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Issue 80 | June 2010

onThe newsletter stage of Group

Maintenance milestone as new depot is opened

A MULTI-million-pound o train maintenance depot is delivering a world-class service to Chief Executive Brian passengers. Souter presents Annie with a parting gift. recently unveiled its new Etches Park North train Fond farewell maintenance depot in Derby, providing increased capacity to maintain and care for a eet of 27 Meridian Trains. to fi rst lady Designed to complement the ANNIE Burnett, Stagecoach’s rst existing maintenance facility, the £22 female driver, has retired after nearly 25 million depot took just 17 months to years behind the wheel. complete and is the result of a successful Maintaining a rst-class service: Stagecoach Group Chief Starting with Stagecoach in 1983, Annie partnership between East Midlands Trains, Executive unveils East Midlands Trains’ held a variety of positions, working as a Bombardier and Spencer. state-of-the-art maintenance depot at Etches Park. cleaner, delivery girl and bus conductress. New facilities include three roads for Given the chance to take a PCV driving test maintaining trains and, for the  rst time ever, passengers better trains, improved services and in 1985, she passed  rst time and began her East Midlands Trains will bene t from having dramatic improvements to punctuality – shows we career as a bus driver. synchronised jacks, capable of lifting a full seven-car are delivering on that promise. Annie worked on long-distance routes Meridian Train. Running a  rst class railway is all down to to London, as well as local Dunkeld school Another introduction will be a new £1 million people, both our own employees and the strong runs with Stagecoach Chief Executive Brian wheel lathe. This specialist piece of equipment will partnerships we have built locally. We will keep Souter, often stopping for an ice cream on the be used to keep train wheels correctly pro led, on working hard to deliver even more to our way back! reducing noise and wear on rails and improving customers.” She also met her husband while working for passenger comfort. East Midlands Trains Managing Director the company, and was taken to the wedding Enhanced fuelling facilities will allow East Tim Shoveller added: “This marks a signi cant ceremony in a Stagecoach car. Midlands Trains and Bombardier sta to service milestone for train maintenance, not only in the After leaving the company for a short time, trains more e ciently. well-known railway city of Derby, but in the UK Annie returned and has been happily driving And a building management system will as a whole. round Perthshire ever since. constantly monitor the use of gas and electricity, “We now have a world-class facility, capable of Annie said: “I have done a bit of everything helping to reduce energy consumption within the maintaining our Meridian eet e ectively and with Stagecoach over the years and have depot and ensuring greener and smarter working. e ciently to guarantee the best train service for thoroughly enjoyed my time here, but am Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, our passengers. now looking forward to my retirement.” said: “When we took over the East Midlands “I am extremely proud of this depot, which Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief franchise, we said we wanted to make it one of the represents one of the single biggest investments Executive, said: “Ann has a big personality and best railways in Britain. in our franchise, and will help to ensure that we was always good fun to work with.” “The investment we have made in the Etches continue to provide our passengers with reliable Park maintenance facility – as well giving and punctual trains all day, every day.” Stagecoach wins UK Coach Award won a prestigious award at the 2010 UK Coach Awards. The company was delighted to win the Coach Marketing award for its successful X5 service between , Milton Keynes and . The judges described the marketing of the service as “a clever and well-executed marketing campaign that made excellent use of both conventional and new media, and certainly delivered passenger growth on the route”. The win is the second award for the X5 service in the past six months after it was named Express Operator of the Year at the 2009 UK Bus Awards in November. Stagecoach East Managing Director Steven Burd said: “It is an honour, and a real credit to our marketing team, to be recognised with this award.” At the awards ceremony in ’s Midland Hotel, Stagecoach in Oxford was Stagecoach East Marketing Manager Adam Rideout, named as runner-up in the Accessibility category for its Oxford Tube service. Operations Director Liz Esnouf and Marketing Assistant The Oxford Tube marketing team were also Highly Commended in the Coach Elaine Mortimer collect the UK Coach Award. Marketing Award.

1 uk bus on stage

(Spanish lady talking on phone outside You what?! ) “Where do you want me to meet you? At the bus STATION or the bus STOP? (Long pause) One has many buses... and the other has one!” Can you beat that? Send your weird and wonderful overheard comments to [email protected]

Looking back Bus bosses appointed A STUNNING pictorial history of STAGECOACH Group has con rmed his career in the bus industry began more than 20 local transport has been unveiled by a number of management appointments at years ago. . its UK Bus Division. Steve Walker, who was Operations Director The book – entitled ‘Stagecoach: Former Managing at , is now Managing Celebrating 100 Years of Princess Road’ – Director Sam Greer has been appointed as Director, Stagecoach Highland, based in . was o cially launched recently by the Lord Regional Director Scotland, following the He previously worked in the bus industry in Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Alison retirement of Tom Wileman. Manchester before joining Stagecoach East Firth. As a result of this change, several other Scotland in 2006. The publication features images of the management appointments have also been made. Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director Les region’s transport network, all supplied by Bryony Chamberlain, previously Managing Warneford said: “The management team at our members of the public. Director, and Highland, has UK Bus Division is absolutely crucial in ensuring It o ers a unique insight, tracing a very become Managing Director, Stagecoach West we can continue to provide  rst-class, a ordable personal timeline of the development of Scotland. and reliable bus services to passengers across the the region’s buses and trams over the last Bryony has worked for Stagecoach for 14 years, country. 100 years, shown through the eyes of those and returned to the UK Bus Division last January “We have a number of promising young people to whom the transport network following a spell as Director of Operations with managers who will continue to drive our business meant so much. Coach USA. forward in the coming years and ensure we can Contributors who opened up their private Andrew Jarvis, formerly Operations Director, attract even more people on to our greener, photo albums to share personal stories , has become Managing smarter bus services. and images in the book gathered at the Director, Stagecoach Bluebird, based in . “I would like to wish all our new appointments Museum of Transport to see the Lord Mayor He joined Stagecoach South in 2006 although every success in their new roles.” unveil the  rst copy of the book alongside Mark Threapleton, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester. New role for Young Manager of the Year He said: “Launching the book was a pleasure and an honour. AWARD-WINNING manager “Without the kindness of those people Christina Ratcli e has taken up a who provided their personal images and new post as Operations Manager in stories, this project would not have been so Cambridge. special. Christina – who won the Young Manager of “The Princess Road depot will soon move the Year award at the 2009 UK Bus Awards – from its current location to a new site in joined Stagecoach as a graduate trainee in 2005 Sharston as the area undergoes regeneration. and has worked at a number of locations around High- yer Christina Ratcli e is Cambridge’s “However, by selling this pictorial history the country, most recently in Devon where she new Operations Manager. to raise money for Manchester Young Lives, was responsible for the company’s operations in we have not only commemorated a piece of Torbay. keeping buses running reliably is di cult with history, we will be leaving a lasting legacy for She said: “I have enjoyed my time in Torbay the levels of congestion we experience.“ a new generation in the area.” but I look forward to new challenges in Cambridgeshire Managing Director Andy Cambridge. Campbell added: “I am certain Christina has the “We have a very successful brand here, but qualities to make a success of this role.” End of the road and applied to study for his MSc in January 2008. NEARLY 42 years of service came Master of travel The two-year, part-time course covered subjects to an end when Stagecoach in such as change management and quality and driver Willie Nardone retired recently. in Sunderland excellence management, plus in-depth learning Willie started working for Stagecoach in about the crucial issues of OFT and competition August 1968 and spent many years on Fife’s PAUL Michael Hillman from Stagecoach management. 19 service. in Sunderland has become the rst He said: “I always wanted to study for my Master’s He is to be honored by his colleagues employee in the region to achieve an degree and knew that the course syllabus would be in the Depot Social Club at their summer MSc in Applied Management from the put to good practical use on a daily basis.” dance and will also attend the company long University of Sunderland. Paul’s achievement follows the announcement service awards in October. Paul joined Stagecoach in 2001 as part of the that 74 per cent of drivers company’s graduate trainee management scheme have successfully completed an NVQ.

2 uk bus / uk rail on stage

Breaking down energy consumption Spotlight on… is investing Metrolink Customer Services £2.2 million in a major regenerative braking project to save energy and THE METROLINK customer service team is based at make its trains greener. the main depot in Manchester and consists of Customer More than 200 trains on the South West Services Manager Cheryl Hubbard and her team – Julie Trains network will be  tted with the new Mackey, Martine Parkinson, Steve Edwards, Margaret technology. Hayes and Rob O’Neill. Energy produced by a standard train From 7 am to 11 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday, the team braking is currently lost, but the regenerative o ers assistance to passengers, taking numerous enquiries and handling all kinds of customer braking system returns electricity to the third feedback. The team is also responsible for the administration of Metrolink’s revenue protection rail system, allowing nearby trains to draw on operation and sta are always on hand to lend an ear, whether it be for a passenger or a colleague. the electrical supply. Fully implemented, the initiative is expected to save 15 million kWh of electricity annually – enough to power more than 3,500 UK homes for an entire year. On track for top awards The  rst two trains, part of the Class 458 STAGECOACH Group’s UK bus Citylink are also shortlisted for the Transport eet, are now starting to test the technology and rail companies have received 10 Team/Partnership of the Year Awards while in passenger service on the London shortlisted nominations for the 2010 South West Trains has received a second Waterloo-Guildford and London Waterloo- National Transport Awards. nomination in the Travel Information and Reading routes. Stagecoach Manchester is shortlisted for Marketing category for its Real Time Rail The whole eet of 30 Class 458 trains the prestigious Chris Moyes Award for Bus Information scheme. is expected to be  tted with the new Operator of the Year, while express coach Recently retired Stagecoach North East regenerative braking software by the end of operator – a joint venture driver David Hands MBE is in the running for May 2010. The system will then be rolled between Stagecoach and international Frontline Employee of the Year at the awards, out to South West Trains’ eet of 172 state- transport group ComfortDelGro – is also in along with driver Steve of-the-art Desiro trains. the running for the same award. Coombes who has been a bus driver for more South West Trains Engineering Director Both companies will compete for the title at than 30 years. Christian Roth said: “Trains are already one the 10th annual awards ceremony on July 15 at Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian of the most environmentally-friendly forms Manchester’s Palace Hotel. Souter said: “For so many of our bus and rail of transport and this new investment will ’s innovative companies to be shortlisted for such a range provide our passengers with an even greener Bio-bus project, which involves running of high-pro le awards is a tribute to the hard and smarter way to travel.” vehicles on 100% recycled bio-fuel, has been work of our employees. The regenerative braking project – which shortlisted for the Contribution to Sustainable “First-class is all about is being carried out in partnership with Transport Award. people. We have great teams who make sure and rolling stock providers Also in the same category are shortlisted we deliver safe, high-quality, good-value travel Alstom and Siemens – is part of a major £11 entries for Stagecoach North East’s Ready to around two million people in the UK every million investment across Stagecoach Group Steady Green sta environmental project day. as part of its new sustainability strategy. and South West Trains’ innovative Brompton “New ideas, more sustainable ways of doing Bikes scheme which allows commuters to hire business and even better customer service are folding bikes for as little as £2 a week. at the heart of our drive to attract more people New appointments Stagecoach West Scotland and Scottish to greener, smarter bus and rail travel.” Stagecoach scores with sponsorship deal

STAGECOACH in Perth has teamed up with Scone Thistle Under-11s, kitting out the entire team. The company operates its eet of prestigious Goldine buses throughout ’s new Dave Rossiter wishes the Scone and Perth area and the young Operations Manager, Bob Jackson good Adam Keen. luck in his new role. footballers are displaying the Goldline brand on their new strips. NEW appointments have Charlie Mullen, Managing Director of been made at Stagecoach South’s Stagecoach East Scotland, said: “Scone and Chichester depots. Thistle Football Club gives local children a Adam Keen was appointed as Operations great opportunity to develop new skills and Manager at Chichester while Bob Jackson con dence. has taken up his post as Operations Manager “We are delighted to provide the team with Scone Thistle FC Under-11s team show in Portsmouth following the retirement of their new kits and would like to wish them o their new strips, with Gus Beveridge, Dave Rossiter. all the best for the next season.” Stagecoach in Perth’s Operations Manager.

3 uk bus on stage

Long-serving Every little fare helps .COM has partnered with Executive, said: “This new partnership between staff thanked Britain’s biggest supermarket to o er the country’s market-leading budget coach shoppers low-cost travel. operator and Britain’s favourite supermarket is megabus.com, which o ers travel from great news for customers. £1, has linked up with Tesco Clubcard, the “It will make Tesco Clubcard customers’ most popular loyalty scheme in the UK, to money go even further, giving them access to o er members the chance to redeem their even better value greener coach travel to some money-o vouchers and bene t from great of the UK’s most popular destinations. We are coach travel deals. also excited by the opportunity to showcase The partnership with Tesco will allow the our high-quality, low-cost service to millions of supermarket’s customers to redeem their Tesco customers.” Clubcard vouchers through the megabus.com Janet Smith, Tesco Clubcard Director, STAGECOACH in Warwickshire website to bene t from even lower cost travel said: “We are delighted to be bringing our recently honoured its long-standing to a host of destinations from Inverness to customers a great deal on coach travel by employees at a presentation attended Penzance. including Stagecoach in our fantastic line-up of by the company’s top management. Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief rewards partners.” A total of 14 employees were honoured – all of whom have served 20 years or more with the company. The longest-serving members were Martin Fresh look for popular Route 66 Old eld, Paul Dixon and Gurmit Sahota, who have each been employees with the Cllr Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire company for 40 years. County Council, Ian Manning, Managing Director Steve Burd said: “It’s Managing Director, Stagecoach great to be able to honour people for their West, and Cllr. Dr. Mike Wise, Mayor of Faringdon, Faringdon commitment to Stagecoach.” Town Council, at the launch of the improved service. -raising! STAFF from Stagecoach’s Ayr depot have done their bit for charity after donating dozens of goodies to the Ayr Cancer Support charity shops. Fundraiser Kath Provan said: “We have been delighted with the response from Stagecoach and look forward to working with them again in the future.” Splashing out A TEAM of dedicated sta from STAGECOACH West has increased to be able to o er these improvements Stagecoach in the number of journeys on its busy in partnership with Oxfordshire County Kettering have Route 66 service. To celebrate these Council in the light of the new housing raised over improvements, the Route 66 buses have developments in Faringdon. £800 for the been given a face-lift in the form of a We look forward to welcoming new Marie Curie striking new livery. customers - both commuters and Cancer Care charity by taking part Ian Manning, Managing Director of leisure passengers - on board the more in the annual swimathon at the Stagecoach West said, “We are delighted frequent service.” town’s swimming pool. Ron Steele, Stagecoach team leader, said: “This is the second year running we have entered our own team of employees in to Wales rises to teen challenge the swimathon. Patsy Macdonald, Gino GENEROUS has donated a bus to the Teen Challenge Loverie and myself all trained tremendously charity, which is well-known for its work with disadvantaged young people in the area. hard to complete the swimathon challenge, John Gould, Managing Director at Stagecoach in South Wales, said: “We are delighted to donate raising £400 which was matched by one of our vehicles to this most worthy of charities. Teen Challenge has an impressive track record Stagecoach to total £800.” rehabilitating young men and women, and this bus will allow them to continue to o er a lifeline to young addicts throughout South Wales.”

4 uk rail on stage

More trains on-time PASSENGERS travelling on East “South West Trains is the UK’s most complex Midlands Trains and South West Trains rail franchise. are enjoying more punctual trains “We run nearly 1700 trains a day that are than ever before, according to new used by 190 million customers a year and performance gures. commuters in particular rely on a right-time Both companies delivered their best ever railway. performance in April 2010. “South West Trains is already one of the South West Trains ran 96.9% of its trains country’s most punctual train operators, on time, with East Midlands Trains following so this latest improvement is an excellent closely with 94.9% punctuality. achievement. Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach “At East Midlands Trains, we have been top Group, said: “This is great news for our of the long-distance operator league table for passengers. punctuality since January 2009. “It re ects the continuing hard work of our “We have made huge advances right across people to ensure we deliver a reliable railway, the netwoark since taking over responsibility backed up by excellent customer service, and for the franchise in 2007 as a result of our we will stay focused on getting even better. investment and drive to improve services.” Isaac Walker rounds o his VIP Supertram treat. Special tribute to Britain’s heroes Birthday boy A CHARITY supporting Britain’s Parry joined East Midlands Managing Director wounded service men and women has Tim Shoveller and guests to celebrate the STAGECOACH Supertram gave been a orded a special honour on the milestone at St. Pancras International station. 13-year-old Isaac Walker an extra- railways. Speaking at the naming ceremony, Tim special treat recently. An East Midlands Trains high-speed train has Shoveller said: “We believe that this is a  tting Isaac, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, is been named ‘Help for Heroes’ – the  rst in tribute to a very worthy charity and we are a huge fan of trams. passenger service to be named after the charity. delighted to have made it extra-special by He enjoyed a tour of the depot, had Help for Heroes founders Bryn and Emma naming one of our newly refurbished trains in a turn in the driver’s seat of a tram and one of our most famous stations.  nished o his visit with a special tram “Amongst the East Midlands Trains team, we birthday cake. have many ex-servicemen and women who have been fortunate to come through their experiences uninjured “But we know just how devastating the A pup’s life e ects of war can be and we are very proud to be playing our part by naming this train.” EAST Midlands Trains Revenue Bryn Parry added: “We’re extremely grateful Protection O cer David Hopwood to all at East Midlands Trains for this wonderful has raised £5,000 to name a puppy initiative. for Guide Dogs for the Blind. “I hope that the Help for Heroes train will Puppy ‘Sal’ has already visited Bryn and Emma Parry join Tim Shoveller at the carry the message across the country that we everyone at She eld station, and is ‘Help for Heroes’ naming ceremony. must care for and support our servicemen.” named after Saleem Akram, a well respected and much missed work colleague who sadly passed away in WIN A 2008. Picture of £50 VOUCHER the Season Song of THIS edition’s winning Picture of the Season was taken by Philip support Clarke who works for Stagecoach in . It shows a Stagecoach bus SOUTH West Trains employee out in the sunshine in near Hailsham. Sam Lodge has created an Congratulations to Philip who will unofficial World Cup song in shortly receive his prize of £50 of M&S support of the football vouchers. team. If you think you have a picture that Sam’s song, called ‘Bobby Smile’ can captures one of the four seasons, please send be found on Youtube by searching for your image to Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 ‘Sam Lodge Bobby Smile’. Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or email it to [email protected]

5 the green scene on stage

Green Week highlights big issues

STAGECOACH Group recently held a Green major drive to help Britain go green, with a Week poster week of environmental awareness activities competitions and the chance for people to win a year’s were held at free travel on their local bus network. schools across The Group used the second annual Stagecoach the country. Green Week to highlight the environmental The winning entry from bene ts of using public transport as well as Stagecoach informing sta and passengers of ways in which South West is Stagecoach is reducing its own carbon footprint. shown (left). This year’s Green Week was also a chance for Stagecoach to highlight the cost and time that can be achieved through the use of public transport. Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian Souter said: “We want to play our part in helping Britain go green. “Going by bus and train can save people time and money – as well as cutting their carbon footprint. “We hope Green Week has helped highlight the bene ts of greener, smarter travel and show what we are doing as a company to make our business more sustainable.” Throughout Green Week, sta and passengers across all areas of the business were invited to participate in a number of awareness-raising activities including a competition to win a year’s free travel on Stagecoach buses, a poster competition for schools across the UK and the Green Week giveaways in (above), search for the next Stagecoach Green Champion. (top right) and Lincoln (right). An eco-revolution Children cheer Bio-bus boost A NEW sustainability strategy is set to A NEW  eet of Bio-bus vehicles to the new buses. further cut Stagecoach Group’s transport has been launched by Stagecoach West Sam Greer, Regional Director Scotland, said: carbon emissions in the UK and North Scotland in a £1.1million investment to “It’s a great day for Stagecoach and we are America. replace the previous  eet. thrilled to involve Galston Primary School The company is backing up the new strategy, The company asked one of the greenest and their eco team in the launch of the new Revolution in the Way We Travel, with an £11 schools in Scotland, Galston Primary, to help buses. The Bio-Bus project has captured million investment programme and a range of launch their new eet of Bio Buses which the imagination of local people, and the targets for its bus and rail businesses. run on 100% bio fuel. The school’s eco team community has really supported the scheme.” Stagecoach is targeting an overall reduction of were happy to cut the ribbon and launch 8% in buildings CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions the  rst of nine new buses into service. In Galston Primary pupils and sta join and a cut of 3% in annual eet transport CO2e keeping with the recycling nature of the representative of Stagecoach, East emissions. This follows a reduction in the carbon project, the biofuel tanks from the original Council and Argent Energy UK Ltd to launch intensity of its UK businesses of 5.7% in the three vehicles have been taken out and  tted the Bio-buses. years to 30 April 2009. It’s thought the new  ve-year programme will save nearly 150,000 tonnes of CO2e, with the Group’s annual emissions reduced by around 40,000 tonnes CO2e by April 2014. Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: “We have made signi cant progress in recent years in reducing our carbon footprint, but we believe more needs to be done. “That is why we have developed a  ve-year investment programme with stretching targets for improvement. “We look forward to working in partnership with our customers and our stakeholders to make a real di erence in the local communities we serve.”

6 uk bus / north america on stage

Running for fun and funds STAFF from Coach USA made up the largest team taking part in the annual 2010 Lincoln Tunnel 5K Fun Run. As annual sponsor of the event, which raises money for the Special Olympics of New Jersey, Coach USA submitted a team of 161 employees. More than 4,000 runners tackled the 3.1-mile course which starts in Weehawken, New Jersey and runs through the TV star Rachael Ray with the ‘Ride of tunnel under the Hudson River, with a Fame’ bus recently dedicated to her. turnaround in Manhattan. Trip treat Stars of New York City LEADING New Yorkers are being im- Emmy Award-winning TV personality and for pupils mortalised on the Big Apple’s buses. bestselling author Rachael Ray was  rst to be Gray Line New York recently launched its honoured. YOUNGSTERS from a Rugby ‘Ride of Fame’ bus dedication campaign to She said: “Gray Line’s double-decker buses are school were treated to a trip into the celebrate prominent people from the city. an iconic sight in NYC and as a New Yorker town centre thanks to Stagecoach. The company – part of Twin America LLC, a I am so honoured to be the  rst dedicatee for A group of pupils from Brooke School joint venture with CitySightsNY – is recognising their Ride of Fame.” were given the opportunity to travel on and honouring leading New Yorkers who have The company unveiled a special full bus wrap a bus for the day and for some it was the represented the city positively and helped to applied to an iconic, open-top, red double-  rst time they had ever been on public promote New York as the USA’s best city. decker bus. transport. Heather McLaren from Brooke School said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for the megabus.com extends its reach students. Everyone really enjoyed the trip.” MEGABUS.COM is expanding its The expansion means that megabus.com budget coach network in the UK and now serves almost 60 locations across the UK. North America. In North America, travellers in the Northeast Blackberry way The company has added seven new locations can now go to Pittsburgh and State College, in Britain as well as four new destinations Pennsylvania, while people in the Midwest has been chosen in the US states of Pennsylvania and Iowa. can travel to Des Moines and Iowa City in by RIM (Research in Motion) Services from Philidelphia have also been Iowa. The service now also o ers trips from employees – makers of the popular expanded to cover nine locations. Philidelphia to Atlantic City, Baltimore, Boston, Blackberry – as the selected transport In the UK, the new destinations include Bu alo, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania provider for the company’s sta . Selkirk, Hawick and Galashiels in the State College, Syracuse and Toronto. Coach Canada will o er a commuter Scottish Borders, as well as Paignton and Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian shuttle service to RIM’s 8,000 employees, Torquay in South Devon. The new timetable Souter said: “This will allow even more providing a link from the Greater Toronto will also serve for the  rst time people in even more places to access our fast, area to the company’s o ce in Waterloo, and o er a variety of services to and from comfortable, inter-city coach services for as Ontario. Birmingham Airport. little as £1 or $1.” Bus Driver of the Year boasts no less than three entrants in this year’s Bus Driver of the Year competition to be held at Blackpool in September. West Cumbria driver Andrew Stewart, Preston driver John Quarrel and Carlisle driver Stuart Farquhar have all quali ed in local heats and are in contention for the title. The national competition, now in its 44th year, is designed to test the driving skills and knowledge of entrants while helping to raise standards in the bus and coach industry. Stagecoach North West Managing Director Chris Bowles said: “All three have worked really hard to qualify for the competition and we wish each of them well in September.”

Pictured, from left, are: Stagecoach North West Managing Director Chris Bowles with Bus Driver of the Year contestants Stuart Farquhar, Andrew Stewart and John Quarrel.

7 people page on stage

– Matthew Phillips

The quickfi re round as a student, my friend and I decided Who are you? to play tennis with Matthew Phillips, Revenue Protection cake display trays Assistant, South West Trains. and a rubber ball What do you like most about your – until we realized job? that standing behind Loyal service The responsibility and freedom given to us was the store STAGECOACH North West me to do my job, and being paid to talk manager! paid tribute to 33 of its long- to people (the public) all day! Dream job? serving employees and retirees at a What do you like least about your To run our own small-holding and be special dinner. job? self su cient. In the railway industry to Special guest was Cumbria County Witnessing ignorant and inconsiderate become a long-distance guard/on board Councillor Gary Strong, who made behaviour by members of the public train manager. presentations to sta during the evening. towards each other. Favourite animal? The longest-serving recipients were Favourite TV show? I have three cats, so I have to say cats! Cli Lord (Morecambe Depot) and Casualty, Gardeners World, Family Guy Most like to be stuck in a lift with… Ronnie Skelton (Carlisle Depot), who and any historical documentary. Jesus. I’d love to have the opportunity notched up 58 and 45 years respectively. Biggest achievement? to thank him for always listening to and Managing Director Chris Bowles also Getting married to my wife Sarah and looking after our family when we have our received an award for 35 years service. completing the London Marathon greatest need. together in 2007 and 2008. Worst job? The Quick re Round features in every Working as a personal trainer, which edition of On Stage and we want to hear Thank you I enjoyed until I moved to a company from as many sta as possible. who demanded we sell, sell, sell instead A LOYAL group of employees To suggest the next participant, email of helping people. [email protected] have clocked up almost 1,000 years Most embarrassing moment? of service between them. While working in a supermarket bakery The sta were recognised recently at a presentation in hosted by Stagecoach Regional Director Robert A NEW member of sta has been Andrew. welcomed into Stagecoach Group’s New on board Among the 27 award recipients communications team with the were Frederick Wood from Barnsley appointment of Corinne O’Loughlin as Corinne, who is bilingual in French and Depot and Brian Barnett, based in Group Communications Manager. English, most recently worked with French Chester eld. Both have completed 45 Corinne, who has four years’ experience transport group . years of service. in corporate, internal and stakeholder She also has previous marketing communications, will be based in London at communications experience with various South West Trains’ o ces at Friars Bridge Court. companies in continental Europe. CONTACTS Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Rachel’s at the helm Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, THE STAGECOACH bus team at Ashford has a Perth, PH1 5TW new boss. Rachel Geliamassi, who started her career in the bus industry as a trainee manager for Stagecoach Email: [email protected] in Warwickshire in 2007, is now Operations Manager www.stagecoach.com based at Ashford depot. Originally from Bromley, and daughter of parents who both If you have a story for On Stage, worked for Stagecoach, Rachel has gained experience with please contact Lindsay Reid as above. the company in West Scotland, with Assistant Manager roles at Rachel Geliamassi. Kilmarnock and . The copy deadline for the next edition of On Stage will be 16 July, 2010. Local derby for footballers STAGECOACH in Perth drivers recently took on Stagecoach drivers at football in an exciting match that nished 7-2 to the Perth team. Everyone enjoyed the game, and special thanks must go to Dundee Inspector Davie Barker, who was referee for the day. A rematch has already been arranged for later in the year.

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