megabus drives ahead in states

AM I HOVERED?
The newspaper of Stagecoach Group
Sheepish celebration
3
Issue 68
PAGES 8&9
Autumn 07
Neville’s 55 not out
7
Girls on the move
11
Plane’s train tribute
13
MEGABUS DRIVES
AHEAD IN STATES
r#VEHFUDPBDIPQFSBUPSPQFOTIVCJO-PT"OHFMFT
rNJMMJPOJOWFTUNFOUJOOFXEPVCMFEFDLFST
r/FXSPVUFTBOEEFTUJOBUJPOTBEEFEUP6,OFUXPSL
MEGABUS.COM is on the road to further success –
thanks to expansion in Britain and America.
The budget coach operator has taken a big step forward
with the launch of a major new hub in Los Angeles.
Passengers can now travel from the city to Las Vegas,
Oakland, Phoenix/Tempe, San Diego, San Francisco and
San Jose.
Low-cost fares are already available for express travel
to 12 midwest cities through its Chicago hub, and the
number of passengers has now broken through the
500,000 barrier.
Stagecoach has also invested $10 million in America’s
first inter-city double-decker coaches for its megabus.com
network.
The first of the fleet of 17 Van Hool wheelchair-accessible
vehicles has already gone into service, with the full fleet
due in operation by January, 2008. The 79-passenger stateof-the-art coaches will run on megabus.com Midwest
routes operated out of Chicago, and feature seatbelts,
toilets and air conditioning.
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said:
“We have been delighted with the growth of megabus.
com in the United States and the positive response of
passengers to our high-quality of service and low-cost
fares.
“The latest expansion is part of our strategy to develop
What a Lott we got!
the brand in North America. Within little more than a
year, we have built a network covering 20 key locations.
“Megabus.com is clearly attracting passengers out of
their cars and we have seen a positive response from
female passengers in particular, who are responding to the
safe and comfortable travelling environment on board.
“We believe there is further potential to attract more
people in the US to the benefits of low-cost inter-city coach
travel.”
The American expansion follows the UK success
of megabus.com, which carries around two million
passengers a year from a network which now boasts 40
locations.
Chester and Newport were recently added to the list
of destinations and there are new journey options for
passengers in Scotland, the Midlands and the South Coast.
&9$&--&/5
The company’s main hub is also set to be moved
to London’s Victoria coach station, from the existing
Greenline Terminal in the capital’s Bulleid Way.
The first megabuses will run out of the station from
this month and customers will benefit from much better
facilities, including a new Mobility Assistance Lounge, refreshments, seating, toilets, retail outlets and information
screens.
Passengers will also be able to buy tickets from Victoria’s
ticket office for travel up to ten minutes before departure.
Megabus drivers will also benefit from the move, as
control staff will be able to provide them with
up-to-the-minute boarding information
thanks to on-line access from offices at the
station.
Mr Souter added: “The new base for our
London services at Victoria coach station is
excellent news for our passengers and our
growing operation.
“The new destinations and additional
services will give even more areas of the
country access to affordable inter-city travel.”
We’re in the money! Ernie, John and Kev celebrate their windfall.
5)3&&4UBHFDPBDIESJWFST
TIPXFEUIFZXFSFXIFFMZMVDLZ
mBGUFSUIFZTDPPQFEBTIBSFPGB
XIPQQJOHb-PUUFSZXJO
&SOJF3VUIFSGPSE+PIO&MTZBOE
,FW+PIOTPOBCPWF
DPJOFEJO
BMNPTUbFBDIXIFOUIFJS
TZOEJDBUFTOVNCFSTDBNFVQJO
+VMZ
#VUUIFQBMTIBWFOPQMBOTUP
RVJUUIFJSKPCTmBOEQMBOUPDPO
UJOVFXPSLJOHGSPN4UBHFDPBDIT
4PVUI4IFJMETEFQPU
&SOJF
TBJEi*DPVMEOUCF
MJFWFJUXIFO*HPUBQIPOFDBMMUP
UFMMNFPVSOVNCFSTIBEDPNF
VQ*UIPVHIU*XBTESFBNJOH*
IBEUPSJOH+PIOBOEHFUIJNUP
EPVCMFDIFDLCFGPSF*SFBMJTFEJU
XBTUSVFu
&SOJF+PIO
BOE,FW
mXIPIBWFDMPDLFEVQBMNPTU
ZFBSTPGCVTESJWJOHCFUXFFO
UIFNmBSFQBSUPGBTFWFO
TUSPOHTZOEJDBUFUIBUQVUTPOUIF
TBNFOVNCFSTFWFSZXFFLGPS
UIF4BUVSEBZESBX
&SOJFBEEFEi*UTBMPWFMZ
BNPVOUUPXJOBOEXFWFBMM
CFFOBCMFUPEPUIJOHTXFEJEOU
UIJOLXFSFQPTTJCMF
i*WFQBJEPGGNZNPSUHBHF
+PIOIBTCPVHIUB#.8BOE
QBJEGPSIJTEBVHIUFSTIPOFZ
NPPOBOE,FWCPVHIUBOFXDBS
UPPu
4PVUI4IJFMET0QFSBUJPOT
.BOBHFS#SJBO4MFJHIUIPMNF
TBJEi8FBSFBMMWFSZQMFBTFE
GPSUIFNu
YOUR
8FMDPNFUPZPVSOFX
MPPL0O4UBHF*IPQFZPV
MJLFUIFGSFTIEFTJHO
5IFOFXMBZPVUTIPVME
NBLFUIFQBQFSFBTJFSUP
SFBEXJUICSJHIUFSVTF
PGQJDUVSFTBOETOBQQJFS
TUPSJFT
*UTTUJMMQBDLFEXJUIOFXT
GSPNBDSPTTUIFDPNQBOZ
BCPVUUIFQFPQMFUIBUBSF
BUUIFIFBSUPGNBLJOH
4UBHFDPBDIUJDL
8FXBOUUPIFBSXIBU
ZPVUIJOLBCPVUUIFOFX
MPPL(PPEPSCBEESPQVT
BMFUUFSPSBOFNBJMBOE
MFUVTLOPX
'SPNOFYUTQSJOHXFXJMM
BMTPCFMBVODIJOHBTMPUGPS
ZPVUPIBWFZPVSTBZPO
UIFJTTVFTUIBUBGGFDUUIF
DPNQBOZZPVXPSLGPS
*GZPVXBOUUPQBZUSJCVUF
UPUIFXPSLPGBDPMMFBHVF
PSMFUVTLOPXZPVSJEFBT
UPJNQSPWFUIFXBZXF
EFMJWFSPVSUSBOTQPSU
TFSWJDFTHFUXSJUJOH
8FXJMMPGGFSBDBTIQSJ[F
FBDIJTTVFGPSUIFCFTU
MFUUFS
"OEJGZPVSFBCVEEJOH
QIPUPHSBQIFSXFBSFBMTP
MPPLJOHGPSZPVSTFBTPOBM
USBOTQPSUQJDUVSFTGPSPVS
OFXGFBUVSF
'PSUIFOFYUJTTVFJGZPV
IBWFBTIPUUIBUDBQUVSFT
CVTDPBDIUSBJOPSUSBN
TFSWJDFTBUXJOUFSTIBSFJU
XJUIVTBOEZPVDPVMEXJO
bPG.4WPVDIFST8F
IBWFLJDLFEUIJOHTPGGPO
QBHF
1MFBTFTFOEZPVSMFUUFST
BOEQJDUVSFTUPTUFWFO
TUFXBSU!TUBHFDPBDI
HSPVQDPN"MUFSOBUJWFMZ
ZPVDBOTFOEUIFNCZQPTU
UP
4UFWFO4UFXBSU
&EJUPS
0O4UBHF
4UBHFDPBDI(SPVQ
%VOLFME3PBE
1FSUI
1)58
8FBSFBMTPMPPLJOHUP
HFUZPVSTUPSJFTGPSGVUVSF
FEJUJPOT5IFDPOUBDUT
JOZPVSBSFBBOEUIF
EFBEMJOFTGPSGVUVSFJTTVFT
BSFPOQBHF
*MPPLGPSXBSEUPIFBSJOH
GSPNZPV
5IF&EJUPS
2
Autumn 07
East Midlands Trains begins its seven-year franchise next month.
STAR IS BORN IN
EAST MIDLANDS
*NQSPWFNFOUTQSPNJTFEBTOFXTFSWJDFHPFTPOUSBDL
AN EXCITING new train company has unveiled its name,
logo and livery.
East Midlands Trains – which is
run by Stagecoach Group’s rail
division – starts its seven-year
franchise at 2am on November
11.
A brand-new franchise map has
been drawn up to encompass
all of the existing mainline train
services running to London St
Pancras and the regional rail
services in the East Midlands and
South Yorkshire area.
The firm plans to plough
millions of pounds into station
and train improvements –
including refurbishments, more
Network Rail to improve
performance and the creation
of an integrated control centre
where colleagues from each or-
CCTV cameras, more ticket
machines and improved journey
times.
There will also be a closer
working relationship with
ganisation will work together to
run the train service.
David Horne, Mobilisation
Director for East Midlands
Trains, said: “We are really
excited about creating this new
train company for the East
Midlands and the wider region.
“It will bring better harmony
between the regional and
mainline train services and link
into the revamped St Pancras
station, which will also be home
to Eurostar from November.
“We have lots of plans to
improve the travelling experience
for passengers and will bring the
expertise we have in running our
other train company, South West
Trains, to this new business.”
Bike heroes: We’re tyred out after 50-mile bridges ride
A GROUP of caring bus drivers raised
nearly £4,000 for charity by travelling from
the Tay Bridge to the Forth Bridge – on their
BIKES.
The fourteen saddle-sore Stagecoach
employees arrived exhausted at the famous
Queensferry landmark after the gruelling
50-mile marathon.
Stagecoach Group then matched the
£3988.22 raised to take the total donated to
Cancer Research Scotland and Maggie’s
Centre to £7976.44.
The riders – who set off in two relay teams
– were followed by a bus carrying all their
food, water and puncture repair equipment.
Elizabeth Adams, Fundraising Co-ordinator of Maggie’s Fife, said: “A huge thank
you to everyone who took part in the event.
“It was no mean feat and they all did it
with a smile! It’s wonderful when local
companies offer support to charities.”
Marion Taylor, of Cancer Research UK,
said: “This helped raise vital funds for us,
while raising the awareness of keeping fit
and reducing your risk of cancer.”
Pedal power:The marathon bikers hand over their hard-earned cash.
&OWJSPONFOUBMáFFUJTOBNFEBGUFSTIFFQ
EWE WILL LOVE
OUR NEW BUSES
STAGECOACH bosses have
hailed a new fleet of environmentally-friendly buses the
best baaa none – by naming
them after SHEEP.
The Enviro 200 buses use a
special exhaust treatment called
Adblue, which uses a chemical
version of urea to reduce their
carbon footprint by up to 100
tonnes compared to other buses
on the same routes.
The urea is mixed in the
catalytic converter at high
temperature, which creates a
chemical reaction that reduces
harmful gases, such as nitrogen
oxide.
Andrew Dyer, MD of
Stagecoach South, claimed that
the decision to name the buses
after sheep came from jokes that
urea is sheep’s pee.
He added: “As we are
launching the cleaner and
greener vehicles to our fleet, it
seems appropriate to name them
after sheep, which symbolise the
surrounding countryside.”
The buses – which were
launched in Winchester in July
- are named Bah Bah, Dolly,
Shaun, Lamb Chop, Mint Sauce,
Bo Peep, Larry, Lamby, Mary,
Flocking together: Stagecoach and Winchester Council representatives show off the new names.
Woolly and Flossy.
They will run on two
re-branded switch routes
between the city centre and
Harestock and Stanmore every
15 minutes, and Winnall and
Badger Farm every 10 minutes,
Monday to Saturday.
Another three Enviro 200
coaches are running the Spring
route, linking Kings Worthy and
Springvale with the city centre.
Stagecoach Group Chief
Executive, Brian Souter
joined company officials and
Winchester Council representatives to show off the sheep’s
names as they launched the line.
A0VSTIFFQ
TZNCPMJTF
UIFOFBSCZ
DPVOUSZTJEF
Bus treat for
Jock’s birthday
Nathan Williams, Marketing Manager for Stagecoach West, with
Dave Rosaman and Jock Kinnaird.
3&5*3&%JOTQFDUPS+PDL
,JOOBJSEHPUCBDLPOUIF
CVTFTUPDFMFCSBUFIJTUI
CJSUIEBZUIJTTVNNFS
+PDLmXIPXPSLFEGPS
ZFBSTJOUIFJOEVTUSZmTQFOU
UIFBGUFSOPPOUPVSJOHSPVOE
XJUIDVSSFOU4UBHFDPBDI
8FTUJOTQFDUPS%BWF3PTB
NBO
)FJOJUJBMMZXPSLFEBT
BDPOEVDUPSXJUI#SJTUPM
0NOJCVTCFGPSFNPWJOHUP
4XJOEPOBOE%JTUSJDUBTB
ESJWFS
*OIJTCVTDBSFFSUPPL
BEJGGFSFOUUVSOXIFOIF
CFDBNFBNPCJMFJOTQFDUPS
CBTFEJO4XJOEPO
+PDLmXIPSFUJSFEBHFE
mOPXFOKPZTQMBZJOHCPXMT
BOEJTBNFNCFSPGUIF
8FTUBDPUU$MVCJO4XJOEPO
BTXFMMBTSFQSFTFOUJOHUIF
DPVOUZBUUIFTQPSU
people
"OESFX%ZFS
Darlington deal is
signed and sealed
Ticket to pride
#64HJBOU"SSJWBIBTCPVHIU
PWFSBMM4UBHFDPBDITPQFSB
UJPOTJO%BSMJOHUPOBGUFSHFUUJOH
DMFBSBODFGSPNUIF0GàDFPG'BJS
5SBEJOH
4FWFOUZFJHIUTUBGGUSBOTGFSSFE
UP"SSJWB/PSUI&BTUPO"VHVTU
BOEBTQPLFTXPNBOTBJEUIF
DPNQBOZXBTEFMJHIUFECZUIF
NPWF
$PNNFSDJBM%JSFDUPS-J[
&TOPVGTBJEi8FBSFWFSZ
QMFBTFEXJUIUIF0'5TEFDJTJPO
UPDMFBSUIFEFBM
i0OCFIBMGPG"SSJWB*XPVME
MJLFUPUBLFUIFPQQPSUVOJUZ
UPXFMDPNF4UBHFDPBDIT
%BSMJOHUPOTUBGGUPUIFDPNQBOZ
i.PWJOHGSPNPVSBOUJRVBUFE
EFQPUBU'FFUIBNTXJMMIFMQ
UIFDPVODJMSFEFWFMPQUIJTQBSU
PGUIFUPXOXIJMFXFIPQFUP
SFEVDFDPOHFTUJPOBOEQPMMVUJPO
JOUIFDFOUSFCZSVOOJOHBMMPVS
CVTFTGSPNUIFOFXFSGBDJMJUJFT
BWBJMBCMFBUUIF'BWFSEBMF
EFQPUu
HAPPY staff at South West
Trains each got £50 voucher
prizes when their hard work was
recognised in the Station Pride
awards.
Workers were asked to enter
the station they thought had
been the best looked after by
colleagues.
Earlsfield scooped the Best
Small Station, Salisbury won
Best Medium Station, Richmond
was Best Large Station,
Bournmouth the Most Improved
Station and Clapham came out
top in the Best Station Operating
Under Difficult Circumstances.
Each member of staff at the
winning stations received a
£50 Marks & Spencer voucher,
while the stations got £1,000 to
spend on something of benefit to
employees and passengers.
Stewart Palmer, South West
Trains’ Managing Director, said:
“I’m so proud of the staff from
all over our network who take so
much pride in their stations.
Bursting with pride: Earlsfield staff with their award.
people
“This year ’s winners are not
just about how pretty you can
make a station look, more about
how you use what you have to
offer our customers the best you
can and adding the occasional
personal touch.”
This year ’s stations were
judged by a panel including
Chief Inspector Peter Rowe of
British Transport Police, Jocelyn
Pearson of Passenger Focus,
George Bailey of the Passengers’
Panel, South West Trains’
Customer Service Director Ian
Johnston and Alan Williams of
Modern Railways magazine.
If you have been involved in
a project aimed at growing
passenger numbers, then we’d like
to hear about it.
Your On Stage contact is listed
on p16.
A tale
to tell?
Autumn 07
3
New role
for finance
man Ross
45"(&$0"$)(SPVQ'JOBO
DJBM$POUSPMMFSBOE$PNQBOZ
4FDSFUBSZ3PTT1BUFSTPOIBTCFFO
BQQPJOUFE%JSFDUPSPG'JOBODF
)JTOFXSPMFJODMVEFTSFTQPO
TJCJMJUZGPSUIF(SPVQTUSFBTVSZ
NBOBHFNFOUDPSQPSBUFàOBODF
àOBODJBMSFQPSUJOHCVEHFUJOH
BOBMZTUSFMBUJPOTBOEDPNQBOZ
TFDSFUBSJBMNBUUFST
(SPVQ5BY%JSFDUPS+PIO
)BNJMUPOIBTCFFOQSPNPUFEUP
(SPVQ5BYBOE&NQMPZFF#FOFàUT
%JSFDUPS
#PUINFOXJMMSFQPSUEJSFDUMZUP
(SPVQ'JOBODF%JSFDUPS.BSUJO
(SJGàUIT
/JDL(VFTU(SPVQ5SFBTVSFS
IBTMFGUUIFCVTJOFTTUPCFDPNF
'JOBODF%JSFDUPSBU4DPUUJTI
3FTPVSDFT(SPVQ
.BSUJO(SJGàUITTBJEi*XJTIIJN
XFMMJOIJTOFXQPTJUJPOu
Staff get
the credit
4$055*4)5SBOTQPSU$SFEJU
6OJPOTUBGGIBWFIBJMFEUIFJSWJT
JUTUPBMM4UBHFDPBDIT'JGFEFQPUT
BSFTPVOEJOHTVDDFTT
5IFUFBNPG-ZOETFZ3PCJOTPO
BOE+PIO'PUIFSJOHIBNHBWF
FNQMPZFFTJOGPSNBUJPOPO
QFOTJPOTBOEIJHIMJHIUFEUIF
CFOFàUTPGKPJOJOHUIF$SFEJU
6OJPOmJODMVEJOHGSFFàOBODJBM
BOEMFHBMBEWJDFBTXFMMBTGSFF
MJGFJOTVSBODFBOETBWJOHTBOE
MPBOTGBDJMJUJFT.PSUHBHFTDBO
BMTPCFTFUVQXJUIPVUCSPLFS
DIBSHFT
1FOTJPO*OGPSNBUJPO.BOBHFS
-ZOETFZTBJEUIBUBOZ4UBHFDPBDI
FNQMPZFFTFFLJOHNPSF
JOGPSNBUJPODBOMPPLPOUIF
4DPUUJTI5SBOTQPSU$SFEJU6OJPO
XFCTJUFXXXNZDVDPVL
Depot workers
know the score
45"(&$0"$)44PVUI4IJFMET
EFQPUIBTCFFOQSBJTFECZCPTTFT
mGPSTDPSJOHOFBSMZQFSDFOU
GPSTFSWJDFBOESFMJBCJMJUZ
5IFEFQPUDBNFPVUBU
QFSDFOUBOENBOBHFEUP
BDIJFWFQFSDFOUJOGPVS
DBUFHPSJFTEVSJOHBSFDFOUBVEJU
XIJDIMPPLFEJOUPBMMBTQFDUTPG
UIFPQFSBUJPJOJODMVEJOHTFSWJDF
IFBMUIBOETBGFUZBOESFWFOVF
NBOBHFNFOU
#SJBO4MFJHIUIPMNFmXIPJT
JODIBSHFPGPQFSBUJPOTGPSUIF
EFQPUmTBJEi5IFDSFEJUGPSUIJT
SFTVMUHPFTUPBMMPVSTUBGGu
"TTFTTPS5POZ"ETIFBEBEEFE
i8IFOFWFSZPOFXPSLTBTB
UFBNUIFSFTVMUJTBOFGàDJFOU
BOEFGGFDUJWFEFQPUu
4
Autumn 07
We’re proud of Prowse
45"(&$0"$)ESJWFS.JDIBFM
1SPXTFIBTCFFODPOHSBUV
MBUFEGPSDPNQMFUJOHIJT/72
DFSUJàDBUF
5IFZFBSPMEPG%FWPOXBT
JOJUJBMMZTDFQUJDBMBCPVUVOEFS
UBLJOHBQFSJPEPGTUVEZ
#VUBGUFSBTIPSUUJNF
XPSLJOHPOUIFRVBMJàDBUJPO
.JDIBFMBENJUUFEIFXBTHMBE
IFETUBSUFEJU
"OEBTIFBDDFQUFEIJTDFS
UJàDBUFGSPN%FWPO0QFSBUJPOT
%JSFDUPS3JDIBSE4UFWFOTIF
TBJEi*FOKPZFEUIFFYQFSJFODF
BOEGPVOEJUWFSZXPSUIXIJMFu
.JDIBFMTUBSUFEIJTDBSFFSBT
BQBSDFMCPZGPS%FWPO(FOFSBM
0NOJCVTBOE5PVSJOH$PNQBOZ
JO5ISFFZFBSTMBUFSmBU
UIFBHFPGmIFXPSLFEIJT
XBZVQUPCFDPNFDPOEVDUPS
CFGPSFCFDPNJOHBGVMMUJNF
ESJWFSBU
people
Well done! Michael (right) receives his NVQ from Richard Stevens.
EASY ACCESS FOR
OUR PASSENGERS
.PSBZXFMDPNFT4UBHFDPBDITXIFFMDIBJSGSJFOEMZáFFU
DISABLED passengers can now
travel freely around the Moray
area, after Stagecoach Bluebird’s
entire fleet was made wheelchair
friendly.
Five easy-access Enviro 200
buses were introduced in August,
bringing the total number of
low-floor accessible coaches to 50.
The new vehicles – which
operate on the 336 service
between Dufftown, Knockando,
Aberlour, Elgin, Findhorn, and
Forres – were jointly funded by
Stagecoach, Moray Council and
HITRANS at a cost of £450,000.
Charlie Mullen, Managing
Director of Stagecoach Bluebird,
said: “We are extremely proud
to be able to say that over 80 per
cent of our fleet in the HITRANS
area is wheelchair accessible.
“Improvements such as these
prove our commitment in
investing in the local network
as well as demonstrating how
quality partnerships can deliver
in offering a real alternative to
the car.”
The new buses are officially launched at RAF Kinloss. Pictured at the ceremony are: Charlie Mullen, Managing Director of Stagecoach
Bluebird; Robert Andrew, Regional Director of Stagecoach Scotland; Moray Council Convenor George McIntyre; HITRANS Director
Dave Duthie and Peter Findlay, the council’s Public Transport Manager.
More than 2.6 million bus
journeys were made with
Stagecoach Bluebird in the local
area in the 12 months to April
2007 – an increase of 8.6 per cent
compared with the previous year.
Dave Duthie, HITRANS
Director, said: “By 2015 all buses
must be accessible by law. One of
our main aims is to make public
transport more accessible and this
project is a great step forward for
bus users in Moray, who we hope
will get on board these excellent
buses.”
Moray Council’s Public
Transport Manager, Peter Findlay,
said: “The purchase of these new
vehicles demonstrates Stagecoach’s commitment to providing
its customers with high-quality
buses at a time when passenger
numbers in Moray have
increased.”
£3000 raised for sick kids
The VIP party celebrates the charity triumph.
MORE than £3000 was raised for poorly
children at this year’s Herne Bay Bus
Rally.
The cash – which went to Sittingbournebased Demelza Hospice Care for Children
– was raised by selling programmes to the
thousands of visitors who came to ride on
new and historic buses at the Stagecoach
depot in the town.
The seventh annual rally also boasted
a large selection of stands selling bus
memorabilia.
The Sheriff of Canterbury, Councillor
Gillian Reuby, the Mayor and Mayoress
of Ramsgate and Councillor Steve Ward
were joined for a tour of the rally by
Miss Herne Bay, Rosie Gerolemou, and
princesses Emma Foster and Rebecca
Webber.
There was also a rare opportunity to see
an example bus from every branded route
operating in the Kent area together.
Neil Instrall, Operations Director of
Stagecoach, then invited the VIPs to enjoy
a vintage bus ride around the resort.
Organiser Graham Young said that he
was delighted with the amount raised.
He added: “We are very grateful for
all the help and support shown by
everyone involved to enable us to reach
such a good total to donate to Demelza
Hospice.”
1000 British routes?
That’s Geoff all over!
Geoff Fazackarley.
#64ESJWFS(FPGG'B[BDLBSMFZIBT
ESJWFONPSFUIBOEJGGFSFOU
SPVUFTGPS4UBHFDPBDImGSPNUIF
TPVUIDPBTUUPUIFUPQPG4DPU
MBOE
5IFZFBSPMEPG1PSUTNPVUI
JTB-FBEJOH%SJWFSXJUIUIFàSN
JO$IJDIFTUFSCVUBMTPFOKPZT
XPSLJOHBTBSFMJFGXPSLFSBMMPWFS
people
PUBLIC NAMES
STATION STARS
SOUTH West Trains asked passengers to name the workers who
provide exceptional customer
service.
Passengers were asked to fill in
nomination forms at their stations
in August and September, and
pick out the members of staff
who made their lives easier.
Managing Director Stewart
Palmer said: “This was a fantastic
opportunity to recognise what
people at stations and on trains
do for us every day with a smile,
despite some of the challenges
they may be facing.”
The event was part of National
Customer Service Week, which
ran from October 1 to 7.
Last year’s winner, Ron Cox
of Thames Ditton, said: “I
was surprised that so many
passengers took the time to
nominate me.
“I know how busy my
passengers are so I just try my
best to make things easier for
them when they travel with
South West Trains.”
UIF6,
"OETJODFIFTUBSUFEJO
IFIBTLFQUBSFDPSEPGUIF
SPVUFTIFIBTESJWFO
(FPGGTBJEi*UTBHSFBUXBZPG
TFFJOHUIF6,XIJMTUXPSLJOHBOE
JUTBNB[JOHIPXZPVDBOSFNFN
CFSBSPVUFZPVESPWFFWFOàWF
ZFBSTBHPu
NEW TRAMS
ON-TRACK
NEW trams have been ordered
for Manchester’s Metrolink
system as more passengers continue to get on board.
Greater Manchester Passenger
Transport Executive has ordered
eight new trams, which are due
to be delivered in 2009.
The trams will be supplied by
Bombardier Transportation and
will be based on the successful
K5000 high floor design
operating in Cologne.
Bombardier is the market
leader for UK trams, having
supplied vehicles for Croydon
and Nottingham, and has a
reputation for delivering a high
quality product.
Stagecoach Metrolink will be
responsible for taking delivery
of the new trams, which will be
designated M5000, at Queens
Road Depot and for commissioning, operating and maintaining
them.
A review of the design of the
M5000 is under way to make
sure it meets the needs of drivers
and maintenance staff.
The proposed layout of the
cab controls has already been
reviewed with the help of
Metrolink drivers and trainers,
and comments have been fed
back to Bombardier.
Air conditioning in the cab
These trams will become a familiar sight in Manchester.
already comes as standard. The
basic dimensions of the M5000
trams will be similar to the T68,
at 28.4 metres long and 2650
mm wide. They will have 78
passenger seats, eight passenger
doors, and will weigh just under
40 tonnes when empty.
Metrolink’s most modern trams
were designed in the 1990s,
and technology has moved on
significantly, with new industry
standards evolving.
To accommodate the extra eight
trams, the Metrolink depot will
be expanded.
GREG’S ON-TARGET DAN’S 40-YEAR
FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SAFETY DRIVE
Greg Harlow lines up a shot under the appreciative gaze of
Conductor Stuart Ellis.
4UBHFDPBDI4VQFSUSBNIBEB
TQFDJBMWJTJUPSSFDFOUMZ
&OHMBOECPXMTTUBS(SFH
)BSMPXTUFQQFEPOCPBSE
B4VQFSUSBNWFIJDMFUP
TIBSQFOVQIJTTLJMMTBIFBEPG
BOJNQPSUBOUDPNQFUJUJPO
(SFHGSPN&MZJTTFUUP
FYUFOEIJTSFNBSLBCMFSFDPSE
JO4IFGàFMEJO/PWFNCFS
)FJTTFFEFEUPXJOIJT
GPVSUITVDDFTTJWFUJUMFJO
UIF*OUFSOBUJPOBM0QFOUIF
PQFOJOHFWFOUPGUIF8PSME
#PXMT5PVSTFBTPO
5IFFWFOUXIJDIJTIFME
BU1POET'PSHFJTFYQFDUFE
UPBUUSBDUUIPVTBOETPG
TQFDUBUPSTNBOZPGXIPN
XJMMCFVTJOHQVCMJDUSBOTQPSU
BTBNFBOTUPHFUUIFSF
"OE4VQFSUSBNJTUIFJEFBM
XBZPGHFUUJOHUPUIFWFOVF
BTJUIBTJUTPXOTUPQSJHIU
PVUTJEF
COACH USA has paid tribute
to employee Daniel Opp, who
has clocked up an amazing
record of 40 years’ safe driving.
His company, Olympia
Trails, honoured him with an
Outstanding Service Award at
a special tribute lunch.
Daniel said that he developed
his excellent driving skills in
Daniel Opp.
his first job with an association
of private bus owners aged 21.
He said: “The owner would put a glass of water
on the floor of the bus filled about a quarter of
an inch from the top and you had to drive all day
without spilling a drop – that taught me to drive
smoothly.
In 1966, he joined a subsidiary of Coach USA
company Red and Tan, working out of the Jersey
City garage. But the following year he was asked
to work for Red and Tan itself and since then, he
has never looked back.
Daniel added: “I attribute my safe driving record
to really liking and caring about my profession.
I have a lot of patience and it’s more than just a
job.”
Autumn 07
5
IT’S SCOT TO BE
THE BUS FOR US
1BTTFOHFSKPVSOFZTTPBSJO"CFSEFFOBOE.PSBZ
A GROWING number of people in the Aberdeen area are
choosing to go by bus – with a
massive eight million journeys
made on Stagecoach in the last
year.
New figures show that’s an
increase of seven per cent in just
12 months.
Passengers have seen
improved services between
Aberdeen, Stonehaven and
Montrose, thanks to the new
Coastrider services.
Around 742,000 passengers
travelled this route last year,
making it the busiest in the
region.
George Devine, Operations
Manager for Stagecoach
Bluebird in Aberdeenshire, said:
“This is a great public transport
success story.
“It shows what can be
achieved when there is a
strong partnership approach
between good bus operators and
pro-active local authorities.”
There is good news from
Moray too – with Stagecoach
passenger journeys up 8.6 per
cent on last year to 2.6 million.
The Bluebird service between
Moray and Inverness was
enhanced in 2005 and runs
every 20 minutes, allowing
people fast and frequent travel
to shops and attractions in Elgin
and Inverness.
William Mainus, Operations
Manager for Stagecoach
Bluebird in Moray, said:
SWT strolls
to success
4065)8FTU5SBJOTTQPOTPSFE
BTFSJFTPGHVJEFEXBMLTUPFO
DPVSBHFQFPQMFUPEJTDPWFSUIF
IJTUPSZPG8JOETPSBOE&UPO
5IFUPVSTmXIJDIBMMCFHBO
BU8JOETPSBOE&UPO3JWFSTJEF
TUBUJPOmXFSFMBVODIFEBT
QBSUPG8JOETPS'FTUJWBMJO
4FQUFNCFS
5IFZJODMVEFEHVJEFEUPVSTPG
8JOETPSTSPZBMIJTUPSJDBMBSFBTB
A$PNFEZ(IPTU8BMLJOWFTUJHBU
JOHMPDBMIBVOUJOHTBOEBXBML
SPVOE&UPOUPXO
*BO+PIOTUPO4PVUI8FTU5SBJOT
$VTUPNFS4FSWJDF%JSFDUPSTBJE
i8FXFSFEFMJHIUFEUPCFBCMF
UPTQPOTPSUIFGFTUJWBMGPSUIF
TJYUIZFBSSVOOJOHu
6
Autumn 07
Bus pair reach
awards final
5804UBHFDPBDI6,#VT
BQQSFOUJDFTIBWFSFBDIFEUIF
àOBMPGUIF(P4LJMMT1BTTFO
HFS5SBOTQPSU"QQSFOUJDFTIJQ
"XBSET
3JDIBSE5BZMPSGSPN
4UBHFDPBDI/PSUI8FTUT
$IPSMFZ%FQPUBOE+BNFT
#FMàFMEGSPN1SJODFTT3PBE
%FQPUJO.BODIFTUFSBSFUXP
PGKVTUUISFFàOBMJTUT
#PUINFOXJMMUSBWFMUP
-POEPOGPSUIFHMJUUFSJOH
BXBSETDFSFNPOZPO
/PWFNCFS
5IFKVEHFTDPOàSNFEBMBSHF
OVNCFSPGBQQMJDBUJPOTXFSF
SFDFJWFEGPSUIFDPNQFUJUJPO
BOEUIFZXFSFJNQSFTTFE
XJUIUIFRVBMJUZPGUIPTFXIP
FOUFSFE
"4UBHFDPBDITQPLFTNBOTBJE
i8FXJTIUIFNCPUIXFMMu
In line for
spruce up
Local bus user Sharon McGlinchey,William Mainus of Stagecoach and Bob Walker, Moray Council’s deputy public transport unit
manager, celebrate Bluebird’s success.
“Stagecoach has been at the
forefront of new ideas on
improving bus travel for local
people.
“These new figures prove
that, if bus operators and local
authorities work in partnership
and share responsibility for
improving public transport, we
can all share in the benefits of
rising passenger numbers and
less congestion on our roads.”
Bob Walker, of Moray Council,
said: “The joint initiatives
between Moray Council and
Stagecoach have proven to be
beneficial to all passengers in
the area.”
i5IJTJTBHSFBU
QVCMJDUSBOTQPSU
TVDDFTTTUPSZu
(FPSHF%FWJOF
Team is Dover
the moon
to have Paul
THE Stagecoach bus team at Dover are delighted
with their new boss.
Paul Clark – who started his career with
Strathtay Buses as a part-time conductor aged 16
– is now Operations Manager at the south coast
depot.
The 25-year-old studied transport management
at Aston University before going on to work as
Assistant Operations Manager for Stagecoach
Bedford.
Paul Southgate, Managing Director of
Stagecoach in Kent, said: “We are delighted that
Paul has joined. He will help us plan for the
move to a new depot and administration facility
that is now planned for early 2008.”
45"5*0/4POUIF*TMFPG
8JHIUT*TMBOE-JOFBSFTFU
GPSBNBLFPWFSUIBOLTUPB
bJOWFTUNFOU
5IFTUPQTPOUIFFJHIUNJMF
TUSFUDIPGUSBDLXJMMCF
SFQBJOUFEJOUIFIFSJUBHF
DPMPVSTPGHSFFOBOEDSFBN
OFXTFBUTXJMMCFJOTUBMMFE
4BOEPXOBOE3ZEF4U+PIOT
XJMMHFUOFXTIFMUFSTBOE-BLF
XJMMIBWFOPOTMJQUSFBEQVUPO
UIFQMBUGPSN
"OEZ/BZMPS*TMBOE-JOF
(FOFSBM.BOBHFSTBJEi5IJT
JTBWFSZXFMDPNFJOWFTUNFOU
BOEUIFXPSLXJMMHJWFMBTUJOH
CFOFàUGPSQBTTFOHFSTBOE
FNQMPZFFTu
Promos please
passengers
45"(&$0"$)8FTUIBT
SFQPSUFEHSFBUTVDDFTTFTJOJUT
EJSFDUNBJMBOEUFMFNBSLFUJOH
DBNQBJHOTUIJTZFBS
*OJUTQSPNPUJPOTGPS
.VMUJSJEFUJDLFUT
WPVDIFSTXFSFJTTVFEBOE
SFEFFNFEXIJDIJTB
DPOWFSTJPOSBUFPGOJOFQFS
DFOU
*O4XJOEPOWPVDIFST
XFSFJTTVFEXJUI
SFEFFNFEmBSBUFPGFJHIU
QFSDFOU
#VU(MPVDFTUFSSBDLFE
VQUIFCFTUFWFSSFTVMU
GPSUIFHSPVQCZJTTVJOH
WPVDIFSTXJUI
SFEFFNFEmHJWJOHJUBSBUFPG
QFSDFOU
5IFOBUJPOBMSBUFGPSEJSFDU
NBJMJTKVTUUXPQFSDFOU
Travel the Tayway today
COMMUTERS’
EXTRA SPACES
4065)8FTU5SBJOTIBTKVTUBEEFEBOPUIFS
DBSQBSLJOHTQBDFTBUGPVSPGJUTTUBUJPOT
5IFXPSLJTQBSUPGBNVMUJNJMMJPOQPVOE
DBSQBSLFYQBOTJPOTDIFNFUPQSPWJEF
JNQSPWFEGBDJMJUJFTBOENPSFUIBO
FYUSBTQBDFTBDSPTTUIFOFUXPSL
4UBUJPOTUIBUIBWFCFOFàUFEBSF8JODIàFME
XJUIFYUSBTQBDFT#JUUFSOFXJUIBEEFE
8JOETPSBOE&UPO3JWFSTJEFIBEBOPUIFS
BOE)JOUPO"ENJSBMIBTBOPUIFS
"4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTTQPLFTNBOTBJEi5IJT
JTHSFBUOFXTGPSQBTTFOHFSTu
Dundee is enjoying better bus links to nearby towns.
STAGECOACH Strathtay has
launched an improved network
of newly-branded buses in the
Tayway corridor.
The services - which run
between Dundee, Monifieth,
Carnoustie, Arbroath and
Montrose - started on August 13.
Doug Fleming, MD of
Stagecoach East Scotland, said:
“The Tayway corridor has been
a popular network for many
years and is the only one in
Scotland which still operates
YEAR WE GO
$FMFCSBUJPOBT/FWJMMFJTOBNFEMPOHFTUTFSWJOHXPSLFS
LOYAL Neville Gosling was thrown a surprise party by
Stagecoach after being named the longest-serving member
of staff – clocking up an amazing 55 years.
The 70-year-old, of Winnall, has been working for Winchester’s bus services since 1952.
He started out as a junior clerk for the Hants & Dorset Bus
Company and went on to cover many administrative roles
during his career.
And he stayed on when the company was taken over in
1983 by Hampshire Bus and then Stagecoach in 1987.
A8FBSFEFMJHIUFE
UIBUIFEPFTOPU
JOUFOEUPSFUJSFZFU
"OESFX%ZFS
Now working as a cleaner for the engineering team,
proud Neville was presented with a £1000 cheque from
Chief Executive Brian Souter and a book on the history of
Stagecoach.
In a letter read out by the MD of Stagecoach South, Andrew
Dyer, Mr Souter also thanked Neville for his dedication.
Mr Dyer said: “Brian has checked with all the divisions
of Stagecoach in the UK and can confirm that Neville is the
longest-serving member of staff in the group.
“We are delighted that he does not intend to retire yet and
are keen to find out if Neville holds the long-service record for
the entire UK bus industry.”
55 not out: Neville accepts the congratulations of Stagecoagh South Managing Director Andrew Dyer.
with conductors on several of its
routes.
“Following extensive passenger
studies carried out on the network
and the consultation with Angus
Council and Dundee City Council,
we introduced revisions.
“These changes will allow us to
offer a combination of improved
frequency and journey times as
well as value for money ticket
options along the corridor into
Dundee city centre and Ninewells
Hospital.”
Disabled jobs
honour for
South West
Trains
4065)8FTU5SBJOTIBT
CFFOIPOPVSFEGPSJUTDPN
NJUNFOUUPQSPWJEJOHXPSL
GPSEJTBCMFEQFPQMF
5IFDPNQBOZXBTOBNFE
A1BSUOFSPGUIF.POUI
JO+VOFCZUIF&OIBN
&NQMPZNFOU4FSWJDFT
DIBSJUZ
0OFPG&OIBNTDMJFOUTm
XIPIBTMFBSOJOHEJGGJDVMUJFT
mXBTSFDFOUMZFNQMPZFEBT
BDMFBOFSBUTUBUJPOTPOUIF
MJOFCFUXFFO/FX.JMUPOBOE
8BSFIBN
)JTCPTT#SPDLFOIVSTU
4UBUJPO.BOBHFS3BMQI)JHHT
TBJEi4PVUI8FTU5SBJOT
IBTBDPSQPSBUFSFTQPOTJCJM
JUZUPFOTVSFUIBUEJTBCMFE
QFPQMFBSFPGGFSFEFRVBM
PQQPSUVOJUJFT0VSXPSLJOH
QBSUOFSTIJQXJUI&OIBN
FOBCMFTVTUPQSPBDUJWFMZ
TVQQPSUUIFJSXPSLu
&OIBNXBTGPVOEFEJO
BTBSFIBCJMJUBUJPODFOUSF
GPSFYTFSWJDFNFOSFUVSOJOH
GSPNUIF'JSTU8PSME8BS
0WFSUIFQBTUZFBSTJU
IBTIFMQFEEJTBCMFEQFPQMF
GJOEOFXMJWFTIPNFTBOE
FNQMPZNFOU
New boss Chris for Virgin West Coast
New Virgin West Coast Managing Director Chris Gibb.
MANAGING Director of Virgin
CrossCountry Chris Gibb has taken
over as boss of Virgin West Coast.
He took up his new MD’s post at
the end of August when Charles –
who had been with the company
four-and-a-half years – retired.
Chris (43) has led the highly
successful CrossCountry franchise
since 2003 and he will continue
with the department until
November 11, when Arriva take it
over.
Virgin West Coast and Virgin
CrossCountry have become two
of Europe’s fastest-growing rail
networks, increasing the number of
customers by more than 60 per cent
over 10 years to 43 million.
They have also shown some
of the biggest improvements
in performance, each regularly
achieving 90 per cent-plus
punctuality scores.
The appointment comes as
Virgin West Coast prepares for
exciting changes, which will almost
double the number of Sunday
services, create 32 per cent more
train services overall and add 13
million seats a year to meet forecast
demand.
Chris (pictured left) said: “I am
delighted to be taking over at such
an exciting time, and I look forward
to leading the company onwards
and upwards in the coming years.”
Tony Collins, Chief Executive of
Virgin Rail Group, said: “Charles
has my personal thanks for transforming West Coast into the
success it is today by leading a
highly-skilled team which, I know,
will give Chris all the support he
needs.”
Autumn 07
7
THE hovercraft trial on the Firth of Forth has been
hailed a massive success – after excited passengers
queued for up to two hours to sample the experience.
The craft – which can carry 130 people – was sold
out on nearly every single run for the whole 12-day
trial starting on July 13.
Commuters were among those trying out the
shuttle service from Portobello in Edinburgh to
Kirkcaldy, with 2213 boarding for the departures at
7.10am and 8am.
But the biggest queues came from day-trippers,
desperate to board the sailings after 9am.
Stagecoach’s customer services teams and
operational staff at the Kirkcaldy and Portobello
departure points put in a huge effort to ensure the
operation ran smoothly during the trial.
A waiting area was provided at Kirkcaldy in two
83-seat Megabus double-deckers parked parallel to
the shore to allow passengers to look out over the
Forth. Lothian Buses also set aside two double-deckers as waiting areas at its Marine depot in Portobello
– just a short walk from the hovercraft landing area.
But, despite the queues, the punctuality of the
service was almost 100 per cent for the entire trial,
with only one round-trip cancellation and one
40-minute delay at Portobello.
Passengers also took advantage of buses specially
linked to the hovercraft schedule. Lothian Buses laid
on two coaches – one to Ocean Terminal in Leith and
another to Waverley Bridge in Edinburgh city centre.
Stagecoach’s Fife services 6, 7 and 7a were
re-routed to call at the beach depot and the X69
and X60 services between Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy,
Glenrothes and St Andrews already stopped there.
In total, 32,099 passengers were carried on the
Solent Express, which was chartered by Stagecoach
from Hovertravel Ltd on the Isle of Wight.
Captain Barrie Jehan – who was a key member
of the trial team – sailed it 512 nautical miles to the
Forth from its base on July 10.
He said: “The journey took just 13 hours to
complete going at an average speed of 38.5 knots,
with two stops.
“But going back it took 16 hours, because there
were swells of up to 3.5 metres. However, the
performance of the craft in such seas amazed the
operating crew.”
The trial cost £300,000 and was underwritten
by Stagecoach with a contribution of a £90,000
grant from the South East of Scotland Transport
Partnership.
Now the statistics and surveys collected during the
trial will be factored into a £750,000 cross-Forth ferry
study for SEStran and its stakeholders.
Stagecoach Chief Executive Brian Souter said: “We
are extremely encouraged by the magnificent public
response.
“Now we have to carefully analyse the results and
viability with the stakeholders before committing to
a permanent service.”
8
Autumn 07
WE’RE HO
1BTTFOHFSTáPDLUP'P
Prize for 25,000th passenger
456//&%/JDPMB4OFEEPOXPOB
TQFDJBMQSJ[FGPSCFJOHUIFUI
IPWFSDSBGUQBTTFOHFS
/JDPMBmXIPXBTUSBWFMMJOHXJUI
LJET"MBOBBOE$BNFSPOmXBT
QSFTFOUFEXJUIBHBTCBSCFRVFCZ
4UBHFDPBDIT3FHJPOBM.BOBHJOH
%JSFDUPS3PCFSU"OESFXBOE
$BQUBJO#BSSZ+FIBOUPNBSLUIF
NJMFTUPOFPO+VMZ
4IFTBJEi5IJTJTHSFBUmUIBOLZPV
TPNVDIu
.S"OESFXBEEFEi3FBDIJOH
QBTTFOHFSTJTBTJHOJGJDBOU
NJMFTUPOFGPSUIFQSPKFDU5IF
TFSWJDFIBTQSPWFEFYUSFNFMZ
QPQVMBSXJUIQFPQMFVTJOHJUGPS
MFJTVSFUSJQTBOEDPNNVUJOH
i8FIBWFMFBSOFEBIVHFBNPVOU
EVSJOHUIFUSJBMBCPVUUIFGVUVSF
QPUFOUJBMPGBDSPTT'PSUIQVCMJD
USBOTQPSUMJOL5IFGFFECBDLGSPN
QBTTFOHFSTIBTCFFOPWFSXIFMN
JOHMZQPTJUJWFBOEXFBSFMPPLJOH
GPSXBSEUPTUVEZJOHUIFSFTVMUTPG
UIFUSJBMu
OVER-JOYED!
PSUIDSBGUTUSJBMSVO
HOV WE GOT A
TREAT FOR YOU
:06/(QBTTFOHFS.BJTJFXBTUBLFOPO
UIFIPWFSDSBGUBTBCJSUIEBZUSFBUmCVU
TIFXBTPWFSUIFNPPOXIFOTIFHPUB
QSFTFOUGSPNUIFDSFX
5IFUPUmXIPXBTGPVSZFBSTPMEPO
+VMZmXBTBMMTNJMFTXIFO$BQUBJO
#BSSZ+FIBOBOE4FOJPS$BCJO0GGJDFS
"MBO1IJMMJQTIBOEFEPWFSIFSHJGUBU
1PSUPCFMMP
$BQU+FIBOTBJEi8FXFSFIPOPVSFE
UPIBWF.BJTJFBCPBSEu
Autumn 07
9
Ron praised
at ceremony
Ron Cox.
5)".&4%JUUPOTUBUJPO
TVQFSWJTPS3PO$PYIBTCFFO
IJHIMZDPNNFOEFEBUUIF/B
UJPOBM5SBOTQPSU"XBSETJOUIF
'SPOUMJOF&NQMPZFFPGUIF:FBS
DPNQFUJUJPO
3POmXIPIBTXPSLFEXJUI
4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTGPSPWFSTJY
ZFBSTmTBJEi5PFWFOHFUUPUIF
TUBHFPGCFJOHTIPSUMJTUFEXBTB
SFBMIPOPVSJOJUTFMGu
1BTTFOHFSTBMXBZTDPNNFOUPO
3POTGBOUBTUJDDVTUPNFSTFSWJDF
BOEPOFTBJEi3POBMXBZTHPFT
PVUPGIJTXBZUPCFIFMQGVMBOE
DPVSUFPVTu"OPUIFSBEEFE
i3POBMXBZTPGGFSTBDDVSBUF
BEWJDFBOEJOGPSNBUJPOu
485"SFB.BOBHFS.BUUIFX
8JOOJFBDDPNQBOJFE3POUP
UIFBXBSETDFSFNPOZBUUIF
(SPTWFOPS1BSL-BOF)PUFMJO
-POEPOPO+VMZUPTFFIJNCF
QSFTFOUFEXJUIBDFSUJàDBUFBOE
BCPUUMFPGDIBNQBHOF
)FTBJEi*BNFYUSFNFMZQSPVE
UIBU3POIBTCFFOSFXBSEFEGPS
UIFPVUTUBOEJOHBUUJUVEFIFIBT
UPXBSETIJTKPC
i3POJTDMFBSMZMPWFECZ
QBTTFOHFSTUSBWFMMJOHGSPN
5IBNFT%JUUPOBOESFBMMZEPFT
EFMJWFSBàSTUDMBTTTFSWJDFFWFSZ
EBZu
Bikers
backed by
Stagecoach
5)&/BUJPOBM.PUPSDZDMF
3PBE3BDFTJO8BMFT
BUUSBDUFEBMNPTU
TQFDUBUPSTUP"CFSEBSF1BSL
JO8BMFT
4UBHFDPBDImXIJDI
TQPOTPSFEUIFFWFOUmIBE
BIVHFQSFTFODFXJUIB
EPVCMFEFDLFSCVTQBSLFE
BUUIFGJOJTIMJOFUSBDLTJEF
BOEXFMDPNFCBOOFST
QSPHSBNNFBEWFSUTBTXFMM
BTUIFOBNJOHSJHIUTUPB
OVNCFSPGSBDFT
5IFSBDFTXFSFSVOPWFS
UXPEBZTPOBCFBVUJGVM
XPPEMBOEDJSDVJUBOE
WJTJUPSTXFSFLFFOUPTOBQ
VQUIFGSFFLFZSJOHTQFOT
CPPLNBSLTBOEMJUFSBUVSF
UIBUXFSFIBOEFEPVUCZ
4UBHFDPBDI
10
Autumn 07
Seat of learning: Cambridge’s bus services can offer lessons on customer service and popularity.
PARTNER DEALS
DELIVER BETTER
4UBHFDPBDIJOJUJBUJWFJO$BNCSJEHFCFBUT-POEPOTFUVQ
COMMERCIAL bus partnerships can deliver
higher passenger growth and better value for
money to taxpayers than London-style regulation, according to new analysis by Stagecoach.
A new five-year study comparing the
performance of the company’s deregulated
bus services in Cambridge and the Mayor’s
regulated bus network shows:
r Passenger growth in Cambridge has been
more than double the level in London
r Public subsidy per passenger in London is
more than three times that in Cambridge.
The new figures were revealed in August, as
the Transport Committee prepared to publish
a report on the Government’s Draft Local
Transport Bill.
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief
Executive, said: “These figures prove definitively that partnerships between high-quality
bus operators and pro-active local authorities
can deliver better results than bureaucratic
regulated systems.
“The success in Cambridge has been achieved
at a fraction of the cost in London, delivering
better value for money to taxpayers.”
The Stagecoach analysis compared the
passenger growth and public subsidy between
2001 and 2006 in London with the equivalent
figures for Stagecoach’s citi network in
Cambridge. It shows that:
r Passenger volumes grew by a massive 77
per cent in Cambridge compared to 34.4 per
cent in London
r Public subsidy per passenger was only 8.7p
r
r
per passenger in Cambridge compared to
28.4p for London
The total public subsidy in London was
£2,336.6 million compared to £2.4 million in
Cambridge
The subsidy in London equates to more than
£320 for every resident in the capital. This
compares with a subsidy of only £22 for
every resident in Cambridge.
Passengers have flooded on to the buses in
Cambridge after Stagecoach invested more than
£4 million in 2001 in a fleet of 40 new low-floor
vehicles, and introduced a string of initiatives.
Numbers have also been boosted by a strong
partnership with Cambridgeshire County
Council and other local organisations.
We’re only here for the years
AN incredible 670 years of service to Stagecoach Yorkshire were
honoured at the annual long-service
dinner held in Barnsley.
Employees and their partners
were greeted by MD Paul Lynch,
Engineering Director Joe Gilchrist
and Sue Hayes, Operations
Director.
Chesterfield contributed 295 years
to the total, with Michael Needham
putting in an amazing 45 years of
service alone.
Others who were honoured
were: David Adshed, Brian
Ellis, Thomas Nutt, Barry Cant,
Michael Chapman, John Airey,
Colin Barraclough, Roy Bissell,
Andrew Calladine, Barry Lowe,
Michael Brooke, Stephen Read,
Paul Wainwright, Kevin Reel,
David Wheatcroft, Darrell Grocutt,
Michael Walker, Ryszard Rydel,
Robert Cawkewell, Stuart Brentnall,
Robert Bilham, Alan Arblaster,
Philip Winninton, Kenneth Randle
and Michael Churm.
40 years on
the buses
#64JOTQFDUPS%BWF3PTBNBO
XBTDPOHSBUVMBUFECZGBNJMZBOE
GSJFOETPO4FQUFNCFSmBGUFS
IFSBDLFEVQZFBSTJOUIF
JOEVTUSZ
%BWFTUBSUFEBTBDPOEVDUPS
GPS$IFMUFOIBN%JTUSJDU5SBD
UJPO$PNQBOZBOEQSPHSFTTFE
UPUIFQPTJUJPOPGESJWFSBGUFS
KVTUTJYNPOUIT
*OBGUFS8FTUFSO5SBWFM
CPVHIUUIFDPNQBOZIFTUBSUFE
EPJOH/BUJPOBM)PMJEBZUPVST
FYDVSTJPOTQSJWBUFIJSFBOE
/BUJPOBM&YQSFTTXPSLBMMGSPN
UIF$IFMUFOIBNEFQPU
%BWFmXIPXBTBMTPB5SBEF
6OJPOTIPQTUFXBSEBOE4FOJPS
$POWFOPSGPSUIFESJWFSTGPS
ZFBSTmUPPLVQIJTDVSSFOU
QPTJUJPOPGNPCJMFJOTQFDUPSGPS
4UBHFDPBDI8FTUJO
people
GRAHAM DOES
THE DOUBLE
"QQSFOUJDFTDPPQTUPQQSJ[FGPSTFDPOEUJNF
PROUD Graham Evans won the
top prize at the National Apprentice of the Year Awards – for the
second year in a row.
Graham scooped the award for
second-year apprentices in 2006
and has now been named best
third-year as well.
Swindon-based Graham joined
Stagecoach West in 2004 and
has been mentored by depot
supervisor Geoff Sturgess.
In Graham’s category,
Jamie Stockton of Stagecoach
Manchester came second and
David Phillips of Stagecoach
Wales came third.
The awards luncheon was
held at the National Motorcycle
Museum in Birmingham on
August 30.
First-year awards were
presented by Colin North of Teng
Tools to Ruairidh Blacklaws of
Stagecoach Bluebird in first place,
Jamie Sinclair of Stagecoach West
Scotland in second and Nathan
Hindley of Stagecoach Manchester
in third.
Second-year awards were
presented by Paul Lee,
£15m gets
fleet green
and clean
45"(&$0"$)IBTBOOPVODFEB
NBTTJWFbNJMMJPOJOWFTUNFOUJO
BáFFUPGOFXHSFFOCVTFT
.PSFUIBOWFIJDMFTmXIJDI
IBWFFOWJSPONFOUBMMZBEWBODFE
&VSPFOHJOFTmXJMMHPJOUP
TFSWJDFPOBOVNCFSPGLFZSPVUFT
UPBOEGSPN.BODIFTUFSPWFSUIF
OFYUTJYNPOUIT
.BOBHJOH%JSFDUPSPG
4UBHFDPBDI.BODIFTUFS.BSL
5ISFBQMFUPOTBJEi5IFTFOFX
CVTFTXJMMCSJOHJOWFTUNFOUJOPVS
CVTáFFUJOUIFDJUZUPOFBSMZb
NJMMJPOJOKVTUUXPZFBSTBTQBSUPG
PVSESJWFUPHFU.BODIFTUFSCBDL
POCPBSEUIFCVTu
)FBEEFEi8FBSFGVMMZCFIJOE
(SFBUFS.BODIFTUFSTWJTJPOGPS
BIJHIRVBMJUZJOUFHSBUFEQVCMJD
USBOTQPSUOFUXPSLu
Rescue team
joy at £3.5k
donation
Proud day:The prizewinning apprentices.
Engineering Director of
Stagecoach North West, on behalf
of Alexander Dennis Ltd, which
donated the trophies.
First place went to Lloyd
Thomas of Stagecoach Wales,
second place to Ben Trotter of
Stagecoach South and third to
Anthony Seed of Stagecoach
North West.
The third-year awards were
presented by Chris Wise, of
Optare Group Ltd, which
donated the trophies.
A Stagecoach spokesman said:
“We’re very proud of all our
apprentices and we would like to
congratulate them all.”
Graham
Evans.
Our 20 girls are just the ticket
A TWENTY-strong group of female drivers are helping to keep
Thanet on the move.
The women make up 15 per
cent of the team which operates
the depot’s fleet of 63 double
and single-deck buses.
Operations Manager Michael
Denne said that, since he took
over at the depot in 2003, the
expansion of services in the area
had seen an additional 33 drivers
recruited to meet demand.
He said: “We have been very
fortunate to be able to recruit so
many good people over recent
years to join our experienced
team.
“I’m delighted that we have a
good balance.”
If you have been involved in a project
aimed at growing passenger numbers,
then we’d like to hear about it.
Your On Stage contact is listed
on p16.
A tale
to tell?
%034&57PMVOUBSZ4FBSDIBOE
3FTDVFUFBNIBTUIBOLFE4PVUI
8FTU5SBJOTGPSJUTAJODSFEJCMZHFO
FSPVTbEPOBUJPOUPXBSET
UIFJSXPSL
5IFDBTIXJMMHPUPXBSETUIF
QVSDIBTFPGOFXSBEJPFRVJQNFOU
BOENBJOUFOBODFPGJUTTFBSDI
DPOUSPMWFIJDMF
5IF%PS4"3UFBNmXIJDIJT
PODBMMIPVSTBEBZmIBTCFFO
JOWPMWFEJOTFBSDIPQFSBUJPOT
TJODFJUMBVODIFEJO
"TQPLFTNBOTBJEi8FEPOU
DIBSHFUIFFNFSHFODZTFSWJDFT
GPSPVSXPSLUIFSFGPSFTVQQPSU
GSPNUIFDPNNVOJUZBOE
DPSQPSBUFTQPOTPSTJTWJUBM
i4VDIBSFTPVSDFDBOPGUFO
NFBOUIFEJGGFSFODFCFUXFFOMJGF
BOEEFBUIu
New routes for
megatrain.com
45"(&$0"$)HSPVQJTFYQBOE
JOHJUTCVEHFUSBJMTFSWJDFNFHBU
SBJODPNUPNPSFTUBUJPOTPOUIF
4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTOFUXPSL
'BSFTGSPNKVTUbBSFOPX
BWBJMBCMFGPSUSBWFMUPBOEGSPN
"YNJOTUFS)POJUPOBOE)BWBOU
PGGFSJOHBOBEEJUJPOBMCBSHBJO
TFBUTBXFFL
5IFFYUFOTJPOPGUIFNFHBUSBJO
DPNOFUXPSLJTQBSUPG4UBHF
DPBDITNVMUJNJMMJPOQPVOE
JOWFTUNFOUJO485VOEFSBOFX
ZFBSGSBODIJTF
"TQPLFTNBOGPS4UBHFDPBDI
TBJEi.FHBUSBJODPNJTMFBEJOH
UIFXBZJOPGGFSJOHIJHIRVBMJUZ
FYDFMMFOUWBMVFSBJMUSBWFMBOEXF
CFMJFWFUIJTáFYJCMFBQQSPBDIUP
QSJDJOHJTUIFGVUVSFGPSSBJMUSBWFM
JOUIF6,u
Autumn 07
11
Couple find road to love
A FOND FAREWELL TO GEOFF
GEOFF Gardner, UK Bus’s oldest fitter, has retired after 18 years with the
company.
The 71-year-old said a fond farewell
to his Swindon depot and was
presented with a cheque by Pete
Shelton for his chosen charity, the
Brain Injury Unit.
Geoff started with the company as a
temporary fitter in 1989, and prior to
that he spent 26 years with Bedford
Coaches and nine years with a dairy
company.
He says he has seen many changes
to his job, in particular gear boxes and
mitre boxes. He added: “You can’t
strip an engine now either.”
A company spokesman said: “We
hope Geoff enjoys a well-earned rest.”
Pete Shelton presents Geoff with his charity cheque.
LOCALS JAZZING
UP BUS SERVICE
Dai Atkinson made sure Stuart and Eve made it to the church on time.
#&4055&%4UVBSUBOE&WF
IJSFEB4UBHFDPBDICVTBTUIFJS
XFEEJOHDBSmBGUFSUIFZNFUPO
BO9TFSWJDF
5IFIBQQZDPVQMFmXIPGFMMJO
MPWFPOBKPVSOFZGSPN$BSEJGG
UP.FSUIZSmUJFEUIFLOPUPO
"VHVTUBU4U%BWJET$IVSDI
JO.FSUIZS
%SJWFS%BJ"ULJOTPOQJDLFE
UIFNVQBGUFSUIFDFSFNPOZ
BOEUPPLUIFNUPUIFJS
SFDFQUJPOBUUIFOFX)PVTF
$PVOUSZ)PUFM
"TQPLFTNBOGPS4UBHFDPBDI
4PVUI8BMFTTBJEi8FXPVME
MJLFUPXJTIUIFNFWFSZ
IBQQJOFTTGPSUIFGVUVSFu
HONOURS FOR
LONG SERVICE
-0:"-NFNCFSTPGTUBGGGSPN
4UBHFDPBDIT1PSUIEFQPUJO
4PVUI8BMFTIBWFCFFOHJWFO
UIFJSMPOHTFSWJDFBXBSET
5IPTFIPOPVSFEXFSF
4UFQIFO8SFOBOE3VTTFMM
8FCCFSXIPIBWFCPUITFSWFE
ZFBSTBOE.FSWZO+POFTBOE
#SJBO%JYPOXIPIBWFCFFO
XJUIUIFDPNQBOZZFBST
3JDLZ8BLFGPSE.BSL
1PXFMMBOE3JDIBSE.BOUMF
IBWFFBDITFSWFEZFBST
4UFQIFO&WBOTUIF0QFSBUJPOT
.BOBHFSGPS1PSUIBMTP
BUUFOEFEUIFFWFOU
"4UBHFDPBDITQPLFTNBO
TBJEi8FXPVMEMJLFUPUIBOL
BMMUIFNFOGPSUIFJSIBSE
XPSLPWFSUIFZFBSTu
Model passengers: The volunteers take part in a photo shoot.
FIVE ordinary people are set
to become the ‘faces’ of Stagecoach’s new Jazz 6 bus service.
Simon and Alison Downham,
Ben Finch, Georgia Lennard and
Steve Clark, all of Basingstoke,
were chosen from over 100
hopefuls eager to be picked as
models.
The five lucky winners were then
pampered by a hairdresser and a
make-up artist so that photographers Maree Lock and Kay Fluen
could get excellent close-ups for
the buses’ new livery.
Helen Martin, Stagecoach
Marketing Manager, said the
models would do a fantastic job
representing the people of the
town.
She added: “In the past we have
used professional agency models
for similar branding liveries, but
this time we felt that it would be
interesting to use ‘real’ people
from the area.
“We are very happy with the
great photos and will consider
repeating the exercise in other
towns and cities.”
WE’VE GOT PLENTY OF TEAM SPIRIT
SOUTH West Trains won Maintenance Team of the
Year at the prestigious National Rail Awards.
The team – made up of six depot units – has overseen
a 22 per cent increase in the reliability of trains over the
last year and delays caused by maintenance problems
are now the second lowest in the UK.
The judges at the ceremony in London, said: “It is
rewarding to know that the total replacement of the
train fleet has taken place without any hiccups – a
tribute to the design and outstandingly high standard
12
Autumn 07
of engineering maintenance.
“Good management is part of this and SWT is a
worthy winner.”
Sharon Killick, station cleaner at Basingstoke, was
highly commended in the Outstanding Personal Contribution category.
Stewart Palmer, Managing Director for South West
Trains, said: “Our maintenance team should feel proud
that they have been recognised as leaders in their
field.”
3"''-:1"45'031&/%0-*/0
TRAIN’S NAME
IS JUST FLIGHT
A VIRGIN Pendolino train was honoured with a flypast by the RAF’s 101
Squadron – after it was named after
them.
The VC-10 aircraft, based at Brize
Norton, ‘dipped’ its wings as it flew over
the tilting train in Northamptonshire.
Earlier that day, 101 Squadron Wing
Commander Tim O’Brien officially named
the loco at Birmingham International
railway station.
i0VSMJOLT
XJUI7JSHJOBSF
WFSZTUSPOHu
8JOH$PNNBOEFS
5JN0#SJFO
The naming of the state-of-the-art
Pendolino carries on a tradition going
back to 1997, which Virgin first took over
the West Coast and CrossCountry services.
One of the original West Coast trains
was named 101 Squadron and, in Virgin
Train’s 10th birthday year, the opportunity
was taken to transfer the name to a
Pendolino.
Mr O’Brien said: “Our links with Virgin
Trains are very strong indeed and this
serves to make them still stronger.
“On behalf of all of 101 Squadron, I
would like to express how proud we are
of our association with Virgin Trains.”
Flying visit:The RAF VC-10 pays tribute to the Pendolino train, named 101 Squadron in honour of the Air Force unit.
Service is
Prix and
easy
Pit stop: Double-deckers take pole position in the race to bring spectators to Silverstone.
SPECTATORS at this year’s
British Grand Prix were given a
helping hand by Stagecoach at
the event.
More than 9,200 people were
ferried to and from park-and-ride
sites in a special operation run by
Stagecoach East and Stagecoach
Cambridgeshire.
Formula One driver Kimi
Raikkonen won the competition,
which was attended by a host
of celebrities, including David
and Victoria Beckham, Dannii
Minogue, Jonathan Ross and
Girls Aloud.
British driver Lewis Hamilton
took third place.
RBS staff
banking on
cheap travel
4UBHFDPBDIBOE3PZBM#BOLPG
4DPUMBOE(SPVQIBWFMJOLFEVQUP
PGGFSFNQMPZFFTBUBYJODFOUJWFUP
NBLFNPSFVTFPGQVCMJDUSBOTQPSU
BOETBWFNPOFZPOCVTUSBWFM
"OOVBMCVTUSBWFMXJUI4UBHF
DPBDIJTOPXBWBJMBCMFUP3#4
TUBGGUISPVHIUIFCBOLTFNQMPZFF
CFOFàUTTDIFNF3#4FMFDU
5IFTDIFNFBMMPXT3#4FN
QMPZFFTUPSFDFJWFUIFCVTUSBWFM
CFOFàUGSFFGSPNJODPNFUBYBOE
/BUJPOBM*OTVSBODF
#VTUSBWFMDBOCFCPPLFEPOMJOF
PSWJBBEFEJDBUFE4UBHFDPBDI3#4
DBMMDFOUSFXJUIFNQMPZFFTJTTVFE
XJUINPOUIMZNFHBSJEFSUJDLFUT
PWFSUIFDPVSTFPGBZFBS
5IPVTBOETPG3#4FNQMPZFFTJO
UIF/PSUI&BTUBOE8FTUPG4DPU
MBOEBTXFMMBTTUBGGJO.BODIFTUFS
XJMMCFBCMFUPCFOFàUGSPNUIF
UJFVQ
5SFWPS#MBDLNBO)FBEPG3F
NVOFSBUJPOBOE#FOFàUTBU3#4
TBJEi"TXFMMBTCFJOHBNPSFFO
WJSPONFOUBMMZGSJFOEMZXBZUPHFU
UPXPSLUIFUBYGSFFCVTTDIFNF
BMMPXTPVSFNQMPZFFTUPNBLF
DPOTJEFSBCMFTBWJOHTPOUIFJSBO
OVBMUSBWFMDPTUTu
-FT8BSOFGPSE.BOBHJOH
%JSFDUPSPG4UBHFDPBDI6,#VT
TBJEi8FBSFEFMJHIUFEUPIBWF
MJOLFEVQXJUIPOFPGUIFDPVOUSZT
CJHHFTUFNQMPZFSTUPFODPVSBHF
NPSFQFPQMFUPHFUPOCPBSEUIF
CVT
i5SBWFMMJOHCZQVCMJDUSBOTQPSU
IBTDMFBSFOWJSPONFOUBMCFOFàUT
5IJTJOJUJBUJWFIBTUIFQPUFOUJBMUP
IFMQDVUUIFOVNCFSPGDBSTPOUIF
SPBEBOEJNQSPWFUIFRVBMJUZPG
MJGFJOBOEBSPVOEPVSUPXOTBOE
DJUJFTu
SWT figures are
simply the best
4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTIBTSFDPSEFEJUT
CFTUFWFSQFSGPSNBODF
5IFMBUFTUàHVSFTXIJDIDPWFS
UIFQFSJPECFUXFFO"VHVTUBOE
4FQUFNCFSTIPXQVODUVBMJUZ
BUQFSDFOUmFWFOCFUUFSUIBO
UIFQSFWJPVTCFTUTFUJO+VOFUIJT
ZFBS
5IFMBUFTUJNQSPWFNFOUIBT
UBLFOUIF.PWJOH"OOVBM"WFSBHF
UPQFSDFOUJUTCFTUFWFSTJODF
4UBHFDPBDITUBSUFESVOOJOHUIF
GSBODIJTFJOBOEGPMMPXTB
HSFBUEFBMPGIBSEXPSLCFUXFFO
UIFUFBNBU485BOEJOGSBTUSVD
UVSFPQFSBUPS/FUXPSL3BJM
+BNFT#VSU4PVUI8FTU5SBJOT
0QFSBUJPOT%JSFDUPSTBJEi0VS
QFSGPSNBODFJTDPOUJOVPVTMZ
JNQSPWJOH
i4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTBOE/FUXPSL
3BJMXJMMLFFQVQUIFIBSEXPSL
BOEIPQFGVMMZQBTTFOHFSTXJMMTFF
BGVSUIFSJNQSPWFNFOUPWFSUIF
DPNJOHNPOUITu
Autumn 07
13
SCAN COIN WINS £1.75M CONTRACT
Howzat for a
fun day out?
5&%%*/(50/$SJDLFU$MVCIPQFEUPàOE
UIF.JDIBFM7BVHIBOTBOE"OESFX'MJOUPGGT
PGUIFGVUVSFBUUIFJSTVNNFSDSJDLFUTDIPPM
5IFTDIPPMmTQPOTPSFEUPUIFUVOFPG
bCZ4PVUI8FTU5SBJOTmSBOGPSàWF
XFFLTUISPVHIPVUUIFTVNNFSIPMJEBZT
*UQSPWJEFEDPBDIJOHEFWFMPQNFOUBOEBO
VOEFSTUBOEJOHPGUIFHBNFGPSVQUPLJET
BXFFL
"TQPLFTXPNBOGPS5FEEJOHUPO$SJDLFU
$MVCTBJEi8FXPVMEMJLFUPUIBOL485GPS
UIFJSHFOFSPVTTQPOTPSTIJQXIJDIIBTFO
BCMFEVTUPPGGFSDPBDIJOHUPNPSFDIJMESFOu
TOURISTS and locals are being
encouraged to ‘Discover Royal Deeside’, thanks to a link-up between
Stagecoach Bluebird and Aberdeenshire Council.
Improved services between
Aberdeen and Banchory started on
July 9 and run every 20 minutes.
The modern, branded coaches
proudly display the Royal seal of
approval – as Bluebird Buses holds
The Queen’s Royal Warrant for bus
and coach services.
i8FIPQFQPUFOUJBM
QBTTFOHFSTXJMMTFFUIJT
BTBOBUUSBDUJWFUSBWFM
BMUFSOBUJWFUPVTJOHUIF
DBSu
SCAN COIN has won a £1.75
million contract to supply and
service cash handling systems
throughout Stagecoach’s network.
The three-year contract
represents a significant breakthrough for Scan Coin as it will be
the first time the two companies
have worked together.
Scan Coin pioneered the
introduction of automated driver
depositing in the 1980s and
has since developed a range of
systems.
This latest contract will increase
the company’s share of the driver
deposit market by almost 20 per
cent.
Stagecoach has about 140 driver
deposit systems together with
back office coin counting and
sorting equipment.
Les Warneford, Managing
Director of Stagecoach UK
Bus, said: “We have seen a
huge growth in the number
of people getting on board
our buses over the past five
years and, while we continue
to invest in new ticketing
options for our customers,
we handle significant volumes of
cash fares every day.
“We are delighted to be working
with Scan Coin.”
Steve Fitton, Scan Coin’s Sales
Director. “Our commitment to
the bus industry was a decisive
factor.”
GOOD DEE-L
FOR TOURISTS
1BTTFOHFSTFOKPZJNQSPWFETFSWJDFTUP#BODIPSZ
$IBSMJF.VMMFO
The £1 million initiative – which will
allocate £200,000 for infrastructure – is
supported by the Scottish Government’s Bus Route Development Grant.
Charlie Mullen, Managing Director,
of Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “By
offering comfortable coach travel
every 20 minutes between Aberdeen
and Banchory we hope potential
passengers will see this enhancement
as an attractive travel alternative to
using the car.
“Our partnership with the Scottish
Government and Aberdeenshire
Council has allowed us to introduce
these service improvements much
quicker than we would have been able
to do independently.”
Bluebird buses have brought a big boost to the Banchory to Aberdeen route.
Chernobyl kids mega-delighted
at megabus outing to Wales
The Chernobyl children enjoy their day out.Visit www.chernobyl-children.org.uk to learn more about this
wonderful charity.
14
Autumn 07
$"3*/(CPTTFTBUNFHBCVTHBWFDIJMESFO
GSPN$IFSOPCZMBCVTUPVSSPVOE8BMFT
XIJMFUIFZXFSFJOUIF6,GPSBIPMJEBZ
"NPOUIMPOHDIBSJUZUSJQJTPSHBOJTFE
GPSLJETFWFSZZFBSTPUIFZDBO
CSFBUIFGSFTIBJSBOEFBUVODPOUBNJOBUFE
GPPEUPCPPTUUIFJSJNNVOFTZTUFNT
5IFWJMMBHFTDMPTFUP$IFSOPCZMmXIJDI
XBTUIFTDFOFPGUIFXPSMETXPSTUOVDMFBS
BDDJEFOUJOmVTFEUPEFSJWFNPTUPG
UIFJSJODPNFGSPNGBSNJOHCVUUIFMBOE
XJMMCFDPOUBNJOBUFEGPSNBOZZFBST
+PIO$SBNQJO(SPVQ$PPSEJOBUPS
PG$IFSOPCZM$IJMESFOT1SPKFDUTBJE
i8JUIPVUUIFHFOFSPVTTVQQPSUPG
JOEJWJEVBMTBOEDPNQBOJFTJUXPVMECF
JNQPTTJCMFUPQSPWJEFUIFWBSJFUZPG
BDUJWJUJFTBOEWJTJUTXIJDINBLFUIFUSJQ
TVDIBKPZ
i*UJTBQMFBTVSFKVTUUPTFFUIF
BNB[FNFOUBOEEFMJHIUPOUIFGBDFTPG
UIFTFDIJMESFONPTUPGXIPNIBWFIBSEMZ
FWFSZUSBWFMMFEPVUPGUIFJSPXO(PNFM
SFHJPOPG#FMBSVTMFUBMPOFTFFOUIFTFB
PSNPVOUBJOT
i5IFEBZPVUUP8BMFTCZNFHBCVTXBT
POFPGUIFIJHIMJHIUTPGUIFDIJMESFOT
TUBZu
Boost for
disabled
travellers
8)&&-$)"*3VTFSTJO/FX
DBTUMFTIPVMETPPOàOEJUFBTJFS
UPDBUDIBCVTUIBOLTUPUBMLTCF
UXFFO4UBHFDPBDIBOEEJTBCMFE
QBTTFOHFST
$FSFCSBMQBMTZTVGGFSFS"OUIPOZ
.PSSPXmXIPVTFTQVCMJD
USBOTQPSUJOIJTXIFFMDIBJSEBJMZ
mIBTCFFOXPSLJOHXJUIUIF
DPNQBOZUPFOTVSFIFDBOCPBSE
WFIJDMFTFBTJMZBOEIBTUFTUFE
WBSJPVTEJGGFSFOUCVTFTJOTFSWJDF
5IFZFBSPMETBJEi*UIBT
SFBMMZIFMQFE4UBHFDPBDIEFWFMPQ
BOVOEFSTUBOEJOHPGXIBU
EJTBCMFECVTVTFSTOFFETBSF
i&MFDUSJDXIFFMDIBJSTBSFWFSZ
FYQFOTJWFUPSFQBJSPSSFQMBDF
TPVTFSTIBWFUPCFDBSFGVMXIFO
CPBSEJOHCVTFTu
4UBHFDPBDIJTJOUSPEVDJOHOFX
SBNQTXIJDIDBOCFáJQQFEJOUP
QPTJUJPOJOTUFBEPGVOMPBEFE
GSPNUIFMVHHBHFSBDLBTXFMMBT
QSPWJEJOHEJTBCJMJUZBXBSFOFTT
USBJOJOHGPSTUBGGBOEJOWFTUJOHJO
OFXMPXáPPSWFIJDMFT
Virgin Trains’
numbers soar
1"44&/(&3OVNCFSTCF
UXFFOUIF/PSUI8FTUBOE
-POEPOIBWFHSPXOCZUXP
UIJSETTJODF7JSHJO8FTU$PBTU
TFSWJDFTXFSFJODSFBTFEUISFF
ZFBSTBHP
5IFPOFFYDFQUJPOJTUIF
.BODIFTUFS4UPDLQPSUUP
-POEPOSPVUFXIFSFB
EPVCMJOHPGUSBJOTFSWJDFTIBT
CFFONBUDIFEXJUIBQFS
DFOUJODSFBTFJOQBTTFOHFS
OVNCFST
7JSHJO5SBJOT.BOBHJOH
%JSFDUPS$ISJT(JCCTBJEi5IF
HSPXUITJODFJTPOMZUIF
TUBSU8FIBWFBOJNQSFTTJWF
QBDLBHFPGGVSUIFSUSBJOTFSWJDF
JNQSPWFNFOUTGPSUIF/PSUI
8FTUTUBSUJOHJOu
Past present
for families
.03&UIBOTUBGGBOE
UIFJSGBNJMJFTBUUFOEFE4UBHF
DPBDI/PSUI&BTUT'BNJMZ'VO
%BZJO+VOF
5IFFWFOUmMBJEPOCZUIF
àSNBTBUIBOLZPVUPIBSE
XPSLJOHTUBGGmXBTIFMEBU
#FBNJTI.VTFVNXIJDI
SFDSFBUFTMJGFJOUIF/PSUI
&BTUBTJUXBTJOUIFTBOE
T
0SHBOJTFS$PMJO#SJUPOTBJE
i5IFSFXBTBHSFBUUVSOPVU
GPSUIFFWFOUBOEXFIBWFIBE
TPNFGBOUBTUJDGFFECBDL5IF
GBNJMJFTIBEBHSFBUUJNFu
DRIVEN TO WIN
45"(&$0"$)8FTUESJWFS1BVM)FS
CFSUXPOUIFSFHJPOBMàOBMPG#VT%SJWFS
PGUIF:FBS
1BVMPG$IFMUFOIBNXBTHJWFOIJT
BXBSEBU#BSOXPPEPO+VOFBMPOH
XJUI4XJOEPOT4UFQIFO#FMMJOTFDPOE
BOE,SZT[UPG6T[PLXIPBMTPXPSLTJO
$IFMUFOIBN
1BVMBOE4UFQIFOXFOUUPUIFOBUJPOBM
àOBMTJO#MBDLQPPMJO4FQUFNCFSBOE
àOJTIFEOEBOEUISFTQFDUJWFMZ
people
Top trio: Krysztof Uszok (left), Paul Herbert and Stephen Bell (right).
STAGECOACH BID
SIMPLY THE BUS-T
$PNQBOZTIPSUMJTUFEGPSUPQBXBSE
complete a hat-trick of wins.
STAGECOACH is in the running
The judges have shortlisted
to be named for Britain’s best bus
Stagecoach’s “Where You Want to
operator for the third year runBe” campaign for the Department
ning.
for Transport’s Winning New
The Group has 13 shortlisted
Customers Award.
entries across 18
Oxford Tube,
categories at the
2007 UK Bus Awards
i8FBSFEFMJHIUFE Europe’s most
frequent express
– more than any
UIBUPVSDPNQBOJFT coach service, has
other operator in the
been nominated
country.
BOEPVSQFPQMF
for the Innovation
Three Stagecoach
IBWFCFFO
Award and Express
companies –
Coach Operator of
Stagecoach West
SFDPHOJTFEGPSUIFJS
the Year.
Scotland, Stagecoach
Stagecoach has also
Merseyside
DPNNJUNFOUUP
been shortlisted for
and Stagecoach
SVOOJOHBàSTUDMBTT
categories covering
Cambridge – have
marketing, rural
been nominated for
CVTTFSWJDFu
transport, accessibilthe City and Shire
ity and integration.
Operator of the Year
Les Warneford,
awards.
-FT8BSOFGPSE
Managing Director
Stagecoach West
of Stagecoach UK
Scotland, which
Bus, said: “We are delighted that
runs around 400 buses stretching
our companies and our people
from Dumfries to Glasgow, has
have been recognised for their
won the top Belmont International
commitment to running a first-class
Bus Operator of the Year Award for
bus service.”
the past two years and is aiming to
Chris Remnant.
Stagecoach’s ‘Where Do You Want to Be’ campaign is in the running for the
DoT’s Winning New Customers Award.
PROMOTION FOR CHRIS
CHRIS Remnant has been made Engineering
Manager at Stagecoach in Basingstoke.
He is now part of a team of 25 engineering
and administrative personnel at the depot
who work hard to maintain and improve the
reliability, cleanliness and appearance of a fleet
of 73 single and double-deckers.
The 33-year-old started his career as an
apprentice fitter at Chepstow with Red and
White Buses.
He then worked as Engineering Manager at
Chepstow – then owned by Stagecoach – for 18
months. Chris spent the last year at Blackwood
and the previous three years at Brynmawr as
Depot Foreman.
Autumn 07
15
MEET EMT’S NEW TEAM
FORMER Virgin business development director Tim Shoveller has been appointed the
new boss of East Midlands Trains.
Tim – who has 15 years’ experience in the
industry – took up his role as Managing
Director on August 24.
He said: “I am hugely excited at being
asked to lead East Midlands Trains. Our new
company will inherit some of the most highly
professional employees in the industry –
people who have shown they can consistently out-perform other rail companies.
“Together we will deliver significant
improvements for business and leisure
passengers in the East Midlands.
“We have a tremendous opportunity in
November when Eurostar services start
sharing our London terminus at St Pancras.
“We will be actively looking to partner with
the towns and cities we serve to promote easy
access to, and from, South Yorkshire, East
Midlands and Europe.”
Ian Dobbs, Chief Executive of Stagecoach
Group’s rail division, said: “We are really
pleased that Tim has joined us from our sister
company Virgin Trains.
David Horne, Commercial
Director: David led Stagecoach’s
successful bid for the East
Midlands franchise and is currently the East Midlands Trains
Mobilisation Director.
Margaret Kay, Human
Resources Director: Margaret is
joining from South West Trains
where she was in the same role
for two and a half years.
Mark Steward, Operations Director: Mark joins East Midlands
Trains as Operations Director
from National Express where he
was Route Director for Silverlink County.
“He has a wealth of experience on the
railway which will be of enormous benefit
to us.”
Colleagues supporting Tim in his new role
are as follows:
Jake Kelly, Customer Service
Director: Jake joined Stagecoach
in 2001, was Bid Director for
the successful South Western
franchise bid and was most
recently its Transition Director.
Richard Bodicoat, Finance
Director: Richard held various
roles in industry over the last
10 years including at WAGN,
SET and as Transaction Finance Director of Rail Business
8IBUFWFSUBMFZPVIBWFXFEMJLFUP
IFBSGSPNZPV
8SJUFUP4UFWFO4UFXBSU&EJUPS0O
4UBHF4UBHFDPBDI(SPVQ%VOLFME
3PBE1FSUI1)58
5IJTNPOUITQJDUVSFJTPGBGBNJMJBSWFIJDMFJOBOBVUVNOBMTFUUJOH'PSBDIBODFUPXJO
Bb.BSLT4QFODFSWPVDIFSTFOEBQIPUPHSBQISFáFDUJOHPOFPGUIFGPVSTFBTPOTUP
UIF&EJUPSBUUIFBEESFTTBCPWF
CONTACTS
Editor: Steven Stewart, On Stage, Stagecoach Group,
10 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 5TW.
Tel: +44 (0)1738 442111, Fax: +44 (0)1738 443076
WWW.STAGECOACHGROUP.COM
If you have a story for On Stage, please get in touch with your
local contact below:
Stagecoach Group Steven Stewart 01738 642040
UK BUS
16
Autumn 07
Roger Walton, Safety and Environment
Director: Roger, who was Midland Mainline’s Safety Director, will be Interim Safety
and Environment Director. He will ensure a
smooth handover of critical safety activities
to Sharon Vye-Parminter
(left) when she joins East
Midlands Trains. Sharon has
worked in the railway industry for 13 years in safety and
performance roles, and will
join EMT from Londonlines where she is
Head of Safety.
PICTURE OF THE SEASON
*GZPVEMJLFUPDPOUSJCVUFUP0O4UBHFQMFBTFUBLFOPUFPGUIFTFJNQPSUBOUEFBEMJOFT
&%*5*0/
$01:50#&46#.*55&%#:
0/45"(&16#-*4)&%
Winter 07/08
First week, December 07
First week, January 08
Spring 08
First week, March 08
First week,April 08
Summer 08
First week, June 08
First week, July 08
Autumn 08
First week, September 08
First week, October 08
STAGECOACH EAST SCOTLAND Lisa Henry
STAGECOACH WEST SCOTLAND Allan Henry
STAGECOACH NORTH EAST
Jodine Milne
STAGECOACH NORTH WEST Colin Nicholson
STAGECOACH MANCHESTER Karen Coventry
STAGECOACH MERSEYSIDE Clare Tresnan
STAGECOACH EAST MIDLANDS Louise Wright
STAGECOACH OXFORDSHIRE
Chris Child
STAGECOACH IN WARWICKSHIRE Adam Rideout
STAGECOACH EAST Adam Rideout
STAGECOACH CAMBRIDGESHIRE Ed Cameron
STAGECOACH WEST Nathan Williams
STAGECOACH WALES Nathan Williams
STAGECOACH SOUTH EAST Helen Martin
Tony Wrighton, Engineering
Director: Tony was Commercial Director and then Production Director at Maintrain
before becoming Fleet Director
for MML in October 2003 and
later its Production Director and deputy
MD.
Tim Shoveller.
A tale to tell?
8FXPVMEMJLFUPIFBSGSPNZPVJGZPV
IBWFBOJOUFSFTUJOHTUPSZGPS0O4UBHF
)BWFZPVCFFOJOWPMWFEJOBOPWFM
QSPKFDUBJNFEBUCPPTUJOHQBTTFOHFS
OVNCFSTPSIBWFOFXTBCPVUBWJOUBHF
CVTJOWPMWFEJOUIFDPNNVOJUZ
1FSIBQTZPVSFEFQPUIBTCFFO
GVOESBJTJOHGPSBGBWPVSJUFDIBSJUZ
Development within Stagecoach, including working on the East Midlands Trains’
franchise bid.
01383 516454
01292 613515
0191 566 0236
01772 255752
0161 276 2727
07711 950 019
01522 522255
01865 405511
01604 662283
01604 662283
01223 423578
07753 775 193
07753 775 193
01243 536161
STAGECOACH SOUTH Helen Martin
STAGECOACH SOUTH WEST Mark Whittle
STAGECOACH YORKSHIRE Hannah Thompson
NATIONAL TRANSPORT TOKENS Sajda Khan
01243 536161
01392 889747
01226 202555
01254 680180
UK RAIL
SOUTH WEST TRAINS Lisa Davies
ISLAND LINE Stephen Wade
STAGECOACH SUPERTRAM Julia Shaw
0207 620 5892
01983 812591
0114 2759888
NORTH AMERICA
COACH USA Dale Moser
COACH CANADA Jim Devlin
001 201 225 7575
001 705 748 1170
On Stage is published four times a year. Advertising connected
directly or indirectly with Stagecoach is accepted. Charitable adverts will be included without charge, otherwise rates on request.
On Stage is distributed free to Stagecoach staff. Public subscriptions are available at £12 for one year or £20 for two years.
Cheque payable to Stagecoach Group plc at the editorial address.
The Editor is unable to enter into individual correspondence
concerning the affairs of The Stagecoach Group.
DESIGNED BY THE BIG PARTNERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, SCOTLAND.