Mark Oliver named Scania UK coach and bus Sales Director
Scania UK has promoted Mark Oliver to the role of Bus, Coach and Power Solutions Sales Director. He succeeds Martin West, who left the business in March, and brings 27 years’ experience with Scania to the position.
Mr Oliver’s career with Scania UK began in 1995 as an apprentice instructor. He later held titles including Senior Technical Instructor and Technical and Training Manager at the business’s training facility in Loughborough and has been Bus and Coach Fleet Sales General Manager since 2012.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Oliver says: “After being with Scania UK for 27 years, it is an honour to be appointed Sales Director and to be given the opportunity to lead these two teams through the biggest transformation our industry has ever experienced.
“To be successful in this role requires three main things. Building customer relationships, trust, and nurturing long-lasting partnerships. For me, a customer’s relationship is all about building trust and giving peace of mind and reassurance that they have made the right decision – one that is right for today and also tomorrow.”
Adds Scania UK Executive Sales Director Vincente Connolly: “I am delighted that Mark Oliver will be Scania UK’s new Bus, Coach and Power Solutions Sales Director. He is a hugely experienced leader and brings the best out of the teams that work with him.
“His broad sales and technical experience will stand him in good stead, as will his relationships with customers and our colleagues in Sweden. Altogether, it makes him the perfect fit for the role and I wish him every success.”
Blackpool Transport adopts Ticketer Handheld devices
Blackpool Transport has extended its use of Ticketer electronic ticket machines (ETMs) with the deployment of Ticketer Handheld units across its tram fleet. They complement, and offer the same capabilities as, the fixed Ticketer machines used on the municipal operator’s buses.
Ticketer worked closely with Blackpool Transport to develop the hand-held product. Those in use accept ITSO cards, contactless bank cards and can scan QR codes. Ticketer says that the Handheld unit is also lightweight and brings a battery life that is sufficient to complete a conductor’s shift, reducing disruption to either staff or customers.
Introduction of the new machines resulted in a rapid shift towards contactless payments. Blackpool Transport expects that 70% of all fares paid onboard will utilise contactless by the end of 2022. The data collection benefit of Ticketer products is another positive, the operator says. It adds that the large number of visitors to Fylde also find benefit in contactless transactions.
Comments Managing Director Jane Cole: “Being able to offer contactless payments to our millions of tramway customers is a huge step forward in allowing us to remain innovative and provide the solutions that they want.
“Customers enjoy the increased boarding speed and ease of purchase, and the new machines bring a lot of benefits for our conductors, as well as improving our access to data and insights.”
Adds Ticketer Group General Manager UK and International Antonia Carmona: “Following the successful rollout of Ticketer ETMs across Blackpool Transport buses, we are delighted to see how the Ticketer Handhelds are opening new payment options for tram passengers.”
BYD ADL partnership delivers 1000th BEV to Stagecoach Bluebird
The BYD Alexander Dennis (ADL) partnership has delivered its 1000th zero-emission battery-electric vehicle (BEV).
The anniversary vehicle is a BYD ADL Enviro400EV, part-funded by the Scottish Government and delivered to Stagecoach Bluebird in Aberdeen. It represents the last of 22 BYD ADL Enviro400EVs part-funded by the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, and precedes a further 13 similar vehicles being funded through the award of the follow-up Zero-Emission Bus Challenge Fund.
The delivery to Stagecoach Bluebird and Managing Director Peter Knight was overseen by ADL National Account Manager Marie Connell and Scotland's Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead.
ADL says the milestone reflects the growing pace of electric vehicle rollout, as the partnership highlights the five-year span between the first and 500th BYD ADL BEV, while the 1000th comes just one year since.
"This milestone demonstrates the incredible pace at which the transition to zero-emission mobility is now happening thanks to bus companies’ drive for innovation and government support," says Ms Connell. "With 1000 electric buses now on the road, our customers benefit from the BYD ADL partnership’s unrivalled experience. Stagecoach’s new order for another 13 of these electric double deckers will further extend the benefits as passengers will enjoy a smooth and quiet ride and the people of Aberdeen will breathe cleaner air."
Adds Mr Knight: "We are all really excited to be sharing BYD ADL's celebration of delivering its 1000th fully electric bus. Introducing these new vehicles reflects the investment both we and Scottish Government are making thanks to the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme and the funding made available to support the delivery of the new buses.
"There has never been a more important time to take action to address the climate emergency and play a part in helping Scotland deliver on its net zero ambitions while improving local air quality in Aberdeen.
"The introduction of these 22 new fully electric buses on our bus routes in Aberdeen reflect our commitment to creating a greener, smarter, safer and healthier country and at the same time will deliver major benefits for the region and our customers."
Managing Director of BYD UK Frank Thorpe says the handover "underlines how BYD ADL electric buses are becoming ‘the eBus brand of choice’ for many operators".
