90-vehicle Newport Bus, Wales, has a “new” managing director. His official task? To modernise the undertaking.
After a hiccup with a static “coming soon” landing page, the revised Newport Bus website is now live. It follows Yellow Buses’ lead with a local journey planner
The last time Newport Transport used the word “Modernise” it was in the context of a massive fleet renewal that by the mid-1970s saw no bus older than 10 years. It swept aside a legacy of rear loaders, some with bodywork from an arcane builder. Incoming were the regular crop of Atlanteans preceded by a handful of ‘open-market’ Bristol RESLs. Most surprisingly, though, were more than 40 Metro Scanias. Newport amassed Britain’s largest fleet of these sometimes irritable single decks. Three years later, there followed 10 Scania Metropolitan double decks. After a gap, Scanias again make up the bulk of the fleet, though today’s models are somewhat more dependable. Some controversy surrounded the 18-month late arrival of six new MAN/Wrightbus Meridians.
These days, the term “modernise” has a far different connotation to that in 1970s Newport. To modernise goes way beyond bringing something up-to-date. It means to revolutionise. It’s often a substitute for a hatchet-job. Since joining Newport Bus in January 2010 as delivery director, the new MD has from April 2010 modernised Newport Bus’ branding & livery, introducing a somewhat esoteric logo, but also introduced a series of cost-cutting measures. No matter the industry, this is a near universal synonym for “modernising”.
Wales’s regional assembly has recently published a suite of information on its bus services. In south east Wales, Newport Bus came lowest among those who were “very satisfied”. A case for modernisation?
This is Newport Bus’ third MD in as many years. Trevor Roberts left in June 2009 for a similar position at Blackpool Transport, where modernisation has resulted in cuts and a change of focus away from the Metro Coastlines sub-brands to an overall fleet livery. Upon appointment, Roberts inherited an atrophied, static network and a considerable honeypot of oldies devastatingly wielding their free passes. Not a comfortable position. Within six months, there followed the equally uncomfortable national spotlight owing to the suspension of two overweight drivers, thanks to a risk assessment that revealed, not for the first time in England, that cab seats might not withstand larger employees.Roberts was replaced at Newport Bus by then delivery director Chris Blyth who resigned in December 2010 under what officially remains a mystery.
9 comments:
It says everything that the diagram of customer satisfaction shows that the best score is achieved by Veolia - a company which this blog and its readers seems to regard as a mismanaged shambles!
I suppose satisfaction depends on expectation; expectation often depends on what has gone before.
Surrounding life conditions may also influence expectations. Even Veolia would tick the boxes for a Delhi passenger.
Veolia's stats seem to have the smallest sample size, and therefore much more likely to be swayed by just a few results.
Newport Transport has spent significant time, effort and money on rebranding over the past two years, whilst allowing the quality of service to drop.
For example, Trevor Roberts introduced the Newport-Cardiff express X30 service using three route branded, air-conditioned OmniCitys. Under the subsequent and "new" MDs, this branding has disappeared and the route now sees any available OmniCity used on it.
The recent Welsh Assembly Government survey shows how poor things have got, if they can be rated by passengers below Veolia!
The "new" MD is already off to a bad start - the operator has yet to advise passengers what service level it will offer tomorrow! :-o
The big problem with Newport Transport is the four Councillors appointed to the Board by the Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition. They seem focused on image rather than quality of service. They've also taken the "easy" option by appointing the new MD from within, rather than advertising externally.
Local Government elections are due next year, after which a new Board will hopefully re-focus the company on its most important aspect - customers!
A likely candidate for purchase by Mr Souter then ?
Newport seems good bus territory and as a regular visitor there a few years ago, it always seemed quite well run and reliable. The locals seem to value it too. Why has it got worse of late ?
It always was a bit heavily unionised I think...bit stuck in a rut perhaps ?
Newport Transport barely makes a profit. It's web site is full of errors as well
It is almost entirely dependendant on concessionary passes. It also has an antiquated network of very short routes
Website errors ? Surely it has only just been revamped and updated ?
How would you improve the network ?
Not made a very good job of it then when it is full of glaring errors.
http://www.newportbus.co.uk/work
Usinhg the link above it goes on bout the 36 running every 10 minutes & the 9 every 20 minutes. Both are wrong
Go through the web site and there are dozens of other errors
Try not to pay much attention to what Paul Harley writes - ex Newport Transport driver with rather biased views. Also partly responsible for getting Newport train station transfered to Arriva Trains Wales. What a disaster that has been!
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