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MEDIA KIT 2020 Bus & Coach Buyer is the longest running free weekly title and an essential tool to the industry ”
WHY BUS & COACH BUYER
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// ISSUE 1549 // FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2019
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10 F E AT U R E FEAT U R E 11 06 NEW S NE WS 07 28 F E AT UR E F E ATU RE 29
MANUFACTURER REFURBISHMENT
Yuto
ong
g deliverrs itss 50
00th Skinners call it a day Flourishing at forty
difference between diesel and electric, which has gained interest running its own tours and have two daughters, neither removal of centre doors from London
including the charging infrastructure, which
is being supplied by Yutong.
from potential buyers and the
business is in discussions with
day trips. One development in
recent years was the fitment
of whom are interested in
operating. It’s always been a NEWS specification ‘deckers, repanelling, glazing
and up-seating.
“The decision to go with Yutong was
not made solely on price. We based our
a number of interested parties.
The other site Stephen believes
of emission abatement
equipment. “But now we have
family business. It’s sad, but
that’s the way life is going. They
IN BRIEF This is all carried out in a flow line
principle with all the ‘dirty’ aspects taking
decision on capability and range, and the will likely be redeveloped into decided it’s time,” said Stephen. weren’t willing to get involved. Russian trial place at one end of the facility and then,
E10 was the best choice,” said Martijn. “The Surrey operator to cease running on 31 December residential property. Its main As his business closes, he will So the family connection with Caetanobus and as the bus proceeds through the building,
build quality is really exceptional as an site is in Oxted, from which it be handing his notice in as a coach operating is destined to
Passazhiravtotrans, the
largest bus operator in
North East specialist bus refurbishers Thorntons celebrates 40 years the various basic structural refurbishment
integral, and it doesn’t rattle. The attention kinners of Oxted is to ULEZ. It would mean we has a licence to run up to 16 Director at the Confederation cease. I don’t have a problem north-western Russia, signed in business this year, with no signs of the company slowing down. stages are completed until at the end of
to detail is better than its competitors. The
Yutong isn’t the cheapest, but it is the best.”
S cease operating on 31
December 2019 as its
would have to majorly commit
for the next several years.”
vehicles. Its other facility is in
nearby Brasted, Kent, where it
of Passenger Transport (CPT).
He said: “I’ve had to hand my
with that; they are doing their
own thing in life. Everything
a cooperation agreement
during Busworld Europe. Bus and Coach Buyer visits to see the latest developments
the shop the bus is a complete structure
ready prepared for painting.
Martijn said the plan was to run the buses owners retire. Skinners’ seven employees can operate up to eight vehicles. resignation in. We have had a has its season. What I won’t According to the contract, in The bus then passes into the hands of
for 15 years, and that this had been costed The husband and wife are to be made redundant. The Surrey operation is good association with CPT. We miss is those late-night phone November Passazhiravtotrans the specialist paint team; a bunch of highly
will test the Caetano
with a battery replacement: “The alternative team of Deborah and Stephen Stephen said: “They took the based approximately four miles have always welcomed their calls!” skilled guys who prime the structure, rub
e.City Gold electric bus.
drivelines are beginning to stack up; CNG’s Skinner are to retire at the news well and understood. outside the current LEZ. help. We get out what we put in With the extra time his it down and then apply the final paint. It
economics work and I hope that soon end of the year. On why the The area is desperately short Skinners was started in with them.” retirement will afford him, ROB ORCHARD, CONTRIBUTOR can paint vehicles in a variety of colours as
In remembrance
electric buses will work, cost-wise, without pair have taken that decision, of drivers. Several of ours 1967 by Stephen’s family, who The company has passed the Stephen is planning to do some Over 130 Transdev buses required by today’s livery designers.
government subsidy.” Stephen said: “It’s been fuelled have already got offers of new originally had its roots in contact details of Roadmark work on his house. He is also are to wear poppies Thorntons is rightly very proud of
by a number of different employment.” farming. It took on two coaches Travel in Storrington and a gliding instructor, so will be in preparation for the paint finish it achieves. It use a
things, one of which is we are Skinners 12-strong fleet is set in the early days, along with Gardiners NMC in Epsom to lavishing more time on that. Remembrance Sunday (10 hornton Buses is celebrating its specially formulated version of PPG
T
November). Also, during
not enjoying it as much as we to be disposed of. Of how these a timber and hardware sales its passengers to ensure they Deborah will have more time Remembrance Sunday
40th Anniversary and has paint which has been developed over
used to. And the opportunity will be sold Stephen admits he business and a blacksmith and have a coach tours provider. for her rambling pursuit. the operator is to offer chosen to do it in style by years to give long lasting, fade-free
for us to do it came up. We are has not given it a great deal of wheelwright business. The After over 50 years of “We have enjoyed operating free travel on its buses opening a major expansion of finishes which retain its glossiness for Ex-London decker with centre door replaced and ready for paint
also a bit older and more tired thought. But they will be used latter operations were given up running the business, how does the business,” Stephen said. for serving members its facilities. many years despite the effects of road
than we were. It’s legislation right up until January. and, as deregulation came into it feel to be facing closing the “But I think we’ll enjoy not of the armed forces. The Ashington, Northumberland, salting and bus washer chemicals.
driven too, what with PSVAR The company has two A rare example of an MCW Metrorider in coach form, dating from 1991, that effect, the company focused doors of the operation for the being a part of it too. We wish company is probably Britain’s USB charging points, CCTV systems and
regulations coupled with the operating centres, one of Skinners sold for preservation in 2009 on its coach side and started last time? Stephen said: “We everyone all the best.”
Daimler C02-neutral biggest bus refurbishment specialist. fire suppression systems. Much of this
Daimler Trucks & Buses has
Established in 1979 in Bedlington in is carried out by Thorntons’ own skilled
announced it aims to only
Northumberland by brothers George
The latest development staff with the remainder by specialist
Durham’s new coach park opens
offer new vehicles that The Thorntons management team (L to R): Simon Dinsley, General Manager; Jason Thornton, Production
are CO2-neutral in driving and Keith Thornton, it then specialised Manager; George Thornton, Director; Keith Thornton, Director, Graeme Armstrong, Sales Manager and is equally massive… sub-contractors. The aim is to be a
Pelican has achieved its milestone in the watch out, because if Yutong ever entered so by driving down
operation in its European,
Japanese and NAFTA markets
in the design and construction of Wayne Thornton, Transport Manager Thorntons doesn’t do one-stop shop for bus refurbishment,
From a standing start seven years ago, Pelican has delivere
ed its 500th Yutong PSV market by a mixture of good fortune the fray, they had the product to succeed. quality. The scale by 2039. The company
specialist recovery vehicles and in crash
repair and refurbishment of trucks small!
and it certainly achieves that.
The latest development is equally
already plans to include
vehicle, and staged a truly in
nternational event which took in its own 100th and unstinting support for its customers. It was the year Yutong scouted the UK for a and expertise of the ew facilities for coaches channel about the new coach Increasingly it began to receive good ones. They were being asked to largest such paint facilities in Europe. massive… Thorntons doesn’t do small!
N
series-produced vehicles
The decision to focus on the TC9 – suitable partner, and found Pelican. manufacturer – and
NCT launches Betty’s bus
are now available at parking. Appearing in it, commissions to crash repair buses and refurbish more and more buses and they Within the facility, Thorntons can carry It consists of a totally new separate
annive
erssary
y widely regarded now as a landmark Yutong wasn’t the first Chinese quality local aftersales Belmont park and ride Derek Hannah, a coach driver
with battery-electric drive
in its vehicle portfolio in its coaches and following privatisation of were running out of space at the existing out all aspects of bus refurbishment Once painted the bus passes to the building covering 15,000ft2 bringing the
midicoach design – was important, whether manufacturer to pitch for the UK market, support – have to compete, too. No site, on the outskirts of Durham. working for Klarners Coaches of main sales regions Europe, the bus industry it also started to pick-up premises. Expansion of that site wasn’t including crash repairs and rebuilding, and finishing area where the external vinyl total undercover space at the facility up
stunning Yutong GT12 touring touring Italy with the coach. He said the Looking back on the relationship with a reaction to demand or a conscious move as we all know, and the track record of operator would consciously weigh low The facility has 30 spaces for Colchester in Essex, said: “First Nottingham City Transport and then again between USA and Japan by 2022. By business from bus operators looking for feasible so the brothers took a huge 95% of the work involved is carried out graphics are applied and the interior to 45,000ft2. Again, built to the same
A coach took the title of 500th DAF MX11 and ZF EcoLife combination had Yutong, Pelican MD, Richard Crump, said: “I from the Castleford supplier. The fact is, the earlier imports must have been in the purchase price against an expectation of coaches; considerably more of all you can see it’s clean and (NCT) has named one of its 1991 and 1993. While the end of the next decade, vehicles to be refurbished or repainted. gamble and in 2002 secured a five-acre in-house. This includes complete stripping and exterior trimming is completed. proportions as the original building in
Pelican had no ‘footprint’ at all in the coach minds of buyers. Pelican and Yutong have breakdowns and downtime to reach a it has proposed to extend
vehicle supplied by Pelican at proven excellent for the journey. had no expectation of what would happen, compared to the eleven at the level, so that’s an asset to itself. new Scania bio-gas double- other towns and cities sold The Bedlington/Ashington area of brown-field site at Ashington. down of the exterior and interior, panel The only aspect of the bus terms of height, it can accommodate ten
its range of vehicles with
Scania is introducing a longer
an event well-attended not Alongside Welsh’s GT12 was another and I didn’t think they would improve market in 2012 when it launched. Now, it together proven that all Chinese vehicles positive purchase decision. site it has replaced in The Sands It’s safe, it’s secure. It’s not too deckers after Betty Higgins, off their bus companies, all but one vehicle is the Northumberland lies in the heart of On this the company developed a straightening or replacement, structure refurbishment that is not carried out full-sized buses and is used as the finishing
hydrogen-powered series
only by Chinese delegates from Yutong for Nova Tours – also a specialised tour the product so quickly. Other Chinese has supplied more than 450 TC9s to the UK, and vehicle suppliers are not the same, Yutong commands some respect these in the county town. The site is far away from Durham. When the first female Leader of Betty kept NCT in public Scania Irizar combination. We what was the former Northumberland purpose-designed bus refurbishment refurbishment and corrosion protection, in-house is the re-trimming of seats. shop. This is where all the final internal and
production vehicles.
version of the Irizar i6S
but by the Chinese and British press. operator. Its Managing Director, David manufacturers will come to the UK, I’m sure, and in just seven years, built a reputation and there are signs now that it is poised days, having worked hard with Pelican located on the A690, you’re driving long vehicles Nottingham City Council. ownership. Betty’s bio- approached Scania to see if Coalfield and was the centre of coal centre. This consisted of a huge main glazing refurbishment or replacement, This is carried out by a specialist external finishing, vinyl graphics, and fitting
The 53-seat coach is for Welsh’s Coaches Sherriff, told Bus and Coach Buyer that the but Yutong is ahead of the rest, and will for aftersales care that matches the product. to make further inroads into the full-sized to react swiftly to UK operator demands, approximately 300m east of like we have got now, you’ve Betty, who passed away gas bus will operate on they could build a 12.9m two- Puppy love mining for centuries. As the mining building – and it is huge both in terms of complete interior refurbishment including sub-contractor that Thorntons has of specialist equipment is completed. Thorntons still carry out crash repairs
of Pontefract, and will take its place in a coach is set for a life as a front-line coach stay ahead.” Pelican owes the TC9 a debt, in that sense. coach market and bus markets dominated whether on styling, seats, driveline or Junction 62 of the A1. It is about got plenty of space; you’re not earlier this year, was elected Yellow 68, 69 between City, axle Irizar coach with 53 seats Go-Ahead Group-owned industry went into decline, brown-field floor area and in height. The building can floors, trims, seat frames, handrails, worked with over many years. The new building also features a
My personal experience of the marque by European and Turkish products. electronics. The GT12 is a fine coach, and Bluestar is helping to train
fleet once famous for its all-Setra approach with the Chesterfield-based company, Richard told delegates on the trade visit ten minutes’ drive from the city. restricted. Overall, it’s a very as a City Councillor in 1971 Basford and Bulwell and vailable to order now, hot water drinks machine for added passenger comfort land became available for development easily accommodate three double-deckers ceilings, lighting. However, Thorntons’ specialities complete Government-standard bus
A
came in 2011, when I travelled on a Yutong Let’s be honest about a major reason when the GT13 shown in Brussels arrives a local guide dog puppy.
to quality. In moving to Yutong, John Welsh which also owns a hotel in Llandudno. that although, out of the 500 vehicles, only The park is free for coaches good system and it’s certainly and became the first female is one of 120 bio-gas buses based on Scania’s nine- mounted on top of the centre and are extremely pleased they The Southampton operator as local authorities sought to replace the on each of its production lines with plenty Refurbishment also extends to the don’t stop there. It is also highly skilled test lane. employer; it looks after its employees as
said he is making no compromises, and In terms of the numbers, Yutong’s TC9 five have been electric, he is expecting that coach in Cuba, of all places. On my return why Pelican can compete. Economies with with 57 seats on two axles, anyone with a and has been designed to provide better than what we had in Leader of Nottingham City introduced since 2017 by litre, 360hp chassis, it sunken toilet compartment. have been able to offer this employment being lost by the closure of of room to spare. In addition the facility cab areas and engine bays. Within its at chassis straightening of accident- Production capacity has increased well as it can. The working environments
is providing seven-month
believes the 12-metre GT12 has the quality midicoach has created by far the biggest the next 500 will be sold a lot quicker, and from holiday, I called another transport low labour costs can dominate an import spreadsheet would be foolish not to weigh better facilities for drivers. It Durham itself.” Council in 1983 until 1987 NCT. is now available in 12.9m The exterior finish will be option. We purchased our first old Peggy and her puppy the mines by bringing in new industries. contains three full-height, purpose-built facilities are specialist sections dealing damaged vehicles and has a special substantially with the commissioning of are constantly appraised for health and
other marques lacked, in the intervening section of Pelican’s parc but the event will include many more electrics. By next editor and said, in essence, Europe better market. But that is not to say they can do it up against the competition. currently has cleaning facilities, Adam Deathe, Durham overall length with 53 seats complemented by Alcoa Dura- Scania Irizar vehicles back in walker Jane Tabor free travel These days there is no underground coal paint spray and baking ovens which again with tube bending and powder coating. piece of equipment called a JOSAM Jig the new facility, and Thorntons is now safety at work, fitted with advanced
years after Setra’s departure from the UK. also celebrated Go North East’s order year, 32 will have been delivered, including but will also have chemical toilet BID manager, said: “The and a centre sunken toilet. Bright alloy wheels. 2014 and have consistently on its services to give the mining in Northumberland. can accommodate all sizes of double- Alongside basic refurbishment Thorntons on which this can be achieved. Other capable of refurbishing 500 vehicles a year dust extraction equipment and with
“This Yutong has not fallen far short of for nine Yutong E10 electric buses, again the nine for GNE. emptying provision (thought to investment in the new coach Standard specification The first vehicle built to the purchased them every year special pup a chance to The Thorntons were experiencing decker and even 18-metre-plus articulated can also carry out specialist work such as specialities include fitting additional on a single shift. staff break facilities. An impressive piece
get used to using buses.
Setra for finish, performance and back- with a ringing endorsement from Martijn It’s MD, Martijn Gilbert, said the electric be the only site for this between park at Belmont Park and includes Irizar i6S passenger longer length will arrive into since. I personally like the fact problems of their own, but they were buses. When installed, these were the conversions. A particular speciality is the equipment such as sound systems, wifi, Thorntons is a very responsible of equipment it has developed is a
up,” said John, who had just returned from Gilbert, the company’s MD, who told the fleet headed for GNE’s 53/54 routes will York and Edinburgh). Drivers Ride underlines yet further the seats with three-point the UK early January and has that Scania look after both Zombie bus substantial portable gantry structure which
assembled media that the choice was tackle local air quality. They have been are already able to travel on confidence multiple parties seatbelts, synthetic leather been purchased by Dudley- the body and chassis at their National Express West Range of can be used to ensure staff have a totally
purely on the merit of the bus and its part-funded by the green bus fund, which the park and ride bus for free, have in the city. Visiting coach head-pads and seat back based Dunwood Travel. local dealerships, ensuring I Midlands is to run a zombie vehicles awaiting safe environment in which to work when
whole-life cost, not on the capital cost. he said makes up much of the capital from 7am to 7pm, Monday to operators had long requested tables, Bosch Smart Series Director, Phil Westwood, get maximum utilisation and bus service this Halloween. refurbishment or they are working at height. Additionally,
Reaching the milestone has not come Saturday, and can use the park the provision of improved audio equipment, a DVD said: “We currently operate a efficiency from the vehicles at The Ghoulsville 666 service ready for delivery over each of the production lines there
via Hell and Back is free
without investment by Yutong, explained its and ride site’s toilet facilities. facilities for drivers and this player with two monitors and a 100% Scania fleet, of which all times.” is a fall arrest wire onto which the staff
to board and will operate
European General Manager, Jack Li: “It’s a It gives drivers more space development now means that working at height on the buses can attach
It’s time to talk to Dawsongroup | finance
every 30 minutes on the
Bristol bus boycott boosted
very demanding market,” he said. “We have to manoeuvre their vehicles Durham has facilities worthy evenings of Wednesday safety harnesses.
had to listen to every customer request and compared to the previous of our magnificent city. Making 30 October and Thursday I asked George Thornton whether he
adapt the product to optimise it. We now location. Coaches using the site the city more appealing to tour 31 October. Those brave had problems recruiting staff. He said that
have a dedicated line for our UK coaches.” are requested to drop people off operators will undoubtedly only Knowledge of the Bristol bus boycott has been boosted a job interview at state-owned Bristol Omnibus enough to board can offer it is a problem getting good staff which is
Free assessment, advice and assitance for any funding opportunity... contact us today.
a small donation which
He revealed that, not only does Yutong
have the 57-seat GT13 shown at Kortrijk
Call: 01425 474070 or info@dgfinance.co.uk Dawsongroup | finance and pick them up in Durham
city centre at the usual location.
lead to more people coming
to Durham, supporting the
by the Guardian. The newspaper posted a recorded
conversation with Bristol’s Mayor, Marvin Rees, about
Company because he was black. In response, a boycott
of the whole bus network was organised and after four
will go to CLIC Sargent, a
partly why it is so exercised with looking
after the staff it has: “Once we’ve got them
on its way to the UK, but a GT14 is being www.dawsongroupfinance.co.uk formerly LHE Finance Durham County Council has businesses and enjoying the why the boycott is not widely known. The 1963 protest months the company relented. The audio story can be
cancer charity for children
and young people. and got them trained to our standards
Martijn Gilbert: ‘Best electric bus’ planned. posted a video on its YouTube multifaceted offer.” took place after 18-year-old Guy Bailey was refused accessed here: https://bit.ly/2poohqj we do all we can to ensure we retain
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VEHICLE SALES
28 F EATUR E FE AT U RE 29
REFURBISHMENT
Flourishing at forty
removal of centre doors from London
specification ‘deckers, repanelling, glazing
and up-seating.
Showroom
This is all carried out in a flow line
principle with all the ‘dirty’ aspects taking
place at one end of the facility and then,
as the bus proceeds through the building,
North East specialist bus refurbishers Thorntons celebrates 40 years the various basic structural refurbishment
5x1 Plus all adverts feature on our vehicles for website -
in business this year, with no signs of the company slowing down. stages are completed until at the end of
the shop the bus is a complete structure
Bus and Coach Buyer visits to see the latest developments ready prepared for painting.
The bus then passes into the hands of
the specialist paint team; a bunch of highly
skilled guys who prime the structure, rub
classifieds.busandcoachbuyer.com
it down and then apply the final paint. It
ROB ORCHARD, CONTRIBUTOR can paint vehicles in a variety of colours as
required by today’s livery designers.
Thorntons is rightly very proud of
the paint finish it achieves. It use a
One off £74
hornton Buses is celebrating its specially formulated version of PPG
T 40th Anniversary and has
chosen to do it in style by
opening a major expansion of
paint which has been developed over
years to give long lasting, fade-free
finishes which retain its glossiness for Ex-London decker with centre door replaced and ready for paint
its facilities. many years despite the effects of road
3 Weeks £62 each
The Ashington, Northumberland, salting and bus washer chemicals.
company is probably Britain’s USB charging points, CCTV systems and
biggest bus refurbishment specialist. fire suppression systems. Much of this
Established in 1979 in Bedlington in is carried out by Thorntons’ own skilled
Northumberland by brothers George
The latest development staff with the remainder by specialist
The Thorntons management team (L to R): Simon Dinsley, General Manager; Jason Thornton, Production
and Keith Thornton, it then specialised is equally massive… sub-contractors. The aim is to be a
6 Weeks £45 each
Manager; George Thornton, Director; Keith Thornton, Director, Graeme Armstrong, Sales Manager and
in the design and construction of
specialist recovery vehicles and in crash
Wayne Thornton, Transport Manager Thorntons doesn’t do one-stop shop for bus refurbishment,
and it certainly achieves that.
repair and refurbishment of trucks small! The latest development is equally
Increasingly it began to receive good ones. They were being asked to largest such paint facilities in Europe. massive… Thorntons doesn’t do small!
commissions to crash repair buses and refurbish more and more buses and they Within the facility, Thorntons can carry It consists of a totally new separate
coaches and following privatisation of were running out of space at the existing out all aspects of bus refurbishment Once painted the bus passes to the building covering 15,000ft2 bringing the
the bus industry it also started to pick-up premises. Expansion of that site wasn’t including crash repairs and rebuilding, and finishing area where the external vinyl total undercover space at the facility up
business from bus operators looking for feasible so the brothers took a huge 95% of the work involved is carried out graphics are applied and the interior to 45,000ft2. Again, built to the same
vehicles to be refurbished or repainted. gamble and in 2002 secured a five-acre in-house. This includes complete stripping and exterior trimming is completed. proportions as the original building in
The Bedlington/Ashington area of brown-field site at Ashington. down of the exterior and interior, panel The only aspect of the bus terms of height, it can accommodate ten
Northumberland lies in the heart of On this the company developed a straightening or replacement, structure refurbishment that is not carried out full-sized buses and is used as the finishing
what was the former Northumberland purpose-designed bus refurbishment refurbishment and corrosion protection, in-house is the re-trimming of seats. shop. This is where all the final internal and
Coalfield and was the centre of coal centre. This consisted of a huge main glazing refurbishment or replacement, This is carried out by a specialist external finishing, vinyl graphics, and fitting
mining for centuries. As the mining building – and it is huge both in terms of complete interior refurbishment including sub-contractor that Thorntons has of specialist equipment is completed. Thorntons still carry out crash repairs
RECRUITMENT
industry went into decline, brown-field floor area and in height. The building can floors, trims, seat frames, handrails, worked with over many years. The new building also features a
land became available for development easily accommodate three double-deckers ceilings, lighting. However, Thorntons’ specialities complete Government-standard bus
as local authorities sought to replace the on each of its production lines with plenty Refurbishment also extends to the don’t stop there. It is also highly skilled test lane. employer; it looks after its employees as
employment being lost by the closure of of room to spare. In addition the facility cab areas and engine bays. Within its at chassis straightening of accident- Production capacity has increased well as it can. The working environments
the mines by bringing in new industries. contains three full-height, purpose-built facilities are specialist sections dealing damaged vehicles and has a special substantially with the commissioning of are constantly appraised for health and
These days there is no underground coal paint spray and baking ovens which again with tube bending and powder coating. piece of equipment called a JOSAM Jig the new facility, and Thorntons is now safety at work, fitted with advanced
mining in Northumberland. can accommodate all sizes of double- Alongside basic refurbishment Thorntons on which this can be achieved. Other capable of refurbishing 500 vehicles a year dust extraction equipment and with
The Thorntons were experiencing decker and even 18-metre-plus articulated can also carry out specialist work such as specialities include fitting additional on a single shift. staff break facilities. An impressive piece
problems of their own, but they were buses. When installed, these were the conversions. A particular speciality is the equipment such as sound systems, wifi, Thorntons is a very responsible of equipment it has developed is a
substantial portable gantry structure which
Range of can be used to ensure staff have a totally
vehicles awaiting safe environment in which to work when
refurbishment or they are working at height. Additionally,
ready for delivery over each of the production lines there
is a fall arrest wire onto which the staff
All jobs advertised within Bus & Coach Buyer will also be listed as
working at height on the buses can attach
safety harnesses.
I asked George Thornton whether he
had problems recruiting staff. He said that
it is a problem getting good staff which is
vacancies online
partly why it is so exercised with looking
after the staff it has: “Once we’ve got them
and got them trained to our standards
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE
we do all we can to ensure we retain
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