Busways Travel Services

Busways Travel Services Limited was a large bus operator in the 1990s in the north east of England. In July 1995 Busways was acquired by Stagecoach Group.

Company history

PTE divestment

Busways began trading in 1986 under the ownership of the Tyne and Wear PTA to take over the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive's bus operations as per the requirements of the 1986 Transport Act regarding deregulation of bus services.

Employee ownership

In 1989 Busways was sold to the employees and management as an Employee Share Ownership Plan company, with the management owning 51% of shares and employees owning 49%. During this time fleet names carried the strap line "An employee owned company".

In late 1993 Busways management considered an offer from the employee board members to buy out some of the management shares using one of the employee share trusts. With he fast paced development of the industry this was not thought to be in the long term best interests of the company.

By March 1994 it was considering options of geographic expansion, merging or acquiring other companies, and selling to a national group. The company had become concerned at its proximity to the recently floated Go-Ahead Group, and the fact that United to the south, and Northumbria to the north, were also possible targets for the larger groups. It believed that independently it would struggle to defend the company against expansion by these neighbours in the future.

The Busways board came to the conclusion that a merger with one of the larger groups was the only viable option.

tagecoach Ownership

Stagecoach acquired Busways in July 1994. This takeover had to be accepted by around 1700 employee shareholders, 99% of which accepted. Stagecoach was the preferred and recommended bidder out of two national groups.

Busways was relatively unique amongst new Stagecoach subsidiaries in that it was able to keep its liveries for a few years after takeover, as dictated in the terms of the takeover, rather than wholesale adoption of the corporate striped identity. Busways livery persisted until a late as 1998 [ [http://john668.fotopic.net/p27212624.html Fotopic] site detailing last Busways livery] . During this period fleet names carried the new strap line 'Part of the Stagecoach Group' [ [http://john668.fotopic.net/p36624248.html Fotopic Image] showing the "Part of the Stagecoach Group" strap line] . On eventual adoption of the striped scheme, the Busways, Blue Bus Service and Economic names survived in the red Stagecoach strap lines [ [http://petersbusandcoachphotos.fotopic.net/p39916513.html Fotopic Image] of the Economic Stagecoach strap line] . Busways was eventually dropped with the emergence of the second generation Stagecoach livery.

Darlington Controversy

In January 1994 employee owned Busways had been considering expanding in the Darlington area, although by March this study was suspended while other possible futures were being considered. In the months following the Stagecoach takeover, the Busways subsidiary was a key player in the Darlington Bus War.

tagecoach North East

The Busways Travel Services name now only exists as a legal entity of the Stagecoach North East bus division as shown by the legal lettering on Newcastle based buses. Buses are liveried as "Stagecoach in Newcastle/Sunderland/South Shields". The Busways travel shops in Newcastle have since been closed. Byker Bus depot has been demolished [ [http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3014651 Property Week] article about Byker regeneration] and replaced by a brand new facility at Walkergate [ [http://www.cspencerltd.co.uk/ddc/building/project_sheets/bus_depot_byker.php Architects Page] for the new Walkergate bus depot (incorrectly named Byker)] .

Fleet history

Busways inherited a large fleet of panoramic windowed Leyland Atlanteans and Daimler Fleetlines from the PTE, although these had been substantially renewed in 1986 with 65 Alexander RH-bodied Leyland Olympians [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551714.html Fotopic Image] of a PTE liveried Olympian] . Busways also inherited several Bristol LH single-deckers from the PTE, many of which were scrapped or converted to driver trainers. Some examples survived into 1994, used in the main fleet, Blue Bus Services and Favourite Services, and the type was added to in this time with many second hand examples. In PTE ownership the company acquired several 1987 Mercedes 709D minibuses, and 1989 Leyland Lynxes.

In 1989 and 1991, employee owned Busways standardised on the Scania N113 chassis, on Northern Counties and Alexander RH double-deck bodies, and Alexander PS single-deck bodies. The double deck fleet was also added to with purchases of some Northern Counties-bodied 1987 Leyland Olympians new to London Buses' Bexley Bus operation. In 1992 Busways moved into the midibus market, purchasing Alexander Dash-bodied Dennis Darts, although 1993 batches were augmented with Plaxton-bodied examples.

Dart purchases continued into the Stagecoach ownership. In 1994 some second hand Bristol REs were acquired for the Blue Bus Services and Economic fleets, all of which were withdrawn by 1998. The double-deck fleet was again augmented with 40 Alexander-RL bodied Volvo Olympians in late 1995/early 1996.

Identities

Busways

The majority of bus services were under the Busways fleet name, with an appropriate pre-name: Newcastle (Slatyford), City (Byker), South Shields and Sunderland. The livery adopted was based on the old PTE scheme, with orange in pace of the yellow, and the blue/black detailing removed. A coloured skirt, midline band and the fleet names were coloured according to the division: Brown for City and Newcastle, blue for South Shields and green for Sunderland. [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718642.html Fotopic Image] of Sunderland Busways livery] [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718644.html Fotopic Image] of South Shields Busways livery] [ [http://album4103.fotopic.net/p459551.html Fotopic Image] of City Busways livery] [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551715.html Fotopic Image] of Newcastle Busways livery]

Blue Bus Services

Blue Bus Services wore dark blue and white liveries, with yellow fleet names. [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551731.html Fotopic Image] of Blue Bus Services livery] Other buses wore a lighter blue colour scheme [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718670.html Fotopic Image] of Blue Bus Services lighter blue livery] .

Favourite

Favourite buses wore a white upper, dark orange midline and a brown skirt, with brown fleet names [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718660.html Fotopic Image] of Favourite livery] .

Economic

Economic wore a dark red and white livery with gold "ECONOMIC" fleet names [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718659.html Fotopic Image] of ECONOMIC livery] , for use on routes between South Shields and Sunderland, a route which had been formerly operated by an historical operator of the same name which had been absorbed into the PTE in the 1970s. An Atlantean had been previously decorated in Economic livery by the PTE to mark the 60th anniversary of this company [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551718.html Fotopic Image] of an ECONOMIC liveried 1985 anniversary bus]

Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company

Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company was an independent operator purchased by Go-Ahead Group, then immediately sold to Busways for £2m on 17 November 1989. Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company wore a livery of a white upper, dark blue lowers, with a green and maroon double stripe, and yellow fleet names [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551761.html Fotopic Image] of Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company livery on a Mercedes minibus] [ [http://album4103.fotopic.net/p459550.html Fotopic Image] of Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company livery on an Iveco minibus] . The identity was short-lived, and used only on minibuses. It disappeared in the withdrawal of these vehicles, with services transferred to Busways and Blue Bus.

Welcome Passenger Services

Welcome was an independent minibus based competitor in Newcastle using red and yellow vehicles [ [http://album4103.fotopic.net/p459552.html Fotopic Image] of a Welcome minibus (behind a 100 shuttle)] . The company was bought by Busways in August 1993 and run as a subsidiary until the company was made dormant on 31st October.

Innovations

FareSaver

Busways introduced a travel card for just its routes, in competition with the previous PTE network wide travel cards. The FareSaver was heavily marketed with branded buses [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551748.html Fotopic Image] of a FareSaver branded Atlantean] [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551730.html Fotopic Image] of a FareSaver branded Olympian] [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718650.html Fotopic Image] of a FareSaver branded single-deck bus] .

100 MetroCentre Shuttle

Since the creation of Busways coincided with the opening of the MetroCentre shopping mall in Gateshead, this saw the creation and subsequent continuous operation of one of the few south of the river Tyne services of the Newcastle division, the 100 MetroCentre Shuttle.

100 Shuttle was operated in a dedicated livery of the newest delivered single deck vehicles [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551717.html Fotopic image] of a 100 livery] [ [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/p33718654.html Fotopic image] of a 100 livery] . The livery has undergone several iterations, and now exists as a rather subdued route-branded version of the standard Stagecoach livery, albeit still operated by unique new Enviro300 single-deckers.

Low cost units

In deregulated operation, the Blue Bus Services and Favourite Services units were operated as low cost operations, in order to win the now tendered PTE supported services, and to operate on low margin commercial routes in the Busways area.

Magic Bus

In 1997, Busways was chosen by Stagecoach as the first location for trials of the Magic Bus concept in a currently owned operator's area. This was a new take on the low cost concept, but run on the company's existing high volume corridors, rather than on tendered or low margin routes. Routes were numbered as per the main services, but with an 'M' suffix, e.g. 12M, 39M.

The purpose of the operation was to compete with emerging smaller competitors, and provide a low-fare alternative to the main services, thereby increasing ridership by offering cheaper travel options. PTE and travel passes were not valid on Magic Buses, but Busways travel passes were.

Magic Bus vehicles as a consequence tended to be the older vehicles in the fleet, and were more prone to breakdowns as a result. Coincidentally, many of the first Olympians bought by the PTE and inherited by Busways, were re-deployed by Stagecoach onto Magic Bus routes in Glasgow.

Quality Corridors

Busways introduced a quality service concept using the 'Blue Riband' brand name, which appeared on buses a timetable leaflets. This saw a blue riband applied to certain vehicles on these quality corridors [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551758.html Fotopic Image] of a blue riband liveried bus] ]

Environmentally friendly buses

Busways trialled early versions of technology for cleaner, quieter buses, promoted by specially liveried 'Green Machine' buses. These included a Scania N113 [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551695.html Fotopic Image] of the Scania Green Machine] and a Leyland Lynx [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551751.html Fotopic Image] of the Lynx Green Machine] .

Armstrong Galley Coaches

Busways had also purchased the coach firm Armstrong Galley coaches, which wore a bright livery of a blue base, and yellow, orange and red stripes [ [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26580982.html Fotopic Image] of Armstrong Galley coaches livery] . Armstrong Galley ran a flagship service to London competing with National Express. This was branded as the "Clipper" [ [http://www.transportimages.com/gallery/v/buses/ukprevious/Armstrong-Galley/amstronggalley.jpg.html Image] of a Clipper coach] and used the striking 3 axle double deck coach, the MCW Metroliner.

Busways in preservation

Several Busways vehicles exist in preservation, as listed below.

* 499 RCU 499S [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/p26551715.html]
* 838 RCU 838S [http://petersbusandcoachphotos.fotopic.net/p40680321.html]
* 210 EJR 110W [http://petersbusandcoachphotos.fotopic.net/p39939771.html]
* 268 SCN 268S [http://petersbusandcoachphotos.fotopic.net/p39940199.html]
* 111 EJR 111W [http://www.freewebs.com/ejr111w/index.htm]

111 is garaged in the Slatyford depot and can often be seen being worked on on Sundays.

ee also

* Stagecoach North East
* Tyne and Wear PTE

References

External links

* [http://www.mmc.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/371c10.pdf MMC report - detailing the history of Busways]
* [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ Bus Company purchasing records web site]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/ejr111w/index.htm Busways Atlantean 111 Restoration Group]
* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/robsly/busways.html Bristol Commercial Vehicle Enthusiasts - Busways LH and RE fleet list]
* [http://www.boogle.freeserve.co.uk/busways.htm A website detailing Busways South Shields operations]
* [http://ian-hignett.fotopic.net/c151249.html Fotopic site with Busways images]
* [http://john668.fotopic.net/c899511.html Fotopic site with Busways images]
* [http://passengertransportexecutives.fotopic.net/c173908.html Fotopic site with Busways images]
* [http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/c1074901.html Fotopic site with Busways images]
* [http://petersbusandcoachphotos.fotopic.net/c1244745.html Fotopic site with Busways images]