National Express introduce breathalysers on coaches to prevent drink driving
Coach travel provider National Express has introduced the Alcolock system to a number of their coaches which calls for the driver of the vehicle to pass a breathalyser test before the vehicle’s engine starts.
The move to roll out this system across the entire coach fleet will prevent any drink driving amongst coach drivers and will ensure the safety of National Express passengers.
Every driver getting behind the wheel of the National Express coach fitted with the new device will have to breathe into the system before they’re allowed to start the engine. If any traces of alcohol are detected on the coach driver’s breath, then the coach will be disabled and the engine will not start.
Any information collected by the breathalyser device will be transferred directly to the National Express head office so if any driver is found with traces of alcohol in their system, they will face disciplinary action immediately, and a worst case scenario will see the driver lose his or her job.
In 2008 a National Express coach was involved in an accident in which 36 passengers were injured. The driver of the coach later failed a breath test. The coach transport provider believes that the new alcolock device will go a long way in preventing a similar incident in the future.
So far, 480 out of the 600 strong National Express coach fleet have been fitted with the breathalyser system.
National Express coach travel boosted by Pope’s visit
Transport provider National Express has reported an increase in revenue last month as a result of Pope Benedict’s visit to the UK.
The coach travel operator provided over 1,000 coach services to Birmingham from all over the country as thousands of people flocked to the city during the Pope’s visit. The Pilgrims had travelled from across the UK to Cofton Park in Birmingham on the last day of the Papal visit to witness the beatification service for Cardinal Newman lead by the pope.
The surge in coach travel certainly helped boost revenue at National Express with the company reporting a 4% year on year increase in revenue in the last 3 months to the end of September, which is marked improvement from the 2% reported during the first half of the year.
National Express also attributes its recent boost in revenue to its restructuring of its bus and coach network, mainly based in the West Midlands. The transport provider made cut backs to its less popular and infrequently used services, while adding more services to its busiest routes.
However the coach and rail operator may have to brace itself for hard times ahead as it’s possible that local bus subsidies will be reduced as part of the Government’s spending review due to be announced today.
Breathalyser devices to be installed on National Express Coaches
After spending two years testing the new breathalyser devices, National Express have announced that the system is to be rolled out through its entire UK fleet of coaches.
The device measures the alcohol levels in a driver’s system through a breathalyser which is connected to the vehicle. Should a driver fail the breath test, then the coach is automatically disabled and cannot be driven. A message is then sent to National Express H.Q notifying them of the vehicle registration number, and the amount of alcohol detected in the driver’s system.
The safety system, which is commonly known as an alcoclock, has become a familiar fixture in Europe with many countries electing to use it. It was invented in Sweden where the device is now used extensively in both private vehicles and on public transport. In France all public vehicle are fitted with the device.
Now the UK is following suit as National Express prepares to fit alcoclocks on all 500 coaches within its fleet. It is hoped that the revolutionary safety device will prevent serious alcohol related accidents from occurring in the future.
There has been a positive response from National Express coach drivers who have welcomed the introduction of the alcoclock, saying it will go a long way to improving standards of customer safety.
Double-decker bus has roof torn off outside Scottish hospital
A double-decker bus had its roof torn off outside a Scottish hospital on Saturday afternoon after the driver misjudged the height of an overhead walkway. The roof of the double-decker was sliced clean off, blocking the entrance to one of Scotland’s busiest hospital in Dundee.
Police and structural engineers cordoned off the area and worked for two hours to make it safe again for public use. The main pathway into the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee was blocked off as the engineers carried out work on the walkway which links two hospital buildings before the area was re-opened.
Luckily there were no passengers onboard the National Express coach at the time of the accident. The vehicle was said to have finished its service for the day and was on its way back to the depot in Dundee. No one was injured in the incident.
National Express Coach Company, who owns the double-decker bus, is carrying out a thorough investigation into the accident. They also confirmed that the bus driver has been suspended.
A spokesperson for the hospital said that the bus had been using a service road which is not meant for use by double-decker vehicles. The spokesperson went on to comment on the incident saying: “The walkway takes visitors into the main entrance to the hospital so we had to divert staff, patients and visitors for about two hours until the police checked the structure and made sure it was safe.”
National Express provides Veterans with free coach hire to London for D-Day commemoration
Coach operator National Express generously laid on free coach travel for 700 World War ll Veterans last Sunday to transport the war heroes to London to partake in the D-Day landings commemoration. They Veterans joined the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and defence secretary Bob Ainsworth for the ceremony held at Westminster Abbey.
Over 700 members of the Normandy Veterans Association were transported using the fleet of specially charted coaches. The majority of the Veterans are over 80 years of age and so the direct and free coach service to London enabled many of them to make the trip, who otherwise may have struggled to attend the service. Coaches were dispatched from 20 different locations across the UK including Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester and Southport.
It was particularly important that as many of the Veterans as possible made the trip to Westminster for the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings as it was expected to be the last time the men would be able to collect as a group to commemorate the important historical event.
The honorary general secretary of the Normandy Veteran Association, Peter L Hodge said “The special coach services mean members can travel comfortably to Westminster Abbey as a group without worrying about travel expenses or connections. The Association does not receive public funding, so it makes an enormous difference to get travel for free.”
A coach operator and a modelling agency join forces to uncover new talent
The coach operator National Express and iconic UK modelling agency Storm have joined forces in a bid to uncover the next big thing to hit the modelling industry. The idea of the unlikely pairing is fairly straightforward. Many of the biggest names in modelling have been discovered whilst going about everyday things such as, catching a bus, buying a newspaper, and with so many young people relying on coach services to get about, it seemed like the perfect place to pick up new talent.
Supermodel Kate Moss was discovered by a Storm talent scout at an airport and up and coming actress Kate Jarvis, who’s recently starred in a Hollywood film, was spotted on a National Express coach service. With this in mind, Storm believes they have every chance of finding the face of tomorrow sitting on a bus.
The launch of the campaign comes hot off the heels of the success of other nationwide searched which have sought to uncover raw talent such as the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. Storm and National Express hope to follow in the footsteps of these competitions which have gone on to create superstars.
As well as potential models, the competition is also hoping to find those individuals who have an eye for talent spotting. So if you spy a budding model on a National Express service or at a coach station, you can nominate yourself and your spotted protégé.
The competition will run until December 31st with the winner due to be announced in January. As a National Express spokeswoman said, “we’re excited that the next top model might be discovered at a coach station or on the coach.” Adding, “It could be the most life changing journey they’ll take.”
Airport coach service provides only public transport link between Gatwick and London
For the next 7 months a coach service run by easyBus will be the only direct public transport link between the north terminal at Gatwick Airport and London. This comes after the airport announced its rail service will not be in operation for the coming months as it undergoes extensive improvements and changes which are due for completion by the middle of 2010.
The rail make-over comes as part of a £1 billion investment plan which will see Gatwick Airport undergo a massive overhaul. An inter-terminal transit link is also on the cards for the busy airport.
Those wishing to travel with easyBus from the south terminal can also take advantage of the coach service and the company estimates customers will need to add on an extra 20 minute to their journey if travelling from the south terminal into London.
EasyBus specialises in ultra low fares with online prices available from as little as £2 for those booking in advance. The journey will take on average, less than an hour, although this can increase during rush hour periods.
Private coach companies are also in operation at Gatwick Airport. National Express offers transport to all major cities throughout the UK from the Gatwick and Airport By Coach also offer a very competitive service.
Coach driver caught on camera phone reading whilst driving
A National Express coach driver has been suspended after one of his passengers caught him reading whilst driving. The female passenger from Poole took the picture using her iPhone to show the coach operator bosses as evidence.
The photograph clearly shows the coach driver reading what appears to be a logbook as he drove the single-decker vehicle. The passenger reported that the driver continued to read the logbook even whilst travelling through busy areas such as Knightsbridge in central London during rush hour traffic, and the M3 which is one of the main roads near Winchester.
The incident occurred on an afternoon service travelling from Poole to London on October 1st. The passenger who caught the evidence admitted to feeling “unsafe” as she witnessed the driver navigating the coach whilst balancing the book on this steering wheel. At one point she said he “was steering with just his arm while he held on to the book with his hand. “
The driver in question was withdrawn from working immediately after the matter came to light. National Express are now carrying out a full investigation into the incident. The coach operator issued a statement which reads: “Our priority is always the safety of our passengers and we would encourage anyone who sees an incident to report it to us immediately.”