danestone, the bus felt manoeuvrable despite its extra length, even on tight junctions, helped by the good visibility and large mirrors.

As I drove, there were no signs of any irritating squeaks or rattles, which is even more noteworthy considering that there is no engine noise to hide them, whilst the noise from the electric motors was minimal, especially from the cab, as was road and tyre noise. Indeed, the loudest noise was from the blowers on a typically chilly Aberdonian winter day.

The only real let-down from a driver’s point

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TEST DRIVE › ABERDEEN HYDROGEN BUSES

BOC’s Nathan Palmer demonstrates refuelling to Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing of view was the internal mirror, which seems much too small, and has the effect of making everything look even further away, as well as being poorly positioned right above the driver’s assault screen. The screen itself seemed alright, though as your Editor said in his review of the ADL Enviro400MMC (CBW1178), there is the potential for glare, but it seemed no worse than that on any other bus, whilst the cab door features an electrically operated opening window to allow drivers better contact with passengers.

The future

Funding is in place to enable the scheme to operate at least until 2017, by which time the council and its partners are hopeful of seeing other hydrogen �leets taking to the roads in and around the city, as well as further developing the supply network, and exploring other uses for hydrogen, such as to power the council’s district heating scheme.

Whilst the technology itself could be overwhelming to most people, what matters is that the buses work, and deliver a high-quality,

reliable service, which should encourage more and more people out of their cars and onto these eco-friendly, modern vehicles. So far, passenger reaction has been very positive. In pre-launch surveys, the council found that most people were enthusiastic about the use of zeroemission transport, and this has been borne out by subsequent surveys. Stagecoach Bluebird Managing Director Steve Walker explained that in the �irst weeks of operation, ‘conductors’ were sent out on the buses, explaining the project to interested passengers and gathering feedback, all of which was positive. ■ FURTHER READING USEFUL WEB LINKS

How a hydrogen bus works: www.ballard.com/about -ballard/fuel-cell-education-resources/how-a-fuel-cellworks.aspx and www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/ hydrogen Route X40: www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/aberdeen/ journey_planning/park_ride/ Route X17: www.stagecoachbus.com/X17.aspx

A Stagecoach bus waiting outside Beach Ballroom to take guests on a visit to Kittybrewster production/fuelling facility

58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 050_058_CBW1181_Hydrogen.indd 58

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DELIVERIES

Have you taken delivery of a new vehicle and want to tell the world about it? Email all the details and pictures to james.day@ coachandbusweek.com

in association with

DAMORY Go-Ahead-owned Damory is continuing its investment in new transport by introducing five new Euro 5 Slimline Optare Solos to its Dorset services.

Dorset County Council and Damory formally launched the new buses at a special event at County Hall in Dorchester.

“Buses in Dorset, particularly across rural areas of the county, are an essential method of travel for many, and I am delighted that we have been able to invest £0.5m in our fleet here,” Andrew Wickham,

Go South Coast Managing Director, commented.

“These new buses are set to deliver exceptional performance, as well as offering environmental benefits – including lower

emissions.

“We would not have been able to embark on this commercial venture if it weren’t for the continued support of Dorset County Council. It’s a tremendous

BARNES COACHES

Barnes Coaches of Swindon has taken delivery of two new 15-plate VDL Futura 15m coaches.

Made in Holland, the coaches are two metres longer than standard coaches (one of which Barnes Coaches purchased in late 2014). This means 61 passengers can be seated with plenty of legroom in the vehicles’ Vogel Conturo reclining seats with contrasting leather headrest’s and piping. Passengers also have individual footrests and armrests.

The coaches also come fitted with a DVD

PEAKES COACHES

entertainment system coupled to two monitors, centre sunken demountable toilet with water boiler to toilet top, a hot drinks machine and WiFi, along with a reversing camera to assist the driver. There is also a vacuum cleaner on each coach to help their drivers maintain the vehicle interiors.

Matt Barnes said the vehicles are two of five new vehicles expected to join Barnes Coaches fleet in 2015. He told CBW that they have not replaced anything, allowing the operator’s fleet to grow to 37 vehicles.

60 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 060_CBW1181_Deliveries.indd 60

sign that people in the region value the services we offer here.”

The new Solos are operating across Damory’s 1,2,101 Dorchester, R71 Lyme Regis and R40 Bridport routes.

They are the first to feature lighter floor colours, after Damory teamed up with Alzheimer’s Society to make its buses dementia-friendly.

“Many of those with the disease are uneasy about crossing darker floors – fearing them to be like ‘black holes’,” added Andrew. “We wanted to make our buses more accessible for everybody – and this was

He added: “They will be used on everything from school kids to grannies and even dogs, as we take a kennel club to European tournaments.”

South Wales coach operator Peakes Coaches has upgraded its 2012 Irizar i6 integral with a 2014 model part-exchanged at Irizar UK. The 44-vehicle operator, based in Pontypool, has opted for a 12.9-metre 53-seater which will work primarily on Peakes’ own tour programme and on other tour work.

The coach is powered

by DAF’s MX300 engine and ZF AS-Tronic auto-shift transmission. It features a twin LCD screen DVD system, Bosch audio equipment, and full climate control. It is also specified with a Spheros preheater to improve passenger

one aspect of that.”

Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for environment, commented: “I am very pleased that Damory has been able to accommodate the wishes of dementia groups to help people with dementia issues.”

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: Optare Solo

Slimline ENGINE: Mercedes-Benz 115kw

Euro 5 TRANSMISSION: Allison 2100 SEATS: 27 + 3 tip ups SUPPLIED BY: Optare 08434

863200 www.optare.com

comfort.

The company has also opted for a reversing camera and warning horn, while the seats, with piped edging, feature magazine nets and cup holders.

Peakes runs a mixed fleet, around 12 of which are service buses and eight front-line coaches, with a broad range of work which includes home-to-school contracts.

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: Irizar i6

integral ENGINE: DAF MX300 TRANSMISSION: ZF AS-Tronic SEATS: 53 SUPPLIED BY: Irizar UK 01909

500514 www.irizar.co.uk

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: VDL Futura

FHD2 ENGINE: 9.3 Litre 365 bhp

Paccar PR Euro 5 TRANSMISSION: ZF 5HP604

Automatic SEATS: 61 SUPPLIED BY: Moseley in the

South 01823 653000 www.moseleysouth.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 11:45

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01/12/2014 17:04:39 12/01/2015 09:20

p62_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 13:59 Page 1

M O C .

T E K R A M S COACHANDBULES FOR SALE

VEHIC

Contact Gemma Ireland

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

GREAT VALUE FOR OPERATORS *NEW* EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS, FROM LLOYD MORGAN GROUP

UNLIMITED ONLINE vehicle adverts on coachandbus market.com

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

HALF PRICE RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING IN Coach & BusWeek magazine

3 ANNUAL DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS to coachandbus week.com

THE NO.1 WEBSITE FOR BUYING AND SELLING YOUR VEHICLES (Marketplace) - Copy Deadline - 12 noon Friday week prior to publication. (Main) – Booking and Copy Deadline 12noon Monday week of publication 2006 ADL East Lancs Esteem

2001 Alexander

2005 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle

63 reclining seats, leather headrest inserts, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air con, CD audio, video & monitor, double glazing, manual, intarder, Webasto.

2004 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle

63 reclining seats, leather headrests, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air conditioning, CD audio, wired for DVD, double glazing, manual, intarder, Webasto.

25 seats, automatic, air con, manual front and back destination, electric middle ramp, CCTV cameras, assault screen, LEZ compliant.

37 seated, new MOT, DDA.

£POA

£POA

£POA

£5,500 + VAT

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

Peakes Coaches – 07773 793239

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

2002 Bova Futura

1996 Caetano Optimo

2003 DAF DB250 Plaxton President

2003 DAF DB250 Alexander ALX400

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.

• MOT January 2015

• 18 seats

• Good runner 65 seats + 26 standees, DAF euro 1V / Voith, conversion to single door available.

£3,500 + VAT

65 seats + 26 standees, DAF euro 1V / Voith, conversion to single door available.

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

£13,500 + VAT – CHOICE

£13,500 + VAT – CHOICE

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

Southdown PSV 01342 711840 bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk

Southdown PSV 01342 711840 bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk

1998 DAF SB3000

1998 DAF SB3000 VanHool

2006 DAF SB4000 VanHool Alizee T9

2003 DAF SB4000 VanHool Alizee T9

13 berths sleeper coach, static AC/heating, 240v, normal band bus stuff, towbar, MOT Feb 2015, good condition for age.

67 seats, 3 point height adjustable seat belts, CCTV, automatic.

ZF auto, 42/49 seats + courier, rear mounted toilet and servery with fridge, luggage nets, seatback tables, carpets and air conditioning. Choice of 2, low mileage, MOT to February 2016.

£40,000 + VAT

£9,500 + VAT

£19,000

ZF auto, 51 seats + courier, centre sunken toilet, coffee machine, fridge, centre carpet and air conditioning, low mileage, available with 12 months MOT.

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

Smith & Sons – 01828 626262 info@smithandsonscoaches.co.uk

£105,000

£65,000

Dalesman Coaches - 01943 870228

Dalesman Coaches - 01943 870228

2005 55 plate DAF SB4000s

2004 Dennis Enviro 300 Service Bus

1998 Dennis Dart ALX200

1996 Dennis Lance

ZF automatics, LEZ compliant, Van Hool Alizee, 12.4m long, front lift, air con, DDA compliant, Hanover LEDs, 55 seats.

44 seats, automatic gearbox, LED front, side & rear destinationm front manual ramp, DDA compliant, MOT until May 2015.

£POA

£24,995

EnsignBus – 01708 865656

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

37 seats or 33 plus 1 wheelchair, manual ramp, Cummins engine, Allison auto gearbox, power door, new MOT, very tidy.

£4,500 + VAT

47 belted seats, excellent condition, long or new MOT, excellent reliability, choice of three vehicles, 2nd owner from new, ex Brighton and Hove.

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

Peakes Coaches – 07773 793239

£POA

p63_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:00 Page 1

www.coachandbusweek.com

VEHICLES 1999/2001 Dennis Tridents

58 plate Enviro 200

2003 Dennis Dart

Dennis ‘R’ Series Plaxton Panther

Cummins/Allison, Plaxton Pointer body, 47 seats with 45 belted, test 30th June 2015, immaculate throughout, spare gearbox also included.

53 reclining seats, 3 point seat belts, courier seat, plug entrance door, air con, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD and monitor, AS-Tronic intarder, LEZ compliant.

80/85 seats, Voith gearboxes, ISC Euro 3 engines, LEZ compliant, can be DDA with 78 seats, choice of 3.

Offers invited – need space for new vehicles!

£POA

From £14,000 + VAT

£52,500

Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Steve Hayes – 0161 946 9255 steve.hayes@manct.org

Centaur Coaches

Ford Transit 115 T430

2004 Ford Transit

29 seater, manual ramp, Hanover destination equipment all round, new MOT, in white, ready to go.

01322 625370 / 07957 162388

FORD TRANSIT 115 17 SEAT BUS OCT 2011 61 REG PSV, COIF AND TACHO ONLY 39K MILES READY TO WORK

White, 17 seats, standard cab, LWB, just one previous owner, electric windows, CD player, central locking, finance available, 3 month/3,000 miles warranty.

£9,995 + VAT

16 seats, side loading door, 3 point seat belts, rear emergency exit, radio/cassette, tachograph MOT September 2015.

£4,950 + VAT

£13,950 + VAT www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01785 811139 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

WVC – 01784 256255

Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426

Ford Transit 17 seat minibus

2006 Ford Transit

Ford Transit 100 T430

2006 Iveco Daily

16 seats, side loading door, 3 point seat belts, rear emergency exit, radio/cassette, tachograph.

White, 17 seats, standard cab, LWB, air conditioning, electric windows, CD player, central locking, finance available, 3 month/3,000 miles warranty, new service and MOT.

8 seats with 3-point seat belts but certified for 16 seats, external wheelchair lift, power door, MOT Nov 2015.

Immaculate condition throughout, in-dash air conditioning, recent new clutch and flywheel.

£11,500

£5,495 + VAT

£7,950 + VAT

keith.cabincoaches@gmail.com

Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426

WVC – 01784 256255

2007 Iveco 45C14

2009 Iveco Plaxton Panther

2009 Iveco Library Bus

2008 Iveco Eurorider Beulas Cygnus

Excel conversion, 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power door, reverse camera, drop step, drivers locker, large boot, coach back end, Siemens digital tacho, test Jan 2016, private plate.

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.

Euro 5, superb example, as new, all keys and manuals, only 29,000 miles warranted, direct council, viewing on site in Manchester.

53 seats + courier, 3 point seat belts OR 49 reclining seats with ONE wheelchair position, wheelchair lift, fridge, continental door, cruise control, digital tacho, integral retarder, automatic.

£9,995 + VAT

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

£14,950 + VAT

£POA

£25,000 o.n.o.

Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

Tel: 0161 223 3882 juliej@stoodley.co.uk

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

NEW Iveco Sitcar Voyager

2002 Iveco Beaulas

King Long XMQ 6800

2008/08 LDV Maxus 3.5T 95 LWB (Euromotive) Welfare

£POA

Automatic gearbox, air conditioned, twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge, 25 seat luxury midi coach, Lazzerini reclining seats + courier + driver, air con, manual gearbox + retarder, double glazed tinted windows, with curtains, power door, radio/PA and CD, luggage space of 4 m3.

49 seats, Euro 3, MOT March 15.

£25,000 + VAT

£POA

31 full leather recliner seats, crew seat, 3 point belts, air-con, power plug door, double glazed, rear continental door, curtains.

6 seater, internal AMF-Bruns chair lift, full tracking, Eberspacher, AVS, A/C, 103K.

£6,495 + VAT

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

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

2009 Levante

2009 MAN 18.400 Beulas Cygnus

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.

53 seat + crew seat, air con, sat nav, Astronic gearbox, new MOT, choice of 3.

£89,950

£16,950 o.n.o.

Euro 4 MAN engine, Airpark specs, digital destination, CCTV, MOT August 2015.

£89,000 – 2 AVAILABLE

Tel: 01202 741439 info@seaviewcoaches.com

Call James 07903 089408 or John 07768 493335

Bakers Coaches – 01782 522101

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

Mayfair Coaches – 0207 6031111

B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

W reg MAN Noge

09 Plate Evolution MCV

£55,000

37 seats, c/w rear toilet, recent full re-spray, 199,020kms, MOT June 2015.

£34,950

p64_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:01 Page 1

VEHICLES

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

2008 Mercedes 813

2009 Mercedes Sprinter 515 CDI XLWB

Front entry via lowered step, 16 reclining passenger seats, large boot, full body skirt kit, air-con, panoramic windows, curtains, offside emergency door.

Euro 4, 24 seats with 2 tables, air-con, power door, tow bar, Eberspacher heater and air suspension, year’s MOT.

£24,995 + VAT

New EVM Sprinter Classic

22 comfort class seats, auto gearbox, power entry door, double rear doors, in-dash and saloon AC, saloon heater, 3 stage entry step, luggage racks.

£POA

2003 Mercedes Sprinter 313 CDI LWB

Features include luggage racks, wood effect dashboard, built in mobile phone system (needs a sim card), fully working diesel fed rear heating and analogue tachograph.

£10,995 + VAT

Hailstone Travel - 0845 388 3848

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

New EVM Sprinter X-Clusive

Mercedes Vario 813 Beaver 3

WANTED

2005 (55 reg) Mercedes Vario 814 LWB

• Late model coaches, up to 7 years old.

• Good quality, sensible mileage vehicles.

• From 29 seats up to 70 seats.

• Finance cleared and balance paid direct.

19 reclining seats, quality conversion, air-con, large boot, LEZ compliant Euro 4, 281,000km, FSH, owned from new, MOT Nov 2015.

£26,000 + VAT

Automatic, Plug type power door, coach back, large drop boot, in-dash and saloon a/c, 16 executive class seats in leather, 2 saloon tables, panoramic windows, double glazing, monitor and DVD. Available soon.

Automatic, white, SDB with Beaver 3 styling to front, 28 passenger seats all with lap diagonal belts, only 46,000 miles, Siemens tacho, Telma foot and column retarder, MOT May 2015, power front door, under floor rear access lift.

POA

£40,000 NO VAT

Call 01236 750501

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

Colin Alexander – 07894 483737

jim.tweedie@moseleydistributors.co.uk

Rainham Coach Co Ltd, Kent 01634 852020/07850 657653

New EVM Sprinter 516 Classic

Mercedes Benz UNVI Cimo

2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Minicoach

2006 Mercedes 815 Unvi Riada

Euro 6, GTronic gearbox, white, new EVM Plug type door, saloon privacy glazing, decorative curtains, 22 seats, Euroliner wheel trims, EVM chrome pack, Mercedes Benz saloon air con. Available soon.

Atego chassis, air suspension, 33 seats with 3 point belts, courier seat, air con, double glazed, radio/CD/PA, large luggage capacity, new test.

16 moquette seats, automatic, manual entry as well as saloon sliding door, luggage racks, full drawn curtains, double rear doors, monitor/DVD.

29 seats with 3 point belts.

£54,750

£52,000

£27,500 + VAT

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

Mayfair Coaches - 0207 603 1111

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

Smith & Sons – 01828 626262 info@smithandsonscoaches.co.uk

WANTED MERCEDES COACHES

£16,995 + VAT

£39,000

2002 Mercedes Beaver 2

NEW Mercedes Atego Indcar Next

33 seater, auto, 3 point belts, racks, boot, drives well, new tyres, brakes etc, in good condition, very nice interior, wood dash, etc, may PX.

Available in two weights 10 tonne / 4 cyl engine (33 passenger seats) and 12 tonne / 6 cyl engine (33-37 passenger seats), power doors, air con, radio P/A, CD.

1999 to present year,16 to 35 seats, finance settled, with or without MOT, accident damage etc.

Contact Tim for an immediate decision

£12,999 + VAT

£POA

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

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

2003/03 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI UVG Treka

New EVM Sprinter

2008 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 515 CDI

17 seater, welfare/accessible, Sprintshift, front entry, power door, COIF, tacho, MOT, 160,000kms, very good all round order.

5 Series Euro 6, manual gearbox, metallic silver, standard entry door, saloon sliding door, saloon privacy glazing, decorative curtains, 17 high back seats in automotive trim, 3 pt safety belts, MB air con front &rear, colour coded bumpers & trim. Available soon.

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

57 reg Esker Mercedes Riada

22 leather seats plus courier, low mileage, automatic gearbox, air conditioning, DVD, fridge, table option, reverse camera, MOT until September.

£7,450 + VAT

Auto gearbox, saloon heater, 10 leather seats, tables, in-dash & saloon air con, EVM bodystyling, MOT till April 2015, 130,000 miles.

B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

£40,000 + VAT

£20,000 + VAT

M&S Coaches - 01568 612803

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

New Mercedes Benz Sprinter Grand Tourer

2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 515

2005 Mercedes Benz UNVI Esker Radia

2003 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 411 CDI

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.

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.

Manual, 22 seats + courier, 3 point belts, air conditioning and large boot, excellent condition, low mileage and available with 12 months MOT.

£POA

£25,000 + VAT

£32,500

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

Dalesman Coaches - 01943 870228

POA

White, semi-auto, 16 seats, ‘53’ reg, electric side door and step, well maintained, MOT 15/02/16.

Cherished number plate will be retained by us.

£4,500 + VAT o.n.o.

Tel: 01326 378100 Email: office@otsfalmouth.co.uk

p65_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:02 Page 1

www.coachandbusweek.com

VEHICLES 2005 Mercedes Benz 814 Vario

2000 Neoplan Starliner N513 Tourer

Euro LX 33s with A/C, MOT’d.

£26,000 ono

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.

Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425

Call Carl on 00353 86857 0885

2009 (58) Optare Versa

2008 (58) Renault Master

2007 Renault Master

10.4m, 34 seats + 22 standees.

KFS Liberty body, 14 seats or 4 seats and 5 wheelchairs, air con, CD player and digital tachograph, ramp at rear doors, auto. MOT April 2016.

KFS Liberty body, 14 seats or 2 seats and 5 wheelchairs, ramp at rear doors, MOT Sept 2015. Auto.

Choice of 2.

MERCEDES 413 CDI UVG TREKA 2005 55 reg 16 h/b seats, tacho etc, PSV test to Sept 2015, only 90K miles £12,950 www.staffordbuscentre.com

Tel: 01785 811139 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

Optare Tempo Dual Door Bus

Ex London Transport, 28 seats, 48 standing, lowering suspension, wheelchair ramp, air con, electronic destination, LED lighting, full 12 months test.

£24,000 NO OFFERS

£38,500 + VAT – CHOICE

£10,950 + VAT

£9,950 + VAT

Southdown PSV 01342 711840 bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

1999 Renault Master

1996 Scania K113 VanHool

2002 Scania VanHool K124

2006 Scania Irizar

Rohill body, 17 seats or 9 seats and 3 wheelchairs, fold out ramp, power entrance doors and destination equipment, MOT October 2016.

55 seats, radio/DVD, alloys, towbar, A/C, retrimmed, well maintained, ready to go, private plate NOT included

49 seat executive, WC, AC, 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 30/9/15, excellent condition.

13.7mtr, 65 seats, wheelchair lift, TV/DVD, air-con, DDA 1&3 compliant, ZF auto, MOT till June 2015.

Fully Scania maintained from new. Choice of 4.

£2,200 + VAT

£13,995 + VAT

NOW £32,000 + VAT

2 x LEZ £55,000 – 2 x non-LEZ £51,000

Bennett Coach Travel Tel: 01626 335100

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

Pat’s Coaches 01978 720171 or 07713 786224

£29,995

Priority Hire – 01905 821843

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

2006 Scania K114 Irizar Century 7HO

Wheelchair accessible, ZF auto, 65 seater plus courier, air con, fresh white paint, Euro 4 Eminox system, ready to work

£57,500 o.n.o.

Tel: 0151 355 8888 carvercoaches@btconnect.com

2009 Scania K340EB Caetano Levante

Reclining seats, air con, washroom/toilet, ZF manual, CD/radio/PA, CCTV, reverse camera, double glazed, curtains, alloy wheels, full service history, front PLS wheelchair lift.

1999 Scania K124 Irizar Tri-axle

51 seats, AC, radio/DVD, fridge, toilet, Webasto, on-board wash facility, recent tasteful retrim, MOT Aug 2015, smart attractive well maintained coach, private plate NOT included.

£17,500 + VAT

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

Bennett Coach Travel Tel: 01626 335100

2002 Scania Irizar K114

2001 Scania L94UB Wright

£POA – CHOICE OF 9

49 seat executive, WC, AC, 7 speed C-Shift, to be sold with new MOT, excellent condition.

NOW £31,000 + VAT

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

44 seats, automatic ZF gearbox, LED front, side & rear destination, front manual ramp.

£12,995

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

Scania Irizar Century K114

1996 Scania Irizar Century

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.

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.

£46,000

£17,500 + VAT

Cabin Coaches Tel: 07725 252402

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

p66_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:02 Page 1

VEHICLES

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

2005 Scania Irizar PB K114

ZF auto, 13.2m tri axle, LEZ compliant, new MOT, 53 part leather seats, centre sunken toilet, 2 x TVs & DVD, immaculate condition.

2006 Scania K114 Irizar Century

Automatic, 49 seats + courier + driver, centre sunken WC, continental door, air con, radio P/A, CD player, wired for monitor and DVD, double glazing & curtains, new MOT.

£59,950 o.n.o. + VAT

£POA

Tryers Coaches 01257 480979 sales@tyrerscoaches.co.uk

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

1992 Setra 215 HD

53 seats, MAN engine, MOT Nov 2015.

2001 Setra 315 GTHD

49 seats, full exec, Merc V8, LEZ compliant, MOT Apr.

2013 Scania Irizar i6 • 12.5 metre • 53 seats • Toilet • Air conditioning • DoFR March 2013 • MoT March 2016 £POA

Talisman 01206 252472

2008 Setra 415GTHD Euro 4

2003 Setra 315 GTHD

49 seats with courier and toilet, private plate, owned from new. Choice of 5

49 recliner seats with retractable belts, DVD + 2 monitors, centre toilet, centre power door, boiler + dash fridge, air con, Eminox exhaust for London 2015, Mercedes engine & gearbox, good condition, test until September 2015.

£4,750 ono

£27,000 ono

£95,000 + VAT

£35,000 + VAT o.n.o.

Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425

Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425

Chiltern Travel 07768 215058 tboorman@outlook.com

07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com

2011 61 plate Sitcar Marlin

2005 Sunsundegai

2002 52 Plate Super Pointer Darts

2001 Y Reg Tridents

33 seat + guide, finished in Moquette and leather, carpeted, A/C, PA & DVD, MOT Oct 2015, 123k kms

£85,000 + VAT

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.

42 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins ISB engines, Voith gearboxes.

Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats.

Grange Travel – 01474 357743 info@grange-travel.co.uk

£60,000 – 4 AVAILABLE

£POA

FROM £18,000 + VAT

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

EnsignBus – 01708 865656

EnsignBus – 01708 865656

2008 Vauxhall Vivaro Combi SWB

2008 VDL Futura FHD 127.365

2010 VDL Futura FHD 127.365PR

Volkswagen Crafter

Used previously on a school contract, in very good condition and is ready to work, all seats can be removed if required, or with the rear seats in situ, 8 passengers can be carried in a degree of comfort.

53 reclining seats, 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.

53 reclining seats, seatback tables, courier seat, plug door, double glazing, air con, radio/AP/CD audio, DVD & monitors, centre sunken toilet, water boiler, fridge, continental exit, Webasto, reverse camera, cruise control, digitacho, retarder.

£6,495 + VAT

£POA

£POA

Silver metallic, 9 seats, standard cab, LWB, just one previous owner, electric windows, air conditioning, side loading door, tinted glass, large storage area to the rear, warranted miles, 3 month/3,000 mile warranty, new service and MOT. Choice of 3.

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

WVC – 01784 256255

Volkswagen T5 Bluebird

2009 Bluebird Tucana

2005 Volkswagen

Accessible minibus with COIF and tacho, direct from council, 80,000 miles, Class 5 or PSV MOT.

12 seats (plus driver) removable for access to wheelchair points, 2 owners from new, automatic, double side entrance, full height rear doors, side and rear ramps, lowering rear suspension, tacho, climate control, alloys, Cant tracking, rear storage.

Low floor disabled access vehicle, suitable for wheelchairbound and able bodied passengers.

£7,995 + VAT

£17,995 + VAT

58 reg Volkswagen Crafter x2

White, 2461cc, auto gearbox, wheelchair accessible, underfloor tail-lifts, FSH, long MOTs.

£13,995 + VAT

Chiltern Travel 07768 215058 tboorman@outlook.com

£13,500

£6,000 – 2 AVAILABLE

Lakelands Hospice 01536 747755

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

Steve Hayes – 0161 946 9255 steve.hayes@manct.org

2011Volkswagen Crafter CR50 TDI L Maxi H-R

2013 Volkswagen Transporter

2004 Volvo B12B

1998 Volvo VanHool B10M

16 passengers and all of their luggage, this vehicle is specified with front entry, luggage racks with blown air and reading lights, show curtains and large boot area.

£28,495 + VAT

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

Manual, new MOT, TV & DVD, air conditioning & Webasto,48 seats, rear floor mounted toilet, immaculate condition.

8 seats, manual gearbox, air conditioning, 3 point inertia seat belts, plain silver with no previous livery.

49 seats, air-con, long or new MOT, v.g.c., not ex-National Express.

£21,500

£39,500 + VAT

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

Peakes Coaches – 07773 793239

£20,000 o.n.o. + VAT

Tryers Coaches 01257 480979 sales@tyrerscoaches.co.uk

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www.coachandbusweek.com 1998 Volvo B10M Enigma

VEHICLES 1998 Volvo B10L/ Alexander Ultra

2001 Volvo B10M Berkhof Axial

2000/2001 X/Y Reg Volvo B7TLs

50 reclining seats, TV/DVD, PA, fridge, hot drinks servery, air con, Webasto, alloys. Last one remaining.

49 recliner seats with retractable belts, DVD + monitor, centre toilet and door, Volvo engine, ZF gearbox, test until August 2015.

43 seats (39 belted), ZF auto, other seat-belted Volvo service buses available due to fleet upgrade.

£12,500 + VAT o.n.o.

£9,500 + VAT

£23,750 + VAT

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

07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com

Call 01691 780212 or visit www.tanat.co.uk

Snowcoach Holidays 01727 866177 / 07831 612125

EnsignBus – 01708 865656

1998 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premiere 350

White, MOT expires 05.06.15, well maintained, 49 seats, great condition, original Wallace Arnold interior.

Cherished number plate will be retained by us.

Volvo B12B Sleeper

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.

FROM £20,000 + VAT

2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere Euro 3

2008 Volvo B7

48 x 3 point belted seats + crew, air con, saloon mounted WC, rear continental door, MOT November 2014.

Euro 5, 43 seats, 30 standing, DDA, RPC, Esteem bodied buses. Choice of 4.

£11,995 + VAT o.n.o.

£19,500 + VAT

Tel: 01326 378100 Email: office@otsfalmouth.co.uk

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

£POA – NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED

Nigel McCree - 07817 542113

Heritage Coaches Tel Russell – 01403 711238

2008 Volvo B7RLE/ Plaxton Centro

1999 Volvo B7R Plaxton Prima

1999 Volvo B6BLE/ Wrights Crusader

2011 Volvo B9R Plaxton Panther

37 seats (recent refurb), ZF auto, MOT until April 2015.

Available due to fleet upgrade. Destination blind not included in sale.

Automatic, 12.8m, 61 seats + courier + driver, power entrance door, 3 point belts, leather headrests + piping, rear continental door, radio P/A, CD player and air con, LEZ compliant, MOT Sept,157,519km.

45 seats (42 belted), ZF auto, 2 available, 1 MOT’d until Dec 15, 1 MOT’d until Feb 16.

Available due to fleet upgrade.

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.

£78,500 + VAT

£55,000 + VAT

£25,000 + VAT

£9,500 + VAT

£POA

Call 01691 780212 or visit www.tanat.co.uk

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

Call 01691 780212 or visit www.tanat.co.uk

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

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

1994 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 350

Volvo B12B Plaxton Paragon - I-Shift Gearbox 2007 (Euro IV): 5 x 49/53 seats £69,000 + VAT 2008 (Euro V): 4 x 49/53 seats £84,000 + VAT

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

49 reclining seats, lap retractable belts, toilet, ZF auto, tachograph, power door, aisle carpet, radio/ CD, air con, newly retrimmed seats, repainted white.

CHOICE OF 2 – £9,000 + VAT

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

1997 Volvo B12R Jonckheere Monaco

71 reclining seats including lap belts, courier seat, powered centre entrance door, air con, radio/PA/cassette, DVD and monitors, toilet, servery unit, fridge, Telma retarder, cruise control.

To view contact Neil McMurdy - Alfa Travel on 01257 248003 (Direct Line)

2005 Jonckheere Mistral Volvo B12B

13 metre, 53 retrimmed seats with 3 point belts and centre toilet, air con, will be supplied with new MOT.

£47,500 + VAT

Chiltern Travel 07768 215058 tboorman@outlook.com

Volvo B10M

Volvo B10M

Volvo B10M

53 seats, several M reg coaches available.

55 seats, two available.

57 seats.

£POA

£POA

£POA

£POA

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

Volvo B7 Optare Esteem

2006 Volvo B12M Berkoff

1993 Volvo B10M VanHool

Volvo B10M Jonkheere

51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, auto, LEZ, MOT 12/11/15, excellent condition.

70 seats, 3 point height adjustable seat belts, CCTV.

53 seats with lap belts.

NOW £57,000 + VAT

£15,000

£8,000

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

Smith & Sons – 01828 626262 info@smithandsonscoaches.co.uk

Smith & Sons – 01828 626262 info@smithandsonscoaches.co.uk

Euro 5 – RPC, 43 seats, 30 standing, fully DDA compliant, choice of 4 available – would do a bulk deal.

£78,500 & VAT

Round & About – 01293 852032

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Ensig DOUBLE DECK 2002 52 PLATE SUPER POINTER DARTS

2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814 32 seats with 3 point belts, manual, LEZ compliant, rear wheelchair lift, very low mileage, COIF, long MOT.

42 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins ISB engines, Voith gearboxes.

1994 SCANIA K113 Manual, 51 seats, retrimmed, MOT July.

2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENT

2004 54 PLATE DAF SB120s Cummins ISB engines, Allison gearboxes, Wrights body, 30 seats, dual door, Hanover LED’s, DDA compliant, £9,000.

2001 Y & 51 PLATE VOLVO B7TLs

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

Volvo Euro 3 engines, Voith gearboxes, 80 seats non DDA or 76 seats DDA, LEZ compliant.

2001 MINI POINTER DART

2004 54 PLATE OPTARE SOLO

8.8m, 29 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.

2001 51 PLATE DENNIS DART SLF

Mercedes engine, M920, 33 seats Hanover destination, DDA compliant.

2002 DENNIS DARTS

Cummins B series, Allison gearbox, Plaxton body, 10.7m, 37 seats, DDA compliant, Hanover LED’s.

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

1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

2002 52 PLATE DENNIS DART SLF

Alexander ALX400 bodies, Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, 80 seats.

Cummins ISB engine, Allison gearbox, Plaxton Pointer body, 10.7m, 37 seats, Hanover LEDs, new MOT.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 8 Visit our website for current s

704845-1181-Ensign.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 14:15 Page 2

nbus

K ER SPECIALIST 2005 54 PLATE DENNIS DART SLFs

1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 75 seats.

Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Allison gearboxes, Plaxton Pointer bodies, 37 seats.

1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, ZF gearbox, East Lancs bodies, 74 seats, long MOT’s

1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENT Cummins C series / Voith gearbox, East Lancs convertible open top, 78 seats.

2007 ENVIRO 200 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.

2001 & 2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS 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.

2000 X REG VOLVO B7TLs Euro 2, LEZ compliant, Plaxton President , CCTV, dual door 62 seats or single door 74 seats. £9,000 + VAT

1998 S REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN Volvo Euro 2 engines, 76 seats, ZF gearboxes, part open top.

2001 Y REG TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats. £18,000 + VAT

2005 55 PLATE DAF SB4000s

2002 MINI POINTER DART

ZF automatics, LEZ compliant, Van Hool Alizee, 12.4m long, front lift, air con, DDA compliant, Hanover LEDs, 55 seats.

Cummins ISB engines, Allison gearboxes, 8.8m long, 29 seats, DDA compliant.

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

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72 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

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

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1997 Volvo Olympian

1999 Dennis Dart SLF

2001 Mercedes 814D

Volvo engine, Alexander body, 78 seats and 16 standees, Hanover equipment front side and rear, MOT June 2015

33 seats with 19 standing and various combinations including wheelchair space, Hanover destination front side and rear, manual wheelchair ramp, fully DDA compliant with accessibility certificate, choice of 5, MOT May and July.

27 seats with 3-point belts, LEZ compliant, manual, MOT April 2016.

£5,995 + VAT

£6,250 + VAT

£14,950 + VAT

2003 Scania Irizar Inter Century Retrimmed and repainted, LEZ compliant, 53 seats, automatic, MOT November 2015.

£43,000 + VAT

2003 Scania Irizar Inter Century

2002 Renault Master

2002 Mercedes 814D Vario Beaver 2

Retrimmed and repainted, LEZ compliant, 53 seats, automatic, MOT December 2015.

Rohill Harrier body, 16 seats or 8 seats and 2 wheelchairs, ramp at front power doors, MOT Oct 2015.

Owned from new, 33 highback coach seats, three point seats belts, Hanover destination, manual, luggage racks, boot, power door, LEZ compliant, MOT Dec 15.

£43,000 + VAT

£2,750 + VAT

£14,950 + VAT

Chalkwell Garage & Coach Hire

Tel: 01795 423982 Email andy.bates@chalkwell.co.uk

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BEN 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 £ 23,995 + VAT

PSV

2000 09 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 BLUEBIRD TUCANA 21 SEAT WELFARE BUS Bluebird Tucana conversion, 2.5 TDI, blue, automatic gearbox, digital tachograph, COIF, air conditioning, PSV, fold out rear wheelchair ramp, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, electric front entry door, LEZ compliant, 141,000 kilometers/88,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour £ 18,995 + 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, 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

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 £ 16,495 + VAT

PSV

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 £ 13,495 + VAT

PSV

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 £ 12,495 + VAT

PSV

2007 57 PLATE IVECO DAILY 45C15 9-16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, white, digital tachograph, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access under floor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 5 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 12 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 15 passenger seats, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex charity owned, 106,000 kilometers/65,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 11,995 + VAT

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 £ 13,295 + 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 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

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 £ 13,295 + VAT

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

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

2008 57 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 17 SEAT AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc TD, automatic, white, COIF for 15 passengers, digital tacho, PSV, electric side entry plug door with fold out step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, currently fitted with 9 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 16 passenger seats, electric windows, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 110,000 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

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 £ 10,995 + VAT

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 £ 10,495 + VAT

PSV

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 £ 9,995 + VAT

BEN WEAVER commercIals

2006 55 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 16 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH COIF TACHOGRAPH AND PSV Bluebird Tucana conversion, 2.5 TDI, white, automatic, COIF for 15 passenger seats or 5 wheelchairs plus 2 seated, PSV, analogue tacho, air con, gross vehicle weight 3800 kgs so can be driven without a D1 licence, fold out rear wheelchair ramp, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, electric front entry, LEZ compliant, 1 ex local authority owner, 81,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,495 + VAT

PSV

2005 55 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WELFARE FRONT ENTRY MINIBUS 2.5 TDI White, 5 speed manual gearbox, analogue tachograph, manual front entry plug door, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, 3 foldaway seats, currently fitted with 8 passenger seats bus 7 more can be added to make into a 15 passengers seat bus, 1 ex local authority owner, LEZ compliant, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,495 NO VAT

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 £ 8,495 + VAT

Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076

www.minibuses.co

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N WEAVER 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

2006 55 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER T5 16 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH COIF, TACHOGRAPH AND PSV Bluebird Tucana conversion, 2.5 TDI, COIF for 15 passenger seats or 5 wheelchairs plus 2 seated, PSV, tacho, air con, gross vehicle weight of 3800 kgs so can be driven without a D1 licence,rear wheelchair ramp, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, electric front entry, LEZ compliant, 166,000 miles, fitted with 7 passenger seats but 8 more can be added, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour £ 8,495 + VAT

PSV

2008 57 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 15 SEAT MINIBUS WITH COIF TACHOGRAPH AND PSV 2.4 turbo diesel, frozen white, digital tachograph, COIF for 14 passengers, PSV, electric windows, remote central locking, CD player, galvanized luggage roof rack, 71,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,295 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 16 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 15 passengers, PSV, analogue tachograph, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry doo,r 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 100,000 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 + VAT

PSV

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 £ 5,995 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 40C13 15 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2.8 turbo diesel 6 speed manual gearbox, white, panoramic glass, front entry door, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 166,000 kilometers 103,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,695 + 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 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

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 £ 6,795 + VAT

PSV

2005 55 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 45C13 13 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, electric front entry plug door with low access step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 4 wheelchairs, 189,000 kilometers/118,000 miles excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,795 + VAT

PSV

2004 04 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 15 passengers, PSV, analogue tachograph, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry door, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant ,79,000 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 + 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 £ 5,995 + VAT

PSV

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 £ 5,295 + 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. £ 6,595 NO VAT

PSV

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 £ 6,295 +VAT

PSV

2003 03 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 12-24 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 12 passenger seats plus drivers companion 10 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF for 22 passengers, PSV, 1 local authority owner from new, 215,000 kilometers/134,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,795 + 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 £ 6,495 + VAT

PSV

2004 53 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 p,s 5 speed manual gearbox, UV Modular conversion, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 12 passengers, PSV, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, electric plug front entry door, 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 133,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,295 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White, 2.4 125ps turbo diesel, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 10 passengers and 2 wheelchairs, PSV, Ratcliffe internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 82,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV/MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,795 + 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 £ 4,395 + VAT

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

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 45C13 11 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LONG WHEEL BASE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel white, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, LEZ compliant, currently fitted with 11 seats but can be made upto 17, 200000 kilometers, 124000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warrantry £ 4,095 + VAT

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78 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

www.coachandbusweek.com

707166-1179-Eurotaxis FP.qxp 09/03/2015 12:45 Page 1

07970 096 262 2005 Volvo B12M VanHool Alizee T9

D L O

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

£17,995

S 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.

£27,995

£27,995

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.

£45,995

£32,995

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.

£25,995

£42,995

www.eurotaxis.com

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706682-1181-Connaught.qxp_Layout 1 23/03/2015 10:58 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.

D L O

S 2011 Mercedes 516 CDi Sprinter Auto 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, curtains, large boot.

2010 Mercedes 516 CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.

Last available for March delivery - Brand New Mercedes 516 CDi coach-built Ferqui Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, curtains, power door, large boot, metallic paint.

D L O

S

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 2009 Mercedes 515 CDi coach-built Ferqui Soroco 16 high back seats. 3 point belts, AC, DG, curtains, power door, large boot.

2008 Iveco 40C12 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, drop step, coach back end.

2007 57 Reg Mercedes Soroco 16 high back leather trimmed seats, 3 point belts, AC,DG, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

2005 Mercedes Benz 413 CDi Sprinter 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, drop step and boot.

1999 S Reg Mercedes 814 Plaxton Beaver 33 seats, 3 point belts, power door, manual gearbox, new test.

D L O

S

2006 56 Reg Mercedes 413CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, curtains, power door & large boot.

Steve Peach Tel: 01405 814064 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: info@connaughtpsv.co.uk Web: www.connaughtpsv.co.uk

p82_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 16:29 Page 82

Nigel McCree 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,

WANTED: MERCEDES COACHES

2005 Optare Solo M780SL • Merc power • 21 belted seats (3pt) • 16 Standees.

• Wheelchair floor tracking to take more than 1 wheelchair • MOT 02-05-2015

£26,000 + VAT ovno 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

ready to go staight to work.

1999 to present year, 16 to 35 seats, finance £14750 settled, with or without MOT, accident damage, etc. – IMMEDIATE DECISION

Call Tim 01404 47502 or 07790 966667 Email: parnell-coaches@supanet.com

2004 Volvo B12B • 49 seats • Air-con • Long or new MOT, • v.g.c., not ex-National Express

£39,500 + VAT

2001 Alexander • 37 seated • New MOT • DDA

£5,500 + VAT

Tel: 01495 740184 Mobile: 07773 793239 82 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

www.coachandbusweek.com

701915-1181-DrewWilson.qxp 23/03/2015 11:28 Page 1

DREW WILSON coach sales

1993 DAF SB3000 VAN HOOL zf auto, 51 seats, COIf for 55 seats, boiler, curtains, toilet, aisle carpet, all new stretch panels and paint, box sections replaced, recent re trim, excellent condition. £9,000 + VAT

2001 AYATS BRAVO Double decker, toilet, air conditioning, servery, DVD, fridge, 75 seater.

2000 DENNIS JAVELIN CAETANO ENIGMA 53 seats, lap retractable belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air heating, curtains, manual. £12,000 + VAT

£47,000 + VAT

2000 MERCEDES VARIO 814D PLAXTON BEAVER 2 33 moquette seats, seatbelts, automatic, power door, new MOT, 140,182kms, very good condition. £9,000 + VAT

2004 VOLVO B12M PLAXTON PANTHER 55 reclining seats + crew seat, 3 point belts, curtains, aisle carpet, forced air heating, reading lights, luggage racks, manual., power door, re-trimmed seats. £43,500 + VAT

2002 IVECO MAXIM 29 coach seats, lap retractable belts, crew seat, power door, manual gearbox, forced air, reading lights, curtains, radio cassette. £15,000 + VAT

1997 SCANIA IRIZAR CENTURY 51 reclining seats, toilet, lap retractable belts, crew seat, comfort shift, double glazing, tinted windows, power door, air con, new paint and MOT, tidy condition, 199,039kms. £7,500 + 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. £37,000 + VAT

2000 MERCEDES HISPANO

49 seats, semi automatic, lap retractable belts, centre toilet, forced air heating, reading lights, TV monitor. £19,950 + VAT

1995 VOLVO B10M CAETANO ALGARVE II 70 seats, 3 point belts, manual gearbox, lap retractable seatbelts, luggage racks, floor vents, reading lights, radio/CD, new MOT. £19,000 + VAT

1999 MERCEDES BEAVER 2 31 bus seats, lap belts, luggage holder, manual, power door.

1996 DENNIS JAVELIN BERKHOFF MOT April 2015, 53 seater, air conditioned. £10,000 + VAT

1999 IVECO BEULAS STERGO E

51 recliners with belts, crew seat, luggage racks with reading lights, power door, manual gea box, rear floor mounted toilet, long MOT, 840,000 kms. £13,000 + VAT

POA

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, PX considered. £32,000 + VAT

1995 VOLVO B9M VAN HOOL ALIZE 38 reclining seats, rear floor mounted toilet, manual, double glazed, tinted windows, power door. New MOT, rear servery, air conditioning, new paint. £10,000 + 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. £3,500 + VAT

2002 TOYOTA OPTIMO 23 reclining seats, power door, analogue tacho, radio/cassette, luggage racks, forced air heating, reading lights, MOT’d. £9,500 + VAT

2002 MERCEDES VARIO 614D Onyx conversion, 24 coach seats, 3 point seatbelts, luggage racks, forced air, reading lights, manual, rear dropwell boot, tacho, power door, tidy condition. £10,500 + 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

p84_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 16:31 Page 84

Heathrow based commercial vehicle superstore Up to 50 buses always in stock – prices start from £4,995 Contact: 01784 256 255 www.wheelsvancentres.co.uk

VAUXHALL MOVANO MWB 2.3 9 seats, wheelchair lift, one owner £21,995

10 reg VW CRAFTER CR50 5T 2.5 TDI 16 seat, wheelchair lift, 54,000 miles £22,950

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 15 seat, wheelchair ramp, 103,000 miles £19,995

CHO

ICE

20

OF

MERCEDES-BENZ ATEGO 1523L Mobile library, one council owner from new £11,995

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 413 CDI 17 seat, air conditioning, semi-auto £19,995

FORD TRANSIT 17 seaters – choice of 20 From £7,995

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.

DENNIS TRIDENT PLAXTON PRESIDENT

£POA

£POA

ALL OVER WHITE • AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY PICTURES AVAILABLE

Talisman coach lines 84 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

New white paint, 76 belted high back seats, tacho, new tyres, MOT Oct 2015, low floor, DDA, electric wheelchair ramp. £POA

01206 252472 www.coachandbusweek.com

EASTWOODS COMMERCIAL MOTORS LTD 229-241 Tyburn Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B24 8NB •¨Telephone: 0121 328 5959 • Fax: 0121 327 3800

REDUCED TO £59,750 + VAT

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.

55 reg Volvo Plaxton

707334-1182-Eastwoods.qxp 23/03/2015 14:17 Page 1

p86_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 15:05 Page 86

NEW/UNREGISTERED ALTAS TOURLINE MERCEDES SPRINTER 519 CDI – £69,000 Bluetec Euro 6, 3.0ltr/190PS engine, 7 speed fully auto gearbox, silver metallic paint, MB Bus package, Air Suspension drivers seat, cruise control, speed limited, digital tachograph, electric front windows, electric mirrors, central locking, Blaupunkt multimedia system (digital radio/dvd/usb/satnav/reverse camera/bluetooth), microphone (wireless), hi-vis front windscreen with electric sun visor, electric power door with heated glass, low step entry with grab rails for ease of access, full panoramic double glazed tinted windows, full drawn curtains, 16 m2 innova full leather reclining seats with side shift and arm rests, 2 (1x double, 1x single) mahogany trimmed tables with cup holders, 4 12volt computer power points, 1 usb power point, full size fridge with storage drawer and drink glassware cupboard, one rear fixed dvd screen and one remote powered front dvd screen, luggage racks complete with reading lights and speakers, 11.5 kw alex air con system giving saloon ambient distribution, temperature control twin full convector heaters, dropwell boot, reversing camera, night silent reverse alarm, tow bar and electrics. WHOLE EUROPEAN TYPE APPROVAL.

Tel: 01495 757111 Mob: 07850 739446 (Haydn) or visit our website www.minibussales.biz to view the above stock

06 (06) VOLKSWAGEN LT46 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 16 SEAT INC DRIVER 56K MILES U/F LIFT COIF/PSV £16,995 + VAT

2012 (12) NISSAN PRIMASTAR SE 9 SEAT SEMI AUTO MINIBUS LWB 64,000 MILES P.O.A

08 (08) IVECO IRISBUS 50C15 17 SEATS INC DRIVER WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE UNDERFLOOR LIFT SUIT 5/6 WHEELCHAIRS 90K MILES ELECTRIC PLUG DOOR £16,995 + VAT

09 (59) MERCEDES SPRINTER 513 CDI 17 SEATS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE DESTINATION BOARD U/F LIFT 80K MILES £27,995 + VAT

07 (07) IVECO 40C15 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 9 SEATS INC DRIVER U/F LIFT £9,500 + VAT

(06) VW LT35 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 16 SEATS INC DRIVER INBOARD LIFT 85K MILES COIF/PSV CHOICE OF 2 £16,995 + VAT

NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 519CDI • ALTAS CONVERSION • 17 SEAT MINICOACH • DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS • FULL AIR CONDITIONING • POWER DOOR LOW ENTRY STEP

P.O.A. (PONTYPOOL) LTD

2006 (06) MERCEDES SPRINTER TREKA 17 SEAT W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE 74000 MILES COIF/PSV FITS 6 W/CHAIRS £17,995 + VAT

2005 (05) MERCEDES SPRINTER 416 CDI SPRINTSHIFT 17 SEAT INC DRIVER BOOT LUGGAGE RACKS COIF/PSV £15,995 + VAT

2011 (61) FORD TOURNEO 9 SEAT MINIBUS 49,350 MILES WHITE £15,350 + VAT

MULTIPART & LDV/MAXUS PARTS STOCKISTS

Tel: 01495 757111 Mob: 07850 739446 (Haydn) or visit our website www.minibussales.biz to view the above stock 86 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

www.coachandbusweek.com

707226-1181-Moseley South.qxp 23/03/2015 09:30 Page 1

BUS & COACH

IN THE SOUTH LTD.

Available from April/May 2015

The all new Iveco Euro 6 Sitcar Voyager 8 mtr Luxury Mini Coach 25 reclining seats, vourier seat, powered entrance door, double glazed side windows, curtains, AIR CONDITIONING, audio equipment, large boot and side lockers, manual transmission, retarder.

2010 SCANIA K360 OMNI EXPRESS AUTOMATIC & EURO EEV EMISSION LEVEL • 51 Reclining seats • 3 point seat belts • Seat back tables • Individual footrests • Courier seat • Rear floor mtd toilet • Continental exit • Powered door • Radio P/A CD audio

• DVD & monitor • Fridge & boiler • Double glazing • AIR CONDITIONING • Reverse camera • Alloy wheels • Retarder • Digital tacho

2006 VOLVO B12BT BERKHOP AXIAL 100 ‘I’ SHIFT - EURO 4 PM • 72 Reclining seats • Lap belts • Seat back tables • Courier seat • Powered door • Crew door • Double glazed • AIR CONDITIONING • Radio/PA/CD • DVD & monitors • Toilet compartment

• Servery with fridge • Hot & cold water • Blaupunkt sat-nav • Ski box • Drivers bunk • Alloy wheels • Luggage racks • Integral retarder • Cruise control • Digital tachograph • Eminox exhaust

Summerfield Avenue, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JF

2008 IVECO BEULAS CYGNUS AUTOMATIC & EURO 4 & W/CHAIR ACCESS • 53 Reclining seats • 3 point seat belts • Courier seat • Power plug door • Double ºglazing • Air conditioning, • Radio/CD/PA • DVD & monitor

• Dash mounted fridge • WHEELCHAIR LIFT N/S (seating reduced to 49) • Rear continental exit with powered door • Retarder • Digital tachograph

TOYOTA CAETANO OPTIMO V EURO 5 – LOW MILEAGE • 22 Reclining seats • 3 point seatbelts • Leather headrests • Footrests • Magazine nets • Drivers door

• Double glazing • AIR CONDITIONING • Reverse camera • Radio/PA/CD audio • Euroliner wheel trims • Digital tacho

www.moseleysouth.co.uk @MoseleySouth

/moseley south

2008 VDL BOVA FUTURA FHD 127.365PR AUTOMATIC – EURO 5 • 53 Reclining seats • Leather headrests • Courier seat • Double glazing • AIR CONDITIONING • Centre sunken toilet • Continental exit • Water boiler & fridge situated at toilet top

• Audio & DVD • Twin monitors • Reverse camera • Digital tacho • Retarder • Cruise Control • Auto transmissION • Retarder • Digital tacho

1998 DENNIS JAVELIN BERKHOF RADIAL L.E.Z COMPLIANT • 53 Reclining seats • Courier seat • Plug entrance door • Double glazing

• Audio equipment • Manual transmission • Dinex CRT exhaust system

Telephone (01823) 653000 Fax: (01823) 663502 Email: sales@moseleysouth.co.uk

p88_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:07 Page 88

BUILDINGS

CHECKPOINTS

CLOTHING

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

Stock supported range of shirts, suiting, softshells, fleeces, PPE, outwear and footwear Next day delivery available on stock items

sales@uniformexpress.co.uk www.uniformexpress.co.uk 01295 709774

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime

CLEANING

ENGINES VEHICLE APPEARANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

VAMP TRUCK VAN & BUS WASHING

Bus & Coach Washing/Valeting G MOT Chassis Washing G Based at Heathrow & Purfleet

G

Gary – 07967 178914 Karen – 07891 787559 www.truckandbuswashing.co.uk

88 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015

E & E Potts Ltd

DIESEL ENGINE RECONDITIONER

Specialists in Cummins, Perkins, Caterpillar, Mercedes Commercial, Volvo, MAN, DAF, Scania.

With over 50 years in the Engine business, E&E Potts are renowned for the efficiency of our Engines. Our Engineers have over 80 years of combined Diesel Engine building experience.

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 www.coachandbusweek.com

p89_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:09 Page 89

www.coachandbusmarket.com

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ENGINES

CRAIG TILSLEY Suppliers of Reconditioned Tel: 01782 791524 or 01782 791527 Fax: 01782 791316

Email: info@craigtilsley.co.uk www.craigtilsley.co.uk

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

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

EXHAUSTS

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

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

HEATING

THE CUMMINS ENGINE SPECIALISTS PARTS & SERVICE DIVISION

D.I.E.S.E.L. LIMITED OFFER A VAST RANGE OF SERVICES FOR ALL TYPES OF CUMMINS ENGINES FREE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT FULL OR 3/4 BUILT RECON ENGINES COMPETITIVE & COST EFFECTIVE SERVICE REPAIRS FIXED PRICE ENGINE REPAIRS/OVERHAULS COMPREHENSIVE PARTS STOCK – NEW AND USED ON SITE REPAIRS FULL ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS CONTACT US TODAY FOR ALL YOUR CUMMINS REQUIREMENTS TELEPHONE UK: 01708 859625 FAX UK: 01708 857630 EMAIL: SALES@DIESEL.UK.COM

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

Heaters • A/C Equipment Blowers • Motors Radiators • Silicone Hose Ducting • Wiper Equipment Gas Struts

Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920 Email: sales@thhs.co.uk

Caroline Hallam T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com

www.thhs.co.uk UNIT 9 NIMROD BUSINESS PARK DE HAVILLAND WAY, WITNEY OX29 0YG

PARTS

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: - 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

www.coachandbusweek.com

Formed in 2011 to support the UK’s PSV & CV operators with parts from Market leading OEM brands from World Wide renowned manufacturers

We offer a comprehensive all makes parts program in:

Braking • Steering • Suspension Chassis Components • Transmission Filtration • Engine • Electrical Lubricants • Consumables EXPRESS PARTS DELIVERY

Master Part | Portland House | Dukeries Industrial Estate | Worksop | Notts | S81 7BQ

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 89

p90_CBW_1181.qxp 23/03/2015 14:12 Page 90

Call Caroline Hallam Tel: 01733 293488 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com

CLASSIFIEDS

TRAINING

TACHOGRAPH ANALYSIS

Digital and analogue tachograph analysis If you would like further information please call 01543 897505

Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk

Caroline Hallam T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com

TRIM Tel/Fax:

TRAINING

astgate COACH TRIMMERS LTD

01751 472229

Email: info@eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk Web: www.eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk

Supplying the Bus and Coach Industry with quality seat retrims and interior refurbishment.

Full floors re-laid and centre gangways.

Collection and delivery service anywhere in the UK, seven days a week.

TRANSMISSIONS

Shelley Transmission Services Limited Eagle Street, off Bilston Road Wolverhampton, WV2 2AQ Tel: 01902 351178 Fax: 01902 352545

WHY GO ANYWHERE ELSE?

We have everything here – for free quotes at compe ve prices – service exchange or cost of repair.

You can be assured of professional advice

NO JOB TOO SMALL!

We can collect and deliver na onwide

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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

Bus take on solar eclipse

1

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The Bus & Coach Wales rally and running day on Sunday, September 13

2015

reading-buses.co.uk

■ March 25-27 Busworld Asia Suzhou International Expo Centre, China. www.busworld-asia.com

The eclipse seen in the window of a Plaxton Beaver – but all is not as it seems...

As we in the CBW office took a momentary break from our desks on Friday morning to safely observe the moon moving in front of the sun, our thoughts for this page turned to something industry-related.

We could have put a humorous piece together on certain Wrightbus models – like the Eclipse Urban, Eclipse Gemini and the Solar, but we resisted. We then spotted First Hampshire’s commendable efforts with its ‘Eclipse’ – the distinctive purple-liveried Wrightbus Volvos used on its Gosport – Fareham service. It posted on the firm’s Facebook page: “For those of you who missed the Eclipse earlier this morning, here’s one of ours which you can see every day

around Fareham and Gosport!”

Far more suitable for this page we felt was the efforts of Cornish independent OTS of Falmouth.

Craig George, Operations Manager at OTS, who took this photo, told CBW: “Company Astrophysicists Paddy Williamson and I spent hours devising this almost safe way to watch the solar eclipse – parking two vehicles side by side to watch a second hand reflection in the glass. Or we just chanced upon it. Who knows? Don’t try this at home kids...”

As one commentator on OTS’ Facebook page rightly observed: “It was a great idea I must admit, and most importantly, it was safe!”

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPDATE Q: Any comments on ITV’s fly on the wall documentary with Arriva London’s driving school? Is it good for our industry?

FACEBOOK Ross Landsburgh I think it good. Can’t wait for this Thursday night’s episode.

TWITTER Travel Red @travel_red Difficult to say, but anything that increases the profile of what a difficult job it is doesn’t harm, portrayed correctly...

Adam Kelleher @adamxxxx4 It’s good to see buses on London

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streets, but it’s a copy of the 2005 LG/ LC prog. And that arrogant, unstable driver (shown at the end after passing) should be sacked, a danger on the road.

Q: It would seem the video we shared here yesterday of the arsonist has been taken down owing to the suspect’s age…

FACEBOOK Daryl Major I don’t think it should matter, about his age. He is still a criminal at the end of the day.

Elaine Groundwell Would he have handed himself in if his face hadn’t been posted all over social media? If he had no conscience when he lit the paper, I guess that would be a big fat NO!

■ 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 ■ April 18-19 UK Coach Rally Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire 01753 631170. www.ukcoachrally.co.uk ■ April 19 Spring Bus and Coach Gathering (formerly Cobham Rally). London Bus Museum. 01932 837994 ■ April 23 UK Coach Awards Mercure Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester. www.ukcoachawards. co.uk ■ April 26 Keighley double depot open day Transdev Keighley Depot and Keighley Bus Museum. www. keighleybus.co.uk www.kbmt.org. uk ■ April 26 Delaine Buses Heritage Running Day 01778 422866. www.delainebuses.

com.

■ May 2-4 Llandudno Transport Festival Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales. info@llantransfest. co.uk; www.llantransfest.co.uk ■ May 3-4 Friends of King Alfred Buses Running Day Winchester www.fokab.org.uk ■ May 11-13 ALBUM AGM & Conference Carden Park Hotel, near Chester www. albumconference2015.com

■ June 14 Wilts & Dorset Centenary Event, Guildhall Square, Salisbury www.salisburyreds.co.uk/ service-updates/wilts-dorsetcentenary-celebrations/ ■ 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 ■ 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 ■ August 23 Buses Festival Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon.

01780 755131 www.busesfestival. com ■ September 5-6 UK Bus Driver of the Year National Final Blackpool.

www.bdoy.co.uk

■ September 9-10 Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire www.

cenex-lcv.co.uk

■ September 13 Bus & Coach Wales rally & running day at Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, organised by the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group http://ctpg.co.uk/ ■ September 30-October 1 Coach & Bus Live 2015 Halls 19 & 20, NEC, Birmingham www. coachandbuslive.com ■ October 4 Bluebell Railway Vintage Bus Day www.bluebellrailway.com

■ June 7 Southdown Centenary Rally Southsea Common www.southdown100.co.uk

■ October 16-21 Busworld Kortrijk Kortrijk, Belgium http:// kortrijk.busworld.org

■ June 14 Reading Buses Annual Open Day Great Knollys Street, Reading. 0118 959 4000. www.

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

March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 91 23/03/2015 18:59

M O C .

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To view these and more of latest industry jobs visit www.coachandbusjobs.com

FULL LISTINGS ONLINE

Optare appoints aftermarket director Graham Belgum has joined Optare as Business Process Excellence and Aftermarket Director.

Graham is a chartered engineer with 30 years’ experience in the design, development (including product improvement) and operational support of vehicles, complex military systems and ships.

For the majority of the last decade Graham has worked in the bus industry leading operators through transformation and improvement.

Enrico Vassallo, Optare CEO, said: “I am delighted to welcome Graham to Optare. He brings with him a wealth of

experience in delivering improvements in efficiency and customer service.

“Graham will be invaluable in driving Optare’s programme of continuous improvement which aims to put our customers at the heart of everything we do.”

Graham Belgum added: “I am thrilled to be working with the team at Optare to implement a programme that will enable the business to deliver right first time, on time products to customers, whilst simultaneously address customer reported product concerns and bring new or improved products to the market.”

92 | COACH & BUS WEEK | March 24, 2015 092_095_CBW1181_People_Recruitment.indd 92

Graham Belgum has 30 years experience in the design, development and operational support of vehicles www.coachandbusweek.com

23/03/2015 18:11

More jobs available online – see our website

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March 24, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 93 23/03/2015 18:11

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

New Volvo sales team appointment Volvo Bus has bolstered its retail bus and coach sales team with the appointment of Bob McGarry as Retail Sales Manager for the North East of England, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Midlands.

Bob has an established presence in the region, having worked for Evobus for three years.

James Hyde, Retail Sales Director for Volvo Bus, said: “Bob’s track record made him the ideal candidate for this role and we very much welcome him to the Volvo Bus UK and Ireland retail sales team. He has a wealth of industry expertise and is already established as a key contact with many of the operators in the area.”

Bob McGarry added: “I have always been involved in products with wheels and I am delighted to be joining such a great team here at Volvo Bus. They have already made me feel very welcome.

“This is a natural progression in my career as Volvo is the market leader in

GET YOUR VACANCY SEEN

BY QUALITY CANDIDATES

Bob McGarry, Volvo Retail Sales Manager, North East of England, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Midlands. the coach and bus sector. The products and services we provide are second to none and I look forward to building client relationships and growing Volvo’s market share even further within the region.”

Bob’s career started in the contract hire and rental sector and he later moved into selling municipal vehicles.

He has been working specifically in the coach and bus industry for the last five years.

Bob McGarry can be contacted at bob.mcgarry@volvo.com or on 07831 572 449.

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ONLINE

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TWITTER

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

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More jobs available online – see our website

First Manchester launches driver apprenticeships at Bolton college Bolton College, in partnership with First Manchester, has announced an apprenticeship scheme which will see non-drivers equipped with the customer service skills needed to ultimately become qualified First bus drivers.

The aim of the scheme is for First Manchester to develop experienced and knowledgeable drivers who have a focus on customer service.

Within the space of one year the apprentices will gain an NVQ Level 2 in customer services, together with their driving licence, before commencing their PSV training.

Once the apprentices have passed their NVQ training, they will be ready to embark on the driver training programme.

Tracy Green, First Manchester’s Head of HR, said: “This Apprenticeship

scheme with Bolton College will give a number of young people a fantastic start to their career with First and ensure our customers remain at the heart of our business. I’ve also been very impressed with the team and the mentors who are demonstrating great commitment in delivering this scheme.

“We’re proud to work with our partners in the local community and we look forward to using this pilot as a platform to support our local communities and help First continue delivering great service for our customers.”

Marie Gilluley, Principal and CEO of Bolton College, commented: “Apprenticeships are a tried and tested route to a career, and we’re always on the look-out for opportunities to promote them – to both young people and adults.”

The apprentices will be training in customer service skills at NVQ level 2 before initiating their PSV training

Wrights Group hosts fifth annual apprenticeship awards The fifth annual Wrights Group Apprenticeship Awards evening took place on Thursday, March 19, 2015 in the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena.

The event was hosted by Fred Greer, Group Learning and Development Manager, and the Keynote speaker was Professor of IC Engines Technology at Queen’s University Belfast, Roy Douglas.

Senior Directors from Wrights Group, Seven Towers Training, the graduates and their parents gathered to celebrate the achievement of the Apprenticeship NI engineering qualifications and career development milestones.

Speaking at the event, Professor Douglas said: “Good technical training, such as NVQ and City and Guilds, is vitally important for both industry and the economy in Northern Ireland.

“The apprentices will make a considerable contribution to the

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Graduates of the Wrights Group Apprentice scheme pictured with Professor Roy Douglas of QUB, Wrights Group Directors and Learning and Development staff at Wright Group Apprentice Graduation 2015 ongoing success of the company, ensuring that new buses will incorporate leading edge technologies and will continue to be manufactured

to the same exacting standards.”

This year 33 Wrights Group engineering apprentices were recognised for outstanding progress

and attainment as they complete the four-year Apprenticeship NI in Engineering (which they commenced in September 2011) having successfully completed 12 NVQ units and 12 City & Guilds technical diplomas.

The Apprentice Training is provided through the Wrights Group in partnership with Seven Towers Training.

Steven Francey, Wrights Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “Every graduate will play a crucial role in creating future products we can take pride in – industry experience, a constant strive for new innovations and the skills obtained on our apprenticeship training scheme are the essence of our future leaders. Hard work and manufacturing competence demonstrated by those graduating today allow us to continue to manufacture and create products Northern Ireland can take pride in.”

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