Wednesday December 14, 2011 Issue 1016 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com
COACH:
READER OFFER: BUS:
New classes introduced Apply to take part in to boost UK Coach Rally Michelin's year-long for next year p8 coach tyre trial p10
Scania Plaxtons power Oxford airline fleet
Boris bids farewell to London's controversial bendy bus p6
INSIGHT:
Guide Dogs for the Blind calls for audio visuals on buses p26
for recru i
JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK
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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 14, 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
EDITORIAL Publisher Jonathan Taylor 01733 293240 jonathan.taylor@rouncymedia.co.uk Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk Industry Editor Meera Rambissoon 01733 293240 meera.rambissoon@rouncymedia.co.uk Technical and Minibus Editor Martin Cole 01733 293245, 07885 692144 martin.cole@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter James Day 01733 293244 james.day@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter Andrew Cream 01733 293240 andrew.cream@rouncymedia.co.uk Art Director Keith Simpson Contributors Richard Charnley, Gabriel Conway, Alan Payling
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What price funding?
D
espite the seemingly endless ‘cuts’ stories aimed at the coalition government, a £50m Better Bus Areas fund for local authority and operator partnership working was announced last week. First UK Bus MD Giles Fearnley hit the nail on the head when he said the news “was totally unexpected.” Let’s hope it ends up in ‘real’ projects rather than gimmicks or political monuments. Is the government responding to political pressure, by not being seen to ‘line the pockets of private companies?’ Of course, it comes at a time when BSOG is being slashed – the effects of which will truly hit the headlines in the coming weeks. While the funding is undoubtedly welcome, as my Yorkshire friends are only too quick to say, ‘You don’t get owt for nowt’… On the subject of finances and at the risk of contradicting myself, if you run coaches, I’d like to draw your attention to p10.
Renowned tyre manufacturer Michelin has teamed up with Coach & Bus Week to find three operators to test its fuel saving tyres for a year. This means each of the chosen three operators gets one free set of tyres for a vehicle for a full year. In times like the present, it’s clearly a no brainer. Please contact us ASAP. We look forward to hearing from you! On a final note, I’d like to welcome the inaugural ROSCO column in this issue (p46). In a past life when I worked for Travel West Midlands in Birmingham I recall how the red badge was worn with much pride and real honour. The organisation has undergone some significant changes of late. However, let it not be said ROSCO is some fly by night scheme. It’s been around since 1965 and has some key industry figures at the helm – including Peter Shipp, John Miller and Gavin Booth. Gareth Evans Editor
CONTENTS 4
26
46
The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK
16
Calls for next stop announcement systems under PSVAR regulations
32
ROSCO encourages membership to promote safer driving skills
Rail losses inhibit positive Stagecoach interim performance
22
Farewell to the articulated Citaros in London – for now anyway
34
A round up of the latest innovations to aid operators
...From tourist attractions and events. Plus ideas for group visits
24
Oxford Bus Company upgrades with first Plaxton Scania coaches
38
A lighthearted look at the industry. Plus Gareth’s Diary!
More businesses urged to switch to efficient lighting schemes
A look at how to get the most from digital tachographs and stay legal
All the latest people moves from across the industry
News
Financial News Tour News
Business News
Guide Dogs
The Big Picture
Operator Update Essential Guide
ROSCO Column
49
Products
61
Last Stop
62
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 14, 2011
nEWS
BriEfly Nottingham City Transport (NCT) launched a new website last week, with additional features including real-time information technology. Anthony Carver-Smith, NCT’s marketing manager, said: “From the home page on our new website, our passengers will be able to see, at a glance, live information on exactly when their bus will arrive at their specific stop. This is a great feature which is also available as a phone app, and is displayed on our bus stops.” Over 7000 people have downloaded the app since it was launched two months ago. Check out the new NCT website at www. nctx.co.uk Stagecoach South has acquired Berkshirebased indepdent bus operator Countrywide Travel (Fleet) Ltd. Owners Mr and Mrs Chadwick will be leaving the business following the handover period. Stagecoach South MD Andrew Dyer said: “Fleet Buzz will continue to be managed as a separate business unit within the Stagecoach South region from its current base with its own identity. John Chadwick has built up a successful business over the last decade and we look forward to developing it for the future.” Last week marked the opening of the 150th Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) at Brownhills-based Gulliver’s Truck Hire Ltd, which will offer open access vehicle testing of trailers, heavy goods and public service vehicles five days a week. ATFs are part of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency’s (VOSA) initiative to reduce costs to the industry and take testing close to customers. Having undertaken market analysis to establish the likely ATF take up around existing VOSA sites, VOSA also announced it will cease testing at its Sheffield and Taunton test stations by the end of August 2012 and Purfleet by the end of October 2012. Local staff will be involved in options development for future delivery of operations in these areas with VOSA staff delivering heavy goods and public service vehicle testing from ATFs. www.coachandbusweek.com
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£44m order for megabus.com coaches won by Van Hool Belgian coach builder boosted by Stagecoach order Stagecoach Group last week announced a £44m investment in a fleet of 106 new double-decker coaches for its budget coach service megabus.com – most bound for North America and the remainder for the UK. The order has been placed with Belgian manufacturer Van Hool which is also building coaches for the Souter Investments-owned PolskiBus.com – an intercity express coach business in Poland serving the country’s biggest cities
and four European capitals. The new order is for 13-metre coaches, which will meet the latest Euro 5 emissions standards, will be fitted with 81 seats and equipped with a toilet, power sockets, Wi-Fi and CCTV. £40m will be spent on 95 vehicles for the megabus.com network in the United States and Canada and a £4m fleet of 11 coaches have been ordered for the UK network, which now carries around 3 million passengers a year and links 60 locations across the country. The UK coaches, which will be
Van Hool has become a firm favourite with Stagecoach for the supply of double-decker coaches – as seen here with this 10-plate megabus.com example near London’s Victoria Coach Station
999 days left for Driver CPC training In a move which acts as a wakeup call for all professional drivers, December 16 marks the point at which holders of LGV driving licences have 999 days remaining to complete their first 35 hours of mandatory Driver Certificate of
Professional Competence [Driver CPC] training. Jason Vallint, AA DriveTech’s business development director, said: “The deadline might seem a long way off but when drivers and operators consider the amount of training time available for them to fit in with their existing workload, there really isn’t that much time left. Although we’d be more than happy to help, we urge operators to act sooner rather than later to avoid calling for emergency assistance
delivered between December 2011 and January 2012, will operate on operate on the London to Bristol, London to Cardiff and LondonSheffield-Leeds-Newcastle routes. They will replace 15-metre single deck vehicles currently used on most of these journeys. Stagecoach chief executive Sir Brian Souter explained the popularity of the low-cost coach services, which started operating in the UK in 2003 and whose fares start from £1, plus 50p booking fee. “The tough economy and rising fuel prices are having a real impact on household living standards and people are looking for ways to save money,” said Sir Brian. “megabus. com is the perfect solution to help make people’s pound or dollar go further in these difficult times. “Many of the people we are attracting, particularly in North America, used to travel by car, so the switch to greener coach travel is better for the planet. This latest investment will also mean we can continue to offer a high quality product as well as great value fares and meet the growing demand for low-cost travel in North America and the UK.” Asked why British manufacturers were not selected for the order, Sir Brian correctly pointed out: “They do not make them. They would not have been able to make them in the timescale,” it was reported in The Times newspaper. close to the deadline. “AA DriveTech’s new online booking system can give you immediate access to quality courses which both drivers and their employers require.” For more information on AA DriveTech’s CPC courses, visit www.aadrivetech. com/DriverCPC or email drivercpc@aadrivetech.com. For corporate enquiries, call Andrew Hadley on 0845 345 9624.
12/12/2011 23:38
December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5
“We are in the 21st century and we haven’t even got 18th century information provision.” David Cowdrey
Motts take over Crusader Holidays Motts Leisure Ltd, the holiday arm of Aylesbury-based Motts Coaches, has taken over the business of Clacton-on-Sea’s Crusader Holidays, which went into administration on December 1 – as reported in last week’s issue. Buckinghamshire-based Motts, which have operated tours and holidays since the 1970s, has a long-standing relationship with Crusader. The operator’s continental tour programme was almost entirely Crusader product sold as an agent within Crusader’s brochure, and served by a feeder network to either South Mimms or Thurrock services. Roger Mott, Motts Coaches’ MD said: “Crusader Holidays is a quality
CPT Northern Bus Summit set for 2012 Partnerships is the theme of the CPT’s third Northern Bus Summit, set to take place on November 15 next year. “Partnerships still provide the best bus services for the travelling public” is the full title of the free one-day conference open to operators in CPT’s Northern and Yorkshire regions at a venue to be
tour operator who we have been proud to have been associated for the past 13 years. It is our intention to continue operating the Crusader brand for many years to come.” Motts will take over the booking office in Clacton with many of the current staff. Roy Finch, who was a senior director with Crusader, has been appointed as CEO of the
Insight p26
new operation which opened on Monday (December 12). CBW broke the news to its Facebook and Twitter followers on Monday, which was welcomed by two well known industry figures. “Excellent, good to see Roy back as well,” commented Karen Tiley, while Jon Hartley wrote: “Could hardly be in better hands!”
Motts of Aylesbury has taken over Crusader Holidays. One of the renowned operator’s coaches is seen here at the 2009 UK Coach Rally in Brighton confirmed in Manchester. It is being organised by the CPT’s North West Bus Commission. The conference will demonstrate what can still be achieved by transport authorities, bus operators and passenger representatives working together, in spite of austerity measures and regulatory challenges. For the first time, this Northern Bus Summit will be widening its scope to cover the whole of the north of England. With the support of the DfT’s Northern Engagement Team, the event will be masterminded by CPT members
within the three CPT northern regions – North West, Northern and Yorkshire. Phillipa Sudlow, CPT’s NW regional manager explained: “After the success of the 2006 and 2009 events, it is hoped the wider scope and central northern location will attract again all those who are keen to realise the development of quality bus services.” To register your early interest, contact Phillipa Sudlow, CPT NW regional manager, by emailing on phillipas@cpt-uk.org
Edmondson to chair UK Coach Awards The organisers of the UK Coach Awards (UKCA) have announced Allan Edmondson has accepted the post of chairman. Currently working as head of bus and coach services at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Allan has spent all his working life in the transport and travel businesses, starting from school at 16 with Ribble in Preston as a traffic trainee. He worked for National Travel in Sheffield and Manchester, Buddens in Hampshire and Len Wright Travel in Manchester. He was part of the management buyout team at NBC-owned Wessex of Bristol, and then ran his own travel business. He joined theCPT in 1996, where he was instrumental in launching and managing Coach Marque. He joined the ODA in 2006. UKCA director Jamie Cash said: “Allan will bring to the Awards his wide experience of coaching and coach tourism, and his long experience of promoting excellence and good practice through the Coach Marque scheme.” In stepping down as chairman, Derek Phillips, co-founder of the awards and who remains a director, congratulated and welcomed Allan. He said: “The scene is now set for the scheme to enter a new phase in its quest to be the leading award in coach tourism. It is already proving a worthy successor to the highly regarded CBW Coach Awards.”
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6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
nEWS › BUSeS
£50m
The value of the bus partnership funding announced by the Coalition government last week
BriEfly Stagecoach Bluebird, based in Aberdeen, has launched its Queue Buster initiative at Aberdeen’s Ellon Park and Ride and Union Square bus station to try and speed up boarding times. Customers can purchase tickets during the morning peak from the park and ride, and during the afternoon peak from Union Square, before boarding the bus. Stagecoach Bluebird managing director Andrew Jarvis said: “The Queue Buster initiative will make boarding quicker and easier for our customers during the morning and afternoon peak times, thereby improving reliability for our services in the area.” London’s first interactive bus stops were switched on last week ahead of an art installation running as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Six bus shelters have been modified to have 10ft-long video screens on their roofs, visible only to passengers on the top deck of London buses. The project, which will officially launch on January 1 is funded by Arts Council England, and features work from established artists and members of the public. There will be 30 ‘bustops’ along key Olympic routes, with the first going live in Hackney, Lewisham and Wandsworth displaying a test message. The screens will be live 24 hours a day from January 1 to the end of the Paralympic games on September 9. Members of the public can upload their own images to be included. Bristol’s free bus service completed its six-month trial on Saturday, December 10 having carried more than 10,000 passengers. The FreeBus services in Bristol, which are free at the point of use, are funded by paying members and voluntary donations - the first of its kind in the UK. The F1 service was launched in June and connects Bristol’s main public transport hubs with the city centre. Each bus is staffed by volunteer “conductors” who, instead of collecting fares, inform passengers about the group and encourage them to join or donate. FreeBus was formed in response to public sector cuts to local bus services, and has more than 800 members. www.coachandbusweek.com
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First operates last ever Bendy in London Driver of first and last bendy bus sees the Citaro artics bow out Matthew Wooll, revenue and marketing manager at First Berkshire, drove the last ever bendy bus service in London on its 207 operation, which ended in the early hours of Saturday, December 10. “The last journey to depart was driven by myself from Hayes By-Pass (arriving at White City at 0054hrs), although due to a significant difference in directional running time, the last bus to actually still be in passenger service was the final journey from White City to Hayes By-Pass (which arrived after 0100),” Matthew told CBW. “I also drove the first 207 bendy bus on October 15, 2001 (the first day of the six-month trial), which followed a brief trial over nine years earlier at Selkent.” Articulated buses were introduced to London when former mayor, Ken Livingstone, introduced new Mercedes-Benz Citaros to Red Arrow routes 507 and 521. Bendy buses have had very mixed and strong reactions - fans praised their ability to move huge numbers of people while enemies criticised them for levels of fare evasion, threat to cyclists, catching fire and for blocking roads. Johnson once described them as “jack-knifing, traffic-blocking, self-combusting cyclist crushers.”
As part of his mayoral campaign in 2007, he pledged to withdraw them and introduce a modern replacement Routemaster. In 2009, the first three bendy bus routes were replaced with conventional lowfloor single and double deckers. Of the 350-strong fleet of bendys running on 12 routes, 500 new buses have replaced them, including 50 hybrids. The New Bus for London (NBfL), dubbed the Borismaster, enters service in 2012. Transport for London (TfL) estimates the switch will save £7m per year due to a reduction in fare evasion. TfL said it reviewed service patterns on the 12 converted routes to ensure they continue to meet demand, each of which has seen an increase in Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR). “Today we bid a final but not fond farewell to the bendy bus,” said the mayor on the last day of service. “These bulky and ungainly monstrosities were always more suitable for the wide open vistas of a Scandinavian airport than for London’s narrow streets and I am glad to see the back of them. While it is goodbye to the bendy it is hello to the svelte and elegant NBfL, which will grace the capital’s streets from early next year.” Stephen Morris of Bus Users UK spoke to Radio 4 on Thursday, in support of bendy buses. Asked
December 10 saw the last Citaro artic run in London on the 207 route
what was so great about them Stephen said: “They are perfect for shifting large crowds. The greatest application was running services between Victoria and Waterloo, and Waterloo and the City. You’d get off the train at Waterloo and there would be a huge queue for the bus and you’d think ‘I’m going to be here for ages’ and you’d walk straight onto a bendy bus and away it goes. “They are absolutely great crowd shifters – better than any bus I’ve come across,” concluded Stephen. Noel Staples, a retired London bus driver, gave his perspective as someone who drove the 24 route, following bendy buses along Tottenham Court Road, down from Mornington Crescent towards Trafalgar Square. “The big problem is they obscure the bus stops completely and you can sometimes have two, in this case the number 29, on the same bus stop and although they set down and pick up very quickly indeed, if I can’t see the bus stop and if I haven’t any passenger to get off at that bus stop, I still have to pull up and wait in case there are any passengers to get on.” Asked if bendys were more trouble than they were worth, Noel said: “They were excellent crowd shifters but they allowed an awful amount of fare-dodging.” Noel said he would often be held up at Mornington Crescent waiting while Police officers would stop bendys, blocking each exit and check everyone for fare dodgers. “19 sets of traffic lights on one stretch of the route also proved a problem,” he added. Stephen responded: “One thing which irks me about Boris’s decision was an awful lot of money was spent to make bendy buses work in London. They rebuilt Victoria station, modified countless stops and moved street furniture at vast expense. They worked in London a lot better than in other cities as a result and now we’re just forgetting about the money that was invested and saying ‘that’s okay we’ll just write it off’ – I think it’s absolutely criminal.”
12/12/2011 23:29
18
The number of new hybrid buses which have entered service with National Express West Midlands in Birmingham
National Express West Midlands �leet changes National Express West Midlands (NXWM) is investing in its fleet – with the addition of new single and double-decker buses. In addition to 18 hybrids – more of which later - 29 new Wrightbodied Volvo B7s are entering service for use on Wolverhampton cross-city routes 3, 4 and 5. Based at Wolverhampton Garage, they will be replacing Optare Excels and some Mercedes-Benz 0405s. However, some of the latter will be transferred to other garages to allow the withdrawal of Wrightbodied Volvo B6s. New ADL E400s are due to enter service at Walsall Garage shortly to upgrade route 51, which links Walsall with Birmingham via the A34. Meanwhile, 13 new ADL E400s are entering service at Coventry Garage, the first of their type at Travel Coventry. It is understood the new buses are destined for route 21, which will see the withdrawal of the early articulated Mercedes-Benz 0405GNs. However, the most high profile addition to the fleet has been the 18 hybrids – half of which are ADL E400Hs and the rest are Wright Volvo B5LHs. They have now started entering service on routes
Cities paper points to BSOG devolution
A paper, published by cities minister Greg Clark last week, contains a proposal pointing at devolving the allocation of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) funding to local authorities. The paper aims to help cities “exercise more independence” and “take their economic destiny into their own hands” through a proposed menu of options up for discussion and negotiation. “In exchange for local leadership, central government is prepared to
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£2
December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7
The cost for each driver entered on the ROSCO scheme
SHARE WATCH
Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, December 12. Stagecoach enjoyed the greatest proportional rise and Optare suffered the biggest proportional drop. Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk
276.10p
Price: Year High: 574.37p Year Low: 257.70p
Gisela Stuart MP, Centro chairman cllr Angus Adams and NXWM MD Peter Coates. Below: Withdrawal of Mercedes-Benz 0405s has started. This example is seen at the now closed Hockley Garage in May 2004
22 and 23, which link Birmingham City Centre with Kitwell and Woodgate Valley North respectively. The routes run on a joint eight minute frequency between 07001830hrs and a 15 minute frequency at other times. The buses carry a distinctive livery illustrating the pride National Express West Midlands and Centro take in protecting the local
environment. They represent a £5.2m investment in low carbon and sustainable transport for the West Midlands, by National Express West Midlands, Centro and Department for Transport’s Green Bus Fund round two. Speaking at the recent launch of the vehicles, which took place at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, Peter Coates, MD of National Express West Midlands said: “Our new hybrids are really distinctive and a big investment into the future of transport in the region. They look great from the outside and have the latest on board advancements in customer experience including audio/visual technology to alert those with hearing and sight problems when their stop is approaching.”
pass down unprecedented control over budgets and powers in areas such as transport, housing, skills and business support, states Clark in the foreword. Under the heading “Raising the stakes – an illustrative menu of bold options”, the subsection “The power to drive critical infrastructure development” contains the general proposal: “Allow cities to take strategic transport decisions by devolving local transport major funding.” The more specific option states: “Develop with cities specific proposals for developing greater accountability to local communities for local bus services, in the context of wider BSOG reform.” Launching the paper last Friday, Clark said: “Cities need to make a case for new powers - with a clear evidence base, and a strong
economic rationale. They have to show how new flexibilities could benefit local people. They will have to demonstrate how they will manage budgets, and hold themselves accountable to residents.” The devolution of BSOG has been strongly opposed by operators, for whom the 20% cut next April is bad enough. Go Ahead’s business development director, Martin Dean said in a previous CBW column (CBW1007): “It is not just that changing the way that BSOG is paid out could see £400m flow away from the bus industry – although the lack of ‘ring-fencing’ for buses is a key issue if devolution to local authorities did take place – but it is the way the money could be spent in future even if it stayed in the bus sector which is a concern.”
321.00p
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FTSE 100
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Price: Year High: 6,105 Year Low: 4,790
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on last week
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8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
nEWS › coaches
BriEfly Work between junctions 24 and 25 of the M5 will began on December 12. The works around the Bridgwater area will take place in two phases. Phase one, which began on December 12, is expected to finish by December 23. Work will be carried out during off-peak day time hours and overnight. Various off-peak lane closures will be in place on both the north and southbound carriageways, when necessary. Phase two will begin on January 4. Work will be carried both day and night, not limited to off peak hours. Both northbound and southbound traffic will be reduced to two lanes, with traffic running on the hard shoulder and lane 1. These works are expected to be completed by February 19. During both phases of the scheme, traffic management will be in place for approximately 2.5 miles. A 50mph speed limit which will be enforced by average speed cameras. Plans to replace a bridge over the M5 near Gloucester are to be reviewed. The Highways Agency will reschedule work needed on the Piffs Elm Bridge which carries the A4019 over the M5 at junction 10 near Gloucester to allow a full review of the project to take place. It had been proposed that the bridge would be completely demolished and replaced with a new structure over a 47 week period starting in March 2012. EasyJet passengers can now book airport transfers with National Express via www. nationalexpress.com. The new deal is an addition to an existing arrangement, which lets customers buy coach tickets during flights, and will give passengers the opportunity to save money on coach fares to airports including Manchester, Luton, Birmingham and Newcastle. “We are delighted to enhance our in-flight sales deal with easyJet by creating a new online booking site for easyJet’s customers,” said Bruce Alexander, National Express’ business development director. Fares start from £3.90, for a single ticket from Manchester to Manchester Airport. Other fares include London Victoria to Gatwick Airport from £7.50, and London to Stansted Airport from £8. www.coachandbusweek.com
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UK Coach Rally gears up for 2012 Event boosted by new categories and board members The UK Coach Rally has received 20 entries for the 2012 event and is set to expand with the launch of new Bus of the Year and Bus Driver of the Year categories. The new categories have been included to reflect the fact that many coach operators are also involved in bus operations and their participation
in the Rally helps make it more representative of professionalism across the sector. The Rally returns to the East of England Showground in Peterborough, where it has been held since 2010, with 2012 dates confirmed as April 21 and 22. The company behind the rally, Coach Displays, has also expanded with two new directors, Stephen Telling and John Cousins joining
Parrys International won Coach of the Year 2011 for its immaculate Van Hool Astron T9 at the 2011 event
Lincoln’s bus station out of bounds for coaches Coaches visiting Lincoln will no longer be allowed to use the city’s bus station from January 1, 2012. This is the result of a health and safety review commissioned earlier this year by Lincoln City Council, according to the CPT. The report highlights the dangers of reversing vehicles caused by the laying over of coaches in certain areas. No bookings will be taken after the aforementioned date. Drivers will be required to load/unload their passengers on site or use one the designated pick-up/drop-off
CPT has helpfully notified operators and drivers of the changes stops located around the city. However, the council is keen to stress there are still a number of coach parking areas available. The Stagecoach East Midlands Garage on Great Northern Terrace is £5.50 for a half day, £10 for a full day (0800hrs – 1800), £5.50 for an evening (1800 – midnight) and £12 overnight (1800 – 0800). Evening and overnight stops must be pre-
Ann and Paul Cousins on the board. One of the best known names in the coach industry, former CPT president Telling, has been a strong supporter of the event for a long time and involved behind the scenes and has now taken a stake in the business. Telling said: “I am delighted to be part of the team behind the UK Coach Rally. It has always been a very welcoming event which brings everyone together to celebrate the best of British coaching.” Epsom Coaches has confirmed it will enter a coach in the 2012 Rally, the first time the operator has entered since the early 1990s when it was held in Southampton. The 2012 Rally will be the 58th event - the first was held in Clacton in 1955. The 2012 event will include the regular mix of competitions - with Gauntlet Risk Management again sponsoring the driving test area - static displays and trade stands as well as children’s entertainment and the popular Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening. Visit www.coachdisplays. co.uk or call 01753 631170.
booked through Stagecoach. There are also three coach bays at Tentercroft Street, with a flat cost of £8 to park, which should be prebooked on 01522 873655. Coach pick-up and drop-off points can be found at Northgate/ Nettleham Road (for Cathedral etc), Grantham Street (Flaxengate), Saltergate and Wigford Way. There are also a number of spaces at Unity Square, which is well located for the city centre although passengers will need to cross busy Broadgate. CPT East Midlands regional manager Keith McNally has met with the Business Improvement Group and Visitor Management to discuss coach parking and other facilities within the city and they are currently undertaking a review.
For more information visit www.lincoln.gov.uk/parking
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“Our goal is simple – to promote safe and efficient driving standards to professional drivers. As a bus operator I am only too aware of the cost of bad driving.” Peter Shipp
ROSCO column p46
Anthony’s Travel’s tribute to Sir Freddie
Eurolines champions coach initiative
UK Coach Operator of the Year 2011 Anthony’s Travel of Runcorn has decided to name the latest addition to its immaculate coach fleet “The Spirit of Sir Freddie Laker”, after the pioneer of low-cost travel. The Neoplan Tourliner was provided by Manchester-based MAN Bus and Coach, in association with Landmark Finance, and is fitted with the latest EEV Euro 5 engine, 49 reclining seats, Synectics CCTV and Genius system, Orbital tracking system and air conditioning. Amenities include a DVD player, drinks machine, fridge, microwave and smart vac system. Richard Bamber, partner of Anthony’s Travel, explained the reason behind the new coach’s name: “In 1977, when I was six, it was an ambition of my parents to visit the United States. However, due to costly flights this was not possible, until Laker Airways launched the Skytrain service in the same year, offering fares across the Atlantic at around half of the price of the other carriers. “Therefore we were able to turn
Eurolines is calling for policymakers to recognise the role and contribution of coaches to safe, environmentally friendly and affordable travel. John Gilbert, president of the Eurolines Organisation, said: “The coach plays a vital, but largely unrecognised role in keeping Europe moving. Passengers choose the coach because it’s an affordable, convenient way to travel crossborder but there’s a lot which public authorities could to make the passenger experience better. “Empowering travellers to make intermodal journeys is a key objective for the EC, but coaches are denied access to a number of key terminals across Europe.” Eurolines highlighted the trend towards increased border checks for international coach services, even within Schengen, resulting in cumbersome delays for passengers and acting as a deterrent for choosing the coach. Eurolines has also announced plans to launch a series of awards in 2012 for the best equipped terminals and the most improved stations to help raise awareness of the role of coach travel.
New coach route for John Lennon Airport
National Express (NX) has launched a new coach route serving Liverpool John Lennon Airport in a £1.5m investment creating 20 jobs. The 24/7 service links Bradford, Leeds, Manchester Airport, Manchester, Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead to JLA, and will run 10 times a day at two hour intervals daily, apart from Christmas Day. The operator says the service, which is a collaboration with Selwyns Travel, will provide 30,000 seats a month on six new coaches. NX MD Andrew Cleaves said: “We think it is going to be a great
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Anthony’s Travel’s latest arrival pays tribute to Sir Freddie Laker
dreams into reality and visited California for a month along with my parents, brother, cousin and grandmother. “None of this would have been possible for us if it wasn’t for Freddie Laker, who not only revolutionised the airline industry but transport in general, and we like to think this has been of benefit service. A £1.90 ticket will take you from Birkenhead to the city centre or Liverpool JLA.” It is NX’s first involvement with JLA in 10 years. Mr Cleaves added: “We’re happy to be back. We think the airport has a great future. It has links with the city and it is possible to pass quickly through departures to the plane.” Craig Richmond, CEO of Peel Airports, which includes Liverpool JLA, said: “We welcome this investment made by National Express to further improve our public transport links.” Keith Blundell, Liverpool council’s head of tourism, said: “It is important to have easy connections in and out of the airport with the rest of the country. This move shows a great deal of faith on the part of National Express in Liverpool JLA, which is most encouraging.”
to Anthony’s Travel.” Freddie Allen Laker, Sir Freddie’s son, commented: “This is an unexpected and fun tribute to my father’s legacy. My family and I are thrilled that Anthony’s Travel are passionate about the same ideals that my father believed in.” The exterior of the coach is silver with the Anthony’s Travel livery and “The Spirit of Sir Freddie Laker” in the style of the Laker Skytrain logo. Anthony’s Travel was one of the UK launch customers for the Tourliner in 2007 and this arrival takes the number of Neoplans in fleet to six. For more information visit www.anthonys-travel.co.uk
Liverpool given coachfriendly status by CPT Liverpool has been awarded the 2011 Coach Friendly Award from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT). The city has the largest number of UK museums, galleries and theatres outside London, and is also home to two cathedrals, two premiership football clubs, the Grand National and the Liverpool One leisure and shopping centre. Cllr Claire Wilner, assistant cabinet member for leisure and tourism, led the city’s presentation to the CPT on November 22. Simon Posner, CPT CEO said:
“CPT was impressed with what had been achieved already through a well considered strategy aimed at increasing coach visitors to the city. Increases in drop off and pick up bays, parking bays and the introduction of two coach welcome schemes at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Albert Dock was part of this strategy. “Just as impressive was the appetite for further activity in growing this market still further. Following further consideration of how Liverpool plans to continue efforts to improve facilities for coaches and their passengers through the Liverpool Coach Tourism Working Group, CPT was in no doubt the city should be a worthy holder of the Coach Friendly award.” The award will be presented formally at the CPT NW Dinner Dance on Saturday, January 14. www.coachandbusweek.com
12/12/2011 23:49
10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
rEAdEr OffEr
Jump aboard for fuel saving tyre trial Michelin has teamed up with Coach & Bus Week to find three coach operators to take part in a year-long trial of its all-new fuel-saving tyres. Would you like to take part? Read on… CBW has teamed up with Michelin to find three coach operators to take part in a 12-month trial of the latest generation of fuel-saving tyres. This dedicated UK-based study will measure how the use of patented ‘Energy Flex’ casing technology can help coaches covering long-distances at high average speeds to save money at the pumps. Michelin is giving away £9,000 worth of tyres free of charge for a year, during which time we’ll be aiming to confirm its latest X Energy SaverGreen fitments deliver a lower rolling resistance to the ultimate real-world test. Martin Covington, head of marketing for Michelin’s coach and bus division, says: “All coach tyres may look similar, but there can be significant variations in how different brands and products perform. Get your tyre choice right, and savvy fleet managers can not only enjoy the lowest cost per mile tyre bill, but they can also secure tangible fuel savings which will have a significant impact on their
bottom line.” Michelin says the unique Energy Flex casing in its new 315/80 R 22.5 X Energy SaverGreen tyres ensures a lower rolling resistance throughout the tyres’ life by reducing the generation of heat. Covington explains: “While the crown accounts for 70% of the heat generated by a tyre as it rotates, the sidewalls and bead each account for a further 15% of the energy loss. With the X Energy SaverGreen Michelin has developed new solutions to reduce this energy loss, and consequently improve fuel consumption by around 1.7 litres per 100km* in comparison with other major tyre brands. “Achieving this performance requires leading-edge technology, which is supported by Michelin’s annual research and development budget of nearly €500 million. This is an unprecedented ongoing investment in the tyre industry and reinforces the fact not all tyres are created equal.” Built for long-distance and high average speed use on motorways and main roads, the X Energy SaverGreen family is designed to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. The specific drive axle fitments also feature patented ‘double wave’ sipes to improve traction by up to 10 per cent on
MICHELIN TYRE TRIAL
Technology employed in Michelin’s X Energy Savergreen improves mpg damp, slippery surfaces compared to the Michelin XDA2+ in the same size. All X Energy SaverGreen tyres are both regroovable and retreadable as Michelin Remix. “With the latest X Energy SaverGreen we’re confident we’ve designed a tyre which will deliver the best possible fuel efficiency, without compromising on longevity, reliability, ride comfort, handling or safety. Together with CBW, we’re now looking for three fleets to help us put this to the test in a comprehensive year-long tyre study,” adds Covington. The trial will measure the precise impact the X Energy SaverGreen tyres have, by comparing their
performance against existing fitments on similar vehicles in the fleet. Potential candidates will be contacted by Michelin during week commencing January 30, 2012 to confirm the suitability of the proposed vehicle. The three selected fleets will then have the X Energy SaverGreen tyres fitted free of charge by Michelin during February or March. Fitments will be monitored by Michelin throughout the 12 month trial, with routine fleet inspections carried out at a time convenient with each operator. Detailed feedback on tyre performance will also appear in quarterly updates in CBW – recording comments from the drivers and fleet managers. After 12 months, there will be an option for each of our trial fleets to buy the tyres for approximately half of the recommended retail value. Alternatively, the X Energy SaverGreen fitments can be removed and the original tyres re-fitted free of charge by Michelin. Fleets are responsible for storing their original fitments throughout the trial. * Compared with the average of its main competitors. Based on motorway tests conducted in July 2010 by TÜV SÜD Automotive with new 315/80 R 22.5 Michelin X Energy SaverGreen XZ and XD tyres. To apply to take part in the free trial – and effectively negate any tyre costs on one of your coaches for a full year – contact Coach & Bus Week by email or post before Friday January 20, 2012, including the following information:
Tyres currently fitted: (please specify manufacturer and size) Front axle:
Name:
Rear axle:
Position:
Fleet size:
Company:
A brief summary (approx 50 words or less) explaining why you would like to take part:
Address: Telephone:
E-mail:
Coach make and model: Year of registration:
Note: you must operate a modern coach running on 315/80 R 22.5 tyres to take part, and ideally have at least one similar vehicle in your fleet to enable direct comparisons in tyre and fuel performance to be drawn.
Please complete the above form and post to Martin Cole, technical editor Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX or include the information in an email to martin. cole@rouncymedia.co.uk
www.coachandbusweek.com
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For more information nAsk the Michelin Mano: Call 0845 366 1535 Follow on twitter @MichelinTruckUK Visit www.michelin.co.uk/atmm
12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
nEWS
£50m bus partnership funding hearty industry welcome Norman Baker congratulated for listening to “a grateful bus industry” Firstgroup has already started discussions with its local authority partners, following the announcement of £50m Better Bus Areas (BBA) fund for local authority and operator partnership working last week, which has received a warm welcome from the industry. The initiative, announced by transport minister Norman Baker, is aimed at encouraging bus operators working in partnership with local authorities to increase passenger numbers. Successful bids, which must have the backing of at least one major local bus operator, could include measures to: n reduce congestion; n provide better information to passengers; n make improvements to bus stations; or n encourage people to switch to buses from the car in densely populated urban areas. Local authorities wishing to bid for money from the fund will be asked to submit their proposals in February to allow the Department for Transport to award funding by the end of March. A further £10m for Community Transport schemes for 76 local authorities has also been announced as part of a £90m package, including the £50m, the £20m for a third round of the Green Bus Fund and £10m to fit pollution reduction technology to London buses. “This package of bus measures will support growth in our economy by creating better links to work, shops and schools, as well as helping to cut carbon emissions,” said Baker. “This huge injection of £50m will encourage partnership working between good local authorities and good bus companies, which will benefit bus passengers.” Firstgroup and Network Warrington have welcomed the £50m with great enthusiasm. Giles Fearnley, MD of First UK Bus told CBW: “It is always great to get good news, and this was totally unexpected! Huge credit is due to www.coachandbusweek.com
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Norwich benefits from a proactive local authority and the presence of wellknown bus operators, including First and konectbus (pictured) Norman Baker for securing this money in these constrained times. “At First, within a couple of hours of the Minister’s announcement, we were in discussions with our local authority partners. I am confident we will be involved in a number of innovative bids. Whilst the time-scales are tight, I see that too as good news - the benefits will be delivered all the sooner!” David Squire, MD of municipal operator Network Warrington, also congratulated Norman Baker. “They say good news comes in threes, and with the issues the country currently has, if you had asked me a month ago, would there be any good news before Christmas, then I would have said no,” he told CBW. “However, hot on the heels of the deferred fuel duty rise, and the additional green bus fund, comes the announcement of an extra £50m, with, apparently, a wide range of measures it can be used for, as long as it is in partnership with a major local bus operator. “I’m sure the devil will be in the detail, and as of Friday, my own local authority had no information on how it would work, however, we can’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and this new money is very welcome, particularly given the other recent news which I highlighted earlier. Well done Mr Baker, for listening, and Happy Christmas from a grateful bus industry.”
Meanwhile, David Cowdrey, head of policy & campaigns at Guide Dogs has welcomed the potential contribution funding could make to introducing audio-visual (AV) systems on buses: “This money could make a huge difference in providing passenger information and we encourage all bus operators to bid for the new money to install AV systems making buses more accessible and providing better passenger information. We believe making bus journeys more accessible to everyone will encourage people to switch from their cars to the buses.” Cowdrey said the extra £60m announced last week could allow AV systems to be installed on 24,000 buses across the UK (based on £2,500 figure per bus from Hanover Displays in Lewes). Guide Dogs’ Talking Buses campaign is lobbying bus companies to adopt AV announcements on board - as detailed on p26-30. New chair of ATCO (the Association of Transport CoOrdinators), Tracy Jessop told CBW: “The fund will provide an opportunity to build on the good relationships which already exist between councils and bus operators to showcase the innovation and collaboration that effective partnerships can bring. I’m sure there will be a number of ideas on the shelf put on hold due to austerity measures. This is a
welcome cash injection which could bring real benefits for the travelling public.” The CPT’s Simon Posner also gave his support, saying: “We leap at any opportunity to help improve the services for our customers and warmly welcome this targeted and imaginative initiative. “This is obviously a real opportunity to make a difference to local services and we look forward to working with our partners in local authorities in finding ways of using this money for the maximum benefit of our passengers.” Posner concluded: “The number one issue for bus passengers is punctuality. We need to find new ways of tackling congestion and providing greater bus priority, thereby making travelling by bus a truly attractive option. I am sure our customers will be particularly keen to see at least some of this government initiative spent in this area and take a serious step in generating real modal shift, out of cars and onto buses.” Stephen Morris, general manager of Bus Users UK welcomed the timely nature of the funding, commenting: “The fund is aimed at schemes to improve things for bus passengers and get more people on the bus. “It’s in everyone’s interests to get more people using buses. This funding challenge recognises the more people choose to travel by bus, the better it is for everyone: it puts out all the right messages, especially at a time when public funding is under pressure.” Finally, Anthony Smith, CEO of Passenger Focus, said: “There are some real passenger priorities built into this funding, which we hope will bring greater satisfaction and encourage more people to use buses in their local area - adding new buses helps make bus travel a more attractive choice.” The BBA Fund is separate from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), which provides £560m over four years for transport projects which will create growth and cut carbon. However, a bid for money from the BBAs or Community Transport funds may form part of a bid to the LSTF.
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nEWS
Wheel industry to meet DfT over reporting Plans for reporting mechanism for dangerous wheels Mike Penning MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, has agreed to meet industry experts early next year to establish a reporting mechanism for companies to provide evidence of dangerous HGV wheels operating on UK roads. The commitment was made during a Westminster Hall debate on November 29, 2011, with Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Paul Goggins, who continues to lead the campaign on commercial vehicle wheel safety and the need for tighter regulation on second-hand wheels. During the debate Goggins said: “The industry is prepared to put in place its own reporting mechanism, so it could say to companies throughout the industry, if they had evidence of any wheel failure, they could report it through a specially designed industry reporting system and it could be passed on to the Department for Transport. “There have recently been a number of presentations on the issue to important industry bodies. ATS-Euromaster has had a presentation, as have the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), the Northwest Automotive Alliance (NAA) and a meeting is due to take place with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). “I can tell the minister, further discussions are planned with those bodies about these concerns, which I can attest are growing concerns in
the industry.” During the latest debate three pieces of evidence were presented to Penning: a picture of a cracked HGV wheel; an article on failing counterfeits entitled ‘Killer Wheels’; and a recent ITV News report on the damage caused to HGV wheels due to the impact of potholes. In response Penning said: “This is not only about the manufacturer of wheels; if the failure rates are increasing, and that is what this is all about—I am not disputing that one way or the other because, frankly, we do not know, and there is no point disputing something which is not disputable. “I hope the trade associations will do what they said and get the submissions together and come
Paul Goggins MP (left) and John Ellis, managing director of Motor Wheel Service want safety and security introduced to used CV wheel sales
CBS Outdoor adds Bluetooth to London ad offer CBS Outdoor UK is set to offer Bluetooth connectivity to brands advertising on 100 London buses operating in central London, following a successful trial with product brands such as Walkers Crisps, Lynx and Cornetto. Through a CBS Outdoor partnership with mobile media www.coachandbusweek.com
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as a united body to present their evidence. That will allow me to go away and ask why we have certain failure rates coming from all the different expert bodies mentioned in the speech I have not used, and to compare it with what is happening on the front line.” John Ellis, managing director of Motor Wheel Service, who first raised the issue with Goggins and continues to raise awareness of the problem, said: “A second meeting with the minister is a very important development and an invaluable opportunity to readdress current concerns, including current VOSA test and roadside inspections, and then really move towards a workable solution. “Over the past few months
owner BlisMobile, advertisers will be able to offer additional content to passengers travelling aboard 100 buses operating on the so-called “gold routes” through key areas such as Oxford Street and Regent Street. Brands advertising on sites inside the bus can prompt
travellers to turn on the Bluetooth connectivity on their handset and accept a message to download content. According to CBS Outdoor, in the trials there were 9,000 downloads during the four-week Walkers Crisps campaign, 4,351 downloads during the one-week Lynx campaign, and 1,363 downloads during the four-week Cornetto campaign. Jason Cotterrell, country director at CBS Outdoor UK, said: “Bluetooth
we have approached the major industry bodies to introduce the issue, and it is important to note that in addition to those already on-board we are in the process of finalising a meeting with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and we are also in correspondence with the Freight Transport Association (FTA), Tyresafe and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE). “During the course of the debate Mr. Penning said he regularly met with the RHA and FTA and representatives have not raised the issue. I will put to him that the lack of complaint supports our concerns by proving lack of awareness by company owners and drivers and reliance on tyre maintainers to resolve wheel problems which are subsequently never reported. “We are committed to this issue and will continue to push hard on all possible fronts, commercial vehicle wheel safety is of paramount importance and must be addressed,” concluded Ellis. Motor Wheel Service estimates that over 10,000 second hand and take-off wheels entered the market in 2009, of which the large majority were sold by companies who do not possess the technical abilities or examination procedures to ascertain the history and fatigue of a wheel. The company has constantly urged quality assurance managers to check their supply lines as should a wheel fail and lead to injury or death to either the driver or a third-party, possible repercussions include a fine, a licence suspension or, worst case scenario, Corporate Manslaughter charges. Full Hansard debate: www.publications. parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/ cmhansrd/cm111129/ halltext/111129h0001. htm#11112939000002
perfectly complements those who want to engage on a one-to-basis with an audience on the move, whilst not disturbing other bus commuters who don’t wish to be. “The combination of extended dwell time and the ability to interact with commuters will also make this the perfect platform for engaging with visitors during the 2012 Olympic period.” Cotterrell said CBS Outdoor hopes to roll out the technology nationwide in the future.
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nEWS › FINANCIAL
Stagecoach releases interim statement Loss making rail division dampens figures, but operator says incoming subsidies will solve this in the second half of the year On Thursday (December 8) Stagecoach released its interim results for the six months ending October 31, 2011. The results, excluding intangible asset expenses and exceptional items, were: n Revenue up, at £1,293.7m (£1,133.6m 2010) n Total operating profit down, at £106.2m (£124.7m 2010) n Net finance charges up, at £17.5m (£16.0m 2010) n Profit before tax down, at £88.7m (£108.7m 2010) n Earnings per share down, at 10.1p (12.2p 2010) n Interim dividend per share up 9.1%, at 2.4p (2.2p 2010) The 18% slip in pre-tax profits was attributed largely to Stagecoach Group’s UK rail division, which saw a £6.9m operating loss. However, Stagecoach expects this to be stabilised by government subsidies in the East Midlands, which the operator expects to swing the rail franchise back to a small profit in the second half of the financial year. Outside of rail, the group’s operating margins in the UK provincial bus industry are industry leading, at 18%, and there has been a £44m investment in 100 new vehicles for megabus.com in the USA – see separate story. Commenting on the results, chief executive Sir Brian Souter said: “These are good results and we have achieved further revenue growth across our bus and train businesses in the UK and North America. Against a background of pressure on household incomes and rising fuel costs, we believe providing value for money travel is increasingly important. We are seeing continuing indications of modal shift from the car to bus and rail. “The expected period loss at East Midlands Trains resulted in a reduction in adjusted earnings per share in the first half of the year. www.coachandbusweek.com
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Stagecoach’s provincial bus margins are industry leading (above); Sir Brian says investment in product innovation has paid dividends (below) However, the Group is well placed to deliver stronger earnings in the second half with East Midlands Trains entitled to revenue support payments and therefore expected to return to profitability. “In our sector-leading UK bus operations, we have invested extensively in new product innovation. This strategy has meant our business has been able to manage effectively the impact of reduced Government and local authority spending on public transport. Our turnaround plan for our London bus business remains on track. “Excellent operational performance and high levels of customer satisfaction have underpinned continuing strong revenue growth in our commuter and long-distance UK rail businesses. We are pleased Virgin Rail Group has secured an extension to the current West Coast franchise and we will consider further franchise opportunities which we believe will deliver value to our shareholders. “We have pushed forward with the expansion of our budget inter-city coach brand, megabus. com, which is driving high levels of growth in our North American business. We have also started to deliver on a range of business models for the roll-out of the megabus.com brand, using
contractors for services outside our existing geographic footprint, and we are considering opportunities for franchising to maximise the significant potential of the brand.” Sir Brian Souter added: “We recently completed a c.£340m return of cash to shareholders and remain in a strong financial position. We have made a good start to the second half of the financial year and current trading remains in line with management expectations. We believe the outlook for the Group is positive and our bus and rail services are well placed to benefit from the continuing consumer focus on service and value.” A potential future investment from Stagecoach could be the “Granny Bus,” a service which would run in certain areas dedicated for pensioners. The service would be in response to
government demands for operators to find £100m of cost savings from the concessionary fares scheme, and employ buses which travel less frequently and more slowly so passengers are not thrown around. Worthing is an example of where such a service would be employed, with 70% of passengers on the concessionary scheme. £225m of Stagecoach’s revenues come from the concessionary fares scheme, and with a cut to concessions, one possible solution is lower frequency services. Sir Brian said: “You can’t justify running a high-frequency small bus if the revenue falls to silly numbers. You would have to look at running lower frequency with bigger buses.” Last week a Stagecoach venture was scuppered when recent attempts to get planning permission for a cross-Forth hovercraft service between Fife and Edinburgh was refused by Edinburgh Council, after the proposal was submitted in December 2009. As reported in CBW at the time, Stagecoach ran a trial of the service in 2007, which carried over 32,000 passengers in two weeks. The operator estimated it would have carried 870,000 passengers a year. The planning permission was refused with officials citing the visual impact of the proposed ramp, noise and transport concerns as reasons for their decision, after they visited the site in the last week. A Stagecoach spokesman said: “Stagecoach and many of the supporters of the cross-Forth hovercraft have invested a huge amount of time and money in developing plans for a service. Securing planning permission was central to the future of the hovercraft. After taking two years to vote on the facilities needed to make the service a reality, the council has killed off the hovercraft with this short-sighted decision.” Sir Brian Souter added: “This has been a long and painful process. We are completely scunnered and have no intention of appealing against the planning decision.” Stagecoach is continuing its support of a proposed passenger ferry between Burntisland and Granton. The interim statement can be seen online at www. stagecoach.com/investors/ financial-analysis/reports/ 2011.aspx
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nEWS › international
Daimler sells stake in MB tech GERMAnY Daimler AG and AKKA Technologies S.A. will now jointly manage MBtech Group - a prominent international engineering and consulting company based in Sindelfingen. The move was agreed by both partners on Wednesday (December 7). Subject to approval from the antitrust authorities, AKKA Technologies will acquire a stake of 65%; until now, MBtech has been a 100% Daimler subsidiary. With a substantial equity interest of 35% Daimler will remain a long-term and strategic shareholder as well as an important client of MBtech. The entry of AKKA Technologies at MBtech Group will create one of the biggest European engineering consultancies. AKKA Technologies is a listed company and is an engineering consultancy for the automotive, aeronautics, space, transport and energy sectors. In the area of aeronautics engineering, the company is already the market
Largest ever Columbia deal for Volvo Bus
COLUMBIA Volvo Bus Latin America has sold 688 bus chassis to Colombia’s capital city, Bogotá. The deal, which includes chassis for conventional buses as well as articulated and biarticulated buses, is the company’s largest ever in Columbia. The chassis were sold for the third phase expansion of Transmilenio, the continent’s most efficient and advanced BRT system. Luis Pimenta, president of Volvo Bus Latin America, said: “This deal reaffirms Volvo’s position as main supplier of BRT solutions in Latin America, in particular as a function of the high transportation capacity of our chassis and their low operating costs.” Bogotá is a metropolis with highly congested traffic including 16,000 passenger minibuses. “Gradually removing this huge small capacity vehicle fleet reduces the number of traffic accidents www.coachandbusweek.com
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leader in Europe. It will also become a leading consultant to the automotive industry through joining with MBtech. The two companies complement each other ideally in their sectoral structure, client portfolio and regional positioning: AKKA Technologies has its main focus on France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, while MBtech has a strong market position in Germany, China and the United States. The move will allow MBtech to broaden its competence profile outside the automotive industry and expand its international market position in the coming years. Daimler and AKKA Technologies intend to jointly develop the company and to strengthen its competitiveness on a sustained basis. This will protect jobs at MBtech while offering new opportunities for the workforce in an expanded international environment.
“With AKKA Technologies, we have found a strong and wellestablished partner whose product offering is an ideal supplement to MBtech’s activities. Through the new partnership, MBtech will utilize market opportunities for engineering services even better than before, allowing it to participate even more in the future worldwide growth in this sector,” stated Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, member of Daimler’s Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “At the same time, the enhanced competence profile of MBtech will provide important support for Daimler’s product and technology offensives,” he continued. “AKKA Technologies was born out of a vision I once had, which I continue to pursue: ‘How we can turn the passion which our talented team has for technology into innovative solutions for
Bogota’s deal includes 48 articulated and 97 biarticulated Volvo buses which will operate on the main routes of the Transmilenio BRT system and contributes significantly towards improving the quality of the air,” said Euclides Castro, urban bus manager at Volvo Bus Latin America. The deal includes 48 articulated and 97 biarticulated vehicles which will operate on the main routes of
Transmilenio. The remaining 500 plus chassis will be used for low entry buses, operating conventional and feeder routes. These are the first low floor buses for Bogotá, enabling easier wheelchair access. Specification details have not been announced.
our industrial customers.’ This partnership will turn that vision into a reality: with MBtech and Daimler we are embracing a whole new world of new business and career opportunities. Together, we will develop new products and services and strengthen our power to innovate,” promises Maurice Ricci, chairman and CEO of AKKA Technologies. AKKA Technologies employs a workforce of 7,000 people at more than 50 locations and expects to post revenue of 545m euros in 2011. The MBtech Group was established by Daimler AG in 1995. The company develops, integrates and tests automotive components, systems and modules, and employs 2,900 people at locations in Europe, North America and Asia. In the year 2010, it posted revenue of 300 million euros.
CNG coaches for LA USA Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has the first batch of its 95 new Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Commuter Coaches, fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG). They will be used on LADOT’s Commuter Express service, replacing 95 older, diesel-powered coaches, making the fleet 100% CNG. The coaches are the only commercially available commuter vehicles meeting requirements set by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the California Air Resource Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District for public transit operators. They also feature three bike racks and increased seating for 49 reclining seats (previously 45). The vehicles are powered by Cummins ISL G 8.9 litre, 320hp engines. Just under $48.5m of the $67m investment was funded by the FTA, while the remainder was paid for with ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funding.
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551960-1016-Michelin
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MICHELIN Q&A
Ask the Michelin Man There is a small lump in the sidewall of my vehicle’s off side rear tyre, it which is about an inch long. Is this legal and are there any safety issues with this tyre? Michelin’s strong advice would be to have your tyre examined by a competent tyre expert to determine the exact cause of the speciEic deformation you have found. The relevant legislation in the UK (The Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations 1986) suggests that a tyre shall not be run on the road if it has a lump, bulge, or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. It is possible for tyre sidewalls to exhibit deformations which are not related to structural damage or deterioration, but only a trained, competent tyre expert can determine the exact cause of a tyre deformation and make a judgement on the suitability of the tyre for further service.
What is the origin of the Michelin Man? At the Lyon Universal Exhibition in 1894, the Michelin brothers noticed an evocatively-shaped pile of tyres on their stand. Edward said to André: “Look, with arms it would look like a man.” André Michelin remembered this a few years later. The Michelin Man was created in 1898 by the imagination of the Michelin brothers and the paintbrush of the talented poster artist O’Galop, alias Marius Rossillon. The Michelin Man was immediately a great success and has evolved to always remain in phase with current times. The Michelin Man is internationally also known as Bibendum. The word “Bibendum” derives from the Latin phrase “Nunc est Bibendum”, which means “Now is the time to drink”. This particular phrase was used in early advertising posters using the Michelin Man, where he was holding a champagne glass full of nails and broken glass. The motto that Michelin tyres swallow obstacles evolved from this and also a name was identiEied for this tyre man. Here in the UK he is more commonly known as the Michelin Man.
Which Coach and HGV tyre does Michelin recommend for snow and ice, whilst still allowing for good fuel economy ? Michelin has a range of tyres that are suitable for snow and ice, all of which are designed with concern for their environmental impact. For winter conditions, tyres should be chosen which give the required mobility. Michelin's Grip and X MultiWay 3D ranges are designed for use all year round but give excellent performance in winter conditions. MICHELIN X MultiWay 3D offers the best balance between wear life, grip and rolling resistance. MICHELIN X MultiWay 3D will replace the
popular MICHELIN XDN2 Grip progressively this year and next. However, for really severe conditions, the MICHELIN XDW Ice Grip (on display at this year’s CV Show) is available and gives exceptional winter performance. Note that Michelin would not advise running the XDW Ice Grip range, speciEically tuned to winter conditions, all year round. Michelin has M+S marked tyres for all vehicle positions. For information on the winter tyre range and speciEic tyre choice for your requirements, contact Michelin Technical Services on tel 0845 366 1535.
0845 366 1535 www.michelin.co.uk/atmm
20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
nEWS › REGIONAL
SCOTLAnD
Stagecoach has axed a half-hourly bus service to Black Isle village near Rosemarkie after passenger numbers dropped despite a ‘use it or lose it’ warning. The operator first pulled the service in November 2010 but reinstated it on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis after an outcry by residents. However figures have shown passenger numbers are down 40 per week compared to the same period last year. Local councillor Billy Barclay, who campaigned hard for the halfhourly buses to be reinstated, said he understood the decision was made due to the drop in passenger numbers over the last year. “I must say I have sympathies with both camps - the residents and Stagecoach - but personally I can’t ask an operator to run at a loss and the village will still be getting a bus every hour.” Barclay said he had received just a single complaint since the service was withdrawn.
WALES
Every service run by Newport Bus will be free this Christmas Eve as an incentive to get people into the city. The operator has also started running two new routes which will be free until February. They will serve the city centre, Baneswell, Stow Hill, Belle Vue Lane and Cardiff Road, and have been dubbed the city circular. William Routley, chairman of Newport Transport and a Newport councillor, said: “It’s a way of giving back and saying thank you to the travelling public for their patronage throughout the year.” Newport Transport managing director Scott Pearson said: “By making our new city circular service free until February and all of our network free on Christmas Eve we can help to bring people back into Newport.” The city circular routes, numbered 4 and 5, started on Monday December 12.
MIDLAnDS
Plans for a high speed bus route linking key sites in Stoke-on-Trent have been revived. The University Boulevard project, connecting Stoke train station, Staffordshire University and the city centre, were put on hold a year ago due to lack of funding. University Boulevard was initially intended to www.coachandbusweek.com
RegionalNews.indd 20
timetables, fares, travel news and contact information on the move. Customers just need to enter the company’s website address – www.bluestarbus.co.uk – into their phone’s web browser and it will automatically redirect to the mobile version. Nikki Honer, Bluestar’s commercial manager, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to view our bus times and information. We are delighted to introduce the new mobile version of our website ensuring our information is quick and easy to view via a mobile. We are already receiving positive feedback from our customers.”
KEY
SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND REP OF IRELAND NORTH WALES MIDLANDS EAST LONDON SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST
SOUTH WEST
be part of the £65 million streetcar project, which would have created a hi-tech rapid transport network across North Staffordshire. The plans were shelved in 2010 due to Government cutbacks, although the council said it still proposed to build a new road linking the station with the city centre. But Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to move the plans forward once again, describing the scheme as a “key objective” in its Mandate for Change vision. The council has been unable to state the value of the revised scheme, but it is understood to be funded through the authority’s capital budget. Officers will review traffic management measures before re-opening negotiations with landowners. Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Improving the link between the city centre, the railway station and the university remains a key part of our Mandate for Change agenda. “The University Boulevard project has been on hold for the last 12 months because of a withdrawal in funding from the Government and regional development agencies. “Work though, has recently restarted, and will still be able to deliver the majority of the original scheme.” Doug Wardle, spokesman for the City Centre Partnership, believes the University Boulevard project could play a crucial role in the
success of the planned City Sentral shopping centre and the Potteries Shopping Centre extension. He said: “Every person there is a potential shopper for the beleaguered high street. “At the moment, people come out of the train station and they are in no man’s land – you don’t really know where to go. There needs to be something telling people to get on a bus and go into the city centre.” Arriva has teamed up with Leicester Tigers to run a new supporters’ bus route from Nuneaton and Hinckley for all home games this rugby season. The T3 service will begin on New Year’s Day and will also call at Sapcote, Stoney Stanton and Narborough before heading to the Tigers’ stadium on Welford Road. The T1 route from Market Harborough and T2 buses from Oakham have proved popular already this season and will continue to run for all home fixtures. The route and pick-up times will be published on Leicester Tigers’ club website next week, together with details of how to book in advance.
SOUTH EAST
Bluestar has launched a smartphone-friendly version of its website. The Eastleigh-based operator, which runs services in Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester and the New Forest, has given people the chance to view
Yellow Buses temporarily diverted evening services from a Bournemouth housing estate after five bus windows were damaged in “potentially life threatening” missile attacks. The operator said three routes were being changed as of last Tuesday night (December 6) after the “final straw” when a passenger was showered with shattered glass. They stopped going into the West Howe estate beyond 1800hrs in the evening, although Dorset Police had said normal service would resume as soon as possible after meeting Yellow Buses staff on December 7. Four youths were then arrested on December 8, with police seizing four catapults and a bb gun. Yellow Buses subsequently reinstated its services with immediate effect. A Yellow Buses spokesman said: “The decision to withdraw services is never taken lightly and is always a last resort. However, we are not prepared to tolerate the safety of our staff and passengers being put at risk as was the case here. “Evening services have been reinstated but we will have no hesitation in removing them again if there is any recurrence of such irresponsible behaviour.” The five windows were damaged between November 23 and December 5. In the final attack, a window was shattered and a passenger was showered with glass. Justin Davies, First’s managing director in the South West and Wales, told a transport meeting in Weston-superMare contactless payment was in the pipeline for Bristol buses. The system, developed in partnership with TfL, is hoped to be introduced across the Bristol bus
12/12/2011 22:25
fleet next year. With contactless cards, which have an embedded chip and antenna, cardholders wave their card against a sensor to register a payment, rather than entering a PIN number or signing their signature. At a meeting of the West of England Partnership Joint Transport Executive Committee yesterday, Mr Davies said the sophisticated payment system would be brought in after the longawaited system similar to Oyster cards in London was introduced on Bristol’s buses. Under that scheme, passengers use a dedicated payment card which can be bought from a bus driver and topped up in shops, online or by telephone. New bus services offered by UWE Bristol and Wessex Connect have led to a significant increase in passenger numbers. Since the start of the new term, passenger figures for Wessex Red services U1-U5 are up 31% compared to the same period last year. Services which now operate year-round have seen a 69% increase in passengers. The timetables on Wessex Red routes provided by Bristol’s universities were improved in response to feedback from local
December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21
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
people and new routes introduced in September. Bus schedules on the most popular routes U2, U3 and U5 now run on a year round timetable, providing consistency for local users. Since September, the weekday bus timetables for these routes are now the same outside of university term times. In addition to the enhanced timetable on key routes, three new routes have been created. The new U7 route runs from Frenchay Campus to Cribbs Causeway, changing to the U7A calling at Aztec West during peak times. The U8 from Bradley Stoke (starting at Woodlands Road) travels to the City Centre via the A38. South Gloucestershire and Bristol City Councils are supporting the promotion of these services as part of the local sustainable transport fund. The funding is for projects, such as this new network of bus services, to encourage residents along key congested routes to try alternative modes of transport to driving alone in the car. Wessex Red operates 30 vehicles at peak times, compared to 21 in 2010, and seven when the service started in 2007. Over a million passengers are carried throughout the academic year.
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 n April 19, 2012 UK Coach Awards. Ramada Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, 0870 900 1450.
www.ukcoachawards.co.uk
Arriva proved it has star quality when actors took unsuspecting passengers by surprise onboard the number 26 service in Guildford, recreating famous scenes from Cinderella. The panto performers posed as regular passengers onboard the bus on Tuesday December 6 before bursting into character without warning. The bus company teamed up with local artists to provide a dramatic reminder that Arriva offer regular off-peak services for theatregoers or late night shoppers this Christmas. Linsey Frostick, marketing manager for Arriva, said: “The purpose of this theatrical performance was to raise awareness about the fantastic off-peak services we offer in Guildford. It was great to see the reaction on people’s faces when the performers began to re-enact a short scene from Cinderella We certainly think it raised a few eyebrows amongst our passengers and gave them something to talk about when they got home!”
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
Showbus takes place on Sunday, September 16, 2012. The event provides a showcase for the pride associated with the industry – of which Crawley Luxury Coaches is a prime example (pictured) 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
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12/12/2011 22:26
22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
NEWS › TOURISM
21
Number of years since the original Ghost film hit the cinemas
BRIEFLY Preston’s Guild Festival happens once every 20 years, and 2012 sees the next instalment, with an extra long event marking 10 years since the town received city status. The 10-day Guild ‘week’ will feature ceremonies, processions, sporting events and theatre and music performances. The festival runs from August 31 to September 9, 2012. A basic schedule is available now. The full programme will be on the festival website soon. The historic event was first held in 1397, taking place every 20 years from 1542 onwards. To reserve parking at Preston’s Central Bus Station, ring 01772 887755. For more information visit www.prestonguild2012.com The Edward Jenner Museum, in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, is open for pre-booked groups during winter, before re-opening to the public in April. Housed in The Chantry, Jenner’s former home, the museum displays the achievements of the man credited as the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, but also helps promote a public understanding of immunology, the science underlying Jenner’s work. The museum also has a rural, tranquil one acre garden. Group rates are £5.50 adults, £4.50 concessions and £3 children. There are deals for visiting Berkeley Castle on the same day. Teas and buffet meals can be provided by prior arrangement. Minibuses can park in the museum car park. Coaches can drop-off outside the Berkeley Arms or, by prior arrangement, can park in the coach park of Berkeley Castle, a short stroll from the museum. For more information visit www. jennermuseum.com St Andrews Golf Festival, March 28 to April 1, 2012, celebrates 600 years of golf. The famous Scottish location will host golfing events and exhibitions, as well as a talk with rare BBC footage about Seve Ballesteros. The first golf festival ever promises to offer family fun and opportunities for people, young and old, to play golf for the first time. For more information email info@ standrewsgolffestival.com or visit www.standrewsgolffestival.com www.coachandbusweek.com
TourNews.indd 22
Ghost The Musical gains new lead performers A full recast of leading roles in the musical remake of Ghost The cast of Ghost The Musical is set to get a reshuffle, with Siobhan Dillon and Mark Evans taking over the lead roles in the adaptation of the classic 1990 film. Siobhan Dillon was a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first reality TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. She has since performed in Grease, Can’t Smile Without You, Cabaret and Legally Blonde The Musical. She has also performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night. Mark Evans has recently played the role of Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked. He has previously performed in Oklahoma!, High School Musical and the Rocky Horror Show, while his screen credits include Lake Placid 3 and Dead Hungry. Evans also appeared on the BBC’s and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Your Country Needs
Scrubs star makes UK stage debut
The UK premiere of brand new comedy All New People is set to hit Manchester’s Opera House on February 8 to 11, 2012. Written by and starring American actor Zach Braff, best known for his role as JD in TV comedy Scrubs, All New People is described by the New York Times as “sensationally funny”. After Manchester, the play will stop at Glasgow’s King’s Theatre on February 14 for four days, before heading to The Duke of York’s Theatre in London on February 22 for 10 weeks. The story sees Charlie (Zach Braff) feeling desperately low on his 35th birthday at his friends’ luxury Long Beach Island apartment. But his perfect escape is interrupted by a motley parade of misfits who show up and change his plans. A hired beauty, a fireman,
You, reaching the final. Joining the duo on stage are Sharon D Clarke as Oda Mae Brown and Andrew Langtree as Carl, who continue in the roles they originated on stage when the production premiered. Ghost The Musical is currently booking until October 13, 2012. The musical is running at
Siobhan Dillon will take over the lead role of Molly in Ghost
WRITTEN BY AND STARRING
ZACH BRAFF
Zach Braff rose to fame playing the role of JD in Scrubs and an eccentric British real estate agent desperately trying to stay in the country all find themselves tangled together in the beach house, while Charlie just wishes they’d leave and let him get on with it. Braff is also known for his feature film writing and directorial debut, Garden State, which won him numerous awards and nominations. His role on Scrubs
London’s Piccadilly Theatre, with the new leads starting on January 13, 2012. Ghost, the highest grossing film in the UK in 1990, starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Winning two Academy Awards, Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The story follows Sam who is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, trying to communicate with his girlfriend Molly through a phoney psychic in order to save her from his murderer. It features new music and lyrics as well as the classic Unchained Melody. Ticket prices range from £25 to £67.50. For more information, ring the box office on 0844 871 7618 or visit www. ghostthemusical.com
earned him a nomination for a 2005 Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe awards. The play will be directed by Peter DuBois, who was awarded the Callaway Award for excellence in directing from the Society of Stage Directors, and recently won the Elliot Norton Award for best production from the Boston Theatre Critics Association. Earlier this year DuBois directed Becky Shaw at the Almeida Theatre, which was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award. Further casting has not yet been announced. Tickets are between £11 and £28.50, and there are discounts for groups of ten or more. All New People is the latest in a string of UK premieres at the Opera House, as part of Ambassador Theatre Group’s Manchester Gets It First initiative, a scheme which has won the backing of the city council. For group bookings, ring 0844 871 3038 or visit www.atgtickets.com/manchester
12/12/2011 17:14
December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23
£17.6m 15 Money spent on refurbishing the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The number of rare and endangered bird species at Sudeley Castle
Scotland’s portraits open again to public
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh has re-opened its doors after two years, following a £17.6m refurbishment. The free entry attraction now has 60% more public and exhibition space, a larger café and shop, a purpose-built education suite and a learning and resource centre. Dating back to 1889, the gallery, housed in a neo-gothic building of red sandstone, features more than 3,000 paintings and 25,000 works on paper. As well as the many portraits of historical Scottish figures, for the last 30 years the gallery has also commissioned portraits of living Scots by contemporary artists. There are numerous exhibitions and attractions at the Edinburgh venue over the coming months. A full programme of the schedule is available on the website. The Britannia Coach Park is just five minutes away from the gallery and offers free parking during the day. For more information call 0131 624 6200 or visit www.nationalgalleries.org
diESEl priCES
Katherine Parr was the last of Henry VIII’s six wives
Castle celebrates Queen Katherine’s 500th birthday Gloucestershire’s Sudeley Castle is celebrating the quincentenary of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife, who lived at the castle and is buried in the chapel. Next year’s events include family Tudor Fun Days, literary and historical talks and a Tudor themed banquet on September 8. The following day sees a re-enactment of Katherine Parr’s funeral, following the original service and music. Nine unique award-winning gardens are open daily from 1030 to 1700hrs. The castle is open for guided tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is a coffee shop, a visitor
and plant centre and a pheasantry housing a collection of 15 rare and endangered bird species. Coach parking is adjacent to the Visitor Centre and drivers receive complimentary admission and a coffee shop voucher. Prices for groups of 20 plus are £7.50 adult, £6.50 concessions, £5.00 children between five and 15 while under fives are free. Coaches must enter the premises through the castle’s exit gate due to a height and weight restriction imposed on the entrance gate. For more details ring 01242 604244 or visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk
dEAlS OF THE WEEK Thorpe Park is currently offering tickets for 2012 at 2011 prices, as well as big savings on groups of seven plus. Next year will see a new ride at the park called The Swarm, hailed as Europe’s tallest, and the UK’s first winged rollercoaster. Other famous thrills include Colossus, the world’s first 10 looping rollercoaster; Stealth, one of Europe’s fastest rollercoasters; and Saw – The Ride, which features a vertical 100ft drop. There is free coach parking for up to 250 coaches, and drivers have unlimited access to all the rides on the day. Groups of seven to nine are charged £26.40 for adults and £22.80 for children under 12.
Saw – The Ride is one of the park’s most popular attractions Groups of 10 plus are charged £24 for adults and £20.40 for children under 12. All groups of seven plus can skip the entrance queues on the day. Thorpe Park reopens on March 17, 2012.
n For more information visit www. thorpepark.com or ring 0871 663 1673 Lowestoft’s Africa Alive is one of the UK’s largest wildlife attractions, offering a walking safari set in 100 acres of
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)
1.18 1.46 9.11 362.69 30.34 5.40
coastal parkland. The park features a free safari roadtrain, as well as feeding talks, a farm yard, an indoor play area and a discovery centre, with plenty of hands-on learning experiences. Animals at the attraction include chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, rhinos and cheetahs, with many roaming freely together. There is also a bat and reptile house and the Lemur Encounters walkthrough. Groups of 12 plus enjoy reduced rates of £9.95 adults, £6.95 children between three and 15, and £8.95 senior citizens. There are extra discounts for disabled guests and carers, and children under three get free entry. There is free parking for coaches and free admission plus a free meal for the coach driver. Prebooking is essential. n For more information visit www. africa-alive.co.uk or ring 01502 740291 www.coachandbusweek.com
TourNews.indd 23
12/12/2011 17:15
24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
nEWS › BUSINESS
£700m
Saving a year businesses can make by switching to energy efficient lighting technologies
BriEfly The CBI called on the government to step up the pace of action on community budgets, which could save local authorities around £18bn annually in England alone. In a joint report - Joining Up, Joining In - with magazine The Municipal Journal, the CBI highlights the benefits of sharing resources and collaborating at a local level. The report calls for the government to increase the number of whole place pilots and to introduce a presumption in favour of pooled budgets. If Whitehall departments are unable to produce the necessary stepchange, the government should consider requiring them to set a minimum percentage of their next funding settlement to be pooled, recommends the report. Research this year has suggested more than half of small businesses are expected to do away with the annual festive bash for staff. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has warned bosses that to risk alienating their workers will erode morale further, and disincentivise staff to go the ‘extra mile’ for their company in future. The FPB has said while cash may be in short supply, festive frolics don’t have to cost the earth. Chief executive, Phil Orford, said: “The benefits of an annual get-together cannot be underestimated. They encourage communication, motivate staff, and reward them at a time when other perks, such as pay rises and bonuses for many just aren’t an option.” The number of people in permanent jobs has fallen at the sharpest rate since July 2009, according to a study published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG. On a scale where anything above 50 represents an increase in hiring, the report’s jobs index reached 48.2 in November, down from 49.7 in October and way below its pre-credit crunch peak of 64.1. The report says job vacancies eased back due to concern over the eurozone crisis and global growth prospects. Growth in temporary jobs also scaled back from October so pay pressure subdued across permanent and agency staff. www.coachandbusweek.com
BusinessNews.indd 24
Cable commits to £125m fund to boost manufacturing Applications invited in the New Year for projects in sectors such as the automotive industry An initiative worth £125m is being set up to improve global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains, business secretary Vince Cable announced. The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative aims to help existing UK supply chains to grow and achieve world class standards while encouraging major new suppliers to come and manufacture here. The new fund will support innovative projects in established UK advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive and chemicals. It will also target newer growth areas where the UK is well placed to take a global lead, such as energy renewables and other low carbon sectors. The competitive fund will invite applications early in the new year and will be flexible in the type of support offered to successful proposals, recognising to fulfill their potential and address market
failures, suppliers and supply chains may require a combination of investment in capital equipment, associated research and development and improved skills and training support. Vince Cable said: “British suppliers have a lot to offer and we need to help them realise and develop their strengths and sell them on the international market.” Applications will be assessed
British suppliers have a lot to offer and we need to help them develop their strengths and sell them on the international market, says Vince Cable
VAT returns to go electronic
The HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder to VAT-registered businesses in the UK, they must send their VAT returns online and pay VAT electronically from next April. Currently, only newly-registered businesses and those with a turnover of more than £100,000, have to file and pay their VAT online. The new rules cover VAT returns filed for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2012. HMRC said if businesses are not
by the Technology Strategy Board. Its chief executive, Iain Gray, said: “Our goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. We are delighted to be involved in running this competition, which provides an opportunity to see innovation move rapidly into the market across whole supply chains in a broad range of advanced manufacturing sectors.” Chief executive of the manufacturer’s organisation EEF, Terry Scuoler, commented: “UK suppliers in manufacturing compare with the best in the world but there are simply too few of them. Addressing this shortcoming is vital as many companies are responding to the shocks of recent years by looking afresh at how they manage their supply chains. Now is the right time to provide a serious boost to our domestic capability.” John Cridland, CBI directorgeneral, said: “This initiative will help ensure we make the most of value chain opportunities in key sectors such as chemicals, food, automotive and aerospace. It is a clear step in the right direction - a new approach to industrial policy.” an automatic acknowledgement your return has been received; a handy arithmetic checker to help make sure you’ve done your sums correctly; and an email alert to remind you when your next online return is due. Affected businesses will also need to set up their preferred electronic payment method.
The paper and pen approach to paying VAT will become a thing of the past already filing VAT online, switching now makes sense and offers benefits including:
To file VAT return online, businesses need to register for HMRC’s VAT Online Service – visit www.online.hmrc.gov. uk and click “Register” under the “New user” section. You can also call the VAT Online Services Helpdesk on 0845 010 8500.
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37,000
Number of apprenticeships which went to 16 to 24 year-olds last year out of the 126,000 created
£100k+
Turnover of businesses who have had to file and pay their VAT online since April 2010
BlOg of the week
Businesses urged to switch to energy efficient lighting
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InvESt In yOUng pEOplE: InvESt In tHE fUtUrE WOrKfOrCE Of tHE UK
Companies which provide work opportunities and staff to mentor or coach young people will reap the rewards, says Janet Dunnett on www.fpb.org. Janet works for Onside Northwest, a charity working with businesses and the public sector, to build a network of 21st century Youth Zones across the North West and beyond.
Companies with significant lighting requirements could cut electricity use by up to 50%, says the Carbon Trust
UK businesses and the public sector could cut annual energy bills by up to £700m a year by switching to energy efficient lighting technologies, according to a report from the Carbon Trust. The company has launched a new guide detailing how embracing lighting best practices, such as installing efficient LED bulbs or automated sensor-based controls, can help the average organisation reduce energy bills by a fifth. It added companies with significant lighting requirements such as supermarkets, retailers and large office environments could cut electricity use by between 30% and 50% by installing efficient lighting technologies. Some firms are reluctant to invest in energy efficient lighting technologies on the grounds they can cost more than traditional lighting systems. However, the report also argues with lighting accounting for around a fifth of all the electricity used in the UK, even zero cost measures such as encouraging staff to switch lights off when they are not in use can deliver savings equivalent to around £350m or 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 a year. “As the Christmas lights go on and the days grow shorter, I’m urging businesses to think about the huge savings they could make by boosting the efficiency of their lighting systems,” said Richard Rugg, director of Carbon Trust Programmes. “From simple reminders to turn the lights off,
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to installing the latest in lighting technology, there’s £700m and 4.4 million tonnes in CO2 emissions to be saved by UK businesses making lighting more efficient. The guide demonstrates how businesses can dramatically reduce both their carbon output and their bottom line.” The free guide contains a wide range of recommendations designed to help companies reduce their lighting bills, including proposals to install modern lighting controls, ensure fittings are positioned to reduce the number of bulbs you need, and switch to energy efficient technologies that can deliver rapid rates of return. Meanwhile, Stagecoach is investing in a new upgrade to its green energy management system - expected to cut consumption at its UK bus depots by a further 21.5%, saving an additional 2800 tonnes of CO2 each year. The group already has an Energy Management System in place to control heating and lighting at more than 100 depots across the UK. In 2010, the existing systems reduced gas usage by 35% and cut electricity use by 11.5%. The upgraded system will be rolled out to all of Stagecoach’s UK bus depots over the next year. Stagecoach has invested a total of around £2.2million in the initial installation of the system, and the most recent upgrade. However, the Group expects to have saved more than £7.8m in energy bills in the six years up to 2013.
The news is full of the latest youth unemployment figures, which are at a record high, with unemployment among under-25s now over a million. These are the highest figures since records began in 1992, so what has been the Government’s solution to this growing problem? In a recent breakfast summit at Downing Street, David Cameron sought to identify barriers which prevent companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, from hiring more young people as apprentices, whether it’s red tape, minimum pay rates, or the training available from colleges. As a result a raft of new initiatives has been announced over the last few weeks to combat growing concerns about this issue. There’s the Youth Contract, which will create at least 410,000 work places for 18 to 24-year-olds from next April at a cost of £1 billion; wage subsidies worth £2,275 will be handed to employers to take on 160,000 18 to 24-year-olds; and there will be extra funding for apprenticeships. There’s also £50 million for a programme to help 16 and 17-year-old NEETs (those not in education, employment or training). However, a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank says government apprenticeship schemes have not helped enough young people in the past – just 37,000 of the 126,000
Stagecoach and Firstgroup both offer apprenticeship schemes
apprenticeships created last year went to 16 to 24 year-olds. The work placement scheme currently operating through job centres offers work experience to young people on benefits. A proportion of these young people do manage to secure employment following the placement but there have also been criticisms suggesting it does nothing to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty, but is actually verging on exploitation. Do these kinds of placements, often low-skilled work, really help young people gain valuable skills and experience for the future? Are they of any value to businesses particularly if there is no-one available to train and supervise them – surely a growing feature of companies already on stretched staffing ratios? When the placements are properly structured, with support from an appointed member of staff, they do provide the type of work experience that is going to benefit young people and help them gain future employment. But what many young unemployed people need more than anything is a responsible and knowledgeable adult who can provide them with one to one guidance and advice about their career, and their life in some cases, to inspire and motivate them. Many young people lack confidence in themselves and in the future, so are handicapped before they even start. These services, although desirable, are unlikely to be provided because they are expensive and time-consuming. Companies able to provide work opportunities and staff to mentor or coach young people will reap the rewards for their company and in providing a skilled and focused workforce for the whole business community in the future. Without this investment in young people now, what hope is there in the future of competing with other economies across the world? Do we want a whole generation of disaffected, unskilled young people moving into adulthood with all the problems this brings to our communities and society as a whole? www.coachandbusweek.com
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inSigHt › talking Buses
Guide Dogs talk Talking Buses The Guide Dogs for the Blind charity has been campaigning for audible and visual announcements on buses since April last year. Coach & Bus Week’s Meera Rambissoon spoke to David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs for the Blind’s head of public policy and campaigns, about its Talking Buses campaign
F
or the majority of passengers, getting on a bus, buying a ticket and getting off at their desired destination is a doddle, but for people who are blind or partially sighted, the experience can be very different, challenging and stressful. For these reasons, the industry was issued a challenge one year ago by Professor Peter Barker of Reading University and Guide Dogs, speaking on Radio 4’s In Touch programme (CBW956) to try out Audio Visual (AV) information on its buses. “If any bus operator is listening now why not come and talk about putting an audio visual system on your bus which gives audio visual information for just £2000,” he had urged. CBW talked to operators who already run buses equipped with AV and gauged reactions from those without it, with varying opinions on price. A year later, David Cowdrey, head of public policy and campaigns for Guide Dogs, explains the reasons behind its Talking Buses campaign. The campaign is calling for audible and visual announcements on all new buses in the UK, the benefits of which, he advocates, reach far wider than assisting blind and visually impaired people.
All about mobility
“Guide Dogs is a mobility charity,” David explained. “It is about getting people out and about. For us www.coachandbusweek.com
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mobility is a key factor and buses play a key part. If you don’t know where to alight from a bus, you’re not very mobile. Guide dogs are great but they can’t tell you where to get off.” Hence the emergence of the Talking Buses campaign, which commenced in April last year and
Talking Buses is calling for:
Bus operators to look at ways to make bus services more accessible for blind and partiallysighted people, including providing audio-visual announcements; The government to honour the commitment in the PSVAR guidance and legislate for the introduction of audible and visual announcements on all new buses; In the interim, the government to encourage bus operators and local authorities to introduce audible and visual announcements on buses; The government to maintain its commitment to introduce a ‘smart ticketing’ system for the UK bus network and recognise how this could support the introduction of audible and visual announcements; and The government to continue to support measures which ensure cross modal transport and the provision of information prior to and during a journey is consistent.
is supported by 35 charities. The campaign proposes the problem of knowing when to get off the bus can be easily resolved through the provision of real-time information on buses, about the current stop, next stop and final destination of the bus. “People with learning difficulties would find it reassuring to be told they are on the correct bus and when they are arriving at their stop, while people who are deaf or hearing impaired would be able to benefit from the visual element of the announcements,” the campaign states.
Existing technology
The iBus, which David describes as the “Rolls Royce” of AV, is a prime example of AV technology. Introduced across all buses in London at the end of 2009, it has proven to be a huge success. Reading Transport has been a long standing supporter of the Talking Buses campaign, and has fitted voice announcements on a large part of its fleet. AV announcements were introduced on a number of routes in Swindon by Thamesdown Transport in September last year and in Nottinghamshire by trent barton, who said 85% of all passengers found on-board announcements very useful or quite useful. Brighton and Hove Buses has got on board too, with Talking Buses on 21 of its buses, with the company planning to specify the technology as standard on all new buses. There are also examples of
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local authorities supporting the campaign, with Lothian Buses backed by Edinburgh City Council trialling AV on the company’s Airlink services between Edinburgh city and its airport.
AV: the wider benefits
In David’s view, having AV systems on buses makes business sense and provides core information to passengers. “Customer satisfaction ratings on buses with AV have gone up, which is a good business case in itself. Providing information on buses is something passengers expect. If you want a highly integrated system, it is important buses have the same level of information as trams and trains.” David added: “Buses are the only form of transport without AV. A YouGov survey in January last year revealed 66% of respondents felt bus travel would be easier if there were on-board announcements.”
Above: David Cowdrey. Left: Thamesdown Transport has introduced AV Tourists and other visitors would also be able to use buses with greater confidence instead of opting for taxis. “Why wouldn’t you have it in tourist towns such as Edinburgh, Oxford and Gloucester? Brighton & Hove has just switched over to it because of tourists. It’s about future proofing your company – attracting more passengers and retaining the ones you have,” he continued. David emphasised the information gap for first time users of a bus service: “If it is your first time on a bus, there is no information and the driver is busy, you find yourself in an information vacuum and your experience on what is the lifeblood of the UK is one of high anxiety. “Why do people use taxis when they are a new place? Because they don’t know where they’re going. Why increase stress levels on a bus
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where you don’t know where it is going to?” Guide Dogs says AV can also benefit passengers travelling at night or in conditions with poor visibility, as well as wheelchair users in the allocated space who might be forced to sit backwards. “It gets dark by 1700hrs now and you can’t see outside the bus. Even regular travellers get stressed,” said David. Lastly, the provision of automated passenger information systems could reduce the pressure on bus drivers, who play a much wider role than merely driving.
The issue of cost
The cost of providing AV systems on buses when they are built, based on figures from the system introduced in Swindon by Thamesdown Transport, can be as little as £1,500 to £2,500 per vehicle depending on the system used, says Guide Dogs. There are also associated behind-the-scenes running costs of such systems when updating AV information and working with real-time systems. However, with the government planning to introduce ‘smart ticketing’ systems for bus travel across the UK, and an increasing reliance on real-time information systems for bus management, Guide Dogs says many of the base systems could be already implemented, making audible and visual announcements a relatively minor upgrade. “If you are buying a new bus and thinking about a smart ticketing system and pay for the backroom costs, you’ll have ‘plug and play’, meaning you only need to spend a bit extra on a screen,” says David, who also comments the cost of AV is only a fraction of the cost of a new bus. “Speakers and a screen are not a huge investment and if you adopt smart ticketing, you get a subsidy from the government. Airbags were once an optional extra and now come as standard and we expect such a level of safety,” he adds.
The low cost alternative Operators, especially smaller ones with older bus fleets, may still object to the capital costs or extra overheads, but the campaign is not insisting on technology and David backs a simple but informative approach. “Guide Dogs is not advocating any technology or any system,” he explains. “For
www.coachandbusweek.com
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inSigHt › talking Buses
smaller operators, when the bus is stationary, the bus driver could announce the stop. All this is doing is providing the information we had until the 1970s and early 80s when we had bus conductors. This is critical if we want to move forward. “Yes there have been tough times and Guide Dogs wants to do absolutely nothing which reduces the range of the service. A bit of retraining of drivers in-house is incredibly low cost and the visual element could be done with a roller blind.” Guide Dogs says it has also produced a ‘top tips’ list for bus drivers which has been distributed to all bus operators, setting out seven simple tips for drivers for when someone blind, partially sighted or elderly gets on the bus and wants to be seated. The charity would like the driver to announce the stop and advise if help is needed, which it says only takes seconds. David says the leaflets, also available in business card form, are popular and are already on their third 60,000 print run. “We had a request from one operator for a Polish and a Hungarian version.” “We have lots of brilliant drivers who already announce stops and help people on and off buses,” said David, who emphasised the wider, customer focus role drivers have. However, Guide Dogs is aware from its relationship with blind and partially sighted people that drivers cannot always be relied upon to tell passengers with a sight impairment when to get off the bus. In a recent survey of nearly 300 blind and partially sighted people from across the UK, 89% said they had been “forgotten” by a driver. David also points out not everyone with impaired visibility has a guide dog or a cane, so it is not immediately obvious they might require assistance. “A lot of people are partially sighted and often you don’t see people have a condition.” All in all, due to the proportionally low costs of automated systems, Guide Dogs believes this would be a simpler option for bus operators and drivers and by amending the PSVAR to apply to all new buses, the burden on operators to comply would be reduced.
Guide Dogs took a trade stand at the political party conferences. David Cowdrey and a colleague are seen here with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg
Tips for bus drivers:
how to assist blind and partiallysighted passengers on board Look out for me – I might have a cane or a guide dog, but not all visually impaired people do – if I say “I can’t see very well” this may mean I would find your assistance helpful. Pull up to the bus stop and right up to the kerb – This will help me avoid tripping up. When the bus stops further out into the road the step is higher, and the door can be harder to find. Say hello – This will let me know I’m at the front of the queue, and I have your attention. Help me with the fare system – If I use a smartcard it may be difficult or impossible for me to see the card scanner and pace my card on it. You could make it easier by scanning the card for me. If I
need to pay with cash, help with finding the right money may be useful, and please count out any change you hand to me. Let me know when I’ve reached the stop – I know where I’m heading, but I can’t see, or see well enough, to know when I am at the right stop. You can help by letting me know when I’m at my stop. Tell me where there’s a vacant seat – It’s helpful if you describe where it is – for example “at the front on the right” or “halfway down on the left.” Wait until I’ve sat down before moving off – I know you need to keep to time, but the extra few seconds lets me get to a seat safely.
A 10-year timeframe
David says that while the campaign is calling for a change in regulation for all new buses equipped with AV, the deadline Guide Dogs is www.coachandbusweek.com
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Guide Dogs’ David Cowdrey describes London’s iBus as “the Rolls Royce” of audio-visual bus technology. This screen is seen on the top deck of a bus
advocating is for 10 years’ time. He also says only a small “tweak” to the current regulation rather than whole-scale revision is needed. “We would like to see the minister regulate in 2012, with 10 years to implement and comply. We believe 10 years is more than sufficient time to do it, so it is not a burden placed on operators who are in difficulty at this time. The bus industry will then have a clear message on the direction it should take. “At the end of this operators will be providing a better service, with improved information provision, which is about caring for their passengers. We are in the 21st century and we haven’t even got 18th century information provision. This is a fundamental thing for passengers but if you’re blind or partially sighted, it’s the difference between missing the bus. “People have this wonderful sense of security when they get on a train with next stop and final destination information. It’s about providing basic passenger information.”
Norman Baker’s stance
David says transport minister Norman Baker is really supportive of the principle of AV and tabled an Early Day Motion supporting the campaign before he became minister. However, Baker announced at a Guide Dogs reception in March this year he did not intend to introduce legislation, the main reason being it was too expensive, quoting figures of £13,000 per bus. Guide Dogs’ response was: “This was disappointing, particularly as Guide Dogs has repeatedly demonstrated that the costs can be much lower.” “We are getting some red herrings about cost from government which are not founded at all,” says David. “Manufacturers have just laughed – it’s political scare-mongering. “Because of the cut to BSOG, Norman doesn’t want to impose a particular cost now. We say the 10year run-in provides mitigation as it does not stipulate use of technology. However, the DfT is banging on about cost and saying, ‘well if you are doing AV you might as well look at smart bus stops’. “They are not covered by PSVAR – we are just concerned by buses,” stressed David. “When you get your PSVAR, you get a checklist – because AV is in the optional extras list, it can easily be
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dropped off. “Norman is one of the best transport ministers we’ve had. He’s been in opposition, he knows the brief and is so passionate about it. We couldn’t have a better advocate of buses in the UK. However, there is a hang-up with public expenditure and debt dominating the agenda. This shouldn’t stop innovation. Hanover Displays, one of the suppliers of AV, is based in Baker’s Lewes constituency. You want to ask Norman if he has visited them! They are a major employer and would stimulate growth, jobs and the economy.” David remains hopeful, commenting: “Norman, I think, is somebody who is being really sensitive to the bus industry and has fought really hard for the protection of BSOG. Yes there was a 20% cut but if it wasn’t for Norman it could have been much more. He has seen the benefits of AV and I would hope he would be looking for the right political timing.”
Mobilising the campaign
Guide Dogs has been promoting the Talking Buses campaign at the Party Conferences, to which they exhibited a stand simulating a bus journey where they blindfolded people and made them guess when the next stop was and press a ‘pause’ button. This won them the best stand at the Liberal Democrat conference in September. Photo calls have been conducted at Thamesdown Transport, with local papers, Lothian Buses and Brighton & Hove, helping to publicise the technology. “This is the time for bus users to get themselves out when fuel prices are going up – this is a market opportunity. Let’s do something to get people on board – get them talking about Talking Buses,” urged David. “If you can reduce stress levels and get people talking about the fact they have been on Talking Buses, you can publicise it to the press and promote it. It’s not rocket science and everyone goes ‘yeah, great idea’. Collaborate with local radio and run a competition on who the voice of the bus should be, with local celebrities in the area used. You can blog about it, Tweet about it, get people to vote on their favourite routes and have an X Factor for buses. People buy Apple because of what it stands for. With bus products it is about leading the way.” www.coachandbusweek.com
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Guide Dogs says it will happily provide advice and help for any passenger training programmes
Guide Dogs: a brief history
Now in its 80th year, Guide Dogs campaigns alongside visuallyimpaired people for rights which include access to services and transport, freedom of mobility, and provision of better rehabilitation services. The organisation has been breeding and training guide dogs for more than 75 years, providing many thousands to blind and partiallysighted people of all ages and from all walks of life. Guide Dogs also delivers confidence-building rehabilitation services to adults, young people and children and carries out indepth research which provides sound scientific evidence on which to base its services, campaigns, policies and operational procedures. For more information, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk
Industry engagement
The campaign has received a lot of support from the bus and coach industry, says David, who said a clear signal is needed from government. “It’s about creating a level playing field to avoid a postcode lottery and the only way to do so is to tweak the regulation,” he says. When developing the campaign, David says Guide Dogs spoke to the CPT and had “great dialogue” with early adopters of AV technology, including Thamesdown Transport. “Some technology put in at the start was not so great, but the technology is better now. There were teething problems but now when you speak to operators and systems manufacturers, the level of doubt has gone and now we have reliable and, dare I say it, cheaper technology. “James Freeman had great insight when he introduced Wi-Fi to buses, which is providing customer service. Companies like trent barton, Nottingham City Transport, Thamesdown and Reading are getting really good feedback to their AV systems because they are providing what the customer wants.” David urged operators who
are interested in AV to speak to those who already have it. “Look at what’s right for you, whether it’s a technological solution or driver training. In the old days, conductors used to help you on and off the bus, there was a roller blind, which would be rolled round and the driver had a brass communication tube to the top deck and a two-way mirror. You would occasionally hear ‘get your feet off the seats.’ It is just a case of catching up with where we used to be with our buses. “The organisation is here to help. Guide Dogs will provide training, advice and help with any passenger training programmes. I think it’s a brilliant industry and we really want to do what we can to help and support it together. Without buses, none of our members would be able to get around.” However, David related a sad tale of warning. “One old lady ended up in a depot three times in a week. The bus inspector was a gentleman and drove her to her daughter’s house every time but her confidence is so shaken, she doesn’t want to use the bus again. If there had been an AV system on the bus, her confidence wouldn’t have been knocked. Now she can’t see her daughter and grand daughter several times a week.”
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THE BIG PICTURE
With bendy buses being very much the Marmite of PSVs, this photograph may not be to everyone’s taste. However, with the end of an era having been reached, it seems highly appropriate to be featured as this week’s ‘Big Picture’. First’s operation of bendy buses in London ended very early in the morning of Saturday, December 10, 2011. The last journey to depart was driven by the photographer, Matthew Wool, from Hayes By-Pass, arriving at White City at 0054hrs – although due to a significant difference in directional running time, the last bus to actually still be in passenger service was the final journey from White City to Hayes By-Pass, which arrived after 0100. This photo shows Mercedes-Benz Citaro no.EA11049 (LK05EZX) after it arrived at White City.
www.coachandbusweek.com
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OpErAtOr UpdAtE › OXFORD BUS COMPANY
Oxford upgrades airline routes Oxford Bus Company’s brand new Plaxton Panther-bodied Scania K360 EBs undoubtedly make an impressive sight on the city’s streets
www.coachandbusweek.com
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USEfUl COntACtS: n Oxford Bus Company: 01865 785400 www.oxfordbus.co.uk n Plaxton Coach Sales, Anston: 01909 551166 www.plaxtonlimited.co.uk n Scania (Great Britain) Limited, Worksop: 01909 500822 www.scania.co.uk
Coach & Bus Week’s Gareth Evans and Andrew Cream report on the launch of the first new Plaxtonbodied Scania coaches for almost 20 years on to the Oxford Bus Company’s airline services
H
istory was made in Oxford last week with the unveiling of the first new Plaxton-bodied Scania coaches since 1993. The move came as a brand new £4.5m fleet of coaches for Oxford Bus Company’s (OBC) prestigious award-winning service ‘the airline’ was launched into service. The Go-Ahead Group-owned operator said it is its single biggest investment in coaches in the company’s history and the new vehicles will offer passengers even more comfort with more legroom, wider seats and adjustable height seat belts to cater for all sizes. Philip Kirk, managing director of OBC, said: “We thought it would be appropriate ask our tallest employee, 6ft 6inch (1.98m), Michael McCulloch to perform the launch ceremony. “Many coaches have 53 seats on board but we’ve reduced the number of seats to 44 and increased the legroom. We believe they are amongst the most spacious scheduled coaches on Britain’s roads. “The airline is already a big success story linking Oxford with Heathrow and Gatwick Airports but we didn’t want to rest on our laurels and asked our passengers just what they wanted. Their feedback has been incorporated into the new coaches. To that we’ve added a stunning design with a striking updating of the successful airline colour scheme.” www.coachandbusweek.com
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OpErAtOr UpdAtE › OXFORD BUS COMPANY
About the airline
The airline is a brand for essentially a pair of similar routes linking two of the UK’s popular airports to a provincial city with a diverse customer base. Oxford is connected with the X70 to Heathrow while the X80 runs to Gatwick. The former operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day, much of which at a half-hourly frequency, while the latter runs every hour. Typical journey times are two to two and a half hours to Gatwick, depending on traffic, while the Heathrow service takes 80 minutes to reach Terminal 5, with a further 10 minutes to Central Bus Station, again subject to the prevailing road conditions. OBC also runs the X90 service from Oxford to London, which operates every 15 minutes, and is better known as the ‘espress.’ Being home to historic colleges and a university, not to mention its relatively close proximity to London, coupled with the attractive journey times available via the M40 and a stream of in-coming tourism on tap, Oxford benefits from an excellent, and some might argue, unsurpassed network of commercially-operated coach www.coachandbusweek.com
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services for a UK provincial city by a number of different operators. Thus for example, the city is served by Stagecoach’s popular Oxford Tube and National Express, in addition to a number of independent operators. For completeness, the current OBC coach fleet comprises:
esPress: 6 Jonckheere Mistral-bodied Volvo B12Bs, new in April 2002, 46-seaters 7 Scania K114EB Irizar Century, new in April 2003, 46-seaters 5 Scania K114EB Irizar Century, new in January 2004, 46-seaters
airline: Plaxton Panther Volvo B12B, new in April 2007, 48-seaters The new airline fleet totals 18 vehicles.
Spec
In addition to being the first batch of Scania Plaxtons for almost 20 years, the availability of which was formally announced in September, the OBC order is also significant for being the inaugural fleet order for
Politecnica seats give plenty of support (above) and OBC’s tallest employee Michael McCulloch with Helen Fowweather (top)
“The coaches benefit from route branding on the side – and perhaps most importantly for promotional purposes, on the rears.”
the type. The Plaxton Panther bodywork is mounted on a Scania K360 EB chassis, which is powered by a 360bhp Scania DC9 engine, coupled to a Scania OptiCruise transmission. The DC9 engine uses EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) to meet Euro 5 emission limits and therefore does not require AdBlue. The new Scania Panther SE is available as a 12.8m-long highspecification coach, typically configured with 53 reclining seats with a centre sunken washroom, or with 57 recliners in fully-seated coaches. It is also available as a 12.3m-long Disability Discrimination Act-compliant version. The OBC vehicles take the form of the latter, being able to carry one wheelchair and are equipped with ‘Magilifts’ lift, which fits neatly under the entrance steps. The wheelchair is secured on board in the front near-side row using NMI fixings. The coaches sit 44 passengers in comfortable Politecnica GTV seats. However, the interior is anything but brash or radical – understated conservatism seems to have beeen the order of the day. Not to be forgotten is the rear floor-mounted
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Coach & Bus Week @ Facebook.com We gave something of a sneak preview to our followers on Facebook. Here’s how they reacted: n “Very swish” Calum Maclennan
n “Exactly the same interior as our new ones at Weavaway but ours are black outside as well” Dale Scutter n “Beasts” Perry J. Best
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n “Looks good! You can’t beat a Scania - they just go on and on..... Also, Nice to see the XX--OXF number plate tradition continues” Paul Harley
Clockwise from left: Attractive branding on the rear serves as an important promotional tool; The interior is most comfortable but is understated in style; A single power socket is located at the centre of each seat bay, which means passengers don’t have to lean across each other to access it; In the best Scania tradition, the driving area is spacious with everything to hand; and the Magilift can be deployed with ease WC on the off-side. The vehicles are also equipped with Wi-Fi and charging points in the centre of the seat bays, which means passengers don’t have to lean across each other to plug-in their laptop or phone chargers. Helen Fowweather, director of finance and commercial, was not wrong when she told CBW: “We have taken some seats out and you can really notice the difference. The finish on the coach is superb.” Turning to the livery, which has seen the old yellow element ditched, Helen said: “We have spent a lot of time and effort on the livery. I would say the result is we’ve come up with this subtle improvement.” The coaches benefit from route branding on the side – and perhaps most importantly for promotional purposes, on the rears. Commenting on the new fleet, Kevin Wood, Plaxton’s sales and marketing director said: “Having supplied the Oxford Bus Company with its last two batches of coaches, I’m delighted the company has decided to run an all-Plaxton fleet on its prestigious express services. Repeat business is the best endorsement our products can have.”
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Scania GB’s, bus, coach and engine sales director Tony Tomsett, added: “We have a strong relationship with both the Oxford Bus Company and the wider Go-Ahead Group in both coaches and buses. The Scania coaches being operated by the Oxford Bus Company have covered hundreds of thousands of miles, and this order is an endorsement of the performance of the company’s existing Scania fleet.” The first five of the order have now been delivered and they will gradually be brought into service. All 18 new coaches should be on the road by the start of the New Year.
Future developments
Helen said the on-line booking system, which is currently used by 10% of airline customers, is being developed. “We are investing it in and we will be introducing it to espress in the near future.” Turning to the fleet, she said it is expected the espress will be upgraded in February or March, but ‘certainly in time for Easter.’ “The cascade of Plaxton Volvos to espress has not been officially announced but there is an assumption it will happen,” she added.
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38 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
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Digital tachographs can be integrated with other systems to allow easy monitoring of more than just driver’s hours and mileage
Keeping on top of the books In this week’s Essential Guide, we look at ways tachograph suppliers are innovating to make it as simple and painless as possible for operators to keep their data records, allowing them to concentrate on other important matters www.coachandbusweek.com
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eeping track of the mileage of vehicles and the hours put in by their drivers is something all operators have to do. An excellent tool for this is the tachograph, but keeping records can still be time consuming. It’s not always easy to catch drivers or vehicles to obtain the data, and sometimes multiple systems are used. Tachograph suppliers are improving their products to help with this. Road Tech and Tachomaster products now integrate with each other, making it much easier to match driver records to vehicle records and identify when driver’s hours are not being correctly followed, whereas the digiDL system allows wireless downloading of recorded data through GPRS or Wi-Fi, locking the Company Card for just 20 seconds and making the system more automated, taking up less man hours.
ROAD TECH There can’t be many (if any) operators who don’t have a computer system to help with the running of their business. Companies may have two or more. But how many of these systems are capable of sharing information between each other? For example, the chances are, a tracking and analytics system comes from one provider while tachograph analysis comes from another - in which case it’s very unlikely the two systems will interact. The obvious and simple downfall of this is double entry. When buying a new vehicle, operators have to ‘create’ it on both systems. The same is true when employing a new driver. But what are the advantages of having two systems which exchange information? A tracking system will no doubt do a fine job letting an operator know where its vehicles are. Used with analytics it should be providing lots of useful
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information about the vehicle such as fuel consumption and how it’s being driven. However, with the tracking and analytics ‘brain’ in the vehicle, a black box hidden deep inside, it has absolutely no idea who is actually doing the driving. Looking at the tachograph in the same coach or bus, its job is to record the drive, breaks and other work the driver has performed. Therefore, it knows who is driving but has absolutely no idea about where the vehicle is, or how much fuel is being used. If these two systems share information, the analytics system can report on the vehicle and on the drivers. This means instead of wondering why the fuel economy of one particular vehicle is so bad (or good), an operator can see which drivers are returning which mpg figures. The same would be true for speed, throttle usage, use of cruise control and so on. With a capable system, a grading system could be displayed to give a clear guide as to how drivers were performing. In return, the tachograph analysis system would be able to show exactly where a tachograph mode change was made, or when the vehicle entered or left a geofence. Such a system would also work well with drivers’ daily checks. Operators and drivers of vehicles have a legal responsibility to ensure the vehicles are kept in a safe and roadworthy condition at all times, making the driver’s daily walk-round check an essential inspection. Rather than using a defect book, or daily check sheet, there’s no reason these checks can’t be stored using a mobile phone, smartphone or PDA. Once again, the information gathered by such a system could be shared with the other systems an operator has. This means the daily check system could show where a particular check took place. The tracking system can tell the daily check system when a vehicle has moved. If no daily check has been done for any day the vehicle has been driven, the users of three systems can be alerted. This wouldn’t necessarily need to have tracking to work. In this case the tachograph analysis could be used, as it also knows (albeit not yet in ‘real time’) when a vehicle has moved. Although it may sound deeply www.coachandbusweek.com
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Screenshots of Road Tech’s Falcon system, which provides tracking and analytics. Statistics are shown on an individual or fleet-wide basis theoretical or futuristic, what’s been briefly described above is available today. With Tachomaster firmly established and processing over 50% of all Driver Cards issued, Road Tech has turned its attention and expertise to tracking & analytics and electronic daily vehicle checks. The result is two new products; Falcon (tracking and analytics) and PreDrive (electronic daily vehicle checks). Operators can choose to have one, two, or all of the products. If two or more of the systems are implemented, they will automatically integrate with each other as described above. All three of the systems are charged at fixed rates (£1 per driver per week for Tachomaster, £29 or £49 per vehicle per month for Falcon and £1 per vehicle per week for PreDrive). There’s no minimum contract period for any of them. If at any point an operator decides a particular product is not for
them, they can simply stop using it. Tachomaster and PreDrive also offer a no restriction, full access, 28-day free trial. Road Tech says it would like to be able to offer a free Falcon trial as well, but as it requires fitting into a vehicle, this simply isn’t possible. Road Tech said: “It’s a cliché, but together the three systems are certainly more than the sum of their parts.” W: www.tachomaster.co.uk www.falcontracking.co.uk www.predrive.co.uk
TACHODISC Tachodisc is the first company to successfully implement the innovative new DigiDL remote downloading technology in a live commercial vehicle environment. The DigiDL sets a new standard for remote tachograph download technology, and enables operators to transfer data from a vehicle
remotely in order to reduce the time and money spent on periodic data downloads. The GPRS device also negates the logistical problems posed by the need to capture data manually at several geographical locations – which can result in legally required data going missing. Interestingly for the bus and coach market the GPRS unit can also transfer data from any location in Europe which supports its internal SIM. Karen Crispe, Tachodisc’s managing director, explained: “Customers simply set a download schedule online for each vehicle, and the DigiDL will automatically download driver’s cards and the VU as per the times programmed. Via GPRS, the data is then wirelessly transmitted to Tachodisc’s server where it is safely hosted in a protected environment. Operators can then access and analyse the data via Tachodisc’s analysis software programme.” “Our customers have all commented ‘you cannot put a price on legal compliance, but the DigiDLs have literally removed the headache of downloading data from driver’s cards and vehicles which are spread all over the country.’ The first trials have been such a success the customers are even retro-fitting the DigiDLs on all vehicles within their fleet with a 59-registration plate and above, as well as on all new vehicles procured.” The DigiDL, which is permanently wired to the rear of the tachograph, is being offered by Tachodisc as one allencompassing package, from point of order through to fitment and management of data. “This simple process provides customers with all the benefits of remote downloading with relatively little financial investment or IT infrastructure required,” added Karen. Being the first to have ‘real’ experience of fully integrating the DigiDLs has resulted in many companies, both freight and bus and coach operators, talking to Tachodisc about this unique technology and how the company can support the installation and integrate it with the company’s analysis software. Tachodisc’s analysis software utilises the latest advancements in IT, and is one of the most cost competitive systems available to operators who want to carry out analogue and digital analysis for both Drivers’ Hours Law
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The UK’s leading tachograph experts If your driver caused this...
...would your compliance systems stand the test..?
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and Road Transport Directive in one operation. And, unlike some other providers, Tachodisc’s fees are all-inclusive, with no hidden costs. T: 01925 283328 E: sales@tachodisc.co.uk W: www.tachodisc.co.uk
TACHOSYS Most LGV operators have a legal requirement to periodically download a Vehicles’ Digital Tachograph. People who have to do this task would agree it is time consuming and unprofitable. It can also be awkward to catch vehicles and drivers at convenient times to capture the required data. Often legally required data is missing leaving the Company vulnerable. As downloading the Tachograph requires a Company Card to authorise the process it has never been a job which could easily be delegated or make automated. In 2009 a modification to the Tachograph standard was agreed which effectively set out a method by which a Digital Tachograph could contact a relevant Company Card remotely using for instance GPRS, Bluetooth or WIFI. Once the Tachograph had received Authorisation to download it would have a 24 hour window of opportunity in which to do so. digiDL by Tachosys, now the largest manufacturer of Tachograph peripherals in the UK, is the result of two years intensive hardware and software development. In Tachosys’ view the technology had to take into account that truck and coach operators in the UK are split between those who maintain and analyse their own tachograph
digiDL allows wireless data downloads and wont tie up the Company Card records and those which prefer to use the services of a third party (Analysis Bureau). digiDL has quite clearly met its first goal of easy integration as all of the leading Analysis Bureau have approved and integrated the digiDL so it can pass data seamlessly from the vehicle to a customer’s online account. A customer wishing to integrate digiDL with their in-house system will also be able to do so. In simple terms operators who adopt digiDL no longer need to waste huge amounts of time manually downloading vehicle tachographs or collecting Driver Card data as digiDL will do all of this in the background. The customer sets a schedule online for each vehicle together with the data required and the rest happens automatically. Like all Tachosys products the digiDL has been custom built from the ground up for the purpose of tachograph download. This gives the product a major cost advantage and means there are
no compromises in hardware or software as is the case for those using off-the-shelf hardware. The result is a highly flexible and reliable platform for data. Communication with the Company Card is rock solid. The Company Card is locked for just 20 seconds during authorisation, an important point in very busy environments, and it is possible to host multiple Company Cards to avoid contention for the card. The digiDL can also store and send data later should it lose connectivity making full use of its 24 hour download window. digiDL is permanently wired to the rear of the Tachograph and comes with all necessary cabling. It is possible to either DIY fit or take advantage of the services of a nationwide network of qualified fitters. digiDL is available in both Wi-Fi and GPRS versions. After extensive trials the first customers are now enjoying unattended downloads and feedback is excellent.
MORE TECHNICAL INFORMATION: digiDL utilises the Tachograph’s CAN-bus (C) interface and is designed to be concealed under the dashboard. The unit can be initially configured by PC and subsequently configured remotely. Firmware updates can be applied remotely. digiDL will support multiple networks to increase flexibility if vehicles are based at more than one location. digiDL will support VDO 1.3+ or Stoneridge Rev 7.0+ Digital Tachographs or any other manufacturer’s Tachograph which meets the agreed remote download standards. T: 0208 687 3900 W: www.tachosys.com
FOSTER TACHOGRAPHS Over the past few years, Foster Tachographs Ltd has been involved in a significant number of cases where coach and bus operators have found themselves in a vulnerable position when being investigated and subsequently prosecuted for breaches of drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations. Foster Tachographs is a family business which has evolved through 150 years of trading from a drapery shop and designer of textile machinery to become the UK’s leading experts in tachograph compliance systems and analysis. Foster Tachographs has been involved with tachographs since their developement and introduction into the United Kingdom back in the 1960’s. In those formative years the company was contracted as consultants in the development of a UK manufactured tachograph and in
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the training of enforcement officers. With over 25 years in the tachograph industry Gordon Humphreys is recognised as a leading expert in tachograph regulations and systems and has been involved in the investigation of many criminal cases (ranging from corporate manslaughter to causing death by dangerous driving, drug smuggling to drivers’ hours offences as well as many more) at court and public inquiries. Having witnessed at first hand the changes in the application of the law, Gordon and his company have developed a series of systems and processes to assist operators in protecting the O-licence. Gordon has also authored a book on the subject. Tachobook is a guide to the hours and tachograph regulations which has now sold almost 50,000 copies. Most cases in which Foster are involved are when the operator is already in trouble, VOSA has already commenced its investigation, errors are found and prosecutions brought. It is
also noted the attitude of the enforcement bodies is changing. Previously the matters taken to court were limited in number, possibly 20-30 allegations in a serious case. Now, in the last 12 months, these numbers have increased and Foster has seen cases involving 126, 167, 212, 260 and 340 allegations. Some cases involving hauliers, some involving coach operators. In the case involving 126 allegations, all were withdrawn, whilst the case involving 340 allegations, the number was reduced to 130 guilty pleas after extensive analysis and the fine of £137,500 later reduced to £65,000 on appeal plus VOSA costs. In other words the number of allegations and the level of fines are increasing, generally between £500 and £1000 per offence for an operator. Operators with suitable and effective systems can offer a defence, but without them, they will be liable for each offence committed by drivers in their employ.
Operators may also be liable to corporate manslaughter allegations if their systems do not identify a rogue driver who subsequently kills someone. Simple analysis of the driver record (which is not always accurate) and a signed infringement report is NOT enough. There are many issues an operator must look at and for the bus and coach industry these systems are, in some cases, even more complex. They have a mix of EC and Domestic Operations to which their employees must comply and this leaves them even more vulnerable. The operator’s statutory undertaking requires more than to set up adequate systems and leave them to run themselves. Constant supervision and monitoring is required to ensure the systems work. In other words how effective are the systems at detecting drivers’ hours and tachograph offences and what is the resulting action taken when they are found?
Very few operators have adequate systems and only find this out when it’s too late. Gordon Humphreys and his team of expert consultants at Foster Tachographs cover the whole of the United Kingdom, reviewing systems and offering solutions which the Transport Tribunal described as the ‘gold standard’ for tachograph compliance systems for the transport industry. Unfortunately, most clients only find those benefits when they are being investigated, when a proactive approach to the issue could have saved the costs of defending a case, the fines, the increase in worry, the effect on the day to day running of the business and allowed a more peaceful night’s sleep, knowing the operation was compliant and everything possible done to stay within the law. T: 01772 655155 E: admin@ fostertachographs.co.uk W: www.fostertachographs.co.uk
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rOSCO nEWS
ROSCO rewards safe drivers & operators The ROSCO initials are well known to many bus and coach companies throughout Britain, and to the thousands of drivers who have signed up for the annual Safe Driving Awards. ROSCO – the Road Operators’ Safety Council – has recently upgraded its management structure and is now a registered charity with a board of directors who are volunteers from various sectors of the transport industry, representing bus and coach operators, trades unions, passengers and specialist insurance providers. Peter Shipp, chairman of the EYMS Group, also chairs ROSCO and he paid tribute to the far-sighted individuals who saw the need for such a body. “ROSCO was founded back in 1955 by bus operators and unions who recognised the importance of encouraging safe driving among their employees and members,” he said. “The principles are still the same more than half a century later, and today we are proud to have nearly 50,000 individual drivers entered for our Safe Driver awards. “Our goal is simple – to promote safe and efficient driving standards
to professional drivers. As a bus operator I am only too aware of the cost of bad driving – whether it’s poorer fuel consumption because of thoughtless driving, or higher insurance premiums because of carelessness, to the worst scenario – injuries to passengers, staff and the general public. “But of course the other side of the coin is the great number
Chairman Peter Shipp, an operator himself is a firm advocate of ROSCO
ROSCO Top Driver 2011
The prestigious ROSCO Top Driver Award was presented at the recent UK Bus Awards lunch in London. The 2011 winner, Thomas Dunne of National Express Coventry, had completed 31 years’ safe driving. His employers recognised his ‘exemplary driving disciplinary and attendance record,’ saying he ‘personifies the best traditions of professional bus drivers while carrying out his duties, setting a standard few are able to attain. To maintain such standards in the increasingly difficult and challenging environment in which we all operate bus services is an exceptional achievement.’ Thomas was described as ‘a popular figure in the garage and www.coachandbusweek.com
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of drivers in the ROSCO scheme who have completed many years of continuous accident-free driving. They are the ones who deserve to get the recognition, and we do this through our Safe Driving scheme, which recognises accident-free driving through the award of diplomas and badges, to the annual Top Driver Award, where member companies can
nominate an individual driver who has completed more than 30 years of driving free of any blameworthy accidents and convictions for specified road traffic offences. “I know many drivers wear their ROSCO badges with pride and this can be as reassuring to passengers as it is to employers.” “We believe ROSCO provides a widely respected method of recognising and rewarding good driving, which engages with drivers to raise awareness and values and we consult with government and industry bodies in matters relating to safe and fuel-efficient driving. “Recently we updated the posters which are available to ROSCO members for display in mess-rooms and on company notice-boards. These remind drivers of the positive benefits of good, safe driving. “Here at East Yorkshire we encourage our drivers to join the ROSCO scheme and we have seen positive results from this. As many companies do, we recognise drivers who qualify for diplomas and badges with an annual function. We are glad to have the opportunity to recognise just how important good driving standards are to a business like ours, where the drivers are very much our front-line staff. “It’s not expensive to be part of the ROSCO scheme – there is a one-off £100 fee to register a new company then a cost of £2 for each driver entered on the scheme. That’s a small price to pay for safe and thoughtful driving standards.”
LAST CALL Top Driver Thomas Dunne receives his award from Peter Shipp with customers, who not only appreciated his exceptional driving ability but his care, consideration and helpful disposition, which is an increasingly rare combination.’ Peter Shipp, chairman of ROSCO, added his congratulations, saying: “I hope his achievement will inspire other drivers throughout the country to have the same concerns for the safety of their passengers.”
Don't use your phone or ipod when crossing the road
Rewarding safe driving
ROSCO
www.rosco-uk.org ROAD OPERATORS' SAFETY COUNCIL
ROSCO has recently produced a new series of posters and we shall be featuring one of these each month. They are available to ROSCO member companies for display as a constant reminder to all drivers of the importance of safe and courteous driving. The poster illustrated is one of two warning of the dangers of careless use of mobile phones. For more details about ROSCO, visit www.rosco-uk.org or contact ROSCO, Osborn House, 20 High Street, South Olney, Bucks MK46 4AA T/F: 01234 714420 E: admin@rosco-uk.org
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PRODUCTS
WirElEss lifts for london UnitEd London United has invested in a series of ProdUct Stertil Koni wireless of thE mobile lifts to help WEEk maintain its 885 vehicle fleet which offer services to over 155 million passengers. Keen to evaluate the options available for garage lifting equipment, London United conducted an inhouse assessment of products. After extensive testing, Stertil Koni’s ST1073 wireless mobile column lifts were confirmed as the preferred product. The ST1073 won on speed of lifting, user friendliness and the number of lifting cycles per full charge. The original contract covered the supply of three sets of four ST1073 wireless mobile lifts which were installed at the company’s Twickenham garage. Their performance and reliability has quickly led to a further order being placed for an additional set of four identical lifts to support operations at London United’s Fulwell garage. Each ST1073 hydraulic mobile column lift provides a lifting capacity of 7,250kg and the overall capacity can be increased simply by adding more columns to the system, up to a maximum of 28 columns. Its
Email martin.cole@rouncymedia. co.uk to get your new product or service in the spotlight
maximum lifting height of 1.85 metres is reached in just 70 seconds. The lift also boasts a unique synchronisation system ensuring a smooth lifting and lowering cycle, even in the event of extremely uneven load distribution. Should a power supply failure occur, the columns may be manually lowered in complete safety. Robert Tarrant, engineering manager at London United’s Twickenham Garage said: “I was very interested in the benefits of wireless lifts and wanted to be sure that we purchased the correct equipment. We evaluated a number of leading products and the Stertil Koni mobile lifts out-performed the others on all counts. In particular we compared lifting and descent times and the
number of lifts before they required charging. “Deciding factors were the inbuilt safety features - particularly the independent locking pawl, along with the ID-Key required to synchronise the lifts prior to use (as this eliminates unauthorised usage). Once installed, the benefits were self evident, so when our Fulwell depot required an additional set of lifts they came to Twickenham and assessed the lifts for themselves and consequently purchased an additional set of four.”
range will also adjust its charge rate to compensate for any increase in battery temperature to fully protect the cells. Suggested retail price for the 24v RSCPR824 is £174.99
Auxilium, a fuel additive claimed to reduce operating costs and lower emissions, was introduced to the UK from South Africa in 2009 – having been first engineered in the late fifties and subsequently known as ffi. The South African franchisees re-engineered and in turn liquefied the product to counter the drawback of the original pill-form product which saw it failing to fully disolve and effectively dose large volumes of fuel. Now it is liquefied, the ratio is down to 1/4000 - technically a 5ml syringe of the product would accurately dose 20 litres. The best deployment for the product lies within a controlled bulk storage tank refuelling environment where there is no interference or manual dosing required. Auxilium is loaded into the BST at refill. For efficacy, Auxilium is looking for users of 500,000 litres per annum (10,000 per week) as they should save £35,000 to £60,000 per annum. The product costs 2.5 pence per litre treated. It is available in 1.0 and 4.0 litre drums and retails at £100 per 1 litre (£400 for 4 litres). Ergo, a 25,000 litre diesel fill would require the client to put in 6.25 litres of Auxilium. The product is warrantied and provides the user with assurance which, in the event of a failing directly attributable to the product, the user is insured to the value of £1m per occasion. Auxilium states there has never been such a failing since the product was liquefied and the total mileage covered since then is now more than 1 billion miles. The company has been supplying Gwynedd Council with Auxilium for 18 months and the local authority says it is seeing an 8% reduction in fuel consumption. A North Wales bus operator, Abacab of Abergele, has also been using it and monitoring reductions in particulate emissions. The company claims fuel saving of between 8-12% across a mixed fleet of minibuses and full-sized coaches and in most instances a reduction in smoke registered at MOT test.
for further information contact henry bisson on 0113 2137338 or email henry.bisson@ ringautomotive.co.uk
full details from Patrick gill, auxilium technologies. tel: 0700 80 29733. visit www. auxiliumtech.co.uk
for further information contact: tony Edge. Email: lifts@stertiluk.com or visit www. stertiluk.com
london United has installed stertil koni wireless lifts at twickenham
ProgrammablE mUlti-chEmistry battEry chargErs Ring Automotive’s new range of professional battery charging systems, SmartChargePro, offers an eight-stage charging cycle for comprehensive, accurate charging, giving batteries prolonged life and better performance. It is also a specialist tool to diagnose, recondition and service a battery. The range encompasses six 12v models: 7A; 10A; 15A; 25A; 35A; 50A and importantly for CV Workshops a 24v 8A model. They feature a unique programmable multi-chemistry capability allowing choice of charging profile to suit battery chemistry type (AGM, Calcium, GEL or Lead). This ensures correct and optimum charging for each battery type. The 24v units come with a battery support function to sustain a vehicle’s electrical system during diagnostic work. The constant voltage
smartchargePro in situ input prevents loss of power when connecting diagnostic equipment or data uploads to a vehicle which could otherwise potentially damage the ECU or disrupt the diagnostic process. There is a manual recondition function for attempts to recover batteries from a deeply discharged state to improve performance allowing the battery to operate at full capacity. The SmartChargePro
aUxiliUm – additivE PromisEs morE mPg and loWEr Emissions
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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 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
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
Get Results! Advertiseyour CoachorBus hereforas littleas
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
£20.00 aweek!
Call Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351
Telephone Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351 or email lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk
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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.
1998 S REG DENNIS DART SPD
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.
Cummins / ZF, 40 seats with 3 point belts, Hanover LEDʼs, new MOT.
£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.
2008 58 PLATE ENVIRO 300
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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000000-1005-Fishwick
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THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OFFERS...
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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 BENZ 513CDI EVM CLASSIC 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks and A/C.
2010 10 REG IVECO 50c15 IRISBUS 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, power door and under-floor wheelchair lift.
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.
2005 05 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large luggage boot.
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.
BARGAIN BUS STOP 2002 52 REG RENAULT 10 SEATS + RAMP 2003 03 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks.
1999 V REG MERCEDES 814 BEAVER 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, power door, 12 months test.
2001 51 REG RENAULT 8 SEATS + RAMP
Steve Peach Tel: 01302 770863 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: steve@connaughtpsv.co.uk
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58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | December 14, 2011
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)
Contact Joseph Sage 0208 400 6680 Email Joseph.sage@lonutd.co.uk
T916 ACRON AVAILABLE 57 seats, Full Exec
01274 681144
Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4BJ Email: busandcoachsales@arriva.co.uk Web: www.arrivabusandcoach.co.uk
Bus and Coach
take a test drive today
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
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December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59
ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES BUILDINGS
CHECKPOINTS
INSURANCE
HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS
Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone
TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/DUSTITE loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:
BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime
www.checkpoint-safety.com
Tel: 01524 271200
ENGINES
Crewe Engines Ltd MERCEDES ENGINE SPECIALISTS
WE ALSO RECONDITION ALL MAKES OF BUS & COACH ENGINES Direct from the UK’s No.1 for 30 years
VOLVO - CUMMINS - SCANIA MAN - DAF - IVECO FULL FITTING FACILITIES CRAIG TILSLEY
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
HEATING
Heaters • A/C Equipment Blowers • Motors • Radiators Silicone Hose • Ducting Wiper Equipment • Gas Struts
Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920 Email: sales@thhs.co.uk
www.thhs.co.uk
UNIT 9 NIMROD BUSINESS PARK DE HAVILLAND WAY, WITNEY OX29 0YG
REGISTRATIONS G £750 20 PXV 40 OXW 60 NJX 70 NNX 90 PXL PJZ 88 RJZ 66 RJZ 77 SJZ 22
SPEEDY REGISTRATIONS CO LTD G ‘Buy with confidence – CNDA Member’
£350 £99 £99 £50 ACZ 686 CXZ 2228 MNZ 1195 AXZ 5617 AJZ 484 CXZ 2229 ONZ 1171 AXZ 5618 CJZ 323 HIG 7728 REZ 3379 BXZ 7175 JBZ 484 HIG 7729 RUI 2117 BXZ 7176 KBZ 737 IFZ 2271 SEZ 7608 CRZ 8340 KCZ 505 IFZ 2272 SUI 8847 CXZ 2231 KDZ 929 KIG 1901 SUI 8848 CXZ 2232 NUI 636 KIG 1902 TJZ 1118 DRZ 5652 SBZ 515 MJZ 6749 TJZ 1119 DRZ 5653 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange
£50 IFZ 2314 IFZ 2315 IIG 8223 JIG 9401 JIG 9402 KIG 1321 KIG 1322 TUI 3633 TUI 3634
Tel: (028) 6638 7124 Fax: (028) 6638 7771
Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ
SEATING
URBAN
SERVICE
COACH
SERVICE
HAND RAIL PADDING
ACCESSORIES
G Hand Rail Padding G Next Day Delivery G Seat Belt Installations G Double Deckers Seat Belted G Seat Belt Supplies Securon Amsafe/Safetex Fasching ISRI Reflex Schneeweis Orion MCF GWR Fainsa Vogle Keil Politecnica Esteban + many more
Parts Hotline - Graham White graham@bhiuk.com 01522 689911 Email: info@bhiuk.com www.bhiuk.com
Fax: 01522 689922
The UK’s No1 Seatbelt Installers
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ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES VEHICLE SPARES
SEATING
Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales
ERGONOMIC SEATING SPECIALISTS
OUR SERVICES: •
Recovery
•
Testing
• • • • •
Full range of Static, Mechanical and Air Suspension seats available for Coaches, Service Buses, Vans and Trucks
Prices from £150+VAT (No carriage charges)
12 Murray Place, Righead Ind Est, Bellshill ML4 3LP Tel: 01698 845352 • Fax: 01698 844325 Email: TScottco@aol.com
• • •
DISMANTLING/SPARES:
Refurbishment Repairs
Engine/gearbox rebuilds Fault finding
Buying & selling vehicles
• • • • • •
Reconditioned engines Reconditioned gearboxes Engine spares Windows
Windscreens Seats
Export to foreign markets Repairs
Finance repossession and storage
CALL: 01226 727 769 Bus sales: www.geoff-ripleysbuscoachsales.com Geoff Ripley, Boulder Lane (off Shaw Lane), Carlton, Barnsley S71 3HJ
Mob: 07912 103 497 or 07711 750 434 Fax: 01226 727 607 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com
SNOWCHAINS Trevor Wigley & Son Bus Ltd
TW FULLY LICENSED END OF LIFE VEHICLE CENTRE TW REDUNDANT AND SCRAP VEHICLES TAKEN TW PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT SERVICE TW ALL REQUIREMENTS CATERED FOR TW VARIOUS SPARES AVAILABLE TW CONTACT US FOR FULL AVAILABILITY
TRAINING
TRIM
COACH TRIMMERS LTD Supplying the Bus and Coach Industry with quality seat retrims and interior refurbishment. Full floors re-laid and centre gangways. Collection and delivery service anywhere in the UK, seven days a week.
Email: info@eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk Web: www.eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 01751 472229
Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com
www.twigley.com
December 14, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61
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. Our broadband is up the creek again. Grrr…! End up staying in the office longer than we should after the last page has been sent to the printer because ‘Corporal Jones’ is on duty. We only seem to ever get problems from the printer when this particular guy is on. Time for me to let them know me thinks…
This screenshot is taken from a Youtube video found by news reporter James Day. It shows a number 62 bus powering through flood waters somewhere in the Americas, while traffic sits helplessly on the other carriageway, as ‘Like a Boss’ by Lonely Island plays in the background (resembling ‘Like a Bus’ if you imagine the lyrics are being spoken in a comedy accent). Editor Gareth assures us his employers were not deluged with a torrent of complaints when driving his bus through floodwaters in a previous life… The video can be seen here: http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=IkTw7J-hGmg
DfT spell out their needs Officials at the Department for Transport (DfT) have produced a 1,500-word report which details ministers’ pet grammatical hates in remarkable detail. The guidance sent to civil servants and MPs lists the particular linguistic errors which infuriate Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, and her fellow transport ministers. The five-page document indicates the member for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, 42,
Dilbert
does not approve of the use of adverbs or abbreviations in official documents. Critics on Sunday night accused ministers including Miss Greening, who has only been a Cabinet member for a few months, of focusing on trivial matters instead of concentrating on “sorting out” Britain’s transport system. But sources close to the minister told The Telegraph the “guidance” had been available internally at least since the election - before Miss Greening was appointed. The report stated: “Do not put in too many adverbs. “For example avoid phrases like ‘strongly opposed’ and just say
‘opposed’. Do not use abbreviated forms such as ‘don’t’ or ‘couldn’t’. “Avoid passive construction at the start of sentences e.g. ‘it is essential to note that’. ‘However’ should only be used at the start of a sentence and do not use the word ‘firstly’.” The guidance for Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat junior Minister in the department, is brief, running to just four paragraphs. The former English teacher’s staff should “avoid the use of contractions in formal writing. Example: ‘that’s’ should read ‘that is’”. However, on Sunday night, a DfT spokesman declined to spell things out any further...
Tuesday: Radiators are officially the most monotonous thing to paint. After my efforts in the morning, the bathroom is now ready to receive the new flooring. Attend a meeting in the afternoon although I’m not on form, so I’m even more blunt than normal. Wednesday: Andrew accompanies me on his first trip out of the office. Call by the ever friendly and enthusiastic crew at Stagecoach in Oxford for coffee. In the spirit of the usual banter, commercial manager Robert Williams muses that we’ve only come by so we can “steal some coffee.” We then pop round the corner to the Oxford Bus Company to attend the launch of the new airline coaches, where we also receive a warm welcome. I’m in my element taking photos. Thursday: A day in the office writing and editing. A BT engineer calls. “Can I speak to Guy Arthur?” he asks. I laugh and say our IT man is called Arthur. Mr BT then admits he’s misread his notes - it’s a guy called Arthur. Oops... Friday: Another day in the office writing and editing. The phone rings and displays a seven rather than six digit number. I figure it’s going to be some idiot on the phone so despite being up to neck in work, I answer it accordingly. I’m not wrong either, and proceed to put the lady on speaker phone for the benefit of my colleagues and answer every question with “si”. It may sounds nuts but it’s all good fun. How to keep smiling when you’re up against it – my way. www.coachandbusweek.com
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RECRUITMENT
Reading Transport’s ‘Pod’ retires Long-serving Newbury bus driver Julian ‘Pod’ Parton has retired – to catalogue his enormous collection of more than 30,000 photographs. ‘Pod’, as he prefers to be called, completed 33 years of continuous service on the buses in Newbury, latterly driving on the special buses provided by Reading Transport for Vodafone in and around Newbury. He says his retirement will allow him to spend more time on his photographic library, for he predicts it will take him the next three years just to get the photos into order. Along with other Reading Transport retirees, ‘Pod’ will receive an invitation to the company’s annual awards evening when presentations will be made to all those who have retired during the year. The event also recognises
New commercial managers for Go-Ahead
‘Pod’ receives his award in a photo taken by CEO James Freeman to add to his collection those who have made ‘outstanding contributions’ during 2011. ‘Pod’ is seen receiving a presentation from Newbury Buses controller Paul Comlay – a photo which was taken on ‘Pod’s’ camera by Reading Transport chief executive officer James Freeman. “This will be yet another to add to Paul’s collection for sorting out in due course,” said Mr. Freeman.
The Go-Ahead Group owned bus operations in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and the Isle Of Wight have appointed new commercial managers. The new roles created by Go South Coast are devised to explore opportunities to encourage more people to travel by bus whilst enhancing the bus network in the region. This will include input on the branding, marketing and sales. Nikki Honer, who started her career in the industry with Reading Buses in 1988, has taken the appointment for Bluestar based in Eastleigh. Tanya Simms joined Southern Vectis in 2001, and worked as a customer service advisor before becoming commercial officer two
years ago. Tanya has now been promoted to commercial manager on the Isle of Wight. Wilts & Dorset has made two promotions to commercial manager. Having joined Wilts & Dorset in 2008 as sales manager, Vicky Williams is based in Salisbury to cover the network primarily within Wiltshire. Leon Wellman, who started his career in 1995 as a bus conductor with the Eastleigh based Solent Blue Line, and held the title of marketing manager at Bluestar, now covers the Bournemouth and Poole regions. Andrew Wickham, acting managing director for the Go South Coast, said he was delighted the team is now in place. “By introducing regional based commercial managers with greater responsibility for the development of specific services operated from their own depots, there will be more opportunity to support the operations manager and develop stronger relationships with communities and local authorities.”
Your First Choice for Recruitment
Coach and Bus Week’s well-established recruitment portfolio attracts candidates across sales, marketing and management, delivering not just quantity but quality candidates, providing exceptional value for money. In addition to our unrivalled print-based product, at no extra cost recruitment adverts are also automatically placed online at www.coachandbusweek.com, where they remain on view until a position’s closing date. Coach and Bus Week and www.coachandbusweek.com combine to create the ultimate recruitment solution, guaranteeing your vacancy is seen by every job seeker that matters from sales agents to board level. To get your vacancy seen by quality candidates, call Harley on 01733 293249 (email harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk) or Ian on 01733 293254 (email ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk) www.coachandbusweek.com
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DeaDlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.30pm
ContaCt Harley Denham 01733 293249
New North sales executive for Scania
“Jamie will be working with the Scania dealer network in his area with the aim of jointly developing the independent operator base for our bus and coach range.” In a separate development, Andrew Hamilton, a well-known figure in the bus and coach world, has come out of retirement to cover the London and South East area formerly looked after by Graham Tkaczyk, who recently left the organisation to start his own coaching firm.
Jamie MacIntosh, 28, has joined Scania (Great Britain) Limited’s Bus and Coach team as sales executive for the company’s Northern England region. Jamie is the son of Don MacIntosh, the former managing director of Scania Coach Sales, Worksop, and joins Scania from Plaxton where he worked as a sales account manager for London and the South East. Bob Nevitt, general manager of new vehicle retail sales, said: “We feel Jamie will be a great asset to Scania Bus and Coach, particularly with his experience of the Plaxton product, which we have recently introduced into our product range for the UK market.
harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk
Jamie MacIntosh has joined Scania
www.coachandbusweek.com
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Accessible Minibus & Van Conversions
Conversions to meet the new European regulations
TYPE APPROVAL Is your business ready?
DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS’ VEHICLES! For more information call 01303 267900 Email sales@euromotive.co.uk
www.euromotive.co.uk Euromotive (Kent) Ltd Unit B1, Lympne Industrial Park, Hythe, Kent CT21 4LR Visit the VOSA website to find out more about the forthcoming ECWVTA (EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval) directive: www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/