MEDIA KIT 2021 Bus & Coach Buyer is the longest running free title and an essential tool to the industry " - Bus & Coach Buyer
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MEDIA KIT 2021 Bus & Coach Buyer is the longest running free title and an essential tool to the industry ”
WHY BUS & COACH BUYER
● Bus and Coach Buyer is mailed out to 5,600 named
bus, coach and minibus operators. This is the largest
audited circulation in the industry.
● Increasingly popular is our alternative online version
of the full magazine. It is completely free to read and
has an archive facility. Over 5,500 online subscribers
view the magazine on the mobile optimised website.
● Editorially we match the latest news with in depth
features on manufacturers, operators, suppliers,
exhibitions, conferences, industry issues, legislation,
technology, training, rallies, dealers and much more.
06 NEWS NEWS 07 20 F E AT U R E F E AT U R E 21 22 F E AT U R E F E AT U R E 23
COMMENT COACH PREPARATION
‘Sad day’ as Travel de Courcey enters administration The ‘new normal’ will Recommissioned for COVID
electric and hybrid vehicles. Research finds In a tourer, the seat pitch is 700mm to
NEWS only 3% of mechanics are able work on
electric vehicles, potentially holding up
STOKE PARK OFFERS CBILS 800mm, such that there will need to be
an empty row between each passenger
IN BRIEF Government targets for EV adoption.5 Decimating, unprecedented, heartbreaking…just some of the words Stoke Park or group. Additionally, aisle distancing
be a greener one
ravel de Courcey has The move to an electric future offers Finance says it has heard since March from its customers. But help may be at hand.
As the first signs of life return to the bus and coach market, anything you can do must be considered; one clear aisle seat
T been forced into
administration after its
TRAVEL DE COURCEY – A HISTORY Coach to Delhi
Overland Adventure is
many benefits but these combined
investments – in fleets, maintenance
“Those who have seen the businesses they have worked so hard to build, often
over generations, face the toughest times of their existence,” said Sarah Hardiman, to reassure passengers will pay off. Thankfully, the suppliers have been busy
should provide the metre comfortably.
Until you know who has booked, and how
Formed in 1972, Travel de Courcey was originally known as Mike launching a Delhi to London
business collapsed due to the and charging infrastructure – require of Stoke Park Finance. many are in each family group, it could
coach trip in May 2021. The
COVID-19 pandemic. de Courcey Travel, named after its founder. The company bought considerable capital expenditure. While “There is no escaping the fact that credit policies have been tightened in be difficult to create the distancing you
epic journey is planned to
The Coventry-based operator its first new vehicle in 1976. It acquired its first double-decker in some government subsidies are already response to COVID-19 with bus and coach finance in particular being scrutinised robably the most important change require; and remember, whether you think
P
cover 20,000 km, travelling
is thought to be the largest 1977 and started operating bus services following the industry’s in place to support the green agenda, more deeply by underwriters. Indeed, some finance houses have pulled out of bus to using your vehicles as the distancing is helpful is immaterial, since
through 18 countries in 70 Equias si dest, core et auditatempor solupit aciendae mos experum fuga. Bis quisquas exceribusam rescide
privately-owned bus and coach 1985 deregulation. days. Only 20 seats at around this isn’t always enough. The reality is and coach finance altogether, waiting to see the shape and speed of recovery in country comes out of lockdown your customers will be expecting it.
company in the Midlands. In May 1981, the business suffered an arson attack. Mike had to
rebuild his fleet from scratch following the fire during the ‘80s.
£15,000 each are available. Martyn Bellis, Sales Manager – Transportation of Siemens Financial Services UK, that a blend of public and private sector the industry. will be your cleaning regime. The diagram (previous page) shows that The simplest are screens dividing the seat at no cost to the operator based on a
Running from three depots, it finance is often necessary to accelerate “One thing is very clear in this situation: operators can no longer rely on just Anything you can do and, perhaps as many as 28 people can be distanced on rows, now being supplied by a number of minimum order quantity of five vehicle sets.
has a licence for 150 vehicles. In the early 1990s, the company developed into sightseeing, Swindon’s BID says that even in these straitened times, the PCV sector should not lose sight of the investment in a timely way. one bank or asset finance company for their funding and it has never been more more importantly, say about what you are a 59-seat, 13m coach. Our wedding group manufacturers. The screens combine with Nigel Swain, Managing Director of
Its network served hospitals,
schools, the Ricoh Arena and
running a Lady Godiva Tour of Coventry.
Ever an innovator, the business launched its first super low-
Swindon’s Bus Company has
been working with the town’s fact that the government will press ahead with electrification, and Siemens can help Working alongside subsidies, Siemens
Financial Services charges a monthly fee
important to have a professional finance broker like Stoke Park Finance Limited
working with you.”
doing to reduce the chances of infection
will not only be essential to meet current
here is of one family of five, two families
of four, five couples and five individuals.
the ventilation of the coach – which should
be set to a high setting to ensure as much
Vehicle Solutions International, commented:
“We have the resource in house to be
the NEC. The 48-year-old floor bus in 1995. Ten years later, its bus network expanded Business Improvement District so that customers don’t need to make any As it did during the credit crunch of 2009/10, Stoke Park has sat down with guidance on public transport The pinch point behind the driver could throughput of air as possible – to further reactive to operators requirements being a
company, which employs to serve the RICOH Arena Spots and Retail Park. In 2006, it (BID) to boost business across upfront payment. We’re also able to offer its prime funders to ensure that there is open communication and a clear (https://tinyurl.com/y9xhxtmj) but will be mitigated with a plastic screen, for isolate passengers and prevent most used ZF agent and we are increasing our stock
was deemed the first bus company in the Midlands to offer air the region. The Go-Ahead
around 180 staff, took the finance models that look at the Total Cost understanding of what is required to get finance proposals approved cleanly. It reassure the public that it’s safe to board. example. To achieve this, you would need air travelling along the length of the coach. holding of partitions weekly.
conditioning on its vehicles. The operator hit the headlines again Group-owned operator has
of Ownership (TCO) of a fleet and analyse says there is additional help out there too, with Coronavirus Business Interruption Ensuring passengers maintain social to be absolutely clear during the booking These systems will allow a vehicle to be “We design complete screen systems
joined the #shineonswindon
in 2010, being one of the first in the country with ‘talking buses’, fleets on the basis of cost per mile, rather Loan Scheme funding in which British Business Bank pays the interest on an distancing is easier for a coach operator which passengers are travelling together, used at greater capacity, for vehicles and offer a fitting service
campaign - reassuring
which give recorded audio announcements to aid blind and than the cost an individual vehicle. At SFS, agreement for the first 12 months, making payments lower for a year and therefore than a bus operator, nor should bus and possibly mark them on a schematic These screens would be particularly ensuring the operator has a minimum
FACT FILE partially sighted customers.
passengers that buses are
a safe, comfortable and we know one-size-fits-all solutions are not giving a business time to get itself back on the road to recovery without the drivers bear any responsibility for ensuring of the coach you are using, allocating seat useful in vehicles used in express work, for down-time on the vehicle, and therefore
PIC: DAVID COLE
Formed: 1972 Another first was the arrival of fast-charging Optare Versa reliable way to travel when effective – particularly during these trying burden of the full finance payment. it happens nor that masks are worn. It numbers, so no mistakes are made. example, where there are regular passenger increasing significantly the vehicle’s
Depots: Birmingham electric buses in 2012. The company specified lush interiors on visiting the town centre. times – so we create tailored financing The CBILS can be in the form of a term loan for a cash injection to the business, should be enough for the driver to repeat changes. Some require additional structure passenger capacity. Our intention is to be
(National Express fleet), NEC these vehicles, including e-leather seating and wood-effect floors. arrangements that are flexible and best- or asset finance CBILS for the purchase of assets, or the refinance of the existing the rules on a coach or bus, and for Cleaning to be added to the vehicle, and in some in a position in the coming months to offer
(shuttle buses) and Coventry A major development was announced in 2013, when it won a Exemption cards suited to our customers’ specific cash fleet. Under £250,000 there are no personal guarantees taken which should also signage to be plentiful and clear. Cleaning regimes need to be rigorous, cases, this would be a notifiable alteration a solution for the majority of bus models
(mixed buses and coaches) contract to provide the shuttle bus service at the NEC. Oxford Bus Company flow requirements and which offer the offer comfort, says Sarah. Going well beyond a wipe with a clean and operators would do well to have on which would need approval. Check with in service, with the various types of
Operations: contracted National Express has taken on the 585 service, formerly operated by Travel de Courcey, while Arriva has the X46 to with colleagues and it has In 2017, Travel de Courcey received the Queen’s Award for and Thames Travel have flexibility to accommodate future changes CBILS is available only until 30 September, so Stoke Park urges operators to make rag is essential to prevent the transmission display a chart showing when the vehicle the manufacturer and with the DVSA before passenger seats which are fitted in them.”
services, local bus routes, Leicester. Stagecoach was already taking over the Coventry outer circle 60 from Travel de Courcey. been very hard for everyone. Enterprise 2017 in the Sustainable Development category. The produced a free card to to technology. contact soon. of the virus. The government advice was cleaned, in the same way as public running a vehicle with this equipment. You
National Express routes and “The company has been a award was made in recognition of the Midlands operator’s strong help passengers who are Given our proximity to the Contact Neil, Sarah or Stephen at Stoke Park Finance on 0141 639 1410. (https://tinyurl.com/s6lwwat) is very and shop toilets do. may decide to fit such screens across the EVM HAS SPRINTER KITS
record of growth, innovation and sustainable development. exempt from wearing a
private hire. decision after a dramatic numbers, we have had no days, it has run without any huge part of my own family’s manufacturing of fleets due to our unique useful, with plenty of reminders of what Most important are all the grab rails, front seat row to provide isolation for the Sprinter specialist EVM has created a suite
The operator trialled an Irizar i4H hybrid coach in 2017 on its face covering. The bus
Its fleet comprised decline in passenger numbers alternative but enter into the passengers at all. life and we are immensely relationship with Siemens, we understand you need to be doing with your cleaning headrests, windows and any area which driver, who will potentially run the greatest of COVID-19 protection measures which
operators have created
of a large contingency and income. administration process. “It is perfectly proud of the contributions Jaguar Land Rover service contracts. better than anyone the challenges and regime. The general advice is that bleach sees passenger contacts with hands. risk of contact with all passengers. It should can be retrofitted to its vehicles and
cards that state ‘please be
of Caetano Levantes on Adrian de Courcey, CEO and “This move is very much a understandable that people and achievements of all our supportive. I’m exempt from benefits that come with investing in AN ILL WIND, SAYS MISTRAL and detergent combined are cheap and Coaches will need to be specially cleaned be noted that cleaners should pay particular added to new vehicles in build.
the Scania K Series and son of its founder, Mike, said: last resort brought on by global have been very cautious about employees over many years. wearing a face covering’ greener transport – so we’ll be able to effective. Unless an alcohol-based cleaner before every new hire. During the day, attention to screens. The kit includes a screen for the driver
Volvos B12B and B9R, “Travel de Courcey, like every circumstances beyond our public transport and many of Our thoughts are with all our Matt Hardy of insolvency We are expecting interest in to help those passengers ensure that your payments are aligned If the past six months has taught soon followed as the Government contains at least 70% pure alcohol it may a wipe down of the handrails and other Additionally, there are now ventilation protection and between each seat row,
Mercedes-Benz Citaros, company in our industry sector, control. We saw a huge and those who have returned to colleagues, customers, suppliers practitioners Poppleton & certain strands of the company.” who cannot wear one. with the energy savings they produce, us anything, it is that you need lockdown came in and advice not be effective. Nor are anti-bacteria surfaces would not go amiss, but really systems which fit into existing apertures plus a new saloon filtration system which
Dennis Darts, Mercedes- has been severely impacted by sudden collapse of business at work have taken alternative and the local communities we Appleby has been appointed as Last year, Travel de Courcey effectively making your investment cost- partners in your business that switched to strongly advising products necessarily effective. the most important thing is to insist that all which use HEPA filtering and exposure of sanitises the air as it circulates, lessening
Benz Tourismo, various the COVID-19 crisis. the start of the lockdown and forms of transport. serve. It is a deeply sad day.” joint administrator. He said: announced it had doubled BYD’s Caribbean first neutral. understand the sector you operate against using buses and coaches.” Of course, there’s something reassuring passengers wash or sanitise their hands the air to concentrated UK light – a proven the chances of viral transmission through
Volvos, Mercedes-Benz “We have assessed all aspects it has not improved sufficiently “Travel de Courcey is a Travel de Courcey received a “Travel de Courcey is far from the size of its headquarters, BYD has delivered the first While the London 2037 objective to in and work with you rather than Against this dramatic situation about the whiff of pine disinfectant, so Social distancing coaches have a design in which the air before re-boarding. method of significantly reducing the ‘viral the blown-air system and filtering the air in
Sprinter minibuses, MAN of our business going forward for us to be a going concern. family-owned and run company Queen’s Award for Enterprise alone in this sector in suffering with a £3m investment. electric bus fleet for public have all buses be zero-emission may against you, says Steve Low of of operators looking for financial don’t dismiss it as useless... The current government advice is that flow is downwards, from fresh air coming Fogging devices which fill the vehicle load’ in air. The advantage these may have the passenger’s compartment. Headrests
MCVs and various Optare and it is clear that, due to “For example, we operate which has always valued the in 2017. The company was also financial hardship and we will be Developments included new transport in the Caribbean. seem far away, in reality, preparing for Mistral Group. assistance, Msitral’s response was Cleaners, or drivers cleaning vehicles, passengers on public transport should try from the ventilation louvres in the roof and with anti-viral chemicals are the gold is that they are permanent but unobtrusive and touch points such as grab rails, etc,
the reduction in our services a service from Coventry dedication and loyalty of its the first in the UK to operate working to salvage what we can maintenance bays and offices, BYD, Megapower Ltd and this future starts now. With the lifespan “Mistral lends only to the simple, he says – offer the support need to be issued with PPE such as to maintain a two-metre space between through the individual passenger service standard, but require specialised systems which have further use when the can have an antimicrobial film attached to
buses, among others.
the Barbados Transport
and vastly reduced passenger to Leicester and on many staff. We have been consulting fast-charging electric buses. from what is a very sad situation. powered by biomass wood chip. of a bus lasting 14 years on average, we PCV industry and as such our needed and work across the disposable gloves, masks and given themselves and other passengers (aside units, then out through louvres in the floor, equipment to use, and need a period pandemic is no longer with us. them, and EVM can also supply infrared
Board launched 33 new
need to start transforming bus fleets right understanding of the challenges sector to make sure we helped to training, and every operator must perform from those in their family group). usually venting into the luggage space. afterwards to settle before the vehicle can thermometers and PPE such as gloves and
electric buses on to the Bajan
streets, which represents
away if we want to keep things moving. faced by operators the length and keep our industry afloat, granting a risk assessment for all procedures The guidance does, though, also This is important. In a study by be used. If you do not go this route, you Suppliers antibacterial hand gel dispensers.
one of the largest public And this needs to be happening beyond breadth of the country has been 100% of operator requests for relevant to passenger and employee accept a one-metre social distance as Hispacold, (Google translated will need to completely clean the vehicle
‘It’s time to get working’ says Busy Bus owner authorities, and operators should apply now. I
would strongly advise that the money is used to
increase loadings, and therefore profit. His
TravSafe PPE product kits and other measures
transport systems per capita
in the Americas. Additionally, he UK bus and coach sustainability. Whether it’s a reduction in powered. Electric vehicles have the
the confines of the capital and instead
homogenously across the country.
unparalleled,” Steve told Bus and
Coach Buyer. “Given that 99% of
financial assistance. This translated
into a considerable financial relief
safety. This really is non-negotiable in
today’s litigious times.
an exception where circumstances will
not allow two metres. Unfortunately, the
https://tinyurl.com/yyozajua), it has been
shown that the entire volume of air within a
between every group use. If you feel this
is something your current team cannot
BUS PARTITIONS EMERGING
FROM VEHICLE SOLUTIONS
North West operator Peter Rosenfeld has
urged fellow operators to get fleets up and
Whereas our market was for inbound
tourists, it's now Brits travelling from
cities blowing their horns, they'd be feeling
more confident.”
hire a really good business consultant, and you'll
salvage your business.
“The market is now digital, and you need
aboard his minibus fleet have earned his
operation official recognition, meeting and
exceeding the government guidelines, and
two more buses will come
by this December. T industry has had to
demonstrate true resilience
throughout the turbulent
smog or seeing a resurgence of bees and
rare wildflowers, we’ve all been inspired
to see that rapid improvement in climate
potential to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by over 50% compared with
equivalent conventional petrol and diesel
our business is centred around the
provision of rental and hire purchase
agreements for bus and coach
package worth approaching £2.5m
in direct financial support for over
130 of its customers.
Fogging devices can not only be very
effective but are also dramatic, and if you
are using them, don’t forget to use your
guidance does not distinguish between
buses and coaches, and that is a failing.
Buses and coaches are engineered in a
modern coach is replaced in three minutes
or faster, depending on whether all air
vents are open and the settings used. Each
achieve, there are specialised cleaning
companies which can do this for you.
INTERNATIONAL
Vehicle Solutions International based in
Stourbridge, West Midlands, is developing
running now, as a day trip bounce-back Manchester and Liverpool, so our guides Peter said he supported the Honk for to prepare to take advantage of that with your building confidence of passengers, but the next Beachcomber awarded economic aftermath of the pandemic. It change objectives is possible. Back in vehicles over the lifetime of their use.3 REFERENCES operators it is clear that the Covid-19 “Mistral’s business is ‘Bus & Coach’ marketing and social media to show them completely different way. Whereas buses passenger is then enclosed in a ‘bubble’ of Vehicle equipment a range of bus and coach partitions in both
begins across the UK. have had to change their scripts, but we've Hope campaign, but that it's now clear marketing. There is also a kickstart grant for stage, he says, is to have a system to collect Scarborough’s Beachcomber certainly hasn’t been easy. April, analysis showed that some UK cities As we return to work and resume our pandemic has been and continues – we understand the sector – we in action. No matter which measures you are generally configured for through- fresh air which is passing downwards, not As already mentioned, at the very least, you toughened glass and polycarbonate which it
buses have been recognised 1 Sky news, Coronavirus coach travel and
The owner of Cheshire-based Busy Bus adapted to this market,” he told Bus and that the government isn't going to bail graduates which pays their wages for six months. passenger data and have seating plans which are We’ve seen the crisis radically reform had seen nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels lives post-pandemic, e-bus fleets hold to be an unprecedented shock to understand our customers; and have chosen to get the vehicle clean vehicle ventilation, in which the air flow is across to other passengers. should have available to passengers spare says are compliant with COVID-19 guidance.
as a 2020 Traveller’s Choice school buses at risk as sector struggles, 20 July
and web entrepreneur says that it's time to Coach Buyer. out coach businesses. He believes there's a That's exactly what some operators need; created for each departure, based on the singles, patterns of travel and movement across fall by up to 60% on the same period the potential to greatly impact a city’s our industry, leaving operators of all have built a business over 25 years between runs, tell your customers. They from the front to the back, and passengers For this reason, the one-metre rule could masks and hand gel to hand out not only With its own field service engineers,
award-winner by travel site 2020: https://tinyurl.com/y5rkegcz
cast off the gloom and get the wheels turning “We've all got our problems. I've got a recovery under way already of people who they'll be whizz kids on social media and digital couples and groups travelling. the UK – as passengers show less appetite last year.2 With pollution levels reaching air quality and reduce the blow that a sizes feeling concerned, anxious and supporting and growing with family need to know you care about them. do not have individual ventilation systems, reasonably be held to be much safer on at the start of the journey but at any point Vehicles Solutions can offer a one-stop-
Tripadvisor. Based on a full
again. He says his own business is now filling £78,000 vehicle in the drive which still has have been in lockdown for months and platforms such as websites. You could move your “You could do this manually or through web for travel and continue to work from home. an all-time low in many parts of the resumption of normal activity entails. 2 BBC, Coronavirus lockdown sees air worried for their futures. owned businesses across this coaches than buses. This will still, of course, customers are re-boarding from a stop. shop with regards supply and fit, either
year of Tripadvisor reviews,
70% of seats, and although his market has the plastic on the seats. It hasn't turned a want to travel again. business forward at potentially no cost.” systems, such as Web Ticket Manager. This system prior to any changes caused Likewise, leisure bookings – representing world, lockdown has presented a perfect Even before COVID, however, bus pollution plummet across UK, 8 April 2020: “In March the scale of the fantastic industry,” said Steve. “When have a significant effect on vehicle capacity. It is not the driver’s responsibility to on site during the vehicles down time/
changed, there is no shortage of takers for wheel since I paid for it, and won't until next Peter also had some practical advice Peter said operators will also need to get to was devised for attractions but works equally well by the coronavirus pandemic, a large portion of the UK coach industry’s opportunity for us to think about how we operators faced a number of challenges. https://tinyurl.com/t4beqaw challenge facing our industry this terrible period passes, which it Deciding which seating to use on your ensure masks are worn and hands are overnight, or at its facility in Stourbridge,
'staycation' and traditional days out. March. But if operators spent as much time to offer: “Business Recovery Grants of grips with family 'bubbles' because knowing for coach operators to collect the data and monies, award winners are known for revenue1 – have suffered since the want to rebuild after the crisis. For instance, there is still a shortage of was unimaginable, with coach will, eventually, we look forward to coach may not be simple. If everyone sanitised, but the driver must explain this which can accommodate single and
3 Cambridge Econometrics, Fuelling Europe’s
“We're back in business, and it's great. developing their business as driving into up to £5,000 are now available via local that people can travel together can significantly without costing the operator a penny.” consistently receiving great coronavirus lockdown was imposed in I, for one, like to think that the ‘new the charging infrastructure required to operators seeing day after day going back out into the market and travelled as an individual, less so, but family clearly, and that the wearing of masks is a double-deck service buses.
Future, February 2018
feedback from customers, March. This situation has been the perfect normal’ will involve lower polluting support electric fleets – with an average of cancelled bookings, putting once again working with operators groups will also want to travel together. mandate from government. If a system isn’t available off the shelf,
placing them in the top 10% storm for the bus and coach industry. vehicles and cleaner fuels. of eight electric cars per charging point 4/5 Autoexpress, Only 3% of mechanics immediate pressure on their post- across the industry to help their Incidentally, this will also increase the potential Beyond this, there are a number of Vehicle Solutions – which has worked
DO YOU HAVE A S TORY? – THEN LET US KN OW AT OR ON 017 3 3 3 6 2 316 E D I T O R I A L @ B U S A N D C OAC H B U Y E R . C O M of attractions worldwide. On the flip side, this year has also The growth in electric vehicles is in the UK, for example.4 Similarly, the UK is qualified to work on electric vehicles, 26th winter cash flows. The bus sector businesses grow again.” capacity of the vehicle, since you will only products which can be installed in the closely with Chapman Seating on its EVM was quick to design screen systems to reduce
shone a light on the need to focus on transforming the way vehicles are lacking technicians qualified to deal with November 2018: https://tinyurl.com/y2bog2l4 It’s important to know who’s travelling together because families could really boost your capacity need a metre distance between a cluster. coach to further reduce viral transmission. production – will develop a set of screens viral transmission
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06 NEWS NEWS 07
‘Sad day’ as Travel de Courcey enters administration
ravel de Courcey has
NEWS
IN BRIEF
T been forced into
administration after its
TRAVEL DE COURCEY – A HISTORY Coach to Delhi
Overland Adventure is
Formed in 1972, Travel de Courcey was originally known as Mike launching a Delhi to London
NEW OPERATOR PACKAGE
business collapsed due to the
coach trip in May 2021. The
COVID-19 pandemic. de Courcey Travel, named after its founder. The company bought
epic journey is planned to
The Coventry-based operator its first new vehicle in 1976. It acquired its first double-decker in
cover 20,000 km, travelling
is thought to be the largest 1977 and started operating bus services following the industry’s
through 18 countries in 70
privately-owned bus and coach 1985 deregulation. days. Only 20 seats at around
company in the Midlands. In May 1981, the business suffered an arson attack. Mike had to £15,000 each are available.
Running from three depots, it rebuild his fleet from scratch following the fire during the ‘80s.
has a licence for 150 vehicles. In the early 1990s, the company developed into sightseeing, Swindon’s BID
5x1 print + web
Its network served hospitals, running a Lady Godiva Tour of Coventry. Swindon’s Bus Company has
schools, the Ricoh Arena and Ever an innovator, the business launched its first super low- been working with the town’s
the NEC. The 48-year-old floor bus in 1995. Ten years later, its bus network expanded Business Improvement District
company, which employs to serve the RICOH Arena Spots and Retail Park. In 2006, it (BID) to boost business across
was deemed the first bus company in the Midlands to offer air the region. The Go-Ahead
around 180 staff, took the
conditioning on its vehicles. The operator hit the headlines again Group-owned operator has
joined the #shineonswindon
in 2010, being one of the first in the country with ‘talking buses’,
campaign - reassuring
which give recorded audio announcements to aid blind and
FACT FILE
£35 (2 week shelf life)
passengers that buses are
partially sighted customers.
a safe, comfortable and
PIC: DAVID COLE
Formed: 1972 Another first was the arrival of fast-charging Optare Versa reliable way to travel when
Depots: Birmingham electric buses in 2012. The company specified lush interiors on visiting the town centre.
(National Express fleet), NEC these vehicles, including e-leather seating and wood-effect floors.
(shuttle buses) and Coventry A major development was announced in 2013, when it won a Exemption cards
(mixed buses and coaches) contract to provide the shuttle bus service at the NEC. Oxford Bus Company
Operations: contracted National Express has taken on the 585 service, formerly operated by Travel de Courcey, while Arriva has the X46 to with colleagues and it has In 2017, Travel de Courcey received the Queen’s Award for and Thames Travel have
services, local bus routes, Leicester. Stagecoach was already taking over the Coventry outer circle 60 from Travel de Courcey. been very hard for everyone. Enterprise 2017 in the Sustainable Development category. The produced a free card to
“The company has been a award was made in recognition of the Midlands operator’s strong help passengers who are
National Express routes and
record of growth, innovation and sustainable development. exempt from wearing a
private hire. decision after a dramatic numbers, we have had no days, it has run without any huge part of my own family’s
The operator trialled an Irizar i4H hybrid coach in 2017 on its face covering. The bus
Its fleet comprised decline in passenger numbers alternative but enter into the passengers at all. life and we are immensely
operators have created
of a large contingency and income. administration process. “It is perfectly proud of the contributions Jaguar Land Rover service contracts.
cards that state ‘please be
of Caetano Levantes on Adrian de Courcey, CEO and “This move is very much a understandable that people and achievements of all our supportive. I’m exempt from
the Scania K Series and son of its founder, Mike, said: last resort brought on by global have been very cautious about employees over many years. wearing a face covering’
Volvos B12B and B9R, “Travel de Courcey, like every circumstances beyond our public transport and many of Our thoughts are with all our Matt Hardy of insolvency We are expecting interest in to help those passengers
Mercedes-Benz Citaros, company in our industry sector, control. We saw a huge and those who have returned to colleagues, customers, suppliers practitioners Poppleton & certain strands of the company.” who cannot wear one.
Dennis Darts, Mercedes- has been severely impacted by sudden collapse of business at work have taken alternative and the local communities we Appleby has been appointed as Last year, Travel de Courcey
Benz Tourismo, various the COVID-19 crisis. the start of the lockdown and forms of transport. serve. It is a deeply sad day.” joint administrator. He said: announced it had doubled BYD’s Caribbean first
Volvos, Mercedes-Benz “We have assessed all aspects it has not improved sufficiently “Travel de Courcey is a Travel de Courcey received a “Travel de Courcey is far from the size of its headquarters, BYD has delivered the first
Sprinter minibuses, MAN of our business going forward for us to be a going concern. family-owned and run company Queen’s Award for Enterprise alone in this sector in suffering with a £3m investment. electric bus fleet for public
MCVs and various Optare and it is clear that, due to “For example, we operate which has always valued the in 2017. The company was also financial hardship and we will be Developments included new transport in the Caribbean.
BYD, Megapower Ltd and
RECRUITMENT
buses, among others. the reduction in our services a service from Coventry dedication and loyalty of its the first in the UK to operate working to salvage what we can maintenance bays and offices,
the Barbados Transport
and vastly reduced passenger to Leicester and on many staff. We have been consulting fast-charging electric buses. from what is a very sad situation. powered by biomass wood chip.
Board launched 33 new
electric buses on to the Bajan
streets, which represents
one of the largest public
‘It’s time to get working’ says Busy Bus owner authorities, and operators should apply now. I
would strongly advise that the money is used to
hire a really good business consultant, and you'll
increase loadings, and therefore profit. His
TravSafe PPE product kits and other measures
aboard his minibus fleet have earned his
transport systems per capita
in the Americas. Additionally,
two more buses will come
North West operator Peter Rosenfeld has Whereas our market was for inbound cities blowing their horns, they'd be feeling salvage your business. operation official recognition, meeting and by this December.
urged fellow operators to get fleets up and tourists, it's now Brits travelling from more confident.” “The market is now digital, and you need exceeding the government guidelines, and
running now, as a day trip bounce-back Manchester and Liverpool, so our guides Peter said he supported the Honk for to prepare to take advantage of that with your building confidence of passengers, but the next Beachcomber awarded
begins across the UK. have had to change their scripts, but we've Hope campaign, but that it's now clear marketing. There is also a kickstart grant for stage, he says, is to have a system to collect Scarborough’s Beachcomber
The owner of Cheshire-based Busy Bus adapted to this market,” he told Bus and that the government isn't going to bail graduates which pays their wages for six months. passenger data and have seating plans which are buses have been recognised
as a 2020 Traveller’s Choice
and web entrepreneur says that it's time to Coach Buyer. out coach businesses. He believes there's a That's exactly what some operators need; created for each departure, based on the singles,
award-winner by travel site
All jobs advertised within Bus & Coach Buyer will also be listed as
cast off the gloom and get the wheels turning “We've all got our problems. I've got a recovery under way already of people who they'll be whizz kids on social media and digital couples and groups travelling.
Tripadvisor. Based on a full
again. He says his own business is now filling £78,000 vehicle in the drive which still has have been in lockdown for months and platforms such as websites. You could move your “You could do this manually or through web
year of Tripadvisor reviews,
70% of seats, and although his market has the plastic on the seats. It hasn't turned a want to travel again. business forward at potentially no cost.” systems, such as Web Ticket Manager. This system prior to any changes caused
changed, there is no shortage of takers for wheel since I paid for it, and won't until next Peter also had some practical advice Peter said operators will also need to get to was devised for attractions but works equally well by the coronavirus pandemic,
'staycation' and traditional days out. March. But if operators spent as much time to offer: “Business Recovery Grants of grips with family 'bubbles' because knowing for coach operators to collect the data and monies, award winners are known for
“We're back in business, and it's great. developing their business as driving into up to £5,000 are now available via local that people can travel together can significantly without costing the operator a penny.” consistently receiving great
vacancies online
feedback from customers,
placing them in the top 10%
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