Crossville

[TheGrandWazoo]

Right, well that’s confusing! So when did the original Crosville cease trading please?

Tricky.... but here goes.

Crosville was an NBC firm, split in half in 1986 to form Crosville and Crosville Wales.

Crosville was sold to some cowboys and was broken up, disappearing in 1990; however, operations at Chester, Rock Ferry and Ellesmere Port were sold to PMT and retained the Crosville name until the late 1990s.

Crosville Wales remained largely intact and remained as part of British Bus Group. On the purchase of B.B. and the introduction of the Arriva identity, it became Arriva Cymru. It was later merged back with some other Arriva ops in the North West, but then demerged to become Arriva Cymru again.

That’s the express version!!

With the name no longer in use, it was resurrected for use in Weston super Mare

 

[Busaholic]

Tricky.... but here goes.

Crosville was an NBC firm, split in half in 1986 to form Crosville and Crosville Wales.

Crosville was sold to some cowboys and was broken up, disappearing in 1990; however, operations at Chester, Rock Ferry and Ellesmere Port were sold to PMT and retained the Crosville name until the late 1990s.

Crosville Wales remained largely intact and remained as part of British Bus Group. On the purchase of B.B. and the introduction of the Arriva identity, it became Arriva Cymru. It was later merged back with some other Arriva ops in the North West, but then demerged to become Arriva Cymru again.

That’s the express version!!

With the name no longer in use, it was resurrected for use in Weston super Mare

I'm not going to attempt to add much to that succinct summary, except to express my incredulity that Crosville was split by the National Bus Company for ideological reasons, as having it owned by one company at privatisation was regarded as anti-competitive. Then they allow the one company (Drawlane) to buy them both!

 

[overthewater]

I'm not going to attempt to add much to that succinct summary, except to express my incredulity that Crosville was split by the National Bus Company for ideological reasons, as having it owned by one company at privatisation was regarded as anti-competitive. Then they allow the one company (Drawlane) to buy them both!

That was nothing new, there split up the scottish bus group and what happened? Kelvin, central, Eastern, Lowland and midland all went to First.... along with Glasgow copry.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm not going to attempt to add much to that succinct summary, except to express my incredulity that Crosville was split by the National Bus Company for ideological reasons, as having it owned by one company at privatisation was regarded as anti-competitive. Then they allow the one company (Drawlane) to buy them both!

Except that the two halves were largely separated because the Wirral and Chester ops weren’t sold to Drawlane.

Of course, Arriva subsequently purchased MTL and filled that gap!

 

[Condor7]

Tricky.... but here goes.

Crosville was an NBC firm, split in half in 1986 to form Crosville and Crosville Wales.

Crosville was sold to some cowboys and was broken up, disappearing in 1990; however, operations at Chester, Rock Ferry and Ellesmere Port were sold to PMT and retained the Crosville name until the late 1990s.

Crosville Wales remained largely intact and remained as part of British Bus Group. On the purchase of B.B. and the introduction of the Arriva identity, it became Arriva Cymru. It was later merged back with some other Arriva ops in the North West, but then demerged to become Arriva Cymru again.

That’s the express version!!

With the name no longer in use, it was resurrected for use in Weston super Mare

Thanks very much for that

 

[185]

The last bus with Crosville (orig) actually on the side was at Chester, many years after it became First Chester & Wirral. Was conveniently forgotten about. Was a Pointer

 

[ChrisPJ]

Licence REVOKED w.e.f. 25 April see Route One website article. Some funny business with garage staff being pressured to say brake test equipment bust and send a bus out.

 

[BestWestern]

From what I can see its just Crosville MS that is closing down due to diminishing passenger numbers and presumably revenue (The Somerset area has suffered with cuts with council reductions in subsidy plus concessionary pass revenue reductions). Good to see they have given the statuary requirements and not just pulled out at short notice. Southern National is a separate concern and with Hinkley Point contracts should not be affected. I assume the preserved vehicles are owned by another company and sub leased in to ensure their continued preservation.

Or, alternatively, a badly run cowboy outfit who were about to run out of luck with the TC after a series of worrying maintenance issues.

 

[enrag2000]

From the report in Route One, it is clear that the Traffic Commissioner is aware of the connection with Somerset Passenger Services and it may be that there will be a separate investigation and hearing into that company in due course.

 

[daikilo]

It is so sad to see the founders Crosville name disappear for the second time when they could have become so huge if left to be independent in the 1950 period. They served me well.

 

[carlberry]

It is so sad to see the founders Crosville name disappear for the second time when they could have become so huge if left to be independent in the 1950 period. They served me well.

At the time they were huge however vast areas were unprofitable even in the 1950s so, as an independent, they'd have retreated to Merseyside and the coast a whole lot faster than they eventually did. Its hard to see how they wouldn't have become part of one of the big groups, with the name disappearing, one way or another.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

At the time they were huge however vast areas were unprofitable even in the 1950s so, as an independent, they'd have retreated to Merseyside and the coast a whole lot faster than they eventually did. Its hard to see how they wouldn't have become part of one of the big groups, with the name disappearing, one way or another.

Not withstanding that they had long since ceased being an independent, being bought by LMS (rail group) in the 1920s then TBAT/Tilling and then being a wholly owned part of Tilling Group by WW2.

Also, there were some natural and commercial barriers to their expansion, with Ribble MS, Midland Red, Western Welsh plus all the municipalities and, as you say, the poor quality of some territory.

In the two tomes written by Mr Crosland-Taylor, even he admits that they expanded into places that they should not have (e.g. mid Wales) and the firm was losing millions in the late 70s/early 80s.

 

[carlberry]

Has anybody heard any more about the 'Heritage running day' that was stated as happening on the last day? (Next Saturday).