On Stage Issue 71 - Stagecoach Group

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Driving up standards CONGRATULATIONS have gone to Paul Herbert from Cheltenham who took first place at the recent Stagecoach West Bus Driver of the Year Awards. Mark Skidmore from Gloucester took second place, while Daniel Jarvis from Gloucester came third. SHARED CENTRE IS A GREAT MOVE EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS has moved a number of key staff to Network Rail’s new control centre in Derby. Gavin Bell, Head of Train Service Delivery for East Midlands Trains – whose Control Team has moved to the centre – said: “This new joint control centre provides a fantastic opportunity for both East Midlands Trains and Network Rail to improve communication with its customers. “Controllers from both companies will be sitting side by side, sharing information and being able to work quickly together to manage the day-to-day operation of the railway. “An additional benefit will be that both performance management teams will also be based in the same location for the first time ever, providing the opportunity for an increased management focus.” Gavin will be working closely with Chris Jackson, Operations Manager for Network Rail at the East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC). Establishing a senior management presence at the centre is part of East Midlands Trains’ strategy of providing 6 Summer 08 Stagecoach West Driver of the Year Paul Herbert, flanked by runners-up Mark Skidmore (left) and Daniel Jarvis. management support for staff throughout the business, and not basing all managers at one head office function. Mr Jackson said: “In all the other parts of the country where Network Rail has introduced integrated control centres with the local train operators, the performance of trains has increased dramatically. “Sitting alongside our train company colleagues means that, when we need to make decisions affecting their services, it’s far quicker and easier than having to pick up the telephone. “The end result is a much better train service for passengers, with delays and disruption kept to a minimum.” The EMCC building is the first of its kind in the UK. It has been built to a modular design, enabling Network Rail to provide modern facilities at an efficient cost and is the first of a number of similar control centres planned around the country. It is Network Rail’s greenest ever building, incorporating solar water heating to reduce carbon emissions and rainwater harvesting to save a million litres of water every year. Hare we go, hare we go... PASSENGERS had a close encounter of the furred kind on the Northampton to Leicester bus route recently. The Easter Bunny sprang on and off buses all day. “And what’s more,” revealed Adam Rideout, Marketing Manager at Stagecoach East, “the Bunny was loaded down with chocolatey presents and was ‘rabbiting’ all the way to Leicester and back.” The Stagecoach service, which runs from Northampton to Leicester via Market Harborough every 60 minutes, now has the benefit of newly branded and refurbished buses. PASSENGERS using three key routes in Coventry are to benefit from some of the city’s biggest ever bus service improvements, thanks to a new partnership agreement. Stagecoach, transport authority Centro, Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council have all endorsed the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, committing to provide quality bus services on routes 55, 56 and 57. Thanks to a £1.8 million investment, customers using the STAGECOACH West has invested over £100,000 in a brand new Optare Versa vehicle. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Tadpole’ by staff, the new Optare Versa low-floor bus represents the latest in clean engine technology, meeting European emissions standards and The Easter Bunny hops on board to wish passengers a Happy Easter. Phil Medlicott and his team launch the new Matrix services in Coventry. Partnership provides improved service enhanced Matrix services – which link the city centre with North Coventry, Nuneaton and Bedworth – will ride on 14 new low-floor, easy-access buses. Phil Medlicott, Stagecoach in Warwickshire’s Managing Director, said: “At a time when fuel prices are continually rising and we each need to do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint, these improvements will make a real difference and go a long way to encouraging more people to choose the bus.” Tadpole makes a splash Staff have nicknamed Stagecoach West’s new Optare Versa ‘The Tadpole’. helping to cut carbon emissions. The new Versa will mainly operate on the recently extended service between Gloucester, Coney Hill and Abbeydale. The service runs across the Lobley’s Drive bridge into the developing estate at Cooper’s Edge, continuing on via Hurricane Road to the Whittle Inn, Brockworth which is adjacent to Tescos. It will also operate on citi Service 5. Manchester Metrolink expansion MANCHESTER’S Metrolink network is set to expand to nearly double its size. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) selected the M-Pact Thales consortium as preferred bidder for the ‘design, construct and maintain’ contract for the major expansion. Three new Metrolink lines will run to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside and Chorlton in South Manchester. They are expected to take five million car journeys off local roads every year, and increase the number of trips passengers make on the network each day from 55,000 to more than 90,000. The contract will also include a quarter-mile extension to mediacity:uk in Salford Quays if the Transport and Works Act order is approved by the Government. And more lines into Oldham and Rochdale town centres – as well as to Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and the Trafford Centre – could also be built if Greater Manchester’s bid to the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund is successful. David Leather, GMPTE’s Interim Chief Executive, said: “Metrolink has been a massive success since the first lines to Bury and Altrincham opened in 1992. I’m delighted we’ve now selected a preferred bidder for this major expansion of the tram network.” Permanent thrones for Hampton Court AS part of South West Trains’ commitment to improving stations on its network, Hampton Court Station has undergone a £150,000 refurbishment of new and improved toilet facilities. The work, done in partnership with Surrey County Council and Network Rail, established the first permanent set of toilets in the station for 20 years. Malcolm Page, South West Trains’ Station Development Manager, said: “South West Trains recognises this station as a major tourist interchange because of Hampton Court Palace and the popular flower show. “There was a need for amenities of this nature as previous developments that would have improved these facilities unfortunately had not progressed.”
PASSENGER BOOM FOR BUDGET BUS Preston Operations Manager Rob Jones with two of Preston Citi’s happy customers. And our survey says... PRESTON passengers have given a big thumbs-up to their local bus services. Independent research found that customers of the Stagecoach Citi bus network in Preston are some of the most satisfied bus users in the UK, with the formula of highfrequency, high-quality, valuefor-money bus services proving a clear winner. Up to 98% of people questioned said that they were highly satisfied with the new services, demonstrating results far in excess of the National Travel Survey, which provides an overview of how customers across England rate their local bus services. Operations Manager Rob Jones said that he was extremely pleased with the results. “The challenge now is to build upon our initial success and continue to improve the offer for our existing customers and of course attract more new bus users. “Our mission really is to get Preston back on the bus,” he added. Nathan Williams, Marketing Manager for Stagecoach in South Wales and West, helps Alun Wyn Jones dish out some healthy snacks. BARROW depot threw open its doors to the public for a special open day. A variety of events were laid on to make sure the May event was enjoyed by all ages, and having their photograph taken in front of a bus with a destination blind of their choice proved very popular with visitors. An assortment of bus enthusiast stalls and the chance to view and travel on ‘True giant’ given a fitting tribute Tim Shoveller (left), John Miller (centre) and railway expert Roger Ford unveil the powercar’s prestigious nameplate. THE MEMORY of one of Britain’s greatest train engineers has been immortalised in the most fitting way possible. Terry Miller was the driving force behind the creation of the High Speed Train (HST), also known as the InterCity 125 – still the fastest ever diesel train. Now East Midlands Trains has named its first reliveried powercar (43048) after the great man. Marking the event at a special ceremony in Leeds, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, said: “It is with great pride that we honour Terry by naming one of our powercars after him. “He is a true giant in the history of the railway and his design has stood the test of time. WELSH Rugby Union star Alun Wyn Jones passed on some healthy eating tips to Stagecoach passengers. Alun joined the Health Challenge Wales team to give out free fruit to travellers at Pontypridd Bus Station in a bid to raise awareness on healthy eating. Health Challenge Wales aims to encourage people from all age groups and backgrounds to start protecting and A Barrow of laughs had by all at open day many vintage buses added to the fun. Operations Manager Willie McPhail and Engineering Manager David Cowperthwaite and their staff were on hand all day to ensure a fun day was had by all. Mascot Just the Ticket joins Engineering Standards Manager Bryan Walkden (left) and Engineering Director Paul Lee at Barrow depot’s open day. “To get an idea of just what an incredible design Terry gave us, you only have to look at our HST fleet’s current performance – operating at a peak of 18,000 miles per five minutes delay. “We believe this is the best performance ever for an HST fleet and is comparable with the performance of many more recently designed engines.” The nameplate was unveiled by John Miller, Terry Miller’s son, who said “My father would have been very proud today. He toiled very hard over this project and it’s great for him to be honoured in this way.” ‘Terry Miller MBE’ operates the 07.26 service from Leeds to St. Pancras International. Try some fruit to give you a kick INTER-CITY coach service megabus.com has now carried one million passengers in North America. megabus.com began offering fares for as little as $1 in the United States in April 2006 and has expanded to cover 25 cities in North America – attracting commuters, students, business and leisure travellers. The company celebrated its success by presenting the millionth customer – Dana Bellers from St Louis – with a laptop computer and complimentary Chicago Double-Decker/ Trolley Tour tickets. Her fellow passengers on the same coach also received free sightseeing tickets. “megabus.com is the inexpensive, convenient and safe way to travel on my own,” she said. “The online reservation system is easy to use and fares are always the lowest compared to rail, air and car.” Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating Officer of megabus.com, said: “We have the market-leading budget coach service in North America and the overwhelming popularity of megabus.com’s innovative, express travel means we are continuing to expand. “We’re excited to have reached our millionth customer and look forward to serving future travellers with the same passion and exceptional value-for-money our existing customers have come to expect.” improving their own health and that of their families by eating healthily and doing something active which they enjoy. John Gould, Managing Director of Stagecoach in South Wales, explained: “By taking part in the initiative, we wanted to help the Assembly Government drive home the message about healthy eating and positive living style.” megabus.com research shows that 79% of customers have used the budget service as an alternative to the car, train or plane. Joseph Schwieterman, Director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development and Professor of Public Service Management at DePaul University, said it was a growing trend. “The public is responding with considerable enthusiasm to the express services provided by megabus.com and other low-cost providers,” he said. “After years of decline, the industry is once again poised for growth.” Customers are able to travel on a new network of routes on America’s east coast. Services run from New York City to Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo and Atlantic City, New Jersey, as well as a cross-border service to Toronto, Canada. megabus.com offers up to 55 daily departures from New York in new greener, state-of-the-art coaches, with free wi-fi and on-board video. This means the growing low-cost coach network covers eight locations in the east coast and 17 Midwest cities. The North American expansion follows the UK success of megabus.com, which carries around two million passengers a year on a network of inter-city services covering around 40 locations nationwide. £2 million well spent RESIDENTS of Hartlepool are set to benefit from a £2 million investment in new buses. Stagecoach in Hartlepool has ordered 19 new, low floor, single deck vehicles for use in the town. The new Enviro 200s are some of the most environmentally friendly buses in production and are also easily accessible for wheelchair users, those with prams and the infirm. In addition, all the new vehicles will have CCTV fitted. John Conroy, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East, said: “We hope the £2 million investment will significantly improve the travel experience we offer our customers. “We are committed to ensuring our services are accessible by all and that they are environmentally sound and these new vehicles meet our objectives exactly.” Summer 08 7
Page 1 and 2: WHAT A RESULT! The newspaper of Sta
Page 3 and 4: GREEN TRAVEL GAINS GROUND CONSU
Page 5: In the pink: Mark Threapleton, Mana
Page 9 and 10: NT AND ENCOURAGE GREENER, SMARTER T
Page 11 and 12: Geraldine Smith MP launches Morecam
Page 13 and 14: Brilliant birthday bash for Corby b
Page 15 and 16: Hiking team boosts cause A TEAM of

On Stage Issue 71 - Stagecoach Group

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