Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1035

Wednesday May 9, 2012 Issue 1035 | ÂŁ2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com

COACH:

Tour programme selling fast say Grand UK Holidays p8

PLATFORM:

Why so few women bus drivers? People1st seeks a change p30

BUS:

Bristol City Council considers Quality Contract scheme p4

INSIGHT:

Report on The Bus Users UK AGM in Liverpool p20

for recru i

JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK

Coach and bus building at Irisbus's Annonay plant p22

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THIS WEEK

Coach & Bus Week is published by Rouncy Media, First Floor, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX Switchboard 01733 293240 Fax 0845 280 2927 Web www.coachandbusweek.com Distributed by COMAG

EDITORIAL Publisher Jonathan Taylor 01733 293240 jonathan.taylor@rouncymedia.co.uk Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk Technical & Minibus Editor Martin Cole 01733 293245, 07885 692144 martin.cole@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter James Day 01733 293244 james.day@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter Andrew Cream 01733 293482 andrew.cream@rouncymedia.co.uk News Reporter Alex Tyler 01733 293240 alex.tyler@rouncymedia.co.uk Art Director Keith Simpson Contributors Tim Deakin, Richard Charnley, Gabriel Conway, Alan Payling

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This is considered a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs. This magazine must not be lent, sold, hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any authorised cover by way, or by trade, or annexed to any publication or advertising matter without first obtaining written permission from the directors.

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

Bristol QC – bluff or puff?

F

ar from being a piece of electioneering for Thursday’s polls, Quality Contracts (QCs) are “not just a bluff,” according to Bristol City Council’s (BCC) Transport Executive Cllr Tim Kent.

As you’ll read on p4, some of Cllr Kent’s magic quotes include: “We have absolutely no idea what the costs will be” and “Politician turnover is quite high but it’s nothing like First’s management.” Meow…

When our Andrew asked how the plans for QCs would work when the northern half of the city is under South Gloucestershire Council control, Cllr Kent replied: “That’s a good question.” Hmm... The councils have joined pteg together, but they’ve yet to create an integrated transport authority for Bristol.

Whilst First’s faults are well documented, BCC must take a share of the blame too. In its quest to attract the other big groups into the tendered market, BCC retendered all its supported routes as a single

contract – but this backfired. Anyone with an ounce of bus experience could see the outcome. None of the local independents were large enough to bid for the new contract, where previously they bid and won individual routes. Only First bid, none of the other ‘big groups’ did. It is understood the resulting contract cost more than the sum of the old ones, so BCC could not afford to support Bank Holiday services – hence he mess we now find ourselves in. Doh! I find it rather strange BCC’s Sunday tenders fail to include Bank Holidays. To all intents and purposes, Bank Holidays are economically very similar to Sundays - shortened shopping hours, fewer people travelling etc.

The dislike, hatred even, by one regional media channel of First is well known in our industry. Still, at least Alan Peters of A Bus rightly is given a platform in the media as the voice of reason – and good luck to him too.

Gareth Evans Editor

CONTENTS 4

18

28

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

12

Good financial news from National Express, MAN record profit drop

20

A Galloway European Setra S416 GT-HD at the UK Coach Rally

Lothian taking over First routes and more success for its open toppers

14

Discussion includes quality partnerships and cashless ticketing

22

Kate Deane asks why women bus drivers are in such short supply

BoltBus US west coast route and support for fuel cell programme

16

Annona - the heart of the Irisbus manufacturing programme

26

A lighthearted look at the industry.

Plus Gareth’s Diary!

What’s happening across the country’s regions. Plus Events Diary

The latest news from suppliers including Bridgestone and mobitec

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

Scotland News

International News Regional News

Business News Bus Users UK

Irisbus Update Products

The Big Picture

30

Open Platform

53

Last Stop

54

People

www.coachandbusweek.com

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news

“Sales of our new wheelchair accessible coach – the Irisbus Magelys Pro – are set to top 500 units by the end of 2012.”

Jean-Marc Boucheret Irisbus

briefly TAS Partnership is holding an events day in Preston on June 13 to celebrate the life of Peter Huntley. It will incorporate many of Peter’s passions, including public transport and a sponsored walk.

There will also be presentation of the last research Peter was working on which will be led by Chris Cheek and TAS Policy Exchange members. Register your attendance at Heather.Smith@taspartnership. co.uk or ring 01772 204988.

The OFT is inviting views on the anticipated acquisition

by Stagecoach Devon Ltd of the North Devon business and assets of First Devon and Cornwall Ltd. It is considering whether the sale will result in a substantial lessening of competition. Contact Jordan Ellison at: Office of Fair Trading, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8JX. Email: jordan. ellison@oft.gsi.gov.uk. Closing date May 15.

McKendrys Coaches has had two school contracts suspended by Scottish Borders Council following a wheelloss incident. It happened on Wednesday afternoon near Drochil Castle in Peeblesshire. The firm will no longer operate two journeys in the Peeblesshire area. The council said pupil safety was paramount and a police and VOSA probe was under way.

Stagecoach has launched a mobile website. It gives access to press releases, regulatory news, share price and contacts.

Users will be redirected to the mobile site when accessing the main website, www.stagecoach. com, from a mobile device. Steven Stewart, Stagecoach Group Director of Communications, said: “Smartphone popularity is growing and research by Ofcom found more than a quarter of adults in the UK have iPhones, Blackberrys or Android devices.

The figures for younger groups are even higher. The new mobile site and the addition of our corporate Twitter feed mean we can engage more effectively with investors, customers, media and other key stakeholders and give them quick and easy access to information.” www.coachandbusweek.com

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Manufacturer Update p22

Bristol City Council plan Quality Contracts Idea still at embryonic stage, but Councillor tells CBW: “QCs are a worst case scenario, but its not just a bluff.”

Bristol City Council (BCC) is looking at introducing Quality Contracts.

The talks started after First decided not to run the 20, 36 and 51 services on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

BCC’s Transport Executive Cllr Tim Kent said: “We have raised with them [First] our grave concern about their withdrawal of some of the routes and some of the services on bank holidays.

“We don’t feel they’re working in partnership with us, and we do think it’s important the main bus operator in the region works with us.”

In a letter to First, Kent said: “We expect the major bus company, First, which makes substantial profits in our city most days of the week and has seen real growth in passenger numbers, to run a full network and service. We expect this to occur on bank holidays as well.”

Speaking to CBW, Kent explained he felt First could help the city’s transport more. He said there is a “poor relationship” between First and BCC, adding: “We don’t see it getting better.” He spoke of the council’s “unbelievable frustration” when issues raised with First rarely

received replies. He believes this is partly down to regular changes in First’s personnel: “Politician turnover is quite high but it’s nothing like First’s management.”

He said First has left many communities without transport and feels the operator, which provides about 70% of Bristol’s routes, is not pulling its weight.

Kent stated First has been very profitable recently, performing beyond its own targets, and believes Bristol is the firm’s most profitable region. “That’s a big issue. We believe they should use some of their profits to subsidise the less profitable routes,” he said.

The introduction of QCs however, is a long way off. Talks took place over the last week or two and there is clearly a lot for the council to discuss and get to grips with.

Kent was due to meet with First’s Regional Manager on Wednesday (May 9), but said there won’t be an update for a couple of months.

There are also various obstacles in BCC’s way before QCs could see the light of day. BCC needs to look at financial risks and implications.

Kent said: “We have absolutely no idea what the costs will be – we will need a lot more information. QCs probably take at least two years to implement.” Kent also needs to get other parties on board. “It’s a big

Transport Executive Cllr Tim Kent has to work out costs, get other councillors onboard and talk with neighbouring authorities to get the ball rolling on introducing Quality Contracts. With the historic Brunel station in the background, a First Bristol Dart is seen awaiting departure from Temple Meads on route 8

decision which needs all parties to support it,” he said. “Most of the politicians who I’ve spoken to are quite supportive, however.”

Another obstacle is that First’s current routes go into neighbouring authorities. Kent admitted that for QCs to be a viable option, at least one other local authority would have to be onboard, citing South Gloucestershire as the main target.

Additionally, the city is moving to an elected mayor in November. Kent believes transport would be high on the agenda, as congestion in the city is a real problem.

BCC also wants to look at other authorities which are looking to implement QCs, with a close eye being kept on West Yorkshire.

On the issue of QCs, First said: “The process of forming a QC is long, complex and potentially very expensive to the public purse.

Our view is the Council should concentrate on bidding to become a “Better Bus Area” as recently designated by the DfT. This would enable the Council to get funding to spend on a wide range of measures to boost bus patronage such as better bus stops, bus priority measures and ticketing.”

Despite the talk of QCs seeming like a kneejerk reaction to First’s decision to cancel bank holiday services, Cllr Kent was keen to stress First’s failings.

He said: “We are worried about long term growth. We are being told they are going for a growth agenda but we are not seeing a great deal of evidence for this.”

Kent explained how customer satisfaction is particularly low. After saying how politicians often aren’t favoured by the public, he added: “We see hundreds of complaints every week. The people they hate more in the city is First Bus.” He stressed he knew QCs weren’t the perfect solution, adding: “Companies are opposed to it and I understand that. Small operators could get caught up in it, but for them it could be a real opportunity.

“It’s about making sure we have decent public transport. It’s about First seeing us as a partner.

Currently there’s no relationship

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Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek which can be salvaged. QCs are a worst case scenario, but it’s not just a bluff.”

In response to Kent’s letter, First said: “We understand Councillors would like to see as many buses operating in the city as possible; we share this view and operate as many as we are able to on a commercial basis with no support from the local authority. In recent years we have made significant improvements to the services, increasing frequencies, investing millions in new buses and new ticket machines and creating jobs.

“In previous years BCC supported a number of bank holiday services.

As part of its cost cutting and retendering last year though the Council withdrew funding for journeys during the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.

“When this happened we understood the pressure BCC faced, and we took steps to take as many previously supported journeys on commercially, absorbing the costs of doing so. We took on journeys during the evenings and weekends, retaining travel opportunities.

“Bank holiday service provision generally mirrors the level of service which operates on Sundays.

Where we operate commercial services on Sundays we do the same on bank holidays. Routes 20, 36 and 51 do not operate commercially on Sundays but are instead supported by the local authority on those days.

“Following discussion with Cllr Kent we have agreed to look at provision over the forthcoming bank holiday weekends ensuring the areas served by routes 20, 36 and 51 retain some form of access to local bus services.”

Four brand new ADL Enviro 400s entered service on Stagecoach Peterborough’s Citi 6 route last week. Citi 6 links the township of Hampton with the city centre via Serpentine Green Shopping Centre and London Road. It passes the CBW office, from where this photo was taken by Editor Gareth Evans.

The route has grown in popularity; having progressed from singledecker Darts to Trident double deckers cascaded from Citi 1 last year. The new Enviro 400s will join 14 currently allocated to Citi 1 at the firm’s Lincoln Road depot.

The displaced Tridents will remain within the Stagecoach East fleet, although future allocation has yet to be confirmed

National Express completes Petermann acquisition National Express (NX) has completed a £126m ($200m) acquisition of Petermann Partners, the USA’s fifth largest student transport provider.

The acquisition was first announced from Macquarie Global Opportunities Partners and Petermann’s management on September 13 last year.

At the time, the firm said the bolt-on was expected to be earnings accretive from the outset and would strengthen the group’s position in a key US market. The deal adds more than 3,300 vehicles and increases US fleet size by 20%.

For the year ending June 30, 2011, Petermann generated revenue of £94.4m ($149.9m) with normalised EBITDA of £18.4m ($29.3m),

normalised operating profit of £8.5m ($13.5m) and had gross assets of £160m ($254.5m).

NX said the Petermann acquisition represented targeted expansion in the structurally attractive US student transport market. Since being founded in 1999, Petermann has developed strong growth, driven by contract wins and bolt-on acquisitions.

Dean Finch, NX Group CEO, said the improved performance had led it to take advantage of new opportunities. He added Petermann complemented current operations and introduced new territories.

To address antitrust concerns, the two companies have agreed to divest eight school bus contracts in Texas and Washington state, the

U.S. Justice Department said.

Meanwhile, The FT reported NX hopes to launch intercity services in Germany if the market becomes deregulated.

Finch said: “There’s a strong feeling the German market will deregulate soon.”

NX’s coach operations are reportedly its most profitable sector, in both the UK and Spain.

The firm will look to run a series of select routes in Germany as opposed to a national network.

The news follows on from Stagecoach’s launch of its Megabus to France, Belgium and the Netherlands, which competes with NX-owned Eurolines.

Petermann is the market leader in its home state, Ohio, and has operations across 10 states in the Midwest, West and Southwest. Visit http://www. nationalexpressgroup.com/

www.coachandbusweek.com

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£126m

news › BUSeS

The price paid by National Express Group for USA school transport firm Petermann Partners

briefly Campaign for Better Transport is offering people the chance to win a pair of first class Eurostar tickets by sharing their everyday public transport stories. The transport pressure group is asking people to share their experiences of public transport, good or bad, by submitting either a photograph, film or written account of their best, or worst, journey. Winners in each category will receive a prize, with the overall winner receiving a pair of return Eurostar tickets to Brussels. The entry with the most votes from the public will win Raileasy vouchers. The competition coincides with the Government’s fares review, which has the potential to be the biggest shake up of the ticketing system in decades.

To enter the competition visit www. fairfaresnow.org.uk/competition

Lake district ‘bike & ride’ service launches Number of Stagecoach Cumbria vehicles converted to carry bikes, including open-toppers on 599 route A new bus service has been launched to help cyclists and mountain bikers travel around the Lake District.

Route 800 is being run by Stagecoach Cumbria as part of the GoLakes Travel sustainable transport programme, which aims to inspire visitors to the Lake District National Park to ‘Drive Less, See More’.

The new service started on May 5. Buses are running on weekends and Bank Holidays until the summer holidays, when the service

will operate daily from July 16 until August 31 and weekends until September 30.

The ‘bike & ride’ service uses specially converted buses, which are able to carry up to 12 bikes and riders. They travel through the heart of the Lakes along the A591 from Windermere Railway Station to the Whinlatter Forest visitor Centre. The buses will stop at Ambleside, Rydal, Grasmere, Thirlspot, Keswick and Braithwaite on the way.

Nigel Winter, MD of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “We are keen supporters of partnerships and sustainable travel.

Bike & Ride brings both together, with Stagecoach innovation and the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, delivering a new product for bike users in the lakes.

“We have converted our buses by removing seating to allow more bikes to be carried. This service will make it easier for people to be able to leave their car at their accommodation and explore the area using the greener, and more fun, options of bike and bus.”

Stagecoach has also adapted buses allocated to its open top 599 route, which runs between Windermere and Grasmere, to carry two bikes.

Alistair Kirkbride, Sustainable Transport Adviser for the Lake District National Park, said: “We hope the bike bus will become a core service for cyclists and mountain bikers visiting the

Lake District.

“Visitors can use the bike bus to get to a new area to explore by bike, getting to the trails at Whinlatter Forest with mountain bikes or to access the trails around Thirlmere.”

The GoLakes Travel programme is a £6.9m initiative being delivered in partnership by Cumbria County Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism to influence people to make fewer car journeys while visiting the Lake District.

The programme, which has been funded primarily through the Department for Transport, along with some matched funding, is focussed on the Central and Southern Lake District, including the towns and villages of Grasmere, Ambleside, Windermere, Kendal, Hawkshead and Coniston. This area has been chosen because it receives the majority of visitors to the National Park.

The programme includes nine interlinking projects which will deliver multiple improvements to travel infrastructure, such as improved cycleways, more and better bus stops, more frequent bus services, a low emission car hire network, the expansion of an electric cycle network, improved and more flexible ticketing and better transport information.

For more information visit www.golakes.co.uk. You can follow GoLakes Travel on Twitter @golakestravel

‘bike & ride’ branding has been applied to Stagecoach buses www.coachandbusweek.com

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15%

The percentage increase in complaints handled by Bus Users UK so far this year

South Yorkshire gets First ‘refresh’ First is refurbishing its bus fleet in South Yorkshire as part of a wider ranging plan to improve service delivery on key corridors to grow passenger numbers.

First staff in South Yorkshire have been busy painting the buses in a new ‘refreshed’ livery (purple, lilac and white, to a standard template), the first of which can be seen on the X78 route which links Sheffield and Doncaster via Rotherham. Promotional fares have been introduced to encourage passengers to try out the new high frequency Monday to Saturday daytime service (every 10 minutes).

More than 40,000 homes have received details of the new service, including an online offer of a free day ticket to use the service or a reduction on the price of their FirstWeek ticket.

New cleaning programmes are being phased into each depot to ensure buses are cleaner than ever.

Technology using the latest GPS tracking system alongside more traditional methods, such as bus inspectors at bus stations is in place, which First says will ensure a punctual and reliable service.

554,117

The number of passengers carried by Lothian Buses-operated Edinburgh Bus Tours in 2011

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SHARE WATCH

Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, May 8. BAE Systems saw the greatest proportional rise while Rotala experienced the biggest proportional drop.

Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

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While not entirely unattractive on the eye from a distance, many would argue Parliament Street depot remains in something of a timewarp and is not indicative of NCT’s otherwise modern image

NCT depot search ends 25 years later After a 25-year search, Nottingham City Transport (NCT) along with Henry Boot Developments Ltd has finally found a solution to the question of “where do we relocate the bus company to and what do we put in its place?”

NCT has signed an agreement with the developer for the extensive re-development of NCT’s Lower Parliament Street depot in Nottingham. The site has long been seen as a lynchpin in the city’s Eastside Development aspirations and this proposal will open up the site for mixed development use

Blackpool Transport �leet reinforced from Isle of Man Municipally-owned Blackpool Transport has turned to the Isle of Man in order to boost the resort’s bus fleet.

In order to meet the impending 2017 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) deadline for double deckers, the operator needed to replace 28 buses out of the firm’s 147-strong fleet.

21 second hand vehicles were purchased from the Isle of Man – 11 East Lancs Lolyne-bodied Dennis Trident 2s and 10 East Lancs Lowlander-bodied DAF DB250LFs. It has cost approximately £50,000 per bus to buy and upgrade, saving around £150,000 per vehicle against the cost of a new bus, with all the work carried out by Bus and Coach World in Blackburn. The

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The refurbished East Lancs-bodied Tridents will join similar vehicles already in the fleet, an example of which is seen here in September 2011 Tridents have been returned to the operator to enter service, while the DAFs are still under refurbishment.

Philip Hilton MBE, Chairman at Bus and Coach World, told CBW: “We’ve been reupholstering all of

complimenting the ice arena and other developments in the area.

The deal will see NCT relocate to within a mile of the existing depot to a brand new purpose-built facility at the old college site on Carlton Road, owned by Carlton Road Development Ltd. Mark Fowles, NCT Managing Director said: “For us this is the perfect deal – we move out of an expensive to operate and maintain depot, into a brand new facility with all the benefits modern technology can bring. The most important part of the deal for us was that it was cost neutral, which it is.”

He added: “There have been many false dawns but finally we have a deal which suits all parties and will improve amenities to the east of the city centre.” the seats as well as replacing the flooring and applying Blackpool Transport’s livery to 21 vehicles from Blackpool Transport, 11 of which we have returned so far. New McKenna destination equipment has also been installed.”

Trevor Roberts, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, said: “It was a new approach for us to look at buying a vehicle and refurbishing it to the extent we have.

“If the other buses turn out as well, we’ll have made a really good improvement to the Blackpool fleet.

“The crux is we get over 2017 and still have a fleet on the road. We couldn’t have financed an acquisition of new vehicles at that size.”

The Isle of Man has purchased 24 new Mercedes-Benz Ciatros after the Manx government approved capital spending of £1.88m. It says its new fleet will cost less to maintain and be more fuel-efficient.

194.10p

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FTSE 100

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Index: Year High: 6,104 Year Low: 4,791

-183 on last week

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news › coaches

“So, what’s wrong with maintaining the status quo? Are female bus drivers really needed?”

Kate Dean

briefly The M25 between junctions 2 (Darenth) and 3 (Swanley) has become the latest section of the motorway to be made a ‘managed motorway’. The new mandatory variable speed limits were introduced on Wednesday, May 9. The system is already in use elsewhere, such as on the western section of the M25 near Heathrow.

On the M25, where the system has been in place since 1995, the HA claims it has reduced collisions by 10%. Drivers see the speed limit appear in a red circle – which means it is enforceable by law – on electronic signals on overhead gantries. Kent police will enforce the speed limits with the use of cameras.

Work to resurface a section of the southbound A19 near Sunderland began on May 8. The whole of the southbound carriageway over four miles between the Herrington interchange with the A690 and the Ryhope Spur interchange with the A1018 at Seaton is being resurfaced in a three-week scheme. The work involves closing the southbound carriageway overnight with work taking place between 2000 and 0600hrs. Outside these times a 50mph speed limit is in place over the temporary road surface. During the overnight roadworks a clearlysigned diversion is in place. The work is due to be completed

by Saturday, May 26.

Preparatory work in Greater Manchester to install a new section of concrete safety barrier starts on Monday, May 14. It takes place between Junction 26 of the M6 motorway at Orrell Interchange and Junction 27 and should be completed by Thursday, August 23. Phase one sees overnight restriction between 2000 and 0500hrs with one lane closed in each direction. Phase two, from Friday, June 15, requires 24-hour closure of lane three in each direction, narrowed lanes, some hard shoulder running, a 50mph speed limit plus further lane closures overnight – although the motorway remains open at all times. Phase two also requires exit and access slip roads closure overnight. Clearly-signed diversions will be in place.

Open Platform p30

Gold standard with Grand UK Holidays Four ‘gold standard’ Elites expected to enter service for 2013 season Grand UK Holidays sales have exceeded expectations for its new ‘Grand UK Gold’ holidays.

The over-55’s specialist unveiled ‘Grand UK Gold’, an upmarket coach brand to cater for growing demand for higher quality escorted tours, in October 2011. Starting this year, many tours are now sold out and almost 90% of the overall programme has been snapped up within the first six months of sale.

The programme offers stylish black and gold liveried coaches, accommodation in top hotels, and ‘extras’ such as a welcome reception and a commemorative photograph.

Grand UK Holidays Operations Director Neal Fletcher told CBW one coach is planned to operate initially in summer 2012 and given the programme’s success the company expects there to be a second before the end of 2012 with up to four entering service for 2013.

The Plaxton Elite cost almost £300,000 and is being operated

by Wigan-based Olympia Travel.

Features include reclining leather seats offering extra legroom and individual air conditioning.

Passengers can follow the progress of their tour with the onboard satellite navigation system, and have access to a library.

Harold Burke, Grand UK Sales Director, said: “We’ve seen a boost

The Plaxton Elite is being operated by Olympia Travel to bookings in recent years thanks to the ‘staycation’ trend and this year is seeing an even greater emphasis on domestic holidays, with major events such as the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games.

“The success of our new ‘Grand UK Gold’ tours is also thanks to the combination of a high-spec vehicle and quality accommodation with great value-for-money prices. The headlines about the economy and people’s budgets seem to be very grim but our ‘Grand UK Gold’ tours are definitely bucking the trend.”

The tours featured in the ‘Grand UK Gold’ programme include destinations across the UK and Ireland, along with several Continental locations.

Although the summer 2012 ‘Grand UK Gold’ tours are now nearly sold out, a fresh range of tours will be included within Grand UK

Holidays’ winter 2012-13 brochure which will be released in May. However, the success of the initial ‘Grand UK Gold’ programme has meant some of the new tours have already been put on sale to meet the demand.

Norwich-based Grand UK Holidays caters exclusively for the over-55s and offers escorted holidays and coach tours, cruises, self-drive tours and holidays by air throughout Britain and Europe. It was founded in 1984 by Paul Bennett and now carries 100,000 people a year. Other brands within the group include sister company Glenton Holidays, catering for mature holidaymakers in Scotland and North East England; Grand UK Hotels. Visit www. grandukholidays.com

Brainwave for Avalon Coaches Glastonbury-based Avalon Coaches has raised £300 in support of local charity Brainwave, which helps children with learning disabilities.

The company, which has been

Transport Manager and Driver Geoff Rouse pictured here by Clive Noble with a group of happy passengers

www.coachandbusweek.com

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Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek

CoachMarque audit sets useful precedent Humberside County Council has accepted CoachMarque as a relevant health and safety standard after a local coach operator challenged its requirement for the operator to be registered with the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), for school transport services.

CoachMarque member Richard Wilson of Goole-based Drury’s Coaches was contacted by his local authority and informed in order to become an approved supplier of transport services to the schools within his jurisdiction, he would need to ensure Drury’s Coaches was registered with the CHAS scheme.

Richard pointed out, as a CoachMarque audited member, he was more than adequately qualified to be trusted with their charges but the authority disagreed, claiming the CM audit was not as rigorous as CHAS.

Alf Scrigmour, CPT’s Operations & Tourism Executive running a free mystery tour for a number of years recently decided to introduce a charge of £6 for the service, with the proceeds going to a local charity.

The mystery trip usually takes in notable attractions of Westbay, Portland Bill and Weymouth before returning to Glastonbury.

All the seats on the coach were filled and according to a company spokesman, the trip was lucky enough to have good weather.

Transport Manager and driver Geoff Rouse told CBW Avalon Coaches specifically chose

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A close examination of CHAS by both Richard and CM confirmed it was not fit for purpose as it was largely designed for building and service contractors on school sites and thus for a wholly different set of circumstances than those of a transport supplier.

A copy of Drury’s CoachMarque audit was sent from Drury House to the Emergency Planning and Safety Section, requesting it to review and revise its guidance.

Having studied the audit, the authority responded: “Based upon the information provided I am satisfied adequate standards, audit procedures of the H&S management system and other vehicle/driver requirements are in place for CoachMarque members.

I consider the requirement for the company to obtain CHAS registration would be a duplication of effort and on this occasion exemption is given.”

Richard Wilson of Drury’s Coaches told CBW: “We felt CoachMarque was more than adequate for the council’s purposes, with CHAS not particularly relevant to the coaching industry and made the point to the council. It maintained its stance until Alf Scrigmour at the CPT became involved to put more weight behind us.

“The CPT sent the council a copy of our CoachMarque audit.

Once they had recognised its heavy reliance on compliance with high standards of operation, accountability and customer service provision they agreed it was fine.

“I would like to think this decision will set a precedent.

CoachMarque is a good scheme and should be recognised more widely as such. The higher a profile it has the better it is for everyone.”

Brainwave as it had recently opened new shops in the area.

“We are hoping to do the same thing for a local cancer charity next year,” he said. “On the tour we promote the charity and also our other day tours. We are keeping this association limited to local charities, it’s a good way of getting more involved with the local community.”

Avalon Coaches has been in operation for over 40 years and operates a fleet of 23 vehicles, ranging from eight-seater minibuses to 57-seater coaches.

Transaid appeal raised £1,160 at UK Coach Awards Charity partners Transaid raised a total of £1,160 from the charity draw at the 2012 Coach Awards presentation ceremony in Manchester on the evening of April 19.

The raffle prize consisting of a bottle of champagne and ‘The Voyages of the Princess Matilda’ book written and signed by Shine & Timothy Spall was won by Adrian Hillier (pictured) of Hatts Travel

Describing it as “a really great result”, Transaid’s Marketing and Events Executive Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman said: “Thank you ever so much for allowing Transaid to be the charity of the UK Coach Awards once again this year.

It was a lovely evening and we were delighted to be a part of it. Thank you so much to all of you for your brilliant support to Transaid.”

Transaid is an international UK development charity that aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across Africa and the developing world through creating better transport. The organisation was founded by Save the Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Further details of Transaid’s work can be found at www.transaid.org

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08/05/2012 19:06

10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

news

Impact invests in defiance to the economic climate Deliveries include StreetLites, Enviro 200s and an MAN Tata Hispano coach Impact of London has invested over £1.2m in new vehicles in the first three months of 2012.

Some are for new contracts such as with GSK, which started on January 3 with vehicles from in house which have now been replaced with two Wrights StreetLites. These will be complemented by a new 35-seater executive, with delivery due in June. Another contract was a tender awarded back to Impact by the University of West London, formerly Thames Valley University, which will have two new ADL Enviro 200s serving it. All were supplied by Mistral.

Impact is also taking delivery of three King Long XMQ 6127 coaches. These are to help with the contract it has secured with an upcoming high profile sporting event, enabling the operator to serve its regular clients along with the extra work load.

Six passenger lift Iveco mini buses from Concept Coach Craft have also joined the fleet for its social services contracts, plus one 70-seater MAN Tata Hispano supplied by BASE, for use on

school contracts. The coach was displayed at the recent UK Coach Rally on the BASE stand and Impact said it has had a good experience with the MAN products over the last four years. It was the back up service offered from MAN, along with the lack of dependence on AdBlue, which prompted them to try the product and it has been very satisfied after a few teething problems.

Tony Hill, Managing Director at Impact Group, told CBW: “Everybody keeps talking doom and gloom but you’ve got to keep money moving. It’s about time people started talking the economy

www.coachandbusweek.com

News10.indd 10

For more information on Impact, visit www. impactgroup.co.uk

Two ADL Enviro 200s were among the deliveries for Impact Group

Public consultation for Bristol’s BRT project begins Plans for the new £200m rapid transit system for South Bristol have been published as part of a two month citywide public consultation.

The Government has approved a £120m funding package for the new South Bristol Link with extra funding set to come from local councils.

Once consultations have finished, three separate planning applications will be drawn up and submitted for approval. It is hoped work on the new roads, junctions and dedicated bus routes will start next year.

The new network includes dedicated bus-only routes, new bus stops and an automated,

up a bit.

“The recent elections in France and Greece have clearly shown what’s going on – you must have growth and movement, you cannot just cut away and bring in austerity measures.

“We’ve spent over £1.2m on new vehicles to prove you can still invest in this economic climate. The money goes through the suppliers and all of the parts manufacturers and will help to strengthen the economy.”

easy-to-use system with up-to-date information, fast boarding and smartcard ticketing.

As part of the improvements a new single carriageway link road will connect the A370 Long Ashton bypass to the A38 near the Town and Country Lodge Hotel, and onwards across Highridge Common.

Minor widening will take place along King George’s Road, leading to a new section of road along the route from Queen’s Road to the Hareclive Road junction.

Whitchurch Lane will be also extended and widened to link the A4174 at the Cater Road roundabout and onto Hengrove

Park using the existing road.

Passengers will have direct access to Bristol’s city centre from the northern fringe of the city and right through to Ashton Vale and Hengrove where the new leisure centre, swimming pool, skills academy and community hospital are based. Temple Meads is setting up a transport hub for the network, right alongside the recentlyopened Enterprise Zone.

Before the planning application is submitted this autumn, the public is being invited to give its comments on the plans and attend exhibitions. Three public exhibitions are being held where the plans will go on show and the team behind the project will be on hand to answer questions.

A spokesperson for the West of England Transport Partnership

Maynes drivers complete DCPC early All of the Maynes Coaches driving team have completed their Driver CPC training. All courses were held in-house and conducted by director Kevin Mayne, with the assistance of the Guild of British Coach Operators and the Association of Trainers of which Maynes are members.

Accredited training of drivers is not something new for Maynes, who have been completing in-house training since 1993. Maynes’ chosen courses are specifically selected and tailored to meet its driving team’s needs with courses available from driver’s hours and digital tachographs to customer care and dealing with emergencies. Maynes said the courses provide its drivers with an insight into many unseen aspects of the coach industry.

All the courses were completed in-house in Maynes’ own training room and in Orkney in the operator’s registered training venue near its Orkney Depot. All PCV holders employed by Maynes now hold their CPC qualification, with all drivers having done the ‘dealing with emergencies and evacuations’ course also.

Info on Maynes Training can be found: www.maynes. co.uk/training/training.php

said: “We would now like to hear views on the design on the South Bristol Link part of the network to ensure all potential issues have been considered before the planning application is submitted to Bristol and North Somerset Councils in autumn 2012. A report on the consultation and any changes made to the plans as a result of the consultation will be submitted with the final planning application in autumn 2012. At that stage people may comment on the scheme again before the planning committees in Bristol and North Somerset make their decision.”

Full engineering drawings and aerial photographs with the new route overlaid on them have been published on www.travelwest.info

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MICHELIN Q&A

Ask the Michelin Man What is grip?

If there was no such thing as grip, vehicles would not be able to move at all. The wheels would spin and the driver would not be able to move the vehicle. Even on a straight road and at steady speed, there is no alternative to grip. This is because a moving vehicle has to deal with natural forces, such as the camber, the slope or unevenness of the road, or rolling resistance, which are all constantly trying to slow the vehicle down or push it off its path. However, it is only during cornering or braking that a driver or passenger is really aware of grip, because the vehicle has to be steered or speed has to be reduced without skidding, even on a wet road. In all circumstances, grip and safety go together. As the only contact point between the vehicle and the road, the tyre has two fundamental functions. It gives the vehicle its directional stability, which the driver needs to steer it. The tyre also acts as a transmission component for brake and drive torque.

Does Michelin invest in eco-friendly (or biodiversity) projects and if so what are you doing in the UK? Globally, Michelin does indeed invest in such projects. Since 2001, when the Group formalised its traditional values in a corporate responsibility initiative (PRM), Michelin has continued its commitment to the environment by not only producing fuel-ef9icient tyres, but by reducing the environmental footprint of production sites and developing new ways to recover and reuse end-of-life tyres.

As an integral part of Company action plans, eco-friendly projects are ongoing globally. Here in the UK, for instance, our Dundee plant in 2006 was the 9irst Michelin factory in the world to embrace wind energy with two wind turbine generators. In addition, our Northern Ireland factory is working on a similar project and hopes to become the 9irst commercial organisation in the Ballymena area to have wind power as an on-site renewable energy source.

How can I ensure that I get the most from my tyres?

To get the best in terms of value for money and reliability from your tyres you should consider the following: • Have a written tyre policy and review it regularly • Choose the most suitable tyre for your type of operation • Ensure that you know the correct tyre pressures for each vehicle • Check the pressures of tyres on new vehicles before they go into service • Check your tyre pressures regularly • Regroove tyres • Remould your tyres once the regrooved tyre has worn to approximately 2 – 3mm remaining tread depth pattern • Ensure that your tyre policy is adhered to throughout the 9leet and on new vehicles Visit Michelin UK website or call the technical helpline for more speci9ic information relating to your application.

0845 366 1535 www.michelin.co.uk/atmm

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

news › scotland

Lothian Buses to run axed First Scotland East routes Services will use the flat fare seen across all Lothian Buses’ services Lothian Buses plans to cover routes set to be withdrawn by First Scotland East.

First recently announced it planned to discontinue some services in East Lothian and Midlothian next month. First Scotland East said last month it planned to end some of its services and close its Dalkeith bus depot following several years of poor trading performance.

In a meeting at Trevelyan Hall in Pencaitland on Tuesday, May 1, commuters learned of Lothian Buses taking over the Ormiston and Pencaitland routes but applying the

same flat rate for fares seen across all of its services – which are lower than the fares offered by First.

In a statement, Lothian Buses Managing Director Ian Craig said: “Following our consultation with Midlothian Council we can confirm

Lothian Buses MD Ian Craig will announce full details soon

Edinburgh Bus Tours gains star rating

Edinburgh Bus Tours, a VisitScotland 5-star tour operator owned by Lothian Buses, has been confirmed as Scotland’s second most popular paid-for tourist attraction in 2011 behind Edinburgh Castle. Based on figures compiled by Glasgow Caledonian University, Edinburgh Bus Tours carried 554,117 passengers, an increase of almost 7% on the previous year.

Edinburgh Bus Tours offers five high quality open-top bus tours; The City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tour, MacTours City Tour, Majestic Tour and the recently launched Edinburgh World Heritage Official Tour are operated throughout the year. During the summer season, the company also operates the Bus and Boat tour in conjunction with Forth Boat Tours.

Visitors can choose from a live guided tour in English or a pre-recorded tour in a range of languages including the main European languages plus Russian, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsScotland.indd 12

new timetable proposals have been submitted to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner which, if accepted, will secure a substantial proportion of the public transport links currently offered by First in and around Midlothian.

“Discussions are continuing and we hope to be in a position to publish full details of all changes in the near future.”

Midlothian Council leader Derek Milligan said: “We’re delighted the council has successfully negotiated with Lothian Buses to keep critical bus services running in Midlothian after the withdrawal of the First bus group.

“We are also confident further positive announcements will be forthcoming.”

The service was given the VisitScotland 5-star award along with a number of other Scottish attractions In April 2012, Edinburgh Bus Tours also extended its audio guided walking tours to four with the launch of the ‘Leith Tour.’ In a partnership with the charity Leith Trust, the two-stage, one hour walks incorporate key sites of historical interest in and around Edinburgh’s historic port. It’s a perfect accompaniment for visitors who hop off the Majestic Tour at Leith.

Ian Craig, Managing Director of Lothian Buses said: “We had an excellent year in 2011, so are delighted to be recognised as Scotland’s second most popular

paid-for tourist attraction. As part of Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Bus Tours is firmly committed to offering domestic and overseas customers the highest quality of informed, entertaining visitor experience, which is now seen as an essential part of any visit to the city. I am very proud of all our staff who through hard-work and a true passion for their job, have helped achieve this latest impressive milestone within what is a highly competitive marketplace.”

For more information visit www.edinburghtour.com

First hosts bowel cancer awareness As part of its Scottish awareness programme Bowel Cancer UK visited staff at FirstGroup’s Aberdeen headquarters on April 25 and delivered a presentation aimed at educating and informing staff about the deadly disease.

Emma Anderson, Head of Operations of Bowel Cancer UK’s Scottish operations, said: “Our recent survey found nearly a third of people (30%) in Scotland would be put off going to the doctor with a potentially serious symptom because they would be worried about what the diagnosis may be.

The survey also worryingly showed that a quarter of people in Scotland would be too scared (25%) or feel awkward (21%) about discussing a symptom with their doctor if one arose.”

Operator fears it could collapse due to cuts

Barrhead-based Riverside Transport says due to government funding cuts, it could go out of business within a month. The family-run firm which has 30 staff and has served Paisley and the surrounding towns and villages for almost 20 years was told in January its funding would be slashed by 50% after the £180m cap for concessionary travel for 2011/12 was breached.

The concessionary travel programme was introduced in 2006 to give the elderly the right to hop on local buses for free but opponents are concerned about how popular the scheme has become, making it too expensive for Holyrood to finance.

MD Anne Cowden told the Paisley Daily Express: “The government has its sums badly wrong. Now we could end up having to close the doors in a month’s time – that’s how serious this is.”

Transport Scotland later said the reduction would increase to 61%.

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14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

news › international

US support for fuel cell programme $13.1m in federal funding for 11 research and demo projects USA U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has confirmed $13.1m in federal funding for 11 research and demonstration projects under Federal Transport Administration’s (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. The programme is designed to advance hydrogen fuel cell power for buses.

FTA’s National Fuel Cell Bus program was created in 2005 to develop affordable hydrogen fuel cell buses for public transport agencies and to increase public acceptance of fuel cell-powered vehicles. The 11 projects were selected from among 26 proposals seeking $52m in federal funds.

Manufacturers benefiting from the project include Ballard, Hydrogenics, Proterra and Designline. Secretary LaHood

BoltBus gains first West Coast route USA BoltBus is launching a new service between Seattle and Portland on May 17. BoltBus is the first premium service offered in these markets, with fares starting at $1 for amenities typically found on more expensive travel. This is the first West Coast route for BoltBus which provides a daily express service between major cities along the East coast. The service between Seattle and Portland will be exclusively operated by Greyhound.

At its launch in March 2008, BoltBus introduced on-board amenities such as comfortable leather seats, extra legroom, free Wi-Fi and power outlets to its bus routes. Millions of passengers have used BoltBus between Baltimore, Boston, Greenbelt, New York City, Newark, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. “BoltBus is pleased to expand its premium service to Seattle and Portland, introducing West Coast residents to a wholly new www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsIntl.indd 14

said: “This investment moves us closer to achieving the President’s goal of reducing oil imports by a third in a little over a decade.” The funds are shared

by Calstart in Pasadena, Calif.; the Centre for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta, Ga.; and the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium in Boston, Massachusetts. All three will engage in work to develop various fuel cell components, test American-made buses under real-world conditions powered by fuel cells, and conduct educational outreach.

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said: “With fuel prices on the rise, we know the availability of reliable transit as a transportation choice is a significant part of relieving the pain at the pump for millions of riders each day. The Department is taking it a step further by investing

in a new generation of clean-fuel technology to make transit an even more significant part of our nation’s overall approach to a secure energy future.”

According to the National Renewable Energy Lab and the FTA, every fuel cell-powered bus put into service in the U.S. could reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by 100 tons annually and eliminate the need for 9,000 gallons of fuel every year over the life of the vehicle. This translates into savings of more than $37,000 per year, per vehicle.

An allocation of $3,305,000 has been made to the Advanced Generation Fuel Cell Bus programme. This covers a New Flyer equipped with the latest UTC fuel cell which is lighter and more powerful than previous generation fuel cells. It will power a BAE Systems HybriDrive transmission.

BoltBus is now in its fourth year of operation bus travel experience,” said David Hall, General Manager, BoltBus. “Whether you’re a commuter or a leisure traveller, we know customers will love our modern amenities, environmentally friendly buses, affordable pricing and express daily options.”

In Seattle, BoltBus will operate from 5th Avenue South and King Street, which is adjacent to the International District Station. In Portland, BoltBus will operate from 647 SW Salmon Street.

Single fares start at $1, plus a

booking fee. The highest fare will adjust based on market demand.

The earlier passengers purchase their tickets, the lower the fare. A ticket purchase guarantees a seat on the selected schedule. A loyalty program, Bolt Rewards, is also available to reward frequent riders with free travel. Riders who take eight trips on BoltBus are eligible for a free one-way ticket trip.

For fare and schedule information, visit BoltBus.

com

Real-time trial for Brisbane’s CityGlider service AUSTRALIA Brisbane’s CityGlider service is to trial real-time information systems in August, adding momentum to the rollout of the technology city-wide.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson says following the installation of display and GPS equipment CityGlider passengers will have access to real-time arrival and departure times.

He said: “I’m pleased TransLink has expanded its trial to include the 20 buses servicing the CityGlider route, between Teneriffe and Newstead. This addition to a Logan City trial, to commence soon, comes at no extra cost, ensuring real-time information can be trialled within the CBD (central business district).”

Customers can see exactly when buses are coming using a smartphone or tablet and on-board information helps them identify the next stop.

Emerson added: “This trial requires each bus to be fitted with a GPS tracking device and equipment allowing it to compare its current location to its planned location.

“The bus relays its data to the central real-time system which calculates and sends the expected time of arrival the on-bus displays, mobile devices and TransLink website.”

Mayor Graham Quirk said Brisbane City Council has been pushing for the technology on the city’s buses for some time. “This trial is a big step towards improving the reliability of Brisbane’s public transport network,” Quirk said.

German transport company INIT was chosen to install the system for TransLink.

INIT has installed similar realtime systems at more than 400 sites across the world including Dubai, Vancouver in Canada, Dublin, Bavaria and soon in South East Queensland.

The system will also be trialled on 125 buses in the Clark’s Logan City Bus Service fleet, including the high-frequency route 555 between Logan City and the Brisbane CBD.

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16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

news › REGIONAL

NORTH

Arriva North East, in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales Society, launched the new Northern Dalesman DalesBus route on Sunday May 6.

The Northern Dalesman service runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays and links Darlington with Upper Swaledale. It traverses the dramatic Buttertubs Pass to Hawes in Wensleydale, then on past the famous Ribblehead Viaduct to Ingleton, making the Northern Dalesman one of the most spectacular bus services in England.

Arriva North East multi-journey tickets are available to use on board and are valid on the new service as far as Reeth.

Nick Knox, Managing Director for Arriva North East, said: “We are delighted to be operating the Northern Dalesman and we hope we can attract more and more passengers to this special service.

I know our drivers are really looking forward to transporting our passengers across this beautiful and scenic countryside.”

Colin Speakman, Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales Society, said: “Working in partnership with Arriva North East has allowed us to give the people of Darlington and Richmond a fantastic new Sunday and Bank Holiday bus service into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.”

Coastliner, which runs services between York, Leeds, Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington, intends to alter its 844 service when its summer timetable comes into effect at the start of June. The Veolia Transdev-owned operator said the existing 844 route was an “experiment” and a review of the service found it was no longer commercially viable in the Heworth and Heworth Without areas.

Under the new route, the 844 into York will pass along Rougier Street and Piccadilly, call at Heslington Hall and then head down University Road, Lawrence Street and James Street on the way back to the city centre.

Heworth Without councillor Nigel Ayres said: “This is a popular service and provides a vital connection for residents in my ward to central York, York College, Tadcaster and Leeds.

“The service which will remain after the proposed changes will be less regular, and because it is coming from the East Coast, it is often full by the time it reaches www.coachandbusweek.com

regionalnews.indd 16

MIDLANDS

KEY

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

Heworth.”

Cllr Dave Merrett, cabinet member for city strategy, said residents on the 844 route were still close to the “main Coastliner corridor” and Heworth Without also had an hourly No11 First York service into the city centre, but Coastliner’s decision was “purely commercial” and the council had no involvement.

Coastliner’s Marketing Director Nigel Eggleton said: “The three-year anniversary of the 844 service’s current route gives us cause to look at how many people are using the service, and regrettably there are not enough passengers in that part of York to justify continuing the service.”

Coastliner’s 840, 843 and 845 service between the East Coast and Leeds will not be affected by the changes.

WALES

The Gower Sunday Explorer, launched on May 6, facilitates green travel to all parts of the Gower Coast Path any day of the week.

The buses, operated by First Cymru, will run until September 30 following a successful first season in 2011 and include a new route from Swansea through to Rhossili via the north Gower coast.

Both south and north Gower routes will be running at a two-hourly frequency. A new feature of this years service is the

opportunity to stop off for two or four hours, enjoy a meal or drink; or visit an attraction and tour the whole peninsula. Also, four Gower hospitality businesses and three attraction operators have teamed up with BayTrans to offer discounts to bus passengers.

First Cymru General Manager Kevin Hart said: “We are delighted to be associated with this project for the second summer and are committed to providing services of quality to meet the aspirations of both residents and visitors.”

Roy Church of Gower Heritage Centre said he is looking forward to a second successful year of Sunday Explorer and expects it will encourage more visitors to this part of Gower and in particular to access the coastal path for Three Cliffs Bay. Gower Heritage Centre also offers discounts to bus passengers.

John Davies, Project Officer for sustainable transport partnership BayTrans added: “It is so pleasing that the first year was so successful and I am delighted to be able to provide much greater value this year by extending the season of operation and serving more of Gower directly to and from Swansea.”

Swansea’s bus station was recently recognised for helping Gower become a key Welsh tourist destination by The Gower Society, which presented the multi-million pound station with the award at its annual general meeting.

A school caretaker who helped save the life of a local youngster is the latest ‘Hucknall Hero’ to have a trent barton connect bus named after him.

Eddie Heath rushed to the aid of 13-year-old Callum Massey who collapsed whilst at school at the National Church of England Academy in Hucknall. The 34-yearold performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage on the youngster, who had stopped breathing. His actions, and those of colleagues at the school, kept Callum alive until paramedics arrived.

Shortly after the incident in September 2011, Eddie was presented with a Good Samaritan Award by the East Midlands Ambulance Service, and now one of the three buses which run on the connect service will also carry his name.

Alex Hornby, trent barton Commercial Director, explained: “Last year we asked the people of Hucknall to suggest local heroes we could name our buses after following the relaunch of the connect service.

“The first bus has been named after Lance Corporal Paul Sandford, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, but a lot of people also put forward Eddie’s name after reading about his life-saving heroics in the local newspaper.”

Eddie, who is an ex-pupil of the school, said: “I don’t really see myself a hero. I was really surprised when I heard a bus was going to be named after me, particularly as one has already been named after someone I consider to be a real hero. Although it’s nice that people think I deserve this honour, the biggest reward for me is seeing young Callum back at school.”

SOUTH EAST

The first VOSA-approved ATF (authorised testing facility) in the Canterbury and Hastings area was opened by MC Truck and Bus Hythe this April.

It is hoped the facility will provide better convenience to PSV and HGV operators in the area, with key focus on fuel efficiency.

MC Truck and Bus Hythe depot Manager Gary White said: “Now our customers can have all their essential work carried out in one place. This not only means less downtime for their vehicles but

08/05/2012 13:18

Coach & Bus Week takes a look at the big issues where you live in our round-up of the regions. If you’ve got a local issue you would like us to cover, contact James Day at james.day@rouncymedia.co.uk. more crucially, in these times of rising fuel prices, they no longer have to travel as far to get their MOTs.” MC Truck and Bus also provides sales, parts and servicing, and considers the move a step closer to becoming a one-stop truck and bus shop.

Other recent investments include mobile hydraulic support vehicles and a beeline chassis straightening machine, complementing existing services such as steam cleaning and full tachograph/road speed limiter facilities. Hythe also has a stateof-the-art paint shop and body repair centre.

Simon Dawson, MD, said: “This investment provides our customers with a local service where convenience is a key benefit. It is evidence of our commitment to providing a true one-stop shop for all existing and future customers in Hythe and the surrounding area.”

The Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company has introduced a night bus network.

Running on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the Go-Ahead Group-owned operator says these routes cater for growing demand for workers heading home and also those heading to and from a night out.

Route N1 serves Downs Park, Mile Oak, Portslade, Hove, the

city centre, County Hospital and Whitehawk, with one journey extending to Woodingdean. Route N2 from the city centre serves Hove, Old Shoreham Road and Shoreham, with one journey extending to Worthing and another to Steyning.

Route N5 serves Hangleton, Hove, the city centre and Patcham. Route N12 from the city centre serves the A259, Rottingdean, Saltdean, the coast road in Peacehaven, Newhaven and Seaford, with one journey extending to Eastbourne.

Route N14 from the city centre serves Rottingdean, Saltdean, North Peacehaven and Newhaven. Route N29 from the city centre serves Lewes, Ringmer and Uckfield, and Route N40 from the city centre serves Patcham, Albourne, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Fares start from £3 and further information, including timetables for all the routes, is available at www.nightbuses.co.uk.

Long-standing night services N7 (serving Hove, Brighton Station, the city centre, County Hospital and Marina) and N25 (serving Portslade, Hove, the city centre, Lewes Road and the Universities) continue to operate right through the night, seven nights a week, and are complemented by the new network on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The Oxford Bus Museum plays host to the Witney Model and Collectors’ Club this coming Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13

2012 n May 12-13 Model and Collectors Exhibition. Presented by Oxford Bus Museum and the Witney Model and Collectors’ Club. www.

n August 27 The National Association of Road Transport Museums gala day. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk

n May 22-23 ALBUM Conference.

– Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire.

n September 6 Association of Trainers AGM. Steele Road, Wembley Julia@asot.org.uk 01797 344251

oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk

www.albumconference.co.uk

n June 4 Imberbus’ service, using Routemaster buses from Warminster, across rarely-seen parts of Salisbury Plain. warminstervbrd.

zxq.net/v/imber.htm

n June 5 – 7 Transports Publics 2012. The European Mobility Exhibition, Paris. www.transportspublics-expo.com n June 10 Barry Festival of Transport. Organised by Cardiff Transport Preservation Group, Barry, South Wales. postmaster@-ctpg. co.uk. www.ctpg.co.uk n June 22 CILT Wales National Transport Awards lunch. Cardiff City Hall. 01446 451227. www.ciltuk. org.uk/pages/regions/wales n July 1 Reading Transport Great Knollys Street Open Day. 11 – 1600hrs. 0118 959 4000. www.reading-buses.co.uk n July 15 Alton Bus Rally & Running Day. Mid Hants Railway, Alton, Hampshire. www.watercressline.co.uk

Management and staff at Stagecoach South held a traditional tea party inside Chichester depot to launch a specially-liveried Enviro 400 double decker bus designed to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Andrew Dyer, Managing Director at Stagecoach South, said the Jubilee bus will be used predominately on the firm’s flagship long-distance Coastline 700 route between Portsmouth and Brighton but the colourful, bunting covered bus would be seen on other inland routes during the year.

He said: “We are delighted to launch our bus to mark the exceptional reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

n July 16-18 TPM. The tenth annual conference of the Transport Practitioners Meeting (TPM) will be held at the John Moores University, Liverpool www.ciltuk.org n August 3-5 Bedford OB GetTogether. South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester, GL7 5QB. Contact the organiser Tim Wootton by email on tim@tjcs.freeserve.co.uk. Visit

http://www.bedfordob.com/

n September 8-9 UK Bus Driver of the Year, Blackpool. Call competition secretary Bill Holmes on 01303 251462. www.bdoy.co.uk n Sept 9 Amberley Bus Show.

Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, West Sussex. www.amberleymuseum.co.uk n September 16 Showbus.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. www.showbus.com n September 20-27 IAA Commercial Vehicles. Hannover. +(00)49 30897842. www.iaa.de n October 14 Midland Red Centenary of the Reintroduction of Motorbuses. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n October 18 CILT Annual Awards for Excellence Dinner. London.

01536 740104. www.ciltuk.org.uk n October 21 The Very Best of London Buses. Brooklands, Surrey.

Featuring 50 years of Routemaster buses. London Bus Museum. www. londonbusmuseum.com n November 6-8 Euro Bus Expo.

NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com n November 20 UK Bus Awards London Hilton Park Lane. www.ukbusawards.org.uk

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

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08/05/2012 13:19

18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

news › BUSINESS

briefly Centro and CAF have formally signed contracts on a deal for up to 25 new trams for the West Midlands. The Spanish manufacturer will supply the Urbos 3 trams worth around £40m. The trams will replace the current 16-strong Ansaldo Trasporti fleet to deal with the expected growth in use of the Metro once the 1.3km (0.8 mile) extension between Snow Hill and New Street via Bull Street, Corporation Street, and Stephenson Street is open. They will start running from late 2014 on the current route from Snow Hill to Wolverhampton, with the Midland Metro extension from Birmingham Snow Hill to Birmingham New Street station coming on line in 2015.

A think tank claims the UK unemployment rate will rise from its current 8.3% to almost 9% by the end of this year, resulting in “permanent damage to the UK’s productive capacity.”

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said there is unprecedented persistent weakness in the economy. It claimed growth in 2012 will be close to zero, with 2% growth in 2013. The CBI forecast growth of 0.6% this year and 2% next year on Thurday, May 3, while official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week showed the economy shrank by 0.2% in the first quarter, returning the UK to recession. NIESR acknowledged later revisions may change this, but said “Small quarter-to-quarter movements of this sort are largely irrelevant to the broader picture of an economy which remains weak.”

Facebook has set the share price for its initial public offering (IPO) at between $28 and $35 per share, valuing the company at between $85bn-$95bn (£52bn-£59bn). The IPO is the largest ever for an internet firm, bigger than Google’s valuation of $23bn in 2004. Facebook is listed on the Nasdaq and rivals Amazon’s and Cisco System’s current market values. Facebook was expected to start promoting the share offering on Monday, May 7. Its shares are expected to start trading under the symbol “FB” on May 18. More than 10% of the business is being sold. www.coachandbusweek.com

BusinessNews.indd 18

National Express releases positive interim statement Firm announces divisional revenue increase of 2%, with 160 new buses coming in first half of 2012.

National Express has released its Interim Management Statement for the first quarter of 2012.

The company has announced good revenue growth across a number of sectors, new contract wins in Spain and North America school bus, added growth through small bolt-on acquisitions in Spain and in North America school bus and para-transit (community transport) and the growth of UK Coach despite profit reduction.

Dean Finch, Group Chief Executive, said: “We aim to offer customers reliable, well run

services at exceptional value prices.

This strategy, supported by fleet investment, strong cost control and continuously improving our network of services, is enabling us to deliver good revenue growth across the business, win additional contracts and expand into new markets.”

Commercial revenue in the Group’s UK Bus sector is growing by 4% year-on-year. Passenger volume was unchanged on a likefor-like basis, while student travel card sales continued to grow.

The company believes passenger growth has been seen on routes benefiting from recent fleet investment. The first half of 2012 will see 160 new buses added to the fleet, with funding for a

The operator stated its challenge in 2012 is to begin to mitigate the lower profit caused by loss of £15m of annual concession revenue

Baker pledges support for autumn EuroBus Expo With a little more than six months remaining until the doors open to the fourth edition of Euro Bus Expo, show organisers have received early commitment from the Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker, who said he will be attending the first day of the exhibition on November 6, 2012.

Mr Baker, planning his third consecutive visit to the NEC, said: “The latest round of Green Bus Funding shows what is possible from an industry showcase, with

key stakeholders working together to achieve a positive outcome, as shown last October. Attending this year’s show once again gives me the ideal opportunity to come and see, first-hand, further developments on low carbon vehicle technology, improving the environment and paving the way for potential further Green Bus Funding.”

Simon Posner, Chief Executive of the CPT, said: “The early decision by the minister to attend Euro Bus Expo 2012 demonstrates

further 31 hybrid vehicles recently secured from government. National Express also states a detailed network review, with new routes in Dundee and Coventry, and an improvement in punctuality, resulted in an increased operating profit in the quarter, together with overall divisional revenue up 2%.

The company has also agreed the basis for the concessionary reimbursement scheme for the forthcoming financial year with the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA), which it claims will protect future income.

Regarding its UK Coach division, the firm stated its challenge in 2012 is to begin to mitigate the lower profit caused by loss of £15m of annual concession revenue, withdrawn by the Government in November 2011. Initial progress following the launch of the Group’s own concession card programme has been slower than expected, with total concessionary revenue down £2.8m year-on-year, a reduction of 40%. However, concessionary card sales are growing, with 100,000 cards now sold, and the scheme has recently been extended to include airport routes, doubling the weekly rate of card sales.

On a like-for-like basis, revenue on the core express network grew 5%, including 3% volume growth reflecting increased schedule frequency.

Norman Baker will attend the first day of the show on November 6 the high level of commitment the DfT has for working with our industry. With technology slowing down in passenger management, vehicle efficiency and low carbon

08/05/2012 19:03

762

May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19

The total number of registrations in April for new buses and coaches according to the SMMT The National Express Spanish subsidiary Alsa enjoyed “good revenue growth,” with regular intercity coach revenue growing by 5% year-on-year. The operator states this was driven by passenger volume growth on Madrid radial routes and in Northern Spain.

Revenue in Spanish urban bus operation grew 4% whilst Morocco grew 9%, reflecting the start-up of an additional contract in Agadir.

Total divisional revenue was 1% higher, with continuing weak nontransport revenues.

North American school bus revenue grew by 6% year-on-year.

The company has recently secured 10 new contracts from competitors, offset by five given up. A small acquisition was completed in March adding 300 buses. In total, the operator has secured over 400 net new buses for the next school year.

Cash outflows in the period included the completed handover of the Group’s principal rail franchise, East Anglia, with its commensurate outflow of working capital in the period of approximately £80m.

The Group also completed all cash payments in respect of its previous ICRRL (Eurostar) and East Coast contracts. In conjunction with WMITA, the Group secured an innovative insurance buy-in of pensioner liabilities of the West Midlands Bus pension fund, reducing future expected pension fund volatility and fixing existing cash deficit contributions until 2017.

The board is committed to maintaining a net debt gearing ratio of 2.0 to 2.5 times EBITDA and a progressive dividend policy supported by non-rail earnings and cash. options, many industry leaders see attendance at the show as an essential part of setting business policy. Mr Baker will have the opportunity to interact directly with key suppliers and operators while seeing the technology firsthand.”

Show organisers report that the industry has responded well for 2012. Mark Griffin, Show Director, commented: “We have seen a high level of demand for space within the exhibition, with more than 200 companies already committing to exhibit at the show. Even this far out, we are already receiving news of major product launches planned for the November showcase,

BusinessNews.indd 19

€250m 5% The operating profit recorded by MAN Group in the first quarter of this year

The like-for-like revenue growth on National Express’ core UK coach network

MAN – co-operation with VW and Scania is having a beneficial impact

MAN Group record 20% drop in operating profit The MAN Group has recorded an operating profit of around Euro 250m in the first quarter of 2012, representing a 20% decrease yearon-year. The manufacturer claims this is due to strong competition in several markets.

Despite this, the order intake in the first quarter of Euro 4.4bn is level with last year, while a slight increase to Euro 3.8bn was recorded in revenue. Also in-line with last year is the number of commercial vehicles sold, at 35,000.

Revenue in the Power Engineering business area climbed by around 5% compared with the alongside companies exhibiting for the first time.”

New exhibitors include Williams Hybrid Power, Altas Commercial Vehicles, and Volant PVS. Euro Bus Expo 2012 sees the introduction of a dedicated Environmental Zone, featuring the Live Environmental Stage.

Supported by BAE Systems, a series of supplier presentations are planned that will focus on the drive towards cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

For further information about exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo call Julie Hartley on 01926 888123

first quarter of 2011.

Responding to the 20% decrease in operating profit, Dr. Georg Pachta-Reyhofen, Chief Executive Officer of MAN SE, said: “We will counter this with measures to boost profitability and efficiency.”

The company believes its systematic focus on the fields of transportation and energy plays a key role in its success. PachtaReyhofen is convinced there are still major development opportunities here: “We still see an increasing demand for transportation and energy, especially in the emerging economies. Because unless they

Purpose-built bus sector sustains market Figures from the SMMT have revealed that the overall bus and coach market rose 17.8% to 762 registrations in April, and was up 44.8% over the year-to-date. The purpose-built bus and coach sector posted 425 registrations in April, up 7.3% and grew significantly in the first four months of the year, up 50.8%. Converted bus registrations

resolve key transportation and energy issues, these economies cannot grow any further. This is precisely what we are counting on with our BRIC strategy and have secured ourselves market access to the key markets of the future in good time.”

The joint projects within the Volkswagen Group are also said to have a beneficial impact.

Pachta-Reyhofen added: “The opportunities to co-operate with Volkswagen and Scania which are now available will give us fresh impetus.

“Co-operating in purchasing, development, and production will enable us to leverage the necessary synergies to tackle the competition head on.”

The Executive Board still expects global economic growth to slow in 2012. Against this backdrop, Pachta-Reyhofen reaffirmed the business forecasts MAN issued at the beginning of the year at the Annual General Meeting. The company expects revenue in the commercial vehicles business area to decrease slightly by up to 5% while revenue in the power engineering business area is likely to increase by 5%. “Due to the predominance of the commercial vehicle arm, we expect a slight decline in revenue for the MAN Group as a whole, which will lead to a drop in operating profit. Return on sales is likely to remain at the average long-term target of 8.5%t” said Pachta-Reyhofen.

Addressing the company’s long term objectives, he added: “We want to continue growing profitably and to be the world’s most successful commercial vehicle manufacturer.” were up 34.3% in the month and rose 39.1% for the year-to-date.

Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “Demand for purpose-built buses continues to sustain market demand, as fleet operators utilise new technology to improve the efficiency of their fleets.

“While coach demand was subdued, it’s encouraging to see signs of stability emerging in the overall bus and coach sector despite concerns over market confidence and growth in the wider economy.”

Details of monthly registrations are available from www.smmt.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

08/05/2012 19:03

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

insight › bus users uk agm

BUUK talks customers and growth Tim Deakin attends Bus Users UK’s AGM in Liverpool where members discuss a variety of pressing issues

T

he newly-renamed Bus Users UK Ltd (BUUK) held its AGM at Merseytravel’s recently-opened Mann Island headquarters in Liverpool on April 28.

The meeting, opened by Louise Ellman, Liverpool Riverside MP and Chairwoman of the House of Commons Transport Committee, and Jim Barclay, Interim Chief Executive of Merseytravel, featured presentations from David Blainey, Merseytravel’s Integrated Transport Operations Manager, and Arriva Merseyside’s Head of Operations Martin Robinson. Joining David and Martin for a question and answer session was Les Burton, Operations Director for Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

Addressing the meeting, Louise Ellman pointed out while bus patronage in the UK outnumbers railway users by a factor of over 3.5:1, the mainstream media continues to promote an image where “everyone is on trains all the time and nobody is on the bus.”

In a warning to operators she said the Transport Committee’s current inquiry into the bus industry was “looking to improve competition” and it has seen a number of “lively sessions” with representatives of service providers, as alluded to in CBW 1033.

Funding and quality partnerships

Also relevant to operators’ interests was the report of outgoing BUUK Complaints Manager Mike Gilson.

He described how it enabled a greater amount of feedback to be www.coachandbusweek.com

BUUKAGM.indd 20

channelled to operators; it already provides monthly reports to four of the five major groups. .

An expanded BUUK complaints department will also see more time devoted to coach operations,and is soon to encompass excursions.

A high proportion of complaints received often related to driver performance, with instances of failure to operate also featuring highly.

The industry may be about to get increasingly familiar with BUUK’s complaint handlers. The department’s funding has recently been doubled, a boost which is designed to allow more work hours to be allocated and enable a greater amount of feedback to be channelled to operators.

In her address to BUUK members, Gillian Merron outlined the majority of the organisation’s finance was received and graded to quality partnership standard in July.

She said the financing of BUUK’s quarterly members’ magazine had also been examined, resulting in various options were being explored to reduce the publication’s budget overspend.

After lunch, Merseytravel’s David Blainey made a presentation looking at his organisation’s ongoing Quality Bus Network.

Announcing that a pair of the Wirral peninsula’s busiest bus corridors will be upgraded to quality partnership standard in July, he explained how Merseytravel’s initial efforts focused on some of the less affluent areas of Liverpool in order to improve services for existing passengers. Later it took the concept to a handful of Merseyside’s wealthier suburbs,

where good bus services stand a strong possibility of enticing people from private transport.

Part of the authority’s strategy for successful QPs is to provide a ‘turn up and go’ timetable throughout the day with a regular interval, clock face schedule during the evenings and on Sundays.

During the latter periods the number of buses has not been increased, but through a reduction in competition, overall frequencies have improved as timetables are co-ordinated.

Further developments will see a movement towards areabased quality partnerships. On Merseyside the first district to benefit will be Southport, with Liverpool city centre and St Helens also pencilled in for attention at a later stage.

Blainey added QPs, while leading to tangible improvements in passenger satisfaction, did not come without associated difficulties. “Our legal advisors are very concerned as quality partnerships extend across Merseyside we will be unable to satisfy the competition commission,” he noted. “Passenger needs should come first.”

Creating business growth

Arriva Merseyside’s Martin Robinson outlined key factors for pomotion and pesentation. The fleet had undergone an external repaint and addition of Hanover

electronic destination equipment where necessary. “All our buses in Southport are either new or have now received ‘Polish and Promote’ treatment.” He confirmed Arriva Merseyside would also complete this refurbishment process at Speke on its Wright Gemini integrals to upgrade a handful of trunk corridors in Liverpool to doubledeck operation.

Martin described Arriva’s comprehensive ‘Polish and Promote’ scheme as a wholesale refresh of older buses to bring them in line with the standards delivered by new and nearly-new stock. It includes interior refurbishment, external repaint and addition of Hanover electronic destination equipment where necessary.

Further developments will also see the operator’s fleet of ex-London Mercedes-Benz Citaro artics – used on services to John Lennon Airport and a Liverpool University contract equipped with on-board Wi-Fi during 2012.

Ticket machines across the fleet are currently in the process of being replaced. The new units are GPRS-enabled, a function which allows them to transmit small packets of data and will facilitate the future introduction of real time information for bus users.

Also described by Martin Robinson was Project Eco. Part-funded by Merseytravel, this has seen a £2m investment in technology to reduce fuel

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May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

consumption. So far it has resulted in a 5.7% improvement, but he noted saliently, such a figure merely “puts us back to the position we were in a few years ago. New buses are less fuel efficient.”

Staff relations were also mentioned, and Arriva Merseyside is at pains to engage with its employees as much as possible. It conducts annual surveys, with 2011’s showing a 5% increase in staff satisfaction over the previous year.

Customer satisfaction survey results

All-important passenger satisfaction surveys were also frequently undertaken. The most recent indicating Arriva Merseyside’s overall rating was an impressive 94% for 2011 – a one percentage point increase over 2010. “That is two points above Arriva’s national average,” enthused Martin Robinson. “Customers’ priority remains punctuality and reliability of services.”

One issue raised during the following question-and-answer session concerned supervision of jointly-operated quality partnership services and whether operators’ onstreet inspectors may only instruct their ‘own’ staff. Stagecoach’s Les Burton addressed the point, stating ‘joint supervision’ was an integral part of quality partnership schemes but, he had ‘needed to convince’ some drivers that Arriva inspectors could tell them what to do.”

Left: BUUK Chairwoman Gillian Merron. Right: The great and the good enjoy a catch up – West Midlands rep Phil Tonks is seen in the centre

Another attendee questioned whether patronage was beginning to rebound from a long decline on Merseyside.

Arriva’s Martin Robinson said there had “definitely been an increase” on routes which were operated to a high frequency, but this was not reflected on marginal services which clearly did not enjoy such a volume of buses.

Also brought up was the effect on passenger satisfaction due to poor road surfaces, with Martin Robinson having mentioned during his address smoothness of ride was among customers’ secondary priorities.

“Highway condition is a major problem for buses,” stated Merseytravel’s David Blainey, who added the Department for Transport rules did not allow quality partnership money to be spent on improvements in this area. “One of the easiest things for councils to cut is the road maintenance budget,” he concluded.

Cashless ticketing

Above: Members benefited from a tour using a pair of refurbished ex London Geminis. Left: BUUK members listen intently

Points raised:

tackling journeys with low patronage

One point raised which generated considerable discussion was related to service provision during evenings and on Sundays. With these journeys often the first to suffer when funding issues become apparent it was encouraging to hear how quality partnerships have, through co-ordinated schedules, allowed increased frequencies at these times without any major additional resource commitment from operators.

“Services need a core commercial daytime operation for us to consider improvements during the evening and on Sundays,” noted Arriva’s Martin Robinson. He explained: “Where we reduce costs with quality partnerships we will consider reallocating funding into evening and Sunday journeys,” although it is the latter which often take priority.

Les Burton of Stagecoach offered an explanation for why patronage at these times has reduced. In previous decades, “people tended to go out more in the evening. There was no television and no cheap beer. Demand for services during the evening has declined... it’s a difficult balancing act.”

A suggestion from the floor was to increase fares on later journeys to improve their financial performance. David Blainey of Merseytravel expressed his doubts this would actually lead to any increase in revenue as fewer passenger were likely to travel. This was backed up by Stagecoach’s Les Burton, who suspected the introduction of higher fare pricing would “lose passengers more quickly than operators were able to put the fares up.”

Another area discussed was cashless ticketing. “We would like to see more cashless transactions, as all operators would,” said Arriva’s Martin Robinson. David Blainey believed an increasingly cashless society is “something the industy has to address, particularly as the use of high-denomination notes is becoming an increasing problem for drivers and operators alike.

Merseytravel’s Walrus smartcard is soon to be introduced across the area and Stagecoach is forging ahead with its own pursuit of cashless transactions on Merseyside.

Bus station tour

With matters brought to a close, those attendees who wished to were invited to view the results of Arriva Merseyside’s ‘Polish and Promote’ scheme for themselves.

A pair of refurbished mid-life ex-London Wright Gemini-bodied Volvo B7TL double-deckers had been kindly laid on by Arriva for a short tour of the city’s flagship bus stations.

The impression they created was extremely favourable. Such was the quality of the workmanship it is certain less-knowledgeable passengers would be hard pressed indeed to identify these buses were long out of the factory, let alone already having accomplished over a decade’s hard work in the capital.

www.coachandbusweek.com

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08/05/2012 17:14

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

manufacturer update › irisbus

Annonay – the heart of Irisbus Iveco Martin Cole visits the Irisbus plant in Annonay for an update on the manufacturer’s current programmes and development of its hybrid market

T

he Irisbus plant in Annonay, located in the Massif Centrale area of France, is now the heart of the organisation.

Having closed a number of its production facilities in recent times, including those in Spain and Italy, it is now left with Annonay and the Heuliez facility at Rothais in France plus the Vysoke Myto plant in the Czech Republic.

The business is approaching an important landmark in its history as the town of Annonay first saw coachbuilding in 1913 when Joseph Besset began building coaches in the centre of town. In 1925 the business moved to the current site on the periphery which has undergone periodic expansion and development over the years – along with changes in ownership. In 1951 it became the property of Sylvain Floirat for a brief period of five years before being taken over by Groupe Renault - later becoming Saviem and then Renault Vehicules Industriel until Renault sold all its commercial vehicle interests with the agricultural side transferred to Claas, trucks to Volvo and the bus and coach business to Fiat which then merged all the operations with Iveco’s bus and coach business to create Irisbus in 1999.

During a press conference at the site, Franco Miniero, vice-president of the bus range outlined the strength of Fiat Industrial which is active in 160 countries worldwide.

He said its recent results achieved a turnover of 24 billion euro and generated a trading profit of 1.7

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Irisbus2.indd 22

Left: Franco Miniero, vice president bus range at Irisbus.

Right: The flagship Magelys coach which is selling successfully billion euro. Current employees total 62,000. He maintained this showed the group was both strong and sustainable.

Turning to the specific commercial sector of Iveco, he said it covered 25,000 employees and achieved revenue of 9.6 billion euro and a trading profit of euro 490m.

Bus and coach formed 12% of this revenue and had been produced by selling 7,585 units. The division employs 4,673 people.

Breaking down the sales figures into specific categories, he said output for the year had been 2,782 minibuses (over 3.5t), 310 Eurorider chassis, 2,841 coaches and 1,652 citybuses. These results, he claimed, placed Iveco Irisbus as second in the minibus market with 19.1%, second for intercity vehicles and coaches with 22%; third in the citybus sector with 12.6% - placing the group in second place overall with an 18.1% share of the market.

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manufacturer update › irisbus

Above and below: Use of wooden trim panels and fittings in the Crealis Neo add a ‘natural’ feel of the spacious saloon

Based on 2012 Q1 performance to date, he said the company was performing well, particularly in Eastern Europe. He was also pleased to see sales of its premium Magelys coach increasing internationally and highly delighted by the recent announcement of 102 hybrid Citelis buses for Dijon – which takes the total hybrid sales of over 200 units to date.

Jean-Marc Boucheret, Product Manager/citybus outlined the product focus at Annonay which includes the flagship Magelys coach models HD and Pro in two-axle format, the Magelys HDH on three axles and the Evadys HD. He was particularly pleased with sales of Magelys Pro which was launched in 2011 as a more general purpose vehicle and inter-city work than the HD and HDH touring coaches.

The Pro, Boucheret said, was on target to achieve over 500 sales by the end of 2012. It comes with wheelchair accessibility as standard. Markets attracted by the Magelys Pro include France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Norway.

Eurorider chassis production has now moved to Annonay and continues to offer two and three axle platforms with power options from 330 – 450bhp with either Cursor 8 or Cursor 10 engines.

Eurorider can accommodate body lengths from 11.4m to 14.6m. A popular and economic chassis, Eurorider sold over 4,000 units between 2006-2011 – 5% of those to the UK with Beulas bodies and later available with Plaxton Paragon or Panther bodies. Elsewhere it is bodied by Irizar with the PB body for Spain, Marcopolo for Africa and Egypt and Dubigeon for South Africa.

Vehicle production

Crealis Neo evolved from past RVI/Matra Civis and Irisbus Cristalis design www.coachandbusweek.com

Irisbus2.indd 24

Bus production at Annonay encompasses the Citelis citybus range plus the more specialist Crealis and Crealis Neo which offer alternative styling aimed at BRT-style operations or high profile services.

Citelis is offered in 10.5m, 12m and 18m articulated forms and supplied with diesel, CNG or hybrid driveline options. Citelis is also supplied to Heuliez Bus as the basis for its range of citybuses.

It is constructed in steel with a catephoric anti-corrosion treatment and is unique in having an elevated driver position. The cab area is accessed by climbing two steps.

It has a transverse rear engine resulting in a slim engine bay which allows lowfloor stepless access to

all three entrance/exit doors.

CNG-fuelled Citelis models currently form 20% of the model’s production and over 3,000 have been sold to date. Irisbus holds 90% of the CNG market in France, 60% of the Italian market and 50% of the Spanish CNG market. Irisbus has also sold over 200 CNG versions of its Daily minibus.

The operator in Lille has a fleet of CNG Irisbus Citelis models running entirely on biogas supplied from a nearby recycling plant which captures the biomethane produced and feeds it directly to the local bus operation. The same platforms are

Jean-Marc Boucheret, Product Manager/citybus used for the Heuliez Bus CNG buses – some 18m articulated versions recently began operating in Nantes.

The CNG vehicles employ a spark-ignition version of the Cursor 8 engine. Its emissions are better than both EEV and Euro 6 requirements.

Hybrid Citelis versions come in 12m or 18m articulated form.

Both feature the downsized 5.9 litre Tector engine and use the same BAE Systems HybriDrive technology employed by Alexander Dennis. Indications are the system can achieve fuel saving of 29 – 39% on 12m hybrids and up to 30% on 18m artics.

The only significant difference between ADL hybrids and Irisbus hybrids is the latter employ a coachstyle retarder control in addition to having retardation available through progressively pushing the brake pedal. Irisbus argues the system, if only liked to the brake pedal, means some drivers will brake harder than necessary.

This uses foundation brakes unnecessarily and results in some brake wear while also wasting the opportunity for maximum regenerative recouperation– but if the driver is taught to use the hand retarder effectively it maximises recouperation and puts more energy

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May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek back into the battery system.

Virtually all the hybrid ancillaries, such as control electrics, power inverter and battery storage system fit within a frame mounted in the roof section. The frame is basically identical in size to the unit used to contain roof-mounted CNG gas cylinders.

Jean-Marc Boucheret said the decision to employ BAE Systems’ HybriDrive was based on many factors. It all came from a single supplier which meant fewer problems in the event of any malfunction. The existing expertise gathered by BAE Systems through its North American applications over a number of years and a huge operating base in New York’s municipal fleet was also a major factor. In practical terms, he said, it was because the system was ‘soft yet powerful’ and drivers liked its performance. While results varied from one route to another, in general the HybriDrive had produced good savings – whether operated on the flat or in steep, hilly terrain.

Futuristic BRT options

The Crealis and Crealis Neo are both developed from the Civis product which evolved under Irisbus into the Cristalis. These models offer a radical style change ideal for high-profile BRT-style operation with raked curving windscreens for a ‘bullet-shaped’ front profile and faired wheels.

They incorporate the highly evolved interior styling Irisbus placed in its Hynovis six-wheel prototype launched at a Paris show some four or five years ago. Notably, they feature translucent bellows around the articulation point to allow more light in the interior and use wooden trim facings for some internal surfaces and coving panels.

A wooden leaflet holder, wooden backrests in wheelchair bays (with a soft fabric pad) and some wooden protective panels all blend nicely with light trim panel to create an extremely light and spacious feel to the interior. Some 234 of these units have been supplied to date along with 292 Citelis artics for BRT work.

On show was a 1925 Citroen built by Joseph Besset. In the formative years Besset built on chassis from Panhard, Berliet, Renault, Rochet-Schneider, Somua and De Dion Bouton. He was also an innovator and put together a revolutionary self-supporting coach body with a rear engine in 1938 – the Isobloc - a 1955 example of which was also on display

Irisbus2.indd 25

Top: Magelys HD. Above left: Roof mount fo BAE Sysems hybrid: Above right: Adjusting axle parameters to pre-set status.

Below left: Painted bodies rejoin production lines: Below right: A 1955 Isobloc features rear engine in a self-supporting integral coach

www.coachandbusweek.com

08/05/2012 20:35

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

PRODUCTS

Bridgestone Driver CPC Training for Coach Workshop Technicians Bridgestone has become the first tyre manufacturer to develop a training course designed specifically to help workshop technicians complete their required 35 hours of Driver CPC training.

The new two-day Roadside Technician course, ’Bridgestone Roadside’, takes technicians through three elements – Health & Safety, Customer Care and Assessing the Roadside Situation. The course qualifies successful delegates for 14 hours of Driver CPC accreditation under JUAPT members CRS 1280 and 1117 and attendees also receive a Roadside Technician ID card demonstrating, along with their employers, their dedication to working to high standards when attending vehicles stranded at the side of the road.

Paul Turner, Bridgestone UK Training Manager, said: “All PSV

license holders are required to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training – not just drivers. There are many courses already available to drivers to enable them to reach their required qualifications but these courses are not always particularly relevant for vehicle technicians who hold PSV licenses.

The Bridgestone Roadside course has been specifically designed to be useful to workshop technicians and the feedback from the first course indicates this is very much the case.”

The course is targeted at technicians from the tyre, bus and coach industries and three member companies of the Guild of British Coach Operators have already attended the course – Skills Coaches from Nottingham, Selwyns from Runcorn and Richmond’s from Cambridge.

Patrick Cranville, Workshop Manager from Richmond Coaches who was one of the delegates, said the course gave 14 hours worth of training time towards a fitter’s CPC qualification.

“This course gives you full

awareness of the dangers you can entail if working on the public highway, and also all of the safety aspects to carry out recovery or repairs on the roadside. This is definitely a course I shall be sending our workshop staff on.”

Richard Delahoy of the Guild said: “We are a JAUPT-accredited CPC centre in our own right and deliver training for bus and coach drivers but our portfolio of courses doesn’t really cater for mechanics, yet they need to satisfy the periodic training rules in order to be able to use their PCV licences commercially. So this specifically tailored training provided

by Bridgestone really hit the mark and was a very cost effective way of providing training that’s wholly relevant. The first course was well received by the trainees and we look forward to more of the same!”

Courses are scheduled to take place at various locations throughout the UK in 2012.

For more details contact paul. turner@bridgestone.eu. Visit www.bridgestone.eu

Abellio five-year CCTV support contract awarded to Synectics Synectics Mobile Systems has been awarded a five-year contract worth £2.5m by Abellio to support CCTV systems on over 600 buses across London and Surrey. Synectics’ Genius telematics CCTV Health Checker and large network of support engineers in the Capital were key factors in Abellio’s decision.

In addition to maintaining bus CCTV systems at Abellio’s six depots, Synectics is also responsible for supporting all the back office equipment needed to review CCTV footage. The majority of Abellio CCTV systems are Synectics T1000 and Timespace X200/X100.

Abellio has used the Genius telematics system as a driver training and vehicle monitoring system to systematically reduce traffic incidents, lower vehicle wear and tear, and improve its services to customers since 2009. The system’s CCTV Health Checker will monitor each vehicle’s CCTV system and automatically notify Synectics’ helpdesk if a fault has been detected. A repair is then scheduled for the Synectics CCTV engineer’s next visit.

Synectics prides itself on customer

Synectics awarded five-year contract to support CCTV on Abellio fleet support, with over 40 field service engineers. Arranged in regional teams, engineers build up a detailed knowledge of each customer’s fleet, and preferred ways of working, to provide a highly responsive CCTV support service.

Steve Perks, Engineering Director, Abellio, said: “Synectics’ Genius system has provided us with a driver management system which has had a positive effect on our business. We have now appointed Synectics to take over the maintenance of all our bus CCTV systems, ensuring the highest levels of CCTV reliability across our fleet and complying with the latest requirements.”

Synectics’ CCTV support services are headed by operations director, Tony Pilkington. He said: “We are delighted Abellio has chosen Synectics for their CCTV systems support. This is an important contract that reflects our close working relationship with Abellio; and the advances we’ve made in Genius telematics technology underpinned by our investment in an expanded field support engineer network in the Capital.”

For more information on Synectics’ range of mobile CCTV systems for buses and coaches email sales@synx.com or call 01253 881287.

21st Century win £3.3m contract with Arriva Sweden 21st Century, supplier and installation service provider for public transport CCTV and vehicle monitoring systems, has been awarded a contract totalling £3.3m by Arriva in Sweden to supply on board CCTV, passenger counting systems, depot infrastructure, related maintenance and software hosting for a substantial part of a fleet of public transport vehicles operated by Arriva in Stockholm. £2.7m of the contract value will be delivered in the current year and thereafter Arriva has contracted for a further year’s maintenance and five years’ software hosting. The company is optimistic there is further scope for collaboration within this multi-modal (bus, tram and train) transport system.

21st Century has a strong relationship with Arriva which continues to offer new opportunities as it develops. Arriva, now part of Deutsche Bahn AG, is responsible for the development of all Deutsche Bahn’s regional passenger transport outside Germany. Arriva operates in 12 countries in Europe and in the last year has doubled its size in Sweden following a record tender win by Arriva in Stockholm. This contract, awarded to Arriva by transport authority Storstockholms Lokaltrafik in November 2011, is believed to be the largest integrated multi-modal public transport tender in Sweden to date.

It will involve Arriva operating 550 buses, 45 trains and 37 trams/light trains. 21st Century is Arriva’s preferred supplier for all their on board CCTV and passenger counting system requirements in this fleet.

This further cements 21st Century’s strategy of product and market expansion in the region. Scandinavia is 21st Century’s second largest market after the UK and the company continues to look for opportunities to roll out its proprietary technology into other countries in mainland Europe.

Commenting on the contract win, 21st Century’s Chief Executive, Nick Grimond, said: “We are particularly pleased to have been awarded this business which, on the back of the major contract award by Keolis last year, underpins our expansion into Scandinavia. In addition to the provision of on board CCTV this contract includes the supply of passenger counting systems within a multi-modal public transport system, which represents a significant new growth opportunity for the Group.”

www.coachandbusweek.com

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May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 27

Email martin.cole@rouncymedia. co.uk to get your new product or service in the spotlight

Network Warrington selects mobitec LEDs

Groeneveld launches new Greensight camera

The signage on the entire local service fleet of municipally-owned Network Warrington has become 100% mobitec following the conversion of six DAF SB120s.

David Squire, Managing Director, said: “Last year we converted all of our Dennis Darts from powerblind to mobitec LED, leaving six DAFs originally fitted with brightech equipment. By converting these remaining buses, we now have a fleet that is entirely supplied by one manufacturer which makes it easier when we need to re-programme destinations. We received many favourable comments from customers when the Darts were converted last year; the mobitec equipment supplied by our partners at McKenna Brothers is a vast improvement for customers in both daylight and hours of darkness.”

Groeneveld has launched a new Greensight camera, developed and produced in-house. Combined with the Greensight high-resolution monitor, the CMOS colour camera ensures a perfect image, in bright light, at night or in poor weather.

It has viewing angles of 104° or 116° and with normal or reversed image, which means it can be used for a host of applications - as a front or side view camera on buses, or on the back of trucks, earthmoving equipment and forklifts. The gasfilled camera has a black anodised aluminium housing and can be supplied with either a U-shaped or L-shaped mounting bracket.

With its active safety system Groeneveld has an established position for both factory-fitting and retro-fitting in a host of market segments. Alongside the ultrasonic acoustic safety system which alerts the driver or operator to people or objects near the vehicle or machine using an audible signal, the Greensight product range also includes a camera system. This can be used as a supplement to the acoustic system or as a stand-alone camera system with colour monitor, with the option of split, triple and quad-screen.

For more information email Derek@mckennabrothers. co.uk or call 0161 655 3244.

mobitec equipment is supplied by McKenna Brothers in the UK

MC Truck & Bus triumphs at MOT first time pass rates MC Truck & Bus has demonstrated its success by smashing past the national average first time HGV MOT pass rate for 2011, achieving a 95.1% average across the company.

The national average first-time HGV MOT pass rate was 77.7% in 2011. MC Truck & Bus, which has eight depots spanning the South of England covering Kent, Essex, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset, managed to eclipse that figure and prove its dedication to vehicle operators.

As the main Volvo dealer for the South of England, MC was further honoured to receive an Aftermarket Excellence award from Volvo UK, presented to them by Volvo Group UK

E-Leather is an eco-friendly, lightweight and scuff resistant man-made alternative to traditional leather

E-Leather granted ECE R118 certification E-Leather has been granted ECE R118 certification for its standard products in the bus and coach sector and therefore meets future whole vehicle type approval requirements.

SL2, used in general construction and SL4, the TfL-approved version, have been approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency for use in new bus build for both passenger and drivers seats.

Regulation ECE R118 supersedes Directive 95/28EC and signifies the E-Leather commitment to providing full technical support to manufacturers worldwide.

Following much interest from operators and vehicle manufactures Managing Director, Goran Nyberg. The figure of 95.1% meant they were the top Volvo dealer for first time MOT pass rates in the UK. Peter Booth, MC Group director, accepted the award on behalf of MC and commented: “We are thrilled to have earned this accolade. It not only demonstrates the quality of our people, our skills and our facilities but also our commitment to providing an excellent service based around customer care.”

Many of MC’s depots such as Southampton and Burgess Hill, which operate VOSA ATF’S (Authorised Testing Facilities), have increased their number of testing days to meet customer demand.

The Burgess Hill facility first began offering testing at the beginning of 2010. Since then testing has increased from one day to four days a week.

The depot achieved the highest first

in using E-Leather as a hygienic and low maintenance cladding for side and rear walls, this area is now covered by the new regulation.

Working closely with the VCA, Carl Watkins, Sales Manager at E-Leather, is pleased to see the material formally approved for use under R118.

He said: “It is important that we are able to meet the strict criteria set down by present and potential future legislation,” commented Carl.

“We are seeing a growing demand in both European and North American markets plus steady year on year growth in the UK and it is important our customers are confident that our materials meet the highest standards of manufacture.”

For more information visit www.eleatherltd.com or call 01733 843939.

L-R: John Conway, Volvo Group UK; MC Group Director Peter Booth; Volvo Group UK Managing Director, Goran Nyberg time pass rate within MC Truck & Bus for 2011, with an average of 99.5%. In 2012 their first time pass rate to date stands at 100%. Burgess Hill Depot Manager Paul Beach said: “The high demand for MOT preparation and testing carried out by us is testament

Contact Ron den Engelsen, Board of Management Groeneveld Groep B.V., on +31 183 641400 or +31 653 178784. to our dedication to getting things right first time for our customers. We understand the importance of getting an MOT pass rate first time in keeping our customers vehicles on the road, working and earning.”

For MC Truck and Bus, which has Volvo Trucks and Isuzu Truck (UK) franchises, its testing facilities have not gone un-noticed by operators running other trucks. With more MC depots now offering on-site testing and increasing the days of operation, this is a notable advantage to many operators.

Peter Booth added: “We’re committed to all our customers and will continue working to provide all their transport solutions whilst exceeding their expectations.”

Contact 01622 710811 for more information. www.coachandbusweek.com

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28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

THE BIG PICTURE

Renowned East Anglian operator Galloway European Coachlines entered two vehicles into the 2012 UK Coach Rally – a Setra and a Volvo. The former, a 49-seater Setra S416GT-HD ‘BN12EOO’ is pictured here by CBW Editor Gareth Evans with driver Kevin Chilvers at the wheel on Saturday April 21. The rear steering of the tri-axle Setra is shown to good effect. Kevin is completing the so-called ‘yellow pit’ exercise, which is designed to simulate reversing over a mechanical access pit. Drivers had to reverse in a single manoeuvre and pass over the yellow box with the wheels either side. Marks were awarded based on the position of the vehicle’s wheels either side of the yellow box as well as the position of the rear axle above the yellow box.

www.coachandbusweek.com

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www.coachandbusweek.com

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30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

open platform › kate Deane

Why are there so few women bus drivers?

Kate Deane, Head of Industry Skills at sector skills council People 1st outlines the need for more women in the coach and bus industry and cites the organisation’s recent initiative to further that goal It goes without saying that coaches and buses play a critical role in getting the nation to work and our children to school –­ as well as forming a vital method of cost efficient transport for the leisure industry.

Whilst the design and manufacture of vehicles has changed considerably over the years, little has changed in the composition of its workforce.

An impact of World War II was that women took on roles traditionally reserved exclusively for men. In the transport industry this meant women, who during peacetime were bus conductors, had the opportunity to work as bus drivers. Fast forward to today and women are seen in a wide range of careers and achieving success in a range of formerly male dominated industries. In fact women’s economic empowerment is one of the biggest social changes of our time, notwithstanding the fact there is still a considerable way to go before workplace equality is truly achieved. This change, however, does not seem to have fully materialised in the coach and bus industry where it is estimated only 5% of drivers are women.

So why are women shying away from taking to the steering wheel of a bus? There are a number of reasons and one of the primary factors is the perception amongst women that the job is a male preserve. In addition to this, the coach and bus industries are not promoted by schools and career professionals. As a result many women, and sometimes even men are not aware of the opportunities the industry can offer. Other factors include the industry’s reliance on shift working which discourages some parents; while a lack of skills and low self-confidence among some potential applicants makes the option of becoming a bus driver appear less achievable.

So, what’s wrong with maintaining the status quo? Are female bus drivers really needed?

Ignoring half the potential workforce limits a company’s choice to just half the available talent which could mean a lowering of standards in order to fill vacancies. In companies where gender diversity is encouraged, respected and promoted, better operational and financial performance usually follows. Apart from making up about half the country’s labour market, having women drivers could help the bus www.coachandbusweek.com

OpenPlatformDeane.indd 30

Miranda Anderson speaks at a People 1st event company secure its future senior management teams. In the coach and bus industry there is a notable gender gap even at senior management levels. Research shows gender balanced teams are more effective and perform better commercially than those which are dominated by men.

What has been encouraging is a number of more enlightened bus companies have been proactively looking to secure more female drivers. Our Women 1st initiative entitled ‘Step on the Bus’ includes four weeks of governmentfunded industry specific training for women looking to complete the CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) and provides development training to boost confidence and interview skills. Candidates also benefit from real life work experience with a week-long placement at a bus company to better understand the job and how the industry works.

Some of the coach and bus companies working with us to offer work placements for women include trent barton, Transdev Harrogate & District and Easytravel.

A prime example is inspirational mother of two, Miranda Anderson, who secured a job with trent barton. Miranda spoke at a recent event held by People 1st and acknowledged that before she took on the training her confidence was at an all-time low. Her children were growing increasingly independent and Miranda needed a new lease of life. Determined to secure a career in the bus industry she achieved her CPC and thanks to the soft skills training she received, she was able to boost her confidence and interview skills. She then successfully went on to complete her work experience to secure a job. We hope many other women will emulate her success. ”After taking a number of years out of work to raise my children, it hasn’t just given me skills, it’s given me me,” she commented.

Guy Gibson, Head of Training at trent barton,

said: “The programme gives women an insight into passenger transport, which is not readily promoted by schools or career professionals, so they can learn about the bus industry and then make a decision on whether they want to work in our sector. Such an approach allows for time and cost efficiencies to be made and ensures the individuals who do start working for us are committed and excited to pursue their career and be part of our award-winning team.”

There are few barriers to becoming a bus driver. If you can drive, are healthy and within the age limits then you can apply. The biggest hurdle most people need to overcome is the little voice inside their heads which says ‘I can’t’. Becoming a bus driver is a rewarding career in which people can play a pivotal role in the community.

Bus companies need to ensure both female and male employees have access to the necessary support structures such as career development training, being open to flexible working patterns and ensuring support from managers and colleagues.

This ensures true equal opportunities for all members of staff.

People 1st is the sector skills council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. In July 2011, People 1st merged with GoSkills, the sector skills council for passenger transport. The ‘Step on the Bus’ programme sits alongside the Women 1st training and mentoring programme developed by People 1st to support women working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries. So far, around 500 women have received tailored training and mentoring opportunities with senior industry players, with a third having been promoted since undertaking the training.

Linking with passenger transport ensures a comprehensive range of training options for women across the industry footprint that People 1st serves. Call 01895 817000. Visit www.people1st.co.uk If you want to let off some steam, just tap away at the keyboard and send your rant (or carefully-reasoned views) to cbwinbox@rouncymedia.co.uk, or call 0845 280 2927. Make ‘Open Platform’ the subject line. Alternatively, send your missive to: CBW, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

08/05/2012 12:07

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May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33

COACH&BUSMARKET – the place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £30 just call 01733 293247 2004 (54) Neoplan Starliner Tri-Axle Corporate/Team Coach 32 leather seats around 8 tables, full rear servery with fridges, ice machine, hot water, microwave and airline style food warmers, 3 extra fridges throughout coach, airline style overhead lockers, 240v inverter and onboard generator, Blaupunkt sound system with DVD & SKY TV (2 screens), extra mini screens on a separate channel on both front tables, ASTronic gearbox, A/C, WC, fully carpeted, removable ski box, spare seats.

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Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales

Dennis Pointer Dart Mk2 x 100 All spares available - includes engine, gearboxes, seats, etc.

Call: 01226 727769 Mobile: 07912 103497 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com www.geoff-ripleysbuscoachsales.com

Volvo B12M VanHool

Manual, choice of two, 2002 & 2003, both with new MOT, low miles, owned from new, both 51 seaters, full exec with rear toilet and rear servery, selling due to fleet upgrade.

£55,000 and £65,000

Don’t forget to say that you saw it in

Contact Ian 01443 681995

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk

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Ensig DOUBLE DECK 1997/8 VOLVO OLYMPIANS Seatbe exampleslted no available w

LEZ

COMPLIANT

Volvo engines, Euro 2, 78 seats, converted to single door, new COIF, tyres included, UK registered ready to work.

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies, DDA compliant or upseated to 80 seats.

1999/2000 T/V/X REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins / Allison, Wrights Cadet body, ramp, wheelchair space, Hanover LEDʼs, CCTV, 39 retrimmed individual seats, from our own fleet and very tidy.

2000 DAF SB120

1999 T/V REG DENNIS DART SLF’S

Caetano Compass bodies, 39 seats, ramps, £7000 each plus tyres.

1998 R REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN

Slimline, Mercedes engines, 23 seats, long MOTʼs.

ZF automatic, 74 seats, dual door, CONVERTIBLE open topper, so can still be used in the Winter! One only.

2006 OPTARE SOLO’S

1995 M REG DENNIS DRAGONS

ZF automatic, Plaxton Premiere 350, air-con, 57 seats.

1998 DAF SB3000

Cummins/Voith gearboxes, Duple Metsec bodies, recent floors and 92 coach seats.

2001 DDA COMPLIANT DENNIS DARTS

Plaxton Pointer 2 dual door bodies, 31 seats, CCTV, particulate traps fitted, LEZ 2012 compliant, only £6,500 each plus tyres (£375)

2001 Y REG DART SLF’S

Cummins/Allison, LEZ compliant for 2012 with traps to Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX200 bodies with either 30 seats and 2 doors or 34 seats converted to single door, ramps, DDA certified and compliant. 10.8m 37 seaters now available.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 8 Visit our website for current s

553180-1035-Ensign:Layout 1

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nbus ER SPECIALIST 1996 N REG DENNIS DART SLF

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Plaxton Pointer body, 40 seats, long MOT.

2001 Y REG DENNIS DART MPD’s

Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 29 seats, LEZ compliant post 2012 with traps, DDA compliant, long MOTʼs.

1998/9 R and T reg Dart SLFʼs with Plaxton or Alexander bodies, 35 seats, single door, long tests.

Hanover LEDʼs, East Lancs Myllenium body, 39 seats.

2003 MAN 14220

Euro 3, ZF automatics, 35 seats, East Lancs Myllenium bodies.

2003 MAN 11.2220’S

Euro 4, Wrights Gemini bodies, dual door, 68 seats.

Cummins Euro 3 ISB engines, Allison gearboxes, Caetano Nimbus bodies, 10.7m, 37 seats, full DDA.

£7000 just spend on recon engine, MCV Evolution body, 40 seats, DDA, Hanover LEDʼs.

2002 DENNIS DART SLF’S

1999/2000 DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps, Plaxton President bodies, 62 seats or 70 when converted to single door.

1997/98 P/R/S REG VOLVO OLYMPIANS Volvo Euro 2 engines, ZF gearboxes, Alexander RL low height bodies, LWB, 87 seats.

2007 VOLVO B9TL’S

2007 MAN 14.220

Voith automatic, East Lancs body, 49 dual purpose seats just retrimmed, supplied with new MOT.

1995 N REG SCANIA L113

ZF automatic, SLF, Wrights body.

2000 X REG VOLVO B6

- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 8 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com t stock at www.ensignbus.com

553368-1035-Pembridge

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NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS

New Ford Transit 17 seat 4.3ton 135ps minibus. From £20,595 + VAT

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FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES

(11) 2011 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle Bus, twin side loading doors, large rear luggage area, delivery miles only £16,995 (11) 2011 Ford Transit 15 seat 3.5 ton, 2.4tdi engine 115ps, tacho, 10,000 km £17,500

(10) 2010 Ford Transit 17 seat M/R 140PS with air-con, tacho, COIF/PSV £17,995

SOLD

(08) 2008 Ford Transit 3.5ton 15 seat 2.4tdi, 115ps, high back seats with three point belts, tacho £13,800 (56) Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi 115ps, high back seats, electric windows, central locking, COIF/PSV £9,995 (53) 2003 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4 td minibus, high back seats with three point belts, tacho, air-con, COIF/PSV £6,995 (52) 2003 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi, tacho, towbar, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV £6,495

LDV MINIBUSES

(57) 2007 LDV Maxus 15 seat minibus, high back seats with three point belts £7,495

(03) 2003 LDV Convoy Maxi XLWB 17 seat mini-coach, 2.4 Tdi, front entry drop step, luggage racks, rear heating, wide aisle, rear row of seats removable, New PSV £6,495

OTHER MAKES

New Renault Master 17 seat LM35/ 2.2di 125ps, six speed, satnav, tacho, fully tracked floor with removable seats £21,995

New Peugeot Boxer 16 seat 3.5 ton and 17 seat wheelchair accessible minibuses, 2.2 diesel 120ps, six speed gearbox, LEZ COMPLIANT From £23,500 + VAT (09) 2009 Renault Master 16 seat minibus, tacho,high back seats with three point belts, 35,000km £15,650 (07) 2007 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat minibus, high back seats, rear two rows of seats on tracking, 33,000 miles COIF/PSV £9,500 (07) Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat minibus, 2.2 diesel with three point seat belts, 28,000 miles, COIF/PSV £10,495

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

(08) Renault Master LWB 3.5 ton, 2.5 tdi, six seats, fully tracked floor, inboard Ricon Clearway lift, one owner from new, 40,000 miles £16,750

SOLD

(07) 2007 Renault Trafic LH29, 7 seats, tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 43,000 miles £8,995 (57) LDV Maxus LWB 9 seats tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 49,000 miles, £9,995

(54) 2005 Renault Master 13 seat wheelchair access minibus, inboard Ricon lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, electric side step, 56,000 miles £8,995 (03) 2003 Fiat Doblo SX 1.9 diesel, low floor, four seats plus one wheelchair, lightweight ramp, 45,000 miles £3,495 Y 2001 Renault Mascot 2.8 diesel, 16 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, front entry drop step, fully tracked floor to take five wheelchairs, under floor lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £6,495

Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk

Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304

Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist

All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%

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40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

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Southdown PSV - 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2006 ADL ENVIRO 200 SLF 29 sts - choice of 2 £45,000 ea+ VAT

2004 DENNIS DART SLF MPD 29 seats. £34,000 + VAT

1995 MERCEDES 0416 WRIGHTBUS 47 seats. £4,950 + VAT

1996 VOLVO OLY ALEXANDER 78 seats. £9,750 + VAT

2003 MAN 18.280 SLF IKARUS 42 seats - £19,750 + VAT

1999 VOLVO B7 SLF ALEXANDER 60 seats. £18,500 + VAT

73 Capacity

Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN

554445-1035-Connaught

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Mini Coach Sales

BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE TORO 32 high back seats, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

2010 10 REG IVECO 50c15 IRISBUS 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, power door and under-floor wheelchair lift.

BRAND NEW MERCEDES OPTARE SOROCO 19 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

MORE PHOTOS AND DETAILS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE:

BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ 513CDI EVM CLASSIC 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks and A/C.

2007 07 REG FORD TRANSIT 14 seats, 3 point belts.

www.connaughtpsv.co.uk

2006 06 REG MERCEDES BENZ 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large luggage boot.

2006 06 REG IVECO 40c12 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights and power door.

2003 03 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks.

2003 03 REG MERCEDES BENZ 814D OPTARE NOUVELLE 29 high back seats plus courier, 3 point belts, A/C, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.

2002 02 REG MERCEDES BENZ 814D PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot.

1999 V REG MERCEDES 814 BEAVER 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, power door, 12 months test.

Steve Peach Tel: 01302 770863 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: steve@connaughtpsv.co.uk

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42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

COACHES & BUSES WANTED FOR AUCTION MCV EVOLUTION 10.3mtr, 36 seats 11.1mtr, 40 seats

Light Weight Excellent Fuel Economy

Light Weight

for our UK & Commonwealth buyers Our main interest is equipment available due to Retirement or Fleet Reorganisation.

Excellent Fuel Economy

All equipment would be marketed worldwide through our Special Auction Events Team.

WRIGHTBUS PULSAR 2 11.9mtr, 44 seats

01274 681144 Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4BJ

Email: busandcoachsales@arriva.co.uk www.arrivabusandcoach.co.uk Bus and Coach

take a test drive today

See our website history for people we have worked for.

For further information please call Malcolm Harrison on 01630 674326 or email malcolm@malcolmharrison.co.uk MALCOLM HARRISON AUCTIONS

COA CH SA LE S

2010 MAN Panther 49 seats with front entry wheelchair DDA compliant

2010 Volvo Prestige 49/51 seats with centre W/C & A/C

To view call Danny or Mark on 07979 295668

05 (55) MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI UVG TREKA 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 74,000KMS COIF/PSV £16,995

2010 (60) RENAULT TRAFFIC 9 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE DELIVERY MILEAGE £24,995

VANFIT & LDV PARTS STOCKIST

(PONTYPOOL) LTD

NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 516CDI ALTAS CONVERSION 17 SEAT MINICOACH £65,995 NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING

Tel: 01495 757111 Mob: 07850 739446 (Haydn) or visit our website www.minibussales.biz to view the above stock

2011 (11) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS SILVER METALLIC 115PS TACHO 1,450MLS COIF/PSV £20,995

2005 (55) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS 115PS COIF/PSV IN WHITE 77,500MLS TACHO £9,495

2006 (55) LDV CONVOY ELWB MINI COACH 17 SEATS 90PS EXCEL CONVERSION COIF/PSV TACHO £11,995

06 (56) VW CRAFTER CR35 AUTOMATIC 15 SEATS INC DRIVER WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, INBOARD RICON LIFT 35,000 MILES £16,995

07 (07) LDV MAXUS W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE 4 SEAT INBOARD LIFT UNWIN TRACKING £12,495

17:03

09 (59) FORD TRANSIT 15 SEAT INC DRIVER 115PS DIGI TACHO COIF/PSV 31,000 MILES £14,995

8/5/12

2007 (56) MERCEDES SPRINTER 311 CDi 14 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUS SPRINTSHIFT STANFORD CONVERSION 68,000 MILES COIF/PSV £17,995

p43_CBW_1035 Page 1

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HEATONS MOTOR CO. WIGAN 01942 864222 THE NORTH WEST’S PREMIER MINIBUS SALES, SUPPLYING NATIONWIDE FOR OVER 40 YEARS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

READY TO WORK

PSV’d 05 BMC PROBUS 850 Covered 81,000 miles, council owned from new, 35 highback reclining coach seats with 3 point belts, full air conditioning, luggage racks, blown air, music system, tv, fridge, aircraft style lockers, generous underfloor storage, Cummins engine, automatic Voith gearbox, choice of 2 excellent POA

57 FORD TRANSIT MWB, covered 64,000 miles, factory spec minibus, 8/11 passenger seats, twin SLDs, full electric pack, excellent value POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

LEZ

D L O S

PSV’d

09 RENAULT MASTER SWB, covered 16,000 miles, Ricon internal Clearway tailift, lots of Unwin tracking,SLD with cassette step, 6 highback passenger seats, good quality O&H conversion, totally showroom condition inside and out excellent value POA

READY TO WORK

54 MERCEDES VARIO 614 with 15 highback passenger seats, complete flat floor, powerdoor front entry, external PLS tailift, analogue tacho, fully colour coded, totally immaculate in every way. low miles, excellent value POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

PSV’d

PSV’d

PSV’d

COMPLIANT

51 MERCEDES SPRINTER UVG coachbuilt, 16 highback passenger seats, complete flat floor, Powerdoor front entry, low miles, totally immaculate, external PLS cassette tailift, LEZ compliant, 12 months PSV test, Triptronic transmission POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

09 FORD TRANSIT LWB 17 seat factory minibus, covered 66,000 miles, digital tacho, central locking, totally immaculate, 12 months PSV test POA

54 PLATE IVECO 50C13 IRIS BUS 16 highback passenger seats, 3 point belts, full air conditioning, panoramic tinted windows, front low step entry, one owner, looks excellent, excellent drive, excellent value, 12 months PSV test, ready to work POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

LEZ

03 MERCEDES VARIO 814 Coachbuilt with 24 highback seats or would up-seat to 24, low miles, complete flatfloor, powerdoor front entry, external PLS fully automatic tailift, totally immaculate and excellent value for money, choice of 2 POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

D L O S

COMPLIANT

56 IVECO coachbuilt with 14 highback coach seats, complete flat floor, external cassette tailift, Powerdoor front entry, saloon heater, sound system, lots of Unwin tracking, low miles, this must give excellent value POA

05/06 RENAULT MASTER MM33 covered 25,000 miles, Ricon fully automatic internal Clearway tailift, 6 high back passenger seats plus wheelchair spaces or would up seat, SLD with electric cassette step, totally showroom condition inside and out POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

PSV’d

06 MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI Plaxton Pronto coachbuilt, 15 highback seats, power door, front low step entry, air conditioning, external PLS cassette tailift, silver metallic, totally showroom condition, low miles POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

06 FIAT DUCATO SWB, 6 highback seats, Unwin tracking, Rolac ramp, covered 52,000 miles, SLD with cassette step, stunning silver metallic, showroom condition POA

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

PSV’d

LEZ

PSV’d

COMPLIANT

02 MERCEDES VARIO 814 Mellor Coachcraft coachbuilt, covered 71,000 miles, one council owner, automatic transmission, 32 high back passenger seats all on Unwin tracking, 3 point belts, powerdoor front entry, external PLS cassette tailift, very very clean and original, PSV testedlow mileage, choice of 3 POA

54 MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 CDI 16 highback passenger seats, Koch low floor service bus, wheelchair accessible, PSV tested, very original or can paint to your colour at additional cost, drives superb POA

56 MERCEDES VARIO 614 Mellor coachbuilt, 16 highback coach seats, 3 point belts, complete flat floor, lots of Unwin tracking, Powerdoor front entry, external cassette tailift, covered 80,000 miles, totally immaculate inside and out, excellent value POA

WERE DO YOU FIND THESE 07 MERCEDES VARIO 616 Mellor Coachcraft coachbuilt, 15 high back seats all on Unwin tracking, complete flat floor, Ricon fully automatic internal tailift, powerdoor front low step entry, a good quality bus, LEZ compliant, will come with 12 months PSV test, excellent value POA

Let us take the stress out of the purchase of your next minibus, leaving you to concentrate on running your business.

1, PSV tested. 2, Tacho fitted. 3, Finance options if required – 36, 48, 60 months low deposits, etc. Details on request. 4, Delivered to your premises. 5, Tail lift certificates.

Where can you find one of the largest stock of wheelchair accessible/conventional minibuses? Ready to work, combining this with over 50 years of experience in the industry. Just one friendly phone call to Wayne or Philip will simplify your job.

HEATONS MOTOR CO. WIGAN

ALL PRICES PLUS VAT We guarantee quality vehicles, right prices, no pressure sales. Come and have a coffee while you browse at your leisure. Junction 23, M6 or 20 miles from Manchester/Liverpool airport.

52 Bickershaw Lane, Abram, Wigan, Lancashire WN2 5PL

Tel: 01942 864222

SEE ALL OUR STOCK ON OUR WEBSITE www.heatonsmotorco.co.uk

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SDRC0ACHhelp

May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45

“Assisting the Coaching Industry”

2 x 1990 Volvo B10M Manual Plaxton Paramount 3500 57 Seaters With Courier Seat, Long Test, Brand New Re-Trim & NEW Sprayed White £8,500.00 + VAT

2003 Neoplan Skyliner • 75 seater • Low mileage and excellent condition • Euro 4 with RPC • Mercedes V8/AsTronic box.

• Ski box • MOT Oct 2012 Probably the best Skyliner available Photos available

Bargain at £89,000 + VAT

Tel: 01296 398300 Motts Travel, Buckinghamshire

1996 Dennis Javelin Manual Berkhof Excellence 2000 53 Seater With Courier Seat, Tested Till June, But Will Supply New Test & NEW Spray White £7,500.00 + VAT

D L O S

2008 Mercedes 613D Oynx

MAYPOLE COACHES

Manual, LEZ 4, Minicoach 24 Seats, AIR CON, Long MOT & London LEZ Euro 4 £38,000.00 + VAT

COACH OPERATORS FOR OVER 50 YEARS DUE TO RESTRUCTURING HAVE THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES FOR SALE: Belted, S/D con, tacho, Eminox, Euro 4, driver air con, 60 mph, 12 mths MOT £16,000 + VAT

81 SEATS VOLVO OLYMPIAN

Eminox exhaust, air con, 60 mph, 12 mths MOT, £11,500 + VAT

74 SEAT BELTED

As above £10,000 + VAT

1995 Volvo B10M Auto Plaxton Premier 350 53 Seat Standard Exec, Level Floor, Mounted Toilet, NEW Retrim & Spray, Long MOT, Mint! £16,000.00 + VAT

74 SEATS WITHOUT BELTS

1994 VOLVO B10M JONCKHEERE DEAUVILLE

Retrimmed 2 yr ago, 12 mths MOT, 51 seats with belts, toilet, DVD/monitor £12,500 + VAT

READY FOR START OF SEASON Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 320 Automatics Brand New Converted 70 Seat Coaches, New Seats & Spray, Certified And Ready To Go...

1993 VOLVO B10M VANHOOL T8 BODYWORK

12 mths MOT, toilet, DVD/monitor, 49 seats with belts £11,000 + VAT 63 seats, ZF auto, 3 point belts, 12 mths MOT, tacho £5,500 + VAT

1992 LEYLAND LYNX

60 coach seats 3 point belts,Cummins/ Allison, 12 mths MOT, tacho, radio £5,900 + VAT

1996 BLUEBIRD BUS

Tel: 0151 547 2713 or 07802 235778

www.SDRcoachhelp.com 24 Hrs 0844 576 3300 1 x 1993, £18,500.00 + VAT 1 x 1994, £22,500.00 + VAT

1 x 1995, £26,500.00 + VAT 2 x 1997, £29,500.00 + VAT

Hunnable Industrial Estate, Toppesfield Road, Gt Yeldham, Essex CO9 4HD

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BEN WEAVER PSV

2007 07 FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS 2400cc 6 speed turbo diesel 115ps engine, electric front windows, power heated door mirrors, LEZ compliant, CD player, 64000 miles, finished in tonic a very rare light metallic blue, supplied with 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £13795 + VAT

PSV

2002 52 IVECO DAILY 13 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS 2800 turbo diesel engine, analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, access underfloor rear tail lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, front entryelectric plug door, only 37000 miles, finished inwhite, excellent condition, supplied with 11 monthsPSV test and already serviced by ourselves just in December, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £6795 + VAT

2003 53 IVECO, DAILY 65.13 25 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE BUS Tacho, COI, PSV, white, 69000 miles, awaiting preparation, 2800 turbo diesel, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tacho, air con, panoramic glass, rear access underfloor wheelchair lift, 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty, arriving soon. £9795 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 IVECO, DAILY 50C11 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS With COIF, tacho, PSV, white, diesel, 76000 miles, 2800cc turbo diesel engine, 6 speed, air con, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tacho, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, access underfloor wheelchair lift, electric front plug door, exc condition, 12 mths MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £8695 + VAT

PSV

2004 04 IVECO DAILY 50C11 FRONT ENTRY 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800 6 speed turbo diesel engine, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, access underfloor rear tail lift, electric front plug door, air con, only 37000 miles, finished in white, excellent condition, supplied with 11 months PSV test and already serviced by ourselves just in December £9795 + VAT

PSV

2001 Y REG MERCEDES, VARIO 814 15/25 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUS White, 2001, 4300cc turbo diesel, 100000 miles, awaiting preparation, 14 passenger seats but would be able to take 10 additional seats, tacho, ex-local authority, 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £8695 + VAT

2009 09 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 209CDI SHORT WHEELBASE LOW ROOF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE 2148cc CDI diesel, automatic gearbox,velvet red, Ricon rear internal lift, cruise control, parking sensors, air con, electric windows & mirrors, CD player, 8000 miles with full service history, excellent condition, 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £16995 NO VAT

PSV

2004 04 MERCEDES SPRINTER 411 8 SEAT COACH SPEC MINIBUS WITH BOOT AND LUGGAGE SPACE 2200 turbo diesel engine, internal luggage racks, electric front windows, electric mirrors, coach style recline seats, boot lid with luggage space, twin slide loading doors, reverse parking camera, finished in silver, 141000 miles £9495 + VAT

NOVEMBER 2011 61 MERCEDES SPRINTER 516 CDI EXTRA LONG 16 SEAT COACH BUILT MINIBUS 2300 turbo diesel euro 5 manual engine, 16 non reclining luxary coach seats with piping, luggage racks with forced air and reading lights, large panoramic windows, large illuminated luggage area, show curtains, walnut dash, drivers locker, radio and CD player system with 6 spakers, GRP lowered entrance step, GRP body skirts, COIF £47995 + VAT

2007 57 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 209CDI SHORT WHEELBASE HIGH ROOF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE 2148cc CDI diesel, velvet red, Ricon rear internal lift, front and rear parking sensors, air con, electric windows & mirrors, CD player, 40000 miles with Mercedes Benz full service history, excellent condition, 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12995 NO VAT

PSV

2002 52 MERCEDES 814 VARIO AUTOMATIC 32 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Tacho, COIF, PSV, white, 2001, 74000 miles - awaiting preparation, 4300cc turbo diesel, auto, analogue tacho, certificate of initial fitness, 32 highback cloth trimmed seats, underfloor wheelchair lift, exc condition, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £14495 + VAT

2002 02 IVECO DAILY 65C15 23 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS 2800 6 speed turbo diesel engine, Frank Guy conversion, Ricon internal wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, analogue tachograph, 145000 klms, 90000 miles, excellent condition, finished in white £6795 + VAT

2007 07 FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS 2400cc 100PS turbo diesel, LEZ compliant, electric windows, CD player, digital tacho, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, full service print out, exc condition, 12 month PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £12995 + VAT

2007 07 FORD, TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS - NEW SHAPE White, 84000 miles, 100PS 2400cc turbo diesel, electric windows, electric mirrors, CD player, exc condition, 12 month MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £11995 + VAT

2008 FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS WITH TACHOGRAPH Frozen white, 63000 miles, awaiting preparation, 2200cc turbo diesel, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13295 + VAT

2007 07 FORD, TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS - NEW SHAPE Moondust silver, 48000 miles, 2400cc turbo diesel, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, heated windscreen, reverse parking sensors, LEZ, exc condition, 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £13995 + VAT

2000 W REG VOLKSWAGEN LT46 LWB HIGH ROOF 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2500 cc tdi, blue, air conditioning, tachograph, electric folding side entry door, access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 101000 klms £5495 NO VAT

2007 57 FORD TRANSIT NEW SHAPE 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS 2.4 5 speed 100ps turbo diesel engine, LEZ compliant, electric windows, electric mirrors, CD player, digital tachograph, 198000 klms, 123000 miles with full maintenance/service history records, finished in white £10995 + VAT

2001 Y TOYOTA PREVIA GS VVTI 8 SEATER 2.4 petrol automatic, electric windows, electric mirrors, air con, overdrive, 81000 miles, finished in metallic green, supplied wth 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards £3495 NO VAT

2001 Y REG VOLKSWAGEN LT35 TDI 10 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5tdi turbo diesel engine, underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, finished in blue, 122000 miles £525 + VAT

2001 Y REG VOLKSWAGEN LT35 TDI 10 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5tdi turbo diesel engine, underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, finished in blue, 76000 miles £5795 + VAT

2002 51 MERCEDES VARIO 614 23 or 25 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Euro 3 4250cc turbo diesel automatic engine, front entry electric plug door, Mellor Coach Craft conversion, Ratcliffe rear underfloor electric lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, 97000 klms, only 60000 miles, supplied with 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months parts and labour warranty £9495 + VAT

PSV

BEN WEAVER commercIals

2002 02 MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI FRONT ENTRY 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS 2.2 turbo diesel automatic, certificate of initial fitness, tachograph, PSV, UV module conversions, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, underfloor rear lift, 96000 miles £7995 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 MERCEDES SPRINTER 313 CDI LWB HIGH ROOF 15 SEAT MINIBUS 2.2 turbo diesel engine, certificate of initial fitness, 4 seats across the rear with luggage space, twin side loading doors, electric windows, electric mirrors, air con, climate control, automatic side step, lift up sky lights, carpeted roof, finished in white, 46000 miles £10695 + VAT

2005 05 RE VOLKSWAGEN LT35 16 SEAT MINIBUS, 2500CC TDI Ex local authority vehicle, double harness seat belts on all rear compartment seats, AVS side access step, towbar with ball and pin, taxed to 31st July 2012, 100,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty. £7995 + VAT

Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076 www.benweavercommercials.co.uk

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commercials PSV

2004 04 IVECO DAILY 50C13 15 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS 2.8 turbo diesel engine, Mellor conversion, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, underfloor rear electric lift, analogue tachograph, 65000 miles, finished in blue £795 + VAT

PSV

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 50C13 15 SEAT WELFARE BUS 2800cc turbo diesel, 6 speed gearbox, Mellor Coachcraft conversion, ex local authority vehicle, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, 176000 kilometers 110000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7495 + VAT

2003 53 MERCEDES SPRINTER 313 CDI LWB HIGH ROOF 15 SEAT MINIBUS 2.2 turbo diesel engine, certificate of initial fitness, 4 seats across the rear with luggage space, twin side loading doors, electric windows, electric mirrors, air con, climate control, automatic side step, lift up sky lights, carpeted roof, finished in white, 52000 miles £10495 + VAT

MERCEDES, VARIO 814 21 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS With tacho, white, 2003, 98000 miles, awaiting preparation, 4300cc turbo diesel, manual, Ricon internal electric lift, analogue tacho, front electric door, will be white, 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £11995 + VAT

2005 05 FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS LEZ compliant, 2.4 turbo diesel 125ps, electric front windows, electric mirrors, finished in white, only 64000 miles £8295 + VAT

2001 51 REG IVECO DAILY 40C11 9 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel, white, tachograph, underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 4 wheelchairs, panoramic glass, 200000 klms, 124000 miles, excellent condition £4995 + VAT

PSV

PSV

2001 Y MERCEDES, SPRINTER 413 FRONT ENTRY 10 SEAT WELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS COIF, tacho, white, 2001, 137000 miles, 2200cc turbo diesel, auto, LEZ, UVG conversion, underfloor electric lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, electric front entry door, exc condition, 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £6495 + VAT

2003 03 REG LDV CONVOY 17 SEAT HIGH ROOF MINIBUS Certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2400cc turbo diesel Ford 75ps engine, 119000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MoT or PSV, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 2495 + VAT

2004 54 VOLKSWAGEN LT46 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2500 TDI 109bhp, Ddvanced minibus conversion, tachograph, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, AVS side step, 194000 kilometers 121000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MoT, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty, no vat to pay £9995 NO VAT

2002 52 VOLKSWAGEN LT46 17 SEAT MINIBUS 2.5 turbo diesel, analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, finished in white, 138000 miles £5995 + VAT

PSV

2003 03 REG BMW 318 CI SE COUPE 2.0 petrol engine, 5 speed manual gearbox, 17 inch M Sport alloys, 6 disc CD stacker, on board computer, reverse parking sensors, multi function steering wheel, front fog lights, cruise control, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, air conditioning, 119,000 miles with history, supplied with 12 months MoT and just been fully serviced, now £3395 NO VAT

2001 51 REG. MERCEDES 8 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE DISABILITY MINIBUS 2.2 turbo diesel, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, side access step, carpeted roof lining, 2 sunroofs, 136000 miles, finished in classic red, excellent condition £4795 + VAT

2004 04 IVECO DAILY IRIS MWB 9 SEATER 2.8 turbo diesel, 8 velour passenger seats, panaramic glass, ex local authority, only 48000 miles, photos taken prior to valeting £5495 + VAT

2004 04 IVECO DAILY IRIS MWB 9 SEATER 2.8 turbo diesel, 8 velour passenger seats, panoramic glass, ex local authority, only 87000 miles £4995 + VAT

2003 53 OPTARE ALERO 12 SEAT PLUS DRIVER PLUS 4 STANDEES BUS 2800cc turbo diesel, fold out ramp to the side, air con, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 113000 miles, excellent condition £7995 + VAT

2000 X REG FORD TRANSIT FRONT ENTRY 15 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS 2.5 turbo diesel, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, access underfloor rear electric lift, 85,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MoT, arriving soon, photo for illustration purpose only £4495 + VAT

2007 57 FORD, TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF MINIBUS - NEW SHAPE White, 2007, 64000 miles, 2400cc turbo diesel, LEZ, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, heated windscreen, CD player, exc condition, 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £12,995 + VAT

2004 54 VOLKSWAGEN, LT46 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESIBLE WELFARE MINIBUS Tacho, white, 158000 miles, awaiting preparation, 2500cc turbo diesel, internal wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, analogue tacho, 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Schemes standard, 3 mths nationwide parts and labour warranty £7995 + VAT

2005 05 VOLKSWAGEN LT46 6 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 turbo diesel engine, internal wheelchair lift, analogue tachograph, 224000 klms with full service print out, 140000 miles, excellent condition £7295 + VAT

2005 55 REG FIAT DOBLO 3 SEATER MULTIJET ACTIVE With wheelchair access and manual clutch operating lever, 1.3 turbo diesel engine, OH conversion, rear wheelchair ramp, rear tailgate, twin sliding side access doors, ABS, power steering, central locking, electric windows, finished in rhumba red, only 39,000 miles, service history, numerous uses for a vehicle like this!

Excellent condition £3495 NO VAT

2005 55 REG FIAT DOBLO 3 SEATER MULTIJET ACTIVE WITH WHEELCHAIR ACCESS 1.3 turbo diesel engine, OH conversion, rear wheelchair ramp, rear tailgate, twin sliding side access doors, ABS, power steering, central locking, electric windows, finished in capri blue, only 43,000 miles, service history, numerous uses for a vehicle like this!

Excellent condition £3495 NO VAT

2004 04 FORD TRANSIT HIGH ROOF 9 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS LEZ compliant, 2.0 135ps turbo diesel engine front wheel drive, ex NHS, Ricon fully electric internal wheelchair lift, air conditioning, electric windows, CD player, front fog lights, 147 000 miles, finished in white, excellent condition £4995 + VAT

2008 08 REG BMW 318I ES 4 DOOR SALOON 2000cc petrol, 6 speed manual gearbox, black, grey cloth interior, alloy wheels, air conditioning, CD player, electric windows, elecric mirrors, 6 months tax, 70000 miles with full BMW service history £7795

IVECO, DAILY 50C13 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS With COIF, tacho, 2005, diesel, 54000 miles, 2800 turbo diesel, white, Euromotive conversion, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, 13 passenger seats or 4 seated and 4 wheelchairs, AVS electric side entrance step, air con, electric windows, 87000 kilometers, 54000 miles, supplied with 12 months PSV or MoT, excellent condition £10495 + VAT

2004 54 REG FORD FIESTA 1400cc tdci diesel, silver, colour coded, 17 inch gloss black alloy wheels, rear boot spoiler, CD player, excellent condition, 101000 miles with a fully stamped Ford service history £2395 + VAT

All vehicles supplied with 12 months MOT/PSV, fully serviced to good garage scheme standards and 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty

000000-1034-KingLong

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Filler NEW copy

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3 WEEKS 4 WEEK FREE

BUY GET A

PRICES INCLUDE :

TH

• Design Service • Web Advert • Full Colour

WHEN YOU ADVERTISE IN

COACH&BUSMARKET T E K R A M S U B & nd sell a H y u C b o A t e CO – the plac

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VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES | MARKET | VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES | MARKET | VEHICLE SALES | PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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50 | COACH & BUS WEEK | May 9, 2012

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

BUILDINGS

HEATING

AUDIO &VIDEO

• Bus Workshops • Secure Storage

• Supplied any width,

Heaters • A/C Equipment Blowers • Motors Radiators • Silicone Hose Ducting • Wiper Equipment Gas Struts

any length • Building to BS5590 • Doors high enough for Double Deckers • Finance available

Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920

Phone for further information

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime BUSESWANTED

Email: sales@thhs.co.uk

www.thhs.co.uk

UNIT 9 NIMROD BUSINESS PARK DE HAVILLAND WAY, WITNEY OX29 0YG

CHECKPOINTS

SHELTON MOTORS RAMSEY, CAMBS LICENSED ELV CENTRE

ALL BUSES & COACHES WANTED Tel: 01487 813156 (9 - 5, Mon - Fri) Mobile: 07831 349760 Email: sales@shelton-motors.co.uk

WANTED # WANTED # WANTED # WANTED

WANTED # WANTED # WANTED # WANTED

# WANTED # WANTED # WANTED #

# WANTED # WANTED # WANTED #

TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/ DUSTITE

Don’t forget to say that you saw it in

loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:

Tel: 01524 271200

www.checkpoint-safety.com Email: info@checkpoint-safety.com

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

Commercial Garage Equipment

ENGINES

Crewe Engines Ltd MERCEDES ENGINE SPECIALISTS

WE ALSO RECONDITION ALL MAKES OF BUS & COACH ENGINES

Direct from the UK’s No.1 since 1975 Call now for a quote or more information

01270 526333

Federation of Engine Re-Manufacturers

www.creweengines.co.uk

VOLVO - CUMMINS - SCANIA MAN - DAF - IVECO FULL FITTING FACILITIES

Brake Testers

Inspection Pits

Commercial Lifts

Mobile Lifts

Tel: 07538 218194 www.commercialgarageequipment.co.uk Email: sales@commercialgarageequipment.co.uk

INSURANCE

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May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 51

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED TICKETING

REGISTRATIONS G £750 44 NXA 80 HXE 99 HXY ALZ 303 AXZ 88 ECR 767 IIG 62 JUI 808 RXI 85

SPEEDY REGISTRATIONS CO LTD G ‘Buy with confidence – CNDA Member’

£350 £99 £99 £50 DKZ 303 HIG 5651 MNZ 1195 AXZ 5648 JBZ 484 HIG 5652 ONZ 1180 CXZ 4470 MKZ 686 IIG 7764 REZ 3369 CXZ 4471 NUI 636 IIG 7765 RUI 2117 DRZ 8551 PXI 494 JIG 1575 SEZ 8950 DRZ 8552 RBZ 868 JIG 1576 SUI 2171 IFZ 8428 SCZ 878 KIG 5113 SUI 2172 IFZ 8429 YXI 454 KIG 5114 TJZ 1116 JFZ 8261 YXI 585 MJZ 6749 TJZ 1119 JFZ 8262 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange

£50 JFZ 8263 JIG 9765 JIG 9766 KIG 1216 KIG 1217 RNZ 2174 RNZ 2175 TUI 5575 TUI 5576

Tel: (028) 6638 7124 Fax: (028) 6638 7771

Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ

SEATING

ERGONOMIC SEATING SPECIALISTS

Full range of Static, Mechanical and Air Suspension seats available for Coaches, Service Buses, Vans and Trucks

Prices from £150+VAT (No carriage charges)

12 Murray Place, Righead Ind Est, Bellshill ML4 3LP Tel: 01698 845352 • Fax: 01698 844325 Email: TScottco@aol.com

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED Looking for a great deal to promote your products and services?

Contact Jade Cassidy now for our current offers: 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@rouncymedia.co.uk Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

TRAINING TRIM

COACH TRIMMERS LTD

Supplying the Bus and Coach Industry with quality seat retrims and interior refurbishment.

Full floors re-laid and centre gangways.

Collection and delivery service anywhere in the UK, seven days a week.

Email: info@eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk Web: www.eastgate-coachtrimmers.co.uk

Tel/Fax: 01751 472229

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COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED TYRES

• Tyre fitting machine now available •

MAY SPECIALS 205/75R 205/75R 215/75R 215/75R 245/70R 265/70R 265/70R 275/70R

17.5 BUDGET STEER 17.5 BARUM STEER 17.5 BUDGET STEER 17.5 BARUM STEER 19.5 BUDGET STEER 19.5 BUDGET STEER 19.5 BARUM STEER 22.5 BUDGET STEER

£102.00 £132.00 £99.00 £132.00 £128.00 £136.00 £185.00 £175.00

Remould and premium tyres price on request Free delivery on 4 tyres or more We have more tyres in stock – please give us a call for quotes

275/70R 275/80R 295/80R 295/80R 315/80R 315/80R 11R22.5 305/75R

www.tdtyres.com

22.5 BARUM STEER 22.5 BUDGET STEER 22.5 BUDGET STEER 22.5 MIDRANGE 22.5 BUDGET STEER 22.5 MIDRANGE BUDGET STEER 24.5 GOODYEAR NEW

£245.00 £190.00 £178.00 from £245.00 £198.00 from £255.00 £175.00 £550.00

ew Number N 01684 560029 Adam : 07841 239411 Mark : 07545 735303 All prices subject to VAT and availability.

VEHICLE SPARES

Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales OUR SERVICES: •

Recovery

•

Testing

• • • • • • • •

Refurbishment Repairs

Engine/gearbox rebuilds Fault finding

Buying & selling vehicles

DISMANTLING/SPARES: • • • • • •

Reconditioned engines Reconditioned gearboxes Engine spares Windows

Windscreens Seats

Trevor Wigley & Son Bus Ltd

TW FULLY LICENSED END OF LIFE VEHICLE CENTRE TW REDUNDANT AND SCRAP VEHICLES TAKEN TW PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT SERVICE TW ALL REQUIREMENTS CATERED FOR TW VARIOUS SPARES AVAILABLE TW CONTACT US FOR FULL AVAILABILITY

Export to foreign markets Repairs

Finance repossession and storage

CALL: 01226 727 769 Bus sales: www.geoff-ripleysbuscoachsales.com Geoff Ripley, Boulder Lane (off Shaw Lane), Carlton, Barnsley S71 3HJ

Mob: 07912 103 497 or 07711 750 434 Fax: 01226 727 607 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com

Call 01226 723147 Night Service 01226 716479 Fax 01226 700199 Email wigleys@btconnect.com

www.twigley.com

May 9, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 53

Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk, fax 0845 2802927 or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

Monday: A hectic press day. Andrew is enjoying a long weekend in Belgium. As ever, friendly office banter is the order of the day. Finish much earlier than anticipated – despite being a team member down.

Tuesday: Plan forthcoming issues as much as I can – the joys of working on a weekly publication eh…?! Also try to catch up with a mountain of emails.

Young Alfie is pictured with his father and Alex Ratcliffe, Assistant Operations Manager at Rawmarsh depot

Little Al�ie �inds out what buses are all about!

Bus mad Alfie Wigley enjoyed a ‘double decker day of delight’ when Stagecoach Yorkshire set the wheels in motion for a depot tour.

After Stagecoach heard the threeyear-old was due to go into hospital for an operation, they arranged a special trip to their Rawmarsh depot and gave him a treat he’ll never forget.

Alfie - who has a condition called Microtia, meaning he was born without properly formed outer ears

Dilbert

- sat in the driver’s seat of a single decker, set the destination blind to his favourite 221 service, which runs near his grandmother’s home, watched buses being cleaned and met several drivers.

The youngster went to the depot with his grandmother, Sandra Rogerson, and mum and dad, Gaynor and Jason Wigley, of Denaby.

After the tour, Alfie was presented with a certificate to commemorate his special day, as well as various gifts donated by Stagecoach and the Rawmarsh Depot Sports and Social Club.

Sandra said: “He loved every minute of his visit and all the people there were so kind and made us extremely welcome. Alfie is mad on buses and he loves travelling on them.

“He’s only three but he knows

where all the different services run to. It was a dream come true for him to actually go to the depot and see how it all works.”

The visit came about after Stagecoach Yorkshire driver Carol Bainbridge met Alfie and his gran and was told about his condition and his interest in buses.

Alex Ratcliffe, Rawmarsh depot Assistant Operations Manager, said: “It was a tremendous privilege for us to show Alfie round the depot.

We pride ourselves on being at the heart of the community and we really do care about our customers, no matter how young they are.

“Alfie had the time of his life and everybody who met him couldn’t believe how enthusiastic he was about buses and how much he knew.”

Wednesday: A hectic day in the office writing up a couple of features for two forthcoming issues. Catch up with a good friend on the phone in the evening who fills me in with a load of industry ‘gen’, the sort of background information which is invaluable when you’re in my profession...

Thursday: A particularly busy morning in the office. Spend a good part of the afternoon in a management meeting with Jonathan and Ian. We agree to put into practice an idea which came to my head while driving up the A1 last week – a road which always seem to have that effect on me. Receive several complimentary calls and emails about the Volvo social media article. Part 3, which is about how operators use social media, is currently in preparation.

If you’d like to contribute, please drop James a line. Enjoy a lengthy chat with an industry friend on the phone in the evening.

Friday: A friendly Scottish reader calls to pick our brains in the morning and then tells us how much he likes CBW. It’s cold and it’s damp but I venture outdoors just after midday to snap some pics of Stagecoach’s new Enviro 400s on the road outside the office (see p5). Book an overnight work trip abroad for the coming weeks. The end of a stressful week, I’m delighted to head ‘back home’ with my fiancée to my native Welsh borderland for a three-day weekend. www.coachandbusweek.com

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RECRUITMENT

Travel de Courcey employees celebrate half century Travel de Courcey’s two longest serving employees have been recognised for half a century of service.

General Manager Bob Wildman and Operations Supervisor Sue White have both clocked up 25 years for the Coventry-based bus and coach operator.

Sue joined Travel de Courcey in 1984 as part of the on-the-job training course for school leavers, known as YTS, and she welcomed Bob to the team three years later.

Sue, who had a three-year break from Travel de Courcey to have her children, said: “On the morning Bob arrived for his first day of work, we

Sue and Bob were each presented with a carriage clock in recognition of their service by Travel de Courcey’s founder and MD Mike de Courcey were stuck for a bus driver. Before he had a chance to put down his briefcase, I asked him if he could drive a bus and if he knew how to get to a local school. Thankfully, he answered yes to both.”

As a 16-year-old, Sue’s career

began as an office junior and she moved on to the operational side of the business, helping to manage the drivers’ rotas and timetables.

She said: “Things have moved on so much since then as the company has grown but it’s still the same

job I love. Just like Bob’s first day, we all pull together to get the job done and it’s all hands on deck if need be.”

Bob joined as General Manager and has been instrumental in developing the company.

Bob said: “We had a fleet of about 20 vehicles when I joined and now we’re heading for 120 to support our local, regional, national and international operations.

“Our number one priority remains the same as the day I joined which is to get our vehicles out on the road and to move our passengers to where they need to be.”

Sue and Bob were each presented with a carriage clock in recognition of their service by Travel de Courcey’s founder and Managing Director Mike de Courcey, a popular figure both locally and in the coach and bus industry.

As previously, Travel de Courcey has recently expanded with a new Birmingham depot to run National Express contracts.

Your First Choice for Recruitment

Coach & Bus Week’s well-established recruitment portfolio attracts candidates across sales, marketing and management, delivering not just quantity but quality candidates, providing exceptional value for money.

In addition to our unrivalled print-based product, at no extra cost recruitment adverts are also automatically placed online at www.coachandbusweek.com, where they remain on view until a position’s closing date.

Coach & Bus Week and www.coachandbusweek.com combine to create the ultimate recruitment solution, guaranteeing your vacancy is seen by every jobseeker that matters from sales agents to board level.

To get your vacancy seen by quality candidates, call Ian Gillis on 01733 293484 or email ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

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Deadlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm

Contact Ian Gillis 01733 293484

Network Warrington Staff Awards

David Squire, Network Warrington Managing Director told CBW it was a brilliant night. He said: “We wanted to tie it in with the 110th anniversary so we put a lot more effort into the show, for example we had it in a hotel rather than a social club, and the staff responded well to this, we had one of our biggest turn outs. It was a terrific evening.”

The 2012 Network Warrington staff recognition awards, held recently at the Park Royal Hotel in Stretton, also marked the company’s 110th anniversary.

Over 220 members of staff, their partners and the company’s suppliers, who sponsored the event, attended the evening with a red carpet paparazzi style photographer, quiz and entertainment provided by local radio presenter, Pete Pinnington.

The annual safe driving awards were presented by the Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Mike Biggins, with 55 drivers notching up an impressive 217 years of safe driving between them. Other awards included Depot Employee of the Year, Driver of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk

The staff recognition awards were presented by the Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Mike Biggins

Senior Sales Business Development Manager The Company Mitcham Belle Coaches provide coach & minibus hire to London & the South-East.

For more information visit www.mitchambellecoaches.co.uk As part of ambitious growth plans Mitcham Belle is seeking a talented sales professional.

The Role Reporting to the MD, you will play a key role in bringing about a step change in how Mitcham Belle develops and grows its UK business. You will have responsibility for revenue growth and gross margin delivery across the UK business.

Key Responsibilities: • Develop a strong, well recognised and profitable coach hire solutions business in London and the South-East, providing coach hire services to UK based businesses, educational institutions, and the general public.

• Win new business and explore new markets within preset budgets • Build on and drive the value that existing and future customers get from the current business through excellent consumer centric market understanding, account penetration and smart use of customer analytics, complaint research and social networks

WORKSHOP MANAGER Due to the imminent retirement of our current Engineering Director, a position has arisen for a suitably qualified Workshop Manager within our operating team.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, the key roles will be: • Maintain and improve Company standards of engineering and vehicle maintenance within our coach, bus and midi-bus fleet • Motivate and manage current engineering staff, and recruit ment of new engineering staff • Ensure vehicles surpass current VOSA standards for test preparation and daily use • Ensure inspection, maintenance and engineering records are prepared to the highest standard using Workshop Manager software systems • Adhere to budgets prepared in conjunction with the Operations Manager • Ensure compliance of Health & Safety matters and environmental responsibilities

And You? You have a proven solution sales background and love to be measured against what you have sold and the strength of your relationships. Although a coach hire or transport background would be ideal, we would consider individuals who can demonstrate an understanding of a solution or service sale. You are a confident and skilled communicator and negotiator and will be motivated by working in an entrepreneurial business where you will develop new skills and build responsibility.

This hands-on role would suit either an experienced professional looking for new challenges in a SME environment, or an experienced PCV mechanic looking to move into a management role.

How to apply To be part of a dynamic, growing business please send your CV, together with details of your current salary package to kevin.wilde@mitchambellecoaches.co.uk

Mr K Wilde – Managing Director, Mitcham Belle Coaches, 223 Streatham Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 2AJ, or by e-mail to kevin.wilde@mitchambellecoaches.co.uk

If you are interested in the position, please send your CV to:

www.coachandbusweek.com

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