Stagecoach – Page 2 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Stagecoach launches new smartphone “busy bus” indicator to help customers plan journeys

App will use data and artificial intelligence to help customers socially distance
Traffic light indicator will give easy guide to quieter services on bus networks
Part of a range of extra safety measures to help customers travel with confidence

Stagecoach, Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator, is launching a new smartphone “busy bus” indicator to help customers plan their journeys as services increase across the country.

The new feature on the Stagecoach bus app will use extensive data and artificial intelligence to provide a traffic light indicator to help customers choose quieter services and maintain social distancing.

The app is now being rolled out to iOS and android users and is planned to be fully in place by 18 June via the app store and Google Play platforms. The “busy bus” tracker will provide a regularly updated guide to how busy individual bus services are in networks across the UK.

It is part of a comprehensive package of safety measures in place to help people travel in confidence as the economy and daily life reopens at different speeds across England, Scotland and Wales.

Each service in the live map on the app will be colour coded, with quieter buses showing in a green bus icon indicating ‘not too busy’, through to amber ‘quite busy’ and dark amber ‘very busy’.

Customers can also see where their bus is on the map and when it will be arriving, providing all the information they need at their fingertips.

Stagecoach’s app already has the UK’s most advanced real time bus tracker and this latest development will help people to confidently and easily plan when they want to travel.

The new feature is the latest addition in an extensive range of measures by Stagecoach to help customers feel confident in using buses as they continue to provide a vital link to work, retail and leisure facilities.

Stagecoach is continuing to increase capacity on bus services to support social distancing. Strict cleaning regimes continue for all buses, which includes at least a daily clean of all buses with an anti-viral sanitiser. Contactless payment is also available on all buses.

The latest UK government advice states that everybody travelling on public transport from 15 June must wear a face covering. Stagecoach’s guide on how to travel safely and comfortably can be found at stagecoachbus.com/coronavirus.

Carla Stockton-Jones, Interim Managing Director UK for Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to be welcoming more people back onto our buses as things start to open up around the country.

“We have already put a range of extra measures in place to make sure our customers feel confident in using our services, including strict cleaning regimes and social distancing measures, which we know are the biggest priorities for travellers. The launch of our new busy bus indicator is an extra step to give people an easy, at a glance guide on the best times to travel and to plan their journeys to avoid busier times.

“Buses continue to play a vital role in connecting people with work and leisure facilities. At a time when people across the country are starting to be reunited with friends and family, this investment in new technology will help to ensure that people can be completely prepared and confident in using our services.”

The Stagecoach app is available on both the UK Bus iOS and Android platforms.

For more information about Stagecoach, visit stagecoachbus.com/coronavirus.

Stagecoach praises ‘heroes behind the wheel’

Stagecoach details additional steps being taken to support key workers, local communities and supply chain
Public transport continues to play a vital role in the country’s efforts to beat COVID-19
Measures include dedicated shuttle buses for NHS workers in some areas, support for communities and additional capacity to distribution centres
Timetable improvements have also been made following key worker feedback

Stagecoach has publicly thanked its employees right across the country for the fantastic work they are doing in keeping key workers moving as part of the national effort at this difficult time.

Public transport, especially the bus, has become even more important to the country to ensure that vital public services continue in the face of COVID-19.

The country’s biggest bus and coach operator also outlined additional steps being taken to provide extra support for key sector workers. This includes dedicated shuttles and demand responsive transport for healthcare workers as well as measures to support local communities, the supply chain and distribution networks.

Helping the country’s valuable NHS workers

In London, Stagecoach is working with Transport for London to run specific and dedicated shuttles for NHS staff working at the new 4,000 bed Nightingale emergency Hospital.

A dedicated shuttle bus service is being provided for NHS staff at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kings Mill Hospital in Mansfield and the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. The shuttle is only accessible for key workers, ensuring they have quick and easy journeys home after their shifts.

In Aberdeen and the surrounding area, the NHS megarider ticket continues to offer discounts to NHS workers.

In the Scottish Highlands, free travel is available for NHS staff in the Inverness area going to or from Raigmore Hospital and New Craigs between 7-10pm through a dial-a-bus service that can be booked up to the day before.

In Glasgow, Stagecoach is working with bus operator McGill’s to increase travel options for key workers with four buses an hour between Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and shared ticketing.

In South Wales, Stagecoach is offering free travel to NHS workers as part of the bus support package from the Welsh Government, and is serving eight hospitals in the region. Local authorities in other some parts of the UK are also introducing free travel for NHS workers.

In the South West, as a result of a partnership with the hospital trust, NHS workers are being offered free travel to the Royal Devon Hospital.

In the west of England, NHS staff at Southmead Hospital in North Bristol and NHS staff in Gloucestershire can access discounted fares.

In partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Stagecoach has provided an extension to the 14/14A service between Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital to provide access for hospital staff to a temporary parking facility.

Providing extra support for healthcare organisations

In Hartlepool, the Tees Flex dmand responsive buses are being kept on standby to help with patient transport services.

In London, Stagecoach’s West Ham Garage is being used by the London Ambulance Service to commission new ambulances and also re-commission old ambulances with the support of the AA.

Supporting local communities

In Inverness, bus drivers are helping Highland Council with deliveries to remote rural communities.

In Aberdeen, a new shopper shuttle service has been introduced between the Countesswells housing development and local supermarkets.

In Merseyside, Stagecoach and Arriva are accepting Merseyrail train tickets on buses at times when the rail network is not running.

Extra support for the supply chain

Capacity on buses to the Europarc food production site in Grimsby has been doubled and all services are now running as double deckers to help with social distancing. This service has also been duplicated between Cleethorpes Pier and Grimsby Town.

Double the number of services are now running to Moy Park in Lincolnshire, one of Europe’s leading poultry producers, to help with social distancing.

To help keep the supply chain moving, additional capacity is being provided to Amazon distribution sites in Fife, Northampton and North Bristol.

In Manchester, extra services are being provided to service local business parks and the major Amazon distribution centre.

In the Midlands, extra services are being provided for the distribution centres at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal near Rugby, and the distribution centres at Swan Valley in Northampton.

Encouraging feedback to enable timetables to be improved for key workers

Across the country, Stagecoach has been revising its timetables to cater for the reduced demand in travel following the government’s advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.

The timetables have been developed to continue supporting key workers on their journeys to and from work, but Stagecoach has also encouraged feedback from its customers on specific changes they would like to see.

As a result:

In West Scotland, extra journeys have been added between Cumnock and Ayr Hospital and between Cumnock and Kilmarnock to help cater for key worker shifts.

In Aberdeen, temporary timetables have been enhanced to cater for morning shifts at hospitals as well as offshore workers connecting to the heliport.

In addition, discussions are ongoing with local authorities across the country on how Stagecoach buses not being used in public service might be able to provide extra support with food deliveries and other essential public services.

Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Chief Executive, said: “Key workers across Britain are working incredibly hard as part of the national effort to beat the coronavirus. I’m extremely proud of all the great work that our own teams are doing to keep the country moving, including getting our vital healthcare workers to hospitals.

“Our own heroes behind the wheel and their colleagues in support roles are really putting their country and their local communities first. We know from the feedback we’ve received from many customers across the country how much their selfless efforts are appreciated and we are doing everything we can to keep our people and our customers safe.

“We are also trying to play our part through special initiatives in partnership with local authorities and the NHS to support key workers, the supply chain, distribution networks and other vital services.

“It’s important that we all follow the government and public health advice to tackle the epidemic and pull together to support each other at this time.”

Stagecoach is strictly following government and public health guidelines, including those from the World Health Organisation, to keep its employees and customers safe.

A number of extra measures have been put in place including:

Asking passengers to pay by contactless wherever possible, or have the correct change for their journey if they can. Alternatively payments can be made online or via the App.
Supplied thousands of bottles of personal hand sanitiser to employees with larger refill bottles at depots.
Ensured that nearly all buses are fitted with security screens which have been adapted to provide a barrier to help prevent transmission of the virus.
Launched an enhanced cleaning regime of buses and workplaces, which is being strictly adhered to and includes extensive cleaning of the key touch-points such as the ticket machines, hand poles, and cash tray.
Carried out extensive customer communications asking people only to travel if necessary, and to practice social distancing by using a single row per person if possible, avoiding the two rows directly behind the driver and keeping a safe distance between the driver and other passengers.

For more information about Stagecoach or to check the latest timetables visit https://www.stagecoachbus.com/coronavirus

Stagecoach calls for new public transport apprenticeship

Company marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week with call for new qualification
Dedicated bus driving Modern Apprenticeship could deliver hundreds of new opportunities
New initiative and funding flexibility would enhance Scotland’s position as bus world leader

Stagecoach has called for a new Scottish apprenticeship to be created to maximise career opportunities for young people in the country’s public transport sector.

Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator has marked Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2-6 March) with a call for the introduction of a dedicated new apprenticeship qualification for the bus and coach sector in Scotland.

The company, which was founded 40 years ago in Perth, said that creating the new qualification and making funding more flexible could give young people in Scotland access to hundreds of extra apprenticeships opportunities a year.

Last month, Stagecoach announced it was to recruit 600 extra apprentices during 2020. By the end of the year, it will employ around 1,000 driver apprentices and around 200 engineering apprentices.

The majority of these opportunities will be created in England where there are accredited apprenticeships in bus and coach driving and in bus and coach engineering. However there is no bus and coach driver apprenticeship currently available in Scotland.

Stagecoach has also called for a more flexible approach to apprenticeship funding. The key role of a bus driver cannot be undertaken by anyone under 18 years of age, however current funding in Scotland is largely focused on apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Stagecoach Apprenticeships Manager Matthew Darroch said: “There has been a welcome focus on upskilling the UK’s workforce by governments across the country in recent years. We have been making huge investment in extensive new opportunities for young people, but we want to do more.

“Stagecoach is the industry leader in delivering bus driver apprenticeships in England, and we have similar ambitions for Scotland. If a Scottish Modern Apprenticeship in bus and coach driving was made available, Stagecoach would be able to deliver around 250 of these apprenticeships a year in Scotland.

“Public transport is central to delivering the Scottish Government’s welcome and ambitious climate change targets. To make that happen, the public transport sector needs the next generation of skilled bus drivers to operate the vital greener bus and coach services which support our economy and keep our communities connected.

“These simple changes could also help give further impetus to the bus sector in Scotland, which is a world leader in terms of manufacturing and operations.”

Around 550 driver and engineering apprentices are currently employed by Stagecoach across its operations in England, Scotland and Wales. The huge expansion of apprenticeships in England will see the company more than double the number of learners employed over the next 10 months.

Stagecoach is already the industry leader in bus driver apprenticeships .The 12-month programme provides a combination of practical training and off-the-job learning. It is delivered in partnership with training supplier Interserve Learning & Employment, complementing Stagecoach’s high standards around safety and customer service.

More than 30 Stagecoach employees have gained their bus driver apprenticeship to date , with a further 100 expected to have completed the programme by the summer. They are the first in the country to have achieved the qualification.

Stagecoach’s engineering apprenticeship programme has run for more than 15 years, with a number of employees having gone on to develop their careers with the business.

For more information on the bus driver apprenticeship programme go to: https://learning-employment.com/apprentices/transport-apprenticeships/stagecoach-bus-drive-apprenticeship/

Further details on engineering apprenticeships are available at: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/apprenticeship-schemes-with-stagecoach-bus

Stagecoach is a supporter of the Scottish Government’s Developing Our Young Workforce initiative, which is designed to help all of the country’s young people get work ready and ensure employers have access to the skills to help their businesses grow.

The company offers a range of work experience opportunities, provides placements as part of Foundation Apprenticeships, hosts workplace visits for schools, helps bring the curriculum to life in the classroom, and supports its employees who mentor young people.

Stagecoach: ‘the power of bus’

Government urged to “maximise power of bus” as new report shows Stagecoach supports £198m a year in value to Scotland’s economy

Independent analysis published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research
UK’s biggest bus and coach operator supports 1 in every 1,000 jobs across Britain
Detailed regional breakdown of Stagecoach’s economic and social impact revealed for first time
Company helps cuts congestion, reduce accidents, boost physical activity, and lower emissions
Buses can “deliver safer, healthier and more prosperous places for people to live”

Local authorities in Scotland are being urged to “maximise the power of the bus” to benefit communities as new research published today shows that Stagecoach supports almost £200m a year in value to Scotland’s economy.

Independent research carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) shows that Stagecoach’s aggregate contribution across the country is £1.63billion a year in Gross Value Added (GVA)¹, with £198m of the overall contribution in Scotland.

Stagecoach, which was founded in Perth in 1980, runs bus and coach services within the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and major towns and cities such as Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, across its four businesses; Stagecoach Bluebird, Stagecoach Highlands, Stagecoach East Scotland and Stagecoach West Scotland, along with the Scottish Citylink business (a joint venture with Comfort DelGro). It carries over 70 million passengers every year in Scotland, employing around 3,200 people and runs over 1,200 buses and coaches.

It is Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator and one of the country’s largest private sector employers, providing direct employment for 24,000 in total people across the UK and supporting a further 10,000 jobs. In total, Stagecoach supports one in every 1,000 jobs in the UK.

The new report ‘How we support Britain’s economy and communities’, also demonstrates the wider benefits and financial savings that Stagecoach transport services deliver by reducing congestion, making the nation more active, protecting the environment and supporting safer communities.

Stagecoach Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “We’re proud to have kept Scotland connected for the past 40 years. This new report shows the huge positive impact of our transport services to the economy and our communities right across the country.

“As regions across the country face up to the challenges of congested roads, declining air quality, ill-health and pressure on our high streets, it is vital that local authorities maximise the power of the bus to deliver safer, healthier and more prosperous places for people to live.”

Cebr analysis shows people using Stagecoach buses rather than cars helps avoid millions of pounds of wasted resources every year, with the savings able to be invested in better public services:

Safer communities: £44.2million saved in costs associated with road traffic accidents such as loss of earnings, medical costs, emergency services and damage to vehicles, which could fund more than 750 extra salaried GPs.
Healthier communities: £13.3million saved in healthcare costs, which is the equivalent to the costs of over 83,000 people being seen in A&E
Cleaner communities: £12.4million saved in emissions costs, which could power 9,800 homes for a year
More mobile communities: £343 million in potential congestion-related savings from a reduction of 22 billion miles of traffic. Each double decker bus can take more than 70 cars off the road.

Stagecoach continues to deliver direct significant benefits to Britain’s economy and communities, paying £710million a year in wages and employee benefits, as well as generating £220million in income-related tax contributions.

Cristian Niculescu-Marcu, Director of Analysis and Head of Microeconomics at Cebr, said: “Stagecoach makes a substantial economic and social contribution to the UK economy, supporting one in every 1,000 jobs and underpinning regional communities across the country.

“As well as its direct impact, Stagecoach’s transport services help reduce congestion, lower physical inactivity, and cut road traffic accidents. The company also plays a major role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions at a time when there is greater focus than ever before on measures to address the climate emergency.”

From spring 2020, Stagecoach will deliver the first vehicles as part of a £13m investment in what is one of the biggest orders of new electric buses in Europe.

A total of nearly 50 new e-buses are being introduced in Greater Manchester and Caerphilly, South Wales. By the end of 2020, Stagecoach will have more electric vehicles than any other major UK bus operator. Carbon emissions from Stagecoach businesses have been reduced by 14% over the past five years as a result of a package of measures introduced as part of the company’s sustainability strategy.

During 2020, Stagecoach will also start trials of the UK’s first autonomous bus operating over the Forth Road Bridge, providing services between Ferrytoll Park & Ride in Fife and the Edinburgh Park train and tram interchange.

Last month, Stagecoach launched a new look for its buses as part of a wider commitment to make using public transport easier. Stagecoach has delivered the biggest roll-out of contactless technology by any bus operator in Britain to simplify ticketing. It has also launched a new bus app, featuring a new online travel-planning tool that provides customers with real-time tracking of their bus service on an interactive map.

A full copy of the report ‘How we support Britain’s economy and communities’ is attached and is also available at Stagecoach contribution to Britain’s economy and communities.

Scotland sees first demonstration of Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus

New autonomous technology demonstrated at Scottish transport event
Five autonomous single deck vehicles to run between Fife and Edinburgh across the Forth Road Bridge in 2020 carrying up to 10,000 passengers a week

Continue reading Scotland sees first demonstration of Europe’s first full-sized autonomous bus

Forth Bridge travel plan: so far, so good?

Transport Minister Derek Mackay has thanked travellers for their patience during the first week of disruption caused by the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

Early indications show that the travel plan launched last Sunday is helping to minimise the impact on journey times for people moving between Fife and Edinburgh.

At its peak, the Traffic Scotland website recorded over 3 million hits per day – three times more than normal – from people wishing to receive regular updates on the status of the network and plan their journeys. The plan has undergone several refinements throughout the week.

Over the course of the week journey times on the A907 diversion during peak morning hours fell by over 30 minutes, demonstrating the effectiveness of the ongoing refinements.

In addition, in response to concerns brought forward by local businesses and communities, the restrictions on the dedicated Bus/Goods Vehicle prioritisation corridor on the A985 from Kincardine Roundabout and Cairneyhill Roundabout have been lifted to accommodate all goods vehicles during weekdays, and all vehicles on weekday nights and at weekends.

ScotRail have introduced an extra early morning train on Tuesday to supplement the additional services already running, bringing the number of extra seats on offer across the Forth Rail Bridge up to 10,000 per day. This extra capacity represents an increase in 64% on usual passenger numbers.

Over the past week Stagecoach have provided an additional 33 vehicles per day, equating to an extra 11,000 seats, for services between Halbeath, Ferrytoll and Dunfermline to Edinburgh and Livingston, operating up to every 10 minutes at peak times. Journey times are relatively consistent at 1hr 30mins

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: ““I wish to thank the public for their patience and forbearance during this last week. I appreciate that many people have had to make significant changes to their travelling plans and, through their cooperation, we have succeeded in keeping the transport network in Fife operational and getting people to and from where they need to be.

“We have been constantly monitoring the situation and taking on board the advice and concerns of the local communities to ensure that we are doing the very best job that we can. At the centre of this co-ordination has been our comprehensive travel plan, which we have taken steps to refine over the last week

“Although certain services do remain busy, there does remain some capacity on certain routes, especially on the bus network. I encourage people to keep checking the travel plan published on the Traffic Scotland website for the latest advice.

“The team responsible for fixing the bridge are working 24/7 to get it reopened as soon as possible and are making good progress. It is of course vital that until it’s repaired we continue to explore what further improvements can be made to the travel plan and take on board feedback.”

Phil Verster, Managing Director of the ScotRail Alliance, said that further refinements to the timetable will deliver further improvements. “We’ve listened to customers’ feedback this week and fine-tuned the timetable to add in extra stops at Rosyth and stations south of the Forth on selected services from today,” he said. “The information is already on our website and in journey planners. We’re doing everything we can to keep people moving. I have to pay tribute to our customers for their understanding, and to our staff for what they have delivered – and continue to deliver – in such challenging timescales.”

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland said: “The implementation of the bus and good vehicle priority measures have meant journey times from Fife to Edinburgh are just 90 minutes and we’ve been able to increase the frequency of services as a result. With more people heading for the buses, traffic on the roads should be that bit quieter and we have a reduced fare of £3 return in place to help ease the cost of the commute. We’re pleased that so many non-bus users have tried the shuttle services and are getting to their destination in a relaxed and timely manner and we’ve had a significant amount of positive feedback from our customers.

“Our staff have been amazing, coping superbly and cheerfully with changes to routes, timetables and shifts with very little notice in order to keep the travelling public moving. We have had drivers from all round Scotland, the north of England and Wales come to help out and I’m very grateful to them and their families for their hard work and adaptability.”

Forth Road Bridge closure: government reveals travel plan

Dedicated website also launched

A comprehensive travel plan to address the impact of the necessary Forth Road Bridge closure has been launched by Transport Minister Derek Mackay, who also encouraged people to plan their journeys carefully and to allow time for a longer commute to work. Continue reading Forth Road Bridge closure: government reveals travel plan