UK Bus awards

The shortlist for the 2008 UK Bus Awards has been announced – there is a disappointing number of short-listed entries from the South West:-

• Independent Operator Award: Western Greyhound
• Express Coach Operator of the Year: National Express
• The Bus In The Countryside Award: First Devon and Cornwall
• Innovation Award: FirstGroup plc
• Young Manager of the Year: Tony Simmons (Stagecoach Devon)

Rail companies failing to meet the needs of disabled passengers

Disabled customers are been left stranded on station platforms or abandoned on trains, according to new research undertaken by Passenger Focus – the study was undertaken by ‘mystery’ travellers who have a range of disabilities. Four in every ten passengers undertaking a rail journey booked through the national ‘Assisted Passenger Reservation System’ were not met by a member of the station staff, as arranged. Passenger Focus has now published a checklist of proposed recommendations for the train operating companies to implement, which have been designed to overcome the present difficulties.

Twenty-five million pounds of new funding for new ‘Kickstart’ bus services

The Department for Transport has announced that twenty-five million pounds of funding is been made available for ‘Kickstart’ funding – the ‘Kickstart’ initiative is ‘pump-priming’ funding provided by the Department for Transport for new or enhanced local bus services with the potential to become commercially viable or sustainable otherwise. The Department will be looking for schemes that show the potential for sufficient patronage growth to become viable within a three year period.

First Great Western high speed trains to retain buffets

First Great Western has announced, following a review, that some form of buffet car will be retained on all high speed train sets, rather than switching to a trolley service only on certain services. It is now expected that fifteen high speed train sets will be formed of two power cars and seven carriages, with a ‘mini-buffet’ been fitted in one of the standard class trailers, leading to the probable loss of sixteen seats.

Bayfast trial finishes

Stagecoach Devon has concluded the trial of a high-speed Bayfast ferry link between Brixham and Torquay – over twenty thousand customers used the ferry service during the four weeks of daily operation. The four week trial, costing two hundred thousand pounds, was undertaken in partnership with Torbay Council to test the potential market for a permanent all-year service.

Axminster loop work to commence

Network Rail have announced that work will commence shortly to provide the new passing loop at Axminster to facilitate the introduction of an hourly clockface service between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo via Salisbury from December 2009. Both tracks on the new three-mile long loop will be signalled for bi-directional working and the disused platform at Axminster station will be refurbished and returned for customer use – the signalling for the new loop will be controlled from the existing signal centre at Chard Junction. It is expected that it will be necessary to close the railway line between Crewkerne and Honiton for two weekends early next year and for a nine-day period next Autumn.

And finally,

An announcement from the train manager on a westbound First Great Western high speed service, upon departure from Bath Spa:-

‘We are now commencing our approach to Bristol Temple Meads!’