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Home , Megabus (Europe), Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach Gold, Stagecoach West

Issue 99 | September 2013

onThe newsletter stage of Group

Happy Birthday .com MARKET-LEADING budget coach operator megabus.com has celebrated ten years of transforming coach travel in the UK. A decade after starting in with just three coaches, megabus.com now operates more than 100 coaches to more than 60 towns and cities in the UK and Europe and carries around five million customers a year. The company’s coaches, which have an iconic livery featuring megabus.com mascot Sid, have become an instantly recognisable sight on Britain’s road network. In the past ten years, more than 30 million customers have travelled with megabus.com in the UK - more than the combined population of Portugal, Greece and Austria – and the company’s vehicles have travelled around 54 million miles, equivalent to 2,168 times around the world. Mascot Sid and megabus.com employees celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary. The success of the business in the UK has been replicated in North America where megabus.com important in the past five years with the has reinvigorated the coach industry, carrying tough economy meaning more and more more than 25 million passengers and covering people are having to watch every penny. Gordon crowned over 120 key destinations in the United States “I would also like to thank all of our and Canada. megabus.com employees and everyone who has top UK bus driver Chief Executive, Martin helped get us to where we are. We now look BUS Driver Gordon Cutting from Stagecoach has been crowned Griffiths, said: “megabus.com is undoubtedly one forward to what the next ten years will bring.” the UK Bus Driver of the Year. of the biggest public transport success stories of To mark the tenth anniversary, 6,000 Gordon was among three Stagecoach the past few decades and it continues to grow birthday cupcakes bearing megabus.com mascot Sid’s face were given away at stations. employees to finish in the top ten best drivers both in the UK and in the US. at the award finals held in . Ted “Over the last ten years megabus.com has The company also offered a full refund to any passengers travelling on the day who shared Reid from came fifth made transport more affordable for millions and Ian Sayer-Field from their birthday with megabus.com. of people, from families to students and Scotland finished in eighth place. The accolades senior citizens. This has been particularly For more on megabus.com see page 8 continued with Stagecoach winning the Company Award. Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, Robert Montgomery, said: “I am delighted and New social media guidelines proud to see that Gordon has been named UK Code of Conduct expanded to cover employee online activity Bus Driver of the Year. The competition was fierce and it’s great that one of our drivers is STAGECOACH employees can lots of positives for individuals and for the best in the country.” access the latest guidelines on social businesses. We also all have the right media and other online issues in the to a private life outside the workplace. new version of the Group’s Code of Nothing in the guidelines is designed to Conduct. stop that. The updated version of the guide has “But we will all have read about cases been expanded to help staff ensure that where social media and the web have their use of digital media, including outside been misused. The last thing we want is work, does not break the law or conflict for our employees unwittingly to get into with their obligations as an employee. difficulties or break the law. It covers the use of social networking “That’s why the new section of the sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as Code of Conduct sets out some key well as personal websites and blogs. principles to follow when using the Stagecoach Group Director of internet either at work or elsewhere. It Communications, Steve Stewart, said: also includes examples to help people “Social media and the web have understand what is and isn’t acceptable.” transformed everyone’s lives and have Continued on page 4 Gordon Cutting wins UK Bus Driver of the Year.

1 uk bus on stage

Boost for Jobseekers You what?! STAGECOACH has confirmed it is Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Group Overheard on the tube making permanent its groundbreaking Chief Executive, said: “Buses are crucial in Passenger 1: “The Central discounted bus travel scheme for jobseekers. connecting people with employment and Line is quite fast, though?” The scheme provides a 50% discount that is one reason why we have always been Passenger 2 : “Yeah, one every on single and return fares to holders of a focused on making travel affordable. two minutes. And that’s real Jobcentreplus Travel Discount Card across “Youth unemployment remains a major minutes, not Northern the UK. Figures show jobseekers are making issue for our country, with one in five 16 to Line minutes.” nearly 20,000 journeys a month this way. 24-year-olds out of work. Tens of thousands Can you beat that? Transport Ministers in both Scotland and of jobseekers have benefitted from our Send your weird and have endorsed the initiative and the initiative and we hope that making the wonderful overheard company has also received a letter of support scheme permanent will help improve the comments to from Mark Hoban MP, Minister for Employment chances of many more young people getting lindsay.reid@ at the Department for Work and Pensions. their first job or training place.” stagecoachgroup.com Robert leads the way Stagecoach wins Pedal power PERTH Driver Robert Mitchell has Bus Awards FOUR Drivers from Worksop Depot been named Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Pitlochry. recently completed an 82-mile bike ride Robert was recognised for his outstanding from to Skegness to raise service to the community and for the money for disabled children in the area. exceptional level of service he provides to The group, along with one other cyclist, aimed his bus passengers. to raise more than £6,500 to fund a year’s worth of swimming at a local pool in Skegness.

London Managing Director Mark Threapleton (right) with employees Darren Roe, Trevor Ede, John Hill and Vishal Singh. The Worksop Drivers at the end of the race.

STAGECOACH London employees Perth Operations Manager Gus Beveridge (left) congratulates Robert on his award. came out on top at this year’s London Bus Awards. Citylinkair The company’s Barking Garage won the award for vehicle care, while Catford has launched Community spirit the first coach service to operate BROMLEY Garage employees have Garage was named Environment Campaign Champion winner. between Airport and been engaging with the community by city centre. participating in local projects. Plumstead Driver Kieran Moss also received a special commendation for safely returning a The new Citylinkair service provides a As part of the depot’s partnership with direct, non-stop service between Glasgow’s Bromley’s council-led travel training group of children to school after their bus was caught up in the tragic events in Woolwich and Edinburgh programme, staff assisted blind and Airport, with journey times of just one hour. partially sighted students across the city when soldier Lee Rigby was killed. using public transport. Managing Director, The garage also facilitated a variety of visits Mark Threapleton, said: “I’m delighted from local primary schools and nurseries to that our staff have been recognised for the help familiarise the children with bus travel outstanding work they do.” as part of their ‘Naughty Bus’ book project. On the slide First class NINE employees from , including Managing Director Phil Medlicott, took part in honours a charity zip slide to raise money for SHEANESU Zishiri, a Driver for Sara’s Hope Foundation which assists Stagecoach London, has achieved a first-class families affected by cancer. honours degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences From a height of 40 metres, the at Greenwich University. participants zipped 280 metres from the Bromley Garage Operations Manager, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Philip Gerhardt, said: “We would like to Gateshead diagonally across the River Tyne congratulate Mr Zishiri for obtaining such before finishing on the Newcastle quayside. a high accolade whilst still providing an The employees raised £1,582 for the charity, excellent level of service to the travelling with Stagecoach donating a further £2,000. public of Greater London.” One of the new Citylinkair vehicles. 2 uk rail on stage

New forum A job well done LONDON Waterloo, the UK’s busiest station, recently hosted the has received from our customers demonstrates the first ever passenger forum to be returned to full service at Nottingham real value of our years of planning with our held by -Network Station following a £100million partners Network Rail.” Rail Alliance. resignalling project which was completed The new initiative, hosted in partnership on time by Network Rail. with rolling stock maintenance supplier During the month-long project, hundreds Alstom, gave passengers a unique chance to of replacement bus services were in operation talk to senior managers face-to-face. as a vastly reduced train service operated in Arthur Pretorius, Deputy Customer and out of Nottingham. Service Director for the Alliance, said: “Our Staff prepared and implemented a contingency new passenger forum will enable us to get plan during the work and were on hand to first hand feedback from our customers provide comprehensive information to passengers. about our services and how we can Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin improve further.” Griffiths also spent a day assisting customers at the station. David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, said: “This is the biggest Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths ever project that East Midlands Trains has (second right) joins East Midlands Trains been involved in, and the positive feedback employees at Nottingham Station. Paint depot opens Join the Barbarians RAIL employees are invited to join the in Railway Barbarians, a railway industry A NEW state-of-the-art paint rugby team that plays social games, depot has been opened by South West mainly in the London area after work. Trains-Network Rail Alliance creating Anyone who is interested should contact The passenger forum held at London 38 new jobs in the Bournemouth area. [email protected] Waterloo. The £3.5 million paint facility, which is based in Westbourne, has been renovated and extended and now gives the train firm the opportunity to carry out all painting The Apprentice Supertram and the majority of maintenance work NATALIE Burton, a third year in-house. apprentice, based at Eastleigh delivery unit, has been recognised as Network goes smart Rail Telecoms Apprentice of the Year. SUPERTRAM passengers in are to benefit from smarter travel following the launch of the StagecoachSmart scheme. The launch of smartcard technology in the area means there is now an integrated smart ticketing system in place across Stagecoach’s bus and tram operations in Sheffield. Customers can now use their StagecoachSmart travel card for travel on board trams and Stagecoach buses in Sheffield, making it even easier to use Natalie received her award from Network Operations Director, Robin Gisby. public transport.

On the open road SHAUN Isaac, Assistant Route Communications Engineer for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, has helped raise more than £3,000 in aid of Cancer Research UK and St Margaret’s Hospice. Accompanied by a group of friends, Shaun received donations as he travelled more than 580 miles in three Bournemouth’s extended paint depot has days on a 50cc moped. Shaun and the gang on their mopeds. created 38 new jobs. 3 uk bus / group on stage

Social media guidelines Continued from page 1... New appointments All staff have a duty not to breach STAGECOACH recently announced has been appointed Operations Director, the law or disclose company secrets. the appointment of four new Operations Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire Employees also must not breach Directors at its regional bus companies • Stephie Barber, currently Operations copyright, defame any company or its in Scotland and England. Manager at Lancaster and Morecambe, will suppliers, customers or employees, or The appointments are as follows: take on the role of Operations Director disclose personal data or information • Mark Whitelocks, currently Traffic at the newly formed Stagecoach North about any individual that could breach Manager, , has been Scotland business their right to confidentiality or breach appointed Operations Director, Stagecoach Meanwhile, at the Group’s UK Coach the Data Protection Act 1998. East Scotland division, former megabus.com General Care also has to be taken online where • At Stagecoach East, current Manager Ian Laing has been appointed as people might see a connection between Operations Manager Zoe Paget, has been Projects Manager while Stagecoach North an individual and Stagecoach, for promoted to Operations Director Scotland Operations Manager David Beaton example, stating in a social media profile • David Lee-Kong, currently Operations has been appointed Operations Director of or online discussion that they work for Manager in Hull at , the UK Coach businesses. the company. Some of the specific things which employees must not do include: • posting any non-public information On your bike Walk of the bay which could affect the share price of and A FIVE strong Stagecoach Group South Lancashire supported Galloway’s team from the • conducting themselves in such a way Society for the Blind Morecambe Bay Dover depot that is detrimental to the company walk by providing a bus for the event. took part in the • engaging in activities on the internet The bus was used to transport over 140 Divas on Wheels that might bring the company into people from Chorley to Preston to take cycle challenge disrepute part in a sponsored walk. • posting defamatory, offensive to raise money or discriminatory remarks on for Pilgrims the internet about the company, Hospices. customers, business partners, suppliers, The team raised shareholders or other stakeholders over £700 from the • using the internet to bully, attack ride which takes or abuse the company, colleagues, Dover’s total raised customers or suppliers for the charirty • disclosing confidential company to over £2,500. The walkers are pictured with the bus information Pilgrims Hospices is Stagecoach in East ’s donated for the event. • posting images of or information charity of the year. about colleagues without their permission • posting material on social networking Festival spirit Going bananas A LIFE-SIZE model gorilla was used sites, personal websites, blogs or STAGECOACH by West to encourage microblogs in work time in Lincolnshire people to take the buses this summer. The Code of Conduct document attended The gorilla was displayed at Bus as a whole outlines the principles the popular Station and local children were invited to that have guided the development of Gainsborough paint a grafitti jungle. Stagecoach Group over the past 30 Riverside Festival The gorilla is part of the Great Gorillas years; acting with honesty and integrity, to promote the Project, which celebrates the 90th birthday taking responsibility for our actions, company and the of Zoo Environmental Park and treating people with dignity, respect benefits of using is also being used to raise funds for gorilla and thoughtfulness. It covers how we the bus. conservation. deal with our employees, suppliers, Shaun Clark, Helen Scholes, Marketing Manager at customers, competitors, and the wider Operations Manager , said: “Working on communities in which we work. for Gainsborough this project has been fantastic fun.” A copy of the updated Code of and , and Conduct with the new guidelines is Inspector Steff Thompson represented the available on the company intranet. company at the event. Burds on Bikes KATIE Louden, a Stagecoach Group employee, helped raise £2,409 with a group of friends in a recent 25-mile Pedal for Parkinson’s event. More than £1,200 of their total was donated by Stagecoach. The ladies – who called themselves Burds on Pictured, from left, are: Pippa Craddock from Bikes – chose the worthy cause after a close Katie (second from right) and her team Paignton Zoo with Helen Scholes and Louise friend’s mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. raise money for Pedal for Parkinson’s. Simpson from Stagecoach South West. 4 uk rail / uk bus on stage

Birthday celebrations PASSENGERS at Teddington Station were treated to a host of commemorative celebrations as the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance teamed up with Teddington Society to celebrate the station’s 150th anniversary. Jake Kelly, Customer Service Director for the Alliance, said: “It’s not easy to last 150 years. In recent years, Teddington has been recognised for its beautiful architecture and received a grade II listing as a result.” Guests celebrate the Teddington Station’s 150th anniversary.

The sunwalk Sponsoring the On screen STAGECOACH London employees THOUSANDS of rail passengers Alison Hawkes and Yvonne Wallin travelling on the South West Trains- recently completed the ‘Walk the Walk community Network Rail Alliance network will Sunwalk 2013’, raising more than £1,150 has benefit from a £1m investment in new to help fight breast cancer. sponsored Sheffield’s 2013 Lowedges timetable screens. Thanks to all Stagecoach staff who donated. Festival for the third year in a row. The new screens will provide train The company also supported the Young information in a ‘countdown’ style, simply Entrepreneur Award at the Rotherham showing the number of minutes until the Advertisers Young Achiever’s Awards. next train, helping passengers to take an informed decision about their journeys. Free fair buses VISITORS to the Pilgrims Hospice Ashford summer fair arrived in style thanks to Stagecoach East Kent providing a free service. To encourage people to use the park and ride service, passengers were given games tokens for some of the summer fair’s sideshows. One of the new information screens. Alison and Yvonne at the Sunwalk.

Going vintage Picture of the season This edition’s winning Picture VISITORS to Eastbourne were of the Season was taken by Karol treated to a blast from the past when Stagecoach launched a classic bus service Drozd, who works for Stagecoach to celebrate the 110th anniversary of bus , Wye & Dean. It shows a services in Eastbourne. vintage Routemaster in Gloucester. Stagecoach pledged 10 pence from every Congratulations to Karol who will shortly Stagecoach staff on hand to run the free buses. ticket sale to St Wilfrid’s Hospice. 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 Top service Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 STAGECOACH Driver Paul Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or email it to Breeze was commended for his [email protected] actions in returning a passenger’s lost wallet. Paul, who drives the Oxford to Cambridge route, delivered the WIN A wallet to the passenger in his own £50 time to ensure the customer got it VOUCHER back as quickly as possible. Similarly, Alan Griffiths, of Stagecoach West, has been praised for his efforts - after finding a wallet on board the bus, he kept it safe and handed it into lost property where it was collected by the grateful owner. 5 uk bus / uk rail on stage

Capacity improvement plans Embracing new PLANS are being developed to The vision has been spearheaded by the deliver capacity for almost 10,000 extra management team at the South West Trains- technology peak-time passengers on the route in Network Rail Alliance. STAGECOACH is making a and out of London Waterloo by 2019. Tim Shoveller, Alliance Managing Director, multi-million pound investment The plans could involve a staged programme said: “The blueprint we are developing in a nationwide automatic vehicle of additional longer trains, platform extensions in partnership with the Department for location system for its bus fleet in and re-openings, as well as signalling, track Transport is a massive programme of work the UK. and power supply improvements. and requires significant investment.” The system will provide real-time service information to customers via smartphone apps and the internet. From riders to readers Stagecoach is the first major UK bus operator to use ticketing system A DOUBLE-DECK bus has been Julie on board technology in this way. JULIE Taylor has joined donated by to Stagecoach Yorkshire as its new a local school in Rugby for use as a Marketing Assistant. library by around 260 children aged Julie, 24, is now part of the three- between three and seven years. Open top tour strong team at leading bus operator Steve Burd, Managing Director of Stagecoach and will be responsible Stagecoach Midlands, said: “We were delighted makeover for developing and implementing to be in a position to help Boughton Leigh Infant School. This has been a unique project, ’S open top tours service marketing campaigns across in were given a Stagecoach’s Yorkshire network. which will bring benefits to the school for a long time to come.” “make-over” for 2013. The Stagecoach buses received new paintwork and branding featuring the iconic St Andrew’s Cross and local attractions such as St Andrew’s Fond farewell Cathedral and the Swilcan Bridge. STAGECOACH North East has said The branding also highlights the farewell to Alan Brown from Stockton achievements of Tour Driver, Mike Depot, who retired after an impressive Reid, who was awarded a British 42 years of service. Empire Medal (BEM) this year after Alan, who started as a Bus Driver in 1971, raising around £65,000 for good causes said: ‘I will miss the camaraderie of the staff over the past 25 years. the most. They are a great bunch of people.” Alan Brown retires after 42 years of service.

Working together to improve public transport STAGECOACH in South Wales Nathan Griffith-Williams, Stagecoach has worked closely with a group South Wales Marketing Manager, said: of older adults with learning “Passenger comfort and safety is of disabilities from Blaenau Gwent to paramount importance to us as a company, as help tackle the problems they face is appropriate training for all of our staff. We when using public transport. are delighted to be working on this project.” Mike Reid BEM with the open top vehicle.

Midnight memories IAN Ralph, Stagecoach Wigan Depot Manager, has raised more than £150 for Bolton Hospice, after participating in an eight-mile Midnight Memories walk. He said: “It was a bit of a soggy evening for the walk but the fantastic atmosphere and sense of solidarity kept everyone’s Participants from Blaenau Gwent with their certificates. spirits up.”

6 the green scene

Stagecoach achieves carbon trust Going for gold standard for global operations (tCO2e/£m turnover) of its global operations during the period by 8.6% as a result of a package of measures designed to make its business more sustainable. The Carbon Trust Standard provides a rigorous independent assessment of the carbon The new Gold vehicles in Cumbria. performance of businesses and public sector STAGECOACH in Cumbria has organisations. Third-party assessors carry out launched a fleet of luxury double-deck a detailed evaluation to ensure companies are buses that will run on the 300 service measuring, managing and making real year- between and . on-year reductions in their carbon emissions. The new buses feature Stagecoach’s certification covers all of its bus high-quality interiors complete with hand- and rail operations in the UK, United States stitched leather seats, free WiFi, floor-level and Canada. The company’s 13,000 buses, lighting, tinted glass and distinct flooring. coaches, trains and trams are used by around The buses are designed to allow three million passengers a day. passengers to travel in real comfort Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Group while encouraging them to think of the STAGECOACH Group has been Chief Executive, said: “This is a fantastic environment by leaving the car at home. awarded the prestigious Carbon Trust achievement and I’m particularly proud Fitted with the latest Euro 5 engines, the Standard for measuring, managing and of the way our frontline employees in the new buses are designed to reduce exhaust reducing its global carbon footprint, UK and North America have taken up emissions and noise, offering greener, becoming the first public transport the challenge to deliver greener, smarter smarter travel. operator to have its boundaries certified working. Nigel Winter, Managing Director outside of Europe. “We are committed to growing our of Stagecoach in Cumbria, said: “We The Group reduced the carbon footprint of business sustainably and we have achieved a are committed to supporting the its businesses in the UK and North America lot in every one of our businesses. However, community and the local economy and by 6% in the three years from 1 May 2010 to we are determined to do more to minimise will continue to invest in our services 30 April 2013. our impact on the environment and help our throughout the county.” Stagecoach also reduced the carbon intensity customers to have a greener way of living.”

Champions Sheffield City Region Green leaders Business Awards. Brand new buses Paul Lynch, Managing Director of in Yorkshire Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “We’re STAGECOACH Yorkshire scooped delighted to win the award at the the first prize in the Environmental Sheffield City Region awards and to be award category in the Champion of recognised as green leaders in the area.”

Cleaner and greener New buses on the loop A BRAND new fleet of buses costing STAGECOACH Merseyside and South £1.3 million has been introduced on Lancashire has announced a £1.5 million the Stagecoach Eastbourne Loop. investment in brand new double-deck The 11 new Enviro 200 single-deck buses for services between Preston, buses have ‘Euro 5’ specification engines, Blackburn and Blackpool. which represent the very latest in clean The new vehicles feature the latest ‘Euro 5’ engine technology, cutting carbon clean engine technology and free WiFi. emissions and reducing the environmental Pictured, from left to right, are: Ian impact of the service. Manning, MD Stagecoach West, Councillor Philip Norwell, Managing Director of Will Windsor and Councillor Andrew Stagecoach in , said: “This Atkinson at the bus launch. investment demonstrates our commitment STAGECOACH West has unveiled to providing quality bus travel in a plan to invest £2 million in brand Eastbourne as well as helping us reduce our new vehicles for the , carbon footprint.” Ross-on-Wye and . Ian Manning, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “This enhancement will deliver a much-needed boost for bus provision in the area whilst playing a vital role in sustaining the environment. Our message to residents in these areas is The new vehicles were launched in Preston Guests at the launch of the new single-deck simple – leave your car at home and go by recently. buses. Stagecoach bus instead.” 7 north america / uk bus on stage megabus.com continues to grow Best TV advert MEGABUS.COM US has launched eight new services connecting Cleveland AN ADVERT promoting Coach to eight additional cities. USA’s bus transfer services from The new cities include Cincinnati and Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha and Columbus, Ohio, Erie, Pa., as well as Buffalo, Milwaukee Wisconsin, to Mitchell NY, with connections to Atlanta, Lexington, and O’Hare Airports has won a top Ky. and Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn. award. Each city is served via Coach USA’s subsidiary The Wisconsin Coach commercial, Lakefront Lines. which was created by Tom Dieckelman, “megabus.com’s addition of eight city President of Wisconsin Coach, in Student Ambassadors with twin mascots cooperation with their TV media connections into Cleveland is a tremendous Sid and Chucks. asset for our city as a business and leisure partner (WTMJ TV-4), was chosen destination,” said David Gilbert, President & destinations, even more convenient access to as the 1st place winner of the Best CEO of Positively Cleveland. local transit services and an overall greater TV Commercial in a large media Mike Alvich, VP of Marketing and Public travel experience.” market by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Relations for megabus.com/Coach USA, To celebrate the expansion of megabus.com’s Association. added: “This exciting addition is the result services from Cleveland, Ohio, the company of a strong partnership between Cleveland participated in a Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, State University, the City of Cleveland, Ohio - the largest annual gathering of twins and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority multiples in the world. megabus.com Student Daily service and megabus.com to provide the residents Ambassadors staffed a booth and table along with of – and visitors to – Cleveland with more twin megabus.com mascots Sid and Chucks! for Supersaver COACH USA Airport Love on a bus Supersaver has begun a daily Hole in one MEGABUS.COM has proved that it is service to/from Merrillville, Gary/ EMPLOYEES from the I-Bus, East Glen Park and O’Hare and Midway London and South East London and more than just a bus company, but rather a part of its customer’s lives. Airports. Kent Bus recently competed in the The service provides a safe, reliable, I-Bus Golf tournament at The Essex Two customers, Avi Muller and Dina Lazerow who used megabus.com services to comfortable and convenient bus Golf & Country Club. service to O’Hare and Midway from Golf took centre stage again with 40 travel on dates between NYC and Baltimore for three years, and who previously got Northwest Indiana and South Chicago players including I-Bus Supervisors, suburbs. Drivers and past Drivers competing for the engaged on board a megabus.com service, recently celebrated their marriage. Mike Alvich, Vice President of Micky Foster Trophy. Marketing and Public Relations for Courtney Maitland, Stagecoach London The bridal party put on a skit at the wedding reception about how their romance Coach USA, said: “This hassle-free, Service Controller, said: “Micky Foster, affordable, alternative eliminates who died two years ago, was known and blossomed on the coach, and wore special megabus.com t-shirts. additional costs for fuel, parking and, respected by so many people within the perhaps most valuable, time! It is an company, and it was a pleasure to see so asset that will provide both comfort many of his friends turn out to support and convenience to Indiana and this event.” Illinois travellers.” High praise

Employees at one of the recent golf The bride and groom with the bridal party for Frank tournaments. in their megabus.com t-shirts. MEGABUS.COM US employee Frank Sulcer has been praised for his efforts in assisting a stranger Midnight Walk and agreed to match-fund up who had been involved in a car Late night walkers to £85 of each individual’s fundraising total. A GROUP of Stagecoach accident. employees recently took Realising the woman had been part in a Midnight Walk to raise money injured, Frank, a Baggage Handler in for St Ann’s Hospice, the company’s Pittsburgh, supported and stabilised charity of the year. her neck until an ambulance arrived, The employees were keen to raise cash potentially preventing further injury. to support the work undertaken by the The passenger involved, Laura Hospice’s teams and the support it provides Ridgway, wrote to megabus.com to to people with life-limiting illnesses. say: “I am eternally grateful for the paid the entry fee knowledgeable and selfless assistance I received from Frank.” for all staff members participating in the The Stagecoach Manchester charity walkers.

8 people page on stage

At the double – Angelito (Gino) Cabigao STAGECOACH Wigan has Quickfire round Who are you? speech class for fear of public speaking, welcomed two new appointments. which almost deterred me from pursuing Alex Crane has taken on the role Angelito (Gino) Cabigao, Human law school. By the end of my college years of Operations Manager while Gary I was chosen as the student commencement Biddle-Mogg is the company’s new Resources and Safety Department, speaker for the 2008 graduating class Fleet Engineer. of Montclair State University and was Alex said: “I joined Stagecoach 15 years Bus Company, Coach USA. accepted into New Law School. ago and since then I’ve never looked back.” Worst job? Cleaning dishes at home Gary added: “I am extremely What do you like most about your job? when I was younger - my mother was a passionate about my role and I am tough, but loving, boss. committed to maintaining Stagecoach Attending job fairs to help people, such as Most embarrassing moment? Wigan’s high standards.” newly graduated students and veterans, get Calling myself a New York Jets fan during jobs to help themselves and their families. their horrific 2012 NFL season. What do you like least about your Dream job? Owner of the New York New recruits job? Papercuts. Yankees. STAGECOACH Favorite TV show? The Simpsons. Favorite animal? Orca (Killer Whale) UK Bus has Biggest achievement? Choosing to Most like to be stuck in an elevator welcomed two new face my biggest fear. At the beginning of my with? 007 - he’s bound to find a way out. appointments to its college years I dropped my freshman year marketing team. Craig Carrington has joined as UK Bus Bert joins the team Assistant Marketing Caroline’s new Manager while former External Designer Alan Sawyers has taken on the role of UK Bus appointment Senior Designer. CAROLINE Fairbank has joined Jodine Milne-Reader, UK Bus The South West Trains-Network Marketing Manager, said: “We’re Rail Alliance in the recently delighted to welcome Craig and Alan to created position of Commercial Stagecoach UK Bus. Both have significant Media Manager. experience in their fields and will play Caroline’s new role involves managing a very important part within the wider and developing commercial filming and marketing team.” photography on the network. welcomes new manager STAGECOACH North East New Engineering Manager, Bert Smith, has welcomed new Operations Kettering and Corby Stagecoach Depots. Manager, Rachel Geliamassi, to its Sunderland Depot. BERT Smith has been appointed Rachel joined Stagecoach in 2007 and Engineering Manager for the successfully completed the Graduate Stagecoach depots at Kettering and Training Programme. Corby after working in Malta for the She said: “Sunderland is a fantastic base past 12 months. with a strong foundation and impressive Bert has worked in the engineering side service record; this is something I want to of the bus industry since 1975 when he build upon and strengthen.” started with the Western SMT Company in . He worked there when the Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage, business was taken over by Stagecoach in 1995 and he continued to work for the Commercial Media Manager Caroline Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Fairbank. Perth, PH1 5TW company in for another two years. Email: [email protected] Happy retirement www.stagecoach.com TWO drivers from Dumfries and Cumnock If you have a story for On Stage, please have recently retired with over 50 years’ service contact Lindsay Reid as above. between them. Jim Lyle started driving buses in 1969 with the The copy deadline , while Bob Arnold, started with for the next edition Stagecoach in 2006. Colleagues wish them all the best. of On Stage will be Friday 18 Pictured, from left to right, are: West Scotland Operations October 2013. Manager Hugh Fowler, Jim and Mary Lyle, and Kenny Laidlaw, Assistant Operations Manager. 9