Q2 2018
your news and views
Home Truths
Getting to Know You: Driver Managers Top 5 Tips for Fighting Fatigue
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Journey Planner: The Best Bus Trips Around the World
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Welcome from the MD our Melbourne operations and the wider bus industry. Results from our recent Employee Opinion Survey reinforce that many of you recognise and continue to be concerned about critical issues like the state of our fleet, driver availability, challenging traffic conditions and the safety and security of our employees. We are therefore focused on acting on these issues as matters of priority. With this in mind there has been a huge effort on ensuring our buses are ready for service and I am pleased to announce a dramatic change in our fleet availability. There’s still more to do, however, so to everyone involved in this process, please keep up the good work! As part of our ongoing efforts to address these issues, my intention is to continue to get around to all our depots and get to know as many of you as possible. I want to listen and understand your views and insights, and to learn as much from you as I can about the challenges and opportunities confronting us.
Hello Journey Makers, As you read this I’m entering my third month as Acting Managing Director, and I’d like to thank everyone in our Melbourne team for being so welcoming. I’m excited to be stepping into this role, and a key reason for that is the opportunity to work with all of you. It’s already clear to me that not only do we have tremendous capability within our Melbourne team, but more importantly, a clear drive and passion to deliver the best possible service to our customers and the community. As I’m sure you are all aware, there have been significant changes in our Melbourne business recently. I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that Transdev is fully committed to our Melbourne bus operations and I am here to support this business in every possible way. As journey makers, at Transdev our aim will always be to ensure our customers have a safe and enjoyable experience, every time they travel with us. Having said that, there are some very real challenges currently being faced by
To start that process, I’d like to share a few details about myself and my own experience. As some of you know, I have been with Transdev for three years. I was previously the Managing Director of our bus operations in Sydney. I ran our operations for two years before being appointed as the Director of Business Strategy, Performance and Transformation at Transdev Australasia. I originally come from the UK, where I worked with FirstGroup and also spent time in the aviation industry. I’m confident that my knowledge and experience, combined with the strength and resources of the broader Transdev Group and, most importantly, the skills, knowledge and capabilities in our Melbourne team, form a strong platform for our future success. Together as one team I believe we can strengthen our Melbourne bus operations. I encourage all of you to continue to share your insights and feedback about our performance and how we can do better in all facets of our operations. Once again, I thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to working closely with all of you. NIKKI ALLDER Acting Managing Director
On Thursday 21 June 2018, members of the Transdev leadership group braved the cold winds of Melbourne for St Vincent de Paul’s signature fundraising event, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, to address poverty and homelessness in Victoria. WHAT IS THE VINNIES CEO SLEEPOUT? The Vinnies CEO Sleepout was first launched in Sydney in 2006 and has since grown into a successful national event, hosted annually during winter in 11 locations across Australia. It is open exclusively to CEOs, business executives and community leaders. The event provides an opportunity for participants to join and lead a public conversation about how policy makers, community leaders and individuals can support the most vulnerable members of our community. The 2018 CEO Sleepout saw all participants spend one night sleeping rough; an experience that allowed all those involved to reflect on the pressures felt by people who are caught in the grips of homelessness. The focus of this year’s CEO Sleepout was homelessness and pathways to homelessness (e.g. poverty).
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The 2018 Vinnies CEO Sleepout
HOW IS TRANSDEV HELPING BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS? Members of the Transdev leadership group signed up for St Vincent de Paul’s signature fundraising event, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, to address poverty and homelessness in Victoria. Last year, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout raised 5.6 million dollars for people experiencing homelessness, but the reality is that there is still so much more that needs to be done. With over 105,000 Australians still experiencing homelessness, this year the Transdev team set out to raise much-needed funds to help Vinnies provide essential services to the people who need them. Transdev is passionate about contributing to the communities we serve and we are proud to be supporting the Vinnies #PovertyHomeTruths campaign to raise not only much needed funds, but awareness of the real, lived experiences of poverty that Vinnies volunteers see every day.” With the city’s transport infrastructure providing such a critical service for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, our bus drivers often see first-hand the consequences of living below the line. As part of the Sleepout, participants slept on a piece of cardboard for the night, were provided
Above: Transdev Australasia CEO Rene Lalande, Safety Training Manager Berry McSherry and General Manager, Operations and Customer Experience George Konstantopoulos braved the Melbourne winter to raise funds for Victorians doing it tough.
a modest dinner by the Vinnies Soup Van volunteers and had the opportunity to speak face-to-face with people experiencing poverty and homelessness. No one chooses to be homeless and we are proud to help bring to light the truths from the frontline.” The Sleepout took place on 21 June 2018 at The University of Melbourne Parkville Campus, South Lawn Underground Carpark.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? First off, we’d like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who donated and helped organise fundraising events across the depots. As a result of your efforts, we managed to raise over $12,000, which will go towards helping Vinnies provide food, shelter, training and support to people experiencing homelessness. If you’d still like to get involved, we can continue to make a difference for the thousands of Australians experiencing homelessness. Your donation directly assists people living below the line by: U funding new initiatives U ensuring existing homeless services, like food vans and emergency support, continue U expanding the reach of existing programs to ensure every Australian can access accommodation, meals, and emergency assistance when they need it
HOMELESSNESS CAN AFFECT ANYONE AT ANY TIME. DONATE TODAY AT www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/transdev TRANSXPRESS Q2 2018
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. .. w o n k o t t e g o t e im t ’s It
our Driver Managers
Our Driver Managers are operational leaders within our business. They play a vital role as the main point of contact for our drivers and are essential in ensuring we deliver the best service possible to our customers. They are passionate about developing people and implementing change…but what else are they passionate about? Find out what our Driver Managers get up to in their spare time in this edition of Getting to Know You.
Adam T aurian
Doncaster Depot
1. In 2010 I ran for the Victorian state election (seat of Seymour). 2. I have represented Victoria in Gridiron (American Football). 3. We enjoy snow skiing and snowboarding as a family. 4. My children and I help Melbourne city mission once a month to feed the homeless. 5. I collect classic cars and bikes, and vinyl records!
Johann Pereir a
Keysborough Depot
stry 1. I have been in the bus indu rs. for 10 yea 2. I love to stay active –love gardening, bike riding, running, walking and working out. 3. I have been married for 32 years and have 2 children and 2 grand-daughters. 4. I am a Rugby Union Fan. 5. My main goals in life are to have a successful career and to travel. My next trip is to Hawaii in August this year!
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Thomastow
n Depot
1. I was a high school chess champion! 2. I am a passio nate fan of rugb y 3. I really enjoy cooking Asian cuisine 4. In high school , I played the flu te 5. My favourite band is AC/DC!
Daniel Kaucki
oberts R t r a u St
Doncaster Depot
Heatherton De
pot
1. After working in the wi furnishings industry ndow for 11 years with Winning Blind s, 10 years ago I started as a su perv National Bus in Fitzro isor with y. 2. I am getting ma rried in July to my lovely partner Sri , so she can help me look after my cats Mimi & Merton! 3. I am currently at the Heatherton depot (Area South) where one of my main roles is to look after, and investigate, all the for the 901/902 serv complaints ice however, is very div s. My role, erse, and I am also involved in ma tters health and safety, att concerning en reliability, vehicle pr dance, esentation audits, people and culture and revenue. I love work ing here as we have a great team & I also enjoy the company of drive rs from other depots. 4. My hobbies/inter ests include renovating, history, cars, psychology and th e environment. My newest hobby is radio controlled cars. 5. My next trip will be to Singapore & Hong Kong for our post wedding trip & honeymoon. I love South East Asia & I am also loo king forward to seeing Japan & Vi etnam in the future. I am very int erested in visiting Detroit at so me time as it has a fascinating sto ry!
jabi and English 1. I am fluent in Hindi, Pun and logistics 2. I come from a transport background ers – one in high 3. I have 2 beautiful daught year of primary last her in one school and school places – but I’m still 4. I love travelling to new e! urn exploring Melbo the All Blacks and 5. I’m a huge supporter of t! cke Cri Australian
Nirtik
a Atw al
Kamaldeep Singh Keysborough Depot
stry 1. I have been in the Bus Indu a as ted star first I – for 6 years Bus driver with Ventura. 2. I graduated from RMIT University as an Electrical and Telecomm Engineering Graduate. 3. Family is very important to me - I love spending time with my 8-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. n 4. I love sports! I am an Essendo FC supporter and I also love watching cricket, NBA and EPL t 5. I am a team player and I trea be to t wan I way the others treated.
Sunshine Wes
t Depot
Fiona Stew art
1. I enjoy knittin g 2. I am originally from Perth and ha ve been living in Melbourne for 4 years 3. I have been a West Coast Eagles supporter since 19 4. I am left hand 86 ed 5. My favourite food is eye fillet st eak, which I only cooked BLUE! Yu eat m!
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Transdev Launches Recruitment Campaigns Transdev is ramping up its Driver & Mechanic Recruitment campaigns in an effort to increase both candidate pools, as well as increase Transdev’s brand awareness. Phase one of the marketing campaigns went live on 11 June, and targets the Doncaster and North Fitzroy areas where driver shortages are the highest. Backed by the Journey Makers brand featuring our own staff members, the campaigns target candidates via mediums such as bus back ads, posters, and decals on changeover cars. Transdev has also recently launched the Journey Makers Academy (JMA) program as a pathway to employ and support those who want to become a professional bus driver but don’t currently hold an MR licence and/or Bus Driver Accreditation. JMA will provide training and support, as well as assistance in attaining the relevant accreditations.
Apply now
Check out the posters in and around the depots for more information. BRANDMARK
Authorised by Transport for Victoria, 1 Spring
Street, Melbourne.
If you know any Diesel Mechanics, or anyone who currently holds an MR licence and is passionate about customer service, then please speak to People & Culture to refer them today!
Welcome to all our new drivers!
Adil Philips - DC, Ahmed Ali - NF, Albert Arun Rachapudi - TT, Amandeep Singh - NF, Amir Fiaz - SW, Amit Kumar - SW, Amjad Ali - DC, Arshjot (Arsh) Singh - HT, Avnil Chand - HT, Baljeet Kaur - KB, Baolong Feng (Paul) - HT, Eszter Sandy Macskasy - DC, Halwathurage Chinthaka Jayasinghe (CJ) - NF, Harmeet Kaur SW, Hoang Minh Le - SW, Ileneo Peniata - DC, Ivan Batterham - DC, Jagsir Dhillon - SW, Jatinder Singh - HT, Jatinderpreet Singh (JP) - DC, John Van Kerkhoven - DC, Jonathan Tran - DC, Kaisala (Dice) Falesii - NF, Kamal Chadha - KB, Kavinda Muthameregngna - DC, Mahad (Mgoogle) Ibrahim - NF, Mahavir Gill - DC, Mandeep (Man) Singh - DC, Manpreet (Monty) Sidhu - DC, Myles Vinecombe - DC, Navpreet Ghuman - DC, Njegoslav Maric - DC, Pareshkumar Patel - SW, Parvindar (Parry) Singh - HT, Pedro Araos - SW, Philip Marantelli - DC, Prabhjot Singh - KB, Priyanga Jayalath - DC, Priyantha Balasuriya - KB, Robert Allan (Ray) - DC, Rodrigo Malinao - NF, Rohit Kanboj - DC, Sacit (Serge) Oztas -TT, Sandeep (Sandy) Manak - DC, Sandeep Singh - SW, Satnam Singh - HT, Shamsher Singh Chhina - SW, Sleiman Ghosn - NF, Sukhraj Singh - HT, Surinder Singh Jaura - DC, Tu-Vinh Hong - NF, Wallace Yu - DC, Yiwei (Frank) Bao - DC
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Depot Corner
NORTH
Moazzam Mohammed Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at Doncaster for giving me such a warm send off. I feel honoured and I can’t express my gratitude enough for all the well wishes and messages of support. To everyone at North Fitzroy, a big thanks for making me feel welcome and for allowing me to become part of this fantastic family. Being appointed as Area Manager for a depot with such a long and rich history, I realise I have big shoes to fill and an important role to play. Whilst I am still adjusting to the role and have not had a chance to meet you all, I do intend to spend more time getting to know everyone in the near future. I hope we can all work together towards our common goals of providing a safe, clean, reliable service to our commuters and providing value for money to our client, PTV. Some of the ways the team and I reach out to you is through our toolbox talks, surveys, feedback forms and the like. We are also working on other ways to have productive and meaningful conversations, with an aim to make
all our jobs enjoyable and achieve a sense of pride in delivering high quality services and experiences for our passengers. I encourage everyone to participate in conversations via any of the available avenues and by engaging with your Driver Managers. I believe in openness and transparency and I hope to foster an environment of mutual respect, collaboration and high performance. I would also to thank everyone (especially the OCC team members) involved in coordinating and managing the rail replacement programs. It might seem odd that we should, at times, take on extra rail replacement work rather than focusing on managing our runs, but sometimes this is done due to the requests and instructions from our client, PTV. Other times, it may be due to business requirements and our willingness to assist our public transport partners, Metro and Yarra Trams. Either way, it’s a great opportunity for Transdev and allows drivers to do something different from time to time. If anyone is interested in doing rail replacement shifts, please feel free to speak with Operations. In June, leaders in business, community and government slept without shelter on one of the longest nights of the year to help change the lives of Australians experiencing homelessness. George Konstantopoulos and Rene Lalande signed up for this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout which took place
on Thursday 21 June. We were thrilled to support our leadership team in this initiative and hosted a successful pancake breakfast at our North Fitzroy depot on Thursday 14 June to raise funds for the event. We appreciate all your enthusiastic support for this genuine cause. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank some of our drivers for the wonderful spread that was put together to celebrate Vaisakhi. To everyone who participated in the Employee Pulse Survey, I’d like to say a big thank you. It takes a lot of work to organise and collate surveys, so thank you to all those who worked tirelessly in the background. Surveys play a very important role for management in undertaking a self-assessment on what’s working and what’s not. I encourage everyone to participate in surveys enthusiastically and honestly, as it is there to benefit us all. Last but not least, car parking at North Fitzroy has had its fair share of problems. We would appreciate it if everyone would pay close attention and park in the correct bays. Blue spots are reserved for changeover cars to ensure our services run smoothly and on time. Further, when a changeover car is left dirty or vandalised, the only person who suffers is your colleague, and it is not fair for them to clean up after you. If everyone takes pride in how we conduct ourselves and how we treat our work place, we can all then enjoy the benefits. TRANSXPRESS Q2 2018
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SOUTH Kartika Sharma
Hi Everyone, congratulations to Area South for achieving our Count Me In targets for April and May! I thank you all for coming to work and helping Area South qualify for depot gifts two months in a row. With the weather getting colder, the most important thing to remember is to dress for the weather and keep yourself warm. Count Me In has been very beneficial to the team, and both depots had their pool table cloths changed. So, keep looking after yourself to ensure you are fit for work every day. Eat well, keep warm and stay healthy!
and processes in our Area South workshop. We wish Nirtika all the best in her new role. David Waite will also be moving into a new role within Fleet Presentation. David has been working on the Keysborough buses; cleaning and removing graffiti to ensure our buses are presentable for our customers. He has now officially moved into his new role, working in the Keysborough workshop. Well done David on this appointment! With the CEO Sleepout taking place in June, Transdev actively fundraised for the Vinnies signature event, which seeks to provide people experiencing homelessness with vital access to food and accommodation. The team at Area South organised a morning tea, a breakfast and a sausage sizzle, so thank you to all the drivers who have helped in fund raising for this fantastic cause. Area South currently has a strong focus on early running. As Journeys Makers, I am very pleased with Area South’s ability to minimise early running.
We still have more improvements to make, however, so keep up the strong efforts. Together we can work to avoid disrupted services and buses departing early that result in customers being left out in the cold, wet weather. If you find that the bus time and BTS time are not the same, please report it so it can be fixed. Always use the BTS time if you are unsure when departing the stop. Area South is also working towards building and maintaining a positive culture at work. If you have any ideas for promoting a positive environment, please come and see me. Driver Managers are currently conducting team briefings to update all our drivers on performance over the past few months, as well as the challenges that we are facing. I encourage you to take part in these team briefings and provide feedback and ideas that can assist the business in moving forward. Finally, please look after yourselves in this cold weather. Keep your fluids up and stay warm.
Congratulations to Charan Walia who has recently welcomed a new baby. We also welcome Henry Sedha to the Area South team as an SDA in Heatherton. Welcome aboard Henry! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Area South drivers for taking on rail replacement work and working extra shifts while we were short of drivers and going through the recruitment process. We are now at Establishment numbers. Also, a big thank you to Mohammed Mazid for covering shifts and to Savo Tosic, our Keysborough SDA, for assisting as well. Congratulations to Nirtika Atwal who has been appointed as a Driver Manager in Doncaster. I would like to thank her for helping out in Operations and for ably maintaining the systems
Count Me In Count Me In! is our way of saying thanks for coming to work and helping us deliver a great service to our customers. 8
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In January 2018, we set attendance targets for each depot to achieve over the month, with an emphasis on having achievable targets without promoting a culture of ‘everyone must come to work even when they are sick!’ Three of our depots really embraced the challenge and were able to achieve their monthly targets over February, March and April.
While still only in its infancy, the program has seen some really positive trends, particularly as we move into the more challenging winter months where sickness inevitably increases. One of the most pleasing aspects of the program has been the opportunity to improve our facilities directly through the voting process, which has highlighted what is most important to our employees.
The winning depots then had the opportunity to vote on their depot prize from our prize ‘catalogue’. Some examples of the prizes chosen were individual Keep Cups, the resurfacing of pool tables and new couches for the TV rooms.
Our six month trial of Count Me In! is now complete, so thank you to everyone for getting behind the program and ultimately helping us to provide a better service to our customers.
EAST Simon Krol
I would like to welcome two new team members who have been appointed as Driver Managers at Doncaster: Nirtika Atwal and Adam Taurian. Both Nirtika and Adam join us as existing Transdev employees. Nirtika previously worked with our Keysborough and Heatherton depots and was responsible for the administrative side of fleet and maintenance in Area South. Many of you will recognise Adam as a bus driver. Adam has worked at Doncaster for over 7 years and has now been successful in securing a DM role. Please join me in welcoming both Nirtika and Adam to the team at Doncaster. I look forward to a great working relationship not only with our team in Operations, but with the drivers as well. Doncaster is still in the process of recruiting a Service Delivery Administrator. We have been busy with interviews for this position and recruitment is still open. If you are interested in the role, or if you know of someone who enjoys a challenging but rewarding role, please see me or your Driver Manager for more information. Continuing on the topic of recruitment, a large number of vacancies are currently open for bus drivers. The recruitment team are working tirelessly to
have the shortage of drivers filled, and we are certainly heading in the right direction. Recently, meetings have been held to develop different strategies for recruiting the best people into our business, and again, if you know of anyone interested in becoming a bus driver, or who you believe would be a great fit for this role, please see me or your Driver Manager to discuss further opportunities. We’d also like to thank all Transdev drivers who have assisted Doncaster while we’ve had driver shortages. Recently, our driver Sameer Aggarwal and his wife welcomed a new baby boy (Kabir) into the world. Sameer’s new family are doing great and, as expected, are over the moon with their new addition. Big congratulations to the Aggarwal family from all of us at Doncaster! There have been instances recently of employees walking to and from buses and changeover cars without their high visibility vests on. Safety is always our highest priority at Transdev, and all employees are required to wear their high visibility vests when walking in the yard, especially in bus movement areas. Please also observe the depot speed limit of 10km/h. The number of minor accidents has increased over the past months, so please ensure that in low speed, close proximity situations, you take care and don’t take risks. Being observant and aware of the traffic around your vehicle will also reduce the risk of contact with third party vehicles as you anticipate their next move and make the necessary allowances. Doncaster is also strongly focused on reducing early running, as this is one of our business’ targets. The high level of service that we are expected to provide to the Melbourne public relies on everyone’s ability to work together to ensure that there is ZERO early running across the board. We are all working hard to make this happen.
WEST
SHAUN LAWSON Since the start of March this year, both Thomastown and Sunshine West have been conducting Driver Team briefings where our Driver Managers, or Area Manager, delivers a presentation providing an update on current business and local news. There is also an opportunity for drivers to ask questions or provide feedback at the end of each of the sessions. The presentations will continue to be held throughout the month at varying times of the day to ensure we can capture all drivers across both depots. Please keep an eye out for times and dates. We are very pleased to welcome back Sharon Tribe, our Administration Assistant, who returned from maternity leave in late March. Sharon will be working Monday – Wednesday and Tatiana Frances will be staying with us for the remaining 2 days per week. We would like to issue a massive thanks to Tatiana for the huge effort she put in while Sharon was away. Sharon brought in baby Mia to visit and our Driver Manager Tim Watters quickly kidnapped her (pictured right)! Daniel Kaucki, who was previously a Service Delivery Administrator at our Sunshine West depot, has taken on the position of Driver Manager at Thomastown and has hit the ground running, making a huge effort to fill James’ shoes. Please join me in congratulating Daniel and wishing him all the best in his new role. TRANSXPRESS Q2 2018
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
Top 5 Tips
to Reduce Fatigue Fatigue is often mistaken for tiredness – feeling rundown with little energy to do anything. However unlike fatigue, tiredness can actually be easily managed with enough rest and rebalance. Fatigue is a lingering symptom, usually an indication of something else. Figuring out exactly what causes us to feel fatigued can be challenging. It is often triggered by a combination of factors, such as a lack of exercise and sleep, a poor diet and feeling stressed. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to manage mild fatigue and potentially overcome it – so check out our top 5 tips!
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Get moving!
Make time to stop
When we’re tired, exercise is so often the last thing on our minds, but there are actually many advantages to engaging in regular, low-intensity exercise.
It’s important to exercise regularly, but it is equally important to factor in plenty of rest time. Research suggests that two-thirds of us don’t get enough sleep, which makes it difficult to be fully alert at work.
Not only is exercise a total stress-buster, it acts directly on our central nervous systems to boost energy levels. Regular exercise also improves sleep over time – but be sure not to exercise too late in the evening, as the immediate energy boost will make it harder to fall asleep at a decent hour.
Bonus tip: Train your body to get into a sleep pattern by going to bed and waking up at the same times every day. Also, as much as we may love them, try to avoid those day naps so you can enjoy a deep sleep at night.
Anyone who believes they are unfit for work due to fatigue must report immediately to their line manager. 10
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Winter Wellbeing: Fighting the Flu W
inter can be a trying time both mentally and physically. The days are darker, colder and shorter and our bodies suddenly seem open to all kinds of winter nasties like cold and flu. While it might be tempting to just curl up inside and hide away from it all, being proactive about your health and wellbeing can actually help ensure that you make it through the cooler months cold and flu-free, and in tip-top shape for the summer. Thanks to all our people who took up Transdev’s free flu vaccines this year. A nurse visited all 6 depots and administered the 2018 Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccination. We were fortunate to get our vaccines before the recent shortage in Victoria. For any of our people unlucky enough to get the flu this year, please look after yourself. While we can soldier on with a cold, the flu is nasty and can last an average of two weeks. We also have a community responsibility to not put our workmates and passengers at risk.
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Stay hydrated
Strike a pose
Fatigue is a common sign that you’re dehydrated, and the fact is that most of us are not drinking enough H2O. Water carries nutrients and oxygen to cells and keeps them hydrated, so it’s no wonder we feel tired when we aren’t drinking enough!
When we’re tired, maintaining good posture is often the furthest thing from our minds – especially if we are sitting down five days a week. Poor posture, however, can contribute to joint wear and tear and cause back pain, which in turn worsens fatigue.
The recommended daily intake of water is roughly eight to 10 cups, though that number also depends on other factors such as weather, activity or exercise, age and what we’ve consumed throughout the day (some fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumber and spinach have high water content).
Yoga and Pilates are great ways to build up good posture, but any exercise with a focus on core is hugely beneficial. The stronger your core, the better it can support your back. So start working on those six packs!
There are a lot of ways to build up a habit of staying hydrated, be it setting regular alarms throughout the day or downloading an app that serves up reminders to hydrate. The easiest solution? Carry a water bottle everywhere.
Believe it or not, we can even work to improve posture as we sleep! Lie down on your side with your knees slightly bent or lie back with a pillow under your knees to help maintain the natural curve of the spine, which will ease any back pain the next morning.
5 Eat regularly and eat well Instead of eating three large meals a day, try for six smaller meals to keep your blood sugar levels steady. A diet that is high in iron-rich foods (here’s looking at you leafy greens, beans and red meat!) will ensure that your energy levels remain constant throughout the day. As you’ve probably guessed, that also means keeping a close eye on your caffeine and sugar intake to avoid energy slumps – but that doesn’t mean we can’t get our morning coffee fix! Just limit yourself to one to two cups each day. When it comes to sugary foods, try to focus on fruits, yoghurts and the occasional serve of dark chocolate for a sweet treat.
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OCC Corner Hi Everyone, First off, I’d like you to take a close look at the photograph on the right; it shows a terrible accident that took place some time ago. On average, the OCC will receive around 1600 radio calls a day. Of that total, around 800 are call back requests, 500-600 are regarding late running or full buses, 100 are reporting bus defects, 30-40 are concerning incidents/ accidents and around 25-30 of those calls are emergencies. Out of those 30 emergency calls, there might be one (or maybe even more) just like the one you see in the picture. In a situation such as that, all of our concentration and attention is focused on ensuring the safety of our drivers, our customers and any other third parties involved. After all, everyone has the right to return home safe to their family. While every single request that comes into the OCC is important to us, it is necessary for us to prioritise the calls in order to ensure the most critical incidents are dealt with first. Currently we have three operators in the OCC who oversee three areas: the Orbitals and the Eastern and Western routes. Another two operators are also on hand to provide support as and when it is needed. As I’m sure you can imagine, dealing with emergencies requires a great deal of cooperation and coordination between all parties involved (both internally and externally), and our attention cannot waiver until the incident has been completely resolved. So, you might be wondering why I am sharing all of this with you. Well, we may not always answer your call straight away. However, it isn’t because we don’t recognise your call as important. Rather, it is most likely because we are dealing with another pressing matter at the time. Rest assured, we are fully equipped with the resources to manage and maintain your requests and needs each and every day. However, it is very important that you make the correct request, so we can get back to you in a timely manner. On average, our OCC team will respond to emergency calls within 30 seconds; reports of incidents/accidents within one minute and notifications
of bus defects within 1-2 minutes. So please do your best to make the correct request, and your needs will be catered to accordingly. Recently, we have received a lot of emergency calls in the form of a call back request (P1 short press) or a notification of late running (P2 short press), which has the potential to result in unsafe situations due to us being unable to correctly prioritise the call. As I mentioned earlier, we all just want to come to work, carry out our job safely, and return home to our loved ones. Our primary objective within the OCC, therefore, is to ensure the safety of our people while they are at work. We are currently in the final stages of an OCC review, which includes the modification of our radio operations and the allocation of staff to promote accountability and consistency in the OCC. We want to ensure that we are providing our drivers with a reliable service so that they in turn can provide a reliable service to our customers. As Journey Makers, nothing is more important than the safety of our teams, our customers and the wider community. CHAMINDA FERNANDO, OCC Team Leader
Driving Improvement On Monday 14 May, Transdev’s Communications team attended the inaugural North Fitzroy Workshop Toolbox Talk which made use of the newly installed visualisation boards (pictured). The meetings are scheduled twice a day, and provide workshop staff with a snapshot of key actions, issues and deliverables, including: safety incidents, fleet availability, recorded Defective Vehicle Reports (DVRs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and daily action lists. According to General Manager – Assets Andrew Timmins, the overarching objective of the meetings is to promote continuous improvement within our business. “We are all Journey Makers, and involving our front-line people in meetings like this fosters a culture where challenges and issues are discussed openly and dealt with proactively.” 12
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Years of Service
Technology Trial to Improve Bus Journey Times Transdev has been working in partnership with VicRoads, TRANSnet & Tom-Tom to improve customer experience through reduced travel times.
People want to get to their end destinations as quickly as possible. This means we need to strive to reduce journey times as much as possible.” As a means of working towards this, the Victorian government has initiated a trial project using green light extension technology.
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Vera Bogdanovic
Harry Potamitis
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Alan Hogben
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Neville Chater
Handunge Perera
Derek Felsztynski
Theky Huynh
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Trevor Morehu
The Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said the purpose of the technology is to get passengers who are travelling on public transport to their destinations quicker, when roads are congested. During the trial, buses running late will send a ‘green window request’ to VicRoads traffic control to temporarily adapt traffic light phasing to transition to green as the bus approaches an intersection. This ensures the bus is able to clear the intersection without stopping. The technology trial will involve five Route 902 services (Chelsea to Airport West) from the Transdev fleet, and will take place along a small section of the route.
Top row: Alofa Fa’afuata, Boby Joseph , Connie Inserra, Francisco Minero Bottom row: Jeff Munckhof, Neil Mackenzie, Parvinder Sethi, Sanjeev Vaid
Congratulations to everyone!
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Golden Star Nominations
Congratulations to our nominees James Urquhart Nominated for: Customer Service “James has been nominated for his outstanding customer service; stepping up to help a female passenger who was being harassed and beaten by other members of the public. James’s actions on this occasion demonstrate his commitment to customer service, safety and leadership. If James wasn’t there to intervene, the outcome of this incident could have been much worse. James continuously demonstrates an eager passion in his role as a bus driver at Transdev.”
Yourang Nheng Nominated for: Safety “The incident occurred on a route 901 bus at approximately 4.15PM on 4 March in Ringwood, where a passenger was allegedly carrying a knife on a bus. Yourang notified Transdev’s Operations Control Centre (OCC), who subsequently contacted Victoria Police. He was very brave in the way he handled the situation, but he never put his passengers, or himself, at risk.
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Yourang made sure that everyone on the bus was okay. He was in complete control of the situation. When the alleged passenger finally left the bus, Yourang carried on the service; it wasn’t disrupted at all. In these situations, we often have drivers stressing out, but Yourang not only showed his bravery in dealing with this situation, but he ensured our customers were safe and not impacted in any way.”
Deb Lineham Nominated for: Customer Service “Deb has exceptional customer service skills. She is patient with her customers and always provides clear and accurate information to them. Deb has to deal with a variety of customer inquiries from people from diverse backgrounds, and she always remains calm when dealing with customers who are frustrated or angry as a result of a service being cancelled or delayed. She has had some interesting inquiries in relation to lost property, but regardless of the item lost or the value of the item, she treats each call with importance. I truly believe she should be recognised for her
work, as she is often the first point of contact for Transdev and she leaves customers with a lasting and great experience.”
Alister Fuller Nominated for: Passion “After finishing his job every Monday night, Alistair then goes to the city to feed homeless people using the donations he collects from his depot’s lunch days.”
Glenn Carpenter Nominated for: Passion “Never have I met an employee as dedicated, supportive and passionate as Glenn Carpenter. Glenn exhibits strong leadership skills amongst his peers, continued cooperation with the management team and an unquestionable commitment to keeping the depot safe and clean at all times. Glenn can often be found around the depot cleaning the yard or heavy traffic areas or tending to the green areas; not to mention dedicating his own time to help build outdoor furniture and volunteering his time to the local depot Graffiti Blitz.
Glenn goes above and beyond at every opportunity and takes initiative when time permits. It is commonly known to anyone who works with Glenn that he is driven by passion. He is passionate about his workplace, about representing his colleagues and being the best bus driver he can be.”
Sandra Code Nominated for: Commitment “Sandra has worked tirelessly to support operation managers in getting injured employees back to work. Not only is Sandra a gun at what she does, she has created an all-inclusive environment with an open door policy. She is always happy to share her knowledge and goes out of her way to make sure people leave her office feeling more confident than when they walked in. Her dedication to her everyday role is second to none and her unwavering commitment to each and every individual within the business cannot be challenged and is clearly reflected through the opinions of all who come into contact with her, not to mention the business statistics.”
Top 10
Bus Trips Around the World Part 1
Travelling by bus isn’t always just about getting from point A to point B. Sometimes, it’s the best (and most eco-friendly) way to truly experience a city and all of its sights. From London to New York and everywhere in between, check out National Geographic’s Top 10 Bus Trips from around the world for a serious spark of wanderlust.
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Often overlooked for its more famous neighbours, Tallinn, Estonia is fast becoming a proud European capital with an allure all of its own. It’s peaceful, yet vibrant; modern, yet medieval. Board the bus at the ultramodern mall by the medieval gate, then ride alongside the Baltic Sea and past the Russalka Memorial; a bronze angel sculpted to mark the sinking of the “Mermaid” – a Russian ship which sank on route to Finland in 1893. Pass the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds where, in the late 1980s, thousands of Estonians gathered to sing patriotic songs banned by the Soviet regime. End your journey behind the Ruins of Bridgettine Convent, a Swedish nunnery destroyed by the forces of Ivan the Terrible in 1577.
Stockholm, Sweden
The people of Stockholm call their city ‘beauty on water’. See this beautiful city built on 14 islands by taking a trip on one of their environmentally friendly buses! Peer into a maze of medieval streets in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, which is home to the Royal Palace, Parliament, the Royal Cathedral of Sweden and so much more of the city’s rich history. Travel along the waterfront opposite, before then heading north to see the spire of Stockholm City Hall, which plays host to the Nobel Prize banquet in December every year.
New York City
The journey begins in Harlem; the New York City neighbourhood famous for its jazz clubs, soul food, African-American culture and the iconic Apollo Theatre. Its fusion of 19th century brownstones and modern high-rises makes it a popular draw for both locals and tourists alike. From there, it’s on to one of the most filmed locations in the world: Central Park, before taking a trip down the major thoroughfare of Fifth Avenue. The bus will then take you down Broadway and through the theatre district – the holy grail of showbiz – passing Greenwich Village and Little Italy. Mama Mia! Hop off the bus at Whitehall Terminal and take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to treat yourself to some truly spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the borough of Manhattan.
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Beijing, China
Beijing is a city as compelling as it is complex; constantly evolving, yet closely linked to its intriguing past. Board the air-conditioned (a must!) bus near Houhai lake, with its goose-pagoda island and traditional fishermen. You’ll be treated to dramatic changes in the landscape as you travel from a world of high-rises and modernism to the mountainous Badaling, which is home to the most visited section of the Great Wall of China. While you’re taking in this great wonder of the world, imagine five horses or ten soldiers marching side by side to defend against barbarian invasions.
Tallinn, Estonia
Moscow, Russia
A bus journey in Moscow is like a journey back through Russia’s diverse history. It begins in Victory Park, which celebrates Soviet triumphs in World War II. Next, travel past the Triumphal Arch of Moscow; built from 1829-1834 to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleon. Keep an eye out for Hotel Ukraina and Moscow State University – two of Stalin’s monumental “Seven Sisters”. (“Seven Sisters” is a nickname for the seven skyscrapers created by Stalin, which have now become a major representation of the Soviet era and modern-day Moscow.) See Sparrow Hills (one of the highest points in Moscow), and finish up at Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge behind the multi-coloured domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, for a perfect panoramic view.
Look out for the next issue of TransXpress for the next 5 trips TRANSXPRESS Q2 2018
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