TALKING POINT – our new opening editorial

Route to the future
Why good partnership with local authorities matters so much

The results of the local elections around the country have significantly changed the balance of power on many local authorities. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire were no exceptions, both now being run by the Conservatives for the first time in many years.

We have a sound relationship with both authorities and we need to work in close partnership with them to achieve what we all want – a, modern, clean, friendly, reliable, efficient network of bus services which is fit for purpose and makes a significant contribution to the social, environmental and economic agendas.

The change of power gives the partners the chance to take stock and decide what we must do together to further improve bus travel for residents and visitors in the future. The new administrations may want a change of approach or emphasis, so it is most important that our management team gets together with the new political leaders as soon as possible to work out how we will move the partnership forward. Invitations have already been sent.

Getting our buses through the traffic congestion hot spots and improving our punctuality will as always be at the top of our agenda for the simple reason that it is the top priority for our customers. This is closely followed by the need to increase the quality and quantity of bus shelters. Keeping them clean and well maintained is an important part of this programme. Existing customers expect nothing less, and it is hard to attract new customers without this most basic of facilities as our ‘shop window’.

We firmly believe that working closely as partners with the local authorities maximizes our respective skills, talents and resources.  We are bound not to see eye to eye all the time, but our common goal is a first class network of bus services which offers a genuine alternative to the private car.

Huge support for City bus lane plans
Bus commuters say scheme is best

Derby City Council’s plans for new priority measures at a notorious traffic bottleneck have been strongly endorsed by bus commuters.

The May survey of 100 commuters on the 8-buses-per-hour allestree brand reveals high levels of satisfaction with the service, the shelters and the buses, which are thought to be ‘ideal for the route’. One commuter in every three could have used a car.

But three quarters thought that rush hour traffic was a problem and that a bus lane on gridlocked Kedleston Road would improve matters.

And when asked to nominate the most important improvement that could be made to the allestree, the bus lane came out well on top – a long way ahead of extending the timetable or fitting air-conditioning.

Derby City Council is proposing two stretches of bus and cycle lane on Kedleston Road plus bus-activated traffic light priority at Five Lamps junction and improved pedestrian crossing – in a bid to reduce jams by encouraging a switch to bus, bike or walking.  Consultation is already underway.

Brand Manager Adrian Cadd commented:

“Like most things that are worth doing, this is bound to be controversial.

“But if we are serious about managing roadspace, promoting healthier lifestyles and keeping our city vibrant at the same time, such measures are vital – and we need them now.

“We are right behind the City, and this survey shows that the vast majority of our customers are too”.

New-look nines could make you famous  
Designer looks, greener power, faster to Derby – and with your name on it!

The nines, running all around Sutton, Alfreton and Ripley have been among the first to see the benefit of trent barton’s record 2009 investment of close to £7million in new buses. And for 13 lucky customers there’s a rare chance of fame – thanks to a new campaign to promote bus travel.
 
Designer interiors and leather seats feature high on the list for the 13 new Solo 33-seaters, which are equipped with the latest low-emission technology.

And each new bus will spotlight one of its regular customers.  The whole of the huge rear panel (facing motorists) will feature their photo and their own words about why they are ‘on the bus’.  Recruits are being invited to sign up now through www.trentbarton.co.uk/thenines

Also new to the nines family is an extra-fast 9.3 which goes direct from Ripley to Derby on the A38 bypass.  Between Sutton and Mansfield the nines are beefed-up to every 15 minutes.

A Royal Occasion 
Super Hospital joint venture has Queen Victoria connection

4 brand new buses are ready to enter service on the city’s new hospital link, the Royal Derby on Thursday July 2nd.  It will run every ten minutes and has been developed in close partnership with the new Super Hospital at Mickleover.

The £334million Royal Derby will be one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals, with over 1100 beds and 35 operating theatres.  It has received assent from the Queen to transfer its Royal Charter from the Infirmary on London Road – first granted in 1891 when Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone.

Representing an investment of £440,000, our 4 new ‘Solo’ 33-seaters come with the latest low-emission engines and carry an eye-catching Royal Derby livery. 

Taking over from the current H1 hospital link, they will run every ten minutes from the City Centre and every twenty minutes from the London Road Community Hospital (the former DRI).  The route takes customers right through the hospital grounds for the closest possible access, and also provides a Park and Ride at Mickleover for hospital staff.

Brand Manager Kevin Pool said:

“The Royal Derby is the result of a very close relationship between us and the hospital.  They are rightly proud to have been granted Royal assent and we are equally proud to be running this new link.

“The interim H1 hospital link has been extremely popular and we are already talking to partners at the hospital about the possibility of making Royal Derby even more frequent.

“We have a great team in place and we are going to do a first rate job”.

red arrow fans love leather – and downloads
…and they leave the car at home!

When the 8 red arrow coaches were given a high-end refit 18 months ago, they were given leather seating and free wifi. Fans also now have their own Facebook site. So has it gone down well? Yes, very well. 

Latest polls show that 9 out of every 10 on red arrow class the air-conditioned coaches as ‘high quality’.  They rate the leather seating as the top improvement. Over a third chose red arrow instead of the car for their journey.

red arrow’s Facebook has chat from over 360 fans and regular input from team members. The free wifi has already been used almost 9,000 times.  The average time on line works out at over 24 minutes with an average download close to 7mb each time – that’s a lot of material!

Marketing Manager Sarah Taylor said:

“I’m just so pleased that people like what we’ve done.

“Facebook is great fun.  It is growing daily and we are busy taking it to other brands.  Wifi was another new idea and it’s clear that people are making full use of it – 24 minutes is just about the whole Derby-Nottingham journey.

“The coaches were barely four years old when we brought them in for refit.  Not many bus companies would do that – but this is high end retail.  We run every 15 minutes between two of the region’s top cities, both with thriving universities, and there is always new custom to play for – especially those who already make the journey by car.”

Cherryl’s on the case
“Closer than ever to customers”

A top appointment on new Managing Director Jeff Counsell’s team, Cherryl Holland is Brand Delivery Manager with responsibility for the whole trent barton portfolio. She oversees all 12 Brand Managers and sits on Jeff’s management and projects teams.

“That means that the customer is better represented than ever,” explained Cherryl.

“Brand Managers are right at the front of our service delivery.  Through their Team Leaders they make it their business to know everything about their brand – what’s going on, what customers are saying. I will take that feedback right to the top and ensure that we use it in our planning and development”.

Cherryl started with trent barton in 1998 in the Broadmarsh booking office.  She gained her bus licence and drove cotgrave connection and rainbow 4, where she quickly rose to Team Leader and on to Operations Controller.

As a pioneering Brand Manager, Cherryl honed delivery of her rainbow 5 (now indigo) to a fine point, taking a personal interest in everyone on her team and known for sharp attention to detail in customer care and presentation of her buses, never prepared to put up with a speck of dust or any rattles inside or so much as a scratch on the paintwork. 

When it comes to bus shelters she won’t take no for an answer either.  Faced with a stone wall when trying to get Erewash Borough Council to upgrade its woebegone shelters in Long Eaton, she joined forces with rainbow 2 Brand Manager Stuart Booth (who had similar problems in Ilkeston) and got MP Liz Blackman on side.

She also jokes about her reputation for ‘getting stuck in’:

“It’s true!  When I heard that jams in Long Eaton were holding up my buses, I put on a yellow jacket and dashed out there to direct all the traffic away.  I expect that anyone on my team would readily do the same – anything to get customers to where they want to go”.

Cherryl has an office at Sutton but says that you’ll be very lucky to find her there: “My job is out on the buses – and that’s where I’ll be spending most of my time.”

And when she’s not doing that, she might just be at home relaxing by the Koi pool with husband Dave – “It’s a new hobby for us,” she confesses, “ and we’re really into it.”  Our photo shows Cherryl with the Koi, whilst no doubt Dave has gone to fetch the Martinis…

Nigel Robinson

It is with great sorrow that we report the death of Nigel Robinson, who had been ill since April.

Nigel ran our in-house Design and Production Management for many years – but had many strings to his bow.

An accomplished Ballroom Dancer, Nigel had a Masters Degree in music and played the trumpet.  Not content with that, he was a world champion in his class at Mountain Biking and even travelled to the high altitudes of Colorado to defend his title.

He will be fondly remembered and much missed.  Our thoughts are with his family.

Arriva boost for X38

Relaunched with a bus every 15 minutes and the new ‘coffee shop’ look with trent barton’s air-conditioned Tempo buses, the Burton-Derby X38 brand has received another shot in the arm thanks to Arriva, our partners in the project.  Their new buses have brought added style and comfort to a brand growing in popularity and reputation.

New friends for the sheep

Once dubbed ‘the sheep bus’ by locals, the villager brand has now recruited some farmyard companions, as our picture feature shows.  So the recent upgrade to Scania buses offers extra room, lower emission engines and now – extra animals. But the sheep that started it all are still right up there…

AND FINALLY…
Did you know?

• Just under HALF our keyworth connection customers could have used their car instead.
• Green matters more and more; indigo passengers love their leather seats and air-conditioning – but their favourite improvement was the latest low emission Volvo engines, which got the top score of 84 out of 100.
• trent barton buses travel the equivalent of more than 627 laps of the world every year!