Wednesday December 7, 2011 Issue 1015 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com
BUS:
Coalition announces £25m for Green Bus Fund round 3 p4
AWARDS:
A pictorial report of last Tuesday's UK Bus Awards p26
Comprehensive guide to hybrid technologies
COACH:
INSIGHT:
Go North East MD Crusader Holidays is latest tour �irm to enter Peter Huntley on Quality Contracts p30 administration p8
for recru i
JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK
p34
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Here is your chance to experience a full cruise at a very special price. Exclusively for you from Coach World and Coaches Etc. Prices starting at £399 for a balcony cabin for a full 7 days Mediterranean cruise on board MSC Flagship Splendida MSC Cruises continues to astound with its cutting-edge ʻFantasiaʼ class of cruise ships. After the success of MSC Fantasia we were immensely proud to introduce her sister, MSC Splendida, a cruise ship where technology and comfort are spectacularly combined. Futuristic, yet retaining its classic simplicity and elegance. A cruise ship that promises the ultimate cruise experience.
MSC Splendida also features 4 swimming pools, a squash court, a Formula 1 simulator and much, much more... there are 5 restaurants to chose from, and 13 bars, as well as a magnificent theatre where top class shows take place very night, a large casino and plenty of shops. This trip gives you the chance to experience the luxury of a balcony cabin.
Balcony Cabin Outside with Balcony
All beds can be both single or double (on request). Spacious wardrobe. Bathroom with shower or tub. Interactive TV. Telephone. Availability of internet connection by your own laptop (on payment). Mini bar and safe. Air conditioning. Size: approx 22 square metres.
Sailing Dates: 28th January 2012 sailing from Genoa Italy
25th February 2012 sailing from Genoa Italy
Ports en route: Genoa, Barcelona, at sea, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Valencia, Marseille, Genoa
Ports en route: Genoa, Barcelona, at sea, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Valencia, Marseille, Genoa
Prices including flight only £599 per person on the 28th January and £649 on the 25th February and this is unbelievable, but no single supplement !!!!!
Or travel by coach stopping en route in the magnificent Park Inn Macon Hotel, on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis for just £525 per person on 28th January and £569 on 25th February, or arrange your own flights and pay just £399 on 28th January and £439 on 25th February.
Theses prices are for a balcony cabin with either flights or coach travel included, and are amazing, so to book now before the cabins sell out please call Richard or Tasha on 0208 665 5561 or email Richard@coachesetc.com There is limited availability so please call us as soon as you can
There are also some free places for group organisers who meet the criteria so get a group together and get on board.
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3
THIS WEEK
Coach & Bus Week is published by Rouncy Media, First Floor, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX Switchboard 01733 293240 Fax 0845 280 2927 Web www.coachandbusweek.com
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Two sides to every coin
T
here are two sides to every story. On this page last week I invited readers to write a column to balance the calls for re-regulation and Quality Contracts (QCs). Therefore, I was delighted when an email popped through from Peter Huntley, MD of Go North East. As you’ll read on p26-27, he provides an interesting insight into life on the front line, battling against a passenger transport authority which seems intent on removing the commercial freedom and customer responsiveness away from his experienced, award-winning team. Let it not be said it’s a case of operator versus authority – because he praises Gateshead Council and the way it has embraced mutually beneficial arrangements. However, the article also highlights Peter’s frustrations, such as how it took a year to get Nexus to agree to the Gateshead partnership. It would be easy to be
cynical and jump to the conclusion the PTE is suffering from a bad dose of ‘Not Invented Here’ syndrome - or perhaps that it’s already decided the future shape of the bus industry and is working towards that vision. I dare say operators in others parts of the UK where QCs are proposed could say similar things but have kept quiet thus far. If anyone wishes to break their silence, I don’t expect you to necessarily put your name to it in public, just the usual caveats, please contact me. On a separate note, I was intrigued to hear Nick Clegg suggest concessionary pass holders sacrifice their free travel – a sign of things to come perhaps? On the face of it, the subject appears decidedly non-Liberal – until one spots the key phrase ‘wealthy pensioners’. Sadly the material seen by CBW fails to provide a definition of what that might be. Naturally, that will be muddying the political waters... Gareth Evans Editor
CONTENTS 4
24
34
The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK
14
Autumn Statement is a step in the right direction, argues FSB
26
Compiled by techical editor Martin Cole, CBW’s guide to hybrids
Optare chosen to supply 190 Solos to Cape Town BRT scheme
18
Photographic report from last week’s awards
30
The latest employment law rulings, brought to you by Backhouse Jones
...From tourist attractions and events. Plus ideas for group visits
22
Peter Huntley talks candily about his dealings with Nexus
32
A lighthearted look at the industry. Plus Gareth’s Diary!
All the latest vehicle deliveries in operators’ yards across the country
A snowy scene - Network Warrington’s Christmas card
All the latest people moves from across the industry
News
International News Tour News Deliveries
Business News
UK Bus Awards Open Platform
The Big Picture
Hybrid Drivetrains
44
Legal Update
62
Last Stop
63
People
For all the latest industry news and information, register with us online at:
www.coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com
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4 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
nEWS
BriEfly Mix Telematics is offering a complimentary guide with its top ten practical tips on how an operator can improve its drivers’ fuel efficiency. The guide includes information on how to motivate drivers to change behaviour, what support drivers are likely to need and methods for building momentum and keeping hold of savings over the long term, amongst other things. The package also includes a short case study displaying how one firm managed to “cut its fuel bill by over 20%”. Mix Telematics said: “Bus and coach operators have faced a relentless onslaught of cost increases in recent years. Fuel prices are at an all-time high and show no signs of receding. Getting your drivers to use less fuel by adopting more efficient driving techniques is an ideal place to start.” Visit www.mixcampaigns. co.uk/bus-and-coach.html for more information. Look out in next week’s issue of CBW for your free copy of our wallplanner for 2012, which will flag up significant dates for the bus and coach industry for the year. Chris Dudley of Dudley’s Coaches and Mike de Courcey of Travel de Courcey have been re-elected as vice chairman and chairman respectively of CPT West Midlands following the region’s recent AGM. Both gentlemen are serving the roles for the second year running. Former London mayor Ken Livingstone said his aim is to cut bus and Tube fares in London by 7%, some 2% more than his previous offer to voters, if he wins next May’s election. A 6% rise for all fares is planned for the New Year. The Labour candidate said there is more than enough spare cash held by TfL which could be used to help Londoners through the economic ‘tough times.’ “I want to use the excess money sitting idle in TfL’s budget to fund a fare cut to reduce the cost of travel for millions of Londoners,” said Livingstone as CBW went to press. “That’s the responsible thing to do in tough times - using the surplus in the transport network to cut the fares.”
Green Bus Fund 3 emerges from Autumn Statement Funding also earmarked for Bristol BRT and Manchester Cross City Bus A third round of Green Bus Fund (GBF) of £25m was announced in the chancellor’s Autumn Statement last week, as was funding for the much-awaited Bus Rapid Transit scheme in Bristol and for Manchester Cross City Bus. Road and rail announcements dominated the transport share of funding, with the go-ahead for 35 road and rail projects across England and the average rise in regulated rail fares capped at 6% - 1% above inflation - in January. Meanwhile, the planned 3p fuel duty rise in January was temporarily scrapped with the rise to take place in August. Transport Minister Norman Baker MP, said: “I have been up and down the country meeting with bus operators and manufacturers and one of the things they have consistently been asking for is another round of the GBF. I am therefore delighted to announce they have got one. “Great British buses have always been attractive ways to get around, and Britain is fast becoming a world leader in clean, green bus manufacturing. This new money will help the industry create even more skilled jobs and get our economy growing.” The GBF extension was warmly welcomed by Jim Sumner, CEO
bus manufacturer Optare, which provided 150 of the 540 buses enabled by the previous two rounds of funding. “Everyone in the bus industry – operators and manufacturers alike – have been calling for the government to build on the success of its GBF initiative which has significantly stimulated the use of low emission vehicles,” said Sumner. “So it’s great news our views have been listened to and this substantial additional funding has been made available. “This initiative has raised the level of demand from UK bus operators for low carbon buses and enabled companies like ours to accelerate the development of this technology. On the back of rising UK demand we have also been able to take this technology, and our fuel efficient buses into international markets bringing much needed overseas revenues into the UK economy.” Bus Users UK also welcomed the announcement but noted measures to ease the pressure on motorists are not reflected by similar moves for bus passengers. “While fuel duty for cars is frozen, there is no change in the decision to reduce BSOG,” said general manager Stephen Morris. “Every car journey saved by someone using a bus contributes to a reduction of carbon emissions, so making buses an even greener choice is welcomed. And hybrid buses are appreciated by bus users for their quieter and smoother
Jim Sumner, CEO of Optare (left) said it’s great news the industry’s views have been listened to with additional funding for the GBF
running as well as for their lower emissions.” Welcoming funding for bus schemes in Bristol and Manchester, Stephen said: “Bristol’s BRT scheme and a new south Bristol road link with extensive bus priorities will both bring substantial benefits to travel in the city, which has serious traffic congestion problems. Meanwhile the £54m Manchester scheme will open up new cross-city journeys and will bring improved journey times and greater reliability to services in three major corridors for a fraction of the cost of one light rail line.” The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads BRT scheme will cost £50m, with £35m coming from government and £15m raised locally. The plan is to start building work in June 2013, with completion likely in July 2015. Before work starts the government will have to approve a planning application and a public inquiry is also likely. The Manchester Cross City scheme will include a direct bus link between Salford and South Manchester for the first time, and a section of Oxford Road will also be closed to cars as part of Manchester City Council’s “green corridor” plan. The scheme, developed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) with Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, will provide a package of improvements along three major bus routes. Meanwhile, Campaign for Better Transport’s Stephen Joseph, director of Campaign for Better Transport criticised the government opting for ‘some dirty big road schemes’: “What’s really needed is tackling the backlog on local road maintenance and smaller transport projects to make best use of what we have, but the government has cut funding in those areas.” For further details about hybrid buses, read CBW’s in-depth feature on p34-42 of this issue and to read the chancellor’s Autumn Statement in full, visit www.hm-treasury. gov.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
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December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5
“I believe in Quality Contracts. I believe in them as a necessary and appropriate safety net....” Peter Huntley
Clegg suggests wealthy pensioners should pay fares Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has said better-off elderly people should make a “sacrifice” to benefits such as the concessionary travel to help the government balance its books, it was reported last week. “We should be asking millionaire pensioners to perhaps make a little sacrifice on their free TV licence or their free bus passes,” Mr Clegg told the BBC. Lib Dem ministers pushed for the means-testing of universal benefits to be announced in last week’s Autumn Statement, but were rebuffed by their Conservative Coalition partners. Conservative ministers are understood to be “dead set” against any move to water down universal benefits for fear of a popular
backlash. Mr Clegg, however, said he would continue to make the case for richer pensioners to sacrifice their benefits. “These are all things where we don’t agree as a
Nick Clegg will continue to make the case for wealthier pensioners to sacrifice their benefits
Nomination deadline for UKCA extended
The UK Coach Awards have extended the deadline for nominations for this year’s awards by two weeks, so nominations for the coach operator, coach driver, attraction and supplier awards will now close on Friday 23 December. Group organisers and other coach industry customers can nominate their favourite coach operating company or favourite coach driver, whose standards of service have really impressed them during 2011. “It’s a two-minute job to nominate via our web site,” said the UKCA organisers. Meanwhile, coach operators are invited to tell the UKCA about the tourism people they do business with who have gone that extra mile to give a special welcome to the industry’s business, drivers and customers in 2011. The UKCA is looking to name the best: n historic attractions n tourist attraction n shopping venue n town or city “We also want to know about the
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Open Platform p30 government right now, but where those arguments will play out in the years ahead,” he said. Around 12m people in the UK are now eligible for free bus travel, and it is estimated more than nine million hold a bus pass. Some Conservative MPs are backing proposals for councils to be able to charge small fees or administration charges for bus passes because of the growing cost of providing free travel to the over-60s. As the next election approaches, Clegg said the Lib Dems would seek to set out their own, distinctive policy agenda, which is likely to be at odds with many Conservative positions. “The natural battleground of British politics is to be up front with the British people that we need to make savings, to agree in overall terms what those savings need to be, but then to have the really key debate about who are the winners and who are the losers,” said Clegg.
Anthony’s Travel was crowned UK Coach Operator of the Year 2011 at this year’s UKCA - the deadline for 2012 nominations has been extended service suppliers who really looked after you during the season,” said the UKCA, namely: n hotel and catering suppliers n ferry and sea crossing operators n theatre and venue ticketing providers n tour wholesalers “Just visit our website or drop us an e-mail, saying who you are, who you want to nominate and why – and we’ll do the rest,” said the UKCA. “You can also submit your nominations for our other categories in the New Year – the closing date is January 14, 2012.” Under the heading of Industry People, the UKCA wants to hear about the people in the coaching industry who have gone above and
beyond in helping to deliver top class services and products, for the following awards: n Unsung Hero Awards n Young Manager n Services to the Industry Finally, nominations are invited, under the Technical & Professional umbrella, on the work operators are doing to develop, promote and improve their business in the areas of: n Coach Marketing n Touring Programmes n and other developments for Making Coaches a Better Choice
For more information and to submit your nominations for the 2012 UK Coach Awards, visit www.ukcoachawards.co.uk
Stagecoach launches new website Stagecoach Group has launched a new corporate website to provide more comprehensive information and make effective use of video, images and charting tools and to integrate with social media. Developed by Investis, www. stagecoach.com features an interactive timeline showing the development of the company, its business innovations and achievements. The site is hosted on a shared Investis IP3 platform optimised for smartphone access. It includes a dedicated section on the group’s greener, smarter travel initiatives, providing details of the company’s sustainability strategy, a library of case studies and performance data.
Camden fines coach & bus idlers Camden Council has launched a crackdown on bus and coach drivers who leave their engines idling for more than four minutes. The north London local authority says operators will be fined £80 if their drivers leave engines running unnecessarily at bus stands and coach parking bays across the borough. The council claims engine idling increases levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10), two major air pollutants in London. Sean Birch, Camden’s cabinet member for sustainability and transport, said air quality in some locations was “in breach of EC standards and national objectives, which are there to protect the health of our residents, visitors and working population.” He added: “Along with our neighbouring inner London boroughs, we are acutely affected by the dangers of air pollution and the lives of many who use or live alongside the capital’s busiest roads are being shortened. It is hoped that enforcement will lead to behavioural changes in drivers.” The fines were introduced on November 29.
www.coachandbusweek.com
05/12/2011 22:24
6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
£35m
nEWS › BUSeS
The government’s contribution to £50m Bristol BRT scheme
BriEfly A special bus service will run to the Salisbury Plain village of Imber on Saturday, December 17. A Routemaster will depart Warminster at 1330hrs to allow members of the public to visit the village (which is normally out of bounds on MOD property) and attend the Annual Carol Service at 1430 in the historic church. Mince pies and sherry will be available for passengers. No fares will be charged, but donations will be gratefully received in aid of Imber Church. The bus will depart for the return trip to Warminster 15 minutes after the Carol Service ends. To learn more about Imber, visit www.imberhurch.org.uk Network Warrington unveiled a bus in a new livery on December 1 to promote the work done by Warrington Disability Partnership. It is the third bus to carry promotional livery for the charity. The launch ceremony was held at Warrington Town Hall where a ribbon was cut by the Mayor whilst Chair of the WDP, Dave Thompson DL MBE thanked the company for its on-going support. All buses used on local bus services by Network Warrington are fully DDA accessible, ahead of Government legislation. Reading Buses has this week started operating a free shuttle bus service on behalf of Network Rail (NR). There are bridge works at New Hill, which will close the road until mid March. The NR project covers Westbury Lane bridge as well as New Hill bridge, which is used by buses. With Premier Route 16 double deckers too large for the route, a free shuttle will start and finish at the Goodliffe Gardens bus stop (on Knowsley Road) to run to Purley and back. The municipally-owned operator is allowing passengers to wait on the bus at Goodliffe Gardens so they won’t get cold or stuck out in the rain. FirstGroup plc has announced its chairman, Martin Gilbert, was appointed as an independent non-executive director of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange on November 29. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Bus industry criticised in MP bus debate Operators failed to define socially necessary journey, said Paul Maynard MP Bus operators came under fire from MPs including Paul Maynard of the Transport Select Committee (TSC), in a Commons debate on bus services last week. The debate was based around the outcome of the TSC’s inquiry into bus services after the Spending Review and the government’s response. Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys, Conservative) said the inquiry brought home how many people depend on bus services. “In a relatively deprived constituency such as mine, where many people cannot afford a car or are not well enough or active enough to drive one, buses are essential. “However, extracting a definition of a socially necessary journey from some of the commercial operators who appeared before us was frustrating. They squirmed but could not provide an answer. They won the award for worst witnesses of the year so far.”
Wellglade buys Felix bus operations The bus operations of Felix Bus and Coach, based in Stanley near Ilkeston, has been bought out by Wellglade, trent barton’s parent company. Felix, which runs an hourly Black Cat service between Ilkeston and Derby, and the Ilkeston Flyer service via Kirk Hallam, has been sold for an undisclosed sum with assets to be transferred at the end of January. The Felix brand and coaching operation will remain with Felix. Heanor-based trent barton runs a similar Black Cat service, but MD Jeff Counsell confirmed there would be no job losses among the 10 staff on the two Felix services. He said: “The same drivers will
Iain Wright (Hartlepool, Labour) was far from happy with the service provided by Stagecoach in his local area and called for regulation of bus services. Wright said: “The current model in which monopolistic bus providers are able to cherry-pick services and make excessive profits cannot be sustained, especially at the expense of important social routes. Cuts to government budgets tip that model over the edge. “Communities such as mine would welcome and encourage a co-ordinated and sufficiently funded public transport service, but it can happen only if a strong transport minister backs this important issue in Whitehall against the chancellor, and takes steps to remove power from monopolistic providers, thereby re-regulating bus provision in England.” Meanwhile, Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South, Conservative), impressed by the enthusiastic approach over integrating the EastWest railway line from Bedford to Oxford and further south-west with bus services, said: “Such optimism
needs to be part of the bus industry. I was slightly perturbed, when we were taking evidence from some bus operators, they were not seeing the opportunities in the current climate.” Transport minister Norman Baker praised Southern Vectis and Isle of Wight Council for its “innovative” community transport scheme, where volunteer drivers operate rural routes which feed into the main bus network on the island. “The drivers are fully trained by the operator, which also provides the vehicles and fulfils the regulatory and maintenance requirements,” said Baker. “This partnership has brought community transport and the resources of a private sector bus company together for the first time. It is a very interesting model. “I am greatly encouraged that councils, operators and residents can come together when budgets are tight to develop a rural bus network which suits their local needs. It is exactly the sort of scheme the community transport fund I announced in March is designed to encourage.”
Six vehicles from Felix are being included in the sale to Wellglade be working on the routes and there are no current plans to alter the frequency of services.” Counsell added: “For many years we have worked closely with Felix to ensure communities between Ilkeston and Derby receive a firstclass bus service. “As part of the deal we have
purchased the Ilkeston Flyer and Black Cat buses and they will continue to operate as a distinct unit. “We have nothing but respect for Felix and what their staff have achieved and we are delighted to be involved in a deal which benefits all concerned.”
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72%
Percentage of councils cutting or considering cutting school transport services
School transport cuts spreading, shows CBT
Almost three quarters (72%) of local education authorities in England are cutting or considering cutting school transport according to new figures collected through freedom of information requests by the Campaign for Better Transport. They show: 38% of councils are reviewing or cutting transport to faith schools; 46% are reviewing or cutting transport to schools other than faith schools; and 51% are reviewing or cutting post-16 transport. Councils are obliged to provide free school transport for pupils between five and 16-years-old if their nearest school is over three miles away, or two miles if they are under eight. Children with special educational needs or from low income families are also provided for. Any other school transport is provided by local authorities on a discretionary basis. “School buses are vital to reduce congestion and pollution, especially at peak times. In some areas parents have to walk almost three miles each way, twice a day, just to get their children to school,” said Sophie Allain, CBT’s bus campaigner. “Parents able to drive instead will add to traffic problems, but for a quarter of households who do not have a car this will not be an option.” CBT is appealing to the government to give councils extra funding to ensure children get to school safely without impinging on parents’ work-life. The charity seeks new government guidelines to determine a route can only be deemed safe if a child of 11 is able to walk it alone. It is asking councils to do more and to create real alternatives, like introducing safe walking routes and cycle paths. Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: “The scale of cuts to local bus services has left many parents struggling to afford the extra costs of driving their children to school or to juggle work with doing the school run.”
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2 , 4 150m
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7
The area covered by Go North East’s planned new depot at Handy Drive, Gateshead
SHARE WATCH
Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, December 5. National Express saw the greatest proportional rise and Rotala had the biggest proportional drop. Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk
275.80p
Price: Year High: 574.37p Year Low: 257.70p
317.00p
Pictured left to right are: Gary Hudson, Adrian Bartle and Michael Spriggs of UK Land Estates with Neil Robinson of the Go-Ahead Group and Peter Huntley, managing director of Go-Ahead North East
Price: Year High: 416.90p Year Low: 305.36p
Go North East applies for new bus depot
Price: Year High: 1540p Year Low: 1034.p
Go North East has applied for planning permission for a new purpose-built bus depot and ancillary support accommodation at Handy Drive, Metro Riverside in Gateshead. The £7.7m investment would replace the company’s two existing facilities in Winlaton and Sunderland Road, securing 559 jobs with the potential to provide further, with expansion. Go North East managing
director Peter Huntley said: “This submission signals a hugely significant investment in Gateshead by Go North East and underlines our commitment to continue to provide jobs for local people. “The new facilities will continue our CO2 reductions and make our operations even more efficient for customers.” The new depot will be located adjacent to the Metrocentre Transport Interchange. Covering approximately 2.38 hectares the site will consist of 4,150m2 of workshops, storage, office, canteen, mess room and training facilities with external testing and bus fleet parking areas. Work on the new depot, designed by TTH Architects, should start next year and be completed in 2013.
1227.0p 216.75p
Price: Year High: 272.10p Year Low: 203.85p
243.45p
Price: Year High: 257.70p Year Low: 158.30p
1.62p
Price: Year High: 6.75p Year Low: 1.62p
40.50p
Price: Year High: 43.50p Year Low: 24.90p
95.00p
Price: Year High: 99.57p Year Low: 66.86p
11.75p
Rotala plc is rebranding its Central Connect bus operation as Blue Diamond, complementing its Red Diamond and Black Diamond subsidiaries, which run in Birmingham, the Black Country and Worcestershire. Among the first batch of buses to be rebranded is this Optare Solo, as pictured here by Ben Morroll. Central Connect is based at Long Acre depot in Aston and comprises the former operations of Flights, North Birmingham Busways, Zaks’s Bus & Coach and Birmingham Motor Traction.
Price: Year High: 16.60p Year Low: 5.75p
+14.90 on last week
+4.65 on last week
+7.00 on last week
+12.90 on last week
-1.50 on last week
+0.00 on last week
-0.50 on last week
+0.00 on last week
+0.13 on last week
FTSE 100
5568
Price: Year High: 6,105 Year Low: 4,790
+255 on last week
www.coachandbusweek.com
05/12/2011 23:40
8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
nEWS › coaches
BriEfly From Friday (December 9) there will be overnight lane closures in both directions of the M6 between Junctions 17 and 18 and also overnight closures of the sliproads at Junction 18 for routine maintenance work. The closures will take place from 2200 to 0500hrs, with signed diversions in place during these times. The work is scheduled for completion by January 27, 2012. A traffic flow improvement project on the Durkar roundabout at Junction 39 of the M1 at Wakefield has commenced. Traffic lights will be installed at the bottom of both the southbound and northbound exit slips from the motorway onto the roundabout which joins the A636 Denby Dale Road for Denby Dale or Wakefield. A third lane will also be installed on the exit slips as well as on sections of the roundabout. The work should be completed by February 25, 2012. Roadworks will be suspended between December 23 and January 3. Traffic management will only be in place off-peak between 0930 and 1530hrs each day. Traffic will be diverted to the next motorway junction and back during occasional overnight closures. Major maintenance work starts next week on a twomile section of the M4 between Junctions 5 and 6 at Datchet, near Slough in Berkshire. Work began on Tuesday (December 6) and is expected to last ten weeks. Three lanes will remain open to traffic at all peak times. Drivers will notice that the hard shoulder will be closed, with additional lane restrictions overnight as required. Occasional overnight carriageway closures will also be needed, for which fully signed diversion routes will be in place. In January, the lanes will be narrowed, and a 50mph speed limit will be introduced, enforced by average speed cameras. There will also be some restrictions on the local roads alongside the M4. A free recovery service will be available 24 hours a day. Regular updates on the project will be published on the Highways Agency’s website www.highways.gov.uk www.coachandbusweek.com
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Crusader Holidays goes into administration One week of bookings cancelled with potential for more as administrators search for buyers Essex coach operator Crusader Holidays and its associated companies Crusader Commercial Properties Limited, Crusader Holdings Limited, Staines Crusader Coaches Limited and Supreme Holidays Limited, have called in administrators Ernst and Young on December 1. Crusader Holidays was estimated to be running no more than eight coaches when administrators were called, in a fleet which used to number at least 20 vehicles. Based in Clacton on Sea, it employs 34 staff. The firm is not expected to run
tours until further notice while the administrators search for potential buyers, although tours after December 6 have not been officially cancelled. A statement from joint administrators Maurice Moses and Angela Swarbrick said as of the time of their appointment, there were no tours were running, so no coach tour or holidaymakers were left stranded. “Owing to the difficult economic conditions in which the companies have been trading and the related financial situation of the companies, the Joint Administrators have decided the tours for the following week were to be cancelled. “Passengers booked on tours
Crusader Holidays ran a fleet of Setra Coaches
Refurbished O2 coach park and ‘Park & Glide’ service The newly refurbished coach park at London’s O2 Arena was officially opened on November 30. The 67-bay park has a new barrier entry system and individually marked bays and passenger walkways, and will also offer electrical hook-up points and water for washing down vehicles. The ‘Park & Glide’ initiative, will provide free coach parking for the industry in conjunction with express river boat services to
Central London. Coach operators using the prebookable ‘Park & Glide’ service will receive up to 12 hours free coach parking at the venue, while groups of 20-plus continue their journey into Central London with Thames Clippers, or 15 passengers per minibus. For £10.00 passengers will be able to hop-on and off with a Daily River Roamer ticket to and from all of the attractions along the River Thames.
departing December 2, 2011 and December 6, 2011 have been informed of the tours cancellation. “At present, no further tours have been cancelled. The Joint Administrators are presently looking at opportunities for selling the business and assets of the Companies as a going concern, which may enable the continuity of tours departing after December 6, 2011.” John Major, a spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, said customers who have already paid for a package holiday will get a full refund, as the firm was part of the Bonded Coach Holidays Scheme, set up to protect clients’ money. “While appreciating the disappointment and upheaval these situations cause to people looking forward to their holidays, it does highlight the benefits of customers ensuring the package holiday they book is with a company which is the member of the Bonded Holiday Scheme,” Mr Major said. Passengers with holidays booked should see a full refund and a claims form from Earnst and Young, although customers using some credit cards will have to claim under the Consumer Credit Act through their credit card provider, subject to a minimum amount. Visit www.crusaderholidays.co.uk
Coach parking can be booked and purchased online at £30.00 for coaches and £15.00 for minibuses (with 12 seats or less), plus a £2.50 booking fee, or upon arrival at the parking office by cash or credit card at the rate of £35.00 and £20.00 respectively. Coach drivers will also receive a discount at participating restaurants and cafes at the venue.
Booking should be made through carparking@ aegworldwide.co.uk or by visiting the parking section at www.theo2.co.uk to download the booking form.
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“It’s a wonderful thing to take pride in your work. As we’ve seen today, the best of the bus industry has what it takes to deliver a world class service to bus users.” Gillian Merron
UK Bus Awards p26
Edinburgh coach firm refused O-licence
Digbeth Coach Station manager John Jones, Brian Simpson MEP, Mike Lambden NX public affairs and John Gilbert, Eurolines managing director
EU Transport Committee chairman impressed by NX Brian Simpson MEP, chairman of the EU’s Transport Committee, visited Birmingham’s Digbeth Coach Station last week to discuss the role of the coach across Britain and Europe. Hosted by National Express’ (NX) managing director Andrew Cleaves and Eurolines president John Gilbert, the North West MEP was given a tour of the £15m flagship site and the wheelchair accessible coaches currently being introduced. The company, which operates a number of transport companies across Europe including Eurolines UK and Alsa in Spain, has invested in 150 new coaches for Britain during 2011. Brian Simpson said: “I was keen to take up the invitation of National Express and Eurolines to visit the Birmingham Coach Station to discuss the important role coach travel plays in both our national
and European transportation network. “I came away very impressed with the operation I saw.” The MEP was also given a demonstration of the company’s vehicle tracking, which allows National Express to pinpoint the exact location of every coach as well as monitoring their speed and internal temperature in real time. John Gilbert, managing director Eurolines UK, said: “We’re delighted Mr Simpson could join us for a tour of Birmingham Coach Station and discussion around the future of the coach industry in Britain and Europe. We believe the coach has an increasingly vital role to play in providing affordable, environmentally friendly transport and we wanted to highlight the opportunities and issues around growing coach patronage across Europe.”
Selwyn’s Travel Group has bought Hayton’s out of administration. The news follows the recent take over of the Hayton’s bus operations by Bluebird Bus & Coach (CBW1013). Hayton’s will continue to be run under its own name, with its existing management team. Haytons MD, Barry Hayton,
said: “Recent trading has been particularly challenging resulting in the need for the firm to look for a strategic partner who could provide a stronger platform for the future. We feel we’ve managed to achieve this with the sale of the business.” Paul Stanley of adminstators Begbies Traynor, said: “We’ve been able to save 60 jobs and sell the firm as a going concern to another quality operator. The major issue here was the acceptability of potential purchasers to the two largest customers (one of which was National Express). Sensible negotiations between all parties have enabled a sale.”
Hayton’s coach operation finds buyer
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An Edinburgh coach firm was refused an O-licence after an investigation by the Scottish Traffic Commissioner (TC) revealed it had unlawfully run a school bus service. Clark’s Coaches owner Colin Livingstone was called to a public inquiry in early November after the TC, Joan Aitken, received an “adverse” report from VOSA. It emerged the school contract for Dalkeith High School was held by Duddingston Private Hire, with the company’s owner believing he had sub-contracted the work to another Edinburgh-based firm, MacBackpackers, who Mr Livingstone was working for as transport manager at the time. However, Mr Livingstone was
using MacBackpackers’ O-license disk, without the firm’s knowledge, on a vehicle belonging to Clark’s Coaches, which he had recently set up and for which he was in the process of applying for a licence. The TC said: “Had there been an accident, there would have been great upset and legitimate queries as to how such circumstances had been allowed to occur.” At the inquiry, Mr Livingstone accepted the evidence and conceded that greed had got the better of him. He has since resigned from MacBackpackers. The TC added: “Mr Colin Livingstone duped Mr Derek Wilkinson of Duddingston Travel, who unwittingly allowed an unlawful operator to carry schoolchildren from Danderhall to Dalkeith High School. Mr Wilkinson appears to have relied on his social contact with Mr Livingstone and to have trusted him. “I find Mr Livingstone as having crossed the line and he has lost his repute as transport manager.”
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05/12/2011 22:14
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nEWS
Atco winter conference: changing behaviour Behaviour change can work says conference Behaviour change can be an effective way of growing the market for bus services, delegates to ATCO’s Winter Conference were told. The scene was set by Transport Minister Norman Baker, who emphasised the importance of behaviour change in delivering national and local government priorities and said: “Behaviour change is not some elaborate plot designed to control people’s decisions - it is about enabling passengers to make quicker, easier, greener and cheaper journeys by putting the right infrastructure in place. It’s about meeting people’s needs better. “We’re providing £400 million for measures to promote the uptake of electric cars, we have provided £200m to support ITSO smart ticketing schemes between 09/10 and 10/11, and I’ve just launched the Anywhere Working initiative to help businesses change to more flexible working practices. I’ve also provided £560m for sustainable transport projects through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund – successful schemes include better
Shearings’ winter protection guarantee
Shearings is launching a winter holiday initiative to protect customers from disruption or cancellations due to severe weather . “Snow Assurance” is provided with all winter breaks at no cost and gives the option of rebooking or a full refund if the company is unable to operate a holiday or reach a particular pick up point. Payments of £10 per person will also be made if an excursion is cancelled due to severe winter weather during a holiday. Shearings will also help customers who are unable to reach www.coachandbusweek.com
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cycling and walking facilities and improvements to roads and public transport, all of which will help to create growth and cut carbon”. The conference sessions following were based around Dr Jillian Anable’s categorisation of transport users as: aspiring environmentalists; malcontented motorists; car complacents; and diehard drivers, with the speakers challenged to identify ways of motivating each group to adopt more sustainable transport choices. In a series of upbeat presentations, the audience heard from Elaine Rosscraig (head of customer insight at Stagecoach Bus) and Rob Bennett (commercial manager at Norfolk Green), who described how positive and targeted marketing can lead to sustained growth in bus market share; while Steve Atkinson (Merseytravel) and Julian Feasby from the Environment Agency showed how personalised travel planning and business travel plans can have a significant impact on travel behaviour. Neil Buxton enthused about the success of Community Rail Partnerships in promoting greater use of local rail services,
while Bob Menzies reported high quality reliable service offered by the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway was changing travel habits along the congested A14 corridor, and Perry Payne from BUSK (Belt Up School Kids) put the case for a partnership approach to tackling poor behaviour on school buses as a way of making school transport more attractive and reducing the impact of the school run. Finally, Richard Hebditch from the Campaign for Better Transport concluded the only way to influence drivers was to change the context in which their travel decisions were made, through joined up policies.
Bob Menzies claims the Cambridge Busway can change drivers’ habits
A Shearings Setra S416GT-HD is seen on a winter’s day as it leaves the Ffestiniog Railway’s Porthmadog Harbour station on January 22, 2011 their departure point by allowing them to transfer to another holiday in the next six weeks, even if their original holiday is still operating. Caroline Brown, commercial director for Shearings said: “Following the heavy snow over
the past two winters, customers are understandably looking for reassurance when booking their winter holidays as they don’t want the disappointment and costs of a cancelled holiday. “If we are unable to operate a
He noted this required a long term approach - sadly not evident in the short termism characterised in approaches taken by successive Governments. Despite the upbeat message from the Conference, local authorities and operators continue to face real difficulty in maintaining bus services in face of the financial pressures arising from the triple challenge of reduced BSOG, local authority funding reductions and concessionary fares reimbursement. Delegates who stayed on for ATCO’s AGM heard Roger Banks present the results of ATCO’s annual price, expenditure and competition survey. This revealed although tender prices had fallen for the third successive year, it had been offset by inflation increases and the estimated additional £6.4m authorities had to spend on replacing withdrawn commercial services and contracts which had been terminated early. Nearly half of all local authorities said they had to reduce local bus services in the current financial year to stay within budget, with a much worse situation being reported in rural areas where 81% of authorities were having to cut services. The situation is unlikely to improve next year, with rural authority transport co-ordinators saying they believe they would need an inflation-busting 11% budget increase to maintain existing levels of service. coach holiday or reach a pick-up point due to the weather, we’ll change a customer’s departure date free of charge or give them a full refund. Similarly, if a flight is cancelled, we’ll transfer their booking to another date free of charge. All they need to do is ring customer services.” Shearings also offer a travel insurance package starting at £25 per person per holiday, with inbuilt Homeplan cover to protect against problems caused by the cold weather, such as broken boilers or damage to locks or windows while customers are on holiday. It includes breakdown cover from Green Flag for customers making their own way to their hotel.
For more information about Shearings’ Snow Assurance, call the Sales Support team on 01942 823449 or visit www.shearingsagent.com
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nEWS
London digital bus information service a success TfL unveils impressive figures for use of the digital services at bus stops Transport for London (TfL) claims the new real time digital bus information service in London has been a great success, with nearly three quarters of a million searches per day online and on smartphones, and 10,000 requests per day for bus arrival information via text. According to TfL, bus travel is at a 50 year high in the capital, with the London bus network now carrying almost 2.3 billion passengers a year on over 7,500 buses across 700 routes. Real time bus information is available for all 19,500 bus stops across London. The new system is part of the Mayor of London’s aim
Second university contract for Travel de Courcey
Travel de Courcey has won a new contract with the University of Warwick to provide coach and bus hire services. The operator will transport students, staff, visitors and conference delegates locally, nationally and internationally in the second major contract it has been awarded this year by the university. An earlier contract which commenced on April 4, 2011, saw the operator introduce 20 new services linking Coventry districts to the university’s main campus. The bus hire services will support the university’s Green Travel Plan by fulfilling its requirements in providing park and ride transport for important graduation ceremonies and open days. Bob Wildman, general manager of Travel de Courcey, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded www.coachandbusweek.com
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to use digital technology to deliver more effective public services in the capital. Access to the real time bus service information can be made via the TfL website, from a fixed computer or web enabled smartphone. After going to the TfL buses webpage for live bus information at www.tfl.gov.uk/ buses, passengers then enter a bus route, postcode, street name or bus stop and view live bus arrival times, including bus destinations, for all services due in the next 30 minutes. Passengers without a smartphone or access to the internet can simply text the bus stop code to 87287 for detailed bus information, at a 12p charge plus network rate. New and improved countdown
signs are also being installed which will replace all the existing 2,000 signs at bus stops, along with 500 new signs being installed at other key bus stops. All of the new signs have improved visibility for visually impaired passengers and will display more travel information than the old signs. The Mayor’s director of digital London, Kulveer Ranger, said: “This brilliant new service has revolutionised bus travel for thousands of Londoners and is an example of how digital innovation can contribute to more effective public services. Our early figures are enormously encouraging and show passengers are genuinely benefiting from being able to predict exactly when their bus will arrive.” Simon Reed, head of technical services group London Buses, said: “Work is also well under way to make our prediction data freely available for software developers early next year. This will enable developers to design their own smartphone applications, which will make it even easier for Londoners to find out exactly where their bus is.”
Pictured are Bob Wildman, general manager of Travel de Courcey, the University of Warwick’s transport manager Graham Hine and Mike de Courcey, managing director of Travel de Courcey this latest contract by the University of Warwick, which makes us the university’s bus operator of choice and a preferred coach supplier. “It builds on the supplier partnership which we have developed with the university in recent years and, in particular, in helping to deliver its Green Travel Plan and to support its on-going commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.” Graham Hine, transport manager
at the University of Warwick, said: “The contracts awarded to Travel de Courcey were subject to a competitive tender process and suppliers had to demonstrate value for money while meeting strict quality and customer service criteria. “Travel de Courcey ticked all the boxes and we are delighted to have been able to award the contracts to an established and highly-respected local operator.
Stagecoach donates third coach to Africa Stagecoach is helping to improve road safety in Africa. The company has provided one vehicle to the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Zambia and now a second to the National Institute of Transport (NIT) in Tanzania. The Van Hool-bodied Volvo B10M will arrive in Tanzania by the end of December and be used by the NIT in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city, where the institute provides practical driver training for bus and lorry drivers in a bid to reduce road crashes in Tanzania. In the first quarter of 2011, over 6000 crashes were recorded, claiming more than 800 lives. The government is introducing a BRT system into highly congested Dar es Salaam which will utilise dedicated bus lanes. As a result, around 1,000 drivers need to be trained to operate the new bus system safely. The coaches have been provided through Stagecoach’s strong partnership with international development charity Transaid. Stagecoach Highlands Driving Instructor Neil Rettie is mid-way through a two year secondment to improve the quality and delivery of practical elements of the driver training course, working as project manager of Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project in Tanzania. Gary Forster, CEO of Transaid said: “We are hugely grateful to Stagecoach for its continuing support of this vital project. This latest donation will provide muchneeded additional training capacity and help the Professional Driver Training Project to ensure trainees receive more practical experience.” Stagecoach UK Bus MD Les Warneford said: “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Transaid and pleased to assist the driver training project through the provision of vehicles. “Improved driver training is vital if we are to reduce the number of road crashes in both Tanzania and Zambia, and we hope these buses – as well as the important work being done by Neil in Tanzania – will go some way to help raise road safety standards in these countries.”
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nEWS › international
Nobina orders 197 biogas and biodiesel buses Scania sees record order for gas engines and Volvo sell 76 SWEDEn Nordic operator Nobina has made an order for 121 biofuel buses from Scania, along with 76 new buses from Volvo, in a major investment of over half a billion SEK. The move comes after Nobina Sverige secured a contract in Uppland worth close to SEK 5 billion across 10 years (around SEK 490 million per year), commencing in June 2012. Nobina is already responsible for bus traffic in Uppland, so the contract win is both an extension and expansion of responsibilities in the area. The new service agreement combines fixed price with compensation based on passenger numbers, giving incentive to increase travel in
MAN takes over joint venture in India
InDIA MAN Truck & Bus AG is taking over its Indian joint venture MAN Force Trucks Pvt. Ltd. The move has been agreed by both joint venture partners Force Motors Ltd. and MAN Truck & Bus AG. Subject to receipt of the necessary approvals the agreement will be implemented by the end of the year. The joint venture was founded in 2006 and produces a range of heavy MAN CLA trucks for the Indian market and for export to countries in Asia and Africa. MAN Truck & Bus increased its holding in MAN Force Trucks Pvt. Ltd during 2008 from 30% to 50%. In purchasing the shares held by Force Motors Ltd., MAN Truck & Bus is assuming sole responsibility for production and sale of the MAN CLA inside and outside India. Both will continue to co-operate. Force Motors will supply parts and components for production of the MAN CLA through an official supplier agreement. www.coachandbusweek.com
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the region. The firm is expected to take on an additional 70 employees, the majority of which will be drivers. The order is Scania’s largest for gas engines to date, with 109 of the vehicles running on biogas. The remaining 12 Scania vehicles will run on biodiesel. The new vehicles will be put into service in Uppland and Skåne provinces from the summer of 2012. Lars Åkesson, purchasing manager for Nobina, said: “This is one of Nobina’s larger bus investments in recent years. We are especially pleased to find new suppliers of biogas buses for this kind of traffic, being an environmentally friendly alternative, which is more frequently requested by our
customers.” Ingrid Håkanson, managing director for the Nobina Fleet, said: “The optimization of the bus fleet is a key tool in Nobina’s efficiency program and a way to increase the profitability in the contracts. Through regular renewal of the bus fleet, Nobina is able to offer better comfort, more environmentally friendly travel, smarter fuel options and more efficient vehicle utilisation.” The Nobina group has annual sales in excess of SEK 6 billion, operates 3,500 buses and makes more than 260 million passenger journeys per year. For more information on Nobina visit www. nobina.com
nETHERlAnDS The Floating Dutchman began service last month in Amsterdam employing amphibious coaches. The two hours and 45 minute tour travels from Schipol through the city centre and enters the river near the museum. The river ride is fully electric, powered by 198 batteries charged during driving. Freek Vermeulen, MD of Great Amsterdam Excursions, said: “A lot of places have Duck Tours, but use old army vehicles. This is a real touring bus, with a license to be on the road and in the water.” The company said it may eventually pick up and drop off passengers in the city, but for now the focus is at Schipol, where at least a million passengers a year have more than a four-hour wait to transfer between flights.
‘Peanut Bus’ launches in Seoul
One of the Cape Town Solo SRs with appropriate registration plate
Optare chosen to supply vehicles for SA BRT SOUTH AFRICA Optare is to supply 190 Solo SR midibuses to Cape Town. The fleet will form a key element of a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) network as part of an integrated system combining many modes of public transport. Optare was involved in a comprehensive competitive tendering process involving a number of global bus manufacturers. It has been working with the support of its strategic investor Ashok Leyland and in
Amphibious Bus debuts in Amsterdam
partnership with South Africa’s Busmark 2000. The first 30 buses should be delivered in mid 2012, with the balance supplied at 20 buses month. Optare CEO Jim Sumner, said: “We are very excited about the start of what is a major ongoing export opportunity. Increasing our export business is a very important part of our turnaround strategy. We anticipate being able to make a formal contract announcement in the near future.”
SOUTH KOREA The city of Seoul, South Korea, has debuted its new Namsan Electric Bus. Dubbed Peanut Buses due to their unique shape, they can carry 1,000 to 3,000 passengers a day and up to 47 passengers per trip. Currently, a fully-charged battery, which takes 20 to 30 minutes to charge, allows the bus to run for 80 kilometres (two or three rounds depending on the route) at an average speed of 20 to 40 km/h. The top speed is 100 km/h. The South Korean government is working to increase the battery efficiency further. “Many countries were deeply impressed by our successful commercialisation of the electric bus,” said Hyung-rae Song, an official in charge of the Green Car Project. “We get a steady stream of visitors from overseas for test-rides and discussions.” The Seoul government plans to expand the number of electric buses to 377 by 2014, for routes shorter than 20 kilometres in the Gangnam and Yeouido area.
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16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
nEWS › REGIONAL
nORTH
Municipally-owned Network Warrington won a last minute injunction to stop its staff joining the public sector strike on Wednesday (November 30). It took the Unite union to the High Court on Monday, November 28, after ‘inconsistencies’ in the ballot papers sent out. It is understood around 35 of the 270 employees returned their ballot papers with around 25 voting in favour of joining the action, just over 9% of employees. Managing director David Squire said the strike was called off on Tuesday, November 29, and all staff reported for work the following morning. The company has been able to run a full service.
KEY
SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND REP OF IRELAND NORTH WALES MIDLANDS EAST LONDON SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST
MIDLAnDS
Centro has provided a new service from Wall Heath to Russells Hall in Stourbridge after the old 261 route was withdrawn in 2008. The extension to the 205 service marks the end of three years of campaigning by local residents and provides links to a nearby hospital. Centro extended the existing 205 route to go beyond Kingswinford during off-peak hours. Former Wall Heath councillor Dave Tyler, who led a campaign on the issue in 2008, said “It’s taken a long three years for Centro to accept what people said about a direct bus service to their local hospital was correct. “Whilst I am disappointed with the time it has taken we can all celebrate the limited service and the message I would send to bus users is to use this bus as much as you can. “Centro will obviously be monitoring the usage and we need people to use this bus as their first choice to ensure a continued service.” Shropshire Council is proposing to increase the amount students over 16 pay towards the cost of using public transport from the current rate of £330 to £420, with an additional annual £30 administrative charge. The council says the move is necessary to bring its charges in line with other authorities across the country, as its prices are currently among the lowest nationally. Councillor Cecilia Motley, council cabinet member for education and skills, said: “We were among the country’s unitary authorities which spent the most on home to school transport in 2009/10 and have www.coachandbusweek.com
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some of the lowest charges for our discretionary schemes. “We absolutely appreciate the challenges of getting teenagers to college, and are doing everything we can to encourage youngsters to learn. “But we have to look at the best use of our resources as we review everything we do in the light of Government spending reductions. These proposals will only affect a small percentage of students, and even if the increases are implemented the charges will still be on a par or cheaper than many other areas. “Students are being contacted about the proposals, so I would urge parents and carers to check whether the changes may affect them, and have their say.” The council said the change should not affect vulnerable groups, including pupils or students with statements of special educational needs and families in receipt of certain benefits. A spokesman for the council added discussions are taking place with bus companies in Shropshire about allowing students to use their passes on any services. A consultation will run until January 31.
EAST
Colchester bus users’ group, known as ‘C Bus’ believe the town’s temporary bus station should remain in place, despite
Essex County Council’s plans to relocate it. The council has stated the station must be moved in order to make way for vital regeneration, which would include a hotel, shops, homes and a centre for creative businesses, with aims to attract 500,000 visitors a year to the new Cultural Centre. In line with a legal agreement signed over five years ago, the station, off Queen Street, is due to close at the end of 2012. Campaigners want the current plans scrapped, and the temporary station improved and made permanent. Peter Kay, secretary of C Bus, has drawn up a proposal to show the station can remain in place without disrupting the redevelopment of the area. The plans include moving the approach road to the station further south to allow for landscaping of the area surrounding the arts organisation Firstsite. Essex County Council, Colchester Council and local bus companies are drawing up blueprints for smaller-scale stations on nearby Osborne Street and Stanwell Street.
SOUTH EAST
Oxford County Council has said it is scrapping a free school service for some children from Drayton to Abingdon since it is below the statutory three mile threshold and “routes on foot
within the village are safe”. From January, only children living over three miles from their school will qualify for the free bus. Pupils living less than three miles away who want to use the dedicated school buses from the village to the secondary comprehensive schools in Abingdon will have to pay £240 per year. The three-mile rule implemented by the council by a pupil’s postcode means some children in the village will pay for transport and some will not, despite catching the same bus from the same bus stop. Abingdon schools have also criticised the council’s decision to only pay for the statutory minimum service. Di Mashiter, head teacher at John Mason School, said: “This approval suggests it is safe to walk the threemile route along an unlit stretch of rural road and is irresponsible to say the least”. In a statement, Oxfordshire County Council said: “The walked routes available within the village of Drayton are safe. “There are very good footway links and good crossing provision. No accidents involving pedestrians have been reported in the most recent five years on this route.” The three-mile ruling will not apply to families on low incomes who will continue to receive the free transport. Eight bus services in Crawley, West Sussex, could be withdrawn or cut back as the county council is set to remove subsidies. The reductions are in keeping with an announcement earlier in the year, where West Sussex County Council said they would be reducing subsidies in phases for non-commercial routes by £2m over three years. The routes under threat are the 23, 82, 84, 200, 271, 273, 281 and 29, although passengers are being consulted before any formal decisions are taken. The number 7 route from Maidenbower to Gatwick was withdrawn in September as part of the first phase of reductions, though it was partially replaced by a new route, the 400, which travels from East Grinstead to Caterham via Crawley and Gatwick. Further routes in Crawley, the 1, 2, 4, 5, 100, 291, 391, 438, 604 and 696, are all under threat of being stopped or reduced in the third phase of changes, which would occur in 2012 or 2013.
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Pieter Montyn, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said any services which lose their subsidies could still survive if enough passengers use them. He said: “We have been actively working with bus companies to look for alternative ways to keep services running. We have already seen some services will be able to continue running on a commercial basis. “We are committed to doing all we can to keep services running, but, as difficult as it is, we simply must make these savings.” The council’s survey is asking people how often they use the routes which could be affected and where they travel to. It also asks what impact it would have if the route was no longer available.
SOUTH WEST
Bus services in Bristol will be cut back this Christmas and New Year period, due to an apparent disagreement over funding. The reduction of services is likely to impinge on shoppers and
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17
Coach & Bus Week takes a look at the big issues where you live in our round-up of the regions. If you’ve got a local issue you would like us to cover, contact Gareth Evans at gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
businesses, as the affected days include December 27, New Year’s Day and January 2. First claims it cannot run a fuller range of services on these days without extra financial support, while Bristol City Council has said subsidising these bank holiday services does not represent good value for money. First will only run five services on the aforementioned days. They are: 18 (Emersons Green to Southmead Hospital), the 44 (centre to Kingswood), the 45 (centre to Longwell Green), 70 (Bristol Temple Meads to UWE) and the 73 (centre to Cribbs Causeway). Council spokeswoman Kate Hartas said: “Many bank holiday services are well used, but the high rate of driver pay for working on these days means fares do not cover operating costs.” First spokeswoman Karen Baxter said: “Historically services on bank holidays have been funded by the local authority however the cuts to tendered services in Bristol made by the council earlier this year means there is no longer any support for bus journeys on these days.”
2012 n January 1 King Alfred Bus Running Day. Broadway and bus station, Winchester. www.fokab.org.uk n January 14 CPT North Western Region Annual Dinner. Southport Theatre & Covention Centre. Contact Phillipa Sudlow, CPT NW regional manager email phillipas@cpt-uk. org or call 01925 229497. n January 28 Excursions 2012. Alexandra Palace, London. www. excursions.org.uk n February 4 Mid Anglia Coach Operators Association Dinner Dance. The Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket. Contact Bridget Paterson on 01638 780066 or email sales@nealstravel.com n March 14-15 Best of Britain and Ireland (BoBi). Travel Trade Forum. NEC, 01926 834796. www.
bestofbritainandirelandevent.co.uk n March 15 Volvo Bus social evening in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust’s Warwickshire Appeal. Century Court House, Warwick. Pam Matthews 01926 414 553 or e-mail pam.matthews@volvo.com n March 18 Leyland National 40th Anniversary. Organised by the Leyland National Group, Nationals on static display and working in service.The British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland. www.leylandnational
group.co.uk
n March 31 ‘M&D and EK 60’. Kent Showground on the A249 near Maidstone. www.arrivabus.co.uk/ MDEK60, contact mdekbusclub@ gmail.com n April 14 Paul S Winson Coaches Running Day. Loughborough and local area. www.busrunningday. co.uk, contact info@busrunningday. co.uk
Last week marked the second anniversary of the Go-Ahead Group’s acquisition of Plymouth Citybus. The company has enjoyed a 4% increase in passenger numbers over the last 12 months, meaning over half a million more passenger journeys were made compared to the previous 12 months. Managing director Andrew Wickham has overseen the transition from a municipal to a privately-owned operation. He said: “Despite the economic downturn we have been able to continue to invest in the people, vehicle fleet, facilities and technology. The proof that we are getting it right is evident in the steady increase in the number of people we carry. We depend on this growth to help sustain the network of routes rather than depend on subsidies from the local authority.” An estimated over £1m has been invested over the two years since the acquisition. The investment has been used to introduce more modern, easy access buses, to rebrand the buses with contemporary livery, and to add two new coaches for Plymouth Citycoach. A further £1.6m order for brand new buses for spring 2012 has been made.
n April 19, 2012 UK Coach Awards. Ramada Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, 0870 900 1450. www.ukcoachawards.co.uk n April 19-21 Busworld Turkey. Istanbul Expo Center, Turkey. www.busworldturkey.com/en/ index.html n April 21-22 UK Coach Rally. East of England Showground, Peterborough. 01753 631170. www.coachdisplays.co.uk n April 24-26 CV Show. NEC, Birmingham. 01634 261262. www.cvshow.com
Europe’s largest commercial vehicle show the IAA takes place in Hannover, Germany between September 20 and September 27, 2012 n May 22-23 ALBUM Conference. – Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire. www.albumconference.co.uk n August 3-5 Bedford OB GetTogether. South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester, GL7 5QB. Contact the organiser Tim Wootton by email on tim@tjcs.freeserve.co.uk. Visit http://www.bedfordob.com/ n August 27 The National Association of Road Transport Museums gala day. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n September 8-9 UK Bus Driver of the Year, Blackpool. Call competition secretary Bill Holmes on 01303 251462. www.bdoy.co.uk n September 20-27 IAA Commercial Vehicles. Hannover. +(00)49 30897842. www.iaa.de n October 14 Midland Red Centenary of the Reintroduction of Motorbuses. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n November 6-8 Euro Bus Expo. NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com n November 20 UK Bus Awards – provisional date. www. ukbusawards.org.uk
2013 n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition. Palexpo, Geneva. www.uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 6100. n October 18-23 Busworld Kortrijk. www.busworld.org
Do you have an event to promote? Send details to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com
RegionalNews.indd 17
05/12/2011 21:59
18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
nEWS › TOURISM
4m
Recent landmark in theatregoers reached by Wicked as it moves into fifth year
BriEfly The Lowry, Salford’s theatre and gallery complex, caters for groups, offering savings on shows, catering and tours. Named Manchester’s most popular tourist attraction for the second year running by Visit Manchester, The Lowry promises group booking to be simple and easy. Group benefits include free tea or coffee, free coach parking, a coach driver refreshment voucher and special group catering. A visit to the Lowry Outlet Mall can also be incorporated. Call the dedicated group booking line on 0843 208 6003 An exhibition from acclaimed contemporary artist Charline von Heyl is opening at Tate Liverpool from February 24 to May 27, 2012. Charline von Heyl’s work offers a fresh and exciting approach to the world of abstract art, rejecting late modernism’s emphasis on a singular signature style. It will be the first major exhibition of the artist’s work in the UK. Featuring 42 of her large canvasses and a number of unique works on paper, the exhibition explores von Heyl’s work from 1990-2011. Tickets can be booked at https://tickets.tate.org.uk/ selectshow.asp Hadrian’s Wall will become one of the attractions of London 2012 Festival next year. Between June 21 and September 9, 2012, the UK’s most significant Roman site will host an installation which will be accessible to visitors at several locations along its 86 miles. It is being designed by New York-based artists’ collective YesYesNo who specialise in creating works designed to combine creativity, artistic vision and cutting edge technology. In addition to this, the historic defensive fortification has plenty of Roman sites along its path across the country with the ability to cater for groups, with discounts and special offers available. For more information visit the website: www.hadrianswall.org/ Panto’s on Strike, the Deal of the Week in last week’s CBW, has cancelled its January 11 showing. It will now run from January 12 to 14, 2012. www.coachandbusweek.com
TourNews.indd 18
‘Best Night Out’ show Wicked gets a recast Critically acclaimed production enters a fifth year and welcomes four millionth theatregoer while still scooping awards WICKED has been seen by over four million people in over 2000 performances. From December 12, the cast will be joined by both Matt Willis and Gina Beck at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. WICKED tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their adventures in Oz will take them on paths to become
Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. The musical is based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, who in turn took influence, characters and a setting from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Matt Willis, playing the role of Fiyero, is best known for being a member of chart-topping BRIT award winners Busted, and more recently for winning the popular ITV show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2006. He’s since gone back to his theatre roots however, and has recently starred in both Flashdance and Footloose.
West End musical Wicked has been voted London’s ‘Best Night Out’ at the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre awards
Coach tours welcome at Belton House Grade I listed Belton House, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, is a late 17th century country-house estate with sprawling magnificent gardens. Built for ‘Young’ Sir John Brownlow, it provided the perfect setting for lavish hospitality and entertainment on a grand scale, with every generation leaving its mark. Along with the Carolean-style mansion and impressive grounds, the estate also boasts elegant water features, a lake and Lincolnshire’s largest adventure playground, providing fun for all the family.
The grade one listed building once provided lavish hospitality and entertainment on a grand scale There is a varied events programme, including Easter and Halloween trails, an open-air theatre and garden tours. Group visits are catered for, with parking for three coaches 300 yards from the house entrance, and a drop-off point near visitor reception. There is also a licensed
Gina Beck has starred in musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Belle’s Stratagem and Les Misérables, and will be replacing Louise Dearman in the role of Glinda. Wicked was recently named ‘Best Night Out’ at the prestigious Evening Standard Theatre Awards, presented on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at a star-studded ceremony at The Savoy in London, in the awards ceremony’s first public -voted category. This adds to the multitude of awards the show has already won, including the 2010 Olivier Award for Most Popular Show and the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best West End Show in both 2010 and 2011. It is now one of the top 20 longest running West End musicals of all time. Other notable cast members include Desmond Barrit as The Wizard, Lillie Flynn as Nessarose, Christopher Howell as Doctor Dillamond and Adam Pettigrew as Boq. Bookings are being taken until October 27, 2012.
Group sales of ten tickets of more can save money by ringing Ticketmaster on 08448472334 For more information go to www. wickedthemusical.co.uk/
restaurant, gift shop, and a coffee shop open in peak season. Extensive facilities and activities are available for children and families. The house is open weekends from March 3, 2012, and Wednesday to Sunday between March 14 and November 4. The garden, park, restaurant and shop are open on Sundays from January 1, 2012, on weekends between February 4 and February 26, and seven days a week between March 3 and December 31. All group visits, tours and catering must be pre-booked. For more information ring 01476 566116 or visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/ w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/wbeltonhouse.htm
05/12/2011 18:38
1313 37 Year construction on Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland began
Number of different languages Shakespeare plays will be performed in during the ‘Globe to Globe’ event
‘Best castle you never heard of?’
Dunstanburgh castle in Northumberland stands on a remote headland with dramatic views of the coastline. It was built in 1313 by Earl Thomas of Lancaster, during a time when relations between King Edward II and the Earl, the King’s most powerful baron, had become openly hostile. The Earl’s rebellion was defeated in 1322 and he was captured and executed. The castle was then passed on to John of Gaunt, who strengthened it against the Scots by converting the great twin towered gatehouse into a keep. It was later the centre of fierce fighting during the Wars of the Roses, where it was besieged twice and eventually captured by Yorkist forces, but subsequently fell into decay. There is no coach parking on site. A 15% discount is offered to groups of 11 or more, with free entry for the driver and tour leader. Average length of visit stands at one hour. Tickets are £4.00 per adult, £2.40 per child and £3.60 concessions, before discounts. Contact the site on 01665 576231 for a group booking form.
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19
Neil Morrisey plays Fagin in the new production of Oliver!
New stage production of Oliver! Heads to Manchester From January 25, 2012, Manchester’s Palace Theatre will host Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Lionel Bart’s hit musical Oliver! starring Neil Morrissey, Iain Fletcher and Samantha Barks. Oliver! recently completed a twoyear run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, where it opened to the biggest advance sales of all time for a West End show. The musical celebrated its 50th birthday in 2010 and is based on the classic novel Oliver Twist by
Charles Dickens. It depicts the life of an orphan who finds his way into London’s criminal world. It is known for its host of familiar songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah and As Long As He Needs Me. Neil Morrissey, who is recognised for his role in Men Behaving Badly and as the voice of Bob the Builder, will be playing the role of Fagin. Iain Fletcher plays Bill Sikes and is best known for his nine-year role as DC Rodney Skase in the The Bill. He has also appeared in Casualty, Doctors and Family Affairs. Previous theatre performances include the part of king in The Three Musketeers, and Sam in Mamma Mia! in the West End. Nancy will be played by Samantha Barks, who finished third in the BBC television competition to find a new Nancy - I’d Do Anything - in 2008. She has also played Aladdin at the Theatre Royal Windsor, and last year made her West End debut as Eponine in Les Misérables. The production will run until March 10, and tickets are available now. Groups of 10 or more can get discounts by signing up on the Palace Theatre’s website. For more information on group bookings, visit: www. manchesterpalace.org.uk/
dEAlS OF THE WEEK For six weeks starting on April 21, 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe in London is hosting ‘Globe To Globe’, which will consist of 37 international companies presenting every one of Shakespeare’s plays in a different language. Part of the London 2012 festival, the programme will celebrate the vast array of communities and languages making up London’s cultural landscape. Performances will include Antony And Cleopatra in Turkish, Twelfth Night in Hindi and Othello in ‘Hip Hop’. The Q Brother’s interpretation of Othello is described by the theatre as “A fresh urban take on Shakespeare’s tragedy spun out, smashed up and lyrically rewritten over original beats.”
The steam-operated Bluebell Railway offers meals and cream tea on board Over 600 actors from all over the world will perform on the legendary stage, with each performance lasting roughly two and a quarter hours. Prices start from £5 for a standing ticket, with lower, middle
and upper seated galleries ranging between £10 and £35. Book ten seated tickets to get one addition ticket free. Under 18s get £3 off all seats, and disabled patrons plus one companion are entitled to halfprice seats.
diESEl priCES Cost per litre in pence: Great Britain Sweden Belgium Italy Germany Ireland Netherlands France Czech Republic Greece Portugal Austria Hungary Spain Slovenia Poland Luxembourg
140.90 136.28 129.02 127.65 125.52 123.55 123.55 123.47 118.94 118.77 117.83 116.38 114.63 109.30 108.36 104.40 104.26
HOlidAy pOUnd £1 will get you: Euro Switzerland (Franc) Norway (Kroner) Hungary (Forint) Czech Republic (Koruna) Poland (Zloty)
1.16 1.44 9.00 348.73 29.25 5.19
There is a setting down point for coaches on Southwark Bridge. n For more information visit http:// globetoglobe.shakespearesglobe.com The Bluebell railway near Brighton in West Sussex offers a basic group rate of £10.50 for groups of 10 or more, with the potential for cheaper rates if booked and paid for in advance. Bluebell Railway advises 1100, 1300 and 1500hrs are the best times to accommodate visiting groups. The heritage railway is steam operated and offers a nine-mile journey from Sheffield Park to Kingscote, with tickets providing standard travel for a 90 minute return journey. Free coach parking is provided on site and there are facilities to accommodate disabled passengers. n For further details call 01825 720800 or visit online at www. bluebell-railway.com www.coachandbusweek.com
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20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
nEWS
Volvo’s European Bus of the Future in Gothenburg Swedish manufacturer trials its version of a bus designed within the framework of the programme in its home capital Volvo’s version of the European Bus of the Future is entering service trials for three months in Gothenburg. Designed specifically for ease of use, it presents a means to assist in solving urban congestion and air pollution and aims to persuade more people to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead. It will operate on the city’s busiest route 16. Within the framework of European Bus System of the Future (EBSF) programme, researchers, companies and public authorities are working together to create new solutions for tomorrow’s bus-based public transport. Volvo’s EBSF concept is one of the sub-projects and represents a co-operative venture between Volvo Buses, Chalmers University of Technology, public transport authority Västtrafik and transport operator Veolia. Their brief was to develop and test a bus with properties designed to attract more passengers while at the same time offering the conditions needed for cost-efficient operation. “The optimal city bus must be inviting and safe to ride in, it should be convenient to board and exit, and the journey should be quick. These are the main areas on which
we have focused with the new bus we are currently testing in regular service,” says Peter Danielsson, project manager at Volvo Buses. The starting-point for the design of the new bus is a behavioural science study and various simulation exercises in which researchers from Chalmers investigated how passengers respond to different situations on a typical journey. The researchers also interviewed 300 passengers who regularly use route 16 to find out what they feel about using public transport. The result is an articulated bus which differs in many respects from the vehicles normally operated on the streets of Gothenburg. In order to make it easier to get on and off the bus, the door openings at the front are much wider than normal and are located behind the driver so passengers walk straight into the bus. The doors open outwards so as not to encroach on passenger space and they open and shut with a quick sideways movement, somewhat like on a metro carriage. Boarding height adjusts closer to kerb height at the bus stop to make things easier for passengers with mobility difficulties and those with baby carriages. “With these solutions, we can speed up passenger flow and reduce standstill times at bus stops by up to 25%. This means we shorten the overall journey time,
Extra-wide door aperture promotes faster boarding and alighting to reduce dwell time at stops helping speed up services and improve reliability www.coachandbusweek.com
NewsVolvo.indd 20
which is a factor of considerable importance to passengers,” says Peter Danielsson. Giving the bus a welcoming interior was another important consideration. For instance, the articulated ‘concertina’ section in the middle is made of a transparent material to admit more light. In addition, the interior layout has been changed to increase passenger capacity by 20% compared with a conventional articulated bus. “By positioning the front axle as far forward as possible, the wheel housings do not take up any of the passenger space. And in order to accommodate more standing passengers during peak periods, the seats in the front part of the bus fold out of the way and can be electronically locked upright by the driver,” explains Peter Danielsson. The most noticeable difference compared with a regular bus is the central driver’s seat, giving the driver better all-round visibility and thus also improving traffic safety. The front of the bus is designed to create a modern look. “One important aspect of the project is to test and monitor how changes in driving style can help give passengers a more pleasant journey, for instance through gentle braking and acceleration. As part of the project, we have therefore equipped all the buses on route 16 with features which help the drivers drive gently. All the drivers on this route have also received training in docking at bus stops in such a way that passenger entry and exit is made easier,” said Magnus Lorentzon, project manager at Västtrafik. Both driver and passenger feedback will be monitored by Chalmers during the course of the project. “We are starting up a focus group consisting of passengers who meet regularly to offer their views. In addition, we will conduct a large number of passenger interviews in February,” says MariAnne Karlsson, researcher at Chalmers. The survey results will be presented in spring 2012 and will indicate whether tomorrow’s bus is here to stay.
05/12/2011 18:30
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NewsVolvo.indd 21
05/12/2011 18:30
22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
DELIVERIES
DEwS COACHES Cambridgeshire operator Dews of Somersham has taken delivery of a new B13R Volvo - the company’s first new Volvo coach in 14 years. The 13m tri-axle with 9700 bodywork features Volvo’s 13-litre Euro 5 diesel engine rated at 460bhp with an I-Shift 12-speed automated gearbox.
“Volvo provided us with a B13R demonstrator earlier this year, it performed well and we really liked it. We decided to open discussions about purchasing a new coach,” said owner Simon Dew. The vehicle has 53 leather trimmed passenger seats, with leather head rests and three-point safety belts. Facilities include an internal toilet, TV monitors, servery,
CD/DVD player, reversing camera and satellite navigation. “We were told good things about the fuel efficiency of the B13R,” added Mr Dew. “With the amount of miles we cover, we need a vehicle which is proven, safe and reliable for our passengers, but also one which won’t cost us the earth in terms of fuel performance. We’re all excited to see how the B13R performs in the coming months”.
DUDLEY’S COACHES Dudley’s Coaches of Radford, Worcestershire took delivery of a Plaxton Panther-bodied Volvo B9R on November 11, 2011, bringing its Volvo fleet to 17 vehicles. Asked why the firm had acquired the new coach, managing director Chris Dudley told CBW: “We are a
FACT FILE
CHASSIS/BODy Volvo B13R/
Volvo 9700
EngInE Volvo 460 bhp Euro 5 TRAnSmISSIOn Volvo I-Shift SEATS 53 SpEC Touring SUppLIED By
Volvo, UK 02476 210250 www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/ en-gb/
COMMONwEALTH COACHES Commonwealth Coaches of Iver, Buckinghamshire, has taken delivery of a 14.2m Volvo B13BT I-Shift Van Hool T917 Acron luxury coach from Taunton-based dealer Moseley in the South. The vehicle is powered by a 420 bhp Volvo D13C engine which meets Euro 5 standards, with I-Shift gearbox. Drivability is assisted by ASR traction control. The coach contains 61 Grande Lux reclining seats with contrasting leather trim to headrest pad, seat back, sides, cushion squab sides and moquette seam piping, all with individually adjustable footrests. The courier seat is electrically
100% Volvo fleet and needed to upgrade. We are looking towards running a standard fleet of vehicles.” The company has continued its tradition of naming its coaches after local villages, and following requests from school passengers to use the village of Hanbury, the name Hanbury Harrier was chosen. Painted in the renowned operator’s new metallic livery,
outswing cameras to the rear corners and information from destination equipment. The coach includes Sutrak roof mounted air conditioning, Alcoa Durabright alloy wheels and a 450-litre fuel tank. There is also provision for a retro fitment of a wheelchair cassette lift within the front overhang. The vehicle is finished in white with vinyl livery. FACT FILE
operated. There are curtains to the side and rear windows, with side windows double glazed and double tinted. The driver’s window is electrically operated and the driver and courier have electrically operated sun blinds.
Internally, the vehicle includes an off-side centre sunken toilet and continental exit, with a fridge mounted in the step well. The radio, PA and CD system has foot activated microphone and Bluetooth capability along with a DVD system with two
flat panel monitors. The driver has access to a colour reversing camera coupled with interior surveillance camera, which is displayed through a dash mounted five inch colour screen. The screen can also display images from
CHASSIS/BODy Van Hool T917
Acron
EngInE 420 bhp Volvo D13C TRAnSmISSIOn Volvo I-Shift SEATS 61 SpEC Touring SUppLIED By
Moseley in the South 01823 653000 www.moseleysouth.co.uk/
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Deliveries.indd 22
05/12/2011 18:25
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23
have you taken delivery of a new vehicle and want to tell the world about it? email all the details and pictures to cbwinbox@ rouncymedia.co.uk
the coach will be used for day excursions and private hire. Powered by a Volvo DB9 engine, the air-conditioned B9R Plaxton Panther is coupled to an I-Shift transmission, which is known for its cost-effective and good environmental properties. The ergonomically designed driver’s cab features conveniently positioned controls, easily adjustable seat and an adjustable steering wheel. FACT FilE
CHASSiS/BOdy Volvo B9R/ Plaxton Panther EnginE Volvo DB9 TrAnSmiSSiOn Volvo I-Shift SEATS 53 SpEC Air-conditioning SUppliEd By
Volvo, UK 02476 210250 www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/ en-gb/
INTRODUCING
ArrivA Southern CountieS Arriva Southern Counties has taken delivery of five Wrightbus Streetlites – the first to a major UK bus group, and the first Door Forward variants to go into service. The 10.2 metre vehicles have 37 seats, with a maximum capacity for 70 passengers. Kevin Hawkins, Arriva Southern Counties’ commercial director, said: “StreetLite will fit perfectly on narrow urban roads whilst offering good passenger capacity in a bus with the wow factor.” A curved body features the Wrightbus Aluminique structure with deep side windows and a full rear window and is fully certified to ECWVTA & ECE107
V
Steve Jackson, Wrightbus presents the new Streetlites to Arriva’s Kevin hawkins and Brian Barraclough regulations. A fuel-efficient, four cylinder Cummins 160bhp, iSBe5 (SCR) engine is Euro 5 compliant and the buses are fitted with a Voith gearbox with integrated hydrodynamic retarder. The engine, gearbox, cooling pack, air filter and exhaust system are incorporated on a fully
demountable skid. Each vehicle is fitted with eight camera CCTV systems along with reversing camera and cab monitor. Daytime running lights are fitted as standard, as part of a combined indicator/position/ DRL, LED lamp system. Finished in Arriva’s livery of aquamarine blue and stone,
e olution
they are branded for key route 116 which runs through the universities at Medway campus and will feature onbus Wi-Fi technology. Steve Jackson, Wrightbus national accounts manager, said: “It is extremely gratifying to have completed our first delivery of StreetLite to a major UK bus group and particularly Arriva, with whom we have a long established working relationship having been supplying them with vehicles for over 20 years.” FACT FilE
CHASSiS/BOdy Wrightbus Streetlite (integral) EnginE 4 cylinder Cummins 160bhp, iSBe5 (SCR) Euro 5 TrAnSmiSSiOn Voith SEATS 37 SpEC Arriva SUppliEd By
Wrightbus 028 2564 1212 www.wrightbus.com/
• NEW GENERATION • NEW DESIGN • NEW IMAGE
DESIGNED TO LEAD. BUILT TO L AST. Sterling Place, Elean Business Park, Sutton, Ely, Cambs CB6 2QE Telephone: 01353 773000 Fax: 01353 773001 E-mail: sales@mcv-uk.com www.coachandbusweek.com
Deliveries.indd 23
05/12/2011 18:26
24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
NEWS › BUSINESS
£111bn 2017 Extra borrowing requirement for the next five years means increased financial pressure
BRIEFLY Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said the government may step in to provide legislation for how much Britain’s top executives are paid. He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr it intends to “get tough” in January on excessive boardroom pay in the private sector and may be forced to bring in new laws to make things fairer. Clegg said recent information about escalating pay has been a “real slap in the face” for people struggling with pay freezes and job losses, calling many salaries “unjustified and irresponsible”. Although he insisted “greater transparency” is necessary to stop people being rewarded for poor performance, Clegg added he does support people being paid to reflect their genuine success. Businesses across the North East could be set to benefit from a share of £45m, after the Chancellor pledged to do more to get more firms exporting. Of the 10,000 medium sized firms in the UK, only 25% are believed to export. Now £10m in funding will be dedicated specifically to this group, and could help an extra 500 businesses move into new markets. The remainder of the funding will be used to help double the number of SME exporters to 50,000 by recruiting new trade advisors and extending support programmes. The new funding means more businesses will have access to the Passport to Export scheme which helps new firms to export and identify appropriate markets and strong contacts. A slowdown in manufacturing growth has prompted the UK’s biggest manufacturing group to cut its growth forecast to just 0.9% in 2012. Having achieved a consistently high rate of growth over much of the past 12 months, the damaging effects of eurozone uncertainty on international and domestic demand has led to a sharp slowdown. The Q4 Manufacturing Outlook survey shows growth remained positive, but output and orders balances have dropped from historic highs at the beginning of the year to levels closer to their long-run average. www.coachandbusweek.com
BusinessNews.indd 24
The year in which the end of austerity has been predicted
TfL launches Games transport ‘hotspot’ info Transport for London’s hotspot aimed at keeping London ‘open for business’
Transport for London’s (TfL’s) London 2012 Games transport ‘hotspot’ information, launched last week, will enable businesses to finalise their plans and ensure the capital is ‘open for business’ throughout next summer, according to TfL. TfL said in response to requests from business for more detailed information, it has now published very detailed transport ‘hotspot’ information covering London’s roads and public transport network. “This demonstrates rather than requiring a blanket reduction in travel by 30% across London as a whole, the transport challenge is focused at certain times and in certain locations, generally in central London and around Games venues,” said TfL. Around 70% of road traffic in Greater London will be unaffected and two thirds of Tube and DLR stations will see no impact, in terms of additional time taken to board a train. However, on the busiest days, there will an additional three million journeys in London as people watch the Games and attend cultural events, meaning the road and public transport networks will be much busier than usual in certain locations.
Autumn Statement ‘step in right direction’
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement as a step in the right direction to help small firms. However, the chancellor presented a rather bleak picture, warning Britain is facing six more years of austerity as growth stalls, unemployment rises and spending
TfL’s new Games transport ‘hotspot’ website aims to help businesses plan ahead and provides maps on how to travel during the Olympics London 2012 and TfL have been working with businesses for over a year, to enable them to plan ahead and from early next year will begin to communicate directly with the public across London and the UK. “Around £6.5 billion has been invested in upgrading and increasing capacity on our transport networks, delivering an early legacy of transport improvements which will benefit millions of people for generations to come,” said new transport secretary, Justine Greening. “However, on the busiest days of the Games, with an additional three million journeys in the capital it is only sensible for businesses to plan ahead, particularly those in and around travel ‘hotspots’.” London mayor, Boris Johnson said: “My message is clear – prepare to profit during the Games. By planning ahead using the cuts deepen, as he attempts to bring increasing levels of borrowing under control. Key points included in the statement include: Planned 3p fuel duty rise in January on hold until August; Go-ahead for 35 road and rail projects across England; Credit easing programme to underwrite up to £40bn in low-interest loans to small and medium-sized firms; £1bn business finance partnership to raise money for medium-sized firms; Regional Growth regeneration fund to get £1bn in extra funding;
information published today, we will not only keep London moving and open for business, but London will benefit financially from the Games and for many years to come through increased investment and visitors.” London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy said: “We’ll continue to work with businesses and early next year will start communicating with regular travellers, to ensure they can stay ahead of the Games, we keep London and the UK moving and businesses can make the most of all the Games have to offer.” The road and Tube station ‘hotspot’ maps and accompanying travel advice are based on the latest data and information on which TfL is developing its own operational transport plans. On the roads, the maps show the impact for each day of the Games and on the days immediately preceding. Alongside the road ‘hotspot’ maps, TfL has developed an online road journey planning tool which shows the additional journey time for those road journeys which really must be undertaken at the busiest times and in the busiest locations, such as the delivery of perishable goods. The road and public transport ‘hotspot’ information and travel advice published by TfL is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/2012
George Osborne delivered a gloomy Autumn Statement last Tuesday Business rate holiday relief for small firms extended to April 2013; and £1bn “youth contract” to subsidise six-month work placements for 410,000 young
05/12/2011 18:24
0.7%
Chancellor’s 2012 economic forecast revised down to from 2.5%
Fall in optimism and concerns over Olympics transport Only 13% of London businesses feel optimistic about prospects for the economy over the next six months, compared with 43% in June, and optimism about their own business prospects has fallen from 51% to 31% over the same period, according the latest CBI/KPMG London Business Survey. Of 262 London business leaders, just over half (55%) say their top concern is the threat of a doubledip recession. But companies are now less concerned than six months ago about reduced public sector spending, which has dropped from second to seventh place. The number of companies only hiring when essential has increased from 59% in June to 64% in this survey, with 23% of businesses implementing recruitment freezes, broadly the same as six months ago (20%). With just over seven months to go until the Olympics, 92% of
63% of businesses surveyed believe the Olympics will improve transport services in the capital people. John Walker, FSB national chairman said: “Taken as a package, the announcements in the Autumn Statement address many of the concerns raised by small businesses and are therefore to be welcomed. The key now is for the government to be consistent, and set to the task of translating these policy intentions into tangible actions on the ground. “Targeting the rising cost of overheads is imperative to help firms weather the economic storm which could be heading our way, so measures to limit the rise in fuel prices and business rates are very welcome.”
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London businesses think the Games will benefit London internationally, and three-quarters (78%) say they are “looking forward” to the event. Sara Parker, CBI London region director, said: “It’s good news the majority of the capital’s companies are now thinking about planning for the Games, but there is still more work to be done over coming months to make sure transport, staffing and security issues are ironed out.” As the Games move closer, more companies are starting to think about business planning around the event, with only 13% of firms not having considered the potential transport and logistics impacts (down from 40% in June). However, the number of London businesses feeling prepared for these issues is still roughly the same as in June (32% compared with 36%), and the same number of firms as six months ago (39%) say they are still not prepared. Threequarters of respondents (72%) feel they do not have sufficient information about the Olympic and Paralympic route networks. Almost half of companies (49%) are now confident about dealing with staff absence during the Games, while 20% have not yet considered the issue. London companies believe the Olympics will have a number of benefits including to boost tourism (89%) and improve transport (62%). However, 43% say not enough is being done to ensure the long-term legacy from the Games. Meanwhile, John Cridland, CBI director-general, gave the thumbs up to Obsorne for sticking to his guns. “This autumn statement works with the realities of today and provides an imaginative framework for UK businesses as it strives to secure growth and jobs. This is “Plan A plus” in all but name,” said Cridland. “The downgraded forecasts and outlook were no surprise, but the Eurozone crisis is still hanging over us. The government’s dogged commitment to budget deficit reduction remains the only way to maintain the UK’s triple A credit rating and low interest rates on international money markets.”
www.coachandbusweek.com
05/12/2011 18:24
26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
UK BUS AWArdS
Celebrating success Coach & Bus Week’s Gareth Evans and Meera Rambissoon report on the UK Bus Awards 2011, held last Tuesday at the London’s Hilton Park Lane hotel
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he air was full of friendly competitive spirit. Sweepstakes were organised by attendees on some tables – while the likely winners became the subject of much debate. That said, the UK Bus Awards (UKBA) remains a civilised affair. The organisation is slick, it’s impressive and one feels proud to be there and be part of it – but perhaps more importantly, and at the risk of apparent contradiction, it’s a friendly, down to earth affair. Indeed, lounge suits are very much in vogue here. The prizes at this year’s UK Bus Awards were presented by Bus Users UK chairman Gillian Merron, whilst the ceremony was compered by Jane Hill, one of the BBC News team of experienced newsreaders. “I’m really, really chuffed to be asked to present these awards. I’m very, very passionate about public transport. I can tell you I got rid of my car 14 years ago,” enthused Hill. John Owen, UKBA chairman, kicked off the main proceedings with a powerful speech in his usual down to earth style, which struck many a chord with the assembled guests. “The industry’s original and prestigious award scheme goes from strength to strength,” said John, enthusiastically opening the ceremony. “We’ve beaten our 2009 record with over 250 entries.” John said the number of entries for the Putting Passengers First Award, which transport minister Norman Baker went on to present, demonstrates the number of car www.coachandbusweek.com
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users attracted to buses. Quality and innovation shown by the industry has hugely impressed the judges. Addressing Baker, John said: “Minister, we appreciate greatly your support for buses but these are difficult times. On its own we might have coped with the 20% cut in BSOG from next April, but when this comes on top of cuts in local government funding and a fatally-flawed concessionary travel reimbursement scheme, unfortunately it is inevitable those passengers who rely on bus services are likely to suffer in large numbers.” He urged: “To avoid further misery for bus passengers, bus companies and, dare I say it, MPs, please leave BSOG with the operators so it can go directly to supporting bus services. “Please bring a fair system for concessionary travel. I never thought something so seemingly positive would undermine the viability of bus services.” Indicating he could talk about the Competition Commission, “but I won’t,” John said: “If ever there was a ringing endorsement for the current bus industry framework, it is the total absence in the provisional recommendations for any fundamental change to the structure of the industry.” However John added: “The industry badly needs stability without which we won’t get investment in top class buses we see today.” Turning to the importance of partnership, John commented: “Partnership is a common
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1: Winner – Putting Passengers First – trent barton; 2: Winner – Unsung Heroes – Rita Kendrick, Arriva Yorkshire; 3: Top Shire Operator – Yellow Buses’ Mark Keighley & Mike Conroy; 4: Winner – Chris Moyes Award for Top National Driver, sponsored by Coach & Bus Week – Trevor Owen, Stephensons of Essex; 5: Young Manager of the Year – Ben Wakerley; and 6: Winner – Top Express Coach Operator – Stagecoach Oxford Tube
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7: Winner of Top National Depot – Nottingham City Transport, Gotham; 8: Guests on the CBW table included Geoff Hirst, Steve Challis and Robert MacGregor. 9: Highly Commended Making Buses a Better Choice – North Somerset Coaches team; 10: Award for Services to the Bus Industry – Roger French; 11: Oxford Bus Company’s Arthur Pearson received a commendation for outstanding service in the Unsung Heroes Award; and 12: IRTE’s Nick Jones presents Engineer of the Year John Bickerton of First Bus with his award
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28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
UK BUS AWArdS
thread which links all of today’s winners and it is people who form partnerships, who are committed to a common goal. Over 100,000 people are out there delivering for our customers every day. “Our mission is to recognise, reward and inspire - let us celebrate our champions,” concluded John. Speaking at the UK Bus Awards for the second year running, transport minister Norman Baker said given the alternative of listening to George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, he would much rather be at the awards. “It’s a great pleasure to be here for the second year running – perhaps I’m creating a precedent. I’m hoping if I’m here for next year, I’ll get a medal for long service!” he quipped, which the audience responded to with an applause. “This industry very much puts passengers first. With five billion bus journeys a year, our buses matter and are having a positive influence on people’s wellbeing and quality of life.” Responding to John’s comments, the minister said: “As we face the challenges ahead, there will be plenty of times where the bus industry and government doesn’t agree.” Indeed, commenting specifically on concessionary travel, he said: “The CPT has made its views very clear what they think is wrong with the guidance.” Baker repeated the mantra of the ‘no better, no worse off’ principle and said the guidance was based on the “best evidence available.” “I will always look with an open mind at evidence presented to us,” he added. “Last year you asked us to get down the time taken to look at appeals and we are starting to do that. BSOG, when taken alongside the Competition Commission’s inquiry, I know is unsettling when you want stability. My job as I see it is to work as productively with you on key objectives of cutting carbon and economic growth, of which the bus industry is at the centre.” “This industry is always moving on,” said Baker, before making the announcement of a third round of Green Bus Fund of £20m. “The one thing you’ve consistently asked for is another round of GBF – you’ve got it. People like low carbon buses. The UK is also fortunate to boast three manufacturers - ADL, Wrights and Optare – which are not only producing low carbon buses for the home market but also for export.” More details are to follow
soon, and Baker also announced £10m funding in conjunction with Transport for London, to go to “further reduce the emissions from London’s buses.” Thankfully Baker said the “important contribution of coaches must not be forgotten.” Citing National Express’ Digbeth coach station in Birmingham, he described the facility as “impressive.” In the light of the withdrawal of coach travel from the English National Concessionary Fares scheme, Baker was also quick to praise National Express for the re-introduction of its concessionary coach fare card, which works on the same principal as a railcard. He also praised the Go-Ahead Group’s Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company for providing him with the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong ambition of driving a Routemaster – as previously reported in CBW. “Such was Roger French’s confidence that he allowed me to drive it on my own off the public highway,” he enthused. Baker concluded: “This event is rightly about honouring those who work tirelessly day in, day out.” Following the presentation of the final award, Gillian Merron commented: “It’s a wonderful thing to take pride in your work. As we’ve seen today, the best of the bus industry has what it takes to deliver a world class service to bus users. “It isn’t yesterday’s story, it is tomorrow’s story and you’ve shown it today.” Having thanked a range of stakeholders, Chris Cheek said: “One of the reasons for starting the awards is because we thought the industry had a good story to tell. “The standard of entries has risen hugely over the years and continues to get better and for that we rely on our people. The overwhelming majority is passionate and we’re very aware of the pressures you’re under today.” Following the awards, it was announced the raffle raised a grand total of £3,901.18 in aid of transport development charity Transaid. Transaid’s Chantelle Cummings thanked everybody who had donated, and for the warm welcome at the event given to the Transaid staff. “We were made to feel part of the bus industry family,” she added. Newsflash – the provisional date for the UK Bus awards 2012 is November 20. further details in due course.
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7: Winner – London Bus Garage of the Year – First London’s Lea Interchange; 8: Top National Bus Depot – Transdev Blazefield; 9: Winner of Marketing Excellence – trent barton. 10: Highly Commended for Marketing Excellence – Stagecoach Yorkshire; 11: Winner of Top City Operator – Lothian Buses – Bill Campbell, Ian Craig, Bruce Boden & Norman Strachan; 12: Ian Laing, Aiden Proctor, Citylink Gold, Stagecoach UK Bus; and 13: Winner Eureka! Award for Marketing Initiatives – East Yorkshire Motor Services
3 1: Winner of Award for Innovation – Arriva UK Bus – Arthur Whiteside of ADL (sponsor), Mike Woodhouse & Larry Breen of Arriva; 2: Highly Commended for Top London Bus Driver – Dalmar Ibrahim of Abellio; 3: Joint Runner Up Top Independent Operator – Ipswich Bus; 4: The CBW tables also included Ian Gillis, Alan Johnson & Carl Watkins; 5: Runner Up London Bus Garage – Epsom Coaches’ Quality Line; and 6: Runner Up Young Bus Manager of the Year – Andrew Edwards, First UK Bus
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05/12/2011 22:22
30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
OpEn plAtfOrm › pETER HUNTLEY
What is market failure? Responding to Nexus’ intention to implement a Quality Contract (CBW1014), Go North East managing director Peter Huntley is puzzled and would like readers help in understanding the meaning of the word ‘failure’ WARNING: Some CBW readers may choke on these words. I believe in Quality Contracts. I believe in them as a necessary and appropriate safety net. I believe where bus operators fail to serve the market effectively through their own failures there should be a mechanism to deal with this failure. But of course we need to define what we mean by failure. And here is where I get puzzled. Because as far as I can see by every possible benchmark, key performance indicator or pass mark Go North East is a ‘success’. Yet despite this Nexus says it is a failure and Nexus needs to control its business. So here are the facts. Perhaps a kind CBW reader can tell us all where I am going wrong in return for a bottle of a good Scottish malt, which I will happily send them. says you are losing passengers 1 Nexus so, if this is your fault, this must be a failure? Go North East has continually and consistently increased passengers in recent years and even in these very difficult times our latest board report (November 2011) shows we are still increasing commercial passenger numbers, albeit our growth has now dropped to less than 1%. Yet the PTE annual accounts show that in almost every year they had ‘control’ (1973-1985), they lost massive numbers of bus passengers. Was the PTE ‘successful’ because it lost passengers but GNE is a failure because it increases them? surely you are cutting services and 2 But Nexus says it has to try and maintain them? Actually no, we increased our service mileage this year, last year and the year before. In the last six years we have increased our frequency on almost every one of the core corridors which Nexus designated as a ‘Superoute’ and even with recession in full flow GNE is still planning further increases in service in 2012. Nexus and our shire counties are certainly under pressure and are cutting their secured services. So is it our failure that Nexus and the councils are damaging the network with their cuts? the passengers want change 3 But don’t they? The leader of the ITA has told everyone this is what the people want? Actually GNE communicates with more passengers than the PTE ever has through its well-respected consultation programme and that is not what they have been saying. www.coachandbusweek.com
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GNE has a track record of investing in its fleet, as seen here by Steve Hodgson with a new Solo SR (above); and a Mercedes-Benz Citaro (top)
“It wouldn’t make much difference to GNE if subsidy disappeared altogether; it is peripheral and largely irrelevant. Is this really Nexus bankrolling bus operators?” Peter Huntley
More persuasively perhaps, the Government’s watchdog Passenger Focus completed a major programme of passenger interviews earlier this year and reported an incredible 92% of GNE passengers were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the service they received. I wonder what percentage our councils would achieve if they were put to the test? So, let me try and understand the Nexus position on this, are the 92% wrong? Maybe Nexus knows better? Perhaps Tyne & Wear councillors don’t believe in democracy any more? but what about reliability of service, 4 Ah, Nexus says this needs to be improved? I am sure anyone who actually operates buses in a busy conurbation knows the problems but lets look at the (published) GNE statistics, which are now collected jointly with Nexus to ensure there is no doubt about accuracy. In recent periods GNE ‘controllable lost mileage’ has been 0.1% and 0.2% with a fairly consistent performance of operating 99.85% of mileage operated. On punctuality we are generally around 95.5% within the Traffic Commissioners’ window, not perfect I know, but I believe this is a ‘good’ outcome for urban areas.
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But you ‘take millions of pounds of taxpayers money’ according to Nexus, surely this justifies Nexus having control? Although Nexus continues to spend the bulk of its money on Metro (and always has) it claims this year it will spend (for all operators) £39m on concessionary fares reimbursement and £6.8m on subsidy. Nexus frequently rolls figures together to pretend the concessionary fares reimbursement is something other than a replacement of the fares we don’t collect because they insist we give free travel to their pass holders. It’s a bit like the discount passes I used to buy my kids so they could travel around although I never thought of getting together with other parents and telling my local bus company that this gave us the right to control its business! A little over 8% of our income comes from subsidy and less than 5% of our fare-paying passengers travel on a subsidised service. It wouldn’t make much difference to GNE if subsidy disappeared altogether; it is peripheral and largely irrelevant. Is this really Nexus bankrolling bus operators? says it will make things simpler 6 Nexus for passengers because you offer a ‘confusing mess’. Simplicity is good isn’t it?
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Imagine going into your local Tesco, Sainsbury and ASDA next week and finding that beans are now sold in a single, simple grey tin with a big ‘B’ (for beans) on it. No organic option, no low salt, no big and small, no quality distinction, no sealable jars for the fridge, no choice. And if that doesn’t bring you mental pictures of North Korea then imagine being told that you as a taxpayer were funding the cost of a huge new bureaucracy which was making your supermarket nice and simple for you. Well this appears to be the Nexus vision for buses. They already have the grey livery with a ‘B’ on the side (for Bus, just in case passengers are confused). As a life long bus user I am insulted by Nexus telling me I am too stupid to make the same sort of decisions as I make in the supermarket when I arrange my travel. As one of my regular commuters said the other morning ‘How very dare they!’ come on Huntley, didn’t the 7 But Competition Commission find you were doing something which disadvantaged passengers? No, in fact they didn’t, although you might have thought they did by the tone of some of the coverage. They clearly pointed out we did one deal - fully investigated and approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - and we talked about a second possible deal for North Tyneside which would have involved a Nexus-endorsed qualifying partnership agreement. OFT recognised the small loss of competition in the former (less than 10% of GNE competition with Arriva) was outweighed by the benefits and they were right. As a passenger pointed out in a letter to the Newcastle Journal this week, we have as a result of this deal increased services in the Tyne Valley, lowered average fares, invested in new buses and increased total bus passengers! Pardon us for improving public transport please. And we would have done the same in North Tyneside IF we had acted on any of the discussions we had. But that was of course before the Competition Commission came up with its latest bizarre theory and paranoia about bus operators trying to get together and improve the lot of the passengers, funding authorities and companies themselves. why doesn’t GNE co-operate with 8 So local councils to avoid them feeling they have to go for Quality Contracts? Well actually we do. The model partnership we proposed and introduced in Gateshead (it took a year to get Nexus on board) brings councillors onto our stakeholder board, shares all decisions with them, exposes all of our data and (uniquely) involves us paying into a community fund if we fail to deliver on the agreed high standards we have committed to. Gateshead Council tell us they are very happy with this but despite offering this sort of partnership to every council in the area most don’t even reply to my letters, let alone
give any positive response. Maybe I have a ‘social disease’ (customer-itous?) and they daren’t engage with me? don’t we need a progressive, 9 But forward looking, innovative bus industry investing well in the future? Yes I certainly think so and depending on who you speak to (Alex Hornby, hah!) GNE may be the second or (rest of the world!) the most innovative operator in the UK. The range of positive initiatives from the company could fill the remainder of this page (as would the new investments) and the passenger response shows this is what the customers want. It sometimes feels like having such a positive engagement with customers is regarded as a ‘failure’ by local politicians as it denies them the self-appointed authority of being the sole voice of the bus passenger, but maybe I am becoming too cynical? this is alright for GNE but what 10 Well about other operators, like the smaller guys? I actually have an excellent working relationship with smaller operators in the NE several of whom already operate in Tyne & Wear. The Nexus plan for a single contract for all services may well put them out of business. These guys have served their local communities for generations and are going to come out of this even worse than the ‘big boys’. This is an anti-business, anti-innovation, anti-choice and anti-passenger proposal which would sink the bus industry on the alter of political power-plays. This is very sad. why is Nexus going 11 So for a Quality Contract? Answers to the editor please! And the bottle of malt may just be yours! Peter has been managing director of Go North East since 2006. Born in Hartlepool, he started in buses aged just 15 as an office junior and worked his way up from there, taking night classes to gain qualifications to progress. He has worked in London, Lancashire and Scotland in private and public sectors. He founded trade magazine Local Transport Today, and then went on to launch his own consultancy, the TAS Partnership. If you want to let off some steam, just tap away at the keyboard and send your rant (or carefully-reasoned views) to cbwinbox@rouncymedia.co.uk, or fax 0845 280 2927. Make ‘Open Platform’ the subject line. Alternatively, send your missive to: CBW, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX
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32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
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THE BIG PICTURE
Network Warrington, the trading name of Warrington Borough Transport recently ran a competition amongst its customers to find a suitable photograph for its 2011 corporate Christmas card. “We had a fantastic response, it was difficult to choose a winner due to the excellent standard of entries, however, in the end we liked this photo as it really shows of the conditions our drivers faced last winter,” explained David Squire, MD. The winning photo, seen here, shows one of the municipallyowned operator’s Wright Meritbodied VDL buses ‘DK07EZG’. Fleet number 67 is seen working route 25C to Warrington Interchange along Chatfield Drive, Birchwood, looking suitably atmospheric and festive. It was taken by Jeff Tattersall of Locking Stumps, who has won a month’s free travel.
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34 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
TECHNOLOGY › HYBRID DRIVETRAINS
Hybrid drives- a step on the eco-trail Hybrid systems do work but are at a fledgling stage of development and there may be a lot more benefit to be derived from further advances in the technology. Martin Cole has looked at some of the key players and systems currently available and hybrids yet to come to market www.coachandbusweek.com
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n the early days of modern diesel-electric hybrid development there were just two options which emerged as lead contenders – serial or parallel hybrids. More recently there have been alternative hybrid technologies announced which include the mechanical flywheel system, better known as the Flybrid and two hydraulic hybrid systems emerged, one in France and another in the USA. Both mechanical and hydraulic systems are claimed to offer significant capital cost reductions against serial or parallel hybrid drives and can be retrofitted to existing vehicles. Why are hybrids a step forward? Essentially because internal combustion engines, in
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One of the Optare Solo SR Siemens hybrids running successfully in Manchester
comparison with electric motors, are torque deficient at low speeds and use most fuel under acceleration. Electric motors can provide maximum torque from start-up – delivering smooth and rapid acceleration which can be controlled and moderated for either performance or comfort.
Serial hybrids
Put in very simple terms, serial hybrids have no mechanical link between the engine and the drive axle. The engine’s key function is to drive a generator which supports a supply of electricity to the batteries. The batteries supply the power to the electric drive motor. The engine does have other functions – such as driving a compressor to charge the air
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tanks and a hydraulic pump for the power steering, but continued development has seen the evolution of electric power steering, door opening equipment and air conditioning systems. While these do place more demand on battery reserves, their adoption means there is no need for the engine to run when the batteries are fully charged. As the power level drops, the system can now automatically re-start the engine to assist in maintaining optimum charge levels. This automated stop-start capability aids hybrid efficiency even further as fuel consumption and associated exhaust emissions cease during all engine downtime periods – reducing costs and environmental impact. Noise is cut down too – which is another environmental benefit. The serial principle finds favour outside common diesel electric application as it merely needs a substitute power source to drive the generator. In most instances the conventional diesel engine can be substantially downsized – with positive effects on weight, fuel consumption and emissions – but options for alternatively fuelled engines are plentiful and fuel cells seem a very likely substitute in the not too distant future. Serial hybrids perform best in dense urban stop-start traffic where they take considerable advantage of regenerative braking. This process harvests the braking energy which would normally be dissipated as heat. Applying the brakes reverses the function of the drive motor – turning it into a highly effective alternator. It acts like an electromagnetic retarder but the power it generates under this mode can be used to charge up the batteries. The more braking operations performed, the more power is recovered and therefore there is less requirement for the engine to be running. Alexander Dennis favours the serial hybrid concept and has been achieving considerable success with high levels of reliability and significant fuel saving. Serial technology is a natural fit with the company as it only builds buses and can acquire all the necessary components and systems through working with accomplished specialists and partners – such as BAE Systems. Major commercial vehicle OEMs have been in two-minds over the choice of preferred system. Scania
developed a serial hybrid which seems to have been put on ice while it pursues alternative fuels – such as ethanol - and Irisbus has serial hybrids undergoing trials with operators but initially Volvo, MAN, Iveco and Daimler seem to have considered the wider picture of a common system for adoption across the truck sector as well as in bus applications. Much of the truck sector application is geared towards long distance operation where parallel systems are not at any disadvantage. Long distance travel also brings coach operation into the frame as most suited to parallel hybrids – although the downside would be the additional weight and an unwelcome reduction in seats or luggage capacity. It is also worth remembering CV manufacturers generally have their own factories or contracted suppliers producing gearboxes and transmissions. It is in their interests to incorporate hybrids into this scenario rather than cut off the requirement for them – effectively they would be pulling the rug from under their own feet.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz recently supplied a hybrid Citaro G hybrid articulated bus to Munich Regional Transport after the operator, Busservice Watzinger GmbH achieved positive results with a 12m hybrid supplied earlier. Munich administrative district has now decided to subsidise more hybrid buses and carry out a long-term test on them. The Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid will be used on one of the operator’s most important routes, number
266, running between the Planegg suburban railway station and the Grosshadern hospital. The 266 is an effective showcase for the benefits of sustainable technology. It has a dense network of bus stops, a central business district and high volume passenger use. A prime feature of its application will be almost noiseless and emissionfree service in the vicinity of the hospital. According to MercedesBenz, the Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid is at present the only hybrid with the capability to complete a distance of up to 10km on electricity only, given ideal topographical conditions. The drive system consists of four electric hub motors (two ZF AVE portal units), which draw their current from one of the world’s largest in-vehicle lithium-ion batteries. Diesel fuel savings, and the associated reduction in CO2 emissions, are around 20%. The motors are fitted close to the wheel hubs on the middle and rear axles, together providing total drive power of 320 kW, supplied where necessary from both the battery and the generator operated by the diesel engine. These electric motors are also used for braking purposes, operating as generators to convert the braking energy into electrical current for the battery. The diesel engine is automatically activated to provide supplementary current whenever additional demand is indicated by the battery. In comparison with a straight diesel bus, the internal combustion engine is only half the size in total, weighing just 450 kg instead of 1000 kg, and with a displacement of only 4.8 litres
The BAE Systems HybridDrive employed in the UK and Europe by Alexander Dennis and by other bus manufacturers around the world www.coachandbusweek.com
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36 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
TECHNOLOGY › HYBRID DRIVETRAINS
as compared with 12 litres. Output is approximately one third lower, at 160 kW. The energy storage device is a lithium-ion battery - the first to provide a power rating of this size. It delivers a maximum of 240 kW and it is also relatively light, weighing less than 350 kg. Key advantages over conventional battery systems include a higher energy density, higher storage capacity and low weight. By way of comparison, the hybrid buses on trial in Stuttgart three decades ago had lead batteries on board, weighing as much as 3000 kg. Daimler already has considerable experience of lithium-ion batteries in buses. Over 1000 of the 3000 Orion hybrid buses are now running on lithium-ion batteries produced by the same manufacturer. Orion, the US-based subsidiary of Daimler AG supplies the battery system for the Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid.
Parallel hybrids
Parallel hybrid systems in diesel electric applications require the use of the engine’s drive capabilities but with the support of energy stored in the batteries. Any heavy commercial vehicle is at its most inefficient when accelerating, particularly from a standstill. What the electric engine does is substitute the mechanical drive for initial propulsion. It gets the huge mass moving and as the speed increases and power requirement reduces, the mechanical drive takes over. In Allison’s Ep electric drive system, the amounts of mechanical or electric drive are proportional and adjust to suit load and demand. Allison describes the process as ‘torque blending.’ Again, with the heavy work undertaken by electricity, the typical engine can be downsized without any detriment to equivalent performance of a similar but conventionally powered vehicle. This is characterised by Volvo’s double decker hybrids which have proved highly effective in service. They have five litre engines in place instead of the normal seven or nine litre units.
Allison Transmission
Allison developed its Ep drive over many years and it has proven extremely reliable in service which made it popular in North American markets where operators found www.coachandbusweek.com
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Top: One of the first Allison Ep systems in Europe in a Solaris Urbino artic. Above: Allison Ep Drive - electric motor replaces the torque converter
“The build of our 5,000th H 40/50 EP is a major milestone for our company and the industry. Certainly, it is a tribute to everyone at Allison who has contributed to the success of this important program.” Lawrence E. Dewey Chairman and CEO, Allison Transmission
they could amortise the extra cost burden over the lifetime of the vehicle. It has been adopted in 216 cities around the world and achieved an enviable position as having over 4,600 units installed in buses and coaches. Apart from minor changes it remained unaltered for some time but as the cost of fuel has begun to soar a host of upgrades in a refinement package for Ep drivelines was announced mid-way through 2011. These enhancements are designed to increase the efficiency and to allow easier optimisation of the system to the vehicle’s specific application. Allison’s two-mode hybrid system is claimed to provide technical advantages over other parallel hybrid configurations,
mainly because at its heart is the Ev Drive which is designed to combine (torque blend) electrical machine power with engine power. Ev Drive has no fixed gear, speed or torque ratios and is infinitely and continuously variable. This module forms an Electrical Variable Transmission (EVT) with architecture based on mechanical power splits (modes) and the electrical power path, which can be used to allow continuous control over engine operating speed. There are 57 different functional conditions which can be incorporated to achieve the best powertrain efficiency over the wider range of vehicle speeds. When the vehicle accelerates from a stop, an electrical motor draws power from the battery to initiate seamless motion. As speed picks up the engine adds mechanical power directly to the drive train through the Ev Drive as required. The system’s controllers and battery charging system ensure the battery modules are maintained at optimum charge.
The updated Allison
Transmission H40EP and H50EP Hybrid Systems now feature Fourth Generation Electronic Controls, a second-generation DPIM2 (Dual Power Inverter Module 2) unit, the latest ESS2 (Energy Storage System 2), and new Allison ‘HyValue’ performance features. Allison also says it has taken the next major technological step with the introduction of DC to DC converter
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capabilities. Fourth Generation Electronic Controls include the latest microprocessor controllers and feature hardware which is common to all high-volume Allison commercial transmissions. They have greater processing power and memory capability with memory expansion to allow for further technology evolution. DPIM2 (Dual Power Inverter MoDule 2): The second-generation DPIM2 (Dual Power Inverter Module 2) unit features enhanced internal hardware with superior redundancy for greater reliability. Externally, this new unit is fully interchangeable with all prior production units, giving users maximum maintenance flexibility. eSS2 (energy Storage SySteM 2): Allison’s second-generation ESS2 (Energy Storage System 2) utilises the latest Nickel Metal Hydride battery cell technology from Panasonic. The high-capacity cells are common to both the Allison Hybrid H40EP and H50EP systems. Allison has used Panasonic Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in the ESS since the start of production in 2003, and it has proven itself in more heavy-duty hybrid buses than any other brand or battery chemistry. The EV Drive module is a Two-Mode Parallel Hybrid which automatically delivers benefits typical of parallel hybrid or series hybrid technologies. The continuously variable drive features an infinite number of ratios and automatically adjusts ratios to operate at optimum power curves to attain the best performance and fuel economy. The EV Drive automatically selects appropriate ratios to ensure engines run at their most efficient points for low fuel consumption, low emissions and low noise. allISon Hyvalue The H40/50EP System also has the Allison HyValue performance features HyGain, HyIdle, and HyTraction. With Allison’s HyGain feature, fleets can adjust the acceleration rate to fit their operating requirements. Adjusting HyGain downward further increases fuel economy. HyGain allows OEMs and fleets to adjust bus acceleration to one of five settings. Lowering the setting reduces acceleration and further reduces fuel consumption, as well as lowering engine speed and noise.
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DC to DC Converter: Allison has also taken the next major technological step with the introduction of DC to DC converter capability. A solid-state DC to DC converter eliminates the traditional alternator to provide greater reliability while lowering operational costs and maintenance issues. The DC to DC converter will not use the ESS2 for storing energy, thereby maintaining outstanding hybrid battery life. DC to DC converters have the nickname of “beltless alternator” since they are solid-state devices which maintain electrical efficiencies of 91-95%. Having such a high electrical efficiency, these converters replace large belt-driven alternators, and do not require any type of mechanical belt drive system or associated maintenance requirements. The DC to DC converter powers not only traditional 12/24-volt loads, but also accommodates the electric radiator, charge-air-cooling and hybrid drive electric fans providing better efficiency and eliminating hydraulic fan drives. The following DC-DC converter capabilities are available: n 250 Amp-at-Idle DC-DC Converter (equivalent to some 400 amp belt driven alternators) n 300 Amp-at-Idle DC-DC Converter (equivalent to some 450 and 500 amp belt driven alternators)
Allison produces 5000th hybrid drive
Since 2001, “Allison Transmission equipped hybrid buses have accumulated an estimated 389 million in-service miles, which we believe proves the reliability, durability and performance of our H 40/50 EP system,” said Lawrence
E. Dewey, Chairman and CEO of Allison Transmission. Dewey went on to say, “The build of our 5,000th H 40/50 EP is a major milestone for our company and the industry. Certainly, it is a tribute to everyone at Allison who has contributed to the success of this important program.” Most recently, fleet operators in Norway and Germany increased the number of Allison hybrid buses in their inventories with the addition of articulated Solaris Urbino 18 buses. Allison Transmission states, “every North American original equipment bus manufacturer and five international bus producers offer the Allison H 40/50 EP hybrid system.” Allison Transmission estimates by October 2011, Allisonequipped hybrid buses had saved 20.7 million gallons of diesel fuel and avoided approximately 204,900 metric tons of C02 from being emitted into the atmosphere. Allison Transmission has been a leader in the development of hybrid systems since the early 1990s, including work on both series and parallel hybrid technology. In addition, as a result of its success in hybrid systems for buses and coaches, Allison is currently developing another family of hybrid products, the first of which is the H 3000. This new hybrid product is targeted for trucks and other medium-duty commercial applications. Allison was awarded a 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Department of Energy cost-share grant for this new program. H 3000 production will begin in 2013. The second member of this family of hybrid products, the H 4000, is expected to be available in 2014. Reduced fuel consumption and
allison brought this amerian-built new Flyer hybrid to Millbrook where it was introduced to journalists and prospective customers
lower vehicle exhaust gas emissions allow operators to save money and help protect the environment. Savings are also achieved by increased service brake life and reduced loads on the vehicle’s engine. Passengers enjoy the benefit of a smoother, quieter ride as battery energy is blended with engine output during propulsion.
Volvo
Volvo’s primary concerns with hybrid developments were to produce a system suited not only to bus operation but to have wide application in the much larger truck sector and benefit from the synergies available from using a common platform. Hence the manufacturer’s deliberate insistence on creating an efficient and practical parallel hybrid system. In practical application it has since proved the expected advantages of serial hybrid systems in dense city traffic are significantly less pronounced than expected – if there is any advantage at all. Since the double decker Volvo B5LH has been in service it has earned a reputation for high reliability, minimal VOR downtime and fuel savings in line with the best of the serial hybrid systems and usually well above 30% reduction compared to a conventional diesel double decker. Volvo was initially wary of issuing any claims about fuel economy other than suggesting it would be ‘up to 30%’ but results have been better than expected. A recent quote from Volvo said: “Operating in London the vehicles are returning 30 – 40% better fuel figures compared with diesel buses on the same routes. Additionally, there are air quality improvements with a 45% lower NOx per kilometre and up to 40 tonne carbon dioxide reduction per bus each year. With even tougher emission regulations and spiralling fuel prices, the Volvo hybrid offers a cleaner, quieter and economical transport solution for our towns and cities.” The five cylinder 210bhp B5L engine has proved powerful enough to cope with the demands of citybus operation in London. It is aided by 70kW electric drive motor integrated into the driveline which provides power for the initial drive from standstill or under acceleration and blends its power with the diesel engine less progressively as the vehicle mass gathers momentum. www.coachandbusweek.com
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TECHNOLOGY › HYBRID DRIVETRAINS
Once the demand for higher power has subsided the diesel engine takes over. Because it operates under far less stress it is not using excessive fuel and therefore not issuing unnecessary pollutant levels. Volvo’s electric drive motor, known as I-SAM (integrated starter alternator motor) is a permanent magnet unit fed by alternating current. It doubles as a generator and includes an energy converter for supplying direct current for the batteries. All its functions are controlled by a PMU (powertrain management unit) which controls and regulates the engagement or disengagement of electric or diesel power as required. The PMU also monitors battery levels and charging requirements and it controls and optimises gearchanging through the I-Shift gearbox. Interestingly, the initial hybrid development saw the I-SAM electric motor rated at 120kw for the single deck Volvo 7700 model – now a 70kW rated unit is adequate for use on double deckers. The 120kW unit is now offered in the single deck Volvo 7900 hybrid. Current development of hybrids from Volvo is centred on a plug-in capability which will allow batteries to be charged up from dedicated supply points. This will allow the vehicles to operate longer distances on electric-only drive and could be beneficial in sensitive urban areas. Volvo put the B5LH into series production during 2009 and is close to achieving 100 in service. An initial batch of 20 went to Arriva in London for use on Route 141 and the company ordered a further 20. First took six for London operation and ordered 30 to be split between its Leeds and Manchester operations, National Express ordered nine for Travel West Midlands, 15 were supplied to Go-Ahead and four to Bullocks of Cheadle for its Oxford Road Link service.
conventional 12m citybuses and can carry eight or nine more passengers. It also incorporates an automatic stop-start system which cuts the engine every time the vehicle halts. When it moves away it uses energy stored in the supercapacitor for the initial acceleration and the engine is restarted 0.3 seconds before the bus moves and takes up the drive once the initial mass is in motion. The initial claim states the Hynovis concept reduces diesel consumption and CO2 emissions by 30%, and NOX emissions by 50%. The concept vehicle has been conceived through a partnership with the RATP (Paris public transport authority), which defined the operating specifications governing the development of the project and carried out the experiments. INRETS, the French National Institute for Transport and Security Research, prototyped the hybridisation and auxiliary systems while Michelin studied and supplied the tyres, Poclain Hydraulics supplied the hydraulic hybridisation components, and Altair Engineering France was responsible for the optimisation and structural weight reduction calculation. The Hynovis concept was developed around a 12m diesel citybus but with particular regard to improving its environmental performance - namely reducing its pollutant emissions and increasing its carrying capacity (so as to divide the emissions by a larger number of passengers). Irisbus claims this approach is unique because a characteristic feature with the majority of hybrid bus projects suggest a significant increase in the vehicle weight, thus reducing their
passenger-carrying capacity. Its wide entrance with improved passenger circulation greatly eases the movement of passengers and the free flow of the operation, reducing waiting times at stops and leading to an increase in running speed. Because it can operate more efficiently, its environmental performance doubles. The drive axle is located under the rear bench, eliminating intrusive wheel housings and releasing a long platform allowing optimum furnishing and a passenger capacity increased by 8% compared to a standard bus. Weight reduction of 1 tonne, despite being equipped with a hybridisation system, is mainly achieved through to a reduction in the weight of the metal architecture and the installation of a smaller, lighter Tector engine – which alone saves 200kg. Hynovis is fitted with two hydraulic systems – one governing its stop-start functions and the other providing the braking energy recovery system. The braking energy recovery system relies on hydraulic motor-pumps. Linked to a hydropneumatic accumulator which enables braking energy to be recovered and re-input during acceleration. Hydraulic technology was chosen because it currently has a very competitive cost price compared to competing hybrid technologies, while still showing very similar efficiency. The 30% reduction in CO2 emissions is composed of: hydraulic hybridisation: 23% (of which 8% is for the stop-start and 15% for the motorpumps);
Hydraulic hybrid
Hynovis, an hydraulic hybrid, appeared in a Paris show as a complete concept development from Irisbus. With revolutionary styling and four steered wheels at the front (as per Bedford VAL) it is one of the most distinctive developments seen to date. However unusual its appearance, the looks hide the unusual hydraulic hybridisation system. The Hynovis also weighs a tonne less than www.coachandbusweek.com
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Volvo’s B5L parallel hybrid system has been highly successful in terms of fuel efficiency and overall reliability with minimal downtime
1-ton weight reduction: - 5%; tyres with improved coefficient of resistance: - 2%. Hynovis remains under the auspices of Irisbus Iveco's R&D department and is still undergoing extensive trials and evaluation. It has also been deployed on one of the European Bus System of the Future projects. The more conventional Irisbus Citelis serial hybrid combination is currently available in 12m citybus or 18m arcticulated bus configurations. The same systems can also be acquired with Heuliez bodies sharing the Iveco/BAE Systems driveline concept. Operators Milano/Monza in Italy and RATP in Paris are currently operating hybrid 12m Citelis buses. Poitiers and Toulon in France are running Heuliez 18m GX 427 articulated hybrid vehicles. Many other Irisbus hybrid demonstration vehicles are being tested by various city authorities in mainland Europe. Irisbus combines the BAE Systems HybriDrive with a downsized diesel engine, the six litre Iveco Tector EEV. The cumulative experience of the two partners, with regard to hybrid or electric traction, is based on a fleet of more than 3,000 buses in
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alongside reduced maintenance costs. The basic principle is for the engine to power a pump which charges an accumulator. The accumulator supplies the builtup pressure to hydraulic drive motors which accelerate the vehicle from standstill. During operation, hitting the brake pedal reverses the function of the motors and they recapture braking energy and transfer it back into the accumulator. The development team at Georgia Tech believes the low cost system could be produced extremely cheaply. They estimate the one-off development cost $20,000 but say this would reduce to between $8,000 -$10,000 with productionised manufacture of the components. The school bus used in the experiment was also being converted to run on biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil before re-entering service in the Atlanta Public School fleet. No further information on this system has yet been issued.
the USA and Europe. In total, these vehicles transport more than two million passengers every day; they have already covered close to 400 million service kilometres with high reliability and performance. In Lyon, the first fuel consumption tests on a 12m Citelis hybrid were carried out at the end of 2010 under commercial operating conditions, i.e. parking at bus stops and door opening. The bus was weighted to simulate carrying fifty passengers and it was followed - for comparison’s sake by a diesel Citelis provided by Sytral (Syndicat Mixte des Transports pour le Rhône et l’Agglomération Lyonnaise) and Keolis Lyon. The consumption gains were particularly significant, showing a 39% reduction, compared with the diesel equivalent, was achieved by the hybrid vehicle on a flat, city route at an average speed of 11.5 km/h, while the gain amounted to 33% on a hilly, city service at an average speed of 12.8 km/h and the drop was 24% on a city-intercity service at an average speed of 24km/h. A similar test has been carried out with an articulated Hybrid Citelis with very positive results – showing a 30% fuel saving on the flat city route, compared with the
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Mechanical Flywheel hybrid
Top: The Irisbus Hynovis hydraulic hybrid concept vehicle Above: One of Arriva’s Wright bodied Volvo B5L hybrids in service diesel equivalent, at an average speed of 14 km/h. Irisbus says it should be remembered when diesel consumption is reduced by around 40%, this leads to a saving of 600 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Therefore, if 50,000km are travelled in a year (the average mileage for a citybus), the saving of carbon dioxide emissions amounts to 30 tonnes per vehicle. Iveco Irisbus has successfully carried out SORT tests
(Standardized On-Road Test Cycles) with the German TÜV Süd certification authority confirming the test results achieved in Lyon. After Chrysler announced it was in partnership with the EPA to develop an hydraulic hybrid, a development project undertaken by engineering students at Georgia Tech received $50,000 in funding from Ford. The system was being developed specifically for retrofitting to school buses and aimed to achieve 20% fuel savings
Currently undergoing testing at Millbrook, a mechanical flywheel hybrid is close to delivering a set of impressive results. Developed by the Flybus consortium, comprising Torotrak, Ricardo and Optare, it has become known as the Flybrid. The system reached a significant milestone in September with the successful integration of prototype hardware into an Optare Solo. The Flybus system potentially offers a significantly less costly route to hybridisation. It employs a Ricardo Kinergy flywheel as the energy storage medium and a Torotrak continuously variable transmission (CVT) as the means of transferring energy between the wheels and the flywheel. The entire installation is mounted on the existing transmission’s Power Take Off facility. “The recovery and reuse of kinetic energy during stop-start drive cycles is a priority for bus operators, not just because of the positive impact on emissions but also because it reduces fuel costs and brake wear,” says John Fuller, Product Leader for Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) at Torotrak. “Electric hybrid systems are expensive, often doubling the transaction cost of a bus. Initial cost estimates suggest the
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TECHNOLOGY › HYBRID DRIVETRAINS
Flybus system could be available at a fraction of the cost of an electric hybrid, while simulation results indicate fuel savings comfortably in excess of 10%. With the completion of the mechanical design and installation phase of the programme, we are now ready to start evaluating the fuel economy benefits on the vehicle itself. “Flywheel hybrids, just like electric hybrids, recycle the kinetic energy which would otherwise be wasted when the vehicle brakes. As the bus decelerates, the CVT transfers energy from the vehicle wheels to the flywheel, spinning it up to speeds of around 60,000rpm. As the vehicle pulls away from rest, the CVT returns energy from the flywheel to the wheels, reducing the engine power requirement and hence lowering fuel consumption. A key enabler of this technology is the Torotrak CVT, which can transfer in excess of 60kW of power in a package weighing less than 10kg. High levels of efficiency, together with ‘torque control’ – in which torque rather than ratio is controlled – make the technology an ideal fit for a flywheel drive. “The second key enabler is Ricardo’s Kinergy flywheel, which uses a compact and low cost magnetic coupling to transmit torque to the flywheel while providing the required step-up gearing. Furthermore, use of a magnetic drive facilitates flywheel operation within a sealed vacuum, eliminating the need for inefficient mechanical gearing and rotating seals. The result is a system which exhibits very low levels of power loss. The commercial vehicle industry has a real appetite for an affordable and packagable hybrid system,” explains Fuller. “The continued advances in flywheel hybrids make them an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional hybrid systems. This next stage of the programme will begin to show their capability in the real world,” he concluded. Part-funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board as part of its Low Carbon Vehicles initiative, the Flybus consortium’s mechanical flywheel project brings together engineers from bus manufacturer Optare, engineering consultancy Ricardo and traction drive technology specialist Torotrak. Automatic transmission supplier Allison Transmission is also participating in the project on a self-funded basis. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Above: A Stagecoach North East Enviro400H BAE Systems hybrid Below: Flybrid mechanical flywheel hybrid - potential retro-fit option
Systems suppliers
Suppliers of hybrid transmission components include the major manufacturers like ZF and Voith. Whereas Allison is mainly pursuing parallel technology, the others provide systems for serial and parallel application. ZF maintains the parallel hybrid approach is flexible and can be used to realise both mild hybrids and full hybrids - which use the entire range of hybrid functions: the start-stop function, regeneration of braking energy (recuperation), support during acceleration (boosting), electric starting, and pure electric driving. Typically, these full hybrid systems can save up to 30% less fuel in city traffic. All hybrid transmission variants from ZF based on the parallel hybrid design can be integrated into existing drivelines, just like the corresponding manual or automatic transmission systems. With the eTronic hybrid version, the electric motor is integrated into the driveline. A separating
Green Bus Fund allows smaller independent operators like Bullocks to try hybrid buses
“The continued advances in flywheel hybrids make them an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional hybrid systems.” John Fuller Product Leader for Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS), Torotrak
clutch decouples the electric motor and the transmission from the combustion engine and, consequently, enables purely electric driving. The electric motor is also used as power source in generator operation. The braking effect caused during generator operation is integrated into the brake management system and extends the life of the service brakes. The hybrid transmission offers all of the functions of a full hybrid system and has been optimised for use in light commercial vehicles in urban traffic. The purely electromechanical solution allows for maximum fuel savings and low system costs at the same time. ZF’s HyTronic is a hybrid version of the AS-Tronic lite aimed at distributor truck and light bus applications. The system comprises transmission with a 60 kW electric motor, inverter, high-voltage battery, power routing and energy management. It also offers the full range of hybrid functions. The additional weight of the system, due to wiring, battery and cooling system is moderate and almost completely compensated for by downsizing the combustion engine and no requirement for a 24 V battery or starter. As the electric motor is also available as a power source for additional power consumers during generator operation, this hybrid transmission system is also attractive for municipal vehicles. So far, their PTOs (power take off) have constantly affected fuel consumption because they are mechanically connected to the combustion engine. The powerful generator and the hybrid battery allow for the use of electric PTOs which consume fuel on demand only (power-ondemand). Apart from the hybrid components, the professional development and optimisation of the hybrid control system are of great importance. The additional electric motor means a whole range of new operational and strategic functions are possible: When is starting purely electric? When does the electric motor support the combustion engine? Which gear changes are performed by the transmission during purely electric driving so the combustion engine runs with optimum efficiency after it has been activated? ZF supports the manufacturers effectively with
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system integration by supplying and integrating all components required for hybridisation - apart from the hybrid transmission and electric motor this also applies to power electronics including the hybrid control system ZF HyControl and the lithium-ion battery, ZF HyStorage. This battery, has a rated output of 60 kW and an energy content of 2.0 kWh and can be connected in series resulting in double power output. The hybrid control system is provided with an inverter which transforms the high voltage current required for propulsion into low voltage used for vehicle electrics. ZF also supplies the software control responsible for energy management and an optimised shifting strategy. ZF is currently developing a hybrid version of its EcoLife sixspeed automatic transmission. Instead of the torque converter, a hybrid module is integrated into the converter housing. This electric motor provides additional power of up to 120 kW. The full hybrid version of the EcoLife, by means of which all hybrid functions can be realised – does not require any more installation space than a conventional EcoLife transmission. ZF has also been researching the validity of hybrid application in long-distance operation and determined the potential savings derived from when the vehicle is operating in urban conditions are beneficial. Notably trucks and coaches which spend a great deal of time on motorways do not benefit to the same extent from hybrid drives as they cover vast distances at cruising speed with little stop and start operation. However, the likelihood of increased pressure for LEZs in major cities means some sections of the journey can make good use of hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. For dedicated urban citybuses where some manufacturers are looking purely at serial hybrids, ZF has developed the AVE 130 electric portal axle. This unit lends itself to lowfloor citybus application by offering a wide aperture between each drive wheel to allow high passenger flow rates and it incorporates electric wheel drive motors. This is an extremely flexible development which relies only on a supply of electricity – which can be provided by a battery, generator, overhead trolley line, capacitor or fuel cell. It is not reliant on any
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particular power source and can therefore integrate into almost any design requirement.
Voith
Voith also caters for series and parallel hybrid applications and has developed its DIWAhybrid based on proven DIWA technology supplemented with an asynchronous motor. The strength of this parallel hybrid lies in its universal suitability, especially for applications in buses with higher average speeds. For heavy city traffic, Voith’s serial hybrid solution is the ElvoDrive. The core component for both solutions is an inverter, developed by Voith specifically for hybrid applications in buses. Whatever the choice of energy storage the inverter ensures a stable energy supply up to complete energy management. DIWAhybrid utilises all existing benefits including the power-split principle in the starting range, the secondary retarder and the E 300 electronics with Voith’s ALADIN diagnosis software.
The incorporation of a low-loss asynchronous electric motor supports the diesel engine during starting and acceleration. Under braking, the asynchronous motor becomes a generator and acts as a primary retarder, which ideally supplements the DIWA secondary retarder. As a result, the service brake is protected and brake wear, along with associated emissions of fine dust particles, are reduced to a minimum. The DIWAhybrid system is currently offered in the Polish-built Solaris Urbino 18 articulated bus featuring an EEV specification Cummins ISB 6.7 250H diesel engine and the electric drive motor is rated at 150kW. It features a roofmounted Voith inverter and energy storage via Maxwell Supercaps. Solaris also offers the Allison EP parallel hybrid in its Urbino range. Voith has no UK applications of its hybrid technology but is currently engaged in development within the North American markets with bus manufacturer Gillig. For serial hybrid application Voith’s ElvoDrive transmits the
Above: ZF series hybrid electric drive unit incorporated in a portal axle Below: ZF parallel hybrid driveline components require no extra space
required drive purely electrically. Designed to be as efficient as possible, ElvoDrive relies on Voith TFM technology (transverse flux machine) for both the generator and the electric motor which is claimed to deliver extremely high efficiency across a wide range. TFM provides the conditions for an efficient overall system and consequently the reduction of power consumption and emissions.
Siemens
Wrightbus was an early pioneer of alternative drivelines and has experimented with many different combinations of power unit and battery storage. The company has recently settled with what it considers to be the optimum specification for diesel electric hybrids and has opted for the Cummins 4 cylinder iSBe Euro 5/EEV engine, a Siemens ELFA II electric drive system and the latest generation Valence lithiumion water cooled power cell battery. The latter was specifically developed for Wrightbus. The first vehicles to benefit from this latest level of hybrid technology were six existing single deck buses currently in operation with Go Ahead Group in London, they were retrofitted with the new package. Go-Ahead also ordered a further six. The new driveline was then be progressively introduced into the Gemini 2 HEV Double Deck, as well as the StreetLite HEV models. One of the first of the Gemini double decker hybrids with electric drive technology from Siemens is running in London with First London Centrewest on route 141 to London Bridge. In comparison with the conventional diesel city bus employed on the same route it is claimed to release 40% less emissions into the environment and save approximately 30% on fuel. Optare-built Versa and Solo midibuses using the same Siemens hybrid technology are also operating in Manchester. They are performing well although no direct comparison with existing buses exists as they operate on newly introduced services. Siemens also supply hybrid drive electric motors to Van Hool for use its diesel electric and fuel cell hybrids in combination with Vossloh-Kiepe ultracapacitor storage systems The powertrain consists of generators, converters, drive motors and gear elements as well as an intelligent
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TECHNOLOGY › HYBRID DRIVETRAINS
drive control including energy management. Two Siemens 1PV5138 drive motors provide the drive to start the bus moving. The motor torques act on a Flender addition gear which bundles the power of both motors on one drive shaft. Lithium-ion batteries store the regenerated brake energy and provide it for the next acceleration. The energy management system controls the energy flow between the battery and the diesel engine depending on the power required by the drive cycle. Siemens serial hybrid system is the selected driveline for the Wrightbus ‘Borismaster’ – the new hybrid double decker for London. Siemens has also been working on a special project in North America with Canadian bus manufacturer New Flyer where its ELFA serial hybrid driveline is employed in combination with the first pairing of a fuel cell and Maxwell Ultracapacitors for energy storage. The fuel cell hybrid concept is also pursued by Mercedes-Benz which recently supplied four Citaro fuel cell hybrids to Hamburg. These rely on lithium ion batteries for power storage.
at optimum speeds where it runs at its most efficient in terms of fuel consumption and minimised emissions. The latest generation of BAE System’s control electronics will ensure complete flexibility for optimising the drive characteristics to achieve the highest levels efficiency balanced by adequate performance. This allows it to be tailored to specific routes where traffic density or local topography can affect performance. BAE Systems favours lithium ion batteries for their ability to hold charge. They do not require overnight charging or any complicated ‘equalisation’ processes. The batteries tend to have an optimum state of charge after a day’s work, supplied by power from the generator and the regenerative braking system. They do not discharge stored power overnight and therefore are always in a high state of charge. BAE Systems claims current experience suggests battery life could be at least five and possibly as much as eight years depending on the duty cycle.
User experience of hybrids
Arriva London engineering director, Tony Ward, currently operates 46 Volvo parallel hybrid double deckers and five Wrightbus serial hybrids. He said: “Overall we are very pleased with their performance. Obviously it is still early days with this new technology so it’s not easy to be too definitive. There were some teething troubles with the first six, but these were pre-production models. “The later deliveries were fully productionised versions and have been very little trouble at all. The original deliveries were modified and are now performing very well. “Volvo has been a very good partner. We have regular meetings to discuss the hybrids and they currently maintain them for us. Some staff have been trained so we can understand them fully but we felt because the technology involved high voltage electronics we would have Volvo technicians look after them to ensure safety. “The buses perform very well. We get good driver feedback and they use less fuel than our older
BAE Systems
BAE Systems developed its ‘HybriDrive’ to integrate into vehicles in place of current drivetrain components. It utilises a compact, powerful 200kW electric traction motor which draws its power from the generator and supplements high demand for acceleration from a bank of lithiumion batteries. It also has a regerative braking function which harvests a charge of energy, up to 12kW/hrs, which replenishes the stored charge in the batteries. The electrical load generated through regeneration acts as a highly effective retarder on the driveline and preserves the foundation brakes. The diesel engine can be considerably reduced in size as its only function is to power the generator and some on-board hydraulic and compressed air functions. In the UK its common application has been in ADL Enviro400H double deckers where a Cummins 185bhp four cylinder unit is sufficient and represents a significant weight saving over conventional six-cylinder engines while using less fuel and producing lower emissions. It is also managed to operate www.coachandbusweek.com
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Johnsons Coaches Optare Versa Siemens hybrid on Stratford park and ride
Conclusion: It is still very early days for hybrids and therefore very difficult to quantify any advantages they provide. In general they are saving some fuel, plus the associated reduction in emissions, and are not causing any serious headaches over their reliability or availability. There is little doubt the technology can be further refined and developments in battery technology will assist hybrids in becoming more economical in the future. While the Green Bus Fund supporting the acquisition of hybrids is in place a great deal of knowledge and experience can be accrued to assist in further development and refinement. Without the fund, the current high cost of hybrids would very likely preclude them from most operating fleets and either slow down development of the technology or end it altogether. On the face of it, hybrids do offer a positive step in the right direction – but at a price.
double deckers. Typically we get three quarters of a mile up to one mile per gallon improvement. The difference isn’t so great against the new generation of diesels, such as the DAF, but it is saving fuel and therefore producing lower emissions. “We hope as battery technology advances we may get a lighter and more durable battery which would allow us to travel further on electric power alone. “The new ‘Bus for London’ hybrid is due to be with us shortly. We are expecting the first ones to arrive in a couple of weeks and believe they will enter service in February next year.” Go-Ahead London engineering director, Phil Margrave, said: “We’ve recently converted our Wrightbus Electrocity buses into hybrids. They now feature the Siemens drive technology and have had the old lead/acid batteries replaced by lithium ion – they are now much more reliable and performing very well. “We have five of the early ADL Enviro400H double deckers which have been OK. There has been one battery incident in two years – so really, they have been very reliable. Typically they are 15-17% more economical on fuel, but the figure goes up and down a lot. “Just recently we’ve taken 16 Volvo B5L hybrids and they are very good on fuel. I think it’s down to the stop/start capability and the engine not running when it’s not needed. We also have 15 new ADL 400 hybrids just arrived. They have a few minor teething problems but I’m sure they will quickly settle down. “Just recently we started evaluation trials with an Optare Versa equipped with ultracapacitors and a Siemens drive system. It is currently at Millbrook and undergoing the TfL route simulation testing. “What we do like about the hybrids is they are not too dissimilar from a conventional bus for the drivers to get used to. We had to spend a lot of time training drivers on the original Electrocity in order to get the best from it. “The new hybrids are not so different to a conventional bus, so training is little different than teaching staff to drive it economically in order to save as much fuel as possible. There are no real issues of difficulty for the drivers at all – its really just familiarisation.”
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LEGAL UpdAtE
In association with
Employer cannot be vicariously liable for whistle blowing victimisation No legal provision prevents co-workers victimising whistleblowers In NHS Manchester v Fecitt and Ors the Court of Appeal held the EAT was wrong to hold an employer vicariously liable for its employees victimising a whistleblower. The Court of Appeal has made clear an employer can only be vicariously liable for the legal wrongs of its employees. As there is no provision making employees personally liable for victimising whistleblowers, the claim could not succeed.
Facts F, who had responsibility for staff at an NHS centre, told her line manager, C, a colleague, S, did not have the qualifications he claimed to have. S apologised and said the lies would not be repeated and C was prepared to leave it there. F sought to pursue the matter further, leading to some colleagues siding with S and acting in a hostile way towards F, taking the view she had subjected S to
Employers warned to get to grips with agency worker regulations
ACAS has told employers falling foul of the Agency Workers regulations could result in fines of £5,000 at an employment tribunal, which would be multiplied if more than one temporary worker at the organisation is found to have received unequal treatment under the regulations. The Agency Worker regulations, which came into force last month, will give temporary workers the right to the same basic employment conditions as direct recruits after 12 weeks in the role. They will also be entitled to the www.coachandbusweek.com
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a ‘witch hunt’. The workplace became ‘dysfunctional’ but senior management made no real attempt to stop the situation escalating. F lodged a grievance and was eventually redeployed, while a bank nurse who supported her was no longer offered shifts. At an employment tribunal they claimed both the redeployment and failure to prevent victimisation breached their right in S.47B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 not to be subjected to any detriment by any act or omission on the ground of having made a protected disclosure. They also claimed the employer was vicariously liable for their victimisation by co-workers.
Decision It was not disputed the disclosure was ‘protected’ as defined by S.43A ERA. Applying the ‘reason why’ approach to causation, the Tribunal found the employers failure to prevent F’s harassment by other staff did not amount to a deliberate failure to act so as to come within
S.47B. Further, F’s redeployment was not because she had made a protected disclosure but to resolve the ‘dysfunctional’ situation. The Tribunal failed to consider vicarious liability. F appealed.
appeal Allowing the appeal, the EAT held the Tribunal had adopted the wrong standard of proof in relation to causation. An employer must show the treatment was ‘in no sense whatsoever’ on the ground of a protected disclosure. Although protection of whistleblowers is a creation of domestic law, the EAT felt obliged to follow the Court of Appeal’s decision in Igen v Wong setting down the correct test in relation to EU discrimination law. The case was remitted for the Tribunal to consider the burden of proof. The employer appealed. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal. The EAT was wrong to hold the employer vicariously liable for victimisation by its employees. As there is no provision remain strong after the regulations are expected to come into force, a high proportion of employers are likely to be affected by the changes.
comment It is important for businesses to get a grip of the changes as failure to do so can be very costly. Hiring and re-hiring temporary staff on a succession of shorter periods is risky given the new provisions within the regulations.
agency workers are now entitled to a raft of new rights at work same access to job vacancies as permanent members of staff and collective facilities, such as staff canteen, childcare facilities and transport services— from the first day of their assignment. Also, with recent statistics from the recruitment and Employment Confederation revealing demand for temporary staff is expected to
Backhouse Jones acts for clients in the private and public sector, both national and international operators from one to several thousand vehicles. Backhouse is absolutely “industry specific”. Whilst the company can trace its heritage to 1819 it only represented its first Road Transport Operator in 1930. The explanation for this is that the first transport act was only introduced in 1930. n Contact 01254 828300. Visit www.backhousejones.co.uk
making it unlawful for co-workers to victimise whistleblowers, the claim could not succeed. There was nothing in the Tribunal’s decision inconsistent with the standard of proof required by the EAT. Although the Court of Appeal did not have to decide whether the EAT applied the proper test of causation, it rejected the argument that the EAT was wrong to draw an analogy between whistle blowing legislation and legislation giving effect to EU law. It considered the principle that discriminatory considerations should not have any influence on an employer’s decisions is equally applicable where the objective is to protect whistleblowers. It also refused to accept the test should be aligned with that for unfair dismissal, i.e. where the protected disclosure is the employer’s sole or principal reason for acting. In the Court’s view, S.47B will be infringed if the protected disclosure materially influences (in the sense of being more than a trivial influence) the employer’s treatment of the whistleblower.
Guidance on gender pay gap
ACAS launched new guidance on gender pay reporting in September to help organisations identify and address the gender pay gap. “Voluntary gender equality analysis and reporting ” is aimed at private sector and voluntary organisations which are unsure how to address gender equality issues. There is a significant gender pay gap, with women working full time in the public sector being paid on average 10% less than men, with the figure rising to 19.8% in the private sector. The Home Office will be conducting a survey of employers with 150 or more employees to monitor which are carrying out gender equality reporting, and report its findings in September 2012.
05/12/2011 18:27
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December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47
LEGAL UpdAtE
In association with
Not leaving a will can be seen as, quite literally, a grave error - causing problems for those left behind
Where there’s a will there’s a say Ian Jones, a solicitor and director at transport legal specialist Backhouse Jones, reminds us of the importance of leaving a will and the need to acknowledge the risk of dying Business is all about risk. The risk of losing, The risk of failing. The risk of letting clients and colleagues down. The risk of mentally falling to pieces and, if your job involves extensive driving, the risk of hurting yourself. The risk of dying. Most of the time we don’t acknowledge the risk of dying as we drive about our daily business. It is just there; floating around, part of the whole commercial package. It is only when something dreadful happens like the recent tragic crash on the M5 when reality slaps us in the face. What a tragedy for the young girl orphaned by the crash. Shortly before the M5 crash we read about the tragic death of Dan Wheldon – the highly skilled and phenomenally brave double Indianapolis champion with 16 career victories. He was only 33, a husband, a son, a brother and a father to two very little boys. His handsome face, blue
LegalUpdate2.indd 47
eyes, blonde hair and perfect smile, stares out from the obituary pages. He had a life full of possibilities ahead of him but he died on an oval racetrack doing something he loved – driving a small car with an open cockpit incredibly fast. Indy car drivers race at more than 220 mph often only inches apart. To most of us the idea of risking your life for some transcendent moment of victory at high speed is ludicrous. But the men and women who jump into these cars, are bold, mentally strong and inherent risk takers. We know some people are more motivated when risk taking than others. Neuroscientists are beginning to discover physical differences between the thrill seeking brain and the more tentative one. The thrill seeker tends to break more rules, be more spontaneous and have a stronger urge to try new things. In many ways these risk takers are fundamental to human progress. Most of us lead substantially more mundane lives, the risks we typically take as teenagers – experimenting with alcohol, the opposite sex, driving too fast,
fighting , tend to tail off as we become older, slow down and have more responsibilities like families and children. I have never played anything more dangerous than school hockey, where the most obvious risk was chapped thighs on a freezing winter morning, so I cannot pretend to know what it feels like to risk your life in the name of a game. To charge into a tackle on the 20 stone rugby player without a thought for your well being or to jump into a boxing ring ready to give or receive a punch that will powder down a little bit of the brain forever, to drive a car at more than 200 mph around a track with concrete walls is physical courage, for fun, beyond anything in my experience. Sport holds physical risk and is therefore one of the reasons why it is exciting. After all, it was Churchill who said there is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at providing the bullet misses. At the more extreme end of the scale, (base jumping, solo yacht sailing, bull fighting), the risks are so blatantly obvious that they would put off all but the most thrill obsessed.
However, conventional sports are risky too. There are real chances of injury to the spine and the brain in both codes of rugby, horse racing, gymnastics and even football. And these are things people, even children, do for fun, for nothing every Saturday morning. The list of famous drivers (from Ayrton Senna to Dan Wheldon) and non-famous drivers including the recent fatalities on the M5 is depressing. With each death we hope things are made safer but no tragedy will ever stop people taking risks whether they be in the name of sport or the more practical need to attend a business meeting. Death puts everything into perspective especially when, like the recent M5 and Indianapolis deaths, children are orphaned. We cannot stop going about our daily business but we can mitigate our risks by safe driving techniques and also minimise risk should the very worst happen. Imagine, heaven forbid, something happened to you. Would you want your dependants to have to deal with, during their tumultuous grief, the pain of having to second guess your wishes because you had not taken the trouble to prepare a will which is relatively simple and inexpensive to prepare? As a lawyer I have seen the grief of clients being exacerbated as they deal with intestacy and argument especially when undeserving beneficiaries receive financial benefit instead of beneficiaries who are more deserving but have not been named in a will. This month is “make a will month”. Death, like taxes, is inevitable and perhaps you don’t want to be around when it happens (to misquote Woody Allen), but somebody will be around to pick up the pieces of your lack of preparation, so if you love them make it easy for them.
Backhouse Jones acts for clients in the private and public sector, both national and international operators from one to several thousand vehicles. Backhouse is absolutely “industry specific”. Whilst the company can trace its heritage to 1819 it only represented its first Road Transport Operator in 1930. The explanation for this is that the first transport act was only introduced in 1930. n Contact 01254 828300. Visit www.backhousejones.co.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
05/12/2011 18:28
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BUS STOPthe place to buy and sell
To advertise on these pages for as little as £20 just call 020 8320 1351 Optare Toro
Mercedes-Benz 0815 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 28 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts, powered entry door, air conditioning, double glazed windows, luggage racks with individual passenger reading lights and adjustable air flow blowers, radio/CD & PA system.
£45,500 +VAT NOW £41,000 +VAT
UNVI GT
Mercedes-Benz 0816 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 29 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts and leather headrest inserts, courier seat, dark tint double glazed windows, air con radio/CD & PA system, DVD player and monitor, grammer luxury heated driver seat, full draw curtains, large boot space and side lockers.
£69,950 +VAT NOW £66,950 +VAT
Call Dougie at Haggis Adventures on 0131 554 9192
Get Results! Advertiseyour CoachorBus hereforas littleas
2005 Volvo B12B Jonckheere Mistral
370,455 km, air conditioned, automatic I-shift gearbox, 53 seats plus courier, just serviced, in excellent condition and can be viewed by appointment (Ireland). £80,000
Donoghues Coaches : Niall 00353 87 2059145, Noel 00353 87 2654787 info@donoghuescoaches.com www.donoghuescoaches.com
Network Warrington have the following vehicles for sale
£20.00 aweek!
Call Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351
Dennis Plaxton R Series Due to fleet replacement, we need to sell up to 5 of the following and don’t mind which 5! 2003: 2 x 49/53 seats with WC, 3 x 53 seats 2004: 5 x 53 seats 2005: 1 x 49/53 seats with WC, 2 x 53 seats All are well maintained, low mileage examples (approx 62,000km per annum) with long MoT, air conditioning and AStronic gearboxes. Owned by us from new and used on our own holiday programme. All over cream. Can be sold with patterns of 2012 tour work if required. Viewing at Thos. Hardie Commercials, Red Scar, Preston. Priced to sell at £47,000 (03 reg), £58,000 (04 reg) and £74,000 (05 reg) plus VAT (£3,000 premium for WC). Sorry no part exchange.
To view contact Tom Smith, Operations Manager, Alfa Travel on 08451 305777
Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m 1999, Choice of 6, Cummins 6BT, Allison AT545 4 speed auto, Marshall body, 40 seats. Contact Damian Graham (Engineering Director) Warrington Borough Transport Ltd Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6PT. Tel 01925 634296
Telephone Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351 or email lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk
121702-1015-Pembridge
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NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS
OTHER MAKES
New Ford Transit 17 seat 4.3ton 135ps minibus. From £20,595 + VAT
(60) 2011 Ford Transit 15 seat 2.4 tdci minibus, tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, silver £18,995
FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES (08) 2008 Ford Transit 17 seat Hi Roof LWB 2.4 TDI 115PS minibus, air-con, tacho, 6 speed, 60,000km, COIF/PSV £13,495
(53) 2003 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4 td minibus, high back seats with three point belts, tacho, air-con, COIF/PSV £6,995
(02) Ford Transit 3.5 ton, 15 seat minibus, 2.4 tdi, high back seats with three point belts £2,995
Peugeot Boxer 17 seat wheelchair accessible 2.2 diesel 120ps with six speed gearbox, COIF/PSV. Choice of colours. £23,500 + VAT
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS (07) 2007 Volkswagen Crafter 8 seat 2.2 diesel inboard lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, 48,000 miles £13,995
(57) LDV Maxus LWB 9 seats tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 49,000 miles, £9,995
LDV MINIBUSES (57) 2007 LDV Maxus 15 seat minibus, high back seats with three point belts £7,495
(03) 2003 LDV Convoy Maxi XLWB 17 seat mini-coach, 2.4 Tdi, front entry drop step, luggage racks, rear heating, wide aisle, rear row of seats removable, New PSV £6,995
OTHER MAKES
(06) Fiat Ducato LWB, high roof, panoramic windows, inboard tail lift, 6 seats plus wheelchair tracking, 42,000 miles £10,995 (54) 2005 Renault Master 13 seat wheelchair access minibus, inboard Ricon lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, electric side step, 56,000 miles £8,995
New Renault Master 17 seat LM35/ 2.2di 125ps, six speed, satnav, tacho, fully tracked floor with removable seats £21,995
(04) 2004 Mercedes Sprinter 413cdi minibus 2.2 diesel, front entry drop step with power door, inboard Clearway lift, fully tracked floor to take 4 wheelchairs, rear heating, 77,000 miles £9,995
(10) 2010 Renault Trafic 9 seat LL29, twin side loading doors, air-con, alloys, tail gate, 50,000 miles £11,995
(53) 2003 Mercedes Vito 108 cdi 2.2 diesel, 6 seats, low floor with lightweight ramp, tracking for two wheelchairs £5,995
(07) Peugeot Boxer 17 seat 3.5 ton minibus, high back seats with three point seat belts, 27,000 miles £8,995
(53) 2003 Iveco Daily 16 seat minibus, front entry drop step with power door, wheelchair tracking, under floor tail lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £9,995
(55) 2005 Chrysler Grand Voyager 7 seat Auto 2.8 diesel, DVD, heated seats, radio/CD, electric mirrors, electric windows, one owner from new with FSH, silver, 67,000 miles £7,750
Y 2001 Renault Mascot 2.8 diesel, 16 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, front entry drop step, fully tracked floor to take five wheelchairs, under floor lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £7,750
Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304 Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk
Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist
All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%
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DOUBLE DECK E 1997/8 VOLVO OLYMPIANS Seatbe exampleslted no available w
LEZ
LEZ
COMPLIANT
COMPLIANT
Volvo engines, Euro 2, 78 seats, converted to single door, new COIF, tyres included, UK registered ready to work.
7.8m, Slimline, Mercedes engine, Euro 4, 27 seats, Hanover LEDʼs all round.
Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats.
1999/2000 T/V/X REG DENNIS TRIDENTS
8.9m, Cummins / Allison, Hanover blinds, 29 seats, full DDA.
2007 OPTARE SOLO
2009 ADL ENVIRO 200
2005 55 PLATE DENNIS DART SLF
ZF automatic, Northern Counties body, 48 BELTED seats, repainted white, MOT 09/12.
1995 M REG VOLVO B10M
Cummins ISB engine, Plaxton Pointer 2 body, 37 seats, Hanover LEDʼs, long MOT.
1995 M REG DENNIS DRAGONS
2001 MERCEDES 814 VARIO
Cummins/Voith gearboxes, Duple Metsec bodies, recent floors and 92 coach seats.
Manual, 31 seats, belts fitted, MOT 04/12, £9,500.
2001 DDA COMPLIANT DENNIS DARTS
Plaxton Pointer 2 dual door bodies, 31 seats, CCTV, particulate traps fitted, LEZ 2012 compliant, only £6,500 each plus tyres (£375)
2001 Y REG DART SLF’S
Cummins/Allison, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX200 bodies with either 30 seats and 2 doors or 34 seats converted to single door, ramps, DDA certified and compliant. 10.8m 37 seaters now available.
OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY - B
Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Pa Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 864 Visit our website for current sto
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K ER SPECIALIST 1994 K REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN
GREAT VALUE DENNIS DARTS!!!
Northern Counties low height bodies, Volvo engines, good selection with long MOTs.
2001 Y REG DENNIS DART MPD’S
Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 29 seats, LEZ compliant post 2012 with traps, DDA compliant, long MOTʼs.
1998-2000 S / V / W reg Darts with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 31 seats, dual door, DDA compliant, exhaust traps fitted so reduced tax, huge choice at an unbelievable £4,500 each plus VAT and tyres (£375).
2008 ADL ENVIRO 300 SCHOOLBUS
Cummins / ZF, SLF, Euro 4, 55 seats, Hanover LEDʼs all round.
Cummins / Allison World Series gearbox , Pointer 2 body, 41 seats.
ZF auto, Van Hool body, 49 seats with centre toilet and door, only one available.
ZF automatic, Plaxton Excalibur body, 49 seats, NSR toilet, air-con, MOT 05/12.
£7000 just spend on recon engine, MCV Evolution body, 40 seats, DDA, Hanover LEDʼs.
Mercedes engine, 27 seats, 25 with 3 point belts, Hanover LEDʼs, long MOT.
Euro 4, Cummins/Allison, MCV body, 9m, 32 seats, special narrow version, only 2.4m wide.
1998 S REG DENNIS DART SPD
2000 W REG VOLVO B10M
2004 OPTARE SOLO
1999 V REG DENNIS DART MPD’S Cummins/Allison, Plaxton bodies, 8.8m, 29 seats.
2003 VOLVO B12B
2007 MAN 14.220
2007 DART MPD
Mercedes engines, Slimlines, 2.34m wide, 7.8m long, 24 seats, Hanover LEDʼs. Price reduced to £27,000
2006 OPTARE SOLO’S
- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS
rial Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 708 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com ent stock at www.ensignbus.com
000000-1005-Fishwick
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THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OFFERS...
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2002 (02) Dennis Dart Marshall
10.2 metres long, purpose built from Marshall factory. Very low mileage – 23,000 kms.
This is a super low floor bus with a fold-out ramp so no access issues, there is centre spot lighting, auxiliary heating and a quiet-run diesel generator, the interior is spotless and suitable for a multitude of uses. Will come with a new MOT.
£14,950.00
View all stock online: www.staffordbuscentre.com Email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552
Are you in the South of England and looking to upgrade or convert your vehicle to meet the January 2012 Low Emission Zone?
We may be able to help… Close Asset Finance
Close Asset Finance are specialist commercial vehicle financers and are able to offer operator solutions to help comply with the new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) regulations. • Flexible Finance available for new and used vehicles (subject to status) • Release equity for existing fleets to help pay LEZ conversion costs (subject to status) • Stock of Euro 3 vehicles available with the option to finance LEZ conversion costs Talk to us NOW - Don't leave it too long to comply with LEZ regulations… DAN HADDON on 020 8339 7341 - dhaddon@closeasset.co.uk CHRISTINE CLARK on 020 8339 4823 - cclark@closeasset.co.uk
www.closeasset.co.uk
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December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 57
London United Busways Ltd CLEARANCE SALE – Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up a bargain Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 SLF 10.7m Single door 35 Seated 25 Standing T/V reg (1999) LEZ compliant Look CCTV system Manual ramp, Cab Air con, From £9,999.00 + VAT + Tyres (£250)
Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 SLF 10.7m 31 Seated 27 Standing T/V reg (1999) LEZ compliant Look CCTV system, Power ramp, Cab Air con, Single door conversion available. From £4,999.00 + VAT + Tyres (£250)
Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 SLF 10.2m 27 Seated 30 Standing V reg (1999) LEZ compliant Look CCTV system Power ramp, Cab Air con, Single door conversion available From £4,500.00 + VAT + Tyres (£250)
Quality Coach Sales Contact Joseph Sage 0208 400 6680 Email Joseph.sage@lonutd.co.uk
TAKING ORDERS NOW FOR MARCH 2012
1997 Volvo B10 Plaxton Premier 320 Fully refurbished, 57 or 70 seats. Choice of trim. Fully re-painted in your choice from 3 colours. From £18,000 - £30,000 + VAT
1995-1998 DAF SV 3000 Plaxtons + VanHools
www.SDRcoachhelp.com 24 Hrs 0844 576 3300 53 seats with air conditioning, LEZ and Euro 4 Kits From £20,000 + VAT
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Mini Coach Sales
BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE TORO 32 high back seats, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.
BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE SOROCO 19 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.
BRAND NEW MERCEDES 813 VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power plug door, luggage boot.
2009 09 REG MERCEDES BENZ 515 SPRINTER AUTO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, A/C front and rear, power door and large luggage boot.
2008 58 REG MERCEDES BENZ 1022L SITCAR MARLIN 33 high back reclining seats incorporating leather headrest inserts, armrests and seat back tables, A/C, double glazing, fridge and power door.
2007 07 REG FORD TRANSIT 14 seats, 3 point belts.
2006 06 MERCEDES 814D PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights D/G, power door.
2006 06 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights and large boot, analogue tacho.
2005 05 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large luggage boot.
BARGAIN BUS STOP 2002 52 REG RENAULT 10 SEATS + RAMP 2005 55 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON CHEETAH 29 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, D/G, power door and large boot.
2003 03 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks.
2001 51 REG RENAULT 8 SEATS + RAMP
Steve Peach Tel: 01302 770863 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: steve@connaughtpsv.co.uk
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PROMOTION
LARA
020 8320 1351 lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk
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ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING
ENGINES
Crewe Engines Ltd MERCEDES ENGINE SPECIALISTS
WE ALSO RECONDITION ALL MAKES OF BUS & COACH ENGINES CHECKPOINTS
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Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone
TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/DUSTITE loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:
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Tel: 01524 271200
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Suppliers of Reconditioned
DAF MAN MERC, VOLVO SCANIA, GARDNER LEYLAND, CUMMINS ENGINES CYLINDER HEADS CRANKSHAFTS CRANKCASES CAMSHAFTS Tel: PUMPS Works: 01782 791524 Moorfields Ind. ETC 01782 791527 Est. Cotes Heath, Fax: 01782 791316
Stoke-on-Trent ST21 6QY
SPECIAL OFFERS
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
Specialists in Used Commercial Garage Equipment BWS 0117 953 0381 www.bwsequip.co.uk
email: bwsequip@hotmail.com
Contact JBL Mechanical Engineers Green Fields • Stanton • Shrewsbury • Shropshire SY4 4LR
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December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61
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62 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 7, 2011
Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk, fax 0845 2802927 or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX
Monday: Press day. Rise at 0600hrs and work at home for an hour. Start in the office by 0800 but my plans to crack on are scuppered thanks to a fault on one of our broadband lines. The matter isn’t resolved until 1100. New recruit Andrew makes his debut in at the deep end – on a press day. I swap desks. I’m now a Mac user in the office. I joke my contract of employment needs to be revised – I’m the assistant IT man. On a serious note, the broadband fault throws our production schedule out of the window. As a result I don’t get to bed until 0200hrs.
Honestly, the lengths some people are willing to go to in order to attempt to gain a mention on CBW’s Last Stop page… Only joking – of course. The bus-themed advent calendar pictured here was kindly sent to CBW editor Gareth last week by well known transport legal services specialist Backhouse Jones. The advert panel promotes the firm’s ‘Legally blonde’ duo, otherwise known as Claire and Fran, who can help operators recoup uninsured losses. For the bus cranks among you, the Routmaster is RM1941 (ALD941B), which a quick Google search reveals is – or indeed was - run by East London, which of course, is now back in Stagecoach ownership.
Sally Traf�ic’s a favourite Radio 2 and Sally Traffic are the favourite in-cab entertainment for 41% of Wincanton’s 2,000 truck drivers – last week’s Transport News Brief reported. “For lorry drivers everywhere, BBC Radio 2 is the ‘must tune-in’ station not only for its mix of news and music, but also for its regular
Dilbert
UK-wide traffic updates which help them avoid road congestion and make their deliveries on time,” said David Rowlands, technical services director at Wincanton. “We are happy so many of our drivers pull into a lay-by to call Sally Traffic’s special hotline the minute they spot trouble on the highways in order to make other road users aware and help minimise congestion.” For completeness, this is how some of the other voted: 13% opt for local radio, another 10% prefer
Radio 1, while a further 10% flick between the radio and their own CDs. Wincanton’s survey results may relate to trucks, but we’re sure Sally Traffic is also popular with coach drivers. Indeed, while BBC Weather’s Carol Kirkwood always makes a welcome appearance at the UK Coach Awards with her friendly, down to earth personality and willingness to engage with all present, how about we ask Sally Traffic if she’d like to attend a future? Just a thought.
Tuesday: Get up at 0700hrs. Attend to a few chores before heading to Peterborough railway station. Accompanied by ad team members Ian and Harley, catch a First Capital Connect train to Kings Cross. Spend an enjoyable day at the UK Bus Awards. As ever, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with my many friends in the industry, not to mention meeting others for the first time. Having been invited by CEO David Brown, I join the Go-Ahead Group table. Feeling tired, I don’t hang around in the evening. With a signalling fault in Peterborough, we don’t arrive home until 1900. Wednesday: Spend the day in the office. Watching the One Show while eating my evening meal, I’m horrified by Clarkson’s remarks – not about the strikers, but about those who commit suicide. If he ever loses a loved one, I’m sure he’ll change his tune – or perhaps not. Thursday: A hectic day in the office writing and compiling material for this issue. Friday: A busy day in the office. Feeling tired and full of cold, reluctantly decide against spending the weekend ‘back home’ with my parents on the Shropshire-Welsh borderland.
www.coachandbusweek.com
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RECRUITMENT
DEADlINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.30pm
December 7, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 63
CONTACT Harley Denham 01733 293249
harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk
Stagecoach celebrates long service in Manchester Thirty-six Stagecoach Manchester employees have been recognised at the firm’s annual long service awards, where they celebrated a collective service with the company of 1200 years. The Stagecoach Manchester employees were congratulated by Andrew Gwynne MP and presented
The commitment from staff has helped maintain the firm’s name in the area, says Chris Bowles
with a bouquet of flowers for their partners at the annual Long Service Awards dinner, which was recently held at the city’s Lowry Hotel. Each recipient has also received a long service gift of their choice. Christopher Bowles, the new managing director of Stagecoach Manchester who took up the role in November, commented: “I am delighted to express my genuine appreciation and congratulations to all of the award recipients for their dedication to the company. “We are very proud to have so many loyal and long serving staff members. Their commitment to the job has helped establish and maintain our good name in the region. Everyone at the awards had at least 20 years service, and 12 were receiving 40 years or more awards, which is an incredible achievement.”
general managers
Salary circa £50k - £65k + pension
Various Locations CT Plus is part of the HCT Group, an award-winning social enterprise, operating commercial and community transport services CT Plus is expanding as we win new contracts. We are now looking to recruit General Managers who will be willing to re-locate, if necessary, within Great Britain to manage new service areas. The successful candidates will have a strong career record in the passenger transport sector, demonstrating excellent management and operational abilities, with the determination to build on our reputation for quality service delivery. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the General Managers will be accountable for all commercial, financial and operational matters relating to the successful delivery of services. The successful candidates will have the ability to innovate and achieve growth in their geographical area. The post holders will possess excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to influence at all levels. Closing date for completed application forms is 10:00, 19 December 2011. Interviews will be held in London on 12 January 2012 If you wish to have an informal discussion, please contact Jon McColl, Chief Operations Officer, on 020 7608 8955. For an application pack, please email susandixon@hctgroup.org website: www.hctgroup.org
www.coachandbusweek.com
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553327-1015-Euromotive
1/12/11
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