on stage
Issue 88 | November 2011
The newsletter of Stagecoach Group
s
Award l
Specia
In this edition we celebrate some of Stagecoach's most recent awards successes.
From buses to trains and overseas honours, Stagecoach and its people are
continuing to be independently recognised for their achievements.
Recognition for
bighearted Sir Brian
Stagecoach Group
Chief Executive Sir
Brian Souter has been
named Bighearted
Businessman of the Year
at the 2011 Bighearted
Scotland Awards, in
honour of his charity
work and business
success.
Stagecoach Group
Chief Executive Sir
He said:“It’s a great
honour to be the winner Brian Souter.
of this award. I am
privileged to have been able to work with
and support some wonderful charity projects
over the years.We are also very proud to
have launched the UK’s first Healthy Heart
Bus to help protect the health of our staff at
Stagecoach Group, who we greatly value and
who are key to the success of our business.”
Driving ahead in
the Bus Awards
Stagecoach has 23 shortlisted entries
in this year’s UK Bus Awards.
And four are in the running to be named
Britain’s best bus operator.
Stagecoach South, Stagecoach East Midlands
and Stagecoach West are shortlisted for Top
Shire Operator, while Stagecoach Manchester
is a finalist for Top City Operator. All four are
also in the running for the UK Bus Operator
of the Year Award. Other Stagecoach company
nominations include Express Operation of
the Year, Manager of the Year, Marketing
Excellence and Top National Bus Depot.
Rail franchises
simply the best
Staff’s hard work and dedication recognised
STAGECOACH’S rail franchises walked
away with a collection of honours from
this year’s National Rail Awards.
South West Trains scooped the top title of
‘Passenger Operator of the Year,’ judged by an
independent panel of rail experts.
The company was also named ‘Maintenance
Team of the Year’ for its work in partnership with
Siemens.
Andy Pitt, Managing Director for South
West Trains, said:“First and foremost, this award
is a real achievement for our front-line staff
and management who work so hard day-in
and day-out to deliver our train services for
passengers.
“I would also like to thank the Network Rail
Wessex staff for their contribution to our success
by providing a reliable infrastructure.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure we
deliver a great service to our passengers.”
East Midlands Trains received the important
award for Safety for its successful partnership
with Network Rail, British Transport Police and
the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to reduce
level crossing incidents.
East Midlands Trains was also highly
commended in the Passenger Focus-sponsored
award ‘Putting Passengers First’.
This recognised the company’s honest and
simple approach in helping passengers find valuefor-money train tickets through the launch of
Philanthropy earns
high-profile praise
Ann Gloag.
CHARITABLE work spanning three
decades brought Stagecoach co-founder Ann
Gloag an extra-special award in New York
recently.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal particularly
recognised Ms Gloag’s establishment of the Freedom
From Fistula Foundation in 2008, offering free care to
women in Africa who have been injured in childbirth.
“It is a huge privilege to have been chosen to receive
South West Trains Managing Director Andy Pitt
(centre) receives the Passenger Operator of the
Year award.
its online Best Fare Finder and initiatives such as
Red Dot Days.
Paul Trigwell, a Derby-based train driver for
East Midlands Trains, was also highly commended
for Outstanding Personal Contribution for his
proactive work with Samaritans and helping
other train drivers deal with the aftermath of
fatalities.
the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal as the former First
Lady of the United States was such an inspirational and
well-respected woman, advocate and leader,” said Ms
Gloag, who also has an OBE.
“The Freedom From Fistula Foundation helps the
forgotten women of Africa – women who have been
seriously injured in childbirth, leaving them rejected by
their families and outcasts in society.
“It is not a trendy or popular cause and that is why it is
so important.”
Ann Gloag’s other charitable work includes running an
orphanage and building a school in Nairobi, Kenya and
supporting the international charity Mercy Ships, plus a
wide variety of charities in the UK.
1
uk bus
You what?!
(Overheard on a New York bus.)
on stage
On your marks!
Passenger: “Slow down!”
Bus driver: “I’m stopped
at a light – I can’t get
much slower!”
Can you beat that?
Send your weird and
wonderful overheard
comments to
lindsay.reid@
stagecoachgroup.
com
Stagecoach is
continuing to make
preparations for its role in
transport to the 2012 London
Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
The Group is one of a select
team of bus and coach operators
providing transport at the Games.
And, as the build-up to the big
events gathers pace, Stagecoach
has been involved in a number
of test runs, including organising
and arranging transport for beach
volleyball and basketball events,
The London training team helping Stagecoach prepare for the
and the London-Surrey Classic
2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cycle Race.
The Group has also appointed Directors
from across the UK Bus Operating businesses.
of Operations for the two bus depots being
Stagecoach previously invited UK Bus staff to
managed by the company during the Games.
register to work during the Games in a variety
They are Stagecoach South West Operations
of roles.
Director Richard Stevens and Stagecoach West
All drivers and operational supervisors should
Scotland Operations Director Rob Jones, and
now know whether or not their applications
they will be supported by 12 divisional managers
were successful.
Historic buses played their part in the
Goodwood Revival weekend.
Bride on-board
Back in time
STAGECOACH joined Goodwood
Revival enthusiasts by turning back the
clock to a golden age of transport.
For the first time ever, Stagecoach South
used vintage vehicles on its popular bus
services between Chichester Train Station and
the Goodwood Revival weekend.
The event is the world's largest historic
motor race meeting with the vast majority
of spectators arriving in their finest 1940s,
50s and 60s fashions, so Goodwood Event
Operations Director Chris Salmon and Adam
Keen, Stagecoach Operations Manager at
Chichester, decided there was no better way to
start the day than arriving in style in a historic
bus.
WEDDING bells rang on the buses for
South Wales Operations Manager Carole
Morgan.
Carole and her wedding guests travelled to the happy
event on Stagecoach and City Sightseeing vehicles.
The bride and bridesmaids were carried by a
CitySightseeing Oxford open-top bus, while a
Stagecoach in Oxford Gold double-decker conveyed
the newlyweds and bridesmaids to the reception.
Transport for the groom and guests was also provided
by the Gold bus.
After the service, while Carole and new husband
Sam Stevens went on a wedding photo shoot around
Oxford, the guests were given a CitySightseeing tour Get me to the church on time!: Carole and
Sam with their special wedding transport.
before being taken to the reception.
Drew’s driving
ambition
New road code
MOBILITY scooter users who
travel on buses are benefiting from a
new set of guidelines.
Stagecoach helped the Confederation
of Passenger Transport (CPT) develop the
new code of practice for the safe use and
acceptance of mobility scooters on low-floor
buses.
The code introduces a permit system for the
mobility scooter user, making it easier for the
bus driver to recognise that a scooter has been
approved by the operator and its user has been
trained in how to get on and off the bus safely.
Blind charity fundraiser Drew Falconer
took the wheel of a Stagecoach bus.
BLINDNESS was no barrier for
charity fundraiser Drew Falconer.
Perthshire-based Drew lost his sight over 25
years ago, but recently completed a remarkable
driving challenge with the help of Stagecoach
in Perth.
After lessons at a local airfield, he successfully
navigated a course using manoeuvres similar to
those in a Stagecoach driver training session.
The event raised money for good causes,
and Gus Beveridge, Operations Manager at
Stagecoach in Perth, said:“We were delighted
to be able to assist Drew in his latest fundraising effort.”
2
uk rail / uk bus
on stage
Stations are cream of the crop
Linda Barnard looks after Popeye as he
waits for his owner at Guildford Station.
Popeye’s tale
ends happily
A CARING train driver’s kindness
saved a lost dog whose life was on
the line.
David Kent was travelling from Ascot
to Guildford when he spotted the cocker
spaniel walking along the tracks.
Making sure he followed safety rules,
David rescued the dog and handed it to
colleagues on arrival at Guildford.
They contacted the local council, and
the dog – named Popeye – was happily
reunited with his owner.
Footie fundraisers
score for charity
SUPERTRAM colleagues George
and Miriam Storey and Paul Gillott
raised over £800 for St Luke’s
Hospice through a charity five-a-side
football tournament.
Miriam said: “Sheffield loves football and
we thought it would be a good way to
involve family and friends in supporting
a fundraising event for St Luke’s, because
everybody loves the hospice too!”
Community spirit
SOUTH West Trains has been praised
for its commitment to community rail.
At this year’s Community Rail Awards,
the Stagecoach rail franchise won the
Community Art Scheme Award for its
Pokesdown Station Artwork project
in partnership with Network Rail and
Bournemouth Borough Council.
South West Trains also won the Best Station
Adoption Group award for its project at
Swaythling Station.
EAST Midlands Trains’ station
Wayne Kyte, Route Manager for East
staff are celebrating the results of the
Midlands Trains, who leads the Best Stations
company’s Best Station Awards.
Awards, said:“The judges had a really difficult
Lincoln Central scooped 2011’s award for
decision choosing the five winning stations,
Most Improved Station this year, while Derby
but we’re confident the winners and the
was named the Large Station of the Year.
runners-up are fully deserving of their awards.
The Best Medium Station Award went to
“We congratulate all the winners on their
East Midlands Parkway Station, one of the
success.”
newest stations on the East Midlands
Trains network, while Kidsgrove in
Staffordshire was named Best Small
Station.
Last, but by no means least,
Market Rasen in Lincolnshire won
the award for Best Community
Partnership.
Sheffield, Lincoln, Kettering,
Blythe Bridge and Kidsgrove stations
Winning smiles: Representatives from the
all received runners-up awards.
winning stations show off their silverware.
Basil’s tales are good
reading for pupils
Stagecoach has gifted £1000 worth
of children’s books written by one of the
company’s non-executive Directors to
primary schools in Perth and Kinross.
Author of the books, Helen Mahy, who is a
member of the Stagecoach Group Board, said:
“When I was walking my dog we would come
across other animals and I would start to imagine
the conversations he might have. I’m delighted
they’ve been so well-received and I hope children
at schools across Perth will enjoy reading all about
the adventures of Basil.”
The Adventures of Basil book series are
available to buy at www.basilthespaniel.com
with all profits going to the Special Olympics
Great Britain charity.
Helen Mahy (centre) presents the Basil books
to Alison Irvine (left), Head of Children and
Families’ Services at Perth and Kinross Council,
and Councillor Liz Grant.
Bus makes a
big impression
A RECORD-breaking Stagecoach
double-decker once hailed as Britain’s
biggest bus has been restored to its
former glory.
The company bought three of the tri-axle
Leyland Olympians in the late 1980s, but only
one remains.
Now, the Megadekker has been re-painted
with the original Stagecoach ‘stripes’ livery in
Bedford.
“When we purchased this vehicle in 1989,
it had the highest capacity of any bus in
Britain, with 66 seats on the upper deck and
44 downstairs,” said Stagecoach Group Chief
Executive Sir Brian Souter.
The re-painted Megadekker –
once Britain’s biggest bus.
“It represents the pioneering approach to
transport that has existed at Stagecoach since
the very beginning, and it’s great to see it being
repainted in the original Stagecoach livery to
help remind us of our heritage.”
3
uk bus
Top drivers
recognised
STAGECOACH employees have
done their company proud at the 2011
Bus Driver of the Year Competition.
No less than five Stagecoach drivers
finished in the contest’s top 20, the highestranking being James Wright from Stagecoach
Oxford, who finished in fifth place overall.
Next came 11th-placed John Quarrel
from Stagecoach North West, while Steven
Ratcliffe from Stagecoach Yorkshire followed
in 14th place.
Ian Field from Stagecoach East Scotland
was 15th and David Glasper from Stagecoach
North East finished in 17th place.
A total of 29 Stagecoach drivers competed
in the UK finals after winning through their
regional heats.
Cross-border
bus bonus
MEGABUS.COM has added
a new cross-border option to its
popular routes.
The market-leading budget coach provider
has introduced two new daily journeys
between Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow
and Edinburgh.
“More and more people are looking for
budget travel to help make their money
go further,” said Operations Manager for
megabus.com, Ian Laing.
“We are pleased to be able to expand our
service to ensure we can offer passengers
even more journey options than ever before.”
Helping pupils
to play it safe
PUPILS learned some important
safety lessons, with a little help from
their local bus operator.
Stagecoach East Midlands provided
coaches to transport around
650 schoolchildren to a
series of workshops held
by the Children’s Safety
Education Foundation
(CSEF).
The hands-on safety events
covered key issues often overlooked
by the school curriculum, including
anti-social behavior, basic first aid,
road and fire safety, building site
safety and substance abuse.
on stage
Spotlight on…
Group Communications Team
THE STAGECOACH Group Communications Team is
headed by Director of Communications Steven Stewart, who
is based in Perth, and consists of Senior Group Communications Manager
Emma Knight (Derby-based), Corporate Communications Manager Lindsay
Reid (Perth-based) and Group Communications Manager Corinne O’Loughlin
(London-based).
They are responsible for a number of functions across the Group’s bus and rail operations,
including media relations, crisis communication, stakeholder relations, public affairs, event
organisation and the production of publications such as the annual report and On Stage.
Anyone who would like to contact the communications team can do so by emailing
media@stagecoachgroup.com
Ace apprentices
TOP UK Bus apprentices have been
recognised at the company’s 7th annual
Apprentice of the Year Awards.
Third-year apprentice Ryan Jefferies from
Stagecoach South Wales made it two in a row,
earning the top prize for the second consecutive
year. After achieving first prize in his second year,
Ryan picked up the third-year title ahead of
runner-up Andrew Higgins, also from Stagecoach
South Wales, and third-placed Matthew Shipley
from Stagecoach Yorkshire.
Winner of the second-year Apprentice of the
Year title was Jack Abbott from Stagecoach
Manchester, who also previously won the title in
his first year.
Jack finished ahead of Daniel Cameron from
Stagecoach Highlands and Craig Carter from
Stagecoach West.
First-year Apprentice of the Year was Ryan
Barnes from Stagecoach London’s Catford Depot,
with second and third places going to Jamie
Styles from Stagecoach Midlands and Jason Ham
Apprentices of the Year, from left: Ryan Barnes,
Ryan Jefferies and Jack Abbott.
from Stagecoach South West, respectively.
Dorothy Hermiston, Stagecoach UK Bus
Deputy Training and Development Manager, said:
“We are delighted to have such quality within
our ranks, which is great news – not only for
Stagecoach but also for the passengers who travel
on our buses.”
Cycling round the clock
The Porth Depot cyclists who
harnessed pedal power for the
NSPCC.
A GRUELLING cycle marathon made
more than £1000 for a children’s charity.
Twelve Stagecoach South Wales staff pedalled
for 24 hours from Rhyl to Cardiff Bay to raise the
money for the NSPCC.
Nathan Griffith-Williams, Marketing Manager for
Stagecoach in South Wales, said:“We are extremely
proud of what staff from Porth depot have achieved
and are delighted to be working with such a
fantastic charity.”
Cash for costumes
FANCY dress fun funded a hefty charity donation by Stagecoach
East Midlands.
A group of colleagues from Skegness Bus Station dressed up for a day on duty
to raise some £570 for the RNLI.
Aye-aye captain! Driver Mick Lymer gets into the spirit of Skegness’s fancy dress day.
4
uk rail
on stage
Picture of
the Season
Tram and wife: Deborah and Gary
chartered a tram for their special day.
Super start to
married life
SHEFFIELD newly-weds travelled
to their reception in style – aboard their
very own Supertram!
Deborah Stiff and Gary Cundey chartered
a special service to transport themselves and
around 40 guests following their wedding
ceremony.The cream-coloured Stagecoach
Supertram they hired is modelled on the old
Sheffield Corporation trams.
“I just think it’s fabulous,” said Deborah.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to pay for cars – it’s
just not something we even contemplated.You
can’t fit half as many people in a car as you can
in a tram.”
All aboard for
enterprise
STARS of BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’
gathered to help East Midlands Trains
kick off this year’s Entrepreneur
Festival in Sheffield.
Claire Young, Melody Hossaini, Palomo
Vivanco and Dr Shibby Robati, joined EMT
Managing Director Tim Shoveller to unveil
‘The Entrepreneur Express’, a specially named
Meridian 222001 promoting the enterprising
event.
“We recognise the significance that good
transport links play in economic growth and
are pleased to be supporting this year’s festival,”
said Tim.
WIN A
£50
VOUCHER
THIS edition’s winning
Picture of the Season was taken
by Cambridge driver Peter
Coppendale. It shows the
Stagecoach X49 service stopped
outside the Red Lion in Avebury
en route from Swindon to
Trowbridge.
Congratulations to Peter who will
shortly receive his prize of £50 of
M&S vouchers.
If you think you have a picture that captures one of the four
seasons, please send your image to Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group,
10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or email it to lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com
Andy retires on a high
A SENIOR South
West Trains manager is
set to step down after
nearly three decades of
service to the passenger
rail industry.
Andy Pitt, Managing
Director of South West Trains,
retires at the turn of the
Andy Pitt.
year, having just helped the
company to become Passenger Operator of the
Year at the 2011 National Rail Awards. South West
Trains also won the Maintenance Team of the Year
award in partnership with Siemens for the class-
Proud day for
station staff
A RECORD number of entries
ensured competition was hot in this
year’s South West Trains Station Pride
Awards.
Portsmouth took the top prize for Best Large
Station 2011 while Wool was named Best Small
Station 2011.
The judges were particularly impressed with
the positive attitude of the staff at both stations,
plus their range of creative initiatives to welcome
passengers and deliver the best possible customer
service.
leading reliability of its train fleet.
Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East
Midlands Trains, will take over as MD-designate
at South West Trains on December 1 before
taking up his new post on January 2.
Andy Pitt said:“It’s been a great honour to have
had responsibility for one of the country’s most
important rail networks and to have been part of
such a motivated and dedicated team of railway
people. I wish them every success for the future.”
David Horne – currently Commercial and
Customer Service Director at East Midlands
Trains – is to succeed Tim Shoveller as Managing
Director of the company.
Tweet smell of success
TWEETS are keeping South West
Trains passengers up to date on the latest
travel information.
SWT has started using Twitter to
communicate with passengers, who can now
follow the rail operator via @SW_Trains to
receive regular updates on the status of the
service while on the move.
Adam Piddington, Customer Information
Manager for South West Trains, said:“We know
how important it is to provide timely, accurate
and good-quality information to the thousands
of passengers who use our services every day,
particularly during times of disruption.”
Rail route on foot
Dick Palmer from E4FE, Melody Hossaini,
Fintan Donahue from E4FE, Paloma
Vivanco, Dr Shibby Robati, Tim Shoveller,
Claire Young and Andrew Haigh from
nameplate sponsors Coutts unveil the
specially named ‘Entrepreneur Express’.
AN EAST Midlands Trains employee travelled a 171-mile rail route under his
own steam!
In his latest fundraising event, Dave Stannard ran from London to Sheffield to boost Bliss, a
charity which helps give premature and sick babies their best possible chance of survival.
Dave’s son was born 12 weeks premature nearly eight years ago, weighing only 2lb 2oz, but
is now healthy and happy.
5
the green scene
Birthday suits
on the buses
BUS drivers are driving passengers to distraction –
posing in the altogether for a charity calendar.
Twenty men and three women from Stagecoach Yorkshire’s
Holbrook depot shed their inhibitions and their uniforms to raise
funds for The Children’s Hospital Charity.
Driver Chris Brownhill came up with the idea after losing a
granddaughter to cancer.
He said: “The Children’s Hospital is very close to my heart, which
is why I wanted to come up with a concept that would attract lots
of interest and raise a really big total for the charity.”
The cheeky charity venture coincided with Stagecoach Yorkshire’s
launch of 21 new hybrid buses in Sheffield.
The double-decker hybrid-electric vehicles are expected to use
20,000 fewer gallons of diesel a year than an equivalent doubledecker and cut carbon emissions by up to 30 per cent.
Bus brush in the buff: charity calendar models Martin Thomas, Kev Davies,
John Steven, Michael Wynter, Karl Taylor, Mark White, Chris Askham and
Pete Gunning.
Bus trial’s a real gas
GREEN gas-powered
bus travel is being given
a trial run in Liverpool,
thanks to Stagecoach.
A 12-metre single-decker
EcoCity bus fuelled by
compressed natural gas
(CNG) is the first of its kind
to take to the road in Britain,
despite being popular on the Liverpool is the first British testbed for
Continent.
fuelling buses on compressed natural gas.
The MAN-manufactured
vehicle’s engine is quieter than traditional diesel buses and has
significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The low-floor bus can also run on biomethane, which is already used
as a fuel by Stagecoach as part of a project in Lincoln, and is expected
to meet the new Euro 6 engine emissions standards which come into
force in 2014.
Sam Greer, Stagecoach UK Bus Regional Director, said: “We are
looking forward to testing the performance of the gas bus in Liverpool
over the next six weeks.
“This will allow us to compare its fuel consumption and operating
costs against other types of vehicles in our fleet. We continue to look at
a variety of technologies to help reduce our carbon footprint and offer
greener, smarter and better value transport to our customers.”
Luxury vehicles launched
Stagecoach Bluebird and East Scotland passengers are
to benefit after the companies invested £3.4 million in 15
brand new vehicles.
Bluebird and Strathtay recently unveiled an investment of £1.4
million in six new luxury coaches in a major boost for public transport
in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee.
In addition, Bluebird has also spent a further £2 million on nine new
coaches for Aberdeenshire.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “The
new vehicles are fitted with the latest ‘green’ engines so offer a greener,
smarter travel option. We are committed to providing the best possible
service to our customers and the provision of these new luxury coaches
is just one of the many ways we are working to attract more people
onto public transport.”
Bluebird Managing
Director Andrew
Jarvis (left),
Stagecoach Group
Chief Executive
Sir Brian Souter
and East Scotland
Managing Director
Charlie Mullen
launch the new
coaches to serve
Aberdeenshire,
Dundee and Angus.
Get on your bike
Streetpods at Lincoln Station.
Cyclists on the East Midlands Trains network are now benefitting from
new Streetpods and Cyclepods, creating over 200 extra secure bike spaces at
29 stations.
The highly secure and stylish cycle storage product offers maximum bike protection for
public locations and open spaces.
In addition, Derby station has benefitted from two new Cyclepods which allow space
for 16 bikes through safe and easy vertical parking for cycle users.
David Horne, Commercial and Customer Service Director for East Midlands Trains,
said: “We believe by providing an additional 200 highly secure cycling spaces, we will
encourage more people to cut down on their reliance on cars and consider alternative
methods of transport when travelling to and from our stations.”
6
uk bus / north america
on stage
Flying
high
Kirkwall driver
Michael Firth recently
raised £1000 for Cancer
Research by doing a
sponsored skydive at
Strathallan Airfield.
Picture shows Michael and
his instructor on their way
back to earth.
The three London walkers.
Walk for Heroes
London union officers John
Lashmar, Dean Rhodes and Colin Fair
recently raised £1585 on a sponsored
walk along the seven-mile 248 route
from Cranham to Romford.
The trio raised the cash for Alex Stringer,
son of Rainham driver Ian Blandford, who
lost both legs and an arm when he stood on a
landmine while service with British forces in
Afghanistan. £350 of the sum raised was also
donated to Help for Heroes through West Ham
Training Supervisor Brian Williamson.
Bridal bus
An Exmouth bride broke with
tradition by catching a Stagecoach bus
to her wedding.
Eve Lewis (25) from Exmouth, took
the 14:08 number 57 bus from outside
her family’s home to the church at RM
Lympstone, accompanied by her father and
five bridesmaids.
Her mother, Trish Lewis said: “She thought
it would be fun and very different.”
Double success
NOT one but two major honours
came Stagecoach’s way at this year’s 2011
Route One Operator Excellence Awards.
Stagecoach and Scottish vehicle manufacturer
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) were jointly
awarded the inaugural Green Award at the
Birmingham ceremony, after leading the UK
on the introduction of state-of-the-art green
hybrid-electric buses.
And Stagecoach London Engineering
Director Darren Roe scooped the Bus
Engineer of the Year Award.
Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director
Les Warneford said:“Darren’s professionalism
and dedication, as well as the enthusiasm he
shows when teaching others, make him a very
worthy winner.
“We are working hard to become a greener
business in a number of ways – including the
introduction of low-emissions vehicles – so
we are delighted that our efforts, and those of
ADL, have been recognised in this way.”
Seventh USA hub for
megabus.com
Budget coach service
megabus.com is expanding to
the southern United States.
Low-cost coach services are to start
running out of a new hub in Atlanta,
Georgia, to 11 cities in the states of
Alabama, North Carolina,Tennessee
and Florida.
The latest expansion means
megabus.com – which offers daily,
express coach travel for as low as £1
in the UK and from $1 in North America – will link 72 cities in the United States and Canada via
seven hubs.
Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating Officer of megabus.com in North America, said:
“Americans are continuing to look for ways to stretch their income, and we look forward to providing
safe, convenient and affordable travel to millions of new customers.”
Chuck’s a star
Coach USA mascot Chuck is getting more popular
by the day as his every move is posted on the company’s
Facebook site.
Chuck also appears at press and promotional events and is fast
becoming a star!
Home building
team build event
Coach Canada teamed up with
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough
again this year by sponsoring a Team
Build day.
Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and
District is a community-based, non-profit,
faith-based organization with a mission to
build affordable housing and promote home
ownership as a means of breaking the cycle
of poverty through the help of volunteers
throughout the community.
Front (LtoR): Fran Buckley, Tom Beauchamp,
Debbie Sullivan. Back (LtoR): Sue Adlam,
Jason Bulman, James Doucette.
7
uk bus / uk rail
on stage
A big thankyou
Emma-Louise Cragg, whose
mum Rachel works at Stagecoach
headquarters in Perth, recently
undertook a World Challenge
Expedition to Kenya.
In order to raise the funds needed for the
trip – which included a trek up Mount
Kenya and
through the
Rift Valley –
Emma-Louise
carried out
a variety of
activities including
car-washing, catsitting, helping at
the Blairgowrie
Highland Games,
holding candle
parties and selling Emma-Louise.
household products.
She would like to thank everyone at
Stagecoach HQ who helped her raise
enough money for the trip of a lifetime.
Praise for South
West Trains
South West Trains has recently
been awarded a prestigious
ServiceMark accreditation from the
Institute of Customer Service, the
UK’s professional body for customer
service.
This accreditation recognises the
high standard of service provided to
customers by the team and their efforts to
continually improve and adapt to customer
requirements.
In addition, the company has been
awarded the prestigious Investors in People
mark for the third time since 2005.
The Investors in People Award helps
organisations to develop their employees,
improve performance and realise objectives
through effective management.
Stagecoach
helps move it
Stagecoach South played an
important part in a recent ‘Move
it’ event aimed at teaching school
children about all sorts of different
modes of transport.
As well as Stagecoach, the event was
attended by the fire service and police and
there were also various cars, lorries and
unusual vehicles there for the youngsters
to see.
Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, and Tim Shoveller,
Managing Director of East Midlands Trains.
Invest in Nottingham
goes into service
Nottingham City Council, East
Midlands Trains and representatives from
Invest in Nottingham Club recently joined
forces at a special train naming ceremony
to officially launch the city’s Invest in
Nottingham Day.
The naming of East Midlands Trains’ Meridian
222022 as ‘Invest in Nottingham’ marks a
successful partnership between the rail industry
and the City which has helped to drive the
multi-million pound Hub station improvement
scheme. It also signifies the investment made by
East Midlands Trains to improve rail links to and
from Nottingham.
Thanet team’s
golf win
(From left) Tony Newman, Jack Friend, Phil Hunter
and Simon Cleary with their tournament trophies.
Drivers and engineers from
Stagecoach’s Thanet bus depot
are celebrating after winning this
year’s Kent People’s Trust Charity
Golf Day.
Driver Simon Cleary said: “We have
entered a team for the past four years.
Last year we came second so it’s a great
feeling to have reached the top this time
and we hope to defend the title next
year.”
Back to school
Staff at Stagecoach headquarters
in Perth took part in a school sports
away day recently, which involved
some activities that many had not
taken part in for years.
Overall, the red team came out on top after
a series of events including a space hopper
race, sack race and three-legged race!
The winning away day team.
8
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On Stage.
picture in this
Custom
New Hull Operations Manager
David Lee-Kong.
New appointments
at East Midlands
Stagecoach East Midlands
has made some new appointments
recently, including that of David
Lee-Kong who has taken over as
Operations Manager in Hull
In addition, Michael Sanderson has
moved from Stagecoach South to take up
the post of Marketing Analyst.
And congratulations go to Schedules
Assistant Alex Proctor, who has recently
passed his PCV test. Alex also volunteers at
the Sandtoft Trolley Bus Museum.
A fond farewell
South Shields duty officer Alan
Douglass has retired after almost 45
years of service.
After leaving a career as a hairdresser, Alan
started his career on the buses as a conductor
in 1967 and became a driver in December
1969.
Everyone at South Shields depot wishes
him a fond farewell.
CONTACTS
Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage,
Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road,
Perth, PH1 5TW
Email:
lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com
www.stagecoach.com
If you have a story for On Stage,
please contact Lindsay Reid as above.
The copy deadline for the
next edition of On Stage
will be Friday,
9 December,
2011.
Danny gets on board
Folkestone Depot has a new boss in the shape
of Danny Millis, who has been promoted to Operations
Manager from the role of Assistant Operations Manager
at Canterbury and Herne Bay.
Phil Medlicott, Managing Director of Stagecoach in Kent
and East Sussex, said:“I am confident that Danny will use his
experience and expertise to ensure that the quality of our 20
services operated from Folkestone remains consistently high and
that customers benefit from his management of the depot.”
Danny Millis, Folkestone Operations Manager.
Promotion for Steve
Worthing depot’s new Operations Manager
Steve Venables is enjoying his new role but says
that he will have little time to enjoy the sea views
from his new office.
Andrew Dyer, Managing Director of Stagecoach South,
welcomed Steve on board saying: “I am confident that
Steve will use his experience and expertise to the benefit
of the thousands of customers who use our Worthing
services every day.”
Steve Venables, new Operations Manager for Worthing.
Champions rewarded
East Midlands Trains Managing
Director Tim Shoveller recently handed
over awards to the company’s Stagecoach
Group Champions.
Pictured left to right are Silver Safety
Champions Peter Glass and Rob Mason, MD Tim
Shoveller, Silver Safety Champion Helen Barley
and former Stagecoach Metrolink employee and
Silver Innovation Champion Ian Milne.
Congratulations to all.
9