Group Well-Placed to Weather Storm
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Issue 75 | Summer 2009 onThe newsletter stage of Stagecoach Group Welcome to our Group well-placed new-look On Stage. Look out for some to weather storm new features as o STAGECOACH Group has announced strong annual results, Results Factfile well as stories from but warned of tough times ahead in the coming financial year. The Group’s UK Bus division – widely Revenue from continuing across the Group. recognised as the best in the transport sector – Group businesses up 19.3% performed particularly well and the results were Enjoy! welcomed by financial analysts. Full-year dividend Stagecoach and other operators are facing increased by 11.1% to 6p challenging trading conditions, particularly All change at affecting rail operations in the UK, but the UK Bus like-for-like Group has taken steps to ensure it is operating as revenue up 8.9% efficiently as possible. the top at SWT Group revenue for the year ending April 30, UK Rail like-for-like 2009, was up nearly 20% to more than £2 revenue up 6.2% SOUTH West Trains Managing billion, while operating profit was up by 11% to Director Stewart Palmer has £227.8 million. announced he is to retire later this year. A strong performance was reported across the Mr Palmer (pictured above), whose career Group and Chief Executive Brian Souter said in the transport industry has spanned 37 that, despite facing a challenging year ahead, the disruption caused by the upgrade of the West years, will step company is well placed to weather the economic Coast main line. Stagecoach’s share of VRG down in October. storm. operating profit for the year was £42.7million, a Taking over as Stagecoach’s UK Bus operation continues slight rise on the previous year. Managing Director to attract growing passenger numbers, with In North America, the Group maintained of the South like-for-like passenger volumes up 3.2% and operating margins at just over 10% despite the Western franchise revenue up 11.7% to £830.8million compared tough economy and the budget inter-city coach will be Andy Pitt, to £743.9million in the previous year. The service megabus.com has continued to expand, currently Business operating margin also increased to just over 15%. with revenues up significantly from $11.3million Development The results also showed continued growth the previous year to $35.8m for 2008-09. Director for for the UK Rail business. Revenue in the rail Commenting on the results, Mr Souter said: Stagecoach Rail division was up 25.7% to £977.7million and “There is no doubt the transport sector faces a Group. passenger volumes have continued to rise, albeit challenging year ahead but I am confident that at a slower rate of growth. we can develop new ideas for future growth, Virgin Rail Group (VRG), in which maintain high-quality public transport services to Stagecoach has a 49% shareholding, also our customers and deliver long-term value to our Top marks for performed well despite the ongoing shareholders.” Metrolink MANCHESTER Metrolink has Corby celebrates become the first tram system in the CORBY railway station in UK to have stops awarded Secure Northamptonshire has been officially Stations status by the Department for opened, bringing with it a full East Transport. Midlands Trains timetable to London St Three stops – Old Trafford, Whitefield, and Pancras Station. Harbour City – were given top marks after The new £8.3million station provides full access meeting the scheme’s safety and security for disabled passengers and also has bicycle parking guidelines. facilities. In addition to parking for 140 cars, there An independent judge from the British are facilities for other forms of transport, including Transport Police assessed the design and A new railway station is the icing on the cake for a taxi rank and bus interchange. East Midlands Trains’ services. management of the stops, and considered Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East crime statistics and passenger surveys to see Midlands Trains, said: “We know just how much are extremely proud to be the company bringing how safe passengers felt while using the excitement and enthusiasm there is for our new train services back to Corby for the first time stations. train services between Corby and London and we since the 1960s.” 1 uk bus on stage On the ball You what?! (Overheard on a bus in Exeter.) CONGRATULATIONS to WOMAN: “What’s made you late?” the football team at Stagecoach DRIVER: “I had a breakdown.” Merseyside who recently won the WOMAN: “Oh my husband had one of them – I hope you’re OK!” Volvo Cup for the third year in a row, Can you beat that? Send your weird and wonderful overheard comments to beating Cardiff Bus 3-1. [email protected] A special mention must go to the Merseyside goalkeeper who broke his arm in the first half but played on until half time! Busway vehicles ready to roll STAGECOACH Cambridgeshire “They’re the first buses in Cambridgeshire to recently launched its fleet of 20 brand run on the renewable fuel, which is an important new, high-spec buses on routes between step towards reducing exhaust emissions.” Huntingdon, St Ives and Cambridge. The vehicles – which will be used on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway when it opens later in the year – feature free wi-fi, leather seats and air conditioning, and have immediately proved popular with passengers. Ashton depot Stagecoach has invested £3 million in the vehicles, which all run on 100% bio fuel produced from recycled food waste. opens its doors Philip Norwell, Stagecoach Cambridgeshire STAGECOACH Manchester has Commercial Director, said: “These new buses are celebrated the official opening of absolutely fantastic. its new Ashton bus depot at Unit 5 “There’s a whole host of extras which make Cambridge’s new eco-friendly buses run on Riverside Works. journeys on them more comfortable than ever. 100% bio-fuel. The Worshipful the Civic Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside, Councillor Jack Davis and Mrs Carole Davis, joined Stagecoach Manchester Managing Director Mark Keep on running Threapleton for an official ribbon-cutting THREE Stagecoach employees have charity Sense, which provides support for people ceremony. helped raise thousands of pounds for who are deaf and blind. The new Ashton depot was opened charity by running the London Marathon. Meanwhile, Sunderland bus driver Sean Smith following the relocation of the company’s Stagecoach Merseyside Route Controller Vicky completed the race in three hours 12 minutes, Glossop operation. Williams successfully completed the marathon in raising over £300 for Macmillan Nurses. Stagecoach has invested £2 million in the 3 hours 45 minutes – a personal best for Vicky, Congratulations are also due to Neil Cook of depot, which when at full capacity will see who is also the Stagecoach Merseyside Green Stagecoach South Wales who finished the race in over 70 buses operate out of the new site, Champion. a time of 4 hours and 49 minutes, raising nearly covering the company’s East Manchester and Her efforts also raised a total of £1800 for the £600 for Cancer Research Wales. Ashton operating areas. The facility includes a six-bay engineering workshop, an office block and full vehicle wash facility, which uses a recycling unit to Stagecoach staff clock up 1,430 years reduce water consumption. There are 173 employees at the new site, including driver, engineer, inspector and managerial roles. A pound goes a long way STAGECOACH East Scotland staff recently took part in a ‘Bring a £1 to work day’ for the Children’s Hospice A GROUP of 51 dedicated Stagecoach at a special presentation evening held at Ardsley Association Scotland (CHAS). Yorkshire staff have been rewarded for their House Hotel, in Barnsley. Staff throughout Fife, Perth, Dundee and loyalty after clocking up the equivalent of Among the long-serving staff were Philip Angus brought £1 to work and raised £544, 35 lifetimes’ worth of work between them. Tomlinson, Charles Abrahams, Colin Hand and matched by Stagecoach East Scotland to give The employees, who have completed a Anthony Philips, who have all worked for the a grand total of £1000. combined 1,430 years of service, were celebrated company for 40 years. 2 uk bus / uk rail on stage Dean’s a star pupil Spotlight on… AN APPRENTICE body builder at Torquay depot in Devon has achieved perfect exam marks two years in a The Salisbury Station and row. Dean Swift started with Stagecoach as a cleaner but later applied for an Depot Team apprenticeship with the company. THE SOUTH West Trains Salisbury they demonstrated that He has now achieved 100% in his exams Station team comprises the station staff, teamwork is worth more than a generous budget. for the past two years. guards and drivers Steve Chislett, Nigel Staff gave up their own time to organise the Crowe, Mike Pearce, Chris Jendensen and celebration, giving everyone associated with Samir Bares. Salisbury a sense of pride and achievement. South West Trains They make sure customers receive a punctual The Salisbury staff are proud of where they train service and a high standard of customer care, work, and of the people they work with, and hitting the back both on board the trains and at the station. demonstrate this through their commitment to At a recent event to celebrate the 150th the local community and first-class customer of the net anniversary of the Salisbury-Gillingham line, service. THE WESSEX Eagles Under-15 football team spent the winter months training indoors thanks to South West Trains. Destination yesteryear The train company donated £300 to help THE LONDON to Havant line (via the footballers fund their weekly training at a Liss and Petersfield) celebrated its 150th local sports centre.