Preston Bus

[DiddyKongRacin]

In rather deflating news, Preston Bus will withdraw from the £1 bus fare scheme from the end of the month.

Source: https://www.prestonbus.co.uk/news/1-fare-cap-scheme/?

This combined with the fare cap is very bleak. Has there been any other bus operators in the country that have withdrawn from these schemes in any reasonable amount, or is it that Preston Bus are the first to withdraw when the fare caps have dried up

 

[Simonm1978]

Preston Bus must be the most expensive operator in the North West now, with flat fares of £3.50 for adults and £2.80 for children on their commercial services. They offer a mediocre service on a limited network, run mostly by an ageing fleet of StreetLites. No doubt evening services will be cut back even further now, as if two or more people are travelling together, it will be cheaper to get an Uber.

 

[LancasterRed]

Between the desperate 23 extension and removing the fare cap things are not looking good for Preston Bus. Any other operator, Uber or even black cabs represent better value for money.

To their credit though at least the 23, 35, 43 and 44 are regularly filled

 

[northern506]

Retaliation by Stagecoach to the recent changes to the 23?

Service 111 Moss Side – Leyland – Lostock Hall – Preston – Cadley – Tanterton​

From 31 May 2026 Stagecoach will revise the route and timetable, extending the service at both ends to additionally serve the new Centurian Village housing development, beyond Moss Side, and within Preston extending to Tanterton via University of Lancashire, Plungington Road, Cadley Causeway and Ingol.

Bus service changes and consultations

Keep up to date with changes to bus services in Lancashire.

www.lancashire.gov.uk

 

[buslad1988]

Retaliation by Stagecoach to the recent changes to the 23?

Service 111 Moss Side – Leyland – Lostock Hall – Preston – Cadley – Tanterton​

From 31 May 2026 Stagecoach will revise the route and timetable, extending the service at both ends to additionally serve the new Centurian Village housing development, beyond Moss Side, and within Preston extending to Tanterton via University of Lancashire, Plungington Road, Cadley Causeway and Ingol.

Bus service changes and consultations

Keep up to date with changes to bus services in Lancashire.

www.lancashire.gov.uk

This is what happens when you poke the bear. Rotala really haven’t done themselves any favours.

Considering Preston Bus seems to be run on a tight budget and they’re pulling out of the £3 fare cap it seems bizarre to risk Stagecoach coming for them.

It’s not like their isn’t a whole load of history with Preston Bus/Stagecoach!

 

[pr1]

@buslad1988 , that's exactly what I thought about. The bus wars escalated exactly along these lines.

 

[Simonm1978]

And now Preston Bus are increasing school bus fares in Preston to match their adult fares:

Parents blast ‘unjustified’ Preston Bus school fare increase – Blog Preston

<p>Parents facing an 18 per cent increase if paying daily for school transport</p>

www.blogpreston.co.uk

Unfortunately for the pupils and parents affected, Lancashire County Council has previously indicated it isn’t willing to subsidise these journeys, so it’s hard to see that position changing anytime soon under the current administration.

This does raise serious questions about their current business model. It increasingly feels like passengers in Preston are being asked to bear the cost. Never thought I'd say it but Rotala withdrawing from Preston and Stagecoach taking over the core routes does feel like the best outcome at the moment. They seem to run a good and affordable network in Lancaster, although I've not used it very often.

Back in 2009, the Competition Commission intervened when Preston Bus was sold to Stagecoach, as it was effectively a two-operator city going to just one dominant operator. Today, with more operators involved in running LCC contracted services (Vision, Archway, Tyrers, Holmeswood etc), the situation might be different.

 

[LancasterRed]

Retaliation by Stagecoach to the recent changes to the 23?

Service 111 Moss Side – Leyland – Lostock Hall – Preston – Cadley – Tanterton​

From 31 May 2026 Stagecoach will revise the route and timetable, extending the service at both ends to additionally serve the new Centurian Village housing development, beyond Moss Side, and within Preston extending to Tanterton via University of Lancashire, Plungington Road, Cadley Causeway and Ingol.

Bus service changes and consultations

Keep up to date with changes to bus services in Lancashire.

www.lancashire.gov.uk

Leaves only Brookfield, Sherwood, Cottam, Savick and Larches that Preston Bus have a monopoly over. Extending the 111 further to Cottam, then minor changes to the 61/68 would take that down to just the first two.

 

[M60lad]

Wasn't it Stagecoach who actually started this though by extending every other 125 to Sharoe Green (Royal Preston Hospital)? I'm pretty sure it follows one of Preston Buses routes to Hospital.

I actually thought the days of Bus Wars were over to be honest, obviously I'm wrong lol.

 

[Mollman]

Leaves only Brookfield, Sherwood, Cottam, Savick and Larches that Preston Bus have a monopoly over. Extending the 111 further to Cottam, then minor changes to the 61/68 would take that down to just the first two.

Cottam services are tendered (developer funded) at the moment with the 43 providing a fast route into Preston.

Wasn't it Stagecoach who actually started this though by extending every other 125 to Sharoe Green (Royal Preston Hospital)? I'm pretty sure it follows one of Preston Buses routes to Hospital.

I actually thought the days of Bus Wars were over to be honest, obviously I'm wrong lol.

The 125 extension goes up Garstang Road (used by Lancaster services) and follows the 45 route which is LCC tendered - it was run by Preston Bus when the extension started but now operated by Vision.

 

[cnjb8]

This is what happens when you poke the bear. Rotala really haven’t done themselves any favours.

Considering Preston Bus seems to be run on a tight budget and they’re pulling out of the £3 fare cap it seems bizarre to risk Stagecoach coming for them.

It’s not like their isn’t a whole load of history with Preston Bus/Stagecoach!

And now Preston Bus are increasing school bus fares in Preston to match their adult fares:

Parents blast ‘unjustified’ Preston Bus school fare increase – Blog Preston

<p>Parents facing an 18 per cent increase if paying daily for school transport</p>

www.blogpreston.co.uk

Unfortunately for the pupils and parents affected, Lancashire County Council has previously indicated it isn’t willing to subsidise these journeys, so it’s hard to see that position changing anytime soon under the current administration.

This does raise serious questions about their current business model. It increasingly feels like passengers in Preston are being asked to bear the cost. Never thought I'd say it but Rotala withdrawing from Preston and Stagecoach taking over the core routes does feel like the best outcome at the moment. They seem to run a good and affordable network in Lancaster, although I've not used it very often.

Back in 2009, the Competition Commission intervened when Preston Bus was sold to Stagecoach, as it was effectively a two-operator city going to just one dominant operator. Today, with more operators involved in running LCC contracted services (Vision, Archway, Tyrers, Holmeswood etc), the situation might be different.

It seems odd Rotala are doing this when they could potentially lose a big chunk of their main West Midlands operation to franchising, surely you would want to keep Preston and the Heathrow operations healthy to balance out any losses

 

[robertclark125]

But perhaps extending the 23, to compete with stagecoach, was to try and bring in extra income, to stem the losses, and turn preston bus into a profit making firm. Of course, they should have known that Stagecoach would probably retaliate, putting them back to square one.

One other possible response from stagecoach; in 2013, they reduced the frequency on their Moor nook service to every 20 minutes, whereas preston bus, using a different route, kept theirs at 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if stagecoach upped their frequency, in the long term.

Lastly, when stagecoach were forced to divest preston bus in 2009, the competition commission ruled preston bus was not a failing company. If it's making a £200,000 loss currently, and if rotala wished to sell to stagecoach, stagecoach would use the same argument again.

And there is a legal precedent to an operator having to sell something, to satisfy competition authorities, only to later buy it back, and be allowed to keep it. In 1996, stagecoach had to sell huntingdon depot, of stagecoach east, to satisfy competition concerns, after buying cambus, only to buy the depot back in 2008, and be allowed to keep it. So, if rotala sold preston bus to stagecoach, I'd say that the competition and markets authority would be obliged to allow the deal to go through with no inquiry.

 

[Deerfold]

But perhaps extending the 23, to compete with stagecoach, was to try and bring in extra income, to stem the losses, and turn preston bus into a profit making firm. Of course, they should have known that Stagecoach would probably retaliate, putting them back to square one.

One other possible response from stagecoach; in 2013, they reduced the frequency on their Moor nook service to every 20 minutes, whereas preston bus, using a different route, kept theirs at 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if stagecoach upped their frequency, in the long term.

Lastly, when stagecoach were forced to divest preston bus in 2009, the competition commission ruled preston bus was not a failing company. If it's making a £200,000 loss currently, and if rotala wished to sell to stagecoach, stagecoach would use the same argument again.

And there is a legal precedent to an operator having to sell something, to satisfy competition authorities, only to later buy it back, and be allowed to keep it. In 1996, stagecoach had to sell huntingdon depot, of stagecoach east, to satisfy competition concerns, after buying cambus, only to buy the depot back in 2008, and be allowed to keep it. So, if rotala sold preston bus to stagecoach, I'd say that the competition and markets authority would be obliged to allow the deal to go through with no inquiry.

I don't think that means they'd be obliged to allow it - but it wouldn't be automatic for them to not.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

And there is a legal precedent to an operator having to sell something, to satisfy competition authorities, only to later buy it back, and be allowed to keep it. In 1996, stagecoach had to sell huntingdon depot, of stagecoach east, to satisfy competition concerns, after buying cambus, only to buy the depot back in 2008, and be allowed to keep it. So, if rotala sold preston bus to stagecoach, I'd say that the competition and markets authority would be obliged to allow the deal to go through with no inquiry.

There was an inquiry when Stagecoach reacquired Huntingdon; it was found that Cavalier (the owners of Huntingdon and District) had insufficient funds to purchase the new vehicles required for the guided busway between Huntingdon and Cambridge, therefore Stagecoach were allowed to keep it.

 

[317 forever]

But perhaps extending the 23, to compete with stagecoach, was to try and bring in extra income, to stem the losses, and turn preston bus into a profit making firm. Of course, they should have known that Stagecoach would probably retaliate, putting them back to square one.

One other possible response from stagecoach; in 2013, they reduced the frequency on their Moor nook service to every 20 minutes, whereas preston bus, using a different route, kept theirs at 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if stagecoach upped their frequency, in the long term.

Lastly, when stagecoach were forced to divest preston bus in 2009, the competition commission ruled preston bus was not a failing company. If it's making a £200,000 loss currently, and if rotala wished to sell to stagecoach, stagecoach would use the same argument again.

And there is a legal precedent to an operator having to sell something, to satisfy competition authorities, only to later buy it back, and be allowed to keep it. In 1996, stagecoach had to sell huntingdon depot, of stagecoach east, to satisfy competition concerns, after buying cambus, only to buy the depot back in 2008, and be allowed to keep it. So, if rotala sold preston bus to stagecoach, I'd say that the competition and markets authority would be obliged to allow the deal to go through with no inquiry.

I also reckon that if there were another CMA investigation into Stagecoach purchasing Preston Bus, we could have another First Barnstaple scenario, where the sellers simply close down and Stagecoach introduce a replacement network anyway.

 

[Simonm1978]

The ‘bus war’ in Preston intensifies with Preston Bus making some significant price cuts for day, weekly and 28-day tickets, just in time for summer

Preston Bus Announces Big Summer Fare Cut | Preston Bus

www.prestonbus.co.uk

 

[LancasterRed]

The specific 35 ticket stinks of desperation, no idea how busy the 111 is but I imagine it's looking good for Stagecoach. Preston Bus could, and should, be returning to double deckers on that anyway - capacity was a serious issue before Stagecoach came along

 

[Simonm1978]

The bus war intensifies as Preston Bus are extending service 6 to Longridge and Penwortham from 31 August (and increasing the frequency to every 12 minutes)

www.prestonbus.co.uk/news/preston-bus-to-launch-new-cross...

 

[LancasterRed]

Suicidal from Preston Bus. Limit two critical commuter services to pointlessly extend the 6. Outside of niche journeys to/from the railway station and Deepdale to Grimsargh and Longridge this does nothing

 

[pr1]

The bus war intensifies as Preston Bus are extending service 6 to Longridge and Penwortham from 31 August (and increasing the frequency to every 12 minutes)

www.prestonbus.co.uk/news/preston-bus-to-launch-new-cross...

It's like House of Dragons but with buses

 

[em81]

The bus war intensifies as Preston Bus are extending service 6 to Longridge and Penwortham from 31 August (and increasing the frequency to every 12 minutes)

www.prestonbus.co.uk/news/preston-bus-to-launch-new-cross...

The Penwortham extension goes via Leyland Road, like the Vision routes, rather than directly duplicating the 3 route. I don't think that will make much difference to the off peak journey times. Peak times it should be a bit faster, but unlike the Stagecoach 3 it won't connect Kingsfold to the shops on Liverpool Road, that includes a large Tesco supermarket.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Suicidal from Preston Bus. Limit two critical commuter services to pointlessly extend the 6. Outside of niche journeys to/from the railway station and Deepdale to Grimsargh and Longridge this does nothing

Definitely, and their fares are higher, so there's no chance of induced demand unless they drop back to £3 and fight harder for customers

 

[em81]

Definitely, and their fares are higher, so there's no chance of induced demand unless they drop back to £3 and fight harder for customers

Don't forget Preston Bus do offer £4.20 Special Value Returns on the 23, unless you're using the section between the hospital and ASDA, where there's no competition from Stagecoach. I think they also do sub-£3 singles but only on the section between Bamber Bridge and the city centre.

If there's no competition then it's £3.50 single to the next stop.

 

[M60lad]

Is 6 extension going the same way as Stagecoach's 1 between Preston and Longridge?

 

[peterblue]

Is 6 extension going the same way as Stagecoach's 1 between Preston and Longridge?

Follows the 6 route via deepdale rd & Watling street road to the Gamull lane roundabout, then the standard 1 route from there. So end to end will be a bit longer.

Definitely, and their fares are higher, so there's no chance of induced demand unless they drop back to £3 and fight harder for customers

There are £4.20 returns which is a little cheaper than the Stagecoach equivalent return (or Citi day rider) for local journeys. But as you mention, single fares are more expensive with PB.
The exception is Longridge where the Citi day rider is not valid; typically customers just pay 2 singles there as it's cheaper than the central Lancashire day rider which is £7. PB will be cheaper for those journeys assuming their £4.20 return extends that far.


I think this is a sign of desperation from PB. I can't see them lasting until the end of the year.

 

[M60lad]

Why are Preston Bus suddenly competing on various routes with Stagecoach all of a sudden?

If Preston Bus do ever disappear from Preston who is there that could pick up the work that they do? Have Stagecoach and other operators got the capacity to operate the services that Preston Bus currently operate?

 

[Deerfold]

Why are Preston Bus suddenly competing on various routes with Stagecoach all of a sudden?

If Preston Bus do ever disappear from Preston who is there that could pick up the work that they do? Have Stagecoach and other operators got the capacity to operate the services that Preston Bus currently operate?

I'd imagine Stagecoach could get buses from elsewhere fairly easily and employ many of Preston Bus's drivers (with a reduction in duplication they shouldn't need quite as many).

It's only 15 years since Stagecoach were forced to sell Preston Bus by the Competition Commission (as was).

 

[LancasterRed]

Why are Preston Bus suddenly competing on various routes with Stagecoach all of a sudden?

If Preston Bus do ever disappear from Preston who is there that could pick up the work that they do? Have Stagecoach and other operators got the capacity to operate the services that Preston Bus currently operate?

It doesn't even feel like they're trying to compete, just disrupt. There's quick wins they can achieve such as a competitive Blackpool or Lancaster service but instead focused on more niche routes such as a failed extension to Bamber Bridge. Stagecoach feel like they're trying to compete with the 111, take the core Tanterton route but connect areas like Plungington and Cadley to pick up a different crowd.

I imagine that if/when Preston Bus go under the services will split off into different operators, mainly Stagecoach and Vision

 

[peterblue]

It doesn't even feel like they're trying to compete, just disrupt. There's quick wins they can achieve such as a competitive Blackpool or Lancaster service but instead focused on more niche routes such as a failed extension to Bamber Bridge. Stagecoach feel like they're trying to compete with the 111, take the core Tanterton route but connect areas like Plungington and Cadley to pick up a different crowd.

I imagine that if/when Preston Bus go under the services will split off into different operators, mainly Stagecoach and Vision

It started when Preston Bus extended their 23s to Bamber Bridge infringing on Stagecoach territory.

In retaliation Stagecoach extended the 111 to Tanterton, and now Preston Bus are introducing another competitive route.

This does feel like deja Vu for around 17-18 years ago. I feel it will end the same way. Stagecoach could cover the remaining Preston Bus only markets (Larches estate, cottam, ASDA) , and perhaps it would be better with one unified operator. Hard to say.

 

[pr1]

Was going to say in relation to the above, I'd wager £1 that the 61 or 68 is diverted into Larches (or do a kind of loop). Adds a few minutes but soaks up a few more Preston passengers.

Saturation point will be reached very shortly and I can't imagine Preston Bus surviving.