Stagecoach in Hull
Encyclopedia
Stagecoach in Hull is the sector of the Stagecoach Group
that operates buses in Kingston upon Hull
, East Riding of Yorkshire
, England. It is the second largest bus fleet in the city.
-owned Hull Corporation Transport, which, in addition to conventional buses, also operated trams and trolleybuses in the city.
By the late 1970s/early 1980s, Hull Corporation became Kingston-upon-Hull City Transport (KHCT) and, as had been the case for decades, KHCT shared Hull's bus network with the then National Bus Company (NBC) subsidiary East Yorkshire Motor Services
(EYMS). In 1986, the then Conservative Transport Secretary
, Nicholas Ridley
, ordered the deregulation of the British bus industry
.
As a consequence, the ownership of KHCT changed from Hull City Council
to an arms-length private company owned by the council. Furthermore co-ordination/co-operation of the Hull bus network between KHCT and East Yorkshire, which was now owned by its management, was deemed illegal and the two operators became engaged in fierce competition from the late 1980s to the early/mid 1990s.
East Yorkshire began to operate on much of KHCT's network of services and KHCT's position was compounded by smaller-sized competitors entering Hull's bus network - including Connor & Graham, Metro Citybus, Pride of the Road/North Bank Travel and City Traveller. These operators mainly focused upon the profitable corridors of Hull's bus network, with elderly/second-hand vehicles and in some, not all, cases a low-fare down-market image. These operators would eventually fade away, either going bankrupt or taken over. in particular by EYMS, and as a consequence KHCT was making losses and was itself subject to a hostile takeover bid from EYMS. KHCT rejected the EYMS bid but, faced with escalating losses and increased competition, a decision was taken by Hull City Council to sell KHCT in December 1993 to Stockton-based Cleveland Transit, which itself had been the object of takeover interest from EYMS. This deal also offered KHCT's employees a 49% stake in the business, and at the time Cleveland Transit was considered one of the emerging 'groups' within the British bus industry, with acquisitions in Teeside, North/East Yorkshire and County Durham.
However, throughout 1994 Stagecoach Holdings plc
pursued a phase of expansion in the North East of England, which saw it acquire the former Tyne & Wear PTE
operation Busways Travel Services Ltd.
from its management and employees in July 1994 and then Cleveland Transit in September that year too. Initially, KHCT's blue/white livery, albeit a modified version based upon Cleveland Transit's current green livery, was maintained by Stagecoach. However by December 1995 KHCT became known as Stagecoach Kingston Upon Hull, later Stagecoach in Hull, with the Stagecoach corporate livery being introduced to Hull by spring of 1996. More recently, the management of Stagecoach in Hull has been transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands
, and since the early 2000s a more co-ordinated pattern of competition has been reached with East Yorkshire in the running of Hull's bus network.
Stagecoach in Hull uses the Cleveland Transit operating licence.
, West Yorkshire
(via Goole
, East Riding of Yorkshire
) and services to Wawne
, Cottingham
, and Hedon
, all in the East Riding of Yorkshire
. Stagecoach Hull also operates part of service 350 'Humber Fastcat' to Barton and Scunthorpe in association with Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot and East Yorkshire Motor Services.
To assist the elderly and disabled, some routes have low-floor buses. Many services operate on a 10 min frequency, known as Frequento, although there are also many specialist services, which may operate only once or twice a day, such at the Mecca Bingo services, and the service to the King George Dock Ferry Terminal.
Services in the main operate from the new integrated transport hub known as Hull Paragon Interchange which opened on 16 September 2007, though a few services operate from other parts of the city centre, such as King Edward Street, Storey Street and Prospect Street.
Although most routes operate all week, some routes do not operate on Sundays, and some operate only on Sundays. On Bank Holidays, a Sunday service is usually operated.
Other bus services are available within the city. The main competitor is East Yorkshire Motor Services
, with a comparable operation but a greater service to the outlying villages.
The fleet consists of:
21 Volvo Olympians
50 Dennis Tridents
17 Plaxton Presidents (Dennis)
14 10 Reg Enviro 300
6 09 Reg Enviro 300
3 Volvo Vykings For the X62 Leeds service
26 Dennis Darts
2 Optare Solo's
5 Volvo Jonckheere Mistral for Megabus services
9 60 Reg Enviro 400
The newest buses in the fleet are the 9 Enviro 400s which were bought for the
Frequento route 30 to replace some of the Tridents and Presidents.
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
that operates buses in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England. It is the second largest bus fleet in the city.
History
Stagecoach in Hull's origins can be traced back to the municipalMunicipal bus companies
A municipal bus company is an operator of bus services owned by the local government authority. This article lists all current municipal bus companies in the United Kingdom....
-owned Hull Corporation Transport, which, in addition to conventional buses, also operated trams and trolleybuses in the city.
By the late 1970s/early 1980s, Hull Corporation became Kingston-upon-Hull City Transport (KHCT) and, as had been the case for decades, KHCT shared Hull's bus network with the then National Bus Company (NBC) subsidiary East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services is a large bus and coach operator which operates throughout Kingston upon Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors. In and around Scarborough, EYMS operates as Scarborough & District Motor Services...
(EYMS). In 1986, the then Conservative Transport Secretary
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
, Nicholas Ridley
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, PC was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Personal life:...
, ordered the deregulation of the British bus industry
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
.
As a consequence, the ownership of KHCT changed from Hull City Council
Hull City Council
Hull City Council is the governing body for the unitary authority and city of Kingston upon Hull. It was created in 1972 as the successor to the Corporation of Hull, which was also known as Hull Corporation....
to an arms-length private company owned by the council. Furthermore co-ordination/co-operation of the Hull bus network between KHCT and East Yorkshire, which was now owned by its management, was deemed illegal and the two operators became engaged in fierce competition from the late 1980s to the early/mid 1990s.
East Yorkshire began to operate on much of KHCT's network of services and KHCT's position was compounded by smaller-sized competitors entering Hull's bus network - including Connor & Graham, Metro Citybus, Pride of the Road/North Bank Travel and City Traveller. These operators mainly focused upon the profitable corridors of Hull's bus network, with elderly/second-hand vehicles and in some, not all, cases a low-fare down-market image. These operators would eventually fade away, either going bankrupt or taken over. in particular by EYMS, and as a consequence KHCT was making losses and was itself subject to a hostile takeover bid from EYMS. KHCT rejected the EYMS bid but, faced with escalating losses and increased competition, a decision was taken by Hull City Council to sell KHCT in December 1993 to Stockton-based Cleveland Transit, which itself had been the object of takeover interest from EYMS. This deal also offered KHCT's employees a 49% stake in the business, and at the time Cleveland Transit was considered one of the emerging 'groups' within the British bus industry, with acquisitions in Teeside, North/East Yorkshire and County Durham.
However, throughout 1994 Stagecoach Holdings plc
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
pursued a phase of expansion in the North East of England, which saw it acquire the former Tyne & Wear PTE
Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive
The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive using the brandname of Nexus, is the Passenger Transport Executive for the Tyne and Wear region of North East England....
operation Busways Travel Services Ltd.
Busways Travel Services Ltd.
Busways Travel Services Limited was a large bus operator in the 1990s in the north east of England. In July 1995 Busways was acquired by Stagecoach Group.-PTE divestment:...
from its management and employees in July 1994 and then Cleveland Transit in September that year too. Initially, KHCT's blue/white livery, albeit a modified version based upon Cleveland Transit's current green livery, was maintained by Stagecoach. However by December 1995 KHCT became known as Stagecoach Kingston Upon Hull, later Stagecoach in Hull, with the Stagecoach corporate livery being introduced to Hull by spring of 1996. More recently, the management of Stagecoach in Hull has been transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands
Stagecoach East Midlands
Stagecoach East Midlands is a bus company, part of the Stagecoach Group.Its headquarters are in Lincoln, England, and it operates services under the following brand names:*Stagecoach in Bassetlaw*Stagecoach in Mansfield*Stagecoach Grimsby-Cleethorpes...
, and since the early 2000s a more co-ordinated pattern of competition has been reached with East Yorkshire in the running of Hull's bus network.
Stagecoach in Hull uses the Cleveland Transit operating licence.
Services
Stagecoach provide mainly local services within the city boundary, with the addition of the X62 service to LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
(via Goole
Goole
Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
) and services to Wawne
Wawne
Wawne , also spelled Waghen, is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England; it is first mentioned in 1086...
, Cottingham
Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire
Cottingham is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies just to the north-west of the city of Kingston upon Hull...
, and Hedon
Hedon
Hedon is a small town and civil parish in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of Hull city centre. It lies to the north of the A1033 road at the crossroads of the B1240 and B1362 roads....
, all in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. Stagecoach Hull also operates part of service 350 'Humber Fastcat' to Barton and Scunthorpe in association with Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot and East Yorkshire Motor Services.
To assist the elderly and disabled, some routes have low-floor buses. Many services operate on a 10 min frequency, known as Frequento, although there are also many specialist services, which may operate only once or twice a day, such at the Mecca Bingo services, and the service to the King George Dock Ferry Terminal.
Services in the main operate from the new integrated transport hub known as Hull Paragon Interchange which opened on 16 September 2007, though a few services operate from other parts of the city centre, such as King Edward Street, Storey Street and Prospect Street.
Although most routes operate all week, some routes do not operate on Sundays, and some operate only on Sundays. On Bank Holidays, a Sunday service is usually operated.
Other bus services are available within the city. The main competitor is East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services is a large bus and coach operator which operates throughout Kingston upon Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors. In and around Scarborough, EYMS operates as Scarborough & District Motor Services...
, with a comparable operation but a greater service to the outlying villages.
Vehicles
A wide variety of vehicles are used on the services provided by Stagecoach in Hull.The fleet consists of:
21 Volvo Olympians
50 Dennis Tridents
17 Plaxton Presidents (Dennis)
14 10 Reg Enviro 300
6 09 Reg Enviro 300
3 Volvo Vykings For the X62 Leeds service
26 Dennis Darts
2 Optare Solo's
5 Volvo Jonckheere Mistral for Megabus services
9 60 Reg Enviro 400
The newest buses in the fleet are the 9 Enviro 400s which were bought for the
Frequento route 30 to replace some of the Tridents and Presidents.