ON THE CREST OF A WAVE Fast ferry trial hailed a success SPECIAL FEATURE PAGES 8&9 The newspaper of Stagecoach Group Issue 72 Autumn 08 Buses beat cars 3 Gold medal glory 5 Workwear chic 11 Cameras crack crime 14 SIGHTS SET ON KEY TRAIN FRANCHISE South Central passenger rail routes crucial to local communities and economy STAGECOACH is in the running closely with local stakeholders to to win the race to operate one of develop a strong and competitive the UK’s key rail networks. bid to maximise the potential of Glorious Gordon makes The Group has been shortlisted the franchise and attract more by the Department for Transport to people to greener, smarter rail bid for the South Central passenger travel.” rail franchise. The South Central passenger dream debut in contest And Stagecoach Group Chief rail franchise, which is scheduled Executive Brian Souter described to start next September, includes the franchise as “critical to the fast, frequent rail services for communities and economy in commuters and leisure passengers, London and the south of England”. mainly in south London and along He continued: “Stagecoach has the South coast. an excellent track record of high As well as commuters into operational performance and London, there is a significant delivering major investment to leisure market to Gatwick Airport, improve services for millions of Brighton and the Sussex coast. passengers across our existing rail South Central will be formed networks. from the existing Southern “Our experience in running franchise, including the recently the UK’s biggest commuter rail incorporated Gatwick Express franchise at South West Trains and services, as well as the Tonbridge- attracting new leisure passengers Redhill element of the current will give us a strong platform to Southeastern service that will develop innovative and environ- be included in Southern from mentally sustainable plans for the December 2008. South Central franchise. The franchise will run for five “Passengers depend on a con- years and ten months, expiring sistently safe, high-quality, fast, in July 2015, with the final year frequent and reliable railway. dependent on achieving acceptable “We look forward to working performance levels. Gordon Watson shows off his silverware. Bolton wanders away FIFER Gordon Watson had a Stagecoach UK Driver. encouraging aspiration for many HAVE you seen Bolton, the ferret driver Will Nutall, who named it glittering debut at 2008’s Bus “I’m over the moon to have drivers and I’m sure Gordon and with a habit for bolting? Bolton after his favourite football Driver of the Year competition. been so successful in my first other Stagecoach drivers will Stagecoach Manchester has team Bolton Wanderers. On his first crack at the contest, attempt,” said Gordon, who continue his success at future launched a ‘Find Our Ferret’ Unfortunately, Bolton was soon the Glenrothes driver finished attended the event with his wife events.” appeal after the cute creature was doing his own wandering, and in second place against over 120 and children. The winner of Bus Driver of found by a member of staff, then has now gone missing from Will’s rivals from across the UK. And Doug Fleming, Managing the Year 2008 was Leon Wells of promptly disappeared. home in Little Hulton, Salford. Gordon’s excellent driving skills Director of Stagecoach East First Eastern Counties. The baby ferret was discovered Stagecoach Manchester is earned him no fewer than 12 Scotland, said: “We are delighted James Wright of Stagecoach running around a bus which had putting up a reward of a £10 trophies at the event’s Blackpool to have one of our drivers Oxford took fourth place while returned to its depot. Megarider ticket for anyone final, including awards for Best rewarded for his commitment Martin Shaplin of Stagecoach After a quick health check-up, supplying information leading to Newcomer, Best Highway and achievements in the industry. North West won the prize for the ferret was looked after by bus the animal’s safe return. Code, Best in Scotland and Best “Gordon’s awards provide an youngest national finalist. Duo duke it Bill ready to rise to the challenge out for a STAGECOACH in East Kent from the six depots within his Competence (CPC) for bus and Hastings has promoted remit. drivers from September will be good cause Bill Webb to Training and His promotion follows seven met with full compliance. Development Manager. years as NVQ Assessor with “There can be no doubt that TWO Warwickshire workers Based at the company’s Stagecoach. the introduction of the CPC will have set each other a tough Ashford depot, Bill will Bill will continue to oversee add new challenges to the bus challenge to raise money now oversee all aspects of the driver induction and NVQ industry,” said Bill. for Leamington Spa’s Myton vocational training for the 900 training and also ensure that “We are now best prepared Hospice. management, administration the EU directive introducing to meet the new training and Speaking before the friendly Bill Webb. and driving personnel working the Certificate of Professional induction requirements.” showdown, Stagecoach Leamington Operations Manager Sam Dixon explained: “Surj Bhullar is our Assistant Operations Manager in Leamington and Paul Gelliamassi is one of our drivers at Stage- coach’s Stratford Depot. NEW DIRECtoR “These two fit young men came up with the challenge idea when they heard about the generosity of one of our Leamington drivers, Pat Walsh, in donating a £100 prize to Myton Hospice. ROLES at UK bus “Surj and Paul will start with THE UK Bus Division of Edward Hodgson, Commercial a run between Leamington and Stagecoach has confirmed a number Director South, will be seconded Warwick and back again – a of new management appointments, from Stagecoach South to North distance of three miles. set to take effect from November 1. America in place of Bryony “They will then both do 100 Robert Andrew, currently Regional Chamberlain. press-ups as quickly as they can Director Scotland, will become Paul Southgate will retire from and, finally, will challenge each Regional Director North. His role the position of Managing Director other to the best of three in an will include responsibility for East Kent, but will continue to work arm wrestling contest. Stagecoach’s North East, North West, part-time as Commercial Manager “Stagecoach staff will be Merseyside, Manchester, Yorkshire UK Bus, concentrating on business sponsoring the pair and all and East Midlands companies. development projects. money collected will be donated Tom Wileman, currently Regional Phil Medlicott, Managing to Myton Hospice,” added Sam. Director North West and Managing Director Warwickshire, will become Director Merseyside, will become Managing Director East Kent. A new Regional Director Scotland. He will Managing Director for Stagecoach Secure steps be responsible for the Bluebird & Warwickshire will be recruited in Vying for victory: Driver of the Year contestants, from left: Matthew Bibey, Robert Highlands, Fife & Strathtay and West due course. Jones, Robert White, Ray Zammit-Haber, Neil Cook, Terry Dexeter, Nick Morton, at stations Scotland companies, in addition Michelle Hargreaves, Operations Adrian Llewellyn, John Bishop, Cheryl Smith, Tom Hillard, Desmond Lewis, Simon to his role as a Director of Scottish Director Stagecoach East, will Furley, Jenny Harris, Richard Estherby, Mike Hutchens and Graham Evans. WORCESTER Park, West Citylink. become Managing Director South Byfleet and Brookwood stations Stephen Riggans will join West. She will fill the vacancy have been awarded Secure Stagecoach from Arriva to become resulting from Chris Hilditch’s Bus drivers do battle Station status. Managing Director Merseyside. appointment as Managing Director Working in partnership with Meanwhile, Doug Fleming is National Transport Tokens, earlier SEVENTEEN South Wales competition in gale-force the British Transport Police, retiring as Managing Director this year. employees had their eyes on winds, the winner was South West Trains had to Stagecoach East Scotland. Les Warneford, Managing Director, the prize in the company’s Desmond Lewis from ensure that the stations passed Charlie Mullen, currently Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “We have Driver of the Year competition. Cwmbran Depot, who went rigorous analysis set down by the Managing Director Bluebird & a first-class management team at our Seven depots put forward forward to the UK Bus Driver Department for Transport. Highlands, will become Managing UK Bus Division, which has been a entrants for the challenge, and of the Year competition in This brings the number of Director Fife & Strathtay from key factor in attracting more people all were tested on their driving Blackpool in September. South West Trains stations that January 1. Tom Wileman will to our greener, smarter bus services. ability around a tough course. Runners-up were Robert have been accredited under this manage the company on an interim “These changes will ensure we The drivers were also White from Porth Depot scheme to 65. basis during November and continue to meet the needs of quizzed on their knowledge and Mike Hutchens from Stuart Giddings, Head of December. our passengers as well as further of the Highway Code, as Blackwood Depot. Security and Crime Prevention Bryony Chamberlain, Director of developing our senior managers. well as having an on-board Special thanks went to Ian at South West Trains, said: “This Operations Coach USA, will return “I would like to take this assessment of their driving MacDonald, a member of the is fantastic recognition of the from North America to become opportunity to welcome Stephen to skills. Bus Driver of the Year Council, hard work that is going in to Managing Director Bluebird & the Group and wish Doug well in his After a close-run who helped set up the course. reducing crime and deterring Highlands from January 1. retirement.” vandalism. “It will provide reassurance to passengers that pass through the stations each day that we are Knight of the road in new role continuing to work hard to meet and exceed national security THE CONFEDERATION of Passenger Transport transport are realised in today’s climate.