News Archive - February 2012

27 February 2012

NETWORK WARRINGTON LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR WARRINGTON'S BEST BUS DRIVER

BUS DRIVER X FACTOR

Network Warrington has launched a competition for customers to vote for their favourite driver.
David Squire, Managing Director explained, "We have some excellent staff, many just get on with their job on a daily basis with no fuss, but have an excellent rapport with their passengers. Each year we have a Staff Awards night, where we have a Driver of the Year. This year, to celebrate the company's 110th birthday, we are launching a competition for our customers to vote for their favourite driver".
All the customers who vote will be entered into a draw, with a top prize of 1 months free travel. The winning driver will be presented with a special peoples' choice award at our awards night in April. You don't need to know the drivers name, just tell us the details of the bus you were travelling on.
To vote, email us at vote@networkwarrington.co.uk or visit our website and fill in the online form. You can also vote on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/networkwarrington. Closing date for entries is 31 March 2012.

10 February 2012

NETWORK WARRINGTON LAUNCHES NEW
DRIVER-TRAINER BUS

Network Warrington's new driver trainer bus

Network Warrington has repainted its driver training bus into a revised version of its standard livery.
David Squire, Managing Director, explained "We are fortunate to possess a relatively youthful training bus in the shape of a low floor Dennis Dart that we re-bodied following an accident a few years ago. Previously, it had been painted in our standard livery and looked no different to one of our normal fleet. We felt we were missing out on promoting ourselves as a company, and more importantly, driving careers with us. We have repainted the bus in a more creamy livery to stand out and added recruitment messages on both sides and the rear. Although we are on top of our driver numbers and have a waiting list of applications, we are always on the look out for new staff with exceptional service skills".

3 February 2012

TOUCH & GO! LAUNCHES

The Launch of Touch & Go!

Network Warrington is delighted to launch it's new range of smartcards, called Touch & Go!
David Squire, Managing Director, commented, "We are pleased to be able to launch our new Touch & Go! smartcards, which will replace our current range of Saver Card tickets. The new plastic cards have an in built chip, meaning that on boarding the bus, customers just touch the target on the ticket machine, which instantly checks validity and then go to their seat. This new system will allow the Company to introduce new products, tailored to specific needs and we will also be introducing a web top up facility and direct debit payments in the coming months to make access to our tickets easier and more affordable".
And, in what the Company believes is a unique deal in the UK, we have teamed up with local radio station Wire FM, whose name and logo appears on the reverse of the cards promoting their commentary of local Rugby Super League side Warrington Wolves.
Mark Wheaton, Sales Director at UTV owned Wire FM, said "We are pleased that two winning brands in Warrington are teaming up for this unique partnership. Wire FM continues to enjoy its best ever audience figures, growing more than 50% in the last 12 months and we are proud to be local, teaming up with Network Warrington has allowed us to reach out to the 20,000 Touch&Go! customers across the area".
We are running a competition with Wire FM's Home Run show with a daily competition from next week and the grand final taking place at the Old Market Square on Saturday 18th February.
For more information, visit our special website at www.touchandgo.org.uk
Our photo shows Network Warrington Chair Maureen Banner, Network Warrington Managing Director David Squire and Wire FM Home Run Presenter Pete Pinnington launching Touch & Go!

3 February 2012

NEW FINANCE MANAGER APPOINTED

New Finance Manager John Burke

Network Warrington is pleased to announce the appointment of John Burke to the post of Finance Manager. John brings with him a wealth of experience having been a qualified accountant for 30 years and has a background in new IT installations - particularly with the Sage suite of programs that are currently being installed at Network Warrington.
Although John is originally from Leeds, he has lived in Warrington for 20 years and has 3 children.

 




20 February 2012

TOUCH & GO! COMPETITION WINNER

Winner David Hopley receiving his prize from Managing Director David Squire

Network Warrington launched its new range of smartcards, called Touch & Go! at a customer roadshow held in the Old Market Place at Golden Square on Saturday 18 February 2012.
Contestants gathered on the bus, following a series of 'Get Smart' competitions on Wire FM, they were each handed a card to see who had the green one by process of elimination which resulted in 4 finalists, who each won a months free travel. The finalists then took part in the grand final with the overall winner being David Hopley who won an iPad 2 and a years free travel with Network Warrington. The competition was broadcast live on Wire FM's daytime show with Pete Pinnington.
David Squire, Managing Director commented 'It was an excellent day, despite the weather, a lot of people turned out to see the competition and I was delighted to be able to present David with his prize, he donated the free travel to his son Anthony who is a keen bus spotter and apparently he wants my job!".
Touch & Go! is our new range of smart tickets, available from our Travel Centre at Warrington Interchange. For more information, visit our website www.touchandgo.org.uk
Our photo shows David Hopley (left) receiving his prize from MD David Squire (right).

6 February 2012

NETWORK WARRINGTON UPGRADES TRISCAN SYSTEM

Network Warrington has upgraded its Triscan Fuel monitoring system, as part of a general overhaul and modernisation of the Company's management information systems.
David Squire, Managing Director, commented "We had the previous Triscan system for a number of years and have now upgraded to the web based version. Also included is a module to automatically read odometer readings, all the data feeds directly into our management systems allowing faster completion of mileage returns for BSOG and tyre contracts, plus it gives us the ability to build up fleet, bus type and individual fleet number MPG profiles".

3 February 2012

MORNING PEAK CAPACITY IMPROVED ON LEIGH SERVICES

A new double decker bus in Warrington Interchange

Following customer feedback, Network Warrington has increased capacity on the morning peak departures from Leigh to Warrington.
David Squire, Managing Director, commented "We have had a lot of feedback from customers using the morning peak services from Leigh into Warrington, that buses were becoming full. We are delighted that from last month, we have been able to provide low-floor easy access double-decker buses on these services, having recently purchased two modern buses from a leasing company".
Our photo shows one of the two recently acquired buses for the Leigh service.