Richard Lomas - Funeral Details

Richard Lomas 1941 - 2012

FUNERAL DETAILS
Wednesday 6th June 2.45pm
Derby Markeaton Crematorium, Markeaton Lane, Off Ashbourne Road, Derby DE22 4NH
Family flowers only. Donations please see below.
Kath would like to know in advance numbers of those attending the funeral and those attending the Wake (which will be held some miles away from Derby - details given upon request). Please use one of the four methods on the CONTACT PAGE to pass on this information no later than 4 June.
DONATIONS gratefully accepted on the day or cheques / postal orders made payable to KATH LOMAS may be sent to:
Focus Transport, 130 Little Barn Lane, Mansfield NG18 3JT
Donations will be split between Derby Royal Hospital Intensive Care Unit and Pancreatitis Research Fund.
TRIBUTES: Thank you to those who have sent in tributes and condolences. These, and any others received, will be passed on to Kath.

London

Ken Jones has sent us the following pictures from a visit to London that he made last week

First Issues Profit Warning

First Group's bus business in the UK continues to suffer as operating profits fell 9.7pc. The company warned that revenue growth in 2012/13 will not fill the gap created by a withdrawal of Government funding and "deterioration of economic conditions particularly in Scotland and the north of England".

Fuel costs during the year to March 31 increased £31.8m compared with 2011.
As a result, Mr O'Toole said he plans to "repositioning our UK bus portfolio through a programme of business and asset disposals" and focus on the stongest performing areas.
The company will invest £27m in new ticketing technology, eventually offering "touch in, touch out" contactless payment using bank cards. The equipment also has the capability to accept payment by mobile phone.
However, the company is looking forward to the London 2012 Olympics, where it will be "the main provider of spectator transport". It is providing buses for shuttle services at Games venues and Park & Ride services from sites around the edge of London to the Olympic Park.
In its UK rail business - which includes FIrst Capital Connect and First Great Western - like-for-like passenger growth was 8.4pc.
Last December saw the first 12-carriage services operate on First Capital Connect's Thameslink route. FirstGroup also agreed a £28.9m deal with the Department for Transport for 48 new carriages to be added to its High Speed Train fleet, providing an extra 4,500 seats for customers on peak services into and out of London.
However, the group has warned the sector is in a "period of transition". It revealed it was the only operator to pre-qualify for all four of the rail franchises being re-let by the Government so far - InterCity West Coast, Great Western, Thameslink and Essex Thameside.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9284342/FirstGroup-sees-profits-double-but-plans-to-sell-UK-bus-assets.html

Emirates Air Line will provide much needed new river crossing for east London
New transport link key part of Mayor’s regeneration plans to create
jobs and growth

The construction of London’s newest transport link has reached another
milestone as all 34 cabins of the Emirates Air Line took off for
their inaugural load testing flight. This extensive testing programme
is part of a series of rigorous safety trials and follows last month’s
completion of the Emirates Air Line’s three towers with cabling
extended across the river. The cabins will travel across 1.1km of
cable, gliding 90m above the Thames with weights representing the
maximum number of passengers before the Emirates Air Line opens for
passenger service in summer 2012.

The innovative Emirates Air Line is
a key plank of the Mayor’s plans to revitalise east London and create
jobs for Londoners and attract investment into the capital. It will be
a much needed new river crossing with the capacity to carry up to
2,500 people per hour in each direction – the equivalent of 30 buses
per hour. The Mayor has secured £36m from Emirates to fund the
connection which will create a direct link between the O2 and ExCeL,
and an additional interchange between the Jubilee line and Docklands
Light Railway. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “The speed
with which we have gone from designs to safety testing of the Emirates
Air Line is a clear demonstration of London’s ability to deliver world
class projects and attract major investment. This new transport link
is set to support my plans to transform east London into a vibrant new
metropolitan quarter boasting new jobs, homes and enterprise.
“Londoners can now see this fabulous new feature of our city’s skyline
being put through its paces before they can get on board themselves to
breathe in the stunning views it will afford.”When the Emirates Air
Line opens passengers will have spectacular views of the city
including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, Thames Barrier and the
Olympic Park. It will also be possible to see as far as Wembley
Stadium Arch, 15 miles away. Laurie Berryman, Vice President UK at
Emirates said: “This test flight is a significant milestone in the
development of this new transport system, and brings us closer to
being able to fly passengers across the Thames between the two
terminals at Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks.
This innovative form of air travel is an interesting addition to our
extensive flight network, allowing us to connect with even more people
in London and from across the world.”Design, Build and Operating
contractor Mace is working closely with cable car specialist
Doppelmayr to carry out the testing. Matt Randall, Project Director
for Mace, said: “The testing and commissioning of all 34 cabins over
the Thames will see the system really put through its paces over the
coming days. The cabins have travelled smoothly on their early
journeys and we are making excellent progress on the wider
construction with both Terminals and landscaping nearing
completion.”The Emirates Air Line will provide the first additional
river crossing in a proposed package of measures. Following a
consultation at the beginning of the year, TfL is developing proposals
for further river crossings; a tunnel at Silvertown and a new ferry
crossing at Gallions Reach.

Providing a direct connection between the Greenwich Peninsula and
Royal Victoria Docks, Emirates Air Line will cut journey times and
link the O2 Arena with the ExCeL – Europe’s two biggest entertainment
venues. ·
Both areas surrounding the Emirates Air Line have been earmarked for a
number of regeneration projects with the Royal Victoria Docks selected
as one of the new Local Enterprise Zones. The Emirates Air Line will
play a key role in supporting these regeneration projects by providing
a quicker and more direct link. It will also give local communities on
both sides of the Emirates Air Line access to a range of
entertainment, job and leisure opportunities that are set to become
available as regeneration kicks up its pace. ·
The South Tower, at the largest of the three, is made up of
approximately 6,500 steel pieces measuring between 30-50mm long and
weighing around 570 tonnes.

See also the following link from the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18080615

TW

United Bristol LS Returns to the Road

1958 Bristol LS6G single decker coach 304 GHN has returned to the road after a 10 year restoration, partly financed by Heritage Lottery funding. The vehicle was painted last week at the Arriva depot in Newcastle upon Tyne and yesterday was driven out for all to see.
It will make its first public appearance at the Aycliffe & District bus Preservation Society's Rally at the National Railway Museum at Shildon on Sunday 29th July or maybe before that date at one of the other north east events.

See http://aycliffebus.org.uk/ for details of other vehicles owned


David Gambles

Finished at Last

A rare vehicle has taken to the road today, following a full restoration taking over nine years. See this Focus Transport Blog tomorrow, for pictures and details of the remarkable return to glory.

David Gambles

Pre 1960 Vehicles Won't Require MOT

Classic and historic vehicles are to be exempted from the annual MoT test, the Government has announced.
From November 18 this year, owners of vehicles manufactured before 1960 will not have to have to take them in for an MoT, Roads Minister Mike Penning said.
Pre-1960 licensed vehicles make up about 0.6% of the total number of licensed vehicles in Britain, but are involved in just 0.03% of road casualties and accidents.
Mr Penning said: "We are committed to cutting out red tape which costs motorists money without providing significant overall benefits.
"Owners of classic cars and motorbikes tend to be enthusiasts who maintain their vehicles well - they don't need to be told to look after them, they're out there in all weathers checking the condition of the engine, tyres and bodywork."
He added: "Owners of classic vehicles will still be legally required to ensure that they are safe and in a proper condition to be on the road, but scrapping the MoT test for these vehicles will save motorists money."
The decision follows a campaign by the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group, led by East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight, its chairman.
Mr Knight said: "I am delighted by this announcement. Accidents involving historic vehicles are extremely rare and the majority of owners are meticulous in keeping their vehicles in good condition. Having to have an annual MoT test for a vehicle which may only travel a few hundred miles in a year was costly and absurd."
AA president Edmund King said: "Cutting the red tape of an MoT requirement for classic pre-1960 cars is a victory for common sense."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/pre1960-vehicles-to-be-exempted-from-mot-7770428.html

UK’s first Government-standard commercial mobile contactless ticketing trial

Stagecoach Group and the UK’s biggest communications company, Everything Everywhere (T mobile & Orange), today announced plans to transform the way consumers use tickets to travel on public transport.

The two companies have unveiled the UK’s first Government-standard commercial deployment of mobile contactless transport ticketing, which could lead to a nationwide roll out across select bus and rail services in 2013.

The trial, already underway on the Stagecoach bus network in Cambridgeshire, enables a small cross section of bus users to receive, store and validate their bus tickets using their mobile phone. Everything Everywhere is providing each customer in the trial with a Quick Tap enabled mobile handset on its Orange mobile brand. Quick Tap is the umbrella name used for Orange’s NFC (Near-Field Communications) services, and the handsets used will feature the technology as well as a specially designed app, making them compatible with the local bus network’s smartcard readers. This will allow users to travel on Stagecoach buses across Cambridgeshire including the Cambridge Park & Ride and Guided Busway services.  

The trial uses the Department of Transport’s preferred ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) smart ticketing technology, and will monitor the levels of customer convenience the Quick Tap service provides, as well as for operational and technical efficiencies. The trial also contributes to the Government’s vision to deliver, along with transport operators and public sector bodies, the infrastructure to enable most public transport journeys to be undertaken using smart ticketing by December 2014.

http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2012/2012-05-25-contactless-mobile-ticketing.aspx

THE CATHEDRALS EXPLORER

Today Friday 25/05/2012, Princess Elizabeth 6201, hauled the Cathedrals Explorer, The train journey commenced at Hellifield with destinations of London Victoria & Stains. Tony & myself photographed it passing through the Derbyshire countryside north of Barrowhill. It must of been using smokeless fuel as it passed through the valley on a wonderful sunny day.

Richard Lomas

 Richard Lomas

I'm sorry to inform everyone that Richard Lomas passed away peacefully this morning (25 May) at 4.20am at Derby Royal Hospital.
Richard set up this Focus Transport Blog just over a year ago and also ran his popular Richard's Tram Blog as well as Travels With a Bus Pass Blog.
Just over six months ago he was admitted to hospital suffering from Pancreatitis and had only recently been discharged. Although weak from his illness he showed great enthusiasm to return to contributing to this website and we were all pleased to see that he was 'on board' again.
During the past two weeks further health complications occurred so he was re-admitted to hospital but sadly had no reserves left to combat the new illnesses.
We have sent our condolences to Kath, his wife and their family and will inform everyone of the funeral arrangements in due course.
More details on our main Focus transport site http://www.focustransport.org.uk/default.aspx

David Gambles

Stagecoach "Green Week" in Chesterfield

Posters have been on all our Stagecoach in Chesterfield buses advertising Green Week and the chance to win free travel for up to a year with Stagecoach. Today an Optare Solo was parked in Chesterfield market place to promote the event. Staff were on hand to offer advise and to give out free Eco kits.

greenerbybus Click Here

Guests travelling to Queen's Diamond Jubilee event were ironically stranded on the Tube Jubilee line 

Story:- Click Here

New Platforms Open at Blackfriars

Two new platforms have been opened at Blackfriars Station as redevelopment work nears completion.

The new platforms will enable 700 extra trains to use the station each week.

Trains will also be able to arrive and depart later at night and on weekends. For three years the local section of the route has been closed every night and almost every weekend for work.

But Network Rail cautioned there was still plenty more work to do at the station.

Senior programme manager for Blackfriars, Paul Byrne, said: "Our work to rebuild Blackfriars is approaching completion.

"We've still got a plenty of work to do before the Blackfriars upgrade is completed, but more areas of the new station are opening month-by-month, train services are improving, and passengers are seeing the benefits."

The £5.5bn Thameslink upgrade means that trains running from Bedford and Brighton will have 12 carriages instead of 8 and will eventually run to a more frequent timetable.

Network Rail has rebuilt Blackfriars station on top of a Victorian rail bridge, creating the only station in London to span the River Thames.

The new station roof, built on top of the bridge, is being fitted with 4,400 solar panels to create London's largest solar array.

In February Blackfriars London Underground station was re-opened after being closed for nearly three years.

Improvements to the Tube station include increased capacity, a bigger ticket hall, refurbished platforms and step-free access.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18129779

Green Bus Funding for Tyne & Wear Bus Company?

When the list of successful applicants was published for the third round of Green Bus Funding, an allocation of £436,000 was shown for the Tyne & Wear Bus Company for 5 single-deck hybrid electric buses.

 click to enlarge

At the time nothing was known about this company, who weren't currently running any services in the Tyne & Wear area. It now transpires that the company never a had a licence and could therefore not run any vehicles in service. How the Green Bus Fund was allowed to let this one slip under the radar is a mystery, as you would expect that an award of £436,000 should go with some security checks.
According to the latest Notices & Proceedings for the north east traffic area, a licence has now been granted to this company, with the proviso that bank statements are to be submitted to the traffic commissioners office. Presumably if the owner of the company can find the remainder of the money to purchase the five hybrid vehicles in question this company must have some plans to register routes on which the buses can be used?

We wonder whether any promises have been made to the potential new operator, as to whether some of the routes up for tender in the Tyne & Wear area would be allocated to them.
The whole matter seems to bring some questions as to whether the Green Bus Funding should be allocated to just anyone who can put a good case together. We would have expected that these awards could only be given to current operators with a valid O licence and who had a track record with established routes. It also brings up the question of who actually owns the buses that have been partly or fully financed by Green Bus funding. If the operator gets into financial difficulties, can the DfT lay claim to the vehicles or could they just be sold off by administrators?
Have promises been made to this company regarding guaranteed work for five buses?
We will report on this situation as it develops.
David Gambles

Worker Death at Grosmont

A rail worker has died after becoming trapped between two trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The man died at Grosmont Station on the heritage line at about 12:30 BST yesterday, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
Officers from BTP and North Yorkshire Police attended the incident, which is not believed to be suspicious.
BTP said an investigation had started and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch had been informed. All services are currently suspended.
In a statement BTP said: "Paramedics attended, but the man, who is believed to be in his sixties, was pronounced dead at the scene.
"An investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man's death."
Services suspended The railway is a popular tourist attraction staffed by volunteers, which runs steam trains through National Park moorland on an 18-mile (29km) route from Grosmont to Pickering.
As well as carrying tourists, the line has appeared in a number of films and television programmes, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the ITV series Heartbeat.
A statement on the railway's website said: "All services are currently suspended due to a serious incident at Grosmont.
"The North Yorkshire Moors Railway apologises for any inconvenience caused."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-18150355
http://www.nymr.co.uk/