24/03/2010

• Public-private partnership between operators, transport authority, council
• Pledges on fares, ticketing and network levels as part of three-phase plan
• New strategic park and ride facilities linked to buses and trams
• Punctuality, reliability and customer satisfaction targets to raise standards
• Dual-mode tram-bus service using hi-tech optical guidance technology

Stagecoach today (24 March 2010) proposed a radical strategy to revitalise bus services for passengers and improve the local environment in Sheffield over the next decade.

The three-phase plan centres on a public-private partnership between bus operators, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Sheffield City Council.

Stagecoach said it wanted to bring the same dynamic approach to buses that it had used to transform the city's Supertram network and boost rail services in Yorkshire at East Midlands Trains.

Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, outlined the proposals at a meeting of key stakeholders, including politicians, transport experts, resident groups, business leaders and representatives from other key organisations.

The Better Buses for Sheffield plan includes:

• index-linked fares and inter-availability ticketing
• minimum and maximum service levels on key routes
• agreed network of secondary routes
• bus priority measures on key routes to cut journey times
• introduction of a comprehensive bus park and ride network
• a state-of-the-art optical guided bus service integrated with the tram network, and additional tram feeder services
• enhanced standards for vehicle cleanliness, bus stops and waiting facilities
• maximum vehicle age with guaranteed investment
• joint carbon reduction initiatives, including a recycled biofuel trial

Brian Souter said: "Our plan will deliver what customers want - guarantees on fares and network levels, and improvements to make it easier to access services. It will improve the speed and quality of bus services on the road. And it will be better for the local environment in Sheffield.

"We have a modern 21st century visionary solution that will revitalise the bus network through a public-private partnership. We have improved the tram system and rail services in Yorkshire and our competitive services and low fares have stimulated the bus network and generated many new passengers."

The Sheffield bus strategy would see the introduction of seven new park and ride projects: Ecclesfield, Birley, Norton, Penistone Road, Abbeydale Road, Parkway and an extended Meadowhall facility.

Proposals also include an optical guidance concept vehicle able to run on both traditional roads and the tram network, with potential already identified for a service linking Manor Top and Sheffield city centre. Similar technology is already in use elsewhere in mainland Europe.

Stagecoach believes the new package would:

• deliver higher quality, good value bus services
• protect key social bus services
• promote intelligent car use and reduce traffic congestion,
• improve better local air quality
• offer value for money to local taxpayers

Stagecoach operates a fleet of just over 100 buses in Sheffield from depots at Ecclesfield in the north-east corner of the city and Holbrook in the south-east. The company also runs Sheffield's Supertram system. Stagecoach also operates train services in the region through East Midlands Trains and the UK's first intergrated train-coach service, megabusplus.com.

More than 12 million passengers travel on Stagecoach's buses in Sheffield every year, double the number four years ago. Stagecoach has transformed the Supertram network from a loss-making system that was a drain on taxpayers to a commercially sound operation attracting a record 15 million passengers a year.

Since being awarded the East Midlands Trains rail franchise in 2007, Stagecoach has been working with the local community to make it one of the best railways in Britain. A £90m investment programme is well underway and recently the number of trains from Sheffield to London was virtually doubled through a joint initiative with Yorkshire Forward and Travel South Yorkshire.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email media@stagecoacghgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images

• Hi-resolution jpeg files are available on request showing:

• An artists' impression of the optical guidance concept vehicle
• A map showing the network of proposed new park and ride sites 

Stagecoach Group

• Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
• Stagecoach is one of UK's biggest bus and coach operators, running around 7,000 vehicles from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and carrying around 2 million passengers every day.
• Stagecoach is also a major UK rail operator, running the South West Trains, Island Line and East Midlands Trains networks. It has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast inter-city rail franchise.
• Stagecoach is also Britain's biggest tram operator, running networks in both Sheffield and Manchester.

Stagecoach – key facts

• Stagecoach has achieved nine years of consistent bus passenger growth in the UK. On average, bus passenger volumes have grown by 1.5% each year.
• Across the UK, Stagecoach has invested £230 million in around 1,600 new vehicles in the last 3 years
• Stagecoach has invested £21m in new vehicle and depot improvements for its Yorkshire bus services since 2006
• Stagecoach Supertram passenger volumes have increased by 65% from 9.1m to 15.0m in last 12 years
• The number of people using Stagecoach's bus network in Sheffield has increased from 6.2m in 2005-06 to 12.3m in 2009-10
• Stagecoach's bus operations provide employment for 275 people in Sheffield and nearly 1,200 across Yorkshire
• Stagecoach bus services in Sheffield have been wholly low floor accessible since 2007
• Stagecoach's £90 million investment programme at East Midlands Trains includes faster journey times from Sheffield to London, better performance, more seats, train refurbishment, investment in maintenance facilities, a centralised information and security centre, more car parking spaces and new stations.