York bus firm sells vehicles to rival (From York Press)
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York Pullman sells vehicles to Veolia Transdev
8:57am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Business news
A YORK bus company has sold 17 of its buses for an undisclosed amount to a competitor which hopes to expand its business in the city.
Veolia Transdev has bought the local buses and the sightseeing operation from York Pullman, which will now focus on its coaching operation, private hire, university and schools contracts.
As part of the deal, which will come into play on February 25, 31 members of staff will transfer from York Pullman to work for Veolia Transdev. No job losses are expected.
Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Veolia Transdev, said: “This acquisition enables us to use the resources of Veolia Transdev to further develop our business in York at a time when the local council view bus services as a key part of their plan to Get York Moving. This is particularly relevant on the university route which we see as an important part of encouraging more people to travel by bus.”
Veolia Transdev will take over responsibility for routes including route 44 between the railway station and the University of York, route 35 out to Holme-on-Spalding Moor and certain evening and Sunday services such as the number 10 service to Upper Poppleton.
Timetables are expected to remain the same and the buses are likely to be repainted “in due course”, a spokesman for Veolia Transdev said.
Tom James, managing director of York Pullman, said: “We have worked very hard in developing our services and I am confident this success can be further enhanced by one of the leading bus industry operators. I can now concentrate all my energies on the further development our 50-vehicle contract and private hire business”
The Transdev operation already includes the Yorkshire Coastliner service, a series of local bus routes and the local Citysightseeing franchise.
The business entered the local York market in 2008 with the purchase of Top Line Travel from the Dew family and Veolia York.
Its York depot, currently employing around 60 staff and with 36 vehicles, has sufficient capacity to accomodate the further buses.
Late last year The Press reported how City of York Council was analysing York’s bus networks to improve services. The study should be completed by the end of March.
Comments(14)
ndevr
says...
11:05am Sat 4 Feb 12
rattydriver
says...
12:50pm Sat 4 Feb 12
pedalling paul
says...
1:58pm Sat 4 Feb 12
rattydriver wrote:I can remember a third one called Viking tours....?
There used to be one operator doing the sightseeing tour, then two and now back to one! Let's just hope there are no job losses
rattydriver
says...
2:23pm Sat 4 Feb 12
pedalling paul wrote:Before my time
rattydriver wrote:I can remember a third one called Viking tours....?
There used to be one operator doing the sightseeing tour, then two and now back to one! Let's just hope there are no job losses
PKH
says...
6:21pm Sat 4 Feb 12
ndevr wrote:It's about time there was a large enough operator in York to be able to give descent competition to First who have had it their own way for far too long
I can see a certain other bus company in York throwing a "babyish" tantrum about Veolia Transdev increasing presence in York.
Magicman!
says...
9:31pm Sat 4 Feb 12
rattydriver wrote:There used to be more than that...
pedalling paul wrote:Before my time
rattydriver wrote:I can remember a third one called Viking tours....?
There used to be one operator doing the sightseeing tour, then two and now back to one! Let's just hope there are no job losses
Guide Friday, LRT (Lothian), York Pullman, First, Viking... whilst not all of those operated at the same time, there was a period of 2-3 years where we had 4 different open top tour companies running Bristol VR's, Atlanteans, and Olympians around the city.
It's good to see Transdev (Veolia went out of buisness a while ago) expanding operations so as to give the monopoly bus company something to chew on - but it's a shame the university buses will lose their dignified York Pullman livery. the White Rose livery of Transdev is good all the same though (beats First's boring livery anyway)
TERRIER3
says...
10:11pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Col101
says...
11:01pm Sat 4 Feb 12
TERRIER3 wrote:And who do you work for, Terrier3?
transdev ( a french company ) and pullman operated services First gave up so i doubt they are that bothered, dont know why transdev are buying pullmans buses because some of them will soon be illegal because they are not low-floor, and i have heard rumours that the university are not happy about transdev doing the 44 service
pedalling paul
says...
11:09pm Sat 4 Feb 12
PKH wrote:Hands up anyone who knows what "descent" competition is...?
ndevr wrote:It's about time there was a large enough operator in York to be able to give descent competition to First who have had it their own way for far too long
I can see a certain other bus company in York throwing a "babyish" tantrum about Veolia Transdev increasing presence in York.
Whoreallycares
says...
11:50pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Magicman! wrote:From 1st April, Transdev cancelling Sunday services 112,113,124!
rattydriver wrote:There used to be more than that...
pedalling paul wrote:Before my time
rattydriver wrote:I can remember a third one called Viking tours....?
There used to be one operator doing the sightseeing tour, then two and now back to one! Let's just hope there are no job losses
Guide Friday, LRT (Lothian), York Pullman, First, Viking... whilst not all of those operated at the same time, there was a period of 2-3 years where we had 4 different open top tour companies running Bristol VR's, Atlanteans, and Olympians around the city.
It's good to see Transdev (Veolia went out of buisness a while ago) expanding operations so as to give the monopoly bus company something to chew on - but it's a shame the university buses will lose their dignified York Pullman livery. the White Rose livery of Transdev is good all the same though (beats First's boring livery anyway)
These are commercial Sunday services, and by co-incidence they have won four Moorbus services to start from, erm..... 1st April
And NO it's not an April fools joke!
How Odd!
pedalling paul
says...
2:11pm Sun 5 Feb 12
PKH
says...
3:16pm Sun 5 Feb 12
pedalling paul wrote:What I meant by decent is an operator big enough with enough financial clout to be able to give first 'a run for their money'
PKH wrote:Hands up anyone who knows what "descent" competition is...?
ndevr wrote:It's about time there was a large enough operator in York to be able to give descent competition to First who have had it their own way for far too long
I can see a certain other bus company in York throwing a "babyish" tantrum about Veolia Transdev increasing presence in York.
daveyboy25
says...
10:19pm Tue 7 Feb 12
ISeeEverything says...
10:05am Sat 4 Feb 12