The final day of Bournemouth’s iconic yellow-liveried buses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week was a bad week for announcements of coach and bus company closures. One of those was witnessed first hand by CBW: Richard Sharman reports from Bournemouth on the final day of operations, and investigates what replacement bus services have been put in place

On the afternoon of Friday 29 July it was announced, to the shock of the industry and the company’s employees, that Yellow Buses had gone into administration.

This is never a good sign, but the initial statement from the administrator suggested a potential buyer was in the frame and that a deal would be done within days. Unfortunately, this would not materialise.

The beginning of the end

The official news that all was not well at the Yeomans Way depot was made public in a statement from Simon Rowe and Rachel Hotham of Milsted Langdon LLP, who had been appointed as Administrators of Bournemouth Transport Limited, which traded as Yellow Buses.

The statement started off by saying: “We recognise that many people rely on the Yellow Bus [sic] 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.

“All staff have been paid today (Friday 29 July) and we have secured sufficient funding to ensure we can make the salary and other essential ongoing supply payments. We have also had very productive engagement with Unite, which represent many of the staff, and which are keen to help us and work with us to bring about a positive outcome.

“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 its 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.”
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The three Directors of Bournemouth Transport were David Squire (Managing Director), Phil Pannell (Service Delivery Director) and Simon Newport (Commercial Director), they led a management buyout of the company from RATP Dev in July 2019.

The purchase of Bournemouth Transport came off the back of a turbulent time in the company’s 120 year history, having been through a network change in January 2017 that saw long-standing bus routes revised and with letters denoting the destinations served rather than the traditional route numbers. This led to widespread complaints and a drop in passenger revenue. The Managing Director at that time, Andrew Smith, resigned and David Squire was appointed as his replacement in October 2017. The company posted an operating loss of £1,663,000 in 2017. In October 2019, David told Dorset Biz News that Bournemouth Transport was turning a corner: “In the year ending December 2018 we invested heavily by bringing in 20 newer buses, installing contactless payment on the buses and introducing free WiFi across the fleet. Our network was revamped and simplified to make it easier to use. With the company now back under local ownership we have every confidence that Yellow Buses will be profitable again in the coming years.”

David was proved right when the last full accounts made up to 31 March 2021 showed that the company’s turnover had reduced, period on period, by 18%, but profits before tax had increased from a loss of £2,656,000 in the 15 months to March 2020, to a profit of £591,000 in the 12 months leading to the accounts being published.

Explaining the situation in the time that has passed since the management buyout, the Administrators’ statement continued: “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.”

Details at Companies House show that Bournemouth Transport is listed under Yellow Buses Holdings, owned by the three directors and including the dormant Vintage Yellow Buses Limited, plus Yellow Coaches Limited, which was incorporated on 5 August 2020, meaning the coach division was a separate entity to Bournemouth Transport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fast moving situation

On Tuesday 2 August, Yellow Buses informed passengers via its social media channels that it would be introducing service changes from the following day, which would turn out to be the penultimate day of operation. Some routes were reduced to a Saturday service, whilst routes 6h, 727 and Buster’s New Forest Explorer did not operate. Buster’s Beach Bus, as reviewed in CBW issue 1491, operated a shorter journey from Alum Chine to Hengistbury Head.

On the morning of 4 August, National Express – which was rumoured to be in the frame to purchase the business – told the Daily Echo: “We can confirm that we are in final discussions with Administrator Milsted Langdon to purchase the coach and engineering operations of Bournemouth Transport. We will not be purchasing the bus business (Yellow Buses).

“We are pleased that this will safeguard approximately 50 jobs and maintain the operations previously run by Bournemouth Transport Ltd on behalf of National Express – ensuring we can continue to offer a full network of scheduled intercity coach services to our Bournemouth customers.

“We will be speaking with those employees who are proposed to transfer over to National Express alongside a number of other stakeholders, including the Union. We are also keen to speak to any other drivers to share opportunities with us in both the South and Midlands.
“Bournemouth Transport has a long history in the area and it’s sad news that a buyer was not found for the bus operations.”

The same news story went on to report that: “All bus services for Yellow Buses will cease operation from tonight it was announced last night by administrators Milsted Langdon,” and sure enough, at 1646hrs on 4 August, Yellow Buses posted on its social media channels that all services would cease at 1800hrs. The Facebook post was shared 570 times, received nearly 400 comments and received 1,300 reactions.

Local & national attention

Yellow Buses very quickly became the subject of many local and national news stories; one interview recorded by ITV News was with a 15-year veteran of Yellow Buses, Martin Conder, who was also a Unite union rep. He said: “We’ve literally just received emails. The doors have shut. The administrators have come in, and today’s our last day.

“It’s been devastating. Some of the guys, they’re absolutely devastated. They can’t pay their bills. They’ve got kids, families, mortgages. Shame on the managing director, shame on you.

“There was a guy here yesterday it was his first day, he’d just come back from the training school, just finished his mentoring and it was his first day on the road and now it’s his last day, how’s that right?” Martin said angrily on the evening TV news programme.
The Unite union is looking at potential legal options over claims that there wasn’t enough consultation or notice given to workers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reaction on the street

The news that Yellow Buses was to cease was as much of a surprise to the company’s staff – as it often is in these kind of situations – as it was to its passengers.

I travelled down to Bournemouth to witness and record the proceedings of the final day of 120 years of operation. Arriving in the coastal town I parked the car and walked through the Bournemouth Parks towards Gervis Place, and what was the first conversation I overheared? Two teenagers talking about how it was the last day of Yellow Buses today and how they could not believe it. I carried on walking and arrived at the busy bus stops on along Westover Road.

I was photographing the last day of operation, whilst simultaneously filming it with a GoPro for our YouTube channel – the video will be available from this Thursday – and whilst standing there making observations, three students walked past talking amongst themselves saying ‘did you know it is the last day of the yellows today?’ at which point two of them turned their back to the two Yellow Buses parked over the road and took a selfie with them.

Waiting passengers were also talking amongst themselves. I must have heard ‘I cannot believe that Yellow Buses is finishing’ about 60 times during the day, and you can understand why.

Over the period of 120 years, hundreds of Bournemouth’s residents will have had family working at Yellow Buses. Not only that, but even for someone in their 80s, they will have always seen yellow-liveried buses in Bournemouth, no matter who the owner of them was.

The same goes for visiting holiday makers, yellow open-top buses have always been there, in one form or another, and those passengers return year on year. This was very apparent on the final day with the two veteran 20-year-old East Lancs Vyking-bodied Volvo B7TLs 5001/2 making a welcome sight in open-top form on the Buster’s Beach Bus service, with full or nearly full upper decks throughout the day.

With the exception of a Wrightbus Gemini 3 with a flat tyre sat at a bus stop, which was later recovered back to the depot, passengers were not left waiting at bus stops, and that just shows the dedication of the Yellow Buses driving staff. Despite knowing they would not have a job the following day, the vast majority were wearing shirts and ties and operating as per their running card and having a good chat with their – soon to be former – passengers.

In addition, Bournemouth town centre had turned into an extra Showbus-scale event, with photographers on every corner, be they enthusiasts or just the general public, with most drivers giving a friendly nod or wave as they passed. Had Yellow Buses gained the same iconic status as red London buses? I believe so. You only have to look at the many hundreds of social media posts to see that the yellow livery was strongly associated with the coastal town.

Time seemed to go very quickly on the final day. It was soon 1800hrs and the last bus departed the town centre: Alexander Dennis Enviro400 4011, SN12 AVY, on route 2 to Strouden, which was extremely ironic as Strouden Buses Limited was, for a period between 27 March 1986 and 27 May 1986, the previous company name for Bournemouth Transport Limited after the Transport Act 1985 was passed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go South Coast steps in

Go-Ahead Group-owned Morebus, a division of Go South Coast, stepped in to run services across Dorset left by the void of Yellow Buses ceasing operations. “We are sad to learn that Yellow Buses will soon cease trading, and we understand the impact this will have on those who rely on its services in the region, as well as on its employees,” said Morebus Managing Director Andrew Wickham.

“I can reassure local people and visitors to the area that Morebus is now ready to step in, to ensure bus users can still get to where they need to go. We have moved additional vehicles to the area, in order to provide the services needed – including 15 brand new Euro VI low emissions buses that Morebus and Bournemouth University have invested in. These were delivered ahead of schedule, and are ready for the road – so that our current fleet can be used to fill the gaps left by Yellow Buses.

“For Yellow Buses drivers who are concerned about their careers, I’m pleased to report that Morebus is increasing its rate of pay from this coming Sunday, 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.”

This offer was later increased to a £3,000 welcome bonus for the period of Friday 5 August, the day before the additional bus services were due to commence.

Andrew continued: “These benefits are not limited to Yellow Buses drivers – but apply to any drivers who wish to join our team. For anyone who doesn’t already hold a licence, that’s not a problem we can provide full training. We also have vacancies for depot shunters/cleaners, engineers and customer service assistants.

“We recognise the impact a change of operator will have on passengers, and appreciate some people may already have tickets from Yellow Buses. We are happy to accept these up until and including Saturday 13 August, as we welcome new customers on board our award-winning services.
“Initially we are introducing a temporary, emergency, timetable – to keep people moving and to ensure there are no gaps in bus services across the area. However, we are planning to increase service levels as soon as we can.”

On Saturday 6 August, Morebus commenced the following services:

• Routes 1/1b – Bournemouth to Christchurch operating up to every 30 minutes each, with a 15-minute frequency on common sections of the route. The Westbourne, Branksome and Poole section is not served, but covered by existing Morebus m1/m2 routes;
• Route 1a – Bournemouth to Somerford via Boscombe and Christchurch up to every 15 minutes, with other sections covered by Morebus X1/X2 routes;
• Route 2 – Bournemouth to Castlepoint via Royal Bournemouth Hospital operates every 30 minutes. Morebus route 14 will cover unserved sections of the former route;
• Route 4 – Bournemouth to Castlepoint, interworked with route 2, so those needing Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Iford can stay on the same bus;
• Route 5/5a – Bournemouth to Kinson up to every 30 minutes on each route, and every 15 minutes on the common sections;
• Route 6/6a – Bournemouth to Kinson via the University, up to every 30 minutes and extending from Kinson to Wimborne (6) and Bearwood (6a) up to every hour;
• Route 737 – Bournemouth to Bournemouth Airport will operate two morning journeys to the airport and three afternoon journeys returning.

Due to the success of the driver recruitment event, held at the Village Hotel in Bournemouth, Morebus announced that it had the resources to operate a further three former Yellow Buses-operated Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council routes from the same date:

• Route 18 – Bournemouth to Broadstone up to every hour Monday to Saturday;
• Route 33 – Bournemouth to Christchurch up to hourly on Monday to Saturday;
• Route 36 – Talbot View Estate to Kinson via Bournemouth, up to hourly Monday to Saturday.

David Lee-Kong, Operations Director at Go South Coast, tweeted that by Saturday 6 August, 400 bus stop timetables had been replaced in just 24 hours.

In addition, Morebus printed A4-size timetables for each new route and attached them to hand rails with lengths of string for passengers to take whilst new timetable booklets are being produced.

You have to commend Morebus management and staff for acting so quickly to cover the additional routes at very short notice and acting on taking on former Yellow Buses drivers the very next day with such a generous bonus. Even the loaned vehicles from fellow Go South Coast operating companies Salisbury Reds and Bluestar have been fitted with ‘More, I’m helping out’ vinyls. If you are ever looking for a good example of how to mobilise resources and people with little to no notice, then this is it. Well done to the Go South Coast team for not only making it a smooth transition for the travelling public, but for also saving as many driving jobs as possible in such a professional manner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Coaches future confirmed

Eastleigh-based independent bus operator Xelabus secured Yellow Coaches Limited, the coaching subsidiary of Yellow Buses Holdings in Bournemouth, from its former directors and shareholders on Friday 5 August.

Yellow Coaches will join the Xela Group, which comprises businesses such as Xelabus, Xelacoach and more recently Isle of Wight based Seaview Services. Established in 2010, the business has built a strong brand in the area with its attractive Green and Cream vehicles that has grown over the past 12 years.

Gareth Blair, owner and Managing Director of the Xela Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured a popular name in the Bournemouth and surrounding areas. We hope to continue building on the brand and secure further school, college and private hire contracts.”

Simon Newport, former director and shareholder of Yellow Coaches Limited said: “It’s fantastic that the Xela Group team have agreed to keep Yellow Coaches going in Bournemouth. I am confident that the business will continue to provide school contracts and tenders across the conurbation to a high level. I think the future looks bright for Yellow Coaches.”

Yellow Coaches will continue to operate the megabus M3 coach service from Poole and Bournemouth to Heathrow and London, a number of school contracts from September 2022, as well as continuing to develop the business in other formats.

Golden Tours’ Bournemouth and Poole tours were being operated by Yellow Coaches, but this arrangement has now ended, with the last day of operation being Sunday 7 August.

The National Express contracts that were operated by Yellow Coaches have moved to National Express Transport Solutions, alongside its purchase of Bournemouth Transport’s engineering facility, with National Express vehicles continuing to use the depot at Yeomans Way, Bournemouth.

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