Issue 83 | January 2011 onThe newsletter stage of Stagecoach Group A feast of awards STAGECOACH Group is celebrating success after winning numerous high-profi le awards over the past Celebrating success couple of months. From the UK to North America, and from bus STAGECOACH won a host of top to rail, the Group has collected honours at the 2010 UK Bus Awards. top honours at a number of After winning the highest number of awards prestigious award ceremonies. at the previous three ceremonies, the Group In this special front-page feature was again among the front-runners at the for On Stage, we are delighted 15th annual London ceremony, winning three to celebrate the wonderful awards and taking four runner-up spots. achievements of our staff. Stagecoach East’s successful X5 coach service was awarded the Express Coach Operation of the Year honour for the second year in a row, while Stagecoach Oxford’s popular Oxford Tube service nished runner-up in the same Leading Driver Paul Cragg (left), Bedford category. Operations Manager Zoe Paget and Bedford Stagecoach Manchester Engineering Director Engineering Manager Wayne Bartrum collect the Express Coach Operation of the Year Darren Roe scooped the Engineer of the award for the X5 service. Year Award and Stagecoach’s ground-breaking Merseyside contactless payment scheme was named runner-up in the Bus in the – in partnership with RBS WorldPay and Countryside Award. In addition, Kent County Mastercard – won the Innovation Award. Council was named runner-up in the Winning Richard Martin (second from right) Stagecoach Yorkshire nished runner-up New Customers category for its partnership receives his accolade at the Route One in the City Operator of the Year category, with Stagecoach East Kent and Hastings in the Operator Excellence Awards. while Stagecoach South West’s Go2 service provision of bus services in Ashford. A special award Spanner sensation Award-winning apprentice A MANAGER whose leadership Rebecca Marsh. helped keep bus services moving SOUTH West Trains has picked up three despite devastating oods has top ‘Golden Spanner’ awards. received extra-special recognition. The company won two of the honours for the Stagecoach North West Operations best reliability of both its Class 444 and Class 455 Manager Richard Martin was recently trains, as well as the award for the most reliable presented with the Special Award at the former BR diesel multiple unit. 2010 Route One Operator Excellence Its Salisbury depot also won a Silver Spanner Awards. award for the largest performance improvement The honour recognised his in the last year in the category of former BR determination to keep bus services on Diesel Multiple Unit, for the Class 158 eet. The Apprentice the road during the severe ooding The ceremony, organised by industry magazine which struck Cumbria in November Modern Railways, awarded the highest UK Bus apprentice Rebecca Marsh 2009. distinction to South West Trains eets in the three has won a prestigious national award. Award judges stated: “Richard’s categories in which it has a eet type. The North West apprentice was named must-do attitude ensured that no village 2010 winner of the Transport Engineering was without a bus, people got to work and Maintenance category at the GoSkills and children got to school. What a great deal Passenger Transport Apprenticeship Awards Stagecoach North West Managing MEGABUS.COM, Stagecoach Group’s ceremony in Birmingham. Director Paul Southgate added: market-leading budget inter-city coach Stagecoach apprentices have now won “Richard’s commitment to providing service, has won a coveted travel deal award the same award for ve consecutive years. lifeline local bus services for the people for the second year in a row. Rebecca, who works at Stagecoach’s of West Cumbria is an example to all and The company’s business in North America Kendal depot, is in her third year of he thoroughly deserves to be recognised came top in the Leading Provider of Outstanding the company’s UK Bus apprenticeship for his hard work.” Car Rental and Bus Deals category at the 2010 programme. Travelzoo awards. 1 uk bus / uk rail on stage Fresh boost for Jet Service STAGECOACH Bluebird’s newly launched Jet Service has received another boost with the introduction of three new buses for the route, complete with leather seating, air conditioning, WiFi and luggage racks. Stagecoach Bluebird Managing Director Andrew Jarvis said: “We have been delighted by the number of customers choosing to travel on the Jet 727 service and we are pleased to be making further improvements for our customers by investing in these new vehicles.” One of the new Jet Service buses in Aberdeen City Centre. Chris takes charge FORMER A wizard wheeze Stagecoach HOCUS-pocus was in the air as drivers wear wizard costumes was the starting North West Stagecoach Manchester held another point of the whole campaign. Managing Wizard Wednesday. Sophie was also awarded a free annual Unirider Director Chris The event sees Manchester’s Magic Bus drivers ticket as a thank you for her idea. Bowles has taken swap their uniforms for pointy hats and cloaks Wizard Wednesday, which has over 11,000 on the top job in before getting behind the wheel, in aid of the Facebook fans, will be once again be Manchester.Chris Everyman appeal. supporting Stagecoach Manchester’s succeeds former Wizard Wednesday fans could also partnership with Everyman – the Manchester catch a glimpse of the brand new prostate and testicular cancer Managing New Manchester Wizard logo on the back of the campaign. Director, Mark Managing Director Chris Bowles. newly designed Magic Buses. Throughout the day, wizards Threapleton, The o cial logo was recently will be collecting donations for who was recently appointed to head unveiled by Manchester the worthwhile charity, and up Stagecoach’s newly acquired East University student, Sophie every penny raised will be put London Bus Group business. Kellaway, whose Facebook towards helping to fund life Chris said: “I am delighted to be returning petition to make Magic Bus saving research. to the city where I started my career. “Having worked for various divisions of Stagecoach in a number of roles over the past 14 years, I have built up an extensive displays making the facility an even more bank of knowledge and experience which I Happy birthday attractive option for people ditching their intend to put to good use in Manchester. SCOTLAND’S Ferrytoll Park & cars to use public transport. Since its opening “There is already an excellent team Ride celebrated its 10th birthday in in 2000, Ferrytoll has proved to be a great in place who have achieved a great November with an event in its newly success as a Park & Ride facility. The number deal, and I will be working closely with decorated waiting room. of parking spaces was doubled to over 1,000 in them to ensure that the company runs The £25,000 waiting room refurbishment 2006 to meet the demand and, four years on, e ciently and continues to deliver the refreshed the décor and updated information the facility is consistently at 80-90% capacity. highest standards of service to meet the requirements of our customers.” Paul Southgate has now taken on the role of Managing Director at Stagecoach Half-century of service North West. EAST Midlands Trains has said a fond farewell to St Pancras Station’s On the ball longest-serving employee. Train Dispatcher Dave Leader has retired MANCHESTER’S Little Lever after 48 years of service in the railway under-11s football team were industry. delighted to receive new strips, thanks Dave, who lives in Watford, started his to sponsorship from megabus.com career in 1962, working at the Watford No 1 Signal Box. Santa saunter He later moved to the Willesden Junction STAGECOACH South West played Box and – following a spell in the Control its part in the Torquay Christmas lights Centre at Euston Station and 15 years in switch-on by supplying an open-top the new West Hampstead Power Box – he bus for the event. moved to St Pancras, where he has worked The bus was used by Palm FM DJs to since 1994. warm up the Santas for their saunter through To mark his retirement, the team town and played a central role down at the at St Pancras presented Dave with a harbour, where it hosted the event’s VIPs. replica nameplate. 2 uk bus / uk rail on stage When one door slams, another one opens A SOUTH West Trains guard has raised over £2700 for the Help for Heroes charity through a series of fundraising activities. Salisbury guard Nigel Crow saw the chance to make some cash for the good The guard of honour for Metrolink’s cause when the last-slam door train ran on specially decorated ‘Lancashire Fusilier’ tram. the Lymington to Brockenhurst line. He created a DVD of the special occasion Metrolink joins and arranged for the heritage station sign from Lymington Pier station to be poppy appeal auctioned for Help for Heroes. Driver Kris Jendesen also helped by arranging for some merchandising to be sold at Salisbury Nigel Crow (right) with South West Trains METROLINK’S ‘Lancashire Stakeholder Manager Phil Dominey. Fusilier’ tram was decorated with station. poppies for a third consecutive year to Bryn Parry, co-founder of Help for congratulated and, on behalf of all those support the annual Poppy Appeal. Heroes said: “Nigel’s wonderful fundraising who the money will bene t, thanked. Local councillors and members of is hugely welcomed. He should be “Well done, Nigel – great e ort!” the Royal British Legion gathered in Manchester to mark the event, alongside Metrolink Delivery Liaison O cer (and former Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Record-breaker member) Anthony Dale.