Issue 85 | May 2011

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Your champions EMPLOYEES across all parts of the Group Health, Safety and Environment Committee), Ann have been recognised in the 2011 Stagecoach Gloag (Non-Executive Director) and Steven Stewart Champions awards for their initiative and (Director of Corporate Communications). commitment in championing safety, health, Gold, silver and bronze winners have been selected customer service, innovation, the environment in each category. Gold winners will receive £1,000, and the community. with silver and bronze winners receiving £500 and Some 150 nominations were received, making it £250 respectively. All winners will also receive a a di cult task for the judging panel of Helen Mahy trophy. Presentations will be arranged locally. Knitting for Easter (Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Group The 2011 Stagecoach Champions are: DUNFERMLINE travel shop administration clerk Annette Young Safety Health has once again demonstrated her considerable knitting skills by • GOLD: Stephan Van Horn, Risk Manager, • Gold: Denis Horgan, Train Presentation producing an Easter display of Paramus, Coach USA, for his work following Manager, London Waterloo, South West knitted Stagecoach buses. the serious .com accident in Syracuse, New Trains, for initiatives to ensure a healthier working York, in September 2010. environment for turnaround cleaners at Waterloo. • SILVER: Operation • Silver: Paul Ward, bus driver, Chorley Depot, Blue Flame Team (Rob Mason, Passenger , for his initiative and Trains get Information Manager; Helen Barley, imaginative approach in promoting health and tness Emergency Planning and Security Manager; at the depot. the X Factor Peter Glass, Current Operations Manager) for • Bronze: Bob Webster, bus driver, Cambridge, changes implemented following a train derailment at , for e orts to promote healthy QUEEN of the Jungle and X East Langton. eating and exercise. Factor nalist, Stacey Solomon • BRONZE: Tracy Craig, train guard, has been revealed as the face Bournemouth depot, , for Customer service of East Midlands Trains’ new her response when a distraught woman was found marketing campaign. on the railway line near Dorchester. • Gold: Steve Moody, bus driver, Scunthorpe, Stacey will be appearing on , for his personal billboards, on TV and radio, and in Environment commitment in getting students home safely in regional newspapers in a bid to let severe winter weather in November 2010. the public nd out more about East • Gold: Jodine Milne, Marketing Manager, • Silver: Dan Impey, line cleaner, Reading/ Midlands Trains’ great value fares. and megabus.com, Windsor area, South West Trains, for his pride She will be featured trying out East the driving force behind Stagecoach North East’s and dedication, going well beyond his cleaning role Midlands Trains’ award-winning online energy-saving and carbon reduction initiatives, to help colleagues and passengers. Best Fare Finder, which provides access engaging employees through local eco-teams. • Bronze: John Telfer, Bus Station Controller, to the cheapest fares to London in • Silver: Dilip Patel, ticket o ce clerk, Worcester Glasgow, Scotland, for his seconds. Park Station, South West Trains, for his war on dedication, his professional approach and his heroic Marc Turley, Head of Marketing waste and commitment to encouraging recycling. actions in saving the life of a member of the public for East Midlands Trains, said: “We’re • Bronze: Bill Priday, Health, Safety and subject to a violent attack. hoping that Stacey’s warm personality Enviroment advisor, , and enthusiasm will encourage even who is helping to cut the company’s carbon Innovation more people to give our Best Fare footprint and deliver commercial bene ts. Finder a try, and see just how quickly • Gold: Phil Berry, Customer Services Manager, and easily they too can nd a bargain Community and Glen Hatherley, Services Manager, South train ticket.” West Trains, for the simple yet e ective ‘Sorry’ Stacey Solomon comments in the • Gold: James Allan, Prosecutions Manager, business card to help manage customer queries and campaign: “Best South West Trains, for his generosity, dedicating complaints. Fare Finder personal time to provide friendship, support and aid • Silver: Ian Milne, Engineering Surveying makes it really to a wide range of good causes. Manager, Stagecoach Supertram, for work in easy to nd • Silver: Paul Keating, bus driver, Stagecoach developing an instrument to help monitor rail wear cheap fares – Yorkshire, for his work as a Special Constable, on the tram system. and you get a helping to cut vandalism and improve safety on • Bronze: Jim Crompton - Purchasing Manager, choice of times public transport. and Matt Smith, Stock Controller, Shared and trains!” • Bronze: Ron Wiltshire, travel advisor, She eld Service Centre, Stagecoach UK Bus, for the Stacey in the Station, East Midlands Trains, in recognition development and deployment of a new ordering new adverts. of his work over a number of years for the Royal system, which has improved stock management, British Legion Poppy Appeal. saved money and improved liaison with suppliers.

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Awards for kind ( Overheard on a train hearted drivers You what?! leaving Waterloo) Girl says to her friend:“If only he didn’t go out every night and get completely blotto, he’d be the perfect boyfriend.”

Can you beat that? Send your weird and wonderful overheard comments to [email protected] An Olympic challenge Award winners Ryan and John. Your chance to be part of the winning team TWO north-east bus drivers have received awards for outstanding service STAGECOACH will be one of the look forward to ensuring we play our part in to the community following recognition transport providers at the London 2012 making the Games a huge success.” from passengers and colleagues. Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sta from across the UK Bus division Ryan Grundy and John Watson, from the The company will be transferring the (except London) are being invited to Walkergate depot in Newcastle, have received world’s athletes and media between their volunteer to work during the Games in a Service to the Community badges from accommodation and various Olympic and variety of roles. Stagecoach North East, after going above and Paralympic venues in London, as well as Employees will be required to work in beyond the call of duty. transporting them to and from airports. London for at least three weeks between July Ryan received the award after several Stagecoach will be responsible for managing and September 2012. Accommodation and passenger commendations for excellent two depots in London, with 1100 vehicles in transport will be provided and sta will receive customer service. He said: “I am over the operation throughout the event. Around half full training. All conditions have been agreed moon to be one of the rst to receive the of the buses will be provided by Stagecoach with the Unite, RMT and GMB trade unions. Service to the Community award. It took my with the remainder supplied by other Employees selected to work over the period breath away when I found out because I just operators. of the Games can expect a standard daily rate love doing my job.” A dedicated UK Bus Events Team has been of £150, two meals provided each working John received the Service to the set up to coordinate Stagecoach’s involvement, day and an allowance for the third meal, and Community award for his work with led by Operations return travel to and from London. vulnerable adults, helping individuals in Director Elizabeth Esnouf. Any employee who would like to volunteer the community with learning or physical She said: “We are delighted to have been should complete the online registration disabilities gain their independence by selected as a lead operator for the London form at www.stagecoachbus.com/ learning to use public transport. 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. thewinningteam John said: “I am very pleased to be Our operations and engineering teams, as A paper version is also available from depots. recognised for the work I do with this Service well as our drivers and other frontline sta , The deadline to register is 30 June 2011. to the Community award. I work closely with the Society for the Blind and local special needs schools by helping teach individuals A MODERN real-time bus Real time info arrives how to get on and o the bus, so they feel information system has been introduced more con dent when travelling. It’s great to at bus stops throughout Ayrshire. see people learning to travel on their own The Real Time Passenger Information and watch their self-esteem and con dence System, is a joint initiative between Strathclyde boosted as they achieve their goals.” Partnership for Transport, East Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and Stagecoach. The new system has been rolled Red nose buses out to the busiest bus stops in the area and buses have been tted with tracking devices which STAGECOACH East Midlands Rob Jones, ; Alan Vass, will allow the actual arrival time of the next bus joined in Comic East Ayrshire Council; David Lodge, North to be displayed on a screen at the bus stop. Relief Day by Ayrshire Council, and Noel Goulty, ACIS. purchasing a number of Red Noses Sky high fundraising from Oxfam in STAFF at West have successes were ‘Boss for a Day’, where winning Lincoln. successfully raised over £5,000 sta swapped shifts with senior managers for Andy Smith, for the NSPCC. the day, and the ‘Step Change’, where Commercial During the last six months twelve intrepid sta from the Exeter Manager South, they have organised a variety and Torbay depots took part in said: “It’s nice to get involved and help of events including a vintage a race to the top of the London promote all the good work that Comic bus rally, 5-a-side football Gherkin. The Step Change alone Relief and Oxfam do. The buses almost look competition, behind-the-scenes raised over £3,000 towards the as if they are smiling when they’re coming depot tour and charity cake-bake nal total. down the road.” in aid of the charity. The Step Change team at the top Two particular fundraising of the Gherkin.

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Refurbished lounge is fi rst class RAIL passengers in Leicester were treated to a special visit from a true Andy Pitt, MD of South West Trains and Leicester footballing legend, as former the Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, with some of South West Trains’ RCO team and British Foxes player Steve Walsh visited to o cially Transport Police. unveil the station’s newly refurbished First Class Lounge. At the opening, Wayne Kyte, Route Manager Secure station Leicestershire for East Midlands Trains, said: FULWELL station has become “Leicester station has recently seen some the latest South West Trains station to signi cant improvements as part of our £10 receive Secure Station status and local million enhancement programme which MP Vince Cable, Business Secretary and will bene t all passengers using the station. MP for Twickenham, joined Andy Pitt, We’re particularly excited to have had such Managing Director of South West Trains, a distinguished guest to open our newly to unveil the certi cate and o cially refurbished First Class lounge and we hope our mark the new security accreditation. passengers enjoy using the new look facility.” Fulwell station joins more than 100 other Steve Walsh, Leicester City Football Club’s stations on the South West Trains network former captain, said: “It’s a great facility and that have been accredited with Secure Station I’m looking forward to using the Lounge and Representatives from East Midlands Trains’ status. This means that 95% of passengers getting First Class treatment on my next train trip Leicester station team along with Steve Walsh at now travel through stations that have met the to London!” the opening. strict security criteria set down through this scheme. Andy Pitt said: “It’s excellent news that the All aboard charity train improvements we have made at Fulwell have resulted in this Secure Station Accreditation. EAST Midlands Trains is to run a “Although levels of crime on the railway are special High Speed Train service from St actually very low, we are continually looking Pancras International to Dereham to raise at ways to make our trains and stations safer.” money for the Railway Children’s Charity. This is the rst time that a High Speed Train has ever visited Dereham and it will be A wee poem a unique, one-o experience for passengers. STAGECOACH customer Kay There will be an opportunity to spend more Murray took the time to write the than two hours in the pleasant Norfolk market following poem about her experience town of Dereham before the train makes its of the Stagecoach Service 585 return journey via Norwich. between Ayr and Greenock: David Horne, Customer Service Director for Rod retires East Midlands Trains, said: “Running a special The 585 ~~~~~the 585 HST from St Pancras to Norfolk seemed a SUPERTRAM Inspector Rod great opportunity to support our sta and raise Jump on it and feel alive. Cherrill has retired after 17 years with money for such a valuable cause at the same the company. Sta at Supertram wish time. Tickets have been selling fast, and we’ve On your own and feeling lonely? Rod every happiness in his retirement. Not been out for days on end? already raised over £16,000 for The Railway Pop out to the nearest bus stop, Children.” Step on it and nd a friend.

The 585 ~~~~~the 585 Jason’s charity fi rewalk Jump on it and feel alive. SOUTH West Trains employee Jason Murphy recently walked barefoot across red-hot embers to raise £550 for Macmillan From Greenock all the way to Ayr, Cancer Support. Just put on your happy smile. The Farnborough Station Manager and rst-time rewalker put mind Someone will ll your vacant chair, over matter to master the rewalk at a charity evening organised by So now just chat, mile after mile. Macmillan Fundraising Team. Commenting on his brave achievement, Jason said: “The rewalk was an The 585 ~~~~~the 585 amazing experience – and I still nd it hard to believe we all came through it totally unscathed. Jump on it and feel alive. “The thought of raising so much money for such a worthwhile cause, which does so much for people in the local area, was a fantastic motivation to tread into the unknown.” I did. Jason (in green) prepares to walk across hot coals.

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New board member New era in STAGECOACH Group plc has announced the Manchester appointment of Will Whitehorn as STAGECOACH Manchester recently a non-executive celebrated a new era with the o cial director of the opening of its new £6.5million Sharston company with Depot. e ect from 1 May The opening of the new site also marks the 2011. closure of the company’s 101-year-old Princess Will Whitehorn is Chairman of Loewy Road depot, which has been acquired by Group Limited, a leading industrial and Manchester City Council as part of its Hulme and product design company, and is currently Moss Side regeneration scheme. non-executive Chairman of Next Fifteen The company said farewell to the historic depot Vintage buses make their way in procession from Communications Group plc, a company by forming a convoy of vintage and modern Princess Road to the new Sharston depot. quoted on the London Stock Exchange buses, which left Princess Road for the nal time AIM list. Will has announced his intention and travelled in procession to the company’s new Princess Road, will now be based at the new site, to retire from Next Fifteen during 2011. state-of-the-art home in Sharston. which will house and maintain up to 200 buses. Until December 2010 Will was President Over 70 guests arrived at the Sharston depot, Chris Bowles, Managing Director of Stagecoach of Virgin Galactic. He was previously including the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Manchester, commented: “The bus procession was Brand Development and Corporate Councillor Mark Hackett, who joined Managing a tting tribute to Princess Road and as the last A airs Director at Virgin Group, where Director of Stagecoach Manchester, Chris Bowles, bus left the depot it marked the start of a new era he held various positions between 1987 in cutting the ceremonial ribbon and unveiling a for Stagecoach Manchester, as we lead the way and 2007. commemorative plaque which will be displayed in with best environmental practices and continue Will is a non-executive director of the the depot. Over 500 of Stagecoach Manchester’s to provide a high standard of service to the Scottish Exhibition Centre Limited and sta , most of whom who have transferred from local community.” a member of the Science Technology Facilities Council. He is also a member of the First Minister of Scotland’s Walking for heroes ‘GlobalScot’ business mentoring network. Will will replace Sir George Mathewson A GROUP of drivers at Stagecoach as a member of the Remuneration North West’s West Cumbria depot have Committee and he will also join the helped raise £6,000 for the Help the Nomination Committee. Heroes charity. Commenting on Will Whitehorn’s The team raised £4,000 through sponsorship appointment to the board, Sir George after completing the 24-mile walk and Mathewson, Chairman of the Company, Stagecoach North West contributed a further said: “I am delighted to welcome £1,500 to the total. Will Whitehorn to the Board. As an Managing Director of Stagecoach North independent non-executive director, West, Paul Southgate, said: “We would like to his background in brand development, congratulate our drivers on their commendable together with his wide-ranging charity e orts, raising money for a very worthy experience across a range of business cause and also acknowledge the incredible Managing Director Paul Southgate hands over generosity of passengers, fellow members of sta sectors will bring valuable insight to the company’s contribution to the Help for the board.” Heroes charity walkers. and their families who donated so kindly.”

In the running for has been nominated for its popular JET 727 bus service while Stagecoach in Mick’s big read nine top honours Fife is shortlisted for its X42 service. driver Mick STAGECOACH has been shortlisted Bluebird’s JET 727 service is also shortlisted Hymans has written a book for nine top honours at the 2011 Scottish in the Best Transport Integration category and charting the history of the company. Transport Awards. ’s luxury Citylink Gold express ‘The History of Eastbourne’s Buses’ The Perth-based transport group has been coach service is in the running for the Transport will shortly be available to buy and shortlisted as Public Transport Operator of the Project of the Year Award. follows two years of hard work as Mick Year for three of its bus operations in Scotland. In addition, Stagecoach Bluebird Admin traced company archives from as far back as 1903 Stagecoach in Fife, Stagecoach West Scotland Supervisor Iris Durno and Bus Station Controller when the rst bus ran in Eastbourne. and Scottish Citylink – a joint venture between at Stagecoach West Scotland, John Telfer, have Mick said: “I lost count of the times I heard Stagecoach and international transport group both been nominated for the Frontline Employee a driver say ‘You could write a book about ComfortDelGro – will battle it out for the of the Year Award. this place’. One day I decided I would. I have prestigious title at the awards ceremony to be held Stagecoach UK Bus Regional Director Scotland concentrated on the social history and human in Glasgow on 16 June. Sam Greer said: “I am delighted that so many of aspect of the company so I hope the book will be In addition, two Stagecoach bus routes are in our companies and transport partners have been a light read to be enjoyed by those interested in the running for the Best Bus Service Award. nominated for these high pro le awards.” social change as well as buses.”

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WIN A Picture of £50 VOUCHER the Season THIS edition’s winning Picture of the Season was taken by Ray Harvey, who works for . It shows a local service out of the Cwmbran depot, travelling over a cattle grid at Pantygasseg high in the mountains of South Wales. Congratulations to Ray who will shortly receive his prize of £50 of M&S vouchers. Cherie Murray with one of the If you think you have a picture that captures one of the four seasons, please send your image to new ticket machines. Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or email it to Just the ticket [email protected] A NEW generation of cashless pay- and-display parking machines is being introduced at 35 of South West Trains’ station car parks by May 2011. WiFi on every train to London The new easy-to-use machines will allow ALL rail passengers using East Midlands travelling from stations on the mainline route payment by debit and credit cards, making it Trains services to London now have access to London can now fully bene t from this new much more convenient for passengers. Other to the internet while they travel, thanks to service. payment methods available already include the new on-board WiFi service which has David Horne, Customer Service Director for mobile phone payment technology. Cash been rolled out to all of the company’s East Midlands Trains, said: “We are very pleased payment transactions will remain possible at trains to and from London. with how the WiFi service has been received by ticket o ces or ticket vending machines. In just six months, East Midlands Trains has our customers and we have received some very Cherie Murray, Project Manager for South tted WiFi onto all of its 27 Meridian trains complimentary feedback on how fast and easy it West Trains, said: “Motorists want to use and 11 HSTs. This means that all passengers is to use.” cashless, fast and secure pay-and-display, and this is exactly what we’re going to provide at 35 of our busiest station car parks.” showed that South West Trains recorded a On time again punctuality gure of 94.8% while 94.5% STAGECOACH continues to of East Midlands Trains services ran on be one of the most punctual train time. Anglia rail bid operators in the UK at its South , Chief Executive of THE Department of Transport has West Trains and East Midlands Trains Stagecoach Group, said: “These results are shortlisted Stagecoach Group’s bid franchises, according to latest gures. great news for our passengers and re ect for the Greater Anglia passenger rail The performance gures, which cover the the hard work of our people in delivering franchise. four-week period ending 31 March 2011, a reliable railway.” The Greater Anglia passenger rail franchise provides local, suburban and express train services from London Liverpool Street THE famous Melton Mowbray Pork to north and east Greater London, Essex, Pie has returned to the rails with the East Midlands Trains Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Su olk and launch of East Midlands Trains’ new First serves up new menu Norfolk. It is expected to be a short-term Class menu. contract lasting from February 2012 to at least Featuring as part of the new ‘East Midlands the summer of 2013. Ploughmans’, Dickinson & Morris’ award- A Stagecoach Group spokesman said: winning pork pie will sit alongside locally “We are pleased to have been successful in sourced Red Leicester cheese in a meal being shortlisted for the Greater Anglia rail designed to celebrate local produce. franchise. We now look forward to receiving The new all-day menu features a range of the DfT’s nal and detailed Invitation to freshly prepared meals including pork and Tender document, which will con rm the chicken liver terrine with onion chutney, a Government’s key requirements for the premium cheeseburger with potato wedges, franchise.” nachos with cheese and dips and an Indian The Group also welcomed the news that platter with raita and mango chutney. Virgin Rail Group has pre-quali ed to bid Adrian Allen, Catering Manager for East for the new West Coast rail franchise, which is Midlands Trains, said: “Our new ‘Gastro pub’ expected to start in April 2012. type menu completely re ects the views of VRG, a joint venture between Stagecoach our passengers and provides a range of options and Virgin Group, is the operator of the that are great value for money and o er our current West Coast franchise through its First Class passengers quality products all freshly brand. The franchise is due to prepared by our on-train sta .” expire in March 2012. The new East Midlands Trains ploughmans.

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Eco-driving will reduce fuel needs Spotlight on… South West Trains Safety STAGECOACH is making a multi-million-pound investment in and Environment Team an eco-driving system for its UK bus operations. ENVIRONMENTAL management at South West Trains is overseen Around 13,800 Stagecoach drivers are to by the HQ Safety Team based in London. Mark Starkey, Safety & start using the GreenRoad system to reduce Environment Manager, and Amy Dickinson, Environment Advisor, fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and are responsible for the South West Trains Environmental Management System (EMS). improve passenger comfort and safety. The EMS is there to ensure the company complies with relevant environmental regulations, Stagecoach is targeting a 4% reduction in fuel monitors performance against a range of environmental indicators (such as CO2 emissions, water use consumption. and the amount of waste recycled), and implements initiatives to continually reduce its impact on the A key element will be an EcoDriver environment. incentive scheme giving employees the chance But all employees have a role to play in environmental performance – from the engineers working to earn ‘green points’ that are converted into towards making trains as energy-e cient as possible and the drivers driving in an e cient way, to all nancial bene ts. The GreenRoad 360 system station, depot and o ce sta maintaining good standards of housekeeping. All sta have the ability to provides drivers with real-time feedback on help make a di erence. their driving style, including speed, braking, acceleration, lane-handling and turning. All Stagecoach drivers already undertake a Safe, Skilled and Fuel-E cient Driving In line for top awards programme as part of a Certi cate of Professional Competence. STAGECOACH Group is in the running His drive towards improved business sustainability Les Warneford, Managing Director of for two top honours at the 2011 Business- and his commitment to creating new, innovative Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “We have worked Green Leaders Awards. transport links are behind Stagecoach’s advanced with our employees and trade unions to The organisation has been named as a nalist in environmental strategy. develop a system that is easy to use and will the Company of the Year category, while Brian Souter is also a member of the Scottish also reward excellent driving.” Group Chief Executive Brian Souter Government’s 2020 Delivery Group has been shortlisted as Leader of which aims to ensure that all sectors of the Year at the awards ceremony, Scotland’s economy and civic society Green fi ngers to be held in London on 7 July. contribute to achieving the country’s A TEAM of employees from East Stagecoach is nominated for its Climate Change Delivery Plan. Midlands Trains’ head o ce in Derby commitment to becoming a more He said: “It’s great to be recognised recently donned their gardening gloves sustainable business. The company for the work we are doing in trying to to help bring improvements to Blythe has launched a sustainability strategy and become a more sustainable business. Our aim Bridge Station. is investing £11million in a range of measures to is to reduce the impact of our own business on the The eight-strong team joined Faye Lambert meet its environmental targets. environment as well as helping people lead greener from the North Sta ordshire Community Brian Souter has been shortlisted for his lifestyles by switching from the car to smarter bus Rail Partnership and three volunteers from commitment to environmental improvement. and rail travel.” the local station adoption group, to carry out tasks to improve the overall station environment. Their work included weeding and litter-picking around the station and Stagecoach leads the surrounding area. way on hybrid buses GOVERNMENT gures have New buses in Hull con rmed that Stagecoach Group is STAGECOACH East Midlands has leading the way on investing in new greener launched nine brand new Enviro 400 buses using state-of-the-art hybrid electric double-deckers in Hull. technology. The new deckers – which all have Euro 5 Transport Minister Norman Baker visited engines – represent an investment of £1.3 Stagecoach’s operation in Oxford as the million and follow the delivery in 2010 of Department for Transport con rmed that a eighteen Enviro 300 single-deckers for the city. total of 542 vehicles have been bought through Eight of the new deckers have been named the Government’s Green Bus Fund in . after famous More than 20% of them have been purchased people who have by Stagecoach – the biggest investment in low contributed to the carbon buses outside London. A hybrid bus in Manchester. history of Hull, Stagecoach has also announced it is to spend including William a further £3.8million introducing an additional the company has placed orders for 142 state- Wilberforce, Philip 20 Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 electric hybrid of-the-art hybrid electric vehicles, at a cost of Larkin, Joseph Rank vehicles in Manchester, with a support package of £26.9million. The buses will to go into service and Amy Johnson. £1.8million from the Green Bus Fund. across the country, delivering a 30% cut in carbon This latest order means that, in the past year, emissions compared to standard vehicles.

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Marathon park and ride for New routes for megabus.com in US

MEGABUS.COM is expanding its to the New Jersey city, which is located within 10 Pittsburgh service in North America to miles of New York City and Newark. cover nine additional cities in the United The latest expansion means megabus.com will States and Canada. serve 15 cities from Pittsburgh, the budget coach Residents in Pittsburgh will be able to use operator’s sixth hub in North America. megabus.com to travel to Akron, Ohio; Bu alo, Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating N.Y.; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; O cer of megabus.com in North America, said: Detroit; Erie, Penn.; Toledo, Ohio and Toronto. “We are delighted to be expanding further to A new service from Boston to Secaucus, N.J., deliver greater travel value to the residents of the will also o er six trips a day from South Station Pittsburgh area and the surrounding cities.”

Hastings Mayor, Cllr Kim Forward, with Andre Walters, President of the Lions Club of Hastings, near the start line.

STAGECOACH in Hastings provided a shuttle service to enable runners participating in the town’s half marathon and spectators to park at a local school and travel free to the start and nish line on the Then and now seafront. Four buses were used to provide the HERE’S a photo of sta from the Alexanders Fife Anstruther Depot from park and ride service for over 950 people 1956/57. The depot has closed now but to bring us up to date, on the right is a on the day and a double-deck bus was photo of some members of the current team at nearby St Andrews Depot. used as a base for the race director and members of the Hastings Lions Club which organises the event. Scott hands HQ fundraisers in his keys STAFF at Group HQ in Perth have POPULAR Stagecoach in Perth bus once again shown their generosity by driver Scott Arnott, has retired after raising cash for charity. nearly a decade of service with the Through a dress down day and scratch company. card competition, more than £300 was Gus Beveridge, Operations Manager, raised for Comic Relief. Stagecoach in Perth, said: “Scott is very popular The following week, a cake sale and with other work colleagues and well liked by all ra e raised more than £375 for Down’s his passengers, who are sorry to see him leave. Syndrome Scotland. He will be truly missed by us all.” Thanks to all who contributed. Scott Arnott hands over the keys to Operations Manager Gus Beveridge. Stonehaven bus driver retires after 37 years

STAGECOACH Bluebird has bid farewell to Alistair Ross, a trainee driver in 1974 and has been based in Stonehaven throughout who has retired after 37 years as a driver. his career. He now plans to travel to South Africa for a holiday as well as After initially working on a farm, Alistair joined W. Alexander Buses as enjoying gardening and spending time with his family.

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So long, Dave – Merete Rawbone Welfare The quickfi re roundstorey car park. Assistant Dave Dream job? Day was given a Who are you? Working as a tting send-o as Merete Rawbone, Travel Clerk, Stagecoach TV presenter, he retired from Midlands, Leamington Travelshop. doing holiday the company after What do you like most about your programmes all a career spanning job? over the world. more than 40 years. The satisfaction I get helping people get to Favourite Dave trained as a where they want to go and their gratitude animal? driver in 1968 and Dave Day. when they come back and thank me. My springer worked in Stockwell and Leyton until What do you like least about your job? spaniel Sally. becoming Welfare Assistant in 2002. When I can’t get through on the computer Most like to be stuck in a lift with? Over the years Dave has built close to book tickets. Di cult one as I use the stairs if I can. But contacts with the Transport Benevolent Favourite TV show? it would have to be the lift engineer. He Fund and Transport Friendly Society that I love a good murder mystery like should get me out quickly. helped him to provide invaluable help to ‘Midsomer Murders’. colleagues in need, as well as their families at Biggest achievement? The Quick re Round features in every times of bereavement. Making the most sales this year for our shop edition of On Stage and we want to hear Dave’s easy-going attitude, eye for detail, since I started in 1994. from as many sta as possible. and sensitive side when needed have made Worst job? To suggest the next participant, email him much loved among colleagues and he I haven’t had any - very lucky I suppose. [email protected] will be sorely missed. Most embarrassing moment? Forgetting where I parked the car in a multi Fond farewell STAGECOACH in Hastings has Learner of the Year bid a fond farewell to long-serving EAST Midlands Trains driver Colin Berry has been employee Bill Pritchard, who recently presented with the rst ever ASLEF Learner Award in retired through ill health. recognition of the dedication and commitment he has Bill joined Stagecoach predecessors made towards his own education and development. Maidstone and District in 1963 as a Colin has worked on the railway for 29 years and is a conductor and later became a driver. member of the ASLEF Derby branch. Throughout the years the bus enthusiast also His learning has included courses in communication, worked as an inspector, a travel sales clerk numeracy and German, and over the last four years Colin has ASLEF General Secretary Keith and a service monitor. been doing self-funded learning with the Open University, Norman presents Colin with Bill will be missed by all sta who wish working towards an open degree. his award. him a long and happy retirement. Senga gets on board STAGECOACH North East, has CONTACTS welcomed a new Digital Marketing Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Assistant, Senga Crosby. Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Senga has joined the team to implement Perth, PH1 5TW national and regional digital marketing campaigns for the company. Email: [email protected] The 28-year-old studied Business and www.stagecoach.com Marketing at Sunderland University before completing a quali cation in Digital Marketing If you have a story for On Stage, through the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Senga Crosby. please contact Lindsay Reid as above. She said: “I’m really looking forward to with the marketing team in developing the new challenge of this role and gaining digital media campaigns and solutions, while The copy deadline for the next experience that will develop the knowledge and supporting the overall marketing strategy for edition of On Stage will be skills I already have. My role will involve working both local and national brands.” June 10, 2011. Ken drives off STAGECOACH East Midlands has said goodbye to popular driver Ken Markham, who was based at the Gainsborough Depot. All the sta at Gainsborough wish him the best in his retirement.

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