News Across the Group - October 16

Photograph by Thomas Ball
Metrobus
Sustainability Report 2016
TAKE A LOOK...
News across
October 2016 2 High profile visit
to Loyang
4 Bloomin’
good result
THE GROUP
6 Given a sporting
chance
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
Go-Ahead and its operating companies have all published sustainability reports to
coincide with the Group’s AGM. The Go-Ahead Group has strong sustainability
credentials and this year’s reports, which cover the year ending 2 July 2016, follow hot
on the heels of the Group achieving an improved Carbon Disclosure Project score.
David Vazquez, corporate affairs and
sustainability manager, explains:
“We continually aim to improve our reporting
across the Group and make sure we are
talking about the things that matter most to
our key stakeholders.
“We are proud of many of our achievements to
date but know that there’s always a great deal
more that can be done. With this in mind this year
we’ve started a sustainability materiality review
to help identify the most important non-financial
material issues on which to focus our efforts.”
Brighton & Hove Buses
Sustainability Report 2016
Focused on
partnership
Go-Ahead London
Sustainability Report 2016
Go East Anglia
Sustainability Report 2016
Focused on
every journey
Sustainability Report for the
year ended 2 July 2016
Focused on
partnership
Focused on
partnership
Go South Coast
Sustainability Report 2016
Focused on
partnership
The Group’s report is supported by an animated video giving
a engaging summary of the organisations activity in a simple
accessible format. http://bit.ly/sustainability2016
Govia Thameslink Railway
Sustainability Report 2016
Focused on
partnership
London Midland
Sustainability Report 2016
Focused on partnership
Go North East
Sustainability Report 2016
The Oxford Bus Group
Sustainability Report 2016
Plymouth Citybus
Sustainability Report 2016
Southeastern
Sustainability Report 2015/2016
Travel Made Simple
Focused on
partnership
focused on
partnership
Every
journey
taken
care of
Focused on
partnership
HOORAY, HOORAY
— DELAY REPAY
Agile
Customers who travel with Go-Ahead’s rail companies can now choose how their
compensation for delayed journeys is paid. Previously rail vouchers were the only
payment method, but with our new online claim management system, six compensation
options are available, including: Visa/Mastercard, BACS and PayPal. Within the first week
of launching the new system, there were over 21,500 delay repay claims.
1

12:00
13:00
News across the group
October 2016
Collaboration
SOUTHEASTERN
AND THE DAME KELLY
HOLMES TRUST
Dame Kelly Holmes recently joined Southeastern’s (SE)
managing director, David Statham, to give a speech about the
three-year partnership between the rail company and charity.
Speaking at the Institute of Directors annual convention, David
waxed lyrical about the
seven employability
programmes that have
supported 100 young
people into work that
SE has already run. And
over the next 12 months,
SE has committed to a
further four programmes.
HIGH PROFILE
VISIT TO LOYANG
One step ahead
Go-Ahead Singapore has once again been building strong
relationships by hosting chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy
and managing director of surface transport at TfL, Leon Daniels.
The pair were taken on a tour of the depot to gain operational
insight into Go-Ahead Singapore’s state-of-the-art facility.
GATWICK
EXPRESS
ARE APPY
BUNNIES
On Track Retail – Go-Ahead’s
e-ticketing business – has recently
worked closely with GTR to update
the Gatwick Express app. In a first
for the rail industry, Gatwick Express
e-tickets are available in boarding pass
format – similar to aeroplane e-tickets.
Other updates include: real-time train
information and flight arrivals and
departures – with the option of pinning
flights to a personalised dashboard.
WHSMITH GETS ON BOARD
Go-Ahead bus companies have collaborated with WHSmith and
marketing agency Simbiotik to bring an offer to customers this
autumn. Until 27 November, bus customers who download an
m-ticket can enjoy £5 off when they spend £20 at WHSmith.
Collaboration
Stroll into a WHSmith store in Seaford, Gateshead, Bournemouth,
Tunbridge Wells, Plymouth and Oxford in the next two weeks and
you’ll see our digital ad in the window. You can also check it out
here: http://bit.ly/GAGbusad
find out more...
£
off
when you spend £20 *
in selected
High Street stores
buy your bus ticket
on our app to get this
exclusive offer!
bluestarbus.co.uk/offer
Terms and Conditions apply. O fer valid between 17 October and 27 November 2016
*on books, stationery, cards, toys, games, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, drinks and confectionery.
£5 off
when you spend £20* at
in selected stores
Buy your bus ticket on
the Go North East app
to take advantage of
this exclusive offer.
Conditions apply, offer valid between 17 October and 27 November 2016.
*on books, stationery, cards, toys & games, art & craft,
newspapers, magazines, drinks and confectionery
Conditions apply. Offer valid between
17 October and 27 November 2016
gonortheast.co.uk/whsmith
find out more...
morebus.co.uk/offer
do see
£
| | bus
off
when you spend £20 *
in selected
High Street stores
buy your bus ticket
on our app to get this
exclusive offer!
Terms and Conditions apply. O fer valid between 17 October and 27 November 2016
*on books, stationery, cards, toys, games, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, drinks and confectionery.
OUT OF THIS WORLD
DISCOUNTS
WITH YOUR BUS APP
Buy selected bus tickets on the
Oxford Bus m-tickets app
& take advantage of
exclusive offers like this one!
oxfordbus.co.uk/whsmith
oxfordbus.co.uk/whsmith
oxfordbus.co.uk/whsmith
£5 OFF
WHEN YOU SPEND
£20*
BETWEEN
17 OCTOBER
- 27 NOVEMBER
*At selected WHSmith stores, on books, stationery, cards, toys & games, art & craft, newspapers,
magazines, drinks & confectionery
O fer valid between 17 October and 27 November 2016
Conditions apply (please visit h tp: /www.oxfordbus.co.uk/whsmith for details)
GET AMAZING
DISCOUNTS
ON YOUR
MOBILE APP
WITH
Simply purchase your
Zone 1 & 2 24 hour, 7
day or 31 day tickets
via the app to grab
this offer!
PLYMOUTH CITYBUS PRESENTS
plymouthbus.co.uk/whsmith
Conditions apply. Offer valid between 17th October - 27th November 2016.
NEW MESSAGE:
£5 OFF
£20
WHEN YOU SPEND
IN SELECTED STORES
Bluestar_Poster_A4_WHSmith_0916.in d 1 1/10/2016 16:54:31
more_Poster_WHSmith_0916.in d 1 1/10/2016 16:51:49
2

News across the group
October 2016
Continuing its impressive sustainability
programme, OBC recently invested £65k
replacing the lights at one of its depots.
This new system is expected to save the
company more than 25% in site electricity
costs as well as reducing its CO2 emissions
by more than 107 tonnes – equivalent to
taking a bus off the road permanently.
One step ahead
LEADING LIGHT IN
SUSTAINABILITY
DANCING INTO
THE DRIVING SEAT
Bollywood dancing, bouncy castles, facepainting and driving buses
around an obstacle course! No, it’s not Noel’s House Party, Go
North East has put on a free family fun day to build relationships
with the local community and encourage people to consider bus
driving as a career.
Trusting people
GO NORTH EAST WINS
IMPROPER PERSONAL
INJURY CLAIM CASE
Go North East has won an important case against an improper
personal injury claim – in what it views as an increasing issue – for
the second time this year. The Judge ruled that, not only was the
personal injury claim improper and should be dismissed, but that
the claimant and his solicitors should pay Go North East’s costs.
AVOID COMMON
DRIVING AILMENTS
Want to avoid ailments associated with driving?
Well, with the help of a new book
– Health and Well-Being for The
Professional Driver – you can.
Released in October, the book gives
advice to help identify and avoid
injuries, ailments and disorders
common among professional drivers.
Go-Ahead London has pledged
support by giving the manual to all
new recruits. But the author Brian
Roberts wants to go one step further:
“I’m committed to getting it into the
hands of every professional driver”.
To aid this vision, he’s offering a 65%
reduction in the price for people
buying it directly from his company.
To get your copy, call: 0207 101 3735.
SNAKES
ON A BUS
To celebrate 160 years of
London General – the company
Go-Ahead London evolved
from – it threw open its doors
and invited people to a birthday
party open day. Celebrations
ranged from face painting, to
reptile handling to having a ride
on a horse-drawn bus. Happy
Birthday London General.
Can do people
3

News across the group
October 2016
PCB WINS BIG
It turns out that good things come in large packages. Plymouth
Citybus has won Large Business of the Year at the 2016 Devon
Chamber of Commerce awards.
BLOOMIN’
GOOD
RESULT
Congratulations to London
Midland’s Stratford-upon-Avon
station, for winning first place in
the Public Places category of the
Stratford in Bloom 2016 Awards.
SILVER AWARD FOR STATION
ENTRANCE RENOVATION
The Community Rail Partnership Awards gave Thameslink a
silver award for collaborating with Cricklewood Town Team
to enhance the inner London station entrance. Photo collages,
flowers and a new sign all helped the partnership win.
Collaborative
COLLABORATION
WINS AT COMMUNITY
RAIL AWARDS
Go South Coast’s Bluestar
wins second place at the
ACoRP Community Rail
Awards for its collaboration
with local community rail
partnership during times of
rail disruption. The No Train?
No Worries initiative – which
offers rail passengers showing
valid tickets the chance to
travel with Bluestar at a
significantly reduced cost
when trains are delayed –
was praised by judges in the
‘Passengers Matter’ category.
UNIBUS LAUNCH
The partnership between Bournemouth University and Go South
Coast’s Morebus has launched UNIBUS – the new specially-designed
bus service for passengers to travel across university bus routes until at
least summer 2026.
4

News across the group
October 2016
Trusting people
GREAT NORTHERN GIVES
UNEMPLOYED YOUNGSTERS A JOB
Nine young unemployed people have secured roles with Great Northern,
following their successful completion of a ‘Get Into Railways’ employability
programme. Run by youth charity The Prince’s Trust and Great Northern,
the programme developed participants’ practical skills, before allowing work
experience in different stations.
One step ahead
BUS TOUR 3,500
IN THE MAKING
3,500-year-old Stonehenge has a new bus tour that’s bang up-todate,
tapping into Wiltshire’s £1.53bn visitor economy. Go South
Coast operator Salisbury Reds has launched a tour – with audio
commentary in ten different languages – that tells the story of the
world-famous monument.
AIR-CONDITIONED TRAINS
BREEZE INTO SERVICE
New trains are breezing into service for Great Northern this
autumn. They are the first of three types of modern trains that
over the next three years will steadily replace almost all of the
trains on the Great Northern network, creating one of the
newest train fleets in the country.
OUT WITH
THE OLD,
IN WITH
THE NEW
All Gatwick Express trains are now new,
giving passengers a superior experience
on the premium non-stop airport service.
The £145million, 27-train Gatwick Express
fleet, which comprises 108 carriages,
replaces 30-year-old rolling stock,
bringing the service bang! up-to-date.
5

News across the group
October 2016
IN SUPPORT
OF MISSING
PEOPLE
During the recent Go-Ahead
London open day, its chosen
charity – Missing People – was
able to raise over £3,500.
Missing People is the only
charity in the UK dedicated to
reuniting missing people with
their loved ones. Find out more via missingpeople.org.uk
A world where every journey is taken care of
STRUGGLING
TO UNDERSTAND
Bus drivers have been wearing special suits, ear defenders and
glasses to simulate the struggles older passengers can face daily.
Working with Age UK, Southern Vectis is the first transport
company to undertake the initiative. Already offering safe havens
and safe journey cards: this initiative will enhance Southern
Vectis’s already strong customer experience for older passengers.
A world where every journey is taken care of
BUS DRIVER’S
ACT OF KINDNESS
GOES VIRAL
A bus driver recently found himself at the centre of a media
storm when his act of kindness attracted a lot of attention on the
internet. Ken Waterson, a Go North East driver, kindly paid for
an 11-year-old girl’s bus fare after she lost her purse. The girl’s
mum took to Go North East’s Facebook page to thank Ken and
the post quickly went viral, being liked and shared more than
22,000 times. Being a down-to-earth and generous kind of guy,
Ken thought nothing of the gesture, so was surprised with the
fuss. Well done Ken, your act of selflessness and demonstration
of our vision, beliefs and attitudes means you’re this month’s
‘story of the month’.
GIVEN A SPORTING CHANCE
To encourage young people to lead healthy lifestyles, London Midland
(LM) has launched Your Sporting Chance. The programme sponsors
community groups and teams who actively encourage their members
to participate in sports – like the Hednesford Girls Air Cadets
(pictured) – who received outdoor activity kit from LM.
6

News across the group
October 2016
HIGH SPEED
FOOD FESTIVAL
Customers travelling on the Southeastern
Javelin recently took part in the Fastest
Food Festival – a high speed snacky giveaway,
part of the Canterbury Food Festival.
CHARITIES BENEFIT
FROM EMPLOYEE SURVEYS
MS Therapy Centre – supporting people with multiple sclerosis –
has benefited from £500 from Thameslink as it donated £1 to the
charity for each of its employee surveys completed. Great Northern
donated £500 to Mencap – helping people with learning disabilities
– again due to £1 being given for every survey completed.
Building relationships
NEW STREET
STATION CONSERVATOIRE…
The City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra has recently partnered
with London Midland to bring
classical music to more people.
Musicians popped up around Brum
to give impromptu performances
and the whole orchestra played not
one, but two concerts in Birmingham
New Street Station itself.
HAPPY 30 TH
BIRTHDAY
1 STOP
TRAVEL
Brighton & Hove’s 1 Stop
Travel Shop celebrated its
30th Anniversary in October.
NEW CHARITY OF
THE YEAR ROCKS!
Brighton & Hove and Metrobus unveiled a bus dedicated
to celebrate their new charity of the year, Rockinghorse.
Rockinghorse helps raise funds for vital resources to improve
health care for sick children
and babies at the Royal Sussex
County Hospital and Princess
Royal Hospital.
Pictured: Chief executive of
Rockinghorse Ryan Heal with
the Rockinghorse Bus.
7

News across the group
October 2016
150 YEAR’S
YOUNG
Lee, Bexley, Crayford and
Mottingham stations have
all celebrated their 150th
birthdays this month.
Employees, local MPs and stakeholders have been celebrating with cakes, bunting and activities
at the 150-year-old stations. Sidcup station will also celebrate its 150th birthday next month.
Here’s a round up of photos from the events so far:
Bexley Station,
Friday 23
December
Mottingham station, Wednesday 5 October
Lee station, Friday 2 September
Crayford station, Friday 23 September
Building relationships
IS IT A BIRD?
IS IT A PLANE?
NO! IT’S A SNOWDOG
45 giant sculptures of Snowdogs have sprung up around Brighton.
Inspired by the animated children’s film, the sculpture trail
allows businesses to build relationships with local communities
through art. Brighton & Hove Buses has sponsored a Snowdog
– charmingly called Blot (@BlotTheDogBTS) – which has been
designed to complement the company’s snazzy Arts Bus.
Trusting people
SWEET TREATS
FOR THE PASSENGERS
To mark national chocolate week, the Impromptu Quartet kicked
out some sweet riffs, while Southeastern staff handed out bars of
chooccy-woccy to thank passengers for their patience during the
London Bridge upgrade.
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