Skills success: from left, engineering manager Chris McKeown, Luke d’Auvergne, Darren Connolly, Nick Field and engineering training manager Gerry Fleming.
Flying the Go-Ahead flag in skills contest A FANTASTIC set of results was achieved by Go-Ahead in the IRTE Skills Challenge, which took place in Bristol. On June 2 a team of three, Nick Field, Luke d’Auvergne and Darren Connolly as well as engineering manager, Chris McKeown and engineering training manager, Gerry Fleming, travelled to the event. Nick took part in the electrical category, competing in challenges such as diagnosing and repairing a non-start fault and repairing a door system fault. Fixing a gearbox as well as diagnosing and
repairing an air brake system fault were just some of the challenges Darren faced in the mechanical category. Luke’s tasks included panel fabrication, fibreglass repair and welding among other challenges in the body category. At the presentation, which took place at the House of Commons, where the results were also announced, Go-Ahead not only took home the honours in the electrical category, but also in the combined electrical and mechanical category as well as the overall team category.
The winners received a certificate for their efforts and a selection of Halford’s professional range tools. “I think there is a lot of pride in the competition with all the engineers out to show that the job they do is done to a very high standard,” said Chris. “They all completed their apprenticeships within the past few years, with Luke only having finished his last year, which makes the results all the more impressive. Darren and Luke were also runners-up in their categories which rounds off an excellent set of results.”
New routes gained following Super start to tender successes new service IT’S positive news for GoAhead London as two new high frequency routes join the fold as well as two low frequency routes. There have also been three service retentions. Following the latest round of competitive tendering, the company has been awarded routes 19, 20, 249 and 462. All contracts will run for five years with a possible two-year extension for good performance. Routes 20 and 462 (both won from Arriva London North) will begin on March 24, 2012 and routes 19 and 249 (both won from Arriva London South) will start on March 31, 2012. Route 19 operates between
Battersea Bridge and Finsbury Park and Route 249 runs between Anerley Station and Clapham Common. The night bus route N19, which operates between Clapham Junction and Finsbury Park, has also been won as part of the Route 19 contract. The peak vehicle requirement for Route 19 will be 26 and buses run seven days a week. Buses will also run daily on Route 249 and the PVR is 12. New double-deck vehicles will run on the routes and the 19 and N19 will benefit from 15 hybrid vehicles. Stockwell garage will operate Route 19, while a decision has yet to be made on which garage will take over the 249 service.
Route 20 operates between Debden Station and Walthamstow Central and has a PVR of 10. New double deck buses will be used as part of the contract. Route 462 goes from Ilford to Hainault and has a PVR of eight. New single deck buses will be required to operate the service. Both Route 20 and Route 462 will run daily from Blue Triangle. Go-Ahead London has also retained routes 167 (Ilford to Debden station) and 362 (King George Hospital, Goodmayes, to Grange Hill station) – both are run out of Blue Triangle. Docklands’ Route 549 has also been retained and operates from South Woodford station to Loughton station.
THE 129 service (Greenwich town centre to North Greenwich) New Cross recently won has got off to a flying start. Since starting on June 4 the service has been running smoothly, allowing tourists and commuters alike quick and easy travel to the Jubilee line. “It may not be the largest route, but it is certainly important as a connecting service,” said road manager, Angeline Verrillo. “Of course there will be some challenging times ahead with an equestrian event being held at Greenwich Park, but I believe we are more than able to deal with any disruption. “So far it has been a relatively smooth transition and drivers have taken to the route really well.”
BusTalk l August 2011
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