Coach & Bus Week : Issue 1008

Wednesday October 19, 2011 Issue 1008 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com

COACH:

Coaches generate £20m of revenue for Birmingham p9

INSIGHT:

Leon Daniels drives disabled awareness bus in London p26

BUS:

Partnership working leads to 30% ridership increase in Hull p4

PEOPLE:

Young professionals discuss their careers at Eavesway Travel p24

for recru i

NEWS FLASH

JOB ADV tment EVERY WERTS EEK

97% customer satisfaction for konectbus p5

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124722-980-Euromotive

2/4/11

09:45

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THIS WEEK

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

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A concession too far?

L

ast Monday a friendly retired Unison rep called to speak to me about the English government’s decision to withdraw the concessionary coach fare scheme from October 31.

“We’re holding a demonstration. I wanted to check my facts first, so thought I’d call you,” he said.

Checking the helpful National Express (NX) website, I provided him with the information in an instant.

“NX is offering up to 50% discount at off-peak times and a third off at peak times. I quote ‘There’s no need to apply for a card to get your discount. Simply enter the number of people travelling in the ROUTE SIXTY box when you book your ticket online. We’ll automatically show you the discount fare(s). Once you’ve bought your ticket, all you need to do is verify your age to the driver when you travel, it really is as simple as that.’”

“The clock has been turned back. Rather than ‘free’ journeys, pensioner rates are

back on the menu,” I explained. “It’s down to politics.

The dependency culture which the previous UK government was so keen to promote is unsustainable.

Therefore rather than certain groups in society seemingly being able to get everything for free at the point of use, they’re having to contribute.”

I added: “Shouldn’t you be publicly congratulating NX? They’re doing you a favour. They’re not legally obliged to offer you discounted fares.”

The caller made no comment. Indeed, as I’ve written here previously, is it so unreasonable to ask concessionary pass holders for a contribution towards their ‘free’ bus ride? I don’t buy the argument they can’t get to a doctor’s appointment. There are buses, it’s just they have to dip into their pockets.

Back to coaching, it was a pleasure to meet the friendly young professionals at Eavesway last week – read their story on p24.

Gareth Evans Editor

CONTENTS 4

30

42

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

18

Ellisons’ Neoplan Starliner, the West Bromwich Albion team coach

36

Ruling on limits of duty for making adjustments for disabled staff

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

24

The whys and wherefores, courtesy of the Road Haulage Association

38

McKenna’s new coach LED blind, AdBlue app and latest from WABCO

Two members of the operations team at Eavesway Travel

28

Leon Daniels drives one of TfL’s bus experience days for the disabled

41

A lighthearted look at the industry.

Plus Gareth’s Diary!

CBW looks at two of the leading suppliers of uniforms

Charitable gestures, retirements, and convictions

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

Tour News

The Big Picture

Fuel Prices Q&A

Young Professionals Bus Days Essential Guide

Drivers

Legal Update

45

Products

61

Last Stop

62

People

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

www.coachandbusweek.com

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4 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS

BriEfly irtec, the industry-recognised benchmark for technician competence has added two new assessment centres – making it easier for technicians nationwide to take their irtec licence tests. Hull College becomes an extremely welcome addition to irtec assessment centre list, and GTG Training Ltd in Glasgow becomes the first assessment centre north of the border. For more information about any of the irtec Licence levels, assessment centre locations, or to discover how irtec can benefit your career or business, please call James Slater on 020 7630 2134, email irtec@soe.org.uk or visit www.irtec.org.uk.

Transport for London (TfL) workers have claimed £6.6m in taxi fares and travelled two million miles in taxi cabs since April 2009, a disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed. Taxpayers’ groups have questioned why bikes, buses and Tube lines have been snubbed in favour of taxis.

TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign director Emma Boon said: “It will look like rank hypocrisy to taxpayers that TfL is supposed to be in charge of running public transport but spending so much on cab fares. Some staff will need help getting to and from work at anti-social hours but TfL needs to look at ways of cutting this bill and to save money.” Every request for a staff taxi has to be authorised and scrutinised, a TfL spokesman said. “Most importantly, taxis do not pick staff up from their homes,” he added.

Hull operators celebrate 30% growth thanks to partnership Growth is result of strong partnership working, says Stagecoach Partnerhsip working is being credited for Stagecoach East Midlands and East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) seening combined passenger growth of 30% on their services in Hull since 2002-03. This equates to one of the biggest rises in public transport use in the UK over the past nine years.

Figures released as CBW went to press show a total of 26.2 million passenger journeys were made on Stagecoach and EYMS services in Hull in the 2010-11 financial year – up from 20.3million in 200203 – meaning 5.9 million extra passengers travelling on buses in Hull each year.

Almost 500,000 bus journeys are now taken on Stagecoach and EYMS services in Hull every week, up from just over 390,000 in 200203. The growth is twice the rate achieved on buses in Great Britain as a whole over the same period.

Statistics show: The extra bus passengers on Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Motor Services equates to cutting a total of 3.68million car journeys from Hull’s roads over the

past nine years.

The car journeys saved would have produced more than 1220 tonnes of CO2 for every mile traveled; powering a home for a year produces around 5 tonnes of CO2.

Stagecoach said the rise in passengers can be attributed to a strong partnership between the group, EYMS and unitary authority Hull City Council as well as “investment in the bus network and good value fares”.

“In addition, a package of pro-bus measures by Hull City Council, have been central to Hull getting on board the bus,” said the group.

The bus operators’ initiatives to stimulate bus growth include: Introducing a simpler, easyto-understand bus network; Investment in modern lowfloor vehicles; and Value-for-money fares, with the introduction of the EYMS 10% discount card as well as unlimited weekly travel from just £9 on Stagecoach buses; More frequent buses - for example, services every 10mins on nine key Stagecoach routes in the city; and Weekend night bus services for workers, as well as people

Further to the story in CBW1006, it should be noted that while some job losses have been announced by BAE Systems, none are connected to the Power and Energy Management Division. Indeed, the latter, which is responsible for the production of the Hybrid drive system, is actively recruiting now.

As this issue went to press, it was announced Richard Hill, general manager of Londonbased Coaches Excetera had been appointed to the board of the Coach Tourism Council. www.coachandbusweek.com

News4-5.indd 4

East Yorkshire Motor Services launched a fleet of fleet of ADL Enviro 400 Hybrids buses in April this year

accessing leisure opportunities or heading into town for a night out.

Stagecoach Group CEO Sir Brian Souter said: “In Hull, we have a winning package of attractive and easy-to-use bus networks, longterm investment, good value fares, and effective transport policies from the local authority. With the same initiatives and political will, the prospects for buses across the UK could be really exciting.”

Peter Shipp, Chairman of EYMS, added: “We have increased frequencies on some routes and invested heavily in new easy-access buses so almost all buses on our routes in Hull and its suburbs are modern, lowfloor and wheelchairaccessible. The ten hybrid buses bought this year and our other fuel-saving initiatives have helped us make a real contribution to improving air quality in Hull. This passenger growth has been very encouraging and will go some way towards helping us offset the big cost increases and cuts in grant which we are all facing.”

Pro-bus measures introduced by Hull City Council include: Bus lanes on all major corridors and bus-only sections within the city centre; Introduction of a park and ride site on the western approach to the city; High-quality transport interchange opened in 2007; Progressive city centre parking policy focused on low-cost charges for short stay and high-cost long stay prices; and Good passenger information, including real time information covering most major bus stops within Hull.

Graham Hall, Hull City Council’s assistant head of service, transport and asset management, said: “The growth in passengers experienced in recent years proves when bus companies and local councils work together they can deliver real results and a credible transport alternative to private cars.”

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October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5

“We hope those people who take part in a Bus Day will find it a useful experience that will enable them to travel on the bus network in future.”

Leon Daniels

Go-Ahead achieves 91% passenger satisfaction Go-Ahead’s bus network has achieved 91% overall passenger satisfaction, according to research

by Passenger Focus.

The independent watchdog worked with the plc to find out the views of passengers on all nine Go-Ahead’s bus companies outside London. Over 6,250 passengers were surveyed - East of England-based konectbus and South Hampshire-based Bluestar performed best with 97% and 94% overall passenger satisfaction respectively. The remaining seven companies all scored at least 90%.

The research also identified areas for improvement – one of which was value for money. Half of all passengers surveyed said they would make more journeys by bus if service frequency improved.

David Sidebottom, Passenger Focus, director, said: “Go-Ahead

Insight: Bus Days p38

can be proud of these results, particularly the consistency shown across its nine bus companies.

However, these findings will be a boost for the company and its passengers.

“Go-Ahead is one of many bus companies, so we hope its competitors recognise the potential value of working with us and summon up the courage to find out what passengers really think of their buses.”

David Brown, Go-Ahead’s group CEO, said: “I am really pleased by this excellent set of results, but there is no room for complacency.

Go-Ahead is committed to continuous improvement across all businesses, as evidenced by the introduction of our new smartcard ticketing technology, which makes paying for and using our services simpler and easier.

“The research makes it very clear too that once people make the decision to use the bus, the experience they have is a positive one.”

Visit www.passengerfocus. org.uk or call 0300 123

0860

Exit Hammond, as Greening is new transport secretary Justine Greening has been announced as the new transport secretary, replacing Philip Hammond, who was appointed as the new defence secretary following the resignation of Liam Fox last Friday.

Greening has been Conservative MP for Putney since 2005 and became economic secretary to the Treasury in May 2010 after the coalition came to power.

Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, she studied economics at the University of Southampton. Prior to entering parliament, she trained as an accountant and worked for

PricewaterhouseCoopers, GlaxoSmithKline and Centrica, parent company of British Gas. According to her website, Greening has been instrumental in tackling antisocial behaviour across her constituency, “running campaigns in crime hotspots to draw the community together and face down criminal activity.”

She is leading the District Line campaign, pressing for a better service and cleaner tube trains, and has ensured a new lift was recently installed at Southfields. She also campaigned against the previous Labour government’s plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

New vehicle market holds firm

Brighton & Hove scored 90%

Passenger Satisfaction Go-Ahead bus company

konectbus Bluestar Metrobus Go North East Oxford Bus Southern Vectis Brighton & Hove Plymouth Citybus Wilts & Dorset

Passenger satisfaction

97% 94% 93% 92% 91% 91% 90% 90% 90%

Colleagues say she has proved herself as one Cameron’s “attack dogs,” frequently accusing Labour of making “uncosted, unfunded spending commitments”.

In response to the claim that the government is soft on the City of London, Greening has argued banks have been paying more tax under the coalition than Labour.

She was also staunch defender of government plans to extract more tax from oil firms operating in the North Sea. Greening’s former post of economic secretary is now taken

by Norwich North MP, Chloe Smith, who became the youngest MP. Until Smith’s election, Greening was the youngest female Tory MP. The 42-year-old increases the number of women in the cabinet to five.

The market for brand new heavy buses and coaches has held firm, while other sectors have become subdued – according to the latest data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

In September, 338 heavy buses and coaches were registered – the same as in 2010.

However, other sectors were less stable. Bus registrations fell 31% in September and by 24.6% for the rolling year. Coach volumes were down 48.5% in the month and 17.2% for the rolling year. Overall bus and coach volumes were down 33.1% in September and down 23.7% for the rolling year.

“Heavy buses and coaches held firm for the month and year-todate, but total bus and coach fell 33% as confidence remains weak,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT CEO.

Buses and Coaches Brand

Sept Sept ‘11 ‘10

ADL Volvo Bus Optare Scania Iris Bus Mercedes Neoplan Setra Bova Van Hool King Long MAN BMC VDL Vauxhall Renault Other Imports Other British TOTAL

163 44 27 16 5 3 1 2 0 7 1 0 1 33 0 0 9

YTD ‘11

YTD ‘10

72 1009 65 686 41 205 33 124 32 85 4 80 0 52 0 55 4 25 2 48 1 11 38 9 4 5 20 36 1 0 0 0

575 442 219 532 205 93 30 53 37 29 16 117 21 115 14 1

22

70

19

26 2 78 2 338 338 2530 2571

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6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS › BUSeS

31%

The percentage by which new bus registrations fell in September 2011

BriEfly Merseyside independent bus operator Supertravel ceased trading on Thursday (October 13), according to the area’s passenger transport authority Merseytravel.

Supertravel ran around 20 routes under contract to the PTA with a number of low floor buses, including Optare Solos and Plaxton Centro-bodied MANs. Services operated by HTL Buses remain unaffected, Merseytravel said.

CPT and the Knowledge Transfer Network are hosting two ‘Bus of the Future’ workshops on the November 4 and 18, where there will be presentations from various companies who are developing new products which could be adapted for use within the bus and coach industry. The first workshop on Friday, November 4, which will concentrate on composites, is open to all CPT members and will include presentations from five manufacturers of composite materials. The second workshop on Friday, November 18 will concentrate on new developments of Energy Technology and will include six presentations from manufacturers of engine efficiency technologies.

Both workshops will be held at CPT offices in London and will commence at 1100hrs. For details and to confirm your attendance please contact Graham Sutton commitee executive at CPT head office on 020 7240 3131 or by email on grahams@cpt-uk.org .

A scheme in Wythenshawe giving prepaid bus tickets to the unemployed has seen a third of participants successfully find a job. 900 residents were handed the tickets over the last year to help them get to job interviews.

The pass continues if they are successful until their first pay packet. Funded by Manchester council, Parkway Green Housing Trust and Willow Park Housing Trust, the tickets are issued from the job centre in Wythenshawe.

Council bosses said 80% of people who had the travel passes have said they would not have been able to attend an interview or fund their first month’s travel without it. www.coachandbusweek.com

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1,114

The number of bus services already cut in the English regions outside London, according to CfBT

Cuts to 1 in 5 council bus services, says CBT Figures obtained by Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) show council spending cuts have led to 1 in 5 supported bus services being cut with more yet to come.

The figures, which were collected through freedom of information requests, reveal council cuts to bus budgets totalling £36m have resulted in more than 1,000 (1,114) service cuts.

The transport pressures group is warning these cuts are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more bus services are likely to be lost as two thirds (77%) of local transport authorities in England are either planning to, or could not rule out, further cuts in the future.

The CBT is concerned that the amount of money being cut doesn’t adequately reflect the impact of loss of services on passengers, since many councils are not tracking the effects of cuts either in terms of buses lost, or passenger journeys affected. Only 46 councils put a figure on the number of bus services which had been reduced, and only 20 reported how many passenger journeys will be affected.

Cuts to supported services are expected to have a knock-on effect on commercial services, as people can no longer rely on evening buses to get home or on feeder routes linking services, the CBT added. In addition, the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) will be cut by 20% from April 2012, which will result in £99.6m less funding, and changes to the administration of the concessionary fares and its budget calculated will mean around another £50 to £100m reduction in spending on local bus services.

Sophie Allain, CBT’s bus campaigner, said: “Buses are cheap and they are essential to the economy, getting people to work and places where they spend money. Our figures reveal a pretty bleak picture, but what’s more worrying is it’s set to get a lot worse. Unless something is done we run the very real risk of doing to buses what Dr Beeching did to the local rail network. Shortterm decisions to make scrappy savings this year looks set to cause real damage to the country’s local bus network – harming

UKBA - Jane Hill and Gillian Merron head for the Hilton The prizes at this year’s UK Bus Awards will be presented by Bus Users UK chair Gillian Merron, whilst the ceremony will be compered by Jane Hill, one of the BBC News team of experienced newsreaders.

Former Lincoln MP and transport minister Gillian Merron was elected chair of the consumer group Bus Users UK in the spring.

She last attended the awards as Minister of State at the DfT in November 2006, and helped launch the 2007 scheme in a ceremony at Church House, Westminster.

UK Bus Awards chairman John Owen commented: “We are deliighted that Gillian is able to join us in November. She was a great friend of the awards whilst she

Bus Users UK chair Gillian Merron was at the transport department - and we’ve worked with Bus Users UK for many years on our job of recognising and rewarding great customer service in the bus

communities and local economies – and will come back to haunt this government.”

The group is also warning bus cuts could hamper the government’s attempts to get more people into work and affect the viability of recent policy announcements regarding job seekers needing to take jobs up to 90 minutes away. Two thirds of jobseekers don’t have access to a car and are reliant on public transport.

The CBT is calling on the Government to recognise the economic importance of the bus network and prevent it from being engulfed in a perfect storm of cuts by scrapping plans for further cuts next year and sharing bus funding across Government departments.

Save Our Buses is the CBT’s campaign which makes the case for buses to government decision-makers and supports local campaign groups to fight bus cuts in their area. For more information visit www.bettertransport.org.uk/ campaigns/save-our-buses

industry.”

Jane Hill is a BBC TV news presenter working on BBC1 and the BBC News Channel, working also on Radios 2 and 4. She has a Politics degree from London University and worked in radio as a producer and reporter for ten years before moving into television.

John Owen added: “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming Jane to the Bus Awards on what will be a very busy news day with the Chancellor’s autumn statement happening as well.”

The UK Bus Awards Annual Awards Ceremony takes place on Tuesday 29 November 2011 from 1100hrs onwards at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, at which the winners of 21 different categories will be announced. Tickets are now on sale. Visit www.ukbusawards. org.uk

17/10/2011 22:49

£36m

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7

SHARE WATCH

The amount already cut from local authority funding for supported bus services

Go North East launches hybrids on Sunderland route Sunderland Connect’s 700 route is now being served by a fleet of new hybrid buses. The Optare Solo SR hybrid vehicles, launched on October 14, run a route through key locations and attractions in Sunderland, including the city centre, university centres and important leisure and visitor sites.

The service is operated by Go North East, whose commercial director Martin Harris told CBW he was excited at the prospect of running the vehicles.

He explained: “It is Go North East’s first hybrid operation, and a lot of work has been put into getting to this stage. The vehicles offer a significant benefit in terms of savings on fuel costs, and time will tell if there is potential for viable commercial propagation.”

Mr Harris added Go North East is keen to encourage government to continue to help with the cost of hybrid vehicles, so such technology

can be made easily accessible and viable.

Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus, said: “Sunderland Connect has proved popular from the word go and is already well-established as the best way to get across and around the city centre.

“With the launch of new hybrid vehicles passengers can also be reassured they are making a greener journey, as well as a quick and convenient one.”

Nexus was awarded Government funds to help fund the service, and Sunderland City Council and Sunderland University are working in partnership with the PTE. A launch ceremony was held at Sunderland University’s Travel Hub last week.

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282.60p

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325.70p

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Price: Year High: 1540p Year Low: 1034.p

The 700 service will be Go North East’s first hybrid operation

Devon backs bus funding petition

Devon County Council (DCC) has joined the national campaign calling for a fair funding settlement for the concessionary bus scheme.

The Fair Fares campaign was launched by Norfolk County Council, which is facing a £4.5 million shortfall in funding for the concessionary bus scheme.

The campaign’s online petition, launched by ATCO (the Association of Transport Co-Coordinators), states that while all councils support the principles of allowing eligible older to travel free on buses, it is resulting in cuts to other public transport, with the result other transport users are suffering.

DCC, which has been left with a £5m shortfall from the scheme, is also urging central government to look again at the proposal to slash BSOG next year, warning that rural bus services could be put at further risk by the moves.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, DCC cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We’re lending our full backing to this campaign

Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, October 19. Go Ahead saw the greatest proportional rise and Stagecoach the biggest proportional drop.

Figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

233.65p

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Paignton bus station. Devon County Council is backing ATCO’s petition and we’re pleased that MPs are debating this issue. We have faced additional pressure on all of our services since responsibility for the English national concessionary fare scheme fell to the County Council in April.

“While Devon is fully supportive of the concessionary bus scheme, Government funding left us with a massive shortfall, forcing additional pressure on all services supported by the County Council.”

DCC leader John Hart said: “We have very real concerns

about the direct effect of the government Spending Review on local authorities’ funding for public transport. People who rely on buses are often those in most need, and the Government must continue to provide support to ensure that rural bus services can be maintained.”

To access the online petition, visit www. gopetition.com/petitions/fairfunding-for-concessionary-fares. html

95.00p

Price: Year High: 99.57p Year Low: 66.86p

10.62p

Price: Year High: 16.60p Year Low: 5.75p

+12.20 on last week

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-0.38 on last week

FTSE 100

5437

Price: Year High: 6,105 Year Low: 4,790

+38 on last week

www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 22:51

8 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS › coaches

“In my five years here I’ve made only made one brew but unfortunately I made a good one, so I will have to make more now.”

Andrew Rigby Eavesway Travel

BriEfly Improvements to the island at the intersection between the A55 and A51 started on October 10, and are expected to be completed by November 14. Work will take place between 2200 and 0500hrs each night outside weekends. The work will require a programme of overnight carriageway closures including the A55 entry and exit slip road closures, the roundabout itself and the access points to and from the A51 west and east of the junction.

Diversions will be signposted.

Repairs to two Bridges carrying the A6 over the M6 around Penrith are due to start on November 3. The bridges fall between M6 J39 and 40. Work is expected to be completed by November 30. The work will require lane closures on the M6 in both directions over 2.5 miles.

The project will begin with hard shoulder and lane one closures at all times and lane one and lane two closures overnight. A second phase involves lane three closures throughout the day and lane two and lane three closures overnight.

A 50mph limit will be in force.

Sections of the M67 in Tameside, will be resurfaced next month. The work starts on November 1, with all phases expected to be completed by November 30. All work will be carried out during overnight periods from 2000 to 0600hrs.

There will be full overnight closures with diversions but in some cases, hard shoulder running will be in operation, with a 50mph limit. Work will take place on: November 1-7 eastbound J1 - 2 inc. eastbound exit at J1; November 8-13 westbound J1 - 2 inc. westbound entry at J1; November 14-17 eastbound J3 - 4 to Mottram roundabout at J4 inc. eastbound entry at J3; November 18-22 westbound J3 - 4 inc. the westbound exit at J3; November 23-26 eastbound J2 - 3 with hard shoulder running and closure of the eastbound entry at J2 and eastbound exit at J3; November 27-30 westbound J2 - 3 with hard shoulder running and closure of the westbound entry at J3 and westbound exit at J2. www.coachandbusweek.com

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Young Professionals p24

New Eurolines service pays tribute to Wales’ first Irish community

Eurolines has produced a booklet about the history of Newtown for each passenger on the coach. It details the origins of the community and provides testimonials from the people who

lived and worked there.

Mary Sullivan, former resident of Newtown, said: “This coach service will help thousands of people from across Ireland and Wales learn about the origins of Cardiff’s Irish community. We really hope passengers will take an interest in the history and visit the memorial garden at the site of Newtown.”

John Gilbert, Managing Director of Eurolines UK, said: “Working with the Newtown Association has been a very rewarding experience.

We work closely with Irish communities across the country but Cardiff has a particularly poignant tale as their heritage is no longer standing. The new service will take passengers from across Britain and Europe to Ireland four times per week and every customer will pass the plaque to Newtown as they board.”

The service will depart from Cardiff Bus Station with fares to Ireland starting at £42 return.

The service features modern air conditioned seats and toilets on board. All services travel via Irish Ferries and a generous luggage allowance of two medium sized suitcases per person is included.

Paul Cowperthwaite, head of contracted services for traffic enforcement at TfL, said: “Recovering unpaid penalties incurred by vehicles registered in some countries can be problematic and is a well-known UK-wide problem.

“TfL has arrangements in place with a Europe-wide debt recovery agency for the service of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to recover penalties incurred by non-UK registered vehicles.”

TfL has said large vehicles which do not meet the Euro III emissions standard are required to pay a

charge of £200 daily. Failure to pay this will result in a £1,000 fine.

A freedom of information request made by Commercial Motor magazine showed 2,700 PCNs were issued to foreign operators between January and July, of which about £2m has been left unpaid.

For UK-registered vehicles, 2,504 PCNs were issued totaling £2.5m. £971,000 of this sum remains unpaid.

The figures show an increasing trend in unpaid fines for foreign operators. In 2008, £193,000 of fines was left unpaid, with the figures increasing to £1.72m and £2.39m in 2009 and 2010. Figures for UK vehicles are more erratic, with £44,000 of fines unpaid in 2008, £1.6m in 2009 and £793,000 in 2010.

The Cardiff-Cork service, offering fares starting at £42 return, will run four times weekly with a luggage allowance of two medium-sized suitcases per person Descendents of one of the first Irish settlements in Wales have unveiled a lasting legacy to their community via an improved coach service from Cardiff.

Former residents of Newtown, Powys have helped to design a new plaque present on the side of the Eurolines service, commemorating their past home. It reads: “Little Ireland - honouring the community of Newtown, Cardiff.” The service will be operated by Bernard Kavanagh and Sons, of Urlingford, Ireland.

The service will carry passengers between Cardiff, Waterford, Limerick and Cork every week, and the Newtown Association are hopeful it will allow a new generation to discover Wales’ first Irish community. The service previously operated from Cardiff Gate but has now moved into Cardiff Bus Station to make connection by rail or local bus easier.

(Left to right) Richard Thomas of National Express, Mary Sullivan of the Newtown Association, driver Andrzej Wlodarczyk, Annmarie Lane and Paul Lane of the Newtown Association, and John Gibson of Cardiff City Council

Unpaid LEZ fines totalling £9.6m owed to TfL Unpaid fines totalling £9.6m have been accumulated by large vehicles including coaches, trucks and buses as operators fail to pay fines.

The most heavily polluting vehicles must pay £200 daily to enter Greater London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

As would perhaps be expected, the majority of the money is owed by foreign operators, totalling £6.2m, while British vehicles owe £3.4m since the fees introduction

by TfL in 2008. The authority has described the issues surrounding the collection of money from foreign operators as “problematic.”

17/10/2011 22:33

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9

IN PARLIAMENT…

Two new Panthers for First’s railair coach service First in Berkshire has introduced two Plaxton Panthers to its frequent railair.com Reading-Heathrow service.

The coaches are built on a 12.3m Volvo B9R chassis and feature a PLS Wheelchair lift at the front entrance with Thermoking air-conditioning throughout the vehicle.

49 Politecnica Relax GTV seats are fitted, along with power sockets on each row. A table is located between the first four offside seats

and free Wi-Fi from Icomera is installed, a feature now standard across the railair.com fleet. railair.com is a non-stop, dedicated coach service running at a frequency of up to every 20 minutes. The service has been in operation for over 40 years.

Matthew Wooll, revenue and marketing manager for First in Berkshire said: “Customer expectations continue to increase, and we are pleased that many take the opportunity to write to us and congratulate our staff for the great service they receive.

“However, we are never complacent and recognise that the vehicles also need to convey the quality message that we aim to deliver on all journeys.”

First selected the interior spec with improved passenger comfort in mind

20,000 coaches create £20m of revenue for Birmingham Coaches are bringing in £20m to Birmingham, according to CPT West Midlands, which has been surveying local towns and cities within the region to see if there is any planning taking place to capture the coach market and boost the local and regional economy.

“The information has been drifting back in from the survey and whilst not every local authority has yet responded. A picture is developing, creating a scene whereby the coach is being overlooked by planners in many of our towns,” said Phil Bateman CPT WM regional manager.

“By forgetting the coach and the contribution it can make by bringing in visitors and other groups, a town is ignoring the benefit which comes to a local economy by providing dedicated coach parking.

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“Birmingham is a city which is aware of the potential of the coach, and in the last couple of years has done much to capture its value The city council has invested in providing coach parking and ‘drop off’ points.

“Birmingham has more than 55 coach parking spaces, including a dedicated coach park which is due to fully open soon, along with other pick up and set down stops “The new coach park in Brewery Street provides up to 36 coach spaces (shared with HGVs) and provides great facilities for coach drivers to eat, shower and rest.

“The city council estimates 20,000 coaches currently arrive in Birmingham during a year, and their customers are spending £20m in the city. The coach potentially could make even a bigger impact.”

DRIVING TESTS Helen Jones (Warrington North, Labour) asked the transport secretary what consideration he has given to allowing delegated driving examiners to provide tests for multiple bus companies where there is no conflict of interest.

Roads minister Michael Penning (Hemel Hempstead, Conservative) replied: “The appointment of ‘delegated driving examiners’ is provided for in legislation.

“This requires the company appointing the examiner to be approved by the Secretary of State and provides for the Secretary of State to impose conditions on that approval.

“Under the approvals given to bus companies, allowance can be made for testing of candidates employed or potentially employed by those operators or ‘sister companies’. These firms have a vested interest in ensuring tests conducted are of a high quality.

There is no provision for multiple companies to be approved and no such change has been proposed.”

MUNICIPAL BUS COSTS Helen Jones (Warrington North, Labour) asked the transport secretary: estimate he has made 1 what of the costs incurred by municipal bus operators as a result of being restricted to borrowing only from local authorities; consideration he has 2 what given to bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Transport Act 1985 to allow municipal bus operators to borrow on the open market; and if he will make a statement.

Transport minister, Norman Baker (Lewes, Lib Dem) replied: “Bus operators have been restricted to borrowing only from local authorities since 1986, following the industry’s deregulation and privatisation outside London. I currently have no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Transport Act 1985 to allow municipal bus companies to borrow on the open market. I

have therefore made no estimate of any costs incurred by municipal operators as a result of being restricted to borrowing only from their controlling local authorities.

CONCESSIONARY FARES In a debate on concessionary fares, Norman Baker commented: “I would like to pick up a point made by the MP for Great Yarmouth about trying to save money on administration. We need to consider those types of savings. That is one reason why we were supportive of the idea of moving respondibility from districts to counties, which saves considerable costs in the administration of the bus pass.

“Only one small change has been made to the entitlement to concessionary fares: the age of eligibility has been increased in line with the changes to the state pension age. As people are living longer, staying healthy longer and tending to stay in work until later in life. That change started in April 2010, just before the last general election, so local authorities are already making savings as a result. The change will assist with the financial sustainability of the scheme, while reserving the benefits of the bus pass for those with the greater need.

“What has not changed at all—this is an important point—is operators should only be reimbursed for concessionary bus travel on a no better, no worse-off basis. That is in primary legislation introduced by the previous government. Nothing this government has done has changed that at all.

“I remind Members our funding for bus travel does not stop at concessionary travel reimbursement and bus operator subsidy. We have also provided almost £47m to local transport authorities and bus operators to purchase 542 low-carbon buses across England, through our Green Bus Fund. I would also like to refer to our new £560m local sustainable transport fund, which this Government have introduced. There have been 39 successful bids in tranche 1, 25 of which have included busbased elements to help bus travel locally.” www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 22:33

10 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS

Jones continues fight against Welsh TC Following discovery of emails via FOI requests, Clayton Jones claims TC has acted as an “unpaid legal adviser” Controversial bus operator Clayton Jones has called on new transport secretary Justine Greening to sack the Traffic Commissioner (TC) for Wales, claiming the TC was offering unpaid legal advice to a council which wanted his licence revoked.

As reported in CBW at the time, earlier this year the TC, Nick Jones, ruled Clayton Jones, whose Heart of Wales bus operation, which trades as St David’s Travel, and runs services in the South Wales Valleys, had lost his repute following a number of infringements and should have his O-licence revoked.

Clayton Jones was also ordered to pay a financial penalty of nearly £10,000. Part of the judgement was later overruled upon appeal to the Upper Tribunal. Clayton Jones’ licence was restored, although the financial penalty stood.

Now, Clayton Jones is unhappy with the contents of an email disclosed to him between TC the transport manager of Rhondda

Cynon Taf Council, Charlie Nelson.

The advice suggested it may be possible for public bodies to make representations to the Upper Tribunal. Other emails between council officers show they were happy with the TC’s decision to revoke the licence.

In a letter to the Transport Secretary shown to CBW, Clayton Jones wrote: “I was forced to spend nearly £50k of my own money in order to take my case to the Upper Tribunal, which found in my favour.

“It is not recoverable, although I would have been awarded costs for a comparable action in the ordinary

courts. Having sought further light on the episode through a Freedom of Information request, I discovered that the Traffic Commissioner had been in correspondence with certain officials. In effect, he had been acting as an unpaid legal adviser to one party in the case, and that in a matter where these officials were required to act in a quasi-judicial manner. As well as being contrary to the nemo judex rule, this conduct is clearly in breach of procedure.”

A spokeswoman for the TC, said Mr Nick Jones did not feel it was appropriate to comment.

Nick Jones, Traffic Commissioner for Wales (left) and Clayton Jones (right)

LBSL latest tender results

London Bus Services Ltd (LBSL) has released its latest tender results, with a number of changes on routes across London.

Metroline has retained its 43, 82, 90, 113/N113, 134, 214, E6 and W7 routes. The 82, 113/N113, 134 and W7 services will run 25, 18, 30 and 16 new double deck buses respectively. The 90, 214 and E6 services will be run with 15, 18 and 12 existing single deck buses respectively. The 43 service will utilise 33 new and existing double deck buses.

London United has retained three routes, the 81, 222 and E11.

The 81 will be operated with 14 new and existing double deck buses, the 222 with 19 new double www.coachandbusweek.com

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Abellio has retained route 211 in the latest tendering round deck buses and the E11 with five existing single decks.

Abellio London was pleased to announce the retention of its 211 route for a further five year term from June 30, 2012. The

route will operate from Abellio London’s Battersea depot and use a total of 21 new ADL Enviro 400 double deck buses. The buses will be mixture of both diesel and hybrid. The 211 operates between

Over two thirds claim after Belfast bus crash Twenty six of the 35 passengers who were travelling on a Translink double-decker bus which overturned in Belfast have submitted claims for personal injury.

The accident happened outside Central Station in August. The bus was travelling towards the city centre when it mounted the kerb and overturned. 31 people were injured in the incident.

Translink said an investigation by authorities found no faults with the vehicle and it awaits the completion of a police investigation.

The number of claims was revealed in answer to an assembly question from SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly. More claims may yet arise as the cut off date for submissions is three years.

Kelly, the Upper Bann representative, called for a fast resolution to the claims. She said: “Anybody who has been injured in the course of an accident is entitled to compensation.

“It was quite a shocking incident and I’ve no doubt many of the passengers suffered from shock and physical injury.”

Hammersmith and Waterloo via Fulham, Chelsea, Sloane Square, Victoria and Westminster and Waterloo.

Abellio London’s 490 service has also been retained, and will use 14 new single deck buses, while First London West’s 607 service will also be retained by the firm and will be run with 20 existing double deckers.

Contract commencement begins on February 4 for routes 43 and 134, on March 31 for the 82 and 113/N113 routes, on April 7 for Route 607, on May 26 for routes E6 and E11, on July 28 for route 81, on August 18 for routes 214 and W7, on August 25 for route 490, on September 1 for route 90 and finally September 15 for route 222.

All of the awards are for operation by conventional diesel engined vehicles, except for 20 Metroline double decks which will use hybrid technology.

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nEWS

McColls wins four-year school transport award New award follows “predatory attack” from First Glasgow McColl’s in West Scotland has been awarded a four-year tender to provide mainstream transport for schools in the Helensburgh & Lomond area after losing a number of contracts to First Glasgow.

The company which deals in local bus services and private coach hire, commenced the contract on Monday (October 17, 2011) and will now be providing transport for nine schools: Kilcreggan Primary, Cardross Primary, Garelochhead Primary, Rhu Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, Luss Primary, Arrochar Primary, Rosneath Primary and Hermitage Academy.

“We are providing modern, safe & reliable buses all fitted with seatbelts. Our vehicles undergo

Aston Manor Transport Museum’s last run

Aston Manor Transport Museum had a successful last running day on Sunday (October 16) before the closure of the venue at the end of the year.

Geoff Lusher, chairman of the museum, said the day attracted 1,000 visitors, describing it as “remarkably good”. “Apart from football, there aren’t many reasons to visit Aston,” he told CBW. “The day comprised a whole mixture of attractions – the main one being trips on 20 vintage buses all around Birmingham city centre and the outskirts of the city. We also had the usual stalls selling transport memorabilia and a café with hot meals.”

The museum is housed in a building, which is historicin itself – an 1880s former tram shed.

“A good time was had by all. It was really lively. A lot of people also said ‘we’re sorry we shan’t see you again’.”

Geoff explained the museum www.coachandbusweek.com

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four-weekly safety checks and we have a green OCRS (Operator’s Compliance Risk Score) strictly administered by the Vehicle & Operators Services Agency,” the company said in a statement.

Its staff are all cleared by an Enhanced Disclosure Scotland or PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme) ensuring they are suitable to work with children.

The company’s manager, Liam McColl told CBW: “I am delighted to be serving our wider community of Helensburgh and Lomond for school transport once again. As a family business, I understand the importance of safe and reliable school transport, and look forward to providing this in Helensburgh & Lomond.

“We have also fitted seatbelts to all our buses on school transport

McColls recently started running a new route which it can now keep running and the company will be able to take on more staff

Pictured here by Glyn Bowen, the museum’s final running day attracted crowds of visitors and an interesting variety of buses and coaches is closing “due to the City Council’s insistence for us to pay a commercial rate.” The contents will be put into storage and hopefully a new venue will be found next year, although Geoff said “it’s not certain”.

“A lot of anger has been directed at the City Council on what they view as a historic part of the city,” continued Geoff, concluding that the support from people has been phenomenal.

for Helensburgh & Lomond schools to prove our commitment to safety. We have a strong working relationship with Argyll & Bute Council combined with our years of experience to ensure we provide the best possible.”

The award comes as a huge boost to the company, after losing West Dumbartonshire school contracts in June, which McColl’s had operated for years – contracts which Mr McColl said First Glasgow had been predatory in winning.

He said: “We lost a lot of contracts – because it came down to price; it was a predatory attack.

We’re the only competition First Glasgow has and we know the price they tendered is costing them money to operate. We now have a new contract, again on price. It was awarded on October 4, which we have started very quickly.”

Mr McColl said there were concerns about jobs following the initial contract losses, but the new contract has safeguarded positions and means the company may take on more staff as its new bus service between Drumchapel and Glasgow is now secured.

Financial standing changes for 2012

The new licensing regime commencing on December 3 is expected to bring small changes to the rules around financial standing, the CPT said.

The new Practice Direction which sets out the kinds of assets (and other instruments) which can be used to prove financial standing is still awaited, but the amounts for 2012, based on the £/€ exchange rate on October 3, are now known.

They are as follows: 2011

2012

€9,000 (first vehicle)

£8,100

€5,000 (the rest)

£4,500

£7,736.40 (likely to be rounded) £4,298.00 (likely to be rounded)

CPT emphasises that the sterling sums required have decreased by around 4.5% as a result of valuation movements between the pound and the euro.

17/10/2011 22:26

Belfast BRT system consultation process open Northern Ireland transport minister Danny Kennedy has launched a public consultation on route options for the proposed Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot network.

The bus-based BRT network proposal aims to significantly enhance accessibility by public transport on preferred routes into Belfast city centre.

The Department for Regional Development (DRD) commissioned a feasibility study into the scheme in 2007 and the scheme was endorsed by the executive in November 2008.

The preferred route options for the network are: CITI Route: From the River Lagan, the BRT will run on Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Queen’s Quay and Queen’s Road into Titanic Quarter; returning via Station Street, Bridge End and Queen’s Bridge to join the one-way city centre loop.

EWAY Route: From a new park and ride site near Quarry Corner, the network will run on-street along Upper Newtownards Road, through Dundonald Village to Holywood Arches and via Albertbridge Road and East Bridge Street through to join the one-way city centre loop.

WWAY Route: From a new park and ride site at McKinstry Road roundabout and/ or Dairy Farm, the system will run on-street along Stewartstown Road, Andersonstown Road, Falls Road and via Grosvenor Road to join the one-way city centre loop.

City Centre: A one-way on-street loop from Queen’s Bridge, along Oxford Street, May Street, Howard Street, Fisherwick Place, College Square East, Wellington Place, Chichester Street, Victoria Street, Custom House Square and Oxford Street to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

As part of the options assessment process the Department will also consider the following ‘next best’ options: EWAY: From Holywood Arches, via the Newtownards Road (lower section) and Bridge End

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First Cymru operates Swansea’s ftr bus rapid transit service to join the one-way city centre loop.

WWAY: From the Royal Victoria Hospital, via Falls Road and Divis Street to join the one-way city centre loop.

An outline business case is being prepared by the DRD which takes in procurement strategy and fares/ ticketing technology. There will be a reduction in the capacity for private cars along the routes - off-set by the provision of park and ride facilities and the improved public transport services provided by Belfast Rapid Transit. Some of the dedicated bus priority measures required are already present on the Quality Bus Metro corridors. Detailed consideration will also be given to the integration of existing bus services, and taxi operations.

No decision has yet been reached on the vehicles for the BRT system although they will be of lowfloor, multi-door design with low noise drivelines. All stops will be made fully accessible and incorporate real-time information.

The transport minister said: “Belfast needs a modern and efficient transport system. Belfast Rapid Transit will provide fast and efficient access into and across the city and help to regenerate and open up new development opportunities along its routes. It will play a key role in supporting local economies, linking businesses with markets and linking communities and people with jobs.”

Kennedy recently led a party of officials to view BRT operations in Nantes. He added: “The Nantes BRT is widely regarded as the best in Europe and I saw for myself how a city of comparable size to Belfast can significantly increase the use of public transport and reduce reliance on the private car.”

The public consultation closes on January 6, 2012.

Visit www.drdni.gov.uk and for a copy of the public consultation, call 028 9054 0273. www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 22:26

14 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS › international

Fifth revision for Maltese bus network Bus network in Malta to revert to old system after being named an over-ambitious failure MALTA After widespread criticism of the new interchange transport system in Malta, a major overhaul of routes was announced on Saturday October 15, with routes reverting to the old system of each town and village with a direct link to Valletta and Mater Dei Hospital.

Starting from November 6, the transport system will consist of interchanges and routes based on Malta’s old hub-and-spoke system, with Valletta at its centre.

Questions were asked when the government revealed passenger numbers had risen by 22% after just two days. These figures were later called into disrepute when it was discovered the increase did not factor in the number of people who had to change buses to get to their destination as a result of the new system.

Speaking at a press conference, transport minister Austin Gatt admitted the new transport system had not worked.

“We were to blame. The choices were over-ambitious – we were too avant-garde, too innovative,” he said.

Not all the routes with interchanges were deemed to

have failed by Gatt, who said the six routes to the airport, which previously did not exist, were “extremely successful”.

New connections – such as Naxxar to Sliema or Żebbuġ to Rabat – were created, and small villages like Baħrija and Manikata were linked on the interchange.

Also, transport was available to all localities until 2300hrs.

With the roll-out of the new routes, the fifth phase of adjustments in the new service, the

Arriva has invested in a fleet of new King Long buses for its Maltese operation, which made their public debut at the IAA trade show in Germany a year ago, as pictured here

Volvo invests $81.3m in India

InDIA Volvo Buses plans to invest four billion rupees ($81.3m) in its Indian manufacturing business, Volvo Buses India Pvt, over the next five years. The company believes local expansion will place it in good stead as demand in India increases.

Volvo claims the investment will increase production capacity fivefold – ramping up by 1,000 units a year from 2012 to reach 5,000 units by 2017. In addition to a new plant, Volvo aims to introduce new products and segments while proposing to adopt higher levels of localisation which will make the www.coachandbusweek.com

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interchange system for the new routes would be kept but 112 other routes would be adjusted, Dr Gatt said.

Arriva, operator of the services, could see fines if it does not abide by its regulations after November 4. The government has reportedly threatened the firm twice with a cancellation of its services.

There have also been calls for the government to claim money back from the consultants called in to administrate the routes.

Hong Kong splashes out on electric bus fleet HOnG KOnG Hong Kong is to spend 180m Hong Kong Dollars (£14.7m) on a fleet of electric buses to improve air quality in the city, its environment secretary announced on Monday (October 17).

The government aims to acquire 36 vehicles which will be used in trials to assess impact on air quality.

They will be used frequently on routes in urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. No details on the specifications or models of the buses were released at the time CBW went to press.

Joanne Ooi, CEO of the Clear the Air Network, welcomed the plan, saying the biggest threat to public health came from diesel emissions from PCVs and HGVs. “Any changes in the public transport network which improve public health should be welcomed. It’s great news.”

The electric buses are the latest initiative to reduce public transport emissions, which has included the conversion of taxis and small buses to using liquefied petroleum gas.

Trials in the 1990s using trolley buses, which took electric current from a network of overhead wires, were less successful because of concerns the overhead wire network reduced the versatility of the buses as well as being unsightly.

Tata in talks to set up bus assembly plant in Myanmar New products will be introduced Indian market a hub for export of selected models.

With little or no growth expected in the European and North American markets in 2012, Volvo is shifting its concentration to take advantage of growth in demand from Asia and South America. Volvo Buses India Pvt is set to become the key export supply source for all Asian markets, the Middle-East and Africa.

MYAnMAR Tata Motors is in discussion with the Myanmar (Burma) government over setting up a bus assembly plan for the supply of vehicles to Myanmar.

The issue came up for discussion between the visiting Myanmar minister of industry Soe Thein and heavy industries and public enterprises minister Praful Patel last week, the Economic Times reported.

The ministers discussed ways of establishing mutually beneficial collaboration between the companies and industries of both the nations.

“Tata Motors is engaged in discussions with Myanmar on setting up a bus-assembly line

and on supply of passenger vehicles to Myanmar. The success of these projects is a precursor to everlasting strong commercial relation relations between the two countries,” an official release said.

“With the support of the Myanmar government, these projects will be instrumental in paving ways for increased investment from India in industry and technology. The Ministers agreed that India and Myanmar should work together to benefit from the opportunities arising as a result of these efforts and work together to make these projects successful.”

17/10/2011 22:28

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MICHELIN Q&A

Ask the Michelin Man Tyre prices have increased substantially in 2011, why is this? How does Michelin justify its premium price in today’s ďŹ nancial climate?

Michelin is focused on delivering its customers the best value tyre on the market. 2011 has been a signi<icant year for the tyre industry. Michelin has been faced with substantial increases in the cost of raw materials and energy. Other manufacturers will have been exposed to the same pressures. Natural rubber is a constituent ingredient in the construction of tyres representing 40 % of the overall raw material costs and since January 2010 natural rubber alone increased by approximately 47%. Where possible, Michelin has absorbed some of the rising costs and thus limited passing on signi<icant increases to the market.

Michelin strives to provide its customers with the most cost effective products and services and through continued innovations we have announced new products such as the X Multiway 3D range and X Works On/Off road range. These new products feature Durable Technologies which will work towards bringing down the total cost of running your <leet. We have also launched the X Energy SaverGreen range that will reduce your fuel consumption thanks to the new Energy Flex Casing. Michelin is also offering a guarantee against accidental damage * on the new X Works range allowing you

to bene<it from the durability and safety of the new Michelin products with complete piece of mind. If you would like to know more please contact your local Michelin representative who will be pleased to talk you through the offer. *Subject to terms and conditions.

I hear people mention the 4 lives policy, what exactly is this?

The four lives are simply; 1st Life - New tyre 2nd Life- Regroove new tyre 3rd Life - Remix tyre 4th Life - Regroove the Remix tyre.

When you purchase a new Michelin tyre and it wears down to approx 2-3 mm of remaining tread pattern depth, it is possible to regroove a pattern into the tyre. This is made possible because Michelin build into the new tyre additional rubber which then allows the tyre to be regrooved. This process gives additional mileage potential of up to 30% and increased safety in the wet, When the regrooved tyre has worn down it can be retreaded (Michelin REMIX) this is the 3rd life and mileage potential of similar to that of a <irst life new tyre. The 4th life is to regroove the Remix tyre which again is manufactured by Michelin to enable the regrooving process to be achieved.

What is grip?

If there were no such thing as grip, vehicles would not be able to move at all. The wheels would spin and the driver would not be able to budge the vehicle. Even on a straight road and at steady speed, there is no alternative to grip. This is because a moving vehicle has to deal with natural forces, such as the banking, the slope or unevenness of the road, or rolling resistance, which are constantly trying to slow the vehicle down or push it of its path.

However it is only during cornering or braking that a driver or passenger is really aware of grip, because the vehicle has to be steered or speed has to be reduced without skidding, even on a wet road. In all circumstances, grip and safety go together. As the only contact point between the vehicle and the road, the tyre ensures two fundamental functions. It gives the vehicle its directional stability, which the driver needs to steer it. The tyre acts as a transmission component for brake and drive torque.

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

16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

nEWS › REGIONAL

nORTH

Arriva North West is reducing the 715 service from Wigan to Westhoughton and Bolton, and the 575 service from Bolton to Old Lord’s Estate in Horwichfrom the end of October.

Cuts will see a number of evening services after 5pm cancelled on both routes in each direction.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will fund a three-month emergency replacement service while a more permanent option is assessed. Under the temporary plans the 575 hourly evening service will be continued between Monday and Friday, while an emergency replacement bus will also cover the 715 route’s 1845hrs service from Wigan bus station and the 1750 Bolton journey from Mondays to Saturdays.

Michael Renshaw, TfGM’s Bus and Rail Director, said: “TfGM has limited funds, through the taxpayer, to help provide essential bus services that are not provided commercially.

“In this case, we have been able to arrange an emergency replacement while we assess, for the coming three months, the most appropriate permanent response and report back to a future meeting.”

Westhoughton South councillor David Wilkinson said: “I think the changes will have an impact on people who need to catch an evening bus. Unfortunately people will have to find alternatives or set off earlier.”

WALES

First Cymru has turned one of its Swansea buses pink for the month, while the firm’s back office staff plan a number of events and dress down days, to show support for Cancer Research UK during breast cancer awareness month (October).

The advertising space donated to Cancer Research by First is worth around £2,000 (based on a month’s exposure), and over the next four weeks it is estimated around 88% of people in Swansea will see it.

The company said it wanted to do what it could to support the awareness raising and fundraising activities taking place in the city during the month. Bus drivers are being encouraged to wear pink ribbon pin badges as part of their uniforms during October.

The pink bus will be used on a number of routes in the city to www.coachandbusweek.com

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KEY

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

ensure that the message reaches as many people as possible.

Kevin Hart, General Manager for First Cymru, said: “Breast Cancer is an illness that affects a great many people. It’s not uncommon to know at least one other person who has been diagnosed with it. The impact of cancer is severe and long lasting, so anything we can do to raise awareness or money to fund research and treatment is worthwhile.

“By turning this bus pink we’re doing what we can but collectively we could all do tremendous things in the fight against this terrible disease.”

Carrie Barlow from Cancer Research UK says: “We are thrilled First Cymru has donated the space on one of its buses to us for the duration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The power of bus advertising is proven, but as a charity we wouldn’t have thought this possible without the support of First. We hope the message reaches as many people as possible and inspires them to do their bit to turn Swansea pink.

“We’d urge people to get involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for instance taking part in the Swansea Pink Sponsored Walk on the 30 October. It will be a fantastic day and will really make a difference in our fight against breast cancer.”

First Cymru can be found at www.firstcymru.com. For

more information about Cancer Research UK or the breast cancer awareness campaign see www. cancerresearchuk.org.

A 2A First bus in Swansea was involved in a crash with two cars and a skip lorry, leaving the Marshall-bodied Dart without a roof. The bus was on its way from the Quadrant to Oystermouth on Sunday (October 15). It ended up hitting the Brian Thornton Carpets and Furniture shop in Oxford Street.

Nobody on board was seriously injured despite the massive damage to the vehicle.

A spokeswoman for First said: “There were four passengers on board the bus at the time of the incident, two of whom sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital along with the driver.

“Our team attended the scene and are working with the authorities to determine exactly what happened. We wish those involved a speedy recovery.

“We would like to reassure customers such incidents are rare and the bus remains one of the safest forms of transport in the UK.”

EAST

Bridgestone has made a donation of over £2,000 worth of tyres to local Cambridgeshire charity Connections.

The charity, which supports local 13 to 19 year olds with a wide range of advice, guidance and practical help, relies on its

converted double decker buses for its drop-in youth clubs. The charity said the tyres came as a welcome surprise, particularly as tyre prices continue to increase.

Alan Webb, project manager for the Connections initiative, said: “we are extremely grateful that Bridgestone has chosen Connections as the recipient charity for their tyre donation.

Receiving the tyres will allow us to continue to run projects for those in need, making a huge difference to many of the young people in Cambridgeshire.”

Terry Salter, retread development manager for Bridgestone UK, said: “Unavoidable price increases have been keenly felt by all operators, especially by charities like the Connexions initiative whose vehicles must be legally operational to continue with their valuable community work. It seemed right to make this tyre offer now and support them in what they’re doing for the young people of Cambridgeshire.

“The new press at Bourne can boost Bridgestone’s bus tyre retread production by 110 units per week and will certainly help our longer-term strategy for this sector of the commercial vehicle market.

However, it’s coincided with a period where worldwide shortages of natural rubber, together with limited availability of good quality casings for retreading, are creating some significant problems for both manufacturers and customers.”

Postwick park and ride in Norfolk is to reopen on Saturdays in time for the run up to Christmas after it was suspended in April 2010 as part of Norfolk County Council’s overall spending reductions.

The decision was taken after a successful advertising campaign caused a surge in passenger numbers. The council said this put welcome pressure on some services at peak times, particularly at Sprowston.

By linking the two services, buses will alternate between Postwick and Sprowston, running Postwick-City-Sprowston and Sprowston-City-Postwick, meaning no increase in journey length and time, but a more reliable service.

This arrangement also means it will be possible to reopen Postwick on Saturdays at little extra cost, starting Saturday October 22.

Graham Plant, cabinet member for planning and transportation,

17/10/2011 22:37

said: “We have seen a welcome increase in people using park and ride. Some are coming back to the service, but we have also found that the effort to promote the service is attracting new customers who have realised what good value Park and Ride is at £2.30 a day or less.

“We have strong desire to maintain a reliable and punctual service for our customers. The bus sharing plan with Postwick will help us do this, and being able to reopen Postwick on a Saturday is a bonus in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year sales.”

Norwich park and ride buses are colour-coded according to the site they serve, with clear destination displays to help passengers recognise a bus going to their parking site.

Costessey park and ride will remain closed on Saturdays.

SOUTH WEST

A trial service from North Devon Plus running converted Stagecoach double-

Staffordshire County Council’s recent initiative, the Your Staffordshire card, has reached a new milestone. The card, which allows young people to board buses for just £1, has been applied for by 25,000 youngsters since its launch in April. Anyone aged between 11 and 19 can start or end a journey within the county boundary by using the card. The initiative allows young people to get out and about and access education, training and social activities for a bargain price. The county council worked with the Youth Action Kouncil [sic], a body made up of elected members aged between 11 and 19 which advises the county council on service provision, to launch the scheme.

Patrick Bill, 12, from Eccleshall, was the 25,000th youngster to be signed up to the scheme. He said: “I’m really looking forward to using my Your Staffordshire Card and think it will be a really good way to meet up with my friends during the school holidays and at weekends.

A lot of my friends already have a card and they’ve told me it is great.

“It will also save my mom and dad a lot of time and money because they won’t have to drop me off to places as much and the card makes it a lot cheaper to get around. It’s a really great offer.”

County council cabinet member

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17

Coach & Bus Week takes a look at the big issues where you live in our round-up of the regions. If you’ve got a local issue you would like us to cover, contact Gareth Evans at gareth.evans@rouncymedia.co.uk.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

decker buses for surfers has been hailed a huge success after transporting 6,000 passengers and 1,000 surfboards in its first 15 weeks.

The surf and cycle bus operated on roads between Barnstaple, Braunton, Croyde and Ilfracombe since June after a launch at Goldcoast Oceanfest. The pilot scheme is funded by Leader4, North Devon AONB, North Devon Council and Cycle Devon.

It ended the first stage of the two year pilot on October 14 and will restart next summer.

Isabelle Bromham, the project manager from North Devon Plus, said: “We are unsure of when the service will start up again but we are thrilled with how successful the first weeks have been.

“Over the next few months we will be reviewing the service and making alterations for next year to make it even better.

“Over the winter the buses will be available to schools for hire for surf and cycle trips.”

2011 n Oct 18-21 Course on Bus and Crew Scheduling. Birmingham. courses@qv-associates.com. Call QV Associates on 01905 613527. n October 20 2011 Trapeze UK User Conference. Radisson Hotel, Manchester Airport. 0844 561 6771. www.trapezegroup.co.uk n October 21-26 Busworld.

Kortrijk, Belgium. www.busworld.org n October 23 The Very Best of London Buses. The first event at the new London Bus Museum (Cobham) at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey. www.lbpt.org n November 6 Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum Open Day. Running day with stalls and opportunity to see workhops. 01522 500566. http://www.lvvs.org.uk/ n November 7-10 World Travel Market. ExCeL, London. www.wtmlondon.com n November 22 SMMT Annual Dinner. Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London. 0808 1788818. annualdinner@smmt.co.uk n November 24 ATCO Winter Conference 2011 ‘Can a leopard change its spots?’ Local Government Association House, Smith Square, London SW1. www. atco.org.uk n November 29 UK Bus Awards.

Hilton Park Lane, London.

www.ukbusawards.org.uk

2012

for highways and transport Mike Maryon said: “This milestone is a major achievement for the Your Staffordshire Card and shows just how popular the scheme has proved to be among young people. What makes it even more spectacular is the 25,000 doesn’t include the thousands of children under 11 who are also benefiting from this great offer automatically.

“And the money they are saving by using the card is being spent within Staffordshire, which is having an impact on the local economy too. It’s a win-win situation. I would urge anyone who hasn’t got a card yet to sign up for one and start enjoying the benefits as soon as possible.”

n January 14 CPT North Western Region Annual Dinner. Southport Theatre & Covention Centre. 1830 for 1900hrs – until late. Contact Phillipa Sudlow, CPT NW regional manager email phillipas@cpt-uk.org or call 01925 229497. n January 26, 2011 CPT Annual Dinner. Hilton Park Lane, London. www.cpt-uk.org n March 14 – 15 Best of Britain and Ireland (BoBi). Travel Trade Forum. NEC, 01926 834796. www. bestofbritainandirelandevent.co.uk n March 15 Volvo Bus social evening in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust’s Warwickshire Appeal.

Century Court House, Warwick. Pam Matthews 01926 414 553 or e-mail pam.matthews@volvo.com n March 18 Leyland National 40th Anniversary. Organised by the Leyland National Group,

The UK Bus Awards 2011 will be held at London’s Hilton Park Lane on November 29.

Nationals on static display and working in service.The British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland. http://www. leylandnationalgroup.co.uk n April 19, 2012 UK Coach Awards. Ramada Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester, 0870 900 1450. www.ukcoachawards.co.uk n April 19-21 Busworld Turkey.

Istanbul Expo Center, Turkey. www.busworldturkey.com/en/ index.html n April 21-22 UK Coach Rally.

East of England Showground, Peterborough. 01753 631170. www.coachdisplays.co.uk n April 24-26 CV Show. NEC, Birmingham. 01634 261262. www.cvshow.com n May 22-23 ALBUM Conference.

– Forest Pines Hotel, near Brigg, North Lincolnshire. www.album-bus.co.uk n August 27 The National Association of Road Transport Museums gala day. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n September 20-27 IAA Commercial Vehicles. Hannover. +(00)49 30897842. www.iaa.de n October 14 Midland Red Centenary of the Reintroduction of Motorbuses. The Transport Museum, Wythall, near Birmingham. www.wythall.org.uk n November 6 – 8 2012 Euro Bus Expo. NEC, Birmingham. 01926 834790. www.eurobusxpo.com

2013 n May 26-30 UITP Congress & Exhibition. Palexpo, Geneva. www.uitp.org. +(00)32 2673 6100.

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

RegionalNews.indd 17

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18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

9,000

nEWS › TOURISM

Acreage of Longleat House’s Safari and Adventure Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Bretton Country Park, Wakefield, is an openair gallery within a 500-acre estate. It provides a beautiful backdrop for over 70 semipermanent sculptures, as well as some indoor exhibition spaces.

Exclusive tours can be arranged for group visits and food offers can be pre-booked and served in its panoramic restaurant with stunning views of sculptures in the park.

Admission is free, though groups booking in advance benefit from free coach parking if booking a food or tour package, a coach welcome and introduction to the park, 10% discount vouchers for the park’s shop and more. Visit htp://www. yorkshiresculpturepark.com/groups or call 01924 032508 to book.

Beer has a rich history in the southeast of England, having been produced in Faversham for over 850 years. The Shepherd Neame Brewery is open to visitors who wish to discover more about this proudly independent family company and its wide range of award winning beers. Enjoy an 80-minute tour, a tutored tasting session and two-course supper served in the brewery’s visitor centre bar, with seasonal menus changing monthly. The tour is £300 for groups of up to 30 visitors plus £12.50 per person for the supper.

Groups of more than 30 pay £22.50 per person for the tour with tasting session and supper included. For more details or to make a booking, call 01795 542016 or visit www. shepherdneame.co.uk/brewery/ tours/group-visits.aspx Windsor Castle hosts a wide variety of events suitable for group visits all year round. Group rates are £14.85 for adults, £13.50 for concessions and £9 for under 17s. Windsor Castle’s 74-space payand-display coach park is in Alma Road, signposted from all approach routes. Facilities at the coach park, available to drivers and passengers include toilets, restaurant and gift shops. Information on Windsor Castle events is in the Royal Collection’s group visit and tour brochure at royalcollection.org.uk/ media/pdf/2011_groups_guide_ final.pdf www.coachandbusweek.com

TourNews.indd 18

ZSL London Zoo’s Sumatran tigers get their paws on limited edition print Groups can visit the Zoo and its tigers with great savings ZSL London Zoo has teamed up with London-based design company WOOP to create a limited-edition print called ‘A Streak of Sumatran Tigers’ – designed especially for ZSL’s Tiger SOS campaign. To launch the print, the zoo’s two Sumatran tigers had a chance to have a first peek at the print as keepers put a special copy in their enclosure.

Lumpur and Reika were intrigued by their likeness and were quick to investigate the new object in their home by sniffing and “marking” the print. The stunning print features a Sumatran tiger with 300 tiger-striped dots to show the number of tigers estimated to be left in the wild. The artwork will be a limited print run of just 300 at a price of £300. Half the money generated from sales will be donated to the campaign.

Tiger SOS is a campaign to raise money for ZSL’s tiger conservation work in Sumatra,

along with developing a new tiger conservation headquarters tiger exhibit at the zoo. Visitors can learn more about these fascinating, fearsome predators while discovering more about ZSL’s efforts in conservation.

Groups of more than 10 paying people receive a 20% discount on ticket prices purchased online in advance and a 15% reduction if paid for at the gate. Winter season prices start at £13.28 for adults, £10.56 for children and £12.08 for concessions. Entry is free for Blue

Proceeds from sales of the print will go towards ZSL’s Tiger SOS campaign

Longleat introduces new lion cubs To celebrate the release of Disney’s The Lion King in 3D in cinemas on October 14, Longleat Safari & Adventure Park is naming two of its new African lion cubs “Simba” and “Nala” after the much-loved characters in Disney’s animated film. Disney will help these loveable siblings into the ‘Circle of Life’ by helping to feed them over their first year as they grow into full-grown healthy lions.

Simba and Nala, born at Longleat on September 10, are two of four cubs born last month to first-time mother Malaika who was also born at the park in 2005. The cubs will be found within the second lion reserve at Longleat where they join

Simba and Nala are named after much-loved characters in Disney’s The Lion King an existing pride of twelve lions, headed up by the male lion, Nibalo who arrived at Longleat back in November 2010. The four recentlyborn cubs are the second litter in 2011, prior to this year Longleat’s last lion cubs were born in 2007.

Big Cat Keeper at Longleat, Bob Trollope, commented: “We are delighted to introduce our new lion

Badge Guides, and for every 10 paying children in a group, an adult can enter free.

Coaches can drop off and pick up passengers on Prince Albert Road, within walking distance of the zoo entrance. Parking for coaches is available in the zoo’s car park, subject to available space, for £37.50.

Coach drivers accompanying a group to ZSL London Zoo are eligible for free entry to the zoo and a meal voucher.

If more than 100 people are booked in to visit ZSL London Zoo or ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in a year, your company is eligible to apply for our credit account scheme, which includes ticket discounts, voucher entry, 30 day credit terms, free coach parking and a coach driver lunch voucher for use in the Zoo cafes at both ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information on this offer or to book a visit, contact marketing@zsl.org or phone 0844 225 1826

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

BriEfly

cubs to the world and especially happy they can be a part of Disney history and help to celebrate such a beloved animation.”

Longleat Safari & Adventure Park offers a great value and fun day out for many different organisations and groups including guides, scouts, schools and WIs. The park welcomes groups of all sizes, beyond the minimum of 12.

Prices range from £9.50 per person for adults (children £6.50 and seniors £7) visiting the Safari park only to £21.70 (children £16.45 and seniors £18.20) for a two day ticket which entitles visitors to unlimited entry to Longleat Safari & Adventure Park on two consecutive days.

Pre-booking strongly recommended. Call group customer services on 01985 844328 or email groups@ longleat.co.uk

17/10/2011 22:58

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

1,968 300 Age of Dover Castle’s surviving Roman Lighthouse

Number of Sumatran tigers estimated to be left in the wild

Discover Dover Castle’s secret underground tunnels Dover Castle has a long and eventful history. It is situated in a strategic position, at the gateway to Great Britain from continental Europe.

Fortification of the site occurred as early as the Iron Age, even before the first Roman settlers arrived and built two 80-foot lighthouses in AD43, one of which is still standing.

Shortly after his victory at Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror had the site converted into a Norman earthwork and timber-stockaded castle.

With Dover becoming a garrison town in the Napoleonic Era, there was a need for barracks for the additional troops garrisoned there. The solution adopted was to create a system of tunnels about 15 metres below the cliff top, with the first troops accommodated there in 1803. At the height of the Napoleonic Wars, the tunnels housed more than 2,000 men. To date they are the only underground barracks ever constructed in Britain.

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the tunnels converted first into an air-raid shelter and then later into a military command centre and underground hospital. In May 1940, Admiral Ramsey directed the evacuation of French and British soldiers from

dEAlS OF THE WEEK Sudbury Hall is hosting a special Christmas event this year. From 1100 to 1600hrs on December 3-11 visitors can see the Hall being decorated, treat themselves to seasonal fayre in the shop and enjoy other festive activities.

Two very different venues sit side by side at Sudbury – the country home of the Lords Vernon, a display of 17th Century craftwork, featuring exquisite wood carvings, plasterwork and storyboard murals, and the Museum of Childhood which is a delight for all ages with something on offer for everyone. Visit the childhoods of times passed – be a chimney sweep, a scullion or a Victorian pupil and be captivated by the

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19

Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo, from his headquarters in the cliff tunnels.

Visitors today can experience the atmosphere, sounds and smells of the underground hospital with its operating theatre. Follow the dramatic story of an injured pilot fighting for his life, told with exciting audio-visual effects, and discover what life was like for the

men and women working in the tunnels during Second World War. Groups are welcome and coach parking facilities are available at the top of Castle Hill, 800 metres from the entrance. There is 15% discount for groups of 11 or more visitors with free entry for coach driver and tour leader. Advance booking is not required.

For further information, visit http://www.englishheritage.org.uk/daysout/ properties/dover-castle/groupsand-trade

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

139.60 133.70 132.59 125.69 124.47 124.32 124.21 123.25 119.75 119.49 115.65 114.25 110.60 109.18 108.13 100.10 98.47

HOlidAy pOUnd

Dover Castle stands in a stunning location atop the famous White Cliffs museum’s archive film, interactive exhibits and displays.

Group tours are available in the Hall, while the museum is self-led.

Group admission to the Hall is £6.80 and £7.40 for the museum, with a joint ticket offering savings at £13.20. There is sufficient space for four coaches, 500 yards from the entrance with a drop-off point

History and politics meet at the Palace of Westminster in a fascinating fusion

just 200 yards away. Out of hours tours are available in the Hall at an additional charge.

The Coach House tea-room (licensed), offers excellent variety with fresh seasonal vegetables and locally sourced meats and daily changing menus. Telephone the secretary at the property to receive a selection of menus. n Find out more by calling 01283 585337. Alternatively, email sudburyhall@nationaltrust. org.uk The Houses of Parliament offer 75 minute ‘Blue Badge’ guided tours throughout the day from Monday to Sunday during August and September, and on Saturdays all year round. Tickets for Saturday tours up until the end of the year are now available to pre-book.

Tours of parliament unravel the intriguing fusion of history and politics that lie within one of

£1 will get you: Euro Switzerland (Franc) Norway (Kroner) Hungary (Forint) Czech Republic (Koruna) Poland (Zloty)

1.14 1.41 8.79 331.35 28.08 4.86

the most instantly recognisable buildings in the world, taking in the Lords and Commons Chambers along with other highlights including Westminster Hall, the Queen’s Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, Peers’ Lobby, Central Lobby, Member’s Lobby and St Stephen’s Hall. The tours now also include six vast paintings depicting the Spanish Armada.

Tickets are £15 for adults, and £10 for concessions including OAPs, students and the armed forces. Child tickets (under 16) are available for £6. Groups larger than ten can get tickets starting at £8.25, though this is variable depending on the time of the visit. n Information and reservations are available from Ticketmaster Groups on 0844 847 1672 or for group visits call 0844 847 2498. Alternatively visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ housesofparliament www.coachandbusweek.com

TourNews.indd 19

17/10/2011 22:59

20 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

74.6%

nEWS › BUSINESS

Year-on-year occupancy level of hotels in England, according to business advisers PFK

BriEfly The UK’s professional and financial services sector could suffer serious damage because of “heavy-handed” regulation from Europe, according to John Cridland, director-general of the CBI. He said a number of proposed regulations from Brussels in areas including corporate governance and taxation could hold firms back. “The likely effect of Brussels’ current proposals will be to damage the UK’s prospects for growth,” he told CBI London’s annual dinner.

Cridland added: “The tax would be an incredibly blunt instrument, one that would increase the cost of capital for businesses, hold back their growth potential and raise minimal revenue in return.”

Rooms “yield” in Edinburgh for August was £108.53, the highest anywhere in the UK. The figure was almost double the rate for Aberdeen and Glasgow.

The survey was carried out by business advisers PKF who say the Scottish capital is benefiting from the so-called staycation trend and this summer’s riots in England, which have put tourists off visiting London. Aberdeen’s hotels also performed strongly, with a rise in the number of business visitors.

Occupancy in Scottish hotels during August was higher than in any other part of the UK. Year-on-year occupancy levels in Scotland during August were 87.8%. In London it was 82.1%, and just 74.6% for England. In Wales, the figure was 79%.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) claims that with criminals “hitting back” against falling credit card fraud numbers, smaller firms are at risk when taking online payments. Recently-published data from the UK Cards Association revealed chip and pin technology has helped bring debit and credit card fraud down to an 11-year low. However, the number of incidents of criminals attempting to hack consumer accounts or forge payments has increased. The FPB’s Richard Bradley warned businesses criminals are more than capable of adapting to new environments, meaning the biggest threat now comes from online sources. www.coachandbusweek.com

BusinessNews.indd 20

Proposed inspections charges will hit small firms hardest HSE runs the risk of alienation if new charging proposals are adopted - says FSB Proposals to charge small firms for ‘material’ faults found during inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) could damage relationships and may be seen as a way to raise revenue rather than improving compliance, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The HSE proposes to extend its current systems of cost recovery to include a fee for intervention where an inspector charges for the inspection and any subsequent actions when a material fault has been found. The HSE estimates for an inspection resulting in a letter, the cost to business could be at

least £750.

For a small or micro business, a bill of £750 or more for a material fault could be extremely damaging, especially during difficult economic times. The proposal currently states micro firms will in general receive the same level of fees as large businesses. This will disproportionally affect micro firms as fees of this level will have a greater affect on the ability of the business to function and grow.

The FSB is concerned small firms may view the proposal as a revenue generating exercise which could damage the HSE’s relationship with business. The proposal fails to clarify whether money raised would go to the HSE or the Treasury. The FSB believes, if it goes to the HSE, small firms

A driver carries out a check at Metroline garage in north London

Business pares back as sales decline Businesses have pared back investment plans as sales and orders deteriorate, according to a survey suggesting companies have become increasingly cautious as the economic recovery falters.

The British Chambers of

Commerce, which surveyed 6,700 businesses, called the results “disappointing and worrying”.

The vast majority of the BCC’s respondents were small and medium-sized businesses; the government is working on plans to help such companies access credit in the hope this will spur more investment and employment.

David Kern, chief economist at the BCC, said of the survey: “We wouldn’t want these figures to be interpreted as foreshadowing an

could fear their inspection has been influenced by the need to raise money – especially as the context for this consultation is a 35% budget cut to the HSE. It is important businesses have a good working relationship with the HSE to allow them to ask for help and support to ensure they achieve compliance. With the possibility of a hefty fee over their heads they may be less likely to want to ask for help and compliance may suffer.

Furthermore, those businesses wishing to challenge the result of inspections may have to cover the whole costs of the dispute if their complaint is not upheld.

The FSB is concerned many businesses will feel pressured to pay the fees and not appeal even if they have just cause due to the potentially large and undefined costs of a dispute process.

John Walker, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The FSB has a real concern about these proposals as they stand. Not only could they add to the fear that many small businesses have about health and safety regulation, but could have a serious impact on their relationship with the inspector, which if positive can help compliance to the benefit of the business and society.

For more information visit www.fsb.org.uk

inevitable recession, but I think we are in for a hard slog for a fairly long period.” Last week, the Bank of England decided to pump another £75bn into the economy in reaction to slowing growth at home and abroad.

Between July and September, domestic sales stagnated and orders started to fall. Export sales and orders continued to rise but more slowly than in the previous three months. The balance of businesses planning to invest in

17/10/2011 22:10

87.8% 79% Year-on-year occupancy level in Scottish hotels, the highest in the UK

Year-on-year hotel occupancy level in Wales

The regional winner of the recent Big Bus Challenge run by CBS Outdoor and Campaign magazine awarding designs for bus advertising

Automotive and transport marketers awards The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is giving marketers in the automotive and transport sector across the UK the chance to have their marketing campaigns judged by senior marketing professionals at the top of their industries. The Marketing Excellence Awards programme forms the search for the nation’s best marketers and marketing projects and the Institute announced that the deadline for entries has been extended to 21st October 2011.

Entrants will have the opportunity to receive the highest commendation for their work within the marketing industry, with judges including Colin Douglas, Director of NHS Communications and Robert Nuttall, Vice President of Marketing, Rolls-Royce.

The categories, available for equipment declined in both sectors.

In both the manufacturing and service sectors, more companies said their cash flow had worsened over the period than said it had improved. Small companies have reported deteriorating cash flows for some time, but in the past three months the cash flows at large companies also worsened.

The survey comes on the same day as two others – one on the retail sector, one on the housing market – that paint a similar picture

BusinessNews.indd 21

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21

entry at www.cim.co.uk, include: n Automotive/transport n Construction/Engineering/ Manufacturing n Hotels/leisure/travel n Media/publishing n SME n Technology Three categories celebrate outstanding individual and team contributions: New marketing talent of the year; Marketer of the year; and Marketing team of the year.

Jon Fisher, CIM events director said, “The calibre of judges for the Marketing Excellence Awards this year is second-to-none. Every marketer in organisations across industry sectors should be entering for the chance to have their work reviewed, and commended, by the senior practitioners in their own field.”

The awards will be held on 23 February 2012 at Grosvenor House Hotel. For further information please visit www.cimawards.co.uk. For more information on the Chartered Institute of Marketing visit www. cim.co.uk

of stagnation.

The British Retail Consortium reported that the value of sales on the high street rose 2.5 per cent in September compared with the same month a year ago. However, the survey does not strip out the effect of annual inflation, which is running at 4.5%. The unusually hot weather at the end of the month lifted food sales but depressed clothing sales, since shops had already shifted to their autumn and winter ranges.

BlOg of the week

WHy BUSinESS gUrUS, COnSUltAntS And ExpErtS ArE lEtting EntrEprEnEUrS dOWn

So-called business gurus, consultants and ‘experts’ are failing to provide genuine help says blogger Robert Craven Many of the so-called gurus, consultants and experts are failing to give business owners the genuine help they need, says Robert Craven – who shows MDs and owners how to grow sales and profits and focuses on how to do it in recessionary times.

I’ve just come out of a remarkable day of meetings with four ambitious business owners.

Remarkable because of their spirit, enthusiasm and determination.

Remarkable because they could all see the potential of their businesses (but didn’t quite know how to capitalise on it). Remarkable because they all told a similar story, had similar issues and had been on similar journeys.

But what made this particular day remarkable, or maybe I just hadn’t noticed it before, was the underwhelming and disappointing experiences they had been through at the hands of their so-called business advisers, trainers, consultants and gurus.

Presented in various guises, all four businesses had handed over hardearned money in good faith.

In a nutshell, the recipients of client monies were totally brilliant at marketing (identifying customer hurts and selling the solution).

Websites and brochures with videos and testimonials showed how past clients had seen their businesses totally transformed. Inspirational stuff.

And looking for the universal antidote, the quick fix, the ultimate solution and the unique insider secrets, my guests had bought into some form of intervention. And their complaints were varied and many: organisations led by (noticeably absent) celebrity entrepreneurs, free workshops with unsophisticated and fairly aggressive back-ofthe-room upsells, programmes lacking structure or the individual attention required, sets of CDs/MP3s with ‘unique’ content which was not actually that unique but had been particularly well-packaged.

I felt embarrassed these four fine businesses had felt so let down

by the business support industry.

I know the organisations which consulted with these businesses had done some fine work. Clients have seen remarkable results. So what was going on?

There is a continuum of effectiveness which exists when looking at developing and growing your business. At the least effective end of the spectrum would be reading newspapers, books and manuals. Next would come attending workshops, exhibitions and events. And then, at the far end of the effectiveness spectrum, would come one-toone consultancy and mastermind groups. As effectiveness increases then so does the cost in terms of time and money.

My point is this: Actions create results.

Whatever intervention you choose to buy will only impact your business performance if you make the tough decisions and take the necessary (and appropriate) actions for your business. In other words, the intervention needs to get you to take action.

Attending, listening or reading great business ideas is an entire waste of your time and money if you don’t do something (and it has to be the right something) as a result.

And that’s it really.

Very few of the relatively inexperienced entrepreneurs actually have the skills to listen, read, understand and translate the great words of wisdom into a relevant and suitable strategy they are able to roll out effectively.

By definition, people buy into such programmes because they feel vulnerable or inexperienced or insufficiently wise. They don’t know what they don’t know. And they need help and assistance to know what to do. That means some kind of one-to-one interaction is required.

I am afraid being given the knowledge is not enough. You need to be given the tools and the assistance and support. That is why consultancy and mastermind type interventions, although exponentially more expensive than the cheaper options, should deliver significantly better results.” www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 22:11

22 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

tECHnOlOgy › fleet management PART TWO or head office so they can view performance in real time during a driver’s journey.

Dashboard and reporting functions in TomTom’s WEBFLEET fleet management system enables the data generated by the ecoPLUS system to be measured against pre-defined key performance indicators, suited to an individual business. Not only does this directly impact the bottom line by saving businesses upward of 20 per cent on fuel by giving them greater visibility and control, it can help managers establish a longer term and sustainable safer, greener driving policy.

Vehicle tracking systems allow fleet operators to monitor

‘smart’ approach to operational efficiency and managing costs In the second of our two part fleet management special, Giles Margerison, director UK & Ireland, Tom Tom Business Solutions, outlines some of the latest innovations in vehicle tracking and navigation technologies

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he success of vehicle tracking and navigation systems – supported with fleet management tools, tailored to meet individual business requirements – are unequivocal.

Efficiency savings can be realised at the touch of a button. TomTom’s WORKsmart solutions, for example, make vehicles immediately visible to the back office, helping companies to ensure passengers receive the reliable service they expect.

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needs of bus and coach operators.

Not only can they improve customer service, they can reduce operating costs, improve efficiencies, productivity, an organisations’ green credentials and its duty of care to its drivers.

With WORKsmart™– eco from TomTom Business Solutions, operators are now able to measure and reduce fuel costs and carbon footprint by taking live data direct from vehicles.

The technology includes the ecoPLUS on-board diagnostic device, which feeds data directly from a vehicle’s engine.

This information – from fuel consumption, CO2 emission and RPM to gear selection and idling – is relayed to management at the depot

Above: Giles Margerison Top: TomTom WORKsmart offers comprehensive logistics control Above right: Driver’s in-cab interface for WEBFLEET

driver speeds by offering detailed speed analysis reports, and now TomTom’s system offers speed by road type for even more accurate analysis. With such tools at their disposal, companies with relatively modest vehicle fleets that have successfully calculated return on investment have demonstrated savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

Further recent advancements, in the form of Active Driver Feedback™, mean that drivers themselves can see their fuel efficiency, or be warned of speeding, excessive steering or braking, at a glance of their in-cab navigation device. When businesses use this technology in conjunction with driver training, they are able to establish longer term sustainable, cost effective, management programmes to ensure business and legal objectives are met.

Today, more than ever, bus and coach operators need systems in place to give them an all important competitive advantage. The abundance of benefits which can be realised from employing advanced vehicle tracking systems, mean forward thinking operators can leave the competition playing catch up.

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Andrew Rigby and Carl Mackenzie are proud employees of Eavesway Travel

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OpErAtOr: Eavesway Travel lOCAtiOn: Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, England EStABliSHEd: 1930 flEEt: 30 coaches COntACt: 01942 727985 www.eaveswaytravel.com

Eavesway’s future in their hands Coach & Bus Week’s Gareth Evans talks to two young members of the Eavesway Travel team, who now work in the renowned coach firm’s operations department

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he lack of the next generation to take a business forward is a problem often cited in the bus and coach industry.

While the bus industry benefits from both internal staff and external graduate training schemes from the ‘big five’ operators, the same cannot always be said of the coaching sector, which is dominated by independent, often family-run firms.

Happily, as always, there are exceptions to every assumption. A prime example is renowned coach operator Eavesway, which has developed two young, enthusiastic members of staff into key members of the firm’s operations department.

Andrew Rigby, graduated last year, while his colleague Carl Mackenzie joined Eavesway after a spell working both in the aviation industry and on the buses with Arriva North West.

“I’m a self-confessed enthusiast,” explained Andrew. “However, I didn’t envisage working in this industry. I intended to do an IT degree. I then found I could do a four-year Management, Transport and Logistics degree at Liverpool John Moores University.

“I spent my sandwich placement year here at Eavesway. It was supposed to be 12 months but in reality I worked here from May to the following September.”

In common with many of his

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fellow professionals, Andrew has held a life-long interest in our industry. At high school he used to clean coaches at weekends for Hiltons of Newton-le-Willows.

“Getting paid was a bonus,” he enthused. His early endeavours provided important grounding.

After all, one can learn an awful lot from cleaning vehicles, being immersed in the industry at ground level.

Andrew was introduced to the firm through a part-time driver who taught him at school. Mike Eaves’ wife is also a teacher, so knew Andrew.

“I joined Eavesway in 2007, working with Tim Presley in the operations department for four to five days a week,” explained Andrew. “I came in at reservations level to learn from the ground up.

I took my PCV in October 2008.

I put myself through it – I did it with Chevron Training in a Plaxton Paramount-bodied DAF.” Andrew worked one day a week in term time, in addition to working his university holidays.

“The first time I went behind the wheel here was a two-man overnighter job to London with Carl. The following week I was in Glasgow. I certainly got to know the M6,” he mused.

“I now work in the operations department. My role includes scheduling the P&O work and coordinating the shore excursions and indeed,

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generally looking after operations.”

Carl hails from a family of coachmen. “My dad and grandad are coach drivers, so I’ve got coaching in my blood,” he explained.

“From the age of 14 I did work experience and worked my summer holidays at Selwyns in Runcorn, which is where I was brought up.

“Aged 17, I went to work for an airline in the operations department until I was 25. I gained my PCV privately with ST Training – I learnt in Geoff O’Brien’s Plaxton Supreme-bodied Leopard.

“I took a year out from the aviation industry and went to drive for Arriva North West (ANW) at Runcorn depot.”

Carl continued: “After my year at ANW, I returned to the aviation industry but I also worked parttime for Selwyns. My duties there included driving National Express diagrams. I also did some part-time

Eavesway Travel:

work for Phoenix Bussing driving band buses.”

Carl applied to be a part-time driver two years ago but he was aged under 25 at the time. He successfully re-applied after his birthday.

“In June 2010, I started driving part-time for Eavesway and joined the full-time staff in January this year. My role is essentially a combination of what I’ve done previously – driving and operations,” explained Carl.

“I also ensure the tachographs are in order. In essence, I oversee the everyday operations. I produce the paperwork for P&O, including work tickets. I would say I deal more with the drivers than Andrew.”

On a lighter note, Andrew mused: “In my five years here I’ve only made one brew but unfortunately I made a good one, so I will have to

make more now.”

Andrew doesn’t drink tea – he prefers water.

Both Carl and Andrew drive as and when required.

“We’re fortunate to have a healthy team of part-time drivers.

Carl and I top up now and again,” explained Andrew. “For example I got called by a driver who had lost his dad. I covered his duty.”

Asked about memorable experiences, Andrew replied: “Carl and I were parked at Sport City, Manchester City football club’s ground. We’d been ribbed all afternoon by the other drivers about our age. We were sat in one of our coaches and then this police motorcyclist came up to our vehicle.

He shouted ‘what are you doing in there – you don’t look old enough to drive that coach’. The other drivers then burst out laughing – it was all a joke.”

a brief history

Northwest of England-based operator Eavesway is renowned for its high quality fleet of distinctive-liveried coaches, which are a familiar sight around the UK – not forgetting the fact the firm operates the team coach for Manchester United football club, more of which later.

The firm can trace its roots back to 1930 when the brothers Edward and Thomas Eaves set up a partnership together in Ashton in Makerfield near Wigan, Lancashire. Originally they transported coal from the local pits and also undertook removals for local people. As with my contemporary operators, they soon started carrying passengers to local destinations at the weekends and this quickly developed into the major part of the business. During the war years, contracts were operated for the MOD (Ministry of Defence), carrying German prisoners of war.

In the post war years and early 1950s the coaching business was developed with the addition of day excursions to an expanding number of destinations and an increasing volume of private hire. During this period the garage site on Wigan Road, Ashton in Makerfield which was to become the firm’s base for many years was purchased. The site incorporated both car and petrol sales over the years, in addition to the coach operation.

The partnership was incorporated as a Limited Company (Eavesway Motor Coaches Ltd) in 1965 and two ABTA travel agencies were opened selling both the company’s own tours and those of other major tour operators.

During the 1970s, under the direction of the second generation of the family to enter the business, the coaching side of the firm was further developed, with the introduction of a

The wheelchair arrangement on a T921 coach British and Continental Tours programme. It was at this time that specialist executive coach hire commenced when Eavesway were approached

by Everton FC to undertake their team transport.

Today, the firm tends not to stray across the channel.

ACCEssIBLE TO ALL Eavesway started looking at the area of disabled access on to its coaches during the latter part of 2005 following a request from one of its major private hire clients.

Working closely with them, and talking to their disabled passengers for their views, advice and requirements Eavesway formulated an idea for a new design of coach which would hopefully meet these requirements whilst retaining the ability to operate and offer the same levels of passenger comfort as the rest of the vehicles in the fleet.

Working closely with both Arriva Bus and Coach and Van Hool, Eavesway arrived at two new designs of vehicle which can accommodate, and operate, as normal 48 or 57 seat executive class coaches or when required as a wheelchair

Tim Presley, operations manager at Eavesway is only too quick to praise Andrew and Carl.

“I’m their line of sorts,” said Tim. “There is nothing bad to say about Andrew and Carl. Everything is absolutely positive. They’ve got a highly positive attitude and are full of enthusiasm without being nerdy.

“For example, this weekend they’re on duty. They’re in the office – we’ve got P&O work on. The thing is, support is always on hand from Mike, Phil and I should it be required in the background. They’re intelligent and more than capable.

They also enjoy what they do – and it shows.”

Perhaps Carl summed it up when he said: “We enjoy our work here at Eavesway. There is no shortage of variety and we’re also benefitting from all the experience of Mike, Phil and Tim – along with everyone else here.”

accessible vehicle.

The Van Hool T915 Alicron seats 48 passengers or in full disability mode, incorporating four passengers in wheelchairs, plus four transfer passengers and a further 32 passenger seats. Access into the coach is by a PLs lift mounted under a second entrance door ahead of the front axle. These coaches have full facilities of air-conditioning, rear saloon toilet and washroom, fridge and hot drinks facilities and whilst they are used on the firm’s Cruiselink services. They are also ideal for private hire groups.

The Van Hool T921 Altano seats up to 57 passengers or one wheelchair passenger plus a further 55 passengers. Access from the pavement is by a demountable ramp through a second entrance door ahead of the front axle and the wheelchair is accommodated in a lower seating area by the driver. Also in this lower seating area are a further three passenger seats to enable a carer, or family members, to sit with the wheelchair passenger.

ExCLUsIVELy APPOINTED The ‘ExCLUsIVE’ (sic) brand corporate coaches in the fleet are based on the Van Hool TD921 Altano equipped to the highest possible levels of comfort and available facilities The first of these entered service during August 2008 as the new team coach for Manchester United Football Club and introduced a new ‘ExCLUsIVE’ livery. The coaches can accommodate a further five passengers in the lower saloon, or three plus a wheelchair, and are fully accessible and DDA compliant. The layout of the coaches ensures that despite their total seating capacity of 43 or 45 persons they offer excellent legroom.

New for next season will be four Van Hool Altanos, one of which will be built to the new Tx to ‘ExCLUsIVE’ spec. The vehicles are currently in build at Van Hool’s Belgian factory.

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ESSENTIAL GUIDE

› uniforms & workwear

Suit up your staff

Here at Coach and Bus Week, plenty of coverage is given to impressive vehicles with shiny liveries and comfortable interiors, containing all the latest luxury gadgetry. This week’s Essential Guide looks at the importance of wowing your customers with your corporate image, as we discuss uniforms and workwear for frontline staff

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t is clear a fancy livery and a clean bus go a long way to develop the image of a firm in the coach and bus industry, but something which may be overlooked is the presentation of the drivers and staff themselves.

Drivers are ambassadors for the company and a poorly presented driver can reflect as badly on an operator as a poorly maintained vehicle.

Uniforms in the coach and bus industry need to be appropriate and comfortable. They must be capable of being worn for long periods of time without causing discomfort or distraction to the driver, while being professional enough to make the passengers feel they are in good hands. Wearing a uniform still commands some respect from the public and can improve the mindset of staff, as they will have higher expectations to live up to and are more likely to take pride in their work.

Modern uniform manufacturers offer a great deal of flexibility and customisation to meet the unique needs of individual businesses.

Firms can make their own designs if they are dissatisfied with what is on offer or wish to keep to a specific style, or take a proven product to know their new uniform will make an impact when it hits the front lines. There are plenty

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of options to improve the comfort or safety of existing uniforms, along with a number of services to make purchasing and organising bulk buys or different uniforms as painless as possible.

Coach and Bus Week looks at some of the uniform manufacturers available and what they can offer to make your staff stand out.

EMBROIDERED & PRINTED CLOTHING COMPANY

The Embroidered & Printed Clothing Company (EPCC) is one of the country’s leading suppliers and manufacturers of corporate clothing and uniforms. With over twelve years experience in supplying staff uniforms to companies in the travel industry it knows different businesses need a different approach. EPCC can cater for firms of all sizes from a sole company up to a workforce in the thousands.

With its in-house embroidery, screen printing and transfer printing facilities, and access to Far East clothing manufacture, customers purchase uniforms directly from the manufacturer, saving money, time and mistakes.

EPCC supply a wide range of products including embroidered shirts, blazers, trousers, ties and high visibility clothing as well as uniforms made to the client’s own design.

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It’s not just the vehicles in your business which should look the part

EPCC can hold stock of a firm’s corporate clothing or uniforms and distribute across the country or Europe as required. The firm can set up online ordering systems for companies and enable them to log in and view sales reports.

Whether clients are looking to start from scratch or replace existing staff uniforms, EPCC offer a full cycle service from initial consultation through to online account management.

When firms have a larger amount of employees and need the fastest turnaround times, EPCC’s dedicated stock service is just what is required.

It will hold an agreed amount of pre-customised stock for the client, so when the orders are received they are fulfilled without delay.

Clients can also log in and view sales reports and see which clothing different departments are purchasing.

Contact EPCC to arrange a consultation. The firm can discuss individual needs, give expert advice and provide samples so clients can ensure the project will be a success.

T: 0845 180 1008 E: sales@epcc.co.uk W: www.embroidered-printedclothing.co.uk

FIRST CORPORATE CLOTHING LTD Whether buying uniforms for the first time or seeking a new supplier for an established look, First Corporate Clothing LTD (FCC) has the answer.

The firm holds 20 years experience in the corporate clothing industry, meaning it can be relied upon to give the best possible advice and support throughout the entire process.

FCC is a specialist in the design, manufacture and supply of corporate clothing, with the firm complying with ISO 9001-2000 quality standards for the design and supply of its products.

The firm possesses a wholly owned factory, warehouse and distribution unit in South Wales, complete with special measure and alteration facilities along with a design and sample room. FCC offers

a bespoke design service and has a dedicated department for emblem design, ensuring that clients have their company name displayed as clearly and professionally as possible.

FCC has a proven track record of exceptional logistics management and is therefore reliable when clients have specific deadlines to meet, while a dedicated account management service ensures swift and professional management of payments and invoices.

A personal touch is offered by FCC. Clients who choose to visit the site have access to an on-site measuring service, while products are delivered in individual person packs with no minimum order quantity, avoiding unnecessary administration and distribution for the client and allowing replacement of individual parts of a uniform with no difficulties.

T: 01639 899008 E: sales@firstcorporate uk.com W: www.firstcorporateuk.com

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THE BIG PICTURE

This 14m Neoplan Starliner N 5218 SHD for Ellisons turned more than a few heads at Coach & Bus Live.

Primarily contracted for use with Premier League West Bromwich Albion, it joins five similar vehicles engaged in premier duties. The new model features an EEV specification 505bhp MAN D2676 LOH 28 engine delivering 2300 Nm Torque @ 950 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1400rpm coupled to a 12-speed automated gearbox with Tip-Matic control and Easy-Start traction control function. Safety systems include a Lane guard system (LGS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). The saloon features 36 full leather reclining seats positioned around tables, a centre sunken WC and a rear kitchen area equipped with conventional and microwave ovens. A plethora of monitors contribute to the complex audio/ DVD system and the additional electronic demand is catered for by a silent-running Panda generator.

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FAQs › fuel prices

High fuel prices - are they a road to ruin?

RHA addresses fuel price concerns as petition goes to the Commons - the following questions & answers set out, in plain terms, what is behind the petition

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n light of mounting concern over fuel prices reaching new peaks in recent months, pressure has been placed on the Government to take action on an issue which affects the breadth of road transport in this country, especially industries committed to longdistance and high-frequency travel.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has released a question and answer piece which attempts to address the questions being asked by many road users:

Q

Are we at record diesel fuel prices yet?

This year is the highest on record. On May 5, Petrolprices.com recorded the national average at the pump as 143.04ppl (119.19 exc. VAT) while the AA reports April as the worst month so far at 142ppl (118.33) nationally. For operators buying in bulk, the RHA manages a weekly price survey and our ‘high’ was April 15 when this reached 115.43ppl exc. VAT (138.52ppl inc.).

A

Q

What are current prices?

Our bulk fuel survey on October 7 shows another small decrease in prices for the second week running. The recorded average prices being 111.47ppl exc.

VAT or 133.76ppl inc. VAT. This compares with a national average pump price of 139.58ppl inc.

VAT (fuelpricesonline.com) or 116.32ppl exc. VAT.

A

Q

What about back in 2000 when the country nearly ground to a halt?

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A

Diesel fuel peaked around 70ppl exc. VAT or 85.1ppl VAT inclusive.

How much has diesel gone up since the start of 2010?

18.6% excluding VAT, for the public at the pump however this is 22.8% as VAT increased by 2.5% at the beginning of 2011 to 20%.

Q A

If oil is less now than back in 2008 why then are we still paying more?

Several reasons; while fuel duty may have dropped earlier this year it is still 7.6ppl more than 2008, the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation levy (RTFO) adds just over a penny per litre for bio fuel content, and in 2008 we had a stronger pound with the exchange rate with the dollar at 1.99 compared to its weak 1.54 and is at a 14-month low point.

Q A

How much revenue does the government make from fuel taxes?

Road fuel usage in the UK amounts to 49bn litres annually (24bn petrol and 25bn diesel). HMRC estimates this to be £26.9bn (exc. VAT) for the 2011-12 tax year rising to £28.5bn for 2012-13.

Q A

Q

Is the duty rate the same for petrol and diesel?

Yes, the duty rate for both ultra low sulphur diesel and unleaded petrol was equalised at 50.35ppl in April 2008 - since then duty has increased by 7.6ppl or 15% exc. VAT. The UK stands alone as the only country not to treat diesel more favourably from

A

a duty point of view. An example would be France where diesel duty is 42.8 cents per litre compared to 60.7 cents per litre for petrol.

Duty appears to have been reduced in the 2011 Budget by 1ppl but is that the end of it?

If only! The Budget introduced a cut in fuel duty of 1ppl on March 23 – back to 57.95ppl (it has never before been reduced). The fuel duty escalator was also shelved with a plan to introduce a fair fuel stabiliser, this has yet to materialise, although trade associations and motoring groups have now been approached for views on this subject. It means when prices are high, only inflationary increases will be added.

If they were to fall significantly and over a sustained three-month period then it is likely a yearly increment of 1ppl would be added along with RPI increases.

Q A

Q

How does the barrel price of oil compare?

In 2008 oil reached $142.

The highest point this year was Friday 8 April when Brent reached $126.69. Brent was quoted on October 6 dropping to $104.41.

A

Q

How much will be added and when?

10.7% in Fuel Duty during 2012 – The January 1, 2012 will see UK fuel duty rise by 3.02ppl to 60.97ppl, in August it will rise again by the RPI rate in place at next year’s Budget.

The current Budget document forecast is that RPI will be 3.6%, therefore adding another 2.19ppl and a total duty figure of 63.16ppl.

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Continually increasing fuel costs reduce competitiveness and increase the threat of job insecurity and redundancy

“Road fuel usage in the UK amounts to 49bn litres annually (24bn petrol and 25bn diesel). HMRC estimates this to be £26.9bn (exc. VAT) for the 2011-12 tax year rising to £28.5bn for 2012-13.”

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However with RPI currently at 5.2% this could mean the August rise would be 3.17ppl up to 64.14ppl.

Q

How much to run a truck?

Trucks use a lot of fuel, in fact around a third of the running cost is fuel alone – a 44 tonne artic/trailer combination will give around 7.5mpg and typically cover 70,000 miles a year. To do that, the truck will use 42,439 litres (9,333 gallons) at a cost today of £47,307 exc. VAT.

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So what does a penny per litre rise mean to a truck’s operating cost?

For every penny increase it adds £424 a year to the operating cost – since October 2010 it has meant an increase of £5,754 per truck per year. In weekly terms it means companies have to pay £111 a week more per truck than in October.

Q A

So October seems to be where the rapid rise in price of fuel started to occur, what in percentage terms has the increase since then been?

Although fuel has dropped recently, it rose 13.9% since October and depending on the operation, fuel can be between 30-45% of whole vehicle running costs.

Q A

I’ve heard diesel fuel is cheaper in other European countries?

Correct; Luxembourg is generally the cheapest European country with the UK being just under 37% more expensive once tax and duty are applied.

Q A

Fuel prices debate:

taking it to the Commons

Fair Fuel UK began an e-petition on the government’s newly-launched website in an attempt to bring this matter to the forefront of political discussion. The petition gained massive support and has been signed by 100,000 people with the number still increasing.

The result of this pressure, and reaching of the 100,000 landmark, has been for the Government to allow a debate to be heard in the House of Commons on the matter of rising petrol prices.

The news has been welcomed with enthusiasm by the RHA and FTA (Freight Transport Association). The RHA said it was “delighted at the news the issue of crippling fuel prices will finally receive a formal debate in the Commons,” adding it “is thrilled all the hard work has paid off and the issue will get the hearing it, and every user of fuel in the country, deserves.” The

body also extended its thanks to Robert Halfon, MP who began the petition and leads the all-party working group on Fair Fuel UK. The FTA has worked as a partner with Fair Fuel UK as it concerted industry pressure into a constructive, coherent effort.

Theo de Pencier, FTA’s CEO, said: “Our e-Petition shows the depth of feeling and support for an overhaul of government fuel duty policy. It’s not just motorists feeling the pain at the pumps; businesses are being forced to make redundancies or face insolvency in the face of higher transport costs.

“This issue goes beyond party politics; it’s about keeping the UK on the road to recovery. The price we pay for fuel has a huge impact on business competitiveness, Thanks to the unswerving support of Mr Halfon and the thousands of individuals who took the time to put their name to our e-Petition we can now bring this cause to the very heart of government and towards a fairer deal on fuel.”

Q

What is the fair fuel stabiliser?

Theoretically it limits duty increases when oil prices are high to inflation-only increments, rather than inflation plus x pence per litre.

The Government believes a trigger price of $75 per barrel (Brent) is appropriate but not yet mandated.

It is doubtful we will see barrel prices as low again. Certainly not for a sustained period of three months prior to February on an annual basis, which current idea is put forward by the Treasury.

A

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inSigHt › BUS DAYS

A safe bus intro for disabled Londoners TfL’s head of surface transport Leon Daniels took to the road to drive a ‘Bus Days’ bus - on which disabled Londoners are given the opportunity to experience bus travel in a safe, controlled environment. Coach & Bus Week’s Meera Rambissoon reports on the aims of the scheme

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runk and disorderly trouble-makers at a bus stop, a bus passenger who thinks his mobile phone has been stolen on the bus and a man pretending to be a revenue inspector – who would have thought this would all happen under the watch of Leon Daniels, driving a bus route along Swiss Cottage in North West London?

Actually, the scenarios along the eventful journey were all staged and the special route was pre-planned as the Transport for London surface transport MD carried 57 disabled Londoners and their carers on an initiative called Bus Days; the only unusual aspect was Leon driving the bus.

Many of the youngsters who travelled last Friday (October 14) had never been on a big bus before – and would normally have been transported by minibus.

What are Bus Days?

Bus Days are travel mentoring days aimed at helping disabled Londoners to make the most of public transport. They are open to disabled individuals,

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disability groups and school groups of disabled students and designed provide them with a safe and controlled introduction to independent travel. A dedicated London bus follows a pre-planned route with passengers getting on and off the bus along the way. They are accompanied by TfL travel mentors and Metropolitan Police Safer Transport teams.

The travel mentors show participants how to use all the information at a bus stop – the routes, the bus numbers and local maps. Participants are shown how to board the bus and stay safe while on the bus. Passengers in wheelchairs are guided through procedures for using the boarding ramp to get on the bus and for their safety while travelling on it.

Also during the session police officers act out real-life scenarios passengers may encounter on their journeys, both on the bus and on the street, and give them advice on how to handle those situations. This may include dealing with instances of anti-social behaviour or ticket inspections.

The joint service was offered

by Transport for London’s Travel Mentoring Service, the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport

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team, local borough councils and local bus companies – Go-Ahead London, Abellio, Arriva, FirstGroup and Stagecoach. It was of course a First bus which Leon, former communications director for the group, drove on the Westminster/ Camden Bus Day which is one of five similar programmes held throughout London.

The scheme was first introduced in Wandsworth in 2009 and was the brainchild of two Safer Transport police constables, Martin Major and Amanda Coleman. “It was the result of a PCSO Wandsworth project,” PC Coleman told CBW. “We thought it would be a good idea to have one in Westminster. We originally picked the outer circle of Regent’s Park as a route but it was unrealistic, so we chose a different route. It took a year to get it licensed.”

“There was a lot of red tape to cut through,” said PC Major.

The format of Bus Days

Leon Daniels takes the wheel of a double decker to participate in Bus Days transport training sessions

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An out of service bus will follow a pre-planned route and participants can board and alight the bus anywhere along the route accompanied by Transport for London (TfL) travel mentors and members of the Safer Transport teams.

Participants are given a map of the route including names of all the bus stops served. There is a short presentation on what the day will entail. The bus will normally complete a trial run of the route without stopping so everyone can get used to the route, the bus stop names and where they are located.

Participants get on and off the bus at different bus stops along the route and practice stop requests, leaving the bus, swiping Oyster cards and engaging with the bus driver. Participants are at all times accompanied by staff from TfL and the Safer Transport team.

Participants experience using bus stops. They are shown how to read all the information they may come across at bus stops; the routes, bus numbers and local maps found at bus shelters. While waiting at the stop (or walking to the next stop) it is an ideal opportunity for the Safer Transport team to talk about keeping safe while out on the streets of London, encompassing road safety and personal safety.

Circuits of the bus route normally take around 15 minutes to complete.

Throughout the time both inside

and outside the bus there is always something going on. TfL travel mentors and police run sessions on safe and smart bus travel where scenarios are acted out by plain clothes officers and TfL staff throughout the session.

The Westminster/Camden Bus Days are held monthly. The mentoring is free of charge, and can be provided Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1800hrs. Training is applicable either to groups or on an individual basis. Bus days work best as an ongoing monthly event and can take up to six or more months to organise. The first step is to contact the TfL Travel Mentoring Service and a travel mentor who is experienced in setting up bus days, and will be able to advise and assist in setting up a tailored bus day in a given area. As TfL oversees the Safer Transport Teams and all the bus operators in London, the mentor can arrange contact with both and help plan suitable routes, scenarios and timetables to ensure the day runs smoothly. The Travel Mentoring

Service holds information about other organisations and groups from the area which also work with participants and offer travel training.

A spot of ‘trouble’

Indeed the journey was extremely realistic. Leon drove the bus filled with participants, FirstGroup London MD Adrian Jones, Safer Transport staff and crucially two travel mentors around the entire route once, setting off from Swiss Cottage Central Library. During the initial drive, without stoppage, there were talks on the lower and upper decks about how to behave safely on the vehicle. On the second time around the route, a supposed ‘mechanical fault’ meant everyone had to get off at a designated stop.

Bad luck, I thought, to get three people hanging out at the stop, beer cans in hand, shouting, swearing and causing a bit of a nuisance.

Actually, this was the first scenario.

After trying to get on the bus, and banging on the driver and bus windows, with participants

Above: Bus Days participants are given instruction about bus stop behaviour and how to make use of information on routes, services and timetables. Below: Mock-up of an arrest following an on-bus incident

www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 21:58

40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

inSigHt › BUS DAYS

rightly not following them on. The unruly trio were apprehended by police who turned up in a van pretty quickly. The operation was slickly performed.

Safety both on and off the bus was the primary focus, for example advice was given to participants where not to stand and to be aware of ‘dipping’ and pick-pocketing.

The second stage of the role-play came in the form of a man asking to check people’s tickets – with everyone complying politely.

However, he was dressed in plain clothes and carried no badge, ID or machine to scan cards. Travel mentor Jenny Fish, who has five years’ experience teaching special needs kids, warned against showing tickets to someone in plain clothes, unless they displayed the correct ID. The third scenario was a man on the bus who read a newspaper, then stood up looking for his phone. Getting his friend to ring the number, he recognised the ring tone coming from another man’s jacket, quickly identifying a possible suspect. A chase ensued onto the upper deck.

Jenny explained: “It’s about all disabled Londoners – not just those with learning disabilities, getting on the bus for the first time in a controlled and safe environment.”

Support from TfL & First

Explaining why he was driving the bus and involved in the initiative, Leon Daniels told CBW: “I’m supporting Westminster Bus Day – it’s a really great opportunity for people to learn to use buses safely, especially for those where there are reasons why that might not be the case.

“We are very pleased to be working with the local councils, the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport team and First London. Bus Days also give us an opportunity to highlight the innovative TfL Travel Mentoring Service. We hope those people who take part in a Bus Day will find it a useful experience that will enable them to travel on the bus network in future.”

First London regional managing director Adrian Jones, who drove the bus in the afternoon, said: “FirstGroup is committed to working with the communities in which our staff live and which are served by our routes. This partnership with Transport for London is one which First London has been very happy to support. www.coachandbusweek.com

BusDays.indd 40

Left to right: First London MD Adrian Jones, Leon Daniels and Inspector Burke

“It’s vital that all members of the community, especially those who may feel more vulnerable, are able to travel across London without fear for their safety and security.”

Commander Adrian Hanstock Metropolitan Police Service Safer Transport Command

The Travel Mentoring buses literally provide a vehicle to open up travel options to Londoners who may otherwise not have such an opportunity.

Commander Adrian Hanstock from the Metropolitan Police Service Safer Transport Command said: “It’s vital all members of the community, especially those who may feel more vulnerable, are able to travel across London without fear for their safety and security.

I’m delighted the Safer Transport Teams are involved in the Bus Day initiative as they can provide support and reassurance to those who take part.”

Making a difference

PCs Amanda Coleman and Martin Major - instigators of Bus Days travel mentoring courses

For PC Coleman, Bus Days is about taking the stigma out of bus use – and stressed that the scheme is completely free of charge. “We get very good feedback – no negative feedback at all,” she said, adding there is also a ‘Falls Prevention Service,’ which aims to build confidence in bus use amongst older people.

“It’s a matter of finding out what people’s problems are in different age groups. I feel very passionately about buses because of the stigma attached to using them. For each Bus Day, we get a different driver and we find out what their problems are too. Operators and

revenue protection inspectors (RPIs) are very enthusiastic and RPIs feel very proud about their part in the day – as they are giving something back to the community and want to come back all the time.”

She explained the Safer Transport network focuses mainly on buses – including the problem of dipping and homeless people, although CCTV has helped enormously. “The stigma attached to buses is the main problem to address,” she concluded.

All participants seemed to really enjoy the experience, but serious lessons were still learned on the day. Passengers would not normally experience all these events on a bus in a standard journey. Having police support and mentors to help and advise was beneficial. Definitely a good, well executed initiative conducted in a wholly supportive and informative manner.

For more information about the Travel Mentoring Service which takes place in Wandsworth, Southwark, Enfield and Westminster & Camden visit www.tfl.gov.uk/ tfl/gettingaround/dialaride/ travelassistance.asp n Individual mentoring is available on request. To contact the Travel Mentoring Service, call 020 3054 4361.

17/10/2011 21:59

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41

DRIVERS

Send your driver news and stories to gareth.evans@rouncymedia. co.uk or call 01733 293 243.

First driver runs for charity Children with Cancer charity benefits from company and staff goodwill Sheffield bus driver Jon Pitsch, 44, took part in the Sheffield 10k on Sunday October 9 for a children’s cancer charity.

Jon, who drives for First from its Olive Grove depot in Sheffield, was determined to raise a substantial amount of money for Children with Cancer and asked First to sponsor him to take part in the run.

The operator set up a charity committee made up of front line staff to decide where the company’s charity budget should be spent, and was happy to sign a cheque for £1,000 in aid of Jon’s run.

The Dronfield resident ran the course in one hour. Jon’s main challenge however was to raise funds for a charity which is close to his heart following the death of his 12-year-old sister from leukaemia in 1976.

Jon has been a regular charity fundraiser for Children with Cancer (formerly Children with Leukaemia) for a number of years and is looking forward to seeing

Belfast bus driver in five-youth robbery ambush

A Belfast bus driver was robbed at knifepoint by five youths on October 10. Three attackers stood in front of the bus as it pulled up outside a bar on Oldpark Road at about 1930hrs. Two others, armed with a knife and a hammer, boarded the 12B Metro Bus and demanded the cash dispenser. A number of passengers were riding the bus at the time.

Following the ambush the youths ran off in the direction of a nearby park. The bus driver in question was not injured.

Translink said: “The safety of

Drivers.indd 41

his efforts on Channel 5, which is to televise it at a later date.

He said: “I was delighted when I was told my employers First would sponsor me for £1,000 and this money will be put to good use.”

George Boothman, bus driver and member of First’s Charity Committee, was at the finish line to meet a tired but delighted Jon.

George said: “As the principal bus operator in South Yorkshire we see it as our responsibility to offer support to local charities and our new regional charity committee is available to those good causes needing a financial helping hand.”

First has recently set up a regional charity committee to consider requests for funding and gifts from groups and organisations across the north of England. The committee, which is made up of First staff, many of whom are bus drivers, aims to provide charitable support in line with three specific criteria – young people, health and the environment.

John Pitsch with member of First’s charity committee, John Boothman our employees and passengers is a key priority. We offer up to a £1,000 reward to anyone giving evidence leading to the successful prosecution of those involved in incidences of theft and threatening behaviour against Translink employees.”

Condemning the attack, MP Nigel Dodds said: “Bus drivers provide a vital public service, often working alone and they must be assured of the full support of the community.

“Belfast City Council is planning to hold an event at City Hall prior to Christmas in recognition of the service provided by bus drivers to all the citizens of the city over the last 40 years.

“These drivers managed to maintain a public service in very dangerous times, during which many were injured or even lost their lives.”

Police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

To advertise on this page, contact team leader Harley Denham on 01733 293 249 or e-mail harley.denham@ rouncymedia.co.uk

Stagecoach driver retires after 45 years A South Tyneside bus driver has retired after a 45-year long career in the business. Alan Douglas, 65, of South Shields, retired from his job at Stagecoach North East on October 17.

Mr Douglas said: “I was thrilled to achieve the long service award after 45 great years at the company.

After four decades I still really enjoyed my job, and looked forward to going into work every day.”

“Everyone at the firm was great and we all got along really well. I still don’t feel like I’ve retired yet, it just feels like I’m on a week’s holiday, but I’m looking forward to spending more time at home with my grandson, Matthew.”

Douglas’ service for the operator began when it was known as South Shields Corporation Transport.

Beginning as a conductor, eventually he made his way through various roles at the company before ending his career as a duty officer.

MD of Stagecoach North East, John Conroy, said: “Alan has played an important part in our company for a significant number of years and though we wish him all the best in his retirement, we will be sad to see him leave.”

Bus driver given community sentence and disqualification A first West Yorkshire bus driver was given a community sentence after he admitted causing the death of a 75 year old woman by driving without due care.

Mr Cameron, 45, was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, disqualified for 12 months and ordered to pay £1000 costs.

Shirley Jones, 75, suffered multiple injuries including a severe head injury and brain damage when she was struck by the bendy bus driven

by Cameron on July 29, 2010.

She was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where she later died.

Mr Morris, representing Cameron, said the accident was caused by “a momentary loss of attention, and Mr Cameron’s sorrow and his regret are heartfelt.”

Sentencing Cameron, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said: “This case is a terrible tragedy for all concerned.

First and foremost for Shirley Jones and for her husband and family who have suffered enormously as a result of her loss, but also for Cameron who has to live with what has happened.

“The CCTV footage showed Mrs Jones stepped off the pavement on to the crossing when the lights were flashing and it is quite clear you just failed to see her, whether you were distracted by a bus in front we do not know.”

The judge stated nothing the court did could compensate the family of Mrs Jones for their loss and the criminal justice process is not designed to do so.

www.coachandbusweek.com

17/10/2011 22:12

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

LEGAL UpdAtE › disabled staff

In association with

At what cost?

Ian Jones, a solicitor and director at transport legal specialist Backhouse Jones, discusses a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) judgment regarding the limits of the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled staff.

BACKGROUND In the case of Cordell v Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ms Cordell, an employee of the FCO, was offered a conditional move to a mission in Astana, Kyrgyzstan.

Because of Ms Cordell’s disability – profound deafness – she required professional lip-speakers to assist her. The FCO’s cost estimate for the provision of lip-speakers to assist Ms Cordell during her placement was excessive – in the region of £1m for three years. The offer was conditional on certain procedures including an assessment of whether, and at what cost, arrangements could be made to accommodate her disability. As such, Ms Cordell’s application was rejected.

Ms Cordell brought a tribunal claim for direct disability discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments. At the tribunal, Ms Cordell presented a slightly more attractive figure, based on her own calculations, of £600,000 for a two year placement.

The tribunal found, as a fact, the costs of the adjustment would amount to at least £249,500 per annum. Ms Cordell challenged the decision not to make the adjustment, relying in part on the FCO’s policy on meeting school fees of children of FCO staff posted overseas. The maximum payable under that policy was £25,000 per child, per annum plus flights. If a staff member had several children the maximum payable under the policy could be £175,000 per annum. The costs of support for Ms Cordell’s posting in Warsaw amounted to £146,000 per annum, but there was some evidence this would not have been agreed under the policy in place in 2009.

The tribunal found the FCO had not directly discriminated against Ms Cordell. It rejected Ms Cordell’s argument that she had been treated less favourably than other members of staff requiring www.coachandbusweek.com

LegalUpdate.indd 42

Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling has implications for employers financial assistance to work abroad, namely parents. The EAT upheld the tribunal’s decision. Ms Cordell’s disability was not the reason for the treatment complained of. A comparison could not be made between the payment of school fees and Ms Cordell’s situation; the material circumstances were different.

THE LAW Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) section 18B, in determining whether it is reasonable for a person to have to take a particular step in order to comply with a duty to make reasonable adjustments, regard shall be had to: the extent to which taking the step would prevent the effect in relation to which the duty is imposed; the extent to which it is practicable to take the step; the financial and other costs which would be incurred in taking the step and the extent to which taking it would disrupt the employer’s activities; the extent of the employer’s financial and other resources; the availability of financial or other assistance with respect to taking the step; the nature of his/her activities and the size of his/ her undertaking.

The EAT noted there is no objective measure which can be used to balance the disadvantage to the employee if the adjustments are not made and the cost of making

said adjustments.

The tribunal took into account, as it was entitled to, several matters: (1) the annual cost of support exceeded Ms Cordell’s salary by a factor of five; (2) the cost in comparison with the staffing costs of the embassy in Astana; (3) the comparison with equivalent costs which had been paid in Warsaw and London ;(4) the proportion of the FCO’s disability budget which the adjustments would absorb; (5) the comparison with the highest known annual payment under the school fees policy; and (6) the fact the costs would have to be met from existing resources.

Furthermore, the tribunal also attached weight to the uncertainty about whether lip-speaker support could be provided in Astana at all.

The EAT therefore dismissed the appeal, noting the law does not require an employer to compensate for the misfortune that a disabled employee’s career may be limited by disability at any cost. The issue is always what is reasonable.

IMPLICATIONS This decision will be a welcoming one for employers, since it explicitly recognises the duty to make reasonable adjustments is not a duty to make adjustments at any cost. The EAT understands the difficulty tribunals and employers face in assessing what is reasonable.

Even in a large organisation, balancing a disabled person’s need for adjustments against other spending priorities will never be an easy decision.

The EAT has given tribunals a very broad discretion, saying it is essentially a matter of judgement rather than an “objective” test, and tribunals should do what they consider “right and just”. This is likely to make decisions difficult to overturn on appeal, though makes it equally difficult for employers to predict how their decisions will be judged.

One issue is presented with regards to the Equality Act (2010).

This case was decided under preEquality Act law and employers now need to consider whether the same conclusion would be reached under the new legislation.

The key issue under the Equality Act is a claimant in Ms Cordell’s situation would be able to bring the additional claim of discrimination arising from a disability. The argument would be the employee was treated unfavourably (in being denied the posting) because of something arising in consequence of her disability (the need for, and cost of, lip-speakers).

The employer would have to show the unfavourable treatment was a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

There has been some doubt as to whether cost alone is capable of providing such objective justification. However, in this case, in addition to the cost of providing lip-speaker support, the FCO relied on the uncertainty as to whether such support could be provided in practice. This might well be sufficient to provide the necessary objective justification.

There have been some minor changes to the law on reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. The factors which an employment tribunal had to take into account in assessing the reasonableness of an adjustment are not set out in the Equality Act, but are in the EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) Code as factors which might be taken into account when deciding what the reasonable steps for an employer to have to take are.

The Code states: “Ultimately the test of the ‘reasonableness’ of any step an employer may have to take is an objective one and will depend on the circumstances of the case” (paragraph 6.29). This accords with the approach taken by the tribunal and endorsed by the EAT in this case.”

It is not yet known whether Ms Cordell will appeal against the decision.

17/10/2011 23:52

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October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 45

PRODUCTS

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

Go Goodwins bowlEd ovEr by nEw McKEnna blind Product

of thE

wEEK

McKenna Brothers has fitted the first MobiLED Compact blind to the England Cricket team coach, operated by Go Goodwins of Eccles,

Manchester.

Launched at the recent Coach & Bus Live (CBL) show, the new sign has compact design, making it the ideal choice for passenger information in a confined space. The MobiLED is ideal for coaches and minibuses and gives the operator total flexibility. It runs on a nominal nine to 36 volts so can be powered by a cigarette lighter. When it comes to programming, again this is a simple process due to the alpha numeric controller which is integrated into the back of the sign so it is almost the same as entering a text message into a mobile phone.

Director Derek Dawson told CBW: “This is a great addition to our range.

It gives total flexibility at low cost and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle with minimum of fuss. It only requires a power supply. We are delighted with the sales so far and expect them to go from strength to strength.”

info

nEw tyrE PrEssurE MonitorinG systEM

above: Go Goodwins’ England cricket team coach is now fitted with McKenna’s new MobilEd compact blind. below: a close up of the MobilEd compact, a perfect tool for client-specific blinds for coaches and minibuses

t: 0161 655 3244 w: www.mckennabrothers.

adbluE locator aPP Yara, the world’s largest AdBlue producer, launched the first ever AdBlue mobile locator application for Android mobile devices.

Following the recent success of the Air1 AdBlue Mobile Locator app for iPhone, Yara’s Air1 app for Android will use GPS technology to identify the filling station closest to a driver’s location to make finding AdBlue easier for even more drivers who are out on the road.

“This new edition to Yara’s Air1 family of mobile applications underscores Air1’s commitment to both AdBlue end users and our retail partners carrying AdBlue,” said Jeroen Schoonderbeek, Yara’s director of Air1. “We’ve been delighted with the positive response we received from drivers and retail outlets after the launch of our iPhone app and have

WABCO’s new IVTM™ system is the company’s latest technology for integrated monitoring of tyre pressure on trucks, trailers and buses – providing drivers and fleet operators with real-time pressure information. It helps maintain tyre inflation at optimum level and, as a result, reduces fuel consumption by up to 2%.

It also improves vehicle safety as correct inflation enables better road handling and shorter braking distance. In addition, it detects slow leaks, which contribute to heat buildup, the cause of the majority of tire failures. WABCO claims IVTM increases the lifetime of tyres by up to 20%.

It fits all wheel sizes. Its improved battery lasts 20% longer.

IVTM’s wheel-mounted sensors constantly measure tyre pressure and wirelessly transmit data to an electronic control unit, which in turn displays real-time information and appropriate alerts on the vehicle’s dash-mounted display. Combined with TrailerGUARD telematics, fleet managers can remotely monitor every vehicle’s tire pressure via a web portal. for more information visit www.wabco-auto.com

wabco’s c-coMP tEchnoloGy

incorporated a lot of the feedback in both the new Android app and the latest iteration of the iPhone app. For example, we have improved the app’s ability to zoom in on a location and have provided users’ the flexibility to hide the keyboard if they choose.”

The app is currently available in 17 languages and includes nearly 3,000 AdBlue filling stations across Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. the air1 adblue Mobile locator app, the official application of air1, is now available for free from the android Market or the itunes app store using the search term adblue. End users can also take advantage of the application’s many useful functions via an identical adblue locator tool on yara’s air1 website, which also features a route planner http://uk.air1.info/en/adbluesupply/adblue-filling/

WABCO’s breakthrough c-comp air compressor optimally disengages a truck or bus compressor from the engine when the vehicle’s air system reaches full pressure. As a result, it allows fuel savings up to 264 gallons (1,000 litres) on long haul applications while reducing the vehicle’s carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 5,700 pounds (2,600 kilograms) annually.

Nikhil Varty, WABCO Vice President, Compression and Braking, said: “Our breakthrough c-comp air compressors continue to demonstrate WABCO’s technology leadership by increasing fuel efficiency, resulting in cleaner, greener heavy duty trucks and buses.” new app is a welcome addition for android phone users

for more information visit www.wabco-auto.com www.coachandbusweek.com

Products.indd 45

17/10/2011 22:53

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46 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

BUS STOPthe place to buy and sell

To advertise on these pages for as little as £20 just call 020 8320 1351 Optare Toro

UNVI GT

Mercedes-Benz 0815 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 28 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts, powered entry door, air conditioning, double glazed windows, luggage racks with individual passenger reading lights and adjustable air flow blowers, radio/CD & PA system.

Mercedes-Benz 0816 Vario chassis with rear air suspension, 29 passenger seats with 3pt lap and diagonal seat belts and leather headrest inserts, courier seat, dark tint double glazed windows, air conditioning, radio/CD & PA system, DVD player and monitor, grammer luxury heated driver seat, full draw curtains, large boot space and side lockers.

£45,500 +VAT

£69,950 +VAT

Call Dougie at Haggis Adventures on 0131 554 9192

28 DARTS

AdvertiseyourCoachorBushereforaslittleas £20.00 aweek!

Call Lara Odumosu on 0208 301 8310 or email: lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk

All vehicles in working order – must be broken for spares.

All parts available: engines, gearboxes, running gear, tyres etc, etc!

Over 350 buses and coaches available for all you bus nuts!

We’ll buy your fleet. Call for details Tel: 01226 727 769 Mobile: 07912 103 497 Email: geoff-ripley@btconnect.com

Dennis Plaxton R Series Due to fleet replacement, we need to sell up to 5 of the following and don’t mind which 5!

2003: 2 x 49/53 seats with WC, 3 x 53 seats 2004: 5 x 53 seats 2005: 1 x 49/53 seats with WC, 2 x 53 seats All are well maintained, low mileage examples (approx 62,000km per annum) with long MoT, air conditioning and AStronic gearboxes.

Owned by us from new and used on our own holiday programme. All over cream. Can be sold with patterns of 2012 tour work if required. Viewing at Thos. Hardie Commercials, Red Scar, Preston.

Priced to sell at £47,000 (03 reg), £58,000 (04 reg) and £74,000 (05 reg) plus VAT (£3,000 premium for WC). Sorry no part exchange.

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

Due to fleet replacement, we have the following vehicles for sales from 1st Nov:

2001 Volvo B12 Berkhof Axial 100 14 berth sleeper £87,000 + VAT

2001 Volvo B12 Berkhof Axial 100 16 Berth sleeper £95,000 + VAT

2000 Volvo B10m Berkhof 15 Berth sleeper £85,000 + VAT

1997 Scania Irizar 8 Berth sleeper £15,000 + VAT

Due to fleet upgrade, KM Travel of Barnsley South Yorks offer for sale:

2001 BOVA Futura

Above average condition, only used on our own British tour programme, painted to stock white, 12 months MOT, 49 seats, centre toilet.

Offered at a realistic price of £49,500 (finance available subject to status and acceptance)

For further detail contact Keith 01226 280 982

Phone 0844 8009130 or email sales@fastway.uk.com

Telephone Lara Odumosu on 020 8320 1351 or email lara.odumosu@rouncymedia.co.uk

2006 (06) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MEDIUM ROOF WHITE 115PS COIF/PSV 63,000 MILES £8,995

2011 (11) FORD TRANSIT 9 SEAT SHUTTLE BUS 115PS TWIN SIDE LOAD DOORS INK BLUE £17,495

2007 (07) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS WHITE TACHO 65,000 MILES £12,995

VANFIT & LDV PARTS STOCKIST

(PONTYPOOL) LTD

P9 BJT

REGISTRATION PLATE FOR SALE – £500

NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 516CDI ALTAS CONVERSION 17 SEAT MINICOACH £56,995

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

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

07 (57) IVECO DAILY 50C15 16 SEATS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE COIF/PSV 50,000 KM £24,995

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

2010 (10) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS MEDIUM ROOF WHITE 115PS 23,000KM £19,495

17:29

NEW MAXUS 17 SEAT MINIBUS 120 PS LWB H/R PANAROMIC WINDOWS COIF £16,995

17/10/11

ONE SAAB 95 COLEMAN MILNE HEARSE TWO SAAB 95 COLEMAN MILNE STRETCHED 8 SEAT LIMOUSINES £90,000 FOR ALL 3 VEHICLES - CAN SELL SEPARATELY

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

LEZ

LEZ

COMPLIANT

COMPLIANT

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

2000 W/X REG V0LVO B6BLE’S

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

1999/2000 T/V/X REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

8.9m, Cummins / Allison, Hanover blinds, 29 seats, full DDA, £72,000.

2009 ADL ENVIRO 200

ZF gearboxes, Wrights bodies, ramps, 35 seats, very clean, £13,000 each supplied with new MOT and COIF. LAST 4

Cummins ISBC engine, repainted white, Hanover destination, MOT August 2012, one only at £28,000.

2004 DART MPD

10.8m, Cummins / Allison, Hanover blinds, 37 seats, full DDA, £74,000.

2009 ADL ENVIRO 200

1995 M REG DENNIS DRAGONS

2006 OPTARE SOLO

Mercedes, 9.2m, 31 individual seats with 3 point belts.

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

2007 DART MPD

Euro 4, Cummins/Allison, MCV body, 9m, 32 seats.

One available at £45,000

2001 Y REG DART SLF’S

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

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY - B

Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Pa Telephone 01708 865656 Fax: 01708 864 Visit our website for current sto

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g nbus

K ER SPECIALIST 1994 K REG VOLVO OLYMPIAN

GREAT VALUE DENNIS DARTS!!!

Northern Counties low height bodies, Volvo engines, good selection with long MOTs.

6 speed ZF manual, Marcopolo body, 67 seats, MOT 02/12.

1995 PP DENNIS JAVELIN

1998-2000 S / V / W reg Darts with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies, 31 seats, dual door, DDA compliant, exhaust traps fitted so reduced tax, huge choice at an unbelievable £4,500 each plus VAT and tyres (£375).

I-shift, Sunsendengui Sideal body, 49 seats, centre toilet, air-con, very clean and straight inside and outside. £70,000.

2005 55 PLATE VOLVO B12B

1998 S REG DENNIS DART SPD

Cummins / Allison World Series gearbox , Pointer 2 body, 41 seats.

6 speed ZF manual, Caetano Algarve, 55 seats, recently trimmed.

ZF automatic, Plaxton Excalibur body, 49 seats, NSR toilet, air-con, MOT 05/12.

One only at £26,000.

Plaxton President bodies, LEZ post 2012 with traps, single door converted and 72 seats.

2000 W REG VOLVO B10M

Cummins / Allison, Marshall bodies, 37 seats, LEZ post 2012 with traps, from our own fleet and very tidy. £6,000 each.

1998 REG DENNIS DART SLF’S

1999 V REG DENNIS DART MPD’S Cummins/Allison, Plaxton bodies, 8.8m, 29 seats.

1997 P REG VOLVO B10M

2000 W REG VOLVO B7TL’S

ZF auto, Plaxton Prestige body, 41 retrimmed seats, MOT August 2012.

1998 R REG DAF SB220 SLF

Mercedes engines, Slimlines, 2.34m wide, 7.8m long, 24 seats, Hanover LEDʼs.

2006 OPTARE SOLO’S

- BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BUS DEALERS

rial Park, Purfleet, Essex, RM15 4YF 708 864340 e-mail: sales@ensignbus.com ent stock at www.ensignbus.com

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Mini Coach Sales

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

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

BRAND NEW MERCEDES 813 VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power plug door, luggage boot.

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

2006 06 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI OPTARE SOROCO 16 high back reclining seats, forced air, reading lights, A/C, power door, large boot.

2006 06 MERCEDES 814D PLAXTON CHEETAH 33 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights D/G, power door.

2005 55 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON CHEETAH 29 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, D/G, power door and large boot.

2005 05 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large luggage boot.

2006 06 REG MERCEDES 814D VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights and large boot, analogue tacho.

BARGAIN BUS STOP 2002 52 REG RENAULT 10 SEATS + RAMP 2004 04 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SPRINTER 16 seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, luggage racks, coach back end and large boot.

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

2001 51 REG RENAULT 8 SEATS + RAMP

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

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NEW PRE-REGISTERED FORDS (60) 2010 Ford Transit 17 seat Hi Roof 2.4tdi, Air -con, Bluetooth, tacho, sat-nav, COIF/PSV £23,850

W at NE se 17

(60) 2011 Ford Transit 15 seat 2.4 tdci minibus, tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, silver £18,995

(10) 2010 Ford Transit 12 minibus 2.2tdci 115ps tacho, air-con, Bluetooth, parking sensors, in silver, 1,400km £17,495

FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES (08) 2008 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4tdi, tacho, high back seats with three point belts, 33,000kms only, COIF/PSV £15,200

(07) 2007 Ford Transit 17 seat 2.4 tdi 115ps, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV, 44,000 miles £11,995

(06) Ford Transit 17 seat 4.1 ton minibus, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV £7,995

(02) Ford Transit 3.5 ton, 15 seat minibus, 2.4 tdi, high back seats with three point belts £2,995

LDV MINIBUSES New LDV Maxus 17 seat minibus 2.5 diesel, LWB, twin side loading doors, 2 year mechanical warranty, COIF/PSV £16,995

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

(03) 2003 LDV Convoy Maxi XLWB 17 seat mini-coach, 2.4 Tdi, front entry drop step, luggage racks, rear heating, wide aisle, rear row of seats removable, New PSV £7,995

OTHER MAKES (08) 2008 Renault Traffic Sportive 9 seat LL29 dci, 31,000 miles, in silver £10,750

Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat School minibus diesel 2.2 120ps six speed, COIF/PSV. Choice of colours £21,995+VAT

5 3.

n to

OTHER MAKES New Renault Master 17 seat LM35 / 125PS £21,995

(55) 2005 Chrysler Grand Voyager 7 seat Auto 2.8 diesel, DVD, heated seats, radio/CD, electric mirrors, electric windows, one owner from new with FSH, silver, 67,000 miles £7,750

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS (09) Renault Master LM39 2.2 diesel, Automatic, inboard lift, air-con, e/w c/l e/m with only 4,500 miles £18,495 (07) 2007 Fiat Dobol 1.4 petrol, lightweight ramp low floor, 5 door, ABS, air bag, air con, electric reels, E/W, PAS, radio/ CD, C/L £6,995 (07) 2007 Volkswagen Crafter 8 seat 2.2 diesel inboard lift, fully tracked floor, rear heating, 48,000 miles £13,995 (04) 2004 Mercedes Sprinter 413cdi minibus 2.2 diesel, front entry drop step with power door, inboard Clearway lift, fully tracked floor to take 4 wheelchairs, rear heating, 77,000 miles £9,995 (53) 2003 Iveco Daily 16 seat minibus, front entry drop step with power door, wheelchair tracking, under floor tail lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £9,995 Y 2001 Renault Mascot 2.8 diesel, 16 seat wheelchair accessible minibus, front entry drop step, fully tracked floor to take five wheelchairs, under floor lift, rear heating, COIF/PSV £7,750

Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304 Contact Graham Thatcher – email: sales@minibussales.co.uk

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

All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%

000000-1005-Fishwick

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THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OFFERS...

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550598-1008-Pickrell

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H.W. PICKRELL

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.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINI BUSES

08 REG RENAULT MASTER MM33 2.2TD

Auto gearbox, LWB, PAS, Plaxton Beaver 2 coach, N/S front power door, low entry step, 24 high back removable seats, heater, Unwin tracking, Ratcliff underfloor tail-lift, COIF, only 35,000 kms, choice of 3.

57 REG MERCEDES VARIO 814D

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 6 high back seats plus 2 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, air con, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 36,831 miles.

08 REG PEUGEOT BOXER 335 2.2TD

Manual gearbox, high roof, Advanced conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 14 high back removable seats, Eberspacher heater, amf m1 tested tracked floor, new amf tail lift, 29,823 miles.

55 REG CITROEN RELAY 1800 LM35 2.2HSI

58 REG PEUGEOT EXPERT TEPEE 19 HDI

08 REG RENAULT MASTER LM35 2.2TD

58 REG 2008 RENAULT MASTER LM35 2.2TD

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 9 high back seats plus driver, Unwin tracked floor, Underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, only 38,800 miles.

Manual 5 speed gearbox, PAS, CD player, air con, twin side loading doors, 2 high back seat in rear plus single passenger seat front, cut out floor, fold down ramp, metallic silver, 12,389 miles.

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 14 high back removable seats, Eberspacher heater, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 12,521 miles.

LWB, PAS, high roof, McNeille PTS multi purpose, SLD with AVS side step, 3 fold back seats plus stretcher postion, piped oxygen, storage, Unwin tracking, Portaramp, as new condition, 10,456 miles.

06 REG RENAULT MASTER SM33 2.2TD

09 REG RENAULT MASTER LM35 2.2TD

06 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 411 CDI

07 REG RENAULT MASTER LM39 2.5TD

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 6 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, air con, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 21253.441 miles.

Manual gearbox, high roof, SCW PTS conversion, PAS, side loading door, AVS side step, 4 high back seats plus stretcher position, Eberspacher heater, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon stretcher lift, 10,755 miles only.

Manual gearbox, LWB, PAS, O & H conversion, full height side loading plug door, AVS step, 17 seat with 14 high back removable seats, Eberspacher, Ratcliff underfloor t/ lift, ex NHS, COIF'd, tacho fitted, 91,500 kms.

Tiptronic auto gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, side loading door, AVS side step, 14 high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, full air con & Eberspacher heating, only 35,275 miles, choice of 3.

UN REG FORD TRANSIT 4600 GVW 140PS

07 REG RENAULT MASTER SM33 2.2TD

08 REG FORD TRANSIT 430 JUMBO 2.4TDCI (115)

2008 57 REG RENAULT TRAFFIC LH29 2.2TD

6 speed manual gearbox, Chassis Development body, PAS, LWB, ESP, powered side loading door,15 high back seats, fully Unwin tracked floor, Dash air con, heater, underfloor Ratcliff tail lift, COIF, delivery miles only.

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 6 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, air con, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 33,756 miles.

Manual gearbox, high roof, PAS, LWB, tacho, side loading door, AVS side step, 17 high back seats, fully Unwin tracked floor, air con, Webasto heater, underfloor AMF tail lift, 110,000 kms.

Automatic, high roof, LWB, SCW conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 8 high back seats, Unwin tracking, tinted windows, full air front & rear, Eberspacher heater, Unwin ramps, only 9,000 miles.

05 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 411 CDI

2004/05 54 REG MERCEDES SPRINTER 416CDI AMBULANCE

07 REG RENAULT MASTER MM33 2.2TD

05 REG VAUXHALL VIVARO SH29 1.9 TD

Manual gearbox, LWB, PAS, O & H conversion, side loading electric power door, AVS electric step, 14 high back removable seats, Eberspacher, PLS underfloor t/tift, ex NHS.

LWB, Macneillie van conversion, SLD, 2 rear high back seats, Ferno Falcon stretcher & locks, stretcher lift, blue light bars and siren, very high spec, low miles 65-85,000 miles only, choice of 8.

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 7 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, Eberspacher heater, air con, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 21,435 miles.

Manual, high roof, SWB, Advance conversion, PAS, side loading door, AVS side step, 5 high back seats, Unwin tracking, full air con, Ricon tail lift, ex-charity, 32,675

54 REG RENAULT MASTER MM33 2.5TD

10 REG VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER TDI

07 REG RENAULT MASTER SL33 2.2TD

58 REG FORD TRANSIT 430 2.4 DIESEL

Manual, high roof, Atlas conversion, PAS, side loading door, AVS side step, 8 high back seats, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, Eberspacher air con, only 22,335 miles.

Manual, low roof, LWB, luxury conversion, PAS, twin side loading door, AVS side step, 8 luxury leather high back seats, air con, removable table in rear, Unwin tracking, Braun tail lift, 7,675 miles.

Manual gearbox, high roof, O & H conversion, PAS, side loading door, side step, 6 high back seats plus 1 x w/chair, air con, heater, Unwin tracked floor, Ricon tail lift, 22,166 miles.

Manual, LWB, PAS, factory conversion, tacho fitted, electric windows, cruise control, side loading door, 17 high back seats with seat belts, ex local authority, very nice spec, only 35,350 kms.

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2003 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PROFILE Registered Dec 2003, double glazed tinted glass, Cummins 275 engine, 6 speed manual gearbox, 49 seats, toilet & washroom, ready for immediate use, MoT tested, 120,000 miles, choice of two. £P.O.A

Straight from MOD

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER

Dec 07, low mileage, 7 seats, quick release tracking for wheelchair use. £12,500 + VAT

06 MAN EVOLUTION

14/220, 37 seats, SLF automatic, wheelchair ramp, superb condition throughout, fully MoT’d. £45,500 Part exchange considered

BERKOF RADIAL 1998

53 seats, Cummins 300 engine, ex council, manual box, air cond, full years MoT, very low mileage, super condition. £POA £19,500

CAETANO (SALVADOR) 1998

57 seats, in white, Cummins 245 engine, MoT Sept 2012, very clean vehicle. £19,500 + VAT

BMC AIRPORT BUS

32 seats, 220 Cummins, new MoT this week.

QUICK SALE WANTED.

£15,000

f Coach Oeek The W MERCEDES VARIO 612

1998, 20 new seats, wheelchair lift on wheel tracking, 20 new seats.

Choice of 6.

TRADE SALE OR SEPARATE

1995 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER HIGHLINER 53 recliner seats, 290 Cummins, automatic, continental door, toilet, full years MoT, must be seen. £POA + VAT £19,500

PLAXTON CHEETAH

33 seats, registered June 2005, tinted double glazed windows, finished in unmarked white, special red interior, MOT, must be seen. £POA

1996 DENNIS JAVELIN

10 metre, new MoT, 41/47 seats, 220 Cummins, 6 speed box, new stretch panels, repainted.

Choice of 2. £POA + VAT

1996 VOLVO PLAXTON PREMIER HIGH LINER

B10 engine, 14 months test, 70 seats, tinted double glazing with curtains & continental door, must be seen. £POA

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IVECO SERVICE BUS

67 seats (moquet), new 2006, only 12,000 miles since new,Vihixel body, air-con, MOT full year, LEZ, must be seen, superb condition.

£65,000 + VAT PX considered.

MERCEDES VARIO

PLAXTON PARAGON

48 reclining seats plus courier seat, air-con.

1998, fitted 5 cylinder engine, 20 new seats, wheel chair lift, low mileage, manual box, full MOT, nice clean bus. £ 9,500 + vat

£49,500 + VAT

PLAXTON CHEETAH

June 2005, 33 seats, unmarked, white with red trim, tinted glass, curtains, any inspection/trial.

£P.O.A.

VW TRANSPORTER

Dec 07, 7 blue seats (moquet) on Unwin tracking, will take extra seat, in silver metallic, low mileage, private user.

£12,000 + VAT

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58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

Southdown PSV 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk

2003 MAN 18.280 SLF IKARUS 12m. 42 seats £29,950

1999 DART SLF PLAXTON 31 seats. £7,500

1996 SCANIA SLF WRIGHTS 42 seats. £8,950

1996 VOLVO OLY ALEXANDER 78 seats. £15,500

2000 VOLVO B7 SLF ALEXANDER & PLAXTON 72/74 seats/belts. £POA

1999 DAF DB250 NCME EXHIBITION/HOSPITALITY. £32,500

Prices plus VAT @ 20%

Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN

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October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 59

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES BUILDINGS

CHECKPOINTS

CRAIG TILSLEY

ENGINES

Suppliers of Reconditioned

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

TO PURCHASE CHECKPOINT/DUSTITE loose wheelnut indicators or to locate your nearest stockist:

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime

www.checkpoint-safety.com

Tel: 01524 271200

ELECTRONICS

DAF MAN MERC, VOLVO SCANIA, GARDNER LEYLAND, CUMMINS ENGINES CYLINDER HEADS CRANKSHAFTS CRANKCASES CAMSHAFTS Tel: PUMPS Works: 01782 791524 Moorfields Ind. ETC 01782 791527 Est. Cotes Heath, Fax: 01782 791316

Stoke-on-Trent ST21 6QY

HEATING

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

Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920 Email: sales@thhs.co.uk

www.thhs.co.uk

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

INSURANCE

ENGINES

Crewe Engines Ltd MERCEDES ENGINE SPECIALISTS

REGISTRATIONS G

WE ALSO RECONDITION ALL MAKES OF BUS & COACH ENGINES Direct from the UK’s No.1 for 30 years

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

£750 20 PXV 60 NJX 70 NNX 70 PXA 90 PXL PJZ 88 RJZ 66 RJZ 77 SJZ 22

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

£350 £99 £99 £50 ACZ 686 HIG 7331 MJZ 6748 AXZ 5617 AJZ 484 HIG 7332 MJZ 6749 AXZ 5618 CJZ 323 JHZ 6118 MNZ 1195 BXZ 8368 JBZ 383 JNZ 5986 ONZ 1115 CRZ 4816 JJZ 808 JNZ 5987 PEZ 9824 CRZ 4817 KBZ 737 KIG 1221 REZ 3378 DRZ 1338 KCZ 505 KIG 1330 REZ 3379 DRZ 1339 KDZ 929 KIG 1331 RUI 2117 IIG 8763 NUI 636 MHZ 5352 SEZ 8950 IIG 8764 We Buy for Cash, also Part Exchange

£50 JIG 9790 JIG 9791 JIG 9792 KIG 1261 KIG 1262 KIG 1263 SUI 9676 TUI 1522 TUI 1523

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

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

Getyourbusiness noticed!

AdvertiseyourProducts &Serviceshere foraslittleas£30.00 aweek!

Call 01733 293484 NOW!

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60 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS &SERVICES SEATING

TRAINING

Don’t forget to mention that you saw it advertised in

TRIM

COACH TRIMMERS LTD

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

Full floors re-laid and centre gangways.

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

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

Tel/Fax: 01751 472229 VEHICLE SPARES

Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Recovery Dismantlers Parts Sales

G G G G G

Hand Rail Padding Next Day Delivery Seat Belt Installations Double Deckers Seat Belted Seat Belt Supplies Securon Amsafe/Safetex Fasching ISRI Reflex Schneeweis Orion

MCF Fainsa Vogle Keil Politecnica Esteban + many more

The UK’s No1 Seatbelt Installers Call the Experts: 01522 689911 Email: info@bhiuk.com www.bhiuk.com

OUR SERVICES: •

Recovery

•

Testing

• • • • • • • •

Refurbishment Repairs

Engine/gearbox rebuilds Fault finding

Buying & selling vehicles

DISMANTLING/SPARES: • • • • • •

Reconditioned engines Reconditioned gearboxes Engine spares Windows

Windscreens Seats

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

October 19, 2011 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61

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

Monday: Press day. The usual madness but one which is as ever, made easier by the friendly office banter.

Tuesday: Start in the office at lunchtime.

For once I’m the first editorial staffer in on a Tuesday. Hold a team meeting, which lasts more than three hours. Rest assured however, it’s constructive – I’ve not got time to have meetings for meetings’ sake.

With all the hype surrounding the success (or perhaps otherwise thanks to a controversial referee) of the Welsh rugby team over the weekend, we felt it only too appropriate to include a photo of a coach whose operator appears to be rightly proud of its home nation in this week’s issue.

This Mercedes-Benz Tourino was caught on camera by our Gareth on Saturday, October 1 at the useful coach interchange point of Pont Croesor station on the Welsh Highland Railway. Operated by Anglesey

Hair-brained stunt?

Harnessing the power of her hair, a Circus of Horrors acrobat has dragged a 3.5 tonne LDV minibus 25 metres - more than the length of a tennis court.

Anastasia IV is hoping the outrageous stunt, performed outside Fairfield Halls on Monday October 17, will land herself a place in the Guinness book of records.

“I have a Guinness world record

Dilbert

(or should that be Ynys Môn?) based Eifions of Gwalchmai, according to the friendly driver, the coach was picking up a party of overseas visitors from an enjoyable trip on the railway, which runs through the heart of Snowdonia, and was about to take them to the famous Italianate village of Portmeirion.

For further details about the railway, visit www. festrail.co.uk. Visit Eifion’s Coaches website at www.eifionscoaches.co.uk .

for lifting the heaviest weight with my hair, 54 kilograms, but I haven’t had this one confirmed yet,” she told The Croydon Guardian. “It hurts, of course, but I can block it out. Having done the act for three years I am quite used to it.

If I slammed my finger in a door I’d scream like a baby because I wouldn’t expect it.”

The Polish national, who lives in North London, will be joined by her Circus colleagues on November 1 at the Fairfield Halls where she will swing from the rafters supporting a fellow acrobat by her hair.

And �inally...

Police are often seen tearing along as they pursue some miscreant, but this story from The Telegraph proves it isn’t all about speed.

Caroline Turner, 76, sparked a police ‘chase’ after she drove the wrong way round a roundabout in Essex. She was followed by an unmarked police car. Her speed varied from 10 to 20mph on the 27mile ‘chase’. She eventually stopped only when an officer ran alongside her and tapped her car window...

Wednesday: A hectic day in the office working on both the next and forthcoming issue of CBW. Catch up with a friendly engineering director at a large coach operator. Try to speak to a friendly bus and coach operator but fail to get past the gate keeper, so email the MD direct instead.

Thursday: Wake up at 0500hrs. Make my first proper visit to Wigan, which makes me chuckle in a funny sort of way as my late auntie Elsie always used to talk about ‘Our Beth from Wigan’ – yet we never knew who she was. Alas, spend an interesting morning with Shearings – watch this space.

Arrive at my next appointment by midday. However, spend the next 45 minutes on my work mobile, catching up with designer Keith and Callum and James in the office. Don’t leave Eavesway until 1740hrs. A plus is that I miss the evening peak traffic on the M6 southbound, so benefit from a clear run. After a brief stop at Stafford services, arrive back in Peterborough by 2100hrs. I’m tired but happy.

Friday: Take two work phone calls on my mobile before I leave home.

A hectic day in the office follows.

Callum is unfortunately in the sick bay – but as I point out to him, at least he has the guts to call rather than merely text me. James Day is on rest day, so I’m two crew members down. My priority is the production of CBW1008, so a couple of matters have to wait. www.coachandbusweek.com

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62 | COACH & BUS WEEK | October 19, 2011

RECRUITMENT

Roy Spink returns to Optare Optare has appointed Roy Spink as quality and continuous improvement director.

Roy, who will report to chief operating officer, Glenn Saint, brings over 40 years experience to the post, based at Optare’s new bus assembly plant at Sherburnin-Elmet. His role is to manage “effective quality and continuous improvement systems in line with the firm’s strategic goals,” which include achieving ‘zero waste to landfill’ for the new plant.

Roy, 58, began his career in engineering as an apprentice and worked for a number of small engineering firms before becoming a quality technician. His career includes nine years as quality manager at Optare, until he left the company in 2008.

GreenRoad expands its management team

Roy Spink spent nine years previously as Optare’s quality manager until 2008 Commenting on Roy’s appointment, Glenn Saint said: “Roy’s considerable experience of quality management in some very demanding sectors of the engineering industry backed by his extensive hands-on experience will raise the bar in terms of the quality.

“This is a going to be a critical role improving build quality as we continue to ramp-up our production volumes.”

GreenRoad has announced the addition of four new executives to its management team. Karen White joins as vice president of product marketing, Amir Oz joins as vice president of systems engineering and operations, Bill Wathen joins as chief financial officer (CFO) and Dixie Baker joins as senior vice president of North American sales.

Karen White will manage global product strategy, planning and marketing. She brings experience building and delivering awardwinning software, with a specialty in customer-driven innovation.

Amir Oz joins GreenRoad in its Tel Aviv, Israel office. In his new role, he will have end-to-end responsibility for GreenRoad in-vehicle product research and development and operations including algorithms, software and hardware development,

engineering, production and supply chain management.

Bill Wathen, assuming responsibility for the financial management of the company as CFO, has 25 years of finance experience with fast-growing technology companies.

Dixie Baker brings 20 years experience in managing technology sales activities and organisations to GreenRoad. In her new role, Baker will build and manage the GreenRoad North American sales operation, scaling outreach to new and existing prospects and customers.

CEO Jim Heeger said: “These additions add a new level of depth and experience to our management team. Each of these professionals brings proven expertise which will help us grow our market position in fleet driving performance.”

Your First Choice for Recruitment

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

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

Coach and Bus Week and www.coachandbusweek.com combine to create the ultimate recruitment solution, guaranteeing your vacancy is seen by every job seeker that matters from sales agents to board level. To get your vacancy seen by quality candidates, call Harley on 01733 293249 (email harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk) or Ian on 01733 293254 (email ian.gillis@rouncymedia.co.uk) www.coachandbusweek.com

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DeaDlines Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.30pm

ContaCt Harley Denham 01733 293249

harley.denham@rouncymedia.co.uk

Robertson wins outstanding achievement award Colin Robertson of Alexander Dennis Limited has won an outstanding achievement award at the Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year awards on October 4.

Colin received the award after doubling the firm’s turnover to almost £300m per annum in the four years since taking the reins. It

ADL chief executive, Colin Robertson was praised for his clear strategy and adaptability

is now the fastest growing bus and coach manufacturer in Western Europe. Robertson expects for the company to be debt free in the next 12 months with a record order book.

Judges at the event praised the entrepreneur for the way the company has differentiated its product under his leadership and his “clear strategy and adaptability.”

Richard Harpin, Chairman of the Judges called it an “exceptional award for an exceptional talent.”

The judging is based on the criteria of entrepreneurial spirit, global impact, strategic direction, personal integrity and influence, innovation, financial performance and individual and corporate social responsibility.

Sponsored by Credit Suisse, the awards were held at The Park Lane Hilton Hotel, hosted by the BBC’s Fiona Bruce.

SUBCONTRACTING The Star Bus Company is looking to work in Partnership with fellow quality contractors in the Hertfordshire and North London areas to service one or more of our contracts.

The value of the work could be substantial and would be for a fixed period.

If you wish to register your interest then please email info@starbus.co.uk with the subject heading SUBCONTRACTING. Please include in your email the name of your company, name and contact number of the prime contact for us, type of vehicles you could supply, number of vehicles in your fleet and any other information you wish to include.

We will request additional information before awarding any work.

We require service providers of passenger assistants, PCO drivers and PCV drivers.

Vehicle requirements would be for saloon cars, MPV’s, accessible cars, mini-buses up to 8 seats, mini-buses 9-16 passenger seats, tail-lift mini-buses, accessible welfare buses, service buses/coaches.

Executive contractors also sought. www.coachandbusweek.com

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