Latest news with #FirstBus
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Scottish transport company acquires historic English bus firm
Aberdeen-based FirstGroup has bought Tetley's Motor Services Limited, a historic Leeds-based coach and bus operator that has operated for over 75 years. It operates from a large depot which it owns in central Leeds and has a fleet of 55 coaches and buses. Managing Director Ian Tetley will remain with the business as a director while it is integrated into First Bus. READ MORE: Huge drugs bust in Glasgow as £3.68 million worth of cocaine seized by police Commenting on the acquisition, CEO of FirstGroup Graham Sutherland, said: 'I am very pleased to welcome Tetley's Coaches to the Group. This is a well-established, profitable business with its own large, centrally located depot and a strong contract base. As we work to grow our adjacent services market share, this strategic acquisition will complement our York Pullman and Lakeside businesses and expand our operational footprint and contract portfolio in one of our key markets.'
BBC News
29-07-2025
- BBC News
Cyclist seriously injured at Colney after crash with bus and car
A cyclist has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash involving a bus and a services were called to the B1108 Old Watton Road, Colney, near Norwich, at just after 17:40 collision involved a Mini Cooper and the number 21 First Bus and the male cyclist was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for Police is appealing for witness and particularly want to hear from any of the bus passengers. The road was closed after the crash but has since reopened. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Herald Scotland
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish bus company unveils major deal in 'key market'
Leeds-based Tetley's Motor Services operates from a large depot which it owns in the centre of the Yorkshire city, FirstGroup noted as it announced the purchase of this business. The [[Aberdeen]] group, noting Tetley's is a "profitable" business in a "key" market, observed this depot is 'adjacent to the…existing First Bus Hunslet Park depot'. Tetley's has a fleet of 55 coaches and buses and 'a diverse portfolio of high-capacity adjacent services contracts including for schools, universities, workplace shuttles and private hire in central Leeds and throughout the West Yorkshire Combined Authority area', FirstGroup observed. The Scottish company added that a 'high proportion' of the contract portfolio of Tetley's has recently been renewed. For the 12 months to March 31, 2024, Tetley's reported revenues of £5.3 million and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of £1.4m. FirstGroup said that Ian Tetley, managing director of Tetley's, will 'remain with the business as a director while it is integrated into First Bus'. Read more Graham Sutherland, chief executive of FirstGroup, said: 'I am very pleased to welcome Tetley's Coaches to the group. This is a well-established, profitable business with its own large, centrally located depot and a strong contract base. 'As we work to grow our adjacent services market share, this strategic acquisition will complement our York Pullman and Lakeside businesses and expand our operational footprint and contract portfolio in one of our key markets.' FirstGroup has unveiled a slew of acquisitions in recent months. At the end of February, it completed the purchase of RATP Dev Transit London Limited and its subsidiaries, declaring that the acquisition of this major operator owned by the French government facilitated 'the group's entry into the London bus market with a strong position and supports the group's strategy of growing and diversifying its revenue base'. Also in February, FirstGroup announced the purchase of a family-owned coach and bus operator in Ireland founded about three decades ago, Matthews Coach Hire.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- BBC News
New night routes and earlier starts for Bristol's buses
A number of changes have been announced to bus routes in Bristol, including the city's first ever 24-hour Bus said it was also adding earlier journeys onto some routes and extending the length of others to improve its operator said it was also boosting services between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, the city centre and student changes will come in from 31 August, when the m1 metrobus service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a new half-hourly overnight service designed "to keep pace with the needs of our vibrant night-time economy", First Bus said. The M1 metrobus operates between Cribbs Causeway and Hengrove 39 and 1 will run overnight services from Monday to Saturday, with the 2/2a, 4, 5, 6, 73 and 74 operating overnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Among the routes being extended are the 16, which will now run from Fishponds to Whitchurch via Temple Meads creating a new link between the south and east of the city, and the 43, which is being rerouted to include Temple Meads 1, 24, 41, 72, 73 and 74 will start earlier on week days, First Bus said, to better serve those working early shifts. George Burton, head of network for First Bus in the West of England, said: "These changes are designed to support people who live, work and study in the city and to keep pace with the needs of our vibrant night-time economy."He thanked Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority for their support for the are advised to check time tables before travelling when the changes come into information about changes to services can be found on the First Bus website.
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Innovative First Bus AI timetables help service reliability hit new heights in Glasgow following £3 million investment in improving services
Glasgow's biggest bus operator sees 13.5% improvement in on-time performance across its network Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A £3 million investment by First Bus in Glasgow has led to a significant 13.5% average increase in on-time performance across its services. The investment was made in bus and driver resource to implement new timetables created by AI-driven software, which works to account for issues on the route, ultimately aiming to increase the reliability of its services and create an improved experience for customers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The introduction of AI-driven software to create more accurate and reliable timetables has been a cornerstone of this improvement, with the new approach accounting for real-life conditions such as road congestion and ongoing roadworks. First Bus Following the introduction of the latest timetabling in June, the operator has achieved a 13.5% improvement this year across over 60 routes in Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire. Some services have seen notable increases, including the East Kilbride to Clydebank service 6 with 23.1% increase in reliability, service X11 from Buchanan Bus Station with 25.9%, service 4 with 27.5% and service 4a which achieved the most impressive boost of 32.8%. By achieving an increase in reliability of service, First Bus hopes to encourage more people to use the bus and embrace sustainable travel. First Bus as a business is committed to achieving a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 and wants to offer Glasgow commuters the opportunity to choose a greener way to travel, that will also get them where they need to go on time While the investment has proved to be effective, it underscores a broader issue facing public transport in Glasgow. The £3 million spent to combat congestion is money that could have been used to expand the network, introduce new routes, or reduce fares for customers. This highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive bus priority measures within the city to ensure that resources can be directed towards further enhancing the public transport system rather than merely maintaining it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Duncan Cameron, Managing Director of First Bus Scotland, commented: 'The results speak for themselves. Our buses are now more reliable and timely, providing our customers with a service they can depend on. We're proud to say that these changes mark a significant improvement in our Glasgow services, something we will continue to build on as we look to embrace more modern technology. 'Our aim is always to improve our services and provide the best possible experience for our passengers. It is vital more people start to consider bus as an attractive, sustainable travel option and we hope these results go some way to achieving that. However, the lack of sufficient bus priority measures forces us to allocate significant funds just to maintain reliability amidst increasing congestion. 'With better support from city infrastructure, we could invest more in expanding our network or lowering fares, making bus travel even more accessible and affordable.'
