Dormant name set to be re-used by JJP Holdings SW, the owner of Crosville Motor Services
Heritage bus company Southern National has been revived by a Somerset transport operator, with a view to operating buses again under the well-known brand in the near future.
Originally established in 1929, Southern National’s iconic green and cream buses were a familiar sight across the South West for decades, although the name has been dormant in recent years.
JJP Holdings SW Ltd, which operates the Crosville Motor Services fleet, has now been granted the O-licence for Southern National, enabling Southern National to be re-established as a new company within the group. To celebrate the news, one of the original Southern National buses has been restored by JJP Holdings.
Jonathan Jones-Pratt, Managing Director of JJP Holdings and Crosville Motor Services, said: “We are very excited about being granted the opportunity to revive the Southern National name. Being able to bring the heritage of the brand back to life, as we did with the Crosville name over 10 years ago, is a real honour.
“We have big plans for Southern National, which will be very much involved in the interim work we are doing to transport workers to and from the Hinkley Point C site, as well as the Somerset Passenger Solutions collaboration that has preferred bidder status for the contract on-site in the future.
“Southern National will operate as a standalone business that we anticipate will expand quickly to around 50 vehicles through 2016/17, providing a great boost for the strength of our collective companies.”
JJP Holdings is the umbrella company that owns Crosville Motor Services and Southern National, along with three other group companies. It provides passenger services in the West of England and now operates over 85 vehicles in Somerset and North Somerset.
