News 2004

Children at the Queen's Medical Centre have helped to launch the hospital's Link 3 and NCT Link 37 buses.

They've been taking part in a competition to draw and colour a picture of the Link 3 park and ride bus - and the two runners up cut the ribbon on the bus at an official launch ceremony. (The winner, Bradley Lowe aged 10, wasn't able to attend.)

Second place went to Kate Murray, aged 4, and third place was Nathan Walters, age 7.

Operations Director, Diagnostics and Facilities Mike Dinsmore said: “We believe these services offer an excellent alternative to parking on site, where there are space limitations. They also make the journey to and from hospital easier for those using public transport. This is one of our key initiatives in improving the patient experience of the hospital as a whole.”

Photo showing Kate and Nathan cutting the ribbon with (left) QMC Chairman Ted Cantle, (right) Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council Cllr Mike Edwards and Nottingham City Transport Chairman Cllr Brian Parbutt .

The park and ride element of the Link 3 service allows people to leave their cars at the Queen's Drive park and ride site and be dropped off by the bus at one of various stops around the QMC site. The service is provided by the latest Optare Alero minibuses. These have  a low floor layout throughout the vehicle and can be readily used by those in wheelchairs.

The bus also provides a free shuttle around the site for people who arrive on public transport. In addition to the NCT and Trent buses that stop on Derby Road, the NCT Link 37 now stops inside the QMC main entrance where users can then connect with the Link 3 if they need another area of the hospital.

The Link 3 runs at 20 minute intervals, and NCT's Link 37 at 10 minute intervals during the day. NCT's Link 37 travels directly between the QMC and Victoria Centre, with stops at Angel Row and Canning Circus and along Derby Road.

Mike Dinsmore added: “People using the Link 3 bus so far have commented that the service is very good, but that not enough people know about it. We hope that displaying the children's work in waiting areas throughout the hospital will catch the eye of patients and visitors. There will also be plenty of information about the services available.”

The two services have been introduced thanks to partnership working between QMC, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Transport.

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Driving for NCT is a great job, with a starting salary rate when trained of £7.00 per hour, plus a £1 premium rate after 9pm and for Sunday working. The job involves meeting the general public, with no two days the same.

“We are looking for people who are pleasant and helpful, capable of working in a busy environment and able to display a strong customer focus,” said Mick Leafe

NCT‘s Human Resources Manager, “NCT are a good company to work for, providing a high quality professional training programme, free uniform, a good final salary pension scheme and free travel for drivers and their partners”.

NCT are looking for more drivers to drive all types of bus starting on the smallest midi buses, with opportunities to progress to the largest double deckers and bendy buses

and would like to talk to anyone who has a full driving licence and two years driving experience”.

Anyone who has always fancied driving a bus for a living should go along to Parliament Street to find out more about a career with NCT at this friendly and informal open day. For people unable to attend on Saturday but who are interested in becoming a bus driver contact 0115  9438927 for further details.

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Nottingham City Coaches win again - Best Small Coach Operator award
Nottingham City Coaches are delighted to announce that they were awarded with the prize for “Best Small Coach Operator” for 2004 for the second time running at the Group Travel awards on Friday 4th June which took place at the presentation gala evening at the London Hilton hotel. This is the first time ever that a coach operator has been chosen 2 years running, it highlights the respect and recognition that Nottingham City Coaches has earned in the trade.

Nottingham City Coaches were one of six finalists in the small coach operator category, Paul Harper Coaching Manager said “I am delighted that Nottingham City Coaches has received this recognition from our customers again, over recent years the whole team has worked extremely hard to build up a coach business with customer service which is second to none. It is fantastic that our customers also think this too.”

The awards, which are voted for by readers of Group Travel Organiser magazine have earned an enviable reputation as the most prestigious event serving the group travel market and reflect a highly valued endorsement from customers in this most important market sector.

The purpose of these awards is to identify excellence and best practice in the group travel market and to raise the profile of the industry.

Nottingham City Coaches are part Nottingham City Transport and operate as a separate trading division of the company. With over 30 years experience running coaches from the East Midlands and a mission statement of “striving for excellence” NCC really understand customers' varying needs.

Specialising in all aspects of travel arrangements, from national sporting events and conference transfers, school charters to evenings out, operation of the new Skylink service and of course UK and European tours of all descriptions, Nottingham City Coaches really is an operator with a difference.

NCT Gotham Manager Kevin Ward said “Nottingham City Coaches have always put the customer first and aim to combine the friendliness and personal attention of a small company with the back up, efficiency and experience of a large company. This philosophy has now paid off, with Nottingham City Coaches receiving recognition for excellence from their customers, we will continue to develop this approach and build upon it further in the future”.

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Wilford Hill - service 8 improvements
NCT will be altering the route of service 8 in the Wilford Hill area from Monday 7 June 2004, in direct response to feedback and comments from passengers.

Improved links from parts of Wilford Hill will be offered to Rushcliffe Leisure Centre, Central Avenue Shops and Nottingham City Centre, reducing walking distances to stops and overall journey times.

The revised route will now incorporate Walcote Drive, South Nottingham College and Greythorn Drive bottom.

Following a one-way loop, service 8 will now run from Greythorn Drive Top via Stanhome Square, Queensbury Avenue, right onto Walcote Drive (to South Nottingham College) then via Greythorn Drive to Loughborough Road and back to the City.

Dennis Harper, Trent Bridge Garage Manager commented, “I am pleased that NCT has been able to incorporate local residents' requests into the planning of our network, and I hope that people will make use of the new route for service 8”.

As part of this change, there will be revised times from all stops in the Wilford Hill area, particularly from Stanhome Square where buses will be slightly earlier than at present. An extra stop will be sited outside the Walcote Drive Community Centre.

From 6 June 2004, there is also a minor alteration to one morning journey on route 9C on Mondays to Saturdays, and the City-bound timing point in Bulwell Bus Station for services 60, 62 will move to Bulwell Market – although there are no changes to the timetable.