Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1007

Wednesday October 12, 2011 Issue 1007 | ÂŁ2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com

COACH:

End of the road for Silver Star Holidays after 93 years p8

COMPETITION:

Summary and reaction to Competition Commission p34

BUS:

Cornwall to retender entire supported bus network p7

LEGAL:

How to help protect your business from injury claims p38

for recru i

JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK

Gas bus throws down challenge to hybrids p22

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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 Art Director Keith Simpson Contributors Richard Charnley, Gabriel Conway, Alan Payling

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What, no franchising?

S

o the ‘f’ word – I mean franchising – has been left off the menu of recommendations the Competition Commission (CC) has proffered in their penultimate missive before the final report.

While operators can breathe a sigh of relief, advocates of a stronger line on partnership will be left hungry for more, and indeed, pteg’s lead on buses, David Brown, says a “lukewarm” approach from the commission on SQP, Qualifying Agreements, and, wait for it, franchising – which he says can better give passengers what they want - has been disappointing.

I am surprised pteg’s own reaction wasn’t stronger but it has got its point across.

On the menu is multi-operator ticketing, which is somewhat ironic, as EYMS’ Peter Shipp points out: the OFT has historically vetoed such an approach, now, only for the commission to recommend the opposite.

Reading Transport’s James Freeman is pleased the CC has come up with “nothing too outlandish” and Paul Jenkins of

Thamesdown Travel comments on the “relatively modest” nature of the proposals. Norfolk Green’s Ben Colson still warns bus minister Norman Baker against measures which hand greater power to local transport authorities “without adequate safeguards for the business interests of operators”, such as the power to introduce and reform multi-operator ticket schemes, and franchise models. However, he concedes the remedies are on the whole “measured and balanced”.

Of potential concern to operators, is the proposal for increased registration periods. Peter Shipp’s view is that the eight-week length is already a hamper especially when service changes are requested by the public itself. A longer period would only exacerbate problems, he foresees.

Although, as is oft said, the devil is in the detail, and there are 192 pages to get through – it could have been a lot worse and suggests the CC’s final edict promised later this year, will have no nasty surprises.

Meera Rambissoon Industry Editor

CONTENTS 4

32

42

The latest from across the coach and bus industry in the UK

18

One of Lothian Buses’ BAE Systemspowered ADL Enviro 400 Hybrids

34

Go-Ahead’s Martin Dean points out the benefits of BSOG to the public

...From tourist attractions and events. Plus ideas for group visits

20

Competition Commission publishes its provisional bus remedies

38

Stagecoach Kent drivers run in aid of children’s hospice

Bank of England governor fears crisis is worst ever to hit UK

22

Do what you can to protect your business from future claims

40

A lighthearted look at the industry.

Plus Gareth’s Diary!

Highlights from last week’s Coach & Bus Live trade show

All the latest vehicle deliveries in operators’ yards across the country

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

Tour News

Business News Show Report

The Big Picture

Open Platform

45

Competitive solution Drivers Legal Insight Deliveries

61

Last Stop

62

People

The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Coach & Bus Week are not necessarily those of the Editor or its publisher Rouncy Media Ltd.

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 | October 12, 2011

NEWS

BRIEFLY Volvo Group is planning a major restructure of its truck organisation which will come into effect from January 1, 2012. There are no plans to involve Volvo Bus Corporation in the restructure – although the current president Håkan Karlsson will become chairman of Volvo Aero, Volvo Buses, Volvo Penta and of a new business area, Governmental Sales.

Centro, with local bus operators and Cartakeback. com, are offering the same Trade Your Transport scheme as seen in Bedfordshire (CBW1005) where motorists are urged to scrap cars for a free nBus pass worth over £200.

Paula Higgins, Centro smartcard and ticketing officer, said: “At a time when motoring has never been more expensive this scheme is a great way to get out of the car and see what the bus network in the West Midlands has to offer. An nBus pass can be used on virtually all bus operators’ services throughout the area all day, every day.”

Derbyshire County Council has admitted a software issue means £340,000 worth of bus information signs may never work. The boards, advising bus due times, were bought three years ago, but 35 remain in storage and eight have not been switched on. trent barton told the council the software used for the signs was ‘unreliable’ and the council has been unable to find a replacement. An additional problem affecting 25 of the authority’s other bus information signs has rendered them out of order for several months also.

The National Union of Students (NUS) will be taking a bus around the UK to various further education institutions, in a campaign launched at this year’s FEstival (sic) in Birmingham, for those whose ability to travel is jeopardised by funding cuts. The campaign bus will visit the Welfare Zone Conference in Liverpool on October 23, followed by four institutions likely to be affected by the cuts. The campaign will launch ticket-style petitions asking students to fill out travel costs, with a plea to the local council not to cut a means of accessing education. www.coachandbusweek.com

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UK government neglects coaches in its tourism strategy CTC disappointed as coach and group travel gets single mention in 49-page strategy Chris Wales, chief executive of the Coach Tourism Council (CTC) has bemoaned government neglect of coach travel in its Tourism Strategy document.

Coaches and group travel warranted only a single mention in the 49-page document. Wales - a founder board member of the CTC, called this “a gross neglect of the value of coaches to the tourism industry in this country.”

The coach industry’s single mention in the document is as follows: “This means British domestic tourism has seen declining levels of package tour holiday activity, apart from smallscale specialist tour operators in sectors such as heritage or walking holidays, or a few coaching firms such as Shearings.

“Apart from all the leading industry suppliers, CTC membership is made up of around 150 national, regional and local coach tour operators - this hardly a ‘few’ coaching firms and certainly not ‘small scale’.”

OCR to launch new CPC quali�ication

Awarding body Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) is to launch revitalised Certificates of Professional Competence in Road Haulage and Passenger Transport (CPC). The new qualification will be unveiled this month in advance of legislative changes to the CPC due to come into effect in December.

OCR has consulted widely with training providers across the UK to ensure the new qualification meets

CTC’s Chris Wales is puzzled as the strategy calls on the private sector to take more of a lead in promoting domestic tourism which he says ignoring the huge investment already made by coach tour operators He said since all these operators are publishing at least one holiday and day excursion brochure on an annual basis, and invest huge sums of money advertising in national and local newspapers, it is very much a lucrative industry.

“Naturally the CTC is puzzled when, in spite of this, the tourism strategy document calls on the sector needs.

The CPCs are for individuals looking to enter the profession of transport manager or demonstrate their professional competence to meet operator licensing laws.

OCR qualification manager, Rosie Radford, said: “We’ve been listening to feedback from CPC training providers and have used their

A screenshot of OCR website, which is packed with information

private sector to take more of a lead in promoting domestic tourism.

This ignores the huge investment already made by coach tour operators in promoting domestic tourism.

“Coaches help feed a huge domestic tourism industry - where would castles, stately homes and tourist attractions be without coaches bringing passengers through their gates? The same goes for hotels - when business bookers depart, coach groups fill up the accommodation.

“In the booming West End of London, coach groups account for 15% of the 13 million plus who go to see top London shows, so imagine the value of the coach passenger spend in West End pubs, restaurants, shops and hotels?”

Wales accepted the CTC is not a lobbying organisation but explained the CTC “likes to keep its finger on the pulse of government tourism thinking and how it impacts on the interests of members.”

To view a copy of the government’s Tourism Strategy, visit www.culture.gov. uk/publications/7896.aspx

expertise and comments to help shape these new qualifications. OCR has the experience in producing robust, quality assessments and we award qualifications in which employers can be confident.”

The new CPC qualification is designed to be more accessible for candidates and to give clearer guidance for centres. The new provision is to begin in March 2012, after the final session of current examinations is completed in December this year. Information on future provision and transition arrangements can be found on the OCR website, www.ocr.org.uk/cpc.

The site also includes an outline of the new qualifications. Details of OCR’s planned provision will be released in the coming weeks.

10/10/2011 23:34

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5

“I’m not surprised franchising wasn’t recommended because I would have thought a good enough case was made against it.”

Peter Shipp

Competition Commission p22

irtec refreshes Advanced Technician licence

Three stowaways crawled out from a Whittles Plaxton-bodied Volvo coach similar to thise one when it arrived in Kidderminster last week

Stowaway threat on Plaxton Panthers East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) Group has warned of a risk of stowaways aboard Plaxton Panther coaches.

The warning comes after three people crawled out from underneath a Whittles coach when it arrived in Kidderminster on Tuesday, October 4. The stowaways had sneaked under the 12.2m 2007-registered Plaxton Panther in front of the rear tyres, climbing up through various pipes into a large cavity big enough for three people.

The individuals avoided detection at Folkestone and made no attempt to leave the coach there or at either of the two stops on the return journey. They finally

emerged when the coach was put through the wash, though they made no attempt to flee and were apprehended once police arrived.

Peter Shipp chairman of EYMS, told CBW there was no possible way anyone could have detected them unless the panels above and to the side of the rear wheel arches were removed.

“We don’t think any form of additional training could avoid this recurring. The only possible and additional measure would be for the driver to stay with the coach, and be vigilant, whenever the vehicle is at the port, adjacent port service areas and duty free retail parks, which may well be impractical,” he said.

“It sounds as though these people knew where to go on the coach so the existence of this cavity is probably well-known, although whether they are knowledgeable enough to differentiate one type of coach from another is questionable.”

Northern Ireland coach company Airporter is expanding to new premises after seven years at its Quayside base in Londonderry, with all Airporter services set to arrive and depart from its new HQ near Ulsterbank.

Airporter has increased service frequency and is adding new

vehicles to the fleet.

The HQ offers sufficient car parking for picking up and dropping off passengers, along with a new booking, check-in and preboarding office.

An Airporter spokesman said: “Our new location makes it easier for customers. As the majority come by car or taxi, it makes dropping off and picking up much easier.”

In 2009, Airporter became the first coach company in Northern Ireland to introduce free on board Wi-Fi across the fleet and had Northern Irelands first online reservation system for bus and coach travel in 2010.

Airporter coach company changes HQ

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irtec, the industry-recognised benchmark for technician competence, has been revitalised, and as detailed during a presentation by the IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) at Coach & Bus Live, now includes a revised Advanced Technician level.

A renewable accreditation scheme for technicians in the commercial vehicle and passenger carrying industries, irtec shows a technician’s current skill. This refreshed Advanced Technician level complements the recently updated ‘Service Maintenance Technician’ level, as well as a brand new ‘Inspection Technician’ level, which were both launched earlier this year.

During the launch, IRTE representative Chris Grime said: “Having collaborated with vehicle manufacturers, trade associations,

and operators, all three irtec levels are now wholly reflective of today’s industry needs.

“The irtec Advanced Technician licence is available in both large commercial vehicle and bus & coach routes, and consists of five, one-hour assessments, plus an underpinning knowledge test.”

Technicians aiming for the Advanced Technician licence need to have solid working knowledge of vehicle systems, including ABS. The irtec assessment itself will require candidates to prove their ability to diagnose vehicle faults logically, whilst demonstrating competence in using diagnostic equipment to interpret technical data.

For more information, contact James Slater on 020 7630 2134, email irtec@soe.org. uk or visit www.irtec.org.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

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6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

NEWS › BUSES

10

The number of contracts Sullivan Buses has been awarded

BRIEFLY Transport for London has claimed the axing of bendy buses will save £7m per year by reducing fare evasion. The final bendy bus journey is expected to be in December, when the conversion of the 12 routes using them is finished. Mayor Boris Johnson’s £7.8m ‘Borismaster’ replacement is expected to hit the streets next year. A prototype is due to be seen on London’s streets in December.

Non-executive chairman of Rotala plc, John Gunn, has sold £25,000 of the company’s convertible unsecured loan stock at a price of £1.01 per £1 nominal unit, it was announced last week.

The loan stock has a coupon of 8% per annum and is either repayable on December 31, 2014 or convertible to ordinary shares of the company at a rate of 45p per share at any time up to that date.

Mr Gunn has an interest, directly and indirectly, in £860,850 nominal units of loan stock following the sale, 21% of all loan stock currently in issue.

Reading Buses introduced £1 fare offers for adults and children as of October 9. The new £1 fare includes stops from West Berkshire to Calcot Retail Park, on either the yellow 26 bus or the jetblack. There is also a new £1 fare each way between any stop in Theale and Calcot Retail Park, and on route 33, between Turnham’s Farm and Tilehurst Triangle.

2.65%

The final pay offer made by Arriva to drivers in Wales for 2012 to 2013

£40m green light for Glasgow Fastlink Fastlink buses to feature smartcard technology with a view to Glasgow Subway integration The Scottish Government has approved a £40m provision of funding for a new high-frequency bus link along the north and south banks of the Clyde in Glasgow.

The Fastlink project, led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Glasgow City Council, aims to link the city centre with the Commonwealth Games area at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) and the new Southern General Hospital.

Fastlink-branded buses will feature smartcard technology with the intention of connecting with similar technology on the Glasgow Subway to bring seamless multimodal travel for passengers.

Other improvements will see real-time information screens installed at bus stops and number plate recognition CCTV brought in to deter drivers of other vehicles taking advantage of bus lanes.

Confirming the funding, Nicola Sturgeon, deputy first minister, said: “Fastlink will make a real difference to the quality of public transport links in the area as well as providing real economic development opportunities for the many communities along the route.

“It will also provide better access

Glasgow Fastlink will provide much better access to the healthcare services at the new South Glasgow Hospital Campus site, says deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon to the new South Glasgow Hospital, and offer another transport option for the Commonwealth Games.

“Having received the final business case from SPT and subject to continued reassurance on SPT’s work as it develops during the detailed planning and design of the project, our contribution gives the green light to this project.”

Welcoming the announcement, SPT chief executive, Gordon Maclellan, said: “We’re delighted.

SPT’s enhanced Fastlink business case, which was submitted to the government earlier this year, showed the new network would boost the public transport usage, cut congestion and improve bus journey times by up to 20%.

“We know we can make a real difference with simple measures, such as dedicated controlled bus corridors which will vastly improve access to the city centre. Direct links from existing bus and rail hubs to the new hospital and the SECC - a key Commonwealth Games site - will make public transport an attractive alternative to the car.

“This new ‘Fastlink Standard’ can also be mirrored across Strathclyde with other quality bus corridors running to neighbouring councils in Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.”

Planning permission was granted in 2006 and a high level feasibility study was completed for Fastlink Phases 1 and 2. Phase 1 would be Glasgow Central to the SECC, with Phase 2 extending beyond this to Glasgow Harbour.

SPT has provided grant aid to Glasgow City Council to carry out further detailed feasibility work.

Work has been focusing on two potential route options: To Renfrew, via the Southern General Hospital on the south side of the Clyde; To Clydebank, via Glasgow Harbour on the north.

A third option to examine the potential for a route to the east end serving the Commonwealth Games/Clyde Gateway urban regeneration area is now being given some consideration.

www.coachandbusweek.com

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11/10/2011 01:06

£4.5m

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7

SHARE WATCH

The amount by which Cornwall Council is subsiding around 60% of bus routes

Possible strike action at Arriva Buses Wales

Drivers are considering strike action over fears jobs could be lost at the Arriva Buses Wales’ Dolgellau depot in Gwynedd.

Union representatives told The Cambrian News there is a possibility of staff redundancies, with job losses initially thought to be 10, but now around three.

Arriva services may also be lost as it is claimed the firm does not plan to re-tender for services in Gwynedd. Drivers may strike in an argument over their level of pay.

Talks have been held in Llandudno, where representatives said drivers were unhappy with a final pay offer of 2.7% this year and 2.65% for 2012 to 2013.

Unite, which represents around 100 drivers and other staff at Aberystwyth and Dolgellau said they are unhappy about the final offer. Tony Brady, of Unite, said: “We’ll be balloting our members, but we are unhappy about the offer and hope it is rejected. We wanted a 12-month deal, not a two-year deal, and if they do reject this offer, we will then be balloting members.”

Cornwall Council to retender entire supported network Cornwall Council has said it has been left with “no alternative” but to retender the county’s entire supported bus network.

The council said a significant reduction in government funding has led to the authority having to make changes. Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transportation and highways, Graeme Hicks, explained: “We appreciate the importance of the bus network to people in Cornwall and already spend £4.5m subsiding around 60% of bus routes, mainly services to rural areas and weekend and

Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall said it is ultimately “down to Cornwall Council to decide” on its subsidy levels

Sullivan Buses awarded two routes in latest tenders Hertfordshire independent Sullivan Buses has won a further 10 vehicles worth of work as Transport for London (TfL) releases its latest tender results. The operator has acquired the 628/688 and 653/683 services from Arriva London North.

The routes are for four school services linking Southgate, Edgware and Finchley with the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kingsbury. Ten refurbished double deckers will be required to fulfil the contract.

Sullivan Buses MD Dean Sullivan, told CBW: “This is fantastic news, and evidence SMEs can compete in a highly competitive environment.

The news of this five year contract comes at time of great uncertainty

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The winning of 10 contracts is evidence SMEs can compete in a highly competitive environment, says Dean Sullivan within the bus industry. The award also comes hot on the heels of our recent five-bus tender success for route 298.”

Mr Sullivan explained he is “now commencing a search for a suitable batch of buses and a refurbishment facility which meets TfL standards.”

evening operation.

“We don’t want to reduce the level of reimbursement for the concessionary fares scheme, but the reduction in government funding leaves the council with no alternative.

“We have listened to the concerns of user groups, operators and councillors.”

A re-tendering exercise is to be held in November to procure a longterm supported bus network which is affordable to the council and is able to meet current transport needs as closely as possible.

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: “Longer contract periods will be offered, giving both bus operators and the Council the benefit of longer term financial planning,” and, he claimed, “bus users will benefit from increased stability to the new bus network.”

General secretary of Travel Watch South West, Gordon Edwards said changes were inevitable due to cuts. He said it was “realistic” to expect some services to cease operation.

Sheryl Murray, MP for South East Cornwall said it was ultimately “down to Cornwall Council to decide” on its subsidy levels.

He added: “We have been providing buses to JFS on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) for pupils from outside of London since the school opened in Kingsbury in 2002. Over the last nine years we have enjoyed good working relationship with the school. While the HCC services carry far fewer numbers than the TfL services, we are now working with the school to provide the routes commercially.”

Elsewhere Arriva London South has retained routes 197 and 289.

The former will be run with 14 existing double deckers, and the latter 10 new singles. London Sovereign has won Metroline’s route 605, which will be run using existing double deckers.

Route 621, currently operated by London Central, has been won by Stagecoach Selkent which will use one existing double decker.

All contracts will be run by conventional diesel vehicles and will start in September 2012.

Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, October 10. Siemens saw the highest proportional rise and 21ST Century the biggest proportional drop.

Figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

270.40p

Price: Year High: 574.37p Year Low: 257.70p

329.70p

Price: Year High: 416.90p Year Low: 305.36p

1384.5p

Price: Year High: 1540p Year Low: 1034.p

236.15p

Price: Year High: 272.10p Year Low: 212.70p

257.70p

Price: Year High: 257.70p Year Low: 158.30p

1.88p

Price: Year High: 6.75p Year Low: 1.62p

40.00p

Price: Year High: 43.50p Year Low: 24.90p

95.00p

Price: Year High: 99.57p Year Low: 66.86p

11.00p

Price: Year High: 16.60p Year Low: 5.75p

+10.40 on last week

+17.30 on last week

+72.50 on last week

+7.75 on last week

+14.40 on last week

+0.26 on last week

-0.50 on last week

+28.14 on last week

-0.62 on last week

FTSE 100

5399

Price: Year High: 6,105 Year Low: 4,790

+323 on last week

www.coachandbusweek.com

11/10/2011 01:06

8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

NEWS › COACHES

BRIEFLY Starting October 19, hard shoulder running will be in effect from 2200 to 0600hrs on a northbound section of the M3 at Junction 13 as loop cutting, inlay and road marking works take place. Moderate delays of between 10 and 30 minutes are expected.

The works are due to be completed

by October 25.

Works on the M5 at Junction 9 (Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire) will require a number of temporary measures to be put in place. There will be a temporary mandatory 50mph speed limit on the southbound entry slip road at J9, an overnight closure of the slip road and the restriction of vehicles over 3.3 metres in width to the nearside (left-hand) lane of the slip road.

There will also be lane closures and hard shoulder running during the works. These measures are safety precautions as contractors carry out planing and resurfacing works.

The work is expected to begin on October 24 and be completed by December 23.

A safety improvement scheme on the A21 in Kent and East Sussex began on October 10. Improvements will include replacing road markings and road studs along three sections of the carriageway and resurfacing two other sections of the road. The work will take place overnight from 2000 to 0600hrs Monday to Friday, and will be carried out in phases.

It is expected to be completed by December. The resurfacing work will be executed one carriageway at a time, with lane closures in place and temporary traffic lights in operation to allow traffic to flow past the works. A 40mph speed limit will be in place with road users escorted past the work site at 10mph.

Slight delays are anticipated overnight on the M18/M1 at J32 (Thurcroft, east of Sheffield) as barrier works are carried out. There will be various lane closures and hard shoulder running on the link road from the M1 southbound to the M18 northbound from October 10 to October 22, between 2000 and 0600hrs. www.coachandbusweek.com

News8-9.indd 8

Silver Star Coach Holidays goes into administration End of the road for proud Welsh family-run operator Caernarfon-based coach operator Silver Star Coach Holidays Limited has entered administration after 93 years of operation.

The family-run firm, which also trades under the Welsh name Seren Arian, was founded in 1918 and operated local bus services in the Caernarfon area from its Rhosgadfan garage.

The firm later began offering holiday trips to destinations within Britain and abroad. In November 2011, local bus services were sold to fellow Gwynedd indepdent Express Motors of Penygroes, with four vehicles and several staff moving to the company.

A heritage tour service, branded as Snowdonia and Menai Strait Vintage Coach Tours, was introduced in 2009 and utilised two 1950s vehicles.

Award-winning firm ceases trading after 93 years of operation

New coach park in time for Christmas in central Bristol A new coach park is to open near the Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol. The park is to host 13 parking bays and enough room for coaches to manoeuvre off-road. The park is due to open at the end of this month.

The coach park is being built by Bristol Alliance, developers of Cabot Circus. Kevin Duffy, director of Cabot Circus, said: “We are working with Bristol City Council and other city partners to create a new coach park area between Newfoundland Road and the Cabot Circus car park.

“Work has not yet started on site, but we hope that 13 new coach bays will be ready in time

for groups coming to the city for Christmas shopping. The new coach park is in an ideal location for those visiting Bristol for shopping and leisure, and the location at the end of the M32 should mean less congestion as vehicles will be taken off the road before they reach the city centre.”

Operations director at Destination Bristol, John Hirst said: “We are very excited that Cabot Circus is opening a new coach park in time for the Christmas shopping season.

“Group leisure tourism is very important to our industry and the new coach park will allow us to

Silver Star was named Best Coach Tour Operator at the Coach Tourism Awards in 2008. In the same year a new office in Wrexham was opened, though this was shut last year. At the Wrexham National Eisteddfod in August, Silver Star Holidays donated the festival chair.

The firm is part of aof the Bonded Coach Holiday (BCH) scheme, run by CPT, and is now working with the administrators to refund monies paid for package holidays that will no longer be run.

Elfyn Thomas,MD, said: “It is with deep regret I announce Silver Star is no longer able to trade. We have tried everything to salvage the business, but have unfortunately failed to withstand the effects of the recession and ever increasing fuel costs.

“Our main concern at this point is to reassure all our customers who have paid a deposit or the full amount for a coach holiday, which they will be fully refunded.”

Mr Thomas offered his thanks to the staff and customers who had been loyal over the years and for their support during “difficult times.” welcome more coaches to Bristol, increasing the economic impact of city tourism and retail business.

Our group travel clients and coach operators are very pleased that we will have the new coach park in time for Christmas.”

The park will be equipped with CCTV cameras which will be monitored around the clock, with overnight parking available free of charge. A booking system will not be implemented initially, though there are plans to introduce such a system should demand for the park increase over time.

Groups will be able to disembark at a drop-off point 300 metres from the coach park. It is hoped that the park will catalyse an economic boost for Bristol in the short-term, as the facility will be ready in time for Christmas.

10/10/2011 23:36

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9

“We shouldn’t forget why BSOG (or Fuel Duty Rebate as it was known then) was originally introduced in 1965 – to provide respite to customers against spiralling fares brought on by sudden spikes in fuel costs.”

Martin Dean

Open Platform p42

CPT to gauge 2012 demand for London coach parking

Mullany’s operates a fleet of over 45 vehicles

Kavanagh acquires Mullany’s Mullany’s Coaches (Watford) has announced J J Kavanagh & Sons Ltd of Urlingford, County Kilkenny in Ireland has purchased the entire share capital and assets of Mullany’s Coaches Limited.

Kevin Crawford, managing director of Mullany’s Coaches, said: “JJ Kavanagh which was established in 1919 and is in the hands of a third generation, has a moral and ethical business outlook towards staff and customers which mirrors our own. For all of our coach hire clients, bus passengers and engineering customers, it will quite simply be ‘business as usual.

We look forward to being part

of a larger group and continuing to grow our business by paying particular attention to both detail and customer’s requirements offering a first class travel solution using our fleet of over 100 Setra Coaches.”

J J Kavanagh & Sons Ltd is the largest independent coach and bus business in Ireland with over 140 vehicles. It has coaching interests across the UK and undertakes coach tours on behalf of many international clients such as Trafalgar Tours, Collette and Abbey Tours, both in the UK and across Europe. Mullany’s Coaches Ltd operates private hire coaches, local bus services and school bus services with a fleet of over 45 vehicles from a base in Watford which has been accredited as a designated premise by VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency).

Spiller & Powell Enterprises, which traded as coach operator Swindon Travel, has entered administration.

The announcement was made on October 4, with staff made redundant and customers left out of pocket.

Neil Vinnicombe and Simon Haskew of Begbies Traynor in Bristol and Bath have been appointed joint administrators.

Swindon Travel was founded in February 2002 and offered concert, theatre, comedy and sporting trips.

Mr Vinnicombe said: “The directors have been substantially financially supporting the firm and it was hoped a joint venture with

a local coach operator would save the business. Unfortunately the operator was unable to proceed.”

He added: “The directors have informed us that a small number of customers are abroad and have advised us the firm has paid for the holidays for people who have already travelled so their return travel arrangements should not be affected.”

The administrators are hopeful of being successful in their search for a buyer for the business. They will be writing to all creditors, including customers who have no received tickets, to provide some indication in the coming weeks.

The CPT is launching a survey on coach parking within London next year during the Olympic Games, and how this will affect those planning to operate ‘non-Olympic’ services within the city.

The body is working in conjunction with Transport for London to address any resultant shortfall of coach parking in central London. Demand for parking next year is naturally expected to be

Coach parking is expected to be at at even greater premium in 2012

as high as ever, if not higher, with additional traffic from tourists as well as non-Olympic visitors arriving in high numbers by coach.

Existing parking space for coaches is expected to be affected by the operation of the Olympic Route Network. The CPT is asking operators to take a small amount of time to respond to a ‘tick box’ survey, including those who have yet to finalise their 2012 operational plans.

The data provided will allow the CPT to make the appropriate provision for parking spaces. The survey closes on Friday, November 4, and operators are being asked to ensure that responses are completed before this date.

The survey can be accessed via https://consultations.tfl. gov.uk/coaches/2012

Swindon Travel in administration

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10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

NEWS

Lochs and Glens confirm Volvo upgrade Four new Volvo B13R, Jonckheere-bodied coaches join the fleet Volvo Bus has confirmed a major order with Scottish coach holiday specialists Lochs and Glens at last week’s Coach and Bus Live show, for the delivery of four new Volvo B13R, 14 metre-long tri-axle Jonckheere bodied coaches during 2012.

Based at Gartocharn in West Dunbartonshire, Lochs and Glens has purchased the vehicles as

10 Mellor Sprinters for London Hire

Mellor Coachcraft has won an order for 10 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters from London Hire.

Peter Moxom, account development manager at London Hire said: “With Mellor’s commitment to product development, we thought it was time to give them some business.

This is a strategic move for us, as we have favoured other builders previously, but the time comes when it’s right to change.”

Despite enduring a great deal of trepidation over the downturn of demand for minibuses from the local authority sector, Mellor has continued to invest in achieving Type Approval compliance and developing new models in order to be well-positioned when money does become available to purchase new vehicles.

The ongoing investment will continue until Mellor has full Type Approval compliance on everything it builds.

The latest in the line-up to gain type approval is the new Fiat Ducato single-step entry lowfloor development which was created in partnership with Al-Ko and subsequently underwent a ‘whole life endurance test’ which was carried out and certified by an independent test house.

The results of the testing can be viewed on www. wholelifetest.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

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part of an overall upgrading of its all Volvo fleet of 16 coaches. This latest order follows on from the successful delivery of a Volvo B13R coach earlier in the year.

The company’s four new 57 seater vehicles are all specified with Volvo’s fuel efficient, Euro 5 standard, 13-litre diesel engine, rated at 460hp and coupled to the Volvo I-Shift gearbox.

The high specification coaches also feature CCTV, CD & DVD capabilities, an on-board toilet, three point safety belts and a

servery area.

Lochs and Glens’ new coaches will be used across its extensive tour programme and in conjunction with its six luxury hotels situated in a variety of idyllic locations around Scotland.

Established in 1979, the familyowned firm runs coach tours to its self-operated hotels along with self-drive packages.

Announcing the order, regional sales manager at Volvo Bus Duncan Crosby said: “Lochs and Glens, transport manager, Norman

Groeneveld’s Oilmaster will now be standard on all Arriva UK buses. A Mini Pointer Dart is seen at Blaenau Ffestiniog on route X84 to Llandudno

Arriva adds Groeneveld Oilmaster to all UK buses Arriva UK has decided to include the Groeneveld Oilmaster product within the standard Arriva UK chassis specification for all UK operating buses.

The decision follows the end of a trial period carried out by Groeneveld UK and Arriva PLC which began in early 2010 and ended near the start of this year.

It was carried out through Kevin O’Leary, engineering director mainland Europe, and John Greaves, engineering director North East, using five vehicles from Arriva’s fleet based in north east England.

The trials aimed to assess the

impact of introducing a more effective system for engine oil level monitoring and replenishment.

The vehicles were monitored on both oil levels within the engine and oil used to ‘top up’ the vehicles to retain optimum oil level when compared to the rest of the fleet.

The system aimed to highlight the savings made when the optimum oil level was maintained instead of the maximum level on the dipstick during operations, avoiding unnecessary top ups.

Ian Tarran, engineering director for Arriva UK Bus, said: “Having seen our system in operation for ourselves we are now confident that it works very well within our organisation.

“Keeping our engines topped up to the optimum level will save us oil and time, helping reduce waste through overfilling. This should reduce the impact we have on the environment.”

Chinnock was delighted with the new B13R, 14 metre tri-axle coach he purchased earlier this year and following on from that success, we have been able to conclude the order for an additional four vehicles for delivery in 2012, which is absolutely fabulous.

“Lochs and Glens has built up a tremendous holiday business based upon extremely high standards and we are delighted that our Volvo coaches can support their continuing growth and development.”

Southwold traders say coach ban irresponsible

A trial ban on coaches which is being carried out in the village of Southwold in Suffolk is having a negative impact on local business, according to traders.

In July, the village began the ban on coaches travelling up a section of the High Street, in an attempt to ease congestion. The trial is expected to last for 18 months, though some local businesses are reporting a drop in footfall into their shops.

Many businesses suggest the decline is a result of the ban, since the footfall reduction coincided with the start of the trial.

The new set-down location for coaches is a considerable distance from the High Street, and since the majority of visitors to Southwold travelling by coach are of the older demographic, many elderly visitors do not have the time to walk to and from the shops before the coach is due to leave again. As a result, local traders are losing potential customers.

John Alan Windell, mayor of Southwold, has defended the scheme, saying the High Street suffered from gridlock during holiday periods, and something had to be done to combat this issue.

Cllr Windell added a full consultation with local businesses was carried out prior to the ban, and many locals were satisfied with the positive effect on traffic flow.

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Retractable Barrier System

I I I I I

Prevent accidents with high visibility pit barriers 9m retractable tape Available with bespoke free standing posts or wall mounted brackets (will also fit onto standard traffic cones) Available in a choice of red/white and yellow/black chevrons Robust design

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

NEWS

Grand UK goes Elite New luxury Gold brand for Grand UK in 2012 Norwich-based tour operator Grand UK Holidays is to segment its product range with the launch a new coach brand to cater for growing demand for luxury escorted tours in 2012.

The service will be named Grand UK Gold and will offer luxury Plaxton Elite coaches in a stylish livery, accommodation in top hotels and special extras such as a welcome reception and commemorative photograph.

The specification of the ‘Gold’ coaches includes reclining leather seats, extra legroom and individual air-conditioning. Passengers can track the progress of their tour using the onboard satellite navigation system and will also have access to a library.

Parent firm of Grand UK, the UK Holiday Group, has purchased many of the new ‘Gold’ coaches.

Asked by CBW about the numbers concerned, operations director Neal Fletcher replied: “The

fleet size will obviously depend on how popular this concept is, but at the moment it is selling very well, so we expect to continue to order this type of vehicle as we head into 2012.”

Harold Burke, sales director at Grand UK, said: “We are excited by this fresh concept, which will usher in a new era of first-class tours.

“We have seen increased

bookings over recent years for tours which feature upmarket accommodation so we are confident this new brand will cater for that growing demand – and attract new customers who may not have considered a coach holiday before.”

Twenty ‘Gold’ tours are featured in the 2012 brochure, including the UK, Ireland and the Continent.

Premium brand will use dedicated Plaxton Elites

Routemaster convoy assembles for WorldSkills London 2011 The largest known convey of London’s iconic Routemaster buses assembled at ExCeL London last week in readiness for WorldSkills London 2011 (October 5-8).

The collection of approximately 50 buses appeared in front of hundreds of international delegates, who boarded 27 buses to take a tour of London’s famous sites, such as the London Eye, St Paul’s, Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park.

The one-off convoy also marked the 50th anniversary of the production of the RML Routemaster, the high capacity version designed for the major central London routes.

“The Routemaster is a true icon of London,” London mayor Boris www.coachandbusweek.com

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Approximately 50 RMLs gathered at ExCeL London last week Johnson said. “They are recognised all over the world and it is fantastic to see them celebrated on their 50th birthday; but also a reminder that it’s time for London to move into the future. That’s why I am looking to preserve their wonderful hop on and hop off heritage by creating a new bus for London that will be just as iconic, but also cleaner, greener and fit for the 21st century and beyond.”

Travel Places and London Heritage Travel sourced

Routemasters from operators which included Ensign Bus, Routemaster for Hire, ThisBus.com, RedRoute Buses, Gwyn’s Big Red Bus, Go Coach Hire, CMB Vehicle Services, and tour guides from Blue Badge Tour Guides.

Almost a thousand competitors from over 50 countries/regions competed to excel over 46 skills sectors including landscape gardening, mobile robotics, floristry, fashion technology, web design, cooking and car painting.

Linda Moss receiving her ‘Ultimate Knight of the Road’ award from Colin Newbury, head of operations

Arriva Yorkshire holds annual MAD awards Arriva Yorkshire celebrated its annual Made a Difference (MAD) Awards recently at Elland Road stadium, Leeds.

The ceremony honoured employees who have made a difference to the business, their colleagues and passengers.

Nigel Featham, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, said: “We were overwhelmed with the record number of entries that we had this year, and what makes these awards special is that all nominations are made by colleagues. We are proud of everyone who was nominated, shortlisted and of course of those that won.”

The mayor of the City of Wakefield, cllr. Ros Lund, was in attendance and she presented Kevin Mitchell, a representative for Help for Heroes, with a cheque for £3,100. This was raised by a group of employees who walked the 254 bus route covering a total of 27 miles in September.

A raffle held on the night also raised over £1,000 for Help for Heroes.

Among the winners were: n Employee of the year Alan Wood, Wakefield depot; n Work Colleague of the year John Grayson, Heckmondwike depot; n Engineer of the year shared

by Kevin Pyne and Robin Hutton, Heckmondwike depot; n Team of the year was awarded to the Dewsbury depot; n Rita Kendrick won the lifetime achievement award.

More on the winners can be found at www.arrivabus. co.uk/content.aspx?id=7596

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NEWS › INTERNATIONAL

New CEO for Proterra announced at APTA David Bennet brings wealth of experience to the manufacturer USA Proterra, the US-based builder of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, announced at last week’s 2011 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) EXPO it has appointed David Bennett as chief executive officer.

“The APTA show is a wonderful place to showcase our EcoRide bus, the battery electric bus which can charge in under 10 minutes,” said Bennett. “Zero-emission transit solutions, like EcoRide, are receiving more and more attention as transit agencies across the country look for ways to lower operating costs. Proterra is poised to deliver unprecedented efficiency in the commercial transit arena, and I am thrilled to take leadership at a time like this.”

Bennett brings significant experience in the power unit and vehicle industry, serving most recently as vice president of business development for the industrial sector for Eaton. He also spent time in other operational and corporate managerial roles with Honeywell and General Electric.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and an MBA from Drexel University.

Proterra’s EcoRide battery electric bus can charge in under 10 minutes, replacing conventional diesel buses on a one-for-one basis operating 24/7. When compared to traditional diesel buses used

Bus driver murders passengers

INDIA The driver of a private bus in Rajasthan allegedly mowed down 20 passengers, killing seven of them, including a five-year-old girl – according to a report in the Hindustan Times. Most of the passengers were travelling from Agra and the incident is said to have occurred after a tiff over money.

12 other passengers were injured www.coachandbusweek.com

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throughout the country, the EcoRide consistently performs with 600% better fuel efficiency – averaging more than 21 MPGe – when fully loaded with 64 passengers.

Proterra has recently signed an agreement with StarMetro in Tallahassee, Florida, to deliver three EcoRides and a charging station.

The contract stems from a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant received by StarMetro to pursue fast-charge, electric transit buses and charging stations.

“StarMetro realises that the future of the commercial transit industry lies in zero-emission solutions, and they are on the leading edge by taking steps to future-proof their fleet,” said David Bennett.

Six other major urban transit authorities received similar FTA grants. Foothill Transit in Pomona, California is already operating three EcoRide buses and VIA San

Antonio Transit will be deploying its EcoRide buses later this year.

The four other authorities issuing requests for proposal are Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in Reno, Nevada, King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington, Chicago Transit Authority and Fresno Area Express in Fresno, California.

In addition to its unmatched energy efficiency and overall cost savings, Proterra’s clean transit solutions offer California transit authorities a way to address the Zero Emission Bus (Zbus) rule, which requires large California agencies to purchase 15% of their annual bus orders as zero-emission buses starting in 2012.

Proterra will manufacture the new orders at its current assembly line plant in Greenville, Southern Carolina.

Proterra and StarMetro plan to have the buses in service by the spring of 2012.

Proterra specialises in commercial vehicles running on clean domestic fuels in the incident which took place at Hathi Ghata in Karauli district.

Police said around 60 passengers from Agra arrived at the Hindaun railway station at 0300 hrs to offer prayers at the Keladevi temple, 50 km away.

Raju Sharma, 26, the driver, offered to drop them at the temple at R40 per person and the passengers paid the fare. But when the bus reached Hathi Ghata, Sharma stopped at a fuel pump and asked for more money to buy diesel.

This enraged the passengers, who then allegedly beat him up

and continued on foot. They also allegedly pelted the bus with stones.

Karauli’s Police superintendant, Om Prakash said: “When the passengers were leaving the spot, Sharma suddenly drove the vehicle into them. Six were killed on the spot and one died on the way to a hospital in Jaipur.”

Sharma fled after the incident, but was arrested later.

“A case of murder has been registered against the driver,” Prakash said. “We are awaiting medical reports to ascertain whether he was drunk at the time of the incident.”

Hybricon wins Future Transport Award SWEDEN Hybricon of Umeå, Sweden has won the Future Transport Award in the Public Transport category at the Elmia Future Transport Fair. The award highlights good examples and role models who have developed effective, environmentally sound and economically viable solutions for passenger and freight transport.

One of Hybricon’s developments is the Arctic Whisper – a diesel hybrid urban bus capable of utilising grid electricity. It is cliamed to be the world’s first fast-charged hybrid bus. It combines the noemission benefits of an electric bus with the reliability of a diesel bus.

The bus utilises a charging station, known as the ‘bůsbaar’, at one end of an Umeå bus route. Upon completing the route, the driver of the vehicle pulls up underneath the bůsbaar, and tram-like pantographs on the roof of the bus rise to contact the charging point. Once the batteries are charged the driver is able to continue the route.

The station fast-charges the bus for several minutes at the end of every trip, meaning the all-electric range of the e-Traction hybrid bus can be increased to 18 hours. Since the Arctic Whisper is a serial hybrid bus with a backup diesel generator, the vehicle is able to continue running on diesel in the event of traffic congestion, exceptionally cold weather or brown-outs.

Batteries in the Arctic Whisper are fully charged at night, with the bůsbaar providing additional electricity so the bus can complete a full day of electric driving. The bůsbaar is provided by Opbrid SL. The Arctic Whisper is the result of collaboration between Hybricon AB, Opbrid SL (Granada, Spain), e-Traction BV (Apeldoorn, Holland), Umeå Energi AB and the Umeå City Corporation.

The vehicle is currently undergoing testing in Umeå, and initial test results are reported to be very promising. These will be presented at the European Electric Vehicle Conference in Brussels on October 27. An initial revenueearning passenger service is due to start operating soon.

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NEWS › REGIONAL

SCOTLAND

First has introduced changes to its Lanarkshire area network affecting services including the 226 from Hillhouse to Fairhill, the 255 from Newarthill to Hamilton and 267 from Hamilton Bus Station to Glasgow.

A spokesman for First said: “We are always looking to improve the reliability of our services, particularly on the core sections of a route. This is why we have made changes to our services in Lanarkshire including new Sunday services to Shotts and on our popular X11 service.”

A new 243 service will replace the 240 to Lanark and Carluke, with buses extending from Motherwell Town Centre to terminate at Hamilton Bus Station First Bus is also aiming to improve the reliability of its route 255. A 30-minute service will be run between Newarthill and Hamilton, which will be upgraded with low floor buses.

As a result of delays in Hamilton, route 263 will now operate directly from Burnbank to Hamilton Town Centre via Douglas Street and Union Street, instead of via Almada Street and Palace Grounds Retail Park.

Alterations will also be made to service 267, with buses operating every 15 minutes from Shottss and every 15 minutes from West Crindledyke, as well as buses every seven or eight minutes between Newmains Cross and Hamilton Bus Station via Wishaw.

Buses between Hamilton and Glasgow will operate every 10 minutes or less during the day via the existing 267 route between Hamilton and Glasgow.

MIDLANDS

The new Premiere ‘Number Two’ bus service which goes through Eastwood, Brinsley and Selston and onto Hucknall tram stop and Hucknall railway station has been dubbed a ‘huge success’ after attaining more than treble the expected number of passengers in a week.

The service, managed by Nottinghamshire County Council and run by Premier Travel, was boarded by more than 1,200 passengers. It was established at the beginning of July to broaden work and college opportunities for teenagers, with passenger numbers recorded two weeks ago.

Three councillors campaigned for the money to fund the new service www.coachandbusweek.com

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for the design, preparation and submission of the formal planning application in January.

KEY

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

after receiving complaints from residents experiencing transport difficulties. After carrying out a survey which confirmed people’s concerns, they secured £330,000 from the European Regional Development Fund.

The hourly service runs Monday to Saturday from 0600 to 2100hrs, and at peak times increases to half hourly. Funding will last three years, by which time the service is expected to be commercially viable. It will also be reviewed in the coming few weeks to see if the route can be improved.

Cllr Sam Wilson said the council and operator were ‘absolutely ecstatic’ at the public’s response so far. “Premiere are very pleased by it so far. They said it usually takes up to a year for it to get fully into the swing of things, so it’s very promising.

“They also thought youngsters needed to get to the tram stop, railway station and Sherwood Business Park to be able to access businesses, colleges and key areas such as Nottingham city centre.”

Construction of a new bus station in Northampton could begin as soon as summer 2012.

The news follows a decision in September that the Fishmarket on Sheep Street in the town had been selected as the favoured location of the new station (CBW 1004).

The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WDNC) is expected to spend £8m on the

EAST

plans. The body is planning to use half the funding for construction of the new bus station, according to the Northampton Chronicle.

Cllr Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and a member of the WDNC board said: “The design work for the new bus station is going ahead now and the pace on the whole project is really picking up. It’s fantastic things are going so well, especially given the current economic climate.”

Northampton town centre’s current bus station, Greyfriars, is to be closed to make way for an extension of the Grosvenor shopping centre. A planning application for the new bus station is expected to be submitted in December. The Borough Council has said the new station will have a travel centre, real-time information displays and a covered waiting area.

A council cabinet meeting is being held this week to confirm the use of the Fishmarket as the location of the new bus station.

“One of the main benefits of this site is its central location, which would bring bus passengers right into the heart of the town and give them easy access to shops, the Market Square and facilities including the Guildhall, County Hall, the Royal & Derngate and Castle Station,” the Borough Council explained in a news release.

Northamptonshire County Council will take lead responsibility

Buses from First and Network Colchester have been through ‘rehearsals’ at Weston Homes Community Stadium car park, marked out to the dimensions of a proposed bus terminus at Colchester’s Stanwell Street site, to see if such a terminus would be viable.

Both Essex County Council and Colchester Council are looking for a replacement for the temporary station. It is due to be turfed over at the end of 2012 to form part of landscaping around the new Firstsite arts centre.

Lyn Barton, Colchester councillor responsible for renaissance said: “Tests were conducted with bus operators to help inform discussions with planners. This is a positive move towards the next phase of providing this new facility.”

The first phase of the project will be funded by the Haven Gateway Project, and will see changes introduced to allow more buses to use Stanwell Street.

Plans for a waiting room with a café, toilets and information boards, are likely to follow later.

Tracey Chapman, Essex councillor for highways and transportation, said: “The exercise aimed to give both councils the chance to test what design options can be considered for the new bus interchange.

“The scheme for the interchange is still in its very early stages. No official designs have been drawn up or layouts confirmed.”

A Stagecoach East bus on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway crushed a bike after its rider, cycling along the track wearing earphones, leapt to safety.

Although nobody was injured in the crash, it forced the closure of the route for two-and-a-half hours and prompted warnings about the dangers of trespassing on the route.

In July, before the Busway was opened to the public, a cyclist was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle on a trial run between Histon and Oakington.

Andy Campbell, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “A cyclist thought it was all right to travel down the busway even though buses are up and down there every 10 minutes travelling at 56mph. The driver approached and

10/10/2011 23:37

blew his horn to warn the rider but he had earphones in.

“As the bus got close he jumped off his bike and left the bike on the track. The bus ran over it, causing a fault with the bus and meaning we had to divert passengers back on the other side of the track and travel down the A14.”

Mr Campbell could not understand why cyclists put themselves at risk.

He said: “To do it with earphones in so you can’t hear buses approaching is ridiculous. You wouldn’t cycle down the centre lane of the M1.”

Mr Campbell said it was “not unusual” to find cyclists on the busway, and his drivers were “often verbally abused” when they asked riders to get out of the way.

A county council spokesman said: “Recovery operations swung smoothly into action on Saturday and buses were running again within an hour on the busway.

“As planned buses were able to bypass the section of the busway

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

Coach & Bus Week takes a look at the big issues where you live in our round-up of the regions. If you’ve got a local issue you would like us to cover, contact Gareth Evans at gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

while the vehicle was recovered and therefore meant services could continue.

“We would remind cyclists to use the cycleway and not the guideway.”

2011

SOUTH EAST

Yellow Buses is set to launch a new service linking Wimborne with Bournemouth from October 23.

Route 4d will operate Monday to Saturday with a daytime hourly service. It will follow a route which includes Wimborne Square, Merley, Canford Park Arena, Bearwood, Bear Cross, Kinson, Moordown, Winton, Bournemouth railway station and Bournemouth Square.

Jenni Wilkinson, head of marketing, described the new service as a “natural business progression” for the firm.

She added: “We’ve significantly increased our presence in East Dorset during recent years, notably with the 4c linking Bournemouth with Ferndown, Tricketts Cross and West Moors.”

n October 16 Bus & Classic Vehicle Rally. Oxford Bus Museum, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxfordshire. www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk n Oct 18-21 Course on Bus and Crew Scheduling. Birmingham. courses@qv-associates.com. Call QV Associates on 01905 613527. n October 20 2011 Trapeze UK User Conference. Radisson Hotel, Manchester Airport. 0844 561 6771. www.trapezegroup.co.uk n October 21-26 Busworld.

Kortrijk, Belgium. www.busworld.org n October 23 The Very Best of London Buses. The first event at the new London Bus Museum (Cobham) at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey. www.lbpt.org

working in service.The British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland. http://www. leylandnationalgroup.co.uk n April 19, 2012 UK Coach Awards. Ramada Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, 0870 900 1450. www.ukcoachawards.co.uk

n November 6 Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum Open Day. Running day with stalls and opportunity to see workhops. 01522 500566. http://www.lvvs.org.uk/

n April 19-21 Busworld Turkey.

Istanbul Expo Center, Turkey. www.busworldturkey.com/en/ index.html

n November 7-10 World Travel Market. ExCeL, London. www.wtmlondon.com

n April 21-22 UK Coach Rally.

East of England Showground, Peterborough. 01753 631170. www.coachdisplays.co.uk

n November 22 SMMT Annual Dinner. Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London. 0808 1788818. annualdinner@smmt.co.uk n November 24 ATCO Winter Conference 2011 ‘Can a leopard change its spots?’ Local Government Association House, Smith Square, London SW1. www. atco.org.uk n November 29 UK Bus Awards.

Hilton Park Lane, London. www.ukbusawards.org.uk

Thames Travel is securing the future of route 32, which links Abingdon, Didcot, Harwell and Wantage by running the service on a commercial basis. ” Max McCarthy, general manager of Go-Ahead Group-owned Thames Travel said: “We want to encourage more people to use buses. By running the route commercially, we have taken its future away from the debate about public finances and secured the service for its existing and, hopefully, additional future customers. In fact, the new timetable will have more journeys and improved facilities, which we have included after listening to our customers.”

Rodney Rose, member for transport for Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet, welcomed the news, saying it was “great news for bus users and helps us to achieve value for money for taxpayers.”

He explained: “Oxfordshire is well served by bus services compared to other areas, with many commercially operated routes as a result of strong customer demand. When bus routes become commercially viable it enables savings to be made without any reduction in services.”

Thames Travel has also won the evening and Sunday contract for the 32B/C service linking Didcot to Abingdon, the 32A Sunday-only service linking Grove/ Wantage to Didcot along with the express bus service 36 between Wantage, Grove, Milton Park and Didcot.

Among the vehicles on display at this year’s Busworld Kortrijk will be Mercedes-Benz’ new Citaro.

The event takes place in Belgium between October 21 and 26

2012 n January 26, 2011 CPT Annual Dinner. Hilton Park Lane, London. www.cpt-uk.org 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

n April 24-26 CV Show. NEC, Birmingham. 01634 261262. www.cvshow.com n May 22-23 ALBUM Conference.

– Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire. www.album-bus.co.uk n August 27 The National Association of Road Transport Museums gala day. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.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 2012 Euro Bus Expo. NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com

2013 n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition. Palexpo, Geneva. www.uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 6100.

Do you have an event to promote? Send details to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

RegionalNews.indd 17

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18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

NEWS › TOURISM

£2.1m

Cost of Lincoln’s new Heritage Skills Centre in the castle grounds

BRIEFLY The Museum of the Great War in Meaux will open on November 11, and will host 50,000 artefacts from the conflict, including armoury, uniforms and souvenirs from soldiers. The project has been in development since 2005, and the museum will be placed at the foot of the American monument commemorating the Battles of the Marne of 1914 and 1918. A special exhibition, dedicated to the “doughboys,” will be present.

A theatre, café, bookstore and resource centre containing over 6,000 documents will all be contained within the museum.

For more information, visit www. museedelagrandeguerre.eu Winchester’s Christmas Market is recognised as one of the best in Europe. The market is renowned for its high quality exhibitors and unique location by the stunning cathedral.

The 2011 market will be running for 28 days, from November 24 to December 21, from 1000 to 1800hrs, Sunday to Wednesday and 1000 to 1930hrs Thursday to Saturday. Over 350,000 visitors frequent the market annually, which is situated in the Inner Close of the cathedral grounds. The market is free to attend, though visitors will find it difficult to leave the market empty handed as a host of British craftspeople will be selling their exceptional wares.

For more information, visit http:// winchester-cathedral.org.uk/ christmas/christmas-market/ The Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership has launched its new website. The new look features bold colours and imagery, reflecting the region’s fantastic offerings. The website appears to be a success, as unique hits have risen by 20% in the past year to 130,000 following a campaign promoting towns and villages within Devon. Chairman of Heart of Devon, Derek Philips, said: “We are very excited about the launch of the new website. A big improvement is that the new website has the facility to take online bookings for accommodation.” For details, call 01392 265209, email info@ heartofdevon.com or visit the new website at www.heartofdevon.com

Successful Lincoln heritage event to return in 2012 Organisers look to build on this year’s success A heritage crafts festival is to be held in Lincoln next year, and after its spectacular launch event proved to be a big success, 2012 promises to be an even bigger one.

The first-of-its-kind event, named ‘1000 Years of Traditional Crafts’, was held in May 2011 in the heart of historic Lincoln, and combined two of the city’s top attractions for a one-day festival, featuring heritage skills and crafts from across Europe and the UK. Organisers have announced the event is to return next year, albeit extended over two days, over the weekend of September 29 and 30.

The festival should also herald the completion of Lincoln’s brand new Heritage Skills Centre which will be built over the next year in the grounds of Lincoln Castle.

The new centre, costing £2.1 million, will be the first new building inside the Norman-era

castle for 150 years and will provide training workshops for new recruits to learn bygone trades.

It will also offer the chance for the public to view skilled craftsmen at work, becoming an excellent visitor attraction in the process.

Mary Powell, head of tourism for

An array of crafts displays by professionals, including stained glass painting, feature at the festival

Blenheim Palace hosts ‘A White Christmas’ Blenheim Palace welcomes all for the festive season as it hosts ‘A White Christmas’. From November 12 to December 16 (Wednesday to Sunday inclusive) the Palace will be decorated with icicles, snowflakes and silver white birches.

On November 13 families can

join in the tradition of stirring the Christmas pudding and making a wish. ‘Stir-up Sunday’ will take place in the Indian Room. Blenheim Palace’s cook will give live demonstrations on how to make a traditional pudding.

November 26 and 27 will see the

’Britain’s greatest palace’ gets festive with beautiful Christmas decorations

Lincolnshire County Council said: “We were thrilled with not only how many visitors turned up, but also how well received this year’s event was by heritage craftspeople from far and wide.

“We’re very pleased to not only hold the event again in 2012, but expand it to a two-day weekend celebration.”

For group tours, Lincoln city coach parking is available at Stagecoach Lincolnshire garage at Great Northern Terrace, which has full facilities. Parking will also be available at Tentercroft Street and the city bus station, plus designated coach drop-off and pick-up points across the city.

For more details about coach facilities in Lincoln, see http://bit.ly/qBLfEq n For additional details about the festival, visit www. visitlincolnshire.com/ events/1000-years-of-traditionalcrafts-2012-p477161 Ice King and Snow Queen ‘living statues’ come to life in the Great Hall, and families will be able to visit Santa’s Grotto for the first time on December 3, 4, 10 and 11.

For the festive season, the gift shops will feature a collection of decorations inspired by ‘A White Christmas’ along with traditional Christmas foods, hampers, wines and champagnes. The Gift Shop is open daily from 1000 to 1730hrs up to December 23, reopening from 1100hrs on Boxing Day. Group rates apply to parties of 15 or more. Palace, park and gardens tickets are £10.75 for adults, £9.60 for concessions and £6.20 for children. Tour leaders/guides and coach drivers are admitted free and refreshments to the value of £5 are available in the Water Terrace Café.

Free coach parking is located by the entrance to the Palace and Gardens.

Group visits must be booked in advance.

Contact the groups coordinator by email n: operations@blenheimpalace. com or phoning 01993 811091

www.coachandbusweek.com

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11/10/2011 01:13

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19

1785 7 Year Attingham Park was built by the 1st Lord Berwick

Number of National Trust locations in Scotland hosting new Christmas menus

Attingham’s themed tour

Attingham Park in Shrewsbury, Shropshire is hosting a themed tour called ‘A Story of Love and Neglect’ throughout November. A story is waiting to be heard at the grand Georgian mansion where the changing fortunes of eight generations of the Berwick family shaped the history of the house.

Find out more about the spenders, savers and saviours, each responsible in their own way for the revival and rediscovery of one of the Shropshire country house.

Attingham Hall was built for the first Lord Berwick in 1785 and was owned by his family for over 160 years. The dining room provides an excellent atmosphere for an evening banquet, and the delicate decorative scheme in the Boudoir has been recently revealed for visitors to view.

Special rates are available for groups of between 15 and 60. Three coach parking bays are available 25 yards from the shop and reception and 300 yards from the mansion.

An on-board coach welcome and introductory talk form part of the tour. .

Call Angie Baxter, property administrator, on 01743 708170 or email attingham@ nationaltrust.org.uk

MATT CARDY

DEALS OF THE WEEK The West End show ‘Wicked’ is still going strong after five successful years at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and the show is now taking bookings until October 27, 2012. Wicked is a reimagination of the Land of Oz created by L. Frank Baum, and is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The show tells the intriguing story of an unlikely friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students: the blonde and very popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Following an encounter with The Wizard, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths.

DIESEL PRICES

The spa’s open-air rooftop pool has excellent views and welcoming waters

Thermae Bath Spa prime relaxation for small groups Thermae Bath Spa offers a group rate on Mondays to Thursdays.

The spa houses two separate baths, the New Royal Bath and the historic Cross bath. A 10% group discount is available for groups of eight - 15 on spa session bookings in the New Royal Bath. The Cross Bath can be booked for the exclusive use of a group as large as 12, at a cost of £150.

The New Royal Bath is a fusion of glass, stone, light and water, creating a unique environment where a 2, 4 hour or full-day spa session can be enjoyed.

The bath features an open-air rooftop pool with views of the

Their adventures in the Land of Oz will lead to them fulfilling their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has received widespread acclaim, with BBC News calling it “a major hit with audiences and critics alike,” and the Evening Standard describing it as “a remarkable kaleidoscope of magical shocks, surprises and sensations.”

Group rates are now on offer for selected performances, with partiess of 10 plus saving almost 50% at most performances, while the group organiser gains free entry.

The showings are Monday to Friday at 1930, Wednesdays at 1430 and Saturdays at 1430hrs. Extra matinees are also now on sale and group rates apply. These are on December 22, February 16, 2012 and July 26 next year, all at 1430hrs. n For more information and to make a booking, contact Ambassador Groups on 0844 871 7644.

surrounding city and hills, and steam rooms infused with oils such as eucalyptus or frankincense.

The Minerva Bath uses a massage jet, whirlpool and gentle currents in combination with the building’s flowing architecture to provide an invigorating experience.

The standalone Cross Bath provides an intimate setting framed

by Georgian architecture. A visit can be made complete with a buffet or champagne reception.

Visit www.thermaebathspa. com/treatments/offers/ or call 0844 888 0844 for more information about the spa

Crathes Castle is one of seven sites hosting the menu An exquisite range of locally inspired, mouthwatering lunch menus can now be enjoyed at seven venues in Scotland.

Groups are welcome to sample the menu at the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Threave Garden, Brodie Castle, Crathes Castle, Culzean Castle and Pollok House.

The National Trust for Scotland is a leading conservation charity.

Relying on the support of its membership to fund its important

Cost per litre in pence: Great Britain Sweden Greece Italy France Ireland Czech Republic Germany Netherlands Hungary Austria Portugal Belgium Spain Slovenia Poland Luxembourg

139.90 133.74 133.44 129.84 126.76 126.23 126.18 121.66 120.61 118.46 117.00 116.56 116.39 113.40 108.83 106.37 103.29

HOLIDAY POUND £1 will get you: Euro Switzerland (Franc) Norway (Kroner) Hungary (Forint) Czech Republic (Koruna) Poland (Zloty)

1.15 1.42 8.91 335.69 28.30 4.94

work, it cares for the cultural and natural heritage of Scotland for all to experience and enjoy.

Head of catering at the National Trust for Scotland, Pietro Cecchini, said: “Our teams have worked hard to produce innovative, local, festive dishes that everyone will enjoy.

With prices from only £10.95 for 2 courses (including tea/coffee) we are also offering outstanding value for money – tingle your taste buds this Christmas!”

Offerings including Ayrshire pork loin with chestnut and apricot stuffing, apple and brand cream, and Threave’s Castle Douglas nut roast with ginger wine and cranberry jus are waiting to be enjoyed against some of the finest historic backdrops in Scotland. n Menus are available online at www.nts.org.uk/NewsStory/1506/.

For enquiries email the National Trust for Scotland at traveltrade@nts. org.uk, telephone 0844 493 2104. www.coachandbusweek.com

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11/10/2011 01:14

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

5,000

NEWS › BUSINESS

Number of unfair dismissal claims which succeed at tribunals each year

BRIEFLY David Cameron has urged Britain to shun “can’t-do sogginess” and instead lead itself from recession by tapping into Britain’s indomitable bulldog spirit. Speaking on the day new official figures showed Britain’s economy had flatlined over the past nine months, he sought to lift the country’s mood by saying: “Let’s show the world some fight”, adding: “We can turn this ship around.” Closing the Conservative conference in Manchester, the prime minister said: “Frankly there’s too much can’t-do sogginess around. We need a sharp, focused, can-do country which would form the basis of a new economy built on fairness.”

The Government’s policies to kick-start growth and incentivise job creation are too timid and out of touch with the reality of the UK’s sluggish economy, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said. The FSB is calling on the Government to extend existing schemes to help small businesses take on staff and to adopt targeted measures to boost growth. This includes extending the National Insurance Contributions holiday to existing businesses with three members of staff which take on up to four and cutting VAT to five percent in the tourism and construction sectors for one year. The FSB is also calling on the Government to help small businesses employ more apprentices and interns by slashing bureaucracy and re-introducing the Graduate Internship Scheme.

The pace of growth in the UK financial services sector continued to slow in the three months to September, according to the latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey. Of the 84 financial services firms surveyed, 33% saw business volumes rise in the quarter to September, and 24% reported a fall. 34% of firms reported a rise in profitability and 18% a fall, giving a balance of +16%, compared with +13% in June. However, firms expect the growth to slacken in the coming quarter, with business volumes expected to ease (+5%) and profitability to flatten out (-4%). www.coachandbusweek.com

BusinessNews.indd 20

Bank of England governor fears crisis is ‘worst ever’ Sir Mervyn King gives £75bn quantative easing the go-ahead Bank of England governor Mervyn King has said this financial crisis could be the worst the UK has ever seen.

His comments came after the Bank authorised the injection of a further £75bn into the economy through quantitative easing (QE).

“This is the most serious financial crisis we’ve seen at least since the 1930s, if not ever,” he said.

Despite criticising the use of QE in the past, Chancellor George Osborne said it was now the right move to make. The Bank has already pumped £200bn into the economy, under the previous Labour government.

Mr Osborne also said he endorsed Mr King’s view on the severity of the crisis.

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has been split for months over whether the UK needs a boost to the economy through QE, an increase in interest rates to stave off inflation - which at 4.5% is well over double its target - or to leave things as they are.

Only one member, Adam Posen, has consistently pushed for more QE. King said the economic landscape was unfamiliar - the world had changed in the past three months and so had the policy response necessary. He said the

Employment red tape reviewed

The Government has launched a “real debate” with businesses and employees about the regulations which determine rights in the workplace.

Ministers have promised to identify employment law which can be “simplified, merged and

economy was not growing quickly enough, and he could not rule out a further bout of QE. Last week, data showed the UK economy grew by 0.1% between April and June, which was less than previously thought. “The deterioration in the outlook has made it more likely inflation will undershoot the 2% target in the medium term,” the Bank said in a statement announcing its policy decision.

Osborne had said in 2009, when he had been in opposition, that “printing money is the last resort of desperate governments when

all other policies have failed”.

However, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last Friday, the chancellor said: “We inherited a pretty desperate fiscal position and we had to take action.

“I think the crucial difference this time is you’ve got a credible government plan to deal with our debt.”

Osborne added the UK was using “all the tools available to deal with the worsening global debt storm”.

“Given the continued impairment in the flow of credit to parts of the real economy, notably small and medium-sized firms, the Treasury is exploring further policy actions.”, he said.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King says this is the most serious financial crisis the UK has seen since the 1930s

Quantative easing means effectively adding more money into economy. Central banks increase the supply of money by “printing” more.

In practice, this may mean purchasing government bonds, for example, using the new money. Rather than physically printing notes, the new money is issued in the form of a deposit at the central bank. QE adds money into the system, which depresses the value of the currency, and to push up the value of the assets being bought and to lower longer-term interest rates, which encourages borrowing and investment.

abolished” to make it easier for businesses to hire staff.

However, employment relations minister Edward Davey has said the Coalition will not “water down” employee rights.

The consultation comes after new rights for 1.4m temporary workers took effect, giving them equal pay and conditions rights with full time staff after 12 weeks of continuous employment.

The Business Department said 160 employment regulations would be out for review for the next

three weeks, taking in collective redundancy rules, to immigration checks and the operation of the national minimum wage.

Mr Davey said: “We often hear that employment related regulation prevents firms from growing and employing more people.

“Whether it is the filling out of endless forms when you hire your first member of staff, the complexities of letting somebody go, or simply manage staff on a day-to-day basis, we want to review these regulations with the aim of

10/10/2011 23:23

£4,900 50,000 Median level of compensation of successful unfair dismissal claims

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

Number of claims for unfair dismissal each year out of 24.2m employees

BLOG of the week

FEEDING A LINKEDIN PROFILE ONTO A FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE

Vikki Mills, social media and marketing executive at online visibility experts Carvill Creative, provides guidance on how to link in Facebook and LinkedIn profile pages on www. businesszone.co.uk

The qualification period for the right to claim for unfair dismissal will be extended from 12 months to two years from April 2012

Unfair sacking change ‘to save £6m’ The government has claimed changes to unfair dismissal rules could save business almost £6m a year amid continued anger from unions over the “attack” on workers’ rights.

Ministers said the qualification period for the right to claim unfair dismissal will be extended from 12 months to two years from April 2012, adding the aim was to increase business confidence to take on more workers.

However, the GMB union published a new study showing most unfair dismissal claims were settled or withdrawn before getting to an employment tribunal.

Fewer than one in four claims to tribunals related to unfair dismissal in the year to March 2010, said the

union, adding that extending the qualifying period would not create a single job.

Chancellor George Osborne said in his keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester: “I know it’s important to respect employment rights.

“But we also respect the right of the unemployed to get a job and not be priced out of the labour market, and we respect the right of those who spent their whole lives building up a business not to see that achievement destroyed by a vexatious appeal to an employment tribunal.

“So we are now going to make it much less risky for businesses to hire people. We will double to two years the amount of time you can employ someone before the risk of an unfair dismissal claim.”

The Chancellor also announced that for the first time a fee will be introduced for taking a case to a tribunal which litigants only get back if they win, adding: “We are ending the one-way bet against small businesses.”

giving business greater confidence in employing people and creating more jobs.”

The EEF (formerly the Engineering Employers’ Federation), representing manufacturers, said the Government could make a difference by blocking proposed EU law changes on working hours and rights for pregnant workers and rethinking new domestic regulations on equal pay audits and employment tribunal fines.

Steve Radley, policy director at

the EEF, said the review had to be more than just fixing a few “nuts and bolts” at the edges.

“The red tape challenge will only really have delivered success if it achieves one or two significant outcomes,” he said.

“The problem with the red tape challenge is it doesn’t include EU law. The Government has got to work harder at building an alliance in Europe. The fact we’re now going through a period of much weaker economic growth should help get a new approach to employment law.”

BusinessNews.indd 21

Customising your Facebook business page takes time and understanding – in order to give your fans the most value possible from your business page it’s important to keep your applications updated and functioning.

In case you don’t even know where your apps can be found– they run down the left hand side of your business page and usually have tabs for your wall, friend activity, photos and videos.

If you want to take an easy first step into customising your companies Facebook profile then adding the LinkedIn application to your company page is a good place to start – it’s easy to configure, looks great and encourages activity on LinkedIn. Facebook has changed the application (app) now so it is only available for business pages and not personal profiles – you can either have your LinkedIn personal profile running through - to encourage contacts, referrals/ recommendations or have your company page connected.

You can view ours at www. facebook.com/CarvillCreative?sk=a pp_6394109615 We have chosen to feed through our LinkedIn company page as it provides detailed information about

our business and is more relevant to our Carvill Creative Facebook business page than a personal profile would be.

In order to connect the LinkedIn app you must have admin privileges for the business page you wish to connect it to.

To get started in configuring your app go to - www.facebook.com/ apps/application.php?id=639410961 Next – go the left hand side of the page and underneath monthly active users you should see the option to ‘add to my page’.

Choose which page you wish to add it to and you should then see confirmation that it has been added to your page.

Next choose to use Facebook as the business page you have just added the app to and then go to ‘edit my page’ and choose ‘Apps’.

You should see ‘My LinkedIn Profile’ in the list of applications, click ‘edit settings’ and under ‘Tab Available’ click add and then okay.

Next click ‘go to app’ under ‘My LinkedIn profile’. Don’t worry if Facebook asks you to switch back to using it as your personal profile, it’s still configuring it to your business page.

You should now be on the application configuring page and have the option to enter your LinkedIn personal profile or firm’s profile (depending on what you want the application to be linked up to). Simply enter the URL and save.

You should now see the app appear on your chosen business page down the left hand side with all your other app tabs.

Connecting your business’ Facebook and LinkedIn is easy, says Vikki www.coachandbusweek.com

10/10/2011 23:24

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

SHOW REPORT

Industry shines in tough times Last week’s Coach & Bus Live show saw the UK industry debut of a number of new products - including MAN’s EcoCity gas bus, Optare’s Tempo SR, Hispano’s Intea and the Hispano Xerus. Coach & Bus Week’s Gareth Evans and Martin Cole www.coachandbusweek.com

Coach&BusLiveReport.indd 22

T

he biennial coach and bus industry trade show, Coach & Bus Live 2011 (CBL), has bucked the recent decline in exhibition trade show attendances with visitor numbers up around 6% on the 2009 show.

According to the organisers, more than 6,250 coach and bus industry professionals visited this year’s show which was held last Wednesday and Thursday (October 5 and 6) at the NEC in Birmingham.

Pre-registration was up by more than 12% compared to the 2009 show. Almost 220 exhibitors, an increase of 10% on 2009, and 80 vehicles, gave visitors the opportunity to compare a wide range of products.

Optare

Optare CEO Jim Sumner announced the appointment of Venkatesan Venkataraman as a non-executive director. He is currently president of Business Development & Strategy for Hinduja Automotive, based in London and widely experienced.

1 It was Venkataraman who led negotiations for Ashok Leyland when it took a strategic stake in Optare – a key element of Optare’s growth strategy which has enabled the move to the new Sherburn assembly plant and significantly increased production capacity.

A significant development for Optare is the announcement of it being awarded preferred supplier status for a major public transport system in South Africa. Initially, Optare is to supply Solo buses in kit form for local assembly by Cape Town-based Bus Mark. This involves around 200 buses although the full potential of the order could see the figure rise to 700. They will be used as feeder vehicles for Cape Town’s BRT system.

Solo is also being used in trials in India by Ashok Leyland and will be fed out to other markets where public transport systems are being developed.

Centre stage on the Optare stand was its new Tempo SR – a restyled version of the full-sized service bus with considerable input from Ray Stenning on its appearance and unsurprisingly destined for service

11/10/2011 00:46

220

The number of exhibitors at the show, according to organisers

6,250 6% The number of visitors to this year’s Coach & Bus Live show

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23

The rise in visitor numbers compared to the last show two years ago

2

3

5

4 with trent barton. The order is for 13 Tempo SRs – part of the £8m 2010 order for 65 vehicles over three years.

The model continues to offer a significant weight advantage over competitor vehicles of the same length and it will continue to offer 10.6, 11.3 and 12 metre body lengths with seating capacity from 35 to 43. The 12m version weighs 9.65 tonnes with double glazing and cantilevered seats allowing a total passenger capacity of up to 85 in service operation or over 100 in airport specification.

Tempo SR is equipped as standard with a 6.37 litre Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz OM906L sixcylinder engine rated at 210kW (282 bhp) at 2200 rpm and delivers 1120 Nm of torque at between 1200 and 1600 rpm. An Allison T310R five-speed automatic gearbox is standard although customers can opt for a ZF 6HP500.

Optare’s modular driveline ‘powerpack’ system also allows the range of driveline options available to other models and the low carbon dual-fuel, hybrid or battery systems are also available.

Coach&BusLiveReport.indd 23

Tempo SR also features the new Actia multiplex electronics platform which allows greater ease of diagnostics via laptop computers and also facilitates factory installation of popular optional equipment such as CCTV, reversing cameras, passenger counters, ticketing machines and tachographs. A full telematics package also enables remote diagnostics and vehicle tracking.

Information from the vehicle electronics is translated via the EcoDrive dashboard and provides drivers with a visual indicator of their performance to encourage economical and safer driving. All external lighting is now LED except for the halogen headlamp units.

Internal insulation has been improved to create a quieter passenger environment and uplighting employed for greater visual impact. Seating for 41 passengers on the trent barton models is Esteban Civic V3, trimmed in route-branded moquette.

Also on display was an 11.1m Versa for Arriva Southern Counties, one of 18 currently

1: Show visitors on the opening day; 2: Optare Solo SR for Nottingham City Transport; 3: The McKenna Bros crew; 4: New Van Hools for Westbus and Weardale; 5: Promoting the UK Coach and Bus Awards were Jamie Cash and Ian Smith; 6: Volvo’s Wright-bodied B5L

6

Norman Baker formally opens Coach & Bus Live show Transport minister Norman Baker formally opened the show – doing so for the second year running.

“We are creating something of a world record for having the same ministerial team in place for two years,” he remarked.

“Buses matter to this government and this industry matters to this government,” he emphasised first off, setting out his two main objectives – helping growth and cutting carbon emissions. “I’m particularly keen to see the new generation of buses come through.

There have been very innovative steps forward with hybrid buses and the Green Bus Fund.”

Commenting on the turn out at CBL, Baker said: “I’m delighted the show is sold out – it shows some confidence in this industry.”

Baker said to date, 35 of the 39 awards made in the first tranche of the Local Transport Sustainable Fund, which comprises £560m altogether, “contain components

relating to buses”.

“More is to come with the second tranche and with larger projects.

We are also taking steps to promote the idea of smart card ticketing, which has the capacity to make life easier for passengers but persuade more people to travel by bus and coach – which is why we are rolling out ITSO on the rail network as well as encouraging bus operators by incorporating it into BSOG.” Baker said ITSO will be accepted by Oyster by 2014, adding: “I know there are difficulties around ITSO for the bus industry.”

Concluding his opening speech, Baker said: “I believe in buses and coaches – they have a good future and we want to help develop it.”

Also speaking for the second year running, CPT president Steve Whiteway added a rallying call: “We are a remarkable industry and a very resilient one. Buy, prosper and let’s transport Britain into the future ahead.” www.coachandbusweek.com

11/10/2011 00:47

24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

SHOW REPORT

being delivered and the first Versas to be operated by Arriva Southern Counties. It featured 37 Esteban Civic V2 seats (three tip-ups in the wheelchair/buggy bay) with internal trim to match the latest version of Arriva’s corporate colour scheme and Hanover LED destination equipment was fitted. The customer opted for the Mercedes-Benz OM904LA Euro 5 engine developing 115 kW (154 bhp) with a five-speed Allison 2100 Series automatic transmission featuring full CAN interface with the engine and incorporating a lock-up torque converter for improved fuel efficiency.

Completing the stand exhibits was a Solo SR for Nottingham City Transport, one of 24 recently delivered. It measured 9.95m long and featured a Cummins ISBe engine rated at 150kW (201 bhp) with an Allison 2100 Series five-speed transmission. It was equipped with 33 or 31 fixed Fainsa Punta 7 seats trimmed in Camira leather and a further two tip-ups in the wheelchair/buggy bay. Mobitec LED destination equipment was fitted.

Other Optare vehicles included Ferqui-built Sirocco and Toro models in the demonstration area and a 40-seat 11.1m Versa on the Dawsonrentals stand.

Speaking to CBW at the end of the second day, Glenn Saint said: “We’ve had a great show. Obviously for us the star of the show has been the Tempo SR. Everyone has been asking how we’ve managed to reduce weight by a further 300kg.

The new bus has certainly attracted a lot of interest from operators here at the show.

“Gillian Merron was very complimentary about what has been achieved by working with trent barton and Ray Stenning.

Again, Optare has focussed on the passenger rather than ‘bums on seats.’ The key is having a vehicle which is economical on fuel, yet which benefits from styling which is attractive to passengers.

“Visitors to our stand have also been supportive of the move to our new factory.”

Concluding, Glenn said: “It’s definitely been worth being here.

In these difficult times you’ve got to question things, but it’s definitely worthwhile from my point of view.”

ADL

Alexander Dennis CEO Colin Robertson said the 6% increase in www.coachandbusweek.com

Coach&BusLiveReport.indd 24

the company’s bus sales at the end of August was encouraging but the figure was still well below what it was two years ago. He stressed the importance of ADL looking towards international growth, where despite little sign of global financial improvement, the company had experienced success in Hong Kong, North America and New Zealand. Additionally, he said it was vital to work with customers, to understand their needs, analyse any problems and to address them.

A notable achievement for ADL, he said, had been its ability to deliver vehicles on time and the company had not missed a delivery in 30 months. It currently held 76% of the midibus market and would have over 350 hybrids running by the end of this year. Sales of the new low-height triaxle Enviro500H in North America looked promising, currently valued at over £150m, and would be enhanced by the availability of an open top model.

He was also looking forward to developing business in Hawaii. An additional 40 Enviro200s had been ordered supplementary to the 110 being delivered to New Zealand.

Plaxton also gained praise for its contribution to group sales and would complete over 700 vehicles by the end of the year. He predicted group turnover would exceed £360m and was delighted to reveal ADL had become debt-free as of last week.

Re-styled examples of the Enviro200 and Enviro400 were on display with the changes coincident to the introduction of Whole Vehicle Type Approval. These include a new one-piece windscreen, emergency exit repositioned to the lowfloor area, flush-fitting access panels and doors, wave-effect coving and concealed pole fittings.

The 10.8m Enviro200 was fitted with 39 Lazzerini Practico seats trimmed in E leather, a five-camera Synetics CCTV system, radio/ CD, tinted glazing, colour Mobitec destination displays and Alcoa alloy wheels.

The revised Enviro400 also featured styling enhancements and was a 10.2m version with an EEV specification Cummins ISB 6.7EV engine and ZF 6HP1203B automatic gearbox. Esteban Civic V3 seats were installed, trimmed in E leather. Two Enviro400H hybrid double deckers were in the demonstration park for ride and drive opportunities.

Plaxton’s increased productivity

1

4 at Scarborough is due to it undertaking the build of Enviro200 and now Enviro400 models to extend the capacity of the Falkirk site. It is the first time double decker buses have been built there as the President was built at the former Northern Counties facility and back in 1984 it built double deck coaches, Paramount 4000s at Scarborough.

Sales and marketing director Kevin Wood said despite the slow market there had been a successful summer period and coach orders were better than predicted at the start of the year. Recent orders had been received from Anderson, Philips of Bewdley, CT Plus, Greys of Ely and Little Transport which left just ten vehicles available from 2011 production which would take total sales to over 200. The Cheetah is currently out of production while being redeveloped with a stainless steel structure before re-entering production in 2012.

The Profile is also disappearing from Plaxton’s line-up and the company plans to research its customers for their likely requirements for low-height

coaches before deciding on whether to develop a replacement. The last one, a 57-seat Dennis Javelin, has been purchased by Country Lion along with its first Volvo B9R Panther.

Plaxton’s rekindled association with Scania will initially see new product offerings in the Panther range based on the K360 underframe in 12.3 and 12.8m lengths. The 12.8m Panther SE will seat up to 53 with centre sunken toilet or 57 recliners in a fully seated configuration. A DDA compliant Panther at 12.3m is the other option. The partnership also gives Plaxton an EGR engine option which it has lacked since its previous association with MAN has ceased. Scania engines achieve Euro 5 emission levels without requiring SCR technology and AdBlue.

MAN

MAN underlined its commitment to developing a market for gas buses in the UK with the introduction of its EcoCity. MD Roy Morton said: “We showed the gas bus last year and received mixed reactions following the poor start they had

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“Overall a good show. I liked the new Tempo SR product, although a little close in design to the Streetlite if you ask me. A little down on coach varieties, but not bad for the Coach & Bus Live show.”

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Steven Hughes Reader Comments @Coach and Bus Week Facebook

2

3 1: ADL’s facelifted Enviro 400; 2: The Freelance Coach Drivers Team - Del Haggerty, Daniel Lavery and Charlie Haggerty; 3: The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Travel 45 on the Evobus stand; 4: External exhibits from Evobus; 5: Debuting at the show was Optare’s restyled Tempo, the Tempo SR for trent barton; 6: Danny McGee of EVM with David Philips, managing director of London Mini Coaches, a subsidiary of Anderson Travel Group, which ordered two vehicles at the show

5 in the UK during the early 1990s – despite them operating extremely successfully abroad.

“We have invested over £750,000 in developing a right-hand drive EcoCity because it makes clear sense – and with biogas becoming more readily available it can be operated at virtually zero emission levels and minimal carbon footprint. Used in conjunction with standard compressed natural gas (CNG), it already delivers emissions better than Euro 6.”

In conjunction with The Gas Bus Alliance (GBA), operators will be able to have any fuelling infrastructure they require installed professionally by the supplier and pay for it incrementally through its gas bills. GBA will ensure all customers are fully versed in safe handling and operation of the gas refuelling equipment as they take delivery of the vehicles.

Operators will pay for the fuel as they use it. There is no need to buy ahead and bunker stocks which would tie up operating capital.

The potential savings are said to be substantial and MAN estimates figures covering a batch of 10

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vehicles suggest payback would be achieved in three years.

The new EcoCity is built by Caetano to MAN specification.

The company has a long history of producing CNG buses for MAN which are used all over Europe.

However, the complete body and chassis package will be totally supported by MAN Truck & Bus in the UK. Customers can also opt for an MAN-styled front and rear to the bus if they prefer. The MAN product closely resembles the Lion’s City.

The 11.98m EcoCity carries four large roof-mounted gas tanks beneath a pod. They are made from aluminium composite and store sufficient gas for around 340 miles operation – depending on terrain and traffic density. It has 40 Kiel seats, plus two tip-up units and space for one wheelchair. Body framing is built from aluminium.

It is powered by MAN’s 272 bhp E2876 LUH 04 (EEV) 12.86 litre engine coupled to a ZF 6AP 1200 Ecolife automatic gearbox with integral retarder. A three-way catalytic converter is employed for exhaust aftertreatment.

MAN’s gas bus specialist,

6 Tony Griffiths said: “When we announced this project last year a few people were sceptical and others very keen, but they can see we are dedicated to this through the investment we’ve made in bringing two working examples here in right-hand drive form. One is already in trials with Stagecoach and this one will begin its duties shortly. They offer serious cost saving potential of around 30%.

“The price is around £215,000 which is £55,000 more than a conventional diesel example, but we calculate the payback period is no more than three years. Operators can also take advantage of biogas.

There are many anaerobic digesters now coming line where waste materials are converted into biogas and as it is sourced from recycled product it has a minimal carbon footprint.

“CNG as a fuel is safe as long as basic safety rules are adhered to.

It is not like LPG, which is heavier than air and can flood areas like inspection pits if there is a leak.

CNG is lighter than air and any leakage disperses immediately in the atmosphere – so workshop staff

are not at risk.”

MAN is now entering a busy demonstration schedule where there are 20 operators keen to evaluate the technology at first hand.

John Hill, coach sales manager for MAN Bus & Coach, said the company’s Neoplan brand was where it would concentrate its efforts from now on. The previous arrangement with Plaxton has now ended and there are no plans to continue it – despite this leaving the company without a low-height coach option in its line-up.

The P20 Neoplan Tourliner on the stand, in Hodgson’s livery, was representative, according to John Hill, of the increased demand for this type of coach and was a sign operators were now seeking practical, 13.2m length coaches on three axles – with 53 and 55seat options both offering toilet inclusion within the specification.

He claimed there were 15 already on order and a number in stock – priced £249,950 plus VAT. The 14m Neoplan Starliner alongside it, showed the other extreme and was presented in

www.coachandbusweek.com

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26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

SHOW REPORT

“trent barton’s new image and the Plaxton for Stagecoach’s Edinburgh service were the ones catching my camera’s eye!”

Phil Tonks Reader Comments @Coach and Bus Week Facebook

full Premier League football club specification, devised by Gavin Murray/Ellisons for the transport of West Bromwich Albion. It is one of six currently employed by the operator on team transport duties.

The coach was equipped with 36 leather reclining seats, tables and a rear kitchen, six fridges and a very comprehensive list of audio/visual equipment and multiple screens.

MAN is extending the four-year coach warranty package to cover the whole range of its products. It also claims its finance division has been active in developing purchase or leasing plans which are proving very attractive to customers. The manufacturer has also revised its spare parts pricing policy and has reduced costs across the board. The move is an attempt to encourage operators to use genuine replacement items instead of alternative aftermarket sources.

The conversion attracted a lot of positive comments and generated considerable interest.

The company took orders for two of these conversions from one customer who wants them with just eight seats fitted and will use the vehicles initially on Olympic Games transport.

EVM

1 1: Bluebird Vehicles’ extended OrionPlus seats 22 passengers; 2: Lucketts joins Irizar UK to become the second appointed dealer/agent

EvoBus

Celebrating 125 since Carl Benz patented his gas engine EvoBus showed its 125! Year special edition Tourismo equipped with 49 Luxline seats, seat back tables and toilet. Its metallic silver livery carried a special design with the motif in painted film “125! Years of innovation,” plus a limited edition front badge. Specification also included two 15 inch LCD monitors and roof-mounted air conditioning and alloy wheels.

The Tourismo measured 12.5m and is 3.62m high. It is powered by a 354bhp OM 457LA engine with an automated Mercedes-Benz eightspeed powershift gearbox.

Setra is also celebrating an anniversary this year – its 60th On the stand was a ComfortClass S 416 GT-HD - Euro 5 BlueTec displaying a ‘60 Years of Setra’ livery. Measuring 13.02m supported by three axles, it was powered by a Mercedes Benz OM 457 LA 315kW Euro 5 engine with a GO 240-8 PowerShift gearbox.

It was equipped with 49 Voyage Supreme seats, centre sunken toilet, two 19” LCD monitors and a roofmounted air conditioning system.

Making its UK debut was the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Travel 45 – the touring specification minibus which has been designed and developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz to meet specific requirements demanded by UK and Irish operators. It shares some component commonality with the Tourismo - allowing ease www.coachandbusweek.com

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High specification minicoach conversions from EVM attracted a high level of attention and led to sales of two X-clusive models to Anderson Travel. Mark Anderson, MD of Anderson Travel Group is delighted with the new purchases.

He said: “These vehicles are a super fit for our bespoke small group sightseeing programme and will operate tours on a daily basis from London. The attention to detail and quality of the build of these vehicles is what really stood out. We look forward to doing business with EVM again.”

Bluebird Vehicles

2 of servicing. Like the Tourismo and the whole Mercedes-Benz product range, the Sprinter Travel is supported by the extensive OMNIplus network across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

The Travel 45 is 7.345m long and 2.79m high. It has the new OM 651 DE 22 LA engine with a five-speed automatic gearbox and ‘start off assist.’ It features 16 Travel Star 420mm reclining seats with seatback tables, footrests and leather upholstery, individual passenger sets in the overhead racks, power plug door and metallic paint. It has a coach rear with drop-well boot for increased luggage space.

The 12m Citaro in the demonstration park in Birmingham featured a brand new layout but was not one of the new generation Citaros – they will not be available in the UK for at least another 12 months. The revised interior features 39 CSE citybus seats plus three tip-ups and Hanover electronic destination equipment.

Changes made in-line with new Type Approval regulations such

as moving the emergency door into the central lowfloor area and revised seat pitches allowing two more forward facing seats in the rear saloon. It is powered by a Euro 5 OM 906 (h)LA engine with a ZF Ecolife six-speed automatic gearbox. It also featured the optional ‘Interurban front’ which slightly changes its appearance.

The Ecolife increases operating efficiency and typically reduces fuel consumption between 3-5%.

Stanford Coachworks

A new elegantly-styled minicoach conversion described as ‘land yacht’ specification was exhibited

by Stanford Coachworks on its Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515. The interior featured a ‘planked wood’ effect floor covering and leather upholstered Politecnica reclining seats, overhead parcel racks, air conditioning, fridge and audio/ dvd equipment. The extended body features a coach rear and drop-well boot and is enhanced by dark-tinted panoramic double glazing and a skirting kit.

Bluebird’s extended Orion Plus now seats up to 22 passengers and attracted a lot of attention.

The lowfloor minibus market, having suffered in the past over the economy of such operation, now appears to getting a second wind as potential customers are seeing viability issues disappear because they offer efficient fuel consumption.

Based on a Fiat Ducato, the lowfloor Orion with a forward entrance lends itself to service operation and is a natural option for rural operations, demand responsive transport or community transport – although a dedicated CT version can be specified with rear doors and a fold-out boarding ramp.

Bluebird also created considerable interest with its restored Leyland Tiger with a Ransomes body. The refurbishment work has been completed by a team of apprentice coachbuilders at the Scarborough production plant.

Irizar UK

The first integral Irizar PB in the UK appeared on the stand in Buzzlines livery and is the second coach the Kent-based operator has acquired from Irizar UK in a matter of weeks.

Steve O’Neill said: “We’ve had a good number of very positive enquiries from the show and after analysing them all we believe there are between six and 10 which should result in definite sales.”

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SHOW REPORT

The company was also delighted to announce the appointment of Lucketts as its second service and support specialist. Director Ian Hall said: “Lucketts is well known as a top quality operation with excellent facilities in Fareham and the skills and expertise to handle servicing, maintenance or repair.

The business is also ideally located to receive incoming new vehicles from the ferry terminals.”

BASE

New additions to the BASE portfolio include two practical workhorses selected as replacements for the now discontinued Marcopolo. Both models come from Tata Hispano – the Intea and the Xerus.

The lowheight 12.2m Intea model can seat up to 57 passengers or achieve IVA with 70 seats in school specification. Based on a MAN A91 chassis with 290bhp engine and fully automatic gearbox, it retails at £155,000 with air conditioning. Forced-air ventilation is optional and these models would sell at £151,000. Both versions are equipped with two power doors on the nearside and extensive underfloor luggage space - offering significant dual purpose capability.

The first of these has been sold to Wyn Price.

The Xerus modes will be available later in 2012 and the first example is joining Holmeswood’s own fleet for full evaluation testing.

It is based on the VDL MX400 with AS-Tronic gearbox but is also available on MAN R33 or the longer R37 triaxle unit. Bodies range from 12.2m to 15m long. BASE has had wheelchair access capability engineered into the Xerus which can employ a slim PLS cassette lift (190mm) which fits neatly into a space above the rear axle and therefore does not impinge on luggage space. It has a rear floor-mounted toilet and is a direct replacement for the Marcopolo Viaggio 350 and is priced at £225,000.

BASE still retains strong interest in its Beulas products – displaying a Cygnus and its (currently) topselling Spica. Holmeswood has a Beulas Glory double deck coach on order for next year.

13 litre D13C, in-line six cylinder, Euro 5, turbocharged engine with an intercooler. Built to Prestige Plus standard totally in-house within the Volvo Group, the 9700 blends distinctive exterior restyling and interior detailing with requisite safety features and driveline technology – meeting the needs of customers seeking a one-stop-shop option.

Specification includes TS2000 Comfort Plus seats with integral three-point safety belts, a theatre floor layout, and large tinted side windows to maximise passenger vision and promote a light and spacious interior. On board comfort is aided by high capacity ventilation with outlet vents on each seat to provide a manageable internal environment. Passengers can enjoy authentic “concert quality” sound from the Volvo Sound & Vision on-board entertainment system, with hi-fi sound and high-resolution flat-screen monitors. LED floor level lighting and aircraft style overhead luggage compartments fitted as standard.

Safety features include Front

Impact Protection (FIPS) and Knee Impact Protection (KIPS) to protect the driver and Front Underrun Protection (FUPS) to prevent the possibility of a car becoming wedged under the vehicle.

Volvo’s Transport Information System Dynafleet which provides full functional reporting on areas such as fuel efficiency, service scheduling and driver technique is also provided as part of the 9700 complete vehicle package.

Current orders from major bus groups, including First, Arriva, GoAhead and National Express, are set to bring the total number of hybridpowered Volvo double deckers in operation in the UK to over 100 by the end of 2011.

The first six hybrid Volvo double deckers entered service with Arriva back in 2009, with 20 currently in operation on TfL 141 Route, with a further 20 on order for delivery this year.

FirstGroup announced its intention to order 30 B5LH hybrids for operation in Manchester and Leeds. Also in Manchester, four hybrids are in service with Bullocks

Mix Telematics

1 1: A low-priced workhorse - the MAN-powered Hispano Intea from BASE; 2: The TD Tyres team. Adam Fletcher is pictured on the left; 3: Volvo’s B5L hybrid bus was fitted with appropriately-coloured E leather seats

Volvo

Volvo’s main exhibits included a 9700 coach on a B13R chassis platform with I-Shift and its B5LH double decker hybrid bus.

The coach featured the 460bhp www.coachandbusweek.com

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of Cheadle on the key Oxford Road Link.

The latest order is for nine hybrid buses with Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 2 bodies for National Express Group’s Travel West Midlands operation, which together with an order from the Go Ahead for 15 Volvo B5HL brings up the century for Volvo Bus by the end of the year.

Volvo’s hybrid driveline uses a D5E four cylinder, 5.0 litre Volvo diesel engine to Euro 5, and a 70kW electric motor/battery pack connected in parallel to the gearbox. Completing the driveline is the highly efficient Volvo I-Shift 12 speed automatic transmission, which maintains the engine running at its optimum speed range for low emissions and improved economy.

Its Integrated Starter, Alternator and Motor (I-SAM) is the electric motor for traction power, which on the overrun also acts as a generator to charge the batteries, as well as a starter motor for the engine.

Phil Owen, Volvo Bus sales director, said: “Operating in London, the vehicles are returning 30 – 40% better fuel figures compared with diesel buses on the same routes.

Additionally, there are air quality improvements with 45% lower NOx per kilometre and up to a 40 tonne carbon dioxide reduction per bus each year.”

2

3

Mix Telematics said it was in a strong position with increased revenue and reduced debt. It had signed ten new clients since the show last year and there were currently seven trials operating and showing promising results.

Typically, customers were finding the system was saving 5%. Across the board, the figure equates to saving the industry around £1 million per month and Mix believes it has saved clients up to £25m over the last three years.

Recent highlights include Premier Travel’s adoption of the system which is showing 7-10% fuel uplift and has been deployed across 75 vehicles. It has also been integrated into the driver CPC programme. Cardiff Bus has also installed the system on 230 buses and is seeing a 4% overall improvement across the fleet.

Go-Ahead invested £3.5m in the system which is installed on 4,000 buses. The company has instigated a driver incentive scheme with significant prizes for those

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CENTAUR FUEL MANAGEMENT LTD

The Sapphire Fuel Terminal The Sapphire fuel monitor is an advanced fuel monitor designed to control up to 4 pumps and 2,000 vehicles as standard, with entry of vehicle and driver data by means of an onboard full alphanumeric keypad. Retrieval of data is via a secure web link for instant transaction reports in real time.

Terminals can also be linked by a modem to one central point to give control over multiple depots. The Sapphire terminal can be fitted with a choice of Mag card reader or high security electronic touch key reader, giving greater control over who has access to your fuel pumps.

TSM (TOTAL SITE MANAGER) TSM Allows the site operator to view all transactions and stock movement online at any time and in any place, with the ability to reconcile fuel usage in real time and over defined time and date ranges.

TSM enables the site operator to monitor live transactions against dip readings shown on the TSM website.

• Compatible with all major fuel cards • Full alphanumeric keyboard entry • Transaction and wet stock management displayed in real time • Monitor live transactions against dip readings shown on TSM website • Full Online system • Fitted with either card or high security touch key reader • Online stock management of fuel stocks through reports and exports • Fully weatherproofed stainless steel housing

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30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

SHOW REPORT

“Very low turn out, a lot more space dedicated to mini and midi coach products and service buses this year reflecting the shift away from full size coaches.”

Daniel Donnor Reader Comments @Coach and Bus Week Facebook

achieving the most economical performance.

The latest development from Mix Telematics is its MX-Track which is a reduced-cost option designed for operations where vehicle location and speed are the key considerations.

Mr Fletcher. “Coach operators in particular recognise it from years ago. In price terms, it’s 20% cheaper than premium products.”

Distinctive Systems

Euromotive

Euromotive showed two examples of its Type-Approved accessible minibus and reported encouraging news of local authority customers showing keener interest in vehicles meeting the new standards.

Sales director Dennis Noble also indicated a switch to lighter seating from Rescroft would allow another seat space – increasing it to 15 in Sprinter and Crafter models.

One of those on display featured a medium height roof, which Euromotive generally employs as standard, while the other had a high roof. Mr Noble said having them next to each other for direct comparison led all potential customers to say they preferred the higher roof because it gave the impression of far greater internal space.

Rescroft

Seating specialist Rescroft unveiled its prototype wheelchair backrest support which also incorporates a folding seat. The unit can swivel through 360 degrees to meet appropriate requirements. Integral to the unit is a seat belt system providing three-point passenger restraint for the seated occupant or the wheelchair user.

Rozone

Rozone specialises in industrial cleaning and in power management. One of its key messages at the show highlighted how proper battery management could save operators considerable sums of money by extending the life of batteries or swapping out failing units before they caused problems through failing to start vehicles and causing VOR problems.

The company recently entered into a Battery Management Programme with Abellio at its Beddington Cross depot in Croydon – where it runs 93 buses on eight TfL routes. In order to protect against non-starts, charging defects, battery sulphation problems and a high alternator failure rate, Abellio saw it as a way to be rid of the problem cycle involving continual, costly, replacement units. www.coachandbusweek.com

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1 1: Hispano-bodied VDL MX400 for the Holmeswood Coaches fleet - a highly versatile functional coach; 2: The donttravelempty.com crew. 3: The FTA’s Passenger team - Lawrie Alford, Sian Pattenden and Chris Turner

Commenting on the performance of the first day at the show, Mike Whitehead, managing director said: “It’s been a fabulous day. Our stand was busy right from the beginning.

We’ve seen really good serious people – those who are looking to buy our systems. If tomorrow is anywhere near as good, it will be out best performing show for quite some time.”

Don’t Travel Empty

“We visited the Euro Bus Expo last year in an operator capacity,” said Anthony Marrett. “We liked it so much we decided to come back to promote our services.”

Freelance Coach Drivers Team

2 Rozone’s management ensured all batteries were kept above 12.4v charge and sought to balance all the 24v units which it determined were promoting alternator failures.

Staff at Abellio were supported

by Rozone technicians in the use of its Charge Express Pro 50/2 charging unit and its EXP 1000HD battery and electrical system testing unit. Since the programme was instigated, Abellio has noted a distinct reduction of 90% in nonstarts, few replacement batteries required and a reduction in alternator replacement.

Synetics

CCTV specialist Synetics (formerly LOOK CCTV) has introduced a new scheme involving industry partners which will enable operators to take a systematic approach to reducing risk and improving business performance.

The unique scheme combines the high quality digital CCTV and Genius telematics system from Synetics with ‘3-Way Fleet’ insurance from GS Corporate Risk Services and the legal expertise of Backhouse Jones Solicitors. The package provides operators with an integrated approach towards reducing risk and insurance premiums in the delivery of

3 transport services.

Typically, Genius driver monitoring and reporting has resulted in up to a 50% reduction in driver incidents. When operators apply for increased insurance excess they need to manage the risk – 3-Way Fleet enables them to reduce their costs through claims, insurance and actual fleet running costs.

TD Tyres

Speaking to CBW on Thursday morning, Adam Fletcher said: “Yesterday was very good for us. We sold more on our stand than we’ve ever done previously.

It’s unbelievable but even larger operators are moving towards lower cost tyres.

“Remoulds have come into play this year more than ever, especially so on local town routes where kerbs are inevitably clipped and on vehicles dedicated to school work. Our modern day remoulds are guaranteed the same as a new tyres, so it becomes an attractive proposition.”

A new addition to TD Tyres product line up this year is UniRoyal.

“While it’s a trusted brand from a customer’s point of view, it’s not been so readily available in the market in recent times,” added

“This is our first time at the show,” explained Del Haggerty. “We believe we’re the largest coach driving agency in the UK – and with our WTS training business, we can offer a complete package to operators to put drivers on the road.

“I started the company seven years ago and built it up on purely what operators want. We work to a standard rather than a price.”

Headquartered in Exeter, the Freelance Coach Drivers Team also has smaller units in Edinburgh and London. A new office is due to open imminently in Dublin.

McKenna Bros

A new product launched at the show is the Mobi Compact digital destination blind.

“It’s designed for coaches, hence you can type on the rear,” explained Derek Dawson. “It’s just like writing a text message.”

At a time when the use of customised digital destinations for individual groups is becoming increasingly popular, the release of the Mobi Compact can be regarded as timely.

Derek continued: “Another advantage is it can work from nine to 32 volts, which means it can be powered by a cigarette lighter. Also, it’s removable so it can be plumbed in with ease and be used on several vehicles if required.”

Speaking to CBW on the Thursday morning, Derek said more than 10 Mobi Compacts had been sold at the show.

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32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

THE BIG PICTURE

While there are now significant numbers of hybrid buses in England, Scotland did not have any. That was until the beginning of September when Lothian Buses launched 15 BAE Systems-powered ADL Enviro 400 Hybrids, bought partly with funds from the Scottish Government’s Green Bus Fund. The vehicles operate on route 10, which links Torphin with Western Harbour via the city centre. Fleet number 208, which is registered ‘SN61BBO’, is pictured here by David Barrow working a journey to Torphin, having just left the terminus on Western Harbour Drive. The modern building in the background is Platinum Point, which incorporates a block of apartments. Hybrids have been allocated to the route because it will pass through two Air Quality Management Areas – at the foot of Leith Walk and on Princes Street.

www.coachandbusweek.com

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COMPETITION COMMISSION › UPDATE

Franchising left off the menu of CC’s remedies The Competition Commission has published its provisional decision on how to open up bus markets to greater competition and prevent adverse effects – the good news for operators is that franchising is not on the bill. Coach & Bus Week’s Meera Rambissoon reports on the key proposals and initial responses

T

he Competition Commission (CC) has not recommended franchising as part of its provisional package of remedies, published last week, to open up bus markets across the country to greater competition.

This is the latest stage in the CC’s investigation into the local bus market in the UK (excluding London and Northern Ireland) and it is consulting on these proposals before it publishes its final report later this year.

Based on its consideration of responses to the remedies notice published in May, response hearings, further submissions from parties and analysis by the CC of various remedy options, the commission has suggested a package comprising three main elements: market-opening measures in relation to commercial bus services; measures to promote competition in relation to supported services; and recommendations about the wider policy and regulatory environment.

The CC said the main focus of its package is on the three measures aimed at reducing barriers to entry and expansion in markets for commercial bus services, and providing an environment in www.coachandbusweek.com

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which competition is likely to be sustained: Ticketing: recommendations to give Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) additional powers to determine the characteristics of mandatory multioperator ticketing schemes and for the OFT to review certain aspects of the competition law framework governing voluntary ticketing schemes; Operator behaviour: recommendations for restrictions on changes in service frequency through increased registration notice periods and changes to frequent service registrations. The CC has also provisionally decided

The CC is not ruling out the future application franchising in local markets, says inquiry chairman Jeremy Peat

to recommend that Traffic Commissioners be given the powers to introduce and enforce a local bus operator Code of Conduct and there should be specific protection for municipal bus companies being sold; and Access to bus stations: an order on local bus operators that manage bus stations to provide other local bus operators access to bus stations on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and to publish the Conditions of Use, which contains, among other things, information about the allocation of stand and layover capacity and a list of departure charges.

Regarding supported services, the CC has provisionally decided on the following measures: Best practice guidance: the Department for Transport (DfT) updates its best practice guidance on tendering for supported services for LTAs, and that the Scottish and Welsh Governments develop similar but suitably tailored guidance; and Information about newly deregistered services: LTAs are given powers to request information about revenue and patronage of services being deregistered.

In support of these measures, the CC has made the following recommendations for changes to the wider regulatory and policy environment that applies to bus markets:

Effective competition enforcement: the OFT applies a high priority to identifying bus mergers between competing operators, routinely follows up bus mergers and takes a cautious approach in exercising its discretion not to refer small bus mergers to the CC. The OFT publishes revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the application of competition law to the bus industry; Partnerships: LTAs consider the potential for introducing partnerships as a means of facilitating increased competition within their local areas. In considering the introduction of partnerships, LTAs should also take full account of the potential risks of raising barriers to entry and facilitating coordination between

10/10/2011 23:26

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 35

competitors that goes beyond what is acceptable under competition law and is necessary to deliver passenger benefits. LTAs and the OFT should also establish a regular forum to discuss issues relating to the competition assessment of partnership arrangements; and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG): as part of its current review of BSOG in England, the DfT considers ways of incentivising the development of, and participation in, a number of the remedies we are proposing.

JEREMY PEAT Inquiry chairman “These measures aim to get to the heart of the problems we have identified and open up local bus markets to entry and expansion— so reducing the number of areas where the main operator faces little

CompComm.indd 35

or no competition,” said Jeremy Peat, chairman of the inquiry.

“Given the number and diversity of bus markets we are looking to give LTAs enhanced powers to tailor some of these measures to particular local conditions.

“We believe that greater competition between operators is the best way to rectify the problems we have identified and ensuring fair access to bus stations, tackling ‘over bussing’, opening up the tendering process, close scrutiny of bus mergers, and encouraging ‘competition-friendly’ partnerships will all help achieve this.”

Commenting on not recommending franchising, Peat explained: “We are not recommending franchising—as operates in London—because it addresses the symptoms of the

“We are not recommending franchising—as operates in London— because it addresses the symptoms of the problems we have found rather than the cause.”

Jeremy Peat CC

Above: The Big Lemon company, which runs two bus routes in Brighton, has recently felt aggrieved by the fact Brighton & Hove bus and coach company has recently changed fares on competing services and not elsewhere

problems we have found rather than the cause. However, we recognise that franchising remains an important option for LTAs and would not wish to rule out its future application in particular local markets. LTAs also have wider social and policy objectives that are not relevant to this investigation, but which may legitimately lead them to take a different view on this matter.”

SIMON POSNER CPT The CPT welcomed the fact the CC has not recommended franchising. Simon Posner, chief executive, said: “The Competition Commission has confirmed it has found only limited issues resulting in any adverse effect on competition and has expressly ruled out structural change of the

www.coachandbusweek.com

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36 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

COMPETITION COMMISSION › UPDATE

industry, price controls or increased regulation.

“Crucially, it has accepted the bus industry’s central and long-held position that franchising is not the way forward. It would be expensive for taxpayers, time-consuming for the public sector, and not deliver faster or more attractive bus services for passengers.

“We are also pleased the Commission, in another of its key conclusions, has called on local transport authorities to embrace partnerships with bus operators.

This approach has been successful in ensuring more bus priority measures, more investment and higher quality services, encouraging more people to switch from the car to greener bus travel.

“The Commission has proposed increased multi-operator ticketing and extended periods between service changes to enhance passenger choice and improve service stability. There is much detail to be considered in these proposals, but the industry supports any improvement which will lead to greater passenger use and build on the already high levels of customer satisfaction.

PETER SHIPP EYMS “I’m not surprised franchising wasn’t recommended because I would have thought a good enough case was made against it, but I’m quite pleased as well,” Peter Shipp, chairman and chief executive of East Yorkshire Motorway Services (EYMS) told CBW. “The thing that worries me slightly is restrictions on changes in service frequency through increased registration notice periods. It could be limited to avoid overly competitive responses. The eight weeks we have now means if a service is a disaster from day one, you have to stick with it. If you’ve got a situation where the public asks for a bus to run ten minutes earlier, you’ve got to wait eight weeks – why? To make this even longer, if that is what is proposed, would be a retrograde step in certain situations. It’s an already a blunt instrument – it could be even blunter.”

Peter welcomed the recommendation for DfT to update its best practice guidance for LTAs on tendering, commenting: “Album and I have suggested that local authorities do not tender in a way that provides the best value for them and for passengers. They are often www.coachandbusweek.com

CompComm.indd 36

tendered in a blinkered manner.

Depending on how the guidance goes, it might be a good thing.”

On the CC’s cautious approach to mergers, Peter said: “Big groups might be restricted in who they can buy, which may be a good thing but if it gets to the point where a smaller operator is in difficulties and no one else will buy it, the only option for it will be to close down.

Hopefully the guidance will allow for this situation to be considered.”

Concluding, Peter said: “Partnerships are a good thing as long as they are two-way. I know partnerships which have happened in name but nothing has actually happened – local authorities haven’t given us the tools we need such as bus priority or traffic regulation.”

PAUL JENKINS Thamesdown Transport Managing director of municipal operator Thamesdown Transport commented on the modest nature of the remedies. “Given the scale of the Competition Commission’s investigation, it’s interesting to see that its proposed remedies are relatively modest,” Paul told CBW. “Responsible operators will welcome measures to ensure that competition is fair, although limiting the flexibility to change services could hamper our responsiveness to developing markets. The proposed protection from predatory competition for municipal companies going through a sale is sensible, as local networks have been destabilised in some earlier sales, leading to disruption for passengers.

“In Swindon we already have a multi-operator ticketing scheme and the convenience it offers users helps to drive our high levels of customer satisfaction. There was no appetite for network franchising here and I’m pleased that the Competition Commission have excluded it from their recommendations. We are on good terms with our local authority and would welcome a closer partnership with them which targets growth in patronage as a mutual objective.

“The CC’s suggestion that BSOG could be used to incentivize operators to comply with its proposed remedies seems to usefully build on the existing BSOG enhancements relating to AVL and ITSO, but the devil will be in the detail and I hope that it remains distributed centrally by DfT.”

JAMES FREEMAN Reading Transport James Freeman, managing director of Reading Transport welcomed the lack of “outlandish recommendations”. “Once a number of us from ALBUM had experienced our first meeting with officials from the Competition Commission I was quietly confident that they would not come out with any outlandish recommendations,” James told CBW. “And they haven’t. As so often happens when outsiders look into our industry, they have found it all much less straightforward than they at first imagined, but they have listened to a great deal that they have been told.

“For those of us who are still in municipal ownership, the measures suggested to protect us to at least a limited extent are of course helpful

to our owners – but most of us hope and believe that our owners have held out long enough to know the value of their municipal bus companies!”

Peter Shipp, EYMS chief executive (top); and pteg’s David Brown who leads on buses for pteg

“Passengers at bus stops in the big cities we represent are not obsessing about the number of operators in their area - what they want is integrated public transport with one ticket for one network.”

David Brown pteg

BEN COLSON Norfolk Green “The CC has already pronounced that it considers that the extent of competitive distortion is in the order of £74m which equates to about 2p per passenger journey,” said the Norfolk Green MD. “Given that most fares are rounded to 5p units, this illustrates that the current industry regulatory structure is performing remarkably well and does not need significant intervention or reform.

“We should therefore call on the minister to pronounce that any reforms he considers as a result has this in mind and that he assures the industry without delay that he will not embark on any reform package that goes beyond this for purely idealogical or political reasons, as without such an early assurance business confidence will be further sapped (beyond that already because of the state of the economy at large and the untimely and unnecessary review of the future of BSOG)

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2.9bn 1,245 150m The number of passenger journeys the industry carries a year

The number of different operators in the bus industry investigated

The CC’s proposals are “relatively modest”, says Paul Jenkins of Thamesdown Transport

thereby undermining investment in innovative developments or fleet purchases.

“The proposed remedies are generally measured and balanced, but, given the propensity for some LTAs to be motivated more by gaining control for its own sake, rather than maximising consumer benefits, the Minister must be cautious of those measures which propose to hand greater power to LTAs without adequate safeguards for the business interests of operators, such as giving LTAs power to introduce and reform multi-operator ticket schemes, franchise models etc.

“I note that the CC does not recommend franchising, considering instead that greater competition is the best way to rectify the problems it has identified, and this fundamental tenet should be at the heart of any proposed regulatory changes forthcoming from the DfT. The Minister should not be swayed by recent pronouncements at their party conference by the Shadow Secretary of State in favour of easier and wider application of franchise models. It would indeed be the most perverse of all outcomes if

CompComm.indd 37

“Given the scale of the Competition Commission’s investigation, it’s interesting to see that its proposed remedies are relatively modest.”

Paul Jenkins Thamesdown Transport

CBT’s Sophie Allain, says cuts could render the CC’s measures academic

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 37

The negative impact the existing market structure on consumers and the public purse could have per year a direct link is forged from the Competition Commission, charged as it is to enhance competiton, to quality contract models which deny it.

DAVID BROWN pteg Meanwhile, David Brown, who leads on buses for pteg, said: “In principle there are recommendations in this report that could be of benefit to passengers - including on promoting tickets that can be used on more than one operator, and on making it harder for operators to chop and change services at short notice.

“However, it’s unlikely these will be enough to address the significant negative impact of the existing market structure on consumers and the public purse, which the CC now estimates could be as high as £150m per year. It’s disappointing, therefore, that the CC has been lukewarm on some of the measures that would deliver the simple, integrated and good value public transport networks that passengers want - including top end Statutory Quality Partnerships, Qualifying Agreements and the franchising of bus networks.”

Brown continued: “However this is a complex report of loosely coordinated recommendations on a complex issue. We will need to examine in more detail whether and how each of these proposals will work in practice. The clue is in the name with the Competition Commission and as they accept local transport authorities also have wider social and policy objectives that have been absent from this investigation.

“Passengers at bus stops in the big cities we represent are not obsessing about the number of operators in their area - what they want is integrated public transport with one ticket for one network.

As the Competition Commission process draws to a close and the Government’s review of bus policy begins we will be emphasising that this broader view will be needed if passengers are going to get the integrated, high quality and affordable big city public transport networks that they need and deserve.”

STEPHEN MORRIS Bus Users UK “Competition for bus services may bring down fares and drive up quality’, said Bus Users UK general manager Stephen Morris, “but if

it makes it more complicated for passengers then it can have more drawbacks than benefits.

“Being able to use the first bus that comes regardless of who’s running it is just what people want.

Stephen said facilities to create multi-operator ticketing and clarification of the rules whereby operators can accept their rivals’ return tickets will make it easier to harness the benefits of competition without inconveniencing passengers.

“Bus Users UK is also hopeful that proposals to increase the lead time for changing services and requiring bus operators to inform local authorities of their intention to change services will give greater stability for passengers and ensure they know about service changes sooner.”

SOPHIE ALLAIN CBT Bus campaigner Sophie Allain, gave welcome “many of the suggestions” particularly steps to encourage greater partnership. However, she warned: “If budget cuts pull the carpet out from underneath parts of the bus network, the improvements suggested by the commission will be academic for many passengers.”

DAVID SIDEBOTTOM Passenger Focus David Sidebottom, PF’s bus director, said: “Passengers will welcome anything that has the potential to deliver better value for money buses and stopping the bus companies ability to chop and change services at the drop of a hat.

“They will particularly welcome the need for better working between bus operators and local authorities on the number one area for improvement which is improved service punctuality and to focus on multi-operator tickets, which they told us was their fourth most important priority for improvement.”

The Competition Commission has invited views in writing on its provisional decisions and underlying analysis by 5pm on October 27 by email to buses@ cc.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to: David Fowlis Inquiry Manager, Competition Commission, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AD. To view the CC’s proposals, visit its website at www.competitioncommission.org.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

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38 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

INSIGHT › ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Claims and the implications for the transport sector Joanne Francis, a transport partner and a member of the corporate risks team at national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP says now is the time to step up claims defensibility and do what you can to protect your company from future claims

P

assenger transport companies continue to tackle claims for damages following an accident, which, due to the current economic client, are ever more prevalent. Now is the time to step up claims defensibility and do what you can to protect your company from future claims.

Analysing trends

Since last year we have seen the introduction and bedding in of the Ministry of Justice Reforms for low value motor claims, a scheme which has been successful in the main and is likely to extend to employers’ liability claims. Surprisingly those managing the portal (the secure electronic data exchange for claims) are not intending to publish Management Information so it will fall to companies to capture the data they need to analyse claims trends and claimant solicitor activity. It will be crucial to do this and to liaise with contemporaries to keep abreast of these issues.

Driving down costs

Recently there has been a constant barrage in the press on claimant solictors’ costs – particularly the Jackson reforms and referral fees.

The Government now seems intent on ensuring it tries to contain costs, with the u-turn on referral fees suggesting a bowing to this media pressure over fraudulent road www.coachandbusweek.com

AccidentClaims.indd 38

traffic litigation and the driving up of insurance premiums. There is currently much debate over whether the extinction of referral fees will bring down the costs of motor litigation.

Preventing fraud

Businesses in the transport sector are keen to ensure that fraudulent claimants, who are currently costing insurers an estimated £2 billion per annum, are convicted wherever possible and that a hard line is taken to combat fraud. It is possible to successfully assist the police in securing convictions for perjury resulting in custodial sentences by tracking case trends and identifying patterns of fraud against your company. The courts are also alive to the issue and Judge Jeffrey Lewis has stated: ”It has to be understood that if people lie in court on oath and that has resulted in prosecution in relation to that, that serious consequences follow.”

The implications of claims

Claims have numerous implications for coach and bus companies. Those with large deductibles primarily self fund high volume claims; and those with lower deductibles face increased premiums as claim spend rises. Accidents often result in multi claimants where coach and bus passengers claim to be injured; and can involve multi vehicles, particularly coach

Joanne Francis says high value claims are prevalent in bus & coach

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP: a brief history

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP (BLM) is a well know law firm, renowned for its defendant dispute resolution and insurance expertise.

The firm’s national transport team has longstanding links with the UK’s public and private transport industries and extensive experience of handling their claims. It also works in conjunction with BLM’s corporate risks team to help clients comply with increasingly prescriptive regulatory requirements, the demands of good corporate governance and to defend themselves against a range of threats to their businesses.

crashes. Notwithstanding the financial pressure of claims on companies, serious accidents can attract unwanted attention from external agencies including the Police, HSE, Traffic Commissioner, Environmental Agency and Coroner.

There are a number of issues to consider with regards to drivers and operational matters: human resources and disciplinary implications; representation at criminal prosecutions and conflicts; risk management; safety awareness; and training and monitoring of staff.

Accidents can also result in media coverage and have an adverse effect on brand and reputation. High profile serious accidents in the media recently include: The Times, 13 August 2011: Driver convicted after bus struck a bridge slicing the roof off.

He had been warned not to drive in the area.

Daily Mail, 7 June 2011: Passenger on a bus broke neck and died after the driver braked suddenly. Discussion at inquest about the safety of passengers and whether drivers should wait until all passengers are seated before moving off.

Express, 11 June 2011: 39 coach passengers travelling to the Rock Ness festival injured after crash which killed a car driver.

Express, 1 May 2011: Coach passenger and lorry driver killed; and 49 passengers injured

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October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 39

after a crash near Stansted Airport.

These examples show serious accidents can lead to high value and volume claims, with increased profile in the press. This is prevalent in the bus and coach arena.

Using case law

Case law is ever developing and some of the latest key cases demonstrate how best to deal with claims and defend those where possible to combat costs.

Cases involving pedestrians and cyclists have the potential to be catastrophic and fatal, bearing in mind the vulnerable position of the claimants. Courts impose a high burden on drivers due to the fact that a car is a potentially dangerous weapon, as established in Lunt v Khelifa (2002). The landmark case of Eagle v Chambers (2003) confirmed it is rare for a pedestrian to be found to be more to blame than a driver unless the pedestrian has suddenly moved into the path of the vehicle. These cases feature in recent decisions set out as follows: Lightfoot v Go-Ahead Group Plc (2011): A very drunken 52 year old claimant walked into an unlit road at night to flag down the defendant’s bus. He was hit and he sustained serious injuries.

CCTV confirmed that the driver was distracted with non driving activities and he did not see the claimant until it was too late.

Primary liability was admitted.

The defendant argued that the

AccidentClaims.indd 39

claimant should be 70% to blame in accordance with Ehrari v Curry, involving a 13 year old pedestrian struck by a lorry after emerging from behind a parked car who had only been visible for one second.

Contributory negligence was assessed at 40%.

Clearly excessive alcohol was a factor in this case and the court considered Lunt and Liddell v Middleton. In Liddell the court rejected that a drunken pedestrian is as blameworthy as a drunken driver, as the driver is in control of an object which can cause great damage. It is necessary to look at what the pedestrian did, rather than the explanation for what he did - walking into the path of the bus - rather than his drunken state.

Drunkenness does not increase blameworthiness.

Jeacock v Nabet (2010): A 10 year old claimant sustained brain damage after being hit by the defendant’s car. Liability and the effects of the head injury were in dispute. There was no accident reconstruction evidence or any accident investigation reports. The defendant argued that the claimant ran out in front of his car without warning and he could not avoid a collision. The claimant was held liable as the defendant was driving within the speed limit and braked upon seeing the claimant step out.

This case follows the principles in Eagle in that the claimant stepped out suddenly. It would be

extreme to expect all reasonable motorists to adjust their driving to take into account the fact that all pedestrians waiting at the side of the road for traffic to pass may step out suddenly, especially with bus drivers in busy urban areas.

Sedge v Prime (2011): A 21 year old pedestrian was severely disabled after being hit by the defendant’s BMW 4x4. As in Lightfoot, the claimant had been drinking and walked out in front of the car. He alleged the defendant was travelling too fast for an area with traffic calming measures. The defendant was found to have been speeding and was not a credible witness, having changed his account. He should have been able to stop should anyone step out in front of him; and on that particular night at that particular time there was a significant risk that that would happen. Speed limits are not targets and drivers should be prepared for pedestrians stepping out without seeing them. He should have been ready to use his horn and had he done so the claimant would have been likely to react and avoid the collision. The defendant was primarily liable and the claimant 25 per cent contributory negligent for stepping out without looking.

Failure to sound his horn was used against the defendant, unlike in Jeacock. This is likely to be due to the fact that there were a number of factors against the defendant here and the fact that he was not a credible witness, as well as the good chance of pedestrians stepping out into the carriageway.

Belka v Prosperini (2011): A pedestrian was hit by the defendant’s taxi in the early hours when using an unregulated crossing on a dual carriageway (drivers had priority). The claimant and his friend had crossed two lanes of the dual carriageway and waited in the refuge in the middle.

The claimant had drunk four pints.

The defendant passed a breath test and was driving within the speed limit, at 25-30 mph. He only saw the claimant’s friend prior to the accident and if he had kept a better look out the accident would have been avoided. The defendant should have slowed down on seeing even one person on the side of the road and that if he had done so then he would have avoided the accident.

The claimant was found to be two thirds to blame. He had taken a deliberate risk in running across the road in front of the defendant

who had right of way. An accident was likely unless the defendant took avoiding action. The claimant’s argument that the accident would have been avoided if there was non negligent crossing by the claimant (an argument raised in Eagle) was rejected.

Woodham v JM Turner (T/A Turners of Great Britain) (2011): This case involved a motorcyclist and another episode of the saga of vehicles emerging and colliding with overtaking vehicles. The defendant’s coach emerged from a junction through a gap headed by a tractor and trailer in slow moving traffic. It started to turn right when the claimant drove a motorcycle along the main road, overtook on the outside of the slow moving traffic and collided with the coach. The defendant was 70% liable. As the driver’s view was obstructed she should have waited for a safe opportunity to pull out. The claimant was 30 per cent responsible as the risk of a vehicle emerging was obvious and foreseeable to a careful motorist.

Accident prevention is key

Clearly cases are fact specific but when assessing liability it is necessary to look carefully at the parties’ actions; what they could see; and what their intentions were. It is crucial to ensure that all relevant evidence is drawn together including lay witnesses; police report; locus report; and expert evidence (reconstruction and medical evidence for causation).

In light of the current challenges facing coach and bus companies, it is crucial to undertake detailed investigations so that informed decisions can be made to manage claims efficiently and to control costs but also to preserve brand and reputation. However, the importance of risk management, training and health and safety cannot be underestimated to try to prevent accidents happening in the first place.

Joanne Francis is a transport partner and a member of the corporate risks team at national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP For details of the transport team or the firm’s corporate risks offering, contact Joanne Francis at joanne. francis@blm-law.com or 0151 471 5439. www.blm-law.com www.coachandbusweek.com

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40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

DELIVERIES

in leather with contrasting leather headrest and piping.

All have three-point belts.

Blue fibre optic strip lighting lines step nosings and both sides of the gangway, while pavement floodlights cover the exterior, including the rear continental exit with manual door.

The driver has access to a Travel Pilot PX-V navigation system, a dash mounted Bluetooth module and CCTV.

WEAVAWAY TRAVEL Newbury operator Weavaway Travel has taken delivery of two identical Van Hool T915 Alicron luxury coaches.

The 12.2 metre-long vehicles are powered by MAN D2066 LOH28 engines, generating 400bhp (294kw), coupled to ZF AS-Tronic 12-speed 2101 transmission

with ZF Intarder-3. They are also fitted with ABS/ESP and a 450 litre fuel tank.

Both coaches have Alcoa Durabrite alloy wheels, xenon dip & main beam headlamps with LED daytime running lights and cruise control. Vertical lift luggage compartment doors are centrally locked.

The vehicles contain 53 Royal ‘Grand Luxe’ reclining passenger seats, trimmed

NEW ADVENTURE TRAVEL Cardiff-based New Adventure Travel has added a new a 14.1-metre Scania OmniExpress 36 touring coach to its fleet. Based on a Scania K400 EB 6x2*4 chassis, the vehicle is fitted with Scania’s 400bhp Euro 5/EEV engine and the latest

FACT FILE

CHASSIS/BODY Van Hool T915

Alicron

ENGINE MAN D2066 LOH28

400bhp 10.5 Litre

TRANSMISSION ZF As-Tronic

12 speed SEATS 53 SPEC Touring

SUPPLIED BY

Moseley in the South 01823 653000 www.moseleysouth.co.uk

LONDON MINI COACHES LTD London Mini Coaches Ltd of Hounslow have recently taken delivery of a new 13.25m Van Hool TD925 Astromega double deck luxury coach.

The coach is powered by a MAN D2676 LOH27 12.4 litre 480bhp (353kw) rear vertically-mounted EEV engine with idling time shutdown. Transmission is ZF AS-Tronic 12-speed with integral retarder. The coach also carries ASR traction control, a steering rear axle and 718 litre fuel tank.

The vehicle has xenon headlamps, while other lighting is provided by rear end LEDs, pavement floodlights to both sides, fibre optic strip lighting to both sides of raised platforms and saloon LED spot lights to centre roofs.

generation fully-automated Scania Opticruise gear selection system.

The vehicle is backed by Scania’s two-year service and repair contract, with local support provided by Keltruck Ltd, Scania’s dealer in Cardiff.

New Adventure Travel managing director Kevyn Jones said: “As a relatively young company, our focus is on expansion and driving the business forward

The vehicle is airconditioned with a Sutrak 40kw system and a Webasto heater. The WC compartment is situated within the lower saloon with fresh water and washing facilities, while a servery is positioned over the front wheel arches consisting of double size fridge, water boiler, sink and storage and work surfaces.

The coach is also fitted with towing equipment and an onboard vacuum cleaner.

FACT FILE

Fibre optic lighting strips to step nosing’s show blue with doors closed and red with doors open. The coach has power operated centre and front nearside doors with wheelchair access ramp. Two staircases lead to the upper saloon.

Along with the reclining courier seat there are

77 Grand Luxe reclining passenger seats, all forward facing and trimmed in moquette with leather headrests and piping. All passenger seats have lap seat belts. Side windows have dark tint and double glazing with curtains.

Passengers can enjoy a radio, PA and CD/DVD

system coupled with three monitors, two in the upper saloon and one in the lower saloon. There is an additional microphone socket for courier on the upper saloon and the driver has access to Bluetooth capability with foot activated operation, and interior and reversing cameras.

CHASSIS/BODY Van Hool TD925 Astromega ENGINE MAN D2676 LOH27 480bhp 12.4 litre TRANSMISSION ZF AS-Tronic 12 Speed SEATS 77 SPEC Touring SUPPLIED BY

Moseley in the South 01823 653000 www.moseleysouth.co.uk

Tel: 01353 773000 Fax: 01353 773001 Email: info@mcv-uk.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

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10/10/2011 23:31

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41

Have you taken delivery of a new vehicle and want to tell the world about it?

Email all the details and pictures to cbwinbox@ rouncymedia.co.uk

EDINBURGH COACH LINES

by delivering a positive customer experience. It is for this reason, plus the high levels of support provided

by Keltruck Cardiff, that we opted for another Scania product.”

New Adventure Travel’s fleet of buses and coaches operates on a range of contracts, private hire and service work. The new coach will be used primarily on the firm’s contracts and private hire operations.

FACT FILE

CHASSIS/BODY Scania K400 EB 6x2*4 / Scania OmniExpress 36 ENGINE Scania EEV 400 bhp Euro 5 TRANSMISSION Scania Opticruise SEATS 53 SPEC Touring SUPPLIED BY

Scania 01908 210210 www.scania.co.uk

INTRODUCING

Edinburgh Coach Lines has recently purchased four new Volvo B9R Plaxton Panther coaches to run on their Megabus contract.

The vehicles have D9B sixcylinder direct injection Euro 5 engines, rated at 380hp and connected to a Volvo I-Shift gearbox.

Each coach features 49 seats with three-point seat belts, demountable toilet, alloy wheels, airconditioning, fridge and a boiler. The new vehicles are fully DDA compliant and are specified with front entrance wheelchair access.

The step-free main saloon floor, with theatre style seating, provides ease of access and excellent views from all seats, whilst the Stel seat offers integral footrests

V

as standard, together with a unique cushion shape for comfort.

The new purchases represent the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh new Volvo vehicles to join the Edinburgh Coach Lines fleet in the last 12 months, with the company also having bought three Volvo 9700 coaches.

With eight Volvo specified coaches now firmly established in the company’s

impressive fleet of 26 vehicles, the last year has seen a positive relationship developing between the two companies.

The well-established Megabus contract, operated on behalf of Stagecoach, will see the new Volvo B9R Plaxton Panther coaches running daily, carrying passengers between Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh.

e olution

Peter Fyvie, Edinburgh Coach Lines general manager, said: “We’ve recently done quite a bit of business with Volvo. We were pleased with our 9700s, so following our decision to upgrade our Megabus vehicles, we went back to Volvo and purchased four B9R Plaxton Panthers.

“They meet all of the latest DDA spec and have front fitted wheelchair access ensuring that all our Megabus customers get the full benefit of the service.”

FACT FILE

CHASSIS/BODY Volvo B9R Plaxton Panther ENGINE 6 cylinder direct injection Euro 5 380hp Volvo DB9 TRANSMISSION Volvo I-Shift SEATS 49 SPEC Megabus SUPPLIED BY

Volvo Bus 01926401777 www.volvobus.com/bus/uk

• NEW GENERATION • NEW DESIGN • NEW IMAGE

DESIGNED TO LEAD. BUILT TO L AST. Sterling Place, Elean Business Park, Sutton, Ely, Cambs CB6 2QE Telephone: 01353 773000 Fax: 01353 773001 E-mail: sales@mcv-uk.com www.coachandbusweek.com

Deliveries.indd 41

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42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

OPEN PLATFORM › MARTIN DEAN

The benefits of BSOG Go-Ahead’s Martin Dean engages in the BSOG debate and reminds us why it was awarded in the first place, as a subsidy to passengers Keeping the status quo for any form of Government funding is not easy in the current parsimonious funding environment but with BSOG its status seems to have always been up for grabs in good times or bad.

The Comprehensive Spending Review in 2010 delivered the industry a 20% cut in BSOG funding but most of us saw this as the industry ‘taking its share’ of the pain and accepted this as a reasonable compromise compared with total abolition. There was a sting in the tail as the Government’s announcement referred to a ‘review of long term options for future distribution of bus subsidy’.

So the emphasis has now shifted to the mechanisms by which BSOG could be paid through local authorities and there have been attempts to reach a consensus between the operator and local authority community to achieve this.

There are a number of arguments on both sides of the fence which readers will be familiar with: from an operator point of view, we like the simplicity of the current regime; from the local authority point of view, having BSOG channelled through their own funding streams would no doubt be welcome relief at a time when pressure is being applied to other funding sources.

The argument that never appears to be addressed is ‘How else do we give financial support to our customers on commercial services?’ In other words we shouldn’t forget why BSOG (or Fuel Duty Rebate as it was known then) was originally introduced in 1965 - to provide respite to customers against spiralling fares brought on by sudden spikes in fuel costs.

It is easy to forget that BSOG is ultimately a subsidy to passengers rather than operators.

This is very important given a number of our customers are in lower income groups and the different rules that apply to fuel duty in the bus industry compared with rail and air.

Of course at that time there was no differentiation between commercial and subsidised services like there is nearly 50 years on. And it is true to say that commercial services form the backbone of our urban bus networks (and in some cases semi urban and rural networks). If you look at some of these commercial corridors since private ownership, they have been developed to unprecedented levels with regular upgrading of vehicles, frequency increases, developments in retailing

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OpenPlatform.indd 42

Go South Coast’s ‘more’ bus is an example of how services have been developed and continually invested in, under privatisation

“The argument that never appears to be addressed is ‘How else do we give financial support to our customers on commercial services?” and supported by innovative and fresh marketing.

Taking my organisation, I’m referring to services like the ‘more’ routes in Bournemouth/ Poole which run every five minutes (sometimes better) Mondays to Fridays, and to a high frequency in the evenings and on Sundays; and Konectbus 8 which provides a half hourly nonstop service between Dereham and Norwich, which started as a brand new two hourly service in 2009. We don’t claim exclusivity to this either: Trent’s Derby – Nottingham Red Arrow service and Stagecoach’s 192 Stockport to Manchester are two other examples of continued investment and development over a sustained period.

We recognise the development of these major transit corridors has been achieved through a combination of private and public funding, of which BSOG is an important element. BSOG helps us to keep fares at a lower level than if it wasn’t there and increases the attractiveness of what we are able to offer. The volumes travelling are massive: our commercial networks account for around 200 million journeys per annum and it is a growing market – patronage for us was up 2.3% between 2010 and 2011.

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 ‘ringfencing’ for buses is a key issue if devolution to local authorities did take place – but it is the way

that the money could be spent in future. Even if it stayed in the bus sector, that is a concern.

Once BSOG is changed, EU state aid rules would prevent this money ever being channelled into supporting customers of commercial bus services again. It would be a perverse outcome if this public funding which the Government has committed to (albeit at a reduced level) could only be used to support the minority of bus company customers who use socially necessary services (or worse the costs of administration behind them), rather than the vast majority, who use our commercial services and currently benefit from private investment and public support in a rare uncomplicated example of private public partnership?

BSOG stands tall as well when value for money comes in to consideration. Exhaustive studies by the Commission for Integrated Transport in 2001 and 2009 both concluded that the benefit: cost ratio of BSOG was outstanding and it was an excellent lever for delivering Government mode share objectives.

So, status quo could be a good thing when it comes to BSOG. Having said that, it would be naïve to think nothing changes and there is something uncomfortable in a more environmentally conscious world where it can appear to those outside the industry that operators are being rewarded for burning fuel, but if that is a reason to change, let’s base the grant more on achieving incentives (again which could be based on Government policy objectives) but with the important proviso that whatever mechanism is adopted still sees the financial benefit trickling down to the majority of bus passengers – those travelling on our commercial networks.

Martin Dean is managing director (bus development) for the Go-Ahead Group and has 26 years experience in the transport sector. He has held senior management positions in bus and rail with National Express and FirstGroup as well as public sector experience with Transport for London and Surrey County Council, and six years in transport planning with Atkins.

If you want to let off some steam, just tap away at the keyboard and send your rant (or carefully-reasoned views) to cbwinbox@rouncymedia.co.uk, or fax 0845 280 2927. Make ‘Open Platform’ the subject line. Alternatively, send your missive to: CBW, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

11/10/2011 00:11

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1 Coach & Bus Week keeps you up-todate with topical industry news. It reports interviews with industry leaders, operator profiles, deliveries and new vehicle & product launches and legal up dates including employment. It is also in touch with changing government policy across the industry and topical debate that affects your business.

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25/08/2011 15:46

October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45

DRIVERS

Send your driver news and stories to gareth.evans@rouncymedia. co.uk or call 01733 293 243.

To advertise on this page, contact team leader Harley Denham on 01733 293 249 or e-mail harley.denham@ rouncymedia.co.uk

Driver cleared of death by careless driving Driver denied wrongdoing after hitting pedestrian as bus was overhanging pavement An Arriva London bus driver who knocked down and killed a pedestrian on a pavement has been cleared of causing death by careless driving. Luigi Albertelli, 49, was behind the wheel of a route 141 double-decker bus when he hit father-of-four Ibrahim Tejan in Moorgate, central London in August 2010.

Mr Albertelli had been checking his mirrors after passing a stretch of roadworks, the Old Bailey heard.

Nicola Merrick, prosecuting, said: “His bus was overhanging the pavement and he drove forward for a distance for several seconds with the bus overhanging the pavement.”

Albertelli said it was impossible to avoid the tip of the bus hanging over the pavement and he was

Stagecoach staff run for Demelza Hospice

33 bus drivers and support staff from Stagecoach depots across Kent and East Sussex joined hundreds of runners at Maidstone’s Tote Park to raise money for the Demelza Children’s Hospice. The team members ran either the 10k track or the shorter 5k course.

The runners travelled from their depots on board the specially liveried Demelza Olympian bus which promotes the charity on bus routes in the Canterbury area.

Kristina Gwynne, marketing assistant for the company, said that the team hopes to raise over £3000 once the sponsorship from colleagues, family and friends has been collected.

“Team Stagecoach was proud to help raise funds at the Demelza

Drivers.indd 45

pre-occupied checking the back end avoided hitting a traffic island.

He told police: “I was doing what I should have been doing - looking at my offside mirror for a split second.

I can’t manoeuvre in there without doing that.

“As I’m looking in my offside mirror to straighten my bus up, the next thing I hear is a loud bang and I look at my nearside - that’s when I see the gentleman sort of spinning and turning on to the floor. He added: “The gap was very tight, so I had to slow down and bring my bus into the gap - I had to put the front end of my bus on the pavement.”

Mr Albertelli denied causing death by careless driving and was cleared after a week-long trial. Mr Tejan, 50, was taken to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, after hitting his head on the pavement but died from his injuries 16 days later on September 2, 2010.

Ashford operations manager Dutch Docherty with the latest trained drivers Mark Alexander and Gavyn Mills and driving instructor Paul Donoghue

Stagecoach Ashford depot doubles drivers over 5 years Stagecoach has almost doubled driver numbers in the Ashford area over the last five years. With over 325,000 passenger journeys made each week on the 21 routes operated from the Ashford depot, Stagecoach is on target to increase its driver team from 50 to 100 by the end of this year, with 96 currently employed.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of Stagecoach in Kent and East Sussex, said: “We have worked

The team, pictured at Tote Park, hope to raise over £3,000 Run. Running as part of a team is highly rewarding and hopefully will inspire others to try it too.”

Demelza Hospice Care for Children was set up by Derek and Jennifer Phillips following the death of their daughter, Demelza, from a brain tumour at the age of 24.

Demelza had worked at the Acorn’s children’s hospice in Birmingham and the couple realised the south east was in dire need of a similar facility. The charity opened their first hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent in 1998. A second facility was built in south east London in 2009.

closely with Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council and, whilst most of our depots in Kent are experiencing growth, Ashford has taken the lead.”

Bus services in Ashford are shared between Stagecoach East Kent, Arriva Kent & Sussex and National Express.

Stagecoach East Kent can be contacted on 08702 433711 or 08456 00 22 99

Man jailed for attacking Dublin Bus driver An Irishman who struck a Dublin Bus driver in the face with his fist after he believed the bus driver overtook him in a dangerous manner was sentenced to five months in prison at Balbriggan District Court and ordered to pay his victim €2,500 in compensation.

Paul Coughlan, of Lusk, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to assaulting Andrew Kelly on October 14, 2010 at Main Street in Rush.

The court heard that at 1700hrs the injured party, Mr Kelly was driving the 33 bus from Dublin to Rush. When the bus pulled up at a bus stop, the defendant began banging on the bus window and shouted abuse at the driver. The defendant then lunged at the driver striking him in the face with his fist.

www.coachandbusweek.com

10/10/2011 23:32

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46 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 12, 2011

BUS STOPthe place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £20 just call 020 8320 1351 VOLKSWAGEN LT46 LWB 2.5 TDi WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 17 seats. 02 52, Stanford Conversion, non slip flooring, full tracking for 4 wheelchairs, fully lined interior, side loading door, grab handles, tinted glazing, AVS side step, automatic Ratcliff under floor tail lift, tachograph, road speed limiter.

Excellent condition, 75,000 miles, 1 owner, ex-council, with COIF. £8,995 + VAT

Quality Coach Sales

New Barn Motor Company • 07956 833132 • www.nbmc.co.uk

24 Hrs

1994 VOLVO B10M 2F AUTOMATIC PLAXTON PREMIER 350 53 SEATS EXEC £17,000 + VAT NEW MOT - READY NOW

0844 576 3300 OFFER FOR SALE DUE TO FLEET UPGRADE

2004(04) IVECO BEULAS EL MUNDO, 51 seats, auto, full exec £82,000 now ..............£76,000 2003(53) IVECO BEULAS STERGEO, 49/53 seats, auto , full exec ..............................£75,000 2003(52) DAF SB300 S VAN HOOL T9, 51/53 seats, auto, full exec .................................£79,000 OLD 2002(52) SCANIA K124 VAN HOOL T9, 49 seats, comfort shift, full exec ......................£75,000 2002(02) SCANIA K114 IRIZAR, 49 seats, comfort shift, full exec £68,000 now ............£63,000 (All coaches are in excellent condition with low miles, base white with removable transfers)

PART EXCHANGE CONSIDERED ON ALL ABOVE 2003(03) MERCEDES 311 CDI, 8 seats, MOT Feb 2012 .................................................£3,995 1998(S) IVECO DAILY 2.8 diesel, 15 seats .......................................................................£2,995 1998(S) FORD TRANSIT 2.5 diesel, Jumbo XL, 17 seats ................................................£1,995 SOLD 1991(J) MERCEDESS 814D, 29 seats New MOT ...............................................................£3,250 OLD ALL PRICES ARE PLUS VAT

For more details contact Steve or Russ 01884 252646 or 07702 626542

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

Excel Conversion Executive 16 seat Mini-Coach with brand new (not re-con) power unit supplied & fitted by Mercedes Benz Glasgow on 22/08/2011, 2 years Mercedes Parts & Labour warranty, full leather seating, 12 reclining, 4 fixed at rear, Eberspacher air-con and saloon heating, DVD and monitor, full draw curtains, large boot, electric front windows & mirrors, MOT Apr 2012, £35,000 + VAT – Available Now.

!

R E F F O SPECIAL

tel: 07789 860346 email: michael@discoverscotlandtours.com

t Contac Lara Odumosu

0 1351 020 8@r3ou2nc ymedia.co.uk

lara.odumosu

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 conditioning, 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

Call Dougie at Haggis Adventures on 0131 554 9192

Telephone Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351 or email lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk

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October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47

To advertise on these pages for as little as £20 just call 020 8320 1351 VOLKSWAGEN T5 TRANSPORTER HIGH ROOF 2.5 TDI WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 8 SEAT MINIBUS 05/55, Indian Blue, air conditioning, PAS, ABS, 6 speed gearbox, M2 Unwin Innotrax flooring, Ricon internal automatic wheelchair lift, 1 owner, 37,942 miles.

Excellent condition £10,995 + VAT

New Barn Motor Company • 07956 833132 • www.nbmc.co.uk

Due to fleet upgrade, KM Travel of Barnsley South Yorks offer for sale:

2001 BOVA Futura

Above average condition, only used on our own British tour programme, painted to stock white, 12 months MOT, 49 seats, centre toilet.

Offered at a realistic price of £49,500 (finance available subject to status and acceptance)

For further detail contact Keith 01226 280 982

AdvertiseyourCoachorBushereforaslittleas£20.00 aweek!

Call Lara Odumosu on 0208 301 8310 or email: lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk

Twin Wheel Bike Transport Trailer Due to fleet replacement, we have the following vehicles for sales from 1st Nov:

Completely refurbished, 12 bike space capacity or 10 + tandem, separate storage locker, CCTV, electronic key bike locks, 4.9m long, 2.6m wide, 2.1m high, gross weight 2500kg, max axle load 1 1700kg, max axle load 2 1700kg.

£4,995.00 o.n.o

Tel: 01463 222444 Mobile: 07867852959

2001 Volvo B12 Berkhof Axial 100 14 berth sleeper £87,000 + VAT

2001 Volvo B12 Berkhof Axial 100 16 Berth sleeper £95,000 + VAT

2000 Volvo B10m Berkhof 15 Berth sleeper £85,000 + VAT

1997 Scania Irizar 8 Berth sleeper £15,000 + VAT

Phone 0844 8009130 or email sales@fastway.uk.com

FREEDESIGNFREEWEBADFREEFULLCOLOURFREEDESIGNFREEWEBADFREEFULLCOLOUR

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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.

2000 W/X REG V0LVO B6BLE’S

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, £72,000.

2009 ADL ENVIRO 200

ZF gearboxes, Wrights bodies, ramps, 35 seats, very clean, £13,000 each supplied with new MOT and COIF. LAST 4

Cummins ISBC engine, repainted white, Hanover destination, MOT August 2012, one only at £28,000.

2004 DART MPD

10.8m, Cummins / Allison, Hanover blinds, 37 seats, full DDA, £74,000.

2009 ADL ENVIRO 200

1995 M REG DENNIS DRAGONS

2006 OPTARE SOLO

Mercedes, 9.2m, 31 individual seats with 3 point belts.

Cummins/Voith gearboxes, Duple Metsec bodies, recent floors and 92 coach seats.

2007 DART MPD

Euro 4, Cummins/Allison, MCV body, 9m, 32 seats.

One available at £45,000

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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g nbus

K ER SPECIALIST 1994 K REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN

GREAT VALUE DENNIS DARTS!!!

Northern Counties low height bodies, Volvo engines, good selection with long MOTs.

6 speed ZF manual, Marcopolo body, 67 seats, MOT 02/12.

1995 PP DENNIS JAVELIN

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).

Cummins ISB engine, 10.2m long, 37 seats, only one available.

2004 OPTARE SOLO

1998 S REG DENNIS DART SPD

Cummins / Allison World Series gearbox , Pointer 2 body, 41 seats.

6 speed ZF manual, Caetano Algarve, 55 seats, recently trimmed.

ZF automatic, Plaxton Excalibur body, 49 seats, NSR toilet, air-con, MOT 05/12.

One only at £26,000.

Plaxton President bodies, LEZ post 2012 with traps, single door converted and 72 seats.

2000 W REG VOLVO B10M

Cummins / Allison, Marshall bodies, 37 seats, LEZ post 2012 with traps, from our own fleet and very tidy. £6,000 each.

1998 REG DENNIS DART SLF’S

2000 W REG DENNIS DART MPD’S Cummins/Allison, Plaxton bodies, 8.8m, 29 seats.

1998 R REG VOLVO B10M

2000 W REG VOLVO B7TL’S

ZF auto, Plaxton Prestige body, 41 retrimmed seats, MOT August 2012.

1998 R REG DAF SB220 SLF

Mercedes engines, Slimlines, 2.34m wide, 7.8m long, 24 seats, Hanover LEDʼs.

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

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THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OFFERS...

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NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS

(11) 2011 Ford Transit 17 seat medium roof, 2.4tdi, air-con, tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, fogs, colour coded bumpers, ONLY 3,000 miles £23,750

W at NE se 17

(60) 2011 Ford Transit 15 seat 2.4 tdci minibus, tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, silver £18,995 (10) 2010 Ford Transit 12 minibus 2.2tdci 115ps tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, parking sensors, in silver, 1,400km £17,495 (10) 2010 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle Bus 2.2 tdci 140ps, air-con, sat-nav, Bluetooth, parking sensors, in silver, delivery miles only £17,995

FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES

(08) 2008 Ford Transit 15 seat minibus, high back seats with three point belts, tacho, 41,000 kms £14,750

(08) 2008 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi, tacho, high back seats with three point belts, 33,000kms only, COIF/PSV £15,200 (07) 2007 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4 tdi 115ps, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV, 44,000 miles £11,995

LDV MINIBUSES

New LDV Maxus 17 seat minibus 2.5 diesel, LWB, twin side loading doors, 2 year mechanical warranty, COIF/PSV £16,995

(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 £7,995

OTHER MAKES

(08) 2008 Renault Traffic Sportive 9 seat LL29 dci, 31,000 miles, in silver £10,750

Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat School minibus diesel 2.2 120ps six speed, COIF/PSV. Choice of colours £21,995+VAT

OTHER MAKES

5 3.

n to

New Renault Master 17 seat LM35 / 125PS £21,995 (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

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

(58) Fiat Doblo 1.4 petrol, 3 seats, low floor, lightweight ramp, E/W, C/L, CD, 19,000 miles £9,995

(07) 2007 Volkswagen Crafter 8 seat 2.2 diesel inboard lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, 48,000 miles £13,995 (07) 2007 Fiat Dobol 1.4 petrol, lightweight ramp low floor, 5 door, ABS, air bag, air con, electric reels, E/W, PAS, radio/ CD, C/L £6,995

(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

(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

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

Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk

Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304

Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NPA 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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October 12, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 55

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.

ÂŁ14,950.00

View all stock online: www.staffordbuscentre.com Email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552

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Southdown PSV 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2003 MAN 18.280 SLF IKARUS 12m. 42 seats £29,950

1999 DART SLF PLAXTON 31 seats. £7,500

1996 SCANIA SLF WRIGHTS 42 seats. £8,950

1996 VOLVO OLY ALEXANDER 78 seats. £15,500

2000 VOLVO B7 SLF ALEXANDER & PLAXTON 72/74 seats/belts. £POA

1999 DAF DB250 NCME EXHIBITION/HOSPITALITY. £32,500

Prices plus VAT @ 20%

Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN

VANHOOL T916 ASTRON

13.2mtr, 53 rec seats, centre sunken washroom, 3 monitors, fridge, boiler, air con plus other extras

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

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Mini Coach Sales

BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE TORO 32 high back seats, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE SOROCO 19 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

BRAND NEW MERCEDES 813 VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power plug door, luggage boot.

2007 07 REG FORD TRANSIT 14 seats, 3 point belts.

2006 06 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI OPTARE SOROCO 16 high back reclining seats, forced air, reading lights, A/C, power door, large boot.

2006 06 MERCEDES 814D PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights D/G, power door.

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.

2005 05 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large luggage boot.

2006 06 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights and large boot, analogue tacho.

BARGAIN BUS STOP 2002 52 REG RENAULT 10 SEATS + RAMP 2004 04 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, luggage racks, coach back end and large boot.

2003 03 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks.

2001 51 REG RENAULT 8 SEATS + RAMP

Steve Peach Tel: 01302 770863 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: steve@connaughtpsv.co.uk

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ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES BUILDINGS

CHECKPOINTS

HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available

For further information phone

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime

TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/ DUSTITE

loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:

Tel: 01524 271200

www.checkpoint-safety.com Email: info@checkpoint-safety.com

We Repair or Replace ENGINES

VISCOFANS FOR TRUCKS & BUSES

Nationwide Delivery/Collection

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PROMOTION

LARA

020 8320 1351 lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk

October 12, 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: The familiar hectic press day.

Passengers on some Stagecoach buses in Lancaster have received chapter and verse on the Mormon church

The wrong kind of service…

Following a number of complaints, Stagecoach has asked the Mormon Church to stop missionaries from trying to convert its passengers, The Guardian reported.

Drivers and passengers in the Lancaster area complained Mormons had been using the bus as a way of engaging the public.

Operations manager for Stagecoach in Lancaster Stephie Barber said: “We do not permit any commercial or other organisation to promote their products, services or views through direct engagement with passengers on our services. In cases where we are made aware of any activity of this nature, we follow it up with the

Dilbert

organisation involved. We are also doing so in this particular case to make our position clear.”

Robert Preston, England Manchester mission president for the Mormon Church defended the actions of the “persistent and courageous” young people in the north of England engaged in trying to convert people.

“They will sit next to someone, and they will introduce themselves and try and have a good conversation to explain a point of view that someone might never have heard before,” he said.

Whilst the media berates Britain’s rail network for citing ‘the wrong kind of snow’ as a reason for services being held up, we wondered whether Stagecoach would quite literally be excused for offering ‘the wrong kind of service’.

The Mormons will doubtless defend their actions as following their orders religiously – get it?!

More on rail bus replacement Iain Macbriar of Worcesterbased transport consultancy QV Associates emailed in to say: “I enjoyed reading your ‘Last Stop’ piece about the Ffestiniog doing a bus replacement service (CBW1003).

“Another one of these was operated here in Worcester in 1947, when the Severn flooded to 17 feet above normal, preventing the use of the road bridge. The GWR (Great Western Railway) ran a shuttle between Foregate Street station and the then-open halt at Henwick on the western side of the river for four days. The apocryphal story was they ran out of tickets and ended up running it for free.”

Tuesday: Work remotely. After several work phone calls, turn a feature around. Head to Birmingham late in the afternoon to attend my first Optare’s editors’ briefing. Enjoy a meal in a delightful pub I know from the not too distant past.

Having ordered steak, the friendly waitress asks if she can get us any sauces. I request ketchup, and as a result, endure much friendly banter from the boys. A short time later, the waitress asks if everything is alright. “I can’t get it out,” I remark, which prompts further laughter and innuendo.

Having finished the main course, the waitress asks if we enjoyed it. I remark: “Can’t beat a saucy combination,” to which she laughs, “Oh, oh.” All good fun.

Wednesday: An enjoyable day at the show.

Don’t stop chatting, making notes and taking pics – I even skip lunch. It’s akin to a gathering of friends. In the evening, enjoy a civilised, informal discussion with my colleagues about our respective days over a couple of beers.

Thursday: Receive more positive comments about CBW. After a cracking two and a half days away, I’m on a high mentally, despite being tired. I’m delighted to see my fiancée when I arrive home in the evening. However, I don’t get to bed until gone midnight.

Friday: With CBW whizzing round in my head, wake up at 0600hrs. A manic day in the office follows.

As ever, I multi task - choose my show pics while also ensuring as much material as possible is fed to designer Keith. Have my second dealing of the week with a graduate of the Basil Fawlty School of Diplomacy, as it were. Leave the office later than would be desirable on a Friday.

A weekend in Peterborough beckons. www.coachandbusweek.com

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RECRUITMENT

Arriva welcomes graduate engineers A team of newly qualified engineers is set to join Arriva permanently, after completing a four-year apprenticeship scheme.

The graduates were honoured at a presentation ceremony at Coach and Bus Live on October 5, where lead engineer for Arriva Bus UK, Ian Tarran personally congratulated them.

The scheme aims to equip trainees with the skills to maintain its fleet of buses and ensure the smooth and reliable operation of its vehicles. It combines residential college and on-the-job training at a local depot, where apprentices are mentored and supervised by fully qualified engineers.

Engineer trainer for Arriva Bus UK, Lloyd Mason, who is heavily

Reading apprentice commended

Pictured back left to right are: Carl Davey, Carl Prosser, John Scope, Lloyd Mason, Nathan Smith, Adam Butler and Adam Brown. Bottom row: James Hopcraft, Glenn Cooke, Scott Bennett and Stephen Hall involved with the programme, said: “It’s great to see these former trainees complete their apprenticeship and become fully qualified engineers. They have worked extremely hard to get here and are fully deserving of this recognition. The scheme is a great

way to learn and gain valuable experience at the same time.”

The apprentices have qualified with an NVQ level 3 and a technical certificate in transport engineering maintenance. They can also now become members of Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE).

An engineering apprentice at Reading Buses has received a ‘highly commended’ award after impressing colleagues with his commitment to the business.

Dan Moss (18) volunteered to help out by working an evening night shift for two weeks.

During the 1700 to 0100hrs shift, he carried out running repairs under the supervision of the duty skilled fitter.

Chief engineer Keith Ward said: “Colleagues commented on what a good job he did. As a result he has been presented with a ‘highly commended’ award. We are also very proud that he is top of his class in college.”

Dan is in the second year of his four-year engineering apprenticeship.

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

Nikki takes last bus at Reading

enthusiasm for hard work.

“I will be very sorry to lose her from the Reading Transport team, but wish her well for her future in the bus industry.”

Nikki’s previous positions within the company have included 15 years as engineering administrator prior to her appointment to the new role of executive assistant to the CEO three years’ ago.

She took over the position of marketing manager when Nikki Ball was on maternity leave and on the latter’s return to the company she took up her present post as communications manager.

“I am very excited and enthusiastic about my new role, but equally sad about leaving Reading Buses behind,” said Nikki.

“I have enjoyed my career with them, especially the last three years working closely with James Freeman, CEO. He has taught me well.

“There is always more for me to learn and I feel my new position with Bluestar is one not to be missed!”

A popular member of Reading Transport’s management team – Nikki Honer – has achieved promotion to a new post as commercial manager of Bluestar buses in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Nikki, who has been with the firm for 23 years and is currently Reading Transport’s communications manager, is leaving at the end of the month to take up her new post.

“I regard this as a feather in our cap, as this is a richly deserved promotion,” acknowledged James Freeman, Reading Transport’s chief executive officer.

“This is a great opportunity for Nikki to work an even broader spectrum so that she can further develop her skills and give Bluestar the benefit of her flair and

harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk

SUBCONTRACTING The Star Bus Company is looking to work in Partnership with fellow quality contractors in the Hertfordshire and North London areas to service one or more of our contracts.

The value of the work could be substantial and would be for a fixed period.

If you wish to register your interest then please email info@starbus.co.uk with the subject heading SUBCONTRACTING. Please include in your email the name of your company, name and contact number of the prime contact for us, type of vehicles you could supply, number of vehicles in your fleet and any other information you wish to include.

We will request additional information before awarding any work.

We require service providers of passenger assistants, PCO drivers and PCV drivers.

Vehicle requirements would be for saloon cars, MPV’s, accessible cars, mini-buses up to 8 seats, mini-buses 9-16 passenger seats, tail-lift mini-buses, accessible welfare buses, service buses/coaches.

Executive contractors also sought. www.coachandbusweek.com

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