trent barton reaction to Government plans
partnership approach welcomed – key issue remains the same

Responding to Secretary of State for Transport Douglas Alexander’s statement on the future of bus services, trent barton has pledged to work positively with government.  The consultation paper ‘Putting Passengers First’ was launched on December 12th as the first stage of a process that should see revised legislation in place by the end of 2007.
  
“We are pleased that the Secretary of State has shown the Government's commitment to improved bus services. We look forward to working with our partners in national and local Government to achieve this aim”, said Commercial Director Ian Morgan.

“We welcome the Government's recognition that effective partnerships are the key to better bus services and look forward to working with them to improve the partnership offering through both strengthened voluntary and statutory Quality Partnerships as outlined by the Secretary of State.”
 
“We are also happy to work with the Traffic Commissioners on improved punctuality.  It is important that both bus operators and, for the first time, local authorities are held to account if passengers’ services are failing.  Serving our customers must be the watchword in all our future decisions.

“Our fervent hope is that all parties can now focus on the common problem:  traffic is stifling bus services.  Alongside this issue, the arguments and rhetoric about ownership and regulation of bus services are a mere sideshow.  People will not turn from cars to buses unless there are constraints on driving in the busiest places at the busiest times – and until the tracks used by buses are kept as clear as those used by trains and trams”

Smartcard ready to roll on rainbow 4

The signing of an official contract between ourselves and German systems developer init means a green light for a new cashless ticketing system which could make a world of difference to bus travel.

One simple card, rechargeable on-line, means that customers can say goodbye to cash fares.  There’ll be big savings and rewards for smartcard customers and much quicker boarding times at bus stops, which means better timekeeping for everyone. Family and friends will be able to share the card too.

There’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the country – yet!  But after a long period of development, we’re now ready for the first ever trial, this summer, on rainbow 4.

In newsletters last year we gave readers a sneak preview of the smartcard system and how it will work – you touch the card against a reader when you get on and again as you get off.  The system uses GPS (Ground Positioning Satellites) technology to work out the boarding and alighting points and then calculates the cheapest fare plus any discounts you might be entitled to, then tells you how much it has cost and deducts it from the card.  The ticket machine will always know where the bus is at any time – an added bonus for some of those more obscure stops!

There are numerous other features including a daily cap so that customers will never have to pay more than a fixed sum a day, no matter how many times they use the card.

Mark Greasley, IT Manager said:

“By the time we launch the rainbow 4 trial we’ll have a proper brand name for the card.  We plan to recruit special user panels and invite them to test every aspect of the system to breaking point.

“This should help us to fine tune the system – and as long as it works to everyone’s satisfaction, there’ll be nothing to stop us rolling it out on every route”.

Our picture shows the contract being signed at Heanor.

(Standing L-R: Dr Jugen Greschner (Init), Ian Morgan, Graham Sutton.  Seated: Dr Gottfried Greschner (Init) and Brian King.

New buses will be even greener
Latest technology first in East Midlands

The first buses in the East Midlands to be fitted with new "greener" diesel engines are to take to the roads on trent barton routes this year.
 
Leeds-based Optare have been signed up to supply 12 new Tempo single deck buses for the trent barton fleet in addition to a number of other buses for sister companies.

The new additions to our fleet will make a substantial contribution to improving air quality. Mercedes engines installed in the Tempos can cut nitrogen oxides emissions by up to half. The new buses will store a special chemical, which is sprayed on exhaust fumes from the engine before they escape into the atmosphere and this process immediately reduces the level of harmful emissions.  
 
We were the first bus operator to buy the new Tempo in 2005 with an order for 6 of the brand new design.  The buses all operated services in Radcliffe and Bingham to the east of Nottingham.

These have proved very popular with customers, who tell us that they particularly like the airiness, comfort and ride quality of the Tempo and the absence of any rear-facing seats.

As well as the new engine the Tempos will all be double glazed and fitted with CCTV. Interior design will be to a brand new specification which we have drawn up with the guidance of celebrated ‘Best Impressions’ Designer, Ray Stenning. We expect customers to be quite surprised when they see the striking new look.

The buses will be seen on a more frequent X38 between Burton and Derby (see below), a revamped Black Cat between Mansfield and Derby and on the Calverton Connection to Nottingham.

Managing Director Brian King said that the new buses would underpin trent barton’s continuing commitment to product development and refreshment of its brands.

“The move from older high floor to modern easy access buses was highly visible and brought instant rewards” said Mr King. “As all of our bus fleet is now low floor we have to find new ways of attracting customers and keeping our existing ones.

“Buses have proved themselves time after time to be one of the most environmentally-friendly ways to travel, and it is good that we are first again in our part of the world – this time with the super-green Euro 4 engines”.

X38 x2
Burton-Derby fast route to DOUBLE

Continuing success of the Burton-Derby X38 will see the fast route being doubled in frequency in March to every 15 minutes.

A joint venture between ourselves and Arriva, X38 has progressively grown the market since its launch from a standing start 10 years ago.  The most recent addition was the weekend night service.

The direct service virtually halved journey times between the two destinations by taking the A38 dual carriageway – also perceived by customers as being much quicker.

Although the original target market was from Burton to Derby City Centre, there is now healthy demand the other way, especially now that Derby is under heavy redevelopment and missing one of its main attractions – the Primark store, which Burton offers in its compact shopping layout.

March 25th sees the introduction of a first-ever Sunday service and a doubling of the main weekday frequency to a bus every 15 minutes.

Commercial Director Ian Morgan said:

“It’s often the gloomier bus stories that hit the headlines, but here is yet another example of success in growing a new market, with two operators pooling their expertise, and all entirely at commercial risk.

“Burton just seems to go from strength to strength as a shopping venue, and we know that it is attracting new customers from the Derby suburbs.  We have recent research evidence from Allestree and Spondon, so there must be others too. This is a good time for us to be moving up a gear.

Makeovers recall bygone days

The complete interior and exterior refurbishment of our buses on the 1A, 23 and 27 routes sees the demise of the old Trent Buses logo and a much warmer, comfier internal décor for customers on these busy local routes around Heanor and Ilkeston.

The first has already taken to the road, and the rest are due by the end of the month.

And following the popular rear panel ‘murals’ which have brightened up our H1 and the nines buses , these latest makeovers will also include the large-scale interior posters, and still with local themes.  But this time the difference is that these are bygones from local history.

Marketing Manager Sarah Taylor said:

“We know that the ‘murals’ have gone down well.  They brighten up what is actually quite a large dead space on the bus.  For these long-standing local routes we thought it would be good to look back at the way things were.  There’s always so many details to hold the attention in old photos – especially of familiar places”.

Fly me to Broadmarsh…

rainbow 5 keeps on growing.  It has just been extended through to East Midlands Airport on Sundays (with the Airport’s support) – and at the same time we are keeping the Sunday afternoon 10 minute Nottingham – Chilwell frequency going to after 6pm, so great is the demand for this brand even on Sunday evenings!

Heather tops £60,000

Our friend and customer of over a quarter of a century, Heather Ward continues to exceed all expectations in her fundraising for the Derby Breast Scanner Appeal.

The latest cheque for £5,000 raise through Heather’s ‘Namesake’ appeal brings the total raised so far to a staggering £60,000.  Heather came up with the idea while landlady of the Black Swan in Idrigehay. She now lives in retirement on the Red Arrow route at Stretton – and recently became a proud grandmother – again!

Sponsors of namesake can dedicate a bus for a year for just £100.  Most of our fleet carry the Namesake decals.

In a letter to Heather from the Derby Breast Unit, Service Manager Barbara Young said:

“Wow!  I don’t know how you do it, Heather, but you do, and the money keeps rolling in.  We are still marching on to get the latest Digital equipment, and this latest donation will go towards that goal”

From all of us at trent barton – well done Heather!

Touching and heartwarming story of Santa Colin

While Brand Manager Cherryl Holland kept his connect 5 service running, Santa Colin Pitchfork was once again able to receive his customers offering mince pies, chocolates and Christmas cards to every adult and presents to all the children – despite his personal sadness.
  
Our connect 5 champion did not think he would be doing Santa Colin this year after the sad loss of his Daughter-in-law only days previously. However his son told him that she had always loved to see him as Santa and to do it with his blessing. 
 
Colin buys all the gifts from his own pocket and kind donations from work colleagues.  His wife washes all the donated cuddly toys and brings them up like new, she also acts as Santa’s helper by writing all the Christmas cards. Colin puts in hours of his own time decorating the inside of the bus and taking them down later.
 
The group of adults and children at the bus stop in the photograph even arrange their school Christmas party around having a trip around Toton with Santa Colin. 

Bigger than your average car…
xprss wash boosts local charity

Saturday December 9th marked a charity open day and car wash at Bingham Fire Station.  It did say car wash, but the xprss and radcliffe lines crew thought they’d see what the charity team was made of – so Driver Doug Eccles, Team Leader Bryan Newburn and Lead Driver Steve Woodhouse promptly turned up with - a 12 metre bus. 

This caused a few heads to be scratched, as you can imagine, but the December salt and spray from the A52 was painstakingly washed away, whereupon Steve (pictured) handed over a £75 donation which went directly to the Dove Cottage Day Hospice.

Steve said:

“It was a nice gesture by our crew to get into the community spirit and raise some money for a good cause ”.

The bus used is named in memory of loyal and dedicated radcliffe line customer Howard Ellis under Heather Ward’s Namesake appeal (see above).

rainbow Santa

Never wishing to suggest that there might be more than one Santa, we are still happy to print this picture of the Great Man at work on rainbow 1.  Team Leader Mike Staines was unavailable for comment that day…