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FirstGroup plc
FirstGroup Plc Welcomes
Franchise News
Historic buildings tumble in Aberdeen
Friday 9 May 2008
The face of King Street, Aberdeen, is set to change forever following
the commencement of demolition at FirstGroup’s global HQ and Aberdeen bus
depot this week.
Three of the bus ‘sheds’, which have been visible from King St for 40
years, have already disappeared with the others earmarked for demolition
in the coming weeks. They will be replaced by First’s new global
headquarters and bus depot. The new buildings will be state of the art,
modern and fit for purpose.
Other than the sheet roofs, around 80-90% of the materials will be
salvaged and recycled following demolition. For example, the concrete and
bricks are likely be used in the actual construction of the new
developments.
Chief Executive of FirstGroup, Moir Lockhead, said: “It is fantastic to
see the end of some of the old buildings – it is long overdue. First
has expanded significantly over the years and the old buildings were
simply no longer fit for purpose. In 1989 we were a small local bus
company with around 600 staff. Worldwide we now have 135,000 employees!
Despite the global scale of the company, we have been determined to
maintain our Aberdeen roots.”
He continued: “I am very pleased that following the construction of our
new HQ and depot, we will finally be in a position to provide our people
in Aberdeen with a working environment that they thoroughly deserve. It
is also pleasing that the original façade of our HQ which was built in
1862 will remain as is – it’s a wonderful landmark on King Street.”
Bill Imlach, Managing Director of Stewart Milne Construction commented:
"Stewart Milne Construction is delighted to be given the responsibility
for this prestigious project and we are pleased that we have got off to a
good start. We look forward to working with First Group to ensure that its
new HQ and Depot meet or exceed all expectations."
Work on the multi million pound development is expected to be completed in
Spring 2009. The new buildings will incorporate some of the latest
advances in design. Key features include:
· A proportion of the energy for the new site will be derived through
renewable sources including ground source heat pumps, and energy will be
saved through innovations such as movement responsive lighting.
· Retention of the historic 1862 listed building as the focal point of the
new development.
· New FirstGroup world training centre.
Approximately 160 people will be located at the new headquarters and
around 500 people based at the bus depot. In total the site covers over
eight acres. Construction will generally take place during normal working
hours and all construction vehicles will use a dedicated entrance on
Mounthooly Way.
Aberdeen City Council approved plans for the new headquarters and bus
depot on 21st June 2007 at a meeting of the Aberdeen City Council Planning
Committee.
01/04/2005
FirstGroup plc, the UK's largest surface transport
operator, today welcomed the Strategic Rail Authority's announcement that
the company has successfully pre-qualified for both the Greater Western
and Thameslink/Great Northern franchises.
First currently operates the Great Western franchise, which runs Intercity
services between London, the Cotswolds, the South West and South Wales, as
well as First Great Western Link, the commuter network linking London with
the Thames Valley.
The company also operates Scotland's national railway through First
ScotRail, Intercity services in the North of England through TransPennine
Express and services into London Kings Cross through Hull Trains.
Responding to the news that the company will be invited to tender for the
two franchises, First's chief executive, Moir Lockhead, said: "We are
delighted. We look forward to consulting widely and working with all of
the stakeholders across both the Greater Western region and those
currently served by Thameslink/Great Northern on the development of
exciting proposals for the future of both franchises.
"We are proud to serve customers in the Greater Western region through our
Great Western and Great Western Link companies, together with our bus
networks throughout the new franchise area. We therefore welcome the
opportunity to build on our strong record of delivery and work up plans
for investment in continued performance improvements.
"We are also looking forward to developing proposals to enhance the
journey experience for Thameslink/Great Northern customers by investing in
performance improvements and bringing forward detailed plans for stations
and the on train environment."
Senior Management Appointments
22/03/2005
FirstGroup plc, the UK’s largest surface public
transport operator, today announced the following senior management
appointments:
Nicola Shaw is to join the Group’s Executive Management team in May as
Business Change Director, reporting directly to Moir Lockhead, Chief
Executive. Her role will focus on the Group’s bus operations. Nicola joins
us from the Strategic Rail Authority where she was Managing Director
Operations.
Andrew Haines joins the company as Managing Director of the UK Rail
Division, replacing Jeremy Long who has announced that he intends to leave
the Group to pursue other interests. Andrew joins the Executive Management
team from South West Trains where he was Managing Director.
Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that Nicola is
joining us. She will further strengthen our Executive Management team and
will focus on quality and delivery for improved public transport across
all FirstGroup’s operations.”
“I am very pleased to welcome Andrew to the Group. He is highly respected
across the transport sector and has a strong track record within the rail
industry. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Jeremy for his
contribution to the Group and wish him every success for the future.”
Notes to Editors:
Nicola Shaw has spent her whole career in the public transport industry,
both in the UK and overseas. She joins FirstGroup from her current
position as Managing Director, Operations at the Strategic Rail Authority.
Her previous employers have included ORR, Bechtel, Halcrow, the World Bank
and London Transport. She has degrees from Oxford University and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Andrew Haines has spent his career in the railway industry, having joined
British Rail as a graduate manager in 1985 and worked in numerous front
line positions. At privatisation Andrew joined Railtrack where he achieved
rapid promotion before joining South West Trains in 1997. In January 1999
he was made Operations Director and then became Managing Director of South
West Trains in September 2000.
Both Nicola Shaw and Andrew Haines will be members of the FirstGroup
Executive and Safety Management Boards.
Darling Launches Shape Of Future
Public Transport
10/03/2005
Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport,
today launched a brand new concept in public transport - a cross between a
bus and a tram service.
Its objective is to take 10% of car journeys off the roads on the
corridors its serves within five to six years. That would increase public
transport usage on those same corridors by 30%.
The initiative is to be rolled out nationwide by First, the UK’s largest
public transport operator, and The Wright Group, the vehicle manufacturer.
It will look like a tram, run on dedicated road space in congested areas,
but have the route flexibility of a bus. Each route will be designed to
deliver near door-to-door services to a very high specification including
real time information and text messaging to identify when the next service
is going to arrive at a given point.
The service is to be known as “f t r”, the texting shorthand for “future”,
and the vehicle that will deliver it is called “StreetCar.”
First Chief Executive, Moir Lockhead, said: “The first vehicles are coming
off the production line, the first contracts are being signed and the
first services will be up and running later this year. ‘f t r’ introduces
us to next generation public transport - flexible, high quality services
that bridge the gap between the bus and light rail. It is the marriage of
a next generation vehicle with dedicated infrastructure and hi-tec
information systems which together will offer fast, comfortable, reliable
and frequent near door-to-door services. ‘f t r’ is the perfect solution
for local authorities in the battle against traffic congestion. It can be
introduced quickly, without major upheaval on our roads and at a fraction
of the cost of a light rail scheme, perhaps as little as a tenth of cost
of a new tram network. It is designed to appeal to motorists as a high
quality alternative to the car for some journeys.”
more…
Darling launches shape of future public transport…continued
For local authorities it can be an interim measure for key corridors until
demand justifies an upgrade to a light rail scheme. Just like a tram, it
will speed past congested rush hour traffic on dedicated lanes, turn red
traffic lights green on its approach and access the heart of cities closed
to other vehicles.”
Alistair Darling said: "It is encouraging to see new types of public
transport being developed - offering effective solutions to congestion
problems. f t r will give Local Authorities a new option when looking at
transport issues, one which can provide a flexible service to meet
passengers' needs."
The first ‘f t r’ services will begin in York later this year. Detailed
plans are being developed for other schemes in cities around the UK.
Jeff Wright, President of The Wright Group, said: “f t r is a breakthrough
concept in the way we think about urban travel, and the StreetCar vehicle
is its most tangible component. The merging of passenger desires, driver
needs and operating requirements into one complete package is firm
evidence that this industry can deliver a world-beating product.”
ends
Note to editors:
Historically, manufacturers have produced vehicles to their own
specifications and operators have bought them. This time, First and The
Wright Group have worked together, looking at all elements of the design
from the customer’s perspective. This partnership has:
· researched how buses are used
· designed a vehicle that meets passenger needs, ironing out problems
identified by research
· involved focus groups to give customers a say in the sort of vehicle
they want to use
· involved engineers, cleaners, drivers and marketing teams in the design
to ensure the vehicle is as functional, fit for the purpose, reliable,
easy to maintain and attractive to users as it could possibly be made.
The research used on-board video cameras to see how customers used
existing vehicles – how they boarded, where they stood or sat, how they
behaved on short or long journeys, and how they interacted with buggy
users.
Based on our Leeds / Bradford Guideway and extensive bus priority
experience we have compared the costs of a light rail corridor with an f t
r corridor. We could provide similar capacity at less than a tenth of the
cost (example below assumes capital costs only for 7km length):
Light rail corridor:
· Probably need 10 double car light rail vehicles @ £2m each = £20m
· 7km of track at up to £20m per double track kilometre = £140m
· Total cost £160m
f t r corridor:
· Probably need 15 f t r vehicles = £4.5m
· Extensive Guideway /Bus priorities @ £10m
· Total cost £14.5m
Further press information from Stuart Bugg at First on 020 7291 0514 or
Claire Coulter at The Wright Group on 028 2564 1212
First Takes Two Top Honours At
The Bus Industry Awards
19/11/2004
First has taken two of the top honours at this year’s
Bus Industry Awards, which recognise excellence in the bus industry.
Yesterday’s ceremony brought success for First in six of the thirteen
categories.
Bernard Rhodes, a Leeds bus driver for over 30 years, received the ‘Bus
Employee of the Year Award’ for his contribution to the delivery of
excellence in the bus industry, above and beyond the call of duty.
FirstGroup plc received the ‘BP Innovation Award’ for the ‘2004
Environmental Award Scheme’.
In Leeds, First and other bus operators faced major disruption and
vandalism caused by a minority of pupils from a large secondary school.
Drivers were having to call for police assistance, passengers were
complaining of harassment, and people living near the school were
continually complaining about pupil behaviour and vandalism when the
children were waiting for buses. First was at the point of withdrawing the
service when Bernard volunteered to take on the role of escort, travelling
on the bus, getting to know the students, and slowly but surely taking
charge of the situation. The transformation was total. Children now travel
safely on the bus and bus drivers no longer fear operating near the
school. Bernard’s success in managing disruptive school children led to
his nomination for the Award.
The BP Innovation Award was presented to FirstGroup plc for the 2004 Bus
Environmental Award Scheme. The judges recognised First’s commitment to
encouraging staff participation in the company’s environmental programme
by “putting in place comprehensive policies, action plans, training and
staff incentives to minimise the environmental impact of all its
operations.”
The panel felt that First’s approach was a model for both operators and
authorities within the industry to follow. The BP Innovation Award was
collected on behalf of FirstGroup plc by Glyn Akesson, Environment and
Property Projects Director, and Katerina Capkova, Environmental Manager.
First was runner-up and commended as follows:
> Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council, were runners-up in the
‘Infrastructure Award’ for the introduction of real time passenger
information in Chelmsford.
> Hampshire and Dorset, working in partnership with Devon and Dorset
County Councils, were runners-up in the ‘Buses for Pleasure Award’ for the
successful development of the CoastLinX53 ‘Jurassic Coast’ service that
operates from Exeter to Bournemouth.
> York was runner-up in the ‘CfIT Customer Service Award’. The judges said
that York’s approach to service performance and delivery was impressive
and attention to the analysis of performance indicators was good.
> York also received a commendation in the ‘Bus Operator of the Year
Award’. The judges were impressed by the way in which the company has been
building on its undoubted success in expanding its market and in
recognising what constitutes best practice in staff training and
development, in communication, and in the partnership with the local
authority.
> Wilf Duke, a co-ordinator for First in South Yorkshire received a
commendation in the ‘Bus Employee of the Year Award’. The judges commented
that Wilf is an excellent example of a first class member of a bus
operator’s middle management, dedicated and relating well to all of his
colleagues.
> Our national marketing campaign, ‘Wot’s Happinin’, received a
commendation in the ‘Marketing Award’. The judges were impressed by the
careful development of the imagery for the 2004 Kids’ campaign, consistent
with the company’s corporate style, but sufficiently different to attract
children’s interest.
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