21 Transport expanding again, but not the way you think

[Ballyheigue]

21 Transport will be launching a new route from April 15th, it will run twice a day each way. They're proper expanding with this route I can tell ya, they're launching a coach service, yes you've read coach service, from Hull to Manchester Airport via Goole! It'll run 2 journey's a day from Hull at 1.45am and 12.45pm, and 2 journeys a day from Manchester Airport at 9am and 9pm. They seem to be targeting train passengers who are after a direct journey at those times.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Timings slightly different on the advert on their Facebook (I'm not on FB, so unable to provide a link)

 

[BusesOfTheNW]

What even is the story behind 21 transport? They seem to have routes all over the place: Harrogate, Malton, Whitby, Scunphorpe, previously Clitheroe. Seems very strange for what seems to be a small company to have such a wide operating area.

 

[markymark2000]

21 Transport will be launching a new route from April 15th, it will run twice a day each way. They're proper expanding with this route I can tell ya, they're launching a coach service, yes you've read coach service, from Hull to Manchester Airport via Goole! It'll run 2 journey's a day from Hull at 1.45am and 12.45pm, and 2 journeys a day from Manchester Airport at 9am and 9pm. They seem to be targeting train passengers who are after a direct journey at those times.

Has anyone seen this new service operating? Is it picking many people up?

 

[SCH117X]

What even is the story behind 21 transport? They seem to have routes all over the place: Harrogate, Malton, Whitby, Scunphorpe, previously Clitheroe. Seems very strange for what seems to be a small company to have such a wide operating area.

Tendered services incuding a number of school service not listed on Bustimes. Use farms etc as outstations. When the tracking works you can often find the vehicle that has been working the 8 between Harrogate Kanersborough and Wertherby tracking out of servce to Wetherby Services (fuel?) then heading north on the A168 parallel to the A1(M) to a farm just north of the A59

 

[stevieinselby]

They seem to have had 3 or 4 different "head office" locations in the Selby and Goole area since they set up shop, and have had several outstations as well although most of them have now gone.
Head office is currently just outside Snaith (10 vehicles) with just the one outstation near Knaresborough (6 vehicles).
They also run school buses broadly around Selby (4), Harrogate (6) and Ryedale (1), which are not registered as local bus services, but I presume those vehicles still count towards the O-licence? If so, that looks as though they are right on the limit with 16 buses needed in daily service and 16 vehicles allowed, although 7 used in the Knaresborough/Harrogate area but only 6 at that outstation.

I can also see that the registration for the 8 and 190 expired a few weeks ago on 12 April. The 190 is not tracking most days, and the 8 hasn't tracked for a few days either.

While I don't expect the same sort of corporate professionalism from a small outfit like this as you get from the big boys, it does all seem slightly questionable...

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

They seem to have had 3 or 4 different "head office" locations in the Selby and Goole area since they set up shop, and have had several outstations as well although most of them have now gone.
Head office is currently just outside Snaith (10 vehicles) with just the one outstation near Knaresborough (6 vehicles).
They also run school buses broadly around Selby (4), Harrogate (6) and Ryedale (1), which are not registered as local bus services, but I presume those vehicles still count towards the O-licence? If so, that looks as though they are right on the limit with 16 buses needed in daily service and 16 vehicles allowed, although 7 used in the Knaresborough/Harrogate area but only 6 at that outstation.

I can also see that the registration for the 8 and 190 expired a few weeks ago on 12 April. The 190 is not tracking most days, and the 8 hasn't tracked for a few days either.

While I don't expect the same sort of corporate professionalism from a small outfit like this as you get from the big boys, it does all seem slightly questionable...

Looking at the timings it seems that the bus off the 8 in the Harrogate area also operates one of the school services and that the Ryedale area one is worked by the bus from the 190.
However the PVR still works out at 16; North Yorkshire County Council list 13 vehicles worth of work (including the two mentioned above). There are also two vehicles in Lincolnshire (one on the 60 (Scunthorpe to Whitton) and another working both the 260 (Barton to Immingham) and Barton school service 254S)). Plus the coach on the Manchester Airport run.

 

[John HG1]

A friend rang them to check times of service 8 in Harrogate. They were answered with the question "where do you want to go?", the operator clearly expecting a taxi-related call.
The website seems to be mainly about "transportation" solution. The detail of the airport service has a picture featuring a giant smiling driver!

 

[stevieinselby]

Looking at the timings it seems that the bus off the 8 in the Harrogate area also operates one of the school services and that the Ryedale area one is worked by the bus from the 190.
However the PVR still works out at 16; North Yorkshire County Council list 13 vehicles worth of work (including the two mentioned above). There are also two vehicles in Lincolnshire (one on the 60 (Scunthorpe to Whitton) and another working both the 260 (Barton to Immingham) and Barton school service 254S)). Plus the coach on the Manchester Airport run.

Ah, fair point, I'm not used to school buses being operated by Solos and Stratas, but I guess there will be some routes where vehicles that small are appropriate!

A friend rang them to check times of service 8 in Harrogate. They were answered with the question "where do you want to go?", the operator clearly expecting a taxi-related call.
The website seems to be mainly about "transportation" solution. The detail of the airport service has a picture featuring a giant smiling driver!

It's a strange setup. The taxi and private hire side of the business has a website and Facebook page that doesn't even acknowledge the bus side of the business (although the pictures on the FB page are almost entirely AI or Photoshop, which wouldn't give me a whole lot of confidence about booking them), and the buses have absolutely no branding on them at all, being either plain white or Diamond blue with their logos removed.

 

[SCH117X]

Looking at the timings it seems that the bus off the 8 in the Harrogate area also operates one of the school services

It does, when the tracking worked it was not unusual to find the first 8 showing as starting out of the farm, doing the school run then the 8.

 

[CN12 AWU]

3 days I been in Hull Interchange people asking council staff at 1:15pm but no sign of a vehicle for the afternoon one at 12:45 hull truck and when phone the company they ask do you want a taxi apparently

 

[trainfan888]

I emailed the company and they said they have some new 2026 reg vehicles on order. These will replace the Optare Solos and the Scania Omnicity Double Decker YT59 SFV which are leased from Dawson group. There is a new ADL Enviro 200 MMC tracking on bus times already, YX26 KKR doing their 260 route. They have their main depot in Snaith and some outstations which store their Mellor Stratas and Mercedes Turas vehicles.

 

[stevieinselby]

Interesting – it isn't as though their old buses were that old or in need of replacing – I wonder if they will make any effort to put their name on these ones or if they'll continue running incognito!

 

[trainfan888]

Here's an update to those who are curious. I visited Snaith today so I decided to pay their depot a visit. In the photo you can see in the distance some coaches they use for school contracts and private hire. Reg numbers include coaches such as PK13 GDA or PO61 KAJ (both SORN), RHZ 5661, SN10 JKE and L66 SGB. I believe FJ59 AOV - one of their Caetano Levantes - was out doing a private hire trip or potentially even the new airport shuttle, but I would have chosen a Mercedes Noone Turas option of YN18 CRF. In the distance on one of the other photos focusing on the gate you can just about see an old white minibus in front of IIL 9167 and a white coach behind that. Now, this is also where they keep their taxis for their '21 Cars' brand. I couldn't see much movement but I did see a grey Mercedes Sprinter Wheelchair Accessible minibus which may potentially have been doing the afternoon Airport Shuttle Service from Hull, but I didn't see another bus return. They share the premises with HGV vehicles as well which is probably the most action you'll get. If anyone knows any reg numbers or any more information about this company please reply to this message.