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Sharper Focus Drives Growth INSIDE Your 4-page silver 2525 YEARSYEARS ONON THETHE ROADROAD anniversary pullout The newspaper of Stagecoach Group Issue 59 Summer 2005 Rail Division welcomes new Sharper focus Chief Executive Stagecoach Group has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Ian Dobbs as Chief Executive of the Group’s Rail Division. Ian Dobbs (50), who has 28 years’ experience in the rail industry in the UK and overseas, is a former Divisional Director of British Rail. More recently he was Chief drives growth Executive Officer of the Victoria Public Transport Corporation in Australia, tagecoach received a Innovation, investment and strong marketing boosts performance where he was responsible for the rail, Spositive response from tram and bus services. Speirs added: “I am pleased that the Currently a railway management the financial markets with a by Steven Stewart Brian Souter – ‘A clear hard work of our employees has been focus on first-class consultant and advisor to Government strong set of results for the rewarded with another year of achieve- service delivery.’ and the private sector, based in 2004-05 financial year. Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief ment across the Group. We believe Melbourne, he will join the Group this The Group share price rose on the Executive, said: “We have achieved there are significant opportunities for month. back of an excellent performance for strong organic growth in our bus and rail organic growth and the expansion of Ian will have operational responsi- the 12 months to April 30, 2005, with a operations in the UK and overseas, our rail portfolio, both of which can bility for all of the Group’s rail interests, significant increase in profits. delivering on our strategic objectives for deliver increased value to our share- including South West Trains – the UK’s Innovation, investment and strong the Group. This excellent performance holders.” biggest rail franchise – Island Line, the marketing have all driven the strong has been driven by increased invest- Announcing the results, Brian Souter Stagecoach shareholding in Virgin Rail numbers that were reported to the City. ment, innovation, targeted marketing said plans were under way to introduce Group, which operates the Analysts were impressed at the per- and a clear focus on first-class service optically guided buses in Cambridge CrossCountry and West Coast franchis- formance of the company’s rail and bus delivery. within the next two years. He also es, and Sheffield Supertram. divisions in the UK, particularly against “Our Rail division has performed par- raised the possibility of a megabus- He will initially report to Graham a backdrop of significant increases in ticularly well, benefiting from the intro- style operation on the railways, Eccles, Stagecoach Group Executive fuel prices affecting the transport sector. duction of new trains and a significantly using dedicated high-capacity Director Rail, who has indicated that he Passengers have been flocking to improved operational performance. We carriages with variably priced seats intends to retire and step down from South West Trains after the introduction have delivered impressive growth in the that could be booked on the web. the Board in April 2006. of new high-quality Desiro trains and UK in both our provincial and London Earlier this year, Stagecoach Stagecoach Group Chief Executive the new timetable on the network has bus operations as a result of our Kick shareholders benefited from a Brian Souter said: “We are delighted Ian meant more than 90% of trains are now Start initiatives, sector-leading telemar- £241million return of capital is joining the Group at what is an arriving on time. keting campaigns and online sales. A programme. exciting time when we have a number The results included: focus on our core markets, supported by Signs for the start of of significant opportunities to grow our • Strong passenger growth at UK complementary bolt-on acquisitions, has the new financial year rail portfolio. Bus both inside and outside resulted in further revenue growth in are encouraging, with “Ian has wide rail and light rail oper- London. North America. In New Zealand, where current trading in ational experience both in the UK and • Significant uplift in passengers, we are the largest bus operator, we have line with the overseas. His high-level management punctuality and profits at the rail performed well in a difficult market.” company’s and competitive rail franchising experi- division Stagecoach Group Chairman Robert expectations. ence will help further improve our • Big increase in turnover from current operational performance and continuing operations in North RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS significantly strengthen the develop- America, particularly at New ment of our current and future rail bids. York Sightseeing. • Group turnover from continuing operations Ian, who is from Nottingham, is • Market-leading position main- £1,787.6m (2004: £1,641.1m) married with a teenage son and tained in New Zealand, despite • Profit before tax up 14% daughter. competition and cost pressures • Earnings per share up 34% He told On Stage: “Stagecoach is • Significant increase in the full • UK Bus passenger volumes up 1.5% outside one of the most dynamic players in the year dividend to shareholders London rail industry, with an excellent reputa- Stagecoach is also well-placed to • Rail passenger numbers up 4.8% tion for delivering quality rail services. I expand its rail portfolio and is shortlist- • Operating margins in North America up from am delighted to be joining the Group ed for the Greater Western, Thames- 4.4% to 6.7% and I am looking forward to the link/Great Northern and Integrated Kent • Full-year dividend up 13.8% challenge of developing further franchises. Stagecoach’s rail portfolio.” John steps in Running to schedule to help A team from Coach USA made light All agreed that that the event was a work of the annual Lincoln Tunnel great success, with employees, family revamp Fun Run, now in its 19th year. and friends having a wonderful time Its team of 124, organised by and at the same time raising valuable the bus stops Christine Schulz and colleagues, was funds for the New Jersey Special the largest among the 1,000 runners in Olympics. the 5km event, sponsored by Coach Warwickshire’s 5,000 bus stops are USA and the New York & New Jersey There was an impressive turn-out of runners flourishing under the care of Port Authority Police. from Coach USA. Stagecoach employee John Gwynne. A bus driver for the past 34 years, John is now the first dedicated publicity officer for the company’s three local depots at Nuneaton, Rugby and Leamington. He has taken on the task of ensuring the latest information on Soaring service wins routes, times and fares is available at all times. As an ex-driver he knows how important it is to provide customers with as much up-to-date roadside information as possible. John (57) said: “This has always been an issue and I am certain that innovation award the company is getting it right in the best way possible.” Stagecoach in Warwickshire Marketing Manager Adam Rideout tagecoach has won a added: “John is certainly starting to by Anthony Evans make his mark with the upgrading of Sprestigious honour at bus stops on many of our local the National Transport routes. He is conscientiously imple- Awards in London. free seven-day goldrider voucher menting what will be an on-going Gloucestershire’s Service 41, con- worth £16. By the end of 2004, programme of upgrading and necting Cheltenham to Tewkesbury passenger numbers on Service 41 cleaning bus stops across the and Northway, was proclaimed the had grown a further 17.8%. network. Most Innovative Transport Project The award was collected by “It’s an important role for both the 2005. Sholto Thomas, Operations Director company and our customers as he is Once a predominantly rural half- at Stagecoach West. helping us to deliver key information hourly service, the 41 has gone from He said: “This award is a tribute to through the rolling bus stop improve- strength to strength following the the dedication and enthusiasm of our ment programme.” 2003 purchase and branding of two Cheltenham staff who have helped to Meanwhile Stagecoach in low-floor vehicles for the route and transform Service 41, resulting in a Warwickshire has invested £27,000 in introduction of an enhanced 20- staggering 44% growth in passengers the bus stop infrastructure in Stagecoach East Midlands MD Paul Lynch, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield and leader minute frequency. in just two years. Nuneaton. of Chesterfield Borough Council Ray Russell attend the opening of the new Coach Station. Backed by local advertising and “Our success on Service 41 proves A striking new bus stop pole with extensive marketing materials, that Gloucestershire residents are new flags and cases will now greet Stepping inside tomorrow today including a discount ticket offer that prepared to travel by bus if the local passengers as part of a wider was door-dropped to 5000 house- service on offer is frequent, reliable initiative called Project Diamond. Chesterfield’s new Coach Station new building is also practical as it holds, Service 41 attracted 22.4% and comfortable; and we hope this Around 70 bus stops have already comprises the new Stagecoach sources its power requirements from more passengers in 2003. will encourage the local authorities been upgraded under the scheme to Travel Shop as well as spacious large solar power panels housed in Then, in 2004, to encourage even to work with us to enhance other include the latest travel information. passenger waiting facilities and a the roof. more people out of their cars and on routes within the county and The latest timetable information driver’s rest area.
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