Issue 91 | May 2012 onThe newsletter stage of Stagecoach Group New UK-Europe low-cost link megabus.com’s great value network STAGECOACH has officially launched Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam service. An interchange a new network of low-cost coach services at London Victoria Coach Station also offers from the UK to Continental Europe. through services to and from locations in Scotland, megabus.com has started running daytime England and Wales. and overnight coach services – for as little as Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief £1 or €1 - between its main hub in London Executive, said: “For too long, people in many and destinations in France, Belgium and the parts of Europe have been paying too much Netherlands. for their coach travel. Our new network offers Passengers can travel to Paris, Brussels, families, students and tourists great value fares and Amsterdam and Boulogne on a new £2.5m high-quality coaches. These services will deliver fleet of state-of-the-art coaches equipped with a long overdue shake-up to the over-priced free wi-fi and toilets. There is also a dedicated European coach travel market.” Sir Brian Souter launches the new services. Love is in the air UK Bus Managing Director to retire MEGAbus. LES WARNEFORD, Managing a division which has provided consistently COM played its Director of Stagecoach’s UK Bus division, strong operational delivery, the best value part in a very is to retire next year. fares to customers, huge levels of investment special occasion He will step down from the post and industry-leading financial recently when on 1 May 2013 when he will be performance, as well as an exceptional customer succeeded by Robert Montgomery, track-record of passenger growth. Nathan currently Service Performance “Robert has spent a decade with “Avi” Muller Director. Stagecoach and has overseen the proposed to his As part of the Group’s succession strong growth of our bus companies girlfriend Nina planning, Robert Montgomery has in the south of England, as well Lazerow aboard been appointed Deputy Managing as expanding our megabus.com a megabus. Director, Stagecoach UK Bus, budget coach operation in the UK. com bus at effective 1 May 2012. He will work Robert Montgomery. I am confident he will build on Port Authority The big proposal. closely with Les Warneford over the these strong foundations. We also Bus Terminal next 12 months to ensure a smooth handover have a talented and experienced wider senior in New York City, as a surprised of responsibility. management team at our UK Bus division, and passenger looked on. The couple, who Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief a strong network of regional bus companies are now due to marry, have enjoyed Executive, said: “Les has played a very significant who have the power and flexibility to run their a three-year, long-distance relation- role in Stagecoach’s success. He has headed businesses locally.” ship with frequent trips to and from New York and Baltimore on megabus. com services. His proposal gained Bravery honour for Chris widespread media coverage in the US. STAGECOACH London bus driver Chris Cameron has been rewarded for his bravery at Transport for Going Green London’s Bus Awards. Chris Cameron from Barking Depot was honoured after he STAGECOAch’S fourth annual stopped an attack on a young girl by a man at a bus stop. Chris Group-wide Green Week has taken place, stopped his vehicle and called the control centre for assistance. He with activities held across the UK and then went beyond the call of duty by getting out of the bus to North America to encourage environ- stop the attack and waited with the girl until the police arrived. mental awareness. See page 6 for further Seven awards and three commendations were presented to details. Chris Cameron receives his London bus drivers by Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director award from Leon Daniels. surface transport. 1 uk bus on stage You what?! UK Bus appointments Overheard on the London Underground STAGECOACH has And from 1 June, Helen Martin, currently Announcement: “District Line announced a number Marketing Manager at Stagecoach South and services are not running between of senior management Stagecoach South East, will become Marketing Embankment and Whitechapel. Platform appointments in its UK Manager, Stagecoach North East. 3 is for Edgeware Road, platform 4 is Bus division. Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach for Embankment. If you are still on this Stagecoach North East UK Bus, said: “I would like to thank John for his platform after these trains leave, you are Managing Director John loyalty and commitment to Stagecoach for many lost and confused and Conroy will retire at the Retiring North years. His knowledge and experience has been need to find a member end of June. He will be East Managing invaluable and we wish him all the best in his of staff.” Director John replaced by Phil Medlicott, Conroy. retirement. Can you beat that? current Managing Director, “I would also like to congratulate Phil and Send your weird and Stagecoach South East. Paul on their appointments and look forward to wonderful overheard As a result, Stagecoach UK Bus Commercial continuing to work with them to make further comments to Manager Paul Southgate will become Managing improvements for bus passengers in north east and lindsay.reid@ Director, Stagecoach South East, effective from 1 south east England. stagecoachgroup. June. “Congratulations also go to Jodine and Helen on com Stagecoach has also announced that, from 1 May, their new roles. These appointments will further Stagecoach North East Marketing Manager Jodine strengthen our marketing team and help attract Milne was appointed to the newly-created role of even more people on to our greener, smarter Stagecoach UK Bus Marketing Manager. services.” Charity calendar raises thousands STAGECOACH Yorkshire bus drivers who shed their inhibitions – along with their uniforms – for a charity calendar have raised more than £3,000 for The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield. Stagecoach Managing Director Christopher More than 20 drivers from Holbrook depot Bowles (left) with the three winners. dared to bare all for the calendar, sales of which have now raised £3083.70 for The Children’s Big winners Hospital Charity. THREE Manchester residents have Driver Chris Brownhill came up with the idea won one year’s free travel courtesy of for the calendar after losing a granddaughter to Stagecoach Manchester after entering cancer and chose The Children’s Hospital as a an online competition as part of a ticket cause close to his heart. promotion. Paul Lynch, Stagecoach Yorkshire’s Managing The trio responded to a simple question Director, said: “The team spirit of the Stagecoach about the Megarider Xtra ticket, which is part team is to be applauded – and their bravery has of the company’s StagecoachSmart scheme. literally paid off. This is a fantastic amount to Stagecoach staff hand over the cheque to Shaun Farrelly, one of the lucky winners, donate to a very worthy cause.” The Children’s Hospital Charity. commented: “Smartcards are the future for purchasing passes for public transport, and with this prize I have been given the opportunity to experience this technology early on.” Fife’s Easter eggstravaganza Boys are bus mad STAGECOACH East Scotland STAGECOACH North East recently celebrated Easter in style this year with made dreams come true by providing a free chocolate giveaways at bus stations souvenir for two young bus fans. across the area, as well as a customer The highlight of the week for twins Henry prize draw during the holidays. and Thomas Galavant is the journey on their Staff dressed up as an Easter Bunny and local bus service. To thank them for their Easter Chicken toured the network on Good enthusiasm, Stagecoach presented the toddlers Friday and Easter Monday armed with baskets with a model Stagecoach North East bus each The Easter Bunny and Easter full of chocolates and sweeties to give to their which were gratefully received. Chicken travel with Stagecoach customers. 2 uk rail / uk bus on stage Staff boost charity funds A GROUP of Stagecoach North East Oxborough and Stuart Cooper have also engineers and drivers have helped raise organised a number of fundraising events in aid over £30,000 for charities across the North of the Tiny Lives Baby Unit, raising £7,000 East. which has gone towards the purchase of specialist Since 2006, Walkergate depot engineers equipment for the facility. Alan Appleby, Steve Laws, David Wynn, Mark All the money raised by the drivers – £15,500 Rutherford and Eddie King have undertaken – was then match-funded by Stagecoach North a number of physical challenges to collect over East, taking the total to over £30,000. £8,000 of funds for good causes throughout John Conroy, Managing Director, Stagecoach the region. In September they undertook their North East, said: “The fact that these employees biggest challenge yet by cycling 900 miles from have raised over £15,000 is testament to their Lands End to John O’Groats and raised £3,500 dedication to supporting worthwhile causes. which they decided to donate to the Tiny Lives Helping local charities is something they believe Baby Unit. in and we are delighted to be able to contribute The proceeds of the team’s Lands End to From the same depot, drivers Ronnie to the money they’ve raised.” John O’Groats cycle are handed over. Bus-rail smart New machines are scheme launched just the ticket STAGECOACH has launched an innovative ticketing scheme to allow SOUTH West Trains has installed passengers to travel by bus and rail on a new railway ticket machine at one smartcard. Southampton Airport.