Mellor Sigma 8 to make debut at Euro Bus Expo
Mellor will debut a further member of its Sigma battery-electric bus range – the 8m Sigma 8 – at Euro Bus Expo, which will be held at the NEC Birmingham between 1-3 November.
The Sigma 8 is part of a line-up that extends from 7-12m and which Mellor indicated at the time of launch would be introduced progressively. It joins Sigma 7 and Sigma 10 thus far. Mellor says that the Sigma 8 will bring a 54-passenger capacity “and substantial size and cost benefits over competitors.”
Mellor also claims that the Sigma product represents “the most configurable bus range in Europe,” being available in both urban and rural specifications and with multiple door options. The manufacturer adds that “major orders” have already been received, with details of those to be revealed at Euro Bus Expo.
In announcing the debut of the Sigma 8, Mellor says that it is leading the way for battery-electric buses at that size point. Adds Sales Director Mark Clissett: “We are definitely shaking things up in the bus market. We have filled a gap where operators have previously been acquiring oversized, over-specified vehicles that continue to be under-utilised.
“Mellor, on the other hand, offers the right tool for the job. A fully electric, affordable, size-appropriate bus range that delivers a no-compromise solution. And our competitors are playing catch-up.
“Only recently, a well-known player in the market has said it will introduce an electric midibus in 2023 – while the Mellor Sigma range is available today.”
Alongside the Sigma 8 at Euro Bus Expo will be an example of the wheel-forward Sigma 7. The Sigma 10 will be present within the Zero Emission Zone, where visitors can ride aboard it.
Euro Bus Expo will be held between 1-3 November at the NEC Birmingham. Register for free tickets here. Mellor will be on stand E60.
Katie Johnson joins First Travel Solutions senior team
Managed transport service provider First Travel Solutions has appointed Katie Johnson to the newly created position of Business Operations Director.
Ms Johnson joins from E.ON Energy, where she spent 14 years in senior operational and strategic roles including change leadership, digital operations and customer services. With First Travel Solutions she will be focused on improving the business’s operations as it continues to grow “to deliver the best experience for staff, clients and customers."
First Travel Solutions was recently awarded rail replacement contracts for the Avanti West Coast train operating company. Ms Johnson will be heavily involved in delivery of that work.
Speaking about the news, First Travel Solutions Managing Director Andy Scholey says: “After a quiet 18 months during the height of COVID-19 with many festivals, conferences and sporting events cancelled or closed to spectators, we took the time to look inward at our business and identify what we needed to take it to the next level.
“The newly appointed role of Business Operations Director means that we can utilise Katie’s award-winning customer service experience skills and change management knowledge to deliver the best solutions to our clients.
“We have several projects being delivered at the end of 2022 and into 2023 that Katie will ensure are created and managed with customer experience at the heart of them.”
Adds Ms Johnson: “I am delighted to be joining First Travel Solutions at such an innovative time for growth in this sector. First Travel Solutions is on a rapid growth trajectory to provide the best managed transport solution in the UK and I am ready to take the team to that next level in the excellence of operational delivery.”
Tranzaura develops digital maintenance platform further
Software-as-a-Service provider Tranzaura is developing its digital maintenance platform that captures drivers’ walk-round checks and unplanned maintenance into one that includes central management of all maintenance – planned and unplanned – in a single system.
The supplier says that its platform is already going from strength to strength in the London bus market. It accounts for an average of 113,000 items checked every day by drivers and a 55% market share for use of its app instead of paper for unplanned tasks.
Tranzaura has been present in the capital’s bus market since 2015. It adds that the “obvious” start point on the transformation journey was to digitise the driver walk-round check process and to take control of unplanned maintenance “in a way that engages end users and reduces defect reporting times.”
The enhanced product that adds planned maintenance will improve visibility of schedules, communication between drivers and engineers, and lower the cost of repairs, Tranzaura claims. It says that other benefits will include live defect reporting, photo audit trails, parts and inventory management, and full asset lifetime cost management.
With the latest step, Tranzaura has developed all end user decision support tools – for management, drivers, engineers and administrators – into a central system that is built on Microsoft Azure. Use of the Tranzaura app requires no installation at an operating centre and delivers what the supplier claims is increased efficiency, better vehicle reliability, high quality reporting and “more informed decision making.”
CEO Shane Mann has highlighted that a digitised maintenance system can result in significant financial savings. While reducing paper use and better communications form part of that, the most significant aspect is the potential to reduce spare vehicle requirements through improved planning.
Tranzaura was first introduced to the London bus market in 2013 by Metroline as part of an initial feasibility study initiated by the ComfortDelGro subsidiary. Go-Ahead London then became the first operator to deploy the platform, in 2019. Both businesses, along with RATP Dev Transit London, currently use this solution in the capital. It is also utilised by other operators outside London.
Says Go-Ahead London Chief Engineering Chris McKeown: “In 2017, we embarked with Tranzaura on a strategy designed to achieve workplace digitisation and the elimination of unnecessary paper use. We focused on two areas: The all-important daily pre-service vehicle check, and any potential defects during the remainder of the working day.
“Previously recorded via a pen and paper, Tranzaura worked with Go-Ahead London to create an intuitive app that guides our 6,000 drivers around all key vehicle checkpoints. The subsequent record is digitally uploaded onto a bespoke database and is accessible to the engineering teams at all 17 Go-Ahead London garages.”
Mr McKeown adds that the digitisation process was adopted quickly by colleagues and has enabled the operator to “demonstrate and measure compliance.” It also allows Go-Ahead London to engage with suppliers “from a greater position of accuracy and knowledge.”
RATP Dev Transit London Technical Manager Seb Harrington says that the Tranzaura app delivers “strategic long-term benefits.” It allows planning and engineering work to be tightened up as all defects are known of ahead of time. Access to defect history via a digital platform is also much more efficient than via paper, he adds.
Euro Bus Expo will be held between 1-3 November at the NEC Birmingham. Tranzaura will be on stand T58.