OFFICIAL IRISH JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUS/COACH AWARDS Volume 8. No. 3. Winter 2011 VDL Futura - Coach of the Year 2012 FIRST DRIVE: MAN ECOCITY - NATURAL GAS POWER Keenagh Co.Longford Keenagh, Co. Longford. Tel: 043 3322023 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.centralbusandcoach.ie SALES SERVICE New and used sales, see website for extensive Factory trained engineers will solve your photo library. Genuine after sales commitment. problems with AC, Power doors, Diagnostics, • Photo shows exciting new Sprinter Vega GT 16s. ABS, EDC etc. PARTS GLAZING All parts for Unvi range, Genuine Mercedes parts, Glass for UNVi, Hispano, Indcar and other Parts for all other popular makes and models. popular makes. Expert fi tting. Direct billing to Free overnight delivery on parts over €150. Insurance companies. • Huge stock of parts for same day despatch RECOVERY DIAGNOSTICS Underlift recovery truck available, experienced Diagnostics for all coach types. personnel. www.centralbusandcoach.ie contents Winter 2011 www.fl eet.ie Fleet Bus & Coach Magazine D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fl eet.ie 4 News 10 Euro Coach Test ISSN: 1649-9433 • New safety belt regs • Bus Eireann Six in contention for the International prize. SALES SERVICE Managing Editor: Jarlath Sweeney. upgrades • CTTC to boost local tourism • J J Kavanagh & Sons take over UK company 16 Review I Editor: Sean Murtagh. • Volvo develops plug-in hybrid bus Coach & Bus Live 2011 – NEC Birmingham, Contributors: Paul White. • Fleet’s Smart Move! • Plus Bus Lanes. U.K. Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh, Cathal Doyle, Paul White, Will Wheeler. 6 Awards 18 Review II Administration: Fleet Bus & Coach Awards 2012 in Busworld, Kortrijk, Belgium Orla Sweeney, Denise Vahey, Helen Maguire. association with Groeneveld & Hi-Power. Advertising: 20 Test Mary Morrissey, Orla Sweeney. 9 Fleeting Shots New EcoCity CNG – Exclusive fi rst drive. Design: Eamon Wynne. • Plaxton helps Thomas the Tank • Allison Printed in Ireland opens new Centre • High mileage Fords 22 Comment Cover Picture: Paul White Back Seat Driver by Sean Murtagh. PARTS GLAZING Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Green Fleet Disclaimer: Fleet Transport Magazine management can accept no responsibility Fleet Bus & Coach Management/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport - the offi cial Irish Bus & Coach/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress journal of the Fleet Maritime are published by JJDS occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in Publications Ltd. Registered Offi ce: this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers. International The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication Bus/Coach Co. Reg. 368767 or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional of the Year Awards. Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh. legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specifi c matter. Five strong reasons to contact Groeneveld today 'ROENEVELD'ROUPDELIVERS PRODUCTSANDSERVICESFOR ENHANCEDEFlCIENCYANDSAFETY INTRANSPORT EARTHMOVINGAND RECOVERY DIAGNOSTICS CONSTRUCTION RAILWAY AGRICULTURE ANDINDUSTRYFORMORETHAN YEARS ACTIVE SAFETY GREASING SYSTEMS OIL MANAGEMENT IT SOLUTIONS s Lower operating costs and less maintenanceWITH'ROENEVELD AUTOMATICGREASINGSYSTEMSAND/ILMASTEROILMANAGEMENTSYSTEMS s The best lubricationWITH'REEN,UBEMEDIUMANDHEAVY DUTYGREASES s Active safetyWITH'REENSIGHTULTRASONICSENSORSANDCAMERAS s Optimal effi ciencyANDUP TIMEFORTRUCKS TRAILERS MACHINES TRAINSORBUSES 'ROENEVELD4RANSPORT%FlCIENCY"6 s The best serviceFROMANORGANISATIONTHATSTANDSFORQUALITY [email protected] KNOWLEDGEANDEXPERIENCE &IVESTRONGREASONSTOMAKEANAPPOINTMENTTODAY WITHONEOFOURSALESREPRESENTATIVES (I 0OWER,IMITED 6ISITWWWGROENEVELD GROUPCOM [email protected] ANDCONTACTTHELOCAL'ROENEVELDORGANISATION FLEETBUS&COACH | Winter 2011 3 NEWS 1 BUS LANE New Safety Belt requirements for Volvo Van Hool first for transport of Children on Private Buses Hammonds Coach Hire t is now a legal requirement that private vehicle used is fi tted with safety belts and Ireland’s fi rst Van Hool 13.26 metre coach buses involved in the organised transport that these safety belts meet the required to be built on a Volvo D13B chassis is now I of children be fitted with appropriate standards. in service at Hammond Coach Hire of and fi t for purpose safety belts or restraint Dromahane, Mallow, County Cork. At systems according to the Road Safety Authority Th e majority of buses in the national fl eet 3.7 metres in height, the 6x2 unit has 55 (RSA). Th is applies to the transportation of a should have documentation to show that their reclining seats plus toilet, and comes with group of three or safety belts or a ‘Deluxe’ touring specifi cation. more children restraint systems where transporting meet the required the children is the standards. Th is is primary reason for due to the additional the journey. Th is requirement, includes school introduced in transport bus October 2010, services, school as part of the trips or organised roadworthiness outings such as test, where owners sporting or social of buses have events, etc. It does been required to not include the present certifi cation Anchor furthers grip on Volvo transport of children on bus services off ered showing that the vehicle’s safety belts were to the general public (i.e. scheduled urban or installed to an acceptable standard. Anchor Tours, based in Bellurgan, Dundalk inter-urban bus services). Buses involved in the recently invested in a new Volvo 9700 coach, Departments of Education’s School Transport It remains the legal responsibility of the bus with prestige plus bodywork, joining a fl eet Scheme have been required to be fi edtt with owner and driver to ensure that their vehicle, and of 23 other Volvos. Specifi ed with 53 TS safety belts since January 2007. all its components, is in such a condition that no 2000 Comfort Plus half leather seats, the danger is likely to be caused to any person. Th is Volvo 6x2 13-metre B13R chassis is powered Organisations or individuals engaged in hiring includes having the correct certifi cation for the by a rear-mounted Euro 5 13-litre 460 hp or contracting bus services for the organised safety belts or restraint systems. diesel mated to Volvo’s I-Shift 12-speed transport of children should ensure that the transmission. “We’ve had 9700s before,” said Seamus Keenan, Anchor Tours owner, “and this latest coach is absolutely beautiful, Bus Éireann upgrades I just love the interior,” he continued. * Enhancements include Wi-fi on buses, real- services will allow Bus Éireann to remain time travel info, and upgraded coaches & bus competitive. shelters, while Cork to get Real Time Passenger “Th e real-time passenger information signs Information will also help Bus Éireann competitively, while bringing a direct benefi t to passengers. And it’s a A €1.1 million upgrade of Bus Éireann vehicles particular pleasure to provide new or upgraded and facilities has been announced by Minister bus shelters for passengers, in areas which have for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar. long sought these facilities.” Capital funding will be used to: • Install wi-fi internet access on Bus Éireann Already operational in Dublin, the National main commuter and city services; Transport Authority is to deliver Real Time • Real-time displays at eight bus stations Passenger Information signs in Cork city by the New UITP Secretary General around Ireland, to provide up-to-the-minute end of this year, making travelling by bus in the service information; Southern capital far more convenient. As part Alain Flausch has been elected as the new • Upgrade 10 double decker buses in Cork and of the rollout, 50 RTPI signs will be erected, Secretary General of UITP, the International Galway, increasing capacity in these cities in giving bus passengers real time information of Association for Public Transport. He will the process; when the next bus will arrive. take over from Hans Rat, who is retiring aft er • Refurbish 20 city buses in Cork, Limerick, 13 years at the helm. Mr. Ousmaine Th iam, Galway and Waterford; As Cork is the fi rst city to get this system using Senior V.P. of the Organisation comes in • Upgrade or replace 25 new bus shelters on Bus Éireann data, target dates are subject to alongside Mr. Flausch as President. commuter routes. delivery of interfaces which allow Automatic Vehicle Location to communicate with the As the CEO of the Société des Transports “Th is is an important investment in Bus Éireann. Real Time system. Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB), the I am pleased that in these diffi cult times for public transport company in Brussels, for the economy, it’s possible to continue to invest Th e expansion of this system has been made the last 11 years, and President of UITP strategically in the national bus company. possible by Ministerial Order to provide RTPI since 2009, Alain Th ese investments will bring tangible benefi ts to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. At Flausch has long- for passengers and will help Bus Éireann to fi rst the system will only work with Bus Éireann standing experience continue providing a high standard of service. data but it is expected to be open to private in the public transport Th e upgraded coaches will improve passenger operators next year. sector and in UITP. experiences, and the provision of new wi-fi 4 FLEETBUS&COACH | Winter 2011 NEWS 11 CTTC aims to boost local Coach Tourism ith the intention of “The more we can encourage building closer links to Irish people to take bus trips to W boost domestic touring Irish destinations, the more we in Ireland, the Coach Tourism & can help our economy, and our Transport Council (CTT C) held own members’ prospects too.