GHA / Vale Travel why two different names?

[northwichcat]

Why do some bus routes get operated by Vale Travel and others by GHA, despite them being the same company? I'd understand if there was a recent takeover and some routes were kept under a Vale Travel brand. However, new routes they acquire get split between the brands - for instance route 88 Knutsford-Wilmslow-Altrincham is Vale Travel and route 289 Northwich-Knutsford-Altrincham is GHA. The 88 route can see both Vale Travel and GHA branded buses on it.

 

[starrymarkb]

There are a few like that.

Wilts & Dorset/Bluestar/Damory (ie the Bluestar 6 is run by W&D in Bluestar Colours)
Trent Barton/Kinchbus/Notts&Derby/Midland General/TM Travel

 

[northwichcat]

I've noticed on the GHA Facebook page, someone asked a question about a Vale Travel service and GHA responded saying they don't know as it's nothing to do with them!

The route in question was 88, where one of the 3 buses used in the morning peak is quite often used on GHA services later in the day.

 

[Schnellzug]

With a few of the less, shall we say, formal operators in some parts of Scotland, where this sort of thing seems to occur rather a lot, it can be because one company has had its licence cut back, so the owners will start up another company, or just paint a different name on the buses, so they can get round it, and similar scams- er, intiatives. Obviously, this wouldn't be the case with any of the comapnies mentioned here, of coruse.
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There are a few like that.

Wilts & Dorset/Bluestar/Damory (ie the Bluestar 6 is run by W&D in Bluestar Colours)

On that subject, W&D/Damory and indeed Blustar seem to be getting closer together; they've started renumbering into a common fleetnumber seris, and lately there's been a Blustar Solo running around Dorchester.

 

[northwichcat]

it can be because one company has had its licence cut back, so the owners will start up another company, or just paint a different name on the buses, so they can get round it, and similar scams- er, intiatives.

Was that the case with UK North and GM Buses?

 

[Schnellzug]

Was that the case with UK North and GM Buses?

Oh yes, that was a good example.

 

[Polarbear]

GHA also own (or have a stake in) Bryn Melyn, but services operated by that company are normally provided with vehicles in Bryn Melyn livery.

 

[martinsh]

At one stage they used the names of Chaloners and Hanmers as well, but I'm not sure if those licences are still valid.