On Stage Issue 71 - Stagecoach Group

In the pink: Mark Threapleton, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester, is joined
by Genesis Corporate Fundraising Co-ordinator Tamzin Morris (left) and
Wendy Henshall, Genesis Campaign Manager, to add a splash of colour to a bus.
STAGECOACH Group is ahead of the game when it
comes to protecting the environment.
More than a year ahead of schedule, the company
announced it is to invest in greener bus technology to
meet new European emissions.
The Group confirmed the first part of a £71m investment
in a fleet of 584 new vehicles for the UK during 2008-09 –
the biggest ever order placed by the company.
Stagecoach has initially ordered nearly 500 vehicles with
a total value of more than £60 million from manufacturers
Alexander Dennis (ADL), Optare, MAN, Plaxton,
Scania and Volvo. The remainder of the £71 million
orders will be confirmed later this year.
The initial order includes an investment of over £30
million in more than 220 new buses and coaches that
meet tough new Euro 5 emissions standards, which are
not due to come into force until September 1, 2009.
These vehicles will use selective catalytic reduction
(SCR) technology to reduce nitrogen oxides in the exhaust
gas.
The engine is optimised for low emissions of diesel
particulates and low fuel consumption and, by adding
a reducing agent, the nitrogen oxides produced during
combustion are converted into harmless nitrogen and
water vapour within a catalytic converter.
Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK
Bus, said: “We believe there is huge potential to encourage
more people to reduce car use, get back on board the bus
and help address the challenge of climate change.
“By re-investing our profits in greener bus technology,
we will make our own operations more sustainable and
help reduce the carbon footprint of our customers.”
Rupert Cox, Commercial Director for Stagecoach Yorkshire, joins Mayor of Dronfield
Cllr Izzy Pryce and Geoff Pickford, Integrated Transport Manager for Derbyshire County
Council, to launch Dronfield’s new fleet of buses.
Charity support is wheely special
STAGECOACH Manchester helped
the drive to beat breast cancer
by joining the Pink Pinkie Week
Campaign.
To show support for the Genesis
Appeal, which runs Pink Pinkie
Week, the company donated £500
and painted the front left wheel nut
guard pink on 50 of its buses.
Staff also lent a hand by rattling
their pink collection boxes and
swapping their uniforms for pink
outfits.
A VIP guest did the honours as a
new fleet of hi-tech buses hit the
road in Dronfield, Derbyshire.
The Mayor of Dronfield, Cllr
Izzy Pryce, helped to launch the
new buses, featuring a special Peel
Monument livery.
The MAN/E300 buses meet tough
European emissions standards,
marking a real move forward for
public transport in the area. They
are designed to be fully accessible
to elderly passengers, people with
disabilities and families with young
children.
The Genesis Appeal, based at
Wythenshawe Hospital, is the UK’s
only breast cancer charity entirely
dedicated to the prevention of the
disease and aims to create a future
without breast cancer.
Lester Barr, Chairman of The
Genesis Appeal, said: “Genesis is
delighted with the support that
Stagecoach Manchester gave.”
Breast cancer is the most common
cancer in British women, with one in
ten likely to develop the condition.
GREENER BUSES
LEAD THE WAY
Honoured
passenger
welcomed
on board
EAST Midlands
Trains recently
played host to
a very special
passenger.
His Holiness the
14th Dalai Lama of
Tibet travelled on the
company’s 14.55 from
St. Pancras International
to Nottingham.
The spiritual leader
was going to the city
to give five days of
teachings.
The Dalai Lama is
shown being welcomed
by Tim Shoveller,
Managing Director of
East Midlands Trains.
The Pryce is right
for fresh investment
Stagecoach Yorkshire’s newest fleet
cost over £500,000, and Cllr Pryce
believed Stagecoach’s investment
in the service, connecting Dronfield
with Chesterfield and Sheffield, will
lead to further passenger growth
across the town.
Rupert Cox, Commercial
Director for Stagecoach Yorkshire,
added: “This service has seen
significant growth since 2003 and,
with this investment, we hope
to make Stagecoach buses even
more accessible for passengers in
Dronfield.”
Ian meets
chartered
challenge
IAN Day, the Operations
Manager based at
Stagecoach’s Ashford depot,
has been elected as a
Chartered Member of the
Institute of Logistics and
Transport (CMILT).
Ian, from Margate, was with
Thanet Council’s Community
Transport service for 10
years before his appointment
as Operations Manager with
Stagecoach in 2006.
He gained his certificate
after proving the necessary
experience within the
transport industry and the
competence and professionalism
required within his
present role.
Ian, whose team of 67
drivers and administration
personnel operate a fleet of
30, said he was delighted with
the accolade.
“The acceptance into the
Institute offers a range of
services and access to a vast
library of information and
research that will enhance
the way we can approach
the day-to-day challenges of
running a bus network,” he
added.
Egg-citement
over British
breakfast
FIRST-CLASS passengers
on East Midlands Trains can
still start their day in the
traditional way.
As the rail operator’s
London service prepared
to launch a new First Class
menu, speculation was rife
that the full cooked British
breakfast was to be dropped.
But the classic dish is
still on the bill of fare, as
Customer Service Director
Jake Kelly explained.
“Feedback from
passengers told us that,
although many wanted to
see lighter breakfast options,
a significant number still
loved our cooked British
breakfast,” said Jake.
“The breakfast is cooked
fresh on board by a chef and
we will also be retaining
the buffet cars on our
high-speed train fleet.
“I believe this shows we
are a train company who
are not only committed to
providing a fantastic service,
but also listen to what
customers want and then
deliver it.”
Summer 08 5