Centrebus name to be used more widely

[northwichcat]

Bus route 27 Knutsford-Macclesfield which is operated by Bowers now sees buses painted in green Cheshire East Council livery with the name 'Centrebus' on the side of the bus instead of Bowers.

Yesterday I saw a red Optare Solo on Bowers route with the Bowers branding removed and a plain red (not newly painted) coating.

All companies operated by Centrebus use Centrebus' Twitter page for Twitter updates.

Could names like 'Bowers', 'Huddersfield Bus Company' and 'K-Line' be phased out soon?

 

[317 forever]

When Huddersfield Bus Company expanded into Halifax then Leeds last year they adopted the parent CentreBus name for these operations. I understand that even some Huddersfield Bus vehicles are being repainted into CentreBus corporate livery despite keeping the local trading name.

 

[Deerfold]

Most of the ones running round Halifax show Centrebus despite officially being Huddersfield Bus company.

It's quite odd actually as HBC/K-line are part of Centrebus Holdings which is *not* legally connected with Centrebus other than sharing some directors.

 

[northwichcat]

Most of the ones running round Halifax show Centrebus despite officially being Huddersfield Bus company.

It's quite odd actually as HBC/K-line are part of Centrebus Holdings which is *not* legally connected with Centrebus other than sharing some directors.

Centrebus Holdings is 60% owned by Centrebus Ltd. I don't know why they don't just use the name 'Huddersfield Bus Company' and then operate K-Line as a trading subsidary of Huddersfield Bus Company.

 

[Deerfold]

Centrebus Holdings is 60% owned by Centrebus Ltd. I don't know why they don't just use the name 'Huddersfield Bus Company' and then operate K-Line as a trading subsidary of Huddersfield Bus Company.

Apologies - that's changed.

 

[northwichcat]

A orange and blue Centrebus branded bus appeared in Knutsford last night running service 27 Knutsford-Macclesfield.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A orange and blue Centrebus branded bus appeared in Knutsford last night running service 27 Knutsford-Macclesfield.

If the 108 service, operated by Clowes Coaches, on the Macclesfield to Ashbourne route, got ANY sort of a repaint, it would not come a moment too soon
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
What year did Bowers become part of Centrebus?

 

[martinsh]

What year did Bowers become part of Centrebus?

2007 - when they started using the blue and orange livery

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

2007 - when they started using the blue and orange livery

Thanks for your answer. My wife and I often use the 58 Macclesfield to Buxton for the scenic attraction, but we have always had Bowers buses on the route in their standard red livery.

 

[northwichcat]

Thanks for your answer. My wife and I often use the 58 Macclesfield to Buxton for the scenic attraction, but we have always had Bowers buses on the route in their standard red livery.

I agree that the blue and orange livery hasn't taken over from the Bowers red one, despite being the person that mentioned a Centrebus livered vehicle appearing on the Knutsford-Macclesfield route. The one I mentioned isn't a new bus, hasn't recently been repainted and looks like it's come up from Leicestershire but whether it's just to cover for a shortage of vehicles or will stay on a permanent basis isn't something I know.

One thing I find interesting is the buses that were painted in the blue Cheshire County Council livery have been repainted in a green Cheshire East Council livery and the two usually used on the Macclesfield-Knutsford route say 'Cheshire Connect operated by Centrebus' but the rest say 'Cheshire Connect operated by Bowers.' I suggested they might be looking at phasing out the Bowers name but maybe their intention is actually to set up Centrebus Cheshire and put the 27 and 300 routes within that.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Have Centrebus issued any statement about total corporate rebranding or will it vary from area to area?

 

[tbone]

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/new_high_peak_bus_company_following_merger_1_3392526

Trent Barton's Dove Holes garage and the Bowers operation are to be merged under the "High Peak" brand name.

 

[Deerfold]

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/new_high_peak_bus_company_following_merger_1_3392526

Trent Barton's Dove Holes garage and the Bowers operation are to be merged under the "High Peak" brand name.

Not clear who owns that, is it? Any ideas?

 

[tbtc]

Not clear who owns that, is it? Any ideas?

Don't know, but maybe this thread will be changed to "Centrebus name to be used less widely"?

Interesting development that, all depends on whether Trent are buying Centrebus/ a new independant company is being set up/ Centrebus are buying Trent.

The High Peak operation is a long way from the core East-Midland operations, but then I thought that the purchase of TM Travel was partly to maintain Trent's hold on Buxton-area services. Time till tell...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Trent Barton seem very difficult to get on the telephone these days?

Is there something they are not telling us?

 

[tbtc]

I've seen on another forum that the legal address for High Peak Buses Limited being at102 Cannock Street in Leicester, suggesting it'll have at least as much Centrebus involvement as TrentBarton, possibly all Centrebus (so TB handing all their operation over)?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I've seen on another forum that the legal address for High Peak Buses Limited being at102 Cannock Street in Leicester, suggesting it'll have at least as much Centrebus involvement as TrentBarton, possibly all Centrebus (so TB handing all their operation over)?

Who, then, actually owns T M Travel now?

 

[trentside]

Who, then, actually owns T M Travel now?

Wellglade - who also own TrentBarton, Notts & Derby and Kinchbus.

 

[tbone]

Wellglade - who also own TrentBarton, Notts & Derby and Kinchbus.

And also Midland General, which incorporates Derby Community transport and Bargain Bus

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Thank you both, tbone and trentside.

Another one for you. Have Eurobus joined in agreement with a bus firm based somewhere just north of Manchester?

 

[317 forever]

Thank you both, tbone and trentside.

Another one for you. Have Eurobus joined in agreement with a bus firm based somewhere just north of Manchester?

I have seen on a North West bus forum that Eurobus are a sister bus company to JPT.

Back to High Peak, and this will represent a merger of two operators with similar red liveries. As Bowers is a bit disjointed from other CentreBus operations, I remember being surprised it had been taken over by CentreBus rather than Wellglade.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I've seen on another forum that the legal address for High Peak Buses Limited being at102 Cannock Street in Leicester, suggesting it'll have at least as much Centrebus involvement as TrentBarton, possibly all Centrebus (so TB handing all their operation over)?

There are now less and less independant operators. Do you think that the move to consolidation will increase in pace over the next few years with overheads reduction being put forward as a main reason for this to happen.

With regards geographical areas, this may not be an important factor when asset gathering is carried out by new groups. TRANSDEV are a good example of this.

Matters at present bear a similarity to amalgamations and takeovers of the small independant railway companies in the 1840 to 1880 period.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its very expensive for a bus company to expand organically into a new area, its a lot cheaper and simpler often to buy an established local independent.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/new_high_peak_bus_company_following_merger_1_3392526

Trent Barton's Dove Holes garage and the Bowers operation are to be merged under the "High Peak" brand name.

It looks operations under this new name will commence sometime later this year, but the future of the "Trans Peak" service is somewhat unclear at the present time.

Can anyone give clarification on either matter?

 

[tbone]

New transit has confirmed that it will be a 50:50 venture on Bower's licence, operating out of Trent's depot

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I have been notified that the "TRANS PEAK" is operated by drivers from the Derby depot so there may not be a great deal of change with that particular route.

 

[trentside]

I always though that Transpeak was operated by Dove Holes? A number of morning journeys start from Dove Holes depot, as well as a few evening journeys terminating there. I believe Derby drivers may work some runs - and possibly the Derby to Nottingham section.

The Transpeak brand seems to have been neglected of late. I know a few of the coaches have been transferred on and one was lost in a fire recently. The result means the Optare Excels are operating the full route from Nottingham to Manchester - far from ideal. Let's hope improvements are forthcoming under the High Peak company!

 

[vectra33]

Thank you both, tbone and trentside.

Another one for you. Have Eurobus joined in agreement with a bus firm based somewhere just north of Manchester?

jpt owned eurobus

In january eurobus bought out Ellenbrook travel(worsley North Manchester)

Dave

 

[tbone]

I always though that Transpeak was operated by Dove Holes? A number of morning journeys start from Dove Holes depot, as well as a few evening journeys terminating there. I believe Derby drivers may work some runs - and possibly the Derby to Nottingham section.

The Transpeak brand seems to have been neglected of late. I know a few of the coaches have been transferred on and one was lost in a fire recently. The result means the Optare Excels are operating the full route from Nottingham to Manchester - far from ideal. Let's hope improvements are forthcoming under the High Peak company!

Transpeak is operated from both Derby and Dove Holes. This caused a problem leading to a public enquiry as a wheel on on of the transpeak coaches was changed. Company protocol states that the evening after a wheel change, the bolts must be checked, however this bus finished the day at Dove Holes, where the bolts wheren't checked, leading to the wheel falling off

Transpeak is to be included with the deal. It too doesn't really fit into the Trent Barton network and has ben neglected recently, with its far more suitable coaches beeing given to TM travel in the case of 59 or put on Red Arrow in the case of 62

 

[Deerfold]

Transpeak is to be included with the deal. It too doesn't really fit into the Trent Barton network and has ben neglected recently, with its far more suitable coaches beeing given to TM travel in the case of 59 or put on Red Arrow in the case of 62

I suspect the main reason it doesn't fit is its low frequency. Many years ago I used to regularly get a zig-zag ticket and make my way slowly from Nottingham through the peak district and up to Stockport or Manchester, stopping off at various points along the way. However with gaps of 3 hours between services and considerably shorter running hours I can see that being less attractive. The 0720 from Manchester used to make going for a long night out in Manchester feasible so long as you had few plans for the next day. Unfortunately it's a vicious circle - the TP frequency reduces, become less useful, more people rely on cars and few pax catch the bus...