Poole, Bournemoth and Christchurch buses.

[whole diary]

[MVR S&T]

Just seen that Yellow Buses has gone into administration, services unafected at present, possible snaped up by natioonal operator, jobs unafected so far too.

[grahame]

Just seen that Yellow Buses has gone into administration, services unafected at present, possible snaped up by natioonal operator, jobs unafected so far too.

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-07-29/bus-company-goes-into-administration-after-facing-challenges

[chuffed]

I think this statement shows concern for the business, staff, and passengers...quite different in tone to the usual standard announcement

Statement
2 days ago Fri 29th Jul 2022



We, Simon Rowe and Rachel Hotham of Milsted Langdon LLP, have been appointed as Administrators of Bournemouth Transport Limited, which trades as Yellow Buses.

We recognise that many people rely on the Yellow Bus network for all sorts of aspects of their daily lives and that for them and the 300 staff employed by the business this is an unsettling time.  We can recognise this and want to reassure everyone that we and our team are doing all we can to ensure that the business continues to operate as normal as possible under the circumstances and continues to do so into the future.

Yellow Buses has just celebrated its 120th birthday and so it is an unfortunate time to be facing this uncertainty.  However, like many transport businesses, Yellow Buses has suffered from the challenges of the COVID period and the changes in lifestyle habits which have followed, with more people working remotely and some people still being reluctant to travel on public transport.  All of this has severely reduced passenger numbers on all routes.

This loss of revenue has had a financial impact on the business and additional factors such as the recent increase in fuel prices and the general rise in inflation has only made that greater.

The directors have, for some time, been looking for outside investment or a purchaser to take Yellow Buses onto the next stage of its life.  They felt that as a small independent business it was unable to handle the current challenges alone and hoped that by merging with a larger operator it would provide them with a broader platform from which to operate.

Unfortunately, those negotiations take time, and during that time the business was coming under increasing financial pressure.  Negotiations with one of those parties, a large national operator, have entered the final stages and we hope to be able to conclude within a matter of days.   

With its long history in the local area and its integral role within the community we appreciate that there will be a great number of people concerned about this news, what we would ask is that the community shows it support by using the services.  Support Yellow Buses and crucially its staff by using the bus.  Take a trip on one of the buses and let the drivers know they have your support.  Show them just how important this service is to everyone.

We will of course keep the staff and customers updated over the coming days.

[IndustryInsider]

Bus back better?

[Bournemouth.User]

Last day of Yellow Buses, Thursday, 4 August.

Morebus to take on some routes (or part routes) from Saturday, 6 August: https://www.morebus.co.uk/we-will-be-running-extra-routes

There are three tendered routes, 18, 33 and 36 for which we await details from BCP Council.

[grahame]

Last day of Yellow Buses, Thursday, 4 August.

Morebus to take on some routes (or part routes) from Saturday, 6 August: https://www.morebus.co.uk/we-will-be-running-extra-routes

There are three tendered routes, 18, 33 and 36 for which we await details from BCP Council.

Welcome to the forum, Bournemouth.User, though a sad circumstance. 

A further update, quoting from the administrator' statement, just published in the Bournemouth Echo

ALL services by Yellow Buses will cease operation on Thursday night, as a buyer is not found for the bus side of the business.

The administrators announced they expect an agreement with a buyer to be signed on Friday to save the coach side of the business, saving approximately 50 jobs.

A buyer was not found for the bus operations side of Bournemouth Transport Ltd, which trades as Yellow Buses, it has been confirmed by administrators this evening.

[grahame]

Comments always make an interesting read - starting with the inevitable "good - more space for my car on the road" which triggered a more interesting discussion

but it will mean that More busses will increase ...

They don't need to buy the business, all they need to do is take on a few of the routes such as the no's 4, 5 & 5a as they already cover most of the town. Basically they can cherry pick the routes they don't cover at the moment. With the demise of the Yellows the passenger number (and profits) of More buses will soar.

From the Morebus website

Yellow buses drivers and other staff

For those employees who previously worked for Yellow Buses, and who are interested in joining Morebus we'd love to hear from you. Morebus is increasing its rate of pay from this coming Sunday 7 August, to £13.00 an hour. And, for a limited period, we will continue to offer our £2,000 welcome bonus for anyone who joins with a PCV licence. We will be announcing details on Thursday 4 August of our recruitment centre which will be open from Friday morning, where we will ask you to turn up in person if possible. If youre away on holiday you can still apply in the normal way.

Question asked about "where do the resources come from on Saturday onwards?" an it seem that Morebus have new vehicles delivered early / in good time for a (autumn University?) route.  With Bournemouth Transport looking for a buyer for some time, I doubt whether morebus have been taken by total surprise.

Bournemouth.User - what is the view of the service users?  (That may sound like a question with an obvious answer, but I suspect there is a complex answer)

[bradshaw]

Buses of Somerset are giving up the Bridport, Crewkerne, Yeovil route later this month, leaving Bridport with only the Axminster to WeymouthX53/Dorchester X51 services. However Dorset Council are still supportive of the route.