Stagecoach in Preston

Stagecoach in Preston was a network of bus routes running within the city of Preston, Lancashire and into the surrounding area. It was founded in 2009 after Stagecoach Group acquired Preston Bus that was founded in 1904. The company operated from the main depot on Deepdale Road and their other depot on Selbourne Street. In January 2011, the company was sold to Rotala, which now operates the services under the Preston Bus brand.

Stagecoach in Preston
A Stagecoach in Preston East Lancs Esteem
ParentStagecoach Group
Founded2009
Defunct19 January 2011 (Rotala)
HeadquartersPreston/Carlisle
Service areaLancashire
Service typeBus services
DestinationsPreston, Southport, Blackpool, Wigan
DepotsDeepdale Rd, Deepdale, Preston and Selbourne St, Preston
Fleet221
OperatorStagecoach North West
Websitewww.prestonbus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com/northwest

History

Preston Bus was founded in 1904 as Preston District Travel, and as was bought from the local authority by its employees in 1993 as part of deregulation. It became a limited company.

In 2006, Stagecoach North West set up various services using a fleet of new & old Optare Solos, Dennis Enviro 400s, and new & old Dennis Dart SLFs in order to compete with Preston Bus. They were branded as "Preston Citi". Competition grew into a bus war with Stagecoach offering lower fares on the busiest routes.[1][2]

Both companies accused each other of unprofessional behaviour, with some Stagecoach drivers reported to have thrown eggs at Preston Buses.[3]

On 10 June 2008, both companies were agreed to a code of practice by the traffic commissioner.[4] Competition continued, Stagecoach operating routes within Preston and Preston Bus operating a route between Preston and Penwortham.

On 30 December 2008, it was announced that Stagecoach had approached Preston Bus to negotiate a possible sale. This was agreed and on 23 January 2009 Stagecoach North West purchased Preston Bus for £10.4 million.[5] From March 2009, the combined network of routes was rebranded as Stagecoach in Preston.

On 28 May 2009, the Office of Fair Trading announced that it was referring the purchase of Preston Bus by Stagecoach to the Competition Commission.[6] Their provisional findings were that the purchase has reduced competition and may potentially harm the interests of passengers. Possible remedies involved the sale of part or all of the business and measures to encourage new entry by other operators, as well as controls on fares and requirements to maintain service levels. The final report was due by 12 November 2009.[7]

On 12 November 2009, the Competition Commission submitted that Stagecoach would have to sell a "reconfigured" (i.e. profit making) Preston Bus. Stagecoach had some freedom over what it sells, although it had to be approved by the Competition Commission.

Stagecoach appealed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, stating that the Competition Commission's decision was "perverse and irrational" and that the Commission had committed an error in law with its use of the counterfactual argument and handling of Stagecoach's responses.

When the Competition Appeals Tribuneral announced their verdict, Stagecoach began actively looking for a buyer. The result was that Stagecoach retained route 11. Things reverted to how they were before the takeover, with services transferring between Stagecoach and Preston Bus. Service 7 was withdrawn, and service 4 revised among other changes. Services 19, 22 & 8 reverted from giving change to fast fare. The 19-22 system was replaced by the original system operated by Preston Bus, and smaller buses were now used on the 19.

From the moment the Competition Commission announced it was investigating, Stagecoach stopped repainting buses out of Preston Bus livery. Some of those that were painted in Stagecoach colours were later returned to Preston Bus livery before the sale.

In January 2011, the company was sold to Rotala, which now operates the services under the Preston Bus brand.

Routes

Below are the routes operated by Stagecoach in Preston in March 2010:

No. From To Via Fast Fare/Gives Change Main Bus(es) Used Main Frequency Notes
citi 1 Preston Bus Station Stand 69 Longridge Post Office Ribbleton Avenue, Grimsargh Gives Change Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Dennis Trident/ALX400 10 minutes run alongside service 11 in time providing 5 minute freq. till Grange
citi 2 Preston Bus Station Stand 61 Southport Hutton, Longton, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank Gives Change Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Dennis Trident/ALX 400 2 per hour Preston to Hesketh Bank, 1 per hour continuing to Southport.
citi 2A Preston Bus Station Stand 61 Ormskirk Bus Station Hutton, Longton, Tarleton, Burscough Gives Change Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Dennis Trident/ALX 400 1 per hour Runs alongside 2 providing 20 minute frequency between Preston & Tarleton
2B Preston Bus Station Stand 61 Ormskirk Bus Station Stand 6 New Longton, Longton, Tarleton, Burscough Gives Change Optare Solo 1 hour Subsidised by Lancs County Council
citi 3 Preston Bus Station Stand 65 Penwortham Cop Lane Gives Change Optare Esteem, Dennis Dart SLF/Pointer, Optare Versa, MAN 18.220 7/8 minutes
citi 3A Preston Bus Station Stand 63 Penwortham Clive Road Broadgate, Hill Road South, Central Drive Fast Fare Optare Solo 1 hour Subsidised By Lancs County Council.
citi 3B Preston Bus Station Stand 63 Longton Broadgate, Hill Road South, Whitestake, New Longton Fast Fare Optare Solo 1 hour Subs. by LCC. Run alongside 3A to provide 30 min freq. till Hill Road South.
4 Preston Bus Station Stand 12 Chipping Garstang Rd, Watling St Rd, Royal Preston Hospital, Wychnor, Woodplumpton, Whittingham, Longridge Post Office Gives Change Optare Solo 1 hour Network Ribble Valley. Subsidised by Lancashire County Council
citi 7 Preston Bus Station Stand 16 Brookfield Garstang Road, Watling Street Road Fast Fare Optare Solo, Leyland Olympian 15 minutes Easy access buses aren't used only 4 specified times a day.

citi 8 Preston Bus Station Stand 73 Moor Nook Ribbleton Avenue Fast Fare Optare Solo 10 minutes
citi 9 Preston Bus Station Stand 74 Moor Nook New Hall Lane, Miller Road Gives Change Optare Esteem, Dennis Dart SLF/Pointer, Dennis Dart SLF/Capital, Dennis Dart SLF/Spryte, MAN 18.220 10 minutes Run alongside service 8 in time providing service to Moor Nook 5 min freq
citi 11 Preston Bus Station Stand 71 Gamull Lane Ribbleton Avenue, Grange Estate Fast Fare Dennis Trident/Lolyne, Optare Esteem, Scania Omnidekka, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 (full) 10 minutes run alongside service 1 in time providing 5 min freq. till Gamull Lane
citi 14 Preston Bus Station Stand 18 Fairfax Road St Paul's Road, St George's Road, St Gregory's Road, Holme Slack Fast Fare Optare Solo 15 minutes
citi 16 Preston Bus Station Stand 75 Farringdon Park New Hall Lane Fast Fare Optare Esteem, Dennis Trident/ALX 400, Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, MAN 18.220 10 minutes
citi 19 Preston Bus Station Stand 19 Royal Preston Hospital Hospital Turning Circle Deepdale Road, Watling Street Road Fast Fare Optare Esteem, Dennis Dart SLF/Pointer, Dennis Dart SLF/Capital, Dennis Dart SLF/Spryte, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Dennis Trident/ALX 400, Optare Versa, MAN 18.220 10 minutes Continues as service 22 to Preston City Centre

citi 19A Preston Bus Station Stand 21 Royal Preston Hospital Main Entrance Deepdale Road, Watling Street Road, Sharoe Green Lane, Hospital Turning Circle, Broadwood Drive Estate Fast Fare Optare Solo 10 minutes Run alongside 19 to provide service to RPH via Watling St Rd every 5 minutes
citi 22 Preston Bus Station Stand 22 Royal Preston Hospital Main Entrance Adelphi Street, Plunington Road, Black Bull Lane Fast Fare Optare Esteem, Dennis Dart SLF/Pointer, Dennis Dart SLF/Capital, Dennis Dart SLF/Spryte, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Dennis Trident/ALX 400, Optare Versa, MAN 18.220 10 minutes Continues as service 19 to Preston City Centre
citi 23 Preston Bus Station Stand 23 Fulwood Asda Adelphi Street, Plunington Road, Black Bull Lane, Royal Preston Hospital "Turning Circle", Sherwood Fast Fare Dennis Trident/Lolyne, Scania Omnidekka 10 minutes Run alongside 22 to provide service to RPH via Plungington Rd every 5 minutes
citi 29
citi 29A		 Preston Bus Station Stand 58 Frenchwood London Road (29) or Manchester Road (29A) Fast Fare Optare Solo 30 minutes Subsidised by Lancashire County Council
citi 31 Preston Bus Station Stand 33 Savick Brook Street, Eldon Street, Lane Ends Fast Fare Optare Solo 15 minutes
citi 35 Preston Bus Station Stand 33 Tanterton Fylde Road, Lane Ends, Tag Lane Fast Fare Dennis Trident/Lolyne, Scania Omnidekka 7/8 minutes
citi 44 Preston Bus Station Stand 35 Ingol Dunbar Road Plungington Road, Eldon Street, Lane Ends, Tag Lane, Redcar Avenue Fast Fare Optare Solo 15 minutes
61 Preston Bus Station Stand 66 Blackpool Talbot Road T6 Lane Ends, Blackpool Road, Lea, Kirkham Gives Change Dennis Trident/Lolyne, Dennis Trident/ALX 400 30 minutes
Coastliner 68 Preston Bus Station Stand 68 Blackpool Talbot Road T6 Tulketh Road, Blackpool Road, Lea, Freckleton, Warton, Lytham, St Annes Gives Change Dennis Trident/ALX 400, Dennis Trident/Lolyne, Optare Esteem 15 minutes
citi 81 Preston Bus Station Stand 56 Conway Drive Lane Ends, Mill Lane Gives Change Optare Solo 1 hour Subsidised by Lancashire County Council
citi 87 Preston Bus Station Stand 25 Lea Dodney Drive Lane Ends, Blackpool Road, Larches Avenue Fast Fare Optare Solo 30 minutes Non- Easy Access Buses rarely used.
Orbit 88A Preston Bus Station Stand 17 Preston Bus Station Stand 17 Deepdale Road, Brookfield, Blue Bell Way, Fulwood Asda, Sherwood Way, Royal Preston Hospital, Cadley Causeway, Tag Lane, Cottam, Larches, Mariners Way Fast Fare Optare Solo 15 minutes Preston orbit anti-clockwise
Orbit 88C Preston Bus Station Stand 27 Preston Bus Station Stand 27 Mariners Way, Larches, Cottam, Tag Lane, Cadley Causeway, Royal Preston Hospital, Sherwood Way, Fulwood Asda, Blue Bell Way, Brookfield, Deepdale Road Fast Fare Optare Solo 15 minutes Preston orbit clockwise

citi 89 Preston Bus Station Stand 25 Lea Dodney Drive Mariners Way, Pedders Lane, Blackpool Road, Larches Avenue Fast Fare Leyland Olympian, Optare Solo 30 minutes Easy Access Buses (the Solos) used 30% of the time
113 Preston Bus Station Stand 59 Wigan Bus Station Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Farington, Leyland, Eccleston, Standish Gives Change Optare Solo 1 hour Subsidised by Lancashire County Council, Sundays don't operate from Preston, so subsidised by GMPTE.
Boomerang 150
151		 Preston Bus Station Stand 6 Bamber Bridge Higher Walton, Gregson Lane Gives Change Optare Solo 30 minutes Evening and Sunday journeys subsidised by Lancashire County Council
X2 Preston Bus Station Stand 63 Liverpool Queen Square A59, Tarleton, Southport, Formby, Bootle Gives Change Scania E400/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 30 minutes Listed as Best UK Express Bus Service 2009
X59 Preston Bus Station Stand 11 Blackburn Bus Station L Samlesbury, Mellor Brook, Beardwood Gives Change Volvo Olympian, Coaches, Optare Solo 1 hour Also branded as Stagecoach Express, Optare Solos used during evenings.
X61 Blackpool Talbot Rd T6 Manchester Shudehill Interchange (M55)-Kirkham, Preston Bus Station Stand 11, Frenchwood (M65,M61) - Chorley, Horwich (M61) Salford Gives Change Scania E400/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400, Volvo Olympian, Coaches Every hour until 4pm. Also branded as Stagecoach Express, Easy Access buses used 50% of the time.

Preston park and ride
Main article: Preston park and ride

All park and ride buses are Easy Access Services 1 & 2 primarily use Optare Solo SRs, Optare Solos are additionally used at peak periods. The Orbits are 88A & 88C and therefore use Optare Solos.

No. From To Fast Fare/Gives Change Notes
1 Preston Portway Gives Change
2 Preston Walton-le-Dale Gives Change
orbits Preston Bluebell Way Fast Fare

School services

Stagecoach in Preston also provided school buses to secondary school and colleges in Preston and the Wyre, running as far as Cabus and Garstang to the north, Accrington to the east, Chorley to the south and Blackpool to the west.

Brands

Stagecoach in Preston has 6 different brands for services.

Preston Citi - 1, 2, 3, 3A, 3B, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 19A, 22, 23, 29, 31, 35, 44, 81, 87 and 89.
Preston Orbit - 88A, 88C
Fylde Coastliner - 61, 68.
Stagecoach Express - X61
Boomerang - 150, 151
Route 113 - 113
X2 - X2
Park & Ride - 1 Portway, 2 Walton-le-Dale, Orbit serves Bluebell Way
Others - 2B, X59

Depots

Stagecoach in Preston use two depots.

The main one is the one previously owned by Preston Bus, on Deepdale Road. This can hold over 150 buses and holds all buses in Preston Bus Livery, Citi Livery and Stagecoach in Preston livery.

The other smaller one is on Selbourne Street. This holds buses in the liveries of Fylde Coastliner, Network Ribble Valley, 113, those still in Stagecoach in Lancashire and Boomerang Livery. It is also where the outstations at Fleetwood and Clitheroe report to. This was previously owned by Stagecoach in Lancashire, and before that Ribble Motor Services. Before 2005 this had been rated as one of the worst Stagecoach depots in the UK for timekeeping, because at the time it mainly relied on interurbans.

Fleet

At Stagecoach Takeover

The Preston Bus fleet was originally all double deckers, but latterly the company moved to single deckers and midibuses, with the most common vehicle as of 2008 being the Optare Solo midibus.

When Stagecoach took over Preston Bus in 2009, the fleet comprised

When sold to Rotala

When Preston Bus was sold to Rotala in January 2011, the fleet comprised:

  • 34 Optare Solo midibuses bought between 2001 and 2009.
  • 8 Optare Solo SR midibuses with leather seats and television screens bought in 2008 for Park & Ride services. All in Preston Park & Ride livery.
  • 1 Leyland Lynx
  • 10 Scania large single-deckers/Optare Esteem bought between 2006 and 2007.
  • 1 DAF SB220/Optare Delta Driver Trainer
  • 13 Leyland Olympian
  • 18 Dennis Trident 2/East Lancs Lolyne double deckers, bought between 1999 and 2000.
  • 2 Scania N94UD OmniDekka, bought in 2006.

Easy Access Bus

The majority of buses in the Stagecoach in Preston fleet are Easy Accessible. Optare Solos, Dennis Tridents, Optare Esteems, Optare Solo SRs, Optare Versas, MANs, Enviro 400s, and Dennis Dart SLFs are all Easy Access. Services 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 19A, 22, 23, 29, 35, 44, 68, 81, Orbits, 113, 150, 151, and X2 are all completely Easy Access. All the others except service 89 are often Easy Access. Service 7 has specified times that aren't Easy access, four times a day.[8]

See also

References
  1. How Preston's bus wars have been fought - Lancashire Evening Post
  2. Bus giant accused of 'dirty tactics' - Lancashire Evening Post
  3. Legal loophole delay for egg-throwing drivers - Lancashire Evening Post
  4. Preston bus and Stagecoach agree a code of conduct - Preston Bus Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. We were forced to sell - Lancashire Evening Post
  6. "OFT refers Stagecoach's Preston Bus acquisition to Competition Commission" (Press release). Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  7. "Preston Bus merger has reduced competition" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  8. Stagecoach Northwest
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