Largest independent bus operators

[Alexbus12]

Haven't found a thread for this, so was intrigued, which independent operators are the largest and how many buses?

 

[Eyersey468]

Up until last year EYMS was possibly the largest independent with around 300 vehicles.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

If I'm not mistaken, McGill's are a relatively large independent bus operator, and a tiny bit of research shows that Wikipedia claims they have over 400 buses and operate 110 routes!

 

[Flange Squeal]

Edwards Coaches have around 300 vehicles covering a real mix of service bus routes, coach operations and National Express work.

Stephensons of Essex have 102 buses in their fleet operating around 90 routes, with a further 41 vehicles in their NIBS Buses fleet operating around 30 routes. That’s a total of around 140 vehicles and 120 routes. I believe the proprietor also owns Galloway European however I think the businesses are technically separate, unlike NIBS which was purchased by the Stephensons company but has retained its fleetname.

D&G Bus in the Midlands run over 100 vehicles and around 50 odd routes.

 

[Bovverboy]

What's your definition of 'independent'? Independent of whom?

 

[GusB]

What's your definition of 'independent'? Independent of whom?

That's a good question. I have a couple of Capital Transport handbooks - one from 1989 and the other from 1991. In the former, companies were order alphabetically starting with the Scottish Bus Group companies, then municipal/PTEs and then "independents". In the second, there was no distinction between former SBG/PTE companies, but the "independents" were listed towards the end of the book. Surely the likes of Tayside, which had recently been subject to a management/employee buyout (and before acquisition by National Express) would have officially been an "independent" at that point in time?

 

[Robertj21a]

Wellglade group ? - Trent, Kinch, Notts & Derby, TM etc

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Centrebus with 250 vehicles under the one banner?

 

[Robertj21a]

Wellglade group ? - Trent, Kinch, Notts & Derby, TM etc

About 325 vehicles

 

[Robertj21a]

Centrebus with 250 vehicles under the one banner?

220-ish, including High Peak.

 

[Andyh82]

How about CT Plus?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

220-ish, including High Peak.

Don’t tell me Wikipedia lied to me

 

[darloscott]

Ensignbus? I know not all of the buses they own are used in service but still.. a sizeable 'fleet', they do run a decent little network around the Thurrock area.
HCT Group (CT Plus) are growing rather quickly and I'd be interested to know the size of the fleet now?

 

[Busaholic]

What's your definition of 'independent'? Independent of whom?

I'd have thought these days that would exclude companies quoted on the Stock Exchange or owned/part-owned by such, plus any that were former municipal operations, though notionally operated at arm's length now.

 

[awsnews]

If I'm not mistaken, McGill's are a relatively large independent bus operator, and a tiny bit of research shows that Wikipedia claims they have over 400 buses and operate 110 routes!

I suspect the McGill's total to be a bit lower than that now.

There is also the Craig group who are somewhere in the 250 to 300 range.

 

[Robertj21a]

Don’t tell me Wikipedia lied to me

For once, I may be more reliable......

 

[Bovverboy]

What's your definition of 'independent'? Independent of whom?

Back in the early 1960s, when my interest in buses began in earnest, bus operators were grouped into London Transport, municipalities, British Electric Traction group, British Transport Commission group, Scottish Bus Group, and independents, the definition of 'independent' being simply, not being a member of any of the other groups. So companies such as Lancashire United and West Riding, which weren't in any sense 'family' firms, were classed as 'independent', and so were large family firms, such as Barton and Wallace Arnold. So the definition of 'independent' has always been quite arbitrary.

Which means that, if you're trying to establish who the largest independent bus operators are, it very much depends upon your definition of 'independent'.