megabus.com Meet the just keeps best of growing the best The newspaper of Stagecoach Group Issue 57 Winter 2004-05 New deal to develop Douglas Bailey Honour for Chorley bus guidance system bus driver Long-serving bus driver tagecoach Group and Stagecoach and Siemens team up to steer UK road revolution Douglas Bailey has been SSiemens Transportation made an MBE in the New Systems have signed an Year Honours List for his services to passenger agreement to develop a new ‘Optical guidance transport. bus optical guidance product Douglas (64), who is for the UK. has huge potential based at Chorley in The two companies are to investigate Lancashire, started out as a adapting the Siemens’ system, currently in to help tackle the bus driver in Bolton in 1961 use on the continent, for use on conven- and has worked with Ribble tional buses in the UK. increasing road and Stagecoach. It involves a camera mounted in front During his career, he has of the steering wheel, which can read congestion that is clocked up 33 years of safe coded markings painted on the road. An affecting many driving without a single image processor follows the road markings blameworthy accident. and detects and corrects deviations by parts the UK.’ As well as being a leading activating a motor on the steering column. member of the Transport and Such is the accuracy of the system that General Workers Union, it keeps the vehicle on the required route Douglas is an employee with a tolerance of only a few centimetres. Brian Souter trustee of the Stagecoach This allows vehicles to pull in very Group Pension Scheme. He accurately to bus stops to ensure is also a director of the Bus passengers have a smooth level access to transport solution that will be a powerful Driver of the Year Awards the bus. tool in attracting people out of their cars and the Road Operators’ No heavy and expensive infrastructure Track to the future: Optical guidance technology is already in use on ‘tram on tyres’ style vehicles, and could benefit millions of people across Safety Council. is required to install the busway. The including in Rouen in France. the country.” Nigel Barrett, Managing optical guidance bars are painted on the David Wilson, Director of Siemens Director for Stagecoach North road surface and can be relocated at guidance, as part of a comprehensive flexible, can be delivered quickly and Transportation Systems said: “Siemens is West, said: “Douglas is a minimal expense. package of pro-public transport measures, represents excellent value for money. delighted to be part of this project. Guided highly respected individual Stagecoach and Siemens will also work has huge potential to help tackle the “Stagecoach has been at the forefront of bus systems are a cost effective and envi- who has contributed greatly together, and with local stakeholders, to increasing road congestion that is affecting research and development of new ronmentally friendly way of reducing city to the public transport scope the technical, operational and many parts the UK, particularly our technology and innovative environmental centre congestion.” industry. He looks after the statutory issues around the potential intro- heritage cities. projects as well as new thinking on Stagecoach and Siemens are already interests of his fellow duction of the technology on a pilot basis “The use of this cutting-edge marketing bus services. We are delighted working closely together on the introduc- workers and promotes the in a heritage city in the UK. technology on conventional buses will to continue this investment in the future tion of a £1billion order for new Desiro company and the wider bus Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief allow us to deliver a step-change in the and we look forward to working with the trains at South West Trains, the UK’s largest industry wherever he goes.” Executive, said: “We believe that optical quality of public transport provision. It is expertise of Siemens to develop a new commuter rail franchise. The next-generation fuel additive, Envirox™, product is able to deliver will help us continue is to be rolled out across Stagecoach’s entire Bus fleet en route to greener, to provide value-for-money bus services that UK bus fleet after the success of a 12-month attract people to public transport. It will also commercial evaluation. help improve the environmental impact of our Tests of the product in the north west of operations and the quality of life in our towns England and London have delivered more cleaner, keener future and cities. than a 5% cut in fuel consumption and an “Stagecoach is committed to playing its part associated decrease in vehicle emissions. product in up to 1,000 vehicles across the Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief in building a sustainable environment. Along Last year, Stagecoach signed an country. Executive, said: “We are extremely excited with our trials of hybrid electric bus agreement with Cerulean International Ltd, Now the fuel additive will be rolled out about the potential of this product. technology, this innovation is further evidence the Oxford-based subsidiary of the nanoma- over the next few months across Stagecoach’s “Fuel is one of the biggest costs in the that we are leading the transport industry in terials company Oxonica Ltd, to trial the 7,000-strong bus fleet. transport industry and the savings this developing new ideas.” New Corporate Fife keeps the cash rolling in Affairs Director The charity ‘Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood’ raised £200 from selling refreshments in his has received a cash boost thanks to the efforts of touring bus over the summer period. for Virgin Trains Stagecoach in Fife bus driver Mike Reid. Only a few weeks previously, Mike raised Hamish Alldridge, the Scottish community £600 for St Andrew’s charity ‘Enable’ through a Virgin Trains has appointed fund-raiser for the charity, was presented with a sponsored bowling match involving Stagecoach Arthur Leathley as its new cheque for £1000 which Mike raised through a Fife bus drivers, members of Scotscraig Bowling Corporate Affairs Director. variety of events. Club in Tayport and their friends and family. Mr Leathley, who has over Duffus Park Bowling Club held a buffet Robert Andrew, Deputy Managing Director 22 years in the media and com- dance and draw, which collected £600 and a for Stagecoach Scotland, said: “We feel extremely munications industry, has held further £200 was raised during a bowling trip to proud to have an employee who shows such specialist transport, political Oban. dedication to fund-raising both in and out of and business roles at The Times Mike, who is also chairman of the fund- work. We congratulate him on his ongoing Helping hands: Robert Andrew (centre left), Mike (centre) and Hamish Alldridge newspaper and, more recently, raising committee of St Andrew’s depot, also achievements.” (centre right) alongside bus drivers and members of the Duffus Park Bowling Club. has been a senior director at The Waterfront Partnership, a PR lobbying firm. Virgin Trains Chief Executive Tony Collins said: “I look forward to Arthur leading Virgin Trains’ external commu- nications activity as we enter a Stagecoach on new stage in the development of the business. “We are moving from a project-driven to a consumer- driven business and Arthur brings with him the expertise and knowledge to drive forward communications for ‘path of growth’ this transition.” Commenting on his appointment, Mr Leathley said: tagecoach has cheered the financial markets with a strong “With fantastic new trains and RESULTS AT A GLANCE faster services, Virgin is rapidly Sset of results for the first half of the year. changing forever the The Group share price rose 14% on profit growth has been achieved Highlights perception of rail travel. We the back of an excellent performance for across our businesses despite the • Strong half-year of organic growth in bus and rail operations in UK and have a superb product and a the six months to 31 October 2004, with a significant increases in fuel prices and overseas unique chance to attract new significant increase in profits. I am confident that our robust • £241.4m of capital returned to shareholders passengers. City analysts were particularly portfolio of cash-generative businesses • Growth in operating margins in North American bus operations to 11.7% “I am looking forward to impressed at the company’s performance will continue to deliver further growth. from 6.8% being part of an exciting phase against a backdrop of increases in fuel “We have achieved increased • Innovative growth ideas fuelling good underlying performance at in developing train travel across prices affecting all public transport operating margins at our UK bus provincial UK bus operations – turnover outwith London up 6.3% the many regions served by operators. operations as the benefits of our • Continued revenue growth in London bus business with turnover up Virgin Trains.” The results included: innovative ideas and new products 22.1% Arthur Leathley replaces • Strong passenger growth at UK start to flow through. South West • UK Bus operating margins up to 10.9% from 10.8% -12.1% versus 11.4% Denize Quest, who has held the Bus, particularly outside London, Trains continues to deliver turnover excluding impact of operating leases, megabus.com and Taxibus post of Director Corporate with improved operating ahead of our original expectations and • Strong revenue and passenger growth at South West Trains – turnover Affairs since 1997. Chief margins customers are already benefiting from up 8.3% Executive Tony Collins thanked • Delivery of North American the introduction of the new £1billion • Shortlisted for InterCity East Coast and Integrated Kent rail franchises strategy fleet of Desiro trains.