About Stagecoach South East

Key facts May 2018 – April 2019  

• 42.6 million passenger journeys 
• 18.1 million miles operated 
• 1,261 employees 
• 471 buses 
• 97.1% of all services operated

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Our passengers

We carried over 42.6 million passengers during the year.

We received a total of 4,432 passenger complaints about our services which equates to one complaint per 9,612 passengers.

We comply with our industry code of practice, and every complaint is investigated and action taken to avoid repetition of the problem.

Our staff

We are a major local employer with 992 drivers, 172 engineers and cleaners, and 97 support staff, supervisors and managers all based locally. 

Our drivers complete an ongoing programme to achieve their driver Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC).

Our engineers are all skilled workers and we currently employ 9 apprentices to provide skills for the future.

Our supervisors and managers have all completed relevant training courses for their various professions.

Our services

We operated over 18.1 million miles during the year. Our key measure of performance is the reliability and punctuality of our services.

In the past year we operated 97.1% of our scheduled services. We monitor our services for punctuality and 80.8% of our services operated within 5 minutes of their scheduled time, traffic congestion being the main reason for delay.

We continue to seek improvements both through rescheduling services and in discussions with our local highway authorities.

Our fares

In July we increased the price of some fares, but froze the price of all tickets on the Stagecoach Bus App. 

To encourage more travel in the evenings we reduced the prize of our eveningrider    ticket on the app by 40% and extended the validity from 6pm instead of 7pm. 

Our fleet

We operate a fleet of 471 buses and have a programme of investment that replaces older vehicles each year - our entire fleet is DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant.

New buses are introduced to our busiest routes, ensuring the highest possible number of customers benefit from these modern, comfortable and environmentally friendly vehicles.

All of our vehicles are inspected by our engineers every 4 weeks, to ensure safety and comfort. Every vehicle is cleaned daily.

Our environment

We used over 4.46 million litres of diesel during the year. We are working to improve fuel consumption through technical measures, and all our drivers have completed a Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving course. 

All of our fleet (except biofuel buses) runs on low sulphur diesel. Vehicle engines must meet increasingly higher Euro standards of exhaust emissions - 15% of our buses contain Euro 6 specification engines. 

We recycle most of our waste, such as litter, used oils, filters, batteries, parts, etc. We also recycle the water we use to wash our vehicles every night.

We have a company Green Team with members representing different job roles from all of our seven depots. The team has been given special training and looks at each depots energy, recycling and sustainability performance and suggests areas for further improvement.

All of our buses are equipped with an eco-driving system called Green Road. The system gives drivers an indication of how they are driving via a green, amber and red warning device which reduces fuel consumption by encouraging better driving practices.

Our community

We play a big part in the local community and we enable thousands of people to go about their everyday activities.

We have Quality Bus Partnership schemes set up in the majority of the main urban areas in the region, where we work together with our partners, in particular local authorities, to improve local bus services.

We support a number of community groups and good causes. In September, Stagecoach celebrated its 25^th anniversary since it took over the East Kent Road Car Company in 1993. To mark the occasion, we had the opportunity to sponsor the county’s leading youth league for the 2018-19 season, providing a match ball for each of the 199 teams across the county.

 In November, Stagecoach covered one of its double decker buses in a poppy wrap to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice of service men and women through the generations. As part of the RBL's official launch of the Poppy Appeal in Kent, veterans and members gathered at the Bus Station in Canterbury where they welcomed Kent’s first Poppy Bus.

 In December, Santa (aka local bus driver Brian Newton) journeyed around Eastbourne on our special Santa Bus spreading Christmas cheer on routes 1/1A, 1X, 3 and The Loop. The fundraising driver handed out sweets to youngsters and all donations went to our now annual Christmas fundraising campaign for local charity ‘You Raise Me Up’. A total of £931.22 was raised during the one week period the service ran.

Our achievements

Transport Focus Survey 

In autumn 2018, more than 9 in 10 customers across Kent gave the thumbs up to the company’s services with a 91% overall journey satisfaction rating according to independent research by consumer watchdog Transport Focus. The watchdog also recorded 81% satisfaction rating with the punctuality of our buses and 86% with the bus driver greeting/welcome. 87% of passengers were also satisfied with on-bus journey times.

Bus Driver of the Year

In August, local family man Graham Hall was crowned one of the UK’s top ten bus drivers. The father of five was one of 91 drivers who battled for the ultimate accolade for passenger transport professionals; to be named Bus Driver of the Year at the national finals in Blackpool. Graham, from Hastings depot, received a trophy and a cash prize after being placed 5^th overall in the national contest. He was also the third highest rated Stagecoach driver in the UK.