Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1055

Wednesday September 26, 2012 Issue 1055 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com

COACH:

Ausden Clark Director �ined for maintenance record falsi�ication p8

SHOW REPORT: BUS: Volvo reveals hybrid commitment at IAA trade show p22

Go-Ahead gets 89% satifaction rate from Passenger Focus p6

LEGAL NEWS:

Close shave for Richard Godson as repute is retained p28

for recruitm

Wardles: from school dinners to coaches

JOB ADVE ent EVERY WERTS EK

RECRUIT N

OW

p34

Cover.indd 1

24/09/2012 19:13

679877-1054-DFDS

13/9/12

11:06

Page 1

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3

this week

Coach & Bus Week, 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@coachandbusweek.com Editor Gareth Evans 01733 293243 gareth.evans@coachandbusweek.com Technical & Minibus Editor Martin Cole 01733 293245, 07885 692144 martin.cole@coachandbusweek.com Features Editor Andrew Cream 01733 293482 andrew.cream@coachandbusweek.com News Reporter James Day 01733 293244 james.day@coachandbusweek.com News Reporter Alex Tyler 01733 293240 alex.tyler@coachandbusweek.com Art Director Keith Simpson Contributors Tim Deakin, Richard Charnley, Gabriel Conway, Alan Payling

ADVERTISING, MARKETING & EVENTS Advertising & Marketing Manager Ian Gillis 01733 293484 ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com Advertising Sales Executive Victoria Schult 01733 293248 victoria.schult@coachandbusweek.com Classified Sales Executive Jade Cassidy 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com Advertising Production June Barnard 01473 858761 june@adsproduction.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS & circulation Subscriptions & Circulation Manager Samantha Noble 01733 293480 samantha.noble@coachandbusweek.com Annual subscription rate for 51 issues: UK £85, Europe/Eire £140, USA and RoW £295 ONLINE £44.95

www.coachandbusweek.com ISSN: 1351-3877 © 2012 Coach and Bus Week Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or system or in any means without the written permission of the directors. 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.

Irisbus: an Iveco future?

W

ith the IAA exhibition in full swing this week many visitors will note with surprise there is no Irisbus display stand.

Instead a Magelys Pro coach and 19-seat Daily minicoach nestle quietly on the Iveco stand while a Citelis Hybrid was seen moving around on the roadways within the exhibition site.

Having previously been told the smallest Irisbus markets, which included the UK and Germany, were unsustainable and to be officially taken over and run by Iveco, pending a lengthy and complex legal process, I was led to expect an official announcement as to the future of the UK division in due course.

Nothing has yet emerged but coinciding with the IAA I have received a press release from Iveco’s UK PR

Agency announcing the sale of 150 ‘Iveco’ Crossway LEs to Deutsche Bahn for its DB Regio services in Germany. It also states they are to be built at the ‘Iveco’ plant in Vysoke Mito in the Czech Republic. All in all, this sounds very much like a done deal for the whole brand to be absorbed, yet no-one wants to officially confirm what is happening.

It may have little significant effect on the wider market for the Irisbus product but patriotic French customers are beginning to feel Iveco is trying to eradicate all traces of the former Renault Vehicules Industriel. Many still associate the French plant at Annonay with RVI and if the dolphin emblem and the Irisbus name vanish it could have a detrimental effect on what has always been a very strong traditional homeland market for the manufacturer.

Martin Cole Technical Editor

CONTENTS 4

22

40

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

12

Part one of the European Commercial Vehicle Show report

28

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

What’s happening across the country’s regions. Plus events diary

16

Temporary O-licence suspension for Leeds-based Richard J Godson

32

Busman convicted of recently introduced licence offence

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

18

An Alfa Travel Plaxton Paragonbodied Volvo B12B at Llanfair PG

34

A lighthearted look at the industry.

Plus Office Diary column

Industry professionals give their views on planned BSOG reform

The story behind the rarely publicised Wardle Transport

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

Regional News Tour News

The Big Question

IAA Show Report Legal News

The Big Picture

Operator Profile

Deliveries

42

Drivers

61

Last Stop

62

People

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

For all the latest industry news and information, register with us online at:

www.coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com

Contents-1.indd 3

24/09/2012 19:09

4 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news

“We must ensure local politicians recognise this is not ‘new’ money but a redistribution of the current funding stream for local bus services.”

Tracy Jessop ATC0

briefly In last week’s issue we incorrectly stated that WMSNT (West Midlands Special Needs Transport) had ordered 28 Hybrid systems from Ashwoods. They have in fact ordered 28 of Ashwoods’ Lightfoot systems further to a successful sixmonth trial on 20 vehicles already fitted. However, while WMSNT has not placed orders for Ashwoods’ Hybrid system, the organisation is keen to learn more about its potential within its large fleet.

The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust will hold an Open Day at its Bridgeton Bus Garage, Broad Street, Glasgow on Sunday October 14 between 1000 and 1700hrs. There will be an admission charge of £5.00 (adults), £3.00 (concessions or accompanied children) and £12 (family). On show will be buses, coaches and commercial vehicles from the Trust’s own collection as well as many visiting vehicles. A frequent free vintage bus service will link Bridgeton Garage with the city centre and the Riverside Museum. Visit www.gvvt.org.

Following a series of strikes which has been disrupting its services to and from France and Spain, Brittany Ferries decided to tie up the fleet and cancel all crossings with immediate effect, until further notice. The only unaffected route is the Poole– Cherbourg passenger service which is run on the firm’s behalf

by Condor Ferries. Brittany Ferries said it could not subject passengers to ongoing uncertainty caused by wildcat strikes and cancellation of services at short notice. A special arrangement is in place in Dover with P&O Ferries and MyFerryLink to accept Brittany Ferries tickets in some cases (see http://tinyurl.com/ cyqaggk).

Reading Buses’ purple 17 route has increase in frequency to every seven minutes.

CEO James Freeman explained the 17 is growing year-on-year and reflected the success of introducing ADL E400 Hybrids nearly 12 months ago. The enhancement had been made possible by investing in another E400H.

News4,5.indd 4

The Big Question p18

DSA publishes new driving framework The DSA aims to clarify current guidelines for coach, bus and lorry drivers New frameworks setting out the competences expected of lorry, bus and coach drivers have been published by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). It outlines the skills, knowledge and understanding required to drive these vehicles safely and responsibly.

The DSA worked with the haulage and passenger transport industries to develop these standards and they address specific issues such as the use of tachographs and the dangers of continuous driving.

The National Driving Standard Category C (lorry) and National Driving Standard Category D (bus and coach) outline what drivers need to know, understand and be able to do in areas such as: n Preparing a vehicle and its occupants for a journey; n Guiding and controlling a vehicle; n Using the road in accordance with the Highway Code; n Driving safely and responsibly in the traffic system; and n Reviewing and adjusting driver behaviour over a lifetime.

The publication of the Standards fulfils the commitment made in the Government’s Strategic Framework

The new frameworks could have an impact on Driver CPC training for new and existing vocational driving licence holders Obituary

Keith Waterworth Keith Waterworth, the former Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the North East and North West of England, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday September 11, 2012.

He was initially appointed TC for Scotland in 1990 where he served for three years.

Whilst he enjoyed his time there he had made a promise to his wife to return to Yorkshire, so they were both delighted when he was appointed as the TC for the North East in 1993.

He was then appointed as the TC for the North West in 1996.

Following a period of illness he took early retirement in 2000.

During his time as commissioner, Mr Waterworth earned a reputation for being a firm but fair regulator whose professionalism, knowledge and desire to improve road safety gained respect within the bus, coach and haulage industries.

Reflecting on his contribution, Beverley Bell, Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain, who succeeded Mr Waterworth as TC for the North West, said: “Keith Waterworth was held in very high regard by the industry and his fellow TCs. He was robust in his work at public inquiry, using them to deal with serious cases, but he was also visible as a regulator, encouraging joint agency working,

for Road Safety to extend the standards framework to cover categories C and D. The Standards should form the basis of training which a lorry, bus or coach driver receives – and so the training industry is encouraged to create courses addressing them. This includes both the training which drivers complete professionally (Driver CPC) and training for those who don’t drive for a living.

The standards build on National Driving Standard Category B which defines safe and responsible driving for car and light van drivers. They are based on evidence, open to challenge and regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date.

DSA CEO Rosemary Thew said: “The publication of these standards will help to ensure that all bus and lorry drivers acquire the right skills, knowledge and attitude to use our roads safely and responsibly, as well as contributing to cutting the human and financial cost of road accidents.

“These will enhance the excellent training that is already available and contribute to the work the DSA is doing to set standards for everyone who uses a motorised vehicle on the public roads.”

Further details can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/dsa

attending roadside enforcement checks and contributing to educational road shows.

“Despite his illness Keith continued to travel extensively throughout both of his traffic areas in his work often accompanied by cumbersome medical equipment – he refused to allow his illness to get in the way of the work that he loved. He will be missed by all of the staff in the Office of the Traffic Commissioner who knew and worked with him as well as by those traffic commissioners who served with him.”

He is survived by his widow Judith who was always a staunch supporter of him throughout his working life and who continues to live in Yorkshire.

24/09/2012 18:47

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5

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

‘Up North’ for next Young Bus Managers Network meeting runs throughout much of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The day’s activities should be concluded by around 1500hrs after the now-customary ‘workshop’ session hosted by the ever-friendly

The next meeting of the Young Bus Managers Network (YBMN) has been announced for October 23-24 in the Novotel in Leeds.

The meeting will get underway Tuesday, October 23 with dinner from around 1800hrs. The popular team ‘pub quiz’ is back again and attendees will have the chance to network and enjoy the evening.

This is followed by a conference day which begins with a morning Hybrid Bus Tour of the Scott Hall Road Guided Busway on Wednesday, 24 October, after which the YBMN will be addressed by a diverse range of speakers including the highly respected Les Warneford.

Also confirmed are Dr Bob Tebb who will discuss the opportunities provided by Bus Rapid Transit and Nigel Eggleton, Marketing Director of Veolia Transdev Blazefield, which

The YBMN shares best practice and brings together like-minded friends

National Express Coach celebrates 40 years National Express is celebrating its 40th birthday this autumn after it published Britain’s first ‘national’ coach timetable in 1972.

To celebrate the landmark birthday, the firm has released promotional footage and photos from the 1970s showing classic seaside days out and on board

The cover of the UK’s first national coach timetable

£750

UDIT

IANCE A

COMPL

Reading Buses CEO James Freeman.

Rates are the same as the two previous events at £155 + VAT for the residential package and £76.50 + VAT for a non-residential one.

This includes dinner and the other events on Tuesday evening.

Bookings are now available through the website at www.youngbusmanagers.org.uk

AT PLUS V

tel: 08450 575 111

snacks served by hostesses.

The firm launched with around 300 vehicles carrying 13m passengers annually. The most popular destinations were London, Bournemouth and Blackpool but half the services ran at weekends only and a quarter were seasonal.

National Express has clocked up over two billion miles on Britain’s roads since 1972 with 18m passenger journeys now taking place annually.

Andrew Cleaves, MD of National Express Coach, said: “We’re proud to have carried millions of Britons on day trips, holidays and visit to friends and family during our 40-

PSV Glass is appointed QBE supplier PSV Glass has been appointed by QBE, the specialist business insurer, as the approved supplier for the firm’s coach and bus business.

Under the new commercial agreement, which comes into effect on October 1, PSV Glass will become the exclusive provider of glass repair and replacement services to QBE, including minibuses and motor homes.

Steve Pitwood Brown of PSV Glass told CBW: “We’re delighted QBE recognised the unique qualities we bring to the market.

QBE’s customers will benefit from our dedicated reliable service.”

QBE’s Scot Farthing said: “By appointing PSV Glass, we will now be able to tailor this service to meet the individual needs of our bus and coach customers.” year journey.

“In 1972 half of our services were seasonal as people took holidays at distinct times, such as factory fortnight. Today a third of the network runs to airports and over half our tickets are sold online.”

To help celebrate the occasion, National Express is offering a year’s free coach travel for those sending in the best memories and stories of coach travel since 1972.

The stories can be shared at www. nationalexpress.com/40 Watch the video at http:// tinyurl.com/cuwtwvv

Contains 100% compliance Long lasting protection L

email: julia.davies@backhouses.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

News4,5.indd 15

24/09/2012 18:47

6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

97%

news › BUSeS

Passenger satisfaction rating achieved by konectbus

briefly Network Warrington is launching an East to West orbital service on October 1.

The route replaces the current Chapelford Connector service and operates half-hourly from Warrington Bus Interchange to Chapelford. The fact it runs daily means Chapelford gains its first ever Sunday service. The new orbital is part of a successful bid to the DfT’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). Cllr Linda Dirir of Warrington Borough Council said: “We believe this service will make a real difference to the town by connecting people to business parks and job opportunities.”

Publicly-funded bus services throughout West Lothian are set to be overhauled from next month. New route numbers, timetables and operators are to be introduced for many of the services. For some little-used routes, a pre-booked taxibus service will be introduced rather than a conventional bus. A West Lothian Council spokesman said: “We provide a range of supported bus services. All of the main links between West Lothian towns have been maintained and in some cases, enhanced. This exercise has been essential to keep services in place at an affordable subsidy level. Service performance will be monitored closely.”

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is offering a special £2 return bus ticket for comedy fans. The special ticket is available to buy throughout the week-long Nottingham Comedy Festival which runs until Sunday (September 30) and provides a £1.40 saving.

NCT Marketing Manager Anthony Carver Smith said: “We’re excited about the Comedy Festival coming to Nottingham again this year and wanted to make it as cheap and easy as possible for people to get into the city for a laugh. From September 21 until Christmas we’ll also be extending our Grouprider half price rate to be valid on weekday evenings. This means up to five people – maximum of two adults – can travel into the city for £4 after 1700hrs.” For further details visit NCT’s website at www. nctx.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

News6,7.indd 6

Passenger satisfaction remains high across the Go-Ahead Group konectbus tops the tables with a 97% satisfaction rating, although customers are concerned about value for money across the GoAhead Group Independent watchdog Passenger Focus has revealed over 5,680 (89%) of the 6,380 passengers it surveyed across the Go-Ahead bus network were satisfied overall with their service, though value for money was a concern.

Passenger Focus worked with the operator to find out the views of passengers on 11 of Go-Ahead’s bus companies outside London.

Passengers were asked to rate

services on both the journey experience on the bus and at the stop itself.

Top performers were Norfolkbased konectbus, Oxford Bus Company and Oxford Park & Ride with 97%, 92% and 92% overall passenger satisfaction respectively.

The remaining eight companies scored between 82% and 91%. Isle of Wight-based Southern Vectis saw passenger satisfaction from the previous year drop by 9% from 91% to 82%.

This research also found only about half of the passengers were satisfied with value for money.

Satisfaction with this aspect of a bus

East of England-based konectbus were the top performers in the survey, followed by Oxford Bus Company and Oxford Park & Ride

Arriva appoints Lateral Group for CRM program Arriva UK Bus has appointed Lateral Group to handle its CRM (Customer Relations Management) program for the next three years.

The London-based customer engagement agency will work with the operator to help deliver an integrated CRM program which supports Arriva UK Bus’ marketing strategy and programme.

Cora Robinson, Head of

Marketing for Arriva UK Bus, said: “We awarded the contract to Lateral Group after they clearly demonstrated they shared our passion for customer service.

“CRM is no longer just the successful delivery and use of a single customer view database, but a customer engagement programme which underpins marketing strategy and the wider

service dropped from 60% last year to 52%. Brighton & Hove, Go North East, Plymouth Citybus and Wilts & Dorset operating companies contributed most to this overall decrease in the value for money score. Hampshire-based Bluestar bucked the trend by increasing its value for money score by 5%.

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus CEO, said: “Go-Ahead’s passengers have spoken and overall they seem to be very happy with their buses. However, value for money is something passengers have highlighted as an issue, so this research provides Go-Ahead with valuable information which can be used to help focus the company’s efforts on improving these scores in the future.”

David Brown, Group CEO at Go-Ahead, said: “I am pleased with this year’s set of results which show our focus on providing high quality services to our passengers does make a difference. In the past year we’ve invested £80m in our bus fleet and continued to roll out our smartcard ‘the key’ across all our bus companies, making it the most used smartcard outside London. A major reason for us doing the survey is to find out where we can improve and then take steps to address those areas. Our firms are already planning initiatives to deliver an even better service.” marketing programme. Lateral Group can deliver a range of services to enable us to further effectively communicate with our large customer base, for both our short term and long term objectives.

“We are delighted to be working with Lateral Group and are particularly looking forward to working together to develop an innovative engagement programme that will ultimately improve customer experience and encourage more people to choose to travel with Arriva UK Bus.”

24/09/2012 18:53

1963 75,000 The year Potteries-based Wardle Transport was established

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7

SHARE WATCH

Number of electric buses expected to be in service worldwide by 2018

‘Free’ bus passes bring health bene�its

A study has found free bus passes encourage the over-60s to be more physically active, whether they are poor or wealthy.

Researchers analysed data on the travel habits of 16,900 people over four years. They said the scheme “may offer value for money” among older people.

The Imperial College London study examined data from the National Travel Survey from 2005, the year before free bus passes were introduced, until 2008. They looked at the travel diaries of 11,218 people with a free bus pass and 5,693 without a pass.

The percentage of respondents with a free bus pass increased from 56.8% to 74.7% between 2005 and 2008. Over the same period there was an increase in the percentage of pass holders walking three or more times a week and the study found these people were more likely to undertake any ‘active travel.’

After analysing different subgroups of pass holders, the study found women over the age of 70 and living in urban areas were significantly more likely to use buses and walk three or more times a week than those without passes.

Sophie Coronini-Cronberg, who led the study, said: “The health benefits of the scheme should be taken in to consideration when deciding its future. Our study found the benefits of the policy could be maximized by looking at other barriers to public transport use such as poor access and inconvenience, ease of car use, and poor pedestrian access of neighbourhoods.”

The study found an increase in bus pass holders walking three or more times per week, particularly among over 70s women in urban areas

News6,7.indd 7

Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, September 24. Rotala saw the greatest proportional rise while Optare saw the greatest proportional drop.

Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

335.30p

Price: Year High: 367.50p Year Low: 248.95p

Matthew Wooll took this photo of Colin (leaning on the wing of the bus) holding his audience’s interest at the 2001 RML40 event at Cobham Obituary

Colin Curtis After a long period of ill health Colin Curtis died on September 18 at Crawley Hospital, aged 86. Colin’s name was synonymous with the specialist engineering development of London Transport road vehicles.

He joined in 1947 and despite the considerable technical advances over his period of influence, he remained fixed on the benefits of saving weight, was determined to deliver designs which simplified maintenance and unit changes and pioneered the widespread use of hydraulics – notably in the Routemaster’s braking system.

He was latterly dubbed the ‘father of the Routemaster,’ though

GNE adopts Recite web accessibility

Go North East has become the first public transport company to invest in the Recite web accessibility platform, the firm claims.

The operator enjoys a large following online with thousands of people accessing tickets and services each day. A significant number of these customers live with a visual disability or learning impairment and Go North East procured Gateshead-based Recite to add its product to the firm’s online platforms.

Recite is a unique system which allows any person with visual impairments, learning difficulties like dyslexia or literacy issues to

he didn’t like the term and said if anyone was, it was Bill Durrant.

After retirement from London Buses he ran his own consultancy.

He was active in the preservation movement – he had his own RF – and was Life President for what is now the London Bus Museum and the Routemaster Association.

He wrote about his life and times in a book ‘40 Years with London Transport’.

His wealth of knowledge and experience was always in demand and he would give interesting and thought-provoking lectures for as long as his health allowed.

A post on Leon Daniels’ blog at http://leondaniels. blogspot.co.uk provides a more personal account of Colin’s life.

use any computer/smartphone/ WAP enabled device anywhere in the world to access a website in a personalised way. No software needs to be installed, so it is fully portable.

Stephen King, Marketing & Sales Manager for Go North East, explained: “Our website is now much more than simply a static source of information. In particular, the availability of online discounts for some products makes it important that everyone can use the site.

“By adding Recite, we are giving visually impaired and dyslexic users the tools they need to enjoy all the benefits the website can offer.”.

For further information please call Ian Birtwistle on 0191 432 8092. Conect with Recite on facebook or on Twitter @reciteme

247.25p

Price: Year High: 350.00p Year Low: 184.70p

1369.0p

Price: Year High: 1509.0p Year Low: 1074.0p

220.40p

Price: Year High: 256.20p Year Low: 176.50p

284.95p

Price: Year High: 300.00p Year Low: 227.90p

0.51p

Price: Year High: 2.25p Year Low: 0.20p

45.00p

Price: Year High: 45.00p Year Low: 36.00p

79.09p

Price: Year High: 81.45p Year Low: 62.29p

10.75p

Price: Year High: 20.00p Year Low: 10.25p

-11.40 on last week

-8.75 on last week

-6.50 on last week

-10.40 on last week

-4.60 on last week

-0.03 on last week

+0.50 on last week

+0.10 on last week

-0.50 on last week

FTSE 100

5,821

Index: Year High: 6,103 Year Low: 4,791

-78

on last week

www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 18:53

8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news › coaches

briefly Overnight repair work on the M11 between Harlow and Birchanger in Essex has started this week. The improvements include surface repairs as well as expansion joint repairs on the Hallingbury Hall Bridge. The work is taking place on both the northbound and southbound carriageways for just over nine miles between junction 8 (Birchanger) and junction 7 (Harlow). It is due to completion

by Monday October 8, 2012. No work will take place on Friday or Saturday nights. The working hours are between 2000 and 0600hrs.

Work to improve the northbound A1(M) between junction 59 (Coatham Mundeville Interchange) and junction 60 (Bradbury) near Darlington is due to be carried out next week. The improvements include resurfacing the hard shoulder and repairing areas damaged by vehicle fires.

During the work, the northbound carriageway is due to be closed overnight between the two junctions from September 27 to October 6, 2000 to 0600hrs. During the closures, traffic travelling north on A1(M) will be directed to exit at junction 59 and follow the A167 westbound to the A167/B6444 roundabout.

Resurfacing work is due to take place on the southbound carriageway of the A19 between the A194 Lindisfarne Interchange and Testos roundabout from October 3 to 13. During the work there will be overnight closures of the southbound carriageway, Sundays to Fridays, between 2000 and 0600hrs with signed diversion routes in place. Southbound traffic will be diverted on to the A194 westbound to White Mare Pool Roundabout and then on the A184 eastbound to rejoin the A19 at Testos roundabout. During the day a 50mph speed limit will remain in operation for safety reasons as a temporary road surface is in place.

Construction of the A82 Crianlarich Bypass is expected to start next summer and be completed the following year, Transport Scotland has announced. www.coachandbusweek.com

News8,9.indd 8

Ausden-Clark Director fined £10,000 + costs No question over maintenance standards but Leicester-based operator found to have falsified reports on 74 occasions Maintenance records for coach operator Ausden-Clark had apparently been falsified and then signed as accurate by company director Paul Ausden Clark. Mr Clark was arrested with the assistance of local police officers on Tuesday July 10, 2012.

The VOSA-led investigation centred upon examining the veracity of the information contained in the Planned Maintenance Inspections (PMI) records required to be kept for inspection by enforcement officers with the authority to carry out such inspections. It was found the odometer readings recorded on the PMI sheets did not correspond with the odometer readings recorded on the tachograph records and fuel log sheets bearing the same date as that on the PMI sheet.

One coach was in Rome on July 19 last year, but paperwork indicated it had a maintenance inspection in Leicester.

Paul Ausden Clark, who appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday (September 20), entered a plea of guilty to 10 counts of making a false instrument with intent that it be accepted as genuine, contrary to Sections 1 and 6 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, 1981. He asked for 64 similar counts to be taken into consideration (making 74 in all).

The matter was heard before

Judge Hammond and following mitigation by his counsel, Mr Ausden Clark was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,800. He was allowed 12 months to pay.

In addition, Junior Director Daniel Smith, 43, and employee Matthew Chester, 45, were facing similar charges, but the case against them was dropped by the prosecution in light of Mr Smith accepting responsibility. Mr Smith has resigned his directorship and undertaken not to work in the transport industry for five years.

Ausden-Clark had no previous convictions but the firm was fined in 2010 in relation to tachograph offences. Anthony Cross, representing Ausden-Clark, said it was “highly likely” the firm’s O-licence would be revoked.

Mr Cross said: “He fears for the jeopardy he has placed his staff in.

These were minor transgressions.

There’s no suggestion the vehicles have been anything other than

Ausden Clark had a first time MOT pass rate of 97%

New Operations Manager for Howard’s Travel Group Howard’s Travel Group has appointed Gareth Hughes as its Operations Manager. Gareth told CBW the position had become essential, due to the growth and evolution of the company. He will be responsible for the smooth dayto-day running of Howard’s Travel and Springfield Bus and Coach Ltd

based in Warrington, Cheshire.

Gareth said: “I’m very pleased to have been appointed to this role and with the backing of our MD Ian Howard we can take the companies to the next level. I have been working closely with Ian for three years, since he bought Springfield.

“My role will include growing

highly maintained. Inspections occurred but documentation was faulty. The fleet has a 98% first time MOT pass rate, compared with the average of 89%.”

Heather Cruickshank, VOSA’s Operations Director, said: “The falsification of these records may well have compromised road safety in the event of a crucial component failure in relation to the brakes, steering and suspension. VOSA is committed to detecting and prosecuting this type of offence, especially by those who are at Director level.”

As this issue went to press it remained to be confirmed whether the case would be brought before the Eastern Traffic Commissioner (TC) Richard Turfitt.

A spokesman for the Office of the Traffic Commissioner told CBW: “The TC does not comment on individual cases unless they are brought before him at a PI. “With respect to the work of VOSA as a prosecuting authority, the TC receives regular reports from VOSA detailing O-licence holders who have been convicted of offences under the relevant road traffic legislation.

“However, in respect of any prosecution, licence holders are required to notify the TC within 28 days of conviction. The TC will then consider whether to take action against the operator, including calling them to a PI. O-licence holders who fail to report such matters to the TC may face disciplinary action on additional grounds.” the business and possibly diversifying into other niches which are not catered for in our area. We also want to work more closely in association with local authorities and working groups involving other operators, capitalising on new ticketing systems and generally ensuring the day to day smooth running of the operation.

“We currently have authorisation for 11 vehicles between Springfield and Howards, but we hope to increase this in due course.”

24/09/2012 18:00

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9

“You’ve got a lot of work to do on Drivers’ Hours to be honest. It’s disappointing, having been visited almost a year ago that you’ve still not got a system in place.”

Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner

National Holidays expands events range National Holidays has announced an expansion of its Showtime & Special Events (SSE) programme which features an extensive selection of two- and three-day breaks, combining reserved coach travel and accommodation on a dinner, B&B basis. In addition, excursions and ticket admission are included in the package.

The breaks on offer include trips to see acts such as Jennifer Lopez, Jessie J, Nicki Minaj, Cheryl Cole, Justin Bieber and Madness as well as top comedians John Bishop, Michael McIntyre and Harry Hill.

Customers can also see some of the top West End musicals in London as well as touring productions in regional theatres across the UK. Live theatre shows currently on sale include The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera.

Shearings-owned National

New coach and website for Woods Coaches

Woods Coaches of Leicester has launched a new website powered

by Web Creation UK to promote its coach hire services. The move coincides with a redesign of the

Holidays will also be running theatre breaks to see the new ‘Viva Forever’, the critically acclaimed and multiOlivier Award winning ‘Matilda’ - The Musical, the new production of The Full Monty, as well as the renowned Dirty Dancing and Oliver.

Meanwhile the Special Events programme includes the Birmingham International Tattoo, the Horse of the Year Show, The Good Food Show, Chelsea Flower Show and Top Gear Live! along with the Floriade Spectacular in Europe!

Legal News p28

Last year over 40,000 passengers travelled with National Holidays on a Showtime & Special Event break.

Martin Lock, Commercial Director at National Holidays, said: “After a superb reaction from our customers last year we’re expanding the SSE programme and launching new breaks. The range has proved to be extremely popular with customers of all age groups who want to see some of the best live artists and theatre shows but don’t want the stress of arranging it themselves.”

Shearings-owned National Holidays believes all-inclusive packages are the way forward. One of the firm’s Setra S415GT-HD coaches is seen here firm’s tour brochure.

Sales Manager Chris Brown told CBW: “We’ve been operating for 62 years and everyone knows us for tours, but they don’t seem to know we also do private hire. We’re hoping the website will increase awareness.

“The new brochure has also just came out. It’s been changed dramatically – it seems more like a magazine in terms of design.”

Chris was keen to stress Roeville, Woods’ previous internet provider,

is still supplying management software. “We are very happy Roeville and the software they provide.”

Chris also said the firm had taken delivery of a new DAF-powered Irizar i6 integral. “It replaces a Neoplan Starliner,” he explained.

“We have three Starliners in the fleet at the moment and the rest are all Volvos. ” Visit the new website at www.woodscoachhire.co.uk

Epsom trials CEAMD additive Having looked at the many options out in the marketplace related to fuel savings and additives Epsom Coach Group has just started a 12-month trial with CEAMD. Steve Appleby, Epsom’s Fleetcare Manager, has had previous experience with CEAMD and an understanding of what the company could offer.

Commenting on the trial, Steve said: “We look forward to improving still further the already impressive environmental credentials of our modern fleet. The sophisticated fuel dosing unit is powered using a solar panel.

“Our modern fuel monitoring system will clearly tell us if we are reducing fuel consumption and our monthly emission testing of every vehicle will demonstrate the reduction in diesel particulates. We look forward to the success of the trial and to working with Dr Hayat and the team at CEAMD.”

A snapshot of Woods’ new website, which uses its well-known colours

www.coachandbusweek.com

News8,9.indd 9

24/09/2012 18:00

10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news › international

40% of bus purchases in the US are hybrids Demand for hybrid vehicles is expected to accelerate in the coming years NORTH AMERICA A report has revealed 40% of new bus purchases in the North American market in recent years have been hybrids.

Electric drivetrains, whether for hybrid systems, battery-electric or fuel cell, hold appeal for the bus market for many of the same reasons they do for light-duty vehicles: the promise of moving away from oil, efficiency gains, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and in many cases lower operating costs.

According to the Pike Research report, “Electric Drive Buses,” the global market for electric-drive buses is expected to grow steadily over the next six years by a quarter.

China to promote hybrid buses in all cities

CHINA The Chinese Ministry of Finance has announced plans to promote the use of hybrid public buses in all the country’s cities, extending their promotion beyond the current 25 cities.

A statement on the ministry’s website said the government hopes to bring between 3,000 and 5,000 buses to the cities by subsidising purchases of the vehicles.

Subsidies will range from 50,000 to 420,000 yuan (£4,880 to £41,060) depending on the efficiency of the buses and the type of battery used.

The Government said the buses must have a fuel efficiency of at least 10%, adding that bus manufacturers will need to offer a minimum three-year warranty for key components, including batteries and motors.

Reportedly, bus manufacturers will have go through a competitive bidding process to provide their buses in non-trial cities. www.coachandbusweek.com

NewsIntl.indd 10

By 2018, more than 75,000 electric buses will be in service globally.

“The biggest challenge for electric-drive technologies has been the cost premium over conventional diesel buses or buses which run on compressed natural gas,” said Senior Research Analyst Lisa Jerram. “This premium has maintained for hybrids, even as they have seen significant adoption in the North American market.

“Fuel economy savings are critical to making the case for bus operators to pay more, especially in developed countries that are facing increasing austerity in their public budgets. Typically, hybrid buses need to show fuel economy improvements of around 40% at current U.S. diesel prices to pay off the price premium over

the life of the bus.”

While growth in the electric bus market will accelerate strongly in certain regions, including Eastern Europe and Latin America, by far the largest sales volumes will come in Asia Pacific, the study finds. More than 15,000 electric buses will be sold in Asia Pacific in 2018 — 75% of the world total. North American sales are expected to reach just under 2,500 in the same year.

The report examines the global market for hybrid electric, plugin hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel-cell buses and covers the full range of bus applications including transit, motor coach, shuttle, and school buses, across all bus sizes.

Buy the full report at http:// tinyurl.com/9bvhrgm

Increase in Oz passenger numbers AUSTRALIA The number of public transport journeys in Victoria, Australia increased from 518m in 2010-2011 to 537m in 2011-2012.

Buses saw the biggest growth – 16% - with an extra 17m trips.

Public transport chiefs attributed the spike to new bus routes, more frequent services, extended hours, increasingly popular university bus routes and Smart Buses, which provide high frequency cross-town services.

Public Transport Victoria CEO and Chairman Ian Dobbs said bus use had more than doubled in the past six years. He said: “Buses have the capacity to carry a lot more people, particularly in off-peak periods, and this result shows public transport users will use buses when routes are direct, run regularly and connect with other transport modes.”

General Workers’ Union and Arriva signed the first ever collective agreement for Malta’s public transport workers

First collective agreement for Malta bus drivers MALTA A collective agreement signed for Arriva bus drivers is considered a historic moment for Malta’s public transport sector.

The General Workers’ Union and Arriva signed the agreement, which

is the first collective agreement ever signed for workers in Malta’s public transport sector.

The agreement is expected to substantially improve working conditions for Arriva employees

and their families.

The GWU said this agreement comes after months of discussions between the GWU and Arriva and meetings with Arriva workers.

In a statement GWU said: “It was finally approved with an absolute majority of 94.7% of the workers in a secret ballot held for Arriva workers who are members of GWU.”

24/09/2012 14:27

551796-1051-Eleather FP

23/8/12

13:13

Page 1

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news › REGIONAL

SCOTLAND

First Aberdeen has revealed a series of customer promotions ahead of the launch of its new timetable.

The new network, which aims to improve services for the majority of First Aberdeen’s customers, was implemented Sunday, September 16.

The operator is offering the following promotions which are valid from September 24 to November 18 and available for all customers network wide: Five weeks travel for the price of four for customers purchasing an adult First4Week ticket (available only at First’s Travel Centre, 47 Union Street) 11 days travel for the price of ten for customers purchasing a Carnet ticket (available only at First’s Travel Centre, 47 Union Street) Eight days travel for the price of seven for customers purchasing an on bus adult FirstWeek ticket (available to purchase on any First bus service in Aberdeen) Students too are set to benefit from the new network, through increased services to the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University. First also offered some student discounts at the universities’ fresher’s fairs.

In addition, the company has begun a fleet refresh programme which will improve the exterior and interiors of many of its buses. It also expects to purchase a number of brand new buses in early 2013.

Duncan Cameron, Director and General Manager of First Aberdeen, said: “Following our successful public consultation I’m delighted the new network is about to start.

We are looking forward to showing our customers the improvements we’ve made.

“We are committed to running similar incentives more often, we want to grow our business and encourage more people to consider using the bus more often.”

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Investigators from the European Commission have launched an inquiry into a possible infringement of EU competition law by the Irish Government over subsidies granted to Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. The EC officials met with the Department of Transport as part of the long-running examination into tens of millions of Euros paid out to the two CIÉ operators over a number of years. www.coachandbusweek.com

RegionalNews.indd 12

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’d like us to cover, contact James Day on james. day@coachandbusweek.com. later than the current service.

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “Gwynedd Council, working in partnership the Welsh Government and local bus operators, have been able to maintain travel opportunities on the corridor between Bangor and Aberystwyth.”

KEY

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

The commission has expressed doubt over whether such subsidies are compatible with EU state aid rules. It has also expressed reservations about state grants to upgrade bus stations and maintenance facilities on the basis that such funding is not available to private bus operators.

A Department of Transport spokesman said EC officials were in Dublin as part of a “fact-finding mission” as a result of a formal complaint made to the European Commission about the direct awarding of contracts to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann for public service obligation routes.

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins, who has reportedly discussed the issue with EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, said the Government had failed to specify which routes had benefited from €45m provided to Bus Éireann in 2011.

He said: “Bus Éireann operates on similar routes to many private operators and they never have to make a profit.

“They just have to ask for a handout from the taxpayer at the end of the year.”

Mr Higgins said the EU Competition Commissioner had also confirmed a separate investigation is ongoing into the Government’s failure to put the country’s schools’ bus service contract out to tender.

The matter of Bus Éireann’s contract to run school bus services is also the subject of a number of

MIDLANDS

ongoing legal cases at both Irish and European level.

WALES

Machynlleth-based Lloyds Coaches and Express Motors of Penygroes have won Welsh Government contracts to operate the route from Bangor to Aberystwyth from next Monday.

They replace Arriva Buses Wales after the firm revealed it would pull off the route earlier this month claiming falling passenger numbers no longer make it commercially viable. Arriva had run the X32 TrawsCambria route since 2005 when Welsh Government funding allowed the purchase of new vehicles with more frequent services.

Under the new contracts the locally-based firms will operate under the TrawsCymru banner and the route will be renumbered T2.

Richard Lloyd Jones, General Manager of Lloyds Coaches, said: “We have had less than a week to finalise arrangements for the two-year contract but we will be running services from next Monday.

“The timetable is being tweaked slightly and details will be available later this week. Once we have settled into the route we hope to build the number of passengers using the service.”

He said Lloyds plans to run the service to and from Bangor railway station via the bus station. They will also operate a southbound service from Bangor at 2000hrs – much

Staff at trent barton joined forces with customers earlier this month to raise £3,500 for charity during its ‘Big Weekend’.

While drivers across the network wore fancy dress to encourage donations from customers, other staff members took part in a series of sponsored bus pull races during the Heritage Open Day. The event was held at the former bus depot in Chilwell, the historic home of trent barton’s predecessor Barton’s buses, and raised money for Rainbows Children’s Hospice.

Alex Hornby, trent barton Commercial Director, explained: “Although in its first year, we expect trent barton’s Big Weekend will fast become one of the highlights of our year, involving staff, customers and many of the communities we serve.

“This year we are delighted our adopted charity for 2012, Rainbows, will be the main beneficiaries as they provide fantastic care and support for children with limiting conditions, and their families.

“As well as thanking customers for their support, I’d also like to congratulate everyone who took part in the bus pull, especially the team representing our threes route, who won the event.”

The cash raised for Rainbows was also boosted by the donation of 5p from every fare across the network over the weekend.

Patricia Brookes, Director of Fundraising at Rainbows, said: “I would really like to thank trent barton for all their efforts, not just over the weekend but right through the year.

“We also appreciate the donations from bus users. The support of businesses and the public is vital if we are to continue helping to provide the best possible care for some very special children and young people.”

SOUTH WEST

Drivers with Bristol-based Abus have been issued parking tickets for waiting in city centre bus stops. Abus runs services between Bristol city

24/09/2012 10:57

p13_CBW_1055

24/9/12

13:37

Page 13

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 13

Mobile ticketing made simple...

Zero Capital Investment No Equipment Required Increase Customers

Reduce Paper and Litter Reduce Queues

Minimise Cash Handling

Up and Running Within Days Tel: +44 (0) 8432 899 897

www.mobileonboard.com

@mymobiletickets /mymobiletickets

14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news › REGIONAL

centre and Bath, as well as routes to more rural outlying areas and some school buses.

Abus owner Alan Peters said the council agreed his buses could wait at quiet stops before picking up passengers.

Bristol City Council said tickets were issued when buses were pulled up for more than five minutes due to “considerable demand” from operators.

The Lib Dem authority said it was working to create more stands in the city centre.

Alan Peters said: “There are simply too few locations in the centre to stop and wait your time in.

There’s also the issue of no public toilets on any of our routes that my drivers can use so they have to go when they’re in the city centre.”

He said over the past two years, his drivers have been issued with an average of one parking ticket per month, the majority of which he has successfully appealed against.

“90% of the tickets have been rescinded but I still have to write the appeal and sometimes go to

a parking tribunal. It’s all timeconsuming,” Alan added.

Bishopsworth Conservative Councillor Richard Eddy, who campaigned to keep some of the Abus routes open, has tabled questions on the issue for his Liberal Democrat colleague Tim Kent, the member for budget and transport, at the next full council meeting.

“This operator provides a vital local public transport link for the people living in my ward,” said Mr Eddy.

“The wrongful issuing of parking tickets to this company is vexatious and time-consuming. Abus must be allowed to continue to provide local residents with much valued bus services - unimpeded by faceless, over officious and bungling bureaucrats.”

Bristol City Council said: “We are aware of the situation with Abus and have advised them of the current situation with regards to enforcement action. We are looking, as stated, to finding a working solution.”

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The UKBA shortlist is announced on September 27. Thamesdown Transport was crowned UK Bus Operator of the year in 2011

2012 n September 20-27 IAA Commercial Vehicles. Hannover. +(00)49 30897842. www.iaa.de n September 27 UK Bus Awards Shortlist Announcement. Canary Wharf, London. www.ukbusawards.

org.uk

n September 30 Leyland National 40th, commemorative rally and running day. Based at North West Museum of Road Transport, St. Helens 01744 451681 n October 4 CPT London & SE Workshop. Marks Tey Best Western Hotel, Colchester. Contact Tiley, Regional Manager on 020 7240 3131 or email karent@cpt-uk.org. n October 7 Warminster Vintage Bus Running Day. West Wiltshire.

At least 16 routes and 25 buses in service, sponsored by the Go-Ahead Group. www.warminstervbrd.

connectfree.co.uk

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has improved and rebranded services for Nottingham University students and staff. The Go2 Uni service, formerly the 34, will now run every five minutes at peak times, between the city centre, Derby Road, QMC and University Park. NCT is the only local operator which stops on campus. Evening buses will now run every 20 minutes until midnight. The new N34 will also run from the city until 0345hrs.

“Our newly-branded Go2 Uni service has essentially been designed with Nottingham University students and staff in mind – for getting to lectures, but also for socialising in the evenings,” said NCT Marketing Manager, Anthony Carver-Smith. “Our drop off – right on campus rather than on the main road outside the campus – is a great help to all students who are conveniently dropped off close to lectures and halls. With real-time technology fitted on all the vehicles, they’ll be able to see exactly when their next bus will arrive via the electronic bus stop displays or by using our app or mobile version of the website on their phones.”

The 34 originally launched in 2008 with midi-buses running every 12 minutes. Dr Keith Pitcher, Director of Sustainability at Nottingham University, said: “The University of Nottingham is delighted to continue its partnership with NCT and welcomes the enhancements to NCT’s new Go2 Uni service.”

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 October 23 CPT Coaching Conference. Volvo HQ, Warwick.

Further details will be published in due course. Call CPT on 020 7240 3131. www.cpt-uk.org n October 24-25 Trapeze UK User Conference 2012. Radisson Hotel, Manchester Airport. 08445 616771. www.trapezegroup.co.uk

n November 6-8 Euro Bus Expo.

NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com n November 15 CPT Northern Bus Summit. Manchester Conference Centre. Details from contact CPT NW Regional Manager Phillipa Sudlow on phillipas@cpt-uk.org. n November 20 UK Bus Awards London Hilton Park Lane. www.ukbusawards.org.uk n November 20-21 ATCO Winter Conference 2012. Local Government Association House, London, SW1. Will include AGM. www.atco.org.uk

2013 n January 1 New Year’s Holiday Open Day. Oxford Bus Museum. www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk n January 1 Annual King Alfred Running Day, Winchester. Further information from www.fokab.org.uk n March 20-21 UK Bus Awards Annual Conference. Sir Brian Souter has accepted our invitation to speak at the conference dinner. Venue to be confirmed, but will be in Central London. www.ukbusawards.org.uk n April 6 South East Bus Festival 2013. Kent Showground, near Maidstone, Kent, brought to you by the organisers of ‘M&D 100’ and ‘M&D and EK 60’ www.facebook. com/southeastbusfestival n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition. Palexpo, Geneva. www.uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 610 n July 21 Alton Bus Rally. Anstey Park, Anstey Lane, Alton, Hants. www.altonbusrally.org.uk

Send your event details to gareth.evans@ coachandbusweek.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

RegionalNews.indd 14

24/09/2012 10:57

556261-1055-Corgi

19/9/12

16:49

Page 1

16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

news › TOURISM

£12.50 Adult Group entry price per person to Birdworld in Surrey

brIEfly Experience and find out how to brew award-winning ale on one of the Black Sheep brewery tours around its traditional brewhouse and fermenting room in Masham. Visitors can discover how selected ingredients produce the distinctive tastes and aromas of Black Sheep ales, learn about the science behind the brewing process and find out why Yorkshire Square Fermenting Vessels developed over 200 years ago are still in use. The tour takes an hour and visitors can reward themselves with a glass of their favourite ale at the Brewers Bar. Groups are welcome but pre-booking is essential. For more information and tour prices call 01765 680100.

Feed the animals, hop on the bumpy tractor ride, discover the Timeline Barn where visitors can try on historic costumes, hunt for eggs in the hay and dig for buried treasure on Sacrewell Farm, based just off the A1 near Peterborough. Visitors are encouraged to make friends with the lambs and meet Bonnie the Shire horse and the donkeys Jolly Joules and Dicky Mint. Groups can explore the new straw bale maze, wander round the old working watermill and play in the indoor activity barn. For more information and prices telephone 01780 782254 or email info@sacrewell.org.uk

A Lancashire park for all the family The park features the imposing Ashton Memorial and an Edwardian Butterfly House Williamson Park in Lancaster consists of 54 acres of beautiful parkland with enchanting woodland walks and play areas with breathtaking views to the Fylde Coast, Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.

The park also plays host to The Ashton Memorial, as well as a tropical Butterfly House, a bird

The impressive Ashton Memorial folly dominates the park

The bird is the word

The Donkey Sanctuary at Slade House Farm in Sidmouth, Devon, is home to 200 donkeys which live in small groups and can be seen on many of the walks around the Sanctuary.

Group visits of any size are free with coach parking available onsite. In addition, an introductory talk is provided on the coach. Coach drivers receive a free filter coffee or pot of tea and a slice of cake at the Hayloft Restaurant. Pre-booking is essential with a minimum of 48 hours notice given. To book a group visit call 01395 573005.

Beddgelert is home to an award-winning ice cream parlour. The ice cream is made fresh every day and comes highlyrecommended by CBW’s Editor.

Call 01766 890 339. Visit www. glaslynices.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

TourNews.indd 16

enclosure and small mammal park which will certainly add to a visit to the town’s most prominent tourist attractions.

The impressive Ashton Memorial folly dominates the park and can be clearly seen from miles around. On the second floor is the Williamson Gallery, where a series of exhibitions is held throughout the year, and many works of art are for sale.

The Edwardian Palm House now serves as a tropical Butterfly House where exotic species flutter

The park houses a number of exotic species, including parrots & toucans

Nestling within the Alice Holt Forest in Surrey, Birdworld is one of the largest bird parks in the country.

There are 26 acres of landscaped grounds for visitors to explore which contain weird and wonderful bird species from the massive Maribou Stork to tiny sunbirds, penguins, owls, parrots, waterfowl and many other colourful species from all around the world.

The Jenny Wren Farm and a tropical aquarium, Underwater World, are also located on site, which is adjacent to the Forest Lodge Garden Centre.

The penguins are fed twice a day by the keepers, in addition to an entertaining Outdoor Flying Display and the Heron Theatre Show.

Younger visitors in particular will

amongst lush foliage in the warm, humid atmosphere of a tropical forest. The safari continues through the mini-beast cave and free-flying bird enclosure, situated behind the Butterfly House, and into the small animal garden.

Refreshments are provided by the Pavilion Café, which serves a selection of hot and cold snacks, cakes and biscuits, freshly made tea and coffee and have an ample supply of cold beverages.

The children’s playground is open during normal park opening hours and is situated near the Ashton Memorial and Pavilion Café.

Williamson Park and all its amenities are open all year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Entry to Williamson Park grounds is free while entry to Ashton Memorial viewing gallery is 50p and entry to Butterfly House, mini beasts and small animal zoo is £3.60 for adults, £2.60 for children and £3.20 for concessions. A family ticket can be purchased for £11.50.

Coach parking is available on site.

For more information call 01524 33318 or email williamsonpark@lancaster.gov.uk

enjoy meeting some of the smaller cuddly residents in the farm Animal Handling and visitors are invited to join the bird keepers for the daily ‘Owl Prowl’ feeding tour.

Group rates, for 12 or more paying visitors, start at £12.50 per person and each member of the party also benefits from a single use 10% discount voucher to use in the garden centre. This includes entry to Underwater World, the Jenny Wren Farm and direct access to the award-winning Forest Lodge Garden Centre.

The gardens are quite extensive, but the site is level throughout with lots of seating so visitors of all age and ability can enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Coach parking is available on site.

For more information or to book call 01420 22992 or email bookings@birdworld. co.uk

24/09/2012 11:03

54

The number of acres taken up

by Williamson Park in Lancashire

An enchanting, exotic garden in Kent Located in Sevenoaks, Kent, this charming and informal 19th century garden boasts the highest treetop in the region and also has many exotic, rare trees and shrubs from across the world. With glorious shows of spring flowers and shrubs, a rose garden and a rock garden, Emmetts is equally attractive for its spectacular views all year round, but particularly for its autumn colours.

The Edwardian estate was owned by Frederic Lubbock and was a plantsman’s passion and a much-loved family home.

A special interest tour is available, entitled A Walk with the Head Gardener. Enjoy the plantsman’s garden and tour around the grounds as he shares his knowledge of the exotic flora. The tour is available by arrangement at the extra cost of £7.50 per head.

Coach parking is located 100 yards from gate. Group admission is £5.20 per head. The average length of a visit is 1.5 hours. An on board coach welcome is also provided.

For more information or for bookings call 01732 868381 or email emmetts@ nationaltrust.org.uk

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

200

The number of donkeys at the Slade sanctuary

diesel prices

The well-known ballet runs over the Christmas period

A festive classic at the London Coliseum The Nutcracker is touted as one of the Christmas season’s must-see shows and who better to perform this cherished classic than the English National Ballet. From December 12, 2012, until January 5, 2013, the production’s beautiful dancing, sets and costumes are made even more memorable by the impressive interiors of the London Coliseum, one of England’s finest Edwardian concert halls.

The score to the English National Ballet’s production will

be performed by English National Opera’s orchestra.

Tickets range from £10 to £60 depending on seating. Group bookings of 10 people or more are entitled to a 20% discount on standard-priced operas and a 15% discount on premium-priced operas. The concession discount for groups of 10 people or more is 30% off standard-priced operas and 15% off premium-priced operas.

Coach drop off points and parking are available nearby at Cavendish Square, Chinatown (Newport Place), Marble Arch and Park Lane, Poland Street, Rochester Row, Spring Gardens and Whitcomb Street.

Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk .

For groups call 020 7845 9300

DEALS OF THE WEEK Situated above the famous White Cliffs, Dover Castle allows visitors to explore its dark wartime tunnels and provides a vivid recreation of the Dunkirk evacuation. However, a colourful contrast is provided with the richly-furnished Great Tower, where costumed actors introduce medieval life at King Henry II’s court.

On November 2, Dover Castle is inviting people for an unnerving evening guided tour through the castle’s most haunted areas.

Visitors will hear the strange but true experiences of those who work at the castle and find out the myths and legends surrounding the atmospheric, ancient site.

Prices start at £30 each, which includes hot drinks and delicious

The illuminated Dover Castle appears suitably spooky soup. Coach and minibus parking is available off site at a council car park and booking is essential due to the high popularity of the attraction. n For bookings and more

information call 0870 333 1183 (Mon – Fri 0830 – 1730, Sat 0900 – 1700hrs) At Bristol Zoo Gardens there are over 400 species from around the world, plus 12

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

140.40 139.45 132.75 120.30 120.07 119.69 118.97 116.78 116.78 115.13 113.14 110.75 109.26 108.24 107.30 107.07 98.61

holiday pound £1 will get you: Euro 1.26 Switzerland (Franc) 1.52 Norway (Kroner) 9.34 Hungary (Forint) 355.04 Czech Republic (Koruna) 31.31 Poland (Zloty) 5.21

animatronic dinosaurs which have been stomping around the Zoo this year, all within award-winning 12 acre gardens. In addition, by visiting Bristol Zoo, visitors directly contribute to the conservation of endangered species and habitats.

The admission price includes a 10% voluntary donation to help support conservation projects.

There are designated dropoff points on Guthrie Road on the south side of the Zoo. Coach parking is also available nearby.

Discounts of up to 32% on entry prices for groups of 10 or more are available also, a further 10% can be saved when booked online.

A number of events are held throughout the year for group visits such as autumn tours of the zoo’s beautiful botanic gardens and guided history walks. n For more information and bookings call 0117 974 7300 or visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

TourNews.indd 17

24/09/2012 11:03

18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

THE BIG QUESTION › BSOG REFORMS

The Big Question: What is your view on the proposed reforms to BSOG? With the consultation launching recently, Coach & Bus Week’s James Day asks a selection of operators and organisations about their views on the planned reform to BSOG and what effect it will have on bus services

O

n September 13, 2012, the formal written consultation period on reforms to bus subsidy began and is due to close on November 12. The proposed reforms, include: of BSOG to local 1 Devolution authorities where the funding relates to services they support – i.e. tendered services – to allow decisions to be taken locally on how it should be spent; of a new local 2 Creation government fund – Better Bus Areas – to encourage local transport authorities and bus companies to work closely together to improve services and boost passenger numbers; to Transport 3 Devolution for London or the Greater London Authority of the BSOG paid to London bus operators who operate services under contract to TfL; and the existing rules 4 Tightening defining which bus services can claim BSOG, so that the funding is put to the best possible use.

Tracy Jessop Chairman of ATCO “The selective devolution of bus subsidy for supported services to local authorities provides the best balance between giving local authorities more influence over how bus services can be www.coachandbusweek.com

BigQuestion.indd 18

designed to meet the transport needs of their individual areas, without introducing wholesale untested changes to the subsidy regime at a time when the bus market is relatively fragile due to the current economic situation.

We must ensure local politicians recognise this is not ‘new money’ but a redistribution of the current funding stream for local bus

Tracy Jessop feels it’s vital for all operators to support BBA bids

“It is vital that bids are developed in an inclusive way to ensure all operators, large and small, support any bid developed in their local area.”

Tracy Jessop Chair, ATCO

services.

“Devolved BSOG is ring-fenced until the end of the current spending review (March 2014).

However, we should be looking beyond then as it is important to retain stability and protect the core networks of bus services to give confidence to both customers and operators about our public transport systems.

“ATCO sees the two principle success factors in winning Better Bus Area status is to demonstrate a) strong effective partnerships and b) a commitment to drive through strong transportation policies based on pro-bus traffic management policies and aligned parking principles. Any council which bids should be confident it can clearly evidence strong political support for the necessary measures required to generate enough passenger growth to make it a viable business decision for bus partners to give up a significant revenue stream. It is also vital that bids are developed in an inclusive way to ensure all operators, large and small and support any bid developed in their local area.”

John Major Director of Communications CPT UK “CPT has been in close discussions with DfT over the past months in the run up to this consultation.

There were no surprises in the paper published on September 13; it asks all the right questions and

The reform of BSOG will hit operators in rural as well as urban areas, such as Birmingham-based The Green Bus

we will be referring to members and submitting our formal response in due course.”

Mark Howarth Managing Director of Western Greyhound “My main concern is that any money paid out by BSOG is maintained for public transport.

There needs to be firm protection in place to ensure funding doesn’t go elsewhere.

“The problem is when funding is devolved it can often find itself

24/09/2012 13:15

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19

plan is to promote modal shift and that is an excellent objective.

However, not every ITA has a good record of achieving such shift: indeed, some ITAs have a particularly poor record. In the West Midlands, for example, levels of bus usage are declining rapidly year on year, despite millions of pounds of expenditure by the ITA/PTE. “We feel strongly that BSOGrelated funding should be allocated by means of a fixed and fair formula which is based on the quality of bus operation. Punctuality and reliability should be the cornerstones of any such formula.

Only bus services which achieve a 95% compliance rate (the level required by Traffic Commissioners) should receive full BSOG-type funding. Here in the West Midlands, Centro’s figures reveal a compliance rate of around 76% year-on-year for several years, which is totally unacceptable – and which no doubt explains the collapse in demand for bus travel in the region. Such services should receive no BSOG whatsoever and funding should not be devolved in such areas. To qualify for subsidy of any kind, operators should be required to prove objectively that their services reach the 95% compliance level for punctuality and reliability using GPS-based software:

“The problem is when funding is devolved it can often find itself being spent on things which it shouldn’t be used for. BSOG money needs to stay in transport.”

Mark Howarth MD, Western Greyhound being spent on things which it shouldn’t be used for. BSOG money needs to stay in transport and not end up funding swimming pools and such.”

Ian Mack Managing Director of The Green Bus “The principal issue with devolving BSOG to Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs) and Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) is they are not accountable to anybody other than themselves and a disinterested local electorate. There

BigQuestion.indd 19

is no safety net or effective recourse for bus operators in ITA areas who may have concerns about the conduct of ITAs or the fairness of their decisions.

“We would suggest that, before any further funding is channelled through ITAs, they and PTEs should be made fully accountable via the Local Government Ombudsman. It is a strange anomaly that councils which are a transport authority are accountable via the Ombudsman, but ITAs and PTEs – which represent several councils – are not.

That loophole needs to be closed.

“The DfT’s proposals will result in a transfer of control over a substantial amount of money from a neutral, objective system to one which is political and subjective.

We think there are significant risks in devolving such a substantial proportion of a bus operator’s income from an impartial system to one with political influence. After all, larger bus operators and some ITAs/PTEs are no strangers to political lobbying.

“The reasoning behind the DfT’s

Mark Howarth said funding should be ringfenced for public transport www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 13:15

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

THE BIG QUESTION › BSOG REFORMS

the technology to do so is available right now.

“Not every ITA or PTE has a track record of neutrality. Some ITAs have close relationships with some operators, particularly larger ones, but often mediocre or poor relationships with others. We’re concerned that some ITAs/PTEs could potentially divert funding to more-favoured operators. The DfT should introduce rigorous rules to ensure bus operators are treated equitably; evidence of true partnership should come to DfT direct from operators.

“Overall, we have very significant concerns about the DfT’s proposals in ITA/PTE areas. We fully support the aim of achieving modal shift – that is what our business delivers day in, day out – but we are concerned that giving an ITA/ PTE freedom to spend such a large amount of money on bus operations may produce little benefit for customers and may put some excellent operators at risk of discrimination. We would propose that BSOG would be much better controlled centrally by DfT and that compliant bus operators should be able to apply for funds only upon production of evidence of the quality of their operation.

“In these austere times, the outcome of DfT’s final decision should be that scarce public funds are diverted towards initiatives which are most likely to produce tangible modal shift. It is not sufficient to argue that local control over funds will deliver modal shift. The starting point for DfT’s thinking should be to identify those operators, authorities and ITAs/PTEs which can demonstrate both real expertise and tangible achievement in modal shift; and then to consider how former BSOG funding might be used to apply that expertise across the country.”

Ben Colson Managing Director at Norfolk Green “This appears to be a continuation of the treasury’s policy of undermining rural bus services.

“With this devolution, the government is cleverly offloading onto councils the opportunity to make decisions. Over time these decisions will undoubtedly be to use money in places where it will really make a difference. In this way, all of the potential BSOG funding will be mopped up and concentrated, which means some areas will receive significantly more www.coachandbusweek.com

BigQuestion.indd 20

Ben Colson believes the BSOG changes will represent a further blow to rural services such as ‘Coasthopper’

Ian Mack feels BSOG should be awarded based on service quality

“It is a strange anomaly that councils which are a transport authority are accountable via the Ombudsman, but ITAs and PTEs – which represent several councils – are not.

That loophole needs to be closed.”

Ian Mack MD, The Green Bus

funding and others will receive less than they do now.

“The reduction of concessionary fares has already hit rural services hard, but now the government seems desperately keen to cause bus services in rural areas to crash.

The treasury needs to come clean about what its agenda truly is, as it appears to be to deny anyone without a car in rural areas access to jobs, healthcare and other facilities.

“I’ve spoken to a Minister, who said ‘there is not enough to go around,’ but this is an excuse, not an explanation for this course of action.

“Broadly speaking, concessionary reimbursement in London is double what it is in Shire counties, where it has gone down. The reimbursement has also increased in metropolitan areas. We are experiencing a deliberate and wanton emasculation of rural bus services by the government.”

James Freeman CEO of Reading Buses “I have a particular interest in the Better Bus Areas notion, because I have been involved in the consultation on it on behalf of ALBUM, of which I am Chairman.

My concern is operators are likely to get a very soft output in exchange for the very real money which BSOG provides to operators’ revenue streams.

“BSOG is to be withdrawn within Better Bus Areas. Operators will lose their BSOG on day one and the chances are any benefit they

would see in return would be a soft benefit. This would leave a revenue gap which could only be bridged by service cuts or fares increases, or both.

“With this in mind, how many operators are going to opt to be part of a Better Bus Area? The operators will not have a veto either, which is going to be interesting, as they could find themselves in a Better Bus Area without wanting to be there.

“Moving BSOG on tendered services to the local authorities is relatively straightforward as long as the migration of funds is properly managed. When it comes to commercial operations, however, the issue is whether the approach taken for Better Bus Areas is repeated. If it is, most bus operators will have a real problem.”

Phil Stockley Managing Director of Velvet Bus “In a sense for us there might not be much of a change. We’re not likely to be placed in a Better Bus Area.

“In general terms the process looks to be quite complicated and quite involved. I’m concerned the Government could be trying to please everyone and end up pleasing nobody.

“However the reforms could have been a lot worse and credit to the Government for allowing BSOG to stay in place. It’s particularly valuable for operators taking commercial risks.

“Broadly speaking I think it is a pretty reasonable outcome.”

24/09/2012 13:16

p21_CBW_1055

24/9/12

15:52

Page 21

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

Vital skills for success

Courses on Network and Timetable Planning Bus and Crew Scheduling

New Alphabet House Carden Street Worcester WR1 2AT Phone 01905-613527 Fax 01905-767509 e-mail courses@qv-associates.co.uk

QV Associates

VOSA Authorised Testing Facility

APPROVED

Commercial Garage Equipment are one of the main providers of ATF Lanes (VOSA Authorised Testing Facility) to the Commercial Vehicle, Lorry and Bus market in the UK.

G Pre-Fabricated Steel Pits G Commercial Brake Testers G Pit Jacks G Headlight Testing G Play Detectors G Gas & Smoke Emission Testing

COMMERCIAL GARAGE EQUIPMENT (MIDLANDS) LTD 01386 244 758 or 07538 218 194 EMAIL:

sales@commercialgarageequipment.co.uk www.commercialgarageequipment.co.uk

14A Goodwood Road, Keytec 7 Business Park, Pershore, Worcs WR10 7JL

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

show review › iaa2012 PART one

Volvo’s 7900 Hybrid

The 64th IAA Commercial Vehicle Show Martin Cole reports from Europe’s largest commercial vehicle trade show in Hanover. Owing to space restrictions in this issue a follow-up on other exhibitors and interesting innovations will appear next week www.coachandbusweek.com

IAApart1.indd 22

T

his year’s IAA exhibition proved to be a huge event with exhibitors seemingly undeterred by the economic downtown and with plenty of new and highly innovative products on display. Two pre-show press days were just not enough to cover everything and due to many exhibitors still busy building their stands at the end of the second day it meant comprehensive cover of the exhibitors was a physical impossibility.

For the coach and bus sector the biggest headline announcement came from Volvo Bus. The manufacturer has decided from 2014 all its single-deck complete buses (the 7700-7900 range) will only be available as hybrids. This is a bold decision which signifies Volvo has increased confidence in the long-term potential of the system and a possible reduction in the cost, due to increased production volume, in order to

make them competitive with conventional drives – which by then means Euro 6 specification.

“We are convinced our hybrid bus is the best alternative for our customers, passengers and for society in general as we work to improve the environment of our cities. With a fuel saving of 39% and an equally large reduction in carbon dioxide emissions – it is better than all other solutions for urban traffic available on the market today,” said Noël Reculet, Senior Vice President, Volvo Buses Europe. “Volvo is set to take the lead when it comes to the switch to a more energyefficient, quieter and cleaner public transport system. That is why we are focusing so firmly on further developing our hybrid technology.

In fact, as of 2014 we will stop offering our complete, diesel-only city buses of low-floor type in Europe.”

Volvo’s hybrid bus range is being expanded to include an articulated Euro 6 version. “We know there is considerable demand for hybrid articulated buses. The new 18m

24/09/2012 16:22

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23

The B5TL features a ZF Ecolife six-speed automatic gearbox. It can be ordered from late 2013 for deliveries beginning in 2014.

Volvo’s Euro 6 D5 hybrid drivetrain

Daimler’s prototype Mercedes-Benz Sprinter E-cell chassis and driveline bus will give fuel savings on a par with those of the 7900 hybrid and carry at least 150 passengers. This means operators can further reduce fuel consumption and emissions per passenger,” added Noël Reculet.

At the heart of the hybrid drivetrain is Volvo’s new, lighter 5.0-litre 240bhp Euro 6 engine to further minimise emissions.

Volvo continues to optimise its hybrid technology and is working on a plug-in hybrid where the bus’s batteries are recharged via the mains grid. This technology permits energy savings of up to 60% and enters field trials in Gothenburg in spring 2013. Volvo buses powered entirely by electricity are already in service in China and being tested in Canada.

New double decker Volvo also announced a new double-decker for UK and Irish markets. The new B5TL is equipped with a new, fuel efficient, high performance Euro 6 engine which offers substantial fuel, weight and life cycle cost reductions compared

IAApart1.indd 23

to the current B9TL. The Volvo B5TL is powered by the new 5.1-litre four-cylinder Euro 6 engine rated at 240hp and producing 900Nm torque. Volvo claims it offers a wide range of performance benefits. The engine is the same as those specified for single or double-decker hybrids.

Both hybrid and conventional drivetrains are to remain available.

The new double-decker was developed in close co-operation with Wrightbus and city bus operators. It enjoys a significant weight reduction over the whole vehicle to provide increased passenger capacity and reduced fuel consumption – despite the added weight of Euro 6 installation.

Volvo claims customer requirements for easier access to components for improved maintainability have been addressed, resulting in lower life cycle costs and quicker vehicle repair times. Electric cooling fans and electrically-driven power steering pumps improve safety onboard and reduce overall weight.

Daimler The evening before the official press days began, Daimler took a huge number of visiting journalists to a test track outside Hanover to witness a practical demonstration of its new Active Brake Assist 3.

This is currently only fitted to its latest Euro 6 Actros truck but will migrate across the passenger vehicles in due course.

With the initial version of the system relying on three radar beams giving a spread of eight degrees to gather data, the subsequent versions have all been improved. The new version 3 now offers a spread of 29 degrees and is far more sensitive and intuitive.

The system can quickly determine if an object directly ahead is moving or stationary and will intervene by applying the brakes to bring the vehicle to halt or reduce its speed appropriately in order to maintain a safe distance. If it detects a stationary vehicle ahead and the driver has not slowed or taken any avoiding action before the critical pre-programmed point it performs an emergency stop while simultaneously activating the hazard warning lights and sounding the horn.

Active Brake Assist 3 is designed to avert rear-end collisions in particular – which Daimler says account for a huge number of typical accidents on busy motorways – often when a driver may be momentarily distracted.

Active Brake Assist 2 is currently fitted to premium coaches as a no-cost option for customers specifying the Adaptive Cruise Control system.

E-cell Sprinter Following the successful performance of the Vito E-cell, a Sprinter version seemed a likely next step and this year’s event saw the unveiling of a prototype based on Sprinter chassis-cab. Given the demands of much higher weights involved in the higher category Sprinter, it follows similar principles to the Vito E-cell but has two batteries which are derived from the Smart electric car range and a powerful 70kW electric motor with 220Nm torque (short term peak 100kW and 270Nm).

The drive motor and

transmission replace the standard Sprinter rear axle while all the control electronics and encased battery pack are slotted between the chassis rails. Few details are yet available about performance or capability but an engineer explained the system was distinctly different to the one powering the electric Sprinter minibus which is currently in daily service with an operator in Germany.

He said the main differences were in the charging capability.

E-cell relies on AC charging which is relatively inexpensive to install but takes longer to deliver a full recharge. The system employed on the prototype minibus uses DC charging. He estimated the cost of DC charging unit was around euro 15,000 – but it could replenish depleted charge in 10 minutes – rather than two hours. Currently it is anticipated the system, with a speed limitation of 80km/h, would have a range of 135km.

He added with the vehicle still decidedly only a prototype, there was much development and proving to do before any production models would be sanctioned by the Daimler board.

King Long Chinese manufacturer King Long expanded its range of European offerings with three new models – two coaches and an 8m citybus.

The latter, which has been developed with an Italian partner, the XMQ6800AGD has an integral construction and features a 225bhp Euro 5 Cummins ISBe 6.7 litre engine with a ZF Ecolife automatic gearbox with Topodyne. It has an attractive frontal appearance although its short length gives the side profile a ‘stunted’ effect. It also features three doors which effectively limits seating capacity – it has 12 seats plus two tip-ups in the buggy/wheelchair bay.

Also new was the XMQ6996 which is a 10m coach aimed at general purpose operation and aims to provide a low-cost, lightweight option to maximise passenger seats and generate profitability. It features a 300bhp Euro 5 Cummins ISBe 6.7 litre engine, a ZF 6S manual gearbox and has a maximum seating capacity of 40. A wheelchair lift is also fitted.

King Long’s third new product was the XMQ6130C, a 13m European regional-style suburban coach designed for medium and short distance transport

www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 16:22

24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

show review › iaa2012 PART one with some standee capacity for a total complement of up to 60 passengers. It is powered by a 380bhp Euro 5 Cummins ISL 8.9 litre engine with a ZF 6S manual gearbox. It boasts a high ratio of parts compatibility with other King Long coach models. XMQ6130C is equipped with Cummins Euro V engine and ZF manual gearbox.

In support of its vehicles, King Long launched its new innovative technology system with“4S” (Safe, Sustainable, Intelligent and Stability) which is aimed at economic driving and reducing the total cost of ownership. It incorporates an intelligent coach operating and management system, ECO-Driving system, SmartGo system, lane departure warning system, forward collision warning system, night vision system, automatic road speed limiter, 3H high strength vehicle body and chassis with maintenance-free technology.

King Long also announced plans to broaden its presence in the European market through joint ventures with existing bus and coach producers and through merger and acquisition.

According to Simon Xie, Overseas Sales Director, the company believes in taking the ‘high-end’ route to market. Currently all products available in Europe have ECWVTA-type approval compliance certificates and a further five models are already undergoing the certification process. It has also put six models through the Russian GOST certification process.

He said: “To fully improve the technical and process level of the enterprise and comprehensive quality of products, King Long will conduct technical co-operation and joint-ventured co-operation with European local coach enterprises.

Our next step will include realising local design and manufacturing in Europe through merger and acquisition, thus serving European customers better and realising the improvement from “Made in China” to “Global Manufacture.”

Goodyear Dunlop Goodyear has launched its first dedicated coach tyres in Europe; the Goodyear Marathon Coach and Goodyear Ultra Grip Coach winter drive tyre.

Goodyear claims its recently commissioned survey reveals 89% of interviewed bus and coach fleets see rising fuel costs as the main www.coachandbusweek.com

IAApart1.indd 24

key challenge in the road transport sector. It also showed cost per kilometre was the most important characteristic operators look for in coach and bus tyres generally, with 64% of participants listing this as top priority or very important.

Second was fuel efficiency / rolling resistance (62%), with mileage coming in third (58%). Comfort and wet grip followed with 54% and 48 % respectively.

The new Goodyear Coach tyre ranges are designed to meet the needs of European coach operators as revealed by the survey and are said to offer excellent all round performance and label grades.

The Marathon Coach is an all position tyre for year-round use.

It is characterised by a unique asymmetric design, which offers excellent even wear and mileage with a high comfort level. Uneven tyre wear has been a serious problem for tyres on modern coaches, resulting in reduced tyre life. The asymmetric design, which Goodyear has developed specifically for the Marathon Coach tyre, addresses this problem.

The Ultra Grip Coach is a specific winter drive tyre with enhanced snow traction. This tyre will be of particular benefit on coaches which operate in areas such as the Nordics and in Alpine regions, where icy roads are common and sudden snow falls can cause serious delays.

The tread design and width give it excellent grip and traction in winter conditions and also low noise levels, which mean enhanced customer comfort.

The new Goodyear Coach tyres feature a combination of technologies, called TravelMax. These technologies include Silefex tread compound, an asymmetric design and latest carcase designs.

TravelMax is a key element in the all-round performance these tyres offer. A further advantage offered by both tyres is an increased load carrying capacity in the 295/80R22.5 size resulting in a load index of 154, which represents 3750kg.

Although Goodyear has been a major tyre supplier to the coach industry for many years, these are the first dedicated coach tyres offered by the company. Trials of both tyres have demonstrated their excellent performance and customer satisfaction. The new designs and the importance of the TravelMax technology particularly reflect modern coach designs and

the sophisticated independent suspensions featured on most topline vehicles.

“We are very excited about the positive feedback we have received from operators who have been testing our new Marathon Coach and Ultra Grip Coach tyres,” said Boris Stevanovic, Marketing Director Truck Tyres, Goodyear Dunlop EMEA. “Our recent survey confirms the performance criteria we have been concentrating on in the development of these tyres meet the demands of coach operators.”

Goodyear ran customer trials on the Marathon Coach tyres for nearly two years, involving six different European coach companies between 2010 and 2011. A total of 28 vehicles were involved.

“The new Marathon Coach tyres are impressive in terms of cost per kilometre and even wear,” said Ad Bruintjes, owner of Royal Coach Travel; a coach fleet based in Belgium which operates on long distance journeys. “We tested the new Marathon Coach tyres for 18 months on all our coaches. Their asymmetric design really makes a

difference. Previous tyres we have used mostly wear on the outer shoulder but the new Marathon coach tyres wear evenly, allowing greater mileage and therefore lower costs. All my drivers agree tyre noise is extremely low and driving more comfortable than with any other tyres we have used.”

Goodyear also carried out customer trials of Ultra Grip Coach tyres involving 15 coaches in different European countries with five operators.

“We were very satisfied with the results of tests to assess the performance of Ultra Grip Coach tyres.” said Jos Derkum, Technical Director of Luxembourg bus and coach company Sales-Lentz. “The tests were very successful and we were particularly impressed by the traction on winter roads and the even wear, which means very good mileage.”

Self-inflating tyres Over the past year, researchers at Goodyear have been working on a new Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) application which can aid fuel savings and CO2 reductions

24/09/2012 16:22

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25

Left: Euro 6 Citaro voted Bus of the Year. Above: Goodyear AMT selfinflation system. Right: Two new coaches from chinese manufacturer King Long. Below: Goodyear’s first dedicated coach tyre – the Marathon

while potentially improving performance and eliminating need for external inflation pressure intervention.

Goodyear’s AMT mechanism allows tyres to maintain constant, optimum pressure without the use of external pumps, electronics and driver intervention. Proper tyre inflation can result in improved fuel economy, prolonged tread life and improved tyre performance.

The exact means of achieving AMT self-inflation remain secret but it basically revolves around the incorporation of a peripatetic valve in the structure of the tyre. If the design pressure of the tyre drops it causes the valve to open and the rotation of the tyre combined with flexing in the casing pumps air back in until the correct pressure is reestablished.

AMT promises a great number of benefits aside from maximised fuel economy. Tyres running at their correct pressure don’t overheat, so are optimising tread wear and not suffering undue damage to the casing – which could result in its complete failure or its inability to be retreaded at a later stage.

IAApart1.indd 25

AMT was developed in the USA and has undergone extensive in-house testing for 12 months.

It enters commercial trials with operators next year for ‘real life’ evaluation.

Continental Economy and efficiency were the focus of Continental which highlighted numerous innovative technologies, products and services aimed at making commercial vehicles safer, more economical and cleaner, as well as to network them more intelligently and make them easier to operate.

Shown collectively under the theme ‘One Goal: Efficiency,’ the range of technologies included Safety, Environment, Information and Efficiency. Innovative driver assistance and braking systems, vehicle networking and operating concepts, drive technologies, sensors, interior trim materials and tyres formed the main part of the display.

For ‘Efficiency’ Continental’s latest ‘generation three’ tyres for buses and trucks were shown for the first time. They will be

gradually introduced to the market from mid 2013. Each type is specifically optimised for individual applications.

As an important service solution, the fleet management system Conti 360° Fleet Services, comprises modular services. These allow expert tyre management to be tailored to the specific needs of individual customers. This ensures tyre condition is always optimised, the administrative workload and expenses are low and the costs are easily calculable. Continental’s mobility assistance service for fleets with international operations is now available in 13 European countries.

In the ‘Safety’ arena Continental focused on driver assistance and braking systems. The new MK 100 ESC XT electronic braking system is smaller, lighter, more powerful and comprises a modular product family which makes scalability possible and enables the use of ABS and ESC in all vehicle types and saves on installation space and weight. The MK 100 ESC XT was developed for heavy vehicles or vehicles transporting heavy loads

and was designed to achieve a high level of active safety through enhanced brake dynamics. It offers all standard ESC functions right up to adaptive cruise control (ACC) and, as an extra in the premium versions, full speed range ACC (FSA). Thanks to simple software customisation, the premium version can be used in hybrid vehicles with an efficiency of 98% in braking energy recovery. This offers the customers full installation compatibility for ICVs and hybrids.

Volume production of the system begins in 2015.

‘Environment’ products, aimed at reducing CO2, show Continental is demonstrating systems expertise for exhaust gas aftertreatment which help meet exhaust standards such as Euro VI (2013) and US10 /Tier4f. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and diesel particulate filters (DPF), which remove particulate emissions from truck exhausts, play a key role. In SCR, a urea solution (AdBlue) is injected in the exhaust gas flow to transform nitrogen oxides in a catalytic converter.

Continental is producing

www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 16:22

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

show review › iaa2012 PART one also enhances transparency in fleet management and increases fleet efficiency. It serves as a universal means of payment, for instance, to simplify daily vehicle operations.

Customers also benefit from attractive terms to save money when refuelling. The settlement service, in combination with the new online controlling and reporting system “fleetTrucks” ensures complete cost transparency for the entire fleet.

Reconditioned parts for commercial vehicles have become increasingly significant in the light of ageing fleets and ecological concerns. In response, MAN introduced its Genuine Parts ecoline. Spare parts reconditioned to MAN genuine parts standards are aimed to go easier on the budgets of vehicle operators as well as on the environment and valuable resources.

Scania’s lates low entry bus offering – the Citywide is available in two or three axle guise or as an articulated bus important components for this major development: From 2013 onward, new AdBlue injectors with air cooling for light-duty use will enter mass production.

Continental is also developing a water-cooled version for use in trucks. ContiTech’s heatable hose line modules form part of the SCR systems expertise.

Another example was the new fuel quality sensor which can determine the quality of fuel and thereby optimise fuel injection.

New types of air spring systems with plastic pistons save up to 12kg per axle and cut fuel consumption.

The use of renewable resources for interior trim materials in drivers’ cabs is an additional contribution to a more environmentally-friendly vehicle.

‘Information’ highlights concerned vehicle networking and operating concepts. Continental’s intelligent camera system enables the driver to receive 360-degree visibility around the vehicle in real time. This aims to aid CV drivers when manoeuvring and bus drivers attempting safe departure from crowded bus stops.

An efficient control computer adds the digital signals of the cameras to a 2D or 3D image which www.coachandbusweek.com

IAApart1.indd 26

works in the background. The new system gives the driver a bird’s-eye view in critical situations. Other product developments related to the topic included intelligent transport systems (ITS), tyre pressure monitoring systems and new studies for the future of commercial vehicle cabs design.

MAN Amid a huge array of buses, coaches and trucks on the MAN stand there was only one previously unseen exhibit relevant to European markets – the Neoplan Jetliner.

While the name goes back around 40 years, Jetliner is a new premium coach with dual purpose capability allowing it to be adapted for bus operation if required. In coach specification it combines real coach comfort with large 8.3 cubic metre luggage space.

Jetliner’s dual purpose capability stems from its floor height of 1,070mm allowing maximum flexibility for the choice of seating and retain acceptable access height for use in regular-service operation.

It has been given the Sharp Cut Design bodywork familiar to the top Neoplan models and blends well as a family member. The vehicle height is 3.4 metres and the 12-metre

version has a turning circle of 21 metres.

MAN’s success with the EfficientLine programme for TGX trucks has led to EfficientLine application for touring coaches. The Lion’s Coach EfficientLine not only offers passengers a high level of comfort and safety but is even more economical. EfficientLine combines efficient technology, driver training and selected services to deliver lower cost of ownership. The coach comes with the most efficient drive train configuration: 440-hp D2676 engine, MAN TipMatic transmission and eco-hypoid driven axle. Also contributing to fuel saving is standard equipment including tyre-pressure monitoring and tyres with low rolling resistance on aluminium rims. The price of the vehicle includes instruction by MAN ProfiDrive to teach drivers how to work their coach and save fuel. To cut cost of ownership there is also an extended warranty on the drive train, which comes as standard with the Lion’s Coach EfficientLine.

Launched at the IAA was an MAN Service Card for Germany, with VW Leasing GmbH as the card issuer. The multi-function fuel and service card ensures mobility and

scania Scania presented its new versatile engine line-up for Euro 6, featuring outputs from 250 up to 480bhp.

The four 9.0-litre Euro 6 diesel engines utilse either EGR/SCR (250 and 280bhp) or only SCR technology (320 and 360 hp). The 13-litre 440 and 480bhp engines are equipped with combined EGR/ SCR technology.

Two new Euro 6 gas-powered engines break new ground for wider applications with high torque ratings and a claimed diesel-like performance. Options for alternative fuels include biogas, natural gas and ethanol.

A new bus – the Citywide LE – was shown in 12m, two-axle form and it can be available as a longer triaxle unit or as an articulated bus. The 12m can seat 39+4 and has front and centre entrance/exit doors. It is available with Euro 5 or 6 diesel engines rated up to 360bhp or with biodiesel, bioethanol or CNG/biogas options.

Passenger vehicles on show included a Scania OmniExpress 3.20 Euro 6 specified for the German market.

Two further coaches displayed outdoors were a Scania Touring and a Scania OmniExpress 3.60.

With fuel consumption very high on the agenda of many operators Scania was highlighting fuel optimisation measures and its in-house support systems complimented by the first Scania apps for smartphones and tablet PCs.

24/09/2012 16:23

p27_CBW_1055

24/9/12

17:54

Page 27

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 27

28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

LEGAL news › public inquiry

Godson retains repute after PI shows failings

Richard Godson, trading as Richard J Godson of 3 Sandbed Lane, Leeds appeared before North Eastern Traffic Commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney at a Public Inquiry (PI) in Leeds on August 23. The PI covered Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981); Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981); and Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985).

Mr Godson, whose O-licence is numbered PB1056985, had had the case adjourned twice, the original call up letter having been sent in February.

However, the PI is not to be confused with the separate but related operation run by his brother, James Mathew Godson, trading as Godsons Coaches. The latter appeared before a separate PI on June 13, which resulted in his O-licence, which is numbered PB0003753, being curtailed to five vehicles from six, for a week with effect from June 13, 2012 and a formal warning.

Background Mr Godson holds a Standard International O-licence, granted in April 2006, which has an authorisation of eight, of which eight vehicles are in possession.

Vehicles are single deck coaches and were described by VOSA as being “older in nature”, with the exception of one 2011-registered example. On occasion, use of the vehicles may be shared with his brother’s O-licence, where facilities are shared at 3 Sandbed Lane, Leeds LS15 8JH. The operation is engaged in private hire and school contracts.

The stated safety inspection is six-weekly. Planned Maintenance www.coachandbusweek.com

LegalNewsNEW.indd 28

Inspections (PMI) are contracted out, with minor repairs carried out inhouse at the Operating Centre (OC).

The PI Mr Rooney started by stressing the independence of the TCs and asked Mr Godson to be honest and open. “I’m surprised to note you’ve not got legal representation,” he observed.

Mr Godson responded: “I was advised not to by a VOSA member of staff.”

Defending his advice, VOSA Vehicle Examiner Michael Mann protested: “I suggested he should steer clear of cheap solicitor and I hold my hand on heart on that.”

Presenting his report, Mr Mann said: “I’m based at Leeds Testing Station.”

Key Points:

One coach, ‘YJ08NRY’ had its PMI extended to seven months once, six months once and nine weeks once.

O-licence suspended for a week from October 19, 2012.

Only two non-first time MOT pass rates.

“Systematic” failing in Drivers’ Hours and tachographs.

Operator’s and Transport Manager’s repute retained.

Asked why he conducted the investigation in the first place, Mr Mann replied: “I was instructed by central office.”

Mr Mann continued to present his report: “The OC is shared.

Vehicles were observed during my visit having to be reversed out onto a public highway with an assistant providing the rear view.

It’s congested, with extra vehicles having to be parked at the roadside.

There are no undercover or underside facilities suitable for any major repairs to be carried out.

“The ‘keep clear’ signs on the road are due to the close proximity of a school.

“In my honest opinion it’s just wide enough for three coaches – it’s very tight. Really squeezed in, there is parking for a maximum of six vehicles.

“To be fair to the operator, when I observed, they always had a guy watching them out. They drove straight in and reversed out onto the road.”

On that note, the TC commented: “With a PSV, an OC is less important than with HGVs but due to changes implemented last year, regulations dictate an operator needs to have an appropriate OC. Mr Mann, in your view is it an appropriate site for eight vehicles?

Mr Mann replied: “No. During my visit there were vehicles parked up around the corner.”

The Operating Centre at Sandbed Lane, courtesy of Google Streetview

“Why do you think we’ve run that many until now?” objected Mr Godson.

However, the TC said: “That’s a question for the licensing team here.”

Mr Godson noted: “I appreciate the law may have changed but it’s been an OC for 45 years – it’s approved by Leeds City Council.”

The TC moved on to talk about maintenance.

Maintenance Mr Mann said maintenance is contracted to Cross Roads, WG Commercials, Robert Ward and Pickup Commercials. Individual vehicle files are kept at the OC. In place of the six-week industry

MIKE RICHARDSON

A Public Inquiry in Leeds before Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney hears failings of maintenance records, Drivers’ Hours and an operating centre from Leeds-based coach operator Richard Godson

24/09/2012 17:57

MIKE RICHARDSON

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 29

The TC said Mr Godson should have challenged VOSA when coach YD02RJX was incorrectly issued with a PG9 norm, the following vehicles had their PMIs extended to the periods in brackets: n N37EUG (three months, once); n FN04FSV (eight weeks twice, 10 weeks once and three months once). There are no records after October 18 2011, although the vehicle passed its MOT in June 2011; n YD02RJX (12 weeks twice, 13 weeks once); n YJ08NRY (seven months once, six months once and nine weeks once); n BJ03OUF (eight weeks once, nine weeks once and 10 weeks once); and n YU04XJG (16 weeks twice, two months twice).

LegalNewsNEW.indd 29

Mr Mann said: “The Drivers’ Daily Defect Reporting system is much improved since my last visit.”

Asked whether VOR (Vehicle Off Road) signs were displayed, Mr Mann replied, “No.” When the TC asked about prohibitions, Mr Mann replied: “Since my visit, an immediate prohibition has been issued for a flapping to BJ03OUF in Merseyside.”

However, Mr Godson said: “This was rectified at the roadside.”

Turning to the prohibition history, the operator has a prohibition rate of 21.95% recorded over five years with defects to brakes, body condition, seat belts, suspension and tyres.

On the last prohibition, the TC asked Mr Godson to explain how the body panel was damaged.

“The driver caught it on a kerb edge. She hadn’t reported it as she did it while reversing in a coach park when a Vehicle Examiner came over,” replied Mr Godson.

Coach FN04FSB was issued with a PG9 on December 3, 2011 for a damaged fuel pipe.

“That was at Lincoln Christmas Market,” commented Mr Godson.

The TC noted: “It says the fuel neck pipe had split.”

Mr Godson continued: “Drivers would not have seen it as it was under the body. When we took it to a Volvo dealer, they replaced it. In

their opinion, it was 50/50 whether they would have replaced it had we not been advised by the Vehicle Examiner.”

The TC said the coach had a PMI six weeks previously and was due a PMI. He then asked about vehicle “YD02,” which had a PG9 for a rear window and seat belt being inoperative.

Mr Godson responded: “I don’t know. We’ve had that coach since new. When we went to have it released from the prohibition, it was found to be working.”

Asked whether he challenged the PG9, Mr Godson replied: “No.” The TC retorted: “Why not?”

In something which will doubtless strike a chord with many operators, Mr Godson said it was “Not good form to challenge it.”

However, the TC replied: “I disagree or else you’ll end up here.

The next defect is the belt.”

Mr Godson explained: “The coach had taken a group of teenagers to Alton Towers at the end of term and it had been vandalised. It was checked over twice before it went out – Alton Towers is well known as being a VOSA hot spot.”

With the TC having noted the lack of maintenance records for YJ08NRY, Mr Godson responded: “It says seven months but I have it as seven weeks. Can I produce them to VOSA?” The TC retorted: “No, you’ve had plenty of chance.”

Coach FN04FSV received a PG9 after its emergency door was found to be locked.

Mr Godson described this as “inexcusable”. “The coach pulled into a motorway service station near Manchester and a VOSA Inspector found it was locked.

The poor driver has since died of cancer,” he said.

The same coach had been recorded with ABS warning light showing.

Having owned the Volvo B12 since new, Mr Godson said that while he was “no techy,” the part had been replaced four times. The driver had been unable to report it as “he was in transit at the time and he reported it when he stopped in a safe place.”

Another coach was found to have a luggage locker flapping open.

Asked to explain it, Mr Godson replied: “The wind had blown it open. The coach had Spanish-built bodywork.”

The TC observed: “You’re not stopped by VOSA that

www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 17:57

30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

often but there’s a lot of defects.”

Mr Godson replied: “There are only two non-first time MOT pass rates. I should also point out these defects happened after journeys had started.”

“Thanks for telling me – I appreciate that,” said the TC.

TRAFFIC EXMAINER EVIDENCE In her absence, Mr Mann read out a statement from his colleague, Traffic Examiner Joanna Collins.

“On August 9, 2011 I received a request that a silent check be carried out on three vehicles run

by Richard Godson involved on journeys to Wembley on April 16 and 17, 2011. They were vehicle registrations ‘YJ08NRY’, ‘YD02RJX’ and ‘BJ03AUF’.

“I called Mr Godson on the phone requesting the vehicle records and tachographs for a two-week period within those two dates.

“On August 22, 2011 the charts were produced at Leeds Testing Station. All three vehicles on the Wembley job were double manned but some charts could not be produced. A manual record was produced for Robert Lavis and Graham McCaig stating they had lost the originals.

“I downloaded the digital data from YJ08. A check for Arthur Stainton showed he had driven from 1924 on April 16 2011 until 0126hrs on April 17, a total of five hours and 27 minutes. This caused concern – either he had exceeded driving hours before taking a break or the other driver had used Stainton’s card.

“Analysis of tachograph records showed compliance with the regulations but I was concerned these manual records were only made after I had requested the original, some four months after the event. I had concerns they may be inaccurate and the operators had not been aware they were missing or procedures had not been followed.

“Letters were sent to Lavis, McCaig and Stainton requesting attendance at Leeds Testing Station for interview on October 14, 2011 and likewise a letter was sent to Mr Godson for interview on October 18.

“In interview, Stainton said he had never received any training from the company on Drivers’ Hours and tachographs.

“I asked him a basic question about Drivers’ Hours relating to the offence found on his digital card.

Stainton answered incorrectly. This www.coachandbusweek.com

LegalNewsNEW.indd 30

On one occasion coach FN04FSV went up to three months before its PMI

“When questioned, Lavis said in the 10 years he had worked for the company he had never had any Drivers’ Hours and tachgraph training.”

Joanna Collins Traffic Examiner would suggest the company does not ensure drivers are up-to-date with rules and regulations.

“Stainton said he was unaware of how to use a digital tachograph. He was driving a digital tacho vehicle when the offence occurred. He said he usually relied on the main driver when on a double manned job.

Again, this suggests there has been inadequate training.

“Stainton said Mr Godson spoke to him about the offence once I’d spoken to him. This suggests Mr Godson was unaware of the infringements until brought it to his attention by me.

“Turning to McCaig, in interview, he said he was not a full-time employee but has other full-time employment. McCaig said he has told Mr Godson of his other duties verbally but said Mr Godson has not asked for a copy of his diary, which showed his other duties.

McCaig said he had not received any Drivers’ Hours or tachograph training. The company was unable to produce McCaig’s tachograph records for April 16 and 17, 2011.

Under questioning, McCaig said he did not realise the chart was missing until after I visited the company and requested the charts.

This suggests procedures are not in place for tachographs to be

handed in.

“McCaig said he had made manual records for the dates concerned after Mr Godson phoned him following my request. This was approximately four months after the event. I questioned McCaig on the accuracy of the record, with such a long period of time having elapsed. When compared to Chris Page’s chart, who was the other driver on the double-manned journey, it showed his duty ending at 0220hrs on April 17. McCaig said he had never thought of doing a second chart.

“When questioned, Lavis said in the 10 years he had worked for the company he had never had any Drivers’ Hours and tachgraph training but said there was a poster on the noticeboard.

“Asked what instructions he had received for the return of the charts, he stated he has been told nothing.

“Lavis said the tachograph dated April 17 was placed in a box located in the drivers’ rest room and did not realise it was missing until Mr Godson alerted him following my request. Lavis said he had made the manual record approximately four months after the event.

“At Leeds Testing Station, Mr Godson said all tachographs were kept in a filing system. I gave Mr Godson the dates and registration numbers of the charts I required. I made a pre-arranged appointment to collect the charts on August 17, 2011. When I visited the depot, Mr Godson said he wanted to produce them at a later date. Mr Godson should have been able to produce the records immediately.

“Mr Godson said all drivers had received training on Drivers’ Hours, tachographs and digital tachographs.”

Operator evidence Mr Godson took the stand.

Explaining his operations, he said he ran eight vehicles and employed a dozen people, two of which are allocated to the office. The business comprises a mixture of UK and European private hire, school contracts and excursions.

“It’s partly seasonal due to the nature of coach travel,” said Mr Godson. “I’m the sole proprietor – I keep the business going in challenging economic times. I have a PCV – I drive two to three times a week. The rest of the time is spent keeping drivers gainfully employed.

“30% of the business is school work. We’ve also been successfully involved in Olympics, having transported people from Leeds and Wakefield. If it was not for the Olympics, my trading figures would have been down this year.”

Asked about the history of the OC, Mr Godson responded: “As Leeds expanded, so has the population and where they live.

Our OC has an advantage in being in a populous area, many of the residents being our customers. We try to be considerate neighbours.

That’s why the maintenance is contracted out – they don’t have to put up with revving, hammering and other such noises.”

Mr Godson said the firm has other OCs which are located elsewhere.

“It sounds like you need to do something to stop vehicles being parked on the road,” noted the TC.

ANDREW HARVEY-ADAMS

LEGAL news › public inquiry

24/09/2012 17:58

ANDREW HARVEY-ADAMS

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 31

Mr Godson replied: “I don’t have enough confidence in the economy to comtemplate investing in a new depot. We own our site outright – the two businesses are separate but related. In this economic climate, we’re very fortunate in that respect – we’ve got no mortgage to pay. If the economic situation improved we would flatten the site and sell it for housing.”

The TC asked whether Mr Godson has contractual access rights at the other two OCs. “The landlords have other tenants,” replied Mr Godson.

The TC responded: “You will have to do something so you can safely keep eight vehicles. These aren’t Transits, they’re full-size coaches.”

Mr Godson confirmed the access had been risk assessed by a firm called Citation and that no incidents had occurred.

Asked to explain the reasoning for driving in and reverse out – in place of the more traditional reverse in and drive out, Mr Godson responded: “It works better.

Between us, we’re there seven days a week – no drivers are on site on their own.

“It’s also due to the historical nature of the site – that’s by hard work, not good luck. I would be prepared to sign an undertaking to always have a banksman.”

Mr Godson said all eight vehicles are currently required.

The TC asked: “How long do you think it would take to talk to the landlords to seek alternative

arrangements?”

Mr Godson replied: “A month.

They’re businessmen, so if they’ve got the space, it’s likely they will agree.”

The TC said he “may ask” for undertaking on that matter too.

Drivers’ Hours & Tachos Not mincing his words, the TC observed: “To be perfectly honest, most people would think you just don’t bother.”

However, Mr Godson protested: “The planning of operations is done legally – the case is the charts are not returned. The problem I have is drivers are paid weekly. Each driver has a start and finish time on their work ticket in advance. I get drivers to fill in their timesheets each week, but tachographs get handed in monthly.”

Asked who analyses the tachographs, Mr Godson replied: “I take responsibility for that. On the two journeys in question, we expected to use two drivers.”

Acknowledging the fact “VOSA can deal with one-off events,” the TC said he was concerned about the lack of systems in place, before

“It’s disappointing, having been visited almost a year ago that you’ve still not got a system in place.”

Kevin Rooney Traffic Commissioner

asking how much of the company’s work is covered by tachographs.

Mr Godson replied: “All drivers are within scope. The first port of call is a work ticket. Acting on the TE’s advice, I’ve checked them randomly.”

Seemingly not satisfied with the reply, the TC said: “I would have thought you would check each one.”

Mr Godson said his sample was “three per week.”

“That’s nowhere near enough on 40 per week,” the TC retorted.

“When the TE visited you, why couldn’t you provide the records?”

Mr Godson said he was on holiday, yet the TC added: “The TE states she spoke to you. She said you stalled and you asked to present them later. Most operators can show records there and then – it really should be that easy.”

Responding to the TC’s request about the systems in place for digital tachographs, Mr Godson said the data was downloaded and printed out.

The TC asked: “At which point do you look at what an individual driver and vehicle have done? It’s vital to check the two correlate. I’m disappointed you’ve not sought external advice.”

Mr Godson responded: “I don’t belong to a trade body.”

The TC continued: “Most operators of your size would be analysing and sitting down with drivers. Your drivers certainly did not perform at interview with VOSA.” Mr Godson replied: “We started our DCPC training in 2009 – six have completed their training and half a dozen are well on their way.”

Asked whether drivers Stainton, Lavis and McGoing, have they done their DCPC, Mr Godson replied: “Stainton is on his way, McGoig has completed his and Lavis has retired.

I paid for the training.”

The TC did not appear to take kindly at Mr Godson’s failure to have any evidence to hand. “Today is the PI and you should have it with you,” he retorted.

“You’ve got a lot of work to do on Drivers’ Hours to be honest. It’s disappointing, having been visited almost a year ago that you’ve still not got a system in place. I need to understand the effect of O-licence curtailment on the business.”

“It would lead to loss of employment,” Mr Godson replied.

The TC said VOSA found a number of defects during roadside checks

The TC continued: “How much?

You say 30% of your business is contracted schools work.”

Mr Godson said he would “have to review it.”

The TC then asked: “What if I were to suspend your O-licence for a week or two?”

Mr Godson responded: “It would be catastrophic.”

“The problem is your competitors are playing by the rules and it’s not fair. You’re saving a lot of money,” the TC retorted.

“If I revoked your O-licence, you would sell the land and walk away.

My jurisdiction is tightly defined but the priority is road safety.”

Mr Godson said he not been prosecuted for Drivers’ Hours.

Prior to a brief adjournment while he made his decision, the TC said he would consider allowing Mr Godson’s O-licence to continue if he agreed to the following undertakings: tachograph analysis by 1 100% an independent body; by a trade association 2 Audit this side of Christmas and another by next summer; close of play on October 3 By 7 Mr Godson will come back to the TC with details of how the vehicles will be parked. The TC said he accepted Mr Godson may not have contracts signed by then; and Godson will attend 4 Mr a Transport Manager’s refresher course.”

Without hesitation, Mr Godson replied: “I agree to those undertakings.”

Decision Giving his decision, the TC said: “I have to take some regulatory action because of the lack of a proper Drivers’ Hours system, and the number of PG9s issued. I intend to suspend your O-licence for a week from October 19, 2012, which is half term.

“The OC appears to have outgrown the site. The operator’s repute is retained and has demonstrated financial standing.

As a Transport Manager, Mr Godson also retains his repute but it’s been a close call. I was delighted to hear drivers have progressed well with their DCPC training and I acknowledge the PG9s were issued on route.”

However, the TC warned Mr Godson: “If you return here, you’re unlikely to leave with a positive outcome – it will be far more severe.”

www.coachandbusweek.com

LegalNewsNEW.indd 31

24/09/2012 17:58

32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

THE BIG PICTURE

Lancashire coach operator Alfa Travel is perhaps akin to Eddie Stobart’s trucks in that its fleet always seems to look clean. The example pictured here by CBW Editor Gareth Evans at Llanfair PG (otherwise known by residents east of Offa’s Dyke as ‘that Welsh place with the long name’) on Anglesey on the afternoon of Friday, August 31 is no exception.

With its free parking, restaurant and shop, the James Pringle/ Edinburgh Wollen Mill shop is of course, a popular stop for coaches.

Turning to the coach, the 49-seater Plaxton Paragon-bodied Volvo B12B ‘YN10EOC’ was one of four identical vehicles to join the fleet in March 2010. It sports the simple, yet distinctive Alfa livery, which is pleasing on the eye. According to the sticker in the windscreen, the coach is working a tour to the delightful ‘Criccieth & Snowdonia‘.

www.coachandbusweek.com

BigPicture.indd 32

24/09/2012 10:53

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33

www.coachandbusweek.com

BigPicture.indd 33

24/09/2012 10:53

34 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

operator profile › wardle transport

Diversity fires operations in the Potteries Tim Deakin visits Arriva-owned bus and coach operator Wardle Transport to find out about its continuing growth and diverse operations

N

ow part of Arriva’s Midlands business, Potteries-based Wardle Transport has come a long way since its unusual beginnings five decades ago, born out of a hardware shop in the Norton area of Stoke-on-Trent. “In 1963 Doug Wardle developed a contract with the city council delivering school meals,” said General Manager Keith Stanton. “One of his proudest achievements is that the work remains with Wardle today.”

SEN duties

Moving school meals now forms a minor part of the operator’s large portfolio, but it acts as a good indicator of the level of diversity found here. Although production policies have changed and volumes have dropped, transport of food for pupils at the city’s schools is a useful sideline for one aspect of Wardle Transport’s varied fleet: its Special Education Needs (SEN) minibuses.

“They work in such a weird combination,” Keith explained.

“Some of them have only two seats but can carry six wheelchairs.

There’s nothing we could otherwise do with them outside school times.

Obviously the transport of school meals is something we can do and it fills the day out nicely for the vehicles concerned.”

An amount of non-emergency ambulance work is also carried out www.coachandbusweek.com

WardleTransport.indd 34

under contract to the NHS. At the moment 22 of Wardle Transport’s 85 vehicles are SEN minibuses, the majority based on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel vans, including a pair of the updated version which joined the fleet recently. Keith described how the same driver and escort are allocated to individual services every day, but added some of the former can, and do, drive larger vehicles at other times.

Expanding operations

Contracts – from SEN requirements to local bus and school duties – form a proportion of Wardle’s operations, but over the past 18 months commercial work has been the sector to see most growth, following a longer period during which tendered services had been the focus of efforts.

“I came to the company in 2001 from [local coach company] Bassetts of Tittensor,” said Keith.

“When I first arrived there were six minibuses; that was it. I developed a bit of expansion on the SEN side but always wanted to have an operation where we never had just the one item.”

Keith’s move from Bassetts’ since-closed coach arm came at around the same time Stoke-onTrent City Council was beginning to purchase buses of its own and allocate them as integral parts of tendered contracts. In a bid to improve standards they were fully accessible and operated

24/09/2012 13:20

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 35

operator: Wardle Transport location: Stoke-on-Trent established: 1963 FLEET: 85 Contact: 01782 827282 www.wardletransport.co.uk

Service with a smile: Wardle’s General Manager Keith Stanton

www.coachandbusweek.com

WardleTransport.indd 35

24/09/2012 13:21

36 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

operator profile › wardle transport

Wardle’s current livery is an adaptation of the familiar Arriva corporate style, as seen on this Mini Pointer Dart under the Cityrider name.

The first such buses gained by Wardle were three 52-plate Optare Aleros for a pair of new hospitaloriented routes in the Tunstall and Norton areas; the 898 and 899.

As contracts changed hands more of the council’s vehicles came to Wardle including a brand new ‘slimline’ Optare Solo with the memorable registration ‘BU54 ALL’.

Further example followed; the most modern being one new in 2009.

As time progressed Keith – who has a degree of experience in the North Staffordshire bus industry which few could ever hope to equal – guided the business further.

Several school contracts were secured, which saw the arrival of double-deckers, including a trio of tri-axle Leyland Olympians imported directly from Hong Kong.

Keith himself visited Citybus’s depot in the special administrative region and selected the vehicles.

The arrival of these high-capacity buses was for one particular reason.

Wardle Transport had gained the contract to transport fans to Stoke City FC’s out-of-town Britannia Stadium, work which demanded equipment able to shift large www.coachandbusweek.com

WardleTransport.indd 36

numbers of passengers. The Stoke City contract remains with Wardle today and provides employment for a number of semi-retired drivers.

Arriva takeover

And so that, briefly, was the independent Wardle Transport.

Things began moving in its current direction during December 2010 when Arriva announced its purchase of the Stoke-on-Trent operator. Arriva’s presence in North Staffordshire had dwindled from a high in the late 1990s, when it had its own premises in Burslem and services working in from Cheshire and Shropshire, to one featuring just the latter – an hourly journey on route 64 and the associated 164 from Market Drayton and Shrewsbury.

Arriva Midlands’ Communications Manager Keith Myatt takes up the story: “Our decision was to grow the business, both through developing our core network of services and winning more tenders, looking to purchase ‘bolt on’ additions in adjacent areas, of which Wardle Transport was one. We spoke to Doug Wardle for a considerable amount of time to see

“People in North Staffordshire have long memories.

They know when something’s good and they know when something’s bad.

And they stick with the former. We’d developed quite a nice little network of services in the north of the city.”

Keith Stanton General Manager, Wardle Transport

if a deal could be struck.

“We approached Wardle in the first place. At that time Arriva wasn’t involved in SEN operations and we’d decided that was the kind of work we wanted to get into.

Wardle Transport would be a good stepping stone and a test of the market to see what was there.”

In an indication of the strength of Wardle’s brand in the Potteries it was decided the red and white identity would be retained. “People in North Staffordshire have got long memories,” said Keith Stanton.

“They know when something’s good and they know when something’s bad. And they stick with the former. We’d developed quite a nice little network of services in the north of the city.

The acquisition was of Wardle Transport and we want to further Wardle Transport in the area.”

Keith had a large say in exactly how the name would be retained.

He designed a two-tone red scheme in Arriva corporate style, complete with a likeness of the famous ‘cow’s horns’ which featured on the operator’s buses in London for a period. Having created a computergenerated mock-up it was – with

24/09/2012 13:22

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 37

mentioned in some cases spare parts can now be obtained for half the price paid during Wardle’s independent days.

Whilst reaping the efficiencyrelated rewards of being part of one of the world’s largest transport operators, Wardle still retains a high degree of autonomy. “I’ve got an Area Manager, which I’ve never had before,” Keith explained, “and other people who I can go to with a suggestion. As long as I put a business case together and it stacks up, they’ll back me 100%.”

Connecting conurbations

Above: Wardle was acquired by Arriva in December 2010. Below: ‘IIG 3753’ was part of D&G’s Stoke operations one subtle alteration – approved at director level and to date has been applied to a growing number of buses in Wardle’s fleet.

Commercial expansion

Reflecting Arriva Midlands’ desire to grow its business, a further major development came quickly when during June 2011 the Stoke-onTrent operations of D&G Bus were acquired by Arriva and merged with Wardle Transport’s. D&G’s affairs in Cheshire and the West Midlands were unaffected, but in North Staffordshire it had developed a network similar in many ways to Wardle’s. It, too, has taken on a more commercially-operated slant following funding cuts made by the local authority three months prior.

“There were issues with our depot as well,” said Keith. “We were on two sites in Burslem and had grown to our maximum possible size there.” D&G, on the other hand, was operating from an expansive, modern and accessible facility in Adderley Green which offered considerable potential for growth.

Wardle’s operations were soon moved to the former D&G garage and both Burslem premises closed.

WardleTransport.indd 37

“For engineering purposes this makes things a lot easier,” Keith continued. Under Arriva there has been considerable expansion of and investment in the facilities at Adderley Green to reflect its growing importance and the fact that Wardle bases almost three times the number of vehicles there that D&G did.

Workshop space has been increased and a drive-through bus wash will shortly be installed. A large and fully-equipped Portacabin has also been delivered which functions as a classroom for Driver

CPC training and other purposes, whilst a new canteen has been provided. Fittingly a small garden of remembrance to the late Gerald Henderson, joint founder and the ‘G’ in D&G Bus, remains.

Becoming part of Arriva has brought financial savings to Wardle Transport. It now benefits from the multinational’s buying power in regard to fuel, spares and tyres amongst others and work which cannot be undertaken on its buses at Adderley Green is handled ‘in house’ by Arriva’s facilities in the East Midlands. In particular, Keith

One interesting development where Keith was indeed backed 100% was April’s introduction of new service X50, which runs between Hanley, Uttoxeter and Derby. Operated with low-floor double-deckers in a highly-distinctive livery designed

by Keith Myatt, the section between Stoke-on-Trent and Uttoxeter is served broadly hourly, with every other journey continuing to Derby.

“It was introduced following requests from the public, who wanted new links from the Potteries towards Uttoxeter,” said Keith Myatt. He added that patronage is heading in the right direction and the service generates considerable movement from Derby on days when Uttoxeter’s market is present.

Derby had retained a tenuous, Saturday-only bus link to Stokeon-Trent until approximately a decade ago but there has been nothing between the two cities since. Rail services, whilst regular interval, suffer from lack of capacity and poorly-located stations. “This wasn’t Arriva saying ‘we’d like to put this link in’,” said Keith Stanton.

“It was a business decision from Wardle Transport. There is a niche market to put the connection back.”

Prior to the X50 beginning a large PR campaign was mounted with events in Hanley, Uttoxeter and Derby promoting the new service, along with an introductory £1 single fare for the first week of operation. This was followed during the summer school holidays by an offer where up to five people could purchase a combined return ticket for £15, an initiative also offered on Wardle’s Hanley to Buxton service.

Demonstrating Arriva Midlands’ desire to grow its business the X50 has since taken on more significance. “There was further development in early

www.coachandbusweek.com

24/09/2012 13:22

38 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

operator profile › wardle transport

September when we took on some work for Derbyshire County Council with an Etwall school movement, because the X50’s times are ideal for children travelling from Hatton and Hilton into Etwall,” noted Keith Myatt.

Patronage should also increase further thanks to associated changes introduced at the same time as Etwall school traffic came on-line. These will involve the service being diverted in the Staffordshire Moorlands following requests from residents there.

“People who work at Derby Royal Infirmary have seen their car parking spaces reduced,” continued Arriva Midlands’ Communications Manager, “and they want to look at travelling by bus instead. They’ll leave their cars in Tean; we’re in the process of selling them multijourney tickets at reduced prices to get them on board.”

Managing commercial services

Although highest-profile the X50 is just one part of Wardle’s commercial network. Route 41 between Birches Head and Clayton via Hanley, Stoke town, the sprawling hospital complex and Newcastle-underLyme, was inherited with the D&G deal and gained an improved timetable during early September, including more journeys during the morning peak and a new early evening service.

Other commercial work is undertaken in both Stoke-onTrent and Newcastle, a portion of which was also revised from early September. “In some cases, Wardle Transport was actually competing with Wardle Transport,” Keith Stanton explained, referring to some of the routes which came with the D&G deal last year.

One of Wardle Transport’s commercial services is descended from the original pair of tendered routes gained a decade ago.

“The 898 still survives today as the 62. We’ve worked hard and developed that to where it’s at now. It’s not what we want it to be as the finished article, but we’re continuing to work to get there,” Keith explained.

Although an amount of Wardle’s commercial work does overlap that of other operators, some unsupported routes were born out of the funding cuts forced upon Stoke-on-Trent City Council during 2011. In an unusual arrangement a number became subsidy-free www.coachandbusweek.com

WardleTransport.indd 38

to be a stressful time for service providers, drivers and passengers alike but Keith is full of praise for the way in which the local authority has engaged operators. “It seems as though it’s going to be a fantastic facility,” he said. “We have to take our hats off to the council; they have constantly involved operators big and small and we all have review meetings every month.”

Coaching

Above: Wardle has a contract to take fans to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium.

Below: The company has its own in-house DCPC training programme undertakings, but with existing council-owned buses – most of which would otherwise have found themselves with no work – passing into Wardle Transport’s care at the same time.

Keith added: “The council still own them. With the formerly subsidised routes which we commercialised there was an element where we did a ‘reverse tender’. We made them aware that we’ll operate with no support, as long as we get a vehicle [with which to do so]. There is then a very good level of service which is costing the council nothing.”

Currently Wardle runs a number of local authority-owned Dennis Dart SLFs and Optare Solos and Versas, which are occupied on both commercial and tendered work.

One of the Versas is in a distinctive livery and fitted out internally with leather seating and laminate flooring for a service introduced during 2008 which is principally targeted towards employees at a large business and distribution park at Trentham Lakes.

Yet further contraction of the local authority’s public transport budget came a year after its round of tendered cuts. This created an issue for operators throughout the city irrespective of their tendered volumes. Concessionary pass holders in Stoke-on-Trent until then benefitted from a comparatively generous lack of time restrictions regarding when they may travel for free.

That changed some months ago when the scheme was withdrawn before 0930hrs, Monday to Friday.

“When things like that happen it makes it very hard,” said Keith. “We are a company which carries a lot

“We have to take our hats off to the council; they have constantly involved operators big and small...”

Keith Stanton General Manager, Wardle Transport of concessionary passes and to introduce that start time is harsh in many ways.”

Highlighting a mitigation measure, Keith said the firm works closely with a sheltered housing development in the city – to the extent that one of its commercial services is routed to operate via the building’s car park. “If a number of people there need to go somewhere before 0930hrs, they’ll just pool together and get a taxi. Then we’ve lost those passengers. It’s changed a lot of people’s travelling habits.”

A more positive development which should benefit local operators is the delayed opening of a new bus station in Hanley, pencilled in for January 2013.

Entertainment and commercial hub of Stoke-on-Trent, Hanley’s existing dilapidated facility has outlived its useful life and is well overdue for demolition. Its replacement forms part of a larger redevelopment of the surrounding area.

The changeover period promises

The Wardle Transport business encompasses almost everything which involves the movement of passengers by road. Also present amongst the double-deckers, low-floor midibuses, SEN vehicles and non-emergency ambulances are a small number of coaches, which find most of their work on education-related duties.

“We tried to have a private hire operation, which was a small unit called Premier,” Keith explained.

“However, the rates were diabolical. We’ve retrenched that back to contracts.”

One of the coaches is occupied all day on work for the JCB Academy near the border between Staffordshire and Derbyshire, moving young trainees to, from and between the famous digger manufacturer’s sites.

“A coach company is like a house,” continued Keith.

“You need good foundations before you can build upward. A good foundation, to me, is a school contract and taking the kids to the baths during the day – the mundane, regular stuff.”

Keith recalled his days at Bassetts: “Customers could probably have got a cheaper price [than Bassetts’] but they left it as it was, because they knew the standard was there. You don’t get that now. You could have a five-year contract, do a fantastic job and then lose it for the sake of pennies.” Also present are a handful of MercedesBenz-based midicoaches in the 33-seat bracket which, Keith says, generate more work than the fullsize coaches.

Not bad progress, then, for a company which until little over a decade ago was running nothing more than a handful of SEN minibuses. Growth in the meantime has been little short of explosive and with Wardle Transport now backed by Arriva – but retaining its strong identity in North Staffordshire – it would be unwise to bet against this continuing.

24/09/2012 13:24

553101-1018-Q'straint

17/9/12

13:22

Page 1

40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

DELIVERIES

Stagecoach Yorkshire has invested almost £1m in a fleet of eight new ADL Enviro 200s for Sheffield.

The low-floor buses meet the latest Euro 5 standards and have been introduced onto service 25 (Woodhouse - Richmond - Manor Park - City Centre - Heeley -

Woodseats – Bradway).

The buses are the second major investment by the operator in the space of a month, following the introduction of six new ‘Townlines’ buses for service one, in Barnsley, costing £700,000.

Paul Lynch, Managing Director, Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “This latest major investment demonstrates our

DELAINE BUSES Bourne-based Delaine Buses has taken delivery of its third Wrightbus Gemini Eclipse 2-bodied Volvo B9TL. The 75-seater was delivered on August 20 and entered service on September 1

FACT FILE

Chassis/body ADL Enviro200 Engine Cummins ISBe Euro 5EV Transmission Voith 823.3 Seats 37 Spec Stagecoach Supplied by

ADL 01483 825065 www.alexander-dennis.com

LOCHS & GLENS Well-known Scottish coach holiday specialist Lochs and Glens has boosted its all-Volvo fleet having taken delivery of four new B13R 14-metre tri-axle Jonckheere bodied coaches.

Lochs and Glens’ new vehicles have been bought to replace existing Volvo coaches in the company’s touring fleet. Two of the new coaches were delivered in May and two further vehicles followed in June.

The Gartocharn-registered company, which has recently opened a new hotel, operates 16 coaches, all of which are specified on the Volvo chassis.

“We’ve always run Volvos at Lochs and Glens,”

on the 101/102 routes into Peterborough from Bourne.

Anthony Delaine-Smith told CBW he was very pleased with the vehicle.

“They are excellent buses,” he said. “They are very good quality vehicles with good back up support. Wrightbus is very good at catering for the independents. The

move forward.”

The new 57-seater coaches have been specified with the Volvo’s Euro 5-compliant 13-litre diesel engine, rated at 460hp and coupled to the proven Volvo I-Shift gearbox.

Sporting the company’s traditional and eye-catching light Ivory livery, the vehicles feature CCTV, a reversing camera, two TV screens, CD and DVD capability, an onboard toilet and a servery.

FACT FILE

explained Operations Manager Paul Shipcott.

“The vehicles we’ve had in the past have been reliable and we like the service and support we get with Volvo, so

we saw absolutely no reason to change manufacturer.

“The Ardgartan Hotel in Arrochar opened on July 21 and these new coaches will run tours to that location,

as well as to our other holiday destinations. It really is exciting times for the company and we’re glad Volvo can continue to support us as we continue to

Chassis/body Volvo B13R/ Jonckheere Engine Volvo 460BHP Transmission Volvo I-Shift Seats 57 Spec Touring Supplied by

Volvo Bus Coventry 02476 210250 www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/ en-gb/

C.A. SELLERS, JOHN MARSH

STAGECOACH YORKSHIRE

commitment to raising the standard, quality and reliability of buses for the benefit of passengers.

“The vehicles meet the very latest in engine standards and replace 12year old Dennis Darts.

“Over the past six years we have invested £14m in more than 100 new buses for Sheffield. That has meant that three out of every four buses which are based in Sheffield have been replaced and have been 100% low floor in the city since 2009.”

For all the latest industry news and information, register with us online at:

www.coachandbusweek.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

Deliveries.indd 40

24/09/2012 16:18

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41

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

Email all the details and pictures to james.day@ coachandbusweek.com

company is known for its big production runs but it can also build to request.”

Asked what the Eclipses were replacing, Anthony replied: “Nothing. We initially brought them in to replace three Volvo Olympians.

However, they have remained in service, because schools have been closing around here and academies introduced. As a result, our school traffic has increased, so our peak requirements have risen as well.”

FACT FILE

Chassis/body Volvo B9TL /

Wright Gemini Eclipse 2

Engine Volvo D9A/D9B Transmission Voith ZF Seats 75 Spec Delaine Supplied by

Wrightbus 02825 641212 & Volvo Bus 02476 210250 www. volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/

Phil Fletcher, Volvo’s Regional Sales Manager (right) hands over the buses to Cyril Kenzie

KENZIES Family-run Kenzies Coaches of Shepreth, near Royston in Hertfordshire, has taken delivery of its first ever buses – two Wright-bodied Volvo B7RLEs. The firm is traditionally known as an independent

coach operator and is renowned for the presentation of its fleet not to mention its heritage vehicles.

Kenzies Coaches has purchased the popular Volvo buses as a result of expanding its business offering. The new vehicles join Kenzies’ 20-strong coach

fleet and are set to operate on a recently acquired local shuttle bus service.

“We purchased the new vehicles to meet our growing business requirements,” explained Cyril Kenzie.

“We needed comfortable, economic and reliable buses to meet the demands of our new local business park

shuttle bus service.”

The latter is Granta Park, a large biomedical and research park on the southern edge of Cambridge.

Two services are contracted every working day.

Cyril continued: “16 of our 20 existing vehicles in the coach fleet are built on the Volvo platform and we’ve traditionally had a strong association with them.

“It therefore made sense to speak to them again with regards to our bus requirements.”

FACT FILE

Chassis/body Volvo B7RLE / Wrightbus Engine Volvo D7E Transmission ZF EcoLife Seats 44 Spec Stagecarriage Supplied by Volvo Bus Coventry 02476 210250 www. volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/

Bus and coach ƃQDQFH up to 100% LTV.

www.coachandbusweek.com

Deliveries.indd 41

24/09/2012 16:19

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

DRIVERS

In association with

DriveTech

Send your driver news and stories to alex.tyler@coachandbusweek. com or call 01733 293 244.

Driver convicted of new offence Accident unavoidable but driver convicted as he failed to comply with the requirement for him to wear glasses while behind the wheel A bus driver who wasn’t wearing his glasses when he was involved in a collision which killed a pedestrian has been convicted of an offence which did not exist until recently.

David Hopkins was driving a First bus which knocked down Alan Millard, causing him fatal injuries.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard the accident, on the A64 York Road near Harehills, Leeds, on December 15, was “unavoidable” after Mr

Go North East drivers benefit from apprenticeship partnership Six new Go North East drivers have benefited from a partnership arrangement between the operator, external training provider GAP Training and New College Durham, to provide apprenticeships for new start drivers entering company service since October 2011.

The apprenticeship is based around the Go-Ahead Group-owned operator’s core company values, and consists of five different qualifications within its framework which apprentices work towards.

They are entitled; Key Skills – English, Key Skills – Numeracy, Technical Certificate, Diploma – NVQ Level 2, Apprenticeship Framework Certificate.

On completion, apprentices join the ranks of other senior Go North East drivers and staff.

The first driver candidates to have successfully completed the qualification received their

Millard stepped out into the path of the vehicle.

However, Hopkins, of Fartown, Pudsey, was charged with driving in breach of his licence – because he wasn’t wearing glasses. Deputy District Judge Tim Spruce said: “This is a very unusual case, and until recently there was no such offence.

“Its introduction has generated significant debate around blameworthiness and appropriate criminal sanction where death results.”

The court heard Hopkins, 48, was approaching a junction when Mr Millard, who had been drinking and

was talking on his mobile phone, stepped out in front of him at about 1000hrs. Despite braking, he was unable to prevent the collision and Mr Millard was dragged under the bus. He died two weeks later.

Prosecutor Emma Whitfield said: “In fairness to Mr Hopkins, the accident investigator concluded that the collision was unavoidable.

However, he had a restriction on his licence which required him to wear glasses at the time he was driving.”

Steve Smithson, mitigating, told the court: “This is a most unusual offence, one that is very difficult to understand and more difficult to explain to the lay client.

From L to R: Go North East apprentices Lee Dodd, Ryan Bradley, Paul Wareing, David Clark, Kyle Baker, Mark Terry with Jim Dunn Driver Training & Development Officer for Go North East and Paul Bell of GAP Training certificates from Paul Bell of Gap Training at New College Durham.

Presenting the certificates, Paul said: “We pride ourselves on delivering the type of vocational training companies need, which fits their vision of how they want their staff to be skilled. This partnership with New College Durham and Go North East does just that.”

Jim Dunn, Driver Training & Development Officer for Go North East, said: “These apprentices will benefit from a good, solid grounding in the key skills we

expect of our drivers and staff in order to provide excellent services to our customers.”

Bev Hart, Head of Business Development for New College Durham, said: “We are looking forward to continued success, working together to up-skill the Go North East workforce.”

Martin Harris, Go North East Commercial Director, said: “We believe in investing in our staff for the benefit of our customers and these apprentices are proof of our commitment to that.”

“If he had been wearing his glasses, he wouldn’t be here.”

Mr Smithson added: “It is not as if, had he been wearing glasses, he would have seen something that would have prevented the accident.

“The fact of the matter is: glasses on, no offence; glasses off, there’s an offence.”

Sentencing him to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, Deputy District Judge Spruce said: “This is a matter David Hopkins must live with for the rest of his life. That outweighs any sentence this court can impose.”

Hopkins was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Bus Driver of the Year 2012

On Sunday September 9 bus drivers from across the country descended upon Blackpool to compete in the 46th annual Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) final.

The 90 drivers present represented 42 different operating companies and had earned the right to compete for the coveted BDoY 2012 trophy by winning regional competitions held throughout the year.

The title of Best Competitor and Bus Driver of the Year went to Paul T Jarvis of National Express West Midlands.

Other notable winners included, in Second Place, Michael Leech, First Yorkshire West & North; Third Place and Best Newcomer, Daniel Wilton, Stagecoach Manchester; Fourth Place Andrew Evered, First Bristol Somerset & Avon; Fifth Place Gordon Cutting, Stagecoach Oxfordshire; Best Competitor, Scotland, Ian Sayer-Field, Stagecoach East Scotland; Best Competitor, Wales, Peter Mascall, First Cymru; and the Company Award went to National Express West Midlands.

www.coachandbusweek.com

DriversAA.indd 42

24/09/2012 10:56

SUBS CRIB

E

TODAY

2 months for

the price of 7

Subscribe today to receive Coach & Bus Week and pay only £85 for a whole year!

PLUS us Coach & B

2012

DEALERS, RY OF UK DIRECTO PLIERS £30 AND SUP PREHENSIVE THE COM RERS, OPERATORS MANUFACTU

FREE

Coach & Bus Week Industry Guide worth £30

For details see over

Subs1.indd 1

24/08/2012 17:37

The leading magazine for the coach and bus professional

Subscribe today and don’t miss out on the benefits of a regular reader

The essent ial read

minibus

for Minibu s Operat ors

April 201 2 p42 p40

See you at

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

There is a drivers’ section (including jobs).

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Coach & Bus Week at the rate of £85 for 51 issues Name Company

M

Coach & Bus

p48

the CV Sh ow

CONTEN

inibus operat to visit this ors planning times during 24-26 April year’s CV Show, the develo sure they pment phase should have at the NEC, are being . suspect to occupy even more these projecentirely honest I’m not them than here. is made ts are not previous in out. so ‘in-hou I years. specialist More likely a favour are bringi se’ main vehicle Some of the has yet to ng ed conver as Type manufacture achiev show and their latest in-hou the rs legislaApproval (TA). Currene compliance sion Mountain or six minibu long established se products to with tion Goat marks t the gains Type as vans andstill permit vehicleloopholes in TA 40th annive being emula ses on the Ebersp tradition of five rsary; Mellor Bliss Travel Approved 31-sea under COIF then converted s to be registered Webasto. ted by rival climat acher stand is ter; new ; and Stanfo and registe – but I can’t Combined e contro UNVI for actual red rd delive covering l specialist with all see ly wantin rs eight the the g to pursue the manufacture produced Ducatos those with operational side exhibitors rs this cars and vans under route. They have equipment workshop, mainte of the business and TA nance The run , tools keep visitor on show, there’s of years, for a number down on more than and so s what minibu and suppli application its continued enough Some of busy all day. ers willl to to conver showcase s manufacturers product the OEMs still have produ ted at the CV cts bearin on Show issue concretheir Euro 5 platfor no official minibu manufacture g the s ms.They had to changte reasons for name would r’s brand don’t e the specifi this and say they’v Dortm und’s logical path. seem a cation a e for Sprint expanded produ number er deman of ction facility d - especi martin Cole ally the lowflocaters or City Editor

TS

42

Preview : CV Sho w 2012

48

2

3

merced es-Benz expansion

54

Unimog workho rse

A Meced es-Benz Unimog in a harsh

environment

www.coach andbusweek .com

Minibus is the only monthly specialist supplement dedicated exclusively to the minibus and contains up-to-date technical reviews; new vehicle road test reports; mobility and accessibility safety; community transport reports; and road traffic legislation and lists local authority tenders. Designed to help minibus operators in this highly regulated sector.

0076

FIVE MONTHS FREE WHEN YOU PAY TODAY Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit

Originator identification no.

Address

3

2

5

3

Account number

Date

Branch sort code

Banks/Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions from some types of account

Telephone

To pay by Credit or Debit card

Mobile

Please debit my:

MasterCard

Visa

Delta

Maestro

Card Number Start date

Subs1.indd 2

2

Signature

Account name

The Direct Debit Guarantee. This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Coach and Bus Week Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Coach and Bus Week Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Coach and Bus Week Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Coach and Bus Week Ltd asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required.

Please also notify us.

4

Instructions to your Bank or Building Society: Please pay Coach and Bus Week Ltd Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

I understand that this instruction may remain with Coach and Bus Week Ltd and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Your Bank/Building Society

Postcode

Email

THE COMP MANUFAC REHENSIVE DIR ECT TURERS, OPERATO ORY OF UK DE AL RS AND SUPPLIER ERS, S £30

The Coach & Bus Guide is the most comprehensive directory in the market.

Events diary; trade associations; ATCO Regions; PTEs/PTAs and TfL; Traffic Commissioners; Cross Sea Carriers; Tour Wholesalers; Service Stations; VOSA Centres; Major Bus and Coach Groups; Airports; Vehicle Suppliers/Dealers, Industry Suppliers A-Z; Toilet Drops, Operators A-Z.

Address

Postcode

2012

40

News

/

Expiry date

/

Issue Number

(Maestro only)

Signature To pay by cheque I enclose a cheque for £

made payable to Coach and Bus Week Ltd.

Complete the form and return to Samantha Noble, Subscriptions Dept, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Forder Way, Cygnet Park, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX or call 01733 293480

24/09/2012 18:36

p45_CBW_1055

24/9/12

15:57

Page 45

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45

COACH&BUSMARKET – the place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £30 just call 01733 293247

BARGAINS – MUST GO DUE TO RESTRUCTURING MAYPOLE COACHES HAVE THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES FOR SALE: 74 bus seats, Eminox exhaust, 12 months MOT, air-con, choice of 4 £9,550 + VAT each

1997 VOLVO OLYMPIANS

1994 VOLVO B10M JONCKHEERE DEAUVILLE

Retrimmed 2 yr ago, 12 mths MOT, 51 seats with belts, toilet, DVD/monitor £11,250 + VAT

1993 VOLVO B10M VANHOOL T8 BODYWORK

12 mths MOT, toilet, DVD/monitor, 49 seats with belts £10,250 + VAT ZF gearbox, Cummins engine, 63 seats with 3 point seat belts, 12 months MOT, 3 point belts, tacho, choice of 2 £5,500 + VAT each

1992 LEYLAND LYNX

Tel: 0151 547 2713 or 07802 235778

Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales

Dennis Pointer Dart Mk2 x 130 All spares available - includes engine, gearboxes, seats, etc.

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

2009 09 REG FORD TRANSIT

15 seat factory bus with only 9K miles, tacho, COIF applied for

£14,250

For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

Due to fleet replacement, we have the following vehicles for sale:

Dennis Plaxton R Series Cummins 420 2004: 5 x 53 seats 2005: 2 x 53 seats All are well maintained, low mileage examples (approximately 62,000km per annum) with Cummins 420 engine, air conditioning and AStronic gearboxes. Owned by us from new and used on our own holiday programme. All over cream. Prices include new MoT. Priced to sell at £47,000 (04 reg) and £57,000 (05 reg) plus VAT. Sorry no part exchange facilities!

To view contact Tom Smith, Operations Manager, Alfa Travel on 08451 305777

COACH&BUSMARKET Looking for a great deal to sell your vehicles?

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!

...then 50 come along at once.

Due to a major influx of new vehicles, we are selling a number of ex-TWM service buses.

They’re in great condition for their age and have been maintained to a very high standard.

There are currently 50 vehicles available, all stored at our site for viewing.

Although mainly Volvo, Scania and Optare single deck, there are some double deck buses also available.

All will be sold with 12 months MOT and repaint if required.

Please call for more details. Finance and rental packages available.

Volant PVS Ltd, Beecham Business Park, Northgate, Aldridge WS9 8TZ T: +44 (0)1922 457003 volantpvs.co.uk

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com

553180-1055-Ensign:Layout 1

24/9/12

17:05

Page 1

Ensig DOUBLE DECK 1999 T/V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

LEZ

COMPLIANT

Cummins/Voith, LEZ compliant with traps, Plaxton President bodies, 62 seats dual door (£13,000) or 70 when converted to single door (£16,000).

Cummins / Allison, Wrights Cadet body, ramp, wheelchair space, Hanover LED’s, 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.

ZF automatic, Plaxton Premiere 320 Interurban body, 53 seats.

1993 L REG VOLVO B10M

Volvo Euro 2 engines, ZF gearboxes, Northern Counties bodies, 78 seats.

1997/98 VOLVO OLYMPIANS

1997/8 R REG VOLVO OLYMPIANS

ZF 6 speed manual, Plaxton Premiere 320 body, 53 seats, from a very good home.

1997 P REG VOLVO B10M

Volvo Euro 2 engines, ZF gearboxes, Alexander low height 13 feet 8 bodies, 87 seats.

2000 W REG DENNIS DARTS

LEZ

COMPLIANT

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

1999/2000/2001 V/X/51 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins / Allison, Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, LEZ compliant, 2 door, CCTV, large choice, £4500 each plus tyres (£400).

2006 VOLVO B12B

I-Shift, LEZ Euro 4 compliant, Caetano Levante body, NX spec, front mounted wheelchair lift, 49 leather seats with 3 point belts, air-con, Hanover LED’s, choice of 2.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

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

553180-1055-Ensign:Layout 1

24/9/12

17:05

Page 2

nbus

K ER SPECIALIST ZF automatics, Plaxton Premiere 320 bodies, 53 seats, exhaust traps fitted, LEZ compliant.

1998 R REG DAF SB3000’S

2000/2001 X REG DENNIS SUPER POINTER DARTS

2001 DDA COMPLIANT DENNIS DART

Plaxton Pointer 2 dual door body, 31 seats, CCTV, particulate trap fitted, LEZ 2012 compliant, only £6,500 plus tyres (£400).

LAST ONE

ZF automatic, Ikarus body, 44 seats, MOT March 2013.

1999 T REG DAF SB220 SLF

Euro 3, ZF automatics, East Lancs bodies, 37 seats, full DDA, Hanover LED’s, long MOT’s.

2002 VOLVO B6BLE’S

2002 DENNIS TRIDENT

Cummins 160 engines, Voith gearboxes, 35 seats as dual door, or 43 seats as single door.

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

LAST ONE

2007 VOLVO B9TL

1988 SUPER METROBUS OPEN TOPS

Re-engined with Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Voith gearboxes, 63 seats upstairs.

1999 S REG SUPER POINTER DART 11.3m, uprated engine and Allison World Series gearbox, 41 seats.

Cummins / Allison, Alexander ALX200 bodies, 9.2m, 27 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.

2001 Y REG DARTS

Euro 3 Cummins, Plaxton body, single door, 67 seats, DDA, Hanover LED’s.

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

553368-1055-Pembridge

24/9/12

17:49

Page 1

NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS

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

OTHER MAKES

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

(59) 2009 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi 115ps, tacho, air-con, 15,000km only £17,495

LDV MINIBUSES

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

(57) 2007 LDV Maxus 17 seat, high back seats with three point belts, twin side doors, COIF/ PSV, silver £8,995

(07) Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat minibus, 2.2 diesel with three point seat belts, 28,000 miles, COIF/PSV £10,495

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

2006 (55) Vauxhall Vivaro, 7 seat, wheelchair tracking, inboard electric lift, easy clean floor, 55,000 miles £7,995

SOLD

(05) 2005 LDV Convoy 2.4tdi 17 seat minibus, high back seats with three point seat belts, COIF/PSV tacho £4,995

OTHER MAKES

SOLD

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

(57) LDV Maxus LWB 9 seats tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, 49,000 miles, £9,995

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

(07) LDV Maxus LWB 13 seat, tracking to take two wheelchairs, under floor tail lift £7,995

(09) 2009 Renault Master 16 seat minibus, tacho,high back seats with three point belts, 35,000km £15,650

(06) 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 cdti 9 seat, inboard lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 45,000 miles £8,995

New Renault Master 17 seat LWB LM39dci 126 Minibus, tacho ONLY £20,350

(03) 2003 Fiat Doblo SX 1.9 diesel, low floor, four seats plus one wheelchair, lightweight ramp, 45,000 miles £3,495

(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

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%

679713-1055-Ventura

24/9/12

15:17

Page 1

p50_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:31

Page 50

50 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

2001 (Y) LDV CONVOY 12 seats, PSV test expired, tail lift & floor tracking, choice of 2.

£1,500.00 each

For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

1999/2000 Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 V and X reg, long wheelbase, EURO 4

COACH&BUSMARKET Looking for a great deal to sell your vehicles?

Buy 3 weeks get a 4th week

FREE!

Contact Jade Cassidy now on :

01733 293247 For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

2009 MA N PA N TH E R

Front entry wheelchair facility, DDA Compliant 49 seats, rear W/C Automatic GB Electronic destination, reversing camera

For further details or to arrange viewing call 07919 612374

679547-1055-Connaught

24/9/12

14:52

Page 1

Mini Coach Sales

BRAND NEW 16 SEAT SOROCO NOW AVAILABLE

BRAND NEW MERCEDES FERQUI SOROCO 16/19 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 19 SEAT SOROCO NOW AVAILABLE

www.connaughtpsv.co.uk

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

2008 08 MERCEDES BENZ 311D SPRINTER 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, brand new conversion LEZ compliant.

2007 07 MERCEDES BENZ 815D VARIO OPTARE TORO 32 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, A/C, D/G, power door and boot.

2006 06 REG IVECO 40C12 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks incorporating forced air and reading lights, power door.

2006 55 REG MERCEDES 814 PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, power door and boot, in silver.

2005 05 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, auto gearbox, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot.

2001 51 REG TOYOTA CATEANO OPTIMO 5 22 high back seats plus courier, lap belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, power door and boot.

BRAND NEW MERCEDES FERQUI TORO 28/32 high back seats, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

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

p52_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:33

Page 52

52 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

IN STOCK

2005 FORD TRANSIT 410

Factory minibus, fitted with 14 moquette h/b coach seats, COIF, tacho and new PSV, 120,000 miles.

£5,950

For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

BERKHOF AXIAL 50

2000 W REG DENNIS DART CAETANO

DAF powered, ZF automatic gearbox 57 seats with 3 point belts Executive coach 12.9mtr

44 seats, 38 with belts, repainted and long test.

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

Phone for details.

For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

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

2008 (58) PLAXTON PRIMO SLF 7.9m 27 seats – choice of 2

Cummins Euro 4 engine. Allison 5 speed gearbox. Mobitec LED Destination. Fully DDA Compliant. Bonded glazing. Factory modified driveline. Very clean and tidy ex-lease vehicles. £42,500 each + VAT

Finance available subject to status – please call 01342 711840 www. southdownpsv.co.uk Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN

p53_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:37

Page 53

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 53

COACH&BUSMARKET Looking for a great deal to sell your vehicles?

17 seats, 50K miles, tacho, etc.

ÂŁ12,450.00

For more information visit

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

Photos and

FULL COLOUR

1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENT ALEXANDER ALX400

as standard on all vehicle for sale advertisements!

Single door, 78 seats, new belts, euro4 and repainted.

Contact Jade Cassidy now on :

Phone for details.

01733 293247

For more information visit

jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

!

"

#

"

$

%

&

&

'

(

)

+

,

-

.

(

/

0

*

,

0 &

$

#

(

+

(

!

4

+

(

(

-

+

(

%

1

+

2

5

(

4

-

4

5

(

/

.

(

6

-

2008 (57) FORD TRANSIT FACTORY MINIBUS

3

5

'

5

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774/07803 222552

000000-1047-Eastwoods DPS

30/7/12

15:51

Page 1

DUE TO ILLNESS OF THE MD, MASSIVE SALE WITH HUGE REDUCTIONS – ALL MUST BE SOLD! 2003 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PROFILE Registered Dec 2003, double glazed tinted glass, Cummins 275 engine, 6 speed manual gearbox, 49 seats, toilet & washroom, ready for immediate use, MoT tested, 120,000 miles, choice of two.

Straight from MOD.

£P.O.A

Straight from MOD

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER Dec 07, low mileage, 7 seats, quick release tracking for wheelchair use.

£12,500 + VAT

06 MAN EVOLUTION

14/220, 37 seats, SLF automatic, wheelchair ramp, superb condition throughout, fully MoT’d.

£45,500

Part exchange considered

BERKOF RADIAL 1998

53 seats, Cummins 300 engine, ex council, manual box, air cond, MoT, very low mileage, super condition.

£19,500

CAETANO (SALVADOR) 1998

57 seats, in white, Cummins 245 engine, MoT Sept 2012, very clean vehicle.

£19,500 + VAT

BMC AIRPORT BUS

32 seats, 220 Cummins, new MoT this week.

QUICK SALE WANTED.

£15,000

1995 PLAXTON PREMIER MERCEDES VARIO 612

1998, 20 new seats, wheelchair lift on wheel tracking, 20 new seats.

Choice of 6.

TRADE SALE OR SEPARATE

1995 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER HIGHLINER

53 recliner seats, 290 Cummins, automatic, continental door, toilet, full years MoT, must be seen.

£POA + VAT

02 LDV

Minibus with 12 seats, long MOT, wheelchair lift and very clean.

£P.O.A.

1996 DENNIS JAVELIN

10 metre, new MoT, 41/47 seats, 220 Cummins, 6 speed box, new stretch panels, repainted.

Choice of 2.

£POA + VAT

B10 engine In excellent condition throughout MOT

£16,000 +VAT

000000-1047-Eastwoods DPS

30/7/12

15:51

Page 2

IVECO SERVICE BUS

67 seats (moquet), new 2006, only 12,000 miles since new,Vihixel body, auto gearbox, air-con, MOT full year, LEZ, must be seen, superb condition.

£65,000 + VAT PX considered

PLAXTON PARAGON

48 reclining seats plus courier seat, air-con.

£49,500 + VAT

03 MERCEDES VARIO

With wheelchair lift, 13 seats, low mileage.

£12,000 + VAT

02 SETRA

1996 VOLVO PLAXTON PREMIER HIGH LINER

B10 engine, 14 months test, 70 seats, tinted double glazing, curtains, continental door, must be seen.

£POA

Model S-315 GT HD, 6 cylinder MAN engine, manual 6 speed gearbox, 49 seater, full air conditioning, many extras, full year MOT

£45,000 + VAT

Part exchange considered

06 (06) FORD TRANSIT 9 SEAT W/CHAIR ACC OR 4 SEATING/2 W/CHAIR NEW INTERNAL LIFT £11,495

2011 (11) FORD TRANSIT 9 SEAT SHUTTLE BUS IN SILVER 35,000 MILES £15,250

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

MULTIPART & LDV/MAXUS PARTS STOCKISTS

(PONTYPOOL) LTD

05 (55) VOLKSWAGEN LT35 TDI LWB W/CHAIR ACCESS MINIBUS 45,090 MILES P.O.A.

06 (06) VOLKSWAGEN LT35 TDI LWB W/CHAIR ACCESS MINIBUS 37,627 MILES P.O.A.

P.O.A.

• ALTAS CONVERSION • 17 SEAT MINICOACH • DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS • FULL AIR CONDITIONING • POWER DOOR LOW ENTRY STEP

NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 516CDI

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

09 (59) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF TACHO COIF/PSV 30,000 MILES CHOICE OF 2 £16,495

2006 (55) LDV CONVOY ELWB MINI COACH 17 SEATS 90PS EXCEL CONVERSION COIF/PSV TACHO £10,495

05 (55) MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 SENSORY BUS 16 SEAT W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE UNDERFLOOR LIFT COIF/PSV 68,000 MILES £15,995

08 (58) IVECO 50c15 17 SEAT EXCEL CONVERSION LUXURY MINICOACH COIF/PSV £24,995

13:47

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

17/9/12

58 PLATE VW CRAFTER CR50LWB 16 SEAT W/CHAIR ACC MINIBUS STANFORD CONVERSION 2.5/135PS TDCI COIF/PSV £29,995

p57_CBW_1054 Page 1

p56_CBW_1048

6/8/12

16:36

Page 1

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

7 1733 29324 0 ll a c t s ju £30 as little as r o f s e g a p e on these To advertis

l £90 o c 4 x m 5c co 5cm x 1

TO BOOK YOUR ADVERTISEMENT CONTACT:

JADE CASSIDY

£30

col 10cm x 2

£90

col 15cm x 1

£70

10cm x 1

col

£50

01733 293247 jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com

l

l £50 o c 2 x 5cm

ek.com andbuswe ch a co @ y jade.cassid 47 or email 2 3 9 2 3 3 7 1 y on 0 Jade Cassid Telephone

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

p58_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:00

Page 58

58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

BUILDINGS

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

• Bus Workshops • Secure Storage

• Supplied any width, any length

• Building to BS5590

• Doors high enough for Double Deckers

• Finance available Phone for further information

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime CHECKPOINTS

TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/DUSTITE loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:

Tel: 01524 271200 www.checkpoint-safety.com

ENGINEERING SUPPORT

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED

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

Contact Jade Cassidy now for details of our current offers : 01733 293247 jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com

Coach & Bus Week – the only paid-for weekly magazine in the bus and coach industry – there’s no comparison!

Mobile Column Lifts FREE

Set of Axle Stands when you purchase your Mobile Columns JHM Butt & Company Limited Sales: 01302 718226

www.buttsequipment.com equipment.com

GARAGE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS Experts in Commercial Garage Equipment

www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381 HEATING

Don’t forget to say that you saw it in

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

Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920 Email: sales@thhs.co.uk

www.thhs.co.uk

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

p59_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:02

Page 59

September 26, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED TICKETING

REGISTRATIONS G

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

£690 AXZ 70 DRZ 18 MHZ 24 RNZ 12 TIG 17 TJZ 50 TUI 18 TUI 19 TUI 20

£350 £99 £99 £50 AJZ 262 DXZ 1150 MJZ 6749 CXZ 4470 CEZ 838 HIG 5338 MNZ 1195 CXZ 4471 KBZ 505 HIG 5339 ONZ 1180 DFZ 4679 RBZ 696 IIG 2278 REZ 3369 DRZ 8551 RDZ 919 IIG 2279 RUI 2117 DRZ 8552 SBZ 171 JIG 9298 SUI 8836 ERZ 6162 VIW 979 JIG 9299 SUI 8837 JFZ 8393 WJI 848 KIG 5113 TJZ 1116 JFZ 8394 XJI 474 KIG 5114 TJZ 1119 JIG 8459 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange

£50 JIG 8479 KFZ 3734 KFZ 3735 KIG 6631 KIG 6632 RNZ 2144 RNZ 2145 TUI 7971 TUI 7972

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

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

REPLACEMENT LEZ EXHAUSTS

Direct Replacement LEZ Exhaust Systems Typical 2-4 Hour Install 2 Year Standard Warranty Unique Maintenance Modules - Keep your Vehicle on the Road Passive and Active Systems available - Suitable for all Drive Cycles For your Regional Agent or Further Information, Contact Tom or Brian on :- 01768 480111 or sales@greenurban.co.uk

TICKETING

p60_CBW_1055

24/9/12

16:03

Page 60

60 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED VEHICLE SPARES

TRAINING

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

Recovery

•

Testing

• • • • •

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

•

DISMANTLING/SPARES:

Refurbishment Repairs

Engine/gearbox rebuilds Fault finding

Buying & selling vehicles

• •

Reconditioned engines Reconditioned gearboxes

•

Engine spares

•

Windscreens

• •

Windows Seats

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

Tel/Fax: 01751 472229

COACH&BUSCLASSIFIED

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

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

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

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

www.twigley.com

September 19, 2012 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61

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

The long and winding road…

An ambitious project to start a coach service travelling nearly 6,500km from Mirpur, in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir area along the border between Pakistan and India, to Birmingham, has been announced.

Mirpur has a large expatriate community in Birmingham and is often referred to as Little England or Little Birmingham.

The service, if established, will easily be Britain’s longest scheduled coach route. It will take 12 days to cross several countries, including Afghanistan and Iran. Passengers will be charged £130 for a ticket, the Telegraph reported. Average air fares to Pakistan are around £600.

Mirpur’s Transport Minister, Tahir Khokherc, said arrangements for sightseeing could also be made and he called the journey a “thrilling” ride. He said there would be two stopovers – one at Quetta near the Afghan border and another in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Welcoming the plan, Khalid Mahmood, a Birmingham Labour MP said: “It will strengthen tourism between the two cities. I think it’s a great idea. It will be a real life experience, particularly for younger people both here and in Kashmir.”

The sky’s the limit!

Last weekend the ever-creative crew at Arriva Yorkshire unleashed yet another novel marketing campaign, taking to the skies of

Dilbert

Monday: Andrew here, hijacking Gareth’s column this week. It’s press day; usually a stressful day for the editorial team but due to a particularly productive previous week, we have the magazine wrapped up by early evening. I manage to work on some forward planning for upcoming issues.

Tuesday: Back in the office by 1030hrs – I spend the day juggling my time between searching for news, subbing features for this week’s magazine and pencilling in some future articles. The office is hit by internet problems. It’s funny (and worrying) how much people rely on it these days.

This poem was written by a customer of South Wales-based Edwards Coaches whilst travelling on the firm’s Lakeland Magic Tour the region to help spread the word about its new buses. The operator has invested over £12m in 83 new buses, with 43 arriving earlier this year (CBW1023). The company has now started taking delivery of the remaining 40.

At 1500hrs on Saturday September 22, an aeroplane flew

over Elland Road during the Leeds United game, pulling a banner with the company’s message behind it.

Arriva has planned two further flights updating the people of Yorkshire on the progress of their new bus delivery. It’s a prime example of blue sky thinking, don’t you think?

Wednesday: James is out of the office – he’s spending the day in the West Midlands to work on features for our upcoming National Expressthemed issues. Internet problems continue in the office, slowing down some of the magazine’s production. Frustrating, but we utilise our time well by discussing ideas for well into next year.

Thursday: It’s my day on the road and I too head west, this time to meet Carly from National Express. I spend an informative day learning about different aspects of the company’s operations and also meet the friendly team at Travel de Courcey.

Get back at 1900hrs after having to traverse Birmingham and rush hour traffic. After a quick rest, I head back out to play a gig in Peterborough.

Friday: After yesterday’s action-packed schedule, it takes a tea or two to get going. I don’t however, rely on my caffeinated drinks as much as others in the office… The day is spent pushing ahead with the magazine. It’s James’ birthday so some of the team head to the pub at lunchtime for a celebratory cola.

That afternoon I receive a call from a very pleasant person who puts me in a great mood for the upcoming weekend. www.coachandbusweek.com

LastStop.indd 61

24/09/2012 18:56

62 | COACH & BUS WEEK | September 26, 2012

RECRUITMENT

New management team for Damory Coaches Go South Coast subsidiary Damory Coaches, based in Dorset, has appointed Simon Newport as Operations Manager, supported by Dave Grant as Assistant Operations Manager, Ian Gray as Contracts Manager and Keith Lilly the Depot Engineering Manager.

Simon Newport’s career in the bus industry started as a Management Trainee with First Group in 1999.

Having gained experience with the group’s bus operations around the UK he was appointed Operations Manager for First’s Dorset operations in 2000. He moved to Bristol in 2005 and in 2006 he became a Commercial Director for First in Devon and Cornwall.

He joins Damory from his role as Regional Network Manager with First which he held since June 2011.

Andrew Wickham, Go South Coast’s Managing Director, said he is

delighted to welcome Simon to the company which has experienced rapid expansion since gaining a major share of the Dorset County Council schools contracts last year.

He added: “With this year’s school bus services running smoothly and to expectations we can now look to

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

Contact Ian Gillis 01733 293484

expand Damory’s important public transport role in Dorset.

“I’m confident that Simon Newport has the experience, foresight and integrity to continue Damory’s success.”

Damory, based in Pimperne, operates a fleet of 160 buses and coaches from depots at Pimperne, Dorchester, Henstridge, Swanage and Poole with a team of around 200 drivers, engineering and support personnel.

New faces at Buzzlines Travel

Ian Gray, Andrew Wickham, Simon Newport, Dave Grant and Keith Lilly

Operations Manager London

ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

Buzzlines Travel is investing in a restructure at its Lympne HQ. Lynn Woods, co-founder and former CEO of Ashford-based Adastra Software, joins as Chairman.

Adrian Gilson, who worked alongside Lynn as Adastra’s Managing Director assumes a similar role at Buzzlines. He will control finance and takes the lead in sales and marketing where the company is developing new ideas for student short breaks, ski trips, day excursions and coach tours.

Business-founder Nigel Busbridge has been appointed Operations Director. He is supported by his wife Kathryn, who assumes a senior management position leading development of the company’s group travel business.

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Operations Manager to ensure the continued smooth and efficient running of our fleet based in West London.

Applicants will have experience of dealing with the planning, organising, coordinating the day to day operation whilst ensuring quality control and customer service levels are maintained. The role will be responsible for scheduling the drivers and vehicles whilst ensuring and improving the performance, productivity, efficiency and profitability of the business through the provision of effective methods and strategies.

The successful candidate will ensure full compliance of EU driver and working time directive regulations and hold or plan to obtain national and international CPCs. This challenge will require a proactive, effective and resilient organiser who has strong people skills accompanied by the ability to lead.

Please send your CV and cover letter detailing your current remuneration package to recruitment@citycircleuk.com or alternatively send to HR Department, City Circle Limited, West London Coach Centre, North Hyde Gardens, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 4QT. Closing date Friday 12th October 2012

www.coachandbusweek.com

People.indd 62

24/09/2012 19:09

“Advertise all your recruitment vacancies the affordable way; book a series of three adverts; buy one week, get the second week half price and have a third week on us… yes, that’s free! CBW is the only paid-for weekly publication serving the coach and bus industry; read by directors, managers, engineers and drivers alike. Your vacancy will be seen in the print and digital editions, and online at www. coachandbusweek.com/jobs. This amazing offer ends on September 28, 2012, so don’t delay, contact me, Ian Gillis, on 01733 293 484, or via email: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com”

RECRUITNOW www.coachandbusweek.com/jobs Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coachandbusweek Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets Search LinkedIn Groups for ‘Coach and Bus Week (CBW)’

Recruit3_alt.serif_2.indd 63

03/09/2012 09:19

000000-1053-Dawsons

30/8/12

18:01

Page 1