Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1176

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16 NEW HIGH-SPECIFICATION COACHES FOR BUS ÉIREANN

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Radio to RMs The story behind Ken Bruce’s growing heritage bus company

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Update on Blackpool Transport

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Bustling Bury market – a warm welcome for visiting coaches

Bury encourages coaches

F

or the �irst time in many years, I visited the famous Bury Market on Saturday (February 14) – and I was delighted to see coaches being made so welcome. As a family we used to visit twice a year when I was younger. It provided the perfect mix of transport and retail elements.

If like me, you’re a self-confessed transport enthusiast, you will know the North Manchester town as being home to the East Lancashire Railway (ELR).

Bury is easy to reach – being minutes off the M66, which itself is a short branch off the M62.

After enjoying a trip on the ELR in the morning, we tucked in to the highly recommended homemade steak and ale pie at the bar at the station (two meals for £10), before going round the market. From past experience, this is the best time to go – when bargains are plentiful.

Going round the plethora of stalls, I was astonished to hear announcements over the loudspeaker welcoming visitors who had travelled by coach and reminding coach drivers of their dedicated facilities and meal voucher. I have never been anywhere else and heard such a thing. There was also prominent

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signage directing people to the ‘Of�icial Coach Party Parking on Market St’ – again, a refreshing sight.

All too often coach groups appear to be the bulk load ‘bums on seats’ which are tolerated rather than welcomed and which are perceived as being a necessary evil to help to keep venues ticking over as opposed to in pro�it.

The atmosphere at Bury Market – particularly at the indoor meat and �ish markets – was something else. It was upbeat to say the least and the welcome remained as warm as ever.

Accessible for all, even a large part of the outdoor market is covered. Regional cuisine on offer included varieties of black pudding, Manchester tarts, Balm cakes (baps to the rest of us) – and pies of all shapes and sizes.

If you’ve not taken a coach there, pop along and see it for yourself on a Saturday.

For more details about the market, visit www.burymarket.com or call 0161 253 6520. Read more about the www.eastlancsrailway.org. uk or telephone 0161 764 7790.

Gareth Evans Editor .

Transport Travel Club .com ENTERTAINMENT | ACTIVITIES | HOLIDAYS | HOTELS

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3 16/02/2015 14:31

CONTENTS

14

OPERATOR UPDATE Meeting the senior management team at Blackpool Transport

18

INTERVIEW

Ken Bruce, popular Radio DJ about his passion for the bus industry and the heritage Routemaster operation he part-owns

24

DELIVERIES

Some of the new vehicles that have been entering service with operators across the country

26

OPINIONS

PATRICK FAULL A coach driver at Truemans, shares a lengthy email he sent to The Mayor outlining the problems coaches face in London

B US USERS UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE CLAIRE WALTERS Urges bus manufacturers to consider the passenger when designing vehicles

32

FACE TO FACE

Abellio Business Development Manager Simon Bennett talks about his career in the bus and coach industry and his fell running hobby

38

INSIDE TRACK

Merlin wonders what is it about local authority structures that qualify them to run bus companies

MINIBUS

41

COMMENT

Operators are responding quickly to meet requirements and indicate a willingness to match or exceed demands

42

MINIBUS NEWS

Latest deliveries and news from the minibus sector

48

DEALER PROFILE

Steve Peach at Connaught PSV talks about the successful family business enjoying sustained success with Ferqui vehicles

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6 l London bus tendering – Metroline successfully gains two new routes, while Metroline West retains two services

06 l News 08 l Bus News 10 l Coach News 12 l International News 44 l Big Picture 82 l Last Stop 84 l People

8 l First West of England unveils 50 new Micro Hybrids 10 l Bus Éireann boosts Expressway with 60 new high-spec coaches

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April 9, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5

17/11/2014 12:31 16/02/2015 18:54

FTSE 100

NEWS

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6879

Index: Year High: 6,879 +54 last Year Low: 6,183 onweek

520.50p

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The latest on London bus tendering

single-deck buses from route 202, PVR four. The start date is September 12, 2015. Metrobus also retained the 352 with new �lywheel hybrid single-deckers, PVR 6, from the same date.

The 354 was re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with existing �leet diesel single-deck, PVR �ive, with a Sunday service added from September 12. The 358 was re-awarded to Metrobus with new

�lywheel hybrid single-deckers, PVR 17.

Tranche 490 saw Arriva London South retain the 198 with existing �leet double-deck buses currently on route 135. The operator also kept the 264 (24 hour) with existing �leet double-deck vehicles released from New Routemaster conversions, PVR 15.

Arriva was re-awarded the 312 with new and existing electric

single-deckers, PVR seven, starting from September 5. The 405 was reawarded to Metrobus with doubledeckers of type to be con�irmed, with PVR of 10.

Tranche 492 saw Arriva London South lose the 168 to Metroline with double-deckers, at PVR 21.

The changeover date is September 26. The 226 was re-awarded to Metroline West with existing diesel single-deckers.

Metroline also won the 324, currently London Sovereign, with existing �leet single-decks currently on route 326, with PVR of six. The service changes on October 24.

Finally, tranche 494 saw the 674 re-awarded to Blue Triangle, with an existing double-decker (PVR one). The 675 was awarded to London General (currently CT Plus) with an existing �leet doubledecker. Both services start on October 17, 2015 The 692/699 will transfer to Sullivan Buses (currently London General) with existing diesel double-deckers, PVR three. The date for this is November 21, 2015.

conditions.

Unite said it had postponed the strikes as an ‘act of goodwill’ and called on the bus companies to hold talks at conciliatory service Acas. It added that were this not to happen, the strikes would be back on.

Transport for London (TfL) said it is continuing to urge the union and bus companies to meet individually.

Drivers held a 28-hour strike on February 5 over the same disagreement.

Unite claims pay differences between companies can see salaries vary from £17,000 to £25,000 but TfL said aligning wages across the board could cost up to £100m a year.

Unite Regional Of�icer, Wayne King, said: “They have a duty to London’s 6.8 million bus passengers, to join us in collective talks to end the pay inequality and pay chaos on London’s buses.

“All we are asking for is a collective forum to discuss how we can end pay disparities, over a

sensible timeframe.

“We urge TfL to start playing a constructive role and sign a public statement of neutrality to con�irm that operators can negotiate freely with Unite.”

Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director of surface transport, said: “We welcome the postponement of the strikes and are delighted that bus passengers will not be further inconvenienced. We continue to urge Unite and the bus companies to meet individually to resolve their differences.”

Metroline are the big winners, gaining two routes from Arriva London South and London Sovereign Transport for London has announced the latest round of London bus tendering.

From tranche 487, route 116 was re-awarded to London United with double-decker bus type to be con�irmed (the service was tendered as single-decker). The Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) is seven and start date is August 29, 2015. A10 was re-awarded to Metroline West with existing diesel single-deckers and a PVR of �ive.

Tranche 489 saw the 119 (24 hour) re-awarded to Metrobus from August 29, with doubledeckers (type to be con�irmed) and PVR of 16, with the 17th AM peak bus linked to route 202. The 202 itself was re-awarded to Metrobus, again with double-decker type to be con�irmed at a PVR 15.

The 246 was awarded to Metrobus (currently Stagecoach Selkent) with existing �leet diesel

London bus strikes postponed Two strikes planned by London bus drivers have been postponed.

Drivers were set to walk out on February 13 and 16 in protest over pay disparities across the city’s 18 bus operators. The Unite union wants to set up a forum with all of the bus companies to discuss how it can end pay disparities and improve working

Metroline successfully gained two new routes, while Metroline West retained two services

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Optare staff agree new pay deal Optare has agreed a three-year pay and conditions deal with its operations employees who are represented by trade union Unite.

“The agreement is an indication of our commitment to the business and criticality of our engagement with employees in delivering ever improving customer service, performance, and productivity and efficiency improvements,” said Enrico Vassallo, CEO, Optare.

Chris Cooke, Optare Interim HR Director, said: “Without the dedication and sensible approach of our joint negotiation team this deal would not have been possible.

It forms an excellent platform for working together in the future.”

Richard Bedford, Unite Regional Officer, said: “Unite has a proud track record of working with employers to reach negotiated settlements across all industries. The threeyear pay and benefits deal that Unite has negotiated is a testament to our commitment to better communication and joint working.

“Both sides have shown that strong sectoral bargaining is good for workers and good for business. We look forward to working together with Optare to build even stronger employment relations in the future.”

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343.60p

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Possible buyer found for Big Bus Tours

The founders of London’s Big Bus Tours open-top sightseeing company will get a cash windfall of almost £300m if a private equity �irm goes ahead with a deal to purchase the family business, This is Money reported.

Exponent is reportedly in ‘exclusive’ discussions to buy Big Bus Tours from the Maybury family for up to £400m. A deal could be announced in the next few weeks.

The company hired JPMorgan last year to �ind a buyer for the business. Big Bus Tours was founded in 1991 by Richard, Desmond and Eleanor Maybury.

Big Bus Tours has more than 300 buses in operation worldwide The Mayburys started out with just a few buses. Since then the company has grown rapidly and in 2011 it merged with French rival Les Cars Rouges. Big Bus Tours now has more than 300 buses in

cities across the globe.

The Mayburys are not the only investors likely to pocket huge payouts. In 2007, Abu Dhabi-based Al Fahim Group bought a 30% stake from the family.

West Coast Motors-owned Glasgow Citybus is currently trialling a Scania Euro 6 Irizar i3 bus. Registered ‘YP64WVW,’ the demonstrator is owned by Scania (Great Britain) Ltd. Murray Rogers, General Manager at Glasgow Citybus told CBW: “On its first day in service, which was Thursday (February 12), we operated it on our route 100, which runs between George Square and Riverside Museum. We’re now using the bus on our service 17, which links Duntocher with the City Centre, via Bearsden and Maryhill Station. We envisage it remaining on that service as it’s our flagship and it’s a real proving ground. We like its seating capacity and are now evaluating its performance.”

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7 16/02/2015 18:19

7

NEWS › BUSES

First West of England unveils new fleet of Micro Hybrids A further 50 vehicles are expected to join the West of England fleet over the coming months As the Bristol European Green Capital year gets underway, First has unveiled its fleet of four low carbon certified Wrightbus StreetLite micro hybrid buses.

The company is also in the process of changing part of the external design on its vehicles in the city, adding the Bristol Green Capital logo to the side of all of its buses. The logo will replace, in many instances, the ‘West of

England’ name which has been emblazoned on the side of the operator’s fleet since the livery was changed in 2012.

First currently has 28 StreetLite micro hybrid buses in its West of England fleet (21 of which are in Bristol). A further 50 low emission buses (39 double-deck and 11 single-deck) are expected to be welcomed into the company’s West of England fleet in the coming months (39 of which are expected to be used in Bristol).

In addition to the new Streetlite micro hybrid buses, the company also plans to upgrade 31 of its existing buses in Bristol to fit

Number of vehicles operated by Thisbus.com, a heritage operation partowned by Ken Bruce

19

Maximum number of seats on Connaught PSV’s Ferqui Soroco minibus

thermal management technology to the exhaust systems (to optimise the efficient reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions) and retro-fit micro hybrid engine systems to the vehicles, which like the Streetlite vehicles, will help harness energy lost while breaking, powering electrical systems instead, and thus saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.

This work is being made possible following a grant from the Department for Transport – secured as a result for partnership working between First, Bristol City Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

James Freeman, Managing Director of First West of England, said: “These state-of-the-art micro hybrid buses are great news for our customers, the city and the wider environment more generally.

Micro hybrids are some of the most fuel efficient buses in the world, producing significantly less

carbon dioxide emissions than conventional buses.

“It’s also great that we have so much other investment going into our local fleet – with older vehicles being retrofitted to the same micro hybrid standard, and some more brand new buses expected in the course of the financial year.

“As a major sponsor of Bristol Green Capital it’s important that we do what we can to bridge the environmental gap, and we’re doing just that by investing in, and bringing to the city new, low emission vehicles. Our work in this area continues too, with us set to experiment and trial other new technologies this year too.

“To further underline our commitment to the Green Capital year we have substantially changed the branding on our buses.

“This helps raise awareness of the Green Capital year, and similarly gives us an even stronger local identity.”

upgrade and will allow the RedRoutemaster’s team to continue to grow the business

with its focus on the traditional vintage wedding hire market, as well as corporate, promotional and other new markets the business is developing.

Adam Shailes, Managing Director, said: “It will allow us to continue to offer a by-gone traditional experience of vintage bus travel to the young and old. It will also help us to restore more Routemasters and finally as Brentford is Brilliant for Business allows us to support the community we feel very proud to be a part of.”

Martin Detheridge, of London Bus for 4 Hire commented; “We take pleasure in being experts at restoring and maintaining Routemasters buses beyond the industry operating standard.”

RedRoutemaster moves into new Brentford operating base Attend IT, trading as RedRoutemaster, has outgrown its first operating base after four years and has completed its move into a new site now known as RedRoutemaster Brentford Dock Rd Garage.

RedRoutemaster’s old location is under threat of redevelopment and like many smaller operators in Greater London it struggled to find a suitable new location, but thanks to the support lobbying led by the local chamber of commerce they have managed to secure a new larger site complete with a full functioning office building which fronts the high street.

The move has also allowed the group, which also has an IT division, to move its head office

The new base will help RedRoutemaster continue to restore more Routemasters and all other operating sites to one central location.

The facilities are a major

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€9.2m

The investment being made in 20 new coaches by Bus Éireann

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Bus Driver of the Year entries open

First currently has 28 micro hybrids in service in its West of England fleet

London holds UK Bus Summit conference

The UK Bus Summit, the first event of its kind for 15 years, was held on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

The conference brought together over 300 delegates, a cross-section of industry leaders from bus operators, councils, PTEs and combined authorities, local enterprise partnerships, and lobby groups.

Speaking at the event, Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, commented: “We all agree buses are key to helping people get around, but we need

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buses that are modern, clean, reliable and easy to use.”

Four elements were highlighted as having a part to play in achieving this. First the Government, which had allocated more than £300m for major bus projects in this parliament.

Second, the private sector: “I back a strong commercial bus market,” said Patrick.

Third, cities. The momentum for devolution to cities and to local enterprise partnerships was growing. And fourth, technology – in the form of clean buses, and integrated smartcards.

Greener Journeys claimed crucial bus services are at risk as infrastructure funding is devolved to local decision-makers without appropriate national guidance in place.

In order to help guide local decision makers on decisions related to bus infrastructure funding, Greener Journeys commissioned KPMG LLP to develop a new guide to help harness buses’ potential, which was launched at the bus summit.

Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, commented: “As the Department for Transport devolves its capital funding, it is essential that vital bus infrastructure is supported in local growth plans.

“Over recent years our research has time and again shown just how crucial buses are to helping people into work, driving economic growth in Britain’s towns and cities and to building cohesive and prosperous communities.”

The National Final of the UK Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) Competition will take place in Blackpool on Sunday, September 6, and entries have already been invited from operators large and small who have previously put their drivers forward.

Joe Mackie, Chairman of the UK Bus Driver of the Year Association, which organises the competition, said that the 2015 national final marks 49 years of BDoY, which was first run in 1967 as a local contest in Coventry and subsequently grew into a national event. He added that plans were now being made for the BDoY half-century next year.

Last year’s overall winner, and Bus Driver of the Year 2014, was Jonathan Welch from First Aberdeen. He was up against 118 other drivers employed by all the major bus groups, municipal operators and smaller companies.

Joe Mackie said: “We are particularly keen to have more entries from the municipal and independent sectors of the industry as they are underrepresented at the moment.

“The national final is a fantastic place for operators of all sizes to showcase their drivers’ skills and especially their commitment to excellent customer service.”

Bus companies which would like to become involved, or simply wish to find out more, are invited to contact the Competition Secretary on 01303 251462 or email bdoy@btinternet.com.

A poster for operators can be downloaded from www.ukbdoy. co.uk to encourage their drivers to enter.

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9 16/02/2015 18:36

NEWS › COACHES

Bus Éireann boosts Expressway service 60 new high-spec coaches for delivery over the next 12 months will transform inter-city network Irish state-owned operator Bus Éireann has unveiled the first part of its investment in 60 new coaches for its high-profile Expressway inter-city network.

Over €9.2m has been invested in the 20 new Irizar i6-bodied Scania K410EB 6x2*4, supplied through Roscommon-based Westward Scania.

The vibrant new red and silver livery – into which all the Expressway fleet are currently being re-painted – is also part of the rebranding strategy in the brand’s 50th year. The Expressway network itself has undergone a redesign in response to overall customer demand, with shorter journey times and making greater use of Ireland’s motorway network.

The highly-specified 13.9m tri-axles include laminate-style flooring, reclining Isringhausen Ega leather seats, boasting extra cushioning and stitched panels to optimise comfort. Also onboard is complimentary 4G WiFi supplied by Irish Fleet Connect, three-pin and USB power sockets, a multi-camera CCTV system, a WC and ISOFIX child seat attachment points. The vehicles seat 59 passengers or 55 with one wheelchair. Tyres on the new coaches are supplied by Bridgestone Ireland.

Another 40 coaches will be ordered for the Expressway network throughout 2015, and into 2016.

Bus Éireann CEO Martin Nolan enthused: “We will deliver another 20 later this year, while a further 20

Launch of new Expressway fleet with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, Chairman of Bus Éireann Aidan Murphy and Bus Éireann’s Chief Executive Martin Nolan are currently in the tender process.”

Asked why the Scania Irizar combination has been chosen, a Bus Éireann spokesman told CBW: “Following an extensive tender process, the Scania Irizar product was chosen as the optimum package that provided value for money, quality and met the operational and commercial requirements of an Expressway coach product.”

Expressway’s 150-strong fleet is comprised of a mix of 12m two-axle coaches with 51-53 seats, 14m tri-axles with 59-63 seats and 14m 82-seater double-deckers. The new coaches have displaced older Scania Irizars, which will be cascaded from Expressway routes to other regional services provided by Bus Éireann.

The arrival of the new coaches means the average age of the fleet is

10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 010_011_CBW1176_News.indd 10

now 6.8 years.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe said: “The decision to rebrand the Expressway fleet and to make provision for 4G WiFi and three PIN and USB sockets will make Expressway even more appealing.

The slogan ‘Like the car, only better’ is designed to tempt people away from their own vehicles and onto public transport, which is something that I have been actively encouraging in my role as Minister for Transport.

“As more and more jobs are created, we are seeing an increase in the number of cars on the road and a build-up of congestion in some areas as a result. We must continue to deliver attractive public transport options if we are to persuade people out of the car and

onto other transport modes, which I believe Expressway does. This will ensure that our traffic flows more freely and that economic growth is supported, as our economy develops further.”

Bus Éireann Chairman Aidan Murphy said that that the company’s business and engineering design teams had worked hard to deliver the best possible product for the travelling public: “This is the future of coach travel. Bus Éireann has taken a lead in helping to design and implement the latest fleet technology and comfort features.

“As a board, we are very proud of the team effort delivered across the company – and with all stakeholders, including the in-house engineers, manufacturers, technical experts and marketeers.”

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Sale of Battersby Silver Grey completed The business and accompanying assets of Battersby Silver Grey have been sold out of administration to Travellers Choice – restructuring and advisory �irm FRP Advisory has con�irmed.

FRP Advisory partners, Russell Cash and Ben Woolrych, were appointed Joint Administrators to the company on January 28, 2015.

When attempts to obtain further investment to safeguard a long term future for the business could not be found, the directors were forced to seek the protection of administration, allowing for the business to continue as a going concern.

Prior to the Administration process, the Joint Administrators marketed the business for sale, liaising with many interested parties. FRP said the sale to

Weekend coach incidents hit the headlines Two incidents involving coaches hit the national news headlines on Saturday.

In the first one, a Travelmasters tri-axle double-decker Berkhof coach collided with an Audi car which was on the hardshoulder of the M1 between junctions 12 and 13, near Flitwick, Bedfordshire at about 0645hrs.

Bedfordshire Police said in a statement: “Three men in the car were pronounced dead at the scene and a fourth man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, with serious injuries. No one in the coach, which was travelling from Kent, was hurt.”

The coach driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and taken to Luton police station for questioning. He has been released on unconditional bail, but must return to Bedfordshire Police headquarters in Kempston in May. Tim Lambkin, director of Sheerness-based Travelmasters, told BBC News: “It is too soon to comment on the causes of what happened – we have to let the police experts do their work. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of those who died and the man hurt. In the 31 years I’ve

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Travellers Choice safeguards the jobs of all staff employed by the business and allows it to continue to trade as normal under new ownership, from the same premises in Morecambe.

Russell Cash, partner at FRP Advisory and Joint Administrator, said: “The sale of Battersby Silver Grey to Travellers Choice provides the best possible solution for the company’s array of local and regional customers, all 30 staff and the local economy it supports.

“The company unfortunately failed to receive the investment it was promised when Bakerbus and King Long Direct became involved around 15 months ago. We were therefore determined to make every effort to secure the future that this longstanding business deserves.”

been involved in the company I’ve never known anything like this.”

In a separate incident on Saturday evening, 39 passengers on a National Holidays trip to Disneyland Paris had a lucky escape when their coach caught fire after it was involved in a collision with two HGVs. Two people travelling in the lorries died in the crash on the A1 in Oise, near Paris.

A spokesperson for the Shearings-owned firm said: “The incident in France was clearly a frightening episode for those involved but all passengers from the coach left the vehicle safely and were unharmed.

“Two other individuals from other vehicles involved did unfortunately lose their lives despite the best efforts of the French emergency services. Our thoughts are with their families.

“Our own team has worked through the night to get passengers to their destination at Disneyland Paris and provide options for them to return home or continue with their holiday, providing funds and helping to supply replacement clothing for those families whose luggage was damaged.

“At the moment, the majority of the 39 passengers have opted to stay in Disneyland.

“Such incidents are rare and we will be working closely with French investigators to establish the facts over the coming days.”

1

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Among the speakers at the forthcoming Young Bus Managers Network Conference will be Ray Stenning of Best Impressions

2015 ■ March 3-6 QV Associates’ course Introduction to Bus & Crew Scheduling. Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-associates.com/ qvcourses.htm ■ March 17-20 QV Associates’ course Route & Timetable Planning. Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-associates.com/ qvcourses.htm ■ March 18-19 Young Bus Managers Network Conference Nottingham. www. youngbusmanagers.org.uk ■ March 25-27 Busworld Asia, Suzhou International Expo Centre, China. www.busworld-asia.com ■ March 28 South East Bus Festival Kent Showground www.facebook.com/southeast busfestival ■ April 14-16 CV Show 2015 NEC Birmingham 020 7630 2102. Email enquiries@cvshow.com www. cvshow.com

■ May 11-13 ALBUM AGM & Conference Carden Park Hotel, near Chester www.albumconference2015. com ■ June 7 Southdown Centenary Rally Southsea Common www.southdown100.co.uk ■ June 21 Welsh Coach Rally National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. For details, call Ashley Lovering on 07814958379.

■ June 28 Wessex Transport Society Bus Rally Lorry park, Ringwood, Hants. Contact Mike Caldicott 01202 293245 or email mikepenny.wts@gmail.Com ■ July 12 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Classic Bus Rally & Running Day Toddington, Gloucestershire. www.gwsr.com ■ August 2 Thames Valley 100 Celebrating the centenary of the start of bus services between Reading and Maidenhead by the forerunners of the Thames Valley Traction Company. www.tvagwot.org.uk

■ April 18-19 UK Coach Rally Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire 01753 631170. www.ukcoachrally.co.uk

■ August 23 Buses Festival Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon.

01780 755131 www.busesfestival. com

■ April 19 Spring Bus and Coach Gathering (formerly Cobham Rally).

London Bus Museum. 01932 837994

■ September 5-6 UK Bus Driver of the Year National Final Blackpool.

■ April 23 UK Coach Awards Mercure Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester. www.ukcoachawards.

www.bdoy.co.uk

■ September 9-10 Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Event Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire www.

co.uk

cenex-lcv.co.uk

■ April 26 Delaine Buses Heritage Running Day 01778 422866. www.delainebuses.

■ September 30-October 1 Coach & Bus Live 2015 Halls 19 & 20, NEC, Birmingham www. coachandbuslive.com

■ May 2-4 Llandudno Transport Festival Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales. info@llantransfest.co.uk; www.llantransfest.co.uk

■ October 16-21 Busworld Kortrijk Kortrijk, Belgium http:// kortrijk.busworld.org

■ May 3-4 Friends of King Alfred Buses Running Day Winchester www.fokab.org.uk

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

com.

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 11 16/02/2015 18:19

NEWS › INTERNATIONAL

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Volvo Bus and Siemens sign global agreement BYD unveils battery coach

A complete solution is already operating in the German city of Hamburg New agreement covers the supply of complete electrified bus systems to cities SWEDEN Under a new agreement Volvo Bus is to supply electrichybrid buses and full-electric buses to customers and Siemens will provide and install highpower charging stations (charging capacity of up to 300kW) for the electric vehicles.

The two companies have been working together since 2012 within the field of ‘electromobility’, and have now strengthened their cooperation further. The charging

infrastructure supplied by Siemens includes the charging station, auxiliary equipment, cabling, civil works, installation, commissioning and maintenance. One objective is to develop a common standard.

A complete solution consisting of three Volvo 7900 electric hybrids and four charging stations has already been supplied to Hamburg, Germany where the buses operate for Hamburger Hochbahn on the new Innovation route.

During 2015, electric buses, electric hybrids and charging infrastructure will be supplied to the Swedish cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm.

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 012_CBW1176_International News.indd 12

“We are very pleased to partner with one of the world’s largest technology companies, which shares our vision of electromobility,” said Håkan Agnevall, President Volvo Bus Corporation.

“The agreement enables us to seize new business opportunities and support the cities in the shift to sustainable and cost-efficient public transportation systems.”

Jochen Eickholt, CEO Siemens Mobility added: “Electrified buses are an essential part of sustainable urban public transportation.

Siemens and Volvo bring in both technology and experience to shape this trend.”

USA BYD has officially unveiled what it describes as the world’s first 100% battery electric full-size coach. The C9 is a two-axle, 40-foot vehicle that seats 47 and has a range of 190 miles. It’s the first of three 100% battery electric coaches the company will launch globally this year.

The other two are the 45-feet three-axle C10 and the 23-feet executive C6. BYD says that it’s taking orders for all three now.

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

“Last year, BYD pulled away from the competition when they launched a 30-foot low-floor bus and a 60-foot articulated bus in addition to their 40-foot bus, making the firm the only electric bus builder with multiple offerings. This year the launch of three coaches buses puts BYD on a level with no other bus or coach OEM. There has never been a bus manufacturer in the US with this sort of capability.”

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 14:45

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OPERATOR UPDATE › BLACKPOOL TRANSPORT

Blackpool

illuminated David Barrow meets the senior management team at Blackpool Transport and looks at the fortunes of the only municipal to operate trams as well as buses

B

lackpool’s popularity as a holiday destination has been on the decline now for a variety of reasons. It is still popular with day-trippers and still seems to be the number one choice for stag and hen parties. But for people staying for one or two weeks, it is now at an all-time low, as can be seen by the number of hotels and guest houses that have now closed, which were evident as I made my way to my meeting at Blackpool Transport’s Rigby Road base.

On the day of my visit Jane Cole had been MD for barely two months, so I was interested in what her �irst impressions were. Jane’s response was very positive.

“All the people are fantastic. From the management team to our people at ‘ground level’, there is a lot of enthusiasm to make the company work and be pro�itable. The product is unique because it is tourism as well as residents, and it is diverse on three levels. We have a modern and up-to-date tramway, plus our heritage trams and the bus �leet.

“One thing I want to grow is the tourism market, with an integrated transport system for tourists when they arrive and I also want to reach out to destinations outside Blackpool so that they see us as a tourist attraction before 14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

014_016_CBW1176_Blackpool Transport.indd 14

FACTS & FIGURES

● Employees: 650 – 700 (depending on time of year). ● Bus fleet size: 145 ● Modern trams: 16 Bombardier Flexity 2 Fivesection units. ● ‘B Fleet’ trams: 39 – including doubles and singles. These were frontline vehicles until the modernisation. ● ‘C Fleet’ trams: 30 heritage vehicles. they get here.

“Another thing that really excites me at the moment is that frontline staff and all managers are going through an intensive training programme called ‘World Host’ which is part of the driver capability training and disability awareness. We have just been accredited with World Host status.

“We were also joined by Service Delivery Director Bob Mason who started his career in 1981 with Greater Manchester PTE at its training school in Bennett Street, next to the Hyde Road depot, as an apprentice �itter.

“From 1984 to 1986 none of the apprentices were kept on, so I got a job as a traf�ic trainee, still with the same company. I later became Operations Manager with GM Buses North at Wigan and Oldham, followed by Depot Manager at Oldham. When First took over I became Operations Director, then Service Delivery Director. Four years ago I left First and came to Blackpool.”

Finally, we were joined by Sue Kennerley, Finance Director (FD), who has been at Blackpool Transport since 1992 as a Financial Controller.

“When the previous FD retired, I was appointed to my current position,” she said.

“Before that I worked in a bank in Bournemouth and trained as an accountant. I realised I did not want to be a small cog in a big wheel – I wanted to be at a smaller company where I could use all my �inancial knowledge to a greater end – so I came to Blackpool.”

At the height of the summer season, Blackpool’s population can increase by as much as a third, so does that mean that more staff are employed at the start of the season then reduced in the autumn?

Bob gave an overview on how it works: “We do employ extra staff because the bus service www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 09:25

The town is seeing a growth in new retail construction. East Lancs-bodied Dennis Tridents, one of which is seen here, make up the majority of the double-deck fleet

MEET THE MD

is basically �lat and we operate it at the same level throughout the year. One exception is that we run a service to the zoo and model village in the summer and we also increase the frequency on service 1 which serves the promenade and operates between Starr Gate and Fleetwood Free Port.

“In 2014 we saw growth on the promenade service due to the fact that Blackpool residents’ concessionary passes are the only ones allowed on the trams. On the trams we operate �ive different timetables a year, so in the summer our staff requirement on the tramway would be 150, and in the winter it is down to 80.

Therefore, what we have done ever since we started the new tramway is that all the drivers are trained as drivers/conductors so we employ seasonal conductors from April to the end of the illuminations, which does cause problems.”

When I asked is the company making money, I got a resounding Yes! Blackpool Transport operates the majority of services in the Fylde Coast area alongside Stagecoach and Oakwood Travel, which started a service to Grange Park Estate last November.

Blackpool Transport is looking at the possibility of relocating away from Rigby Road depending on what the council’s plans are for www.coachandbusweek.com

014_016_CBW1176_Blackpool Transport.indd 15

the area. From Jane’s of�ice window we could see new houses being built and old properties being demolished. The company is looking at a site at Squires Gate, which is close to the new tramway depot and the recently closed Blackpool Airport.

In April 2012 the tramway re-opened after a major reconstruction, which saw the introduction of 16 32.3m long, �ivesection ‘Flexity 2’ trams, manufactured by Bombardier in Austria, which represented a £32m investment by both the Department for Transport and Blackpool Council. The latest �igures show that the tramway carries approximately three million passengers a year; about 75% of which are tourists.

Fleet

Today the �leet consists of 53 East Lancs-bodied Dennis Tridents – 32 bought new between 2002 and 2006.

In 2011/2012 the company bought 30 double-deckers from Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man. This consisted of 21 Tridents and 19 DAF DB250, all with East Lancs bodywork.

All 30 were extensively refurbished by Bus & Coach World in Blackburn. Sue outlined the reasoning behind it: “New double-deckers are

The new face of Blackpool Transport Originally from Manchester, Jane Cole, Managing Director, Blackpool Transport, started her career in 1979 with British Rail (BR) as a signal and telecom technical clerk.

Progression in her career brought her to Blackpool – a popular holiday destination for her family – in 1989 when she took a job working at Blackpool North Station.

A management promotion took her to Preston to work for Intercity in 1990, before moving to Virgin Trains in 1996.

Because she was already a senior manager at BR, she was favourite to be put on the team to see the transition from BR to what we see today as Virgin Rail. She left in July last year after 35 years in the rail industry, took a three-month break and came to Blackpool in November 2014.

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 15 16/02/2015 15:31

OPERATOR UPDATE › BLACKPOOL TRANSPORT

The Blackpool Corporation Transport coat of arms

REFLECTION

History

The last new buses were these Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE in 2010 smaller operator in bus company standards, we could not buy off-plan. We had two Citaro demonstrators last year which were popular among both staff and passengers, including the Blackpool Bus Passenger Forum.”

Future

Single-decker buses in the fleet include Optare Solos and Excels – although the Excels have started to be withdrawn very expensive to buy and these were offered to us at a bargain price, and it was a way for us to become DDA compliant.”

The rest of the �leet is made up of 14 Volvo B7RLE, with both Wrightbus Eclipse Urban and Plaxton Centro bodywork.

Optare Solos and Excels make up the rest of the �leet, but the Excels are gradually being withdrawn.

This March will see the delivery of 10 Euro 6 12m Mercedes-Benz Citaros, which represent an investment of £1.7m. They will feature WiFi, charging points, next stop announcements and Mercedes-Benz seats trimmed in environmentally-sourced leather. They will be painted in a new livery, with which the company was not forthcoming, saying ‘you will have to wait ‘til March.”

Why the Citaro? Bob replied: “We went out in the market to look for a 12m, heavyweight single-decker, fully low-�loor, Euro 6 engine and fully tested in-service. We felt the Citaro was the only vehicle available.

“The Volvo B8RLE and Scania Irziar i3 are only now becoming available and as a

Until recently, the town had a bus station on Talbot Road. Built in the mid-1930s with a multi-storey car park above it, at that time it was probably the �irst, or one of the �irst, multistorey car parks in the UK – but it hasn’t been used for buses since 2002.

All services are now ‘on street’ with 90% of services ‘cross-town’. There is a small of�ice and rest-room for drivers in the town centre.

“Now that funding has been agreed for an extension to the tramway along Talbot Road to North Station, the council is looking at the feasibility of another bus station/ interchange,” added Jane.

In terms of ticketing, the �irm is looking at introducing smartcards. Currently on trial with colleges and some members of staff, it is expected to be rolled out in the second quarter of this year. Also on the agenda is the introduction of m-ticketing.

However, as Sue said: “Blackpool is a unique place with its mix of visitors and residents, so we need to get it just right for us and our passengers’ needs.”

The three main directors have a good working relationship with Blackpool Council.

Jane enthused: “They see three individuals and a senior management team with a broad range of skills, who know what is required of the business to move it forward and to be pro�itable.”

Concluding, Jane was most emphatic: “The customer is our bread and butter and what we need is to take on board all of their needs, be it social, leisure, business or work journeys. It all has to go in the pot so we can work out where the services need to be and where the people need to get to.” ■

‘When I asked is the company making money, I got a resounding Yes!’

16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 014_016_CBW1176_Blackpool Transport.indd 16

Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, it is true to say that the golden years for Blackpool Transport, and the town in general, was the period between the two World Wars.

Some of the towns’ architectural gems were built in the 1930s. The Derby Baths on the north promenade towards Bispham, the Savoy Cafe and the Woolworth Building next to the Tower, the 3,000-seat Odeon Cinema, which at the time it was built in 1939 was the largest seated cinema in the UK. All were built in the Art Deco style of that period, some are still with us.

During the inter-war years visitor numbers were at a record high, and a rapid expansion and modernisation was undertaken by the then General Manager Walter Luff.

The tramway was updated with modern streamlined single and double-deck trams.

The bus fleet standardised on Leylands, both single and double, with full fronts and centre entrance/exit, which became the first choice until the mid-1950s when it reverted to open rear platforms, then to one-person single-deckers, before standardising on East Lancs-bodied Leyland Atlanteans.

The current head office at Rigby Road may be relocated in the future There were some disasters – like the Coronation trams of 1952, which were built

by Charles Robert of Wakefield which at that time was more used to building railway wagons. To say that those trams were heavy and over-engineered is an understatement.

It was said that the chassis frame had more steel rivets than the Titanic. There were instances of broken axles and all were withdrawn prematurely.

Blackpool is also the birthplace of Graham Nash, who was a member of the 1960s pop group The Hollies, who later found fame with the American band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Another famous son of the town is the famous conductor David Atherton.

It is important to note that the recent investment on the resort such as the refurbished Blackpool Tower, Madame Tussauds, The Comedy Carpet and the new tramway has seen an increase in visitors and overnight stays and the 2014 October half- term visitor numbers were up over 30% on the previous year.

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 18:58

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February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

INTERVIEW › KEN BRUCE

RADIO 2’s 2’ BUSMAN Gareth Evans talks to popular Radio DJ Ken Bruce about his passion for the bus industry and the heritage Routemaster operation he part-owns

ThisBus.com reunites members of BBC TV’s Presentation Department each summer for a bus trip, a get-together and a laugh, in memory of legendary announcer Andy Cartledge.

Here RMLs 2394 and 2261 wait at the Windsor Wheel as the TV people take Windsor by storm.

STEVE MADDEN

18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 18

I

t’s a Thursday morning in mid January and I �ind myself at the BBC’s Western House, about a 10 minute walk from Oxford Circus. The 1930s Art Deco building, which has been tastefully modernised internally, is home to Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music among others.

I’m here to interview Ken Bruce, who at his own suggestion, I have arranged to meet in his natural environment.

Why am I talking to a popular Radio 2 DJ? Ken, who has been reading CBW since 2007, along with other BBC colleagues, owns six Routemasters. He’s a self-confessed enthusiast of transport operations.

His producer Gary, who instantly makes me feel welcome, tells me with a smile in his Ulster accent: “He’s been looking forward to meeting you.”

Gary offers me a seat at his desk, which is home to no fewer than three monitors and a printer. The scene is reminiscent of a bus traf�ic of�ice in some respects. Gary keeps an eye on both the show and tweets and emails from listeners, interspersed with phone calls and other presenters such as Matt Everitt, who reads the entertainment news. Ken is inside the ‘gold�ish bowl’ studio doing his stuff. While I’m no celeb-loving sort, it’s quite surreal seeing the people behind the voices I listen to while on my travels.

“A long track is playing – he’ll be out in a second,” Gary tells me, after explaining the goings on and systems behind the show.

As the door to his studio opens, he puts his hand out to shake mine. “Great to meet you Gareth at long last,” he smiles. “The magazine’s doing well.”

He invites me to sit inside, reminding me not to say anything while the red light is on – when the show is live on air. In between music, Ken and I get on well – we chat away like old friends.

When one of his colleagues enters to read a report, I re-join Gary for the next hour or so – and Ken pops out periodically to continue talking.

I’m introduced to other members of the team.

They’re all eager to learn about CBW. Everyone is so friendly, including fellow Welshman Lynn Bowles, who does the traf�ic reports; and Alan Dedicoat who reads the news and is the voice behind Strictly Come Dancing and the National Lottery on TV. Alan recognises my face too – he’s www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 10:52

A friendly face both on air and in the flesh: Ken Bruce. GARETH EVANS another shareholder of the bus �irm. Like Ken, they are all down to earth sorts.

“We’re chilled on radio,” Ken tells me.

“We don’t do stress. It’s a different sort of environment to television.”

Over a bacon roll and a large coffee, I interview Ken after the conclusion of his show at 1200hrs at a nearby Starbucks.

Origins

Asked what sparked his interest in buses, Ken replied: “Aged nine or 10, I inherited an old Kodak camera from my sister. I started taking pictures of Glasgow Corporation buses. There were 12 frames to a �ilm.

“Glasgow Corporation and Western Scottish Motor Traction (WSMT) served my area. I got to know WSMT Leyland PD2s, but they sounded different and moved faster than the PD2s run by the Corporation. I think the WSMT schedules were tighter, so the drivers had to put their foot down.

“I was interested in the system, such as why buses went down certain roads at particular times – rather than liveries, �leet numbers or registration numbers.

“My bus phase lasted for a year, but it remained there at the back of my mind. It reawakened.

“I then moved into trains. Why? Because when I use a service, I take an interest. I did the same when I was �lying regularly between Glasgow and London.”

With that in mind, Ken’s interest in railway operations was to be expected: “I was interested in signalling rather than engines. My aunt, who worked for British Railways in staff welfare, arranged for me to visit Perth signalbox.

I remember setting the route – it was an electronic ‘box.’”

“I’m no grease monkey,” he added.

Systematic approach

“I left school to work in a �irm of accountants, but it didn’t work out. I was terrible at it. I then moved to a car rental company. Again, the system appealed to me. The car goes out, returns and any damage is repaired. My boss always overbooked – he was brilliant at it. He would rely on people not turning up or cancelling. I never remember sending customers home empty handed, although they were occasionally asked to wait in the café www.coachandbusweek.com

018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 19

RML 2394 was once the only bus ThisBus.com owned. Here it waits at Hays Wharf on London’s South Bank as VIP customers sample lunch on nearby HMS Belfast.

STEVE MADDEN across the road for an hour.

“Again, getting the system to work was what I found fascinating.”

Ken highlighted his own current commute into central London: “Living in Oxfordshire, I catch a Chiltern train to Marylebone. I know the timetable off by heart. I then get a 453 bus to the BBC. I know when a bus is missing as I’ve got to know the running board numbers. It’s about being observant – it makes life easier. I understand if a bus is missing, when the staff are trying to maintain the headway. It certainly takes the dullness out of a commute.”

Each London bus has a its own running numbers.

The 453 is now operated using New Routemasters. On that note, asked if he’s a fan of the iconic vehicles, Ken responded without hesitation: “Yes. They’re brilliant. The one �law I have identi�ied is when the buses are in one person operation, they open all three doors, but the rearmost one does not fully open. A little announcement asks people to stand back from

partner him. Steve Newman of Ensignbus and Steve Madden are good mates.

“RML2394 was duly selected. In fact, when we got our �irst telephone number, we got it to end in 2394,” he mused.

“We had it refurbished by the Simmons family in Dunstable. They repanelled it and refreshed the interior. The inside was kept in ‘as withdrawn’ condition, with such additions as the �luorescent lighting and carpet on the walls.

“We’d spent a lot on it by this stage. We decided to recoup some of the money. We investigated obtaining an O-licence and the costs involved. It’s a serious business. We decided to do it properly rather than ‘play’ at it.

We obtained a one-vehicle O-licence. We were already using as our maintenance contractor, Ward Jones of High Wycombe, which was located next door to our yard.

“They know Routemasters inside out – they’re fantastic. We’ve got a high �irst time MOT pass rate, which is credit to them. We’re very proud of that.

the rear door. Negotiating the pole when only the straight panel on that door is open is slow.

“Aside from that, the New Routemasters are attractive and smooth – and they’re a very nice addition to the streetscape of London. If I’m still around in 40 years’ time, maybe we will have one in our �leet.”

“They were very helpful to us in our early days. We were allowed to keep our bus in their premises. We then took on the neighbouring yard, which we’ve since outgrown. Our yard takes �ive Routemasters and a portable building.

“We’ve now got six Routemasters and an RF is on the way, which is in the �inal stages of refurbishment. We hope to have it available this summer. We bought it two years ago. It’s taken a lot of work to bring it back up to standard.

We’ve acquired it to meet demand for a singledecker – both from smaller groups and to access places with low trees.”

Asked whether there are plans to continue growing, Ken said: “You never know – never say never. We’ve gone from operating one bus seven years ago to seven vehicles now. One thing’s for sure, we’re never going to be Arriva.

“I would say we’re not looking to expand more

‘New Routemasters are attractive and smooth – and they’re a very nice addition to the streetscape of London.

If I’m still around in 40 years’ time, maybe we will have one in our fleet’

Bus operation

Ken took up the story about the High Wycombebased �irm which trades as ThisBus.com: “We’re a niche operator. It was started by four us – Alan Dedicoat, Steve Madden and Charles Nove. Steve and Charles also work for the BBC, but on local radio.

“Steve’s a real bus nut – a proper knowledgeable crank. He said Routemasters withdrawn from Arriva’s route 73 were available to buy. He was looking for people to

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19 16/02/2015 10:52

INTERVIEW › KEN BRUCE at the moment. That said, we’ve just bought a wedding car. One of our drivers had a Jaguar Sovereign painted in London Transport-style red. Again, we’ve bought it to meet demand – for a wedding transport package. To meet demand for packages, two or three of our Routemasters are equipped with PA systems and we can fit portable sets in the remainder.”

Ken was keen to sing the praises of two respected family-run operators in his locality.

“We have a great relationship with other operators in the area – particularly Motts of Aylesbury and Marshalls of Leighton Buzzard.

We take our vehicles there for tachograph calibration. I also completed my Driver CPC at Motts. We ran a Leyland Titan for a spell.

Marshalls fitted it with a tachograph, but we sold the bus and it’s now resident at the London Bus Museum. I loved it, but it was not quite classic enough for a wedding. Customers want an open platform double-decker.”

For the record, the bus was T23, registered ‘WYV23T.’

ThisBus.Com service standard

“For the first two years, I took the bookings – I was in charge of sales – until it became too much,” Ken continued.

“I used to get people asking for quotes for a day trip from London to Bath. I had to try to explain politely to them that Routemasters have a top speed of 40mph, no door and no onboard loo. I would always recommend a coach operator to them.

“We don’t take on late night jobs or stag dos.

If people want a bus to transport them to the church and then the reception and return, we will do it but if it’s a late return, we build in a cleaning surcharge.

“When we started our operation,

BIOGRAPHY

Routemasters were almost 10 a penny and some people cut corners such as running them with only a driver and with a driver dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Our buses always go out with a trained crew, in full uniform. They’ve got to look smart – it’s a key part of the experience.

We instruct our crews to be aware of not leaving anything in the cab – such as a high-vis vest, a newspaper or a flask of coffee as it will spoil people’s photographs.

“Most of our crews are from an entertainment background. We have a lot of BBC people who perhaps strangely have an interest in PCVs in their spare time. It’s vital to employ nice people.

I’ve read it in CBW on numerous occasions about how you can teach people to drive but not to do customer service.

“Someone will always undercut you but customer service will win you repeat business and new business off the back of that. After all, people tend to get married with friends of a similar age, who may also be planning their wedding – and there may be someone who’s near retirement age or approaching a significant birthday, who will want to celebrate it in style.”

Highlighting other touches which ThisBus. com can add to a potential hirer, Ken said: “We do allow drinks to be served, albeit via our own supplier using plastic glasses. That way we control the intake but it also offers added value for guests. In partnership with a trusted local provider, we can organise a range of quality canapés to be onboard too. And you know what the British weather can do. To avoid getting a precious garment soaked, we offer umbrellas for hire.”

Ken added: “We can do personalised blinds for the bus too. McKenna Bros are great people to deal with. They will turn orders round rapidly.

We allow our customers to take the custom-

Ken Bruce: a brief history Born in 1951, Ken grew up in Glasgow. On leaving Hutchesons’ Boys’ Grammar School, he studied accountancy for two years, before becoming involved in a car hire company, rising from washing the cars to junior management.

He began his broadcasting career with the Hospital Broadcasting Service in Glasgow in his spare time.

After joining BBC Scotland, he became a staff announcer on BBC Radio Scotland in 1978, read the news and introduced concerts. His own daily show followed in 1980, when he took on the mid-morning slot.

In 1983, he presented a daily afternoon current affairs show.

After moving to BBC Radio 2 in 1984, his regular slot

Ken Bruce inside his studio at Radio 2. GARETH EVANS became The Saturday Late Show. This led to the offer of the Breakfast Show the following year, when Terry Wogan departed for television. He moved to the 0930hrs slot in 1986, where he has remained with The Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2, with just two intervening years in other slots, ever since.

He has avoided the TV over the years, finding it all a bit

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 20

frenetic – although he is happy to go on Countdown every so often because he feels it is more like radio.

In his own words: “Nobody rushes around pretending it’s important.”

On a personal note, Ken has been married three times and has six children.

Ken is content to remain at Radio 2. His contract with Radio 2 runs until 2016.

made blinds, allowing them to frame them as an important memento. It’s about making the day great for everybody.”

Another little extra offered is for souvenir tickets to be issued by a Conductor using a Gibson ticket machine. ThisBus.com-branded keyring torches and golf umbrellas are available for sale too.

Ken continued: “We don’t just do weddings.

We also do birthdays and funerals, where we just wind the blinds to black. It’s funny how a little change radically alters the appearance of a bus.

“We also do London sightseeing tours for corporate firms and groups. We’ve got some set routes but we can customise too.”

On that note, Ken enthused: “We’ve just launched LondonByRoutemaster.com, which is aimed at group travel. We do filming work too – a prime example being the 7UP knitted bus.

We took the bus to Pinewood Studios and it was driven round London. You’ve got to keep moving in this business. People remember good service.

It may not be this year or next, but you’ve always got to remember that every passenger is a potential customer.”

While private hire remains the firm’s core focus, it does operate a registered service – for four days a year.

“We run a shuttle between Thame town centre and the Towersey Festival, a folk festival www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 19:09

RML 2408 purrs across Westminster Bridge on its way to another Private Hire as Stagecoach London’s 19829 sweeps past. STEVE MADDEN

Ke

PU in Oxfordshire. I am not normally a hands-on person but that service is very much my baby. I do the service registration too.”

ThisBus.Com team

Ever-modest, Ken remarked: “I must stress that Charles and Steve are the working directors.

They work their socks off. Alan and I get involved when we’re called upon.”

Turning to the day-to-day staff, Ken explained: “We have a full-time Operations Manager in the form of Samantha Winkworth and our Transport Manager is Malcolm Eynon. Both are very hands-on people. Malcolm drives each week too – he’s a great fella. Sam’s deputy is Deborah Brown. Between them, they run office and Malcolm ensures the fleet works, while Charles and Steve run the financial and planning side of the business. Some people thought we were just playing at it but we are sticklers for the rules.”

As a PCV licence holder, does Ken get behind the wheel much? “I used to do a lot in the early days as we had no staff. I try now to drive at least one a year. Because I’m on the spot, I can

muck in as required, such as doing meal reliefs on the Thame Food Festival journeys. To be honest, jumping in a cab of a Routemaster is like a car – it’s all there.”

He added: “I remember driving a Guy Arab at The Transport Museum, Wythal. The preselector was hard work. Our RF is a pre-selector too but it’s an air–operated column change, so is easier.

“With a Routemaster you’ve got the choice of semi- or fully-automatic. We try to encourage drivers to drive manually.”

Why Routemasters? “It’s such an iconic type of bus. People ask for a Routemaster even if they’ve not actually seen one in the flesh. We tend to stick within the M25, and north and west London, but we will go to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. East of the M25 is a job for Ensignbus.”

Industry issues

With recruitment being a real issue for the industry as a whole, particularly part-time and casual staff, what’s Ken’s experience? “We struggle sometimes. The nature of our business

‘Someone will always undercut you but customer service will win you repeat business and new business off the back of that’

www.coachandbusweek.com

018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 21

is that our drivers are casual. They tend to be older people with time on their hands. We’ve also got some people who drive for a living and fancy getting behind the wheel of something different. Our team includes a TV and a radio producer and a retired TV announcer – and at one time we had a former BBC weatherman.

“The one thing we look for is people who are good with people. We’ve got male and female staff in their 20s who work as conductors. The only time we have problems with conductors is taking fares on the Towersey service – it’s tiring if you’re not used to it.”

What advice would Ken give about recruitment for the industry? “It’s a great industry to work in and can be a great job,” he replied. “The industry needs to ensure staff are paid fairly and that they have good working conditions. It’s vital for people to feel part of the operation. It’s also important to thank people for their hard work – people need to feel wanted.”

What’s Ken’s view on the Driver CPC? “I did it last year. I can’t take a day off here and there, so I took a week’s holiday in half-term – my wife was not impressed. It was a very good course run by Motts. I came away from it with a lot of extra knowledge of tachographs and first aid, among other things. It was all worthwhile.

“I liked meeting different people on the Driver CPC course – we all had such a variety

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21 16/02/2015 15:35

1: 2:

3: If t we no int

INTERVIEW › KEN BRUCE VEHICLES

ThisBus.com fleet On the face of it, the bus fleet operated by ThisBus.com is merely a ‘load of Routemasters’ but they each have a history of their own – and then there’s the most recent addition, an RF. ● RML 2394 ‘JJD394D’ is the founder member of the ThisBus.com fleet. Its London Transport (LT) life began in February 1966 at West Ham Garage on routes 5 and 249. Over its working career it also served on routes 262, 48, 24, 15, 6, 30, 35, 24 (again) – and finally an unbroken 18-year spell at Tottenham on the 73. It retired from London duties in September 2004, and after a refurbishment, began ThisBus.com duties the following year. ● RML 2261 Registered ‘CUV261C,’ this vehicle is regarded as the star of the fleet, being the very first of the production bus of 500 RMLs, the longer version of the Routemaster. Delivered on July 1, 1965, it became an instant celebrity when it was selected for a goodwill trade tour of the USA. It left for America in August and didn’t return until December. The tour took place in Rochester (New York), New York City, Richmond (Virginia) and Charlotte (North Carolina), the vehicle faultlessly covering 3,151 miles.

After its first full overhaul in 1972, RML2261 was again chosen for a trip to the States – this time to Pittsburgh, so it is believed to be

unique in having visited America twice.

It is one of three of the firm’s vehicles to have entered LT service at West Ham Garage in February 1966, serving routes 5, 249 and 262.

Altogether RML2261 was allocated to 12 garages over 39 years, until eventual withdrawal from a long spell on the 73 at Tottenham on September 3, 2004. ● RML 2408 ‘JJD408D’ has much in common with two other ThisBus.Com vehicles – RMLs 2261 and 2394 – in that it started life at West Ham Garage in early 1966, and later spent sustained periods at a handful of other garages over nearly 40 years.

Perhaps unusually, it notched up two separate stints at each of three garages – Leyton, Clapton and Chalk Farm. ● RML 2634 ‘NML634E’ began life as a Putney bus in 1967, where it remained for 16 years before finally leaving for route 88 from Shepherds Bush in 1983.

Even then, it remained settled, with long periods at Leyton and finally on the 6 and 98 at Willesden. ● RML 2278 One of LT’s first ‘production’ RMLs, ‘CUV278C’ dates from the Autumn of 1965. When new, it was one of a batch of 17 red ones which introduced the type to the (green)

Country area. For six weeks, 2278 and its sisters ran alongside the first green RMLs at Godstone on the picturesque routes 409, 410 and 411 in the Surrey/ Kent countryside.

Once sufficient green ones had arrived, 2278 took up its more natural ‘red’ bus duties, moving to Tottenham for route 76 as part of a comparative trial with Leyland Atlanteans. Phase 2 of the trial took it to Chalk Farm for route 24 in 1966, and it remained here until its first overhaul in 1973. A brief spell at Highgate (Holloway) for route 14 was followed by six years at Hackney on the 6. Overhauled again in 1979, it was allocated to West Ham for the 25, then Cricklewood for routes 16 and 16a.

Its final overhaul, in 1982, took it back to Tottenham for the 243, then a long period on the 38 from Leyton and Clapton garages. In June 1991, it moved across London for a 13-year spell on the 7 and 23 from Westbourne Park. It was finally withdrawn when Routemasters were removed from the 7 in July 2004. ● RML 2335 ‘CUV335C’ was among LT’s first green RMLs, allocated to the busy Godstone Garage in the LT Country Area. Entering service on November 1, 1965, it provided more than 12 years’ service on the 409, 410 and 411 in the outer suburbs of East Surrey and West Kent. Beneath the current red livery lies the old green colour scheme – as it still carries its

original body, B2335. Bought back

by LT in January 1978, it was quickly overhauled and began its new red bus career at Highgate. After 18 months as a driver-trainer at Dalston, it settled in to a stable life on two of London’s busiest routes – the 207 from Hanwell, then the 12 from Peckham and, later, Camberwell. It was finally withdrawn from route 12 in November 2004. ● RF 512 ‘MXX 489’ has a history fairly typical of these indestructible and lovable single-deckers, serving as part of LT’s Central Bus fleet at a number of garages across London from 1953 to eventual withdrawal in 1979.

What marks it out, though, is that it was both the last red RF to enter service (March 25, 1953) and the last to get back to Kingston Garage when RF’s were eventually withdrawn on March 31, 1979. The latter was aided by it overheating on the Commemorative Run back to Kingston. Over the course of its working life, it was also allocated to Dalston, Kingston and Edgware.

Entering preservation in 1987, it was acquired by ThisBus.com in May 2012. Since then it has been undergoing a complete restoration with Simmons. The vehicle is due to return to the road in the coming months.

For more details about ThisBus.Com, visit www. thisbus.com. Call 0800 999 0900.

Follow @ThisBusDotCom on Twitter

Funerals are a fact of life for ThisBus. com. They’ve done several. This was the hardest of all: the lovely Jill Ponsford worked tirelessly on ThisBus’s marketing.

She died suddenly in 2013 at the age of 42 and many of the huge ThisBus family – and RML 2335 – attended her funeral in Tunbridge Wells.

STEVE MADDEN

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 22

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 15:35

‘If the industry had not been deregulated, I don’t think we would have seen the high quality initiatives we have now such as Arriva’s Sapphire and the more widespread introduction of free onboard WiFi’

A typical wedding private hire. The Directors keep their hand in at driving the occasional job. Director Steve Madden drove this one at Roehampton village in South West London. As always, RML 2261 stole the show. Overshadowed brides get miffed sometimes... STEVE MADDEN

Providing transport for Towersey village Festival in Oxfordshire has become a regular summer fixture, with Ken proving his scheduling skills. Here, RML 2394 has just delivered another cheery bus-load back to the Festival site.

STEVE MADDEN

of experiences in the same industry. The group included a minicoach operator and a longdistance HGV driver. Two of the group now drive for us. Everyone seems to want to drive a Routemaster. That said, I feel for for the drivers who used to drive them in scheduled service day in, day out – the noise from the engine and having to sit on the front wheel. Also, the power steering is the sort that doesn’t help you when you most need it, i.e. when you’re manoeuvring at low speed. And it’s oh dear in cold weather too.”

Competition in or for the market?

With the industry currently being under immense pressure from politicians of all colours to change the now established deregulated (competition in the market) model to one which would be a franchised competition for the market, where does Ken sit? Is he a deregulationist or a re-regulationist?

“I think deregulation in the main has worked well,” he said without hesitation.

“I remember the so-called ‘bus wars’ of the late 1980s – it got ridiculous in some places.

The industry has since consolidated. There is a place for smaller operators – they’re the pearl in the oyster. If it gets to the situation where new operators can’t gain a foothold, it’s bad.

“If the industry had not been deregulated, I don’t think we would have seen the high quality initiatives we have now such as Arriva’s Sapphire and the more widespread introduction of free onboard WiFi. The prime local example of competition to me is between the Oxford Tube and the X90 Oxford – London. It’s a great service for the public – it’s what competition has delivered.

“On the other hand, an eye has to be kept on rural bus services. You can’t get transport for nothing. The rail network is subsidised to a huge extent and local bus services should be too. Buses don’t run on fresh air – and you don’t want them carrying fresh air either. It’s up to the local authority to subsidise where necessary. It’s called social entitlement.

“I remember the days of Glasgow Corporation – there seemed to be no great desire to improve the service. Bunching was routine for example. I would not want to go back to those days. www.coachandbusweek.com

018_023_CBW1176_Ken Bruce.indd 23

ThisBus provided a treat for a very generous Radio 2 listener and his family, in aid of Children In Need.

All the Directors were on hand to give Roger French and his family a memorable day out in London. Here, at the London Eye, is RML 2394. From left to right, front are: David Sheppard, Charles Nove and Steve Madden. Alan Dedicoat is behind, extreme left, while Ken hangs off the back of the platform, right “I have to say London’s bus service is fantastic – but it comes at a great cost. The congestion charge helps to pay for it. Bus lanes are enforced too, which makes a huge difference to the way buses are able to operate compared to in the provinces. London traffic is a law into itself.

When a bus lane was added to Marylebone Road, there were fears of gridlock, but that’s not been the case. Buses can run uninterrupted.

“I use buses on a daily basis and I know famous people who do the same. I prefer the bus over the tube – and in terms of time, buses are very competitive.

“Yes a tube journey may ‘only’ take five minutes, but you’ve got to spend five or more minutes getting down to the platform, then a couple of minutes waiting and more minutes to get back up to the surface.”

On that note, Ken remarked: “In broadcasting, punctuality is key. I’m obsessive about it. I get a digital clock for our registered bus service. I don’t want to run a minute late – I want to run on time.”

Closing lines

Asked when and why he started reading CBW, Ken replied: “When we first bought our Routemaster. We joined the Routemaster Association too. CBW has been my learning manual. I found things that worked and things which did not. It’s not an enthusiasts’ magazine – it’s for professionals. I read it when my children are having their weekly swimming lesson. I get some strange looks. I like the features – I always learn something.”

What do his colleagues make of his interest in buses? “Bemused. They don’t get it. Chris Evans became interested a few months ago. He asked me if I would drive a bus on the London to Brighton rally. I agreed – as long as he passes his PCV driving test. I believe Motts are helping him.”

As we prepared to go our separate ways, Ken reflected: “Getting a bus has been one of the best things I have done. At times it’s been a real headache – there has been worry about the business – but touch wood, it’s doing very well.” n

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23 16/02/2015 15:35

DELIVERIES

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

in association with

EXETER RUGBY GROUP Exeter Rugby Group Ltd has received a new VDL Futura FHD2 139.410MX coach.

The 13.9m long vehicle is powered by 12.9 litre 410bhm Paccar MX Euro 6 engine, combined with a ZF AS-Tronic transmission. A ZF intarder is also specified.

The coach contains 40 Vogel Conuro leather trimmed reclining passenger seats which are positioned around 10 executive tables and include side slide facility and lap seatbelts. The coach can be upseated to 61 in later life if required.

As is to be expected from a dedicated team coach, plenty of luxury features are included on board.

with another fridge / coolbos within the dash.

The coach’s facilities also include a centre sunken toilet compartment with water flush toilet and a warm air hand dryer. For smoothness of ride, the vehicle is specified with ABS and ASR traction control, cruise control and independent front suspension with lowering control. The driver has access to a reversing camera.

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: VDL Futura

For entertainment, the coach carries an extensive multimedia package including CD/DVD/MP3 capability, Xbox, mobile digital TV, Apple TV and Matrix split monitor display.

BUZZLINES Kent-based operator Buzzlines has taken delivery of two i6 10.8m midicoaches from Irizar UK. The pair are being run on Buzzlines’ high-profile Unilever transfer contract, replacing vehicles of much lower specification. Both are Euro 6 compliant 41-seaters.

One of the two is equipped with a side-mounted wheelchair lift.

“When we won the contract renewal to move Unilever staff from the railhead in Leatherhead to work, it came with a number of stipulations,” said Buzzlines Director Nigel Busbridge.

“There was an option to

includes a commercial microwave and fridge, sink with hot and cold water supply, coffee maker, storage and LED lighting. Large pull-out refrigerators are also located between seats, along

FHD2 139.410MX ENGINE: Paccar MX Euro 6 TRANSMISSION: ZF 12AS2001

AS-Tronic SEATS: 40 SUPPLIED BY: Moseley in the

South 01823 653000

EURORIDER run electric buses but we felt that the costs associated with this option outweighed the benefits. Instead, we decided to operate the contract with Euro 6 coaches.

“Choosing Irizar UK i6 integrals wasn’t a difficult decision; we already operate them and in my view, they are among the best-looking coaches on the market.”

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: Irizar i6 ENGINE: DAF MX11 Euro 6 TRANSMISSION: ZF AS-Tronic

auto-shift SEATS: 41 SUPPLIED BY: Irizar UK 01909

500514 www.irizar.co.uk

24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 024_CBW1176_Deliveries.indd 24

Hard drive storage can be displayed through saloon monitors. A 3kw Inverter with additional batteries and split charging system supplies 240v power to every table.

A central servery area

Stockport-based EuroRider has taken delivery of a top specification Mercedes-Benz Tourismo Euro 6 coach.

Built to Touring Plus specification, the Tourismo provides seating for 49 in Luxline upholstery of a part leather-fabric design.

Luxury features on board the coach include dual 19” electronic fold-down monitors, air-conditioning and WiFi access. Passengers also benefit from the conveniences of a centre toilet and boon kitchen.

The coach also features a host of driver comforts and aids including cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and a reverse parking camera.

The additional specification of full three-point seatbelts, brake assist and an electronic stability program ensure maximum safety for all passengers.

Power is delivered by the Mercedes-Benz OM 470, 290 kW Euro 6 engine, paired with a six-speed ZF Ecolife

automatic transmission.

The new Tourismo delivered to EuroRider was supplied by Mercedes-Benz Coach Sales at EvoBus (UK).

Ron Shaw from EuroRider told CBW: “The coach is our first new Tourismo, though we have had a brand new Touro before.

“It seems very nice so far – the drivers and passengers are very happy with it and love the smoothness of the ride.

“It’s being used for private hire and European tour work.

It is also the coach we will be using to transport the Australian football team

when they visit the UK.” EuroRider offers a range of individually tailored travel options, specialising in serving corporate travel groups, private hire and sports partners with tours for one day or more.

FACT FILE

BODY/CHASSIS: Mercedes-

Benz Tourismo Euro 6 ENGINE: Mercedes-Benz OM

470 290kW TRANSMISSION: ZF Ecolife

automatic SEATS: 49 SUPPLIED BY: EvoBus UK 02476

626000 www.evobus.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 14:32

p25_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 17:37 Page 25

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2002/3 DAF DB250 PLAXTON PRESIDENT & ALEXANDER ALX400 65 seats – choice

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• Daf PE 9.2 litre euro 3 engine • Voith D851.3 gearbox • Plaxton President body • 65 seats + 26 standees • DDA compliant • Fitted with CCTV cameras • Long MOT • £13,500 + VAT

• Conversion to single door • Up-seated to 72 + 19 standees • Full Re-trim • New floor covering • Retractable lap belts on ALX400 • Repainted into your livery • Hanover LED Destination • All changes certified by DVSA • New COIF & DDA certificate • New MOT • Finance available – subject to status To discuss your requirements please call

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www.coachandbusweek.com

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25

OPINION › PATRICK FAULL

London coach parking: a passionate plea Patrick Faull, a coach driver at Truemans, outlines the problems coaches face in London and shares with CBW readers a lengthy email he sent to The Mayor, Boris Johnson – which includes a reflection on the number of coach parks which have disappeared and not been replaced in recent years

A

lmost all coach drivers and operators like to complain about the problems for coaches in central London – including the lack of facilities, the ever-decreasing number of parking spaces, pick up and drop off points – not to mention the rigid enforcement regime. It’s easy to take to CBW magazine or online forums to voice your opinions but how many of us actually do something constructive?

I decided to write an email to to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

A copy was also sent to the Confederation of Passenger Transport and also Stephen Gaiger, the originator of a Facebook page, Sort Out London’s Coach Parking with Common Sense.

This particular group has 700 members, many of which have voiced an opinion of some kind on that particular group page – but I believe none of them have directed their concerns at what is regarded as the source of the problem.

Since posting the e-mail, I have received many favourable comments, even a suggestion of sending it to the press, in particular, the Daily Mail.

overseas doing the same.

Part of a coach driver’s responsibility is the safe set down and pick up of these passengers, many of which are vulnerable – children, elderly and infirm people, along with everyone else in between. Setting down and picking up near a particular venue is made extremely difficult, due to ‘Red Routes,’ double yellow lines and bus stops that are only available for Transport for London (TfL) local buses. Therefore, in effect, we coach drivers have to run the gauntlet every time we venture into London. There are parking wardens who will issue an Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) as soon as they look at you.

There are also CCTV cameras all over the place recording everything that coaches do.

If an FPN is issued, the driver has to pay the fine. Each and every borough within London has a different set of rules and laws governing parking restrictions. They include loading bays, yellow lines, red lines and bus stops – in fact, anywhere a coach may need to set down or pick up safely near any particular venue.

Background

Bus lanes

First of all, let me state that on any one day, I would estimate conservatively, that 500 coaches enter London. They will be carrying commuters, tourists, day excursion visitors for theatres, and other places of interest – not to mention school parties visiting museums and so on. That number of coaches would equate to about 20,000 visitors, all of which generate income for London. There are also local coach operators transferring passengers to or from hotels, airports, sightseeing excursions and the like. In addition to these coaches, there are coaches from

Upon entering London from any direction, there are bus lanes. These specially marked lanes can be used by coaches, providing the bus lanes do not state “Local Buses Only.”

Having entered London, we are now confronted with more bus lanes that are “TfL vehicles only.” If these bus lanes were opened up to include coaches, it would greatly reduce the amount of travelling time, to and from the city centre. This of course would include, Oxford Street, where there are restrictions and times where coaches cannot traverse the road.

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 026_029_CBW1176_Opinion_Pat Fauller.indd 26

Patrick Faull with his coach

Bus stands

In and around numerous places within the city, there are bus stands. These are designated stands for TfL vehicles only, where they have to lay over for a short period of time in between bus journeys. These stands are where drivers of buses can take a well deserved rest, albeit, for a short period of time. At least those drivers have the choice of staying with their vehicle or getting off to find somewhere to eat and drink. If a coach is parked in one of these bays, they are either moved on and/or receive an FPN. However, coaches are now not allowed to set down or pick up for theatre goers at the Aldwych – they get moved on. There are also some City Tour bus stops in Aldwych, which coaches are forbidden to use.

The controversial cycling superhighway will see the number of parking bays slashed in central London.

GARETH EVANS

Parking bays

There are parking bays, very useful ones in Kingsway, but, they have to be vacated by 1600hrs and coaches may not return until 1900hrs.

Therefore, if a coach has to set down its passengers in Kingsway for a matinee performance around Covent Garden theatres, that coach or any other coach, has to vacate those bays for about one and a half hours and find somewhere else to park until such time as the show has finished, when www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 15:38

that coach may return to collect its passengers and leave.

In the same vein, drivers are not allowed to leave their vehicle as they will receive an FPN for a parking offence between those times. With these bays, there are two points, both of which have the potential of damaging vehicles. One of these came under the public spotlight recently, when a double-deck bus was travelling along Kingsway too close to the trees along there and the roof of the bus was removed – as it is designed to do.

It’s the same danger for coaches – the close proximity of the trees to the kerb.

Coach drivers have to be aware of these trees, otherwise the roof or the rear nearside corner will be damaged upon leaving these bays. The second point in question is that if a coach allows enough room to exit the bays, the danger transfers to the other side of the vehicle, whereby mirrors can and have been knocked off by passing vehicles, and at £500 plus per mirror, it’s not a cheap incident.

Victoria Embankment

These are the bays that sparked my response and the writing of the e-mail to The Mayor. Stephen Gaiger posted a file on the Facebook page, featuring an artist’s impression of the new cycle highway depicting Blackfriars Bridge

www.coachandbusweek.com

026_029_CBW1176_Opinion_Pat Fauller.indd 27

‘When you think about it, it’s astonishing just how many coach parking spaces have disappeared and not been replaced over the years’

looking towards Tower Bridge. This document also stated that the “highway” has got the green light or the go ahead so to speak.

This cycle highway involves the removal of numerous coach parking bays along Victoria Embankment to accommodate the highway, thus reducing areas where coaches can park up for any amount of time. The way I understand it, the cycle way will run from at least Blackfriars Bridge to Westminster.

Coach parks

I first started driving buses locally in 1986. I progressed to coaches around 1992. With the coach company I worked for at the time, I had to go into London two or three times a week. In those days, there were several coach parks scattered all over London.

When you think about it, it’s astonishing just how many coach parking spaces have disappeared and not been replaced over the years.

I will start with the coach park with which I think started the rot – Tooley

Street. This was a reasonably-sized coach park, in the shadow of Tower Bridge, with access via Tooley Street. It was one of the first ones to be closed, if not the first. The reason? To enable Ken Livingstone, the then Mayor of London, to have his offices built there.

Then there was St. Paul’s coach park, which was recently closed to coaches in order that a garden could be laid out. So now, visitors to St. Paul’s arriving by coach can be set down near to the cathedral, and coaches then have to go away and return at a later time to collect.

There was a coach park on former wasteland just past Tesco on Warwick Road too. It could accommodate about 50 coaches, as could Tooley Street.

This coach park was also closed. The reason? To redevelop the land.

Other coach parks which have been closed for redevelopment include Vauxhall Bankfoot, White City, Lambeth Council Yard, Battersea Hester Road, Gloucester Road Coach Station, Thorney Road and Paddington North Wharf

Road, to name a few. These coach parks have all gone to be redeveloped into offices or housing, and no alternative replacement coach parking has been found.

The latest coach park to have disappeared is Earl’s Court, in Seagrave Road. When will it end?

One coach park that is available, is that at Tower Hill. This is a small, underground coach park, with narrow access and exit and very tight in the coach park, which increases the risk of damage to coaches. Also, there is a reasonable coach park under Tesco in Warwick Road, but it’s dirty and unsavoury.

A fellow driver recently posted on Facebook about being parked in Bayswater Road coach park.

Complaints arising from this place – which is muddy in winter, dusty in summer – include rat infestation and the presence of overhanging trees which can cause damage to coaches in the dark if drivers are not aware of them.

Low Emission Zone

Digressing slightly, many coach companies are fortunate enough to buy the latest vehicles which are Low Emission Zone (LEZ) compliant, but in the same vein, there are many coach operators which are not in a position

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 27 16/02/2015 15:04

OPINION › PATRICK FAULL

Patrick estimates conservatively that 500 coaches enter London each day, from both the UK and elsewhere across Europe. GARETH EVANS to own and operate suitable vehicles.

To get over this problem, they have to pay thousands of pounds to have their existing vehicles adapted and modified.

In London, there are three railway stations which are served by old diesel-powered trains built in the late 1970s and early 80s, including the high-profile Intercity 125 trains – Kings Cross, St Pancras and Paddington. Each of these trains has two power cars, one front and rear of the train. Many of these trains are left idling for some time. At the appointed departure time, the engines are revved up to start it’s journey, and clouds of black exhaust, is emitted.

I would guess that if only one train departed, the exhaust from that train would exceed the total daily emissions from all coaches in London. Are the railways LEZ-compliant? Like the aircraft flying over central London, I fear not.

Do the train operators get penalised in the same way that coach companies are? Again, I fear not.

Conclusion

I have, I think, laid out many of the problems encountered when driving in and around London. Coach parking areas have been taken away, and no alternative arrangements have been made. We as professional drivers now have to drive around and try to find somewhere to park and take a reasonable break. This driving around seriously encroaches our maximum of nine hours’ driving time, which

Coaches are no longer allowed to set down or pick up for theatre goers at the Aldwych. GARETH EVANS also has the knock on effect of our infrequent 15-hour day. If a driver is challenged by a parking warden (sorry, Civil Enforcement Officer), who has no idea about the driving laws that govern us, we are told to “Plan Our Journey Better.” All of our journeys are planned to stay legal – it’s just that when we come to London, the whole planned journey goes out the window owing to a range of factors. These include road closures, diversions, suspended

‘All of our journeys are planned to stay legal – it’s just that when we come to London, the whole planned journey goes out the window owing to a range of factors’

28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 026_029_CBW1176_Opinion_Pat Fauller.indd 28

parking bays and DVSA taking over coach bays in order to check vehicles over. Coach bays are often also taken over by workmen’s lorries and other vehicles connected to the building industry. A new type of suspension is “for an event,” accompanied by a series of numbers which have no meaning whatsoever to the average coach driver.

DVSA recently clamped a vehicle on Victoria Embankment due to infringements. They do of course have

a vital job to do, but that particular course of action meant another bay was gone, albeit temporarily. Parking restrictions, including setting down and picking up vary from Borough to Borough. Would it not be a good idea if, all local authorities sang from the same hymn sheet so to speak, in that the same rules and regulations applied to all boroughs.

If this new ‘super cycle highway’ goes ahead, which, no doubt it will, what, if any, alternative arrangements will be made for visiting coaches to park for any amount of time? It strikes me, and the hundreds of other coach drivers who travel into London on a daily basis, that the Mayor of London wants to have the visitors to go sight seeing, visit theatres, visit museums, to sample the delights of London and any other venue that I have omitted, to spend their hard earned money. This must generate millions of pounds for the London economy, but it appears Boris does not want the mode of transport which brings people into the capital – coaches. London is not the only city which has this problem – Glasgow and Edinburgh also spring to mind, to name but two.

I have voiced my opinion about this situation, how about the thousands of other coach drivers doing the same, instead of sitting back, wait for something to happen then reap the benefits. Please ladies and gentlemen, do not be a voice in the wilderness, stand up and be heard. n www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 15:04

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OPINION › CLAIRE WALTERS BUUK

Who’s the real customer?

Bus Users UK Chief Executive Claire Walters urges bus manufacturers to consider what she calls the ‘real customer’ – the passenger – when designing vehicles

A

s the bus industry gathered in Birmingham in November for its annual display of gleaming new hardware, everything from coaches costing half a million quid to wheel nuts and ticket rolls, I thought it was time to throw down a gauntlet to the people who build buses. Why not ask the real customers, the people who will use your product day in, day out, for their views to inform your nextgeneration designs?

There is little doubt that bus design has come on in leaps and bounds.

I recently rode on one of the few remaining classic Routemasters still in service in London and was struck, not so much by its iconic design, as by its lack of legroom and rough ride. I have also ridden on some new buses where I’ve actually been reluctant to get off at my stop because I’ve been so comfortable.

It’s not all bad by any means but there’s always scope for improvement.

To the people who design and build our buses, the ‘customer’ is in actual fact the bus company. And while, to a certain extent, this may be understandable, it means those of us who actually use the bus are a long way removed from the design and build process. The philosophy is often ‘You tell us what you want and we’ll build it,’ tempered by what’s legal, physically possible and affordable.

However, manufacturers are missing a marketing trick – if they were to carry out passenger research prior to designing, they could use those passenger views to sell buses to companies which haven’t done any research themselves.

Ultimately, customers are what the industry quaintly terms ‘bums on seats’ – you and me. Without our contribution handed to the driver, or paid on our behalf through an obliging transport authority’s smartcard tapped on the

Having ridden on a Routemaster still in service on London’s route 15H, Claire says she was struck, not so much by its iconic design, as by its lack of legroom and rough ride. TFL reader, no-one would be buying new buses.

Manufacturers do consult some groups of passengers, and today’s accessible buses could not have been developed without a lot of consultation with people with disabilities – as highlighted in a recent issue of Bus User magazine. That said, there are still issues which could easily have been resolved by early testing with passengers.

Blind or partially sighted people, for example, can still bump their heads on unexpected handrails. Buses that tell people where they are – using audio-visual systems – remain far from commonplace. This is despite them being invaluable to blind and partially sighted people – not to mention jolly handy for the rest of us – and despite the fact that the technology is readily available.

Many of us will still shiver in the winter and melt in the summer, when drivers are unable to control the heaters.

And while posh leather seats may look and smell lovely, do we actually prefer them, when a lead-booted driver can have us sliding

30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 030_CBW1176_Opinion_Claire Walters.indd 30

all over the place? Or would we rather sit on moulded plastic with a thin bit of padding?

Another regular barrier to bus use is the lack of space to stow shopping.

How often do we hear car owners say, “I would use the bus if I could get my shopping home”? 70 people on a single bus each with a month’s worth of Tesco shopping would be interesting, but the reality is there is very little space for anyone to store shopping or luggage.

Then there’s the issue of ventilation.

Do we prefer windows that open or decent air-conditioning? Can we actually see out of the windows? Are we worried that the handy bell push on a pole might do us a serious mischief if the bus stops too quickly?

Will we bang our heads if we have to sit right at the back, over the engine?

Obviously there are immovable constraints – buses still have to be able to negotiate the medieval street patterns of some of our towns and not weigh too much.

Manufacturers still need to put luxuries like engines and wheels somewhere, and work within sensible and legal dimensions while

While posh leather seats may look and smell lovely, do we actually prefer them, when a lead-booted driver can have us sliding all over the place? Or would we rather sit on moulded plastic with a thin bit of padding?

enabling operators to carry enough passengers to make it worthwhile running the service in the first place.

The perfect bus will never exist.

However, maybe tomorrow’s generation of new buses will not only emit cleaner air than they draw in, do an entire day’s work on three gallons of diesel and have the fanciest headlamps imaginable, but will also benefit from having asked us, the passenger, what we think and how we want to use the bus in everyday, real, life.

Go on manufacturers, we dare you: talk to us. n

About the author Claire joined Bus Users UK (BUUK) in September 2012. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years in both the UK and overseas, and has brought extensive management experience along with entrepreneurial flair to the organisation. She is working to expand BUUK’s membership, impact and influence so that the interests of bus passengers can be most effectively served.

For more details about BUUK, visit www.

BusUsers.org or call 0300 111 0001. Follow @BusUsersUK on Twitter.

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 09:27

p31_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 11:53 Page 31

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February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 31

FACE TO FACE › SIMON BENNETT

Steps to success Abellio Business Development Manager Simon Bennett tells Jade Smith about his career in the bus and coach industry and his fundraising plans for the year ahead

A

fter some Oyster card problems at Kings Cross and embarrassing myself by initially going into the wrong building, I �inally found Simon Bennett in Abellio’s London of�ice.

Currently assuming the role of Business Development Manager for Abellio, Simon naturally travels around the UK and the interview occurred during a small window he had open in London.

Welcoming me into his of�ice for the day, Simon spoke to me enthusiastically about his career and fell running hobby.

CBW How did you get into the industry?

Simon Bennett (SB) I did a Geography degree back in the 1970s. I became a National Bus Company senior management trainee in 1982 in Lancashire. I wasn’t one of those people who automatically knew they wanted to work in the bus industry. I wanted to work somewhere where I was working with people, but I also wanted to see processes through from start to �inish. I think there’s no question that you can do that in the bus industry – it’s �lexible enough that you can start something and then when the bus registration is �inished you can see it through to the end.

I’ve worked about a third of my career in the coach industry. Arguably, you see things through even more quickly there – if someone rings up and wants a private hire tonight or at the weekend, you can go out and deliver the service there and then.

Compared with retail, for example, which seems more distant and has big processes, within the bus industry there’s the ability to interact with people and get really fast reactions. So that’s what attracted me to it.

CBW How have things changed since you �irst started in the industry?

SB If I re�lect back over 30-something years, on the one hand technology has developed in all sorts of ways, but actually it’s those key interactions with people that are still core, and I guess it can be very easy to get the technology in the way of the people. In the 1980s, it was very easy to get the processes in the way, because things were so regimented back before de-regulation. Technology now runs the risk of getting in the way of really 32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 032_036_CBW1176_Simon Bennett.indd 32

good service. The original processes are still there – but the technology has undoubtedly grown and grown.

From a driver’s perspective they would get in a vehicle and have a mechanical ticket machine, but now the technology is so much more advanced. We speak about how many different pieces of GPS equipment you can have on a bus, but when you factor in how many GPS pieces of kit the passengers are carrying in their mobile phones – it can be a huge number. Back in the day people would have been landing on the moon with something that’s the size of what is now inside our mobile phones. So if you think about how much computing power there is on each bus in London, it’s phenomenal.

CBW Tell us about your current role.

SB I’m currently Business Development Manager for Abellio on the bus side. For the majority of the last year and a half that has involved work in the North of England where Abellio Bus has not traditionally been, and it started off with a piece of veri�ication work before we’ve subsequently gone live on rail replacement. So although Abellio currently only has the one bus business down in London and Surrey, we’ve then developed from those skills to do rail replacement in Abellio Greater Anglia when we were successful in getting the rail franchise there.

We’d like to think we’ve been able to make some improvements to rail replacement with Northern Rail.

Northern Rail is a huge franchise stretching from Lincoln, Nottingham across to Stoke-on-Trent and Chester and then all the way up to the Scottish borders. So we have a small team of about 10 people on a 24/7 basis in the control room in York. Then we interact with more than 300 coach operators who supply to us. It’s been quite a big project for us and we’ve been operating that since September 2014.

I’ve been organising that but on peak days there could easily be up to 100 vehicles operating across the whole of the Northern Rail network and the majority of the people on the supplier base are coach operators with �leets ranging from just one vehicle up to 100 or so. And then we will also interact with the www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 11:11

Simon is seen at the finish line at the South Downs Way 100 STUART MARCH PHOTOGRAPHY/CENTURION RUNNING

bigger bus operators in the cities if there are rail replacement needs there. It’s really across the range and in some areas it goes down to 16-seat vehicles because some stations have particular access needs. There are about 520 stations on the Northern Rail network so we have to consider all their access needs.

Rail replacement has a balance between pre-planned, which we and the passengers know about eight weeks in advance, versus emergency – for example if it’s a snowy day in January and the trains can’t run, we need to see if we can get a bus or a coach there instead. It fits quite well with Abellio’s concept of door-todoor travel, because we’re trying to make sure that the whole journey is looked after.

CBW Describe an average day for you.

Simon is in his element running the South Downs Way 100 in June 2014.

STUART MARCH PHOTOGRAPHY CENTURION RUNNING

SB The average day is unlike the previous day.

My current role is very much about delivering projects. Compared with life within a traditional bus or coach depot or even within a company where there’s quite a high degree of regimentation and discipline, for me it’s very much about doing what needs doing and having to be flexible on the longer term plans. I’ve just got to the point of exiting the Northern Rail mobilisation plan, which means I haven’t got any staff that I’m currently managing.

CBW What do you most enjoy about your job?

SB I enjoy the balance between the discipline, the structure and the flexibility. I am someone who would probably struggle if I had to do the same thing every day, and I certainly don’t have that with this job. I like the challenge of new things and I’ve got plenty of that within it – there’s always the possibility of something completely new coming over the horizon.

There’s also quite a lot that I’m still learning, because there are always those new things coming along.

CBW What are the main challenges of your job?

www.coachandbusweek.com

032_036_CBW1176_Simon Bennett.indd 33

SB When deadlines come along they tend to be fairly tight and complicated, because working with projects you often get things thrown at you from left-field. You can projectplan, do risk-analysis, think that you’ve covered all the risks and then something will come along that actually wasn’t on the radar.

Having the ability to adapt and cope with that is a challenge.

I think the ability to think logically and prioritise is important, as long as you’ve got your own planning structure to manage these left-field surprises you’ll be fine. I tend to think quite logically which helps to make sure these things can be achieved.

Having a can-do attitude is a challenge for everybody, but I believe that having that attitude is really important – whatever role you’re doing you can look for the new.

Interacting with people is always there in that.

What’s really important is the management of people within that as well, otherwise there’s nothing.

CBW How are you developing the business?

SB I’m one of the wheels or cogs in business development – I’m not the only person doing it within Abellio. If I see the opportunities I try to make sure that we’re thinking of every possible angle. I’m not there leading the business development, but I think everyone has got the role and responsibility for that “can you see the continuous improvement?”

We try as a company to circulate the bits of good practice around. For example, in London there are certain basic pieces of kit that will be given out to drivers that aren’t elsewhere in the country to comply with Transport for London’s requirements. 600-odd drivers at Battersea will store these within pigeon-holes which were kept behind a counter so a Duty Manager would constantly give them out when drivers arrive and sign-on. We just moved the pigeonholes to the other side of the counter for the drivers to do it themselves. It could have been anyone who came up with that idea – a driver, a cleaner – who just had a lightbulb moment. Now somebody’s done that and it just looks really obvious.

I suppose what I’m saying is we all share those responsibilities in the same way as we do if we see an unsafe practice going on. Everyone has to grasp those opportunities at any time.

CBW What are the differences between the businesses in London and Surrey?

SB They are significantly different. There is still a tendered secured network in Surrey which we’re operating on behalf of Surrey County Council, but that’s a minority of our business in Surrey. The commercial freedom and managing both revenue and cost is such a different mindset. I think for some people who only worked in the TfL environment, it’s probably quite difficult for them to transfer into the deregulated environment.

The other way around it requires a greater degree of concentration on the cost and performance angles. It’s dealing in greater detail with fewer elements in the TfL environment.

You’ve almost got to open up another side of your brain to look at the revenue side of things.

Traditionally I’ve always said bidding for tenders is like going to the roulette wheel, putting your money on a number and seeing if it comes up right. In the commercial bus business it’s very different because you can play the levers on price, frequency, service quality and marketing, but you can’t play those on the London bus model. You can play the performance and the customer service angles, but otherwise on revenue there isn’t much that can easily be done.

CBW What has been your favourite project at work?

SB I don’t like looking back too much. I have my memories stored away of my really great days. Career-wise a really great time was back in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the early 90s I used to run a coach business called Armstrong Galley.

We used to run our own tour programme and day excursions and took 4,000-5,000 people

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33 16/02/2015 11:11

FACE TO FACE › SIMON BENNETT on holiday every year. Each year we used to take one or two coach loads of people away in November to launch the following year’s tour brochure. It was almost like a ‘Meet the Team’ event and that was really nice to interact with the clients there. We used to joke with them because often they knew more about the brochure than we did as they’d actually been on the holidays. That was really good in terms of being able to see things through from start to finish.

CBW Tell us about your running and cycling.

Why do you do it?

SB It started in 2010 when I was working in Lancashire. I had a 20-mile journey to work, and on some sunny summer days I chose to cycle it. I kept cycling through the winter as well, and then I saw a local triathlon advertised at Clitheroe.

I knew the cycle route because it was virtually identical to my journey to work, the swim was 16 lengths of a pool (400m) and the run was about six miles. They allocate you in a pool according to your speed and I was in the slowest group. I did the swim, the bike and then the run – I went very slowly on the run. A bloke overtook me and said “I’m so glad you’re here because I never normally overtake anyone.” I probably finished in the last 10% of people, but I enjoyed it so much I did another one shortly after.

Because I was cycling to and from work I was doing 200 miles per week and it was very time efficient. Compared with driving in a car it only took about 10 or 15 minutes longer, but it made me feel so much better. It also got me some basic fitness.

One day a cyclist spoke to me on my cycle to work and told me about a fell running club called Bowland Fell Runners. I did a little bit with them in the evenings in the winter and I did the odd 15km trail run in 2011. I entered one of those in the Lake District and they had two different races, with about 1,000 people across the two. They did a Challenger event for the slower people, so I entered that one and I came 15th despite getting slightly lost on the trail and covering an extra 800 metres. I knew then I should have gone in the other, main race.

Then I did some longer distance triathlons, I enjoyed them so much I set myself out a programme to do an Iron distance triathlon that summer. That’s a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile

Simon is seen at the 2014 UK Bus Awards when he was presented with the Peter Huntley Fundraising Award 34 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 032_036_CBW1176_Simon Bennett.indd 34

Simon is involved with Abellio’s very different London and Surrey operations. DAVID BELL cycle and a marathon (26.2 miles). I built up to it – I did half that distance beforehand and I learnt to swim with a wetsuit in open water swimming. They allow you to take 17 hours for these events. I’d never done any of those distances in one go before, but I knew I could do it – I was confident in my abilities. I did it and finished in about 13.5 hours, so I don’t feel like I embarrassed myself.

I then moved south with Abellio and because I’d got into fell running a little bit and there weren’t any decent hills down south, I felt I had to do longer distances. I had run one 50-mile race in autumn 2011. In 2012 as I completed more 50-mile races I began to consider the possibility of doing a 100-mile run in 2013.

I started reading and I discovered all these

One of the sayings in long-distance running is “If it’s not hurting you now it’ll hurt you soon.”

You can’t do a 100-mile race without some parts of your body hurting, but it’s how you deal with that and before too long it’ll be another part that starts hurting. What doesn’t happen, in my experience, is that after 10 miles something hurts, then after another 10 miles something else hurts on top of the other pain. It’s about getting through that. I’ve got to that place now where I can just run and I don’t have to think about the running itself.

It’s about trying to push yourself and look for something new and ultimately that’s what we all do, whether that’s at work or outside of work. We all have to have a vision somewhere of something. It’s that famous saying – on

dream things that seem almost impossible and one of those was the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) – it’s really seen as the blue ribbon, the world championship of long-distance running.

Through doing the South Downs Way 100 in 2013 I had four qualifying points and you need seven across three events in order to do the UTMB. My 50-milers gave me the other points I needed. So many people apply for this race so there’s no guarantee you’ll get in the first time, but I was lucky. The UTMB was the last event I got confirmation from for 2014 and I’d already booked three others, so I had 400 miles to do that year. Some people might say that doing four in one year is too many when you’ve only done one before, and so it turned out to be as I didn’t finish the UTMB.

the deathbed does anyone say they wish they’d spent more time at work? I guess I’m in that time of life where I want to push those boundaries as far as I can.

‘I started reading and discovered all these dream things that seem almost impossible and one of those was the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc – it’s really seen as the blue ribbon, the world championship of long-distance running’

CBW How are you feeling about the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc?

SB I’m feeling really excited about it. I’m the type of guy who once I’ve done something I put it away – I don’t feel that once I’ve done UTMB I’ll have to do it again, to get faster and better.

With long-distance running you can’t go chasing times. I know people who do marathons who want to do them in a certain amount of time – I don’t know people who say they want to do 50/100 miles in a certain time. The reason for www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 18:59

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FACE TO FACE › SIMON BENNETT

Seen at Central Station in Newcastle upon Tyne, is Enterprise of Darlington doing rail replacement for Abellio. STEVE HODGSON that is the long distance and variable weather – as these events are normally held on tracks, not roads, they are easily made harder by poor weather. I find that refreshing and freeing – I don’t want the hassle of chasing a time when I’m running.

I haven’t done a London marathon. 2,300 people at UTMB felt like a really big race to me, because usually there might be around 200-300 in an average race. I’m not sure running with 30,000 in a city is for me – I’d rather be out in the wild somewhere.

It may seem impossible for the human body to do but when you set yourself something and then achieve it you can then see yourself to the next stage.

CBW What fund-raising plans do you have for 2015?

SB I’ve chosen Transaid because I work in the transport industry and I did a Transaid bike ride in 2013 from London to Amsterdam, so I understand more about what they do. My other charity is the Alzheimer’s Society because my Dad suffers from Alzheimer’s and has done for about eight years now, so again I understand more about the cause.

2015 is a bit of a follow-on from 2014, because I set myself a target of £4,000 as I was going to run 400 miles and I got to £2,500. When I got into UTMB again this year I decided to keep going, so I’m doing the same charities and I’ve set the target to £1,500 so I can reach £4,000 in total.

CBW How do you feel about winning the Transaid Peter Huntley Fundraising Award?

SB That was really special because before I worked for Abellio I was at the TAS Patnershiip so I knew Peter through his involvement there.

Near the end of his life, Peter had come back to the TAS Partnership and he was there at my leaving do at Preston.

36 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 032_036_CBW1176_Simon Bennett.indd 36

‘It’s about trying to push yourself and look for something new and ultimately that’s what we all do, whether that’s at work or outside of work.

We all have to have a vision somewhere of something’ Peter was such a physically active person.

We did a team triathlon challenge while Peter was still at Go North East. Go North East put a team of athletes together at a triathlon at Windermere and the TAS partnership put a team together and we challenged them. Peter had injured his arm so he was cycling and could really only use one arm properly.

I’d like to think I’m following in Peter’s footsteps, in a far smaller way.

CBW Any interesting anecdotes?

SB At the TAS partnership we were doing some work with Danish State Railways and they sent us their strategic documents in Danish. We put them into Google Translate and came across the phrase “To be well advanced in the shoes.” When we asked them what it meant they said it should say “Be fast on your feet.” I found that funny.

CBW Do you have any advice you would give to anyone wishing to follow your footsteps?

SB Be prepared to be fast on your feet!

You need to be flexible. The more planning you’ve got done the more flexible you can be.

CBW What aspirations do you have for the future?

SB I try to do things within my career and outside of it that are interesting and inspiring.

Abellio provides me with that in terms of my career.

Personally, I tried to get into a race this year called the Western States Endurance Run which starts in Squaw Valley, California and ends in Sacramento, California. It’s the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race and only one in 10 people who apply get in.

In terms of long-distance running I’d like to do the Birmingham to London race which is 145 miles long and the cut-off time is about 45 hours. I’d like to think I could do the distance because I could do the time.

There’s also the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District, where you have a time of 24 hours to do 42 of the Wainwright Peaks over 66 miles, but you have to have expert knowledge of the Lake District Fells to do that.

I’ve know I’ve got the endurance to keep going for 24 hours, but it’s whether I’ve got the speed to cope with the steep sections. There are less people who’ve completed the Bob Graham Round than have climbed Everest – between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

If I have to summarise why I do it it’s to build those memories. Some of that goes back to my Dad with Alzheimer’s because I picture him with his memories fading away.

There are just so many nice places to do fell running. Some people don’t understand why you would want to run at night, but just being outdoors with that sense of movement is wonderful.

If you’re doing it with a few other people you can see the head torches in the distance and it’s really dramatic. n To donate to Simon’s fundraising event visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/46at56

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16/02/2015 11:11

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February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 37

PROFILEINSIDE › AIRLINKS TRACK AIRPORT › MERLIN SERVICES

Entrepreneurs not administrators Our industry insider wonders what is it about local authority structures that qualify them to run bus companies

W

ith extended check-in times at airports, I uncharacteristically found myself resorting to a newspaper for distraction last week.

The comment that caught my eye was that of the Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, claiming that “Business Leaders who criticise Labour before the election risk damaging the interests of their companies.”

It was not many paragraphs below before the paper drew the parallel with the recent similar behaviour of the SNP, but there again politicians are strong on “do as I say, don’t do as I do” as Ed Miliband must be reflecting now his legal, but non-purist use of a Deed of Variation to reduce his tax liability has been revealed.

When we have had Michael Dugher telling us that the bus industry is broken and that he is going to give power to not-for-profit companies to reduce the influence of the major Groups, it made me reflect that perhaps it may not only be public transport delivery that may be threatened by a change of Government.

Because I think the importance of having a bus service at all is rather more important than how you pay for it, I thought I would lay down some thoughts about why local authorities are not best placed compared to operators to be in the driving seat of bus service planning.

To get to the heart of it, you need to go back a few years to the distinction between an ‘Officer-led Authority’ and a ‘Member-led Authority’ when the aspiration of any capable local government officer was to work for the former because it meant that the officers made the detailed policy and the politicians rubber stamped it 98.5% of the time. Certainly in the 1980s and early 1990s, it was clear that those councils which were

officer led were the most successful in terms of public transport.

Add to that the fact that there were a fair number of decent council public transport officers/coordinators with bus operating experience, often as a result of the subjective dislikes of former bosses in the bus industry, and there was scope to tango because everyone had a good idea of what was required. Even the myopic authors of the Competition Committee enquiry report implied that local authorities with ex- bus industry staff on the payroll were rather better placed to manage!

However, the advent of cabinet structures in local government superseding the functional committees took away that specialist knowledge that some councillors had developed on important and strategic issues leaving the then underutilised back benchers meddling at the edges on very parochial local as opposed to strategic issues, and making them more prone to come to “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” type quid pro quos in votes. (Yes, it does happen!).

There is also an incredible amount of resultant duplicative work for officers in authorities who have to appraise all parties separately of matters in greater detail, with the ultimately greater risk than with a committee structure that they vote against sensible policies on political lines.

This leads us to the actual council leaders and transport portfolio holders themselves.

When travelling through Birmingham the other day along the painted out, yet still visible remains of the A38 Tithebarn Road bus lane, it conjured up the name of one time Cllr Mike Whitby of the City Council who suppressed it, against whom the PTE were powerless just as they have shown themselves to be in Liverpool recently.

If we do not get the right portfolio

‘It may not only be public transport delivery that may be threatened by a change of Government’

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Michael Dugher telling us that the bus industry is broken holders, or worse still mayors, in these authorities, we are on an even more slippery slope. We must now be very close to an era where the aspirants for such posts will be the breed of individual born or brought up in the 1980s who was chauffeured everywhere by their parents, given a car at 17/18 and who has never really been on or had exposure to the bus and relied on it for daily life. We can expect nothing from such people.

There are others for whom their only recent experience of a bus is in its most downbeat form – the airport park and ride or airside shuttle bus where everybody travels like a sardine with only the odd perch to sit on.

Very few of my friends, also brought up in the 1960s, share any passion for the bus and yet can get animated about car parking charges and the price of fuel.

You will notice I have not even mentioned any of the other obvious points like short lines of decision making, operators being close to their customers, product knowledge, the healthy capital investment which has taken place and so on.

All these items have been well documented by others and yet I do not hear them being trumpeted much

before decision makers since I last wrote. . .

In terms of local authority finances being constantly cut on bus expenditure, I would like to opine that some valuable money could still be saved by getting rid of two tier local government. Create large countysized unitary authorities and not the ineffectual and boracic small unitaries from the first re-organisation that do not even have adequate funds to provide for the tendered bus market.

That might result in some combined sense on planning and housing location issues and associated transport provision. (Sadly it will not happen because Conservative Central Office is opposed to it).

Finally, as I intend to return to these points in future, I would like to ask how, in times of worsening shortages of good quality technical staff, decision makers expect that those who have worked in the entrepreneurial spirit of a bus company are going to react to being subjugated to local authority decision making processes?

I bet nobody has thought of that key issue but the unions have clearly remembered how bad local authorities were at wage negotiations! n www.coachandbusweek.com

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The essential read for Minibus Operators

February 2015

MINIBUS Great start to 2015

The latest SMMT figures underline how important the role of small buses and coaches has become. This EVM Euro 6 Sprinter Elegance has recently been acquired by Vlad Services of Bethnal Green, London

O

f�icial statistics supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show January proved to be an excellent period for minibus registrations in the 3.5-8.5t sector with a total of 263 vehicles recorded.

This represents an increase of 78.9% over January 2014 and underlines how important the role of small buses and coaches has become.

Smaller vehicles in the sector up to 3.5t saw a drop to just 28 registrations which represents a fall of 50.9%. It is clear from these �igures the larger vehicles, offering increased capacity for passengers, luggage and additional on-board equipment are key considerations for operators and judging by the high speci�ication of a large

www.coachandbusweek.com

041_CBW1176_MINIBUS_Opener.indd 41

proportion of those sold they are ful�illing a growing public demand for greater comfort and higher accessibility. Small party travel, either corporate or private, suggests a degree of exclusivity for the customer and is undoubtedly fuelling the popularity of this choice of transport. As such, it is heartening to see operators responding quickly to meet these requirements and indicates a willingness to match or exceed demands.

The old image of the minibus/coach sector is fast disappearing and now re�lects a more professional, versatile and customer-oriented face to the industry.

Martin Cole MINIBUS Editor

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | 41 16/02/2015 10:34

MINIBUS › NEWS

West Midlands Ring & Ride faces major cutback WMSNT faces £700k cuts and fears for over 50 jobs among service reductions.

West Midlands Special Needs Transport (WMSNT) is having its Centro funding for its Ring & Ride service reduced by £700,000.

As a result of the cutback, 54 full-time staff are being made redundant by the end of March.

However Des Rogers of WMSNT told CBW that the number of driving positions at the company will remain the same, since all of the redundant full-time positions will be replaced by alternative full-time positions or part-time positions. This means all of the current drivers may remain with WMSNT if they choose to, though many of them will see their hours reduced if they do. Any drivers who choose to leave will be replaced.

In total, there is expected to be a total loss of around 12 administration staff.

Des further explained to CBW: “Despite the financial cuts, the level of the service provision, presently Monday to Saturday 0800 to 2300hrs daily, will remain unchanged and in fact will be increased by the introduction of a limited Sunday service

Centro provided £8.5m last year to keep WMSNT’s Ring & Ride service running, but the transport authority is facing extensive cuts from April 12. Fares for users during the daytime, when users need the service most for shopping and health services, will remain unchanged at £1 per trip.

Premium times after 1900hrs and all day Sunday will be charged at £2 per trip, which is still a bargain price for a door to door service.”

WMSNT Chief Executive David Bermingham said: “WMSNT has completed collective consultation with Unite the Union and individual consultations with all staff affected.

“15 personnel will be taking up alternative full-time posts and 20 personnel part-time posts.

“In total, 54 staff will be made redundant at the end of March across the whole of the West Midlands which is a direct response to the budget reduction of £700,000.

“We are assisting those affected with local workshops through Job Centre Plus to help people with CVs and understanding benefits.

Our pension providers are running sessions to talk through options for those in the company pension.

“In partnership with Unite, we have organised workshops to be run by South & City College to help people with the necessary skills to secure employment and to offer a

22-seat EVM Sprinter for Jacs Minicoaches

The latest arrival to join Jacs Minicoaches is a Euro 6 MercedesBenz Sprinter 516 Cdi supplied

by EVM. It has a 163bhp engine and a seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, electric plugtype entrance door and three-stage entry step with LED strip lighting.

The Sprinter retains its original windscreen and 270-degree opening rear doors and has factory-installed heat-insulated tinted side glazing.

Colin Mills and Jacquline Goodman of Jac’s Minicoaches collecting the Euro 6 Sprinter from EVM’s office in Horsham Two full-length brushed aluminium luggage racks provide stowage space and incorporate strip lighting, blue LED night lights

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | February 17, 2015 042_046_CBW1176_Minibus_News.indd 42

and individual passenger service units comprising reading lights and adjustable air ducts.

In-Dash TempMatic air-

variety of training courses.”

Funding for the door-to door minibus services was provided last year by Centro which made £8.5m available to keep the operation running. The transport body is currently faced with making budget cuts of £700m this year.

Ring & Ride services were initiated to ensure reliable, accessible transport for registered users across the seven districts comprising the West Midlands area. It provides users with links to local trains, Metro and crossborder bus services and a range of facilities. conditioning is supported by a Mercedes-Benz saloon airconditioning system from seven directional outlets in the centre roof cowling. Saloon heating is via a heater booster.

A Sound 15 upgrade was applied to the Radio/SD/USB and a PA system installed.

Passengers are on 22 Brusa Crete 80 seats with three-point seatbelts, folding armrest to aisle side and trimmed in virtual leather and automotive cloth.

Kerb appeal is enhanced by the addition of EVM’s X-Clusive body moulded side skirts, colour coded bumpers and side mouldings plus EuroLiner wheel trims and a chrome pack.

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 13:49

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H & S chooses Noone Turas 800 H & S Coach Hire based in Hamilton near Glasgow has recently taken delivery of a 33seat Noone Turas 800 from Minis to Midis.

The vehicle is based on the Mercedes-Benz 818 chassis with six-speed manual gearbox.

Featuring half leather Fainsa Gala seats, Autoclima airconditioning, dark tint double glazing, front coolbox and Bosch radio/cd/pa plus large boot and side lockers, the new model has been set to work on a range of private hire and corporate duties.

Although most of the H & S team has been in the industry for over 20 years, the company itself was first established in 2006 from humble beginnings with a small seven seat minicoach.

The fleet has expanded to satisfy customer demand and now encompasses minicoaches to full size executive models.

David Smith of H & S Coach Hire said: “We are extremely proud of not only our fleet but our values.

Family values count here and all of our drivers are specially selected. We would never provide a vehicle we wouldn’t be happy travelling in ourselves.

The Turas 800 fits perfectly with our ethos.”

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Volkswagen introduces smart telematics Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched a smart, costeffective telematics service aimed at meeting the requirements of fleet customers across the UK. It can operate on fleets of any size and provide an efficient method for managing vehicle running costs, increasing efficiency and proactively reducing fleet downtime.

The service, a partnership between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Finance and the RAC, also provides businesses with real-time data and reporting through a customisable portal. This helps manage fuel costs and improve vehicle efficiency. The bespoke Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle telematics portal is accessible via laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Part of the telematics package includes a ‘Driverline’ concierge service which enables proactive customer contact to book in service and maintenance requirements at a local Van Centre.

Other key product benefits include collision detection, fuel and CO2 monitoring, service alerts, service scheduling and geo-fencing.

Developed to be compatible with almost any vehicle in the market, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles telematics enables mixed vehicle

Smart telematics is now available for all VW commercial vehicles fleet customers to manage their entire fleet through one system; without the need for additional software or hardware costs.

Kevin Rendell, Head of Service and Parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, commented: “Running a costeffective fleet is crucial to maintaining a profitable business, which is why more and more companies are investing in telematics to help manage their fleets. Our telematics system is a comprehensive solution, which can help companies to reduce fuel costs, extend the life span of parts and components, and

optimise vehicle efficiency. It’s been designed to offer the level of quality and technical innovation our customers expect from Volkswagen.

“It is much more than just a method for tracking driver behaviour and vehicle locations.”

Available through the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Van Centre network from February 2015, the units are offered on a monthly contract fee of £12.50 per month excluding VAT for 36 months.

For details visit www. volkswagen-vans.co.uk

Millers Oils’ Eclipse additive aimed at reducing fuel costs Millers Oils, the Brighouse-based lubricant specialist, has developed a fuel additive it claims can improve performance and deliver higher fuel economy. ‘Eclipse’ is also claimed to clean and protect fuel injection systems “The additive is a balanced formulation, including detergency and lubricity improvers, that works in harmony with standard fuels, even those containing Bio-diesel, to progressively clean and protect the fuel system,” explained Millers Oils Technical Director, Martyn Mann. “Fuel injectors remain cleaner for longer, fuel pump wear is reduced and the whole system is better protected against corrosion.

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Regular use of Eclipse significantly reduces the overall running costs of diesel vehicles.”

Added to the fuel at the rate of one part per thousand (1ml per litre), Eclipse boosts the Cetane number of the fuel by up to four points, and cleans away carbon deposits which build up over time, improving combustion and engine cleanliness.

According to Millers Oils the result is smoother, quieter running with less combustion noise and reduced hydrocarbon (HC) and CO2 emissions.

“Eclipse suits all modern diesel engines, even those with particulate filters (DPFs)

The eclipse additive is added to fuel at the rate of 1ml per litre

which meet the latest emissions standards,” added Mann. “Our additive provides a safe, costeffective alternative to premium fuels, supplying the improved performance and engine cleanliness operators are looking for.

“The benefits noticed by most drivers are the improved fuel economy and livelier throttle response, particularly at low engine speeds.

“People tell us they’ve felt the difference by the time they’ve used half a tank treated with the additive, and when they next fill up, the numbers confirm the fuel savings.”

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | 43 16/02/2015 13:49

THE BIG PICTURE Keith McGillivray is regularly out with his camera in Edinburgh city centre, capturing this superb scene on Princes Street last October just as dusk was falling. A good cross section of the Lothian fleet is depicted, including two hybrids, a Volvo 9700H and an Alexander Dennis Enviro400H. The diesel buses are both Wrightbus Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TLs, the second vehicle being one of those dedicated to the high-profile Airlink service to the airport.

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16/02/2015 09:44

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16/02/2015 09:44

MINIBUS › NEWS

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Eberspächer UK’s new £6.5m facility opens New two storey facility will increase manufacturing capability and grow workforce significantly After a two-year planning and building project, Eberspächer UK announced the completion of a £6.5m investment, the largest in its history.

This sees the company – that manufacturers and supplies fuel-operated heating, airconditioning and climate control systems – open a new head office, manufacturing and warehousing facility at Forest Gate, Ringwood, Hampshire.

The purpose-built facility is now fully operational after the company moved in over the Christmas period to ensure minimal disruption to its customers.

Eberspächer UK is planning major expansion of its UK sales and manufacturing operations, and the new building will help achieve these goals.

Eberspächer’s new headquarters is three times the size of the old

development, manufacturing, sales and warehousing activities.

Eberspächer UK’s new facility will also house a state-of-theart climatic chamber, boasting a temperature range of -30°C to +60°C. This chamber will facilitate the development of new evaporators and condensers that will be entering the company’s product portfolio in the coming months.

Vince Lee, Eberspächer UK’s Managing Director, said: “With the creation of our brand new facility, we have an Eberspächer UK is expecting to increase its workforce by 15% over the next unprecedented opportunity to increase production, reach a year after opening the new facility greater number of customers, and bring the latest technologies facility, which the company had conditioning and climate control and innovations available in the occupied since 1989. Prior to units as well as the production of industry to life. that, the company started trading a new range of evaporators and “Our new headquarters has in 1977 from a small unit in the condensers. been designed for efficiency heart of the New Forest.

The move into the new building and to minimise its impact on The new two-storey building will also create employment the environment. In addition to is 5,276m2 (56,791ft2) and opportunities, with Eberspächer lower energy costs and efficiency UK expecting to increase its consolidates Eberspächer UK’s gains, the new building has workforce by 15% over the three existing premises in the allowed the closure of two small next year. With the number of Ringwood area into one. The new satellite storage facilities in the building will provide Eberspächer employees currently standing area, which will deliver further at 85 people, new recruits are UK with more manufacturing cost savings.” expected to join its design/ capacity, both for its existing air-

Sitcar Beluga 3s arrive at Passenger Plus and Ashford Minibuses Passenger Plus Ltd of Ashford, Kent, has taken delivery of a pair of new Sitcar Beluga 3 midicoaches.

Amongst the last vehicles of type to be delivered due to the demise of the Vario chassis, these vehicles will run in conjunction with another pair being delivered to associated company Ashford Minibuses Ltd. The vehicles are based on the Mercedes-Benz 0816D 4800 coach chassis, which features a Euro 5 Turbo Charged and Intercooled Engine with a power of 115 kW at 2200 rpm.

Each vehicle holds 29 passenger seats. The seating in question is Vogel Eco 040 reclining, with contrasting leather trim to headrest and piping and passenger seat armrests.

Passenger Plus and Ashford Minibuses are associated companies, and each firm’s Beluga 3s share specifications A large area to the rear of each vehicle has been reserved for luggage. Sutrak air-conditioning is specified to assist passenger comfort.

46 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | February 17, 2015 042_046_CBW1176_Minibus_News.indd 46

Other specifications include radio, P/A, CD and MP3 audio equipment, a DVD player and powered drop down monitor and VGA socket for mobile presentation

capability, a coolbox unit situated at the vehicles’ entrances, a five camera CCTV system with 500gb hard drive and an inverter with 240v power UK sockets.

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 13:50

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MINIBUS DEALER PROFILE › CONNAUGHT PSV

Dealing with friends

C

onnaught PSV is a small family business dealing primarily in Ferqui minibuses and midicoaches. Over the years it has built up a strong reputation for good customer service and customer intimacy, generating an enormous amount of repeat business in the process.

The family-run business is fronted by Steve Peach and his wife Anne-Marie. Steve explained how the business came about and how it has changed to specialise in Ferqui vehicles as it does today.

“I fell into the passenger transport business really,” Steve said. “I played for a football team which was sponsored by a company in Doncaster called Coachcraft. They were predominantly minicoach converters.

“At the end of season dinner, I got into a

James Day visits Steve Peach at Connaught PSV to �ind out more about the successful family business enjoying sustained success with Ferqui vehicles. All photos by the author

conversation with the man who owned the company, Mike Mullins, and I was interested in how his business worked. He told me he was building vehicles for himself and for Crystals in Kent.

“I asked how he retailed the vehicles, and he said he didn’t. He said he built them for Crystals when they ordered them, and Crystal sold them themselves. They used them on their own �leet and had a salesman working out of his factory selling his product on behalf of Crystal.

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“I said ‘don’t you think you’re missing a trick?

You ought to be retailing them yourself.’ A few weeks later he called me and I went to meet him. He asked me to go and work for him, but at the time I was happy in the job I was in and I declined.”

However, it wasn’t long before Steve found himself at the company, after the salesman which Mike Mullins did employ left to join a competitor within 12 months.

“Mike called me and offered me the job again,”

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16/02/2015 14:30

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to sell the small vehicle product,” he said.

Optare then got involved with Ferqui in Spain in 1997, importing small vehicles under its own banner. Steve has sold the Ferqui product ever since, though the Ferqui Soroco, which Steve described as Connaught’s ‘bread and butter’ vehicle, was almost abandoned.

“Optare priced the product out of market in the end and we started sourcing alternative products to replace the Soroco with our customer base,” Steve explained. “However, Optare then decided to give up the small vehicle market altogether, and with it the Ferqui UK franchise. We pitched for it and managed to persuade them that we were the right people to continue it, and signed a contract in August 2012 to be sole UK distributors for Ferqui.

“We disposed of the old Optare stock ourselves, and brought the �irst products in under the Ferqui name rather than the Optare name that September.

“We moved into our premises in April 2013.

We were selling the Optare product out of their premises in Hellaby beforehand, with an of�ice at home and a unit for secondhand vehicle preparation and sales, but once we had taken the product on, we felt we needed somewhere more upfront and professional.

“Depending on the size, we can get up to 16 vehicles undercover. Customers can still come and view the vehicles in snow and rain.”

The Soroco – Connaught’s bread and butter

Connaght PSV sells a mixture of brand new Ferqui vehicles and second-hand minbuses

Having sold the Ferqui Soroco from its �irst arrival in the UK, Connaught has built up a very strong customer base for the vehicle. It also offers high residual value for trade ins, guaranteeing 50% of the vehicle’s value after �ive years against a new vehicle. As a result, the company sees plenty of business from customers trading in a �ive year old Soroco for a new vehicle. Steve said once Connaught’s customers choose a Soroco, it’s very rare for

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them to go back to a van-derived product.

“It has a very loyal following,” he explained.

“We offer it as a 16 or 19-seater. The base spec isn’t what you would usually expect – it includes air-conditioning, double glazing, a powered door and reclining seats all as standard.”

Steve explained that the Soroco is built to last, and it is therefore not unheard of for Connaught to have a vehicle back four or �ive times in its lifetime.

“The vehicle starts life as a chassis cab, not a van,” he said. “It is built on a galvanised steel frame, which is very unique in this sector, and the body is glass-reinforced polyester.

They don’t deteriorate in the way that van conversions do. There’s nothing to rust or rot on them.

“When we take them back at �ive years old, and prepare them for resale, you would be hard pressed to put a year on it, other than subtle facelift changes on the Mercedes side.”

Steve had no hesitation in calling the Soroco his favourite vehicle to sell.

“For long time it was the leader in its class without a shadow of a doubt as the only coachbuilt vehicle on the market. I’d say because of how long it has been around and how well engineered it is, it’s still the class leader.”

A lean business

Connaught sells just over 100 vehicles a year, which are a fairly even split of brand new and second hand products. The business is run by Steve and Anne-Marie, with almost everything else subcontracted.

“It’s the only way I can still dedicate enough time to be hands on with the customers in sales,” Steve enthused. “If we were doing everything in-house I would never see a customer.

“If anyone needs to speak to us they can speak to us anytime. If I’m not around, Anne-Marie is here to deal with anything. People know who

Steve continued. “My circumstances at work were different and I fancied a change, so I went to work for Coachcraft as Sales Manager.

“I started with them in 1988. It went very well until Coachcraft went into receivership during a recession. At that time nobody was employing sales people, they were disposing of them.

“In 1991 I bought myself a phone and a car and proceeded to have vehicles built at alternative places and service customers myself.”

Becoming Ferqui’s UK franchise After starting his own business, Steve got involved with Optare when it bought Autobus Classique, who he was involved with on an agency basis. “They continued along same vein, using dealers rather than their own sales force

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048_052_CBW1176_Minibus_Connaught.indd 49

The refurbished interior of a second-hand Soroco

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | 49 16/02/2015 14:30

MINIBUS DEALER PROFILE › CONNAUGHT PSV

Anne-Marie and Steve Peach with the dealer’s ‘bread and butter’ vehicle, the Soroco

A brand new Ferqui Soroco. The electric door is standard

A Blaupunkt entertainment system installed by Autosound. This example is linked to a sat nav and a reversing camera

The Soroco’s driving cab is spacious

they’re going to speak to when they pick the phone up.

“I enjoy that. We have a very good relationship with our customers. When you’ve dealt with some of them for as long as we have you would class them as friends rather than just customers.

“About 90% of the business we do is with people we’ve done business with before. We’re always striving to find new customers, but with the amount of repeat business we do, word of mouth does increase the customer base all the time.

“You can’t please all of the people all of time, but we make a good effort to. There are very few issues we can’t resolve.”

The majority of the Connaught’s second hand vehicles are refurbished for resale. This involves new paint and trim if necessary, a mechanical check-up at a local Mercedes-Benz specialist, a valet and a new carpet fitted by Connaught itself.

“Vehicles come in and go to our chosen Mercedes-Benz specialist Star Commercials first,” Steve explained. “They specialise in Mercedes products but will deal with anything.

“The vehicle is assessed for what it needs and if it has been more than six months since its last test on them they are immediately prepared for a test.

“They then go to our bodyshop, which is

50 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | February 17, 2015 048_052_CBW1176_Minibus_Connaught.indd 50

McLellan & Sons, down at Junction 29A on the M1. They’re great painters and do work for ourselves and a lot of the bigger coach companies.

“They come back here and any re-trimming is done either locally or via one of the retrim companies. Then they’re extensively valeted and we put all new carpets in them.

“Duoflex are a great option for us – we can send a driver down there and they do the whole job over the same day. The biggest we’ve had retrimmed is 33 seats, and anything up to that they have turned round in a day.”

With the base spec of the Soroco being so high, there isn’t much more Connaught usually puts into the vehicles, though real leather seating, tables and fridges are popular choices.

“We also have DVD and sound systems fitted to all our vehicles by Autosound,” Steve added.

“Everything is wired at the factory and all the equipment is fitted by Autosound. They give us such a good service fitting it and providing good backup with the end user. If there are any issues with any of the equipment, Autosound deals with it direct.”

While Connaught has agreements in place with several companies on aftersales, such as Optare’s Unitech division, GB fleet maintenance in Hoddesdon and Bustech in Scotland, it prioritises having issues dealt with as quickly as possible.

If the customer has someone local who can deal with a problem, Connaught sends it there to be fixed and paid for straight away.

“We have very few warranty issues with the product,” Steve said.

“The body has been built on the same chassis since 2007. When you start life with a brand new body on a new chassis, you always get teething troubles, but since the body has been built on that chassis without much alteration or change in years, all the little niggles have been engineered out.”

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16/02/2015 14:30

703253-1151-GM Coaches 14/08/2014 15:33 Page 1

MINIBUS DEALER PROFILE › CONNAUGHT PSV

Steve Peach manoeuvring a new Ferqui F5, which the company recently sold

The Soroco offers significant luggage space

ABOVE: Steve insisted on having the step layout of the Soroco changed, as it was previously too steep LEFT: The Ferqui F5 provides an excellent view of the road for the driver

Expanding the range

Connaught’s range extends beyond the Soroco, and is expanding.

When I went to visit Steve, he had just returned from a trip to Spain to finalise the specification he wanted from a couple of vehicles on Iveco chassis. Another concern has been finding a replacement for the Vario chassis, which is now obsolete.

“We did offer the Touro on the Vario chassis, which was available with 28 or 32 seats,” Steve said. “The replacement for that is the Ferqui F5, built on the Atigo 12 tonne chassis, which we’re building up to 38 seats. So far the orders are all for 36-seaters.

“This year we’re trying to get another replacement for the Vario which we want to use an Iveco chassis for. It’s a current product in Ferqui’s range called the Sunrise which is a really popular product in Europe on the new Euro 6 Iveco chassis and will carry 33 seats, which is currently missing out of the market.

“I went to Spain earlier this week to finalise the spec on the 33-seater. The first chassis are

ordered and on their way to Spain.

“We may bring a smaller Iveco product in, the Sunset, and we also have a longer version of the Soroco due this year, going up to 7.8m. It will still have 19 seats but will provide much more luggage space.

“Balancing seating and luggage space is always a problem in this market, whichever size you look at. It’s always a compromise.

“The 19-seater has reasonable space, but you can’t take 19 people and 19 suitcases. In the 16-seater you can do this.

“With the new, longer version of the Soroco, we’re putting an additional electric brake on it which will increase the weight carrying capacity of the chassis by 5.5 tonnes.

“The Iveco Sunrise will be in build very shortly, but the Sunsets we won’t bring in until the Coach & Bus Live show this year. We’ll have a much bigger range to display this year.”

Well placed

Steve said he is happy with the business as it is now, as he enjoys the closeness with Connaught’s

52 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | February 17, 2015 048_052_CBW1176_Minibus_Connaught.indd 52

customers. “We’re a small family business, we don’t want to grow any bigger because we don’t want to lose that intimacy with our customer base.

“We live only about 10 miles from the premises, so I can be here in 15 or 20 minutes at any time. We often accommodate customers after hours, or on Saturdays and Sunday. As far as I’m concerned, if someone wants to buy a vehicle, I’ll be here to sell them it. All I ask for is an hour’s notice.

“When someone is operating vehicles they’re very busy. Often the only time they can get away is Sundays, so we accommodate that.”

Asked about how he perceives the minibus market at the moment, Steve was quite optimistic. “The minibus market is starting to expand again. It has been slow, but consistent. I don’t think we’ve had as hard a time in the small vehicle market as they have in the full size coach market.

“Over the last 18 months we’ve seen people gaining in confidence in the industry and looking to expand and invest again in their fleets.” n

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16/02/2015 14:30

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Contact gemma.ireland@coachandbusmarket.com or call 01733 293247 to discuss how we can help you sell your vehicles.

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01/12/2014 17:04:39 12/01/2015 09:20

p54_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 14:26 Page 54

2003 Setra 315 GTHD

1998 Volvo B10M Enigma

1992 Setra 215 HD

2009 Iveco Library Bus

49 recliner seats with retractable belts, DVD + 2 monitors, centre toilet, centre power door, boiler + dash fridge, air con, Eminox exhaust for London 2015, Mercedes engine & gearbox, good condition, test until September 2015, real good drive.

49 recliner seats with retractable belts, DVD + monitor, centre toilet and door, Volvo engine, ZF gearbox, test until August 2015.

53 seats, MAN engine, MOT Nov 2015.

Euro 5, superb example, as new, all keys and manuals, only 29,000 miles warranted, direct council, viewing on site in Manchester.

£35,000 + VAT o.n.o.

£12,500 + VAT o.n.o.

£5,000 ono

£25,000 o.n.o.

07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com

07730 486708 paul.watson9@btconnect.com

Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425

Tel: 0161 223 3882 juliej@stoodley.co.uk

2003/03 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI UVG Treka

2002/02 Mercedes 814 Vario Plaxton Beaver 2

2008/08 LDV Maxus 3.5T 95 LWB (euromotive) Welfare

17 seater, welfare/accessible, Sprintshift, front entry, power door, COIF, tacho, MOT, 160,000kms, very good all round order.

29 seater, automatic, tacho, big MOT, power door, 283k.

6 seater, internal AMF-Bruns chair lift, full tracking, Eberspacher, AVS, A/C, 103K.

£7,450 + VAT

£11,950 + VAT

£6,495 + VAT

B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

B&L Coaches 0208 363 8572 or 07971 785390

2012 Mercedes Benz Sprinter

2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 515

New Mercedes Benz Sprinter Grand Tourer

2009 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Minicoach

Automatic, graphite grey, power door, panoramic roof & windows, privacy glass, coach rear end, large drop boot, 16 leather seats, 15 monitor + DVD player, Euroliners, 3 point seat belts, air con front & rear, 100,000 miles, coolbox, MOT Oct 15.

Manual gearbox, 252,000 miles, white, manual entry door, double rear doors, large drop boot, full draw curtains, 16 moquette seats, air con front & rear, luggage racks.

7 speed G Tronic auto, power door, panoramic saloon side windows and windscreen, powered elevating boot door, large boot and side lockers, 19 leather seats + driver + courier, air con.

16 moquette seats, automatic, manual entry as well as saloon sliding door, luggage racks, full drawn curtains, double rear doors, monitor/DVD.

£47,500 + VAT

£25,000 + VAT

£POA

£27,500 + VAT

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

54 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

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VEHICLES

1996 Dennis Lance

2003 (53) Volvo B12M

47 belted seats, excellent condition, long or new MOT, excellent reliability, choice of three vehicles, 2nd owner from new, ex Brighton and Hove.

51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, Berkoff, LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition.

NOW £44,000 – MAY CONSIDER PX

£POA

Peakes Coaches – 07773 793239

Volvo B12B Sleeper

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

1996 Caetano Optimo

2003 DAF DB250 Plaxton President

2000 Neoplan Starliner N513 Tourer

65 seats + 26 standees, DAF euro 1V / Voith, conversion to single door available. £13,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

Call Carl on 00353 86857 0885

2003 DAF DB250 Alexander ALX400

2009 (58) Optare Versa 10.4m

65 seats + 26 standees, DAF euro 1V / Voith, conversion to single door available. £13,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

34 seats + 22 standees. £38,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

60 leather seats, comfort shift, resprayed, PSVD & seatbelt cert, toilet with hand dryer, sink, 3 x TVs, satnav, DVD, fridge, air con, electric sunroof, alloys.

£24,000 NO OFFERS

• 18 seats • MOT January 2015 ZF auto, 14 berth sleeper, Euro 4 LEZ, static AC/heating, 240v, alloy wheels, normal band bus stuff! MOT June 2015, good condition for age.

• Good runner

£3,500 + VAT

£19,500 + VAT

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622

2002 Bova Futura

2002 Iveco Beaulas

DAF engine, air conditioned, twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge, Eminox-LEZ, 49 seats, green cloth trim, manual gearbox, ready to go, MOT March 2015.

Automatic gearbox, air conditioned, twin monitors, DVD, toilet, boiler, fridge, 49 seats, Euro 3, MOT March 15.

£40,000 + VAT

£25,000 + VAT

L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622

L.J. Edwards Coach Hire 07974 369570 / 01323 440622

2003 Volvo B12M Jonckheere Euro 3

2009 Iveco Plaxton Panther

48 x 3 point belted seats + crew, air con, saloon mounted WC, rear continental door, MOT November 2014. £POA – NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED

Nigel McCree - 07817 542113

2001 Volvo B10M Berkhof Axial

Nigel McCree

ZF auto, 61 seats, Euro 5, A/C, 3 point seat belts, crew seat, reverse camera, huge locker space, Webasto, good condition, MOT April 2015.

£00,000 + VAT

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

1998 DAF SB3000

2005 Optare Solo M780SL • Merc power.

• 21 belted seats (3pt) • 16 Standees.

• Wheelchair floor tracking to take more than 1 wheelchair • MOT 02-05-2015

£28,000 + VAT ovno 50 reclining seats, TV/DVD, PA, fridge, hot drinks servery, air con, Webasto, alloy wheels.

Last coach remaining. £23,750 + VAT

13 berths sleeper coach, static AC/heating, 240v, normal band bus stuff, towbar, MOT Feb 2015, good condition for age.

Snowcoach Holidays 01727 866177 / 07831 612125

01487 843333 / 07834 97751 david@sunfunholidays.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

£9,500 + VAT

Tel: 01805 938036 Mob: 07817 542113 Email: nigel@nigelmccree.com Insurance Insurance Stock updated weekly on the website:

www.nigelmccree.com SHORT OF CASH? RE-FINANCE YOUR VEHICLES WITH US – CALL 07808 856390

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 55

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VEHICLES

Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com

1996 Scania Irizar Century

1994 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premier 350

1999 Volvo B7R Plaxton Prima

2010 VDL Futura FHD 127.365PR

67/70 seats, luggage racks, curtains, 3 point belts, reading lights, power door, double glazing, ZF automatic gearbox, DVD monitor, tinted windows, Telma Retarda, air conditioning, underfloor lockers.

49 reclining coach seats, lap retractable belts, N/S/R floor mounted toilet, ZF auto, tachograph, power door, aisle carpet, radio/CD, air con, newly retrimmed seats, curtains, new repaint in white, double glazed.

70 re-trimmed coach seats, 3 point seat belts, luggage racks, forced air ventilation, reading lights, 6 speed manual, Telma retarda, 174,969 kms, radio/ cassette, excellent condition.

53 reclining seats, seatback tables, courier seat, plug door, double glazing, air con, radio/AP/CD audio, DVD and monitors, centre sunken toilet, water boiler, fridge, continental exit with powered door, Webasto, reverse camera, cruise control, digitacho, retarder, automatic.

£17,500 + VAT

CHOICE OF 2 – £9,000 + VAT

£25,000 + VAT

£POA

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

1998 Dennis Dart ALX200

2000/2001 X/Y Reg Volvo B7TL’S

FORD TRANSIT 115 17 SEAT BUS OCT 2011 61 REG PSV, COIF AND TACHO ONLY 39K MILES READY TO WORK £13,950 + VAT

37 seats or 33 plus 1 wheelchair, manual ramp, Cummins engine, Allison auto gearbox, power door, new MOT, very tidy.

£4,500 + VAT

Drew Wilson Coach Sales 0141 248 5524

80 seats, Voith gearboxes, Euro 2 engines with traps, or full Euro 3 with traps, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA with 78 seats.

Why pay more for less.

FROM £20,000 + VAT

www.staffordbuscentre.com

Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

EnsignBus 01708 865656

Low Floor Euro 6 Sprinter 516 or 519

Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516 CDI

2011 Volkswagen Crafter

2006 Mercedes Benz Vito 111 CDI

Maximum seating capacity of 22 mixed between seating/standing and wheelchair, multiple drop box combinations for luggage storage.

Automatic, metallic silver, power door, privacy double glazing, coach rear end, 16 leather seats, indash & saloon air con, MOT till June, 177K miles.

16 seats finished in moquette, manual, white, large boot, double rear doors, panoramic windows, curtains, emergency exit in saloon, 63,500 miles.

8 seats, 202,000 miles, twin sliding saloon door, large boot, 6 speed manual, in-dash & saloon air con, MOT March, clean & tidy vehicle, been very well maintained.

£POA

£36,500 + VAT

£27,500 + VAT

£4,800

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

2010 Optare Versa

2008 Iveco Eurorider Beulas Cygnus

WANTED MERCEDES COACHES 1999 to present year,16 to 35 seats, finance settled, with or without MOT, accident damage etc.

MAN Euro 5 engine, airport spec, only 93,000 miles since new. £POA

EnsignBus 01708 865656

53 seats + courier, 3 point seat belts OR 49 reclining seats with ONE wheelchair position, plug door, air con, wheelchair lift & access, radio/PA/CD, DVD & monitor, fridge, continental door, driver’s safe, cruise control, digital tachograph, integral retarder, automatic.

CONTACT TIM FOR AN IMMEDIATE DECISION

£POA

Tel: 01404 47502 / 07790 966667 Email: parnell-coaches@supanet.com

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

2008 VDL Futura FHD 127.365

2005 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle

2004 Bova Futura FHD 14.430XE Tri-Axle

53 reclining seats with leather headrests, seatback tables, courier seat, plug entrance door, double glazing, air con, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD and monitors, centre toilet, water boiler, fridge, continental exit, Webasto, reverse camera, cruise control, digital tacho, retarder, automatic.

63 reclining seats, leather headrest inserts, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air conditioning, CD audio, video & monitor, double glazing, manual transmission, intarder, Webasto.

63 reclining seats, leather headrests, individual footrests, courier seat, curtains, air conditioning, CD audio, wired for DVD, double glazing, manual transmission, intarder, Webasto.

£POA

£POA

£POA

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

56 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

2001 Y Reg Tridents

Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats.

Why pay more for less.

FROM £18,000 + VAT

EnsignBus 01708 865656 www.coachandbusweek.com

p57_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 14:30 Page 57

www.coachandbusmarket.com

VEHICLES Ford Transit 17 seat minibus

2005 Sunsundegai

2009 Levante

Full executive specification, ZF automatic, based on Volvo B12M, 49 reclining seats, moquette trim, crew seat, air con, sunken mid WC, DVD, radio & PA, air-suspension driver’s seat.

National Express specification, disabled access lift, Alcolock, automatic, reclining seats with leather trim, air con, washroom, powered lockers, radio & PA, air-suspension driver’s seat.

Immaculate condition throughout, in-dash air conditioning, recent new clutch and flywheel.

£60,000 – 4 AVAILABLE

£89,000 – 2 AVAILABLE

£11,500

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

keith.cabincoaches@gmail.com

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

Volvo B12B Plaxton Paragon - I-Shift Gearbox 2007 (Euro IV): 5 x 49/53 seats £69,000 + VAT 2008 (Euro V): 4 x 49/53 seats £84,000 + VAT

All are well maintained, low mileage examples (approximately 62,000km per annum) with reclining seats, 3 point seat belts, air conditioning and demountable toilet with hot/cold water boiler and fridge (unused additional seats to increase seating to 53 included in price). Owned by us from new and used on our own holiday programme. All over cream.

Price includes new MOT. Sorry no part exchange facilities!

To view contact Neil McMurdy - Alfa Travel on 01257 248003 (Direct Line)

Volvo B10M

Volvo B10M

Scania Irizar Century K114

53 seats (no toilet) ZF auto. 480,000 km. Good tyres, good condition, ready for work. LEZ Eminox exhaust, recent service. Sale due to purchase of another coach.

£46,000

Cabin Coaches Tel: 07725 252402

VOLVO OLYMPIAN ALEXANDER BODY 1998 WITH PVT PLATE FITTED WITH 78 SEATS WITH BELTS MOT AUG 2015 READY TO GO £9,950 + VAT

www.staffordbuscentre.com Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

1997 Volvo B12R Jonckheere Monaco

2005 Volkswagen

71 reclining seats including lap belts, leather headrests and footrests, courier seat, manual crew door, powered centre entrance door, air con, radio/PA/cassette, DVD and monitors, toilet compartment, servery unit, fridge, two lower saloon tables, Telma retarder, cruise control.

55 seats, two available. £POA

53 seats, several M reg coaches available. £POA

Low floor disabled access vehicle, suitable for wheelchair-bound and able bodied passengers.

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

£6,000 – 2 AVAILABLE

Lewis Coaches Ltd 02476 449944

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

2002 Scania Irizar K114

2002 Mercedes Beaver 2

Volvo B10M

2006 Volvo B12M

£13,999 + VAT

57 seats. £POA

51/53 seat executive, WC, AC, auto, Berkoff LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, excellent condition.

NOW £65,000

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

Howard Snaith - 01830 520609 howardsnaith@btconnect.com

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

2006 ADL East Lancs Esteem

2001 Scania L94UB Wright

2004 Dennis Enviro 300 Service Bus

2013 Volkswagen Transporter

25 seats, automatic, air con, manual front and back destination, electric middle ramp, CCTV cameras, assault screen, LEZ compliant.

44 seats, automatic ZF gearbox, LED front, side & rear destination, front manual ramp.

8 seats, manual gearbox, air conditioning, 3 point inertia seat belts, plain silver with no previous livery. £21,500

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 21/5/15, excellent condition.

NOW £37,000

33 seater, auto, 3 point belts, racks, boot, drives well, new tyres, brakes etc, in good condition, very nice interior, wood dash, etc, may PX.

£POA

£12,995

44 seats, automatic gearbox, LED front, side & rear destinationm front manual ramp, DDA compliant, MOT until May 2015. £24,995

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

Ventura Sales 01342 835206

www.coachandbusweek.com

£POA

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 57

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VEHICLES 1999 Dennis Dart SLF

33 seats + 19 standees, MOT July 2015, choice of 3.

Call Gemma Ireland Tel: 01733 293247 E: gemma.ireland@coachandbusweek.com 2005 Mercedes Sprinter 413 CDI

16 seat luxury minicoach, air con, mood lighting, London compliant, PSV MOT, COIF, extended rear, huge boot, in superb condition, one owner, loads of history, alarm, reverse sensors etc, top spec vehicle, panoramic windows, ready to go staight to work.

2004 Dennis Tridents

2001 Mercedes 814D

Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, LEZ compliant, DDA compliant, Alexander ALX400 bodies, dual door 67 seats or single door 77 seats.

27 seats with 3-point belts, RPC, manual, MOT April 2015.

£POA

£6,995 + VAT

£12,500 + VAT

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

EnsignBus 01708 865656

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk 01795 423982

2001 Setra 315 GTHD

2011 61 plate Sitcar Marlin

2005 Jonckheere Mistral Volvo B12B

2008 Setra 415GTHD Euro 4

49 seats, full executive, Merc V8, LEZ compliant, MOT Apr 2015 .

33 seat + guide, finished in Moquette and leather, carpeted, A/C, PA & DVD, MOT Oct 2015, 123k kms

13 metre, 53 retrimmed seats with 3 point belts and centre toilet, air con, will be supplied with new MOT.

49 seats with courier and toilet in excellent condition and finished in white. All have long tests and are ready to go. With private plates, they look like new vehicles – choice of 5.

£14,950 + VAT

£28,000 ono

£85,000 + VAT

£53,000 + VAT

£95,000 + VAT each or offers for 2 or more

Call Ken – Belle Coaches 01728 830414/07887 898425

Grange Travel – 01474 357743 info@grange-travel.co.uk

Chiltern Travel 07768 215058 tboorman@outlook.com

Chiltern Travel 07768 215058 tboorman@outlook.com

2006 Scania K114 Irizar Century

2011 Volvo B9R Plaxton Panther

NEW Mercedes Atego Indcar Next

NEW Iveco Sitcar Voyager

Automatic, 49 seats + courier + driver, centre sunken WC, continental door, air con, radio P/A, CD player, wired for monitor and DVD player, double glazing and curtains, new MOT.

Automatic, 12.8m, 61 seats + courier + driver, power entrance door, 3 point belts, leather headrests + piping, rear continental door, radio P/A, CD player and air con, LEZ compliant, MOT Sept,157,519km.

Available in two weights 10 tonne / 4 cyl engine (33 passenger seats) and 12 tonne / 6 cyl engine (33-37 passenger seats), power doors, air con, radio P/A, CD, provisions for DVD & monitor, lap belts.

25 seat luxury midi coach, Lazzerini reclining seats + courier + driver, air con, manual gearbox + retarder, double glazed tinted windows, with curtains, power door, radio/PA and CD, luggage space of 4 m3.

£POA

£POA

£POA

£POA

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

Moseley Distributors Ltd Tel: 01236 750501

1999 Mercedes Vario Plaxton Cheetah

2000 Mercedes Vario 614 7HO

29 seats, PSV MOT’d, drives well, manual gearbox, 3 point belts etc, bodywork straight but paintwork a little dull, original interior, may PX.

24 seater, power door, private plate, manual, 3 point belts, low mileage, wood dash kit, very good condition, drives great, long PSV MOT, COIF.

£10,750 + VAT

£8,000 + VAT – MAY PX

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

01404 47502/07790 966667 parnell-coaches@supanet.com

Dennis ‘R’ Series Plaxton Panther

Optare Solo Slimline

53 reclining seats, 3 point seat belts, courier seat, plug entrance door, double glazing, air conditioning, radio/PA/CD audio, DVD and monitor, AS-Tronic transmission, intarder, LEZ compliant.

£POA

Mercedes engine, 3 point seat belts, low floor, wheelchair access and tacho. Sale due to loss of contracts.

Tel: 01823 653000 Moseley in the South

gillandersabbeycars@yahoo.co.uk

£20,000

58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

www.coachandbusweek.com

p59_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 14:33 Page 59

www.coachandbusmarket.com 2000 MAN VanHool EOS 90

48 reclining seats plus courier, WC/washroom, double glazed windows, forced-air ventilation, radio/CD and PA system, clean condition, MOT Jan, 640,000 kms.

£21,500

Coachtraders - 01501 744000

Mercedes Benz UNVI Touring

Atego chassis, air suspension, 41 Esteban Ergos seats with 3 pt belts, in Holdsworth moquette, courier seat, air con, double glazed, radio/CD/PA, large luggage capacity, new test.

VEHICLES 2004 Mercedes Sprinter 311D Traveliner LWB

2009 MAN 18.400 BEULAS CYGNUS 53 SEAT + CREW SEAT AIR CON, SAT NAV, ASTRONIC GEARBOX, NEW MOT CHOICE OF 3

16 seats, LEZ compliant, 161,000km, PSV MOT Sept 2015, analogue tacho, good reliable coach in good condition.

£89,950 Sea View Coaches Tel: 01202 741439 info@seaviewcoaches.com

2005 (55 reg) Mercedes Vario 814 LWB

19 reclining seats, quality conversion, air-con, large boot, LEZ compliant Euro 4, 281,000km, FSH, owned from new, MOT Nov 2015.

2008 Volvo B7

£6,595 + VAT

Rainham Coach Co Ltd, Kent 01634 852020/07850 657653

New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516cdi

Euro 5, 43 seats, 30 standing, DDA, RPC, Esteem bodied buses. Choice of 4.

19 seats, power door, panoramic d/g windows, in-dash A/C, saloon forced air, large luggage space, bulkhead and deep drop boot, UK chassis, 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty. £POA

£18,950 + VAT

£78,500 + VAT

Rainham Coach Co Ltd, Kent 01634 852020/07850 657653

Heritage Coaches Tel Russell – 01403 711238

2003 Mercedes 614D

2002 Scania Irizar Century

2003 Dennis Dart

15 seats or 6 wheelchairs, wheelchair lift, MOT May 2015.

49 re-trimmed seats, toilet, air-con, auto, MOT May 2015.

£4,750 + VAT

£37,500 + VAT

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

Andy.Bates@chalkwell.co.uk Tel: 01795 423982

Whitegate Travel Tel 01606 786833 / 07841 110426

2011 VW Crafter CR50 TDI L MAXI H-R

2006 Ford Transit 430E

2007 LDV Maxus LWB EHR 15STR

2011 Vauxhall Vivaro Combi LWB Tecshift

16 seats, front entry, luggage racks with blown air and reading lights, show curtains and large boot area. £28,495 + VAT

16 seats, side loading door, 3 point seat belts, rear emergency exit, radio/cassette, tachograph, MOT till Oct 2015. £5,495 + VAT

14 seats + driver, digital tacho, 3 point seatbelts, headrests, side loading door, COIF at cost. £4,995 + VAT

Very well maintained, massive boot via lift up tailgate rear, bodywork in very good condition for mileage. £11,995 + VAT

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

UK Minicoaches – 01902 631507 sales@ukminicoaches.co.uk

1998 Mercedes Sprinter

Volvo B7 Optare Esteem

£POA

Coachtraders - 01501 744000

15 seats, front entry, Mellor conversion, MOT 16/5/14, very good condition, with tail lift.

£ 3,700

1998 Iveco 40 / 10 15 seats, front entry, MOT 22/8/14, very good condition.

£ 2,500

1995 Iveco 49 / 10 19 seats, front entry, power door, MOT 13/1/15, very good condition.

£ 3,000 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

01884 252646 / 07702 626542 www.coachandbusweek.com

Coachtraders - 01501 744000

2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515cdi

Cummins/Allison, Plaxton Pointer body, 47 seats with 45 belted, test 30th June 2015, immaculate throughout, spare gearbox also included.

Offers invited – need space for new vehicles!

UNVI Vega conversion, 16 seats, large d/g windows, A/C, saloon forced air, large boot space, deep drop boot, 190k miles, good condition, new test, can re-paint at extra cost. £24,950 ono + VAT

Coachtraders - 01501 744000

2002 Scania VanHool K124

EURO 5 – RPC 43 SEATS, 30 STANDING FULLY DDA COMPLIANT CHOICE OF 4 AVAILABLE WOULD DO A BULK DEAL

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 30/9/14, excellent condition.

£78,500 + VAT

NOW £39,000

Round and About – Telephone 01293 852032

Kingdoms Tours Ltd 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59

704845-1176-Ensign.qxp_Layout 1 16/02/2015 14:16 Page 1

Ensig DOUBLE DECK 2011 11 plate OPTARE SOLO SRs

2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814

9.95m long, 35 DP seats, DDA compliant, Cummins 6 cylinder engines.

manual, 23 coach seats, side wheelchair lift, tacho, boot, luggage racks.

2002 52 PLATE SUPER P0INTER DARTS

42 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins ISB engines, Voith gearboxes.

2002 02 PLATE DENNIS TRIDENT

2005 55 PLATE OPTARE SOLO M880 Cummins engine, 28 seats, new MOT.

2002 MINI POINTER DART

Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, Plaxton bodies, DDA and LEZ compliant, 78 seats.

8.8m, Cummins ISB / Allison, 29 seats, DDA compliant.

2000 VOLVO B7TL

2004 54 PLATE OPTARE SOLO

Voith gearbox, Euro 2, 80 seats, painted white, new MOT.

2003 53 PLATE DENNIS DART SLFs

10.1m, Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, 36 seats, LEZ and DDA compliant.

1996 N REG MERCEDES 709 25 coach seats with 3 point belts, automatic, LEZ compliant.

Mercedes engine, M920, 33 seats Hanover destination, DDA compliant.

2002 DENNIS DARTS

Cummins Euro 3 / Allison, Plaxton Pointer bodies, dual door, 30 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant, can be converted to single door.

ABS fitted – ideal driver trainers

1998 R REG VOLVO B10M Voith automatic, 48 DP seats, long MOT.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

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

704845-1176-Ensign.qxp_Layout 1 16/02/2015 14:16 Page 2

nbus

K ER SPECIALIST 1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 75 seats.

2001 Y REG TRIDENTS Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton President bodies, 78 seats.

1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

£18,000 + VAT

Cummins C series engines, ZF gearbox, East Lancs bodies, 74 seats, long MOT’s

2004 DENNIS DART SLFs Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Allison gearboxes, Plaxton Pointer bodies, 37 seats.

2007 ENVIRO 200

Cummins Euro 4 , Voith gearbox, East Lancs body, 9.4m, 26 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.

2001/2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS

51 and 02 plate, Cummins Euro 3 ISC engines, LEZ, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA, single door and 78 seats, or dual door 67 seats.

2001 & 2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS

ISC Euro 3 engines, DDA and LEZ compliant, Alexander ALX 400 bodies, 62 seats dual door or can be upseated and converted to single door.

2000 X REG VOLVO B7TLs

Euro 2, LEZ compliant, Plaxton President , CCTV, dual door 62 seats or single door 74 seats. £9,000 + VAT

1998 S REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN

Volvo Euro 2 engines, 76 seats, ZF gearboxes, part open top.

2005 NEOPLAN SKYLINER

89 seats, air-con, toilet, MAN engine, ZF gearbox.

2008 57 PLATE OPTARE VERSAS

10.8m long, 38 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins 6 cylinder engines.

1996 VOLVO B10MA ARTICULATED COACHES ZF automatics, 71 seats.

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

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705802-1174-Moseley Atego.qxp 31/01/2015 08:19 Page 1

Mercedes Atego Indcar Next

10 tonne version – 33 passenger seats + driver + courier 12 tonne version – 37 passenger seats + driver +courier Now taking orders for Summer delivery

MOSELEY (PCV) LTD Elmsall Way, Dale Lane South Elmsall Pontefract West Yorkshire WF9 2XS

Tel: 01977 609000 Fax: 01977 609900 enquiries@moseleycoachsales.co.uk www.moseleycoachsales.co.uk

706682-1176-Connaught.qxp_Layout 1 16/02/2015 12:29 Page 1

Brand New coach-built Mercedes 516 CDi Euro 6 Ferqui Soroco 19 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, reading lights, power door, tow-bar and boot.

Brand New Coach-built Mercedes Atego Ferqui F5 34, 36 or 38 high back seats, 3 point belts, air conditioning, double glazing, reading lights, power door, curtains, large boot. Orders now being taken.

Brand New coach-built Mercedes 516 CDi Euro 6 Ferqui Soroco 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, reading lights, power door, and large boot.

2011 Mercedes Benz 516 CDi Sprinter 16 high back leather trimmed seats, 3 point belts, air conditioning, forced air, reading lights, large boot, metallic paint, low mileage.

2010 60 Reg Iveco 45C15 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains, front entrance passenger door and large boot.

2010 Mercedes 516 CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.

2010 Mercedes 515 CDi Soroco 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, power door, metallic paint and boot.

2008 58 Reg Mercedes 816 Unvi Riada 29 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.

2007 57 Reg Mercedes Soroco 16 high back leather trimmed seats, 3 point belts, AC,DG, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot.

2006 Mercedes 814 Vario 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, curtains and boot.

2006 56 Reg Mercedes 413CDi Soroco 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, curtains, power door & large boot.

1999 S Reg Mercedes 814 Plaxton Beaver 33 seats, 3 point belts, power door, manual gearbox, new test.

Steve Peach Tel: 01405 814064 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: info@connaughtpsv.co.uk Web: www.connaughtpsv.co.uk

702678-1176-Moseley Dist.qxp 16/02/2015 12:45 Page 1

p66_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 14:19 Page 66

The

Stafford Bus Centre Specialist Bus & Coach Sales

VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR SHORT AND LONGER TERM HIRE

www.staffordbuscentre.com

Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

FORD TRANSIT FACTORY 16/17 SEAT BUS 59 reg with 38K miles, tacho, new COIF and PSV MOT £12,950 Also 10 reg £13,950 Others also available

BLUEBIRD AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS 2000 W reg Fitted from new with 60 high back coach seats, fully repainted and long MOT, ready to go.

"What a machine for little money" £6,950

MERCEDES SPRINTER 616 CDI 56 & 06 reg 24 seats and full DDA spec 1 and 2, manual gearbox, very rare £18,950

MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2001 Y reg 29 bus seats with belts, full body overhaul where needed and repaint into white, long or new test £9,950

LEYLAND OLYMPIAN TRI AXLE 1993 but reg’d in UK 2004 Fitted with 87 belted seats and 28 standing, Nov 15 MOT. £9,950

MERCEDES 814 VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2004 54 REG. Fitted with 20 seats on tracking, and up to 10 wheelchairs, SOLDgearbox, power door, PSV, COIF and MoT, manual destination etc. long wheel base so could go to 32 seats. £14,950 IVECO DAILY 45 15 LWB HIGH ROOF 2005 55 REG. 16 seats wheelchair accessible with power door, new MoT £5,950 DENNIS DART PLAXTON SUPER POINTER. 47 fully belted D L seats, ideal for schools SO £9,450 DAF PLAXTON PREMIER 1996 PP. Fitted with 55 seats, automatic gearbox, new MOT upon sale £9,950

VW CR50 WITH STANFORD CONVERSION 2007 07 REG. Very expensive and high spec conversion by Stamford who are recognised as the best in the industry, fitted with 14 high back seats with 3 point belts, Palfinger Hideaway tail lift and capacity to carry up to 9 passengers and 2 wheelchairs, it has only covered just over 60k miles from new and is in outstanding condition, all paperwork and spare keys, ready to go £17,950

ADL ENVIRO 300 2006 56 REG. SLF BUS - dual use options, with 60 x 3 point belted seats, LDuse on bus services or SO school contracts.

PHONE FOR SPEC AND PRICE DENNIS DART CAETANO CUTLASS. Step entrance with 38 LD contracts etc. £3,450 SOschool seats and 3 point belts. Ideal FORD TRANSITS 15-17 seats, available for short term rental. Rent for one week, month or year. Up to you.

Always available.

Phone for details MERCEDES 413D SPRINTER 2004 04 REG. Extra long body D boot, COIF and long OLheight with 16 seats and hugeSfull MoT. £11,950

66 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

SOLD

ADL ENVIRO 300 2002 reg Currenty fitted out as exibition / classroom, very low miles, very good condition, see website for details £17,950

OPTARE SOLO M850 2000 W REG. One remaining with 23/25 coach seats with ramp, DDA etc £4,950 VDL SB180 2010 59 REG Cummins 6 ISB engine with MCV Evolution body, only 20k miles £POA

www.coachandbusweek.com

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703478-1176-Ben Weaver.qxp 16/02/2015 12:32 Page 1

BEN WEAVER PSV

2007 07 MERCEDES 816 33 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, silver, cerificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric b-fold front door, 172,000 kilometers/107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 24,995 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 616CDI SPRINTER LOW FLOOR ACCESSIBLE SERVICE BUS 2.7CDi turbo diesel 160ps engine, 6 speed automatic, double electric front access plug entry doors, rear emergency exit door, fold out wheelchair access ramp, low floor with tracking for upto 3 wheelchairs, COIF for 15 seated plus 1 wheelchair or 13 seated plus 3 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, PSV tested, ex local authority owned, 147,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £17,995 + VAT CHOICE OF 2

PSV

2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 49,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT

PSV

2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 50,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT

PSV

2010 10 PLATE FIAT DUCATO MAXI 40 3.0 JTD 160PS KSF FREEDOM STEP ENTRY LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel 160ps euro 5 engine, semi automatic, 1 local authority owner from new, rear air suspension to allow easy access for wheelchairs, COIF for 16 passengers, PSV, digital tacho, fold out rear access ramp, low entry side step, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, full size side entry door, panoramic glass, 54,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 22,495 + VAT

PSV

2006 06 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 616CDI SPRINTER LOW FLOOR ACCESSIBLE SERVICE BUS 2.7CDi turbo diesel 160ps engine, 6 speed automatic, double electric front access plug entry doors, rear emergency exit door, fold out wheelchair access ramp, low floor with tracking for upto 3 wheelchairs, COIF for 15 seated plus 1 wheelchair or 13 seated plus 3 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, PSV tested, ex local authority owned, 166,000 miles, very good condition supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £17,995 + VAT CHOICE OF 2

PSV

2008 57 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER FRONT ENTRY WELFARE BUS 2461cc TDI turbo diesel 161ps, 6 speed automatic gearbox, white, rear air conditioning, underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, digital tachograph, electric front entry plug door, AVS electric side entry step, CD player, electric mirrors, rear blinds, currently fitted with 13 seats but 8 more can be to make 21 seats inc driver, 92,000 kilometers/57,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 16,495 + VAT

2004 54 MERCEDES 814 PLAXTON BEAVER 2 33 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, yellow/green, COIF, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, destination boards, 492,000 kilometers/307,000 miles, VGC, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 14,495 + VAT

PSV

PSV

2008 08 PLATE NEW SHAPE MERCEDES SPRINTER 311CDI LWB 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2200 CDi turbo diesel 110ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, Frank Guy conversion, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 3 wheelchairs plus 8 passengers, uplift skylight, CD player, electric mirrors, currently fitted with 10 passenger seats but 4 more can be added to make 14 passengers, 172,000 miles but looks and drives like 72,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,495 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 76,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,995 + VAT

PSV

2005 55 PLATE MERCEDES BENZ 614 VARIO 20 SEAT MINICOACH Onyx conversion, analogue tachograph, certificate of initial for 19 passengers, PSV’D, electric plug front entry door, coach style velour seats, overhead luggage racks, large boot, uplift skylight, waiting for full respray, can be painted into any colour of your choice, supplied with 12 months PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 11,495 + VAT

BEN WEAVER commercIals

2008 58 PLATE FORD TRANSIT XLWB JUMBO HIGH ROOF 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 turbo diesel 115ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, frozen white, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, currenlty fitted with 8 passenger seats but can be made up to 16 passnger seats, 65,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 13,495 + VAT

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tachograph, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, currently fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 16 passenger seats, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 97,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,495 + VAT

2003 03 MERCEDES VARIO 814 33 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, currently yellow, waiting for white respray, Certificate of Initial Fitness for 30 seats, currently fitted with 28 seats, analogue tachograph, PSV, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 10 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, Leicester Carriage Builders conversion, 230,000 kilometers/144,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT or PSV, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,995 + VAT

2005 05 MERCEDES 814 25 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, Frank Guy conversion, blue, certificate of initial fitness for 16 passengers, analogue tachograph, PSV, PLS Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 8 wheelchairs, electric bi fold front door, fold out side access step, 150,000 kilometers/93,000 miles, ex local authority owned, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months parts and labour warranty £ 11,495 + VAT

PSV

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tacho, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, fitted with 9 seats but additional seating can be added, remote central locking, electric windows, CD player, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 100,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 12,495 + VAT

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 AUTOMATIC FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, automatic, COIF, digital tachograph, PSV, electric front entry plug door with fold out step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, flat floor, currently fitted with 10 seats but additional seating can be added to make into 16 passenger seats, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 121,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 11,795 + VAT

2005 55 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 416CDI 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 160ps, 6 speed Sprintshift automatic gearbox, red, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, 107,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 10,495 + VAT

2005 55 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WELFARE FRONT ENTRY MINIBUS 2.5 TDI White, 5 speed manual gearbox, analogue tachograph, manual front entry plug door, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, 3 foldaway seats, currently fitted with 8 passenger seats bus 7 more can be added to make into a 15 passengers seat bus, 1 ex local authority owner, LEZ compliant, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,495 NO VAT

PSV

2005 05 MERCEDES VARIO 814 16-24 SEAT WELFARE BUS 4.25 turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, Frank Guy conversion, green, Certificate Of Initial Fitness for 16 passengers, analogue tachograph, PSV, PLC Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 8 wheelchairs, electric bi-fold front door, fold-out side access step, 169,000 kilometers/105,000 miles, ex local authority owned, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to RTA standards, 1 months parts and labour warranty £ 10,995 + VAT

Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076

www.minibuses.co

703478-1176-Ben Weaver.qxp 16/02/2015 12:32 Page 2

commercials PSV

2006 06 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, silver, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, electric plug side entry door with electric access step, digital tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, LEZ compliant, 104,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,495 + VAT

PSV

2004 54 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 25 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 22 passenger seats, 2 more can be added, analogue tacho, Certificate of Initial Iitness for 22 passengers, PSV, overhead luggage storage 1 local authority owner from new 93,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT

PSV

2003 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 16 TO 23 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, metallic light green, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 16 passenger seats, 6 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF, PSV, overhead luggage storage, 132,000 kilometers/82,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,495 + VAT

PSV

2004 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 16 TO 23 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, metallic light blue, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 10 passenger seats, 6 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF, PSV, 214,000 kilometers/134,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,195 + VAT

PSV

2005 05 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, COIF, PSV, electric plug side entry door, analogue tacho, LEZ compliant, 66,000 miles, one local authority owner from new, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,495 + VAT

PSV

2008 08 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 15 SEAT MINIBUS 2.4 115PS turbo diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, frozen white, digital tachograph, electric windows, remote central locking, CD player, 74,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,295 + VAT

2003 53 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed sprintshift automatic, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked, currently fitted with 8 seats but 9 more can be added, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, COIF, PSV, LEZ compliant, CD player, 2129,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 7,995 + VAT

2005 55 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 45C13 13 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, electric front entry plug door with low access step, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 4 wheelchairs, 189,000 kilometers/118,000 miles excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT

2003 53 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER LWB 313CDI WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.2 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, silver, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 5 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 132,000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty. £ 6,795 NO VAT

PSV

2006 06 REG IVECO DAILY 40C14 13 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel 140ps, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, COIF for 12 passengers, analogue tacho, current PSV expires 3rd April 2015, tracking for 4 wheelchairs, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, LEZ compliant, fold out side door, access step, 4200kgs gross vehicle weight so can be driven without a d1 licence, 151,000 kilometers/94,000 miles, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT

PSV

2002 02 PLATE (ON PRIVATE REG) MERCEDES SPRINTER 411CDI 17 SEAT MINIBUS/MINICOACH 2.2CDi turbo diesel, 5 speed manual gearbox, silver, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, overhead storage with reading lights and forced air, curtains, sunroof, CD player, 313,000 miles, good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,495 + VAT

PSV

2003 03 PLATE IVECO DAILY 65C15 12-24 SEAT WELFARE BUS WITH TACHOGRAPH COIF AND PSV 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 8 wheelchairs, currently fitted with 12 passenger seats plus drivers companion 10 more can be added to take 22 passengers, analogue tachograph, COIF for 22 passengers, PSV, 1 local authority owner from new, 215,000 kilometers/134,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,995 + VAT

PSV

2003 (03) IVECO DAILY 65C15 23-25 SEAT WELFARE BUSES Analogue tacho, PSV, COIF for 22 passengers, PSV, 2800cc turbo diesel, white, Access underfloor rear chairlift, tracking up to 8 wheelchairs, 1 local authority from new, excellent condition, 12 months PSV and MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,495 +VAT

PSV

2004 04 PLATE FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT WELFARE MINIBUS White, 2.4 turbo diesel 125 ps, 5 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Developments conversion, Certificate of Initial Fitness, PSV, analogue tachograph, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchair,s 1 ex local authority owner from new, LEZ compliant, 102,000 mile,s excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,295 + VAT

PSV

2002 52 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 16 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ricon underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, analogue tachograph, panoramic glass, LEZ compliant, 226,000 kilometers/141,000 miles,1 local authority owner from new, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,395 + VAT

2002 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 2.5TDI LWB 9 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 turbo diesel, blue, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift with fittings for 1 wheelchair, twin side loading doors, just had the following engine work carried out by ourselves due to water pump failure: new water pump, both timing belt kits replaced, new head gasket and head bolts fitted, eplaced camshaft and 3 valves, previously supplied by ourselves, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month warranty CASH PRICE £ 4,695 NO VAT

PSV

PSV

2002 02 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 40C13 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.8 turbo diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, white, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, panoramic glass, electric front entry plug door, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 150,000 kilometers 95,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 4,495 + VAT

PSV

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 45C13 11 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LONG WHEEL BASE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel white, white, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, LEZ compliant, currently fitted with 11 seats but can be made upto 17, 200000 kilometers, 124000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warrantry £ 4,495 + VAT

2003 53 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 40C13 15 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2.8 turbo diesel 6 speed manual gearbox, white, panoramic glass, front entry door, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 166,000 kilometers 103,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 4,195 + VAT

All vehicles supplied with 12 months MOT/PSV, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards and 1–3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty

2004 04 IVECO DAILY 45C11 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White 2800cc turbo diese,l 6 speed manual gearbox, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 4 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, ex local authority owned, 147000 kilometers 92000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 4,195 + VAT

p00_CBW_1176 Blythswood.qxp 16/02/2015 17:33 Page 1

701915-1176-DrewWilson.qxp 16/02/2015 12:28 Page 1

DREW WILSON coach sales

2003 MERCEDES VARIO 614D 24 coach seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, forced air ventilation, reading lights, large drop well boot, curtains, aisle carpets, manual, slam door, new paint, 418,273 kms. £13,000 + VAT

2000 DENNIS JAVELIN 49 seats, 3 point belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air heating, MOT April, 154,243kms.

2010 AYATS BRAVO DOUBLE DECKER 83 seats plus crew seat, 2 side entry doors, carpets, UK COIF, toilet, fridge, TV/DVD, servery, AS Tronic gearbox.

2000 MERCEDES HISPANO 49 seats, semi auto, lap retractable belts, centre toilet, forced air heating, reading lights, TV monitor, 542,190kms.

£5,000 + VAT

£190,000 + VAT

£22,000 + VAT

1994 TOYOTA CAETANO OPTIMO 3 GL 22 coach seats with belts, power door, manual box, new paint in white, current MOT.

2002 IVECO MAXIM 29 coach seats, lap retractable belts, crew seat, power door, manual gearbox, forced air, reading lights, curtains, radio cassette. £19,950 + VAT

2004 OPTARE SOLO 18/20 seats plus 2 wheelchairs, wheelchair ramp, 3 point seatbelts, automatic, tacho, Mercedes engine, choice of 2.

2003 VOLVO B12M JONCKHEERE MISTRAL 50 leather coach seats, manual, 3 point belts, curtains, rear toilet, CD/radio, monitor, forced air heating, reading lights, power door. £42,000 + VAT

1997 SCANIA IRIZAR CENTURY 51 reclining seats, toilet, lap retractable belts, crew seat, comfort shift, double glazing, tinted windows, power door, air con, repainted in white, tidy condition, 199,039kms. £9,000 + VAT

2002 MERCEDES SPRINTER 16 seats OR 6 seated and 3 wheelchair, slam door, manual, cd/radio, 3 point belts.

2004 VOLVO B12M PLAXTON PANTHER 55 reclining seats + crew seat, 3 point belts, curtains, aisle carpet, forced air heating, reading lights, luggage racks, manual., power door, re-trimmed seats. £48,000 + VAT

1998 MERCEDES 0404 HISPANO CARROCERA 49 seats + crew seat, lap belts, luggage racks, TV monitor, centre toilet, reading lights, forced air heating, automatic.

2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814D OPTARE NOUVELLE SR 29 coach seats, 3 point seatbelts, large boot, air con, luggage racks, forced air, power door, new MOT, genuine 22,6000 km, absolutely mint condition inside and out. £34,000 + VAT

1998 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIERE 320 70 coach seats, Cummins engine. MOT March 2015, 417,119kms, radio cassette, 6 speed ZF manual gearbox, power door, double glazed, tinted windows, tidy retrimmed interior. £23,500 + VAT – PX CONSIDERED

1995 VOLVO B10M CAETANO ALGARVE II 49 reclining seats, manual gearbox, lap retractable seatbelts, luggage racks, floor vents, reading lights, radio/CD.

1995 VOLVO B9M VAN HOOL ALIZE 36 reclining seats, rear floor mounted toilet, manual, double glazed, tinted windows, power door. New MOT, rear servery, air conditioning. £12,000 + VAT

1999 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER 350 51reclining seats, lap belts, centre toilet, boiler and servery, 6 speed ZF gearbox, luggage racks, forced air, reading lights, power door, very tidy, 843,751kms, new MOT. £12,000 + VAT

1999 MERCEDES BEAVER 2 31 bus seats, lap belts, luggage holder, manual, power door.

1998 DAF SB3000 PLAXTON PREMIERE 320 51 recliners, ZF automatic gearbox, curtains, double glazing.

£7,000 + VAT

1998 SCANIA IRIZAR INTERCENTURY 55 seats with belts, comfort shift, double glazed, air conditioning, CD player, crew seat, can be made to 70 seats, MOT May 2015. £18,000 + VAT

2010 MERCEDES CHEETAH 33 coach seats, 3 point belts, tinted and double glazed panoramic windows, power door, forced air heating, reading lights, Euroliners, repainted white. boot, side locke, new MOT. £84,000 + VAT

1989 VOLVO B10M VAN HOOL 57 seats with lap retractable belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air heating, manual, crew seat, power door.

121,446kms, new test, new retrim, repainted in white. £5,000 + VAT

2002 TOYOTA OPTIMO 23 reclining seats, power door, analogue tacho, radio/cassette, luggage racks, forced air heating, reading lights, MOT’d. £14,950 + VAT

2006 OPTARE SOLO WIDE BODY 29 seats, 1 wheelchair, wheelchair ramp, Allison 2000 auto gearbox, front and rear destination.

£4,000 + VAT

£4,000 + VAT

£17,500 + VAT

£10,000 + VAT

£18,000 + VAT

£12,000 + VAT

£30,000 + VAT

CHOICE OF OVER 350 VEHICLES • OPEN 7 DAYS 08.00-18.00

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.DREWWILSON.CO.UK Tel/Fax: 0141 248 5524 • Mob: 07764 200444 • Email: drew@drewwilson.co.uk Mob: 07827 325474 • Email: graham@drewwilson.co.uk

p72_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 15:57 Page 72

Coaches For Sale

07970 096 262 2005 Volvo B12M VanHool Alizee T9

2000 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD

New MOT, 49 seat executive coach with DVD, A/C and 2 screens, LEZ and automatic, 527k kms.

MOT May 2015, manual gearbox, 48 seats, centre toilet, 706k kms.

£59,995

£19,995

2003 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD

2003 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD

1 years MOT, 48 seats, LEZ compliant, manual gearbox, centre toilet, DVD screens, 756k kms.

48 seats, LEZ, MOT November 2015, manual gearbox, 401k kms.

£30,000

£30,000

2005 Mercedes Setra S315 GTHD

2004 Volvo B12B Sunsundegui Sideral

LEZ, auto gearbox, A/C, LEZ, 48 seater, MOT August 2015, 659k kms.

LEZ, auto gearbox, MOT Sept 2015, 2 flat screens, centre toilet, A/C, 515k kms.

£49,000

£34,995

2003 Volvo B12B Sunsundegui Sideral

2004 Mercedes Setra S415 HD

LEZ, manual gearbox, MOT Sept 15, centre toilet, 2 flat screens, 464k kms.

MOT Apr 15, 680k kms, 48 seats, LEZ automatic gearbox.

£29,995

£45,000

2010 Volvo B12M Plaxton Panther 57 seat

2010 Neoplan Tourliner 61 seat

2010 Volvo B12M Plaxton Panther 53 seat

2009 Volvo B12M Plaxton Elite 47 seat

For more details or to view call Mark: 07787 967100 72 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

www.eurotaxis.com www.coachandbusweek.com

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Heathrow based commercial vehicle superstore Up to 50 buses always in stock – prices start from £4,995 Contact: 01784 256 255 www.wheelsvancentres.co.uk

58 Reg MERCEDES-BENZ VARIO 613 24 seat luxury coach...just 17,000 miles £37,500

10 reg VW CRAFTER CR50 5T 2.5 TDI 16 seat, wheelchair lift, 54,000 miles £22,950

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 15 seat, wheelchair ramp, 103,000 miles £19,995

CHO

ICE

20 RENAULT MASTER 120.35 DCI 14 seat, wheelchair access, 88,000 miles £11,995

The

Stafford Bus Centre Specialist Bus & Coach Sales

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 413 CDI 17 seat, air condition, semi-auto £19,995

OF

FORD TRANSIT 17 seaters – choice of 20 From £7,995

VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR SHORT AND LONGER TERM HIRE

www.staffordbuscentre.com

Tel: 01782 791774 07803 222552 staffordbus@btconnect.com

RENAULT MASTER TRI AXLE BUS WITH CRAZY LOW MILES OF ONLY 20,000, BUILT TO CARRY 16 SEATED PASSENGERS OR UP TO 7 WHEELCHAIRS, POWER ENTRANCE DOOR, TACHOGRAPH, MANUAL FOLD OUT REAR RAMP, REVERSING CAMERA, NO EXPENSE SPARED WHEN BUILT, FULLY REPAINTED INTO WHITE AND MOT TO MARCH 2015, CAN BE PSV WITH COIF IF REQUIRED

£14,950 www.coachandbusweek.com

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 73

p74_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 16:56 Page 74

chris@crystalscoaches.com Tel: 01622 872302 Mobile: 07971 000111

FIAT DUCATO 40 MAXI 109,000 miles, 16 seater, front plug door, Unwin floor tracking, rear Ricon taillift, digital tacho, Dec 2015 class 5 MOT, COIF, excellent example £14,995 + VAT

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER Mileages from 112,000 to 135,000 miles, full service history, rear Ricon electric taillift, Unwin floor tracking, front entry, direct council, choice of 4 available Prices from £9,995 + VAT

RENAULT TRUCKS UK MASTER Choice of 2 available, front electric door, panoramic side windows, Unwin floor tracking, class 5 MOT digital tacho showing 147,000 kms, clean examples Prices from £11,995 + VAT

MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 411 CDI Choice of 6, full service history 13 stamps in the book, Access under slung tail-lift, Unwin floor tracking, front entry, class 5 MOT, COIF, very clean buses Prices from £7,495 + VAT

S

D L O

Renault Master PCV 2006

Renault Master LM35 2008

15 seats, 69,500 miles, automatic, one previous owner

Wheelchair accessible, 75,000 miles, air con, Ricon tail lift, white with grey interior

£8,250 NO VAT

£10,450 + VAT

Ford Transit LWB 2007

Citroen Relay 2006

Wheelchair accessible, 40,000 miles, FSH, choice of two vehicles, blue with grey interior

Wheelchair accessible, 17,500 miles, one previous owner, MOT Apr, Eberspacher heater, Ricon tail lift

£12,000 + VAT

£8,500 + VAT

VW LT35 Tdi 2006 RENAULT MASTER Only 22,000 miles, 17 seater, CD player, full service history last done 18k, 1 owner, NO VAT TO PAY, excellent example £8,995 NO VAT

2007 56 IVECO DAILY YES ONLY 7,000 MILES, front lower entry, 13 seater, CD player, remote control locking, excellent example, 1 owner, NO VAT TO PAY, euro 4 £10,995 NO VAT

www.parkwaycommercials.co.uk 07766 670411 • 020 8759 3969

2005 Jonckheere Mistral Volvo B12B

Ishift, 13 metre, 53 retrimmed seats with 3 point belts and centre toilet, air con, will be supplied with new MOT. £53,000 + VAT

S

D L O

VW Movano 2004

Wheelchair accessible, 64,000, miles, one owner, FSH, choice of four vehicles, white with grey interior

Wheelchair accessible. 97,000 miles, FSH, Ricon tail lift, White with blue interior

£7,800 + VAT

£6,450 + VAT

Wheelchair accessible vehicles wanted immediately. Cash settlement Part exchange welcome – viewing by appointment please Crystals Coaches Ltd. Hale Street, East Peckham, Kent TN2 5HL

200 2008 Setra 415GTHD Euro 4 – choice of 5

We have owned these superb touring coaches from new and they are now for sale to make way for new vehicles.

49 seats with courier and toilet in excellent condition and finished in white. All have long tests and are ready to go. With private plates, they look like new vehicles. £95,000 + VAT each or offers for 2 or more

Telephone Trevor 07768 215058 Email: tboorman@outlook.com 74 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

www.coachandbusweek.com

p75_CBW_1176.qxp 16/02/2015 16:35 Page 75

1997 Volvo Olympian 2006 Mercedes 815 Unvi Riada 29 seats with 3 point belts £39,000

78 seats and 16 Standees MOT June 2015 £5995 + VAT

SOLD 2007 Mercedes 815 Sitcar Beluga 33 seats with seat belts, CCTV £42,000

1999 Dennis Dart SLF

33 seats and 19 standees Fully DDA compliant. MOT May/July 15 £6,250 + VAT – CHOICE OF 5 1993 Volvo B10M Van Hool 70 seats, 3 point height adjustable seat belts, CCTV £15,000

2 x 1996 Volvo B10M Van Hool 70 seats, 3 point height adjustable seat belts, CCTV £22,000 ea

2001 Mercedes 814D

27 seats with 3-point belts LEZ Compliant. Manual. MOT April 2015 £14,950 + VAT

1998 DAF SB3000 Van Hool 67 seats, 3 point height adjustable seat belts, CCTV, auto £19,000

2003 Scania Irizar InterCentury Volvo B10M Johnkheere 53 seats with lap belts £8,000 2 x Optare Solo 25 seat plus 3 tip ups, DDA compliant, new reconditioned engine fitted 6 months ago by MAN specialists £34000 ea All vehicles in white and with 12 months MOT. All plus VAT.

Smith & Sons Coaches The Coach Depot, Woodside, Coupar Angus, Perthshire PH13 9LW

Tel: 01828 626262 Email: info@smithandsonscoaches.co.uk www.coachandbusweek.com

53 seats. LEZ Compliant Choice of 2. Automatic. MOT Nov/Dec 2015 £43,000 + VAT

Chalkwell Garage & Coach Hire Tel: 01795 423982 Email: andy.bates@chalkwell.co.uk February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 75

H. W. PICKRELL

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MINIBUS AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES

Gardiners Lane North • Crays Hill • Billericay • Essex • CM11 2XE Tel: 01268 521033 • Mobile: 07860 894331 • Fax: 01268 284951

Email: sales@hwpickrell.co.uk - www.hwpickrell.co.uk Finance available on all vehicles (subject to status) Written details on request.

SPECIALIST SUPPLIER OF NEW & USED STANDARD AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUSES For latest stock arrivals follow @h_w_pickrell

2011 11 REG FORD CONNECT T230 1.8 DIESEL, MAN GEARBOX, CD, ELEC WINDOWS & MIRRORS, TWIN SIDE LOADING DOORS, 3 HIGH BACK SEAT IN REAR SINGLE PASSENGER SEAT PLUS DRIVER, LOWERED FLOOR WITH FOLD DOWN RAMP, GOWERINGS CONVERSION, VERY HIGH SPEC, 15,036 MILES.

2015 15 REG VOLKSWAGEN T5 BUS DSG GEARBOX, HIGH ROOF PAS, LWB, NEW CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR & STEP, 8 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FULLY TRACKED UNWIN FLOOR, RICON TAIL LIFT, FULL AIR CON, EBERSPACHER HEATER, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, HI SPEC.

58 REG VAUXHALL MOVANO LM35 2.5TD LWB, HIGH ROOF, 6 SPEED GEARBOX, PAS, O&H CONVERSION, SLD, SIDE STEP, 12 SEATS, 9 REAR HIGH BACK REMOVABLE SEATS, FULLY TRACKED UNWIN FLOOR, RICON TAIL LIFT, FULL AIR CON FRONT & REAR, 24,526 KMS (15,240 MILES).er)

06 REG MERCEDES 814 VARIO 4.2TD 5 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX, UVG TREKA COACHBUILT BODY, N/S/F ELECTRIC POWER DOOR, 20 HIGH BACK REMOVABLE SEATS ON NMI QUICK REALEASE LEGS, EBERSPACHER HEATER, UNWIN FLAT FLOOR, PLS INTERNAL TAIL LIFT, TACHO, EX LOCAL AUTHORITY.

59 REG RENAULT MASTER SM33 2.5TD SWB, HIGH ROOF, 6 SPEED G/BOX, PAS, EUROMOTIVE CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR, AVS STEP, 5 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FULLY TRACKED FLOOR, RICON STRETCHER PLATFORN TAIL LIFT, WEBASTO HEATER, 18,774 MILES.

62 REG FORD TRANSIT 125 T350 2.2 D 6 SPEED GEARBOX, LWB, HIGH ROOF, ADVACED CONVERSION, PAS, SIDE LOADING DOOR, AVS STEP, 8 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FULLY UNWIN TRACKED FLOOR, RICON TAIL LIFT, CD PLAYER, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, ONLY 21,974 MILES.

13 REG RENAULT MASTER FM35 2.5TD AUTOMATIC GEARBOX, PAS, FACTORY CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR AND ELECTRIC STEP, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, M2 TESTED FLOOR, LUGGAGE RACKS, AIR CON, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, TACHO, 8,432 KMS ONLY.

59 REG FORD TRANSIT 115 T430 2.2 D 6 SPEED GEAR BOX, LWB, HIGH ROOF, ADVACED CONVERSION, PAS, SIDE LOADING DOOR, AVS STEP, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, REAR UNWIN TRACKED FLOOR, RATCLIFF UNDERFLOOR TAIL LIFT, CD PLAYER, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, ONLY 24,964 MILES.

2013 13 REG RENAULT MASTER LM35 2.5TD 6 SPEED GEARBOX, PAS, TACHO, SCW CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR, ELECTRIC STEP, 8 -12 SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FULLY TRACKED M2 TESTED FLOOR, RICON TAIL LIFT, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, ONLY 10,500 MILES. CHOICE OF 2.

59 REG MERCEDES 813 VARIO EURO 5 4.2TD 5 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX NU-TRACK COACHBUILT BODY, N/S/F AIR POWER DOOR, 16 HIGH BACK REMOVABLE SEATS ON UNWIN TRACKED FLAT FLOOR, EBERSPACHER HEATER, PLS UNDERFLOOR TAIL LIFT, TACHO, EX LOCAL AUTHORITY, COIF, CHOICE OF 4.

11 REG VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER CR50 BUS 2.5 TD MANUAL GEARBOX, PAS, LWB, SCW CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR & STEP, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FULLY TRACKED UNWIN FLOOR, RATCLIFF UNDERFLOOR TAIL LIFT, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, TACHO, 13,865 MILES ONLY.

2014 14 REG VOLKSWAGEN CR50 MANUAL GEARBOX, EX LWB, HIGH ROOF, VDL LOW FLOOR MIDICITY N/S/F DOUBLE SIZE ELECTRIC POWER DOOR WITH FOLD OUT RAMP, 15 HIGH BACK SEATS + DRIVER OR 11 PLUS 2 X WHEELCHAIRS, EBERSPACHER HEATER, DELIVERY MILES ONLY.

UN REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 513 AUTO GEARBOX EX LWB, HIGH ROOF, VDL LOW FLOOR MIDICITY N/S/F DOUBLE SIZE ELECTRIC POWER DOOR WITH FOLD OUT RAMP, 15 HIGH BACK SEATS + DRIVER, EBERSPACHER HEATER & FULL AIR CON, COACH REAR END, DESTINATION BOARD, DELIVERY MILES ONLY.

2011 61 REG FORD TRANSIT 115, 430 JUMBO 2.2 D TACHO, SEMI HIGH ROOF, FACTORY CONVERSION, PAS, SIDE LOADING DOOR, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, REAR DOORS, REAR STEP, CD PLAYER, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, COIF & PSV TESTED, TACHO, ONLY 57,991 KMS.

2012 12 REG VAUXHALL MOVANO FM35 2.5TD 6 SPEED GEARBOX, PAS, TACHO, FACTORY CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR AND ELECTRIC STEP, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, M2 TESTED FLOOR, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, TACHO, AIR CON FRONT & REAR, 36,766 KMS ONLY.

58 REG VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER CR50 BUS 2.5 TD AUTOMATIC GEARBOX, PAS, LWB, SCW CONVERSION, SIDE LOADING DOOR & STEP, 16 HIGH BACK SEATS PLUS DRIVER, OVERHEAD LUGGAGE RACKS, ELECTRIC MIRRORS & WINDOWS, TACHO, 33,865 MILES ONLY, COIF'D.

56 REG FORD TRANSIT 350 (OS) CREW CAB DROPSIDE TIPPER FITTED WITH REAR TAIL LIFT 2.4 5 SPEED, PAS, TWIN SIDE LOADING CREW CAB DOORS, REAR BENCH SEAT, DEL 500 KGS TAIL LIFT, TOW BAR & ELECTRICS, EX LOCAL AUTHORITY, ONLY 59,452 KMS, TACHO FITTED, MOT'D 20th OCT 2015.

58 REG FORD TRANSIT 350 (NS) CREW CAB DROPSIDE TIPPER FITTED WITH REAR TAIL LIFT 2.4 5 SPEED, PAS, AC, TWIN SIDE CREW CAB DOORS, REAR BENCH SEAT, DEL 500 KGS, LIM JIM ALLY TAIL LIFT, TOW BAR & ELECTRICS, EX LOCAL AUTHORITY, ONLY 39,117 MILES. MOT'D SEPTEMBER 2015.

2011 11 REG VAUXHALL MOVANO LM35 2.5TD 6 SPEED GEARBOX, PAS, TACHO, O & H CONVERSION, SLD, ELECTRIC STEP, 11 SEATS PLUS DRIVER, FRONT & REAR AIR CON & EBERSPACHER HEATER, UNWIN TRACKED FLOOR, RICON TAIL LIFT, STORAGE, REVERSE SENSORS, VERY HIGH SPEC, 12,062 MILES.

09 REG VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 2.5 TD AUTO, EX LWB, BLUEBIRD AURIGA COACHBUILT BODY, N/S/F ELECTRIC POWER DOOR, 16 HIGH BACK REMOVABLE SEATS, UNWIN TRACKING, EBERSPACHER HEATER & FULL AIR CON/CLIMATE, SIDE & REAR PORTARAMPS, TACHO, 47,125 MILES ONLY.

706847-1176-Moseley South.qxp 16/02/2015 17:25 Page 1

BUS & COACH

IN THE SOUTH LTD.

New in Stock – Used Vehicles

2008 VDL BOVA FUTURA FHD 127.365PR - AUTO (Euro 5) 53 lVogel reclining seats, leather headrests, courier seat, double glazing, AIR CONDITIONING, centre sunken toilet, continental exit, water boiler & fridge situated at toilet top, audio & DVD & twin monitors, reverse camera, digital tacho, retarder, cruise control, auto transmission.

1999 VOLVO B10M BERKHOF AXIAL - L.E.Z COMPLIANT 53 reclining seats with footrests, courier seat, Plug entrance door, double glazing, AIR CONDITIONING, CD audio equipment, centre continental exit, curtains, Eminox CRT exhaust system, manual transmission.

1998 DENNIS JAVELIN BERKHOF RADIAL - L.E.Z COMPLIANT 53 reclining seats, courier seat, power Plug entrance door, double glazing, audio equipment, manual transmission, Dinex CRT exhaust system.

1992 MERCEDES 709D WADHAM STRINGER WESSEX 24 rixed seats, seatbelts, bi-fold power entrance door, audio equipment, tachograph, front destination equipment, boot, manual transmission.

We have a comprehensive selection of quality used vehicles including touring coaches, double deck coaches, school buses and mini coaches on site at Wellington

Summerfield Avenue, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JF

www.moseleysouth.co.uk @MoseleySouth

/moseley south

Telephone (01823) 653000 Fax: (01823) 663502 Email: sales@moseleysouth.co.uk

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ADVISORY SERVICES

AUDIO VISUAL

CMS

Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Compliance

Coach Multimedia Systems

BRADFORD - WEST YORKSHIRE

AUDIO/VISUAL/SECURITY SYSTEMS, LCD/LED MONITORS, DVD/HDD PLAYERS, REAR VIEW CAMERA SYSTEMS, MICROPHONES, CCTV, DIGITAL/SATELLITE SYSTEMS, USB CONNECTIVITY ALL SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE UK WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Phone: 07933 47 48 48 Email: Andy.Baxter@coachmultimediasystems.co.uk www.coachmultimediasystems.co.uk

If you would like further information please call 01543 897505

Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk

CHECKPOINTS

• Audio / PA systems • Video-on-demand systems • Monitor & DVD systems • Hands-free mobile phone kits • Reversing cameras and sensors • Multi or single language systems • CCTV • Alarms, tracking and cruise control • SkyTV systems • GPS commentary systems

ENGINES

MAN VOLVO CUMMINS SCANIA DAF ETC

UK and Ireland Distributor

www.autosound.co.uk Tel: 0044 (0)1274 688990 Unit 4, Lister Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 9PQ

BUILDINGS HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Long established family business for sale due to retirement. Modern fleet of well-maintained 12 to 53 seat coaches. Business including school contracts, private hire, sports and social clubs.

Great opportunities for expansion.

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime 78 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

EXHAUSTS

LEZ BOXES FOR SALE 1 x USED EMINOX LEZ EXHAUST BOXES USED FOR SIX MONTHS 2012.

CLEANED/RECONDITIONED. TO FIT A BOVA FUTURA. With full fitting kit or can be fitted while you wait! £3,000 each + VAT PARNHAMS COACHES LTD Contact Ray 07747 071071

EQUIPMENT

GARAGE EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Specialists in Brake Testers & Column Lifts www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381 www.coachandbusweek.com

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www.coachandbusmarket.com

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ENGINES

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

E & E Potts Ltd

DIESEL ENGINE RECONDITIONER

COMMERCIAL GARAGE EQUIPMENT

VOSA AUTHORISED TESTING FACILITY Commercial Garage Equipment Midlands Ltd (CGE) are one of the main providers of ATF Lanes to the CV Market ATF lane includes:

Specialists in Cummins, Perkins, Caterpillar, Mercedes Commercial, Volvo, MAN, DAF, Scania.

All Engines are Dynamometer and Smoke Emissions Tested.

Full Engines, Long Engines and Short Motors Available.

Cylinder Heads, Blocks, Crankshafts, Camshafts, Pistons, Turbochangers, Gaskets and Bearings always in stock.

Call us today on 0161-737-4666 Email: eepottsltd@aol.com Engine House, New Thomas Street, Salford, M6 6WF

- CAD drawing - Civil work - Brake tester approved for all classes - Prefabricated steel pit - Headlight tester - Play detectors - Radius plates - Pit jacks / jacking beams - Optional class 4 / 7 testing - Gas & smoke analyser

Above: Various stages of completion of an ATF Lane at Aldridge Transport, Launceston

Other equipment supplied: - Commercial scissor lifts - Galvanised commercial scissor lifts - HGV 4 post lifts - Brake testers - MOT bays (all classes) - Prefabricated steel pits - Inspection pits - Gas & smoke - Jacking beams - Car lifting equipment - Column lifts - Civil work with drawings - Leasing & finance available T: 01386 244758 M: 07538 218194 E: sales@commercialgarageequipment.co.uk W: www.commercialgarageequipment.co.uk

SEATBELTS

Caroline Hallam T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam @coachandbusweek.com

REGISTRATIONS

£750 99 HXY AXZ 15 AXZ 16 KIG 80 LAZ 87 LIG 59 PHZ 66 UKZ 40 XIL 46

£350 EUI 424 GUI 626 IJZ 393 LCZ 737 PLZ 292 TFZ 494 WDZ 848 XBZ 404 XIB 494

£50 EXZ 4340 EXZ 4341 GXZ 9311 GXZ 9312 GXZ 9313 HXZ 1450 HXZ 1460 HXZ 1480 IRZ 5560

£50 IRZ 5561 JFZ 8751 JFZ 8752 LIG 6270 LIG 6271 LIG 6272 MIG 9582 MIG 9583 OIG 1781

£50 OIG 1782 OIG 1783 RHZ 5651 RHZ 5652 SFZ 5793 SHZ 9021 SHZ 9022 SHZ 9023 TJZ 9343

£50 TUI 9914 TUI 9915 VJZ 8502 VJZ 8503 VJZ 8504 VUI 2091 WJZ 2931 WJZ 2932 WJZ 2933

Millwood, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland BT94 5HQ Tel: 028 6638 7124 · www.speedyreg.co.uk · sales@speedyreg.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 79

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Call Caroline Hallam Tel: 01733 293488 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com

CLASSIFIEDS REPAIRS

TRAINING

C. T. T.

PCV/PSV Courses for Minibus, Bus & Coach Train for your D1 or D Licence

We offer CPC Periodic Training and Initial Module 4 Training tel 01525 370862 email cttlimited@aol.com www.cttlimited@aol.com

SEATS & TRIM

All aspects of coach interior re-trim carried out to a high standard at competitive prices!

Caroline Hallam T: 01733 293488 F: 0845 280 2927 E: caroline.hallam@coachandbusweek.com

Tel: 01253 696033 info@westcoasttrim.co.uk Burton Road, Blackpool FY4 4NW

REFURBISHMENT

TRAINING

LOW COST

cts

QUALITY RESPRAYS

CPC Management Courses

TYRE EQUIPMENT

Whalley Centre for Transport Studies

“Everyone knows someone who has done their training at Whalley”

Tel: 01254 248177 Coaches from £900 Service buses from £750 Minibuses from £600 Deckers from £950 Quotes on any other vehicles on request

Clitheroe, Lancashire info@whalleytransportstudies.co.uk

www.whalleytransportstudies.co.uk

Buscare Warwicks Day 07774 485310 Night 01789 296884 Email: j.chandler1946@btinternet.com ALL VEHICLES FINISHED IN CERAMIC 2K PAINT – EXTRA HARD WEARING

Caroline Hallam Tel: 01733 293488 Fax: 0845 280 2927 Email: caroline-hallam @coachandbusweek.com

80 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015

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www.coachandbusmarket.com

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

VEHICLE SPARES

Trevor Wigley & Son Bus Ltd

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

• Refurbishment • Testing

• Repairs

• Engine/gearbox rebuilds • Fault finding

• Buying & selling vehicles

DISMANTLING/SPARES: • Reconditioned engines

TW FULLY LICENSED END OF LIFE VEHICLE CENTRE TW REDUNDANT AND SCRAP VEHICLES TAKEN

• Reconditioned gearboxes

TW PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT SERVICE

• Engine spares • Windows

TW ALL REQUIREMENTS CATERED FOR

• Windscreens

TW VARIOUS SPARES AVAILABLE

• Seats

TW CONTACT US FOR FULL AVAILABILITY

• Export to foreign markets • Repairs

• Finance repossession and storage

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

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

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

www.twigley.com

The travel club for people in the transport industry.

www.coachandbusweek.com

February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 81

In association with

NEWS › XXXXXX

Political parties promote passenger segregation on minibuses Two political parties have been involved with the minibus industry over the last week.

Labour’s Harriet Harman has been defending the use of a pink minibus as part of a campaign aimed at female voters. She said the point was not the colour, but what it stood for, and it had attracted women’s attention, though some called the campaign sexist and patronising. The 16-seater minibus is expected to tour 70 constituencies across the UK, targeting women who did not vote in 2010’s general election.

In a separate development, a free minibus service in the Cambridgeshire fens, provided by UKIP, will ferry people between Chatteris and the Co-operative and Tesco in Ramsey.

UKIP County Councillor Sandra Rylance said the bus will enable Chatteris residents affected by the closure of the

town’s Co-operative and mothballing of the planned Tesco store to have access to a supermarket for their weekly shop.

Cllr Rylance said: “We clearly want a supermarket in Chatteris and I am a strong supporter of the businesses in our market town. However I believe that, as a county councillor, it is my duty to ensure the most vulnerable residents that I represent will have access to a supermarket in order to be able to do their weekly shop.

“We have used the UKIP common sense mini bus on many occasions to ensure that residents can get to events, hospital appointments and work, so it seems logical that we will use the bus to ensure residents have access to a supermarket.”

We wonder which group of passengers will be allowed onboard the next political minibus…

Angelic driver weds bus station staffer A Go North East bus driver who credits her job with meeting the ‘love of her life’ stunned passengers recently when she hopped on the number 21 Angel bus on her wedding day to go for a knicker bocker glory.

Driver Sue Lowes met her husband Andrew two years ago when her vehicle broke down at Durham bus station. Andrew was working as a security guard at the bus station and made her a cup of coffee to help her get warmed-up.

Sue, who had been on her own for 10 years before that fateful day, said: “The instant attraction hit us both like a frying pan in the face. I never even hoped or dreamt I’d meet someone like Andrew.”

After having to cancel their wedding five times for various reasons, the couple finally tied the knot at Gateshead Registry Office. They wanted to do something ‘totally different’ on their big day and because they had met thanks to Sue’s job, they decided that the day had to include a bus ride so they told wedding guests to bring their bus passes.

Sue said: “When we came out of

Andrew and Sue Lowes

the Civic Centre and I said right let’s go to the Interchange they all thought I was joking. The faces of the people on the bus were fantastic, we had such a laugh, it was a scream - the whole day.”

Sue, Andrew and their 10 guests got off at Eldon Square bus station and went to Mark Toney’s for an ice cream wedding breakfast.

Sue added: “My dad used to take me to Mark Toney’s as a kid so that’s why we decided to do that.”

Still in their wedding attire, the couple then visited Andrew’s mum in hospital

and Sue’s horse, Basil, at a farm in Sacriston.

In the evening they went to a fancy dress party as Dracula and Dracula’s bride before staying overnight at Beamish Hall Hotel.

Andrew said: “The whole day was perfect, we had a brilliant time.”

Marketing and sales manager at Go North East, Stephen King, said: “We were flattered that Sue wanted Go North East to be part of her big day – she loves her job as a bus driver and it shows, she’s really popular with customers.”

First Essex busman saves a life

A First Essex bus driver has been hailed a hero after he helped to rescue a man following a flat fire.

Firemen were called to the blaze above a shop in Braintree High Street Road at 1930hrs on February 11.

Driver Andy Waterman was returning empty to Braintree depot when a group of people alerted him to the fire. Andy positioned his double-decker bus close to the roof of the flat, allowing the man to jump to safety.

Andy positioned the bus as close to the flat as possible, while making sure he didn’t endanger himself or anyone else.

The man, who had reportedly emerged from the bathroom at a most inconvenient moment, jumped around 10’ onto the roof of the bus and Andy slowly drove away. The fire brigade then rescued the man from the roof of the bus.

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

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www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 19:11

Tender

Low emission “virtual electric” bus project: call for bids Bristol’s European Green Capital status 2015 provides an opportunity to showcase the latest in green bus technology. The Department for Transport has awarded Bristol City Council £1m to trial new technology on vehicle emissions, which links to Bristol’s status as European Green Capital 2015.

The industry’s rECRUITMENT hub

FULL LISTINGS ONLINE

The project will test new low carbon technology in the form of geo-fencing, whereby a diesel-electric hybrid bus can run in electric mode in specified areas, such as a city centre low emission zone or air quality management area.

The Department is providing £1m to fund the purchase of new hybrid buses with geo-fencing capability as part of a project that would be launched as part of the European Green Capital 2015.

The diesel-electric hybrid vehicles acquired for this project will be capable of switching automatically to zero emissions triggered by a “geo-fence” based on the GPS location of the bus. Geo-fences would be set to match as far as possible the areas of the city with the worst air quality.

The objective of the project is to test this new technology in a real operating environment for 2 years from delivery into service. All vehicles purchased as part of the project will need to operate in the Bristol area, with part of the route being within the Air Quality Management Area for a minimum of 2 years from their commencement in service.

The funding will be a one-off grant of up £1m to cover the price premium of the relevant vehicles over the equivalent new conventional diesel vehicles.

Operators will need to provide the funding for the cost of the new conventional diesel vehicles to attract the grant funding.

Recognising the challenging delivery timescale, the council will work with its operator partner(s) to have the vehicles in service by Summer 2015.

Bids are welcome from bus operators who wish to deliver services with diesel-electric hybrid vehicles in Bristol for a minimum period of 2 years.

To submit a bid please register your details on Bristol City Council’s e-procurement system at www.proactisplaza.com using the invitation reference REQD1001324.

The cut off date for bids is 12 noon 27/02/2015.

investment opportunity

INVESTOR WANTED: GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION

I am looking for a hands-on private investor/partner to help take my business to the next level.

Minimum investment £500,000 with skills/background in business development.

• • • •

Company established for 20+ years 21 luxury vehicle operation, ranging from 16-59 seats Ideal location close to M1 and M25 just 15 miles from central London Freehold site with detached workshop and offices (planning permission granted to replace existing) • Long term contracts and ample private hire work.

• Highly reputable business with huge potential.

• Turnover £2m+ per annum and rising, with healthy profits c20%.

Please contact Peter at MetCoaches, email: rosa@elitemonkey.net No time-wasters please.

For further information please contact pete.woodhouse@bristol.gov.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

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February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 83 16/02/2015 13:10

M O C .

S B O J S U B D COACHAN in association with DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

THE LATEST RECRUITMENT

Contact Ian Gillis Tel: 01733 293484 Email: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm

VACANCIES KEY FT Full-time PT Part-time TEM Temporary APP Apprentice

Drivers PCV Coach Driver, Driver, FT, Hayes, City Circle UK Limited Bus Driver, Driver, FT, Hertfordshire, UNO Coach Drivers Wanted, Driver, FT, Weston-super-Mare, Bakers Dolphin Casual Chauffeur Drivers for Titan Travels VIP Home Departure Service, Driver, PT, Wales, Titan Transport

engineers/Mechanics HGV Mechanic, Engineering, Tem, Kent, WJF Technical Support HGV Mechanic, Engineering, Tem, Oxfordshire, WJF Technical Support HGV Mechanic, Engineering, Tem, Yorkshire, WJF Technical Support HGV Mechanics, Engineering, Tem, Oxford, WJF Technical Support PSV Mechanics, Engineering, FT, East Lyng, WJF Technical Support PSV Mechanics, Engineering, Tem, Birmingham, WJF Technical Support Engineering Supervisor, Engineering, Tem, Birmingham, WJF Technical Support PSV Mechanics, Engineering, Tem, London, WJF Technical Support PSV Mechanics, Engineering, Tem, Manchester, WJF Technical Support HGV Mechanics, Engineering, Tem, England, WJF Technical Support

PSV Electrician, Engineering, Tem, Leicester, WJF Technical Support PSV Electrician, Engineering, Tem, Birmingham, WJF Technical Support

Management Engineering Manager, Engineering, FT, London, GoAhead London Service Delivery Manager, Senior Management, FT, London, GoAhead London Operations Director, Director, FT, Warrington, Network Warrington Customer Relationship Manager, IT, FT, Staverton, Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd Fleet Engineer, Engineering, FT, Aberdeen, FirstGroup Schedule Compiler/Trainee Schedule Compiler, Scheduling, FT, London, GoAhead London CPC holder/transport manager, Operations, PT, South West Wales, Assistant Coaching Manager, Supervisor, FT, Kirkcaldy, Rennies Regional Sales Manager, Senior Management, FT, Warwick, Volvo Scheduling Operations Assistant/Traffic Manager, Operations, FT, Woodford, London, Dans Luxury Travel Operations Support Manager, Senior Management, FT, London, Metroline

To view these and more of latest industry jobs visit www.coachandbusjobs.com

Engineering Opportunities Falcon Coachworks is a bespoke vehicle refurbishment centre for the PSV industry based in Iver.

We are currently looking for experienced, ambitious and innovative individuals for two key roles:

Fire Suppression Engineer x 1 We are currently looking for an experienced engineer in the installation, maintenance, repair and any subsequent updating associated with the fire suppression systems on varying platforms for the PSV industry. The Compulsory & professional standards of service adhered to and maintained in all relevant areas of the operation.

Must be able to demonstrate a wide breath of experience within the PSV industry on all things fire suppression systems related.

Air-Conditioning Engineer x 5 Experienced in the installation, maintenance and repair of the varying air/chill conditioning systems in various PSV platforms.

The Compulsory & professional standards of service adhered to and maintained in all relevant areas of the operation.

Must hold FGAS Class 1 qualification or working towards this.

You will work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday with flexibility required to work over and above these hours and weekends if deemed necessary. We offer a competitive salary.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Shaun Anders, 20-23 Perivale Park Industrial Estate, Horsenden Lane South, Greenford, UB6 7RL or via email at sanders@metroline.co.uk Applications should include the reasons you are applying for the post, examples of how you meet the skills and any relevant qualifications or experience.

Closing date for applications is March 7th 2015.

Almost £20k raised by Stagecoach Santa drivers Stagecoach bus drivers from across the north east have raised thousands for charity by spreading some Christmas cheer as they drove their buses during the run up to Christmas.

Across its six bus depots, Stagecoach North East bus drivers dressed as Father Christmas and other festive characters, bringing a smile to the faces of young and old passengers

84 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 084_087_CBW1176_People_Recruitment.indd 84

alike and encouraging them to dig deep for their chosen charities.

This year passengers showed generosity in their thousands, donating £19,315 to be shared

between seven different charities, including Saras Hope Foundation in Newcastle and St Clare’s Hospice in South Shields, with a final donation from the company itself. www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 18:24

www.coachandbusweek.com

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February 17, 2015 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 85 16/02/2015 18:24

warrington’s local bus company

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Network Warrington is proud to operate the majority of bus services in the town of Warrington, with an operational fleet of around 100 buses and a history of carrying 8 million plus passengers per year. We are a progressive Local Authority owned Bus Company (working with the Shareholder) and have an annual turnover of £10m and a workforce of 250 employees who are committed to providing the best possible transport service for everyone who lives, visits and does business in Warrington.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Operations Director. The company is looking for an experienced person who is self motivated, has good interpersonal skills and who is seeking to develop their career and work creatively to deliver a safe, punctual, reliable and customer focused bus service and to ensure that the company remains sustainable and legally compliant for the future.

The company is keen to maximise the opportunities afforded by new technology, both for service delivery and customer communications. A good knowledge of RTPI systems would be an advantage, but not essential.

To be considered for this role you must be a National CPC holder.

We are offering a competitive salary, an auto-enrolled contributory pension scheme and travel benefits.

For an application pack, or for further information, please contact Gina Johnson, Executive PA, Network Warrington, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6PT – g.johnson@networkwarrington.co.uk.

Tel: 01925 634296.

The closing date for applications is Friday 6 March 2015 and interviews will take place week commencing Monday 23 March 2015.

86 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 17, 2015 084_087_CBW1176_People_Recruitment.indd 86

Customer Relationship Manager Aberdeen or Wiltshire | £ Competitive

Are you an experienced Customer Relationship Manager?

Do you have a proven track record of supporting complex IT systems?

Do you have the drive to take extraordinary steps to understand your customers’ needs, wishes and aspirations?

If so, we would like to hear from you.

Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd is one of the leading software providers the UK transport market. We provide a broad range of software products and ancillary services that have been designed to enable local authorities and bus operators to optimize and enhance the provision of transport services.

We are looking for a CRM who can understand and champion the customer’s journey and who will strive to continually improve processes to ensure excellence in customer service delivery.

You will lead and motivate a team of staff to ensure they are giving the best customer service possible. You will know our products and quality procedures inside out and be able to communicate them to other members of staff. Your team will be based in any of our UK offices, to successfully manage them you will have a strong history of people management.

Working strategically with the Director of Customer Care you will promote a culture of continuous improvement and demonstrate a proactive leadership style. The CRM will manage the day to day operations, working with their highly skilled team to solve customer requests and proactively offer ideas and insights to improve the customer's issues and challenges.

ITIL qualifications would be an advantage. If you don’t already possess these, then a willingness to work towards obtaining this standard is required.

Prior experience of working in the transport sector or with public sector clients would also be an advantage.

The role will be based in Aberdeen or Staverton (Wiltshire) and will involve travel.

For further information about this or our Project Management and Service Desk vacancies, please contact the HR Team at mycareer@trapezegroup.co.uk or visit our website www.trapezegroup.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

16/02/2015 18:24

More jobs available online – see our website

New appointment at MAN Truck and Bus UK Paul Gardner is to take on the new role as General Manager of Bus and Coach at MAN Truck and Bus. Paul, 35 from Doncaster, has been with the company since July 2010, and was previously Bus and Coach National Key Account Manager. He begins his new role this month.

He said: “I will be covering the whole of the UK, overseeing all sales of buses and coaches.

“We are currently selling in the region of 100 vehicles a year, with 100 usedvehicle sales as a result, and I will be looking to drive those figures upwards.

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

“My father, uncle and brother all work in the family coach business; in fact I am the only one who doesn’t, but I have been brought up in the environment and have worked in the field since I left university, at the age of 23, with just one year out selling cars.”

In his new role Paul will report direct to MAN Truck and Bus UK Sales Director, Ian Mitchell.

New general manager at ITSO Steve Wakeland has been appointed General Manager of ITSO Limited, the DfT-supported membership organisation which develops the national specification for interoperable smart ticketing in transport. ITSO also provides the security management system for ticketing scheme operators, as well as testing and certifying equipment for compliance to the Specification.

Steve originally joined the company in October 2011 as Governance Manager.

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Training Development Officer Metroline is one of London’s leading bus operators with a fleet of over 1400 buses operating from a number of locations in West and North West London.

The primary focus of the role requires the successful applicant to develop, produce and deliver training courses in line with the needs of the business, Transport for London and JAUPT. We are looking for a driven, innovative, focused person, who will be responsible for the management of ensuring that all our driving staff are Btec and CPC compliant and that training is provided to a small but dedicated team who will assist in the delivery of training courses.

Paul Gardner has been with MAN since July 2010 Ian said: “Paul already brings considerable experience to this role from his background in the bus and coach industry, coupled with an enthusiasm and passion for the MAN and Neoplan product range.

“In his new position he will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the bus and coach department as well as the further development of the business.”

In his spare time Paul, who is married with a three-year-old son, enjoys claypigeon shooting and martial arts.

Vietnamese operator appoints British CEO Vietnamese bus operator Futa Bus Lines has announced that Tony Williamson has been appointed as CEO, reporting directly to the group Chairman.

Tony joins the company with more than 35 years’ experience in bus and logistics. He has spent the last 19 years in a serious of senior managing director positions within Deutshe Bahn.

Tony joined FUTA on January 10, 2015.

Your responsibilities will include: • Develop CPC & BTEC training courses within CPC & BTEC criteria; • Classroom delivery accredited to BTEC and CPC standards; • Prepare paperwork meeting compliance with JAUPT requirements for registering and re-registering CPC courses.

• Ensure that course documentation is up to date, relevant & stored accordingly; • Keeping accounts of such transactions for finance purposes; • Keep accurate records for audit purposes; • Ensure Trainers delivering the courses trained are fully qualified,

and

regularly audited;

• Maintain records ensuring staff are CPC compliant;

that all driving

• Managing departmental administration processes; to ensure

drivers

• Liaising with garage management are legally

team

compliant with periodic training.

driver CPC

The ideal candidate

will possess:

• A sound understanding to the European according

of the syllabus

Directive 2003/59EC

exceptional

• Knowledgeable Word and Excel to an

of PowerPoint,

standard

professionally

• Ability to holders

communicate

with all stake

and have a committed

demonstrate

flexibility

• Be able to initiative,

approach to their work; • Ability to operate as a team player; • The ability to work well under pressure

skills, accurate

work,

• Numeracy in their with a good attention to detail.

You will work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday with flexibility required above these

hours and weekends if deemed

to work over and necessary.

We offer a competitive salary and free (non contractual) travel on London buses and tubes.

For more information on the role please visit www.metroline.co.uk/careers To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Samantha Smith, HR Advisor, Metroline, ComfortDelGro House, 329 Edgware Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 6JP or samsmith@metroline.co.uk Applications should include the reasons A you are applying for the post, examples of how you meet the skills and any relevant qualifications or experience.

Closing date for applications is Friday 6 March 2015.

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