The Aberdeen-based group is marking its 30th anniversary in 2025, and has a number of celebrations planned to mark the occasion
First Bus has begun what it says will be a series of events to mark its 30th birthday by partnering with online content creator Francis Bourgeois. Francis recently took a trip to the company’s birthplace in Aberdeen, where he was able to embrace his love and passion for public transport. On his tour of Aberdeen, Francis learned how to drive a brand-new electric bus alongside taking a tour of a selection of heritage buses that contribute to the brand’s history.
First Bus was formed in 1995 through the merger of two growing and expansion-minded bus groups, Grampian Regional Transport and Badgerline, themselves born from the new era of deregulation which began in the 1980s. The company has undergone significant change and expansion throughout its 30-year history, and now operates both buses and trains across the country, carrying over 1.5 million passengers per day. Its reach stretched across to the USA from 2007 until the early 2020s, when it sold the Greyhound operation to Flixbus and its yellow school bus business to EQT, whilst other forays into the international market have taken it as far afield as Hong Kong and Germany.
The company says that the three decades of significant development is not set to slow down, and it is continuing to make plans for the future, including its recent brand relaunch featuring a new logo and livery. Looking ahead, First Bus has also committed £250m to transitioning towards a zero-emission bus fleet by its 40th birthday in 2035 and says it has concrete plans to build an inclusive and engaged workforce, whilst working towards becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer, in addition to digitally transforming the travel experience to increase accessibility and ease for customers.
Managing Director Janette Bell said: “Since its inception, First Bus has been driven by its goal of bringing people together and connecting communities. Buses don’t just move a nation, they bring a nation together, every day. Over the past 30 years, the business has seen unprecedented transformation and growth, and it’s a point of pride that we’ve thrived to meet the needs of our passengers and our people throughout. Even in the past five years alone, we’ve gone from initiating major milestones like launching our first electric bus in 2020, to now operating with over 1,100 in our fleet. It’s amazing to be able to reflect on everything that’s happened since 1995, while also looking forward to what’s to come.”
Speaking about his enthusiasm for buses, Francis, whose film of the visit can be found on First’s YouTube channel, commented: “I know I’m known for the railway, but my enthusiasm for public transport extends to other forms too, like buses. I was thrilled when First Bus invited me to celebrate its 30th birthday at the Aberdeen depot. Seeing how much buses have evolved in the last three decades is incredible, not only the transition to electric vehicles but also learning about the impact buses have on society. Perhaps in another career, I could have been a bus driver… maybe I will become a bus driver!”
