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14 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The Champion • Wednesday 17 April 2013Hybrid buses offer a fine ride but just don’t have soulI TOOK half a day off this week – well kind of.I went one of those trips which my fellowcolumnist David Simister would have calledworking while enjoying every minute of it.I was sampling the latest in hybrid technologyin buses. For some time I have been tempted tohave a ride on one of the hybrid midi–buses tobe seen these days on the circular routesaround my home town of Maghull.I never have – partly because I have anin–built aversion to riding anywhere inMaghull instead of walking. It might be takenas a sign I was getting old – it might even be thecause of it if I took it up. But partly because Ihave never really accepted these ‘little buses’as being quite pukka – if you see what I mean.Arriva have introduced a fleet of hybriddouble–deckers onto its cross–river routes inLiverpool. So I ventured forth – and took thebus into town rather than the train.I was lucky with that – the bus I got toLiverpool was one of Arriva’s latest full–sizediesel single deckers. Anyway, so it was that Istood at the stop in St Thomas Street andwithin a couple of minutes a shiny new hybrid‘decker going to West Kirby turned up.The first thing you noticed was the total lackof engine noise as you boarded, and the almosteerie ‘sound’ – if that’s the word – of just avery subdued electric whine as it pulled away.Mind you, the small(ish) engine cut in almostimmediately, but with no shudders, and apartfrom an almost imperceptible drop in speedjust at that moment no fuss either.The problem for me thought was that whilethe engine was running it sounded much likeany old diesel bus to me, with the engine doingquite a bit of the work, though admittedly moreeconomically.It was bus stops that rather spoiled the wholething for me though. Without knowingprecisely how a large (12 tonne) hybrid works Ican only presume that depending on the stateof the battery at any given time, the engineeither keeps on ticking over at a stop, or shutsdown altogether.When it did there was a considerable ‘clunk’,rather like someone throwing a very largecircuit breaker – which I suppose it was, really.The bus itself though was quite impressive,with good lighting and heating and ‘real’leather seats. Very swish. Only trouble withthose sets was though that leather though theycertainly were, they also had very thin squabsso that after a 50 minute or so journey I wasactually quite pleased to stand up again andrelieve my backside.I got the electric train back to Liverpool – andon to Maghull. And though Merseyrail trainshave a sound repertoire of their own, at leastthey are quite obviously linked to compressorsetc cutting in and out or the train controller‘notching up’.One thing I never quite got used to on my busride into the future were the odd clicks andwhirrings that punctuated the ride.I was mightily impressed with the big hybrid. Icouldn’t fault its performance (though it hadlittle chance to show any real pace on the openroad).But I’m afraid that, as a bus enthusiast for aslong as I can remember, this vehicle somehowlacked ‘soul’.And I still wonder about any hybrid’s ‘green’credentials given the manufacture of thebatteries – and their eventual disposal.Surgein organdonor ratewelcomedby hospitalReport by David Raven1118259TRUST members at a Liverpool hospital havewelcomed news of a surge in organ donorsuccess rates over the last five years.The Governors and Foundation Trust (FT)members at Aintree University Hospital haveplayed a key role in supporting organdonation, helping to sign up hundreds of newpotential donors.The NHS Blood and Transplant Serviceannounced this week that the number ofpeople donating organs after death has risen50% since 2008.More than 1,200 people in the UK donatedtheir organs in the last year, leading to about3,100 transplantsFT members and Governors at Aintree havebeen key to the work of the hospital’s organdonation committee.They have chaired the hospital’s organdonation committee and have joined specialistteams to run awareness events, as well as usingnewsletters to gain more members for theNational Organ Donor Register.The results have seen hundreds of extra staff,patients and visitors joining the NationalOrgan Donor Register.Pam Peel, a former FT Governor who nowchairs the committee, said: “It’s great thatwe’re seeing so many successful organdonations. But this will only continue if webuild up the numbers of people on the organdonor register.“It’s so simple to join, and now it only takesyou a few minutes. Make sure that you tell yourwishes to your loved ones – and if you have anyquestions then the national helpline cananswer them all.“We’re sure that the news about this increasein successful organ transplants will attractthousands of more donors to the register.Organ and tissue donation can be done byanyone of any age.“The gift of life – and quality of life – is thefinest gift which you can give. If you’ve beenthinking about it, then make that step today. Itonly takes a minute, but the benefits will lastsomeone a lifetime.”To join the Organ Donor Register today thencall 0300 123 23 23, text SAVE to 62323 or visitwww.organdonation.nhs.ukGot an interesting story to tell?Champ Newsdesk 01704 392400