Coach&BusWeek - Issue: 1123

Woods Coaches of Leicester We review more buys another Irizar i6 p9 interesting books p34

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DRIoVng Yut TC12

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Chinese Challenge Claire Haigh of Greener Journeys talks to CBW

Arriva wins Luton Airport case

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Buses at Coach Services

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www.coachandbusweek.com ISSN: 1351-3877 © 2014 Coach and Bus Week Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or system or in any means without the written permission of the directors. This is considered a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs. This magazine must not be lent, sold, hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any authorised cover by way, or by trade, or annexed to any publication or advertising matter without first obtaining written permission from the directors.

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

Dublin seeking BRT – a bold step forward

P

roposals to establish three BRT routes in Dublin represent a brave move – it might sound simple but it will not be achieved without meeting significant pitfalls and challenges from all quarters. People asking ‘how do I get to A N Other?’ destination, are often told, ‘well, I wouldn’t want to start from here.’

It is just like the problem facing all dense urban areas – and especially those already long established settlements with a history dating back centuries. History happens the wrong way round sometimes – it would be easier if the transport systems could be designed and built first - and cities then developed around them.

Any form of upheaval is going upset somebody – householders, businesses, historians, preservationists – just about anyone with roots or an association allied to wherever the route is to be directed.

Yet, BRT will bring great

CONTENTS

benefits. Anyone can see the huge potential – but not everyone wants to be moved out because of it. Older cities fearful of grasping the mettle and getting on with what needs doing, merely introduce bus lanes as a weak alternative. Effectively it just steals road space away from road users – who more than pay for the roads in the first place – and creates logistical nightmares for haulage operators with goods to collect or deliver. However – for moving people quickly and effectively there is no substitute more cost effective than BRT. Case studies on BRT schemes from all around the world are largely very positive and they are becoming increasingly frequent as more people realise good, popular BRT systems generate inward investment in the areas they serve – for a mere fraction of the cost of light rail or tram options. Credit is due to those involved for seizing the opportunity.

Martin Cole Minibus & Technical Editor

4

20

38

The latest from across the coach and bus industry at home & abroad

10

Test drive of a Yutong TC12, the latest coach for the UK market

28

Cramond Coaches’ O-licence halved temporarily

Second CNG bus fleet for British Columbia; LNG bus sales targeted

12

How family-run Coach Services has successfully expanded in bus work

34

How Quartix can help operators large and not so large keep track

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

14

Titles on Berresfords Motors and Badgerline

36

A lighthearted look at the industry, plus Office Diary column

Still no access for Arriva after Luton Airport court judgement

A ‘Witch Way’ Wrightbus Volvo in Rossendale

All the latest people moves from across the industry

News

International News Regional News News Focus

Vehicle Launch

Legal News

42

Operator Profile Book Reviews Big Picture

Industry Guide

67

Last Stop

69

People

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February 4, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 3 03/02/2014 17:18

NEWS

Mayor of London launches ‘Year of the Bus’

B R I E F LY l FIRST’S BUSES in Taunton and Bridgwater are being rebranded The Buses of Somerset with a new two-tone green livery as a start is made on a gradual makeover of its operation in the area. Fares and tickets will be simplified. Other changes will include a fully illustrated, easy to read timetable booklet which will include fares and places of interest along the routes. A makeover for Taunton Bus Station will include a refurbishment of its travel shop and waiting room. That will be followed by an upgrade of Bridgewater Bus Station. l FIRST HAMPSHIRE has reduced its weekly fare on the Eclipse BRT system E1/E2 linking Fareham and Gosport.

The ticket now costs £18 – a pound cheaper. This brings the service in line with the weekly Portsmouth fare. Eclipse was launched in April 2012 and has already carried nearly two million passengers. First claims 64% more passengers now use the Eclipse service than the services it replaced and 14% have moved from car to bus.

NATIONAL EXPRESS Dundee’s nine Alexander Dennis Enviro400Hs have qualified the company for membership of ECO Stars. The ECO Stars scheme encourages fleet operations to improve air quality by improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Dundee City Council has received funding from the Scottish Government to set up the free initiative as part of its Air Quality Action Plan.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has launched a year of events and activities to mark the vital contribution London’s bus network continues to make to the life and economy of the city and the UK as a whole.

Boris Johnson has unveiled LT150, a specially painted silver New Routemaster as the New Bus for London is now called, which is to go into service on route 9 for around two months.

It’s then expected to transfer to route 10 when it converts to New Routemaster operation in the spring. May be another 10 silver ‘LTs’ will follow.

The mayor also launched a ‘Year of the Bus’ roundel and a limited edition Oyster card which is due to go on sale shortly.

“London buses are the pulsing red arteries of the capital, 24-hours a day, 364 days of the year and they play an undeniably important role in the city’s economy,” said Boris.

This year sees a number of important anniversaries, including 60 years since the creation of the original Routemaster, 75 years since the launch of its predecessor the RT-type bus, and 100 years since hundreds of London buses were sent to the Western Front to play a crucial role during the First World War. Throughout 2014, Transport for London (TfL) - working in partnership with London Transport Museum - will host a number of events, exhibitions, recreations and other activities that will reconnect Londoners with their bus network and remind the world of the role that London buses, the bus drivers and the staff who support them, play in keeping

The 150th New Routemaster has been finished in a special livery and will initially operate on route 9 followed by service 10 the city moving 24 hours a day throughout the year.

They include: l An exhibition at London Transport Museum entitled ‘Goodbye Piccadilly - from the home front to the Western Front’ - which opens on May 16, 2014 to commemorate and explore the contribution of buses and bus drivers to the First World War and life on the home front in wartime London. l The restoration of a B-Type bus, the world’s first mass produced motor bus. B-types were commandeered in large numbers during the war and converted into ‘Battle Buses’ which carried soldiers to the frontline and were used as ambulances and even mobile pigeon lofts. The Battle Bus will be fully restored in its original livery in the summer, will be painted khaki, be converted to a ‘Battle Bus’ later in the year and will travel back to France. The bus

will then return to London to take part in events to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the war. l In the summer there will be a bus cavalcade event that will see historic vehicles from the last century back on the capital’s roads.

A ‘Year of the Bus’ webpage on the TfL website will feature a number of short films celebrating the role of the bus network and also link to special events at London Transport Museum, including BBC London Radio presenter Robert Elms ‘in conversation’ with Leon Daniels, Managing Director for TfL Surface Transport, about the capital’s iconic red bus.

The webpage will also host films celebrating the unsung heroes of the bus network, who help to keep London’s buses moving behind the scenes and ensure passengers can get from A to B as smoothly as possible.

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BRT system proposal for Dublin

Ireland’s National Transport Authority (NTA) has issued proposals for three Bus Rapid Transit routes to serve Dublin.

According to the NTA, the scheme’s expected high price tag of up to €650m would be one third of the cost of installing additional Luas (light rail) lines and one tenth of the cost of the Metro North.

The system, called Swiftway, would operate in a similar way to the Luas, cutting bus journey times from outlying suburbs to

the city by almost 40%. Services would run from Swords and Dublin Airport into the city centre, from Blanchardstown to UCD and from Clongriffin to Tallaght.

Initial proposals indicate the use of 18m articulated BRT buses with multiple doors to facilitate passenger flow and off-bus ticketing only. This would include Leap Card users.

NTA anticipates the airport link line, which takes much the same route as Metro North, would see the highest demand and therefore was likely to be built first. It will submit an application to the planning authority, An Bord Pleanála, shortly. It hopes to have gained approval to begin construction

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Driver walk round check card

in the first half of 2015.

Early estimates indicate this line could be developed for around €150m to €200m – which compares favourably to the €3bn-plus price tag attached to the shelved metro project.

Similar cost is estimated for the Blanchardstown to UCD route, while the Clongriffin to Tallaght line would cost €200m to €250m.

As with the Luas, passengers would not engage with the driver but would buy tickets from vending machines at stops, or use the Leap card. Vehicles would have multiple doors at platform level to increase boarding speed, and the stops would be similar in frequency to a Luas service.

With the co-operation of VOSA, The Association of Trainers has produced, in conjunction with People 1st and Confederation of Passenger Transport, a new free information card for drivers to assist them carrying out a thorough and diligent walk round check before a coach is taken out onto the road every day.

These guides are invaluable aids to drivers, supervisors and managers alike, whilst trainers should be considering issuing them as part of their Driver CPC courses.

These are available completely free of charge as a PDF download from the Association’s website at www.asot.org.uk/index.php/ resources/training-aids

It’s a Wizz at National Express links up with Hungarian ariline National Express has strengthened its position in the airport services market following a new tie-up with budget airline Wizz Air through its airport transfer provider, P-Airbus. It follows its exclusive seven-year agreement with London Luton Airport to provide services to London (See News Focus p14) and a partnership with Ryanair to sell tickets online and in-flight.

The latest deal sees National Express’ A1 service from Luton Airport to London’s Victoria Coach Station exclusively offered on WizzAir.com when people book their flight.

Wizz Air, which is the second largest carrier at the airport, has connections to over 25 destinations. National Express coaches operate over 70 times a day between the airport and

The face of Wizz Air: Adrienn Sziraki and Bernadette Torok London calling at Finchley Road, St John’s Wood, Baker Street, Portman Square, Golders Green and Victoria railway station along the way.

“We believe our unbeatably convenient coach services are the best way to travel to the airport and our major new deal with Wizz Air indicates that the millions of

customers who use the airline feel the same,” said National Express UK Coach Manager Director, Tom Stables.

“We very much look forward to helping even more holidaymakers and business travellers get their trip off to a flying start with our affordable, round-the-clock services.”

P-Airbus, the exclusive airport transfer service provider for Wizz Air, is present at over 30 airports and operates more than 100 transfer routes. Zsolt Kutasi, CEO of P-Airbus, added: “My company’s most important aim is to provide the best possible services for Wizz Air passengers at every airport. I consider that with National Express, this is granted for each Wizz Air passenger travelling to or from Luton Airport.”

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February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 5 03/02/2014 19:17

NEWS › BUSES SHARE WATCH Industry share prices at the close of the Stock Exchange on Monday, February 3. National Express saw the greatest proportional rise, while Optare saw the greatest proportional drop.

Most figures obtained from www.iii.co.uk

433.90p

Price: Year High: 471.00p Year Low: 324.70p

+0.40 on last week

133.77p

Price: Year High: 183.03p Year Low: 90.30p

+2.57 on last week

1989.00p

Price: Year High: 1023.00p Year Low: 1258.00p

+54.50

290.55p

Price: Year High: 307.96p Year Low: 189.20p

364.80p

Price: Year High: 382.01p Year Low: 284.70p

0.23p

Price: Year High: 0.52p Year Low: 0.20p

54.00p

Price: Year High: 60.00p Year Low: 42.00p

574.00p

Price: Year High: 625.00p Year Low: 331.70p

6.35p

Price: Year High: 15.57p Year Low: 4.65p

on last week

+14.20 on last week

+4.55 on last week

-0.01 on last week

-0.50 on last week

-7.00 on last week

+0.23 on last week

FTSE 100

6,515

Index: Year High: 6,840 Year Low: 6029

-68

on last week

Go North East opens new ‘super depot’ £8.5m investment in 160-vehicle garage replaces two older depots Go North East (GNE) has of�icially opened its brand new £8.5m ‘super depot’ Gateshead Riverside depot.

The Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Jack Graham MBE, performed the honours last Tuesday (January 28).

The 3,500 sq m depot, which became operational on the night of February 1, can accommodate 160 buses and is now home to more than 500 drivers and engineering staff.

The new, high-tech facility replaces garages at Sunderland Road in Gateshead and Winlaton which date back to the days of the tramways. All employees are transferring to the new building, which includes a brand new driver training school and the company’s occupational health department.

Kevin Carr, GNE MD, said: “This depot is the culmination of a signi�icant £30m investment programme for our business in the region. We’ve bought more than

100 new buses for our services in Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, and Consett and invested £8.5m in this new facility in Gateshead.

“We are incredibly proud to have celebrated our 100th year in 2013 and this investment marks our dedication to serving the people of the north east with modern, ef�icient vehicles.”

David Brown, Group Chief Executive at Go-Ahead, said: “It is only by running a successful, pro�itable bus company that investment can be made. This brand new depot is solid proof of our longterm commitment to running buses in the North East. This investment goes alongside the £22m spent on new buses over the last two years; every penny made in the north east has been re-invested in the North East.”

The depot, developed by UKLEP and built by Surgo, covers 5.75 acres of brown�ield land on Handy Drive, which was formerly the site of Dunston Power Station. The depot’s buses will operate on 120

services and drive 163,000 miles a week, with all vehicles returning to the depot each evening to be refuelled and washed over night.

The garage has storage for 140,000 litres of diesel fuel and four spill-free, high tech high speed fuel pumps capable of delivering 90 litres per minute.

The workshop has 15 bus ‘work stations’ accessed by 21 fully insulated fast action roller shutter doors. Manual handling is virtually eliminated thanks to service poles which have inbuilt electrical distribution, oil, anti-freeze, screen wash, water and air supplies.

The depot has a VOSA approved MOT testing centre that carries out �ive bus MOTs each week.

Its VLT test equipment includes brake roller, shaker plates and a luminscope headlight tester.

The depot took 50 weeks to construct, including 20 weeks for civil engineering work, which included extensive underground work to make safe several large, deep coal dumps.

Spanish builder Irizar goes electric with new bus Irizar is taking part in the ZeEUS project with a newly developed electric bus which it plans to bring to market in due course.

The project which stands for ‘Zero Emission vehicles in Urban Society’ was launched in Brussels on January 23.

The project, which will last for 42 months, will focus on showing the economic, operational, environmental and social viability of electric buses as a real alternative for mobility in urban environments based on various innovative technological solutions in eight European cities – Barcelona, London, Glasgow, Stockholm, Münster, Rome, Pilsen and Bonn, with different weather and orographic environments.

Manufacturers also participating alongside Irizar are Alexander Dennis, Skoda, Solaris, VDL and Volvo.

Its objective is to develop high-capacity electric vehicles and to create the corresponding infrastructures for recharging so as to implement a fully electric buses in most European city networks.

The project is led by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), which coordinates 40 members (including

6 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 006_007_CBW1123_Bus News.indd 6

46%

The profit margin formerly earned by Arriva on its 757 Green Line coach service

Irizar’s electric buses are to debut with TMB in Barcelona Irizar) representing all the categories of the parts involved in mobility within an innovative project for expansion.

The initiative is co-funded by the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission with a budget of €22.5m (€13.5m from the EU).

Irizar will participate in the project by delivering two electric urban buses to TMB in Barcelona.

The main features and technology include: ● Nominal power of 180 kW,

with maximum peaks that can reach up to 230 kW, and a nominal par of 1500 Nm with a 3100 Nm peak; ● The on-board vehicle energy is 376 kWh, for an estimated range of 200-250 km – depending on the driving cycle and the weather conditions; and ● The pre-acclimatising system allows the vehicle to depart from the bus depot at an optimal temperature by making the most of the energy from the power grid and reducing consumption. www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 19:13

10

The number of coaches operated

by Irving of Dalston

£830

The sum raised by Owen’s of Oswestry customers in aid of Hope House Hospice

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B R I E F LY l ROMFORD, Essex-based Travel with Hunny (TWH) has closed “for the final time.” The firm says on its website that all its local bus services, routes 333, 444, 555, 848 and 849 have been cancelled with the local authority. Christopher Stephen Hunn trading as TWH Buses and Claires Coaches has an O-licence for six vehicles at each of his Loughton and Harlow operating centres. Students travelling to Campion and Debden Park School are advised to contact Essex County Council directly.

TWH says that telephone contact with it is no longer possible.

GNE MD Kevin Carr, Cllr Jack Graham MBE, Mayor of Gateshead, and Go-Ahead Group Chief Executive David Brown

l SYPTE plans to withdraw the FreeBee bus services in Sheffield and Rotherham centres, and scale back concessionary travel from the end of April. Grants for community transport services would also be cut – spelling a fare rise of 50p for passengers – in the bid to claw back £8.3m from its annual budget.

Oakwood Travel takes over CBNW Blackpool based Oakwood Travel Services has purchased the assets and goodwill of Classic Bus North West (CBNW). There will be no immediate change to route 22, which already operates on the Oakwood Travel licence says CBNW on its blog, but there will be changes over the coming months to give it a new identity.

“Behind the scenes, the dayto-day management has been strengthened by the appointment

of David Hughes as Transport Manager,” says CBNW. “David has a long career in transport, starting at Blackpool Transport but with experience at Transport for London before becoming a VOSA Compliance Officer back in the North West region. After a few years working in Spain, David has returned to Blackpool and will be taking over the day-to-day operations of Oakwood Travel.”

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it’s to stop accepting cash fares on its buses from summer this year.

Cash fares now account for only 1% of bus journeys – down from around 25% a decade ago. Since the facility was launched in December 2012, over eight million journeys have been made using a contactless payment card. With that facility to be extended to the Underground and London’s rail network from later this year, the use of cash is expected to continue to fall.

A consultation conducted between August 19 and October 11, 2013 to withdraw cash fare payments attracted over 37,000

responses. Around a third agreed with the proposal. Around three quarters indicated that they do not themselves pay cash fares on the bus.

To ensure a smooth transition, TfL is introducing a new ‘one more journey’ on Oyster that will allow passengers with less than the single bus fare (Currently £1.45) but who have a positive balance on their card to make one more journey before they have to add credit to their card.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of TfL Surface Transport explained: “It costs £24m a year to accept cash on London’s buses and by removing this option we will generate significant savings.”

London buses to go cashless

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February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 7 03/02/2014 19:13

NEWS › COACHES RO A D WATC H ■ A SERIES OF OVERNIGHT CLOSURES is to take place on the M6 north of Birmingham in the next five weeks.

Resurfacing and road marking improvements will be carried out between J10 (Walsall) and 10a (M54). The majority of the work will be carried out under full overnight closures of either the north or southbound carriageway. Northbound will be closed from February 10 to 26 , from midnight to 0700hrs, while southbound will be closed from February 27 to March 12, from 2300 to 0700.

The Highways Agency said that if it is possible to avoid full carriageway blockades at any time, the work will instead be carried out under lane closures from 2030 to 0630 on the northbound carriageway and from 2100 to 0500 on the southbound.

■ A NEW PHASE of overnight work to strengthen the M4 elevated section in Brentford, west of London is due to start this week (February 6). The task will involve lane closures on the A4, which runs under the M4, between Boston Manor Road and Clayponds Road. The A4 will remain open throughout the strengthening work. This phase is part of the major project which started in July 2013 to maintain and strengthen the important elevated section of the M4 between junction 1 and Boston Manor Road. This stage is scheduled for completion on July 30, 2014.

■ OVERNIGHT CARRIAGEWAY closures are currently in place between the slip roads on the A2 at Darenth in Kent. This will allow bridge joints to be replaced. The London bound carriageway will be closed between 2100 and 0500 until the end of the month. A signed diversion will be in place via the A282 Junction 1.

READ

Irving’s stays loyal to the Plaxton Volvo combo with latest addition

The new coach certainly looks the part, particularly when set against a striking background

Irving of Dalston near Carlisle in Cumbria has chosen the Volvo B9R with Plaxton Panther coachwork as its latest addition to the �leet, which has been supplied by Anston-based Plaxton Coach Sales.

In a �leet which features predominantly Plaxton products, proprietor George Irving decided on the 12.8m Panther following positive experience with earlier Plaxton Volvo vehicles.

He said: “The new Plaxton Panther represents good value.

The design is appealing to us and our customers and there is the bene�it of good back-up service if we need it.

“Operating a Plaxton Paragon for six years has been a good experience, bringing plenty of positive feedback from our customers. Although it has only double 2013 and Optare due p4 The BIG Question: to 2014 p26 decker looking forward

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ElecAnglia Going ahead in East trifying Milton week...

MINIBUS INSIDE thisEVM goes The essential read

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January 2013

for Minibus Operators

Euro 6 – the dominated by is pretty much which sees his month’s issue of emissions legislation latest implementation of particulates from the exhaust.

6 to market the virtual elimination has brought Euro Mercedes-Benz the Currently only will follow over does not and the other manufacturers new technology price 12 months. The course of the next cost and there are some signi�icantnot are added as a result. They come without to new vehicles has been increases attached 6 modi�ications, the range safety Euro new or revised just attached to restyling and some updated with some been upgraded, engine stop/start has and there is systems. The ESP with automatic transmission a blind-spot developed to work option along with compensation now a side wind via generally arrive assist. from manufacturershowever, trawling Press releases as they are released, a e-mail as soon last week I discovered the web for stories

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Martin Cole MINIBUS

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January 22, 2014

| COACH & BUS

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media site I had on the Daimler with September 2013) the period of co-operation press release (dated ending of cease by 2016.

It referred to the arrangement would leave Volkswagen not been sent. said the current of the Crafter and plan to extend Volkswagen and cut production also refers to a This will effectively doubt, replacement. It model. This, no to develop its own with a larger capacity no-one at Mercedesthe Sprinter range for Vario which as it It is welcome news will be the replacement anything about. for operators seeking Benz has yet said necessary capacity more expensive will provide the and the need to purchase 27-33-seats without – all of which have to be coachbuilt for suitable Atego-based products just making the chassis involve many man-hours coach applications.

Malta opp

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Enviro 6

Graham Smith connects low emissions

A new era for

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One man and his rare buses

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Ensignbus stretches the point

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Taking flight – Nottingham - Derby

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– subtle blue and red waves on a white base with the Irving of Dalston script branding in matching colours. The coach is further embellished with Alcoa Dura-Brite alloy wheels and coloured striping on the mirrors matching the bodyside graphics.

George Irving founded Irving of Dalston in the early 1970s and remains at the helm of the two generation family business. The company operates 10 coaches from the village of Dalston, covering schools, contracts, private hire and a free bus service from local villages to the Carlisle Tesco store.

Plaxton coachwork has been chosen regularly and is currently carried by most of the �leet. The new Panther replaces an earlier model of the Plaxton-Volvo combination and will be used on the company’s full variety of work throughout Great Britain and into Europe.

CONTACT OUR DEDICATED SUBSCRIPTIONS TEAM Tel: 01733 293240 or email samantha.noble@coachandbusweek.com

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been on the road for a short time, the feedback on the new Panther has already been equally positive.”

Irving’s new Panther is a 12.8m model and features 53 Gala reclining seats incorporating all age three-point seat belts and trimmed in red patterned moquette with matching red leather headrest inserts and piping. The red theme is continued through the interior trim contrasting with gold curtains.

Passenger comfort is assured with full climate control, a centre mounted washroom, fridge and hot drinks facility alongside the centre offside exit. Entertainment is provided by a Bosch CD/Radio/ PA system.

Underneath the Plaxton Panther body is the rear-engined Volvo B9R chassis with Volvo’s nine-litre D9B 380hp Euro5 engine coupled to the Volvo I-shift gearbox.

Externally, the Panther carries Irving’s current colour scheme

Positive experience with earlier models, back up and appealing design lead to repeat order

www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 14:45

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Aircoach invests in new Panthers Aircoach has taken delivery of 10 new Plaxton Panthers on Volvo B11R chassis for its daily shuttle services linking Cork with Dublin City and Dublin Airport. Owned

by FirstGroup, the Aircoach operation runs 36 departures every day – seven days a week and can complete the city centre to city centre trip in three hours.

The operator said reduced journey times have seen impressive passenger growth of around 50% over the last 12 months.

Representing an investment of €3m, the new fleet is based on Euro 5 Volvo B11R chassis with Plaxton Panther 3 bodies.

The specification of the vehicles includes wheelchair access, leather seating, on-board toilet facilities, CCTV, full air-conditioning and climate control. There are also plug and USB charging points at every seat and Aircoach offers free WiFi on all its coaches.

Aircoach said the new coaches were further good news for customers and underlined the company’s commitment and confidence in being able to attract more passengers to public transport by investing in its vehicles and providing innovative,

Woods trades in i6 for superior model

Woods Coaches of Leicester was so impressed with the Irizar i6 it bought in 2012, it has traded the coach in for a higher-spec version.

Its new i6 is another 12.9-metre integral but this time with 53 PB reclining seats to match the expectations of its corporate clients.

“The i6 turned out to be ideal within our fleet but for 2014, we wanted to improve the quality of the top end of our fleet,” said Ian Trigg, Woods’ Director.

Woods has opted for a new deep blue livery, with the company logo picked out in pale grey.

The new coach has ZF’s ASTronic autochange gearbox and the usual i6 integral refinements.

www.coachandbusweek.com

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fleet of new coaches. It shows our continued investment in Ireland and reflects our commitment to continue delivering high quality services aimed at attracting more customers to public transport.

These fuel efficient, low emission state of the art vehicles will provide our customers with a first class comfortable service. ” For more information about Aircoach, visit www. aircoach.ie

BASE’s 100th Beulas Lancashire-based coach dealer BASE is celebrating the delivery of it’s 100th Beulas for the UK market. The milestone vehicle has been supplied to the fleet of sister company Holmeswood Coaches.

Measuring 14.6 metres-long, the Glory model coach body has been built on an MAN RR4 480bhp chassis. It is the fifth vehicle of it’s type to be brought into UK and benefits from having 76 seats and one wheelchair space, plus 17 cubic metres of luggage space.

Nick Dodgson, General Manager of BASE said: “We have been importing Beulas vehicles since 2006 and we are proud to have achieved this milestone.”

Francis Aspinall, Managing Director of Holmeswood Coaches,

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Owen’s reunion event raises £830 for hospice

The smart new coaches are all Euro 5 models high quality services.

Alan Kelly, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport attended the launch on Thursday (January 30). “Aircoach has been running in Ireland for over 14 years.

This significant investment of €3m underlines the company’s commitment to delivering high standards in public transport today,” he said.

Allen Parker, Aircoach MD, said: “We are delighted to launch this

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The milestone vehicle is set to enter the Holmeswood Coaches fleet said: “I fell out with my father in law when we bought our first 12m coach – he said we would never fill it.

What he would think of our modern vehicles I really shudder to think. We love the style and flexibility of the Glory, despite it’s overall length you have got great manoeuvrability and it really is a stunning vehicle.”

Contact BASE Coach Sales on 01772 425355 Visit www.basecoachsales.co.uk

During its recent annual reunion weekend Owen’s of Oswestry raised £830 in aid of its local children’s hospice, Hope House. This year the Welsh border family-run operator took four coaches with almost 200 people for a weekend in and around Cambridge.

“We’ve been organising reunion events for about six years travelling to different parts of the UK. Because we have customers from across Shropshire, Mid Wales and into Cheshire as far as Chester, some of our passengers were making friends on a holiday and then not see fellow holidaymakers again,” said Mike Owen.

“This gives people the chance to meet up, enjoy a social weekend, and find out more about our holidays and tours for the coming year.”

He said the weekend always involves a charity raffle. “Our suppliers are very good and kindley donate prizes. This year I’m delighted to say we have raised more than ever before, bringing our total raised over the years to about £4,000. We support Hope House because it is a local charity.”

Hope House Fundraiser Lynsey Kilvert told The Shropshire Star: “This year the reunion trip raised the fantastic sum of £830 which will go towards helping provide vital services to children, young people and their families in our area.

“We cannot thank Owens Travelmaster and their customers enough for their continued support. Each year they have increased the amount they have raised and in the current economic climate this is a great achievement.”

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 9 03/02/2014 14:45

NEWS › INTERNATIONAL

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Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets

California drops charges against BYD State backs down over allegations BYD paid below minimum wage to workers in Lancaster production facility USA The California Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement has confirmed sub-minimum wage charges made against BYD in October have been withdrawn.

Investigators dropped the citation after BYD officials shared evidence showing the five workers who were allegedly paid less than minimum wage were employees of the parent company in China and were working with the California subsidiaries on temporary assignments.

“We welcome the Labor Commissioner’s office dropping the false charges that BYD paid below minimum wages under California state law,” said Lanny J. Davis, attorney for BYD. “We wish this had come sooner - and we ask all media who published this false and damaging charge against BYD to publish just as conspicuously that the Labor Commissioner’s office has withdrawn these false charges.”

BYD produced substantial documents to the Commissioner’s office proving it paid these professionals the equivalent of above the state minimum

Green transport consortium targets 1,000 LNG bus sales

CHINA Chinese bus manufacturer Foton AUV has signed a “strategic co-operation agreement” with Shenzhen Shengshi Company to create a green transport consortium to promote energy conservation through a “Green Bus Programme.” The consortium will focus primarily on bus markets in Shenzhen and several cities in Hunan Province, aiming to sell 1,000 liquefied natural gas powered buses in 2014.

The General Manager of the public transport company in one of Hunan’s larger cities (Yongzhou) is cited in the Foton press release as saying they will strive to take 400 LNG buses this year and step it up from there.

BYD - a global player now in London, not guilty in th USA wage of $8.00 hour. They show the employees were actually paid $12-$16/hour. Therefore, the Commissioner’s office has agreed to dismiss the minimum wage assessment based on the alleged under-minimum-wage payments.

All five of these professionals were no longer working for BYD in California by the end of 2013.

However, the Labor Commissioner’s position is that BYD should have paid these five employees in U.S. dollars, not in their home currency (RMBs).

While BYD disagrees with this position as a matter of law, in the spirit of resolving the matter, BYD

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First Transit agrees terms with Rochester drivers USA Over 12 months of negotiations and failed agreements between First Transit and Rochester bus drivers was brought to a close last week as employees voted to ratify a three-year labour contract.

The vote was the fourth during the negotiation period which saw 90% of First Transit’s 55 bus drivers and dispatchers who operate Rochester Public Transit’s system vote in favour of the contract. Starting from January 2013, the two-year contract is already halfway through and employees have continued working under an extension to their previous contract. No strikes were held although some picketing took place at bus stops and at council meetings.

Employees were unhappy with First Transit’s proposals in the new document which would have changed the pay scale for employees during their first two years of service.

Three attempts to amend the proposals had been rejected.

Under the ratified contract, existing employees will receive a 2% wage increase in each of the three years and get compensation with back pay from April 2013.

BC Transit introduces second CNG citybus fleet CANADA Kamloops, a city in south central British Columbia, is to host BC Transit’s second fleet of CNG buses - 25 New Flyer Xcelsiors.

These follow on from an order for 50 made last year which are to enter service in Nanaimo in spring this year. It is planned the newly ordered vehicles will be in service by the spring of 2015. Compared to diesel, the primary benefit of CNG buses is lower, more stable fuel prices. Additional benefits include significantly quieter engines and simplified emission systems.

“I commend Kamloops Mayor and council and BC Transit for demonstrating leadership and seizing the opportunity to adopt CNG as a fuel source,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Kamloops-

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has agreed to pay $1,900 for this alleged error.

BYD appreciates the co-operation and communication that led to this resolution.

However the hearing will continue regarding two other alleged technical violations that BYD denies -the alleged omission of two out of nine categories of information on cheque stubs of all employees; and the alleged denial of rest breaks for eight employees who were permitted to choose to take one 20-minute rest break, rather than requiring a split of this break into two 10-minute breaks against the employees’ preference.

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BC Transit is taking 25 more like this one sold to Culver

South Thompson MLA. “The decision to go CNG helps the sustainability of transit, which is an integral part of a successful community.”

To help offset the initial costs associated with the purchase of the new CNG buses, FortisBC will provide funding of up to $875,000.

“BC Transit continues to lead

the way in making natural gas a recognised transportation fuel source,” said John Walker, President and CEO of FortisBC. “Policy changes made by the provincial government helped make this possible and allow fleet operators like BC Transit to take advantage of cleaner burning, lower priced fuel which is abundant in B.C.” www.coachandbusweek.com

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NEWS › REGIONAL SCOTLAND FIRST GLASGOW has announced that it is extending the period job seekers can benefit from discounted fares until Sunday, April 6.

Job seekers in possession of a Job Centre Plus Travel Discount Card enjoy significant discounts on the cost of single fares on First Glasgow services. They can buy a city-wide single ticket for £1 (a saving of 90p) and a network-wide fare for £2 (a saving of £2.45).

More than 500 journeys have been made by jobseekers using their Job Centre Plus Travel Discount Card since the trial launched on October 28, 2013.

The Job Centre Plus Travel Discount Card is issued by Job Centre Plus to those eligible for discounted travel including claimants actively engaged with an adviser in returning to employment. The discount is not valid on special fare services including the Glasgow Shuttle 500, 747, night services and event shuttles.

NORTHERN IRELAND

AN ULSTERBUS SERVICE is to operate in Culmore for the first time, it has been confirmed.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan announced that his Department has approved the new bus route. Currently the area is served solely by Lough Swilly Railway Company.

“I welcome the news that my department has given approval for this new service which I have no doubt will be warmly received by the people of Culmore - who for years have campaigned for an enhanced bus service,” Mr Durkan said.

“It will bring a regular bus service to a wider area and provide for fuller coverage of the route throughout the day, improving the availability of public transport to the residents.”

Confirmation of the new service has been welcomed in the area.

Sinn Fein cllr Tony Hassan said people in the area are finally getting an “enhanced bus service.”

“The campaign for a bus service has been going on for as long as I have been in Derry City Council and I would like to take this opportunity to commend all those who lobbied and campaigned for this over many years,” he said.

SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins said the Lough Swilly licence had proved restrictive to any new

KEY

NORTH

service.

“This is an issue myself and Colum Eastwood has been perusing for a number of years now. However we found ourselves restricted by a license already held

by Lough Swilly.

“This license prohibited any other public transport provider servicing the Culmore area. As residents will know the existing timetable does not adequately facilitate the needs of the ever increasing Culmore population who have continuously expressed their frustration.”

She said the service will “help create more employment as the two companies will complement each other to encourage greater and greener use of public transport within our city.”

SOUTH WEST

FIRST has launched a consultation on bus fares and is asking people to complete a questionnaire, which will look at what type of tickets people buy, how often and what they think of the price. People who do not use public transport are also being invited to take part in the survey.

The six-week consultation, known as Fairer Fares for All, covers services in the wider West of England including Bath.

The fare review is similar to the one held in Bristol last year, the results of which led to a complete overhaul of how First calculates bus fares in the city. First got rid of the zone system charging passengers £1.50 for a journey

12 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 012_013_CBW1123_Regional News.indd 12

committee, Brian Allinson, said: “It is really important as many people as possible take part in the consultation so we can be sure people from more rural areas as well as villages, towns and edge of the city have their say.”

The online questionnaire can be found at www.firstgroup.com/ fairerfaresforall. The consultation runs until March 16.

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

of up to three miles, £2.50 for a journey of up to six miles and £3.50 for a journey over six miles.

The operator also got rid of return tickets, children under 16 now get a 50% discount and passengers aged up to 21 a 30% discount.

Managing Director for First in West of England, Paul Matthews, said following the radical changes made to Bristol’s bus fares the company wanted to review the rest of its services.

“This is a mammoth task but it is an important one. We need to better understand how people use our buses, how frequently they travel and for what purpose.

We would also like to know what type of tickets they’re buying at present and how they rate them in terms of value for money. All this data will then help us, and our transport consultants, determine the way forward.

“The Bristol review led to some pretty significant changes. Children and young people now get much bigger discounts on travel, while the whole structure of fares in the city changed as well. It’s too soon to say what sort of changes we may implement in the other parts of the West of England, but holding this consultation and learning more about how people use our buses is the first stage in the process.”

The results of the questionnaires will be analysed by independent transport consultants before changes are made. Mr Matthews added that any changes will be implemented during the summer.

Chairman of the West of England joint transport executive

GO NORTH EAST has made a number of improvements to bus services in north Sunderland.

Service X36 between Sunderland and Newcastle has been increased from hourly to half-hourly and has joined the ‘Fast Cats’ brand of express services. The bus provides direct links to Newcastle and Sunderland from Carley Hill, Witherwack and Hylton Red House, with journey times to Newcastle from the estates of less than 40 minutes.

Service 29 is a new service with a bus every 20 minutes between Boldon, Town End Farm Castletown, Sunderland, Ryhope and Doxford. Together with existing service 39, there is a bus between Sunderland City centre and Doxford every 10 minutes.

New services X36 and 29 replace former services 26 and 36.

Andrew Tyldsley, Go North East’s Head of Commercial, said: “Following extensive consultation with our passengers and local councillors, we’ve introduced new service 29 to provide direct connections between north and south Sunderland and to the growing employment site at Doxford International. At the same time, we’ve increased the number of express bus services we offer to Newcastle.”

Timetables for the new services are available at simplygo.com.

SOUTH EAST

PROPOSED REVISIONS to bus services throughout north Surrey have been put forward by Abellio.

The changes come following a full review over the past few months and, as well as timetable changes, they include new services, the introduction of WiFi on some routes and new ticketing products.

Abellio said in order to provide these changes, some routes will undergo major alterations to ensure the service will complete the journey on time.

The public were invited to www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 12:04

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offer their feedback, with public consultations running on Thursday (January 30) at Staines bus station and Woking railway station bus stop 5. An online survey could also be completed.

The main changes include more direct journeys for users of routes 441 (Englefield Green to Heathrow) and 461 (Kingston to St Peter’s Hospital), new links with Heathrow Terminal 5 from Sunbury and Shepperton, new links with Ashford and Ashford Hospital from Stanwell Moor and the 461 will be restored to Staines, including evening journeys.

Timetables have been compiled to co-ordinate with other routes to ensure two buses per hour operate

on key sections.

For full details, visit www.abellio. co.uk/abellio-surrey-servicechanges.html

THE PUBLIC has been told to ‘use or lose’ a Suffolk Norse service to Norwich.

The service runs every Thursday and travels from Wortham directly to Norwich, with no changing in Diss.

The bus leaves opposite the Dolphin on the A143 at 1015hrs and arrives in Norwich at 1110hrs.

It then departs from Norwich at 1630, arriving back at Wortham at 1725hrs.

If the bus is not used, the service will cease.

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets

2014

Wales. www.ctpg.co.uk

n February 23-24 Coach Holiday Conference & Workshop. Best Western Premier Queen Hotel, Chester. www.coachtourismcouncil. co.uk

n June 15 Welsh Coach Rally, Swansea. ntfwswansea.co.uk Contact Ashley Lovering 07814 958379

n March 19-20 Young Bus Managers Network Conference.

Reading. www.youngbusmanagers. org.uk n March 25–28 QV Associates’ course Route & Timetable Planning Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-

associates.com/qvcourses.htm

n March 30 Vintage Bus Running Day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of London bus route 142, organised by the Amersham & District Motorbus Society, Watford Junction Bus Interchange. www. amershammotorbussociety.co.uk

www.coachandbusweek.com

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coachandbusweek

Reading Buses has confirmed the date for its seventh annual open day at Great Knollys Street depot – Sunday, June 29 from 1100 –1600hrs

qvcourses.htm

be working in partnership with Fontwell Park Racecourse in providing free transport to each raceday.

“We hope to see many punters on the bus for a great day out at the races, and they could even have an extra bet with the money they save.”

Tracy Skinner, Executive Director at Fontwell Park commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stagecoach by offering a free shuttle bus to the racecourse and improving the transport facilities for racegoers attending a day out at Fontwell Park.”

Pictured here are: Simon Tramalloni and Tracy Skinner.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

n March 4–7 QV Associates’ course Introduction to Bus & Crew Scheduling. Birmingham. 01905 613527. www.qv-associates.com/

STAGECOACH SOUTH will be providing free shuttle bus services from Barnham railway station to and from Fontwell Park Racecourse, near Bognor Regis, West Sussex for every race meeting this year.

Journeys will depart the West Coastway Line station on a 15-minute frequency two hours prior to the first race and returning immediately after the last, enabling punters heading for the races to save the hassle of driving and parking.

Simon Tramalloni, Operations Manager at Chichester depot said he hopes the provision of a free shuttle service will encourage more people to use public transport to the events. “We are pleased to

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n April 5 South East Bus Festival.

Kent Showground, Maidstone. www. facebook.com/southeastbusfestival n April 10 UK Coach Awards.

Mercure Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester. www.ukcoachawards.co.uk n April 29-May 1 The Commercial Vehicle Show NEC, Birmingham.

01634 261262 www.cvshow.com

n June 29 Reading Buses seventh annual open day Great Knollys Street depot 1100-1600hrs. 0118 959 4000 n July 6-7 North Norfolk Railway Bus Rally. Heritage bus service both days, transport Festival on Sunday. Email bus@johnrstewart. co.uk for an entry form. n July 12–13 Routemaster 60.

Finsbury Park, London. Organised by the Routemaster Association, the event will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the unveiling of RM1. www.routemaster.org.uk n July 20 Alton Bus Rally.

Anstey Park, Alton, Hants. www. altonbusrally.org.uk n September 9 Association of Trainers AGM. Birmingham. 01797 344251 www.asot.org.uk/index.php/ asot/come-to-meet-us-menu n September 10-11 Low Carbon Vehicle Event, Millbrook, Bedfordshire. 01509 635 750. www. cenex-lcv.co.uk n September 14 UK Bus Driver of the Year 2014 Blackpool. bdoy@ btinternet.com

n May 10-11 UK Coach Rally.

Alton Towers. 01753 631170.

n September 21 Showbus 2014.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford. www.showbus.com

n May 12-14 ALBUM Conference.

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.

n September 25 - October 2 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show.

Hannover, Germany. www.iaa.de

n June 8 Barry Festival of Transport Barry Island, South

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

www.coachdisplays.co.uk

www.album-bus.co.uk

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 13 03/02/2014 12:04

NEWS FOCUS › LUTON AIRPORT COACH LEGAL ACTION

Arriva, NatEx and Luton Airport verdict Gareth Evans reports on the outcome of Arriva’s legal challenge over routes to Luton Airport When London Luton Airport Operations (LLAO) awarded the contract for exclusive operation of coach services from the terminal to central London to National Express (NX), a storm broke out with the incumbent, Arriva The Shires (ATS), which had run its flagship Green Line 757 route for 30 years.

As predicted last year, the matter would be decided not in the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop but in the formality of a court of law, incurring much cost and ill feeling along the way – with a degree of clarification being the end result.

ATS challenged the exclusivity clause in relation to the Airport – Victoria route, the duration of that exclusivity, the grant of a right of first refusal and the exception relating to the minibus service run by easyBus. ATS did not allege that the fee set in the New Concession was itself abusive.

Background

The arrangement between LLAO and ATS rolled forward from time to time. At the start of 2013, the contract was coming up for renewal – being due to expire on April 30. However, LLAO decided to invite other coach operators to bid for the right to operate the route. ATS submitted its proposals for the route but the new contract was won by NX. The latter now runs the route as the ‘A1’ under an agreement with LLAO known as ‘the New Concession.’

This gives NX the exclusive right to run the corridor for the next seven years, subject to an exception for a service operated by easyBus. NX is required to pay LLAO an annual concession fee calculated as a percentage of the revenue earned by NX on the route. The concession fee will be not less than a guaranteed annual minimum payment in each year of the contract. It also grants NX the right of first refusal over the operation of other services on routes between the airport and other destinations in London.

ATS argued that LLAO holds a dominant position in the market

LEGAL PERSONALITIES

Who was who Judge: Mrs Justice Rose Claimant’s legal team: Paul Harris Q.C., Ben Rayment and Michael Armitage (instructed by Bond Dickinson LLP).

Defendant’s legal team: Tim Ward Q.C. & Colin West (instructed by King & Wood Mallesons LLP). for the grant of rights to use the airport land and infrastructure to operate bus services from the airport and that it abused that dominant position contrary to section 18 of the Competition Act 1998.

In June 2013, ATS unsuccessfully sought an injunction to allow the continued operation of the 757 from the airport pending trial.

However, the judge ordered that the trial of liability be expedited and that the issues to be covered at the trial should be agreed between the parties.

To this end, a letter from LLAO’s solicitors to ATS’ solicitors dated June 28 recorded their agreement that: l The trial would proceed on the assumption that LLAO holds a dominant position because it has a 100% share in the relevant market (for the supply of facilities at the bus station); l The parts of the claim relating to an advertising hoarding in the arrivals hall of the airport and some other matters would not be dealt with at the trial; and l All issues relating to quantum of loss would be reserved to a

tender procedure was unfair and discriminated against it. Indeed, ATS alleged that LLAO had decided, before ATS was even told of the intention to put the contract out to tender, that it did not want ATS to win the contract.

The second kind was that the grant of exclusivity, in particular for seven years, amounted to an abuse.

NX is required to pay LLAO an annual concession fee calculated as a percentage of the revenue earned by NX on the route

further date in the event that ATS established that there had been an abuse of a dominant position.

ATS’ allegations of abusive conduct were of two kinds. The first related to the way in which LLAO went about awarding the New Concession. ATS alleged the

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Reflecting the commercial arrangements in place, Arriva’s 757 Van Hool coaches carried Green Line and easyBus branding

ATS also claimed the New Concession was abusive because it discriminated in favour of easyBus by allowing that service to continue as an exception to the exclusivity. This exception, it was said, placed ATS at a competitive disadvantage. ATS also challenged

the right of first refusal granted to NX in respect of other routes from the airport’s bus station.

However, LLAO claimed the tender process was entirely fair and that NX won it because its bid was far better than ATS’ proposals.

The exclusivity conferred in the contract is not abusive because there is no distortion of competition in the downstream market.

Terminal capacity

LLAO also argued that the grant of exclusivity in the New Concession is objectively justified because the bus station and the other areas from which ATS suggested it could run its 757 from are fully occupied.

Even if there were room for two London services at the bus station (or three including the easyBus service), LLAO argued it is under no obligation – even assuming it is dominant – to allocate that space to ATS. The issue of whether the bus www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 16:47

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station is currently fully occupied was hotly disputed at the trial, with detailed evidence submitted by both parties.

The present facility has 11 bays in four lanes – although a planning application has been submitted for a substantial redevelopment of the airport. This includes a complete rebuilding of the bus station, in which it will be relocated and reconfigured to a fan-shaped bay pattern with space for 18 PSVs. Significantly, it is expected it will operate on the basis of ‘dynamic stand allocation’ which means services will not always drop off and pick up at the same stand as is intended to happen at the moment, but will use whatever stand is available.

In the light of this, LLAO said it is likely the capacity constraints relied on as objective justification for the New Concession will have ended by September 30, 2017. However, ATS pointed to documents disclosed during the www.coachandbusweek.com

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proceedings which indicated the bus station redevelopment would be carried out as one of the early parts of the project – and might in fact be completed by the end of 2014.

Fare deals

ATS submitted that with many passengers travelling by budget airlines, they are likely to be interested in using the cheapest mode of transport to or from central London.

ATS’ 757 ran from the bus station daily, 24 hours a day, on a minimum 30-minute frequency. In the 12 months to March 31, 2013, 1,099,903 passengers used the service, of which 415,000 travelled between the airport and Victoria and about 122,000 travelling from Victoria to the airport, with the balance travelling to or from other stops on the route. The new NX service also operates daily at varying frequencies but it runs to Victoria Coach Station.

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets

easyBus operated a regular, frequent service between the bus station and central London from August 2004 until May 2007, which terminated at Baker Street.

In April 2012, easyBus started a service between the bus station and Earl’s Court Tube station.

LLAO’s concession for easyBus’ minibus service expires on October 31, 2015. On May 1, 2013, the destination of the easyBus service changed back from Earl’s Court to Baker Street. Under a clause of the easyBus concession, it is prevented from providing a service which stops within 500 metres of any central London (defined as zone 1) stop served by the 757.

For the record, LLAO does not charge an access fee to the bus station for local bus services.

The fee arrangement under the Old Concession was that for the first two years, ATS paid LLAO a commission of 2% of turnover (the revenue derived by ATS from the operation of the route) – and

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thereafter a commission of 2.5%.

There was a minimum amount which had to be paid each year.

In the first and second years, this minimum was £75k per annum, and thereafter the minimum was £100k adjusted annually by the RPI. There was also a service charge of £975 a year (increased annually by RPI) as a contribution towards the upkeep of the Onward Travel Centre.

However, the Old Concession did not confer any exclusivity for services into London. Indeed, ATS was under no obligation to provide any coach service but that if it did so, it had to run to a high standard as it was viewed as an important means of attracting passengers to the airport by public transport.

While ATS sold tickets from the Onward Travel Centre, on board the coach and over the internet, it also had arrangements with other firms. The latter accounted for about 30% of ATS’ sales on the route.

Under ATS’ deal with NX, the latter retained 22% of the sale price of the tickets and the balance was paid to ATS. The judge found this contract did not, on its face, preclude NX from operating a rival service to London. However, she noted that in May 2013, ATS’ solicitors wrote a letter before action to NX asserting that it was an implied term of the contract that NX would use reasonable endeavours to sell tickets on the 757 service and that it would not run a rival service during the currency of the contract (for 90 days, assuming NX terminated the agreement before starting its rival

KEY POINTS

Tendering process for n the Victoria service was predicated on LLAO’s desire to increase its share of revenue.

LLAO argued that there n was no distortion because ATS were able to operate the 757 service to London even though they lost the concession.

As compared with April n 2013 (when it operated the 757 from the bus station)

ATS’ revenues declined by 47 – 49% in May – June and there was a drop of 65% in July when it started operating via the rail interchange. of any wrong n Nodoingevidence

by NX and easyBus.

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NEWS FOCUS › LUTON AIRPORT COACH LEGAL ACTION service). However, NX vigorously disputed the existence of any such implied terms.

ATS was obliged to provide easyBus with 18 seats on each 757 trip. In return, easyBus paid ATS a fixed fee of £19.50 per departure.

These seats were in addition to easyBus’ own service to London.

As a result of this agreement, the 757 coaches partly carried easyBus branding.

The 757 was the most significant revenue earner of all the Green Line routes. ATS revealed that its 757, together with the 755 (peak only Luton short workings), had historically accounted for 8% of its annual turnover but 32% of the its annual profit. On a turnover of £7,455,000, ATS earned an operating profit of £3,409,000 representing a profit margin of 46%. The judge rightly described it as “a very profitable route.”

Since losing the direct concession in May 2013, ATS has continued to run the 757. As reported in CBW at the time, initially ATS terminated its journeys at an off-site car park (with passengers using a bus which doubled up as a car park shuttle to the airport). Since July 1, the 757 coaches have run to Luton railway station. Passengers now connect using a guided busway service.

ATS said that because of the inconvenience for passengers of

having to change, it was effectively forced to reduce its fares to make it attractive. Whereas the previous 757 return fare from Victoria to the Airport was £19 it is now £15.

The factual witnesses at trial

The main factual witness for ATS was MD Paul Adcock. The judge said she found him an “honest and credible witness who was frank about his responsibility for some of the tensions which developed between ATS and LLAO over the alleged under-reporting of revenues” – more of which later.

For LLAO the main witness was Rupert Lawrie, Commercial Director. Having joined the airport’s commercial team in April 2011, he is responsible for all non-aviation commercial contracts.

He was previously employed

by Starbucks for 12 years. The judge said Mr Lawrie “is used to a much more bracing business environment” than Mr Adcock and his colleagues at ATS “have ever experienced.”

On that note, the judge said she “was struck by a series of emails included in the trial bundles passing between Mr Lawrie and easyBus during the negotiations between May and September 2011 which led to the easyBus concession.”

The judge continued: “Mr

Arriva had arrangements with other companies (including those pictured), which accounted for about 30% of the sales on the route 16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 014_018_CBW1123_Arriva.indd 16

Lawrie stepped in to progress the negotiations shortly after he arrived in the post at LLAO. He notes in an email to easyBus that discussions about the renewal of the easyBus concession had been going on for six months without resolution. There followed a courteous but forceful negotiation in which he certainly held his own, at one point regretfully concluding that since they had been unable to reach agreement, easyBus had seven days to arrange for the removal of all easyBus branding and terminal signage from the bus station and arrivals hall and to leave the airport. This exchange indicates to me that Mr Lawrie is a tough negotiator who is not averse to calling the other side’s bluff by threatening to walk away from a deal if that will help him conclude the terms he wants.”

Tension

ATS alleged that Mr Lawrie and Mr Midgley, who were in charge of the tender process for LLAO, ruled ATS out of the running for the New Concession right from the start because they were disaffected with how ATS had run the service. ATS said that although LLAO appeared to relent after this matter was resolved and did in fact invite ATS to take part in the tender, this was only a pretence.

The first potential cause of tension between ATS and LLAO arose from an argument over the removal of a hyperlink enabling customers to click from the LLAO website to public transport operators. Such links had been in place on the LLAO website for many years and no fee had been charged to them for this facility.

However, when Mr Lawrie started in post, he decided that the presence of these links amounted to advertising and that revenue should be earned from them. He directed that all the links should be removed. He accepted in evidence that the links had been removed without informing anyone at ATS or other operators.

Mr Lawrie then spoke to ATS Regional Marketing Manager Linsey Frostick and explained to her that the link would be restored only if ATS would be prepared to pay for it.

The judge described this small incident as “significant.” She explained: “This did not have any effect on his (Mr Lawrie) attitude to ATS as a prospective bidder in the tender. However, this is an instance where there is a mismatch between his perception

of an interaction with ATS and the perception of the ATS employee. A conversation Ms Frostick regarded as ‘heated’ was not so regarded

by Mr Lawrie – in other words, a conversation that was unusually abrasive for Ms Frostick was just a normal business conversation for Mr Lawrie.”

The incident was evidence, the judge said, that “Mr Lawrie wanted to send a message to ATS and the other suppliers that his arrival at LLAO meant commercial relations would be conducted in a very different manner from what had happened hitherto.”

A more significant dispute then arose about how ATS accounted for revenue from internet sales when calculating commission payments due to LLAO. A clause in the Old Concession provided that LLAO could appoint an accountant to audit the records of ATS’ revenue.

If the result was that the revenue on which commission was payable had been understated by more than 1%, or if other ‘material non-conformities’ were uncovered, then the cost of the audit would be borne by ATS. Mr Lawrie’s evidence was that his initial query in the summer of 2012 about how much of ATS’ revenue came from different modes of ticket sale was prompted by ‘commercial curiosity’ on his part when he saw flight attendants selling tickets for the ATS 757 service onboard an easyJet flight.

ATS received a request for information for a breakdown of its sales, showing what percentages were made in-flight and over the internet.

The judge observed: “Unfortunately ATS’ response was badly handled, as Mr Adcock has frankly accepted. ATS adopted a defensive stance, querying why the information was needed and taking weeks to respond to apparently simple requests.

The information provided was incomplete and unclear. It is not surprising that LLAO came to the conclusion that ATS had something to hide. The problem was in part that Mr Adcock did not understand the data that was generated by the Arriva accounts department and which he forwarded to Mr Lawrie. He wrongly told LLAO that the revenue data reported to them over the years and used to calculate the commission payments had not included tickets sold over the internet. When he was asked why these sales had been omitted, he wrongly told Mr Lawrie that it was because the www.coachandbusweek.com

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National Express operates its A1 service using Caetano Levante-bodied Volvo B9s Old Concession did not require commission to be paid on ticket sales over the internet.

“In fact it is now accepted on all sides that the revenue reported under the Old Concession did include sales of tickets over the internet. These did not appear in a separate column in the reports because the web customer prints off a voucher rather than a ticket and is given a ticket by the driver when he or she boards the coach. The on-board sales figures therefore include internet sales revenue and commission has always been paid on it.”

The results of the two audits carried out were that there were some discrepancies in the revenue reported but that the underpayment was not more than about £16k.

Accepting Mr Lawrie’s evidence that it would not have made commercial sense to rule the incumbent out of the bidding process at an early stage, the judge found LLAO’s view was not coloured by revenue and “other” problems, and that the firm was not “ruled out as a future operator.”

That said, although the judge found Mr Lawrie did make the remark about ATS not featuring in the LLAO’s future plans at the meeting of December 2012, she did not consider he had in truth formed either at that stage or later, www.coachandbusweek.com

014_018_CBW1123_Arriva.indd 17

a settled view that ATS should not be the concessionaires.

She remarked: “If it had turned out that there had been substantial under-reporting of internet revenue then the position might have been different. But once that had been resolved, although there may have been lingering doubts about ATS’ competence, I find that the offer to them to take part in the tender was genuine and not a pretence.”

generated in a given year.

During a later email exchange, LLAO revealed the key factors would be the concession fee coupled to the minimum guaranteed sum. If two operators offered similar financial proposals, then they would select based on other criteria. An LLAO member of staff wrote: “We have an aspiration to improve the service but not at a cost in terms of airport income.

Integrity of reporting and inclusion

Mr Lawrie wanted to send a message to ATS and the other suppliers that his arrival at LLAO meant commercial relations would be conducted in a very different manner Tender exchanges

Mr Adcock’s evidence that the first time ATS learned there would be a tender was during a meeting with LLAO on January 16, 2013 was accepted. It is common ground that LLAO was looking for a commission fee of at least 12.5% of revenue and that commission must be paid on all ticket sales – in addition to certainty of a minimum guaranteed sum which would be paid by the coach operator regardless of the revenue actually

proposed was really an opening gambit on its part and that it was expected it would be followed by negotiations with LLAO, during which ATS would be able to improve its offer to win the tender.

However, ATS was not invited to have any substantive discussions with LLAO between the date of submission and March 20 when it was informed the bid had been unsuccessful. In contrast, NX was invited to negotiate further with LLAO and improved its bid before it was finally approved.

The judge rejected ATS’ submission that it was unfairly treated in the preparation of its proposal.

Bids

of all revenues are also critical.”

ATS was given until February 1 to submit its proposal.

The judge found ATS did not suffer any disadvantage vis à vis the other bidders. Indeed, she said ATS had the “very substantial advantage” of being the incumbent.

ATS’ main complaint about the progress of this stage of the tender was that it was not made clear to them that they were expected to put in its ‘best and final offer’

by February 1. ATS said what it

LLAO received bids from ATS, NX and Terravision. ATS said that in view of the increased investment, a minimum 10-year term would be required, though some of the elements could be reviewable after the initial five-year period. ATS offered 12.5% commission on all revenues with the exception of that generated through the easyBus deal. The annual minimum guaranteed sum with an initial guarantee for the first year would be based on 85% of all revenue.

The payment profile would be about £700k for the first year, rising to £1.26m in the 10th year.

Terravision’s minimum

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NEWS FOCUS › LUTON AIRPORT COACH LEGAL ACTION guaranteed sum was about £700k for the remainder of 2013, and then just over a million in 2014, rising to £1.3m in 2019, making a total over the contract period of £8.5m.

NX offered a commission of 20% on revenue up to £10m and a higher percentage on revenue over that amount. This would be payable irrespective of the channel by which the ticket was purchased.

Commission would also be paid, albeit at a lower rate, on tickets on other routes in its network sold at the airport.

LLAO drew up a scoring matrix.

On the financial aspects, NX scored 61, Terravision 58 and ATS 24 – with the latter marked ‘not acceptable’ on three criteria including that its proposal did not include all revenue.

The judge remarked: “ATS cannot escape the fact that its bid was significantly worse than the other two. It offered the lowest commission, did not include all revenue, it wanted the longest exclusivity period and its illustrative minimum guaranteed sum was lower than that offered by the others.”

She added: “The changes made

by NX between the proposal submitted on February 6 and the final concession were not of the order of magnitude that, if similar changes had been made to the ATS bid, that ATS bid would have been the best on offer.”

The judge found there were aspects of the post-tender process which were “perhaps less than fair.” She said it appears ATS was penalised as its bid did not offer a fixed amount for the minimum

Arriva initially (May 2013) terminated its 757 service at Airport Carparkz’s (sic) off-site facility, with coach passengers completing the final leg to the airport terminal on shuttle buses. Mark Curran

guaranteed sum, but a percentage based on passenger footfall after the first year. NX’s bid was structured in the same way – a fixed (much higher) amount in the first year and then a percentage of the previous year’s revenue.

During the negotiations with LLAO, this was changed to a fixed amount for each year, but the term of the contract was extended to seven years.

The judge found that even if the

effect on competition in this case, the judge found, no objective justification for the restriction of competition created by the terms of the New Concession.

She noted: “It’s clear from the level of profitability enjoyed by ATS prior to May 1 that the competitive constraint imposed by rail services is not sufficient to push fares down towards cost, even if trains do form part of same downstream market.

She added that the constraint

tender process had treated ATS entirely on a par with the other bidders, it was “inevitable” that it would lose the concession to a much more lucrative offer by NX. Therefore, there was nothing “so seriously amiss with the tender as to amount to an abuse of a dominant position and also that any defects in the tender process did not cause any loss to ATS as its bid was substantially less favourable to LLAO than the other two bids received. This allegation of abuse of dominance therefore fails.”

Verdict

While a number of arguments were put forward by LLAO seeking to show that the exclusive grant of rights does not have a distortive

The judge remarked: “ATS cannot escape the fact that its bid was significantly worse than the other two. It offered the lowest commission, did not include all revenue, it wanted the longest exclusivity period“

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provided by trains “is certainly not sufficient.”

A clause in the current contract allows easyBus to compete with NX on any route at any time provided that it is limited to a 19-seater coach. It goes much further than is justified by the need to avoid a conflict between LLAO’s obligations. She said: “No explanation has been put forward

by LLAO as to why easyBus should be in this favoured position.” She added: “This clause discriminates in favour of easyBus and places ATS and the other coach operators at a competitive disadvantage for no apparent reason.”

LLAO also argued that there was no distortion as ATS had been able to continue running the 757 to London even after it had lost the concession. Having accepted ATS’ evidence that direct access to the bus station is key for coach operators in order to provide a competitive and attractive service, the judge held that the exclusivity in the New Concession still distorts competition in the downstream market.

She found that the 757 service could be accommodated at the bus station without disruption to other coach services – and without requiring adjustments to be made to the facilities and without increasing risks to the health or safety of passengers.

The judge also found concerns about congestion at the bus station were not the reason why exclusivity was granted to NX. Protecting NX from competition in the downstream market would maximise the fees it was prepared

to pay for those rights.

LLAO is not under any obligation to convert parts of the central terminal area currently being used for other services into additional coach stop facilities.

Rejecting LLAO’s suggestion that it is keeping space available at the bus station to accommodate services to different destinations if such journeys are proposed at some point in the future, the judge said this “is not made out in the facts.”

She found LLAO did not abuse the dominant position for conducting the tender. However, by entering into the New Concession agreement with NX, LLAO did abuse its dominant position. She added: “There is no objective justification for that distortion of competition.”

The judge was not wrong when she concluded: “This judgment necessarily leaves a number of issues unresolved. The most obvious ones are whether LLAO is in fact dominant; the terms of any injunction to be granted; the quantification of any damages suffered by ATS and whether any other relief is appropriate. Since I have not heard argument on any of those matters, they will need to be addressed at a later date.”

All in all, it means that in addition to Arriva ‘winning,’ there is still no means for ATS to re-enter Luton airport – and there is no compensation need identified.

Furthermore, there is no evidence of any wrong doing by NX and easyBus. This means that that this issue potentially has some distance to go yet. n www.coachandbusweek.com

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VEHICLE LAUNCH › YUTONG TC12

A game changer

The TC12 has been finished to a very high standard. It can hold its head up against European competition

Chinese manufacturer Yutong is making its debut in the UK through Yorkshire dealership, Pelican Bus and Coach Sales. Andy Izatt assesses what’s on offer and takes the �irst coach, a TC12 for a test drive

W

hen a dealership with a reputation for delivering excellent customer sales and aftersales support, imports a well �inished, competitivelypriced product from the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturer, the UK bus and coach industry is likely to take note.

That dealership is Pelican Engineering based at the Wake�ield Europort near Castleford. Last September it became the UK and Irish importer for Yutong in China and it has just just put into service its �irst vehicle, a 12-metre Cummins ISL-powered ZK6129H demonstrator coach that is going to be marketed as the Yutong TC12.

The model is available as a 51-seater with centre sunken toilet or 53 seats without. The �irst Euro 6 Yutong is likely to be a nine-metre midi coach due in the summer. Euro 6 versions of both models will follow as soon as Euro 5 stock is exhausted. Both Euro 6 coaches will be available for Euro Bus Expo in November.

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The nine-metre coach will be powered by a Euro 6 Cummins ISB, but, in the absence of a suitable larger engine from the same suppler, the Euro 6 TC12 will have a Paccar (DAF) MX11.

Pelican is a DAF dealer and customers will have access to the Europe-wide DAFaid network. As a onetime BMC importer, it’s also familiar with Cummins and is in that engine manufacturer’s top category for trained technicians.

Looking for growth

Yutong, which already has West European bridgeheads in France, Norway and Iceland, has ambitions to signi�icantly grow both the product range and its market share in the UK. It’s not just interested in selling coaches. There will also be buses and don’t rule out a double-decker.

One of the major UK bus groups has already been in contact with it.

In France, dealer Dietrich Carebus Group sold three Yutongs in the �irst year of its importership, 30 in the second and 60 in the

SPECIFICATIONS

Yutong TC12 Price: Engine: Power: Torque: Euro system: Gearbox: Retarder: Fuel tank: AdBlue tank: Steering: Brakes: Suspension: Axles: Wheels: Luggage cap: GVW: ULW: Warranty: Length: Width: Height: Wheelbase:

£178,500 Cummins ISL 8.9 litre, 400BHP 1,700nm@1,300-1,400rpm Euro 5 ZF 6AP1700B with TopoDyn Telma F2200 400litre 35litre ZF 8098 Dual circuit air with front & rear discs Full air suspension. Two air bags front, four rear Meritor front & rear Michelin 295/80 with polished alloys Six cubic metres 18,000 kg 13,700 kg Two years 200,000 km 12.00m 2.55m 3.80m 6.05m

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INTRODUCTION

Yutong Yutong (Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co Ltd) based in Zhengzhou, China was originally founded in 1963 as the Zhengzhou Bus Repairing Factory. In 1985 it was renamed Zhengzhou Bus Factory and as the Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co Ltd became the first Chinese bus and coach manufacturer to be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 1997. What was then the largest production base in Asia was opened the following year.

2002 saw the establishment of The Lions Bus Co Ltd, a joint venture with MAN in Germany.

International consultancy Roland Berger became a Yutong partner in 2003. A Certificate for the Exemption from Export Inspection was issued in 2006, the first one in China’s automotive history.

By 2007 Yutong was building more than 25,000 buses and coaches annually and had 22% of the Chinese market. Daily production was 105 units. In 2009 when the electrophoresis (E) coating production line was introduced in conjunction with Dürr, it had reached 28,186 units. The E-coating process provides around 15 years of anti-corrosion protection.

The 40,000 Yutong bus was completed in 2010. By 2012 annual

Pelican will be introducing a nine-metre midicoach later in the year. This LHD example was launched by Yutong’s French dealer at Busworld, Kortrijk last October production had increased to 51,688 units with exports reaching 27 countries around the world.

They included more than 200 Routemaster-like double-deckers developed for the Macedonian Ministry of Transport. Turnover reached 30.288bn yuan. In 2013, 57,711 buses and coaches were manufactured – around 12% of the world market.

Located at Zhengzhou Yutong Industrial Park, Zhengzhou

A nice touch is the high level brake light in the shape of the Yutong emblem www.coachandbusweek.com

020_026_CBW1123_Yutong.indd 21

Yutong Bus Co Ltd now has an annual production capability of 70,000 units following the opening of yet more production capacity. Around 30,000 people are employed and the company has effectively become a sizeable town within a city with its own bus service, police force, fire service, staff accommodation, hotel and hospital. It’s currently building 325 units a day. To put that it context, it will easily complete more vehicles

in 12 days than the UK industry registered (purpose-built) for the whole of 2013.

Bus and coaches ranging in size from minibuses to articulated buses, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) vehicles and double-deckers – everything from 5m to 25m. It also manufacturer’s construction machinery, special vehicles and is involved in the supply of automotive parts and real estate.

Suppliers include Cummins, Paccar, ZF, Voith, Bosch, Meritor, Allison, Wabco, Vogel and Baosteel.

Parker Engineering, Henkel and PPG Industries work with it on the E-coating process while service suppliers include Roland, IBM, Capgemini, Accenture and McKinsey & Company.

Yutong has ISO/TS16949:2002 Quality Management System accreditation from DQS, the German management system certification company. It uses the SAP information resource system and has been certified as complying with Whole Vehicle Type Approval for the European Union.

Around 4% of its annual turnover goes into product development.

Yutong describes itself as the “largest and most technologically advanced manufacturing base of large and medium-sized buses around the world.”

third. Its presentation at Busworld in Kortrijk last October was attended by the Chinese Ambassador.

The seriousness of Yutong’s intent is underlined by the level of regular communication with Pelican. A team of 16 engineers and researchers will be arriving shortly to access future options and the emphasis from all concerned is about being ready to respond to whatever customers want.

Key potential buyers for the TC12 have been regularly updated on the project’s progress and 400 brochures have already been sent out to operators. Although the demonstrator had only been in the UK a week when CBW was given the opportunity to test drive it, it had already been seen by several of them.

A trusted operator drove the coach from the docks at Bristol to Yorkshire and he was impressed by the handling and build quality.

A request has already been received for a 55seat TC12 with a rear offside emergency exit rather than the continental door specified on initial build. That will be incorporated into the programme.

There is now an open invitation to come to Castleford and try the product. The dealership says that it’s following up several serious expressions of interest which it expects to convert into orders imminently.

Prices for a comprehensively specified vehicle

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 21 03/02/2014 15:37

VEHICLE LAUNCH › YUTONG TC12

As well as individual reading lights, there are courier and stop buttons and air vents in the racks above each seat with air conditioning, continental exit and centre sunken toilet start from £178,500, and part exchanges will be considered.

Pelican has established a new division, Pelican Bus and Coach Sales (01924 227722) although customers will be dealing with the same experienced Pelican Engineering team. Owner Richard Crump is Managing Director while Ken Grindrod (07976 355334) is Sales Director.

Area Sales Managers are Simon Collins (07811 371654) for North, West England, and Wales, Bob Elliott (07976 359799) East England and Phil Hodgson (07773 258379) for the South. Phil will also handle all the major fleet customers. For the moment, Scotland is being

INTRODUCTION

Pelican Engineering The Pelican Engineering Company was founded in 1919 by Ernest Crump after he was demobbed from the army at the end of the First World War. Ernest, who was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery, had been a dispatch rider and his army discharge pay enabled him to put down a deposit on a small shed at Scout Hill, Dewsbury. Within 12 months he had four men working for him preparing surplus military vehicles for civilian use. He named his business after his regimental mascot, the Pelican.

The firm moved to Hunslet, Leeds, becoming an agent for Gardner oil engines in 1931 - a partnership that would last for more than 60 years. Over 800 petrol-engined buses and trucks were converted to Gardner diesel during the 1930s.

Pelican became the official Yorkshire sales agent for Foden in 1934. During the Second World War, it worked for the Ministry of Defence preparing and refurbishing army trucks and in 1946 it moved to the old tram workshops at Bell Hill, Rothwell.

Ernest Crump’s son, Bob joined the business after completing national service in 1952. Aged 22

short time when the Turkish builder ceased manufacturing. However, the aftersales support that Pelican put in place for BMC has done much to rebuild confidence in that brand.

Reflecting the demands of the truck industry, Pelican’s parts operation is open from 0600hrs to 0230hrs, seven days a week, 362 days a year. Service support is 24 hours a day. The dealership only closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day so there is nearly always someone at the end of a telephone who can help. Yutong will benefit in the same way.

components are all European manufactured and can be sourced accordingly. Yutong has one of four global parts warehouses in Dubai and there are several flights each day between there and Manchester Airport. Courier, APC is based adjacent to Pelican so next day delivery is possible for orders placed up to around 1730hrs.

“Vehicle residual values are all down to the strength of the dealer,” said Bob Elliott. A good dealer will lift the product.”

“We log around 7,000 hours of labour a month and sell £950,000 of parts,” said Ken Grindrod.

“At any time we have £1.8m of parts in stock across all our brands. We’ve enjoyed dealing with BMC bus and coach customers. Often they’re family-owned businesses like this one.

That’s our strength - looking after people.

“When BMC closed, we decided to have a look

Pelican has done its homework. This is a formidable manufacturer dealership partnership

Building a reputation

BMC was Pelican’s first venture in the bus and coach sector, but that came to an end after a

he became the firm’s first salesman selling Foden, a task made easier by the large motorway building projects of the period. Ernest died in 1968, leaving Bob in charge of the business. By 1980 it had trebled in size and he was employing more than 50 people.

With demand for Gardner engine reconditioning in decline, Pelican diversified into manufacturing specialist marine generating sets for small ships. Initially Gardner engines were used, but later Cummins and Caterpillar. A range of industrial generating sets was also developed using engines from all main suppliers.

In 1980 Foden went into receivership and was bought by Paccar, which already owned Kenworth and Peterbilt. After initial uncertainty, there was investment in Foden and Pelican increase sales throughout the 1980s, selling a record 350 trucks in 1989. Knottingley Trucks, a Seddon Atkinson main dealer, was acquired in 1991.

Bob’s son Richard took over the family business in 1996.

Today’s purpose built premises at Wakefield Europort were occupied in 2001 with Knottingley Trucks relocated there the following year.

With the purchase of Linpac DAF at Sherbern-in-Elmet in 2003, that too was moved to Wakefield Europort.

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covered by Ken and discussions are ongoing with a potential local agent for Ireland that will be supplied through Pelican.

Engineering & Technical Manager is Keith Chadwick (07794 244880) who like Phil moved to Pelican with the BMC brand in 2012. Chris Lawrence is Pelican’s Service Manager and a countrywide network of service dealers will be in place within the next to six to eight weeks.

Garry Knight is Parts Manager. Around £30,000 (retail) of Yutong specific parts are being shipped from China although major

(L to R) Keith Chadwick, Ken Grindrod and Bob Elliott from Pelican with some of the ‘goodies’ that come with the coach The site has been extended and there are now 12 double-length workshop bays and an ATF (Authorised Testing Facility).

Paccar ceased Foden production in 2005 so Pelican took on the sale and distribution of Hino trucks.

The closure of Seddon Atkinson in 2006 coincided with a new MAN Truck & Bus dealership, which shares the same facilities with the Deutz and Kubota engine agencies acquired at the same time.

In 2010 Pelican became the UK distributor for Rasco, a supplier of winter and summer road maintenance equipment. It also has an agency for Dulevo street sweepers.

Pelican Bus and Coach Sales was established in 2012 when Pelican took over the sole importership for BMC and started selling midicoaches. It was its first venture in the bus and coach sector although it had been supplying BMC municipal vehicles for almost a decade. Despite the Turkish manufacturer’s closure, demand for parts remains strong not least because considerable effort has gone into rebuilding confidence amongst BMC operators.

Looking for a new bus and coach importership, Pelican first approached Yutong later in 2012 and was appointed agent for the UK and Ireland in September 2013.

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I DR ST TE Instrumentation and controls are straightforward and well laid out. The 50cm steering wheel is a welcome feature and has controls for impressive airhornes

An uncluttered entrance with a well positioned grab rail makes for ready passenger access

There is good access to the fixed position fresh water toilet with grab rails where they need to be

There are 19-inch monitors at the front and above the toilet www.coachandbusweek.com

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Continental door access is aided by a The fresh water toilet compartment 190cm high aperture makes best use of space

LEDs, blue moquette and curtains all add to the attractive saloon ambiance February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 23 03/02/2014 15:37

VEHICLE LAUNCH › YUTONG TC12 to see what else was available. Richard, Bob, Phil and I went to China in October 2012. We were amazed at the size of Yutong and what they were doing.”

Yutong commissioned a UK firm to investigate Pelican’s financial credibility and business reptutation before representatives visited it in May 2013 to see its service capability and understand the way it operates.

They were also introduced to some UK operators. Pelican signed an agreement with the Chinese manufacturer in September. “They want to approach the market in the right way,” said Ken.

The coach in detail

Chinese bus and coach manufacturers traditionally build a body on chassis combination. However, the Euro 5 Yutong TC12 has a semi integral body and this is expected to become fully monocoque in 2014.

The body frame is mild steel clad in steel for the roof and stretched steel below the side windows. Aluminium is used for lower panels and locker doors, and composite for the front and rear mouldings. The structure receives four-layer electro coating during a 15-stage dip process developed by Dürr of Germany to deliver a minimum of 15-years corrosion protection. That includes finishing, floating and electrophoresis coats as well as galvanisation.

The TC12 has dark tint, double-glazed side windows. Finished vehicles are painted and vinyled to customer requirement. Yutong’s own air conditioning is roof mounted, part of a climate control system that includes floor convection radiators and a Spheros (Webasto) pre-heater.

Yutong also makes its own seats – around 8,000 a day so a vast range of options are available. Seats in the demonstrator are in attractive blue moquette. There are also numerous finishes available for the saloon side casings and ceiling. The demonstrator has a wipe down soft ‘pvc’ style finish although it could just as easily be moquette from a European supplier. Hardwearing grey-coloured carpeting also features.

Power comes from a Cummins ISL engine. Note the top right metal plate with specification details In coach entertainment is provided by an Alpine multiplay DVD/CD system linked to two 19-inch monitors - one hinged and electrically operated at the front, the other fixed above the toilet. As well as a reversing camera, there is a saloon camera covering the continental exit.

A spare wheel is located under the front bumper and bump stops each side protect the corner mouldings. The PE11CAN registration plate is genuine. It was acquired a while ago.

Pelican has just been waiting for the right opportunity to use it.

Brake pressure and air tank checking points as well as door control valves are located under the driver’s signalling window. The fresh water tank for the toilet and valve to fill it are accessed under a flap by the continental door.

While the demonstrator has a toilet ‘window’, this won’t feature in future build. At the rear on the offside is a driver’s storage box and slideout batteries. There is also access to the Spheros pre-heater.

The 400bhp Cummins ISL 8.9-litre engine

Yutong also makes its own seats – around 8,000 a day so a vast range of options are available is mounted vertically inline at the rear. Access to consumables is clearly marked and good.

Engine compartment illumination comes from a fixed light and a wonder lead torch. A metal plate gives clear details of belt numbers, filters and oil types, particularly impressing one potential customer who’s already viewed the coach. There is also an engine compartment fire suppression system and a substantial tow hook.

A high-level brake light mid-mounted under the rear window is in the shape of the Yutong emblem.

Rear nearside is the intercooler fixed in position. Adjacent is the AdBlue tank. Fuel tank filler points are both sides just forward of the front axle. Alloy wheels are included in the standard Pelican specification. Nearside kneeling suspension brings the entrance door bottom step down from 36cm above the road to 26cm.

Passenger aspects

Brake pressure, air tank checking points and door control valves are front offside 24 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 020_026_CBW1123_Yutong.indd 24

Three side windows each side, the rear window, entrance doors and two manually-operated roof hatches are emergency exits. Fire extinguishers will be located next to the driver, under the front offside passenger seat and under the offside seat immediately behind the continental door.

Yutong supplies four extinguishers.

At its widest point the entrance door aperture is around 80cm. When boarding there is a well placed, sturdy grab rail to the left and the three 22cm steps (including carpet) leading up to the platform adjacent to the driver are straightforward to negotiate. A fourth of 19cm takes passengers into the saloon where headroom at the front is around 220cm. At the rear before a single step up to the rear row of five seats, it’s 210cm. 186cm after the step. As www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 15:37

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I DR ST TE

Ken pointed out, he’s five feet, 10 inches tall and he still has plenty of headroom standing at the rear of the coach.

The sunken aisle of around 23cm at the front, ramps past the first three sets of seats before flattening out at a recessed 10cm. LED strip lighting picks out the edges as it does for the steps, seat legs and overhead racks. At floor level, taking into account a slight lip either side, the aisle is 58cm wide. At armrest height it’s 53cm, 10cm less taking into account the armrests themselves.

Legroom distance between seats varies, but starts on both sides at around 20cm - a little tight. On the nearside it goes up to 22cm, 26cm on the offside including behind the decent screen next to the continental exit. Behind the front decency screens (all are firmly constructed and vibration free), it’s 28cm on the offside, 29cm on the nearside. Rear seats have 25cm to 27cm of legroom.

Broad styled pillars do obscure the side passenger windows at the front of the coach. A slightly longer vehicle might mitigate this. That’s how Scania solved a similar problem with the Irizar PB when it was first introduced.

The seats themselves have seatback magazine nets. Footrests spring back up when no longer under pressure. Seatback tables are just one of numerous options available, but don’t feature on the demonstrator. Aisle seats slide out sideways (locked on the demonstrator) and recline –something Pelican will be adjusting as it’s currently a little excessive for the seat pitch.

Saloon luggage racks are open bar forward sections either side which have doors. The one on the offside will house the first aid kit. Above each pair of seats are crew call and stop buttons, individual light switches and air vents.

The continental exit is 87cm wide and there are four steps – one of 25cm, two of 24cms and another of 26cm. A benefit that an operator who has already seen the coach picked up on, is that the top of the door indents the window line to give an aperture height of around 190cm.

The TC12 is sturdily built with final finish to a very high standard – ripple free stretched side panels and lower panels that fit snuggly and align just as they should. The German influence in the styling is unmistakable and on first impressions this is a coach that should be more than capable of competing against what European manufacturers have to offer.

It comes with ‘goodies’. As well as a comprehensively stocked tool box, there is a holdall with numerous manuals and an inspection lamp. Also included are a warning triangle, wheel brace, a pair of tyre leavers, air lines for tyre inflation and the air system, a pressure gauge, grease gun and a 16-tonne air jack – a survival kit for an owner driver.

Driver controls

The 50cm steering wheel is adjustable using a handle by the driver’s left knee. From this reviewer’s point of view, a large steering wheel is a welcome feature as it’s a constant reminder of the size of vehicle being driven. There is a fully adjustable Isringhausen seat so it doesn’t take long to set up a comfortable driving position.

To the left of the main instrument display is the reversing/continental door camera monitor, www.coachandbusweek.com

020_026_CBW1123_Yutong.indd 25

LIFTING THE LID

Luggage capacity with continental door and toilet included in the specification is six cubic metres

Rear nearside of the coach are the intercooler and The Spheros pre-heater and batteries are rear AdBlue tank offside positioned VDO digital tachograph, and heating and ventilation controls for the front and rear of the coach. The dashboard vents are welcome as this driver likes plenty of fresh air.

Also on the left are engine management warning lights, AC/DC 240v converter and switches for the electrically controlled split windscreen blinds. It’s surprising how many manufacturers don’t specify split blinds which can lead to restricted forward views for passengers.

The TC12 is sturdily built with final finish to a very high standard – ripple free stretched side panels and lower panels that fit snuggly and align just as they should

An entrance door blind is also electrically operated although the one for the signalling window is manual. There are péage windows both in the entrance door and signalling window.

Further switches cover front spotlights, rear fog lights, interior lighting, the doors, hazards and luggage compartment illumination. The doors are key lockable or via a fob.

Adjacent to the entertainment system – a remote is supplied – is a socket and controls for a courier mic. A driver’s mic is mounted by the signalling window and a radio mic is supplied.

There is also a useful USB port.

Controls for the ECAS (electronically controlled air suspension) system are to the right of the main instrument display, as are switch for the ferry lift and retarder. A switch marked ‘Winter’ brings on the headlights. Other switches relate to the toilet.

There is also a master switch for the dashboard refrigerator and electrics, engine management and ABS diagnostics. ‘AUS’ is for emergencies. This switch cuts the electrics, drops air so the doors can’t be opened, puts on interior lights and activates the hazards when the vehicle is at rest. Another is marked ‘R’ and this needs to be depressed at the same time as the gearbox ‘R’ to engage reverse.

The knob for positioning the heated electric side mirrors falls easily to hand, as does the parking brake and controls for the ZF automatic gearbox located under the signalling window.

A driver storage compartment has been built into the moulding and there is also a document pocket.

Instrumentation from Actia is bright and clear.

All the expected gauges are displayed – speed, fuel, engine temperature, engine oil pressure as well as battery voltage. The rev counter has a green band from 1,000rpm to 2,000rpm.

A seven inch information display can show diagnostics information as well as all the usual trip details. n

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 25 03/02/2014 15:38

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VEHICLE LAUNCH › YUTONG TC12 IN DEPTH

SECOND SECTION:

A25. TC12: Test driving the coach in Yorkshire Yutong A17.

A18.

Although the TC12 infrastructure had only been A11. Roadside in the country a matterunit of days, includes a control and two Pelican wassystems keen to for accumulate cooling the primary as much coils feedback on the vehicle as soon as possible. This is a driven business in more ways than one and Ken Grindrod had kindly compiled a test route that incorporated a wide variety of road conditions.

What was immediately apparent once on the road was the solid build. Not a single rattle or sign of water leaks and the coach had already been through some very wet weather in its short time in the UK. Rear view mirrors were entirely vibration free.

From Castleford we made our way east along the M62 towards Ferrybridge joining the A1M north. On the flat we made steady progress at 59mph in sixth gear at 1,200rpm. The cruise control, initially set for a maximum of 57mph, was reset during the test

by Keith Chadwick to 62.5mph.

It operated as expected with a leaver at the end allowing speed to be adjusted as required.

What’s always impressive about a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox is that it delivers power immediately and smoothly from a standing start.

Even the best automated gearboxes dip between gears at low speed and that an automatic gearbox can now be matched to a 400bhp engine shows just how much the technology has moved on.

The EcoLife in the TC12 had topography-dependent TopoDyn, but it hadn’t been enabled yet and it became apparent as we made the gentle climb towards the A1M junction with the M1 that there was other fine tuning required. At 60mph the gearbox was slow to change down from sixth to fifth so we soon lost momentum and that meant the engine was working harder in fifth at 1,500rpm and we were still struggling to maintain speed. Pelican was already aware of this issue and was expecting a visit from ZF the following day to resolve it.

We left the A1M at Junction 47 to head west along the A59 (York Road). There is no hill hold function on the coach, but the responsive gearbox meant we exited the upwardly inclined slip road without difficulty. Straight away we encountered roadworks for a new roundabout, the coned

The Yutong TC12 had only been in the UK a week when CBW was given the opportunity to test drive it throat of which for through traffic being very narrow.

Steering was always precise and braking firm, helped by the retarder operating through the footbrake. The driver has a choice whether to switch this on or off.

When it’s on, the dashboard display shows the retarder operating, but not the level. As would be expected, the retarder can also be operated using a steering wheel stalk.

South of Harrogate we were now on the A658. On the uphill climb beyond the roundabout where the A661 crosses, we were doing around 42mph in third gear at 2,000rpm, changing up to fourth and 1,600rpm , then third again at 1,800rpm.

While there had been defused sunshine earlier in the day, it had clouded over and was now starting to get dark with occasional light drizzle. It was cold outside, but adjusting the climate control system, it soon became apparent that the heating worked very well.

It’s a long dissent downhill to the roundabout with the A61, but the coach behaved impeccably with smooth progressive braking.

We turned south toward Leeds, crossing the narrow bridge that straddles the River Wharfe before starting the short climb into Harewood.

26 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 020_026_CBW1123_Yutong.indd 26

Ken had chosen the route well as there is a sharp right bend and a 30mph speed limit near the top.

The climb started at 40mph in fifth gear at 1,000rpm. Toping 45mph we were in fourth at 1,400rpm, dropping back to 30mph in third at 1,800rpm. The speed restricted zone was entered at 29mph in second at 1,800rpm, dropping to 26mph at 1,700rpm. We achieved 30mph again in third at 1,000rpm.

Gear changes felt they were just when they should have been.

In fact, apart from the top end adjustment that became apparent when we were on the A1M, gearbox performance throughout the test drive was excellent.

Children were going home as we passed the Grammar School at Leeds. The A61 becomes speed restricted dual carriageway, but parked cars effectively reduce it to one lane in each direction.

We crossed the Ring Road before joining Scott Hall Road where there is guided busway track and some excellent views of Leeds as we made our decent into the city centre.

With the evening peak starting to unfold, the Inner Ring Road was congested. Progress was slow and rain was now falling more steadily. We joined the M621 near Elland Road, the Leeds United Football Club ground, then the M1 briefly before the M62 once again

in an easterly direction. There was plenty of traffic around, but it was all moving smoothly. Back on the M62 on the limiter we were in sixth gear at 1,200rpm.

Pelican had topped the fuel tank before the start of the test drive. The Truck Stop at Wakefield Europort is just around the corner from the dealership so we topped it up again on our return. The test drive had been 65.247 miles and the coach had consumed 4.42 gallons, returning mpg of 14.76.

The TC12 had been a pleasure to drive. It has all the ambiance and feel of a European product.

So is this coach going to be a game changer? That’s for the market to decide, but on first impressions there is a lot on offer for a very attractive price. Yutong has been working with European technology suppliers and partners for more than a decade.

As the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturer it draws on tremendous resource across every aspect of its business.

In Pelican, customers know they’re dealing with a professional organisation that prides itself on personal customer service and has a proven track record. The market it’s entering has probably never been tougher, but Pelican has done its homework. This is a formidable manufacturer dealership partnership.

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OPERATOR PROFILE › COACH SERVICES

D

eveloping rural local bus services has never been more challenging.

It’s all the harder when an operator tries doing it largely commercially, but by investing in new vehicles, employing friendly staff, charging reasonable fares and by progressively building frequencies, Coach Services of Thetford has done just that.

Over the past �ive years it has build a sustainable network of 12 routes, a mixture of commercial and contracted millage, that comprehensively covers the locality where it’s based. There is even commercial operation of one service on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Robert (Rob) Crawford, eldest son of proprietor Allen Crawford, has been principal architect behind developing a part of the family �irm that now accounts for around half of turnover. Coach Services operates 40 vehicles from Thetford, another four at Dereham under the Euroview Coaching name and Allen remains closely involved, but day to day operation falls to Rob and his brother, Thomas (Tom). “They’re the ones driving the business,” said Allen.

As Rob pointed out, Coach Services has a long tradition of serving the local community with market day routes, but since the early 2000s Thetford town services have been operated for Norfolk County Council while another longstanding contracted commitment has been route 40 from Thetford to King’s Lynn.

What encouraged the �irm to take a fresh look at the market was a move by Norfolk County Council away from gross cost contracts in favour of net cost and de minimis payments. As

28 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 028_032_CBW1123_Coach services.indd 28

Coach

Services in bus services Allen, Rob and Tom Crawford talk to Andy Izatt about the new direction they have taken their family �irm, Coach Services of Thetford operators directly bene�ited from the additional fares they collected, it provided a fresh incentive to grow patronage.

Having observed comings and goings at Thetford bus station, Rob gained a better understanding of the loadings that First East England, the onetime Eastern Counties, was carrying on its direct route to Bury St Edmunds.

In 2009 Coach Services registered a directly competing 84 service using a pair of new Wrightbus-bodied Scania single-deckers. The focus was on reliability and quality, and it was not long before First, which was consolidating

its operation locally, deregistered its route.

Coach Services already provided two vehicles a day taking non-denomination children from the Thetford area to Bury St Edmunds so it made sense to sell passes and carry them on an enhanced 84. However, belief in the route’s viability and putting in the necessary investment has been rewarded by year on year ridership growth that extends well beyond. It has sustained signi�icant frequency increases.

With the Wrightbus Scania combination no longer available, additional new buses have been Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B7RLEs acquired

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03/02/2014 12:05

s

in 2010 and 2012. Last year a 10.8m Enviro200 was added, the �irm’s second – an 8.9m Enviro200 was bought in 2007 for the town services. Two Scania OmniCitys new to Menzies at Heathrow Airport have also been acquired, but, perhaps most signi�icant has been the purchase of a new Wrightbus Gemini 2- bodied Volvo B9TL. Built to order, the double-decker entered service last autumn.

“Bury is coming on as a town,” observed Rob. “It has become much more prosperous over the last �ive years. It also has a new hospital.

We saw noticeable ridership growth before Christmas.”

Students attending West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds have been a key market.

“Each September we carry more,” said Rob. “More post 16s are staying in fulltime education and that creates a bigger uplift that’s sustained throughout the year.

“College is the only option for many of them and by providing a good service we’re encouraging them to use the bus at other times.

That’s why we dropped fares for 16 to 19 year olds by 20% in 2011. They can come and go with their friends anytime.

“We went to double-deck because we want people to be able to sit down. We wondered if older people would go upstairs, but they do.

“Norfolk Highways have been very helpful cutting back trees. We’ve not operated a decker for 10 years so it was interesting to see what had to be done, but it wasn’t an issue around Bury because other operators run doubledeckers there.”

Growing a network

It’s not just route 84 that’s commercially operated. Another, the 86 from Brandon to Bury St Edmunds, was introduced in 2010, now combining with the 84 to provide a half hourly daytime headway between Thetford and Bury.

Brandon – Lakenheath – Mildenhall routes 200/201 supported by Suffolk County Council followed and patronage on all three has grown by up to 60%.

Then there is the 332/333, again supported

by Suffolk “through the villages” from Thetford to Bury St Edmund, and another commercial service, the 81 providing a two-hourly link to Watton. The approach has been to explore

control over what we’re doing. There’s no point having new buses if you don’t get the reliability and good backup service, which both Scania and Volvo both provide.”

There are Scania and Volvo dealers in Thetford so warranty work is dealt with locally, but it has still been a learning curve.

There is now a much better understanding between operator and dealers that facilitates information and experience being pooled, but Allen is keen that his own workshop does more.

He’s invested in Scania and Volvo diagnostics and is doing the same for Optare – older Solos are also operated - and ADL. Computerised systems mean a close eye can

opportunities close to Thetford and see what school journeys in particular could be developed.

“We get people where they want to go on time and in an appealing environment,” said Allen Crawford. “The buses we provide are so much of an improvement and creating a network brings economies of scale.

“Successful local bus services are based on frequency. It’s a formula that works, but it takes time to build passenger numbers. We have had the con�idence to invest because we have

be kept on fuel consumption. The Volvo and Scania buses including the B9TL are returning around 9-10mpg, the Enviros nearer 13mpg.

It helps that both Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils pay concessionary fare reimbursement promptly. Coach Services is about to introduce smartcard enabled Wayfarer TGX200 ticket machines. As well as singles and returns, it offers a range of weekly, monthly and 10 journey tickets. Rob feels smartcards will be ideal for the longer duration tickets and school passes.

“Each September we carry more,” said Rob. “More post 16s are staying in fulltime education and that creates a bigger uplift that’s sustained throughout the year”

Frontline coaches from Volvo and Scania for Coach Services and Euroview Coaching

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028_032_CBW1123_Coach services.indd 29

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 29 03/02/2014 12:05

OPERATOR PROFILE › COACH SERVICES Coach Services smart workshop, offices and parking area were designed specifically for the operator

Built to order, Coach Services Wrightbus Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TL for route 84

A four-bay, fully equipped workshop includes a 15-metre inspection pit

The second of two Wrightbus bodied-Scanias on the 332 “through the village” service 30 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 028_032_CBW1123_Coach services.indd 30

“We can see from what happened in London that it’s the way forward,” he explained. “We’re initially trialling the technology on one route.

Drivers issuing fares is a big delay. What we would like is for these tickets to be an online purchase or bought through our office.”

Coach Services has a clear, user friendly website. It works with BusCms for online timetabling and FWT for other marketing collateral. A regular newsletter is available and for social media users there are ‘tweets’ about any service interruptions such as road closures and accidents. These are also displayed on the website enabling a wider audience to benefit.

For Rob, tweeting can become a fulltime job on Friday afternoons. That’s when disruption seems to happen most often.

He believes that social media is also making it easier to reach younger customers – people who are happy to tweet a question in preference to speaking to someone directly.

Coaching matters

Coach Services continues to have a strong education transport-based coach and contract hire business as well as undertaking hire for groups and social clubs. Each morning during term time 25 vehicles go out on schools, 11 of those serving local RAF bases.

While the majority of vehicles have two by two seating, there is a pair of rare 70-seat Alexander Q-bodied Volvo B10Ms, easily the oldest vehicles on the main fleet. There is also a 2004 Scania K94IB Irizar InterCentury 70-seater and a newer similarly-seated Volvo B7R Plaxton Profile. The Alexander Volvos are clearly school contract vehicles, but Allen is only prepared to use the others to carry children because of the limitations on saloon space.

He pointed out that both Norfolk and Suffolk require seat-belted vehicles for closed contracts.

One of two Plaxton President Volvo B7TLs added to the fleet to provide spare cover for the B9TL has been so equipped because it was originally intended that it would work a contract in the morning and do a local service later in the day. It doesn’t have a tachograph, but even if it www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 12:05

A BRIEF HISTORY

did, there is no appetite to hire it out.

The nine Volvo B10Ms operated are described as “very reliable” vehicles, ideal for schools because of their straightforward engineering.

“We keep vehicles for a full life,” explained Allen.

“The B10Ms do low mileage. No one wants complicated electronics in a school vehicle. I wonder what we’re going to be using in 10 years time.”

“We do have older coaches re-trimmed,” said Tom. “WBN106 (a 2000 Volvo B10M Plaxton Premiere 320) came from Bowen’s. We had the toilet taken out and up-seated it from 48 to 55.

We keep an eye on what’s for sale.”

Frontline profile

Euroview Coaching, bought in 2007, is a particularly good fit with Coach Services’ other activities. The four coaches based at Dereham are a 2010 Plaxton Profile-bodied Volvo B7R, 2008 Scania K340EB Irizar PB, 2006 Scania K114IB Irizar InterCentury and a Ford Transit.

Former owner, Dennis Reeve still drives for Euroview and the office team, Coral Eastoe who also drives and Kate Farrow have a wealth of experience dealing with group organisers.

“They organise hotels, days out, whatever is required,” said Allen. “They deal with a lot of private groups. We also subcontract a Norfolk County Council contract to Euroview. It works well having a base closer to Norwich and King’s Lynn. It’s opened up a new catchment area for us.”

Frontline coaches in the Coach Services fleet include a 2008 Scania K420EB Irizar PB bought new and a pair of 2007 Van Hool B12Bs. There’s also a pair of 2006 Plaxton Paragon-bodied Volvo B12Bs. Two Scanias have been retrofitted with Dinex emissions abatement equipment to expand the pool of coaches compliant with the London Low Emission Zone.

A 12.9m Scania Irizar i4, also bought new in 2008, was a versatile vehicle because of the range of work it could be used on, but is no longer owned. Its front overhand meant it regularly sustained body damage on narrow East Anglian roads so was sold.

“Although our private hire is mainly education www.coachandbusweek.com

028_032_CBW1123_Coach services.indd 31

Rob, Tom and Allen Crawford: Family team behind Coach Services

Coach Services Coach Services was founded in 1948 by D. E. Doran and Jack Mulley. Jack was a well known East Anglian coaching entrepreneur who founded Mulley’s of Ixworth near Bury St Edmunds.

When Coach Services was sold to Robert (Bob) Crawford, Allen’s father, in 1969, it was operating eight vehicles.

Robert was a successful farmer in the Watton area and saw the purchase as a good investment. It was run for him

by Don Barber who almost doubled the fleet size prior to retiring in the late 1970s.

Allen joined Coach Services in 1978. Previously he had worked on his father’s farm before becoming a mechanic at Crawford Transport, a haulier based at Rash’s Green, Dereham also owned by his father.

Although Allen sold Crawford Transport to Turners of Soham in 1992, he still has an interest in lorries and owns a Volvo tractor unit.

His fascination with all types of mechanical engineering remains undiminished, A very different purchase was a Routemaster, which lives in its own garage at the bottom of Coach Services’ yard. Look carefully and you will also see several London Transport bus stop signs on display.

“There was no agenda buying the Routemaster,” said Allen. “It was originally just a bit of fun, but it earns its keep on weddings and proms. It doesn’t go more than a 30 miles radius. The lads love driving it.”

Running coaches was the most profitable of the Crawford family businesses, hence the sale of Crawford Transport. Developing Coach Services became Allen’s priority in the 1980s and 1990s and there was significant expansion.

Carters Coaches of Foulden was acquired from Lucy Carter in 1985. Its Ford and Bedford were transferred to Coach Service’s then depot in Croxton Road, Thetford, once home to Charles Burrell & Sons, builders of steam traction engines and trucks.

In 1990 Allen took over Hopton-based Petches from Penny Baker, adding a mix of work including holidays, excursions, private hire as well as more market day services.

Petches used to regularly buy a new coach and in 1989 it had acquired a Bova Futura that ran with Coach Services until 2005. It was one of the first heavyweight vehicles in the fleet and was the flagship for many years.

The last Bedford, a Duple Laser-bodied YNV was bought new in 1986. Leyland Tigers,

DAF SB3000s and Volvo B10Ms became the mainstay, mostly with Jonckheere Deauville and Van Hool T8 coachwork as the fleet grew to over 30 vehicles.

In 2006 Allen bought land on Fison Way Industrial Estate, Thetford and had the purpose built depot used today, erected. The old site at Croxton Road was sold to Bloor Homes and developed for 22 houses. The current one and a half acre premises consist of a fully equipped four-lane workshop, two story office block, automatic vehicle wash and concrete hard standing for the fleet.

Workshop Manager is Barry Dick who has been employed

by Allen for 35 years. General Manager is Richard Martin who started driving coaches part-time for the firm when he was 21 and joined fulltime in 2000.

Euroview Coaching, founded by Dennis Reeve 20 years earlier to operate British and continental tours, was acquired in 2007. It’s still based at Rash’s Green, Dereham with four vehicles.

Although Allen remains closely involved, his sons, Robert and Thomas now run the business day to day.

Allen has a clear philosophy.

“It’s about us running a professional, modern company for our customers and the future,” he said.

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 31 03/02/2014 12:05

OPERATOR PROFILE › COACH SERVICES

One of the Menzies Scania OmniCitys works route 86 at Bury St Edmunds DAVID BELL based, we have just started working for Newmarket Holidays,” said Rob. “We used to do our own holidays years ago, but it’s a market where you need to specialise and commit to for the long term. It’s not a market for us.”

While he sees a business case for new buses that earn a daily income, it’s less clear cut for coach although the firm is looking at making that investment again. “Buying new coaches shows that you’re not stagnating as a business,” he pointed out. “If drivers see you’re attracting flagship work, they want to stay and do that.

Top of the range coaching is a market that we want to stay in.”

GreenRoad tracking has been a “fantastic management tool” that was originally introduced as part of the firm’s insurance cover. “Drivers are realistic about it,” said Allen.

“They know that it can give them protection.

Our buses also have CCTV and that helps with claims. We have 24-hour CCTV in the yard as well.”

Family values

As well as looking after the local bus operation, Transport Manager Rob liaises with local authorities. He passed his PCV test when he was 18, has a Class 1 HGV licence and spent a year with haulier, Turners of Soham before joining the family business fulltime in 2007.

Tom also passed his PCV when he was 18.

He enjoys driving and, as he’s out most days, has his own regular vehicle. He joined Coach Services fulltime two years after his brother and over sees the coach side of the business as well as looking after the drivers.

Being able to drive a PCV is taken very seriously. “It’s important to know what our vehicles are like,” said Tom. “It also gives us a feel for our routes.”

“There are eight of us in the office and four in the workshop of which eight have licences,” 32 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 028_032_CBW1123_Coach services.indd 32

added Allen. “We all drive when necessary to cover for sickness and holidays, and during busy periods. The more we grow as a business, the more we have to do it. It’s simpler when you have fewer vehicles.”

There are 38 fulltime drivers, only a handful of part-timers. “It gives us the flexibility we need,” said Allen. “We’ve taken people on part-time, but most want the income so soon become fulltime.

“There are service drivers, many of them

“I go to numerous meetings,” he said.

“Anything of interest and that includes meetings with the traffic commissioner. I know organising them is a thankless task so I try lending my support when I can”

ex-Eastern Counties. We have dedicated school bus and tour drivers, but all are flexible. We’re one team and they cover for each other. They’re open to what they do because they take pride in the job. We do look after our staff. We make sure that everyone gets their fair share.

Growing the business is down to having the right people and vehicles.”

“The Driver CPC is good because we can design our own courses. We’re a registered

training centre here. We pick the modules we want. First aid is just one example. Everyone on the course embraced it. Training is so important.”

Industry community

Coach Services is a CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) member. Allen is clear about the benefits - the help and advice available. There is always someone at the end of the phone. He feels the same way about the FTA (Freight Transport Association). Both organisations have audited his business.

“I go to numerous meetings,” he said.

“Anything of interest and that includes meetings with the traffic commissioner. I know organising them is a thankless task so I try lending my support when I can. We get on very well with local operators.

“It’s a shame we don’t have more consultation with DVSA. The CPT should be updated at local meetings once a month on what’s changing.

Allowing automatic licence holders to drive manual gearbox vehicles is just one example.

How many operators know about that? The CPT should have more of a voice.

“Diesel is more or less the same price it was 12 months ago, but the 20% cut in BSOG did affect us,” he continued. “We’re very conscious about the state of the economy. We’re always being hit by additional costs outside of our control, but overall our revenue has increased. What I would like the government to do is give us higher capital allowances given the cost of new vehicles.

“We have tremendous drivers - really good staff,” he concluded. “Everyone here wants to work here. It works both ways and that makes a big difference. We took a big risk developing our bus services, but we have been proved right.

“We’re not standing still. This is still a great industry and I’m positive about the future.” n www.coachandbusweek.com

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Based on the Mercedes Sprinter 516, we have designed an extension to fit onto the rear of the vehicle which adds to the length of the vehicle but also transforms the vehicle from a van look into a mini-coach. By adding this extension it enables us to construct a vehicle capable of carrying 16 passengers in total luxury with legroom that has never been achieved in a mini-coach before, and a luggage area of enormous proportion. Also when you take into account the re designed sides of the vehicle which house the coach style lockers this is truly a vehicle that will not be beaten on luggage space.

Once again you decide what options you require from a vast list available and then pick your own colours to match your requirements.

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Just like all our vehicles you decide what you want in the vehicle and you choose your own colour scheme to suit your needs.

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February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 33

a

REVIEWS › BOOKS

Recalling a famous Staffordshire name

It might be 27 years since Berresfords Motors of Cheddleton closed, but the �irm is still fondly remembered by many. A new book tells its story Venture Publishing’s Super Prestige series is growing into an important point of historical reference, never more so than with Number 32 written

by Eric Wain telling the fascinating story of Berresfords Motors of Cheddleton.

Starting in February 1923 this well known family-owned firm provided bus services in North Staffordshire – something it continued to do for 64 years. The operating area was consolidated under the 1930 Road Traffic Act and after 1960 was extended firstly around Leek and then in the wider area beyond Hanley, mainly through takeovers.

As Eric recalls in his forward, there was customer loyalty and the site of the garage at Cheddleton was still referred to as Berresfords Garage long after the eventual closure of the company in 1987. At the time Eric was writing, the garage had been demolished and a new access road for Pointon’s factory had been made through the site. All that remained was a stone building on which there is a preservation order.

Probably the photograph that will strike a cord with enthusiasts most is the aerial view on page 77 that shows the growing collection of withdrawn vehicles parked behind the garage.

cost of new parts which, when they could be obtained, could be expected to have a longer life.”

It was Jim’s death on April 9, 1987 that brought about the end of the company as no-one in his family wanted to continue. It was merged with PMT at midnight on May 15/16. Also owned was Stonier of Hanley, which ceased on July 3. Berresfords Motors of Cheddleton is priced at £17.95.

There was a time when this was a common approach among many operators, but by the time Berresfords closed in 1987, it was the exception.

What’s more the collection at Cheddleton had become well known both for its size and fascinating variety.

As Eric explains, “Jim Berresford was a brilliant engineer and an eccentric, and his philosophy has always been to use a vehicle to its full natural span then, where possible, to re-use parts to keep other vehicles running.

However, it was felt that his skill as an engineer often clouded his judgement as to the financial viability of the work involved when set against the relative

Venture Publications, 128 Pikes Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 8EH. Tel: 01457 861508, E-mail: info@ venturepublications.co.uk, Website: www.venturepublications.co.uk

A badger that came to define deregulation The prospect and enactment of NBC privatisation, and bus deregulation in the mid-1980s created memorable times for the industry. After years of having to tow a fairly strict line, a generation of younger managers were given the freedom to directly respond to market forces, try new ideas and develop new, innovative identities for their businesses. One of the most memorable was Badgerline, created for the Bristol Country Bus operation.

As former Managing Director, Trevor Smallwood explains in his forward to Martin Curtis and Mike Walker’s book, Badgerline, Bristol’s Country Buses: “The new company had an excellent pioneering spirit and was at

the forefront of things – not least in being one of the first businesses to be privatised; only Devon General was sold earlier, and that only by five weeks.

“The company developed a friendly, reliable image which passengers liked.

Besides benefiting from its policy whereby fares were not increased above inflation, they enjoyed seeing the buses with their large badger logos and friendly drivers.”

Both Martin and Mike were senior managers with the company so the

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was aided by offering four or fiveday-week duties on minibus, big-bus, park & ride, tour-bus or coach rosters – is demonstrated by its attempts to amalgamate all of these, much to the dismay of staff,” say the authors.

“Serious driver shortages were to follow – partially solved, eventually, by recruitment direct from Eastern Europe.”

It seems some things never change – a book worth the £22.50 cover price.

story they tell is one that they have intimate knowledge of.

Badgerline developed into a group and in 1995 merged with GRT Bus Group to become FirstBus. It was now subject to a very different culture.

The original Badgerline business was taken over by City Line, the Bristol city operation that Badgerline had been divested from almost 10 years earlier.

“The desire on the part of City Line to dismantle the culture of Badgerline – where, for example, staff retention

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January 2013

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his month’s issue is pretty much dominated by Euro 6 – the latest implementation of emissions legislation which sees the virtual elimination of particulates from the exhaust.

Currently only Mercedes-Benz has brought Euro 6 to market and the other manufacturers will follow over the course of the next 12 months. The new technology does not come without added cost and there are some signi�icant price increases attached to new vehicles as a result. They are not just attached to Euro 6 modi�ications, the range has been updated with some restyling and some new or revised safety systems. The ESP has been upgraded, engine stop/start developed to work with automatic transmission and there is now a side wind compensation option along with a blind-spot assist.

Press releases from manufacturers generally arrive via e-mail as soon as they are released, however, trawling the web for stories last week I discovered a

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press release (dated September 2013) on the Daimler media site I had not been sent. It referred to the ending of the period of co-operation with Volkswagen and said the current arrangement would cease by 2016.

This will effectively cut production of the Crafter and leave Volkswagen to develop its own replacement. It also refers to a plan to extend the Sprinter range with a larger capacity model. This, no doubt, will be the replacement for Vario which no-one at MercedesBenz has yet said anything about. It is welcome news as it will provide the necessary capacity for operators seeking 27-33-seats without the need to purchase more expensive Atego-based products – all of which have to be coachbuilt and involve many man-hours just making the chassis suitable for coach applications.

Black Country buses on track

Martin Cole MINIBUS Editor

January 22, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK MINIBUS | 41

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THE BIG PICTURE Last autumn Transdev Blazefield upgraded its high-profile X43 Witch Way service with 15 new Wrightbus Gemini 2-bodided Volvo B9TLs. The famous service runs from Nelson in East Lancashire to Manchester city centre, via Burnley, Rawtenstall and Prestwich up to every 15 minutes. When the first batch of Wrightbus Gemini-bodied Volvo B7TLs were introduced in 2005 (which the latest vehicles have replaced), they brought a new standard of service with leather seats and a distinctive livery. Indeed, the service became an industry benchmark. The new buses carry a revised livery designed by Ray Stenning’s Best Impressions. The traditional image of a witch has been replaced with Transdev’s own ‘good witch’. This scene of fleet number 2767 (‘BF63 HCO’) was caught on camera by David Barrow. With the tower of St John the Evangelist church poking through the trees in the background, the bus heads up the A682 in Rossendale towards Burnley.

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31/01/2014 16:35

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31/01/2014 16:35

NEWS › LEGAL

Cramond Coaches sees O-licence halved Operator has licence reduced from eight to four for February 2014, while a driver receives a two week suspension

Background

Cramond Coaches Ltd of West Harbour Road, Edinburgh, was granted a standard national PSV O-licence on May 20, 2011. The sole directors are Mr Graham Pender (born 1959) and Mrs Georgina Pender (born 1958). Mr Pender is Transport Manager on the licence. Mr and Mrs Pender respectively held restricted PSV O-licences and these were surrendered at the time of grant of this licence. An application by Mrs Pender for a standard national sole trader licence trading as Cramond Coaches was withdrawn when this licence was granted.

The processing of the application for the licence was not straightforward. A combination of

past licence history, Mr Pender’s sequestration in 2007, allegations and Mr Pender’s manner of engagement with the licence application process led to hearings before the Traffic Commissioner (TC) Joan Aitken and ultimately a Public Inquiry (PI) before the Deputy TC. The Deputy TC was persuaded to grant the application for the authorisation of eight vehicles. Currently eight discs are in issue.

Following an adverse report from a VOSA Traffic Examiner, TC Joan Aitken directed that the operator and Transport Manager be called to PI and that two drivers in the operator’s employment should be called to a conjoined driver conduct hearing.

The conjoined proceedings convened at Edinburgh November 27, 2013. Mr Graham Pender attended and was represented

by Mr N Kelly, Solicitor, Glasgow.

Mr Steven Cooney, Company

38 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

038_041_CBW1123_Legal news.indd 38

Secretary, also attended as a witness for the operator. Driver Mr Ian Taylor of Edinburgh attended, but the other driver Mr James Bond of Edinburgh was not present. Mr Pender continues to employ Mr Bond and said Mr Bond had been on holiday and had not received the call up letter to the hearing. Mr Bond’s intention was to go fishing on the date of the hearing, which was why he was not present. VOSA was represented by Traffic Examiners Ms Leslie and Mr Laidlaw.

The operator was required to provide evidence of continuing financial standing to be produced in advance of the PI, by November 20, 2013. That was not done.

Evidence was instead provided at the start of the PI.

Vosa evidence

VOSA received information from the then Lothian and Borders Police that a check had been

conducted on August 28, 2012 at Prospect Bank School, Edinburgh and the driver (Taylor) working for Cramond Coaches Ltd did not have the correct category of driver licence.

On January 18, 2013, examiners attended at the operator’s premises and met Mr Pender. He explained that on the date of the Police check the driver was not Mr Taylor but Mr Bond.

By formal letter of January 21, 2013, the VOSA Examiner issued a statutory request to the operator for: All tachograph sheets and digital data for the driver’s digital card for driver Ian Taylor for September to November 2012; All digital data downloaded from vehicle unit RF10 AOG for the period September, October and November 2012 inclusive; A list of all the vehicles, their seating capacity and whether manual or automatic; and a copy of the drivers duty rota and worksheets for driver Ian Taylor from September to November 2012 inclusive.

No data was received by the deadline of 14 days given in that letter and the Examiner had to contact Mr Pender. He said his computer had crashed but www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 15:26

2,362 Followers

someone was coming out to fix it. No data being forthcoming, the Examiner attended by prior notice at the operator’s premises on March 19, 2013 to download the vehicles. No vehicles were available for her. Mr Pender said he would download the vehicles.

The examiners were told that driver Taylor had lost his digital card in August 2012 and did not apply for a new one until January 2013. Mr Colin Blackford, one of the operator’s employees was present at the meeting between Mr Pender and the examiner and said that he had been given the task of applying to the DVLA for a company digital card for the operator and would then download the data.

On leaving the premises, the Examiners who had wanted to download from the vehicle units saw one of the operator’s vehicles parked round the corner from the operator’s premises. Mr Pender later told the Examiner that this vehicle had been on an airport run. However, when she did have access to the downloaded vehicle data, it showed that the vehicle had been driven at 0951hrs for three minutes and 1143hrs for five minutes, not an airport run as claimed by Mr Pender.

On March 21, 2013, again by appointment, the examiners returned to the operator’s premises to download vehicle units and three vehicles were present. Another vehicle was not there, but in Glasgow. The examiners established from the DVLA that driver Mr Taylor applied for a new digital card in September 2012 which was despatched on September 26, 2012, not January 2013 as claimed by the operator.

On April 22, 2013, Vehicle Examiner Mr Wyllie visited the operator and was given information for the traffic examiner. The traffic examiner had yet to receive downloaded data from driver cards and Mr Blackford saw to it later that day. The traffic examiner was then in a position to begin her analysis and found that in relation to driver Mr Taylor his driving licence entitled him to drive only those 16 seater and over vehicles which were automatic. His PCV entitlement for vehicles to 16 seats had the restriction not for hire and reward. Mr Taylor drove RF10 AOG, a 16-seater vehicle with a manual gearbox, on 19 dates; RX12 HBB a 16-seater with manual gearbox on 22 dates; and T10 URS on 10 dates. Driver Mr Bond’s driving entitlement was www.coachandbusweek.com

038_041_CBW1123_Legal news.indd 39

Join the discussion on Twitter by following us at @cbwtweets

PCVs, with automatic transmission only and vehicles up to 16 seats not for hire and reward. He drove the aforesaid RF10 AOG on 15 dates; TR10 URS on 13 dates; and RX12 HBB on 11 dates.

On August 28, 2012, the date of the Police check, RF10 AOG was on a school contract which did not require use of the digital driver card so the Examiner could not establish which driver was driving

about five or six years off and on and said he was a very good driver.

Mr Taylor had come to him from Lothian Buses approximately four years ago. He said he was a great time keeper and good with clients and children. Mr Pender said he had checked the licences and thought the D1 mark on the licence gave them permission for the whole category. The operator kept a copy of licences and performed

the vehicle that day. This was also the case with other dates and times.

The DVLA advised that the company was issued with a company card on March 19, 2013.

Drivers Taylor and Bond now have the necessary driver licence entitlements to drive manual vehicles and those for hire and reward.

At the end of the VOSA evidence, the operator did not challenge it.

checks every six months. These drivers were driving manual vehicles and he had no concerns about their ability to drive such vehicles. It was not a calculated gamble on his part to let them drive, he just did not know about it. Mr Pender said these were two middle aged competent men who had worked with the public and he had no concerns.

This type of messing VOSA about is not acceptable to me as TC. The traffic examiners deserve co-operation, particularly as it appears that they went about their business in a pleasant and helpful manner

Mr Pender’s evidence

Mr Pender denied that he was misleading VOSA when he claimed that he could not give the examiner digital data as his computer had crashed. The drivers’ digital cards had been downloaded to the laptop. There had not been any vehicle unit downloads as he had not applied for a card – he did not need it for the school runs and his work was the same runs, same people.

Mr Pender now has a new computer and software system. If a driver is out of time it flashes up. It cost the company £26,000 and also tracks the vehicles advising if they are being driven above the speed limits. Employee Mr Blackford is called the ‘VOSA man’ and had been with the company for a year, looking after all the driver card downloads. Mr Pender said he now understood that when VOSA asks for something, he has to comply.

He was confident that VOSA would not find any breaches of drivers’ hours rules and said VOSA is welcome to call any time.

Mr Pender confirmed that he had employed Mr James Bond for

KEY POINTS

Following an adverse n report from a VOSA traffic examiner, TC Joan Aitken called

Cramond Coaches to conjoined hearing along with two drivers in the operator’s employment The two drivers were found n to have incorrect driving licences which did not allow them

to drive manual vehicles. The operator was also not forthcoming when VOSA asked for information, even claiming a vehicle was on an airport trip when it was in fact parked around the corner having been driven just eight miles that day Cramond Coaches failed n to provide evidence of financial standing prior to the

PI as requested, with necessary funds only being added to the business’ account 24 hours before proceedings took place While the drivers did have the incorrect licences, it was argued by the operator that they were skilled drivers

n

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As soon as they found out about the restriction, the operator sent the drivers to be trained by Martin Flanagan. He produced a letter from Mr Flanagan dated November 25, 2011. Mr Flanagan trades as Martdrive CPC of Gorebridge. Mr Flanagan works with Mr Pender and had put drivers through their CPC. VOSA had undertaken a maintenance investigation in March 2013 and then a few months later unannounced. They looked at several vehicles with the examiner and the examiner had given them advice. Mr Pender said every time VOSA come in they say they are there to help and he has a good rapport with them.

Mr Pender said he wants his business to be the best and is striving to be the best small operator in Scotland. He said he was embarrassed to be at the PI. He produced a letter dated June 24, 2013 from the City of Edinburgh Council Commercial and Procurement section headed ‘Framework Agreement for home to school transport (and additional passenger journeys)’ saying that they accepted his company’s tender to be appointed on to the list of suppliers for the Council.

This is how the Council issues its contracts.

with the ability to drive manual 16-seaters. Both the operator and the drivers pleaded ignorance, and the drivers did not drive vehicles they were not entitled to after discovering they should not be. They enrolled in the necessary training The TC decided the n operators conduct had been unacceptable, showing “contempt

for O-licencing.” Several of the positives about the operator were seen as being to meet selfish interests, such as its chosen niche requiring well maintained vehicles and an investment in software helping wider business interests than just Cramond Coaches, rather than steps directly towards compliance With revocation seen as n too harsh in light of the last-minute financial standing

submission, and a formal warning seen as too lenient because of seriousness of the case, the TC chose to curtail the licence, reducing it by half for a month.

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 39 03/02/2014 15:26

NEWS › LEGAL As Transport Manager, Mr Pender considered he had continuous and effective control and said he had learned from his mistakes with the driver licences and did not want to be at PI again. Things were in order with himself, Mr Blackford and the fleet master and clockwork software systems. He said the operator was in difficult times and was trying its best.

Since the operator had finance on the vehicles HP and leases, Mr Pender said direct action would have a financial impact, leading to unemployment and redundancy.

The same would happen if there was a reduction in the number of vehicles. He said it would be a disaster for them. He was hoping that the TC would see that it came from a lack of maturity in a very difficult climate where the operator had to work with other aspects such as getting money and paying bills, and it had rectified things as soon as it could. He guaranteed that the TC would never see them again.

Mr Pender advised that the company no longer operates school contracts – it had four but had handed them back as it wanted to be committed to other work. The company now moves airline crews and individuals and groups of Chinese and Italian, as well as private clients from The Balmoral and Caledonian Hotels. It also provides training facilities and is involved with Martin Flanagan as Mr Pender put money into Martin Flanagan’s business. They are not in a partnership and this is not core business for Cramond Coaches Ltd.

Mr Steven Cooney’s evidence

Mr Steven Cooney’s evidence was that he had been with it for 10 years and he deals with administration and finance, so can speak for the financial viability of the company. He said the company could not afford to have vehicles taken off the licence as it had a full Christmas season. A lot of the drivers were relying on income, with expenses and bills to pay, and so he asked for leniency.

He had also worked with Mr Pender when he only had a restricted licence. The business was running tours at the time and he did the book keeping, with Mr Pender doing mini tours and

Joan Aitken: “I have come to the view that this cannot be a revocation case – though it would have been had funds not been deposited at the last lap.” school runs in the vehicles he had.

There were no taxis, just two or three minibuses. The business has expanded since May 2011.

It has two 49 seat coaches, five 16-seaters and one other 16 seat vehicle.

Mr Ian Taylor’s evidence

Mr Ian Taylor’s evidence was that he had passed his PCV driving test in 2004 with Lothian Buses and it was all automatic. This was his first job working in the bus industry as previously he had been a field service engineer fixing fruit machines. He worked with Lothian Buses until 2008 and left because he did not like night shifts and how the public treated drivers. He went into some parcel and milk delivery work and worked for a short while with Horsburghs at Livingston.

There then came an opportunity to work full time for Cramond Coaches Ltd. He knew the company operated manual vehicles but he thought he had grandfather rights.

Once he found out that he needed to pass the test he went through driver training and passed the test with excellent results. Lothian Buses had never explained to him that he could not drive a manual bus.

He admitted he had been naïve and he put his hands up. He thought he was alright because he had been driving big buses. He did not think about hire and reward.

As soon as it came to light he did not drive 16 seat vehicles for four months. He spoke to Martin Flanagan and got through the test. He wanted to apologise. He had nothing else pending in the criminal courts.

Closing submissions

In closing submissions, following a private session, Mr Kelly submitted there was good repute, professional competence and financial standing. There were no convictions. He claimed Mr Pender was a man of repute and establishment was not an issue.

If an operator only has funds available for a Public Inquiry that cuts across the whole requirement to have financial standing

40 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 038_041_CBW1123_Legal news.indd 40

The issue was of not fulfilling the undertaking. Maintenance records had been brought to the PI, though they had not been submitted until this point. A maintenance investigation with VOSA had been found to be satisfactory.

Thus, there were two issues being the checking of driver licences and the vehicle unit downloads. The licences were checked but the restriction was not identified. There was no question about the drivers’ ability to drive and no road safety issues. Mr Taylor’s evidence was that once it was identified, he did not drive any manual vehicles until he passed the test. The deficiency had been remedied – there is an ongoing programme to check driver licences and records are kept. Mr Kelly stated that there would be no repetition.

The drivers’ cards were being downloaded and saved on the laptop. The company did not have a company card. Mr Penders belief was onerous and he ought to have downloaded. The fundamental thrust of the legislation was to ensure fair competition and road safety and not tired drivers. The systems had improved since the VOSA visit and the TC was invited not to revoke the licence. There was the likelihood if the licence was allowed to continue that there would be future compliance and the mischiefs had been remedied. The TC was asked to give a warning and to restrict any curtailment. Loss of repute would be disproportionate in relation to Mr Pender’s Transport Manager repute.

Consideration of the evidence and reasons for decision

In making her decision, TC Joan Aitken said: “This was a licence which was not granted easily and required the operator’s director, Mr Pender, to be scrutinised at PI. The licence having been granted, I am entitled to expect that the licence undertakings would be met and also that the requirement to have continuing financial standing would also be observed.

“It is not in dispute that this operator has allowed drivers to drive his vehicles, including doing school runs, without those drivers having the necessary driver licence entitlement. That is not acceptable.

It is good that there were no road traffic accidents and that Mr Taylor – for I have yet to see Mr Bond – appears to have a reasonable facility for driving. Mr Taylor has www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 15:26

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been through driving lessons with Mr Flanagan and has been through the driving test for manual vehicles and so his competence has been tested as must happen for any driver to drive the category of vehicles required by driver testing.

“It took the VOSA traffic examiner some time to get the information from Mr Pender which she required. A statutory letter was required and was not obtempered within the 14 days given for such.

Not having a company digital card meant the operator was not in a position to provide the examiner with what she needed. The work was not exclusively school contract work. There was private hire work and the vehicle units should have been downloaded – with a company card for that purpose and there should have been analysis.

“The operator did not co-operate by having vehicles available to the examiner when she asked for

a simple and cost efficient method of demonstrating the financial standing of undertakings.’ Article 13 provides a discretion to the competent authority to allow a period of grace. Article 7 makes further provision.

“From all of these sources it is established that the requirement to have financial standing is a continuing one. The very language of the period of grace provisions points to financial standing not just being at point of application and that brief moment of time, but a permanent requirement.

The operator’s bank statements across the three months prior to the injection of funds within 24 hours of the Inquiry convening show balances which did not show continuing financial standing.

“Patently, there has not been continuing financial standing in this business. I am in absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Mr Pender

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he wants to expand all his other businesses. I do understand that he has apparently invested in this business through the software which will not just be to serve the authorised vehicles, but for his wider business interests.

There is no fault in that, provided that the core requirement for financial standing for this licence is maintained.

“I did not take the PI at which the application was granted and so I have to take that the operator gave assurances to the Deputy TC and, as at the date of that PI, satisfied the Deputy TC as to repute and financial standing and other requirements for a licence.

Of course any operator gaining a licence only does so after giving undertakings, including the undertaking quoted by the traffic examiner in her evidence and which is so very important, which is to make proper arrangements so

The company had what I could call the wake up call with the Police in August 2012 and it should not have taken a VOSA visit commencing in January 2013 to have the operator put its house in order. such – and I take the dimmest view that there was one of the company’s vehicles round the corner and which was not on an airport run as claimed by Mr Pender. This type of messing VOSA about is not acceptable to me as TC. The traffic examiners deserve co-operation, particularly as it appears that they went about their business in a pleasant and helpful manner – there was no criticism in this case of the manner in which VOSA Examiners went about their business. They seem to have been exemplary in their courtesy towards the operator yet were not met with full co-operation.

“The company had what I could call the wake up call with the Police in August 2012 and it should not have taken a VOSA visit commencing in January 2013 to have the operator put its house in order. Again, that reflects poorly on Mr Pender.

“I now turn to financial standing.

Regulation 10 of EC 1071/2009 states ‘It is necessary for road transport undertakings to have a minimum financial standing to ensure their proper launching and administration. A bank guarantee or a professional liability insurance may constitute www.coachandbusweek.com

038_041_CBW1123_Legal news.indd 41

has not had continuing financial standing in Cramond Coaches Ltd but that any funds and resources have been applied to other businesses being Chaffeurline (Scotland) Ltd, Chaffeurline (UK) Ltd and the involvement with the investment in Mr Flanagan’s business which seems to be some training entity, with a trading name of Martdrive. Financial standing was only secured by a payment from a third party for which it is claimed the company does work. The call up letter to the Public Inquiry was dated October 23 and required evidence of financial standing to be submitted

by November 20. That did not happen. Only a deposit from a third party within 24 hours of the Public Inquiry commencing put the company in a position where it could make the claim to have financial standing and I was offered a finance condition.

“If an operator only has funds available for a Public Inquiry that cuts across the whole requirement to have financial standing. Mr Pender wants to have his own version of financial standing which is he does not see why he should keep money available in this particular business because

that the laws relating to the driving and operation of vehicles used under this licence are observed.

“I am highly displeased by the breaches of the licence undertakings and by Mr Pender’s lack of full co-operation with VOSA. It shows a contempt for O-licensing. I am also mindful that O-licensing requires fair competition.

“I see my regulatory duty in this case as being to mark displeasure at the breaches in the licence undertakings; at the abuse of the requirement to have financial standing; and to rebalance respect for fair competition. In assessing what action I should take, I must ask myself what is the likelihood of future compliance. In this case, the maintenance of the vehicles was in order and given the type of work Mr Pender’s company is engaged in, highly presentable vehicles are essential to the niche he seeks to serve. So it would not be in his or his company’s selfish interests to have vehicles which did not look well maintained and which were liable to break down. Thus, I have little by way of concern with roadworthiness and the likelihood of driver licence issues arising again may be judged slight. I have

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a doubt about Mr Pender and his attitude but I am clear that there has to be an objectivity to trust and I do not have sufficient. That he had to offer me a finance condition shows that his agent can see that trust in relation to continuing financial standing is shaky.

“I have come to the view that this cannot be a revocation case – though it would have been had funds not been deposited at the last lap. I have other options in my toolkit of regulatory action and have considered suspension, curtailment and formal warning.

The case is too serious for the latter. I have balanced suspension and curtailment and have decided that it is not necessary for me to take the operator off the road completely given that I have the tool of curtailment.”

Decision

The O-licence was varied by a condition limiting the number of vehicles authorised to be operated on this licence to four nominated vehicles only during the month of February 2014. Four discs were to be returned to the TC’s Edinburgh office by 0930hrs on Monday, February 3, 2014. In advance of the curtailment the TC’s office had to be notified by 0900hrs on Monday, January 27, 2014 of the four vehicle registration numbers which will be operated during February. In the event of the operator failing to provide the registration numbers and/ or failing to return the discs, the O-licence will be suspended on Monday, February 3, 2014 for the month of February 2014.

The TC imposed a finance condition on the licence, requiring the operator to provide evidence of continuing financial standing at four monthly intervals beginning at the end of April 2014 for the preceding four months and so on.

Driver conduct Mr Taylor

In relation to Mr Taylor and his driving vehicles when he did not have the correct entitlement, the TC suspended his PCV driver licence entitlement for two weeks, commencing at 2359hrs on Friday, January 17, 2014.

“I do this because a professional driver must ensure that he has the correct entitlement,” TC Joan Aitken said. “It cannot be a casual matter nor left to others. It was never the responsibility of Lothian Buses. It was his responsibility and he had not sat or passed the required driving test.” n

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 41 03/02/2014 15:26

INDUSTRY

GUIDE

TELEMATICS

Driving T forward This week’s Industry Guide focuses on suppliers of telematics systems, which are becoming widely accepted as a strong method for reducing fuel bills and improving safety

42 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 042_043_CBW_1123_Industry guide.indd 42

elematics systems are typically designed with two things in mind – safety and saving money. By improving the driving styles of drivers, vehicles are much less likely to be involved in incidents, provide passengers with a more comfortable ride and tend to travel more miles per gallon of diesel. A number of operators have said their telematics systems have made a signi�icant difference to these factors.

The important thing to remember is that a telematics system requires the operator to be active. It is not something

which can be bolted into vehicles and expected to improve driving styles automatically – it requires management to look at the �igures and speak with their driving staff to help them improve.

It is generally accepted a carrot works better than a stick here – drivers tend to be initially sceptical of such systems, which they can see as spying on them, and threats of sanctions for poor driving are unlikely to alleviate this. Rewarding drivers for good performance provides a more positive incentive for good driving and any reward should be easily paid for by the savings a telematics system can make.

Shearings Group choose Quartix vehicle tracking for its 265-strong coach fleet

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03/02/2014 12:03

QUARTIX

A growing number of bus and coach operators in the UK are turning to telematics to improve the management of their �leet and make vital cuts. With affordable �lexible direct rental options, and minimal initial investment, it is a great way of making signi�icant savings and maintaining a fully operational coach and bus �leet.

As such, to minimise accidents and the damaging effects they can in�lict on coach and bus operators, �leet managers must employ protection at the base level of their service. Quartix vehicle tracking offers a range of both preventative and analytical measures to ensure drivers perform with reduced risk, and the cause of incidents can be better understood on a per-event basis.

Cutting down on fuel and maintenance costs

Installing a tracking system enables operators to gain more control over their �leets and growing fuel costs. With the real-time tracking from Quartix, operators can tell at any time if one of their coaches or buses is idling, and the daily and weekly reports will give all idling details and totals for each vehicle. It is widely recognised that a diesel engine left running idle will consume around one gallon of fuel per hour. Idling can also cause severe wear and tear for bus and coach vehicles. Because the engine is not operating at optimum www.coachandbusweek.com

042_043_CBW_1123_Industry guide.indd 43

temperature when idling, it can cause incomplete combustion and leave residue on cylinders. It can also cause water to condense in the exhaust, increasing corrosion.

Being able to keep an eye on idling times will help reduce maintenance operating expenses as well as fuel costs.

The Quartix system also shows a replay of every trip taken by each vehicle, all displayed on Google Maps, and allows you to search for the closest vehicle to an address

improving the safety of your drivers and customers. Harsh braking not only wastes fuel and increases servicing costs (tyres, brakes etc) but is also known to be a driving style which leads to an increased risk of accidents, which is why managers are now seeing monitoring good driving as a top priority. In fact, some companies using the Quartix system have implemented their own performance-based rewards schemes based on the information

in real-time, which will help you improve routing and dispatching.

The Daily Route Maps enable you to analyse the routes taken and see how you could cut down on mileage, while the Real-Time Address Search means you can quickly send the closest or most appropriate vehicle to a last minute job, or advise a driver who is lost.

One of the main features to help reduce fuel consumption however is Quartix’s Driving-Style Monitoring suite. The module monitors and reports on harsh acceleration, braking and speeding, giving you the ability to make substantial fuel savings (typically up to 15%) while dramatically

extracted from the system’s indepth league tables, which rank driver performance individually for easy comparison.

“Real-time tracking from Quartix helps us answer passenger queries quickly and efficiently” Mike Morris, Director, Tanat Valley Coaches

Improving service

As well as directly saving money, using Quartix can help improve customer service, reliability and timekeeping. With the live data updated every minute, operators can advise customers who call in of the exact location of the coach and when it will reach them, or if a driver is running late. Having all the data at hand is also valuable when solving customer disputes – such as proving whether a driver left a pickup point on time.

Working with your team to

improve their driving style will also guarantee an all-round better customer experience on the bus or coach, keeping passengers and drivers safe.

Helping with administration and legal obligations

The extended reports available on the Quartix system also help operators keep on top of administrative duties, and be assured they are complying with your duty of care obligations.

With bus and coach operators sometimes wrongly blamed for causing damage or accidents, you will have access to the exact data and prove your case. In the unfortunate event of a vehicle being involved in an accident, the crash data feature from Quartix provides a ‘replay’ of the few seconds just before and after the collision.

By checking the timesheets directly on the system, operators can also monitor drivers’ hours and verify payroll. Maintenance alerts are also con�igurable, to remind of MOT dates, insurance renewals or tyre check-ups, for example.

Finally, knowing the location of a vehicle at any time means operators can locate and hope to recover a stolen vehicle much quicker, as has been shown countless times with Quartix customers.

T: 0870 013 6663 W: www.quartix.net/

February, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 43 03/02/2014 12:03

OPINION › CLAIRE HAIGH

Help us put the bus on the map Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, talks about Catch the Bus Week 2014 I’m sure readers of this esteemed magazine may be aware of the following fact, but judging by some of the reactions I get when I mention it, I have begun to realise that it is not commonly known to the wider world.

Buses transport more people and more commuters in Britain than all other forms of public transport combined.

Despite this sobering fact and the pivotal role they play in keeping Britain moving, buses are not a mode of transport that generally generates many national headlines. They are relied upon by vast numbers to take us to school or work, or to get us from A to B, but like a lot of hardworking, dependable things, they are not seen as being glamorous or newsworthy.

Greener Journeys is committed to changing this and 2014 is a key year in our campaign to raise awareness of the value of the bus. This is why we will again be spearheading Catch the Bus Week this spring, a week-long series of events running from April 28 to the May 4.

The campaign’s key aim is to get

This year’s event will build on the success of 2013 in your local bus company’s activities and promotions; to promoting the week in your local area, online, in newsletters or your of�ice; to running your own promotion, event or competition; to challenging people in your community to switch one car journey to a bus during the week.

There are so many great reasons to travel by bus and we want to really showcase these through the week through a nationwide media campaign, combined with activities organised by local bus companies, PTEs and passenger organisations amongst others.

original Routemaster and the 75th anniversary of its predecessor, the RT-Type.

But coming back to focus on Catch the Bus Week for a moment, we are looking at four key topics this year to try and really engage people with the bene�its of the bus, showcasing interesting, inspiring stories and changing hearts and minds.

We want people to recognise that taking the bus is better for their health and wellbeing. You get more exercise by walking to and from a bus stop, than you do if you drive door to door. Research

What’s more, Catch the Bus Week is not alone in the aim of lauding the importance of the bus in 2014. Transport for London has declared 2014 the Year of the Bus, with London Mayor Boris Johnson announcing a series of events and activities to celebrate the vital role buses play in London’s transport network throughout the year. It is an exciting campaign that will see a host of bus related events happening in the capital including the 60th anniversary of the

commissioned by Greener Journeys in 2011 showed that daily bus users clock up annual equivalent of 11 marathons. Taking the bus is also less stressful than driving, you can read a book, check your emails and not worry about where to park.

Buses are also better for the environment than driving, reducing CO2 emissions and improving local air quality. If everyone switched just one car journey a month to bus that would

We are looking at four key topics this year to try and really engage people with the benefits of the bus, showcasing interesting, inspiring stories and changing hearts and minds

people who don’t normally take the bus to make the switch during the week. In addition to encouraging modal shift, the campaign also aims to increase awareness of the bene�its of bus travel in the UK in the process.

Greener Journeys wants this year’s campaign to be even bigger than last year, creating a lasting shift in perceptions among those who don’t normally take the bus.

There will be a myriad of ways to get involved; from taking part

44 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014 044_CBW1123_Open Platform.indd 44

be one billion fewer car journeys on our roads, and a saving of two million tonnes of CO2. Buses also help reduce congestion on our roads, helping our health, our environment, our businesses and our blood pressure.

For industry, the economic case to support bus travel is clear cut and compelling; bus-users make up 29% of all shopping spend in our cities. On an individual level, the bus is a highly effective and economical means of transportation. With soaring costs of fuel, insurance, road tax and repair bills, it now costs British drivers £3,453 every year to run their vehicles – or 27p a mile.

Finally, and crucially buses are vital to local communities. The network of bus services across the UK connects people to facilities both critical and desirable. Buses get millions to school, to work and to the doctors but they can also take you to the shops, to the theatre and the pub.

Of course not everyone needs encouragement, there are those like Michael and Jacqui Burden, the pensioners who in 2013 famously travelled the length of Britain using their bus passes, who have already realised that the bus can take them where they want or need to go. However, for those who cruise past their local bus stop day after day and never seem to register it, Catch the Bus Week 2014 will hopefully demonstrate that making the switch to the bus is their best decision yet.

For more on Greener Journeys, visit www. greenerjourneys.com

If you want to let off some steam, just tap away at the keyboard and send your rant (or carefullyreasoned views) to gareth. evans@coachandbusweek.com, or fax 0845 280 2927. Make ‘Open Platform’ the subject line. Alternatively, send your missive to: CBW, 3 The Of�ice Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 12:06

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Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com 46 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

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Page 47

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40 seats + 21 standees, DDA compliant, Hanover LED. Direct off lease from a major operator. £32,500 + VAT – CHOICE Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

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2.5 diesel minibus with 15 seats, low floor with kneeling facility, 1 removable seat for wheelchair use, destination equipment, ideal multi-purpose vehicle, MOT 25/5/2014. £3,950 + VAT

L.J. Edwards – 07974 369570

Chalkwell Coach Hire 01795 423982

2005 (55) MAN 14.220 MCV Evolution

1997 Volvo Olympian open top bus

£7,000 + VAT

• Automatic • Air con • Toilet • Monitor x 2 49 seats, automatic, good condition for year, available with new test, ideal for upseat.

Choice of 3 – view North Wales/Dublin. £13,000

• Non LEZ • Long MOT

£30,000 + VAT

PAB Tours 00353 86 8138165 ant@pabtours.com

L.J. Edwards – 07974 369570

2004 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse

1998 (R) Iveco 16 seat Minibus

40 seat SLF service bus, newly repanelled and repainted, 12 months MOT to October 2013, Hannover LED destination, excellent condition, drives superb.

NOW £19,950 + VAT ovno

Llew Jones – 07795 347476 or steve@llewjones.com

Alexander Dennis body, P reg, 75 seats, fitted with a PA system, new MOT on purchase.

Only 2 remaining.

Bath Bus Company 01225 330444

2006 Iveco Beulas Cygnus

53 plate Mercedes Cheetah

Power door Will have new test.

45 seats, full DDA, ZF automatic gearbox, MobiTec destination, Cyberlyne CCTV with audio recording, choice of four.

£45,000 + VAT

yourbus – 01773 714013

£1,250 + VAT

Nigel Brown – 01982 570225

53 seats + crew and driver, exceptionally clean interior, air con, reversing camera, DVD/monitor, radio/CD, microphone, fridge, individual air vent and light per seat, powered side lockers, owned from new.

£76,000 o.n.o

29 passengers plus courier seat, tax till August, MOT till June, large boot, low emission exhaust fitted. £26,000 + VAT

Tony Doyle Coaches Ltd 0035 312 867427

Hailstone Travel Ltd 0845 388 3848

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

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 47

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Setra 415 GTHD

2000 Volvo B7TL’S

ZF gearboxes, single door, 82 seats fully seated or 80 seats as DDA compliant, supplied with new MOT and COIF, new batch just arriving.

POA

400,000 km. Long MOT. 48 reclining seats. Frenzel Kitchen,Toilet/Washroom. 2 Screen + DVD player.

Built in vehicle wash.

Choice of two - June 2007 + January 2008

£80,000 each + VAT

2008 Mercedes Atego

2005 Neoplan Skyliners

L With Sitcar Marlin 33 seat body in green. £45,000

T S A

E N O

13.8m, MAN engines, 89 seats, toilet, air-con.

POA

EnsignBus 01708 865656

Buzzlines Travel Contact Nigel or Scott on 01303 261870

Andy Shaw – 0131 554 5413

EnsignBus 01708 865656

2003 Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 SLF 12m

2008 Mercedes Sprinter 515 EX

1998 Volvo B10M Caetano Enigma

1999 (T) MAN 24,400 Noge Triaxle

44 seats + 27 standees, DDA compliant, 12 months MOT. £27,500 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

16 recliners with 3 point belts, MOT till May, air-con, double glazing, large drop boot, decorative curtains, 276,000 miles (39,258 on new engine), 1 owner. £22,995 + VAT

1995 (N) Toyota Optimo III

2008 Toyota Optimo

2008 Mercedes Benz Sitcar Marlin

2008 MAN 14:240 MCV Evolution

May 2008. 215,000 km, MOT May 2014.

22 Leather reclining seats with 3 point belts.

Coffee machine.

33 moquette seats + guide + driver, 3 point belts, folding arm rests, reclining back rest, double glazing, A/C, radio/CD/PA, full draw curtains, aisle carpet, fridge, saloon heater, 4.5m2 of luggage storage.

£24,000 + VAT

43 seats + 22 standees, auto box, 3 point belts, DDA compliant with Mobitec display, 8 camera CCTV system,Traffilog tracking & diagnostics, well maintained with long MOT, 4 available.

£47,500

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

Bakers Dolphin 01934 422400 or 07788 101631

2007 MAN Marco Polo

2008 MAN Marco Polo Viaggio 3

2007 (57 plate) VW Crafter

55 reclining seats (plus driver & courier), 345,000Km, reversing camera, air con, DVD/monitor, fridge, radio/CD, microphone, individual air vent and light per seat, really good MPG, come take a test drive.

57 reclining seats (plus driver & courier), side wheelchair lift prepared, only 195,000km, reverse camera, air con, DVD/monitor, fridge, radio/CD, microphone, individual air vent and light per seat.

Nigel Brown – 01982 570225

Buzzlines Travel Contact Nigel or Scott on 01303 261870

1996 Volvo B10MA Articulated Coach

L

OFFERS + VAT

Nigel Brown – 01982 570225

21 seats White 12 months MOT Ideal school contract vehicle.

T S A

£12,500 + VAT ono

Paul Watson Travel paul.watson9@btconnect.com

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

£2,750 + VAT

49 seats with retractable belts, monitor, DVD, radio, cassette, taxed and tested, has air-con but needs re-gas + belts, needs t.l.c. but good motor.

49 executive seats ZF auto gearbox Alloy wheels No tax or MOT Dry stored past 2 years.

POA

E N O

POA

£89,000

£98,000

16 leather seats with 3 point belts, air conditioned, large boot with barn doors, body kit, colour coded.

May consider part exchange.

EnsignBus 01708 865656

Tony Doyle Coaches Ltd 0035 312 867427

Tony Doyle Coaches Ltd 0035 312 867427

Shaws – Tel: 01977 661214

ZF automatics, 71 seats.

£19,900 + VAT

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com 48 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

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2001 MAN Neoplan

2006 Bova Majiq

12 months MOT & tax, full tank of fuel, one owner driver for the last 5 years, 49 seater, toilet, aircon, drivers bunk, alloy wheels, just refurbished, 2 new 22in Samsung LED monitors, black-out windows, TV tuner, DVD system all fitted 8 months ago, good mpg, 3 new air bags, new belts, hoses and interior LED lights just fitted, 600,000km, based in Glasgow.

49 seat executive, ZF auto, LEZ compliant, leather headrests, twin monitor DVD, centre sunken toilet, tasteful moquette, excellent condition, MOT & Tax, economical vehicle, ready to work.

£25,000 + VAT

Contact Gary – 07930 377051

£95,000 + VAT

16 removable seats, or 6 wheelchairs, 5 speed manual, external wheelchair lift, tachograph fitted, very clean condition, MOT June 14. £3,250 + VAT

Travelstar European 01922 647100 / 07779 801862

Chalkwell Coach Hire 01795 423982 andy.bates@chalkwell.co.uk

Plaxton Panther MAN

1994 Volvo B9M Berkof Excellence

49 reclining seats, AS Tronic gearbox, LEZ compliant, A/C, W/C, sat-nav, reverse camera, DVD, 2 x monitors.

Good solid engine and gearbox, tidy bodywork, MOT till April 2014, 37 recliners, loads of legroom and a rear toilet.

£95,500

Applegates Coaches 01453 810314

£11,000 Milligans Coach Travel 01290 550365

2003 Setra 315 GTHD

2006 Ford Transit minibus

49 seat with retractable belts, low mileage, seat back tables, footrests, centre toilet, power door, air con, webasto, cool box and boiler 2 x monitors and DVD, radio cassette, LEZ exhaust, great drive.

1999 Mercedes 412D

Ideal for school contracts and private hire work. Very clean throughout. Fully maintained in our in house work shops. Test October 2014. Choice of 2

1999 Mercedes Optare Solo M850

26 + standees, automatic box, DDA compliant with Mobitec display, 8 camera CCTV system and Traffilog tracking and diagnostics fitted.

MOT to March 2014.

£8,500

Bakers Dolphin 01934 422400 or 07788 101631 2002 Mercedes Benz 814 Plaxton Beaver 2

33 brand new re-trimmed seats + driver with 3 point belts. Luggage Racks. Just been re-painted. This vehicle is immaculate. Test May 2014

£19,950 + VAT

Call Karl at Whitegate Travel Tel: 01606 786833 Mobile: 07841 110426

2006 Mercedes Benz Beluga Midi Coach

2002 Bova Futura • Air con • Toilet • DVD • Monitor x 2 • Eminox euro 4 • 49 seats • Green cloth • Long MOT

Merc Vario 815, 5 speed manual, 29 reclining seats with armrests + courier seat . Re-trimmed in in moquette May 2013, new carpet. A/C, rear heating.

Large boot and sidelockers 1 yr MOT. 328000 kms

£45,000 + VAT ono

04 plate £5,250 + VAT 06 plate £6,250 + VAT

Paul Watson Travel paul.watson9@btconnect.com

Call Karl at Whitegate Travel Tel: 01606 786833 Mobile: 07841 110426

£50,000 + VAT

POA

L.J. Edwards – 07974 369570

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

1998 (R) DAF SB300 Plaxton Excalibur

2001, Volvo B10M Plaxton Excalibur

2007 Scania K340/ Caetano Levante

2005 Optare Solo M950 SLF 9.5m

33 seats + 17 standees, Mercedes engine, Hanover LED.

£25,000 + VAT

Choice of 2, 49 leather reclining seats, ZF automatic gearbox and retarder, Hanover front, side and rear destinations, WC, air conditioning, PLS magic lift, low mileage, recently refurbished and can be used on National Express network until June 2016.

Call 01691 780212 or visit www.tanat.co.uk for more details

yourbus – 01773 714013

53 T&T Auto gearbox (faulty) Spares or repair.

OFFERS + VAT

Nigel Brown – 01982 570225

ZF Auto, 49 belted seats. A/C, Toilet, MOT’d till April 2014.

LEZ Certificated until April 2014.

£80,000 + VAT each

£32,000 + VAT Southdown PSV 01342 711840 email: bussales@southdownpsv.co.uk www.southdownpsv.co.uk

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

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 49

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2008 Iveco Daily 50c15 Iris Bus

DAF MB230 VanHool Super High

2007 Optare Solo 7.1 SE

£3,250 ono + VAT

23 seater + 10 standing, MOT June 2014, full service history from new, Hanover front digital destination board, CCTV – Activ 4 camera system, Mercedes engine, 263,000 miles. £35,000 o.n.o. + VAT

Tel: 07770 593835

Express Motors Email: jones14@btconnect.com

Ring Graham Croombs 0118 973 3486 graham@courtneybuses.com

1999 Dennis Dart Plaxton SLF

2000 Volvo B10M Plaxton Panther

COIF, 29 seats and 17 standing or 26 seated + 1 w/chair and 17 standing, MOT until May 2014, blue seats which were retrimmed a couple of years ago.

49 seats, PA system DVD player, climate control, centre sunken WC, continental door, water boiler, P/plate, not subject to LEZ, recent upholstery re-trim. Sale due to fleet replacement.

£5,000 + VAT

£24,000 + VAT

Phone Nick on 01626 833664 or 07872 839530

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

16 seat, 81,000 miles from new, 1 council owner, mint condition inside and out, tax and MOT. £14,700 + VAT

53 seater + WC, tax and MOT until April 2014, in daily use, newer vehicle forces sale, private plate not included.

17 seat factory minibus 1 council owner from new, 115,000 miles, in superb all round condition, no dents anywhere, MOT till end of March. £4,450 +VAT

Tel: 07770 593835

CONTRACT VEHICLES FOR SALE

2006 VOLVO B12M

51/53 EXEC, W.C., A.C. (AUTO), BERKOFF, LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, EXCELLENT CONDITION £79,000

TEL: 01884 252646 / 07702 626542 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

2002 Scania VanHool K124

2003 (52 plate) Volvo B7R Plaxton Prima

2003 Ford Transit410

Two coaches for sale with 53/57 seats.

£3,250 ono each

Manns Travel – 07796 695675

1998 Mercedes Sprinter 15 seats, front entry, Mellor conversion, MOT 16/5/14, very good condition, with tail lift.

£ 3,700

1998 Iveco 40 / 10 15 seats, front entry, MOT 22/8/14, very good condition.

ZF auto, 57 seats + courier, lap belts, 8 camera x200 CCTV system, manual tacho, MOT July 2014, owned by us from new, sold as seen.

£39,950 + VAT

enquiries@perrymansbuses.com 01289 308719

2003 (53) VOLVO B12M 51/53 EXEC, W.C., A.C., BERKOFF, LEZ, MOT 12/11/14, EXCELLENT CONDITION £52,500

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 30/9/14, excellent condition.

19 seats, front entry, power door, MOT 13/1/15, very good condition.

TEL: 01884 252646 / 07702 626542

£45,000 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

Kingdoms Tours Ltd

01884 252646 / 07702 626542

01884 252646 / 07702 626542

Volvo B12B Van Hool

2003 Neoplan Starliner

1999 Volvo Olympian Alexander

Kingdoms Tours Ltd

2001 Salvador Caetano B10M

70 seats + driver and crew, 3 point belts fitted, auto, 3+2 seat config, air-con, good runner, inspection welcome, ready for work, sale due to fleet replacement.

£40,000 + VAT

£ 2,500

1995 Iveco 49 / 10

ZF auto, 14 berth sleeper, Euro 4 LEZ, static AC/heating, 240v, normal band bus stuff! MOT March 2014, good condition.

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

£25,000 + VAT

Telephone: 01487 843333

38 seats, leather seat around tables, Sky TV, DVD, entertainment system, 7 screens, toilet/washroom, kitchen with fridge and microwave, sockets throughout coach, automatic, Merc engine.

£ 3,000

78 seats + 13 standing, automatic, limited to 90 Kph, seatbelts throughout, ideal for school trips and contract hire, Hannover displays.

£37,500 + VAT

£14,000 + VAT

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

Steve 0161 775 0800/07445 266345 operations@travel-master.co.uk

Telephone Jade Cassidy on 01733 293247 or email jade.cassidy@coachandbusweek.com 50 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

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2004 Iveco Beulas Elmundo

2002 Scania Irizar K114

51 exec, W.C., A.C. (auto), comes with new MOT, excellent condition.

49 exec, W.C., A.C., 7 speed C-Shift, MOT 21/5/14, excellent condition.

£45,000 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

£43,000 Kingdoms Tours Ltd

01884 252646 / 07702 626542

01884 252646 / 07702 626542

2000 Dennis Dart Plaxton SLF

2001 Mercedes Vario

MOT and taxed to March 2014, COIF, 29 seats and 17 standing or 26 standing + 1 wheelchair and 17 standing, blue seats retrimmed a couple of years ago.

29 belted seats, taxed until end of February, MOT until 17th March, well maintained and in daily use.

£6,500 + VAT

£7,500 + VAT

Phone Nick on 01626 833664 or 07872 839530

Phone Nick on 01626 833664 or 07872 839530

Luxury VW Crafter

2008 Ford Transit

2007, 16 seats, A/C, DVD, microphone, 135,000 miles, 7 months MOT, excellent condition.

£21,000

115bhp, 16 seats with headrests and 3 point belts, one owner, low mileage, side loading entry door, radio/CD, twin rear wheels, tow bar, butterfly step.

£10,495

Slick Rides – 07823 770978

EVM Direct – 0845 5205160

LDV Convoy

Mercedes Sprinter

PSV, 16 seater, COIF, Tacho. 2005/55. 11 mths MOT, v tidy coach, low mileage, tow bar. Transit 2.4 duro torque engine. Choice of two the same, many other 16 seaters available

16 seat luxury minicoach, 2004/04. Taxed & MOT. London LEZ Compliant, very tidy, drives well, low front entry, forced air, lift up boot, wood dash kit, manual gearbox, well below average mileage, super little coach, converted by Crest, COIF. May px

£2950

Parnells Coaches 01404 47502/07790 966667

2006/7 Scania K340 Caetano Levante

£11,750

Parnells Coaches 01404 47502/07790 966667

49 seats, rear floor mounted WC, automatic gearbox, air conditioning, DDA compliant

To arrange a viewing call 07760 771285

www.coachandbusweek.com

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 51

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Ensig DOUBLE DECK 1998 S REG VOLVO OLYMPIANS Euro 2 Volvo engines ZF gearboxes, Northern Counties Palatine 2 bodies, 77 seats

LEZ

COMPLIANT

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

1999/2000/2001 V/Y REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

13.8m, MAN engines, 89 seats, toilet, air-con.

Cummins / Allison with traps, DDA and LEZ compliant, Caetano bodies, 38 seats.

2005 NEOPLAN SKYLINER’S

2001 Y REG DENNIS DARTS

2000/2001 X/Y REG VOLVO B7TL’S

Cummins / Voith, Alexander ALX 400 lowheight body, 84 seats, LEZ compliant.

1999 DENNIS TRIDENT

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

SWB, CCTV, particulate traps so LEZ compliant, Plaxton President bodies, dual door 62 seats or single door 71 seats.

1999 VOLVO B7TL’S

Cummins / Allison , Plaxton Pointer bodies, 35 seats.

1998 R REG DENNIS DARTS

2000 VOLVO B7TL’s

ZF gearboxes, single door, 82 seats fully seated or 80 seats as DDA compliant, supplied with new MOT and COIF, new batch just arriving.

Euro 4 Volvo engine, Wrights Eclipse Gemini body, 68 seats or 74 converted to single door.

2007 VOLVO B9TL

1998 R REG VOLVO OLYMPIANS

Volvo Euro 2 engines, ZF gearboxes, East Lancs bodies, 72 seats.

OPEN TOP BUSES A SPECIALITY -

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

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nbus

K ER SPECIALIST ZF automatic, Plaxton Verde bodies, 51 seats.

1995 VOLVO B10B’S

2010 VOLVO B9TL’S

Euro 5, Wrights Eclipse Gemini 2 bodies, single door, 74 seats.

1989-93 LEYLAND OLYMPIANS

Cummins L10, ZF 5 speed gearboxes, some 72 coach seats, some 76 bus seats, low height 13 feet 8, long MOT’s.

2003 SCANIA OMNICITY CN94UB

Caetano Levante bodies, DDA compliant with lifts, 49 seats, toilet, air-con, recent re-trims, LEZ compliant.

12m, Euro 3, DDA, 42 seats.

ZF automatic, Northern Counties low height bodies, 77 seats, Volvo Euro 2 engines.

2 door, Euro 3, ZF automatic, 37 seats, 12m, DDA.

2004 MERCEDES CITARO

2006 VOLVO B12B’S

1997 VOLVO OLYMPIANS

51 and 02 plate, Cummins Euro 3 ISC engines, LEZ, Plaxton President bodies, can be DDA, single door and 78 seats, or dual door 67 seats.

Cummins / Allison, 8.8m, 29 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.

2000 X REG DENNIS SUPER POINTER DARTS

2001 X REG DENNIS MINI POINTER DARTS

2001/2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins 160 engines, Voith gearboxes, 41 seats.

1996 VOLVO B10MA ARTICULATED COACHES ZF automatics, 71 seats.

2001 51 PLATE MINI POINTER DARTS

8.8m, 25 seats, LEZ compliant.

1999 T/V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS

Cummins / ZF, Plaxton bodies, 62 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.

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

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Call for details on our website conversions, upseating, refurbishment, and change of use conversion. Also vehicles available for hire short and long term.

www.staffordbuscentre.com email: martin@staffordbuscentre.com Telephone: 01782 791774 Mobile: 07803 222552 View our latest arrivals on www.staffordbuscentre.com

DENNIS DART PLAXTON POINTER "MPD" 2001 Y reg, 29 seats with new 3 point belt installation, wheelchair ramp in step so DDA, Eminox exhaust to euro 4 LEZ/RPC Choice of 4 £9,950

OPTARE SOLO M920 “SLIMLINE”

2008 Reg, 33 high back seats and belts, Cummins ISB 6 cylinder, tachograph, unusual spec.

Phone for details.

Choice of 2

MERCEDES SPRINTER 413 UVG BODY 2007 Reg, seats on tracking, rear underfloor lift, low miles. £21,950

DENNIS DART PLAXTON SPD “SUPER POINTER” 1998/9, 41 seats, direct from Cardiff Bus. Choice from £4,450

MERCEDES 815D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2

2008 58 Reg, 33 coach seats with belts, manual, power in-swing door, destination. Ideal purpose bus. £35,950

FORD TRANSIT FACTORY 16 SEATER

2008/9 58/59 Reg, COIF, PSV test, tacho, 80k miles. £12,950

DOUBLE DECKERS

AEC ROUTEMASTER No 1747 FOR RESTORATION With AEC engine, 95% complete and does run, no seats, been a playbus & office, just waiting for new use. Offers around £18,950 DENNIS TRIDENT ALEXANDER ALX400 1999 T REG 62 seats, very clean inside and out. Choice of 2 £9,950 DENNIS TRIDENT PLAXTON PRESIDENT 2000 X REG Single door converted, can be belted if required. FROM £7,950 VOLVO OLYMPIAN NORTHERN COUNTIES “LOW HEIGHT” BODY 1998 R REG Volvo engine/ZF gearbox, 76 seats plus 8, can be belted if required.

CHOICE OF 2 £7,950 VOLVO OLYMPIAN ALEXANDER BODY 1996 N REG 78 seats with belts, long or new MoT, one repainted white, currently taxed so ready to work. FROM £7,750

SINGLE DECKERS

ADL ENVIRO 300 2006 56 REG SLF BUS - dual use options, with 60 x 3 point belted seats, use on bus services or school contracts. Phone for spec and price DENNIS DART PLAXTON "SUPER POINTER" 1998 S REG Direct from Cardiff Bus. Currently being seatbelted for schools etc, will be 41 seats, uprated engine and gearbox, painted belted etc FROM £8,450 DENNIS DART PLAXTON MINI POINTER “MPD” Y REG 29 seats, DDA destination equipment. Choice of 4 £6,950 (Euro 4 and beltable) DENNIS DART CAETANO CUTLASS Step entrance with 38 seats and 3 point belts. Ideal school contracts etc. £3,450

MINIBUS

FORD TRANSIT 350 15 SEAT FACTORY BUS 57 REG Low miles, Class 5 MoT, drive on any car licence, ideal for school and club use with restricted drivers. £8,950 PSV TRANSITS 15-17 seats, available for short term rental. Rent for one week, month or year. Up to you. Always available. Phone for details IVECO 45/15 2005 55 REG 16 seats, power door, powerful 3.0 ltr engine. £7,950 MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2002/3 52 REG 28 removable H/B seats on tracking, tail lift, PSV tested, auto gearbox, choice of many, very presentable. £13,940 MERCEDES 413D SPRINTER 2004 04 REG Extra long body with 16 seats and huge full height boot, COIF and long MoT. £11,950 MERCEDES 814 VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2004 54 REG Fitted with 20 seats on tracking, and up to 10 wheelchairs, PSV, COIF and MoT, manual gearbox, power door, destination etc. long wheel base so could go to 32 seats. £14,950 MERCEDES 814D VARIO PLAXTON BEAVER 2 2000 W reg, fitted with 31/33 H/B coach seats & belts, manual gearbox, new test and paint. £8,950 MERCEDES 614D VARIO 1999 T REG SWB 16 seater, 2 + 1 seating so looks nice, hide away tail lift, COIF and PSV test. £4,250 OPTARE SOLO M 920 54 REG 33 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £29,950 OPTARE SOLO M 850 54 REG 29 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £22,950 OPTARE SOLO M 850 54 REG 29 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £22,950 OPTARE SOLO M 920 53 REG 33 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £21,950 OPTARE SOLO M 920 Y REG 33 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £9,950 OPTARE SOLO M920 1999 (PP) 33 seats with belts + tip ups, fully repainted, long test. £8,950 OPTARE SOLO M 850 X REG 29 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £6,950 OPTARE SOLO M 850 W REG 29 seats, all wheelchair accessible/DDA. £6,250 OPTARE SOLO M920 1999 PP Currently out of test and no seats (don’t ask) runs fine £3,000 VW LT 46 Extra long wheelbase and super low floor, currently only 8 seats but could be 16-20 seats or make superb accessible camper.

CHOICE OF 2 FROM £5,500

RECOVERY TRUCK

DAF 2500 UNDERLIFT RECOVERY TRUCK Good condition, 1987 D reg, all underlift extras, in lockers, will save you pounds. £8,450

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FORD TRANSIT MINIBUSES (12) 2012 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus 135ps air-con, tacho, COIF/PSV £19,995 (12) 2012 Ford Transit 9 seat Shuttle twin side loading doors 18000 miles £12,995 (10) 2010 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus 2.4 diesel, six speed gearbox, tacho, 55,000 km £13,495 (56) 2006 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus 2.3 diesel with six speed gearbox, 40,000 miles, COIF/PSV £8,995 (56) 2006 Ford Transit 17 seat minibus, high back seats with three point belts, COIF/PSV £8,995 (02) 2002 Ford Transit 2.4 diesel 3.5 ton, automatic gearbox, 8 seats, inboard Ricon wheelchair lift, rear heating, tracking to take 3 wheelchairs, overhead lockers £5,995

OTHER MAKES

New Peugeot Boxer 16 seat 3.5 ton and 17 seat w/chair accessible minibuses, 2.2 diesel 120ps, six speed gearbox LEZ COMPLIANT From £24,750 + VAT (60) 2010 Renault Master 3.5 ton GVW 17 seat minibus, 2.3 diesel, six speed manual, high back seats, tacho, 38,000kms, sat-nav £15,995

OTHER MAKES

(56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5t on 17 seat minibus 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point belts, 33,000 miles £8,995 (54) 2004 LDV Convoy 17 seat school minibus, internal racks, roof rack, tachograph, 51,500miles, FSH £4,995

D

SOL

Renault Master 17 seat 2.8 diesel mini coach, full under floor luggage large boot, tachograph, COIF/PSV £5,995 + VAT

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

(62) 2013 Citroen Berlingo Automatic, 8,000 miles only, low floor, lightweight ramp, electric reals, high spec £12,850 (11) 2011 Renault Master 3.5ton 17 seat 2.3 diesel six speed, tachograph, fully tracked floor, inboard lightweight ramp, 30,000 miles £16,995 (06) 2006 Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 cdti 9 seat, inboard lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 45,000 miles £8,995 (57) 2007 Renault Master MWB 2.5TD 6 speed, tracking for two wheelchairs, in board lift, aircon, rear heating, 35,000 miles, one owner £12,495

(07) 2007 Fiat Doblo 1.4 petrol, 11,500 miles only, five speed manual, three seats plus wheelchair space, low floor, lightweight ramp, electric reals, air-con £6,995

(60) 2010 Renault Master 9 seat Shuttel 2.3 diesel six speed, large boot, sat-nav, Bluetooth £10,495

(54) 2004 Renault Master 3.5 ton 2.5 Diesel, five speed manual gearbox,12 seats, tracking to take two wheelchairs, inboard lift, rear heating, low entry side step £6,995

(56) 2006 Peugeot Boxer 3.5 ton 17 seat LWB minibus, 2.8 diesel, high back seats with three point seat belts, 19,000 miles only £9,450

(53) 2003 Renault Master SWB 2.3 diesel, inboard Ricon lift,tracking for two wheelchairs, electric side step £5,995

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

Tel: 01633 485858 Mobile: 07866 443304

Pembridge House, The Park Business Centre, Plough Road, Goytre, Penperlleni, Nr Usk, South Wales NP4 0AL – 10 minutes from M4 motorway. Viewing by appointment only

Finance Contract Hire and Finance Lease Available. We deliver Nationwide. All vehicles prepared to VOSA standard COIF/PSV specialist

All above prices are subject to VAT @ 20%

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Mini Coach Sales

BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ FERQUI SOROCO 19 high back seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights and boot.

BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ FERQUI SOROCO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, A/C, D/G, forced air, reading lights and boot.

Orders now being taken for Euro 6

Orders now being taken for Euro 6

2010 59 REG MERCEDES 313 CDI SPRINTER AUTO, 16 high back seats, 3 point belts and AC.

2008 08 REG MERCEDES 515CDI SOROCO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, DG, forced air, reading lights, DVD system, reversing camera, power door, large boot.

2008 58 REG MERCEDES 613D VARIO 24 high back seats, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot.

2008 58 REG IVECO DAILY 45C15 AUTO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, large boot. 2007 57 Reg Manual also available.

2007 57 REG MERCEDES 816D WING 29 high back seats + courier, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, power door, large boot, metallic silver.

2007 07 REG MERCEDES 613 VARIO 24 high back seats, 3 point belts, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot.

2006 56 REG MERCEDES 616 CDI RIADA 22 high back seats plus courier, 3 point belts, AC, DVD, forced air, reading lights, power door and boot. New engine Dec ‘13.

2006 56 REG MERCEDES 413CDI SOROCO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, forced air, reading lights, power door and large boot.

2002 02 REG MERCEDES 413 CDI SOROCO 16 high back seats, 3 point belts, AC, power door, large boot. Choice of 2.

2010 59 REG MERCEDES 515 CDI TRAVEL 45 16 high back reclining seats, 3 point belts, A/C, forced air, reading lights, DVD, power door & power step, coach rear, auto.

Steve Peach NEW Tel: 01405 814064 Mob: 07836 551020 Email: info@connaughtpsv.co.uk www.connaughtpsv.co.uk

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WHITEGATE TRAVEL SALE

58 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

700088-1123-Dawsons

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9

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

2003 (03) ADL ENVIRO 300 SLF 12m 44 seats

Cummins 220 bhp Euro 3 engine. ZF Ecomat 5 speed gearbox.

Hanover Led Destination. Fully DDA Compliant. CCTV cameras fitted.

Reduced to £22,500 + VAT to clear!

Finance available – subject to status – please call 01342 711840 www.southdownpsv.co.uk

Southdown PSV Silverwood Snow Hill Copthorne West Sussex RH10 3EN www.coachandbusweek.com

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 61

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BUS & COACH

IN THE SOUTH LTD.

2008 VOLVO B12B 460 ‘I’ SHIFT 9700 HD PRESTIGE PLUS (EURO 4) 50/52 Reclining seats with part leather trim; seating with sideway slide facility; Individual footrests, seat back tables & magazine nets; 3 point seat belts; courier seat, Plug type entrance door, AIR CONDITIONING, double glazing; Cool-box within dash; centre sunken demountable toilet; water boiler; continental exit with powered door, parallel lift luggage locker doors; Radio p/a CD/mp3 player coupled to DVD with two motorised monitors; Individual passenger headphone sockets with multi channel control; Travel pilot navigationonboard vacuum cleaner; Curtains & side window blinds; luggage rack locker doors; full saloon carpeting; Webasto heater, integral retarder, ‘I’ shift transmission, Durabright alloy wheels; digital tachograph

Summerfield Avenue, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JF

www.moseleysouth.co.uk Follow us @MoseleySouth on

Telephone (01823) 653000 Fax: (01823) 663502 Email: sales@moseleysouth.co.uk

BEN WEAVER commercials PSV

PSV

2003 53 PLATE 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 cdi turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed sprintshift auto gearbox, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, 210000 kilometers/131000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9795 + VAT

02 51 IVECO 50C13 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WELFARE BUS 2.8 turbo diesel, white, Frank Guy conversion, access rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, analogue tachograph, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, sunroofs ex local authority owned, 150,000 kilometers/94,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standard, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 5,495

2003 03 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 tdi, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, 72,000 kilometers/45,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 6,995 + VAT

2002 02 IVECO DAILY 45C11 11 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LWB WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White, 2800cc 6 speed turbo diesel, analogue tachograph, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, seats can be added to make into a 17 seater, LEZ compliant, 26,000 kilometers/16,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty, no VAT to pay £ 7,995 NO VAT

2008 08 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 16 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel euro 4 engine, automatic, white, air con, Ratcliffe underfloor lift, fully tracked throughout with flat floor, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, digital tachograph, PSV, electrically operated front entry plug door, remote central locking, CD player, LEZ compliant, 40,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 17495 + VAT

PSV

2002 52 IVECO DIALY 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LWB WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS White, 2800cc 6 speed turbo diesel, analogue tachograph, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 86000 kilometers/54000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty, no VAT to pay £ 7,195 NO VAT

2003 03 REG IVECO DAILY 45C13 11 SEAT FRONT ENTRY LONG WHEEL BASE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2800cc turbo diesel white, white, access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, tachograph, LEZ compliant, currently fitted with 11 seats but can be made upto 17, 200000 kilometers/124000 miles, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 6995 + VAT NOW £ 5995 + VAT

2006 06 PLATE VOLKSWAGEN LT46 17 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.5 TDI, white, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, fully tracked throughout, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, AVS side door access step, tachograph, 147,000 kilometers/92,000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9,695 + VAT

2006 06 REG IVECO DAILY 40C14 10 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3000cc turbo diesel, analogue tachograph, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for 2 wheelchairs, 4200 kgs gross vehicle weight, can be driven without D1 licence, overhead cab storage, 2 rear storage compartments, remote central locking, ex NHS, 89,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 9,995 + VAT NOW £ 8,995 + VAT

PSV

PSV

2007 07 PLATE IVECO DAILY 50C15 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 3.0 turbo diesel, automatic gearbox, certificate of initial fitness, digital tachograph, PSV, electric plug side entry door, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 6 wheelchairs, currently has 10 passenger seats fitted but can be made upto 16, electric windows, CD player, 2 x uplift skylights, 75,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty. £14,995 +

2003 53 PLATE MERCEDES SPRINTER 413CDI 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WELFARE MINIBUS 2200 CDI turbo diesel 130ps, 6 speed sprintshift automatic gearbox, UV Modular conversion, Ratcliffe underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, certificate of initial fitness, analogue tachograph, PSV, LEZ compliant, CD player, 125,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 9795 + VAT

2005 05 PLATE IVECO DAILY IRIS 50C13 17 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS Stanford conversion, analogue tacho, certificate of initial fitness, PSV, 2.8 turbo diesel, 6 speed manual, panoramic glass, electric front entry plug door with auto step, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 6 wheelchairs, LEZ compliant, 109,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 9,795 + VAT NOW £ 8,995 + VAT

2002 02 MERCEDES VARIO 614 21 SEAT FRONT ENTRY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 4300 turbo diesel engine with manual gearbox, Access underfloor rear tail lift, tracking for 6 wheelchairs, 256000 klms/160000 miles, finished in white, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty REDUCED WAS £ 6,995 + VAT NOW £ 5,995 + VAT

2006 06 PLATE FORD TRANSIT LWB HIGH ROOF 11 SEAT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE MINIBUS 2.4 90ps turbo diesel, Ricon internal rear wheelchair lift, tracking for up to 3 wheelchairs, fitted with 5 passenger seats but can be made upto 10, digital tachograph, electric windows, power heated door mirrors, PAS, remote central locking, overhead cab luggage tray, 101,000 miles, excellent condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 3 months nationwide parts and labour warranty £ 8,695 + VAT

2003 53 REG IVECO DAILY 65C15 WELFARE BUS 2800cc turbo diesel, metallic light blue, currently fitted with 16 passenger seats, will take upto 22 passenger seats, Access underfloor rear wheelchair lift, tracking for upto 8 wheelchairs, overhead luggage storage, 152000 kilometers/92000 miles, very good condition, supplied with 12 months PSV or MOT, fully serviced to Good Garage Scheme standards, 1 month nationwide parts and labour warranty £7995 + VAT

Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7JW Tel: 0114 275 7076 www.minibuses-for-sale.co.uk 62 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

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VUgYWcUW\gU`Yg#Wc#i_

08 (08) IVECO IRIS BUS 50C15 17 SEAT INC DRIVER W/CHAIR ACCESS PLUG DOOR COIF/PSV £17,995

2010 (10) FORD TRANSIT 12 SEAT MINIBUS 115PS 49,500 MILES £11,250

08 (08) IVECO 50C15 16 SEAT W/CHAIR MINIBUS U/FLOOR LIFT TRACKING FOR UP TO 5 W/CHAIRS COIF/PSV 49,000 MILES £19,995

08 (08) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT MINIBUS COIF/PSV TO DECEMBER 2014 26,000 MILES £12,995

05 (05) VW LT35 TDI LWB 16 SEAT NON D1 DRIVER W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE INBOARD LIFT £15,500

NEW MERCEDES SPRINTER TOURLINE 519CDI • ALTAS CONVERSION • 17 SEAT MINICOACH • DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS • FULL AIR CONDITIONING • POWER DOOR LOW ENTRY STEP

05 (05) FORD TRANSIT 13 SEAT INC DRIVER W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE U/FLOOR LIFT £7,995

P.O.A. (PONTYPOOL) LTD

2008 (08) IVECO IRIS BUS 50C15 17 SEAT W/CHAIR ACCESSIBLE COIF/PSV 54,000 MILES £16,995

2010 (10) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT BUS 115 PS DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH COIF/PSV £14,995

2010 (10) FORD TRANSIT 17 SEAT BUS 14OPS DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH COIF/PSV £15,495

MULTIPART & LDV/MAXUS PARTS STOCKISTS

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

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 63

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Kinglong Scotland XMQ 6130Y Triaxle

53-59 seats.

Full executive specification, wired for wi-fi.

XMQ 6129 Tourist Coach Up to 53 seats, full exec specification, wired for wi-fi, reversing camera

XMQ 6127 12m Coach

36-55 seats, full exec specification, wired for wi-fi

XMQ 6127J City Bus

40 seats + standees, DDA compliant

XMQ 6900 Medium Passenger Coach

33-35 seats, full exec specification

XMQ 6900J City Bus

27 seats + standees, DDA compliant

XMQ 6120C Intercity Bus

Up to 70 seats, DDA compliant, can be fully tracked, wheelchair access Call for list of second-hand vehicles available

Buses Midis Coaches Kinglong Scotland George Stratford Main Office: 01651 872864 Mobile: 07527 815340

64 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

www.coachandbusweek.com

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ADVISORY SERVICES

If you would like further information please call 01543 897505

Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Compliance

Visit our website: www.lloydmorgangroup.co.uk

BUILDINGS

BUSINESSES WANTED

Bus & Coach Businesses

• Are you Retiring • Losing Money • • Need Investment • or Just Had Enough • We have Interested Buyers, Cash Investors Waiting

Reply, in con!idence, to PO Box 7677, Brackley, NN13 9BB

ENGINES

CHECKPOINTS

THE CUMMINS ENGINE SPECIALISTS PARTS & SERVICE DIVISION

HEAVY DUTY STEEL BUILDINGS

D.I.E.S.E.L. LIMITED OFFER A VAST RANGE OF SERVICES FOR ALL TYPES OF CUMMINS ENGINES FREE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT FULL OR 3/4 BUILT RECON ENGINES COMPETITIVE & COST EFFECTIVE SERVICE REPAIRS FIXED PRICE ENGINE REPAIRS/OVERHAULS COMPREHENSIVE PARTS STOCK – NEW AND USED ON SITE REPAIRS FULL ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS CONTACT US TODAY FOR ALL YOUR CUMMINS REQUIREMENTS TELEPHONE UK: 01708 859625 FAX UK: 01708 857630 EMAIL: SALES@DIESEL.UK.COM

Bus Workshops - Secure Storage Supplied any width, any length Building to BS5590 - Doors high enough for Double Deckers - Finance available For further information phone

BLUELINE BUILDINGS 01709 578333 anytime

FLEET SALES

GEARBOXES

RETIRING or

01630 674326 MALCOLM HARRISON AUCTIONS

Contact 01977 599800

YOUR FLEET?

Contact Malcolm Harrison Auctions auctions@malcolmharrison.co.uk

GARAGE EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS

INSURANCE

Coach and Commercial Transmissions Ltd For all your automatic, manual transmissions and differentials.

Service exchange or cost of repair available.

On-site mobile diagnostics.

Remove and refit service.

CHANGING

Wanted

GARAGE EQUIPMENT

Experts in Commercial Garage Equipment www.bwsequip.co.uk BWS (0117) 9530381

www.coachandbusweek.com

HEATING

SEATING

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

Tel: 01993 849522 Fax: 01993 706920

• Ergonomic design for maximum support, comfort and legroom • Tried & tested: fitted into many new coaches as OEM • Full range of legs and fitting options make the Buckingham ideal for upseating to 70+ seats

Email: sales@thhs.co.uk

www.thhs.co.uk

BUCKINGHAM 3 & 2 • Ideal for 3 & 2 configurations

• Lighter weight makes easier for installation

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

Prime Passenger Seating Limited 7 Canalwood Industrial Estate, Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5RL Telephone: 01691 898 665 Fax: 01691 770 798 Email: johnm@primeps.com

www.primeps.com

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 65

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REFURBISHMENT

PARTS

Formed in 2011 to support the UK’s PSV & CV operators with parts from Market leading OEM brands from World Wide renowned manufacturers

We off a comprehensive all makes parts program in:

TRAINING

Braking • Steering • Suspension Chassis Components • Transmission Filtration • Engine • Electrical Lubricants • Consumables EXPRESS PARTS DELIVERY

Master Part | Portland House | Dukeries Industrial Estate | Worksop | Notts | S81 7BQ

Trevor Wigley & Son Bus Ltd

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

TRIM

TW CONTACT US FOR FULL AVAILABILITY

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 66 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5, 2014

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

www.twigley.com

www.coachandbusweek.com

In association with the Seen something funny? Send it to gareth.evans@coachandbusweek. com or write to: Last Stop, Coach & Bus Week, 3 The Office Village, Cygnet Park, Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8GX

Toilets at Skipton deemed too costly

CBW TRADE

TWEETS We take a look at your twitter comments on the latest industry news @CrosskeysTravel

we’ve had trips to Ikea in our brochure before, no need to book just turn up.

Martin here Monday: Press day. We are up against it again as Andy has headed up to Castleford to try a new Yutong coach. He returns late in the day reasonably impressed with the latest Chinese offering which is being marketed alongside BMC through Pelican Engineering. Yutong recently bought controlling shares in the former Neoplan specialist division spin-off Viseon. The move has clearly had an effect on the design and build quality of Yutong’s primary offering to the UK. Late finish again.

Tuesday: Quiet day in the office.

Trawl around for some news stories for the next issue.

Wednesday: Finish off a few stories which were awaiting a conclusion and began to seek some international news. It’s too quiet out there. Maybe something really exciting is about to happen.

Thursday: Uncover some interesting new reports on BRT systems which all seem very positive even though they are very different. Its adoption by towns, cities and whole transit areas in the USA has been accelerating rapidly and it’s likely many more are in the pipeline.

Friday: Try to push as many finished pages through as possible to lessen the load for Monday. Surprisingly quiet on the news front – hoping something newsworthy with a bit of substance will develop over the weekend.

www.coachandbusweek.com

067_CBW1123_Last Stop.indd 67

Daniel Laird @dl1701 Think @FirstAberdeen has done them in the past. Good idea for students as long as your vehicles can carry flat packs!

PTEG PRAISE

@ptegSupportUnit

Wow - positive editorial coverage for pteg in @ CBWtweets - a first after 10 yrs of abuse frm dereg fanatic bus mags #BetterLateThanNever!

Faceb

RIP JIM LEES

@ClarkesCoaches

What is the cost, 2p?

According to the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, Skipton’s Mayor has reacted angrily to a decision to close the public toilets at the town’s bus station.

The two toilets, built as part of a £1.2m refurbishment scheme in 2009, have been declared too expensive to run by Craven District Council. It said the toilets cost about £2 per user although the public pays a 20p charge.

It is claimed they cost £20,000 per year to maintain.

Skipton Mayor, Cllr John Kerwin-Davey, said the decision to close ‘defied belief’.

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPDATE Q: Debate time: day trips by coach to Ikea seem to be trendy this year. What’s your view?

Curran - Impressed that Ikea has coach parking facilities. Or do they...?

● Mark

● Keith

Payne - Fab idea

● Steve

Awayagain Verity - We’ve

“A few short years ago, an enormous amount of ratepayers money was spent on building these toilets, but now those responsible have found we can’t afford to run them – even though people have to pay to use them. You couldn’t make it up,” he said.

Councillor Alan Sutcliffe (Cons), the district council’s lead member for financial resilience, said: “Not enough people are using this facility to justify the large sum of money we spend each year on cleaning and maintenance.”

been going to Ikea Leeds for years, twice a month. Pax love it. Always a full coach Harley - IKEA in Belfast actually encourage coach parties, in conjunction with Chambers! www.ikea.com/.../local.../belfast/ Coach_trip_pack.pdf ● Paul

● Mark Ellis - Crikey - that’s nowt new, we used to do them at East Yorkshire about 8 years ago!

Keith Payne - Not much is coach friendly if we are honest - still fighting

●

Thank you for Jim Lees obituary in this week’s issue.

.

Ron white @rongooner54

So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing a really nice pleasant man RIP. GUIDE DOGS Guide Dogs PR Team @ GuideDogs_Comm

Thx at Coach & Bus Week @ CBWtweets for highlighting our latest interview on BBC4 In Touch -

to get recognition of ‘ The Coach’ after all these years bring Ikea in to the party and ask them I say - I would expect quite a good reaction to that ● Mark Curran - You’d end up with 50 identikit Ikea bags in the lockers. Keeping contents secure and reuniting the right contents and bags with owners would be tricky.

I’ve always thought of Ikea roads/car parks as tight and twisty (certainly Milton Keynes and Neasden are). But if it brings decent revenue for the day trip coach operator, got to be worth considering.

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 67 03/02/2014 19:31

RECRUITMENT & PEOPLE DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

Book one week, get a second week

HALF PRICE

and a third week

Get your vacancy seen by quality candidates

FREE!

Full Colour as standard ■ All vacancies posted to www.coachandbusweek.com/jobs ■ Details of all vacancies posted to our Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin pages ■

Contact Ian Gillis 01733 293484 ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

General Manager Edinburgh City Circle Limited offer a dedicated group travel service to incoming tourism and corporate charter markets from their bases in London and Edinburgh. Dealing with corporate transport, conferences, product launches, AGMs and ad-hoc or regular requirements to move people between locations we endeavour to provide the right solution for each client.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join a forward thinking and fast paced organisation during a time of change, growth and opportunity. This role will appeal to a commercially minded individual who has the ability to take a highly competent team to even greater heights.

The business needs a General Manager who will not be afraid to question and challenge performance; bring change management experience from both an operations and commercial perspective. This role is a highly visible commercial appointment and one that will offer autonomy and scope to a creative individual who is a natural leader with an obvious entrepreneurial flair and comfortable in a client facing role. At every layer of the operation you will continue the development of our customer focus awareness and fulfil our company ethos of service delivery.

Reporting to the Managing Director you will have site responsibility for P & L performance and accountability, be able to construct and deliver a robust business plan, account/contract delivery and development of new business opportunities.

Grassroots industry experience in a logistics environment over a number of locations would be highly beneficial.

Accompanied with proven business & general management credentials, understanding of sales/commercial and engineering functions. This role will also require engagement skills, exceptional communication and clear leadership.

Please send your CV and cover letter detailing your current remuneration package to recruitment@citycircleuk.com or alternatively send to HR Department, City Circle Limited, West London Coach Centre, North Hyde Gardens, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 4QT. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

68 | COACH & BUS WEEK | February 5 , 2014 068_071_CBW1123_People_Recruitment.indd 68

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03/02/2014 17:50

In association with

New AOM at Stockport Garage New Commercial Manager Stirling University graduate, joins trent barton Lynsey Menzies, has been appointed as Assistant Operations Manager (AOM) at Stagecoach Manchester’s Stockport Garage.

She previously worked at Stagecoach East Scotland, before joining the Stagecoach graduate programme in September 2012.

Her new role involves managing over 400 drivers and 117 vehicles, maintaining high levels of customer service, ensuring that the depot’s operations run ef�iciently, and managing staff training and conduct.

Commenting on her appointment, Lynsey said: “My time with Stagecoach, both in Scotland and during the graduate programme gave me a great insight into all areas of the business. I am now looking forward to using this knowledge to help support the operations team and continue to build on the successful reputation of this busy depot.

“A key part of my new role will be working with the wider team and

Lynsey Menzies Assisting the Operations Manager to ensure that our customers continue to receive the best service possible, which is something Stagecoach Manchester prides itself on.”

Christopher Bowles, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester, commented: “Lynsey’s enthusiasm, commitment and past experience will be extremely bene�icial to Stagecoach Manchester. We know her appointment will assist the whole team in maintaining the outstanding service already offered from the Stockport depot.”

Vicky Williams has been appointed to the newly created post of Commercial Manager at trent barton.

Vicky takes up her new position on February 17. Her appointment will also enable trent barton’s current Commercial Director, Alex Hornby, to focus even more of his time on the company’s marketing, promotions, training and customer service activities, an area in which Alex excels and is widely recognised for. Alex will remain a trent barton board member and his title will change to Marketing

& Communications Director to stress the emphasis of the role.

Before joining the bus industry �ive years ago, Vicky spent some time working in the banking and insurance sector, she joins trentbarton from the Go-Ahead Group where she has held Sales and Commercial Manager posts.

Reporting directly to Managing Director Jeff Counsell, Vicky will assume responsibility for the company’s route costing, data analysis, service and network planning together with ticketing and contract negotiations.

“I am delighted to welcome Vicky to our team. She will bring a fresh insight into our business and ensure that our future development plans are based on a �irm footing,” said Jeff.

Vicky Williams brings with her experience of bus and finance sectors

HASSLE FREE DRIVERS? www.justcoachdrivers.com Hire coach drivers when you need them.

Call Del Haggerty Just Coach Drivers Ltd 07950 292939 www.justcoachdrivers.com

No holiday, no absence, no NI – pay only for the hours you need them for.

We keep your wheels turning while your drivers are resting.

Call Del Haggerty Just Coach Drivers Ltd 07950 292939 www.justcoachdrivers.com www.coachandbusweek.com

068_071_CBW1123_People_Recruitment.indd 69

February 5, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 69 03/02/2014 17:51

RECRUITMENT & PEOPLE

Do you enjoy a

DEADLINES Booking: Monday 5.00pm Full artwork: Monday 5.00pm CONTACT Ian Gillis T: 01733 293484 E: ian.gillis@coachandbusweek.com

challenging, fast paced, detailed

Tiger boosts its team

environment?

s Manager Commercial & Contract king for Go South Coast is loo for detail, eye an someone with ing and op vel de at od go is o wh holder ke sta g on str maintaining relationships. nsibility The role will hold respo sis, sales, aly an e ric g/p tin ke for tic across a tenders and contracts ting area. era op e ers div d an e wid h the You will work closely witc innovative and energeti naging ma Go South Coast team, Damory, ar, est Blu s; nd our bus bra ds, more bus, Salisbury Re rist.

Tou d an s, cti Ve ern South d relocation An attractive salary an the right for er off package is on . ate did can page CV Please apply with a 2 to: ter let ing ver and co coast.co.uk diana.wilks@gosouth

Michael Moore is Yorkshire Tigers Commercial Officer

ry 2014 closing date 28 Februa

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Yorkshire Tiger has welcomed Michael Moore as as Commercial Of�icer, who will based at the �irm’s Elland Head Of�ice.

He previously worked at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive where he spent 12 years in their local bus team. He has a wealth of experience in service planning and delivery and his role at Yorkshire Tiger is an essential part of the strategy to further enhance the commercial focus of the business.

Michael said: “I’m delighted to be joining Yorkshire Tiger in the next stage of the development of the company. I am particularly looking forward to working with my new

colleagues and our transport partners to enhance the service provision to our customers across Yorkshire and to develop new initiatives which will strengthen the business and stand out from the crowd in line with our striking brand identity.”

Commenting on Michael’s appointment, Martijn Gilbert, Business Director for Yorkshire Tiger said: “I’m delighted to welcome Michael to the Yorkshire Tiger team. It’s an exciting time ahead for Yorkshire Tiger as we aim to enhance the services we provide to our customers and develop the business through both passenger and service growth.”

Jackson to head RATP Dev UK & Ireland Tim Jackson been appointed head of the new British Isles business unit created by RATP Dev to support expansion in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

To this end he has also joined the �irm’s executive committee.

Tim will lead RATP Dev operations for the entire region out of his London of�ice. He will report directly to the Chairman of the RATP Dev executive board, François-Xavier Perin, who said: “I am delighted with the arrival of this outstanding professional who will bring to the fore the increasingly international nature of the group’s executive bodies. The British Isles business unit was set up to support our growth in the UK, where we generated revenue of some €300m in

2013, and in Ireland, where we are aiming to expand.”

A graduate of Cambridge, Tim has spent most of his career in the transport industry. After gaining banking experience in London, Tokyo and Paris, in 1992 he joined Avions de Transport Régional, an aircraft manufacturer based in Toulouse, becoming its Sales Financing Director in 1994. In 1997, he moved to train leasing �irm Angel Trains as International Development Director before being appointed to the group board and head of Angel Trains International in 2003. He has been at the head of his own consultancy since 2010 and has assisted several transport companies in their major projects. www.coachandbusweek.com

03/02/2014 17:51

First Glasgow driver praised for reactions and averting a serious accident A First Glasgow bus driver from Coatbridge has been praised by colleagues for his driving skills, instinctive reactions, and quick thinking that prevented more serious injury after a pedestrian stepped off a pavement – directly in front of a moving bus – because he was distracted by his mobile phone.

Driver Denis Ramsay, 61, was driving along Argyle Street towards Sandy Hills last September when a pedestrian stepped off the pavement on Trongate and walked directly in front of his bus – which was travelling at 19mph.

Quick-thinking Denis steered the double deck to the side in an effort to avoid a head-on collision. Unfortunately the front nearside of the bus struck and knocked the pedestrian to the ground. Fortunately the pedestrian was discharged from hospital later that day.

Driver Denis Ramsay commented: “I got a shock when the young man stepped off the pavement right in front of the bus I was driving.

My instincts kicked in and immediately I beeped and steered away from him as quickly as I could to try and avoid impact but there wasn’t enough time and the side of the bus clipped him.

“When the pedestrian’s brother called me that evening to say he’d been discharged

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from hospital I was so pleased to hear he was going to be ok.

I felt so bad but was glad it wasn’t a lot worse. His brother couldn’t thank me enough for doing my best to lessen the impact, I’d never experienced anything like this before and I’m thankful it didn’t turn out much worse.”

Denis, who is based at Parkhead depot, continued: ‘I’ve been driving for the company for 15 years and I thoroughly enjoy my job. I hope I don’t have another encounter like that.’

First Glasgow’s Managing Director, Fiona Kerr, said: “CCTV footage obtained from the bus Denis was driving shows that his quick actions prevented the pedestrian’s injuries from being far more serious. He’s a great driver and I’m delighted that he was nominated as a ‘Superstar’, as part of First Glasgow’s internal rewards and recognition programme.

“Safety underpins the culture at First Glasgow – using a mobile phone while crossing the road can be extremely dangerous as we saw with the incident involving Denis. The pedestrian was distracted by his phone, walked in front of our bus and could have lost his life. We are currently promoting an internal campaign which reminds all our staff of the dangers of walking while using mobile phones.”

New AOM at Salisbury Reds

Damian Robson promoted at Salisbury Reds A new Assistant Operations Manager (AOM) has been promoted to the management team at Salisbury Reds. With over 15 years’ experience in the bus industry, Damian Robson has been appointed to support Operations Manager Andrew Sherrington.

Damian, from Bournemouth, started his career as a trainee bus driver in 1999. In 2011 he joined Salisbury Red’s Eastleigh based sister company Bluestar as a senior controller and prior to his latest promotion he, within the Go South Coast Group, covered management

roles for morebus and Damory.

Andrew Wickham, Managing Director of GSC, said he is confident that Salisbury Reds, which employs over 130 drivers, engineering and administration staff and operates a fleet of 80 vehicles, will benefit from Damian’s experience and capabilities.

“The future of regional bus networks depends on the dedication of regional managers who can efficiently plan and oversee the quality of the services offered. I’m delighted that Damian is part of our Salisbury Reds team.”

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