1. travel
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15 May 2015
live
driving towards a greener future
Souter: let’s
beat the
geeks
Osborne invites other
city regions to follow
devolution path
King Long takes direct
control of UK franchise
comment
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Playing politics
the delegates assembled for Album’s conference in
Chester this week were in pretty chipper mood. While
not saying anything about their wider political affiliations, bus operators seemed more relaxed now that the prospect of
a Labour-led coalition proceeding with its plans to re-regulate had
receded, along with the possibility of being dragged into some messy
coalition wrangles with buses being used as bargaining chips.
Instead, there is a Conservative government with a small, but for
the moment at least, sufficient majority to rule alone, meaning that
apart from the Manchester aberration - and possibly some fallout
from a possible deal for Scotland - operators can continue with business as usual.
Free from the routine re-regulation debate, the conference was able
to focus on its chosen theme of sustainability, with a welcome interjection from Brian Souter who has evidently spent too much time
with young geeks and now wants to beat them at their own game.
And then everyone went back to their offices and heard the chancellor George Osborne not only confirm that his plans for Manchester
will move ahead quickly with an enabling bill in the Queen’s Speech,
but he also invited other city regions in the north to hop on board his
devolution express. He really means it.
So far from putting all the political debate behind us, we find ourselves right back in the thick of it. Plus ça change ...
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15 May 2015
3
contents
comment
06-13 news
32 finance
Finance and insurance
news for the bus and
coach sector.
14 analysis
European Commission
starts infraction
proceedings against UK
government on CT sector
exemption.
34-44 Album 2015
Looking ahead to what
industry suppliers are
launching at this year’s
Album conference.
16-18 international
46-51 accessibility
22-26 people
Adrian Jones is new
operations director for First.
52-54 who buys what
Volvo delivers the ‘wow’
factor for Hollinshead
Coaches.
28-30 product
Distinctive launches new
passenger recovery and
coach exchange service.
58-63 tourism
A veritable treasure trove
awaits coach tour operators
at this year’s RDAWorkshop in Cologne.
Chancellor George
Osborne moves ahead on
Manchester devolution and
invites other city regions to
follow.
Volvo is claiming global
leadership in supply of
hybrid buses after it passed
the 2,000-mark for hybrids
sold.
4 It’s not just the equipment
on the vehicle which is
important when it comes
to accessibility; controlling
street furniture is also vital.
15 May 2015
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15 May 2015
MORE PARTS
AT A CLICK
5
news
Souter calls for
bus industry to take
technology lead
Brian Souter.
This year’s Album conference in Chester heard a rallying call from Stagecoach
chief executive Brian Souter
to take on the ‘geeks’ and
develop an industr y-run
system which uses locationbased technologies to deliver
information on bus services
across the UK. Pointing to
the impact that technology
business Uber is having on
taxi services around the
world, Souter expressed a
sense of urgency about the
need to develop a technology business, jointly owned
by major bus groups and
other bus companies, to
deliver apps that collate bus
data from across the UK.
“If all the bus companies
in the UK pooled their information and created an app
together, we would immunise ourselves against a
geek coming in and doing
it to us,” said Souter. “We
6 have to make our minds up
very quickly though or we are
going to get left behind.”
Souter warned about the
dangers of the bus sector
ending up as powerless suppliers working for technology
businesses who could be driving passenger demand for the
future bus industry.
He warned that Uber’s claim
to have reduced some of their
fares to around $5 (£3), brings
them perilously close to a bus
fare. “I don’t know if this represents a very big problem or
a very big opportunity,” said
Souter.
Warning against complacency, he said: “Don’t wait to
get picked off, you don’t want
to end up as a supplier. Either
we do something ourselves,
or do a deal with others to
become a technology stock.”
Full report on Album conference
in next issue.
Cameron
appoints
new bus
minister at
DfT
The ministerial team at the
Department for Transport
has been largely re-appointed by prime minister
David Cameron following
the general election, with
the obvious exception of
a replacement for former
transport minister Lib Dem
Susan Kramer.
The new face at the
department is Harrogate and
Knaresborough MP Andrew
Jones who becomes parliamentary under secretary
of state with his responsibilities including bus policy and a number of other
areas which will impact on
the industry including city
growth deals, smart ticketing and the Office for Low
Emission Vehicles.
New bus minister Andrew Jones.
15 May 2015
news
Devolution offer to major city
regions by George Osborne
Following the Conservative
victory at last week’s general election, chancellor George Osborne
has lost no time in advancing his
plans for devolution in Manchester which would include a directly
elected mayor for the region who
would have powers on bus franchising. He also invited other city
regions in the north of England to
get involved in developing their
own devolution proposals and will
include enabling legislation in the
forthcoming Queen’s speech later
this month.
Osborne has however made clear
that devolving significant powers
and funding to city regions is predicated on agreement for directlyelected mayors, something which
has previously been rejected by a
number of northern cities.
But quick out of the blocks to
respond has been the West Yorkshire Combined Authority which
said it would now consult locally
on the proposals.
“The chancellor has now made
clear that greater levels of devolution in England are directly linked
to a change in governance,” says
chair Peter Box.
“We were clear in the last Parliament that in the light of people
Chancellor George Osborne signals that Manchester may not be the only city
region to get mayor with transport powers.
having strongly rejected elected
mayors in recent referenda in Bradford, Kirklees and Wakefield, we
did not believe this was the model
for West Yorkshire and York.
“However, the chancellor has
now made his position clear and
we need to consult the local people, businesses and stakeholders
of West Yorkshire and York on
the governance options that could
unlock extra powers and resources
from Whitehall. We will be asking government to let us have
details of what extra powers and
resources could be made available to us in return for a change of
governance.”
www.gov.uk
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Free day ticket for jobseekers
Stagecoach West is offering jobseekers in Cheltenham a
free dayrider ticket if they can
prove they are on the way to a job
interview.
Those travelling to attend an
interview have to take proof of their
interview to the Stagecoach Travel
Shop in Cheltenham, whether it
15 May 2015
be a letter or email confirmation,
showing the date, time and place
of the interview. Stagecoach West
will issue a free dayrider ticket
to help the job seeker get to their
interview and back.
“It can be really difficult when
you’re unemployed and genuinely
want to find a job,” says Rupert
Cox, Stagecoach West managing
director. “Hopefully by offering
interviewees a free dayrider ticket,
even though it may only save them
a few pounds, it will make a huge
difference and allow them to get to
an interview that they may otherwise have had to miss.”
www.stagecoachbus.com/west
7
news
industry data
Market prices
Operator
FirstGroup
Go-Ahead
Price
113
2587
High
142
2655
Low
89
1813
National Exp.
Optare
Rotala
Stagecoach
299
0.05
66
399
312
0.33
66
438
213
0.02
50
332
Closing prices on 14/05/15
plus 12 months high and low.
UK diesel price update pence per litre
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
North
North West
Yorks & Humbs
West Midlands
East Midlands
East Anglia
South East
South West
London
117.7
119.6
119.0
118.8
118.8
118.9
118.9
118.9
119.3
119.0
118.7
118.6
Average weekly fuel prices for the UK by
region, April 2015. Source: AA
European diesel price update
pence per litre equivalent
Austria
Belgium
Czech Rep
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
81.6
91.6
81.7
91.0
79.4
96.6
90.9
85.9
93.0
97.3
86.4
93.7
108.1
76.6
90.9
112.7
82.2
88.0
85.2
105.4
105.3
European diesel pump price sample April
2015. Source: AA
8 UITP award nomination
for Sapphire brand
Arriva UK Bus’ premium
Sapphire brand has been shortlisted for an award for exemplary
commitment to customer excellence at the UITP World Congress & Exhibition next month
in Milan.
Sapphire launched in 2013
across four trial routes has since
been extended to cover 16 further services across the UK.
“Since its launch, Sapphire
has exceeded our expectations
in terms of both patronage and
revenue, and plays a pivotal role
in our ongoing investment strategy,” says Mark Yexley, operations and commercial director,
Arriva UK Bus. “It was designed
specifically for our passengers,
who in the 21st century demand
something a little different
from their transport providers.
It continues to perform well
across all the routes on which
it operates, proving that we are
not only achieving our goals, but
are setting a real precedence in
customer care for the industry
as a whole.
“It is an absolute honour to
have been recognised amongst
such esteemed company at these
awards, which really do seek to
celebrate the very best in global
transport. We will be proud to
be able to champion the achievements of the UK bus industry
during this event, and see our
shortlisting as a real benchmark
for the future of bus travel across
the world.”
Sapphire has been shortlisted
alongside Taipai Rapid Transit
Corporation, SMRT Corporation (Singapore), and Weiner
Linien (Austria) for the customer service award which will
be awarded on 10 June.
www.arrivasapphire.co.uk
Arriva’s Sapphire brand competes for UITP award in Milan.
15 May 2015
news
King Long takes direct
control of UK franchise
King Long’s Zhao Ryan and Chris Cassar.
Following significant
problems and criticism of the
King Long franchisees in the
UK, the operation has been
taken under direct control by
King Long Europe and will
trade as King Long Europe
UK.
Chris Cassar, King Long
Europe MD will move to the
UK to lead the new organisation. A statement from King
Long says: “The importers
have been disenfranchised
due to the recent press coverage that was threatening
15 May 2015
the good name of King Long,”
adding “neither Paul Bicknell
or Ray McNally will be officers
of the new company, although
they have given excellent service and helped establish the
brand.
“Unlike other Chinese bus
and coach companies that are
being imported into the UK via
a middle man, now the clients
and transport companies will be
dealing directly with the manufacturer and this will secure a
better future for both the clients
and King Long name.”
Zhao Ryan from Xiamen
King Long confirmed that all
warranties will be honoured
by the manufacturer and a
10 per cent discount will be
offered for every new coach
order until 1 September 2015.
King Long says that parts
will now come direct from
China and that prices will
decrease across all models
with the aim of offering the
most competitive productrange in the UK.
www.kinglonguk.com
9
news
Initiative to tackle rough sleepers
on London bus network
Recent media coverage has
highlighted the issue of rough
sleepers using the night bus network in the capital and Transport
for London recently co-ordinated
a multi-agency operation to help
give advice and support in Westminster and Redbridge.
The aim of the operation was
to engage with any rough sleepers, particularly on route 25, and
to encourage bus drivers to report
all instances of rough sleeping on
their buses. The locations of Holles Street in Westminster and
Hainault Street in Redbridge were
specifically chosen for the operation based on intelligence gathered by TfL which suggested the
route 25 at both end-of-line loca-
tions were the busiest in terms of
rough sleepers frequenting the
bus network.
Staff from Thames Reach – a
London-based charity helping
homeless and vulnerable people
– provided sleepers with support
from local services, as well as possible shelter on a temporary basis
with advice given for more long
term solutions.
Tf L revenue protection staff
took part in the operation to build
a picture of how rough sleepers are
travelling on buses, what type of
ticket they are using, where they
have travelled from and if there
was any fare evasion taking place.
In total staff boarded 150 buses
in Redbridge and Westminster and
28 rough sleepers were identified.
The majority of them engaged with
Thames Reach workers. All of the
rough sleepers who were assisted
during the course of this operation held valid tickets for travel
and were not fare dodgers.
The operation was a real success
and through it we’ve learned a lot
about the scale of rough sleeping on the bus network,” says Lee
Vehit, Tf L network operations
manager. “This will help us support bus drivers and rough sleepers alike moving forward.”
Further operations to assist
rough sleepers on the bus network
are planned for the near future in
different parts of London.
www.tfl.gov.uk
New bus fleet drives customer
satisfaction to ‘gold’ levels
Customer satisfaction levels
for punctuality, reliability, comfort, cleanliness and value for
money are all increasing, according to the latest survey conducted
by Stagecoach Yorkshire following
the introduction of a fleet of Goldbranded buses.
Passengers on the X17 Gold service, which operates between Sheffield, Chesterfield and Matlock,
have reported increases in customer
satisfaction of up to 15 per cent and
more than 90 per cent of respondents overall are either satisfied or
very satisfied with punctuality, reliability, comfort levels and quality of
vehicles on the Gold buses, as well
as driver attitude, appearance and
standard of driving.
Two surveys were carried out,
one before the premium double-
The launch of the X17 Gold service in November 2014.
10 decks were introduced in October
2014, and one afterwards in February this year. The X17 is the first
Stagecoach Gold fleet to be introduced in the region. The Gold
service Enviro400s offer highback, hand-stitched leather seats,
ambient lighting and free wi-fi.
“The Gold buses have been well
received in other areas of the country so we are very pleased to see
their popularity here, too,” says
Paul Lynch, managing director,
Stagecoach Yorkshire.”
There was a 14 per cent increase
in customer satisfaction in terms
of value for money and 15 per cent
increase for quality of vehicles. The
research also found an 11 per cent
increase in satisfaction levels concerning cleanliness, interior and
exterior, of the vehicle.
www.stagecoachbus.com/chesterfield
15 May 2015
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15 May 2015
04/03/2015 09:28
11
news
Challenge on wheelchair policy at AGM
Wheelchair athlete and
disability rights campaigner
Susan Cook challenged the
Annual General Meeting of
National Express this week
about its policy on wheelchair priority.
Supported by disability
rights charity Transport for
All, Cook is campaigning
against ‘first-come, firstserved’ policies, when it
comes to using bays for
wheelchairs or buggies. She
says that the policy means
disabled passengers are
often left at the kerb, unable
to board, as buses pull away,
and claims that National
Express is alone among the
big five UK bus groups to
maintain a ‘first-come, firstserved’ policy.
Cook’s campaign follows
the recent case by disability rights campaigner Doug
Paulley who is currently
awaiting permission to go to
the UK Supreme Court, after
the discrimination ruling at
a court in Leeds, was subsequently overturned in the
court of appeal. The Equality
and Human Rights Commission is supporting Paulley’s
efforts to take the case to
the Supreme Court.
“Being in a wheelchair
means I can’t always get
on buses because there are
often folding buggies or luggage in the way,” says Cook.
“I wanted to take the issue
to the board of National
Express, because I think it
might be good for them to
see someone in a wheelchair
in front of them at the AGM,
as they reflect on whether
to change their discrimina-
12 National Express challenged on wheelchair/buggy policy.
tory boarding policy. I hope it
makes them align their policy
with those of their competitors
on this issue, because as a
disabled person, my power as
a shareholder should convince
them that we all benefit from a
transport network that caters
to everyone.”
Lianna Etkind, campaigns
and outreach coordinator, Transport for All, adds:
“Twenty years ago, wheelchair users in London chained
themselves to the poles of
Routemaster buses to win
wheelchair bays and the right
to get on a London bus. But
still now, two decades later,
across the UK, wheelchair
users are routinely denied
access to buses. Being able
to use public transport is an
essential part of a full and
active life, getting to work,
having access to healthcare and education, or a
social life, with freedom and
independence.
“We urge all bus companies to ensure that their
drivers actively enforce
wheelchair priority and end
this discrimination.”
www.transportforall.org.uk
www.shareaction.org
15 May 2015
news
Euro 6 Enviro400s
upgrade for Reading
Reading Buses has launched 16
Euro 6 ADL Enviro400s as part of
a major upgrade to its routes 5 and
6. The launch at its Great Knollys
Street depot this week featured
its employee Stars of the last five
years, including its current Star of
the Year Mervyn Saunders.
“We believe that showcasing the
great work of our staff through
our ‘Stars of the Year’ scheme is
the ideal platform from which to
introduce the company’s 16 brand
new latest state-of-the-art doubledeck buses,” says Martijn Gilbert,
Reading Buses chief executive
officer.
“This is all about taking buses to
the next level of customer service
– something that our stars of the
year embody perfectly. The buses
are breaking new ground in Read-
ing as they deliver a step change
in the on-board customer experience. They are the first in our fleet
to offer USB charging points and
superfast 4G WiFI. They are also
the first new buses in the UK to be
fitted with the new high spec Italian designer seats which are lighter
in weight and are covered in our
new, and exclusive, Reading Buses
design.”
The 85-seat Enviro400s represent an investment of £4million.
“These buses are going to help
revolutionise public transport and
customers of the emerald routes –
formerly mint green – will be at
the forefront of that. They are the
next step up in the evolution of the
Reading Buses high quality product of recent years.”
www.reading-buses.co.uk
Sixteen Enviro400s will be used on route 5
and 6 which will now be branded Emerald.
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Met with officials from European Commission.
January 14th 2015 New State Aid guidance Issued by UK
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April 29th 2015 The European Commission issued
Infringement Proceedings against the UK Authorities
regarding their interpretation of non-commercial and
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15 May 2015
13
News Analysis
Steve Rooney reports
The challenge led by the Bus and Coach Association about community
transport operators running on Section 19 permits has now resulted in
the start of formal infraction proceedings by the European Commission.
European Commission takes on
DfT over CT exemptions
The European Commission has started the process of challenging the UK government on its interpretation of EU regulations which allow community
transport operators to run services outside the operating licence system. The UK Department for Transport
has now received a letter from the European Commission regarding the application of Regulation (EC)
1071/2009 which covers access to the profession.
To date, the UK government has allowed community transport operators to operate contracts under
Section 19 permits, but this interpretation of the EU
rules is now in question. The UK government has two
months to respond to a European Commission letter which is part of an infraction process that could
eventually result in the UK government being taken
to the European courts.
The process has resulted from a challenge by the
Bus and Coach Association, a recently-formed trade
body led by Derbyshire operator Martin Allen. The
BCA’s original complaint was about allegations of illegal state aid made to CT operators which was being
used in running services and contracts that competed
directly with commercial operators. Having failed to
get any response from the UK authorities, the BCA
took its case directly to the European Commission.
However the scope of the case now being investigated
by the European Commission has widened and the
current proceedings are focused on the critical area
of access to the profession.
The BCA argues that if the UK government is found
to have wrongly interpreted the regulation it would
mean that all CT operators would have to become
fully compliant with the O licence system.
“BCA are not against this sector, but it needs to be
brought back to what it was established to do,” says
Allen. “The UK authorities have exempted certain
road transport operators and others, mainly those
that run under the permit system, from these European regulations.”
14 The BCA’s challenge, which has now been taken
up by the European Commission, is being backed by
BUSK which argues that local authorities should stop
awarding school transport contracts to charities and
CT groups that are operating voluntarily.
“BUSK will be pushing along with the BCA to not
only see an abolition of Section 19 Permits but for a
requirement for all schools that operate a minibus to
hold an O license,” says director Pat Harris.
Meanwhile the Community Transport Association
and the Association of Transport Coordinating Officers acknowledge that the EC infraction process could
see the end of the use of Section 19 permits for certain types of contracts, but says that it is premature to
assume this will happen.
“Whilst this is one potential outcome of any process, it is by no means a foregone conclusion,” says a
joint statement by CTA/ATCO. “For the avoidance
of any misunderstanding, it is important to note that
until infraction proceedings have been completed
nothing can be deemed to have changed and may still
not change.”
CPT, which has not been directly involved in the
complaints that led to the European Commission
infraction proceedings, confirms that the issue relates
to exemptions that allow those who use the UK permit regime “to gain an unfair advantage in contestable markets”.
If the EC infraction process does force the UK government to change its policy towards CT operators it
will have massive implications for the future of the
sector. It may also lead to claims for compensation by
commercial operators who believe they have suffered
from unfair competition. The BCA is already discussing a potential class action on behalf of its members
and is also inviting other operators who are concerned
about the issue to join the association.
www.busandcoachassociation.org
www.ctauk.org
15 May 2015
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international
USA
BYD electric buses for
Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, LA
Metro, has taken delivery of its
first five battery electric buses
from BYD. The 40-foot buses,
bui lt in Ca lifornia by BYD
Motors, are capable of driving
more than 155 miles on a single
Bus and coach news from around the world
charge, according to the manufacturer.
“Today, BYD is creating jobs
and providing an anchor for new
businesses to locate in Los Angeles
County and to provide jobs for our
people”, says Los Angeles county
supervisor Michael Antonovich.
“I am so proud to see the electrified transportation movement
alive and well here in Los Angeles”,
said BYD founder and chairman
Chuanfu Wang. “We know from
widely available data, that buses
and taxis emit nearly 30 per cent
of the world’s harmful emissions,
yet only account for 1.7 per cent of
total vehicle ownership. The fastest way for us to influence the most
change, and help as many people
as possible, is to replace our fossil
fuel burning transit buses.”
Los Angeles Metro says it will test
the first five electric buses on various routes around the city to evaluate their optimal route profiles. The
deal includes options for a further 20
electric buses from BYD Motors.
Sweden
Volvo sales of hybrid
buses tops 2,000
Volvo is claiming global leadership in supply of hybrid buses
after it passed the 2,000-mark for
hybrids sold to around 20 countries since their introduction in
2010.
“With this ongoing success we
are reinforcing our global lead
in hybrid buses,” says Håkan
Agnevall, president and CEO,
Volvo Buses. “Cities all over the
world now regard electrified bus
traffic as a cost-efficient way of
reducing the problems of poor
air quality and noise. Our solution makes travel more attractive
and improves the environment
without the need for large investments in new infrastructure.”
Among the latest markets for
Volvo’s hybrids are Denmark,
Italy
UITP Exhibition to highlight
efficiency drive by operators
More than 270 exhibitors from
around the world will present
the latest ideas for the future of
public transport at the biennial
UITP World Congress & Exhibition in Milan from 8-10 June 2015.
The UITP Exhibition attracts key
16 Volvo articulated hybrid in Budapest.
Hungary and Poland. The largest
single market remains the UK,
while Colombia, Sweden, Germany, Brazil and Switzerland have
purchased large numbers of hybrid
buses.
Volvo reports that most of the
models sold are two-axle vehicles,
while just over 60 are articulated
versions. The sales include the latest
electric hybrid which was launched
in 2014 and has so far been introduced in Hamburg, Stockholm
and Gothenburg with other cities,
including Edinburgh to follow.
“With our comprehensive
range of electrified buses we
meet a wide variety of customer
needs,” adds Agnevall. “The way
we see it, urban public transport
will require a mix of hybrids,
plug-in hybrids and full-electric
buses. Full-electric buses are
highly suitable in the city centres, electric hybrids are excellent for somewhat longer routes,
and hybrids are perfect for feeder
traffic bringing commuters into
the city.”
political, operational and technical decision-makers from around
the world with the previous event
held in 2013 in Geneva attracting
around 25,000 visits.
The organisers say that efficiency will be a major theme in
Milan, highlighting efforts within
the bus industry to improve fuel
economy, including weight reduction, in addition to hybrid, CNG
and all-electric buses.
“The way we move around cities across the globe is changing
rapidly and the UITP Exhibition
offers a unique insight into what
the future of urban mobility may
look like,” says UITP secretary
general Alain Flausch. “Whether
it’s the latest electric bus, rail vehicle or cutting-edge IT solutions, it
can all be found under one roof at
UITP’s Exhibition”.
www.volvobuses.com
www.uitpmilan2015.org
15 May 2015
international
Bus and coach news from around the world
UAE
New Dubai contract for INIT
Germany
Citea Electrics for Münster
Five Citea Electric buses to operate on Münster route.
Water transport contract for
INIT in Dubai.
INIT has won a further contract with Roads and Transport
Authority of Dubai, following its
earlier project on automatic passenger counting which is now
being implemented. The latest
contract is focussed on water
transport and includes equipping
15 vessels - five water buses, five
water taxis and five ferries - and
integrating them into RTA’s Intermodal Transport Control System.
This will allow them to be tracked
by the operation control centre and
ensure contact with the drivers in
the event of an incident. A comprehensive statistics and reporting
tool allows optimisation of operations.
“I am very much delighted to be
given the chance to continue our
strong partnership with RTA,”
says Eyad Tayeb, managing director, INIT FZE. “I am confident
that the successful implementation of this project will mark the
entry of INIT into the water world
of the Middle East and will act as a
good referral for future projects of
a similar nature.”
www.init-ka.de
15 May 2015
VDL Bus & Coach has delivered five Citeas Electric buses to
Stadtwerke Münster. One of the
buses is part of the SEB project
(rapid charging system for electric buses in public transport),
subsidised by the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research, while the other four
are part of the ZeEUS project
(Zero Emission Urban Bus System), subsidised by the European
Commission and coordinated by
UITP.
For both the SEB and ZeEUS
projects, the Citeas Electric will
be tested over an extended period
of time to gather valuable practical information about the use
of electric bus systems in urban
areas.
The VDL Citeas Electric
delivered in Münster in connection with the SEB and ZeEUS
projects feature an IFAS rapid
charging system on the side of
the roof of the bus. IFAS (Institute for Fluid Power Drives and
Controls) is part of the RWTH
Aachen University of Technology, as is the ISEA (Institute for
Power Electronics and Electrical
Drives) which coordinated both
Münster projects. A robotic arm
that emerges from the roof of a
bus shelter automatically makes
contact with the charging system of the bus. VDL says that
with this system up to 500kW of
power can be charged within 4-6
minutes. The electronics for the
power system were developed by
Pintsch Bamag.
The Citea for the SEB project
is fitted with a Hoppecke battery
and the Citea Electric buses in
the ZeEUS project are each fitted with a Microvast battery.
All five electric buses will be
put in service on line 14, which
will make this line fully electric.
The rapid charging stations are
located at the two end points of
this line. An additional rapid
charging station is present at the
bus depot.
Stadtwerke Münster GmbH is
responsible for public service, as
well for public transport in Münster. The public service include
the supply of electricity, natural
gas, district heating and drinking
water. They also operate the bus
network, the port and the street
lighting in the city.
www.vdlbuscoach.com
17
international
Bus and coach news from around the world
India
Sweden
Volvo Buses receives large new order from Nobina ...
Volvo8900s for largest ever Swedish order.
Representing its largest bus
order for the Swedish market,
Volvo has received an order for
a total of 276 buses from Nobina
for delivery to the Swedish market in 2015. All the buses are of
Volvo 8900s, but their specification has been adapted to local
requirements.
The buses for the region of
Värmland will be dedicated
regional buses with a high level
of comfort. The buses being built
for Stockholm will be used primarily as feeders in suburban
operations, where the focus is on
high capacity.
“The Volvo 8900 is a f lexible model that meets our own
needs and also the demands of
Nordic transport purchasers,
for instance as regards low entry
and low environmental impact.
With this order we are deepening
our long-term cooperation with
Volvo Buses still further,” says
Martin Atterhall, fleet manager,
Nobina.
The first buses will be delivered in June 2015.
The order includes 70 twoaxle and 206 three-axle buses in
lengths from 12 to 14.8 m. All
are low-entry models powered
by Volvo’s 8-litre biodiesel Euro
6 engine producing 320 hp.
“We’re naturally really pleased
and proud of this order from
Nobina, the largest single order
we have ever received on the
Swedish market,” says Andreas
Baljhagen, key account manager
at Volvo Buses.
www.volvobuses.com
... while Indcar to deliver Nobina order for 43 buses
Indcar is to begin deliveries shortly for an order for 43
buses for Nobina for the region
of Värmland, Sweden. The
order includes Mobi buses with
30 seats, bodied on Iveco 70C17
chassis, and Stradas bodied on
60C17 chassis, with 22 seats.
The Swedish Värmland region
already has several Indcar units
that have been delivered over the
last few years.
Indcar says that the MOBI
18 models have been adapted to
the weather in the region, with
enhanced insulation, and its
Strada-Iveco models, offer comfortable space suitable for transport of small passenger groups.
Nobina provides public transportation services in Sweden,
Norway, Denmark and Finland,
and express coaches with a total
fleet of more than 3,500 vehicles.
www.indcar.es
IRU and Busworld promote
safety and sustainability
IRU and Busworld joined forces
at the recent Busworld India exhibition in a series of seminars to
promote best policy and business
practices in safe and sustainable
transport.
“Building on the IRU’s international experience and expertise, as
well as our achievements with the
joint Smart Move campaign to double the use of buses and coaches, we
want to launch, together with our
Indian partners and stakeholders,
an all-Indian Smart Move High
Level Group, to identify the main
barriers and work out practical
solutions to achieve safe, sustainable and affordable mobility for all,
at the lowest cost for society,” says
Janusz Lacny, IRU president.
Didier Ramoudt, president,
Busworld International, adds:
“Throughout its existence, Busworld has been a focal point for
people who want to find all kinds
of information on the many aspects
of the bus and coach industry.
Using our worldwide network of
exhibitors, operators, academics,
journalists, engineers and other
contacts, we have always been able
to point people in the right direction. We have formalised these
abilities by establishing the Busworld Academy. For each region,
we adapt the Busworld Academy
seminars to local needs. For India
this is clearly to have a cleaner,
safer and more effective bus and
coach service.”
The two-day seminars were supported by UN-Habitat, Embarq
India, the Travel Agents Association of India and the European
Business and Technology Centre,
in partnership with Urban News
Digest.
www.busworld.org
www.iru.org
15 May 2015
diary
Alexander Pemberton’s Diary
Epsom events to marks 95th anniversary
Epsom Coaches staff and families at the company’s Ride and Drive day.
Epsom Coaches is holding a
number of events this year to
commemorate its 95th anniversary. More than 120 staff and
their families enjoyed a Ride and
Drive day last month at Kempton Park racecourse. A range
of vehicles was laid on to challenge the participants, including
a 1950 RT, a 1953 Guy, a 1965
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and a
1971 Morris Minor as well as
examples from the current bus
and coach f leet.
A reversing test was a lso
arranged which included prizes
for the best amateur and professional driver.
“The idea was for our drivers
to experience what is was like
to drive buses from yesteryear,
with no power steering or other
modern equipment,” says managing director Steve Whiteway.
“They did really well, as did
the ‘amateur drivers’ who were
experiencing driving large vehicles for the first time - we need
to sign them up!
“This coupled with the opportunity to drive two iconic 60s
cars at both ends of the affordability spectrum was a unique
opportunity and taken up with
relish. The idea of the day was
to give everyone the opportunity
to experience something unique
and for many a once in a lifetime
experience.
20 “It was wonderful to see our
family of staff enjoying a relaxed
Sunday together.”
The next event in Epsom’s
celebration calendar is a charity
open day on Saturday 20 June
between 11am and 3pm.
www.epsomcoaches.com
Final ride on EYMS Olympian
The last of EYMS’ Olympian buses
have now been withdrawn from
service, and the six that remain in
store will soon be leaving EYMS
for their new homes, but chairman
Peter Shipp advises that there is a
final chance to say goodbye.
The company prides itself on
welcoming enthusiasts - which
it says includes many of its own
staff - and has an enthusiast section on its website. And to mark
the final departure of the Olympians, EYMS is organising a special
‘Farewell Olympian’ service on
Saturday 30 May 2015.
Service 630 will be operated by
a Volvo Olympian 630 which was
new in 1998 and carries a Northern Counties Palatine 1 body. The
route will start at Hull’s Paragon
Interchange and then take a scenic
trip around Hull through to Cottingham, pausing near Skidby Mill
for a photo opportunity. The route
will then go on via the A164 to the
Humber Bridge car park, before
returning to Hull Interchange via
the A63. Shipp advises that the
journey will take about 45 minutes and there will be five depar-
tures during the day, setting off
from Hull at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm,
2.30pm and 4pm, to give as many
people as possible the chance to
travel.
There will be a flat fare of £4
per round trip, with no need to
pre-book, just turn up on the day.
EYMS says that there are already
more than 70 enthusiasts expected
with several more hoping to do
so.
“The first Olympian (then of
course a Leyland) hit the roads of
East Yorkshire back in 1983 (Bus
528), with an Eastern Coachworks
body, and they have been a staple
of the fleet since then,” says Shipp.
“Olympians have long been a
favourite of bus enthusiasts, so we
thought it was only right that we
should mark their passing with a
last chance to see them in action.
The end of the Olympian at
EYMS also means that the entire
bus fleet is now wheelchair accessible, although some earlier, mainly
single-deck, buses remain to be
upgraded to full DDA specification.”
www.eyms.co.uk
15 May 2015
diary
Alexander Pemberton’s Diary
Quick-thinking driver alerts police to self harm
A bus driver who has been credited with saving the life of a local
woman has been named a ‘Superstar’ employee of the year by local
bus operator
A driver with First Midland
Bluebird has been recognised as
Employee of the Year after an
incident in which he helped to
avert a suicide attempt.
An employee with First since
2011, Mark Smith came across a
folded piece of paper while cleaning a bus at the depot in Balfron.
Rather than throw it in the bin
with the rest of the litter he’d
found, Mark checked its contents
and found it to be an eviction
notice relating to a passenger who
had written a distressed note on
the back.
After discussing it with a colleague, Mark contacted the local
police with his concerns. Officers attended the depot to collect
the note, which contained the
woman’s address, and found the
woman who had written the note
in time. She had self-harmed.
Paul McGowan, managing
director, First Midland Bluebird
says: “It’s extremely rare that our
employees find themselves in a
situation that is quite literally life
or death. It would have been all
too easy to gather up what ini-
tially could have looked like litter
and thrown it away.
“Mark’s diligence in checking
what he’d found and his quickthinking to ensure local police
officers were contacted has literally saved someone’s life.
“He was anxious to discover
what had become of the lady
involved and we were all relieved
when police officers returned
to our depot later to pass on the
information that she was safe.
Balfron is one of our smaller
depots and the staff there are
really connected to their local
community.”
www.firstgroup.com
Commemorating 100 years of Southdown
Stagecoach has launched two
special bus liveries, based on the
colours of Southdown Motor Services as part of its celebration of 100
years of public transport across
Sussex & south east Hampshire.
A single-deck Enviro300 bus
has been finished in the traditional
Southdown green and cream livery
that was seen in various forms from
1915 until the early 1990s, while a
double-deck Enviro400 represents
the Southdown wartime variation
of green and battleship grey to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
Victory in Europe on 8 May 1945.
Southdown Motor Services was
formed in 1915 and operated from
a number of depots across Sussex
and south east Hampshire with
an operating area which stretched
from Hastings in the east to Southampton in the west and north to
East Grinstead, Horsham, Crawley
and Haywards Heath.
The former Southdown depots at
Worthing and Chichester are still
in use today as part of Stagecoach
South.
“We are very proud of our heritage and to follow the tradition
of providing an important public
transport network to thousands of
customers across our region,” says
Stagecoach’s Commercial Director,
Mark Turner. “We hope the local
people will enjoy our trip down
memory lane.”
As part of the centenary celebrations, a special bus rally will take
place on Sunday 7 June on Southsea Common with approximately
120 modern and vintage buses on
display, plus free bus rides across
the local area.
Stagecoach is appealing for help
with the search to find the oldest
surviving Southdown employee to
be guest of honour and to cut the
birthday cake at the event.
www.stagecoachbus.com
Special liveries
to remember Southdown Motor Services.
15 May 2015
21
people
Adrian Jones.
Adrian Jones becomes
operations director at FirstBus
First Bus has appointed Adrian
Jones as operations director with
responsibility for operational and
safety performance across its bus
businesses. Jones was formerly
managing director of First’s London business between 2007 and
2013 and more recently managing
director of First Essex. He will continue to report to regional managing director Neil Barker.
Following Jones’ promotion,
First has also appointed Alex Jones,
operations director at First Essex as
interim managing director.
For all the latest vacancies visit – www.busandcoach.com
Sweden, France, Italy, Hungary,
Belgium, Ireland and Croatia
and aims to improve the image of
coach tourism throughout the EU
as well as seeking to have restrictions lifted which impede the free
movement of tourism by coach.
“I am delighted to have been
elected as chairman of EACT for
2015/16,” says Smith. “Our collective challenge is to seek to reduce
and remove VAT on coach tourism throughout the EU, enable our
greener less polluting coaches continued access to our cities as politicians grapple with the European
air quality targets for 2020 and
inform them that coaches are not
the same as trucks and different
drivers hours and rest time rules
are required for coach travel to
enable its tourism market to grow
and prosper.”
sibility for liaising and representing
CPT with local authorities across
London and the south east, as well
as providing operational and technical support to members in the
region.
Richard Godson, a former coach
operator who has more than 30
years’ experience in the industry,
has been appointed as Keith’s successor in the East Midlands and
Yorkshire.
CPT has also promoted recentlyappointed Andy Warrender from
coaching executive to coaching
manager.
And long serving member of staff
Diane Spring has left her position
as receptionist and a replacement
will be announced in due course.
www.cpt-uk.org
www.cpt-uk.org
www.firstgroupplc.com
Lee Mutch.
Keith McNally.
Regional shuffle at CPT
Stephen Smith.
Smith elected EACT chairman
CPT operations director Stephen
Smith has been elected chairman
of the European Alliance for Coach
Tourism (EACT). The organisation
has members in the UK, Germany,
22 CPT has made changes to its
regional teams in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and London &
South East, and its operations
department at Drury House in
London.
Keith McNally, the current
manager for the East Midlands and
Yorkshire regions, has been promoted to the newly created role of
operations manager at CPT’s head
office. As well as responding to general member enquiries and offering
compliance support and assistance,
McNally will have specific respon-
Promotion for Stagecoach
NE engineer
Former engineering supervisor at Stagecoach North East’s
Slatyford bus depot in Newcastle
Lee Mutch has been appointed
engineering manager for the company’s Hartlepool operations.
Mutch has been promoted to the
senior role after 20 years working
with the operator at its depots in
South Shields, Sunderland and
Newcastle. He is now responsible
for managing the depot’s engineering team, ensuring standards
and quality of maintenance for the
fleet, and health and safety.
The former engineering appren08 May 2015
people
For all the latest vacancies visit – www.busandcoach.com
tice started as a fitter and then a
charge hand at the South Shields
depot for 12 years before being promoted to engineering supervisor at
Sunderland. Following 14 months
in the role, he became engineering
supervisor at Slatyford depot.
Gary Chisholm, engineering
director, Stagecoach North East
says: “I would like to congratulate
Lee on his appointment; he has
worked hard and risen through the
ranks at Stagecoach over the past
20 years and thoroughly deserves
this promotion. The apprenticeship scheme offers great opportunities to new trainees every year
and can lead to excellent longstanding careers, as demonstrated
by Lee, with his passion and enthusiasm for the job. It is through
developing our staff that we continue to deliver better bus travel to
attract even more people on to our
greener, smarter services.”
www.stagecoachbus.com/
northeast
South West for the past two years.
Stagecoach South provides local
bus services across Hampshire,
Surrey and Sussex, with some
routes extending into Berkshire
and Wiltshire. It has around 1,150
employees, a fleet of more than
460 buses and around 35 million
passenger journeys a year.
Andrew Dyer, who will formally
retire on 11 July, has 45 years’ service in the bus industry and for a
short time also previously held a
management role in the rail industry. He has worked with Stagecoach
for 21 years, including two years at
the company’s South West Trains
rail franchise.
He started in public transport in
1970 when he had a school holiday
job in Oxfordshire sweeping floors
and bus conducting. His first senior role was in 1980 as transport
manager, Charlton-on-Otmoor
Services, in Oxfordshire. He then
worked as a district manager for
the National Bus Company in
Exeter and Cheltenham before
joining Cheltenham & Gloucester
Omnibus Co in 1986. He became
commercial director and then
managing director of the business,
which was bought by Stagecoach
in 1993.
After spending two years at
South West Trains as general
manager, Wessex division in the
late 1990s, he was appointed managing director of Stagecoach South
in 1999, a post which he has held
ever since.
Dyer says: “I have a passion
for the industry and I would not
have exchanged my long and varied career in passenger transport
for anything. I have thoroughly
enjoyed the last 21 years with
Stagecoach. “I am proud of the improvements we have made at Stagecoach
South in recent years, which has
only been possible because of the
great team we have here. I wish
Mike every success in continuing
this progress into the future.”
Watson began his career in 1996
in the service planning department
at London Transport Buses.
www.stagecoachgroup.com
Long service awards at First
Long service totalling 1,225 years
clocked up by 41 staff was recognised at the First Scotland East
and First Midland Bluebird annual
awards ceremony.
Employees with 716 years’ service between them attended the
event to receive certificates and
badges for reaching their 20, 25,
30, 35, 40 and 45 year milestones.
They were each presented with
certificates to mark their achievements at a ceremony with regional
managing director Dave Alexander and Joan Aitken, traffic commissioner for Scotland.
www.firstgroup.com
Andrew Dyer.
Stagecoach’s Andrew Dyer
steps down
Andrew Dyer, who heads the
Stagecoach South bus operation,
is to retire in July after a career of
more than four decades in the UK
bus industry. He will be succeeded
as managing director of Stagecoach
South by Mike Watson with effect
from 1 July 2015. Watson has been
managing director at Stagecoach
08 May 2015
Paul McGowan with longest serving employees Charlie Stevenson
and David Nelson, and traffic commissioner Joan Aitken.
23
people
For all the latest vacancies visit – www.busandcoach.com
Before starting his career at
Alcoa he worked for five years in
the truck tyre business followed
by an 18-year career at Michelin
where he held different logistics
and sales positions.
www.alcoawheels.com.
Birchley says: “I was lucky to
have been in the industry at an
exciting time, working through
deregulation and some cutting
edge initiatives at RATP Dev London, particularly the development
of hybrid technology gas, bio and
electric power. It’s been exciting to
have helped bring innovation into
the industry and assist it in facing
future challenges.”
www.lonutd.co.uk
Steve Agg.
Steve Agg to retire from CILT
CILT chief executive officer
Steve Agg will retire at the end of
December after nearly ten years
in the post. The process to choose
a successor is underway and the
CILT says it hopes to announce an
appointment by the autumn.
Directors step down in
CTA reshuffle
The Community Transport Association has made two director
posts redundant in a management
shake-up which will see two new
directors appointed. Ewan Jones
and Bryan Myles have now left the
CTA from their roles as director of
operations/deputy chief executive
and director of consultancy. The
new posts being advertised are
for a director of policy and practice and a director of marketing
and development within the head
office.
Alcoa appoints Europe
sales director
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe
has appointed Kai Sommerlatte
as sales director for Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Sommerlatte joined Alcoa in July 2011
as sales manager for Germany,
Austria and Switzerland. From
February 2012 until April 2015 he
supervised and led the activities of
the Western European sales team.
24 Les Birchley.
Les Birchley retires after
almost 50 years
Les Birchley the engineering
director at RATP Dev London
with almost 50 years’ industry
experience retired on 1 May 2015.
Birchley began his engineering
career in 1966 as an apprentice at
Midland Red, which included an
assembly line manufacturing its
own vehicles. After finishing his
apprenticeship, he worked his way
up through the ranks at Midland
Red, becoming an engineering
manager in 1974. More promotions followed before he took up a
temporary job working in public
transport for the government in
Indonesia. On his return to the
UK he worked for a number of
companies within the then developing First Group.
In 2002, he became engineering
director for London United and
remained there for the rest of his
career.
His successor is Richard Shillingford, who joined RATP Dev
London from Metroline in November 2014 as part of a scheduled sixmonth handover period.
Marc Knott.
Omnibus appoints Knott to
business development role
Omnibus has strengthened its
business development team with
the appointment of Marc Knott
who has worked with First Huddersfield, First Manchester and
more recently Yorkshire Tiger
where he was operations manager.
Knott was also transport manager for Halifax Joint Committee
and part of the team which successfully bid for the local PTE contract. His responsibilities included
producing timetables and registrations, duties and rosters.
Michael Meilton, business
development manager, Omnibus,
says: “Marc has had many years of
experience in managing bus operators of all sizes, and his familiarity with our software packages will
see him well placed to advise customers and prospective customers
on which systems will suit their
needs”.
www.omnibus.uk.com
08 May 2015
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people
Chris Hunt.
Hunt appointed to Optare
sales team
Chris Hunt has joined Optare’s
sales team as regional business
development manager and will cover
the north of England and Scotland.
Hunt has more than 20 years’ experience in the bus and coach industry,
including sales, new vehicle build
and aftermarket repairs.
Tim Matthews, head of Optare
Sales, says: “I am delighted to welcome Chris to Optare; he brings
with him a wealth of knowledge in
bus manufacturing and sales”.
For all the latest vacancies visit – www.busandcoach.com
Margrave began his 43-year
career in the bus industry as an
apprentice with London Transport
at its Chiswick Works in 1971. He
rose quickly through the ranks,
becoming engineering director of
London General prior to the privatisation of London Buses and its
sale to the Go-Ahead Group.
Among the many tributes to
Phil’s memory, David Brown, chief
executive of The Go-Ahead Group
said: “Phil was a larger than life
character who gave so much to his
family, friends and work. Having
worked with Phil and been a friend
for over 30 years I know he will be
sorely missed.”
CPT chief executive Simon Posner added: “Phil has been a great
servant to CPT and the bus and
coach industry throughout his
working life. He will be greatly
missed by us all and our thoughts
are with his family at this very difficult time.”
www.optare.com
Jim Smith at his 90th birthday
celebration at Gaydon Heritage
Motor Museum.
Phil Margrave.
Obituary: Phil Margrave
We are saddened to report the
tragic death of Phil Margrave,
former group engineering director at Go-Ahead. Margrave, who
was also the long-serving chair
of CPT’s engineering committee
died suddenly last week, having
just embarked on his retirement
last November.
26 Obituary:
James Thomas Smith
James Thomas Smith born 14
October 1921, died April 18 2015.
The founder of Heyfordian
Travel, James Thomas Smith, died
on Saturday 18 April, aged 93. Universally known as ‘Jim’ he was born
in Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire, but spent his formative years
in the town of Cranleigh in Surrey
where his father established a general haulage company.
Jim Smith is pictured with the
then Volvo Bus vice president
Helge Casten receiving what
was the first Volvo B58 Plaxtonbodied coach delivered to a
British operator in November
1972. Commercial Motor reported
the price for the new Plaxton
Panorama Elite III as £13,427.
At the outbreak of the second
world war, the War Department
commandeered the majority of
their fleet of lorries and sent the
family to Oxfordshire with the
remaining vehicle. Jim and his
father helped to construct aircraft
dispersal areas for the expansion
of the Upper Heyford aerodrome.
It was here in 1941 that he married
his wife Kathleen, who was born
in the village.
Later he was called up for service
in the RAF and by chance found
himself back at RAF Upper Heyford as war ended. Whilst waiting
to be discharged, he singlehandedly reassembled a number of
engines from a pile of components
discarded in a corner of a warehouse.
One such engine belonged to a
bus which he purchased from the
station commander in return for a
promise to convey the servicemen
to London for weekend leave. This
bus formed the beginnings of what
was to become Heyfordian Travel,
named after the village of Upper
Heyford.
Jim still retained a keen interest
in the day to day operation of Heyfordian well into his 90s.
He is survived by his four sons,
daughter Linda and 12 grandchildren.
08 May 2015
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15 May 2015
27
product
The latest products and services for the bus and coach sector
Distinctive launches new passenger recovery and job exchange
A new service designed to help
operators get help in the event of
a breakdown or to find another
operator to cover a job has been
launched by Distinctive Systems.
Coach Hire Exchange (CHX)
is a free cloud-based passenger
recovery and job exchange service
available to all coach and minibus
operators.
CHX is designed to help operators find immediate assistance in
the event of a breakdown, or any
other situation where passengers
need to be picked up and transported as soon as possible. It is
also designed to make it easy for
operators to find another operator
to cover a planned job they need to
contract out.
CHX can be used by any coach,
minibus or associated operator
handling their own private hire
work, regular contract work, day
excursions, extended tours or
express services. Any operator can
post their own jobs and offer to
cover jobs posted by other operators.
28 It is a standalone service and is
not dependent on the use of any
other systems. The CHX website
can be used on a browser running
on a desktop or laptop computer, a tablet or a smartphone. The
website’s responsive design adapts
automatically to any size of display.
And CHX is also available as an
app for Apple’s iPhone and iPad,
and as a separate app for Android
phones and tablets.
Operators who have jobs they
would like assistance with can
use CHX to alert other operators
by posting to a central database
of jobs. Other operators can then
see those jobs and offer to help. An
urgent job can be posted quickly
with just the pick-up point, destination, number of passengers and
any further requirements. For nonurgent jobs the details required are
the pick-up date and time, pick-up
point, destination, back date and
time and the number of vehicles
with a type and seating capacity.
When a new job is posted, CHX
New Coach Hire Exchange service
is free to all coach and minibus
operators.
sends out emails and app notifications to all other operators.
A list of all available jobs can be
viewed by any operator at any time
on the CHX website or app. Jobs
are listed in date order and clicking on a job will drill down to its
full details. Along with the details
of the job itself, other operators
can see the contact details of the
operator who posted it.
Operators can make and accept
job offers within the CHX system
and emails and app notifications
are sent out automatically for all
offers and acceptances.
As part of the Coach Hire
Exchange launch campaign, Distinctive Systems is giving away six
hudl2 8.3” 16GB wi-fi tablets. To
be entered into the draw operators
just need to post a job to CHX,
or cover a job posted by another
operator.
www.coachhireexchange.com
08 May 2015
The latest products and services for the bus and coach sector
product
Synectics expands with new Belfast premises
having been supplying
and fitting systems in
the Wrightbus and ADL
factories from the early
1990s and working with
Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann for the past 10 years.
The new facility in
Mallusk includes a workshop enabling equipment maintenance on
Synectics Mobile Systems’ Gary Shields and Jeff Fail site and Synectics has
at new premises at Mallusk Enterprise Park.
also extended its team of
engineers.
On the back of a number of new
“Our team has built strong relacontract wins, Synectics Mobile tionships with clients in Northern
Systems has opened new premises Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
near Belfast to serve its growing and we are investing in enhanced
customer base in Northern Ire- support for clients,” says Jeff Fail,
land and the Republic of Ireland. managing director, Synectics
The CCTV specialist has worked Mobile Systems.
with the bus and coach industry in
“Over the years we’ve worked
Ireland for more than two decades on many high profile and special-
ist projects, and there are exciting
times ahead with customers old
and new.
“We are pleased to have been
able to secure these new premises
in Mallusk Enterprise Park and to
support the local community in the
Newtownabbey area.”
Gary Shields, sales and service
manager, Synectics Mobile Systems
Ireland adds: “We’ve had a succession of new business wins over
recent months and are delighted
to extend our team and launch our
new office premises and industrial
facilities”.
Recent new contract wins for
Synectics Mobile Systems include
advanced surveillance systems for
a series of school bus schemes and
projects with a number of Ireland’s
coach tour operators.
www.synecticsmobile.com
Fleet performance features enhance
GreenRoad telematics solution
GreenRoad has incorporated
new fleet performance features in
its telematics solution that include
real-time tracking, landmarks
and geo-fencing, resource locator,
route replay, location history and
vehicle health. It says that the latest
development means that operators
no longer need to choose between
f leet tracking and driver safety
since the new system covers both
areas.
“In the past, telematics predominately focused on top-down
visibility into fleet locations,” says
a GreenRoad spokesperson. “But
vehicle tracking is not enough
to run a successful business.
Although many telematics providers have since broadened their
offerings, they still take the same
‘top-down only’ approach and fail
to generate substantial savings and
profitability for operators.
08 May 2015
“When it comes to real
savings, drivers hold the
keys to better business:
specific driving behaviours and manoeuvres
cost companies dearly in
fuel consumption, collisions, insurance premiums,
wear and tear on vehicles, and reputation.”
GreenRoad says its new offering is a comprehensive solution
for both driver and fleet performance and ends a classic dilemma in
telematics with its multi-pronged
approach proving more than the
sum of its parts.
“For over a decade, GreenRoad’s leading Driving Behaviour
solution has been engaging drivers directly to generate profitable
change through in-vehicle feedback and post-trip analyses,” adds
the spokesperson. “Now Green-
GreenRoad adds fleet performance
features to its telematics system.
Road has significantly upgraded
its fleet management capabilities
to be as effective in controlling
fleet operations as it is at changing
driver behaviour.”
GreenRoad claims that its systems have monitored more than
eight billion miles to date with
bus operator clients including
First Bus, Stagecoach, Megabus,
BigBusTours, TowerTransit, East
Yorkshire Motor Services, Swans
Travel and Hornsby Travel.
www.greenroad.com
29
product
The latest products and services for the bus and coach sector
Integrated systems bring benefits to operators
Integration is the key watchword for 21st Century Technology
as it develops new on-board solutions for its customers, including mobile CCTV, telematics
and passenger counting systems.
The company points to its ability to integrate technologies, and
to assist operators in getting the
best from their fleet. Integration
can take a number of forms, from
upgrading existing systems to full
ITxPT (Information Technology
for Public Transport) compliant
platforms.
Having designed, supplied and
installed hybrid and full IP CCTV
solutions to its customers in Scandinavia for some years, 21st Century is now offering these solutions
in the UK. The systems communicate over ethernet, meaning that
the CCTV data can be integrated
with other on-board systems,
whilst safeguarding future technology developments. 21st Century says this not only enhances
the quality of the footage, but often
means the number of cameras on a
vehicle can be reduced.
The company says it is seeing
some exciting developments arising from integrating mobile CCTV
with other on-board systems, such
as passenger counting.
“It’s a very exciting time for 21st
Century Technology,” says Mark
Johnson, divisional director, vehicle systems. “On-board system
integration becomes more relevant
to our customers and they require
our services to assist in the design,
installation and ongoing support
for a number of technologies that
are fast becoming essential to the
safe, efficient and reliable running
of their fleet.”
www.21stplc.com
Enhanced Engineering Management System from EP Morris
The Engineering Management
System (EMS) from EP Morris
and Co is a suite of tools designed
to save operators time, prevent
breakdowns, and ultimately maintain high reliability and quality of
services. The software package is
designed specifically for the bus
industry with the DVSA in mind,
and has been developed in collaboration with some of the largest
operators in the UK. The system
includes an Engineering Diary to
manage the maintenance schedule, defect cards, stock management, job costing and Vehicle: Fuel
and Miles, which has been used by
the industry for many years and
underpins both BSOG and tyre
leasing returns.
EMS continues to be developed
and recent improvements include
defect cards, vehicle history reporting and automated updates.
EP Morris has recently deployed
staff to one operator to review and
assist with streamlining the defect
card recording process. Both the
process changes and additional
30 software enhancements improved
the speed of entering this information into the system. The DVSA
requires operators to have a defect
card system in place, but EMS
also provides a history of vehicle
defects for analysis and preventative maintenance.
In addition to existing reporting
functionality, which allows custom
reports to be generated to analyse
vehicle defects, a new Vehicle History report has been added which
provides details of defects, breakdowns, vehicle job cards, parts
issued and fuel and mileage data
for a vehicle over a user-defined
timeframe.
The company is also working
with clients to provide bespoke
automated reports for VOR, breakdowns, warranty, defects, run out
and engineering spend.
Further integration is also on the
way including using information
recorded in other modules within
the Depot Performance System.
A recent development in this area
has been to link the schedule vehi-
cle group, from the Traffic module, to the VOR log. This enables
the engineering department to
focus on vehicles that are required
by operations, to not only maintain service, but fulfil passenger
expectations and where applicable
contractual arrangements.
Forthcoming developments
include a system to support operators who are offering services
as Authorised Testing Facilities.
EP Morris says it has identified
opportunities to integrate into
EMS a f lexible multi-user ATF
booking system with the production of invoice documentation and
the recording and receipting of
payments, particularly credit and
debit cards as well as for account
customers.
Web developments are also
being planned for the EMS system
to identify processes where viewing and capturing data away from
a user’s workstation via web interfaces will add value.
01527 556 940
www.epmorris.co.uk
08 May 2015
Choose the experts in
business finance who are
always ready to rise
to the challenge
If there is one important message to deliver to UK businesses
who are looking for financial support, it’s that for 30 years,
Five Arrows Business Finance (FABF) has successfully delivered
funding solutions that have exceeded customer expectations.
So it’s fair to say our reputation goes before us, and it’s all the
more important for FABF to move along with changing times and
employ new ideas to invigorate businesses, to help them find a
new lease of life and to flourish.
Never one to sit back on our laurels, we continue to invest in
new initiatives to keep us one step ahead. We continue to roll
out new operational systems, integrate new technology and
recruit the best people, in order to maximise the customer
experience and deliver inspired solutions with greater efficiency.
Talk to a FABF specialist and you’ll see how effective we are at
finding the right solution for any business finance problem, none
more so than the tough ones.
Whether it’s a funding requirement to stabilise cashflow, fund
new plant or equipment, or to facilitate an MBO or MBI, you can
be sure that when you ask for our help, we’ll rise to the challenge
and make success more accessible for everyone.
Call 01489 775600 or email info@fabf.com
ASSET FINANCE
ASSET REFINANCE
TURNAROUND FINANCE
INVOICE FINANCE
Five Arrows Business Finance Plc,
Burlington House, Botleigh Grange Office Campus, Grange Drive, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2AF
A member of the Rothschild Group
www.fabf.com
F I V E A R R O W S B U S I N E S S F I N A N C E ~ D R AW N T O A C H A L L E N G E
focus on Finance
Business insurance cover now available
from Davies Corporate Finance
Davies Corporate Finance reports that it
has extended its portfolio to more than 40
finance and insurance providers which now
includes intermediaries that can provide
general business insurance cover, including
credit/debit insurance for the SME sector.
“The ability to arrange bespoke business insurance cover for the coach and bus sectors is a natural progression,” says managing director David
Davies. “Over the last 20 years, our business relationship managers have assisted all sizes of vehicle operators with the arrangement of asset and
business finance.
“Our affiliation with VPI Risk Solutions enables
you to have access to a diverse range of business
insurance services – from general fleet insurance
through to public liability and keyman insurance
services.”
Davies Corporate Finance also offers credit
insurance (also known as debtor insurance), to
help insure a business against the losses that may
be incurred in the event of debtors being unable
to pay invoices.
For those operators looking to review funding requirements or arrange business insurance
renewal, Davies Corporate Finance is keen to
discuss how it can help source comprehensive
finance and insurance cover at a competitive
price.
www.daviescorporate.co.uk
Davies Corporate Finance assisted funding for two Mercedes coaches for
Chauffeurhire Plus.
Dedicated financial support for
the bus and coach sector
Five Arrows Business Finance provides asset
based finance and invoice finance solutions
and its commitment to financing the bus and
coach sector spans more than 30 years. It is
able to provide funding facilities to bus and
coach operators of all kinds and any size, in
support of their local, national or international contracts.
Part of the Rothschild Group, Five Arrows prides
itself in its innovative stance and resourcefulness
in delivering successful outcomes under the most
unusual or challenging business circumstances.
From financing single vehicles to entire vehicle
fleets, it aims to apply an entrepreneurial approach
when designing funding solutions for bus and
32 coach businesses that can be implemented
quickly and effectively.
A range of finance options are available, from
short-term financing to complete funding packages, for the entire spectrum of public and private
limited companies, partnerships and sole traders.
In addition to providing finance for the purchase of
new assets or refinancing assets to generate additional cashflow, it can deliver commercial finance
solutions for mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs and management buy-ins for midmarket to larger businesses. Its product range also
encompasses invoice finance facilities to overcome
cashflow hurdles that can stifle business growth.
www.fabf.com
15 May 2015
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33
focus on Album Conference
Fully automatic Quantum solution
on show at Album
At this year’s Album Conference in Chester,
Q’Straint will be exhibiting Quantum which it
claims is the industry’s first fully automatic
rear-facing wheelchair securing station. The
Quantum will be on display in a dedicated
demonstration van.
The new product enables wheelchair and scooter
passengers to position their chair and by simply
pushing a button to secure themselves in a stable
and safe rear-facing position without driver assistance in a process taking under 25 seconds, according to Q’Straint.
“In addition to ensuring the highest level of passenger safety, keeping buses on schedule and preventing tip-overs, Quantum provides a more respectful
experience to the process of wheelchair securement,” said Bob Joseph, Q’Straint vice president
business development. “Now safe securement and
release is fully automated.”
In the past, drivers would have to take time to
affix straps to harness the chair, potentially invading the passenger’s personal space, says Q’Straint.
With Quantum, wheelchair users have the freedom
to board the vehicle and automatically secure their
mobility device without assistance.
Once the passenger’s wheelchair is centred
against the backrest, the press of a button engages
the automatic locking sequence. Integration with
existing vehicle electrical and interlock systems pre-
Wheelchair passengers able to secure themselves with new Quantum system.
vents accidental release of a secured wheelchair
while the vehicle is in motion.
“One of our goals is ensuring the integration of people with disabilities into society -- and transportation
is a key enabler,” said Jim Franklin, Action Committee
of People with disAbilities. “No one enjoys being singled out when a driver must come back and secure a
wheelchair because it always takes time. People with
disabilities just want to get on the bus and go.”
Q’Straint says that operators benefit from reduced
dwell time when securing passengers in mobility
devices which will result in more reliable schedules.
And by safely securing wheelchairs and scooters,
Quantum reduces liability exposure for injuries to
mobility passengers as well as to seated or standing commuters who could be injured by unsecured
mobility devices.
www.qstraint.com
Bus Electrical promotes services to
operators, repairers and builders
Auto electrical specialist Bus Electrical is
exhibiting at this year’s Album conference
to promote its services including short and
long term electrical support for bus repairers, manufacturers and operators.
Blackburn-based Bus Electrical covers the
whole of north west England and its technicians
diagnose, repair and maintain all types of PCV
electrical systems. The company specialises in
34 buses and understands the need for efficient and
inexpensive repairs to enable operators to get
vehicles back into service with confidence.
Bus Electrical also works directly with accident
repair and refurbishment centres so can help with
repairs, conversions and modifications on third
party premises to reduce the time vehicles spend
out of service.
www.buselectrical.com
15 May 2015
your efficiency is our challenge
Come and
see us at
Oilmaster maintains the optimum
oil level under all operating
conditions.
CONFERENCE 2015
Key features and benefits
Stand 26
 Smart
electronics prevent overfilling
 Cuts
downtime, maintenance and
repair costs
 Assists
25
GROENEVELD 1990 - 2015
in emissions reduction
FLUIDMASTER
id level indicator
Our ‘at a glance external’ flu
Please contact us on: 01509 600033
or info-uk@groeneveld-group.com
www.groeneveld-group.com
focus on Album Conference
Supporting the industry’s employees
Among the exhibitors at this year’s Album
event is the Transport Benevolent Fund
which provides help and advice to those
working in the public transport industry in
Great Britain. As a registered charity it is a
non-profit making organisation and points
out that it doesn’t pay any commissions.
Anyone engaged in the public transport industry
can join TBF at a cost of just £1 a week, which can
be deducted through the payroll system or paid
for by the employing company. This £1 covers the
member, their partner and dependent children and
offers a wide range of benefits should need, hardship or distress arise.
TBF considers each family member separately
- it does not accumulate awards for the whole
family. TBF does not make loans, so the money
granted is for the member to keep. The main aims
are to help keep the member at work and to ease
their worries. This is beneficial to both employee
and employer.
Benefits available include financial help to
cover short-term hardship from sickness, debt
advice, legal help on non-employment matters
and bereavement benefits. TBF also offers medical benefits such as second opinions, scans and
tests, complimentary medical treatments, medical
equipment, prescription season tickets, help with
the cost of laser eyesight correction and convalescence.
“TBF does not have a call centre or lots of push
button options for callers,” says Ian Barlex, development director. “The Album conference is the
ideal opportunity to speak with companies that
don’t already have employees signed up as TBF
members and to showcase the advantages of such
membership for both employer and employee. It is
also a chance to catch up with current TBF members and old friends.”
www.tbf.org.uk
Come and see us at
CONFERENCE 2015
We’ll be Exhibiting
a Halton Borough
Transport Vehicle.
Specialising in vehicle repairs and refurbishment,
Bus and Coach World offers a range of services tailored
to suit your requirements.
For more information call Robert or Philip on: 01254 672172
visit www.busandcoachworld.co.uk or find us on facebook
36 15 May 2015
Now available
as a Hand-Held
Plus new features – barcode scanner
and schedule adherence
Call us: 020 3195 8800
sales@ticketer.co.uk
www.ticketer.co.uk
focus on Album Conference
Reading Buses opts for Fleet Manager
Following a comprehensive market evaluation, Reading Buses is fitting MiX Telematics
Fleet Manager to its fleet of 172 buses.
"Topping our priority list was the desire to uplift
performance while simultaneously improving the
overall customer experience," says Jacqui Gavaghan, performance director, Reading Buses. “That
means in addition to looking to reduce our fuel
consumption and carbon footprint, we were also
keen to adopt a system which would help ensure
incidents such as harsh braking and over-speeding are minimised in order to benefit the comfort
and safety of our passengers."
MiX Telematics is providing ongoing consultancy
services to the in-house Reading team for the
Fleet Manager implementation, including training,
assistance with data analysis and helping to create
awareness among drivers.
To encourage best practice, all drivers will be
given access to the My Mix Driver Portal. This
enables drivers to view their driving scores and
compare them to those of their colleagues on the
same vehicles.
The Fleet Manager solution chosen by Reading
includes the optional dashboard-mounted RIBAS
display which alerts the driver when he or she is
driving correctly, when a pre-programmed operational parameter is in danger of being exceeded
and when a parameter has been exceeded.
www.mixtelematics.com
IT’S TIME TO GET
ON BOARD
Optimum Oils. Dedicated suppliers of Lubricants and
Anti Freeze to the UK Bus and Coach Sector
Call: 08719 188 881 | Email: orders@optimumoils.com | Web: www.optimumoils.com
38 15 May 2015
!"
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21st Century
Technology
Getting your passengers to their destinations
Safely
Comfortably
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CCTV | EcoManager | Passenger Counting
W: 21stplc.com | T: +44 (0)844 8717990 | E: info@21stplc.com |
15 May 2015
: @21stCenturyLtd
39
focus on Album Conference
Ipswich and Ticketer
working on future developments
Ipswich Buses was one of the first operators
to start using Ticketer’s electronic ticket
machines when it took on the system four
years ago and the two companies continue
to work closely together to develop new
ways to use the technology.
“We are as happy as ever with Ticketer,” says
Malcolm Robson, managing director, Ipswich
Buses. “They are great people to deal with and
they have an excellent product. We have found
them to be extremely responsive to any changes
we want to make and they don’t charge any extra
for it, which is unique in the ticketing industry.”
Ipswich initially chose Ticketer, which was then
at an early stage in its growth, because of its customer service promises and fixed cost structure.
The ETMs are ITSO-compliant and provide tracking and output to real-time passenger information
40 systems. This allows Ipswich to qualify for the
higher rate of enhanced BSOG which provides a
payback for the cost of the new ticket machines
in three years.
Ticketer designed and implemented a system
that enabled an ITSO commercial card scheme for
Ipswich, covering period pass, carnet and stored
value cards, including rolling out the ETMs and
card scheme within seven weeks of order.
Ipswich was also one of the first to use the Ticketer hand-held ETM which enables passengers to
board more quickly at busy times such as festive
events, football matches and music concerts.
Ipswich Buses is now working closely with Ticketer to introduce the latest schedule adherence
function which provides on-bus alerts to prevent
drivers from departing from a stop too early.
www.ticketer.org.uk
15 May 2015
A
SIMPLE SOLUTION TO A
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focus on Album Conference
New technologies from McKenna
This year sees McKenna Brothers attending
its 12th Album conference in a row.
“The Album conference is a great event,” says
managing director Derek Dawson. “You get to
meet both bus operators and coach builders on
a more social level, the papers are very informative and the conference always seems to run like
clockwork. It’s one event we always look forward
to at McKenna Brothers."
On McKenna Brothers’ trade stand this year will
be a new concept in terms of destination displays,
a new lightweight Ultima sign, full onboard talking bus systems and a new Bluetooth destination
sign.
Mobitec’s association with the Luminator Technology Group has now given McKenna Brothers
access to a large range of technologies and concepts. “I recently attended an international sales
conference hosted by the Luminator Technology
Group,” adds Dawson. “The product road map for
42 McKenna Brothers managing director Derek Dawson.
the future is staggering with the amount of new
products and concepts and we are so excited
to be showing one of these new products at this
year’s Album Conference.”
www.mckennabrothers.co.uk
15 May 2015
TBF - helping
to make a real
difference...
If need, hardship or distress should arise, TBF is
here to help its members and so help to keep the
wheels of the public transport industry turning.
A wide range of benefits is available, helping to
improve members’ work-life balance and reduce
staff turnover for the employer.
It costs just £1 a week
£1 covers the member (they must work in the
public transport industry), their partner and
dependent children. Each family member is
considered separately and benefits paid are
NOT cumulative for the whole family.
Our Patrons include leading figures in the
major transport groups and trades unions.
The Trustees all work in the industry and
decide on all benefits.
We don’t pay commission to anyone, all
contributions go towards helping our members.
Call today to find out how we can help.
0300 333 2000
www.tbf.org.uk
help@tbf.org.uk
The Transport Benevolent Fund (known as TBF) is a registered charity in
England and Wales (1058032) and in Scotland (SC040013).
focus on Album Conference
Diamond jubilee for ROSCO
2015 is a special year for the Road Operators’
Safety Council since this year it celebrates
its diamond jubilee, and will once again be
exhibiting at the Album Conference.
Established in 1955 as a scheme to recognise
safe driving for professional bus and coach drivers, ROSCO has continued to promote safe driving
for the past 60 years and now boasts more than
40,000 drivers registered with more than 90 different operators supporting the scheme.
Drivers receive personalised certificates for each
calendar year they drive without a blameworthy
accident or driving prosecution. On completion
of five years’ continuous safe driving they also
receive a badge, and thereafter badges denoting their number of continuous safe driving years.
Special anniversaries are recognised by the award
of milestone certificates and medals for 25, 30 and
35 years, with some drivers reaching 40 years’
continuous safe driving.
ROSCO’s member companies confirm that
membership of the scheme improves staff morale,
reduces accidents and helps promote safe and
fuel efficient driving, cutting operating costs and
downtime.
www.rosco-uk.org
Optimum introduces Texaco Techron
HD to the bus industry at Album
Bus and coach lubricants specialist Optimum
Oils is teaming up with Chevron Lubricants
to introduce a new engine cleaning product
for the bus and coach industry at the Album
conference. Optimum says that Chevron’s
Texaco Techron HD can remove injector
deposits from engines which are now more
prevalent due in part to the rise in the use
of biodiesel and accentuated by the higher
injector pressures inherent at Euro 5 and 6.
The product can return the unit to levels of
fuel efficiency normally associated with new
engines, according to Optimum.
Chevron is now rolling out Techron HD to UK
truck operators but Optimum is the first to offer the
product to the bus and coach industry.
Optimum Oils is an established specialist lubricants distributor which claims to serve around 40
per cent of British bus and coach fleets.
“Our customers are frequently reporting loss of
44 performance and fuel economy from modern diesel engines,” says managing director Cliff Thrussell, “particularly on intensive stop-start inner city
applications. “Uniquely Techron HD, which is available either as a one-shot clean-up treatment or
as a continually-dosed cleaner, returns engines to
health and can maintain them at peak efficiency for
a modest investment. This has a positive impact
on both fuel economy and emissions.”
Dave Spence, Chevron Lubricants commercial
sector marketing manager, adds: “We are hard at
work on a programme to introduce our Techron
HD product to UK truck fleets but have been seeking a partner to work with us in the specialised bus
and coach sector.
"We are delighted that Optimum, a true expert in
the needs of passenger transport fleets, is going
to work with us and we wish them every success
at Album.”
www.optimumoils.com
15 May 2015
Turnkey Instruments Ltd
VOSA & TüV approved
for your peace of mind
BrakeSafe
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s-EASURESANDPRINTSBRAKEPERFORMANCE
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Accessibility
Ensuring accessibility
It’s not just the equipment on the vehicle which
is important when it comes to accessibility;
controlling street furniture is also vital.
Steve Banner reports
T
here is little point in having the bestdesigned wheelchair access ramp in
the world – powered or
manual – if it cannot
be deployed when
a bus pulls up at
a stop because
there are umpteen obstructions
in the way.
That is something Transport for
London (TfL) recognised sometime
ago and it has been doing
something about it in conjunction
with the London boroughs. The
necessary changes have taken
a while to put into place and the
programme has yet to be fully
implemented, but around 80 per
cent of the capital's 19,500 bus stops
are now accessible compared with a mere 29
per cent in 2008.
An £18million investment scheme announced two
years ago means that at least 95 per cent of stops
should be accessible by 2016, says TfL. "We are
now well on our way to reaching this target and we
will be working hard to look for ways to go beyond
it," says London's deputy mayor for transport, Isabel
Dedring.
London TravelWatch has lobbied continually for
better bus stop accessibility and is pleased with
the progress made so far. "However there is still
more work to be done," says chief executive, Janet
Cooke.
So what is meant by an accessible bus stop?
It is one that is free from any badly-placed street
furniture - waste paper baskets, bollards, railings
and so on - and other clutter blocking access to
the bus doors when it pulls up. It also involves what
TfL refers to as a 'protected clearway' to ensure
that only buses can use the stop and provision of
46 PLS front entrance lift.
a kerb that is high enough for a wheelchair ramp to
be deployed.
If the kerb is too low, or non-existent, then the
angle the ramp will have to be deployed at will
involve the wheelchair user facing a steeper climb
before he or she can board the vehicle.
All this of course pre-supposes that people
in wheelchairs can get close to the bus stop of
their choice to begin with. Their journey down the
capital's pavements regularly turns into an obstacle
course, say TfL and London TravelWatch, thanks
to illegally-placed so-called A-boards that display
advertisements.
Supported by London TravelWatch, TfL has been
stepping up its efforts to get them removed.
"They clutter up our pavements and cause real
problems for many pedestrians," says TfL director
continued page 48
➜
15 May 2015
Ventura
Systems
innovative door systems
Official Agent UK to
provide dedicated
service & spare parts
R SE
WITH RIES
300 K UP TO
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CAPAC LIFT
ITY
15 May 2015
+31 (0)515 577750
+44 (0)1787 473000
www.venturasystems.com
www.transportdoorsolutions.co.uk
info@venturasystems.com
sales@transportdoorsolutions.co.uk
R Series Key Benefits include:
Sturdy construction - made from
lightweight aluminium material
Includes built-in magnets for
secure ramp closure
Built-in proximity switch
Easy operation
Anti-slip coating on the base
Two years’ manufacturer’s warranty
47
Accessibility
Ramp supplied by Masats.
of enforcement and on-street operations, Steve
Burton. "We want to clear London's streets and
make them easily accessible for all."
When somebody in a wheelchair boards or
alights from a London bus they will do so by means
of a power-activated ramp installed at TfL's behest.
Although there are some exceptions, the majority of
fleets outside London use manual ramps instead.
There is little evidence that this situation will
change in the near future, with buses cascaded out
of London to provincial fleets having their powered
ramps removed by refurbishment specialists at the
same time as their centre doors are replaced by the
manual alternative.
Power-driven ramps have to be inspected and
serviced every so often and cycled daily to ensure
they are not so badly-clogged with road dirt that
they cannot be deployed. It all adds to the vehicle's
running costs.
Specify them on a new bus and you discover they
do not come cheap. "They cost five times more than
a manual ramp," points out Tony Rodwell, global
sales and marketing director at ramp manufacturer
Compak.
There are however sound reasons to go the
power-activated route, he believes. If a manual ramp
has to be deployed then the driver has to leave the
protection of the cab to do so, he points out; not
wise in some urban areas, especially at night, if
there is money from fares onboard.
While some manual ramps are easy enough to
lift, others may be heavy, awkward to manoeuvre
and may result in a manual handling injury, and time
off work for the driver. By its very nature, manual
deployment is slower than powered deployment
48 which means that the bus
will spend a bit more time
at the stop than it might
otherwise do and ablebodied travellers are not
always as patient as they
ought to be.
People in wheelchairs
find high-floor coaches
more difficult to access
than low-floor buses, but
not impossible thanks
in ver y large par t to
Passenger Lift Services
(PLS). Part of the Mobility
Networks Group, it has
addressed the challenge
that coaches present in a
variety of different ways.
They include the
installation of a power-operated two-piece cassettetype lift that fits into the coach's front entrance.
When married to a powered PLS Magic Floor it
can be used to elevate wheelchair and occupant to
passenger saloon level.
PLS markets its lifts under the Access banner and
their capabilities were illustrated at last November's
Euro Bus Expo on a full-size coach rig. As well as
the front-entrance lift the rig featured the EQ, the
latest version of PLS' ski-locker lift.
Changes include handrails that have been
re-designed in such a way that the lift is now easier
to deploy and stow, says PLS. Access lifts are also
available that can be mounted in bottom lockers.
PLS also produces more unusual lifts including
a specially-engineered stretcher lift that has been
fitted to a bespoke 12.2m XMQ6129 King Long
coach.
It operates in the UK and France providing
transport for severely-disabled individuals and their
accompanying medical personnel. The idea is to
enable people to go on holiday or on pilgrimage
even if they are bed-bound.
Made from stainless steel, the 500kg-capacity lift
is 2,100mm long and 925mm wide and sits in the
coach's main locker. It is capable of lifting someone
on a stretcher plus a carer who can operate the lift
using a roaming controller.
The lift has an anti-slip surface, automatic roll-off
stops and a flat bridging plate to make loading and
unloading easier. "I regard this as the most complex
yet rewarding installation that PLS has ever carried
out," says managing director, Adam Beck.
Converted by Blackpool Design Coachbuilders,
the coach has removable seats and can
continued page 50
➜
15 May 2015
Unwin Safety
Systems offer
complete
solutions
for all your
transport needs
Accessible
Transport
Solutions
Worldwide Safe Mobility Solutions
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Corporate
Supporter
SAF
unwinsafety.com
01935 827740
sales@unwin-safety.co.uk
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Accessibility
accommodate four stretcher beds plus a number
of wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs need to be secured correctly and
the systems used to keep them and their occupants
in place are under continuous development.
Q'Straint has launched an automatic, rear-facing,
wheelchair-securing station called Quantum which
it says allows passengers to secure themselves and
their wheelchairs in less than 25 seconds without
the need for help.
“In addition to ensuring the highest level of
passenger safety, keeping buses on schedule and
preventing tip-overs, Quantum provides a more
respectful experience to the process of wheelchair
securement,” says Bob Joseph, Q’Straint vice
president, business development. “Now safe
securement and release is fully automated.”
Meanwhile Unwin Safety Systems has developed
a flooring package for accessible minibuses that can
be cut to the vehicle's shape and supplied ready for
installation. It is to be found for example in the 200
Renault Master minibuses in service with HC-One
care homes and converted by Wilker.
The ability to slot a floor straight into a vehicle
saves both time and money.
New products and services demonstrate Unwin’s
integration within the same corporate group as
Sweden’s Autoadapt and the US-based BraunAbility
and Bruno Independent Living Aids. Its range now
includes BraunAbility wheelchair lifts, FEAL ramps
and Revar doors as well as its wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint systems and Innotrax
flooring.
BraunAbility lifts are now being supplied direct by
Unwin including the stacking platforms Vista and
Vista Split for professional use, and the Century XT
series for consumer use.
Spanish manufacturer Masats also offers electric
ramps with its RE1 ramp which is located under
the floor and the RT1 telescopic ramp located
above, which can be activated both electrically
and manually. Masats says that the positioning
of the ramp means that it avoids being hit by the
pavements or elements on the ground which means
that it can also be installed on city buses as well as
minibuses. Masats’ also supplies a manual ramp,
RM2, which is suitable for buses and minibuses,
and it offers a wide range of KS7 lifts for intercity vehicles which can be installed on the stairs
or placed in the luggage hold, with an additional
dedicated door.
Masats has recently launched the KV5 vertical
lift for dedicated special doors which comprises a
compact elevator suitable for high-floored vehicles.
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facebook.com/transportdoorsolutions
50 @transportdoor
15 May 2015
Accessibility
This year's Coach & Bus Live show will once
again feature an Accessibility Zone with around 30
suppliers exhibiting and a wide variety of accessible
mini- and midi-buses.
Turning to doors, there is no
shortage of competition for
orders.
Vapor Ricon Europe,
which also produces
wheelchair ramps and
lifts, has a new range of
glider and sliding doors
to compete against
other door specialists
i n c l u d i n g F i n l a n d's
Ta mwa re, the U K's
Transport Door Solutions
(TDS) and Ventura of the
Netherlands. The latter
is a shareholder in TDS
which acts as its British
agent.
Masats, whose aftersales service is provided in
the UK by Air Door Services, provides both electric
and pneumatic doors. It claims to have been the first
to introduce electric equipment for doors and now
has more than 45,000 different versions of electric
equipment units installed, including outswing plug
doors, sliding plug doors and inswing glider doors.
The increasing use of electric and diesel-electric
hybrid buses should logically lead to electric rather
than pneumatic actuation. After all, there is no
shortage of electric power on these vehicles.
Bus operators remain wedded to pneumatics
however and seem disinclined to switch away from
them.
"It's probably a reaction to attempts years past
to adapt existing pneumatic systems to electric
operation that didn't really work," suggests Alan
Lockwood, UK agent for Finnish door manufacturer
Tamware.
Electric activation functions perfectly well these
days however, he contends, and is proving to be
dependable even under extremely demanding
conditions. As proof, Tamware tests its doors in a
specially-constructed climate room it has installed in
its factory. Its internal temperature can be pulled all
the way down to minus 50 degrees C and right the
way up to plus 80 degrees C.
"Our electric doors work perfectly well at minus
50 degrees C," Lockwood observes.
Tamware makes both electric and pneumatic
doors but has placed more emphasis on the former
in recent years.
TDS' comprehensive range includes electric doors
that it supplies mainly to wheelchair-accessible
minibus specialist Treka Bus. There have been no
15 May 2015
Vista Split stacking platform available from Unwin.
reliability issues, TDS states, but it agrees that fleets
with full-size buses remain nervous nevertheless
about making the switch.
Contact
Compak
0208 858 3781
Masats
0034 9383 52905
www.masats.es
Passenger Lift Services
0121 552 0660
www.passengerliftservices.co.uk
Q'Straint
01227 773035
www.qstraint.com
Transport Door Solutions
01787 473000
www.transportdoorsolutions.co.uk
Unwin Safety Systems
01935 827740
www.unwin-safety.com
Vapor Ricon Europe
01509 635920
www.riconuk.com
Ventura Systems
00 31 515 5777 50
www.venturasystems.nl
51
who buys what
The latest bus and coach deliveries
Volvo delivers ‘wow’ factor for Hollinshead Coaches
Biddulph, Stoke on Trentbased Hollinshead Coaches,
which this year celebrates its
30 year anniversary, has taken
delivery of a new Volvo B11R
9700 tri-axle.
The new B11R will be used for
touring work, mainly in the UK
but also for continental trips and
features leather seating, threepoint seat belts, TV screens,
toilet, hot drinks server and a
fridge.
“We needed a new 53-seater
for our fleet and while we always
purchase Volvo, we did look at
a number of other vehicles, but
found that none had the same ‘wow’ factor as
the Volvo B11R,” says Steve Haydon, operations
manager.“Passenger comfort is also a key factor in
our decision-making process and as our new B11R
9700 is a tri-axle vehicle and 13 metres in length,
there is so much more available leg room. Today’s
traveller wants and expects the highest quality
and comfort from their coach operator and this
vehicle meets their and our needs perfectly.”
www.volvo.com
Slimline Solos for Coastal Coaches
Three new Optare Solos, the first of a batch of
eight, have been delivered to Coastal Coaches.
The company currently operates eight Optare
Solos and the new buses will operate on route
76, around Blackpool, rural Fylde and Lytham St
Annes.
The 7.9m Euro 5 slimline Solos seat up to 27.
The buses follow a tradition of being named after
family and close friends, and the latest additions
are named Master Luke, Master Liam and Miss
Elvi.
“We have run Solos for many years and have
been extremely happy with their performance,
therefore when it came to buying new vehicles,
Optare vehicles were the
obvious choice for us,” says
Bill Holder, owner at Coastal
Coaches. “The routes these
vehicles serve are quite narrow in places so the slimline
Solo is ideal for this purpose.”
Tim Matthews, UK sales
& national key account manager, Optare, adds: “Coastal
Coaches have been a loyal
customer and supporter of
Optare since 2003, and we
are delighted to be replacing
their fleet of Solos with the
latest model”.
www.optare.com
52 15 May 2015
Promote
your
Services
01694 731510
Gyrodrive Customer Support Maintenance Manager
Competitive salary + benefits
Based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire with frequent UK travel
The Gyrodrive Customer Maintenance Support Manager will be responsible for delivering highly
competent engineering and technical support to the customer base to achieve maximum customer
satisfaction with the product and service. This will entail managing and co-ordinating all activities
associated with Technical Field Support of our buses including: attending service review meetings
with customers, managing relationships with manufacturers, producing KPIs, budgeting for labour
and materials, ensuring compliance with Health & Safety requirements, and managing the day-to-day
operation of the Field Support team.
Your key skills, qualifications and experience should include:
t"EFHSFFRVBMJmDBUJPOJONFDIBOJDBMPSFMFDUSJDBMFOHJOFFSJOHPSBSFMBUFEEJTDJQMJOFJT
desirable, or be able to demonstrate a similar level of knowledge and skill gained by
practical experience;
t"TPMJEUFDIOJDBMCBDLHSPVOEEFNPOTUSBUJOHQSBDUJDBMFOHJOFFSJOHTLJMMT
t"CJMJUZUPNBOBHFBUFBNPGQFPQMFJOBDVTUPNFSGBDJOHFOWJSPONFOU
t(PPEDPNQVUFSMJUFSBDZJODMVEJOHGBNJMJBSJUZXJUIBVUPNPUJWF
diagnostic systems and MS Excel and Word.
For further information, and to apply with CV and short covering letter,
contact: Katie Kavanagh, GKN Hybrid Power, 1 Pentagon South,
Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3PZ or by Email: katie.kavanagh@gkn.com
15 May 2015
53
Recruitment
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who buys what
The latest bus and coach deliveries
Scania i-Skool is the choice for Carvers
Ellesmere Port-based Carvers
Coaches has taken delivery of a new
Scania Irizar i-Skool 70 seater coach.
Based on a Scania K 320 IB4x2
Euro 5 chassis with Scania’s 320hp
Euro 5 engine and fully-automated
Opticruise gear selection system, the
vehicle includes three-point seatbelts,
air-conditioning and extra tinted
side glass.
“Our first brand new coach was
a 2006 Scania Irizar 70 seater,” says
Mark Carver. “The time had come to
upgrade this coach so it was an easy
decision to stick with this tried and tested combination. Additionally, the service we receive from
everyone at Scania – from the company’s bus and
coach team to our local dealer at Ellesmere Port
– is first class.”
www.scania.com
Lakeside takes another Tourismo
A new Euro 6 Tourismo has been delivered to
Lakeside Coaches, which is based in Ellesmere,
Shropshire and was formed in 1979, from the
Heading
takeover of Lakeside Minicoaches by John Davies.
Still headed by the original MD and chairman,
the business has continued to grow and
now operates 30 vehicles. The latest addition joins a fleet that includes a 2014 Tourismo and 2013 Tourismo, both owned from
new. The new vehicle is built to Touring
Plus-specification and seats 49 in Luxline
upholstery with part leather-fabric. Other
features include increased legroom, electronic drop-down 19in monitors, tinted
privacy glass, fold-out trays, arm- and
foot-rests, and a kitchen and centre toilet.
The coach is powered by a MercedesBenz OM 470, 290kW engine, coupled to a
6-speed ZF Ecolife automatic gearbox.
www.daimler.com
Compak 5 - Now 20% Lighter & All Electric!
In service worldwide for more then 15 years!
Quality
Performance
Reliability
Tony Rodwell – Global Sales & Marketing Director
T: +44 (0)20 8858 3781 F: +44 (0)20 8858 5663 E: tony.rodwell@compakramps.com
Compak Ramps - VIP Industrial Park, Anchor & Hope Lane, Charlton, London SE7 7RY
54 15 May 2015
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56 15 May 2015
15 May 2015
I ssue 354
Special events planned
for coach groups
Inside… News and events • RDA-Workshop gets ready to welcome international visitors
Attractions
Stonehenge coach boost welcomed
by CPT
E
nglish Heritage’s proposal to increase
the number of coach parking spaces
and improve the faciilities available at
Stonehenge has been welcomed by
CPT.
The plans will see the introduction of an additional
26 coach parking spaces, taking the total to 56,
and also create a new pedestrian route, subject to
approval by local councillors. “Each year Wiltshire welcomes over one million
visitors from around the globe to Stonehenge,
one of the most famous sites in the world,” says
CPT coaching manager Andy Warrender. “With
approximately 60 per cent of these visitors arriving
by coach or as part of a group, it is vitally important
that the attraction continues to review its access
and parking facilities in order to meet levels of
demand. “Increasing the number of available parking
spaces will not only make for a more comfortable
Andy Warrender, CPT coaching manager.
and enjoyable visit for those arriving by coach, but
it will have a positive impact on road safety, vehicle
emissions and congestion in the local area.
“World renowned attractions deserve top
class facilities and these proposed changes will
undoubtedly improve the visitor experience for all.”
www.cpt-uk.org
Hever captures garden highlights
H
ever in Bloom, which runs from
15-20 June, aims to showcase the
gardens at Hever Castle at the height
of their summer beauty. Visitors can
join the gardeners for free daily tours
to find out more about the award-winning garden’s
history and many of the plants grown throughout
the grounds. Tours last between 45 minutes to one
hour and finish beside the gardeners’ greenhouse
near the Courtyard Shop where many of the plants
in the grounds are available for sale.
Green-fingered visitors can also bring their
plants along to ask the experienced garden team
for advice and to discuss any problems they may
have.
Aspiring florists and flower arrangers looking
for inspiration can create their own hand-tied
bouquet to take home. The floristry workshop lasts
approximately 45 minutes to one hour and costs
£8, including materials, and sessions must be prebooked. The Castle florist takes visitors through
58 coachtourismprofessional.co.uk
the steps to create a unique arrangement while
providing tips and giving advice.
Colourful summer displays of bedding can be
seen in the Italian Garden and the romantic walled
Rose Garden contains more than 4,000 roses.
Planted in blocks of colour from palest pink to deep
crimson and rich purple, varieties range from the
Alba and Bourbon to Hybrid Tea and Floribunda
including its own Hever Castle Rose (Horquinsey)
launched by Dame Judi Dench.
Hever Castle’s gardens were laid out between
1904 and 1908 by Joseph Cheal and Son to
display William Waldorf Astor’s unique collection of
Greek and Roman statuary collected while he was
American Ambassador to Italy.
The gardens open at 10.30am and the Castle
opens at 12 noon with last admission at 4.30pm
and final exit at 6pm. Admission for Castle &
Gardens is £16 for Adults with discounts for groups
of 15 or more.
www.hevercastle.co.uk
15 May 2015
Ferries / Attractions
Malo Seaways joins Calais
route for DFDS Seaways
D
FDS Seaways’ Dover-France fleet is
back up to five ships, with the Malo
Seaways now replacing the Dieppe
Seaways vessel on the 90-minute
crossing between the UK and France.
Malo Seaways is 170m long with capacity for
around 400 passengers, 375 cars and 2,000 lane
metres of high vehicle capacity, and has been
refurbished and rebranded in DFDS Seaways
colours.
DFDS Seaways Dover-France fleet back up to five vessels.
Passenger facilities on board include a restaurant
serving hot and cold food, a dedicated children’s
area, an additional seating area, a café bar with
a selection of drinks and snacks and an onboard
shop. Commercial driver facilities are available in
the Road Kings areas, which include a restaurant,
relaxation lounge and shower facilities.
www.dfdsseaways.co.uk
Butterfly returns to Stratford
A
striking butterfly has made its first
appearance in more than 10 years at
the Stratford Butterfly Farm this spring.
A male Parides Childrenae, also
known as Green-celled Cattleheart,
has recently emerged. The butterfly, which has an
iridescent green patch on its fore wing, is normally
found in South America. These unusually coloured
butterflies were last seen at the Stratford Butterfly
Farm over ten years ago but now the farm is
breeding them once more.
A number of Parides Childrenae have now
emerged and have been placed in the Caterpillar
Room to breed. Inside the room is a plant called
‘Aristolochia’, also known as ‘Dutchman’s Pipe’. It
is hoped that the butterflies will mate and lay their
eggs on the plant whose leaves will be eaten by the
caterpillars once they have hatched.
15 May 2015
A male Parides Childrenae at Stratford Butterfly Farm.
This specimen and hundreds of other spectacular
butterflies, insects, reptiles and spiders are on view
at the Butterfly Farm which is open from 10am to
5.30pm every day.
www.butterflyfarm.co.uk
coachtourismprofessional.co.uk 59
Awards
Nantwich becomes 22nd town to
gain Coach Friendly status
T
he market town of Nantwich in east
Cheshire has been awarded CPT’s
‘Coach Friendly’ status. Nantwich
becomes the 22nd holder of this title and
the fifth location in north west England
along with Bury, Chester, Liverpool and Southport.
CPT’s Coach Friendly scheme is now in its 12th
year, and is designed to recognise the commitment
made by towns to understanding the requirements
of coaches and their passengers, and providing
first-class facilities and information for drivers. “Nantwich has shown a coherent and detailed
strategy for integrating group tourism - providing
clear directional instructions and signs for visiting
coaches, adequate capacity for coach parking,
set-down and pick-up points and excellent nearby
facilities for both passengers and drivers,” says Alf
Scrimgour, CPT coach tourism executive.
“Overall I was extremely impressed by Nantwich’s
wholehearted efforts to satisfy the quite demanding
criteria of the status, and also by the way all agencies
have worked together to make sure they ‘ticked all
the boxes’.
“Nantwich has shown a real commitment to
providing a true and genuine welcome to coaches,
their drivers and passengers.”
Mayor of Nantwich Christine Farrall adds: “I
am certain that this status will lead to a greater to
number of visitors having an even more enjoyable
time when coming to Nantwich.”
CPT’s Coach Friendly status is reviewed every
12 months by means of a signed statement from
the destination confirming that no significant
changes have been made to the provision, and
all holders of the status are subject to a formal
re-audit every three years to ensure there has not
been a significant decline in their recognised coach
friendly facilities.
Previous winners of CPT’s Coach Friendly Award
are: Nantwich, Llandudno, Burnham-on-Sea,
Devizes, Rochester, Stratford-on-Avon, Windsor,
Southport, Salisbury, Scarborough, Eden Valley,
Chester, Bury, Lichfield, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick
Town, Ironbridge, Cardiff, Liverpool, Coventry,
Shrewsbury and Chesterfield. www.cpt-uk.org
Peter Saunders, Nantwich Rotary; Christine Farrall, Nantwich mayor; Sue Mullen, CPT North West;
and Alf Scrimgour, CPT UK.
60 coachtourismprofessional.co.uk
15 May 2015
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15 May 2015
coachtourismprofessional.co.uk 61
RDA Workshop
RDA-Workshop 2015 – a
treasure trove for UK coach &
group travel organisers
T
he 41st RDA-Workshop, which takes
place from 21-23 July 2015 is Europe’s
largest B2B trade-only exhibition
focussing exclusively on the coach
and group travel sectors. The annual
exhibition presents visitors from coach tourism
companies, tourism destinations, group organisers
and coach holiday suppliers with a wide spectrum
of potential partners and business opportunities.
Strong personal relationships, networking and
co-operation at national and international levels
are the unique selling points of this exhibition, the
largest international sales and purchasing platform
for coach and group travel products and services.
The RDA-Workshop presents UK group travel
operators and planners with a host of new ideas
to develop their itineraries. Meeting new business
partners and nurturing business contacts are two
of the main reasons given for visiting the threeday event by visitors. The dedicated event, with its
diverse range of exhibitors, is a unique platform for
finding partners, sourcing new offers and sharing
experiences.
The RDA-Workshop’s range and potential for
innovative group holiday travel is second to none.
There is no other exhibition where UK coach tourism
specialists can meet as many potential coach
tourism suppliers and group travel partners. The
1,000-plus exhibitors range from accommodation
providers, sea carriers,
theme parks, musicals,
tourist boards, incoming
agencies, group travel
wholesalers and visitor
attractions to individual
and family-run restaurants and hotels throughout
mainland Europe and beyond.
“The RDA-Workshop is a treasure trove of
business contacts for UK coach holiday operators
and group travel organisers” says Annette Sperling,
project manager, RDA-Workshop. “It is a must for
all UK companies interested in growing their coach
and group travel business – whether inbound or
outbound – and for all group travel organisers
seeking stimuli for their 2016 / 2017 programmes”.
The theme of this year's Special Offers Campaign
is – ‘BusPlus’. Whether it is breath-taking Alpine
views from panorama trains or Mediterranean
cruises, combining coach travel with other transport
modes helps broaden customer experiences.
“BusPlus transport combinations offer comfortable
journeys to both sunny and snow destinations
when the core coach and group travel seasons
have already reached their peak,” adds Sperling.
“UK coach and group travel operators who offer
such programmes can also gain plus points in
terms of customer retention and brand loyalty.”
‘BusPlus’ will also be a theme of the RDA-
The RDA-Workshop includes around 1,000 exhibitors targeting the coach and group travel sectors.
62 coachtourismprofessional.co.uk
15 May 2015
RDA Workshop
RDA-Workshop team: Anna Schwenk, Daniela Bonn, Annette Sperling and Nicole Paluch.
Workshop Trend Forum presentations where
colleagues from many countries come together for
engaging and enlightened dialogue and debate on
topical industry issues.
This year’s RDA-Workshop Social Evening will
take place on Wednesday 22 July 2015 where
RDA-Workshop participants can enjoy good
company, delicious food and Cologne’s renowned
beers in an atmospheric location. Tickets may
be ordered in advance from the RDA-Workshop
Touristik-Service or purchased at the ticket desk
during the exhibition.
RDA-Workshop visitors can prepare their
appointments well in advance of the exhibition and
inform themselves about potential meeting partners
with the RDA-Workshop 2015 app for iPhones and
Android mobile devices. Information and content
will also be available for reference during the show
itself. This includes the exhibitor directory, hall plan,
calendar of events, press calendar and exhibition
news.
The app offers full functionality offline with
constant updating of data, and the ability to save
favourites, make notes about exhibitors and send
appointment requests to exhibitors.
The app will soon be available for download for
iPhone and Android devices in the iTunes Store
and Google Play Store.
The RDA-Workshop 2015 online planning tool
– www.rda-workshop.de/en – goes live in June
2015. It will support trade visitors to arrange their
RDA-Workshop 2015 visit from printing entry
tickets to organising and administering meetings
15 May 2015
and appointments schedules. An International
Exhibition Pack is also available on request.
The RDA - International Coach Tourism Federation
is Europe’s largest umbrella organisation for the
coach tourism industry. It has a membership of
around 3,000 companies from 40 countries and
provides a forum for B2B, market research, legal
and fiscal advisory services, further training and
political lobbying at both national and European
Union levels. The RDA is a founding member of
the European Alliance for Coach Tourism (EACT)
of which CTC, CPT, CTTC Ireland and ETOA are
members.
RDA-Workshop 2015
Dates: Tuesday 21 July to Thursday 23 July
pening times: 21 and 22 July – 09:30-18:00
O
23 July 2015 – 09:30-15:00
Location: Cologne Fair, Halls 10.1 and 10.2
Contact:
RDA-Workshop Touristik-Service GmbH
Hohenstaufenring 47-51
50674 Cologne
Tel. +49-221-12 04 48
Fax +49-221-13 79 29
Email: service@rda-workshop.de
Web: www.rda-workshop.de/en
Twitter Hashtag: #RDAWS2015
coachtourismprofessional.co.uk 63
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