It was a tale of three brothers. And 60 years later, it`s - Route-One

Transcription

13 May 2015 | Issue 589
routeONE magazine
@routeoneteam
It was a tale of three brothers. And 60 years later, it’s still a tale of three brothers. Johnson
Bros Tours and Redfern Travel are among the best-known names in the coach industry – and not
without good reason. It runs a meticulous operation that has grown to three modern depots. p29-32
King Long takes control
New thinking with new technology
Staying ahead for three decades
UK importer goes in wake of publicity. p6-7
How Ticketer is helping operators. p34-36
What drives Frank Thorpe’s enthusiasm. p39-41
Book your tickets now for the routeone Awards - p20
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12/05/2015 14:15
This Week | 13 May 2015, Issue 589
routeone
www.route-one.net
Hold on tight, please
It might be contrary advice, but it’s sometimes wise
to engage gear then apply the handbrake – i.e. pullup that traditional device which, unlike the now
usual parking brake, can be applied progressively
when you need to retard a vehicle that would
otherwise over-speed.
One vehicle in question is that driven by the
newly-empowered politicians who will take the
outcome of the general election as a green light to
start moving at speed through the gearbox in pursuit
of some slightly worrying policy objectives.
Over the past five years of the Coalition the Lib Dems have acted as a
moderating influence, gently applying the handbrake to slow the progress
of the more controversial proposals. In particular we have Norman Baker
to thank for no small measure of protection, while the interim period that
followed his move to the Home Office witnessed ministers pottering along in
the slow lane. No longer will that be the case.
The sweet taste of victory and the prospect of five years in which to ‘get the
job done’ will doubtless pump adrenaline through political veins. They will
expect to power forward at breakneck speed... and they will, unless someone
grabs the handbrake.
You may believe that the Conservatives will support all moves that will clear
a path for the privatised and deregulated market to prosper. Surely they won’t
do a U-turn on their flagship policies of 30 years ago.
Yet hovering over this industry are two barriers to progress – the spectre of
Quality Contracts and the unfair competition that has been allowed to evolve
as a result of encouragement given by successive UK Governments to Section
19 Permit holders. Now is the time PSV operators should be lobbying their
local MP and trade associations to campaign on the industry’s behalf. There
are many new and inexperienced MPs who will know little or nothing about
the issues. Only those who are directly involved have any hope of putting the
case succinctly and clearly. This is one sure way of applying the handbrake that
will slow, if not halt, these twin threats.
Remember that transport was hardly discussed during the run up to the
election, so ill-informed MPs will be tempted to think that the issues aren’t
controversial. They would be wrong. What’s more we know from the Section
19 saga that bringing a runaway policy to a halt can take a very long time.
Better to apply the brake early before the threats become unstoppable.
routeONE magazine
@routeoneteam
Editor
Mel Holley 01733 405743
[email protected]
Features Editor
Jessamy Chapman 01733 405744
[email protected]
Senior Journalist
Tim Deakin 01733 889686
[email protected]
Trainee Journalist
Tara Lepore 01733 889334
[email protected]
Trainee Journalist
Cory Varney 01733 405737
[email protected]
Associate Editor
Mike Morgan 01733 405742
[email protected]
Group Sales Manager
Martin Laverton 01733 405735
[email protected]
Sales Manager
Daniel Lunn 01733 405734
[email protected]
Senior Sales Executive
Steven Black 01733 405731
[email protected]
Sales Executive
Jade Cassidy 01733 405740
[email protected]
Sales Executive
Dan Roberts 01733 405733
[email protected]
Admin team
Tracey Harrison Office Manager
Simon Warby IT and Database Co-ordinator
Jacqui Trayford Digital and Admin Co-ordinator
Jessica Sludds Admin Executive
[email protected]
Design team
JM Sibcy-Stokes Graphic Designer
Ross Phillips Graphic Designer
Phil Robinson Graphic Designer
Publishing team
Mark Griffin Chairman, Diversified Midlands
Tony Henthorn Group Director
Published by
Diversified Communications UK Ltd, Unit 4, Minerva
Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6FT
Tel: 01733 405730 Fax: 01733 405745
www.divcom.co.uk
Average weekly circulation 4,725 copies (1 Jan 2014
- 31 Dec 2014) as independently audited by the Audit
Bureau of Circulations (ABC). To subscribe visit www.routeone.net/subscribe. We will normally send one free copy to
each operating centre. Additional copies cost £79 per year
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ISSN 2041-9295
© Diversified Communications UK Ltd 2015
Mike Morgan, Associate Editor
www.route-one.net
comment iss589.indd 3
Wednesday 13 May 2015 | 3
12/05/2015 16:32
Big Story | Noone Turas 700
Mercedes-Benz’s decision to end Vario production in favour of the bigger, heavier Atego
was the subject of much lament, but Brian Noone and its agent Minis to Midis believe that
the Iveco-based Turas 700 is a replacement. Tim Deakin reports on the first for the UK
If the Noone Turas 700 does
what Alan White, Director of
British supplier Minis to Midis
hopes, it will at least partially fill
some of the midicoach world’s
biggest shoes.
They have been empty for
over a year, since MercedesBenz ended Vario production,
and are for a 29-seater which is
cost effective to buy and run; a
solid money earner that can turn
its hand to a variety of work. Can
the Turas 700 step into the void?
It shows early potential of
being able to do so. The new
midicoach is assembled in
Portugal by Irmãos Mota on
a 7,200kg GVW Euro 6 Iveco
Daily chassis, and is a natural and
uncomplicated development of
the Turas 800, built on Vario and
which sold well in both the UK
and Ireland.
Mr White explains that, with
the obvious exception of the
Iveco bonnet, the Turas 700 is, in
essence, a Turas 800 with a small
number of modifications. Just
three pieces of glass are different
(one of which is the windscreen),
and the roof-mounted air-conditioning unit has been moved
forward to better distribute
weight. But panels, handles and
other components remain the
same.
The first Turas 700 for a
UK operator, sold to Finedon,
Northants-based
Roy’s
Minibuses, was shown to the
media last week, and production
midicoaches are slightly different
to the prototype shown last year
at Euro Bus Expo.
“That vehicle was 8.3m long
and could carry 27 passengers.
Since then, Noone has realised
that if it added an extra 20cm
to the length an additional pair
big story iss589.indd 4
of seats would fit, meaning that
production Turas 700s will be
8.5m long and carry a maximum
of 29 passengers, although we are
about to deliver one which seats
25 and includes tables,” says Mr
White.
The full range?
Addition of the Turas 700 to
Noone’s range means that it
offers two options to operators
who previously favoured the
Vario, says Mr White. One is the
33-seat Turas 900, built on ninetonne GVW Atego chassis and
set to begin delivery next month
following a substantial external
redesign of the prototype. The
other is the smaller Turas 700.
“I feel that there is a good
market for a 29-seat midicoach
to act as a straight replacement
for Vario-based models,” he says,
adding that Turas 700’s body is
proven thanks to its previous
incarnation as the Turas 800.
“Noone has used components
which it knows are reliable and
suited to the job, and that is a
benefit for operators.”
Minis to Midis has sold four
Turas 700s already, and Mr
White sees the market at around
20 units per year. Net price is
£106,000, and that, he says, will
be part of the model’s attraction; a Turas 900, while offering
increased luggage and seating
capacity, comes in at £134,000.
“The Daily is good value.
That’s one of the reasons we’re
doing so well. We’re seeing
interest from a mix of former
Turas 800 buyers and potential
new customers. The Daily has
every opportunity to match the
mpg figures of the Vario; we are
trying to get the larger Turas 900
as close to Vario as possible, but
may not quite be able to.”
The details
Noone has done its utmost to
keep weight down on the new
model. As shown, the 29-seater
weighs in at 4,873kg unladen,
and with 29 passengers plus
driver and courier aboard scope
for luggage capacity is moderate.
A 115-litre fuel tank has been
specified, and Mr White adds
that he would recommend
that operators selecting the
maximum 29-seat capacity don’t
opt for leather seats (which can
add 3kg per position compared
to conventional fabric) or additional equipment. Noone is
happy to increase the vehicle’s
specification when in 25- or
27-seat form, however.
Two boot options are available.
Combined with side lockers, the
smaller version gives 4m3 of
space; the larger compartment,
which limits seating capacity to
25, increases overall storage to
5m3.
The most noticeable difference on the new model
compared to the Turas 800 is
the Iveco bonnet, and beneath
it lies a three-litre, four-cylinder
engine developing 170bhp and
400Nm of torque coupled to a
six-speed gearbox. The gearstick
is dash-mounted and has a very
short ‘throw’, meaning progress up the box can be rapid if
required.
Mr White is aware that some
operators see manual gearboxes
as yesterday’s technology, but
both he and Noone are adamant
that Iveco’s existing and troublesome Agile automated transmission will have no place in the
Turas 800.
It is unreliable and unpopular,
he says, but it is understood that
a new, eight-speed replacement
from ZF called the Hi-Matic is
soon to become available. It is
likely to be offered in the Turas
700 due course; Iveco says it is
4% more fuel efficient and 4kg
lighter than the Agile.
On the road
Mr White provided the opportunity to drive the Turas 700
on a route around Doncaster.
Its entrance is very clear and
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 11:33
Noone Turas 700 is based on a 7.2t Iveco Daily chassis, and targets Vario buyers
uncluttered, and it is possible for
a passenger over six feet tall to
board and take their seat without
having to duck to avoid banging
their head.
Seats are from Turkish manufacturer Sege and are arranged
in a 2+2 layout. They have
three-point belts. Besides the
roof-mounted air-conditioning,
perimeter radiators are fitted,
and the two systems operate
separately. Pleated curtains are
also present; the gangway is
sunken.
No offside driver’s door is
specified, but the cab is easily
accessible from the platform.
The driver’s seat is high quality
and air sprung; a double-glazed
and electrically-operated signalling window is fitted.
The four-cylinder engine’s
peak torque of 400Nm is reasonable, but it requires more revs
to deliver it than some other
engines in its class.
One
definite
positive,
however, is the passenger friendliness of the unit; when cruising
under part load it is almost inaudible and only under acceleration
does it make itself known. That’s
certainly one area where the new
www.route-one.net
big story iss589.indd 5
model has previous Vario-based
midicoaches soundly beaten.
Throttle response is good,
and the engine pulls willingly
enough from the bottom of
the wide green band on the rev
counter, which extends as high as
3,000rpm.
A Telma electric retarder is
fitted, and this can be activated
both through the brake pedal
and via a dash-mounted stalk.
It is very powerful, and capable
of bringing the Turas 700 down
from 50mph to walking pace
without recourse to the foundation brakes.
Ride quality is good, helped
by rear air suspension, and the
driver additionally benefits from
a sprung seat. Cruise control
comes as standard.
Backing it up
Mr White promises buyers that
the Turas 700 is backed up by
a robust service and support
network. “We felt the only way
to go was to set up a network
made up of a number of garages
and operators,” he says.
“We have seven all together
including
ourselves,
and
they extend from Lucketts in
Fareham to Coach-Tech Assist
in Motherwell. Fast-moving
parts and glass is split between
ourselves and GB Fleet in
Hoddesdon, and we can get glass
to an operator very quickly.”
Both Minis to Midis and
Noone have high hopes for the
Turas 700, and that’s understandable. It’s a competent midicoach with a passenger capacity
right in the mid-point of those
built on the two Mercedes-Benz
chassis which will dominate the
sector at Euro 6.
Promises of fuel efficiency
will also be appreciated, while
the passenger compartment is
well appointed. Iveco’s durability
compared with Mercedes-Benz
is not yet proven, but Mr White
intends to work with dealers to
ensure back-up is exactly as it
should be.
routeone comment
Mercedes-Benz’s decision to axe the Vario and attempt to
push buyers towards the heavier and more expensive Atego
chassis at Euro 6 was puzzling for a number of reasons.
One was that it left a significant gap in its range which would
inevitably be exploited by other manufacturers.
This bit of otherwise no-man’s land at Euro 6 is where
Noone is positioning the Turas 700. The Iveco badge may
not have the prestige of a three-pointed star, but neither does
it attract the price tag of the German marque, and Minis to
Midis’ net figure of £106,000 for a 29-seater is sure to tickle
some operators’ fancy.
It’s a solid contender, and family-owned supplier Minis
to Midis is committed to supporting it properly. To many
operators, that’s as important a consideration as the
purchase price.
12/05/2015 11:33
News
By Mike Morgan
[email protected]
King Long Europe takes
UK franchise under direct
control
In the wake of a recent sustained
period of adverse publicity the
Coventry-based UK importer of
King Long coaches and buses has
been disenfranchised.
In a move that follows a visit
by a high-profile delegation, a
new company, King Long Europe
UK, wholly owned by King Long
Europe, will take direct control of
the UK franchise.
Zhao Ryan from Xiamen
King Long of China and Chris
Cassar from King Long Europe,
confirmed that the importer has
been disenfranchised due to the
recent press coverage that was
threatening the good name of
King Long (routeone, Big Story,
29 April).
King Long Europe UK will
now be operating the franchise
from the Coach Travel Centre at
Biddulph, Staffs, which was also
taken over as part of the takeover
deal.
Mr Cassar is moving over from
the King Long European base to
lead the restructure for the next
12 months.
The previous shareholders,
Island Fortitude, are believed
to have accepted the loss of the
franchise in a cordial manner,
while neither Paul Bicknell nor
Ray McNally will be officers
of the new company. In a press
release Xiamen King Long and
Kinglong Europe acknowledge
their service and help in establishing the brand.
However, other key members
of staff, in particular aftersales
and parts personnel, have been
offered new contracts.
King Long parts will now come
direct from China and prices will
decrease across all models to
become the most competitive
product-range in the UK, says
the company.
While stressing that customers
will now be dealing directly
with the manufacturer, Zhao
Ryan of Xiamen King Long and
Chris Cassar are keen to reassure customers that delayed deals
will be put right and warranty
honoured, saying: “King Long
cherishes all its clients and will do
its utmost to protect the interest
of all those clients and transport
companies that have trusted King
Long and bought its products and
we will stand by them and the
product.”
And, by way of celebrating the
10th anniversary of King Long in
the UK, King Long Europe UK
is offering a 10% discount across
the range on new orders from 1
June to 1 September 2015.
King Long Europe has developed a new website and all new
company contact details and
new models will be available on
www.kinglonguk.com
As revealed by routeone,
Island Fortitude is a ‘brass plate’
company based in Barbados, with
a nominated office on the island
which acts as a ‘post box’.
Crunch time Market for new PSVs throttles back in
April, but coaches strong, says SMMT
The
Awards is rapidly
routeone
approaching a crucial milestone
in the rigorous process of finding
the winners of this year’s coveted
trophies.
Entry forms have now been
sent to all who have been nominated in the first part of the
process, which closed at the end
of last month. Candidates have
until the end of this week to
respond by submitting compelling evidence for the judges to
consider when they draw up a
short list of potential winners in
each of the 16 categories.
All finalists will be informed of
their success by the end of June
so that they have time to prepare
for the next crucial stage in the
judging process when the team
of industry experts meet to determine who are worthy of being
declared the best in the industry.
l Winners of the routeone
Awards 2015 will be announced
on 30 September in the glittering surroundings of the
Hilton Birmingham Metropole’s
Monarch Suite.
news 6 & 7 (portland tracker) iss589.indd 6
After three consecutive months of
increases over the previous year’s
figures, coach and bus registrations slowed in April, according
to figures released by the Society
of Motor Manufacturers and
Traders (SMMT).
The purpose-built bus market
came in at 228 registrations, down
25.2% on March 2014, although
year-to-date figures remain very
strong at 1,052, a 35.4% rise.
Purpose-built
coaches
continued strongly with 169
registrations, up 14.2% on March
2014. Year-to-date figures were
similarly positive, up 13.5% to
462. Overall, the purpose-built
market is up 27.9% on year-todate figures and 4.4% over the
rolling year.
Alexander Dennis was top
manufacturer in April with 95
registrations, and leads the yearto-date figures with 452. April’s
top five manufacturers were
completed by Mercedes-Benz,
Wrightbus, Volvo, and Optare
respectively.
Manufacturer
April
Year to date
2015 2014
2015 2014
Alexander Dennis (ADL)
Caetano
Irisbus
Irizar
King Long
MAN
Neoplan
Mercedes-Benz
Optare
Scania
Setra
Van Hool
VDL
Volvo
Wrightbus
Yutong
Other imports
95
0
0
11
1
1
11
57
46
37
0
14
17
49
52
2
4
85
0
1
15
3
3
17
6
32
28
2
23
33
85
114
0
6
Total coaches and buses
397
453
452
0
0
29
8
11
16
153
111
87
0
31
42
175
375
15
9
211
0
4
22
11
13
35
23
98
117
44
45
79
271
198
0
13
1,514 1,184
Registrations of new purpose-built coaches and buses – figures supplied by the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 15:42
Zhao Ryan of Xiamen King Long (left) and Chris Cassar, King Long Europe
Patrick McLoughlin stays
The industry has welcomed
the re-appointment of Patrick
McLoughlin as Secretary of
State for Transport in the
Cabinet reshuffle following the
Conservatives success in last
week’s General Election.
However,
as
routeone
went to press, only one other
ministerial appointment at the
Department of Transport had
been confirmed.
Andrew Jones, MP for
Harrogate and Knaresborough
becomes Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Transport,
though details of his portfolio
had still to be announced.
Phil Margrave: Funeral
details are announced
The funeral of Phil Margrave,
former
Go-Ahead
Group
Engineering Director who died
on 28 April (routeone, News, 29
April), will take place tomorrow
(Thursday 14 May) at 1200hrs
at St Joseph’s Church, Ladbroke
Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1
1LF. No flowers, but donations
to The Children’s Trust can be
made via www.justgiving.com/
philmargrave-memorial/ which
www.route-one.net
news 6 & 7 (portland tracker) iss589.indd 7
Phil Margrave: Funeral Thursday
the family would appreciate. A
shuttle bus service from Redhill
train station to St Joseph’s Church
will be provided from 1115hrs.
12/05/2015 15:42
News
By Mike Morgan
[email protected]
Contract wins present
Arriva with strong growth
across mainland Europe
Earnings at Arriva, which is
owned by Deutsche Bahn,
the German state-controlled
railway company, increased by
6.6% to €498m on sales that
rose 7.4% to €4.49bn in the 12
months to 31 December 2014.
Another year of strong growth
across the UK and mainland
Europe reflected recent acquisitions and contract wins.
The group also improved
its position in the continental
European transport market,
with contract wins including a
£1.1bn deal to run services in
the Netherlands.
Other contract wins include:
l An £8.4m contract as people
mobility partner for the 2015
Expo Milano
l A five-year contract to operate
bus services in Serbia and a
further 10-year bus contract in
Slovenia
l Continued operational progress in Central and Eastern
Europe following the 2013
acquisition of Veolia Transport
Central Europe. Further growth
is expected in 2015
l Latest eight year contract in
Budapest, operated on behalf
of the Budapest Transport
Authority, began on 1 May.
David
Martin,
Chief
Executive of Arriva said: “We
have continued to invest all
of our operating cash flow in
growing our business over the
past 12 months.
“Our success in the UK
and across mainland Europe
perfectly positions us to take
advantage of transport markets
as they advance and liberalise.
“That pace of change is
increasing and we are determined to embrace pending
EU legislation, including the
progress of the fourth railway
package, which has the potential
to help us deliver further longterm growth and passenger
benefits.
“In the UK our bus investment programme is delivering
a greener fleet, and includes the
introduction of 230 new hybrid
buses alongside a growing fleet
of electric and gas buses.
“While in UK rail, this
summer we will submit an
innovative, compelling bid for
the Northern rail franchise
David Martin, CEO: ‘Pace of change
(in Europe) is increasing’
– drawing upon our experience
gained from operating train
services for customers across
Europe.
“We have seen significant
growth across mainland Europe
through a variety of contract
wins – helping to strengthen
our position in both the bus
and rail markets – especially
in the Northern and Eastern
European territories.
“Innovating for our customers
is also a significant, ongoing
focus.”
Allison reveals fuel-lean Nat Ex goes international
xFE range of gearboxes National Express Group plc has volume on actively managed
Allison Transmissions has
announced a new range of bus
transmissions to incorporate the
latest advances in fuel economy
technology.
Referred to as xFE, designating extra fuel economy, the
automatic transmissions have
demonstrated improvements up
to 7%, in addition to the company’s FuelSense features.
“Other than our hybrid products, these new xFE models
represent the very best fuel
economy technology we offer,”
news 8 iss589.indd 8
says Lawrence Love, Executive
Director of Global Marketing.
The xFE range has the same
space requirement and ratings as
current models, but incorporate
optimised gear ratios coupled
with the FuelSense Max package.
They have been designed to
enable first gear lock up, deliver
significantly more lock up
operation and operate at lower
engine speeds in higher ranges
to improve fuel economy.
Production of the three new
gearboxes starts in 2016.
made a good start to the year
with revenue up 4% as all divisions delivered revenue growth,
supported by rising passenger
demand. Significantly, twothirds of the Group’s revenue
comes from abroad – on coaches
in Spain and school buses in the
United States. And that proportion could rise with Germany
seen as an important rail market.
Highlights for the year to date
include:
l Revenue management in
Spain delivering growth of 4%
in revenue and 7% in passenger
routes – further roll out ongoing
l Continued strong contract
retention in North America
School Bus at 99% coupled with
an average price increase of 5%
in the current bid season, offsetting wage pressures
l New contract wins in UK
Coach to operate from Stansted
Airport and with British
Airways to provide transport
services for passengers and crew
across the UK.
Dean Finch, Group Chief
Executive, adds: “Germany is
an important (rail) market.”
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 14:35
p9.indd 9
12/05/2015 14:15
News
By Mel Holley
[email protected]
Full production of Volvo’s
all-electric bus planned
for 2017: London is key
target market
Quiet,
exhaust-free
and
passenger-friendly:
Volvo
Buses’ new electric bus – the
ElectriCity – is being tested for
the first time in regular traffic
in Gothenburg, ahead of its 15
June launch.
Series production of all-electric Volvo buses is scheduled for
2017.
The UK, especially central
London where all single-decker
buses must be zero-emission
capable from 7 September
2020, is a key target market.
It is the debut for the fullelectric bus, charged by pantographs at terminals, and the
press pictures reveal for the
first time the new ‘face’ of the
bus, which had previously been
top-secret.
Ahead of its entry into service,
the bus will appear at the UITP
public-transport show in Milan,
Volvo’s first all-electric bus now on the streets of Gothenburg
Italy, on 8-10 June.
Once in service, the three
pre-production
full-electric
buses will work alongside seven
hybrids on the new route –
created under a partnership
– linking a university and business park.
Optare MetroCity makes a Tony Bamber passes away
debut with Welsh operators Tony Bamber, founder of award- actively involved in an operator
The first Optare MetroCity
buses delivered outside of
London have entered service,
with four being taken by Richard
Bros, which runs routes in
Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire.
They are being followed this
week with separate deliveries
of MetroCity buses, coincidentally to other Welsh operators,
New Adventure Travel and
GHA.
Richard Bros, a third-generation family-run business
operating since 1936, is using
the Euro 5 11.5m buses on
the high-profile AberystwythHaverfordwest TrawsCymru
winning Runcorn coach operator
Anthony’s Travel, passed away on
Monday (11 May) following a
long battle with cancer.
Although Mr Bamber, 68,
had passed day-to-day control
to his son Richard, he remained
Provincial debut for MetroCity,
T5 route, supported by the
Welsh Assembly. Seating 41,
the buses have WI-FI, automatic announcement systems,
automatic passenger counting
and telematics.
An existing customer, Richard
Bros operate 18 Optare buses.
Compliance Workshop
A free to attend CPT London
and South East Compliance
Workshop will be held at the
Stansted Centre in Takley,
Essex, on 2 June 2015, 1800hrs
for 1830hrs.
The evening will contain a
presentation from the East of
which grew from one minibus in
1985 to become one of the coach
industry’s most respected names.
Funeral details have not yet
been announced but will be
published in a future issue of
routeone.
England Traffic Commissioner,
Richard Turfitt, while CPT
supplier members supporting
this event include NCA,
Backhouse
Jones,
Pellys,
Navman, Novadata and The
Association of Trainers. Details
from [email protected]
Debut for RTI using
beacons on apps
Virginia-based
Blacksburg
Transit has become the first
publicly-operated bus system in
the USA to use beacons and apps
to deliver real time information
(RTI).
The BT4U app (Blacksburg
Transit for You) finds the exact
time of the next bus and plans a
journey.
The BT4U system uses GeLo
beacons at 50 bus stops and on all
46 buses in the fleet.
The beacons send a constant
signal that triggers the app into
providing on-screen information
on the phone or tablet, and then
delivers on-the-spot information
Real-time app first for USA
about location, bus times and
other travel information. One
problem the beacon system is
solving is the issue of passengers
getting on the wrong bus when
four or five buses are picking up
passengers at the same point.
The beacons and the BT4U
app tell them instantly if they’re
on the right bus.
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 15:43
01664 568402
[email protected]
www.hillscoachsales.com
A FEW EXAMPLES FROM OUR EXTENSIVE AVAILABILITY LIST
2012 Irizar i6 12.8 Metre
2011 Scania K400 Irizar PB
AS-Tronic, D.A.F. PR265U1 Engine,
57 Recliners, Courier Seat,
3-Point Belts, Air Conditioning,
Centre-Sunken Toilet & Door,
Boiler, Dashboard Fridge,
DVD + 2 x Monitors, Radio / PA.
Choice of 2
Opticruise Gearbox, Tri-Axle
52 VIP Full Leather Recliners,
Courier Seat, 3-Point Seat Belts,
Air Conditioning, Double Glazed,
Centre Sunken Toilet & Door,
DVD with 2 Monitors, Freeview TV
CD / Radio / PA, USB Port
Full Dealer Service History
£174,000
2011 Volvo B7R
Plaxton Profile
£172,500
2011 Neoplan Tourliner
Reduced to £114,950
AS-Tronic Gearbox
49 Part Leather Luxury Recliners,
Courier Seat, 3-Point Seatbelts,
Air Conditioning, Webasto,
Boiler, Fridge, DVD / CD / Radio / PA,
Choice of 3
2010 Volvo B12M
Plaxton Paragon
2010 Dennis ADL
Enviro 200, 10.8 m
I-Shift Gearbox
3-Point Seatbelts, Air Conditioning,
Double Glazed Side Windows, Curtains,
DVD + 1 x Monitor
CD / Radio / PA
Automatic, 9 Litre Cummins Engine
Passenger Capacity 63, or
Or 37 + 25 or 36 + 27 Standees,
Or 36 + 22 + 1 x Wheelchair,
Hanover Front, Rear and Side Display,
Manual Wheelchair Ramp,
Never been used on service work.
ZF Automatic
57 Seats, 3-Point Seatbelts,
Air Conditioning, Radio,
Very Low Mileage,
Immaculate.
£112,500
2009 Neoplan P22 Tourliner
AS-Tronic, MAN 480 bhp Euro 5
59 Luxury Recliners, Courier Seat,
Lap Belts, Webasto, Air Con.,
Tinted Double Glazed + Curtains,
Boiler & Drinks Dispenser, Fridge,
DVD / CD / Radio / PA , Sat Nav.,.
Reversing Camera, Berth
£134,995
2008 Setra 416 GT-HD
AS-Tronic Gearbox
53 Luxury Recliners, Courier Seat,
Fridge, DVD + 2 Monitors,
CD / Radio / PA,
Various Interior Colours Available
£94,950
2005 Volvo B12B
Jonckheere Mistral
I-Shift Gearbox, LEZ Compliant
49/53 Recliners, Courier Seat,
3-Point Belts, Air Conditioning,
Boiler, Fridge, DVD + 1 x Monitor,
Radio / PA
Choice of 2
£55,000
£134,995
£74,950
2008 Volvo B12M
Jonckheere SHV
I-Shift, LEZ Compliant
3-Point Belts,
Conditioning, Double Glazed Windows,
Centre- Sunken Toilet & Door,
CCTV Camera System
CD / Radio / PA.
£79,950
2005 Mercedes
Plaxton Cheetah
ZF Automatic, LEZ Compliant
28 Recliners ( possible up seat to 33 ),
3-Point Seatbelts, Double Glazed,
Curtains, Forced Air Ventilation,
Radio PA, Large Boot
£34,950
2005 Setra 416 GT HD
6-Speed Manual, LEZ Compliant
48 Recliners, Courier Seat, Lap Belts,
Centre Continental Door ( Powered )
Rear Saloon Toilet, Rear Servery with
Sink, Hot and Cold Water, Fridge, Boiler
& 2 x Microwaves, Twin 240V Socket &
Storage Drawers, Fridge,
DVD / CD / Radio PA,
Reduced to £82,495
2003 Volvo B12B
Van Hool Alizee T9
2003 Scania K114
Irizar Century
ZF Automatic
Lap Seat Belts, Air Conditioning,
Webasto, Double Glazed Windows,
Front Fridge, DVD + 1 x Monitor,
CD / Radio / PA
Comfort Shift, LEZ Compliant,
Lap Seatbelts, Rear Sunken Toilet,
Air Conditioning, Double-Glazed,
Alloy wheels, DVD + 1 x Monitor
CD / Radio / PA,
Choice of 2
£44,950
2000 Setra 315 GT HD
Allison Automatic, LEZ Compliant
49 Recliners with Seatback Tables,
Grab Handles & Footrests,
Courier Seat, Lap Seat Belt,s
DVD with 2 x Monitors, Radio / PA
£29,995
£39,995
1995 Volvo B10M
Jonckheere Deauville
6-Speed Manual Gearbox
Lap Seatbelts, Double-Glazed,
Curtains,
Aircraft Style Overhead Lockers,
Radio / PA.
£12,995
SALES n PROCUREMENT n CONSULTATION n SOLUTIONS
p11.indd 11
12/05/2015 14:15
News
MIHAI-BOGDAN LAZAR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
TC hits out
at ‘cheats’
Living wage for drivers
Blackpool-based Catch22Bus
has achieved Living Wage
Foundation accreditation for
paying its staff more than the
UK Living Wage rate of £7.85
per hour. All staff are paid in
excess of £8 per hour. Drivers
with more than a year’s service
earn £8.20 an hour.
Blackpool tops the list of poor
pay blackspots, according to a
study on the living wage.
Says Director Philip Higgs:
“We have worked hard to
develop the business over the
last year and our staff are critical
to that success.
“Paying a Living Wage is good
for business, good for our staff
and their families, and good for
the local economy.”
Caroline Reilly of the Living
Wage Foundation says: “We
are delighted to add a further
employer to the list, in an
area that is typically characterised by low-paid seasonal
employment.”
Centenary marked
Birmingham area is a hotspot for disc loaning, says TC Nick Jones
By Mel Holley
[email protected]
‘Substantial issues’ with
taxi and private hire
operators loaning discs
Traffic Commissioner (TC)
Nick Jones has made it plain
that he considers that cheating
restricted licence holders in the
West Midlands have resulted in
the number of standard national
licences being relatively low.
The TC says that his local
knowledge as TC for the West
Midlands was such that he
knew that there are “substantial
issues” with taxi and private hire
operators in the Birmingham
area loaning PSV discs and
treating them as if they were
part of the private hire regime.
He is conscious that the
number of standard national
licences in the West Midland
area, and in Birmingham in
particular, is relatively low.
That is, in a large part, due
to restricted licence holders
cheating the system, he says.
He adds that it is “exceptionally difficult” for a family business with a standard national
licence to compete with the
many restricted licence holders
that cheated the system.
The lack of a level playing
field for good compliant operators is a real concern.
His comments came when he
revoked the restricted licence
held by Birmingham based Sital
Ramm Dubb and Partners,
trading as Status and A to Z
Cars and disqualified the partners Madahar Ashok Kumar,
Sahibdial Singh Dhillon and
Sital Ram Dubb from holding
or obtaining a PSV O-Licence
in any Traffic Area for a period
18 months.
l Full report in a future
routeone Court Report.
Two Southdown Motor Services liveries as part of 100th celebrations
To celebrate 100 years of public
transport by Southdown Motor
Services across Sussex & South
East Hampshire, Stagecoach
South unveiled two special
liveries.
Commercial Director Mark
Turner (pictured left) and
Engineering Director Richard
Alexander unveiled the buses at
Amberley Museum.
An ADL Enviro300 bus is in
traditional Southdown green
and cream livery. An ADL
Enviro400 displays the wartime
variation of green and battleship
grey.
Created in 1915, the former
Southdown depots at Worthing
and Chichester are still in use
today by Stagecoach South.
Southdown,
latterly
a
National Bus Company subsidiary, was acquired by Stagecoach
in 1989.
As part of the centenary celebrations, a bus rally is being held
on 7 June at Southsea Common
with 120 modern and vintage
buses on display.
Transport Stationery Services
Drivers daily check pads and preventative maintenance inspection sheets suitable
for all types of passenger vehicles, analogue and digital tachos and other
products to keep you within the law
t: 02380 488566 f: 02380 276736
www.transportstationeryservices.com
Produced in partnership
with The Confederation of
Passenger Transport (UK)
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 09:57
www.route-one.net
p13.indd 13
12/05/2015 14:15
News
By Jessamy Chapman
[email protected]
Counterpart scrappage:
Don’t fall foul of data law
Operators could fall foul of the
data protection law over driver
licence changes, warns checking
service Licencecheck.
Operators asking employees
to give consent for them to access
their driving licence records,
in the absence of the driving
licence paper counterpart from
8 June, could inadvertently find
themselves on the wrong side of
the law.
Under the recently-enabled
Section 56 of the Data Protection
Act 1998, employers are not
allowed to force workers to
supply ‘Subject Access Reports’
containing information on criminal history and investigations.
Such information must now
be obtained through agencies
set up for criminal record checks.
The change in law is intended to
prevent discrimination against
those with spent convictions.
The
Information
Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
has clarified that requiring
employee drivers to sign a
mandate allowing access to
their driving licence record
will not be an offence under
the Act, provided the DVLA’s
recommended procedures are
followed.
Waste paper: Licence counterparts no longer needed after 8 June
Richard Brown, Managing
Director of Licencecheck, says:
“It seems that for the driver’s
consent to be effective they
need to understand why the
information is being requested
by the employer, what it will
be used for, and the possible
consequences.
“Will a busy manager understand the need to carefully
explain all this to the driver in
these terms, and at this level of
detail?”
GreenRoad eco-driving
for Stagecoach in USA
21st Century buys info
display expert RSL Group
GreenRoad’s eco-driving technology system is to be installed in
2,400 coaches across the USA in
Stagecoach’s Megabus and Coach
USA fleets.
Targeting a 3% fuel consumption reduction and fewer accidents, 3,200 drivers also stand
to benefit from a potential $1m
annual Green Driver bonus pool.
GreenRoad has been working
with Stagecoach, for a number
of years during which time it
has experienced significant
improvements in driver behaviour in the UK since introducing
GreenRoad’s unique SaaS system,
in addition to a 3% fuel consumption reduction.
CCTV and driver performance
technology specialist 21st
Century Technology plc (21C),
has bought Coventry-based
RSL Group for £1.3m.
Founded 20 years ago, RSL
Group is best known for its
high-quality travel information
display and ticketing systems in
bus and rail hubs.
Its customers include PTEs
and local authorities. RSL
Group has its own software and
development team.
It specialises in developing
and supplying public information systems for bus travel,
such as interactive terminals,
real-time display screens and
Megabus drivers in USA to benefit
All Megabus and Coach USA
drivers already undertake a Safe,
Skilled and Fuel Efficient Driving
training programme as part of
a Certificate of Professional
Competence.
The GreenRoad system incorporates online reporting, analysis
and coaching to help drivers
improve their driving.
kiosk-based ticketing machines.
The deal is part of 21C’s
strategy to diversify, including
adding software capability and
moving towards integrated
on-board technologies with
connected and web-based backoffice software management
applications.
Says 21C CEO Russ
Singleton: “This acquisition
combines important capabilities to develop new, classleading products and services
to help us grow our business
and deliver enhanced value-formoney solutions to customers
through our economies of
scale.”
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 09:59
www.route-one.net
p15.indd 15
12/05/2015 16:12
News
By Mel Holley
[email protected]
Technical training day
included as part of Euro
6 purchase package
City Circle UK has reaffirmed
its confidence in Scania and
Irizar, having selected Scania
Irizar i6 coaches for its growing
programme of tours and corporate charter services.
As a result a further 16
coaches have been delivered to
the company by Scania (Great
Britain).
City Circle, with bases in
London and Edinburgh, runs
58 coaches, and in recent years
has also bought Setra, Van Hool
and Volvo coaches.
Says Martin West, General
Manager Retail Sales Scania
(GB): “All the coaches are
fitted with our 10-year fleet
management system. City
Circle will benefit from a
product training day at our
Loughborough training centre,
a service we launched recently
to add to our growing complete
package offered with all Euro 6
purchases.”
Adds City Circle UK Limited
MD Neil Pegg: “I had the opportunity to evaluate the new Euro
6 13-litre Scania tri-axle with the
Irizar i6 body last season and it
performed superbly, and driver
and passenger feedback has
been excellent.
“I have been so impressed with
the performance of the Scanias,
the complete package that was
on offer and the flexibility and
drive to find the best solution
Coaches, to be used on touring work, are all Euro 6 and SCR-only
possible for my vehicle requirements. Choosing to go with
Scania was an easy decision. The
finished product looks great and
we look forward to operating
these vehicles on our increasing
programme of tours around the
UK and Ireland for incoming
tourists, and corporate charter
services.” The 16 are all 12.9m
tri-axles with Scania’s 410hp
Euro 6 SCR-only engine and
automated Opticruise gearbox.
Inside, the 53-seaters have
leather recliners, toilet, Frenzel
kitchen, Durabright wheels,
reversing and road cameras and
integrated sat-nav.
Product News
Garmin unveils its combined
Sat-Nav and dashcam unit
Optimum’s engine cleaner for
coach and bus sector
Continental’s smartphonecompatible tachograph unit
GPS navigation
specialist
Garmin has
unveiled
NüviCam, the
first portable
navigation
device to also include a built-in dash
camera and advanced alerts to enhance
driver awareness.
The camera continuously records and
automatically saves files on impact, while
NüviCam also includes forward collision
and lane departure warnings.
“These intuitive driver assist features
not only lessen the stress of getting
to your destination, but NüviCam also
provides the peace of mind of knowing
your journey is being recorded,” says
Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of
Worldwide Sales.
Lubricants specialist Optimum Oils has
teamed up with Chevron Lubricants to
introduce an all-new engine cleaning
product for the coach and bus industry.
Chevron’s Texaco Techron HD can
remove injector deposits from engines,
something which is now more common
with the rise in the use of biodiesel and
further accentuated by the higher injector
pressures at Euro 5 and Euro 6.
Optimum Oils MD Cliff Thrussell says:
“Our customers are frequently reporting
loss of performance and fuel economy
from modern diesel engines, particularly
on intensive stop-start inner city
applications.
“Uniquely, Techron HD, which is
available both as a one-shot clean-up
treatment and as a continually dosed
cleaner, returns engines to health and
maintains them at peak efficiency.”
Continental
has launched a
revised digital
tachograph
under its VDO
brand. The
DTCO 2.2 has
a number of improvements, among which
is remote control by smartphone using the
TIS-Web Driver app.
A driver can check on his or her hours
and rest information, and make manual
entries, using a smartphone, while other
entries such as shift start and end times,
and countries, are also possible via the
app.
Data download time is also improved
by up to 33%, while driving and rest time
counting algorithms have been revised.
The DTCO 2.2 will be available across
Europe from July and can be ordered now.
l www.garmin.com/nuvi
l www.optimumoils.com
l www.fleet.vdo.com
news 16 (product news) iss589.indd 16
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 09:56
p17.indd 17
12/05/2015 16:11
Court Report
Your weekly report by the industry’s leading legal journalist,
Mike Jewell, who covers all the key cases brought before
the Public Inquiries, Tribunals, Magistrate and Crown Courts
Licence cut and £4,000 penalty for DA Coaches:
Buses ran early and drivers behaved ‘poorly’ on
competitive Cumbernauld route
Predatory conduct by drivers
employed by Coatbridge-based
DA Coaches on one of its local
services has led to the company’s licence being cut from
10 to nine vehicles, and it has
been ordered to pay a penalty
of £4,000.
In
addition,
Traffic
Commissioner (TC) Joan
Aitken has directed that there
must be no increase in licence
authorisation for at least 12
months.
The company, of Greenhill
Industrial Estate, Coatbridge,
had been called before the TC
at an Edinburgh Public Inquiry.
John Fender, of Strathclyde
Passenger Transport (SPT),
said that following receipt of a
complaint from another operator, SPT inspectors monitored
service K47 at Cumbernauld
railway station over five days,
observing 30 journeys, of which
24 ran early and four failed to
operate.
Calum Aikman, of Bus Users
Scotland (BUS), said that he
had monitored service K47
court report iss589.indd 18
in response to complaints. He
also travelled on the service as
a ‘mystery traveller’. On such
trips, sections of the route were
missed out. He found 11 of
those journeys to be early.
It seemed that drivers were
deliberately leaving early to get
ahead of the rival 47 service
operated by Henderson Travel,
scheduled to leave five minutes
before the K47.
There was little evidence of any
attention paid to the timetable.
One driver drove with only one
hand for long periods, including
navigating roundabouts, and on
one such occasion had to brake
sharply at speed when talking
to a passenger; another driver
overtook the Henderson bus
in Cumbernauld bus station,
blocking the Henderson bus’
exit and obstructing traffic.
One driver gave passengers
his mobile phone number so
that they could phone him to
ask when their bus would be
coming. Another driver was
seen using a mobile phone
while driving on two separate
occasions. Hazel Dunn, of BUS,
said that she also monitored the
K47 service and undertook
11 trips on four separate days
in April 2014. She received
incorrect tickets, with drivers
at times uncertain about fares.
She observed harsh braking and
kerbing. One driver was eating
a roll while driving the bus, and
had a habit of driving with one
hand on the ticket machine.
There was an aggressive
episode when a driver pulled
up to a Henderson’s bus and
began shouting and swearing.
On resuming the journey he
missed out part of the route to
race the Henderson bus.
At Kirkintilloch a driver went
through a red light and through
a car park to cut out part of the
route and leave early.
Of 17 departures she monitored in June, 13 went early and
three failed to operate.
The TC said that an email
had been received from a
member of the public, saying
that she had been at a bus stop
and saw the Henderson Travel
47 bus approaching with the
DA Coaches K47 bus immediately behind. She boarded the
Henderson bus, and the K47
overtook the 47 and stopped in
front of it, blocking the left lane.
The Henderson bus started
to leave, and there was an
altercation with the DA driver
punching and kicking the side
of the bus. She was standing
awaiting a ticket and was
worried for her safety. She had
also been on a DA vehicle when
the driver was on his phone at
the Craiglinn roundabout, and
went through a red light.
David Arthur said that it all
went wrong when he decided
to take on Hendersons, as
numerous passengers asked
him to try a Cumbernauld
service as there had been buses
breaking down.
He watched the Henderson
service before he decided to
run the service and saw buses
missing and people waiting.
His service ran about seven
minutes in front of Henderson’s.
He expected to get passengers who were not happy with
Henderson.
All of his drivers were experienced in local service work.
When he was running two buses
Henderson put on nine, not just
to the timetable but extra ones.
Every day photos were being
taken of him and his drivers,
and there would be Henderson
controllers at the bus stops
saying that Henderson buses
would be along, and were more
frequent.
He did not instruct drivers to
miss out parts of the route. He
did not tell his drivers to run
early. He was appalled to get
the SPT report. He had now
changed the timetable, went
out more and took records of
the timings.
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 10:07
He had been planning to take
the bus out of Cumbernauld
because it was so hard to get
drivers to work, given the
Henderson bullying. He spoke
to the Henderson controllers but never approached
John Henderson direct. Then
Henderson Travel ceased, and it
was only his service which was
operating now.
His father Thomas as
Transport Manager (TM) was
going on a refresher course. He
intended to obtain his own CPC
in 2016. He needed nine discs to
run his services.
Thomas Arthur said he had
his own business, Arthurs
Coaches, doing service and
school contract work.
He thought Henderson’s
tactics were those of the big
bully. There were consequences
for his own Coatbridge circular
service, as Henderson put a free
bus in front of his. He agreed that
he was not on the ball in 2014.
The TC said that she was
in no doubt that the terrible
behaviours witnessed derived
from this being a very shoddy,
careless operation with very low
standards of service.
Phoning, eating, singlehanded driving, harsh braking,
cutting in, shouting and
swearing, talking to passengers
when driving, and poor service
in relation to tickets and fares,
were not the isolated behaviour
of some random drivers. It was
the behaviour of drivers who
must have had instructions to get
ahead and cut off the Henderson
vehicles. Here was not the place
for her to say anything about
Henderson.
There was some positive
evidence of an attempt to do
better. She was not told of any
recent complaints by the public.
The demise of Henderson
Travel had changed the operating environment overnight for
DA Coaches.
Fresh application by Oakwood to be heard at PI
Oakwood Travel
submits fresh
application, but director
Philip Higgs has ‘a
mountain to climb’
Following the withdrawal of
an application for increased
vehicle authority by Oakwood
Travel, and for a licence by
Red Rocket Bus, Oakwood
submitted a fresh application
for additional vehicles which
Traffic Commissioner (TC)
Beverley Bell has directed will
In association with Fieldfisher. *Terms and conditions appy.
www.route-one.net
court report iss589.indd 19
be heard at Public Inquiry (PI).
Originally Oakwood Travel
Services, which has since
changed its name to Catch 22
Buses, trading as Oakwood
Travel, had applied to increase
the authorisation on its licence
from eight to 14 vehicles; and
Red Rocket Bus had applied for
a new six-vehicle licence.
The TC is also considering
action against the Oakwood
licence and the repute of
Oakwood’s former owner and
Transport Manager (TM)
Frank Steele (routeone, Court
Report, 25 June & 27 August
2014). The TC reserved
her decision last September
(routeone, Court Report, 24
September 2014). However,
in the interim, Director of both
companies Philip Higgs took
legal advice and the TC listed
the case for hearing at Leeds
to hear representations from
James Backhouse, for the two
companies.
Mr Backhouse said that Red
Rocket was now defunct, and
Oakwood had lodged a fresh
application to increase the
authorisation on its licence by
10 vehicles. The big problem
was pressure, as Oakwood was
up against a very tight deadline
for the summer season. It was
missed last year because of this
case. After the TC had said that
Mr Higgs had taken on work
without having the vehicles,
Mr Backhouse said that when
the case first came before DTC
Simon Evans, it was understood they would get a decision within 28 days. When
they found out he had recused
himself from the case, they were
by that stage already in trouble.
The TC said that Oakwood
had been without an effective TM for some time.
She was deeply concerned
about Mr Higgs’ approach to
O-Licensing, and he had “a
mountain to climb” to satisfy
her.
Scan the QR code to access free legal advice on the go!
12/05/2015 10:07
BOOK YOUR
TICKETS NOW
WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
HILTON BIRMINGHAM METROPOLE
CLOSING DATE FOR BOOKING: 3 AUGUST 2015
For more information, visit www.routeoneawards.com
table booking form dps.indd 1
12/05/2015 10:08
BOOKING FORM
Return your completed form by email: [email protected]; by fax: 01926 888004;
or by post: Helen Conway, Diversified Communications UK, Olympus Avenue, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV34 6BF
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: £137+VAT / TABLE OF 12: £1,644+VAT
I would like to book.......................................... individual ticket(s) or.......................................... table(s) (subject to availability)
Total cost: £.......................................... +VAT
Payment Details – An invoice will be raised and posted for all bookings. Please tick your preferred payment method below:
We would like to receive an invoice for the full amount
We have enclosed a cheque payable to Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
We would like to pay by credit card
We have instructed our bank to pay Diversified Business Communication UK Ltd using the details below
HSBC plc, 55 High Street, Steyning BN44 3RE
Account Name: Diversified Business Communications UK Limited | Sort code: 40-43-48 | Account no: 71213032
SWIFT: MIDLGB22 | IBAN: GB49MIDL40434871213032
Please send tickets to:
Name:..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Company name:..........................................................................................................................................................................................
Address:......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................... Postcode:.........................................................................................
Telephone no:.................................................................................... Email:...............................................................................................
table booking form dps.indd 2
12/05/2015 10:08
p22.indd 22
12/05/2015 14:14
Westminster Watch
In partnership with:
Last week’s general election had been hailed as one of the most
‘unpredictable’ in living memory. After an unprecedented victory for the SNP
and a ‘disappointing night’ for Labour – David Cameron appoints an all-Tory
cabinet. Nobody expected this to happen, says our man in Westminster
“Hell, yes!” roared Ed Miliband
in the first of his election TV
debates when challenged on his
capability to be Prime Minister.
“Hell, no!” roared back the
electorate.
Whatever your political views
and party allegiances, this election result is a real game changer.
Nobody called the result
correctly.
They didn’t get anywhere
close – except, perhaps, the
former Labour leader Neil
Kinnock who a day or so before
polling day warned of the potential impact of what he called
“shy Tories” – those voters who
intended to vote Conservative
but would not admit to it when
asked. And he should know, as
that is pretty much what lost him
the election in 1992.
So against all the odds we
have a majority Conservative
government: The first time
the Conservatives have won an
outright majority in 23 years.
The worst result for Labour in 32
years, the worst result for the Lib
Dems in 45 years, the youngest
MP since 1667 elected – at the age
www.route-one.net
westminster watch iss589.indd 23
of 20, (the SNP’s Mhairi Black).
And the roll call of senior MPs
that got decapitated is extraordinary – from Danny Alexander,
Ed Davy, Vince Cable and Simon
Hughes for the Lib Dems, to Ed
Balls, Douglas Alexander and
Jim Murphy for Labour.
The Conservatives’ dramatic
victory doesn’t owe itself
to some major swing to the
Conservatives from Labour
across the UK. On the contrary,
in England at least there was
barely any universal swing at
all. Rather, the Conservatives’
victory owes itself to two clear
factors: Labour’s and the Lib
Dems’ total collapse in Scotland
at the hands of the SNP, and
the Lib Dems’ annihilation in
the south west at the hands of
the Conservatives. With the
SNP in control of Scotland,
Labour forced back into its city
heartlands in the north and
Wales, and the Conservatives
in command elsewhere, there
is a distinct “regional” feel to
the make-up of the House of
Commons.
This is a worrying trend, and
David Cameron will have his
work cut out to ensure that he
really does govern for the whole
of the UK.
I had predicted that UKIP
would be the big loser at the
hands of our “first past the post”
electoral system, and that Nigel
Farage would not let that pass
without comment – and so it
has proved.
Consider this. UKIP is the
third largest party in terms of the
popular vote with 3.9 million
votes, but has just one MP. The
SNP got 56 MPs with just 1.5
million votes.
The legitimacy of this electoral
} The Conservatives’ victory owes itself to
two clear factors: Labour’s total collapse in
Scotland at the hands of the SNP, and the Lib
Dems’ annihilation in the south west ~
system is being tested to the limit.
As I write over the weekend after
the election, David Cameron is
turning his mind to his Cabinet
appointments and his wider
ministerial team.
Already George Osborne,
Theresa May, Philip Hammond
and Michael Fallon are reappointed in post, with George
Osborne given the additional
title of First Secretary of State,
making him the Prime Minister’s
formal deputy.
By the time you read this, all
ministerial appointments will
have been made, but I will avoid
making any predictions as to
who will make up the ministerial team at the Department for
Transport.
David Cameron likes continuity, as his first appointments
show. Perhaps we will see Patrick
McLoughlin back in charge of
transport.
Sadly our old friend Norman
Baker got caught up in the
tsunami that swept away the
Lib Dems and he lost his Lewes
seat. Good luck for the future,
Norman.
12/05/2015 11:34
Your Platform
A digest of this week’s mailbox
Lett
the wer of
eek
The Letter of the Week will
receive an 8Gb USB flash
drive (pictured) courtesy of
Coach Hire Exchange.
Lost in transit
The strange things
that get left on
buses never cease
to amaze The
Whisperer, but this
lizard is one of
the most unusual.
It was found on
a Lothian Bus in
the morning, and not
having had any frantic calls from its owner, Lothian decided to
Tweet a picture just after lunch. A few hours later, the owner
hadn’t been found, but the Twitterati quickly identified it as a
pagona minor also known as a bearded dragon, and gave
tips on how to look after it; along with a few puns too...
Failure to implement
puts children at risk
Nice and
swish at TfL
If you’re stuck in
a rotten old office,
spare a thought
for the chaps and
lassies at Transport
for London (TfL),
faced with another
office move. They’ve
got the gleaming
new ‘Transport for
London Building’ at The International Quarter Stratford, on
the site of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Currently being
built, the 265,000 sq ft building is adjacent to the London
Aquatics Centre and Westfield Stratford City shopping
centre. Nice!
Best bus
back ever?
According to this
picture, the rear of a
UK-registered Irizar,
has been decorated
with what must be
the best bus-back
ever. The Whisperer
has no comment
to make, but you
all know the tune:
Dah, dah, dah, dee,
dee...
letters (your platform) iss589.indd 24
Pat Harris: ‘BUSK will push for schools to hold O-Licence’
Infringement proceedings have been issued against our
own government for its failure to implement the EC
Regulation 1071/2009 (routeone, News, 6 May). But what
will this mean for all the teachers across the UK that drive
up to 16 children in minibuses on a daily basis?
Never before has such a simple question demanded a
more significant and clear cut answer.
On 18 November 1993, 12 families each lost a child as
a direct result of a disgraceful and unacceptable two-tier
system that allowed the teacher to drive herself and 14
pupils on a school trip without a tachograph or adequate
training – so she would recognise that she was likely to be
putting the very children at risk that she clearly adored.
Out of the 14 children only two survived when
the teacher fell asleep and crashed into a motorway
maintenance lorry on the hard shoulder on the M40.
It has become clear that not enough was done to
safeguard the children before, and according to the
parents, even after this tragedy.
In its failure to implement the Regulations, the UK
government has allowed children to be put at risk every
time a teacher drives a minibus without safeguards in
place.
In BUSK’s experience, far too many well-meaning
teachers just do not understand their legal obligations;
many do not understand the basic regulations such as
making proper checks on maintenance.
This year will be the 22nd anniversary of the Hagley

www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 09:58
Have your say...
Email: [email protected]; Write to: Mel Holley, Editor, routeone, Unit 4,
Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6FT
routeONE magazine
@routeoneteam
 School crash, and we must not ever forget
that it was a teacher driving tired that
caused the crash.
When BUSK highlighted these facts on
the 20th anniversary, in conjunction with
the parents, the Department for Education
held the view that it was up to headteachers
to make a decision on whether a teacher
was fit to drive.
To issue a statement like this
demonstrates a lax attitude to the safety of
children, in particular when Paul Hill, head
at Hagley School, got it so wrong.
BUSK will be urging the UK government
to stop local authorities awarding school
contracts to charities and the CTA groups
that are operating voluntarily, whether paid
or unpaid. BUSK will be pushing to not
only see an abolition of Section 19 permits,
but for all schools that operate a minibus to
hold an O-Licence.
Pat Harris,
Director,
BUSK UK,
Newport, Gwent
British invention of the ‘50s
Further to your editorial on magnetic
levitation railways (routeone, This Week,
22 April).
I saw a working MagLev test track at the
BR works in Gorton, Manchester in the
early 1960s, where Manchester University
were conducting working trials with
magnetic bogies.
The MagLev concept development was
driven by a British northerner, Professor
Eric Laithwaite, who in 1956 lodged his
first patent for the design which was to
drive his academic career – the linear
motor.
This was an ordinary motor whose
horizontal structure created a magnetic
field capable of propelling objects with
www.route-one.net
letters (your platform) iss589.indd 25
Coach and bus operators share
their thoughts of the week on
Twitter and Facebook
friction-free movement, and the linear
motor was to be the basis of Eric’s life work.
Another brilliant UK design lost by
Britain in the 1970s. Add it to the list.
John Ashmore,
Middleton-on-Sea,
West Sussex
Trade plates will work
In reply to Paul Fletcher’s letter (routeone,
Letters, 22 April).
If any driver gets stopped by police and
the road tax has not been paid, or a refund
is in operation, the driver of the vehicle
must be liable and hence fined.
Tax discs do not belong to the vehicle.
The solution to avoid this happening
is to collect and deliver vehicles with the
use of trade plates, whereby the trade plate
number is covered by insurance and road
tax.
Jim Lawson,
Transport Manager,
Dunnett’s Transport,
Thurso
Use trade plates?
In reply to Paul Fletcher’s letter (routeone,
Letters, 22 April).
The question he asks is how to check
road tax without paper discs. The question
I have to ask is how does he check MOT
status? Surely that is more important.
The solution is quite easy – use trade
plates. They are fairly easily available to
reputable companies and would solve both
the tax and MOT issues.
RDH Coaches
@RDHCoaches
Three new coaches have
joined the fleet, just getting the
signwriting done and they will be
out and about!
6 May
John Bickerton
@johnbickerton
Sad to hear Norman Baker
lost his Lewes seat. Strong
local politician and made some
good progress as a moderate
Transport Minister too
8 May
Anthonys Travel
Races day – five coaches
at Chester plus coaches at
Exeter, Garstang, North Wales,
Todmorden and Windsor
8 May
Martijn Gilbert @MartRDG
Great to attend the inauguration
of Beverley Bell as @ciltuk
president. An inspiring speech.
Strong support for development
of young members
8 May
Carol Peters
A very big thank you to all
of our customers who came
to support us today on the
opening of our new office! We
were overwhelmed with your
kindness.
9 May
Bibby’s of Ingleton
@Bibbyscoaches
3 coaches out of Hull tonight
on P&O North Sea ferries and
one out of Loch Ryan to Belfast
on Stena Line #busyonthetours
#justcruisin
10 May
Peter Lewis,
Lewis Coaches of London
12/05/2015 09:58
RE
G
N IS
O TE
W R
COACH&BUS
Wednesday 30 September – Thursday 1 October
Halls 17, 18 & 19, NEC Birmingham
Coach & Bus Live is the major domestic showcase for the bus,
coach and passenger transport technology sector.
The 2015 event will be packed with live action, imaginative feature
areas and comprehensive Master Classes.
Quite simply, there is nothing else to match the Coach & Bus Live
experience.
Covering buses, coaches and minibuses, technology for both
vehicles and the office, workshop equipment alongside parts
and accessories, insurance services, finance advice, training and
development, and accessible and safety solutions, Coach & Bus
Live will give you everything you need to successfully operate a
fleet of passenger carrying vehicles.
Whether you are the owner of a small independent coach
operation, the fleet engineer of a large multi-depot bus company,
or a local authority, Coach & Bus Live will provide the solutions
you need for effective operation.
Register for your FREE entry ticket:
www.coachandbuslive.com/registertoattend
INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING?
Contact Martin Laverton to discuss availability
Tel: +44 (0)1733 405735 Email: [email protected]
Event partners
p26-27.indd 26
12/05/2015 14:13
SKILLS TEST
ACCESSIBILITY ZONE
Accessibility Zone
Skills Test supported by Mercedes-Benz
Are you interested in mini/midi and accessible vehicle
solutions? In recent years there have been some really exciting
developments in this key sector of the market. This dedicated
show area covers everything from bespoke luxury builds,
community transport vehicles, safety and access equipment.
It contains everything for local authority planners, operators,
stakeholders and community transport providers to see and
experience.
Drivers will have the opportunity to test their skills behind the
wheel of a range of the latest Mercedes-Benz products in the
short Skills Test area in the outside area. The Mercedes-Benz
team will be on hand to give support, advice and information.
TECHNOLOGY ZONE
MASTER CLASS THEATRE
Master Class Theatre
Technology Zone
The FREE Master Class sessions will cover the latest innovations
and advances in coach , bus and industry technology. Discover
how you can develop a competitive edge for the future.
Responsible for transport specifying and journey planning? The
rapid developments in technology for businesses can be seen in
the Technology Zone. Discover new technologies that will help
you stay ahead of the competition by improving your services for
customers. Smart technology, telematics, vehicle tracking and
ticketing solutions all play a vital part in tomorrow’s transport
solutions, and this will be the largest industry display under one
roof in the UK this year.
WORKSHOP LIVE
TOURISM
Tourism with the Coach Drivers’ Club
Workshop Live
If you are planning new tours and day trips, then take the
opportunity to discover attractions, destinations, booking agents
and wholesalers, alongside investigating the latest developments
in tour booking and reservation software. The area incorporates
the Coach Drivers’ Club lounge, offering the ideal space to
network, plan and relax.
Vehicle technology is changing fast. Find out more about how
technological advancement in vehicles impacts on how workshop
teams will need to be ready for tomorrow. Skills, equipment,
knowledge and technology are all essential components in
making sure your business has the support to maximise the use
of your vehicle fleets.
p26-27.indd 27
12/05/2015 14:14
Have you visited the routeone website?
www.route-one.net
Available on mobile, tablet and PC...
www.route-one.net is the number one online destination for coach
and bus industry news, jobs, events and vehicle sales.
At routeone, we recognise the importance of new media and the desire
from our readership to get the latest industry news, whenever, wherever
p28.indd 28
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 14:13
Profile | Johnson Bros Tours
Johnson Bros Tours and Redfern Travel are among the best-known names in the coach
industry – and not without reason. The 60-year-old firm, not one for shouting about itself,
runs a meticulous operation from three modern depots, as Jessamy Chapman finds out
It was a tale of three brothers. And
60 years later, it’s still a tale of three
brothers.
The origins of Derbyshire/
Nottinghamshire-based Johnson
Bros Tours are a familiar story, and
its family-run ethics are certainly
no oddity in the coach industry.
Its work is the typical diet of coach
operators, including private hire, day
trips, holidays, school contracts and
National Express work – “everything
except stagecarriage and night clubs.”
But the sheer size of this operation,
its attention to detail, its secondto-none presentation, and the fact
that it’s still the original family who
oversee it day-to-day, are what makes
it extraordinary.
Antony, Lee and Scott are the
second set of Johnson brothers to
run it: The first was their father
Christopher (known always as Tony)
and his brothers Harry and Barry.
Tony and his wife Sheila have
since taken a step back, but are still
heavily involved. They live on-site
at the Hodthorpe depot, which is
the original home of Johnson Bros
Tours. It was acquired in the ‘50s,
and the family home, Greenacres,
was built in the ‘70s.
There are three depots, each one
as impressive as the last. Redfern
Travel, Johnsons’ sister company, is
based at The Sidings in Mansfield
and overseen by Scott as Engineering
Director. The depot was purposebuilt and completed in 2007.
As for the Worksop site, where
Johnsons is based, it started life as a
showroom for a coach dealer – so its
visual appeal is striking. It was built
in 2008 by Esker Bus and Coach, and
the Johnsons bought it in 2011 when
that firm went out of business.
“We’d gone to look at buying
some of the fixtures and garage
equipment,” says Lee. “We ended
www.route-one.net
johnsons travel iss589.indd 29
Neoplan
Tourliner is one
of six deliveries
for 2015
up buying all of it.” The move to
Worksop has allowed the family
to build a complete new depot at
Hodthorpe, which has only just been
finished – so most of the brand new
office and workshop space is still
empty. There are five workshop bays
and ample parking space, just two
minutes from the Johnsons’ back
door.
Johnsons’ history
The business started life in
1954 as Dukeries Travel, named
after the ‘Dukeries’ region of
Nottinghamshire in which
Hodthorpe sits. It was started
by Tony, Harry and Barry, with
involvement from their parents, at a
time when the family was running a
grocery shop in the village, and also
working in farming.
Tony led his brothers in the
running of the firm, right up until
1994 when he bought his brothers’
shares.
In the mid-’50s the Greenacres site
was purchased, and the first full-sized
coach was bought in the late ‘50s – a
41-seater Bedford.
In 1978 Tony renamed the
business Johnson Bros Tours, out
of a desire to see the family name
attached to its success.
The company’s growth has been
phenomenal in the last 20 years
especially – from 19 vehicles in 1994,
the year Scott joined the firm, to 147
today. The growth has mainly been
organic, but there have been a couple
of notable acquisitions. The first was
McEwen Coaches, bought from Jock
McEwen in the 1980s – a name that
resurfaced in the ‘90s when his son
John re-established the firm, which is
now owned by Skills Holidays.
Its biggest acquisition is of course
that of Redfern Travel.
8
12/05/2015 14:47
8 Redfern’s acquisition
The old business was run by Alf
Chambers and in the ‘80s was the
envy of Nottinghamshire’s coach
operators. “They had toilets on
board their coaches before we’d
even thought of them,” says Tony’s
daughter Coleen. “We used to
wonder if we’d ever have coaches like
that, one day.”
However, by the time Alf died in
1999, the 12-coach-strong business
was down and out – due in part to
Alf having capital tied up in travel
shops, at a time when a big-name
travel agency was winning a lot
of business. This led to a lack of
investment in the fleet.
Alf had told Tony that he planned
to retire when he was 60, and asked
if he’d be interested in buying it then.
But sadly, Alf died at 58, and it was
his wife Julie who approached Tony.
“The company was in bad shape
and needed a lot of investment,” says
Lee. “We replaced all the vehicles
with newer secondhand, getting rid
of everything, but it took about two
years.
“By the time we bought them, they
hadn’t got a bad name, but it wasn’t
a great name, either. We decided
to keep the name and the colour
scheme, and brand both businesses
in the same way.”
The business at the time was at
Lindley Street in Mansfield, and
the site is still owned by Johnsons
today, as is the Esterel caravan site
in Southern France where all 25
caravans have been renewed.
Johnsons’ turnaround of the ailing
business was remarkably fast. When
the business was bought it was
turning over around half a million
pounds a year.
Just nine years later, in January
2008, it launched the brand new
depot at Mansfield, with an open day
that was well attended by customers,
suppliers, industry friends and the
trade press. Redfern now turns over
around £4-5m a year, and between
them, it and Johnsons turn over £1011m a year.
The site is spread over four plots
of land and still has room for growth
today. It’s the biggest of the three
depots, with 12 workshop bays
joining the 11 at Worksop and five
at Hodthorpe. All together, the
business has capacity for 30 vehicles
in maintenance at any one time, with
32 full-time engineers employed.
The Johnsons don’t usually shout
about themselves in the trade press,
so it may surprise some to see just
how much they’ve got – three large
modern depots, 147 well-cared-for
vehicles, and enviable maintenance
facilities. “We don’t shout about
what we do,” says Lee. “We generally
plod along and do our own thing.
Most people would probably be
surprised by what we’ve got here.”
That was certainly the case in
2008, when it opened its doors for
the launch of The Sidings. “We
expected 200-300 people. Over
600 people turned out,” says Scott.
“There were queues to get in – we
were overwhelmed at how many
people came.” Says Lee: “For once,
we just wanted to tell people ‘this is
what we’re about’.
“If he had been alive, Alf
Chambers would probably have been
quite astonished at what we’ve done
with the business.”
In addition to attracting industry
guests from all corners of the UK
and Ireland, the event raised £4,000
for the Air Ambulance, sustaining
Johnsons proud tradition of raising
money for charity.
Buying outright
Just three years after the grand
opening of The Sidings, the brothers
were looking at buying Portland
House, the Worksop depot.
To bring it up to standard
£200,000 was spent on infrastructure
and maintenance equipment within
it, including an ATF lane, and the
firm moved in in September 2011.
Since its birth in 2011, Irizar UK
has rented space at Portland House,
and makes good use of its prominent
showroom. Masterpart is also on site
– a spare parts dealer that is owned
by Johnsons’, run by Jon Hale and
affiliated with Irizar UK.
“Portland House was built for
retail,” says Lee. “All that space at the
front is great for showing vehicles,
but a coach operator would never
have built that.”
Nevertheless Portland House
is put to very good use. It houses
Johnsons’ collection of vintage
coaches and is also used by Irizar to
display stock vehicles.
Each driver to his own
The two fleets, for Johnsons and
Redfern, are kept separate, with their
own livery, but naturally they can be
used on each other’s work.
Surprisingly for such a large fleet,
every vehicle has an assigned driver,
and each coach is named – usually
after a relative of the driver. “If
each vehicle has its own driver, the
driver can get to know the vehicle
really well, and they’ll know when
1. The Johnson
brothers: (l-r)
Antony, Scott
and Lee
2. Portland
House, home of
Johnson Bros in
Worksop
3. Tony Johnson,
his wife Sheila
and daughter
Coleen
1
4. The
engineering
team at Portland
House
5. Redfern
vehicles are kept
in green fleet
livery
2
something’s wrong,” says Lee. “I
don’t think there’s any other way to
run a coach business.”
Antony is the Engineering
Director at Johnsons and Scott the
Engineering Director at Redfern,
while Lee is the Transport Manager
across both – but all three are CPC
holders.
“Generally, we mix-and-match all
our roles,” says Lee.
Coleen used to work for the
business in the accounts and admin
side, but left several years ago to
have a family. However, she still
gets involved when a new vehicle is
bought.
The Sidings was granted VOSA
testing ‘Designated Premises’ status
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 14:47
3
in 2008, one of the last operators
to get it before Authorised Testing
Facilities (ATF) were introduced
(it now has ATF status). Scott
estimates that Johnsons and Redfern
maintain around 350 vehicles aside
from their own, including the NHS
in Nottingham, Nottingham City
Council, and local colleges.
Any repair
It’s able to do any kind of repair on
a vehicle. Jon Hale’s Masterpart is
conveniently on-site at Worksop for
spare parts, while S&G Coachworks,
another subsidiary of Johnsons,
bought in 2005, is based at The
Sidings and offers complete livery
and paintwork options, headed by
www.route-one.net
4
5
Mick Grayson whose son, James, has
won through national and European
heats of the World Skills paint
spraying competition and is going
to the world finals in Brazil later
this year. “The only thing we don’t
do is trim seats,” says Scott. “We do
everything else. It’s a one-stop shop.
“We paint for Marshalls of
Sutton-on-Trent, Go Goodwins and
Sharpes of Nottingham, Weardale,
Travelmaster, Slacks Holidays, Irizar
UK, Nottingham City Council,
Streamline of Ireland and many
more.”
It looks after the maintenance
for Nottingham’s electric bus fleet,
which at 45 is the largest in Europe.
Three engineers work from a small
satellite depot in Nottingham
specifically on these buses, carrying
out inspections and day-to-day
repairs, and there are plans to install
an electric fast-charger at The Sidings
so the buses can travel to Mansfield
for inspections, MOTs and major
service work.
All of Johnsons’ engineers
have high-voltage training. In
fact, the training Johnsons offers
is comprehensive, and includes
irtec accreditation for every single
technician – including two-thirds of
them at ‘Master’ level. Apprentices
attend S&B in Bristol.
Some office space at The Sidings
is rented to Peter Smythe Training,
which conducts some of Johnsons’ 8
12/05/2015 14:47
to have a lot of older vehicles to pay
for the newer ones. If you only have
one vehicle, you’re under pressure to
make it pay off – because there’s as
much legislation for one vehicle as
there is for 100.”
8 Driver CPC. In the peak period
Johnsons employs around 200 staff,
including 150 drivers, so it’s quite an
undertaking – and the brothers aren’t
fully convinced of the benefits of
DCPC. “You can sit the same course
five times,” says Lee. “If you can do
that, I don’t think it’s really worth
having.
“It would be better if drivers were
assessed on site, assessed on their
driving and perhaps a walk-round
check.”
‘Eat, sleep and breathe’
The business buys around six new
vehicles every year. This year’s batch
are all Euro 6, comprising two Irizar
i6s, two Van Hools and two MAN
Neoplan Tourliners. All will have
been delivered in the next few weeks.
The Johnsons don’t buy many
secondhand vehicles, preferring to
keep new coaches into their doublefigure years. It refurbishes vehicles
at mid-life, and its oldest executive
coach is ‘07-plate. The doubledeckers used for schools (over 6,000
children are carried every day), on
the other hand, date far back into the
‘70s in some cases – simply because
the rates on school contracts and low
mileage can’t justify buying newer
ones.
However, they’re well-maintained,
and their vintage quality appeals to
schoolchildren.
The fact that it has its own paint
and bodyshop allows the family to
have a bit of fun with vehicles, and its
heritage fleet is very well presented,
painted up in the old Dukeries Travel
livery. It also has a small fleet of
vintage trucks painted in Redfern’s
colours, and Tony has a collection of
vintage tractors.
The old vehicles are wheeled
out at fairs, and used for weddings
and special occasions – but their
main reason for being is simply that
the family “eat, sleep and breathe”
coaches, as Scott says. It also reflects
their passion and dedication to the
industry.
The family can afford to have these
assets, so it does, but it’s taken a long
time to get to where it is today, and
the brothers don’t forget the years of
hard graft that have gone into making
Johnsons and Redfern a success.
“You don’t come into this business
to get rich,” says Antony. “You have
to work for a great many years to get
anywhere.”
Lee adds: “The outlay on a new
coach now is £250,000. What’s your
return on it? A window cleaner only
needs to buy a ladder and a bucket
and they can make money, whereas
in many cases a coach operator has
Biggest
workshop is
at the Redfern
depot in
Mansfield
} We’ve got regular drivers, who’ve been
with us for a long time, so the vehicles are
handled better ~
Finger on the pulse
The future is bright for the company,
with a brand new depot just waiting
to be used.
Until now Johnsons’ holiday side
has been traditional, with customers
looking at the brochure and ringing
up or coming in to book their tour.
But next year will see a new
website launched incorporating an
online booking system, which will
be a benefit to smartphone-using
customers who want to book their
tour outside opening hours.
Portland House’s showroom
aspect is handy for events, and
Johnsons will retain its annual
tradition of launching the brochure
with an open day. Last year it held a
bingo event, which attracted around
400 people and raised money for
charity. “We first did it four years ago,
at The Sidings,” says Lee. “We put on
a buffet lunch and let them see the
vehicles, and it works really well.”
The brothers proudly reel off
the names of some of their longestserving staff – many have served in
the workshops, offices and driving
seats for over 20 years. They include:
Mark Anderson, Tommy Wilkinson,
Dave Allen, Steve Smallshaw,
Graham Attersley, Partick Lowe, Phil
Evans, Andy Moran, Neil Randall,
Ricky Potts, Steve Hankinson plus
Nigel and Andy Malton, one of quite
a few father and son teams employed.
With such a large and longexperienced team, it’s easy to see that
the industry’s changed. “We still have
loyal, dedicated drivers, but their job
now is more like a solicitor’s role, and
there’s not the same level of pride
that there used to be,” says Lee.
“For example, we spec all our
vehicles with automatic gearboxes
now, because it leaves the driver free
to concentrate on everything else
they have to do.”
Antony adds: “If you don’t change
as a business, you won’t succeed.”
“And some operators don’t care so
much about keeping their drivers,
and are happy to let them go then
recruit new ones year in, year out,”
adds Scott. “I think because we’ve
got regular drivers, many of whom
have been with us for a long time, the
vehicles are handled better.
“We know our business,” says Lee.
“We keep our finger on the pulse.”
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12/05/2015 14:47
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Profile | Ticketer
Helping operators
have total control
From a small start-up business just five years
ago, Ticketer has become a leading force in
ticket machines. At its heart is a clever range of
operator-controlled software, and a company
ethos that puts customers at the heart of
everything it does, discovers Mel Holley
Ticketer’s
business is
based around its
people: Jason
Mann, John
Clarfelt and Brad
Todd, among
others
Electronic ticketing machines (ETMs)
used to be a dark art, meaning
operators were reliant on suppliers to
make changes to their system, such as
fares.
But, new thinking, coupled with
new technology such as SIM-based
data transfer, means operators who use
Ticketer’s system have total control
over every aspect, and you don’t have
to pay to make any changes.
Also, you can make changes in real
time, which automatically updates all
ticket machines at the same time, as
well as seeing live data.
Behind all of this is Ticketer,
headquartered in Hungerford, near
Reading, and headed by its personable
and dynamic MD, John Clarfelt.
Having purchased the concept from
ETMSS, Ticketer has a single focus –
to revolutionise bus ticketing and put
ticketing control back in the hands of
the operator, no matter the size of fleet.
The guiding principle of Ticketer
is to enable operators to take
control of their own ticket machine
configurations without any reliance
whatsoever on a third party supplier.
This allows you to maximise the
system’s potential and makes it a tool
for profitability rather than a burden.
ticketer iss589.indd 34
Ticketer’s business model is
different too. Licensing is ETM-based,
consequently there is no restriction
on the number of concurrent users an
operator can have on the system at any
one time.
Better still, every interaction that
Ticketer has with an operator is free of
charge and designed to improve the
product for all operators.
John is very proud that Ticketer has
never charged any operator over its
quoted price. “We have no doubt that
it is through working collaboratively
with operators that the product
continues to improve.
“It is this principle that shapes
our development model, providing
operators with ongoing product
improvement and support.”
Says John: “It’s about the Ticketer
ethos. It does infuse everything we do.
“If Ticketer had a motto it would be:
‘work hard and be nice to everyone’.
Some suppliers might see customers
as a cash cow; we don’t take that view.
“When we first went to see Reading
Buses, the then MD James Freeman
looked me in the eye and said: ‘If you
deliver what you say, it’s fantastic, but
I’m not getting very excited because
you’ll need to prove you’re different
from other suppliers”.
Reading Buses was Ticketer’s first
customer and, says John, those words:
“Influenced us heavily. I went to see
another operator who said, ‘I’m just
about to conclude a deal with my
current supplier, and I don’t really
want to do so’.
“I thought, these guys don’t like
their suppliers’ offerings, but they have
to buy their products.”
Now, five years on, this clarity of
focus on looking after operators has
worked. “We have succeeded, and it
shows that you can do it the right way,”
says John.
“We’ll come up with a very good
product, and we’ll kill ourselves for our
customers. And you know what; by
word of mouth we’ve grown.”
Fixed costs
“We won’t be a consultancy, our
model is licensing so we don’t charge
our customers,” says John. “So you pay
a fixed amount and we’ll look after
you. It also means we can’t come to
you afterwards and say ‘actually we
want more for this and more for that’.
It’s a relationship more akin to a
partnership, says Head of Product
Management Jason Mann: “We’re not
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 13:59
delivering an excellent service, while
using experience to continuously
develop and improve the product.
one of these suppliers where we sell
and forget. We’ve got a programme
where we work with operators, if they
have a problem, to solve it.”
He quotes an example with a ticket
printer where a flap needed to be
lifted when inserting the ticket roll. If
drivers didn’t, it could break.
“Rather than just saying it’s user
error and charging for a repair, we
looked at it and asked is there a better
way? So we designed a little catch.
“And that’s part of what we do all
the time. If we see a series of faults,
we don’t think, ‘that’s their fault, they
shouldn’t have done it that way’. We
look at the solution for the system as a
whole and ask is there a different way.”
Adds John: “So even although
it was user error, we never charged
anyone. We said ‘this is a design fault’.
And when we were telling someone
that, who uses a different supplier,
they said they had a similar problem,
and it had never been resolved, but
the supplier charges them every time
it goes back.”
Technical Sales and Support
Manager Bradley Todd says: “Rather
than sell cheap and make money
through maintenance and repairs, it’s
about selling at a proper price, and
www.route-one.net
Predictability
Another development is charging
a fixed cost for repairs, rather than
having a maintenance contract.
Says John: “The reason is because
we do everything we can to help an
operator remotely repair it. But if it
needs to come back to us, they know
we’re not going to say, ‘oh that’s twice
as much as you expected’.
“And what we’ve said to operators
to cut the costs further is if you’ve
got two units and they’ve got two
different problems, put them together
so you have one working unit and one
defective unit, ship it back and you’ll
only pay one repair charge.
“Now we could make a lot of money
by not doing this; repairs have gone
down by 30% cost, over a year.”
John explains that repairs are a
necessary element of being a ticket
system supplier, “but not the reason
for being,” it’s not seen as a revenue
line, rather than a low-margin sale
price with the profit built into repairs
and maintenance.
“We go the other way. We sell a
ticket machine at the right price. We
don’t want to make money out of
maintenance, what we do want to do is
make money out of licensing.
“I’m going to tell you what it’s going
to cost you to run it every year. I’m
going to limit any licence increase to
the maximum of RPI. So you can sit
here today and say ‘I’m not going to
be charged heavily more in three years
time.”
Continuous improvement
“We keep coming up with new ideas
that are functionally utterly outside the
ticket machine, because once you’ve
got a ticket machine on a bus, you’ve
got a computer, so why go and buy
another box to do other things,” says
John. “If we can develop a solution
that is useful to you outside it being a
ticket machine, that’s not related to it
being a ticket machine, you can add
that licence, so you know exactly what
you’ve going to pay.”
Says Jason: “We like to add
enhancements and we’ve got a massive
list. We are developing them and all
our customers will get them as part of
the package. Adds John: “This means
our early customers now have nearly
six times the amount of functions and
enhancements, compared with the
product they originally bought, but
they still pay the same licence fee.
“We get a huge, huge kick out of
delivering kit, when people say to us,
what you’ve promised and what you’ve
delivered is more. We just want people
to say it’s brilliant, because then they
sell it for us.
Says Jason: “ The licence model is
good for us because it keeps us on our
toes. After an initial year, if we weren’t
delivering then they could leave. And,
for the operator the reasons for having
the licence model are the same. The
price can only increase by a maximum
of RPI so there will be no surprises.”
Adds John: “We are totally upfront
with our charges and totally honest.
Operators say to us that they don’t
get people quoting prices face-to-face
with them. And there are no hidden
charges; we never charge consultancy
or more for a development. We don’t
have ‘change requests’ - we don’t need
it because all the changes - such as
choosing whether to issue a receipt can be done by the operator within the
system.
“If the operator doesn’t know how
to do it, we can do it remotely.
“We work for our operators, and
this extends to setting up smartcard
schemes. We don’t charge for this – it’s
part of our job.”
Smartcards
The Solent Go smartcard is a recent
example of how flexible the system
is. Ticketer has eight operators in the
Hampshire County Council-backed
scheme – all small operators. Solent
Go has four variants: The Go-Ahead
version, First version, Stagecoach
version and the smaller operators
(including four ferry operators).
Under the scheme, every operator
accepts all of those variants. Because
there’s inter-operability, for the smaller
operators they are not in a position to
have the technical expertise to test and
set up the cards. Ticketer does all this
and works directly with Hampshire
County Council; it does all the testing
and checking inter-operability with the
three big operators’ schemes.
Says Jason: “None of the operators
had to pay any more for that. We
did the testing and setting up, and
managed it for the small operators.”
The idea is that each operator can
sell their own smartcard version, but
every bus accepts all of them, and you
can load anybody’s product onto the
card.
The scheme has been live for nearly
18 months, with the cards going live
across all operators (including those
with other providers) last summer.
Adds Jason: “Everything we’ve
done the operators could have done
themselves, but we did it for them.” 8
12/05/2015 13:59
Profile | Ticketer
8 Simplicity
Another advantage of the simplicity
of the Ticketer system is that
operators can create their own
products and load them onto their
system, whether it’s paper or smart –
such as a special offer for a shortterm event – like a fair in town, or
Christmas shopping.
It’s easy, quick and populates all
the ticket machines almost instantly
(within a few minutes). And, the
ticket machines on the buses are all
updated wirelessly, using any low-cost
data SIM. Says John: “It is so easy to
update a fare, and you don’t need days
of training to use the system.”
If the operator can’t do the updates,
for example if the person in the office
who normally does it isn’t in, then
Ticketer can do it remotely.
The operator never needs to see
the ticket machine or the bus to
update the ticket machine.
The wireless system also means
that, using GPS, the ticket machine
knows where the bus is, so will
auto-advance the ticket machine for
the next stop. There is also schedule
adherence function inbuilt in the
machine for the driver, and that
information gets fed back to the
operator for performance compliance.
The schedules can go down to
individual stop level, rather than just a
few fare stages or timing points.
It also means that live tracking
comes as standard, which can feed
a website and real time information
(RTI) system. The data can feed
different councils, for example where
routes cross boundaries, and smart
bus priority schemes – such as traffic
light priority for late-running buses.
The data can also feed on-bus systems
for audio-visual announcements, such
as next stop information.
Operators’ performance reports
can be output as a PDF or Excel
spreadsheet. All the data is kept in
Ticketer’s datacentre, so operators
don’t need to worry about backing
it up, and it also means that should
there be a need to do historic analysis,
for example, to demonstrate traffic
delays that have grown over time.
Another benefit is that, if for
example, there is a temporary
diversion on a route, meaning a stop
will be missed, a central message to
all ticket machines will ensure that
they omit that stop. You can also
amend the ticket – to put a message
on it for passengers to tell them of
a forthcoming service change, or
different stop being used.
You don’t need any software
or hardware other than the ticket
machines and a PC, laptop or tablet
with an internet connection.
System is easy
to use for drivers
and operational
staff alike
} It’s about the Ticketer ethos. It does
infuse everything we do. That has a huge
impact on the way we operate ~
Clarity of focus
Currently Ticketer has around 400
operators (including commuter coach
operators) as customers, and has only
lost one, which John admits was a
“painful lesson” which they’ve learned
from. For coach operation, the realtime updating means that operators
know exactly how many seats are free,
and if someone has travelled on an
earlier service than they booked on,
releasing their reserved seat.
And, for small bus operators, the
pressure is now on to have the latest
kit, with the need to accept ITSO
smartcards, and in Scotland, to supply
digital data. Ticketer says its product’s
pricing and simplicity means that for
a one-bus operator, all they need is a
ticket machine, plus a computer with
internet access.
Drivers can log into the machine
with a PIN or card, depending on their
choice. All this choice means that the
small operator can provide as much, if
not more, than a large operator.
Through the website, messages
can be sent, either to an individual
driver, all drivers on a route, or any
other combination. While operational
issues tend to be the main use, it’s also
possible to send other messages, for
example offering overtime.
As well as a main ticket machine, a
modular design with a separate printer
module, card reader and adjustable
screen – Ticketer’s handheld version
used for queue-busting – can also
be used with a cradle in buses, for
example where an operator has a
number of vehicles and wants to
quickly swap machines between them.
Delivery is quick, for example
Ipswich Buses placed its order in
July, and the entire system was in and
working, with smartcards, for the
August Bank Holiday. Reading Buses
was until recently Ticketer’s largest
customer when Cardiff Bus adopted
the system, while the smallest has one
machine – used for a single tendered
service. It also works for all the groups,
not as main supplier but currently for
smaller schemes; Ticketer’s main focus
to date has been on small and mid-size
independents.
The latest developments include
a barcode reader, which validates the
barcode when it’s on a phone (mobileticketing), taking away the need for
the driver to visually check it. Barcodes
can also be printed on tickets, so the
return portion can be verified without
having to check it. Concludes John:
“Genuinely, we love our customers, and
they come up with brilliant ideas.”
l Details at www.ticketer.org.uk
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 13:59
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12/05/2015 16:11
p38.indd 38
12/05/2015 14:12
Interview | Frank Thorpe
Frank Thorpe’s career in the industry began at his father’s coach operation, and moved
into buses when London started its move towards a tendered network. Now he heads
GKN Hybrid Power’s bus arm, which is based around flywheels. He speaks to Tim Deakin
Frank Thorpe has seen a lot of
the bus industry since joining it
almost three decades ago, but his
enthusiasm today is as strong as ever.
His big break came when the
London market was opened up to
private enterprise. Like many who
made their name during that period
he remains involved in the industry,
albeit not in an operational role.
Instead, as GKN Hybrid Power’s
Head of Bus Systems, he spearheads
a business which, ultimately, could
speed the adoption of electrification
in buses.
Based at its Abingdon,
Oxfordshire offices, Frank leads a
project which has input from around
60 people and is striving to make the
flywheel an accepted part of the bus
industry.
The flywheel concept has been
covered before in routeone. In
essence, it’s a simple and highly
durable means of storing energy
recaptured when the bus slows
and then feeding it back into the
driveline when the accelerator is
reapplied, and has serious fuel saving
potential.
Its primary component is a
moderately heavy wheel which
rotates at a very high speed. In
GKN’s application that is up to
36,000rpm, and it can deliver a
maximum of 120kW of power.
Engineering the flywheel to
function with other vehicle systems
is not easy. That’s why it has
been borne out of Formula One
technology. At their highest level,
says Frank, motorsport teams have
“an almost unlimited supply of
technical expertise – and money.”
But the bottom line is simple. A
flywheel saves the operator money
and gives a relatively short payback
period. But GKN is currently
exploring a number of new avenues
for the concept, most notable among
www.route-one.net
gkn iss589.indd 39
which is one which has the potential
to hasten the move towards zero
emissions.
Frank Thorpe: ‘If
we hadn’t done
this through
the motorsport
environment,
it would have
been almost
impossible’
The beginnings
It’s a long way from a yard in North
Kensington and two buses on a
central London circular service, but
that’s where Frank’s bus industry
story starts.
The year is 1988. Frank and his
elder brother Jim – currently MD
of Hatfield-based Uno, which has
recently won its first TfL service
– have both been working for the
family business, coach operator FE
Thorpe and Sons, after graduating.
London’s bus market was at
the centre of uncertainty. Some
suggested opening it up to any and
all. “Fortunately sanity prevailed, and
the powers that be realised that there
would be no road space anywhere if
they did that. It would all be full of
buses,” says Frank.
Nonetheless, there existed a
desire to improve things. Bringing
in small, astute operators to give the
dominant London Buses an overdue
wakeup call was a priority, and to
do so London Transport set up the
Tendered Bus Division (TBD).
Among early beneficiaries were BTS,
Grey-Green and Scancoaches.
“My father was good friends with a
senior man at one of those operators
and he suggested that the tendered
bus business would be good for us.
“We started tendering in around
1989. TBD could see that my
brother and I were two young guys,
with the industry in our blood,
time ahead of us, and lots of energy.
They could also see that we knew
very little about tendering, but they
wanted to encourage us.
“We were ushered towards the
Stationlink service, which used two
buses. We put a huge amount of time
and effort into making sure we got
everything on the bid exactly right.
We were successful, and took up the
tender in 1992.”
Bus was playing a growing part of 8
12/05/2015 10:00
Interview | Frank Thorpe
8 the FE Thorpe and Sons operation
as more work was won. The coach
arm was disposed of in 1999.
Tendered bus was “a rollercoaster,”
says Frank, but the environment in
London was about to change.
Two operators failed in rapid
succession, and those which
remained increasingly required a
huge amount of resources behind
them if they were to meet TfL’s
rapidly growing expectations. One
by one the smaller firms sold to
the big boys. Among them was FE
Thorpe and Sons, purchased by
Metroline in 2004.
Let’s save fuel
Frank then took a year away from the
industry, which was followed by an
approach from the late Phil Margrave
of Go-Ahead London. Fuel prices
were rising rapidly, something Phil
was keen to mitigate.
“He was a forward thinker even
then, and Go-Ahead London was
one of the earliest adopters of
telematics. I project managed its
introduction into around 1,500
buses and 4,000 drivers across 14
garages, leading me to become
heavily involved with reducing fuel
consumption and the technology
behind it, something I found
interesting.
“Phil then said: ‘Let’s not stop
with telematics. Let’s look at other
opportunities.’ That led to me talking
to the Williams Formula One team.
Williams Hybrid Power was part
of its business and Phil wanted to
explore the flywheel’s potential. We
gained some government funding,
leading to a full-time role for me.”
At that point GKN had already
been working with Williams for
some time, and once the flywheel
concept was developed and
production beckoned, Williams’
involvement drew to a close.
“To the outside world it looked
like GKN purchased the business,
but it was actually a small step and a
logical progression,” explains Frank.
“GKN identified that the flywheel
had potential in the automotive
sector, and invested heavily.”
Early bus industry response
was not as positive, he continues.
Operators saw a component which
would be complicated, expensive,
and difficult to integrate.
It’s true that hardware integration
and building control systems were
the two most daunting aspects
of bringing flywheels to the bus
industry, accepts Frank.
“If we hadn’t been doing it through
the motorsport environment it
would have been almost impossible.
There are some exceptionally
talented engineers in Formula
One, particularly in electronics and
software, and they constantly push
the boundaries of possibility.”
Into the mainstream
Four years after the idea of a flywheel
in the bus application was floated
publicly, the industry’s view has been
transformed. A demonstration Volvo
B9TL is fitted with the equipment,
and combined with rapidlyaccumulating in-service mileage,
it means that operators accept it as
viable technology.
Other things have helped too.
“The world has changed, and to
our advantage,” says Frank. “There
has been a strong move towards
low carbon vehicles and emissions
regulations are tightening.
“Additionally, the promised price
reductions for diesel-electric hybrids
haven’t really materialised and both
the government and operators now
are looking for more cost-effective
alternatives. The Department
for Transport has also promoted
retrofit through its Clean Vehicle
Technology Fund.
“Things have aligned in our
favour, and the final element was
when operators began to understand
that the flywheel has a short payback
time, a low whole life cost and is not
a chemically-based component.
“When we talk them through it,
they realise that it’s a device which
can be maintained in the same way
as engines and gearboxes. It will last
the life of the bus.”
1. Phil Margrave
of the Go-Ahead
Group was an
early champion
of fuel-saving
technology; GKN
Hybrid Power
now works with
ADL
2. FE Thorpe and
Sons became
quite a name in
tendered London
bus operation
4. Citaros are
among the
older vehicles
retrofitted with
flywheels
Duty cycles
At the time of writing, GKN
Hybrid Power has placed around 50
flywheels in operators’ vehicles, both
new and retrofit. Squadron service
in London will soon begin, and the
stop-start environment is where the
} The final element was when operators
understood that the flywheel has a short
payback time and a low whole life cost ~
gkn iss589.indd 40
1
3. Flywheelequipped Volvo
B9TL has helped
drive operator
confidence
2
biggest benefits are possible. But it’s
important that drivers are trained to
get the best from the flywheel, Frank
explains.
“The best duty cycle is one
which gives the most opportunity
to recover energy, and we do that
when the driver makes a smooth
and considered stop; not by abrupt
foundation braking and not by
coasting.
“That’s how most operators want
their buses to be driven.”
As with the similar but fullymechanical flywheel developed
by Torotrak, GKN’s application
– where an axle-connected motor/
generator is linked to the flywheel
electrically – takes over the duty of
the retarder when slowing.
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 10:00
3
“Flywheel-equipped vehicles
require the same driving style as a
hybrid. They can be driven badly or
they can be driven well.”
GKN can mount the flywheel in
a variety of positions – although a
failure load structure is required,
meaning the roof may not be suitable
– and on the demonstration bus
is below a seat on the lower deck,
above a chassis rail.
Accommodating the motor/
generator in a retrofit situation is
less simple. “Existing buses weren’t
designed to take a flywheel,” says
Frank. “However, that aspect has
become infinitely better since we
began collaborating with Alexander
Dennis (ADL).
“Integration of the system into the
www.route-one.net
gkn iss589.indd 41
4
Enviro200 and Enviro400 has been
much easier with ADL’s assistance.”
GKN is collaborating with
ADL and keen to work with other
manufacturers. But Frank is adamant
it will not be until he is satisfied that
doing so will not spread resources
too thin. “We could collaborate
with all the other builders now, but
there would be no point in doing so.
Things must be done correctly.”
It has also retrofitted flywheels to
mid-life Mercedes-Benz Citaros.
The future
Diesel buses have provided the basis
for GKN’s experience of in-service
flywheel use so far, but it is keen
to see the concept become part of
electric propulsion.
“There are other opportunities
which have not yet been considered,”
says Frank. “TfL will introduce
zero emission capable singledeckers in the Ultra Low Emission
Zone in 2019, and zero-emission
double-deckers will be a natural
development of that.
“But it’s not simply a case of
buying 15 of them. Matters such as
how, when and where you charge
must be considered, as must each
route’s energy requirement, and how
that varies depending on time of day
or year and traffic conditions.”
What GKN suggests is an electric
bus equipped with a flywheel,
allowing the batteries to run more
efficiently. “That can be made to
happen,” says Frank. “Batteries
are heavy, take up space and need
management.
“It could be that a particular hill on
a route is what prevents an electric
bus from running all day. But what if
we had an opportunity energy store
to get the bus up the hill? That could
mean that it would be able to do a
full day’s work without recharging.”
Not all routes or circumstances
require help to make them suitable
for battery running. Frank points
to the compact, highly-peaked Red
Arrow network in London as an
example. “That suits electrification
as things stand today.
“But what we can do is very
precisely calculate individual routes’
energy requirements, and we also
know how battery technology,
motors and flywheels work. All that
expertise is within our business.
“We can model the energy
requirement and tell the operator or
tendering body how short of charge
an electric bus would be, and even
where it will run out. That’s where
the flywheel can bridge the gap.”
Ian Foley, Business Development
Director of GKN Hybrid Power,
adds that incorporating a flywheel
may also allow battery packs to be
reduced in size, or produced at a
lower cost, enhancing electric buses’
economic model.
“We’d have a transient energy
supply from the flywheel, potentially
meaning we could get away with
fewer batteries, reducing costs.”
This technology is still some way
of coming to market, but will have
the potential to change the economic
and operational landscapes for
electric buses. It’s just the latest
chapter in the journey of a man
whose industry career began with a
tender for two buses – and shows no
sign of slowing down yet.
12/05/2015 10:00
Supplier Spotlight | Summer Maintenance and Refurbishment
supplier spotlight iss589.indd 42
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 10:01
Get set for
summer
As the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to
consider updates and maintenance that will put
your fleet in a strong position for the busy summer
trade. Tara Lepore looks at what can be done
As we head towards summer, it
is a good idea to make sure your
vehicles are ready for what could be a
particularly busy season.
May is an optimal time to
concentrate on refurbishing your
fleet. An update in quieter months
could prevent any issues that may
crop up during mid-season’s business,
when your fleet is in high demand.
Vehicles may have been less
frequently used in the winter months,
and problems – such as damaging
salt on the chassis – could be missed
if not checked.
Frequent assessments of
safety features, such as checking
windscreens and testing brakes,
remain important all year round.
Although perhaps optimistic, you
may want to update air conditioning
systems to ensure passengers are kept
cool in the summer months. Fresh
interiors will also go down well with
customers, and it goes without saying
that a fresh lick of paint looks great in
the sunshine.
A repainted livery will create a
wonderful first impression among
those who travel with you.
Whatever the season, it is
always worth investing in engine
maintenance – well-considered
mechanical attention leads to
reduced fuel consumption and
increased efficiency.
Our suppliers provide products
and services key to keeping your
fleet in first-class condition for the
summer.
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www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 10:01
Bridgestone products are
gaining traction in fleets
Fabric supplier Camira
adds more designs
Bridgestone offers quality
tyre products contributing to
demonstrable fuel savings for
operators.
Bridgestone’s offer of ‘Total
Tyre Care’ includes services
such as tyre management and
breakdown coverage, along
with a ‘Toolbox’ app – a fleet
management system boosting
productivity while identifying
opportunities to reduce costs.
Investment in high-quality
tyres is crucial, says Product
and Marketing Manager Andy
Mathias.
He says: “A low initial tyre
cost does not translate to low
operating costs. Important
features to consider include
the longevity of the tyre, the
reliability of the tyre, and the
fuel efficiency of the product.
“Any initial cost savings could
be wiped out by any one of
these factors. The majority of
fleet operators understand this,
Transport interior solutions
provider Camira is an
independent UK textile
company, with two
manufacturing facilities in
Huddersfield and Nottingham.
The original company,
founded in 1822, has long been
providing textile products to the
passenger transport industry
and today sells eight million
metres of fabric per year in 80
countries worldwide. Last year,
the company changed the name
of its transport sales division
from Holdsworth, to parent
company Camira.
Part of the Camira Group
since 2007, the name change
reflects the company’s wider
ranging product capabilities,
encompassing not only
moquette fabrics for seating, but
high performance upholstery
flat cloths, leathers, vinyls and
textile ancillary trims.
This summer sees the launch
however, when margins are
squeezed, cost cutting on tyres
is sometimes considered.
“We have regained fleets that
have tried budget brands who
realised that although the initial
cost savings were there, twice as
many tyres needed to be fitted,
increasing costs and adding to
the vehicle downtime.”
Bridgestone’s team of
regionally based field engineers
and Sales Managers offer a
quick response to customer
requirements. This ensures that
individual fleet needs are met,
including selecting the best
product for specific operations
and achieving “optimum tyre
performance.”
The company offers a vast
product range of coach and bus
tyres to suit all applications and
conditions, offering the lowest
possible cost per kilometre.
l www.bridgestone.co.uk
of Fusion; a high wool content
moquette fabric which is 10%
lighter than traditional pile
fabrics. Without compromising
on technical performance,
Fusion saves on raw materials
and offers reduced operating
costs with its fuel saving
potential. With a variety of
designs, the range offers a mixed
palette of subtle trend colours
and traditional brights. A total
of 36 options are available.
Co-ordinating trims are
available for piping, headrests,
wall side and ceiling finishes,
and curtaining. Options
include new high performance
vinyls Folio and Vita, as well as
Classic, Lucia FR, Micro Trim,
Premier Trim and Super Trim.
The company has recently
won a Queen’s Sustainability
Award for its environmental
practice.
l www.camirafabrics.com
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 11:38
12/05/2015 10:01
Keep your new vehicles in Check your vehicles after
top condition this summer the long winter season
Excalibre Technologies, a
leading supplier of emission
reduction systems, has taken
diesel particulate filter (DPF)
cleaning to the next level by
investing in new state-of-theart DPF cleaning facilities.
With the introduction of
Euro 6 vehicles, Excalibre
rises to the challenge with
heavy investment in its filter
technology; incorporating
the DPF system into its range
using OE approved equipment.
It has also invested in
system reporting methods
to ensure vehicle and engine
warranties for new vehicles are
maintained.
Euro 6 vehicles are fitted
with DPF systems to reduce
particulates in addition to the
AdBlue systems on Euro 4 or 5
vehicles.
Mark Joyce, Director,
says: “Many operators won’t
have yet faced the issues
experienced when a DPF
isn’t serviced correctly in
line with manufacturers’
recommendations.
“Excalibre can help
operators keep their DPF’s
operating correctly – critical
to avoid the engine going into
limp mode, causing potential
costly damage or loss of
warranty.”
Excalibre provides service
and support to many large
operators and bodies
throughout the UK, including
Transport for London, but can
accomodate to the needs of
both large and small fleets.
The company offers
competitive pricing, a quick
turnaround and an effective
cleaning process with full
condition reporting, ensuring
Euro 6 vehicles are kept in top
condition, all year round.
l www.excalibretech.com
Knorr-Bremse stresses the
need for operators to check
their vehicles after the winter
period.
Knorr-Bremse’s braking
systems are robust and easy
to maintain and repair, but it’s
important to check them after
the long winter.
The brake manufacturer
advises that exposure to road
salt and grit can affect the
functioning of the brakes,
including drums and calipers.
It can also lead to corrosion
of and damage to components.
A build-up of dirt can cause
premature corrosion of parts
if not removed at the earliest
opportunity.
The cold weather and
additional moisture in the air
will also have put the air dryer
filter through its paces, so it
could be time to change it.
Steam cleaning vehicles is a
good idea, as inspecting them
properly is made easier.
With warmer and drier
weather, they should stay
relatively clean.
All Knorr-Bremse
components are listed on its
website.
It also has a network of 70
Approved Service Centres
throughout the UK and
Ireland, and each network
member is trained and
approved by Knorr-Bremse to
support its complete range.
A full list of distributors can
be found on its website.
Knorr-Bremse is an OEM
supplier to most major coach
and bus manufacturers, with
decades of experience in
pneumatic, mechanical and
electronic braking systems.
It also has long experience
in provision of complex
pneumatic control systems.
l www.knorr-bremse.co.uk
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 11:38
12/05/2015 11:38
Top engineering support
from Paul Clark Services
For a quick exit install
innovative ‘Safe T Punch’
Paul Clark Services was
established almost 20 years ago
and the business continues to
provide its quality engineering
support services to the coach
and bus industry.
Its customers also include
vehicle manufacturers, NHS
Ambulance workshops, and
the Ministry of Defence.
The business is ISO9001
accredited as part of its Quality
Management System and is
also a member of the FTA.
The business is presently
working towards ISO14001
(Environmental) and
OHSAS18001 (Health and
Safety) accreditation.
Paul Clark Services
continues to invest in the
business, and is presently
processing its engineers
through irtec accreditation to
‘Inspection Technician’ level,
utilising the FTA to achieve
this accolade.
Ensuring passenger safety in
vehicles with untested break
glass emergency equipment is
always going to be a concern for
operators.
Incorrect use of existing
safety equipment with complex
requirements to follow
emergency exit procedures
shouldn’t be problems that
operators need worry about.
Emergency exit equipment
should provide quick, safe and
accessible options.
Safe T System introduced
the Safe T Punch to the
international market in 2009
in a direct response to poorly
made and untested incumbent
emergency systems.
The high-quality, wellengineered, aluminium-made
Safe T Punches cannot be lost,
dropped or used improperly.
The new STP50F model –
a more cost-effective and
flatter model – has been
Over the next few weeks
the number of engineers to
achieve this accreditation will
be in excess of 20% of the total
resource.
The new premises and
workshops are now well
established.
The workshop continues to
be busy providing engineering
services, inspections, MOT
preparation work, major
unit changes (engine and
transmissions), and general
repairs for bus operators,
commercial business and
private clients’ vehicles.
The workshop is able to
provide a complete service
including routine maintenance,
servicing, repairs, and
refurbishment work, including
bodywork modifications and
any campaign work required.
l www.paulclark
services.co.uk
tested successfully on 6mm
toughened glass and is virtually
theft-proof.
Safe T System has since
refined and independently
tested all the current Safe T
Punch products to a minimum
operating performance criteria
of 100N.
Unlike other hammer or
lever operated emergency
escape systems, the Safe T
Punch is fixed to the toughened
glass window along with
its two-step instructions,
eliminating the need for
external mountings, custom
interior panels and complicated
instructions for use.
Companies that have
adopted the Safe T Punch
include Wrightbus, Alexander
Dennis and Optare in the UK
and also by EvoBus, VDL,
Scania and Iveco in Europe.
l www.safe-t-system.com
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 11:38
12/05/2015 10:02
Lift maintenance vital for
workshop efficiency
Webasto – quality air
conditioning solutions
As summer approaches,
coach and bus workshops are
bracing themselves for one of
the busiest times of the year,
prompting one of the UK’s
leading suppliers of heavyduty vehicle lifts to remind
operators of the importance of
equipment maintenance.
Checking that equipment
used in the workshop is up to
the task ahead is one of the
most important steps engineers
can take to ensure all runs
smoothly, according to James
Radford, Sales and Marketing
Director at Somerstotalkare.
“A coach or bus can’t
be out and about taking
holidaymakers to the beach
if it’s stuck on a lift that’s not
been maintained properly,” he
explains.
“Operators take the
maintenance of their fleets very
seriously to ensure the safety
of employees, passengers and
For decades, the name Webasto
has been synonymous with
high-quality heating and airconditioning systems.
Since its acquisition of
Diavia in May 2012, Webasto
has significantly expanded its
portfolio of air-conditioning
systems.
Webasto’s and Diavia’s dealer
networks have been combined
to strengthen and expand the
depth of service and support
available.
Furthermore, in the
unlikely event of a system
breakdown, Webasto’s unique
emergency support service
provides operators with a
reliable nationwide repair and
maintenance service.
Webasto continues to use
and supply all original Diavia
parts and equipment while
consistently providing a reliable
and effective service.
Webasto offers an extensive
other road users, but servicing
equipment used to repair
their vehicles is sometimes
overlooked.
“This can have serious
implications, not just in terms
of safety, but also the smooth
running of the workshop and
the amount of time vehicles
spend off the road.”
He adds that an increasing
number of operators are
discovering the benefits of
introducing a structured
maintenance regime for
their lifts, similar to those
undertaken for their vehicles.
Somerstotalkare has seen a
marked increase in the number
of customers signing up for
the firm’s cost-effective service
packages.
As well as providing a fixed
cost, they keep downtime to a
minimum.
l www.stkare.co.uk
product portfolio with a wide
range of air-conditioning
and climate control solutions
for every application – from
rooftop through to integrated
systems. Webasto airconditioners can be installed as
roof-mounted, internal, in-dash
or vertical systems. All solutions
are characterised by their light
weight, high efficiency and
reliability.
All these products can be
operated by Webasto’s ‘one
button’ climate control system,
which features simple operation
and ergonomic luxury carstyle interior temperature
control. The system is heralded
as simply a ‘plug and play’,
with no electrical relays. This
ensures that installation time
is dramatically reduced when
compared to competing
systems.
l www.webasto.co.uk
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 11:39
Always specify original
parts from ZF Services UK
ZF works closely with
manufacturers to develop
complete driveline and
chassis packages in which the
component parts are designed
to complement each other.
This is a fundamental
consideration whenever parts
need replacing, as non-original
equipment (OE) components
are unlikely to meet the vehicle
manufacturer’s specification
for fit – and performance.
As an example, on a
ZF-designed driveline and
chassis, Lemförder rubberto-metal (RTM) components
suppress critical vibrations
under all driving conditions,
delivering optimal dynamics,
ride comfort, sound insulation
and vehicle safety. RTM
parts include mounts for
shock absorbers, engine and
transmission, and control arms.
Unique designs and
recipes combining rubber
www.route-one.net
and additives define the
dynamic properties of the
RTM component, absorbing
vibrational frequencies that
occur at the mounting location.
High fatigue strength,
resistance to ageing, the
ability to withstand extremes
of temperature, resistance to
corrosion by road salt, a long
service life and recyclability are
all essential requirements.
RTM parts from other
sources may on the face of
it appear visually identical,
but could be constructed
using rubber of unsuitable
characteristics, such as
hardness, or simply glued
together rather than chemically
bonded during vulcanisation.
Other OE parts available
from ZF Services UK include
Sachs clutches for AS-Tronic
automated gearboxes.
l www.zf.com
12/05/2015 11:39
Deliveries
Truemans Coaches
Irizar i4 integrals
Additions to the Hampshire fleet of
Truemans Coaches are three i4 integrals,
supplied by Irizar UK (01909 500514).
The new coaches have been specified
with 57 i6 seats and are powered by DAF’s
PR265 engine coupled to ZF’s AS-Tronic
automated gearbox. They follow four highspecification i6 integrals supplied over the
past two years.
“We’ve just sent one of the i4s away on
a four-day school trip and were pleasantly
surprised at the luggage capacity,” says MD
Richard Trueman.
“Clearly they’re not continental tourers,
but they’re more than capable of UK
touring duties.”
Roberts Coaches
Volvo B11R Jonckheere SHV
Atlas Coaches
Mercedes-Benz Atego Ferqui F5
The first Ferqui F5-bodied Mercedes-Benz
Atego 1224 has been delivered to Londonbased Atlas Coaches by Connaught PSV
(01405 814064). It has 36 seats with threepoint belts, and a fridge, and is powered by
a Euro 6 240bhp engine.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year is
Hugglescote, Leicestershire-based Roberts
Coaches, and it has recently taken delivery
of a Euro 6 B11R with Jonckheere SHV
bodywork from Volvo Bus (01926 401777).
Says Jonathan Hunt, MD: “We’ve been
very impressed with the fuel consumption
and performance of our earlier B11R and
particularly like the look of the Jonckheere
bodywork.
“It has proved popular with drivers and
passengers alike, and when we decided that
we needed another touring coach, we had
no hesitation in going for another Volvo of
the same specification.
“The B11R offers great value for money,
excellent fuel consumption and the added
benefit of 53 seats on a 12.6-metre, twoaxle chassis.”
It will be used on a range of work,
including UK and continental touring,
school duties and private hire, and includes
a host of creature comforts.
Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
VDL Futura 2s
Two identically-specified 12.9m, Euro 6
VDL Futura 2s have joined the Henleyin-Arden, Warwickshire fleet of Johnsons
Coach and Bus Travel, supplied by
Moseley (PCV) (01977 609000).
They are powered by 11-litre DAF MX
engines developing 370bhp, coupled to
ZF’s six-speed EcoLife automatic gearbox.
deliveries iss589.indd 52
The two Futura 2s are fitted with 49 Vogel
Magnio seats trimmed with leather piping
and headrests, along with footrests, dropdown tables, magazine nets and a slideapart function.
A Bosch Professional Line multimedia
entertainment system has been specified,
as has a toilet, fridge and coffee machine.
www.route-one.net
12/05/2015 09:58
“The home of vehicle sales”
MEMBERS: The deadline for adverts is Monday, 1500hrs. All adverts received will appear
for two consecutive weeks. They will also appear on www.routeonetrader.net as of
Wednesday, 12 noon.
NON-MEMBERS: The deadline for adverts is Monday, 1600hrs. Any adverts sent after this
time will appear under ‘Unclassified’, provided they are received by Tuesday, 1400hrs.
To join trader, contact Jade Cassidy on 01733 405740 or email [email protected]
OVER 800* VEHICLES ONLINE
*Correct at time of going to press.
www.routeonetrader.net
p53.indd 53
12/05/2015 15:13
tradervehicles | To advertise call 01733 405740 | Member deadline Monday, 1500hrs | Non-member deadline Monday, 1600hrs | www.routeonetrader.net
AUCTION
AYATS
2006, AYATS ATLANTIS, MAN, sleeper coach,
Only 471,000kms 11 beds, carries 17. Well
maintained and very clean condition.
Engine/3-phase/single phase A/C. Webasto,
Inverter. Call Steve . £83,000 + VAT, Mobile:
07768 211 612
1995, BOVA FUTURA, 44 seats + courier,
Air craft style overhead luggage lockers, rear
servery with double fridge unit, rear toilet, new
clutch fitted December 2014, tested till 23rd
July 2015 £8,000, Tel: 01405 740 638
email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07583524045
2004, BOVA FUTURA, Manual, 49 seats,
Centre sunken toilet, Tidy coach used only on
our own tours. Full MOT. £46,000 + VAT,
Tel: 01778 342 224 email: enquiries@
shawscoaches.co.uk
2002, AYATS BRAVO, 8 speed manual, 73
seats, Double Decker, seat belts, tables,
washroom, servery, DVD + 5 screens, A/C,
MOT, Tax, white/graphics, owned from new
£48,950 + VAT, Tel: 01293 510 220 email:
[email protected]
2000, AYATS BRAVO, 73 seats, 8 speed A
S Tronic, front and Mid Stairs, Double Decker,
seat belts, tables, washroom, server, DVD + 5
screens, A/C, MOT, Tax, white/graphics, owned
from new. £44,950 + VAT, Tel: 01293 510
220 email: [email protected]
ADL
AEC
2005, BOVA FUTURA, 12.9M, LEZ Compliant,
55 Reclining Seats with Retractable Belts
,Centre Sunken Toilet, A/C, Fridge, Hot & Cold
Water, Radio/C.D./DVD players & 2 Monitors,
Centre Isle Carpet, Full Draw Curtains, MOT
1ST APRIL 2016 Excellent Condition £63,000
+ VAT, Tel: 01371 872 644 Mobile: 07885
750008
2000, BOVA FUTURA, ZF Auto, 75 seats,
3 point belts, any inspection, loss of contract
forces sale, Glasgow area £25,000+VAT no
offers, Tel: 01236 626 200 Mobile: 07831
694444
BOVA
2000, BOVA FUTURA, ZF Auto, 75 seats,
Long MOT and taxed, 3 point belts, CD, radio,
ideal school contract coach, contact Alan.
Glasgow area £28,000, Tel: 01236 626 200
Mobile: 07831694444
2012, ADL, 39, Low Floor Mot Sep 2015,
DDA compliant electronic display, Excellent
Condition Price on arrival. contact William. Tel:
01576 203 874 email: William@
houstonscoaches.co.uk
1969, AEC, PLAXTON, Class 6 MOT
September 2015. Ring Glyn after 6pm £9,000,
Tel: 01656 740 614
For the latest industry
news and recruitment
opportunities, follow
us on LinkedIn
2011, ADL ENVIRO 200, Allison automatic
gearbox, 37 seats 25 standees, Choice of 3,
10.8m service buses, registered April 2011,
MOT’d until Oct 2015, Cummins 4 cylinder
engine, Euro 5/EEV, E-Leather seats
throughout,DDA compliant, Mobitec electronic
destination equipment, LOOK CCTV 9 camera
internal and external camera system fitted,
excellent condition, available due to fleet
replacement POA, Tel: 01698 792800 or
The vehicle sales website
brought to you by routeone
‘Route One Magazine’
2006, BOVA FUTURA, ZF automatic, 53/55
reclining seats, 12.8m,, A/C, TV/DVD, 2
monitors, toilet, fridge, Webasto, long range
tanks, new tyres, good condition, MOT October
2015 £65,000 + VAT ono, Tel: 01487 843
Mobile: 07834 977 551
2001, BOVA FUTURA, 34 seats, Luxury
team coach/12 berth tour bus, 6 tables or 12
bunks with 2 lounges, kitchen. Fresh water
toilet, static A/C & 240 Power.£29,000 + VAT
Tel: or email: [email protected]
£29,000+VAT, Tel: 020 7118 1140 email:
[email protected]
AUTOSAN
2007, AUTOSAN A1012T, Auto gearbox, 70
seats 3 point belts, Owned from new, Ideal
School contract vehicle, MOT 26/09/15, call
Kev. £42,500 + VAT, Tel: 01493 302 006
2001, BOVA FUTURA, Auto, 64 seats, LEZ,
12.370 FHD,with toilet, servery, fridge, 3 and 2
seating with 3-point seatbelts, CD, Radio, and
PA, monitor and DVD, £35,000.00 plus VAT or
could be sold as 49 coach seats at £32,500.00
plus VAT. Tel: 01419 561234
2006, BOVA FUTURA, ZF automatic, 53-55
reclining seats, LEZ, 12.8m, A/C, TV/DVD, 2
monitors, toilet, fridge, Webasto, long range
tanks, new tyres, good condition, MOT January
2016. One owner from new. £69,500 + VAT
ono, Tel: 01487 843 333 email: david@
sunfunholidays.co.uk Mobile: 07834 977
551
[email protected]
Vehicles.indd 54
12/05/2015 14:50
LEZ, excellent condition, A/C, MOT & RPC till
March 16, Low mileage 519500km, owner
driver from new £42,500 + VAT, Tel: 01229
861262
A/C, MOT September. £17,500 + VAT ono,
Tel: 01827 241007 Mobile: 07890 004371
1996, DAF, SB3000, VAN HOOL T8,
Manual, 53 seats + courier, Recent retrim,
long MOT, A/C, CCTV fitted very good
condition. £7,995 + VAT ono, Tel: 01594
822110
2006, DAF, SB4000, VAN HOOL ALIZEE T9,
ZF Auto, 51 seats + courier, With centre
sunken toilet and coffee machine, fridge, centre
carpet and A/C. Low mileage, Will be available
with 12 months MOT. £99,000 + VAT, Tel:
01943 870 228
1998, DENNIS, DART, PLAXTON POINTER,
30 seats with a carrying capacity of 62,
10.1 metre, 9 months MOT, recently
re-trimmed, good condition for year. Bus is
white with a blue skirt, eminox exhaust,
telephone Adam . Essex. Priced to sell
£3,295+VAT, Mobile: 07918 649 427
2006, DAF, SB4000, VAN HOOL, Auto,
49/53st with leather head rests, Toilet, A/C, Hot
water, Fridge, Only 280,000miles. MOT Feb
2016. £80,000, Tel: 01970 828 288
To advertise
in tradervehicles
call Jade Cassidy:
1995, DENNIS, JAVELIN, BERKHOF
EXCELLENCE L, 6 speed manual, 38 seats,
10 mtr, toilet, interior refurbished 2010, full
service history, MOT November 2015
£8,000+VAT, Mobile: 07771 622 188
01733 405740
DAF
1995, DENNIS, JAVELIN, PLAXTON
PREMIERE, ZF auto g/box, 55 seats, seat
belts, MOT until March 2016, would consider
part exchange for 29 / 33 seat midicoach.
£5,450 + VAT, Tel: 01554 759888
2012, DAF, VAN HOOL, ZF gearbox, 53
seats, Tri Axle, TX16, full exec, Stay Brights,
drinks, two fridges, centre Toilet, 13.2Mtr, aisle
carpets, wood effect floors, more pics & details
available on request, 215km £225,000+VAT,
email: enquiries@yorkshirerosecoaches.
co.uk Mobile: 07809 698470
DENNIS
1999, DAF, SB3000, IKARUS, 67 seats +
driver, COIF, MOT August 2015, Very tidy
inside and out £18,500+VAT, Tel: 01249
821 821
1994, DAF, SB3000, VAN HOOL T8,
Manual, 53 seats + courier, Recent retrim,
MOT, CCTV fitted very good condition. £7,995
+ VAT ono, Tel: 01594 822110
1995, DENNIS, JAVELIN, PLAXTON
PREMIERE, ZF auto g/box, 53 seats, seat
belts, MOT until March 2016, would consider
part exchange for 29 / 33 seat midicoach.
£5,450 + VAT, Tel: 01554 759888
2001, DENNIS, DART, PLAXTON MINI
POINTER, Automatic, 27 seats + 17
standees, Wheelchair ramp, new MOT, new
compressor, turbo, airdryer and air system, low
floor, destination equipment. Reduced
£6,000+VAT, Tel: 01249 821 821
1999, DENNIS, JAVELIN, CAETANO
CUTLASS, 70 seat, Plain White, ZF Automatic,
DOFR 24/6/99, 12 month MOT £12,000 ono,
Mobile: 07867 558303
1997, DENNIS, JAVELIN, BERKHOF,
Manual, 51 seats, Toilet, 12 months MOT,
Very Good Condition. £8,000 + VAT, Mobile:
07860 783 037
2000, DENNIS, JAVELIN, MARCOPOLO, 51
Seats + Courier, Up to 6 wheelchairs, lap
belts, on board toilet, towbar, fridge, A/C, 12
CD/DVD, PA system, new turbo fitted, new
batteries, MOT June 2016. Very versatile, looks
and runs superb. £16,000+VAT ono for
quick sale, Tel: 01159 197 593 Mobile:
07752 901 118
Not found what
you’re looking for?
Try traderonline
2012, BOVA FUTURA, Automatic, 13m.
53str Automatic, Euro 5 full spec, Wheel chair
lift, access for 4 wheelchairs, Rear floor
mounted toilet M O T January 2016 270,000
Ks from new, as new condition Please contact
[email protected] for photos Gerry
Mobile 07963 717557 or Anthony mobile
07730 050043 £189, 995 + VAT,
Vehicles.indd 55
12/05/2015 14:51
FIAT
LDV
IVECO
2012, FIAT, DUCATO, 20 seats, 40 Maxi
Multijet, choice of 2, Sold Separately 20 Seats,
Low Floor, MOT Apr 2015, DDA Compliant
Excellent Condition Price on arrival. Contact
William Tel: 01576 203 874 email:
[email protected]
FORD
MAN
2010, LDV, MAXUS, 14 seats, High back
seats + drivers seat, A/C, alloy wheels, electric
step, CD player £7,000+VAT, Tel: 020 7118
2010, MAN, MCV EVOLUTION, 41 seats/23
standees, A66, MOT’d until Sept 2015,ZF 6
speed automatic gearbox with Topodyne,
E-Leather seats throughout, DDA compliant,
Mobitec electronic destination equipmentLOOK
CCTV internal and external camera system
fitted, Genius Green Road System fitted, Euro
4, Excellent condition - 3 AVAILABLE POA, Tel:
01698 792 800 or 01698 793 506 email:
[email protected]
2005, IVECO, DAILY, 16 seats, 50C13 IRIS
LWB minibus, welfare/accessable, ratcliffe
RUL301, COIF class 5 MOT, fully tracked
Eberspacher,90K miles, analogue tacho, new
MOT £4,995, Tel: 0208 363 8572 Mobile:
07896 266 616
2008, LDV, MAXUS, 6 seats, 3.5T 90
minibus welfare/accessable, internal chair lft,
euromotive, 90K, new MOT, white £4950
£4,950, Tel: 0208 363 8572 Mobile:
07896 266 616
2014, FORD, TRANSIT, 6 speed manual, 17
seats, MINI BUS, Only 13350klm, 135 T430
RWD, 2.2 Ltr Diesel EuroV. Heated Rear/Front
windscreen stereo Radio/DVD player audio
control on steering column, Rear wipers, Sun
Roof, Electric windows,all day driving
lights,ABS/PAS, Digi - Tacho fitted, certification
of conformity ,Fire extinguisher First aid kit,
break window hammer.New PSV MOT. 3
YEARS MANUFACTURE WARRANTY FROM
NEW. £19,500 + VAT, Mobile: 07584
607670
2009, IVECO, PLAXTON PANTHER, ZF Auto,
61 seats, Euro 5, A/C, 3 point seat belts, crew
seat, reverse camera, good condition, new
tyres, Includes painting into a single base
colour of your choice, MOT April 2016
£85,000 + VAT ono, Tel: 01487 843 333
Mobile: 07834 977 551
2007, IVECO, BEULAS CYGNUS, Automatic,
49 seats, Long MOT, new white paint job,
drinks machine, fridge, A/C, toilet, DVD system
£55,000+VAT ono, Tel: 01259 215 560
Mobile: 07785 525 381
KING LONG
2008, FORD, TRANSIT, 16 seats, 3 point
belts, digital tachographs, 3 available, will have
New MOT`s £9,750 + VAT each or 3 for
£27,000+VAT, Tel: 01209 717 152 email:
garrywilliams@williams–travel.co.uk
2005, FORD, TRANSIT, 16 seats + driver,
55 plate,very good body work, very good running order, PSV MOT tested, COIF, long MOT.
£5,000 + VAT, Tel: 01259 215 560 Mobile:
07785 525 381
2014, FORD, TRANSIT, TREND, 17 seats
including driver, 64 plate, series 6, fully A/C,
reclining seats plus armrest, sync plus all mod
cons onboard, 8,000 miles, 2.5 years warranty,
colour of vehicle is titanic silver, has an electric
side step to side door. Sale due to retirement.
£25,500 + VAT, Tel: 01895 469 581
Mobile: 07882 649965
When
responding
to adverts,
please mention
that you saw it in
2003, MAN, NOGE, Automatic, 51 seats,
A/C, power doors and lockers, toilet, boiler,
MOT, Tax, white, removable graphics, owned
from new £28,950 + VAT, Tel: 01293 510
routeone
LEYLAND
2012, MAN, NEOPLAN, 49 seats, 12m, full
executive spec, mlg 160,000k’s since new,
mint condition, for photos contact gerry@
coachworld.co.uk £169,995+VAT, Mobile:
Gerry 07963 717557 Anthony 07730
050043
2008, KING LONG XMQ 6127, ZF
automatic, 49, Full Exec with Centre Toilet,
Drinks Machine, DVD with TV’s, Fridge, CCTV,
Reversing Camera, Mileage 60k miles, Sold
with new MOT £60,000 + VAT, Tel: 01656
739928
1993, LEYLAND, OLYMPIAN, ALEXANDER,
ZF Auto, 86 seats + 24 standees, 14,3
body, seatbelts, L10, MOT November 2015,
first registered in uk 2004 and on v5 £6,500
+VAT ovno, Tel: 01827 241007 email:
[email protected]
1993, MAN, CAETANO, 30, Toilet, No Test But
Mechanically Sound, 18month old
Reconditioned engine.Contact Maldwyn
£3,500 + VAT, Tel: 01407 730 204 Mobile:
07776146572
2012, KING LONG XMQ 6800, Manual, 31
seats, A/C, DVD 2 monitors, Very good
condition, Mot until 1/5/15, Mileage 117500
£50,000 + VAT ono, Mobile: 07860 783
037
LEYLAND, OLYMPIAN, 94 seats, triaxle, Not
on the road, good runner. Cummins engine
with auto box . Tel: Tony £3,500, Mobile:
07827 870576
LEYLAND, OLYMPIAN, 100 seats, Gardner /
Voith, runs well, no test and needs tlc as stood
for a while now, new batteries, will drive away,
too good to break. £4,250 + VAT ono, Tel:
01827 241007 Mobile: 07890 004371
2004, MAN, NEOPLAN STARLINER, 48
seats, LEZ, ‘Diamond Class’ ex Parrys, white.
huge spec including a walk in kitchen, toilet,
tables, 12 months MOT, Way to much to list,
big wow factor POA, Tel: 01530 450087
Vehicles.indd 56
12/05/2015 14:51
2006, MERCEDES-BENZ, MB230, UNVI
TOURING, 35/27 seats, Test + RPG until
2016, toilet, removable tables, half leather
recliners, climate control, DVD package,
economical coach with large luggage lockers,
please contact Michael or Dave (Leeds)
£39,500, Tel: 01132 762 276
MERCEDES-BENZ
2002, MERCEDES-BENZ, 0814D, PLAXTON
BEAVER 2, Automatic, 29 seats, LEZ
Compliant, PLS 350kgs chair lift, analogue
tacho, 287klm fully tracked floor, COIF/PSV
MOT £9,995, Tel: 0208 363 8572 Mobile:
07896 266 616
2002, MERCEDES-BENZ, 814, 24 plus 1
crew, Forced Air, Reading lights, COIF to carry
upto 6 wheelchairs all seats on NMI Tracking,
Recent re-trim, Coach spec inside, owned from
new, sold as seen £9,000 + VAT, Tel: 01924
477 111 email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07813 112 786
1998, MERCEDES-BENZ, 814 VARIO,
Automatic, 28 seats, 3 point belts, Frank Guy
body, tail lift and Unwin tracker, private number
to be retained, new MOT £6,000+VAT, Tel:
01209 717 152 email: garrywilliams@
williams-travel.co.uk
1998, MERCEDES-BENZ, NEOPLAN
JETLINER, Manual, 36/37 seats, Ex Easons,
A/C, Rear toilet & boiler, fridge in dashboard,six
speed manual, 680,800 Miles. No Advices Mot
01/2016. Phone Dave £14,500 + VAT, Tel:
01202 490 333 Mobile: 07752 248 265
1999, MERCEDES-BENZ, VARIO 814D,
Alison auto gearbox, 31 seats, MOT to
18/12/201 £6,450 plus VAT, Tel: 01249 462
462
2005, MERCEDES-BENZ, SITCAR BELUGA,
LEZ, Mk 2 Full Gaudi Leather, New Test, 25+1
+ massive luggage Lots of extras A/C,
Retarder, Webasto, Video, Fridge.
Trans-Executives £39,950 + VAT, Tel: 02083
810 020 Mobile: 07836 201202
2009, MERCEDES-BENZ, PLAXTON
CHEETAH, Auto, 29 recliner seats, Auto, 09
plate, White, Air Con TV & DVD MOT Jan 15 .
Part Exchange possible Contact Jason.
£69.995 + VAT, Tel: 02920 844666 email:
[email protected] Mobile: 07773
773 344
CHEETAH, Automatic, 25 seats, Luxury
leather reclining seats, crew seat, fridge,large
boot, A/C, DVD player 01159 40 40 60/
07831846000 £80,000+VAT ono, Tel:
01159 40 40 60 Mobile: 07831846000
2004, MERCEDES-BENZ, SPRINTER 411
CDI, Manual, 15 seater, COIF ,Electric
windows ,Remote central locking,electric
mirrors ,CD player ect ,runs and drives superb
as low mileage 180 k miles,service history
,Drive line conversion ,tidy condition ,sold with
12 months class v MOT ,full COIF . £4,999 no
VAT, Tel: 01404 475 02 email:
[email protected] Mobile:
07790 966 667
2005, MERCEDES-BENZ, UNVI ESKER
RADIA, Manual, 22 seats + courier, 3 point
belts, A/C and large boot. Excellent condition,
Low mileage and available with 12 months
MOT. £30,000 + VAT, Tel: 01943 870 228
2008, MERCEDES-BENZ, SITCAR MARLIN,
Manual, 33 seats, Reclining seats, tables,
nets,fridge, A/C, PA, CD, DVD, excellent
condition, MOT Dec 2015 £54,950+VAT, Tel:
01691 652 126 email: mike@owenstravel.
co.uk Mobile: 07802 302 841
MERCEDES-BENZ, SPRINTER 515 CDI, 11
seats, VDL Kuster, 11 armchair leather seats, 3
point belts, seat back tables, magazine nets,
A/C, power door, fridge and large boot. Low
mileage, possible part exchange. £23,500 +
VAT, Tel: 01977 661 214
MERCEDES-BENZ, NEOPLAN STARLINER,
semi automatic, 49 seats, Mercedes engine,
blue, new retrim, huge spec including a walk in
kitchen, toilet, tables, Winner of ‘Coach of the
Year’, ex Parry’s, 12 months MOT, big wow
factor £30,000, Tel: 01530 450087
2008, MERCEDES-BENZ, UNVI ESKER
TOURING, 41 seats, MOT until October 15,
Air Con, DVD, Luggage Lockers & Economical
to run. £59,500 + VAT ono, Tel: 01698
422179 Mobile: 07837 264 308
2006, MERCEDES-BENZ, SPRINTER 311
CDI, 16, Reclining seats, KVC conversion with
LED lights, forced air and reading lights, Usual
KVC spec DVD with drop down monitor and in
Dash screen.Excellent condition inside and out
M.O.T April 2016 260 kms £14,495 ono +
VAT, Tel: 01773 541 222 Mobile: 07767
302 277
1999, MERCEDES-BENZ, VARIO 814, 31
seats, MOT March 2016, Automatic, 4.25 litre
engine, 31 belted service seats + driver, white,
excellent running order, tidy inside and out.
£3,500 + VAT, Tel: 01249 821 821
2007, MERCEDES-BENZ, UNVI TOURING,
24, Leather Seats around tables with Toilet, 4
x TVs DVD, Mercedes Atego Chassis - Call for
details £50,000 + VAT, Tel: 01254 383587
2005, MAN, NOGE CATALAN, ZF automatic,
49 seats, 370 Tri-axle, MAN engine, power
lockers, twin screen dvd player, very
impressive flagship vehicle MOT March 2016,
excellent condition, any inspection welcome,
please contact Glenn £32,000 or offers, Tel:
01639 852600 email: wilkinstravel@
hotmail.co.uk Mobile: 07986 174 907
Vehicles.indd 57
12/05/2015 14:51
MERCEDES-BENZ
To advertise in routeone call: 01733 405730
OPTARE
1997, OPTARE, EXCEL, R reg, drives well but
no TAX or MOT. Good tyres all round. Tel Adam
£1,295 + VAT, Mobile: 07918 649 427
NEOPLAN
2004, NEOPLAN, NEOPLAN STARLINER,
48 seats, N516HD, 13.2 Meter triaxle - with
centre galley kitchen TV/DVD Reclining seats
many extras Tested Dec 2015 - Call for details
£40,000 + VAT, Tel: 01254 383587
CHEETAH, Manual, 33 seater, First
registered August 2010, one owner/driver from
new, very sought after vehicle, low guaranteed
mileage vehicle - covered only 116,000 kms,
Euro 5 engine, all usual Plaxton spec, excellent
interior - blue, available end of July with new
MOT, Doncaster £82,500+VAT, Tel: 01302
702 804
2006, MERCEDES-BENZ TOURINO,
Manual, 34 seater, LEZ, MOT till February
2016, with 455309 km, Eminox System, LEZ
certificate till January 2016. £55,000 + VAT,
Tel: 02087 437835 Mobile: 07831849818
2006, OPTARE SOLO, 29 seats + 20
standees, one owner from new. Wheelchair
access. PSV until December 2015. Call B&C
Coaches. £26,000 + VAT, Mobile: 07702
198 465
2007, NEOPLAN SKYLINER, Allison
automatic, 87 reclining seats, LEZ, A/C, TV/
DVD, 3 monitors, toilet, Webasto, good tyres,
good condition, MOT December 2015.
£99,995 + VAT, Tel: 01487 843 333 email:
07834 977 551
2008, MERCEDES-BENZ TOURISMO,
Manual, 53 seaters, MOT till February 2016,
with 357767 km. £100,000 + VAT, Tel:
02087 437835 Mobile: 07831849818
2002, MERCEDES-BENZ, OPTARE
NOUVELLE, Manual, 29 seats, LEZ, 3 Point
belts, MOT June 2015 £15,000 + VAT,
Mobile: 07956 607 839
Join the conversation...
routeONE magazine
2002, NEOPLAN EUROLINER, 49 seats
executive, 02 Plate, Test till November 2015.
£28,500, Tel: 01405 740 638 email:
[email protected]
@routeoneteam
2000, OPTARE SOLO, Allison gearbox, 33
seats + 18 standees, W reg, M920,
Mercedes engine,long MOT,ready for work,
private plate not included in sale, still in service
but available immediately at call Rob at
Summercourt Travel Newquay. £5,950+VAT,
Tel: 01726 861 108 Mobile: 07442
493856
MINIBUS
2008 (08) Iveco Iris
BUS 50C15
2011 (61) Ford Tourneo
9 seat minibus, white,
49,350mls
£15,350
2014 (14) Ford Transit
17 seat wheelchair accessible minibus in
blue, 80,000mls, underfloor lift, destination
board, power sliding door.
£18500 + VAT
£27,995 + VAT
06 (06) VW LT46
2012 (12) Nissan Primastar SE
9seat Semi Auto LWB Minibus. 64000mls.
P.O.A
09 (59) Mercedes Sprinter 513 CDI
16 seat including driver, wheelchair accessible, underfloor lift, COIF/PSV, 85,000mls,
choice of 2
£16,995 + VAT
w/chair accessible.17 seats inc driver.
will fit 5/6 w/chairs. u/floor lift. electric plug door. 92000mls In blue
£16,995 + VAT
17 seat minibus.
20100mls COIF/PSV
2007 (07) Iveco 40C15
Wheelchair accessible minibus
in white. 107250mls.
2005 (05) Mercedes Sprinter 416
CDi Luxury Coach
£9,500-00 + VAT
17seat inc driver. Large boot.
COIF/PSV
£15,995 + VAT
Tel: 01495 757111 Mobile: 07850 739446 (Haydn Skinner).
All the above vehicles are subject to VAT at standard rate. Finance is available. All used vehicles come with 12 months MOT/PSV.
Vehicles.indd 58
12/05/2015 14:51
SETRA
2008, OPTARE VERSA, Automatic, 37
seats, Good condition throughout, new
Cummins engine 2 years ago, new MOT. For
more details Email John, We are happy to
answer any questions. Devon. £45,000 +
VAT ono, Tel: 01805 804 240 email:
[email protected]
1992, SETRA 215 HD, 53s MAN Engine MOT
Nov 2015 Call Ken £4,750 ono, Tel: 01728
830 414 Mobile: 07887898425
PLAXTON
2006, PLAXTON, Auto, 57 seats +
courier, Blue interior, A/C, MOT, Automatic,
rear engine Cummins, VGC, telephone Ray
£48,000+VAT, Mobile: 07802 959128
SCANIA
2008, SCANIA, IRIZAR I4, 59 seater, Air
conditioned, low mileage, very reliable coach,
MOT till October, £79,995 + VAT ono,
Mobile: 07771 622 188
OPTARE
OPTARE SOLO, Selection Available, All in good
condition. Viewing welcome by appointment.
For more details Email John. We are happy to
answer any questions. Devon. £23,000 +
VAT ono, Tel: 01805 804 240 email:
[email protected]
2000, OPTARE SOLO M920, Allison gearbox,
33 seats + 18 Standees, W Reg Mercedes
engine.MOT March 2016. Waiting for DVSA
appointment to get PSVAR2000 section 1 & 2
DDA Compliance certificate - Call Rob at
Summercourt Travel Newquay £7,995 + VAT,
Tel: 01726 861 108 Mobile: 07442 493856
2007, OPTARE SOLO SE, 27 seats, 7.8m,
timespace X200 CCTV, mobitech destinations,
tested until Dec 15. Owned from new and in
excellent condition. Available end May due to
new vehicles arriving. £29,500, Tel: 01436
820 300
2012, OPTARE SOLO SR, 35 seats, 9.7m,
Mercedes engine, timespace X200 CCTV
with reverse camera, mobitech destinations,
tested until Jan 16. Owned from new and in
excellent condition. Available end May due to
new vehicles arriving. £72,500, Tel: 01436
820 300
2001, SETRA 315 GT-HD, LEZ, 49s all usual
extras merc V8, MOT APR 2015. Call Ken
£27,000 ONO, Tel: 01728 830 414 Mobile:
07887898425
2003, SETRA 315 GT-HD, Manual, 49
seats, P.P. 49 recliner seats with retractable
belts. with DVD + 2 monitors, centre toilet with
centre power door, boiler + dash fridge. A/C,
Eminox exhaust for London 2015. Mercedes
engine, good condition, test until September
2015. Real good drive. more pictures by email.
call Paul 0 £35,000 + VAT ono, email: paul.
[email protected] Mobile: 07730
486 708
1997, SCANIA, VAN HOOL, 57 seats, MOT
Feb 2016, very tidy inside and out
£12,500+VAT, Tel: 01249 821 821
2005, SCANIA, IRIZAR, Automatic gearbox,
49 seats, LEZ, leather seats with seat belts,
A/C, Toilet & Fridge. Very good condition
throughout. Choice of two. For more details
Email John, We are happy to answer any
questions. Devon. £48,000 + VAT ono, Tel:
01805 804 240 email: John@beaconbus.
co.uk
Scan the barcode and search
for vehicles on the go!
2002, SETRA 315 GT-HD, 49 seats +
Courier, LEZ, RPC, centre toilet/cont. door
A/C- webasto- boiler - fridge - CCTV rev cam
- radio/CD/DVD/2 x monitors ALCOA alloys
VGC economical 12 months MOT choice of 2
identical vehicles - pics available on request.
£39,950 ono + VAT, Mobile: 07798
648372
2009, SETRA 415 GT-HD, Alloy wheels, Euro
4/5 with RPC. Usual Setra refinements. Recent
MOT, good condition. £112,500 + VAT, Tel:
01977 661 214
MINIBUS
Vehicles.indd 59
12/05/2015 14:51
David Fishwick
NEW GENERATION IVECO
DAILY 45-150 19 SEAT MINICOACH
The latest generation Iveco Daily has been comprehensively re-designed from the frame up and really brings the fight to the
ubiquitous Mercedes sprinter; offering similar levels of interior space and conversion flexibility at a more affordable price point.
The striking exterior and modern dashboard design is clear to see, with significant improvements in ride quality, body control
and noise levels becoming immediately obvious as soon as you get one out on the open road. Supported by the latest Euro VI
compliant engines, a choice of 6 speed manual or class leading 8 speed HI-MATIC automatic transmissions and sought after
driver aids such as cruise control, air-conditioning, heated mirrors and a Bluetooth stereo with steering wheel controls.
This particular example is the first of many to land back at the showroom from our team of expert coachbuilders and is fitted with
19 full size passenger seats, utilising the entire length of the vehicle for maximum capacity (16 + Driver configuration with boot
also available). Trimmed to our usual high standard with a matching driver seat, drop step entry, show curtains, diesel rear heater,
digital tachograph and overhead luggage racks equipped with forced air & reading lights, it’s an ideal choice for the operator who
needs a flexible vehicle as the rear row of seats can be moved forward or removed from the tracked flooring to provide a cargo
area if required.
Now £42,995 + VAT
Contact
Details
Vehicles.indd 60
Byron Road
Colne
Lancashire
BB8 0RF
Opening
Hours
Monday - Friday
09.00 - 18.00 hrs
Saturday
09.00 - 13.00 hrs
12/05/2015 14:51
Call: 01282 867772
Email: [email protected]
www.davidfishwick.com
IVECO CONVERSION SPECIALIST
We’ve commissioned a number of conversions based on the new Iveco Daily platform in a wide range of specifications to suit all
applications – with the option to customise a vehicle to your requirements at any stage of the process and cut down on factory
lead times. Whether you are looking for a durable, high capacity bus, a super extended luxury coach, a wheelchair accessible
vehicle with on-board lift or indeed anything in between, we can help.
A full range of dealer services, including; part-exchange, flexible finance, leasing and nationwide delivery are available on request,
contact us now for more information.
Vehicles from £42,995 + VAT
Don’t see what you are looking for?
Head over to www.davidfishwick.com
to view the rest of our extensive stock
Or get in touch via phone or email to discuss your
requirements so we can source the right vehicle for
you! Finance, Part-Exchange & Nationwide
Delivery available upon request.
Vehicles.indd 61
12/05/2015 14:51
TOYOTA
1995, TOYOTA OPTIMO, 21 seats plus
courier, Reg 22/11/1995, genuine 144000
miles. Vary good condition for year MOT
21/11/2015 retirement sale. Enquire to David
£5,250 + VAT, Tel: 01989 720676
1998, VOLVO, B10M, ENIGMA, ZF
automatic, 49 seats, 49 Recliner seats with
retractable belts. DVD+ Monitor, centre toilet
and door. Volvo engine. Test until August 2015 .
more pictures by email. call Paul £12,500 +
VAT ono, email: paul.watson9@btconnect.
com Mobile: 07730 486 708
1997, VOLVO, B10M, PLAXTON PREMIERE,
6 speed manual, 55 seats, CHOICE OF 2,
Long MOT £12,000 + VAT ono, Mobile:
07956 607 839
VOLVO, B10M, ZF automatic, 88 seats,
With belts, City Bus. Analogue Techo, Great
runner and on daily school contract. MOT till
September 2015 Sale due to replacement
vehicle. Private reg to be retained. £6,500 +
VAT, Tel: 020 85740028 Mobile: 07958
389389
VAN HOOL
VAN HOOL T916 ASTRONEF, 13.2mt 53 Body
Luxe seats half leather theatre style seating fully
carpeted on-board vacuum/wash facility/Alloy
wheels/ Blaupunkt professional line 3 drop
down monitors/Quad camera system/Toilet
drinks etc. MOT May 2016 Tel Barry.
£229,500 + VAT, Tel: 01896 849 360
Mobile: 07798 631 602
1995, VOLVO, B10M, PLAXTON PREMIERE
350, Manual, 53, MOT 7th. May 2015. Good
Condition. Contact Maldwyn £8,950 + VAT,
Tel: 01407 730 204 Mobile: 07776146572
1994, VOLVO, B10M, VAN HOOL ALIZEE, 53
seats plus courier, Excellent condition. Tested
till 18/03/2016, Reupholstered 2 years ago.
C.O.I.F. £6,500 no VAT, Tel: 00 353 86
2535011
1996, VOLVO, B10M, VAN HOOL ALIZEE T8,
53, Reclining Seats easy up seat to 57 or 70.
Just re panelled and Painted in RAL 9003 White
All Glass good. MOT OCT 2015, offers
considered. Call Chris £12,995 + VAT,
Mobile: 07585 808 123
VOLKSWAGEN
1989, VOLVO, B10M, 76 seats, 60mph,
tested Aug 2015 £5,995+VAT, Mobile:
07887 837785
1998, VOLVO, B10M, VAN HOOL ALIZEE T8,
49/51 seats, R reg, Extra seat to fit on shelf.
MOT Dec 2015, Lap belts with WC and
continental door. Very tidy coach. Tel: Tony.
£10,000 ono, Mobile: 07827 870576
2005, VOLKSWAGEN, LT 46, 15 seats,
Kuster Conversion, 4 point belts, 10 seated and
3 wheelchairs. Tachograph (new head), ramp,
Unwin Tracking. new repaint, 47360kms, MOT
10/03/16, 2 others available if required £7995
+ VAT, Tel: 01209 717 152 email:
garrywilliams@williams–travel.co.uk
VOLVO
1992, VOLVO, B10M, VAN HOOL T8, ZF
manual gearbox, 53 seater + crew seat,
Recliners, retrim 6 years ago, still smart
appearance, rack blowers, good heating D/G
full draw curtains, radio, PA, large boot, good
stretch panels and lockers, wheeltrims (private
to be retained) good workhorse, ideal contract
coach (ex Trumans) new MOT applied for,
available now, Call Stuart (North Lincolnshire
£10,250+VAT ono, Mobile: 07730 486512
2003, VOLVO, B12M, BERKHOF AXIAL, ZF
Auto, 49-51 seats, Centre toilet, A/C ,MOT
November. £33,000 + VAT, Tel: 01778 342
224 email: enquiries@shawscoaches.
co.uk
6 speed manual, 53 seats, MOT Till
September 2015 £10,000 + VAT ono,
Mobile: 07956 607 839
6 speed manual, 49 seats, Centre toilet,
MOT February 2016 £10,000 + VAT ono,
Mobile: 07956 607 839
2007, VOLVO, B12M, JONCKHEERE,
Automatic, 53 seats, MOT, Tax, 53 Luxury
Recliner Seats, 3 point seat belts, Courier seat,
Tinted Double Glazed Windows, Centre Sunken
Toilet, Centre Continental Door, Dashboard
Fridge, Coffee Boiler, DVD + 2 screens,
A/C, MOT, Tax, white/graphics. £89,950 +
VAT, Tel: 01293 510 220 email: coach@
wandhgroup.co.uk
1994, VOLVO, B10M, 49 seats, fitted with
belts, Toilet in centre, Very good condition
throughout. For more details Email John. We
are happy to answer any questions. Devon.
£7,000 + VAT ono, Tel: 01805 804 240
VOLVO, B10M, ZF automatic, 99 seats, with
seats belts, City Bus. Good runner on daily
school contract. MOT November 2015. Sale
due to replacement vehicle . £8,500 + VAT,
Tel: 020 85740028 Mobile: 07958 389389
2002, VOLVO, B12M, JONCKHEERE
MISTRAL, ZF 6 speed manual, 51 seats +
driver, wheelchair lift at the rear, recent white
paint job, good body work, A/C, fridge, comes
with long MOT. £32,500 + VAT, Tel: 01259
215 560 Mobile: 07785 525 381
1995, VOLVO, B10M, PLAXTON PREMIERE
350, 57 seats, Re panelled and all framework
replaced at Blackpool 18 months ago (£8K
spent) All Glass good. MOT SEPT 2015. This is
not your average Premier! offers considered.
Call Chris £10,995 + VAT, Mobile: 07585
808 123
1997, VOLVO, B12, VAN HOOL ASTROBEL,
Allison auto box, 74 seats, LEZ, A/C, twin
crew seats with toilet will come with new MOT
and possible repaint. £32,000 + VAT, Tel:
01698 200166
2010, VOLVO, B12B, PLAXTON PANTHER,
Auto I-Shift, 49 Seats + Courier, September
2010, 60 plate, Full Exec Spec, centre
demountable toilet, extra wide DDA power plug
door, MOT September 2015, low mileage
hence immaculate condition. Contact Matt/Tim
£127,500, Tel: 01943 830206 /830720
2001, VOLVO, B7TL, EAST LANCS,
78 seats, 60 mph, tested April 2016
£22,950+VAT ono, Mobile: 07887 837785
Vehicles.indd 62
12/05/2015 14:51
2005, VOLVO, B12B, VAN HOOL, 47
recliners, Rear Floor Mounted WC, A/C,
Fridge, Boiler, Radio, CD, DVD, Alloy Wheels,
Webasto, Excellent Condition, PCV Test March
2016 £78,000 + VAT, Tel: 01758 612 719
2006, VOLVO, B12M, JONCKHEERE, 53
with 3 point belt, 420bhp I- Shift, Alloy
wheels, Webasto, DVD with 2 Screens, centre
sunken toilet, Hot water boiler, Air con, MOT
expires on 13/11/15 Excellent Condition, a
choice of 2. contact Mark £56,500 + VAT,
Tel: 01271 859 533
48 recliners, Centre WC, A/C, Fridge, Boiler,
Radio, CD, DVD, Alloy Wheels, Good Clean
Condition, PCV Test January 2016 £51,000
+VAT, Tel: 01758 612 719
2003, VOLVO, B7, MODULO, ZF Auto, 53
seats, 3 point belts ,will come with new
MOT and possibly repaint. Mileage 646kms.
£25,000 + VAT, Tel: 01698 200166
53 seats, LEZ, Very Low Mileage,12.8m with
i-Shift. Eith 3 point belts. A/C, CCTV including
reversing camera. WC. Continental door. DVD.
Alloys. 12 months MOT.Owned from new with
less than 250,000kms! Tel: Tony £75,000,
Mobile: 07827 870576
WANTED
VOLVO, OLYMPIAN, ALEXANDER, 87 seat DD
bus, LWB . Choice of four 1996/97 & 1998’s,
Mot’s from March to May 15. Not seat-belted.
Prices from £8,000 - £10,000, Available from
end of June although may be able to release
some sooner. Telephone George . SW Scotland
Mobile: 07977 071 466
VOLVO, JONCKHEERE DEAUVILLE, 57
seats, In swing door, owned by us last 7
years, reliable contract vehicle, any inspection
£8500 OnoCall 01236 626200 or Glasgow
area £85,00+VAT ono, Tel: 01236 626 200
Mobile: 07831 694444
2003, VOLVO, PLAXTON PANTHER, 48st
with leather head rests, Toilet, A/C, in white.
MOT July 2015 will retest . £35,000 ovno,
Tel: 01970 828 288
WANTED, Wanted - Minibuses, any make, any
type 1998 to present year, dead or alive,
finance settled Tel: 0208 363 8572 email:
07896 266616
WANTED, Floor panel to fit above demountable
toilet for a Jonckheere Mistal 50 1999 model.
Sherwood Travel Mobile: 07730 486512
WANTED, Mercedes Minibuses and Coaches
wanted ,1999 to present year ,16 to 35 seats
,any condition ,immediate decision. Finance
settled Distance no problem ,Contact Tim Tel:
01404 475 02 email: parnell-coaches@
supanet.com Mobile: 07790 966 667
The vehicle sales website brought
to you by routeone
UNCLASSIFIED
2010, VOLVO, B9R, PLAXTON ELITE, 51 to
53 seats, 3 Point all age belts, Dura bright
Alloy wheels,A/C, Centre WC Boiler, Fridge,
DVD, 7 Camera CCTV, Low Miles, immaculate
condition £130,000, Tel: 01387 375 677
Mobile: 07711 280475
57 seats, LEZ, With i-Shift ,12m with lap belts.
AC. Power Locker Door. 12 months MOT. Tel:
Tony £60,000, Mobile: 07827 870576
2004, VOLVO, B12M, VAN HOOL T9,
Manual, 49/53, executive, toilet, drinks, DVD,
A/C, durabrites, later rear lights.MOT until
August 2015. £52,500 + VAT, Tel: 01782
513 666
1998, VOLVO, OLYMPIAN, NORTHERN
COUNTIES, 73 seats, Double decks (2) Volvo/
ZF, long MOT’s very clean & tidy, Phone Paul or
Nick £3,900 + VAT each, Tel: 01332
757677 email: harpurscoaches@gmail.
com
“Cloudy 13 degrees, UK has heat wave”
2002 Dennis Javelin. Plaxton Prima.
Manual Gearbox. 55 seats.
Climate control fitted.
MOT March 2016.
£20,000 + VAT
Choice of 2.
2003 Scania K114 Auto.
Irizar inter century. LEZ
Re-painted into white
Re-trimmed seats
53 belted seats.
MOT 26.11.15 & 10.12.15.
Choice of 2 £40,995 + VAT
2006(55) Scania Iriza PB Auto.
49 3pt, belted seats.
W/C centre sunken.
Air con, Emergency door.
£50,000 + VAT ono
1999 Bova Futura.57
57 Belted Seats.
MOT New at sale.
£15,000 + VAT
Very nice school bus
2005, VOLVO, B12M, BERKHOF AXIAL 50,
49 seats, I Shift, Exec with CD Player, A/C
Reclining seats and Toilet Tested March 2016
- Call for details £41,250 + VAT, Tel: 01254
383587
2004, VOLVO, B12M, BERKHOF AXIAL 50,
49 seats, I Shift, Exec with CD Player, A/C
Reclining seats and Toilet Tested April 2016 Call for details £37,500 + VAT, Tel: 01254
383587
“Finance”
Darren Dunbar
07808 856390
1997, VOLVO, OLYMPIAN, NORTHERN
COUNTIES, 78 seats, MOT to May 26th
2016, Very clean & tidy, sale due to loss of
contract. £5,000 + VAT, Tel: 01286 660
208 Mobile: 07785 338917
Nigel McCree Mobile: 07817 542113, Office: 01805 625146
or Email: [email protected]
Insurance
Stock updated weekly on the website
www.nigelmccree.com
2004, VOLVO, B12M, JONCKHEERE
MISTRAL, I shift gearbox, 49/51 seats,
wheelchair lift at the rear, recent white paint job,
good body work, toilet, A/C, fridge, comes with
long MOT. £45,000 + VAT, Tel: 01259 215
560 Mobile: 07785 525 381
Vehicles.indd 63
12/05/2015 14:51
1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENT
2004 04 PLATE DENNIS DART SLF
Cummins C series engines, ZF gearbox, East
Lancs bodies, 74 seats, long MOT’s
Cummins ISB Euro 3 engines, Allison gearboxes,
Plaxton Pointer bodies, 37 seats.
2001 MINI POINTER DART
8.8m, 29 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant.
2002 DENNIS DARTS
Cummins Euro 3 / Allison, Plaxton Pointer bodies, dual
door, 30 seats, DDA and LEZ compliant, can be converted
to single door. ABS fitted, ideal training buses.
2001 51 PLATE SUPER POINTER DART
Allison gearbox, 42 seats, long MOT.
2002 52 PLATE OPTARE SOLO, M850
Mercedes engine, 28 seats with
3 point belts, DDA compliant.
1999 T REG DENNIS TRIDENT
Cummins C series / Voith gearbox , East Lancs
convertible open top, 78 seats.
2002 MINI POINTER DART
Cummins ISB engines, Allison gearboxes,
8.8m long, 29 seats, DDA compliant.
2003 DENNIS DART SLF’S
Cummins ISB engines, Caetano bodies, dual door,
30 seats, 10.2m, ABS fitted so ideal driver trainers.
2001 AND 2002 DENNIS TRIDENTS
ISC Euro 3 engines, DDA and LEZ compliant, Alexander
ALX 400 bodies, 62 seats dual door or can be upseated
and converted to single door.
2009 OPTARE TEMPO HYBRIDS
Cummins Euro 5 engines, 10.6M, dual
door, 30 seats, only £9500 each plus tyres.
Juliette Close, Purfleet Industrial Park, Purfleet, Essex RM15 4YF
T: 01708 865656 F: 01708 864340 E: [email protected]
www.ensignbus.com
Vehicles.indd 64
28 seats, Mercedes engine,
DDA compliant
1999 V REG DENNIS TRIDENTS
Cummins C series engines, Voith gearboxes,
Plaxton President bodies, 75 seats.
2002 52 PLATE MINI POINTER DART
26 seats , DDA compliant, 8.8m.
Ensign online
To view our vehicles online,
scan the QR code above
12/05/2015 14:51
2003 DENNIS TRIDENTS
2000 V REG DENNIS TRIDENT
Cummins ISC Euro 3 engines, Voith 4 speed gearboxes
(60mph), Plaxton bodies, 60 seats as dual door, 71 seats
single door and DDA or 73seats all seated single door.
£9000 plus VAT as dual door, £16000 as 71 seats DDA
or £13000 as 73 seat single door non DDA.
Cummins / Voith , LEZ compliant with traps to
Euro 4, CCTV, Alexander ALX400 bodies which
can be converted to be DDA compliant or fully
upseated to 80 seats.
42 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins ISB engines, Voith gearboxes.
£18,000 + VAT
2002 52 PLATE SUPER POINTER DARTS
2006 MERCEDES VARIO 814
42 seats, DDA compliant, Cummins ISB
6 cylinder engines, Voith gearboxes.
32 seats with 3 point belts, rear lift, manual,
LEZ compliant, rear wheelchair lift, very low
mileage, COIF, long MOT.
2004 OPTARE SOLO
2001 VOLVO B7TL’S
X REG 2000 VOLVO B7TL’S
AVAILABLE FOR £9,000 + VAT
Mercedes engine, M850, 26 seats with
3 point belts, DDA compliant.
33 seats, Mercedes engine, DDA compliant
2004 54 PLATE DAF SB120
Volvo Euro 3 engines, Voith gearboxes, Plaxton
President bodies, 66 seats dual door or can be
converted to 78 seats, single door and DDA compliant.
2007 OPTARE SOLO M920
Euro 2, LEZ compliant, Plaxton President , CCTV,
dual door 62 seats or single door 74 seats.
2004 54 PLATE OPTARE SOLO
Cummins ISB
engines, Allison
gearboxes,
Wrights body, 30
seats, dual door,
Hanover LED’s,
DDA compliant
£9,000
33 seats, Cummins engines, DDA compliant,
long MOT.
Mercedes engine, M920, 33 seats Hanover
destination, DDA compliant.
www.ensignbus.com
Vehicles.indd 65
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Vehicles.indd 66
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2004 54 MERCEDES 814 PLAXTON BEAVER 2
auto box, 31 bus seats, power door, new paint
new test, choice of 3
2000 DENNIS JAVELIN CAETANO ENIGMA
53 recliners with belts, rear floor mounted toilet, air conditioning,
I shift Gearbox, Alcoa alloy wheels, New trim, New paint in white,
CD player, PA system, tested until February 2016
1997 IVECO BEULAS
49 seats, centre toilet, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air
heating, power door, lap retractable belts, TV.
1998 DENNIS JAVELIN MARCOPOLO EXPLORER II
Manual, 3 Point Seat Belts,
Curtains, 69 Seats
£12,000 + VAT
£68,000 + VAT
£12,750+ VAT
£19,000 + VAT
2005 VOLVO B12M VAN HOOL T9
51 recliners with belts, rear floor mounted toilet, air conditioning,
i shift gearbox, alcoa alloy wheels, new paint in white, cd player,
pa system, tested till February 2016
2009 IVECO IRISBUS
27 Seats, 3 point seatbelts, double glazed tinted windows,
double doors at rear, underfloor tail lift, radio/cd, 6 spd manual
gearbox, webasto, air conditioning, plug door, excellent condition.
£68,000 + VAT
£28000 + VAT
2003 VOLVO B12M CAETANO ENIGMA
49 Recliners with belts, centre sunken toilet, air conditioning, dvd
pa system, luggage racks with reading lights, power door, ZF
manual gearbox, tidy condition for year
£34,000 + VAT
1997 DAF SB3000 IKARUS
70 seater. 3 point belts, luggage racks, reading lights, forced air
heating, manual gearbox, power door. Painted in the colour of your
choice. Excellent condition. new MOT
WAS £17,950 NOW £15,000 + VAT
1999 IVECO BEULAS STERGO E
51 recliners with belts, crew seat, luggage racks with reading
lights, power door, manual gear box, rear floor mounted toilet,
new MOT, 840,000 kms.
1999 DENNIS JAVELIN PLAXTON PREMIER 350
51 reclining seats, lap belts, centre toilet, boiler and servary, 6
speed ZF manual gearbox, luggage racks, forced air ventilation,
reading lights, power door, painted white, double glazed, tinted
windows. Very tidy condition. 843,751kms. New MOT.
WAS £17,500. NOW £10,000 + VAT
WAS £17,500. NOW £13,000 + VAT
2007 VOLVO B9 TL WRIGHTS ECLIPSE
ZF Auto. New Engine, 68 semi coach seats plus wheelchair plus
16 standees. 250,000 Kms new Ecu,s Destination gear.
10.4M long. Nice driver.
2011 VOLVO B9R PLAXTON PANTHER
44/48 reclining leather seats, rear toilet, 230,000kms, alloy
wheels, full server, air conditioning, double glazing, tinted
windows, carpets. New MOT.
£140,000 + VAT
1998 Mercedes Cheetah
32 seats with 3 point belts, luggage racks, curtains,
aisle carpet, forced air heating, reading lights, power door,
CD player, walnut dash.
£15,000 + VAT
£75,000 + VAT
1999 VOLVO B10M PLAXTON PREMIER 350
LEZ, Euro 4, 49 Seats or 39 + 4 Wheelchairs
Carpets, Curtains, New Test, Recent Retrim
£25,000 + VAT
1998 SCANIA IRIZAR INTERCENTURY
70 seats with belts comfort shift double glazed,air conditioning,cd
player crew seat,can be made to 70 seats.
1998 MERCEDES VARIO 814D OPTARE NOUVELLE
29 seats, servary, fridge, dvd. New Mot. DG, tinted windows,
rear boot, side lockers. Clean and tidy.
1993 VOLVO B10M CAETANO ALGARVE II
70 Cogent Seats, 3 point belts, double glazed tinted windows,
New MOT, Manual gearbox
£19,000 + VAT
£9,000 + VAT
£18,000 + VAT
2011 VOLVO B9R PLAXTON PANTHER
34/48 reclining leather seats, rear toilet, 250,000kms, alloy
wheels, full server, air conditioning, double glazing, tinted
windows, carpets. New MOT.
£140,000 + VAT
CHOICE OF OVER 350 VEHICLES ‘Open 7 days 08.00-18.00’ For our full range,
visit www.drewwilson.co.uk
Tel/Fax 0141 248 5524 | Mob 07764 200 444 or 07827 325474
Email [email protected]
Vehicles.indd 67
12/05/2015 14:52
Phone: 01530 263333 Fax: 01530 263379
www.caetano.co.uk
Vehicles.indd 68
12/05/2015 14:52
“Essential services for operators”
To advertise your products or services in the next issue, contact
Jade Cassidy on 01733 405740 or email [email protected]
The deadline for adverts is Friday, 12 noon.
CAN’T FIND WHAT
YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
Scan the QR code to download the
free routeone CONTACTS App
trader suppliers cover iss589.indd 69
12/05/2015 09:59
AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT
ADVISORY AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES
MOBILE
COLUMN LIFTS
Ellis Transport Services
Need help to stay legal?
Call Graham Ellis at Ellis Transport Services.
Ellis Transport Services provide a full audit and advice
service to bus and coach operators across the UK as
well as an accident investigation service.
Somers MVL reconditioned £7,500
If you have a problem give us a call on:
Rav 232nl good condition £5,750
023 8027 0447 / 07710 589105
IME ideal for outside use £4,500
or e-mail:
[email protected]
Phone Phil on:
07971 287334
BUS AND COACH ELECTRONICS
tradersuppliers | To advertise call 01733 405740 | Booking deadline Friday, 12 noon
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
HEATING
Stockists, suppliers,
manufacturers and repairers
of electronic parts and
equipment to the bus and
coach industry.
To advertise in routeone call:
01733 405730
Tel: 01993 849522
Fax: 01993 706920
For all your Heating, Aircon & Body Parts
Heaters • A/C Equipment
Blowers • Radiators
Silicone Hose • Wiper Equipment
Motors • Ducting • Gas Struts
ENGINES
Visit our new online catalogue
www.thhs.co.uk
The Cummins Engine Specialists
Parts & Service Division
D.I.E.S.E.L Limited offer a vast range of services for all types of Cummins Engines.
●
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All products fully tested to industry
standard
Best practice on repair and
manufacturing
Competitive pricing - large savings
to O.E.M.
Delivery express: UK Nationwide
Exchange and new items from stock
INSURANCE
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
E-Mail: [email protected]
●
GENUINE CUMMINS
DIESEL ENGINES, PARTS & SERVICE
Tel: 01246 474332 Fax: 01246 529010
www.omni-techelectronics.co.uk
All enquires:
www.route-one.net
Tel: 01933 33 41 97
CRAIG TILSLEY
Suppliers of reconditioned:
Scan the QR code to view on the go!
MAN
DAF
MERC
VOLVO
SCANIA
LEYLAND
CUMMINS ENGINES
CYLINDER HEADS
CRANKCASES
WORKS:
CRANKSHAFTS
MOORFIELDS
IND.
EST.
CAMSHAFTS
COATES HEATH,
PUMPS
STOKE-ON-TRENT
ETC.
ST21 6QY
TEL:
01782 791524
01782 791527
FAX:
01782 791316
EMAIL:
[email protected]
www.craigtilsley.co.uk
AVON DIESEL
COMPANY
Volvo B10M - Recon + new
engine. Parts, overhaul kits,
cylinder blocks, cylinder
heads, oil pumps, camshafts,
crankshafts + more.
Tel: 01454 313805
m.e.french&co
Coach brokers
for over
40 years
l Talk to the Coach Insurance Experts
l Employers/Public Liability available
Call: 01772 753622
Out of hours:
Richard: 07767 246030 | Mark: 07768 651256
www.mefrenchandco.co.uk
www.route-one.net
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
trader suppliers iss589.indd 70
12/05/2015 10:00
PARTS
SEATBELTS
Seat belts, fittings and hand-rail padding.
WE FIT
SEAT BELTS!
tradersuppliers
For details call: 01733 405730
tel: 01522 689911 fax: 01522 689922
parts: [email protected] installations: [email protected]
www.bhiuk.com
REPAIRS
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Tel: 01709 578333 24 Hours
www.route-one.net is the number one online destination for
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At routeone, we recognise the importance of new media and the
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Scan the QR code to view on the go!
12/05/2015 10:00
TRIMMERS
VEHICLE SPARES
When
responding
to adverts,
please mention
that you saw it in
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DENNIS PARTS
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12/05/2015 10:00
@AndrewRoadlaw
On 14 May - between 3pm and 4pm - Andrew Sanderson and his team at
Fieldﬁsher will be on-hand for a live Twitter-based road law Q&A session.
For more information call 01733 405732 or email [email protected]
In partnership with
* Free initial phone consultation with a member of the Fieldﬁsher
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p73.indd 73
12/05/2015 16:11
People
RECRUITMENT
people iss589.indd 74
For more recruitment advertising visit: www.route-one.net/jobs
12/05/2015 10:02
RECRUITMENT
We’re looking for a
DUTY OPERATIONS MANAGER
based at Didcot, who will have responsibility
for our fleet of over 50 coaches.
You will have a proven track record,
International CPC, and be capable
of dealing with the challenges
associated with this industry.
Geographical knowledge and a thorough
understanding of operational compliance
are essential requirements of this position.
Working a 6 day on / 2 day off pattern, you
will be the first out-of-hours contact for
our drivers and customers.
Please send your CV and covering letter to:
[email protected]
12/05/2015 10:02
People
RECRUITMENT
Job title vacancy: Skilled PCV Mechanic
Company: Abacus Coaches
Abacus Coaches is a privately owned coach operator situated on the Lincolnshire /
Leicestershire border. The company provides a range of passenger transport services including
school transport, private hire, day excursions and holidays. The fleet has 8 coaches.
Skilled PCV Mechanic
Duties to include:
• Maintain fleet as fit for purpose
• Prepare vehicles for MOT
• Carry out safety inspections
• Fault diagnosis and repair
The successful applicant will be qualified and able to confidently work on a variety of coaches
and company cars. A thorough knowledge of DVSA regulations is essential along with the
ability to organise your own workload and work to deadlines. Hard working can-do attitude.
PCV licence an advantage. Regular hours. Monday to Friday. Circa £30,000 pa.
If you are interested in joining our team please send your CV and covering letter to
[email protected] or by post to Abacus Coaches, New Fox Depot,
A1 Southbound, South Witham, NG33 5LN. Tel: 01572 767139
Finance & Commercial Director
Competitive Salary - Permanent
This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding transport provider
situated in Blackpool.
The remit of the role is to shape commercial strategy and provide genuine insight
around performance and commercial opportunity.
Reporting to the MD, you will lead and motivate the finance and IT team to engage with the
business and add value. You will ensure robust financial controls and governance are in place to
deliver accurate and timely financial information. As Finance and Commercial Director you will be
responsible for working in partnership with operational heads to drive cross functional business
strategy.
You will be responsible for the statutory accounts and tax computations for the company.
You will manage the annual budget process in conjunction with all departmental heads. Other
specific responsibilities will include the preparation of management accounts, the supervision of
ledgers / payrolls, cash management and procurement controls. You will also have responsibility
for the company’s insurance programme and pension scheme.
As a member of the Board you will have strategic decision making authority on behalf
of the company.
You will be an inspirational leader with a passion for delivering continuous improvement and
have exceptional communication skills. You will have the ability to engender great business/
stakeholder partnering, drive profitability and achieve strategic objectives as well as influencing
financial decisions based on commercial foundation.
For further information please see our website at www.blackpooltransport.com or please
contact Jane Cole on 01253 473041 for an informal discussion about this post.
To apply for this vacancy send your CV plus a letter detailing how you meet the
person specification for this role along with your current salary to Sue Kennerley at
[email protected] or by post to Sue Kennerley, Finance Director,
Blackpool Transport Services Limited, Rigby Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 5DD.
Closing date for applications 31 May 2015
12/05/2015 10:03
12/05/2015 10:03
People
Richard Grey elected
as Chairman of Guild
CILT welcomes Beverley
Bell as its new President
The Guild of British Coach
Operators has appointed Richard
Grey as its Chairman at a recent
AGM held in Coventry.
Andrew
Richmond,
of
Richmonds Coaches, near
Cambridge, is Vice Chairman.
Both will serve for a two-year
term.
Owner
and
Managing
Director (MD) of Grey’s of Ely,
Richard is well known within the
industry for his innovative use of
technology and marketing skills
to drive forward business.
He says: “It is with great pleasure I accept the appointment to
chair and I look forward to my
two year tenure.
“I hope to build upon the drive
and enthusiasm of my peers.”
Andrew Richmond, MD of
Richmond’s Coaches is in the
third generation to run business
since the family company was
Beverley Bell FCILT, Senior
Traffic Commissioner and the
new President of the Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Travel
(CILT), has expressed the need
for challenging stereotypes
in the logistics and transport
profession, in order to attract
younger recruits.
Speaking at the Annual
President’s Inauguration Lunch,
she addressed why people
might not want to work in the
industry, how the industry can
raise its profile and what can be
done to improve the skills gap.
At the event, which was
attended by nearly 90 senior
members and special guests,
Beverley emphasised the disproportionality of the industry’s
contribution to the economy
– £92 billion a year – compared
to the profile and recognition it
receives, with reference to the
‘typical lorry driver image’.
She added: “More should
Richard is well-known in the industry
established in 1946. Richmond’s
were one of the earliest members
to join the Guild, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this
year, and have been members
continuously during the last 29
years.
Prospective members have
to achieve a 100% pass before
being accepted into the Guild.
The Guild is also registered as
a driver CPC training centre,
giving members access to courses
designed for the coach industry.
Beverley: ‘More should be done’
be done to champion the great
work being done every day.”
Beverley said that by 2020 the
logistics and transport industry
will need another 1.2 million
workers and “must work harder
in order to recruit such a significant increase in the workforce.”
She told guests that the industry’s record of training people is
low and needs to be improved,
with an emphasis on “investment in employees.”
Over £900 was raised at the
lunch for the CILT’s charitable
careers foundation, Aspire.
TENDER
Stagecoach celebrates
its long-serving staff
Long-standing employees at
Stagecoach Yorkshire have been
honoured for their ‘decades
of dedication’ after clocking
up more than a millennium of
combined service.
Employees were praised for
their combined service of 1,225
years across the company’s
depots and departments in
Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield
and Chesterfield.
In total 38 people were
awarded, including Managing
Director Paul Lynch who
marked 30 years of service,
and Commercial Director John
Young, celebrating 35 years.
They were joined at the event
at Sheffield’s Whitley Hall by
drivers, engineers and traffic
office staff, with a driver from
the Chesterfield depot, Brian
Barnett, singled out for his
50-year service.
Driver Brian Barnett (centre)
Nine people received awards
for 20 years of service, seven for
25 years, four for 30 years, and
four for 40 years.
Says Paul: “Every year, it
gives me great joy and pride to
celebrate the dedication and
achievements of our staff.
“All of our staff are incredibly dedicated to the industry,
company and customers and
it is important to thank each
and every one of them for their
decades of dedication.”
12/05/2015 13:58
Ex CPT President Chris
Owens cycles for Transaid
Reading Buses driver
up for national award
Former Confederation of
Passenger Transport (CPT)
President Chris Owens is taking
part in a charity cycle event in
June. He will participate in the
Transaid 400km Cycle Challenge
from Mount Kilimanjaro to the
Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Chris served as President
of the CPT in 2014 and is the
Managing Director of Alpine
Travel. He has completed many
charity cycling events and says
A Reading Buses female driver
has been shortlisted for a
national driver of the year award.
Kerryn Hedley, 31, has
reached the final stage of the
‘2015 FTA everywoman’ in the
Transport & Logistics Awards
– which “recognise the talents of
remarkable women in the transport sector.”
Having been with the
company for three years, she
spends 75% of her time driving
and 25% ‘buddying’ new drivers,
imparting her knowledge to give
newly qualified drivers the confidence to drive a bus on their own.
Last year Kerryn buddied
seven new drivers and spent four
weeks ‘route mentoring’ in the
Reading Buses Academy to help
drivers learn new routes.
Says her manager Sharon
Austin: “Kerryn is always practical and enthusiastic. She sees
problems as a challenge, thinking
dynamically and positively.
this “may very well be my final
sponsored challenge.” He is
hoping to raise £5,000.
Transaid is an international
development charity that aims
to reduce poverty and improve
lives in across the developing
world through creating better
transport.
l You can sponsor Chris here:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.
com/ChrisOwensAlpine
Stagecoach team raise
money for local charity
Employees from a Newcastle
bus depot have completed a
10km race to raise funds for a
local charity.
Team Walkergate, made up
of staff from Stagecoach North
East, took part in the Sand
Dancer 10km Mixed Terrain
race in South Shields for Tiny
Lives, a charity helping premature and special care babies in
the Royal Victoria Infirmary
Hospital in Newcastle.
Deputy Duty Manager, Alan
Gordon, who completed his
fourth race this year, was joined
by teammates Stuart Wright,
Stuart Welford, and Nick Monte,
along with other drivers and a
fitter from the team.
Says Alan: “This is a great local
event to take part in and the team
seems to grow each year.
Team Walkergate at the charity race
“Tiny Lives is a charity close
to our heart and we wanted to
raise as much as possible. We
would like to thank everyone
who sponsored us and helped
to make this donation, so more
poorly young children can be
treated.”
In addition to funds raised by
the team, Stagecoach North East
continued its support for the
Sand Dancer race by paying the
team’s entrance fees and making
a further donation of £100.
Kerryn Hedley: ‘great motivator’
“She is also a great motivator
for new starters, enthusing and
sharing her positivity with them
to enable them to feel as passionately as she does about the business and her role.”
Nikki Ball, Marketing and
Brand Manager, says: “We are
flying the flag to get women
into transport. Over the past
24 months, 15% of our newly
recruited bus drivers have
been female – almost twice the
national average.”
CPT Chair appointed
in North West region
The Confederation of Passenger
Transport (CPT) has elected
its Chairman in the North West
region for the coming year.
Howard Farrall of Arriva
North West and Wales has been
Area Managing Director for
Arriva Merseyside for the last
five years.
He has also held several other
management positions during
his 37-year career.
Some of Howard’s achievements involve playing semiprofessional
football
for
Tranmere Rovers in his younger
days, but now enjoys passing his
time playing golf with his son.
12/05/2015 13:58
p80.indd 80
12/05/2015 14:11

It was a tale of three brothers. And 60 years later, it`s - Route-One

Transcription

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