Fleet Bus and Coach - Spring 2015

OFFICIAL IRISH JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUS/COACH AWARDS

Volume 12. No. 1. Spring 2015

First Drive:

NEW IVECO TURAS 700

Entries open for Fleet Bus & Coach Awards PROFILE: Pierce Kavanagh Coaches TRUMPET CALL: Industry in Crisis?

INTERVIEW: Anne Graham, CEO, National Transport Authority Plus: LAUNCH PAD • CONDUCTORS STAND • LATEST NEWS & VIEWS

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www.fleet.ie | 3

Contents Spring 2015

Fleet Bus & Coach Magazine D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fleet.ie ISSN: 1649-9433 Managing Editor: Jarlath Sweeney Editor: Sean Murtagh Contributors: Paul White, Rob Van Dieten, Cathal Doyle Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh, Cathal Doyle, Paul White, luas.ie, National Transport Authority Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Vahey, Paula Mullarkey Advertising: Mary Morrissey, Orla Sweeney

4 News • Leap Card for Limerick • opensky wins TfL contract • Bus Eireann invests and devests • Citylink adds Limerick-Dublin Airport link • Phillips & VDL equips defibs in coachs • Hotels gear up for busy 2015 VanHools for Cronins • New MAN Bus & Coach appointment • EU funds Fuel Cell buses.

8 Profile Pierce Kavanagh Coaches

17 Network Traffic congestion in Ennistymon 18 Interview With Anne Graham, C.E.O. National Transport Authority 20 People Carrier Nissan e-NV200 Evalia 5-seater joins Fleet!

22 Conductors’ Stand Connectivity is the buzz word

10 Awards Entries now open for Fleet Bus & Coach Awards 2016

P4

12 Cover Exclusive First Drive in new Iveco Turas 700 14 Trumpet Call Crisis in private coach sector?

16 Launch Pad Introductions from BYD, Otokar & Ford

Design: Eamon Wynne Printed in Ireland

Fleet Bus & Coach - the official Irish journal of the International Bus/Coach of the Year Awards.

Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Green Fleet Management/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet Bus & Coach/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ Fleet Maritime & Caravan Cruise Ireland are published by JJDS Publications Ltd. Registered Office: D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Co. Reg. 368767 Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh.

M7 • JUNCTION 23 • MONEYGALL

PARK THE BUS RECHARGE & REFUEL

Disclaimer: Fleet Bus & Coach Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Bus & Coach management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers.

The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

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4 | NEWS 1

BUS LANE VDL Futuras for FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Sixteen new VDL Futuras were put in service during the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, held in Falun, Sweden. Sambus, an association of Swedish passenger transport companies, appointed as the official transport partner of the FIS (International Ski Federation) coordinated the transportation with the fleet of Futuras.

In total 8 coach operators from Sweden and Finland, including several Sambus members, made their Futuras available for transporting visitors to and from various airports, cities and hotels. After the event the 16 Futuras will join the fleets of the various coach operators.

Leap Card launched in Limerick *Shannonsiders can now avail of 20% savings

B

us Éireann commuters in Limerick can now avail of Leap Card to ‘payas-they-go’ using the Card’s travel credit facility, which allows them to benefit from the cheaper fares amounting to 20% off the cash price of their journey. In addition, customers can pre-load the 24 hour Adult Pass for the Red Zone onto their Leap Card.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, was in Limerick with CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham; and the Regional Manager of Bus Éireann, Miriam Flynn, to launch the Leap Card in Limerick.

Leap Cards can be bought and topped-up in a range of local shops and newsagents, which display the Leap Card sign. The www.leapcard.ie website also provides information and customer support about the card and the benefits for users.

The Leap Card is already available on public transport services in the Greater Dublin Area, as well as Bus Éireann’s services in Cork city and county and in Galway city. It is planned to extend the Leap Card scheme to Waterford in mid-2015. Next month, the National Transport Authority will be making further Red Zone products available on Leap, including 7 day and monthly tickets, TaxSaver tickets (both monthly and annual) and child and student tickets (7 day and monthly).

UITP 2015 – MILAN The 2015 UITP World Congress & Exhibition will be staged in Milan, Italy from 8-10 June. The biennial event is fast approaching and this year there will be a special focus on the bus!

Bus industry professionals from around the world will discuss the following topics: • The bus industry today and tomorrow: what are the new bus solutions available in cities?

Operators, authorities and tech companies give their perspectives on the new technologies available.

• Promoting bus growth and efficiency in the context of public funding constraints.

• Developing BRT in oil-based economies: an opportunity or a threat?

According to the organisers a number of leading bus/ coach companies will be exhibiting, such as: Irizar, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Solaris, Van Hool, VDL and Volvo.

Find out more about UITP’s World Congress & Exhibition on: htt p://www.uitpmilan2015.org/

New Scania double-deckers in Berlin Scania has delivered its fi rst new-generation Scania City wide low f loor double-decker to Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) for daily services in the German capital. BVG, Germany’s largest public transport operator, will over the coming months test the twoaxle bus in preparation for large-scale double-decker services.

Minister Donohoe said: "As a user of the Leap Card myself, I know fi rst-hand the benefits that accrue from having one. Not only do users profit from cheaper fares but it also saves the hassle of having to fi nd the right change in advance of a journey.

The roll-out today of Leap in Limerick, follows on from the successful roll-out in Cork, on the bus and train, some time ago. In Dublin, being able to use the Leap Card on the DART and Iarnród Éireann commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area and also on the Luas, Dublin Bus and some private operators has served to encourage people to use public transport in greater numbers. I have no doubt that that too will be the case in Limerick in the months and years ahead."

opensky Data Systems wins major contract with TfL

L

eading IT company, Kildare based, opensky Data Systems, has been awarded a place on Transport for London’s (TfL) ‘Professional Services Framework’ for Transport Planning & Impact Monitoring. opensky, founded in 2004 by Michael Cronin and William Flanagan, has worked extensively in the Transport Sector in the UK and Ireland.

The contract win with TfL demonstrates opensky’s capabilities to work with large, corporate clients in delivering national scale projects and illustrates opensky’s growing business in international markets.

Opensky’s CTO, William Flanagan, explained: “Th is win demonstrates our capabilities to compete at an international level and our ability to deliver to large and multifarious clients”. opensky was awarded a place in Lot 3, Database Design & Development. In addition to database design and analytics, opensky has experience in working with multi modal real time feeds, integrated ticketing, business intelligence and CRM for transport companies.

“Th is win builds on our continued success with the National Transport Authority in Ireland and other Transport clients; we are delighted to be able to provide the same level of service and expertise to Transport for London,” added William.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

NEWS 11 | 5

Bus Éireann Expressway renews fleet and reviews services

A

s range topping Scania Irizar i6 Triaxle coaches coaches with complimentary on-board 4G WiFi, courtesy toilets and 3-PIN charge points enter Bus Éireann Expressway intercity services, the semi-State is reviewing its schedules on selected routes across the country. These services are self-funded and not related to the services operated under Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, for the State, according to a company spokesperson. “Some of the routes on our Expressway network are incurring significant losses and are unsustainable in an increasingly competitive environment, for the business. Plans are underway to reschedule the number of stops serviced on the route 7 (Dublin to Cork), and also the removal of route 5 (Dublin – New Ross – Waterford). We are in discussions with the National Transport Authority

feature reclining leather seats, and USB power sockets, wood style flooring and ISOFIX child seat att achment points.

The bespoke design cues – in addition to the latest Euro 6 engine emission reducing technology, air conditioning and LED uplighting – are all part of a major rebrand to show that the new top of the range coaches, really are like the car, only better.

(NTA) – who license the services – to assess the service requirement in the locations affected. These discussions are ongoing.”

Over €9.2 million has been invested in the 20 new coaches as part of the company’s ‘Like the Car, Only better’ campaign – which also

Built and delivered in a joint venture by Irizar in Spain, and Westward Scania in Roscommon, the 20 new coaches will go into service next week on Expressway’s 23 intercity routes. Bridgestone Ireland is Bus Éireann’s tyre supplier on the new vehicles, while Irish company Fleet Connect provides the latest 4G-powered free WiFi service.

Citylink adds new Limerick-Dublin Airport service

S

aturday 14th February marked the inaugural sixteen daily eireagle. com Non-Stop Airport Direct coach service between Limerick and Dublin Airport - eight in each direction.

Operated by Irish Citylink, a wholly owned subsidary of ComfortDelGro Corporation Ltd., the eireagle.com services will be operated by a fleet of luxury coaches, run by Farrells of Athenry, which provide passengers with free Wi-Fi, onboard toilet facilities, air conditioning, reclining seats and spacious legroom.

“These new services will shorten journeys between Limerick and Dublin Airport to just 2 hours and 30 minutes,” explained David Conway, General Manager, Irish Citylink.

“Coaches will operate between Limerick and Dublin Airport using the M7 and M50

Irish Citylink is headquartered in Galway City where over 100 people are employed in the provision of services spanning six main routes, with 98 daily runs. Citylink’s operations include Express and eireagle services between main cities and airports, and Commuter services serving towns and villages across the country.

motorways, offering a more comfortable, direct and shorter journey time.”

Advance bookings can be made on www. eireagle.com.

ComfortDelGro is one of the world’s largest land transport companies with a total fleet size of 46,500 buses, taxis and rental vehicles. Headquartered in Singapore, the Group also has operations in China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Pictured at the launch are David Conway, General Manager, Irish Citylink and Vincent Harrison Managing Director of Dublin Airport.

Philips & VDL to equip buses/coaches with Defibrillators emergency services

H

igh praise must go to Philips and VDL Bus & Coach on signing a collaboration agreement to equip VDL buses and coaches with AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) as optional factory equipment. With this initiative VDL Bus & Coach intends to make bus and coach transport even safer for its customers’ passengers. It will be installed in buses and coaches for city and regional transport and international travel that will help millions of people worldwide to reach their destinations daily.

The on-board resuscitation system and emergency service is intended to increase cardiac arrest survival rates of bus and coach passengers. When a bus or coach operator chooses this option, their bus or coach is delivered with a special ‘connected’ AED kit

determine its exact location via GPS. An estimated seven million people die as a result of sudden cardiac arrest in the United States and Europe each year.

on board. Th is gives users live support and coaching from fi rst responders at a central location during resuscitation and also makes remote maintenance and service possible.

In addition, it is possible to see in real-time whether an AED has been activated and

“We see increasing demand from different types of organizations for support in sett ing up AED programmes, so that people have a better chance to survive a sudden cardiac arrest when they are at work or on the go,” explained Leon Lumens, Senior Manager AED Market Development at Philips. “The agreement with VDL Bus & Coach to have a defibrillator as an option on their buses shows that the availability of AED’s is becoming common in our society. And that’s a good thing, because it will save more lives.”

www.fleet.ie

6 | NEWS III

Optimism at Irish Hotel Federation’s 2015 Conference

I

rish hotels and guesthouses are optimistic going into the 2015 season. Overseas visitor figures are growing and there are positive signals in the home market following years of subdued consumer confidence. That was the strong signal emanating from the Irish Hotel Federation’s (IHF) 2015 Conference held at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, County Cavan at the end of last month.

On officially opening the Conference, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring TD commented: "'Strength in Resilience' is the theme of this year’s event. Th is is very appropriate as it recognises the challenging times faced recently by the hotel and guesthouse sector.

Your resilience and resourcefulness in pulling through, and your eagerness now to build on the positive momentum is a testament to you all. I believe the recent turnaround shows that the combined efforts of Government and industry to improve Ireland’s competitiveness are paying off ."

“Th is Government has prioritised the tourism sector and it has acknowledged the vital role that it plays in our economic recovery.

Quality and value are what holiday makers are looking for and this makes them critically important for continued viability and success.

I cannot stress enough the importance of learning from past pricing mistakes and striving to deliver the best possible value to our visitors,” Minister Ring concluded.

The IHF Conference provides an important business and social platform for hotel owners, general managers, industry professionals, service providers and product suppliers.

VanHool fleet renewal ongoing at Cronin’s of Cork

F

urther to its successful debut at the CTTC Coach & Bus Show at the RDS, Dublin last November, Dermot Cronin Motors has put the fi rst Euro 6 VanHool TX 16 Acron 13.2metre 3-axle 53 seater touring coach into service at its Cronins of Cork sister company. It joins three other new VanHool coaches namely, two TX 15 Alicron (49 seaters) and a TX 11 Alicron (41 seater) coach, with two more fi ne examples from the Belgian manufacturer on order.

While the TX16 Acron is powered by a PACCAR (DAF) MX13 engine with ZF AS-Tronic gearbox, the other three coaches have the award winning PACCAR (DAF) MX11 engines and ZF EcoLife HP automatic transmission.

New General Manager of MAN Bus & Coach

P

aul J Gardner has been appointed the General Manager of MAN Bus & Coach for the UK & Ireland. Employed with the company since July 2010, Paul was previously Bus & Coach National Key Account Manager.

On his new role, Paul said: “I will be covering the whole of the UK and Ireland, overseeing all sales of buses and coaches. We are currently selling in the region of 100 vehicles a year, with 100 used-vehicle sales as a result, and I will be looking to drive those figures upwards.

I want to increase customer satisfaction, build customer relations and capture new customers to the MAN brand. It is an exciting time for new development.”

Paul, 35, from Doncaster, added: “My father, uncle and brother all work in the family coach business, in fact I am the only one who doesn’t, but I have been brought up in the environment and have worked in the field since I left University, at the age of 23, with just one year out

selling cars.

In his new position Paul will report directly to MAN Truck & Bus UK & Ireland Sales Director, Ian Mitchell, who joined the company recently from Volvo.

On Paul’s appointment, Ian said: “Paul already brings considerable experience to this role from his background in the bus and coach industry, coupled with an enthusiasm and passion for the MAN and Neoplan product range. In his new position he will be responsible for the day to day running of the bus and coach department as well as the further development of the business.”

EU funding for VanHool for Fuel Cell buses

V

anHool N.V. has signed a grant agreement with the EU Hydrogen Fuel Cell Joint Undertaking for deployment of 21 fuel cell buses in Europe as part of the 3Emotion Program as reported by Busworld.org FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

Ballard and VanHool, partners in the deployment of numerous fuel cell buses in Europe, are in the process of finalizing an equipment supply agreement (ESA) for the provision by Ballard of 21 next-generation fuel cell power modules.

Ballard anticipates receipt of purchase orders under the ESA that will lead to delivery of these

fuel cell modules to VanHool in 2015 and 2016.

The EU Hydrogen Fuel Cell Joint Undertaking is a public-private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies, providing subsidies for eligible projects through a cost share mechanism.

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8 | PROFILE

From LA to Urlingford ‘Tinsel Town” comes to County Kilkenny!

W

hen you mention awards ceremonies and California in the same sentence, the movie industry’s Academy Awards would usually spring to mind. Although we are not talking about the Oscars, in transport terms the YMT Vacations ‘Best Partner Award 2014’ could amount to the same thing. Both awards are bestowed on recipients who have delivered an exceptional performance in their respective fields. A performance above the standard normally perceived as outstanding.

It is important to put into context what an immense achievement winning such an accolade is. YMT is a large international tour operator and as such has many suppliers and partners. It offers a wide range of tours to over twenty countries, and in each of those countries there are partner organisations eligible for the award. Experience has told YMT that customer feedback is vital, and this is an area it closely monitors.

It is back to the old adage that if you know there is a problem then you have an opportunity to resolve it. If you don’t know there is a problem then you are not doing the job right.

So as the announcement was made to present the 2014 YMT Vacations Best Partner Award to Pierce Kavanagh Coaches, a litt le bit of ‘tinsel town’ crossed the Atlantic to reside in Urlingford, County Kilkenny.

Caoimhe Maloney, Head of Marketing & Business Development at Pierce Kavanagh Coaches explainded: “If the satisfaction questionnaires that YMT issue are not completed and returned, then the company will contact the customer to see if they simply did not wish to complete the form – or if there was some aspect of the tour they were unhappy about.”

YMT Vacations is a Los Angeles based travel operator that arranges tours throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. YMT was established in 1967 as ‘Your Man Tours’ and specialised in vacation trips for American Veterans of Foreign Wars. Today YMT is a member of the TUI Group of companies, which is one of the largest operators in world-wide travel.

Despite fierce competition from other destinations ‘The Best of Ireland’ tour has become one of YMT’s most popular offerings. It has delivered strong numbers to date and bookings for 2015 show a steady increase with over 50 scheduled departures.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

What is particularly welcome about this award is that the recognition is not, as such from YMT, it is directly from the customers. The award is based on the responses from people who have experienced the Best of Ireland Tour and reported on those experiences.

The tour offers customers a great chance to experience what Ireland has to offer, with sightseeing trips and overnights in Dublin, Waterford, Killarney, Galway, Sligo, and Belfast before fi nishing back in Dublin.

As with the planning of any tour, the success or failure of the event is found in the small details, and it is here that Pierce Kavanagh Coaches has the experience to deal with all types of situations locally,

PROFILE | 9 Pierce Kavanagh

and without fuss. Th is ability to plan tour details is not lost on the President of YMT Jerre Fuqua who said: “The Pierce Kavanagh team have been tremendous partners and they put so much effort into making everything work.”

Pierce Kavanagh Coaches was established by Pierce Kavanagh in 1962 and is now operated by brothers Pierce (Junior) and John Kavanagh who are joint Managing Directors. They run an exceptionally modern fleet of thirty-two hi-spec units, with capacity from 7 to 59 seats, with all vehicles maintained at the company’s premises in Urlingford, which is a Road Safety Authority approved CVRT vehicle testing station. Both John and Pierce are qualified technicians, drivers and tour guides. There is no doubt that their experience across all aspects of coach and tour operations has created the company's ethos and contributed to their being deserving recipients of the award. Having worked in many areas of the business from the garage to driving to management instils a capacity to see problems as others view them - in addition to your own perception.

The value of this expertise deserves a higher level of recognition and appreciation. There is litt le point in Bord Fáilte campaigning for tourists to visit this country if they are not catered for properly when we get them to visit. Equally companies within the travel and leisure business like YMT can only survive by looking after the needs of their customers. To this end they will only send their customers on holidays that ensure they will be looked after and enjoy themselves. As YMT Vacations are running coach tours in Ireland up to four times per week from May to October, they know what their customers want.

If Pierce Kavanagh Coaches are consistently receiving high satisfaction ratings from its (and Ireland’s) customers, then the Urlingford based company is playing its part. A point supported by Jerre Fuqua when he commented: “Ireland is consistently one of the best scoring tours for guest satisfaction. We appreciate everyone’s individual contribution to make this happen.”

that is “more positive than negative.” However, while he points out that there is a great feeling of positivity towards Ireland especially in the United States, the one negative he warns against is that as we begin to recover that prices begin to rise. Th is will quickly result in tour operators viewing Ireland as uncompetitive and poor value for money, which could result in them placing their customers elsewhere. Another current difficulty is the level of volatility over exchange rates, which has a dramatic effect on the cost of vehicles priced in Sterling.

Taking a long term view of the industry, Caoimhe Maloney believes that overall things are improving. She also feels that there is an increasing number of people availing of coach transport which should help to ensure passenger numbers steadily increase. However, she notes some areas that need to be reformed, although these will not happen overnight. One area in particular is the long running problem of coach parking in Dublin, which is an ever increasing difficulty for all operators.

Unfortunately, there appears to be no solution on the horizon.

As a company Pierce Kavanagh Coaches reviewed all aspects of its business over the last few years. Unlike many other operators it continued to invest in its business and today is well placed to reap the benefits of the expected recovery. A high spec modern fleet, correctly maintained, has delivered a reliable service record. Also an experienced team behind the wheel - and behind the scenes in Urlingford, helps to promote the company’s professional image.

Speaking on the Best Partner Award, a delighted Pierce Kavanagh said: “I never expected this”, though he was “pleased to receive an award that recognises the effort everyone in the company puts in.”

It also confi rms that his work with YMT’s customers is appreciated - the extra effort is noticed. YMT has a significant investment in its partner’s ability to do the job well. While a satisfied customer may not rebook for Ireland, they will rebook with YMT to travel to another destination. Nevertheless a positive experience from their time with YMT Vacations and Pierce Kavanagh Coaches, will still promote Ireland as a top ranking destination.

So what does Pierce Kavanagh believe is the main reason their customer satisfaction ratings are deserving of this award? He feels that Pierce Kavanagh Coaches are the “best at delivering what they (YMT) want.” It is the fact that if there is a problem YMT can call and regardless of the time difference - the phone will be answered and the problem will be solved. Though in reality this method of operating is the way the company has always run, and while YMT is a very significant customer, the same attention to detail is directed at every excursion from the regular school trips and longer sightseeing tours to international traffic.

Looking to the future Pierce sees that there are signs of a recovery and that there is a feeling Text & Photos: Paul White - paul@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

10 | AWARDS

FLEET BUS & COACH AWARDS 2016 Celebrating excellence in the Irish Passenger Transport Industry Send in the Entry Form or Enter online at www.fleet.ie Closing Date for Entries Friday 29 May 2015 Gala Luncheon & Forum - Monday 12 October 2015 Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin

The Fleet Bus & Coach Awards, in association with JF Dunne Insurances, will once again recognise and honour operators working within the Irish Passenger transport industry. With the addition of two new categories, there are now eleven categories to choose from, so now is your chance to show you can be among the best in your particular field.

This year’s Awards Luncheon & Forum will take place at the Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin on Monday 12 October, 2015.

We will also present the 2016 Irish Coach and Midi Coach of the Year Awards.

Forum Sponsor:

The categories are as follows: Coach Operator of the Year 2016 • Commuter • Inter City • Tours • Airport Services

Bus Operator of the Year 2016 • Less than 10 vehicles • More than 10 vehicles • School Bus Operator of the Year

• Best Safety Practice 2016 • Best Livery & Corporate Identity 2016 • Care for the Environment 2016 • Investment in Innovation 2016

Entry is now open and can be obtained from Fleet Bus & Coach Awards Team – awards@fleet.ie or by telephone 094 9372819. Entries can be received in three ways: (a) Nominate yourself; (b) Nominate a contender or (c) A supplier or customer can nominate you.

For the sixth running of the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards there are three separate sections for bus and coach operators to enter. For dedicated coach operators, the Coach Operator of the Year 2016 now has four classes – 1) Commuter: which is open to operators that provide a scheduled service area in urban areas; 2) Inter City: which honours cross-country service providers or those that transport passengers from rural towns and cities; 3) Tours: where the ‘ambassadors’ for our country are acknowledged; 4) Airport Services: A new class dedicated to operators running direct non-stop links to Airports.

For Licenced Bus Operators, there is an award confi ned to operators of mini buses/midi coach fleets with three different categories. 1) Less than 10 Vehicles; 2) More than 10 vehicles; 3) School Bus Operator of the Year.

Open to all are four other categories. 1) Best Safety Practice 2016 - presented to Bus/Coach companies that embrace safety as a culture in their day-today activities; 2) Best Livery & Corporate Identity 2016 - distinctiveness in the vehicle’s paintwork and signwriting will be marked for a prize along with how the company identity transcends throughout the company; 3) Care for the Environment 2016 - Efficiencies in fuel consumption, recycling and energy usage will be championed here; 4) Investment in Innovation 2016 - Any new method or product designed to increase daily efficiencies or enhance passenger comfort.

Entry Form Fleet Bus & Coach Awards 2016 sponsored by J.F. Dunne Insurances Date: 12 October 2015

Venue: Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin

Time: 11am - 3pm

Company: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contact Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Telephone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Website: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Categories: Please tick boxes Coach Operator of the Year 2016 Commuter Inter-City Tours Airport Services

Bus Operator of the Year 2016 (Less than 10 vehicles) Bus Operator of the Year 2016 (More than 10 vehicles) School Bus Operator of the Year 2016

Best Safety Practice 2016 Best Livery & Corporate Identity 2016 Care for the Environment 2016 Investment in Innovation 2016

Your Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please send completed Entry Form plus any additional material relative to your entry, including photographs, brochures, products, services.

• You can enter a number of categories. • All entries are private and confidential.

All entries/nominations should be received by Friday 29 May 2015 via online at www.fleet.ie/category/bus-and-coach/ Or email to awards@fleet.ie or post to Fleet Bus & Coach Awards, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, County Mayo.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

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12 | COVER

Iveco Turas 700 'Poetry in

motion'

First Drive:

V

isitors to Brian Noone Ltd’s stands at the two Coach & Bus Shows in the UK and Ireland last November were instantly impressed with the all-new Iveco Turas 700 midi-coach that premiered at both events. Based on the reigning International Van of the Year winning Daily 70C17 7.2 tonne GVW chassis/cab version, Maynooth based Brian Noone Ltd, along with its Portuguese coachbuilder partner Irmãos Mota has created an eyecatching exterior shape while maximising driver and passenger comfort inside. That particular version, the 27-seater (plus courier and driver) was sold at the CTTC Coach & Bus Show at the RDS, Dublin to Gerry Keane, Galway Bay Executive Travel. Fleet Bus & Coach was privileged to be the first publication to drive the new bus, thanks to Gerry and his driver, Thomas Mannion.

As the Oranmore based company specialises in tours, airport transfers, corporate travel and chauffeur services, we took in some local tourist attractions along the test-drive route. But before taking to the wheel, we first wished to experience the passenger comforts on board. Each of the 27 Brusa Create seats are leather clad and recline; and space between each one offers ample room. To the rear of the vehicle there is even more legroom as the back row passengers can stretch further due to the position of the wide emergency exit door fitted. This door and the space inside could actually facilitate wheelchair access if required and is something that Noones are working on. A 29-seater version can now also be specified.

Gerry Keane, Galway Bay Executive Travel with Thomás Mannion.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

With Thomas driving, we enjoyed the smoothness of the drivetrain (engine, gerarbox, suspension), and with superb seating comfort provided, the journey for the passenger is most pleasant. Thomas was very complimentary too as he likes the driving position, the numerous storage areas around the dash and the broad visibility offered by the large glazed areas around the cabin area. Another enhancing aspect relating to passenger comfort is that Autoclima air-conditioning is ventilated throughout the seating arena. Then there is the special lighting arrangement with blue markers on the aisle and downlighting on the panels beneath the side glass. Passengers can easily access/control the air-vents and lighting requirements in the overhead panel which features nice stitching on the panel in between. Attention to detail is paramount in this business, as Gerry Keane continuously strives to achieve, and this little element mentioned here indicates this and will be appreciated by his customers. Double glazing and privacy side glass add to the overall pleasing ambience all round.

The first spin took us over to Renville and to the Galway Bay Golf Resort, the scenic links course designed by former Ryder Cup star Christy O’Connor, Jr. Sadly, the inclement weather did not lend itself to clear-sky photography.

We had better luck later on when we went to Coole Park near Gort.

On the operational side, the Turas 700’s compact dimensions are deceiving, as up to 5m3 of luggage space is provided through the exterior side lockers and large boot that are illuminated internally. Three wide steps with suitably placed grab handle make egress and ingress easy and safe. Under these steps

COVER | 13

and in-between the chassis rails is the latest Euro 6, 3.0 litre diesel engine supplied by Iveco’s sister brand FPT Industrial. Using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to regulate engine emissions, AdBlue is required. This water/urea based solution assists with the filterisation process before the exhaust fumes are exhaled, and needs to be topped up between regular services. As the 25 litre tank for this product is on the opposite (driver) side to the 120 litre diesel tank, there should be no confusion here.

However, both tanks need to be filled carefully due to the nozzles' position inside the bodywork. Up to 170 horsepower is available from this unit @ 3,500 rpm, while the pulling power at 400Nm between 1,350-3,000 rpm provides plenty of torque when required. Its disc brakes all round do not need to be used at all times as a 4-stage Telma engine retarder operated either by a hand throttle or by a button on the floor can slow down the Turas 700 adequately as demonstrated on the drive.

remains good to this day. “The trees are in their autumn beauty, the woodland patches are dry, under the October twilight the waters mirror a still sky.” A muse through the Visitor Centre located at the restored stables is a must as it interestingly chronicles the history of Irish literacy and of Coole Park.

Back to the present and the Iveco Turas 700 – it could be described as modern day ‘poetry in motion’ as journeys on board can only inspire passengers as they travel along the highways and byways of Ireland (and beyond).

Pierre Lahutte, recently appointed Iveco Brand President and formerly in charge of Irisbus gave the new Turas 700 the thumbs-up having seen photos sent by us on the newly designed model. A highly creditable endorsement indeed. And so say all of us!

Although the large windscreen is heated and the exterior mirrors are electrically controlled and heated. The side windows at the look out point to see said mirrors need a few heated lines, in our opinion. Relating to the kerb side mirror, the single unit does not cover a broad area of the side of the bus and we suggest that if a curved corvex section in the lower part of the mirror was designed and fitted, broader visibility would be provided for the driver. While in the driver’s area, all the switchgear is near to hand ensuring that both eyes are constantly on the road. Manoeuvrability is good as is the turning circle, which helps getting out of these tight spaces especially when a turn around is necessary for passenger door access at a hotel door, etc. Mention of the large windscreen was made earlier and altough the blind works fine manually, we would prefer the electric option which is more convenient.

Spec Check

Both driver and passenger appreciated the quietness of the engine as conversation between courier and driver can be done without stress or strain. At Coole Park & Gardens, once the home of Lady Gregory and associated with all things literary as well as of course, famous poet W.B. Yeats, who is remembered for a number of notable works about the place.

Now run by the National Parks & Wildlife Service, the Nature Reserve is a big tourist attraction with beautiful woodland and waterside walks within the 100-acre estate. Coach tours are welcome and there are two car parks for coaches and buses to stop-over. Yeats’ poem ‘Wild Swans at Coole’ exemplifies the scene and although written almost 100 years ago, Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

Make/Model

Iveco Turas 700

Base Vehicle

Iveco Daily 70C17

Type

Brian Noone Ltd & Irmãos Mota

Engine

FPT 3.0 litre Euro 6 (SCR) diesel

Power (max)

170hp @ 3,500 rpm

Torque (max)

400 Nm @ 1,350 – 3,000 rpm

Transmission

6-speed manual (ZF)

Brakes

Discs front/rear, ESPG, ABS, ASR, EBD, plus Telma AF 50/60 4-stage retarder

Suspension

Front: Independent Rear: Air

Fuel tanks capacity

Diesel: 120 litres - AdBlue: 2 litres

Luggage capacity

5m 3

Dimensions

Length: 8,345mm – Width: 2,410 mm Height: 3,045mm

Wheelbase

4,750mm

Warranty

4 - year chassis manufacturers guarantee www.fleet.ie

14 | TRUMPET CALL

Is the private coach sector in crisis? An Insider’s Viewpoint There is a major problem with obtaining and retaining drivers for one simple reason – the operators can’t afford to pay drivers a decent rate.

They put them out on the road with a €300,000 machine, ask them to do nine or ten hours work, ask them to safely look after 50 people and they can’t be paid enough. They have to be able to deal with customer care, to be able to drive safely and they’re being paid peanuts – all because the operators are not gett ing decent rates that to pay them.

There’s a further problem with the age profile of drivers. If you go into any touring park or touring area where tour coaches stop, there are drivers that are 55 years old and over. The average age profi le of drivers would be over 50 at the moment in the coach industry. It’s an unsociable job, where you’re out on a Friday or Saturday night driving people around when your kids are in the pub or on the bus going somewhere and yet operators are expecting people to do it for peanuts.

Operators can train employees ad good drivers and ambassadors for their company but they’re not going to stay in the industry if they’re not gett ing a decent week’s wages. Unless you have a vocation to the job and you enjoy the job, no one going to say, “that’s a good job, look at the wages, I’ll go and be a bus or a coach driver”. There is no incentive for them, they’re working at minimum wage.

The other thing is that the driver should have proper facilities when they are resting. People are sleeping in coaches again, purely on cost issues.

T

he biggest problem with the coach industry in Ireland is rates. Operators working below cost is a major problem at the moment. You can see that the age profi le of the coaches is going down, the quality and the service is reducing and it’s solely because people are working below cost – it’s very hard to see it moving forward with what’s going on at the moment.

There are operators complying with all the regulations and there are others just picking and choosing. To put everyone on a level playing field is the most important thing. For example, some operators carry out four weekly inspections, and have tachographs that are 100% compliant, with nothing leaving the yard without being on tacho.

Whereas others are competing against operators, that still have analogue tachographs that they switch between drivers. Some of the semi-State companies are off tacho for city services and they then go on tachograph in the evening. It’s all about policing the whole industry and putt ing it on a level playing field.

The other thing is that while operators may have many contacts and contracts, it’s all about price. There is nothing in it as regards safety. For example, school transport is a big problem – there are people working in school transport for €180 a day with a large coach, and they’re working for a company that knows the cost of providing transport which knows in their heart and soul that it cannot be done legally and safely at the rate they’re paying. There has to be some onus on those people that are issuing contracts to make sure that the service is sustainable. At the minute the coach industry isn’t going to survive with the rates that are out there. And what we don’t want is a repeat of tragic accidents befalling on the sector ever again.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

There are no problems with the current tachograph regulations, it’s keeping the regulations and ensuring that they are being conformed to, that’s the problem. The other issue is where an operator does a lot of Continental work, their drivers are always under pressure. If they get tired half way through a journey, they cannot say, “we will pull in here now and do an hour’s break”. There should be some discretion that if it takes an extra hour to do the run and everyone is rested, well, so be it.

The Government has done a lot to promote tourism, but as regards coach tourism, they have not done anything specific or major. On coach tourism it’s down to income. Tour operators like CIE have done a lot of work in developing coach tourism.

Is the Irish Rail plan to link Dublin Airport with the rail network going to impact on coach operators? Th at depends - is it to lead to a situation that the person travelling on the coach is going to subsidise the passenger that is travelling by rail? First of all we don’t need a rail link to the airport for intercity people, there is a great service from all towns to the airport at a reasonable prices. Are we therefore going to have Irish Rail operating a service to the airport below cost to take the people from the buses, and then the people on the buses that are paying tax paying for this service? Look any of the intercity railway lines, where there are fares for €9.99 or €14.99 – it’s not possible to travel on a train for €14.99 when it costs €15 on the bus. The taxman is subsidising all these people that want the luxury of a train.

VAT rates and tax rates throughout Europe need to be on a level playing field. No one can compete with the Germans as regards cost base. It’s the same way with Northern Ireland and England at zero rate VAT. They’re 100% right to have zero rate VAT but Irish operators have to compete against that, there are tour operators taking people in from England and the North and it gives them a lot of advantages.”

N EW

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Full coach specification. Four year chassis manufacturer’s warranty. Rear air suspension, Telma retarder, cruise control, large rear boot and side lockers.

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00 353 1 628 6311 sales@noone.ie www.noone.ie

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16 | LAUNCH PAD

BYD unveils World’s first 100% electric coach

B

YD has officially unveiled the world’s fi rst long range, zero emission electric coach at the 2015 United Motor Coach Association Expo in New Orleans, USA. Th is fi rst 100% pure electric coach, code-named the BYD C9, is a two-axle, 12m coach with a seating capacity for 47 people which has a distance range at motorway speeds of over 300km (190 miles).

“The transportation industry is still just warming up to the idea of pure electric transit buses,” said BYD Motors Inc’s Coach & Bus Vice President of Sales, Macy Neshati. “It was exciting to walk around last year’s APTA Expo in Houston and see so many reputable names displaying an electric bus. However, I don’t think anybody thought they would see a viable electric coach solution for a few more years.”

The BYD C9 is the fi rst of three 100% electric coaches the company will launch globally this year. The other two, a 13.7m three-axle coach code-named the C10, and a 7m coach with executive and transport configurations named the C6 will be arriving by the end of 2015 and BYD is already starting taking orders for all three of the coaches in North America.

“Last year, BYD pulled away from the competition in the transit space when we launched a range pure electric single deck buses, including an 18m articulated bus. Th is year the launch of the three coaches puts BYD on a level with no other bus or coach OEM. Not many people

know this about BYD but we are a multibillion-dollar Chinese company employing nearly 190,000 people worldwide.

There simply has never been a bus manufacturer in the United States with this sort of engineering or manufacturing power, that’s why I tell every customer I meet with they should go BYD, it’s the safe choice!” said Neshati.

Otokar secures first major RHD bus order

O

tokar Europe, the West European subsidiary of the Turkish bus manufacturer, established in 2011 in Paris to cover the European bus market, has received its fi rst large order for city buses from then isle of Malta. The company will provide 142 units of the right-hand drive Vectio C to Spanish city buses operator Cunisa, which operates the Malta network. The fleet will be delivered to the island before the end of 2015.

Th is is Otokar’s biggest RHD order and augers well for increased sales in similar markets such as the UK & Ireland.

The Vectio C is 9.6 metres long, medium-size low entry bus for public transportation. It is of simple design and construction as well as functional with a low entry structure, two doors and a wheelchair ramp.

Independent front suspension and automatic transmission improve comfort levels especially during long drives. Its integral structure is durable and lightweight, keeping operating costs low.

New Ford Transit Minibus in great KARE!

K

ARE Blessington in County Wicklow which promotes inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities recently celebrated the arrival of a specially adapted Ford Transit Minibus.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

Purchased from R ia lto Ford, Dublin through Commercial Salesman David Carroll, the LWB Transit 350 with medium roof is fitted with 8 seats and a Dhollandia wheelchair lif t accessed from the double rear doors.

Parfit (Dublin) undertook the conversion from panel van to minibus on behalf of the client. Powered by a 2.2 litre 125hp TDCi diesel, the Race Red Transit also features air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity and an automatic sliding step once the side sliding door opens/closes.

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

NETWORK | 17

Ennistymon traffic problems to continue

A

ny coach driver who has ever taken tourists or daytrippers to the Cliffs of Moher or Lahinch in County Clare will know the difficulty that arises when turning left in Ennistymon coming from the Ennis side of the town, or indeed coming from the opposite direction. Just close to this junction is a funeral home and when in use, it can add to the congestion also. Known locally as Blake’s Corner, Clare County Council is all too aware of the problem here and has allocated a substantial budget to solve the problem. Unusually this is a problem that money alone will not solve. With the amount of money spent on motorways and tunnels in this country in the last decade, you would imagine that it would be simple enough to fi nd a solution and get rid of the bott leneck, which is nothing short of mayhem in the summer season.

Not only is it a bottleneck, most of the delays are caused when two trucks or coaches meet on the corner, resulting in one or both having to reverse. you can imagine the chaos created. A proposal to build an outer relief road was rejected by the National Roads Authority (NRA) on the basis of an estimated €15 million cost, and an elaborate traffic light system was regarded as being too cumbersome. It is worth noting that a similar traffic light system has proved to be cumbersome but effective, solving the traffic problem on the bridge between Ballina (County Tipperary) and Killaloe (County Clare). Discussions have been ongoing between the Council and the residents and although there has been no agreement, two options did seem likely.

Firstly, to build a new bridge about 80metres downstream from the old one, at an estimated cost of €6 million. Secondly, deconstruction and reconstruction of the buildings on the corner (Blake’s Corner) and widening of the old bridge(Conway Bridge, also listed). The Department of Heritage has objected to the second plan as these buildings are listed and any effort on the Council’s part to de-list them would likely be difficult and controversial. The Council’s favoured option is to construct the new bridge and connecting roads, but it is not that simple. Some houses may need to be demolished to accommodate this plan and there may be some local unrest at this prospect. Some locals think that there may be no project agreed in the short term and this local but nationally known bottleneck could be with us for another few seasons.

Text: Sean Murtagh - sean@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

18 | INTERVIEW

One-to-One with Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer, National Transport Authority (NTA),

by Jarlath Sweeney, Managing Editor, Fleet Bus & Coach

overseeing current and future projects?

Yes, I am looking forward to overseeing projects that are going to deliver high quality public transport. Many of the projects are about building on the infrastructure that we already have. Luas Cross City will fi nally see the integration of the two Luas lines in the city. The opening of the Phoenix Park Tunnel to connect passenger services from Heuston Station into Connolly Station will bring commuters to where they work without changing service.

The expansion of the Leap Card in recent times has made great progress. Are there further incentives on the way like this one? Are there any plans to widen its geographical acceptance or expand the range of services it covers?

To begin, best wishes on your new appointment, can you please define your position. What do you say to private operators who regard you as a veiled protector for State companies?

I’m the Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I took up appointment just before Christmas. I don’t accept that we are a veiled protector for State companies. The Authority’s statutory remit is to provide public transport services that are deemed socially necessary and to regulate the provision of public transport services that are provided on a commercial basis. At its inception in 2009 and in accordance with our legislation, the Authority put in place contracts with the C.I.É. operating companies for the provision of socially necessary services. These contracts are very tightly managed by the Authority and penalties are applied where contract terms are not met. We publish quarterly performance reports on each operator on our website www.nationaltransport.ie. The Authority also tendered for new services in the last few years and these services are provided by other private operators.

Coming into this new role, what are your objectives?

My objective is to grow the use of sustainable transport modes across the State. In order to do that we have to provide reliable, high quality, accessible and integrated public transport services that meet the needs of the wider population.

With your engineering and project management background, are you looking forward to FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

The Leap Card has been extremely successful and very shortly we will see the sale of the millionth card. We will extend the Leap Card nationally and have already commenced with the cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick with Waterford to be rolled out next month. We would like to see the Leap card being used across all bus services in the state including those provided commercially and in smaller rural transport services. We are developing an application for Near Field Communication mobile phones that will allow users to top up their Leap Card directly with their phones.

We are looking at the next generation of smart ticketing with contactless bank cards and Account Based Ticketing to see whether it is appropriate for Ireland.

Our other key interventions will be about ensuring that integration of services takes place seamlessly whether it is by ensuring that all the information is made available in as many formats as possible or that transport interchange points provide shelter and other services which improve the customer experience.

Currently, the NTA is inviting the public to take part in a consultation on a new Transport Strategy for the greater Dublin Area, what has been the reaction so far?

Strategic Transport Planning is one of the most important things that we do, as an Authority.

The planning process allows us to consult widely – with transport users and operators, businesses, civic leaders, state organisations, professional bodies, academics, trade groups and the general public at large. We analyse important datasets, such as the National Census, and we use our own transport models

to help us set the key priorities and strategic objectives for the Greater Dublin Area. The Strategy guides decisions and priorities on competing projects and determines the more detailed, shorter-term implementation plans, which set out specific projects for delivery in the region.

We launched a public consultation in January, asking for people’s views and opinions on what they think we should be looking at in the 2015-2035 Strategy. At the time of writing, this consultation is still live, but to date we have already had a wide range of submissions from very many interested parties. Once the closing date passes (March 2), and we analyse the submissions received, we will prepare a Draft Transport Strategy – which we will publish in mid-2015, to seek input from the public and from other interested parties and agencies, before fi nalising our proposals and passing them to the Minister for Transport for his decision.

Regarding the 10% privatisation of Bus Services, tenders are being sought for selected routes, do you expect a good response and reaction?

We expect a good response to the tenders that are being sought particularly when the Authority carried out a market consultation in 2012.

What is your view on the fact that private operators fund their own equipment and State operators get state aid?

The state operators provide socially necessary services on behalf of the Authority and the State. They receive funding for the provision of infrastructure only associated with the provision of those subsidised services. If another operator was providing those services, the Authority would either fund the provision of the infrastructure for that provider or make the infrastructure available or require the provision in a contract, which will be priced by the private operator.

In a submission dated February 2013 the Rural Transport Network (RTN) called for meaningful consultation between the RTN and the NTA to achieve certain objectives which included:• • •

Develop people and community centred services Integrate local transport services to include education, health, and social services Provide efficient and effective national

NETWORK | 17 •

management and support mechanisms Minimise the negative impact of transport on the environment

Has meaningful consultation taken place and what elements or aspects of the submission have been included in current or future NTA policy?

The Authority has done much more than just consult with the RTN in relation to the provision of rural transport services; in 2013 we produced a policy document called “Strengthening the Connections in Rural Ireland”. Th is policy document is now being implemented and 16 Transport Coordination Units have now been set up across the state that are tasked, on behalf of the NTA, to manage transport service delivery in rural communities to health, social and third-level education facilities. I believe that in conjunction with the Rural Transport Groups, the Authority has put in place a structure, which will support the growth in integrated transport services in rural areas.

As the enforcement body for Regulation 181/2100, that ensures passengers rights within the EU. Has the Authority received many complaints under the regulation since it came into force in March 2013, and what actions were taken?

The NTA received a total of 4 complaints under EU Regulation 181/2011 (Bus and Coach Passenger Rights) since it came into force in March 2013. Th ree of the complaints were not admissible under the regulations. The fourth complaint related to lack of Information on ticket price and was concluded in favour of the passenger.

How does the Authority intend to further promote the use of public transport in Ireland?

Are there any specific measures the Authority will engage to increase the use of public transport in Ireland?

Th e Leap Card was successfully launched in Wexford in 2013

Is there a need to improve working relationships and co-operation with other regulatory and/or state bodies? (Road Safety Authority, National Roads Authority, Health & Safety Authority and An Garda Siochána)?

Considering the economic events over the last decade. How accurate can the NTA’s development of a strategy for 2015 to 2035 predict the demands, problems and solutions?

The Authority already has a strong working relationship with the NRA, RSA and An Garda Siochána. There hasn’t been a requirement to interface with the HSA to a great extent but I wouldn’t foresee any difficulty developing a working relationship.

The Authority uses the most up-to-date growth scenarios that are developed by government departments and sophisticated modelling tools to predict the transport demands for a medium term horizon. Sensitivity analyses will be carried out to see the effects of lower or higher growth scenarios that the one chosen.

Catastrophic events usually have the impact of slowing down the rate of growth for a period but the demand will grow again and may even result in the medium growth scenarios being met but at a slightly later date. The reason that the Authority is doing this strategy again is to see whether the recent economic events have changed the demand for the medium term and the infrastructure that will be needed to meet that demand.

Is there a need to improve working relationships and co-operation with other trade and industry representative bodies? (Coach Tourism & Transport Council, Freight Transport Association Ireland, Irish Road Haulage Association, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport)?

The Authority is a very open, consultative organisation and regularly meets with key industry representative bodies.

The Authority will continue to promote the use of public transport services through the development of its integrating brand “Transport for Ireland – Connecting your Transport Services” and increasing the visibility of public transport. We will be asking the public to try out their transport services and see how they have changed dramatically in terms of quality and reliability. The specific measures that the Authority will employ are to make it easier to use public transport by providing information on services in an integrated way on websites, at bus stops, on Real Time signs and by making it easier to pay through the Leap Card.

The Authority also works with employers and educational institutions through the Smarter Workplaces and Smarter Campuses programmes and the Green Schools initiative to encourage those bodies to make it easier for their employees or students to use sustainable modes of transport. www.fleet.ie

20 | PEOPLE CARRIER

Fleet Transport goes Green with Nissan e-NV200 CarWings is the system that programmes remote heating/ventilation or allows the driver or fleet manager to monitor the current state of charge or time to complete a charge remotely.

This can also be assessed to smartphone, App or computer.

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F

ollowing successful long term test programmes with FIAT Professional, Nissan and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Fleet Transport is taking a rather different direction in driving the zero emission Nissan e-NV200 for the next number of months. The award winning all-electric Nissan e-NV200, Green Commercial of the Year 2015 on trial is the Evalia 5-seater, based on significant elements of the electric drivetrain of the Nissan LEAF and the structural architecture of the Nissan NV200 panel van (see Spec Check details below).

And so the marriage of proven Electric Vehicle (EV) technology and practicality which has hit the streets of Europe and Japan and now extends to Claremorris, County Mayo where the vehicle will be based. Thankfully, Fleet Transport has its own ‘home charger’ and in the town centre at the swimming pool, ESB ecars has installed a charging box. Towns all around the country have similar systems in place. So, no excuse then for keeping the wheels in motion. With an average 120 kilometre distance range, its plenty for a typical days use.

While the overall body design is naturally similar to the NV200, the e-NV200 has its own distinctive look and style resulting in a modern,

advanced, active and functional vehicle. Well proven too, real world field-tests in Japan and Europe with big consumer brands has led to major fleet sales. Most significant between the NV and the e-NV is the frontal shape where the latter adopts an ‘EV face’ to accommodate the plug-in facility as pioneered on Leaf. Therefore, 160mm has been added to the overall length of the vehicle. As the battery pack is inserted under the platform floor, a flat floor is assured and allows for normal entry/exit or loading/ unloading. The ‘face’ of the e-NV differs in that distinctive blue-tinted arrow-shaped positioning/daylight running lamps can be found within the sleeker headlamps, which also feature the ‘ice-blue’ colour that’s associated with Nissan’s EV programme. The theme is repeated on Nissan’s ‘Zero Emission’ graphics on the vehicle. Its overall width has been extended also (by 60mm) to accommodate the 40mm wider front track required by the electric powertrain/ chassis assembly.

Inside, the most notable difference is the revised instrument panel which uses LED displays to deliver vital information to the driver. Standard equipment fitted on the e-NV200 is as good if not better than a premium passenger car with a number of automatic functions and connectivity features.

Propelling the e-NV200 is the acclaimed Nissandeveloped high response AC Synchronous motor that develops 80 kW/109PS and 254Nm of torque, powered by a 48 module compact lithium-ion battery pack. These battery cells are made by Nissan in the UK at the company’s Sunderland plant and then shipped to Spain where installed into the e-NV200 on the assembly line in Barcelona.

Fleet Transport will be feature reports on the progress with the Nissan e-NV200 over the next number of editions.

Make/Model Type Motor Power (max) Torque (max) Transmission Driver Wheels Battery Voltage Capacity Number of Cells Charging Time Dimensions (mm) Cargo Area

Cargo Volume Wheelbase Suspension Brakes Wheel/Tyre size GVW Maximum Payload Range Acceleration CO2 emissions Max Speed

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

Nissan e-NV200 Evalia 5-seater people carrier Electric AC Synchronous 80 kW/109PS 254 Nm @ 10,500 rpm Automatic Front Laminated Lithium Ion 360 volts 24 kWh 192 7/4 (option) hours Length 4,560 / Width 2,011 / Height 1,858 Length 2,040 / Width 1,500 / Height 1,358 (excluding seats) 2.27m 3 2725mm Front – Independent MacPherson strut Discs front & rear 185/6SR15 2,220 kg 649 kg 120 kilometres 0-100 kp/h = 14 seconds Zero 76 mph/ 122 kp/h

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

New UNVI Sales • Voyager GT 29/33 seats • Mercedes-Benz Touring-GT 41 seats • MAN Touring GT-R 43 seats Test Drives Available - Book to Arrange

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OUR JOURNEY CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER Sending over 1000 bicycles to Madagascar to support with community health activities

Training 710 taxi drivers

Teaching 2,454 HGV and PSV drivers & 13 driver

Here’s what’s been keeping us busy in the last 12 months…

trainers in Tanzania

and 38 instructors in Nigeria

Introducing hovercrafts to double deliveries of

Delivering

health supplies in Madagascar Distributing 100

bicycle ambulances and 18 ox carts in Zambia

programmes in 7 countries – from improving road safety to increasing access to healthcare

Introducing 270 guests to our patron, HRH

The Princess Royal

We couldn’t have done it without YOU. Thanks a million.

Organising fundraising challenges for 93 participants, who

raised £145k

• • • • •

23 member companies 17 ambassadors 6 experts on secondment 93 supporters on our fundraising challenges 26 events made us their beneficiary

UK registered charity no 1072105. Patron HRH The Princess Royal.

transaid.org

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Back Seat Driver by Sean Murtagh

F

or a long time now there has been great expectations on the part of coach operators and their trade associations of a new dawn for the sector, with the market freeing up and opening fully to them. Has the National Transport Authority (NTA) at last arrived as the treasure at the end of the rainbow, or might it be a Trojan horse? In fairness, as the NTA continues to open up routes and accept tenders and proposals for new routes, the value of coach travel to the general economy is becoming apparent. One of the latest routes to start is a new service put in place by Galway based operator Citylink, linking Dublin Airport with Limerick city centre. New routes open all kinds of opportunities for the travelling public and business opportunities for those at either end of, and along the route.

Extra employment is being created directly and indirectly as drivers and technicians are hired. New vehicles are appearing on the road also. Releasing private bus and coach operators from the heavily restricted and regulated environment they were in for years has so far been very positive for everyone, not least the taxpayer.

None of this investment of extra service is costing the Exchequer anything. All new equipment is funded by the private operators.

So contrast this situation with two announcements made last month, one by the CEO of Irish Rail and the other by the Chairman of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

Irish Rail indicated that it was its intention to link the Dublin Airport Terminal to all city and provincial destinations. A brilliant concept to think you could step on a train in Tralee and step off at Dublin Airport. Even if money was the only problem here, how long would it take from an infrastructural point of view to achieve? Even if you are now only in fi rst class at school reading this, it is unlikely to happen in your lifetime.

I would have thought the railway company has enough of difficulties competing with the new motorway system to keep it busy for the moment. A coach can easily beat the train from Dublin to Cork; actually, you could nearly beat the train from Limerick to Galway reversing! Ironically the fact that the route the railway could compete on Limerick to Waterford does not seem to interest them. The route between both cities is as straight as the crow fl ies and the road is mainly single carriageway with none of the towns bypassed to any great degree.

Addressing the Oireachtas Transport Committee, the DAA chairman Padraig Ó Riordan suggested that the Government should consider subsidising fl ights between Dublin and Cork as a way of boosting numbers at Cork Airport. I am all in favour of fi nancially assisting airports, particularly the regional ones, but subsidising twentyminute fl ights between two airports that are joined by motorway could never be justified on any level.

In the past when the only companies in this country that provided transport were State owned, Governments automatically bought into the ideas suggested to them by their management or pressure from local back benchers. I hope that now we have a private sector that is able to provide and more importantly be allowed to provide service without Government assistance in terms of fi nance, we won’t be expecting the taxpayer to fund transport. One of the ironies of intercity transport is that Bus Éireann is now a competitor of its old master, the railway company. Bus Éireann is leading the renaissance of Bus & Coach travel with innovative service and modern coaches. In the past the bus acted as a servant to the train, feeding passengers from the rural parts of the country to mainline railway stations for their onward journey.

Now, however, the coach competes with the train as it brings the passenger seamlessly to his or her fi nal destination. Practically, every city and town in Ireland has a coach service to Dublin city centre and the Airport. Not only that, but these services can compete on fare, journey time and comfort, with the train. Calls for express trains to the Dublin Airport from all around the country and subsidised fl ights internally, are a luxury the country cannot afford or even needs. Calls for this from self interest groups, political or otherwise should be ignored by the Government; any spare money can be used elsewhere in the economy.

FLEETBUS&COACH | Spring 2015

Become a member in our All Ireland Private Coach Tourism Network giving • New Coach Business Offers • Ownership/Shares in the Co-Op • Regular Newsletter with Transport/ Tourism & Trade Association updates • Ownership in 2 Deluxe Wi-Fi Coaches, 35 seater - 2012 Mercedes-Benz Beulas / 2014 - 53 seater 5 Star Fáilte Ireland Approved • Website listing on www.32ccgroup.ie 2015 will be a developing transport year and by being a member of our co-op you will have an extra sales distribution line for your Private Hire Tourism vehicles.

Already over 32 Private Coach/Bus Owner Members have contributed €950,000 and benefited with: €4.5m+ in new business Ownership of 2 International brands (Irish Coaches & Hello Ireland Tours) “Filling Gaps for Members Benefits” 15 Years Success On-the-Road Minimum Investment €3,000 Affiliation fee Quality Vehicles for Hire Contact: Dónal Hughes M.D. 01 - 8788936 / 8788894 www.32ccgroup.ie Member CTTC / PCBOA / LBOA / PAMBO

Arrange To Come And Meet Ulster Bank Chambers, 2/4 Lr. O’Connell St., Dublin 1

Text: Sean Murtagh – sean@fleet.ie

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