View source for Transdev Blazefield

{{short description|Bus operating group in England}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name           = Transdev Blazefield
|logo           = [[File:Transdev GmbH logo.svg|250px]]<br >[[File:Transdev Blazefield Logo.svg|250px]]
|image          = 840 Coastliner at the top of Blue Bank.jpg
|logo_size      = 250
|parent         = [[Transdev]]
|founded        = {{Start date and age|1991|08}}
|headquarters   = [[Harrogate]], [[North Yorkshire]]<br>England
|service_area   = {{plainlist|
* [[Greater Manchester]]
* [[Lancashire]]
* [[North Yorkshire]]
* [[West Yorkshire]]}}
|service_type   = Bus and coach
|website        = {{url|https://www.transdevbus.co.uk}}
|leader_type    = Managing Director
|leader         = Henri Rohard<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 August 2023 |title=Our new electric buses |url=https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate/our-new-electric-buses |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230817202625/https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate/our-new-electric-buses |archive-date=17 August 2023 |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Transdev}}</ref>
|depots         = 9}}
'''Transdev Blazefield''' is a bus group, which operates local and regional bus services across [[Greater Manchester]], [[Lancashire]], [[North Yorkshire]] and [[West Yorkshire]], England. Formed in August 1991, the group has been a subsidiary of French-based operator [[Transdev]] since January 2006.<ref name="busandcoach.com">{{cite web |date=7 January 2006 |title=Transdev Acquires  Blazefield Group |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=448&categoryid=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195107if_/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=448&categoryid=0 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref><ref name="Briggs">{{cite web |last=Briggs |first=Ian |date=9 January 2006 |title=A new stop for Blazefield |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/a-new-stop-for-blazefield-1-2600335 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092036/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/a-new-stop-for-blazefield-1-2600335 |archive-date=15 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=[[Yorkshire Post]]}}</ref>

==History==
=== AJS Group ===
In September 1987, [[West Yorkshire Road Car Company]] was sold to [[AJS Group]] in a [[Management buyout|management buy-out]] from the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]], with the participation of former [[East Yorkshire (bus company)|East Yorkshire Motor Services]] managing director, Alan Stephenson.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 September 1987 |title=West Yorks goes private |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-september-1987/24/west-yorks-goes-private |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=24}}</ref> In April 1988, AJS acquired [[London Country North East]] from the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]], the last of 72 subsidiaries to be privatised.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 April 1988 |title=NBC sale is completed with London Country NE |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-april-1988/16/nbc-sale-is-completed-with-london-country-ne |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=16}}</ref><ref name="BusesFocusSep96">{{cite magazine |last=Morris |first=Stephen |date=September 1996 |title=NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries |magazine=Buses Focus |page=46}}</ref> Prior to the sale, the company was split in two, with [[London Country North East#County Bus & Coach|County Bus & Coach]] and [[London Country North East#Sovereign Bus & Coach|Sovereign Bus & Coach]].{{Efn|County Bus & Coach was not included in the later sale to Blazefield Group.}}

In August 1989, operations in [[Bradford]] and [[Leeds]] were transferred to [[Yorkshire Rider]]. The remaining operations of the former West Yorkshire Road Car Company were subsequently split into smaller companies: [[Keighley Bus Company|Keighley & District]], [[Harrogate Bus Company|Harrogate & District]] and [[First York|York City & District]].<ref>{{cite web |date=27 July 1989 |title=WYRC in takeover deal |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-july-1989/16/wyrc-in-takeover-deal |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=16}}</ref>{{Efn|Local bus operations within York later became part of First York.}} In July 1990, operation of local bus services in [[York]] were also transferred to Yorkshire Rider.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 July 1990 |title=Rider takes control |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/26th-july-1990/19/rider-takes-control |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=19}}</ref>

AJS also acquired Cambridge Coach Services, which operated coach services from [[Cambridge]], day tours, short breaks and charters.<ref>{{cite book |last=Neale |first=Jim |title=Cambridge Coach Services from the Driver's Seat |date=2013 |publisher=Burbus Publications |isbn=978-0-9575996-0-4 |location=Burwell |page=15}}</ref> The company began operations on 20 May 1990,<ref>{{cite book |last=Neale |first=Jim |title=Cambridge Coach Services from the Driver's Seat |date=2013 |publisher=Burbus Publications |isbn=978-0-9575996-0-4 |location=Burwell |page=20}}</ref> following the sale of Premier Travel Services bus operations to [[Stagecoach in Cambridge|Cambus Holdings]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Neale |first=Jim |title=Cambridge Coach Services from the Driver's Seat |date=2013 |publisher=Burbus Publications |isbn=978-0-9575996-0-4 |location=Burwell |page=32}}</ref>

=== Blazefield Group ===
In August 1991 AJS was sold in a [[management buyout]] to a new company, Blazefield Holdings, owned by former directors, Giles Fearnley and Stuart Wilde – a deal valued at £2.2 million. The sale included seven of the company's eight remaining bus firms at the time, as well as 300 vehicles and 12 depots.  The sale did not include Cambridge Coach services, although that company continued to be operated by Blazefield Holdings while a buyer was sought between August and November 1991.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=8 August 1991 |title=AJS sells remaining bus firms |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-august-1991/16/ajs-sells-remaining-bus-firms |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=16}}</ref> Initially, there were seven operating subsidiaries: [[Keighley Bus Company|Keighley & District]], [[Harrogate Bus Company|Harrogate & District]], Harrogate Independent Travel, [[London Country North East|Sovereign Bus & Coach]], [[London Country North East|Sovereign Harrow]] and Welwyn Hatfield Line.
Following sale to the Blazefield Group, expansion soon followed, with the purchase of Cambridge Coach Services in November 1991, along with 14 vehicles and Lucketts of [[Watford]] trading as Luckybus (not to be confused with [[Lucketts Travel]] on the South Coast). Ingfield of Settle was purchased in April 1992, and was merged with Keighley-based Northern Rose to form Ingfield–Northern Rose.

In 1986, Harrogate Independent Travel had been set up by a number of West Yorkshire Road Car Company drivers, in a bid to challenge their former employer. The company was subsequently purchased by AJS Group in April 1989,<ref>{{cite web |date=20 April 1989 |title=AJS swallows Challenger |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/20th-april-1989/18/ajs-swallows-challenger |website=[[Commercial Motor]] |page=18}}</ref> before being merged with Harrogate & District in 1993. Harrogate & District further expanded in October 1996, following the acquisition of the [[Ripon]] bus operations of [[United Automobile Services]] from [[Cowie Group]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkinson |first=Keith A. |title=Small is Beautiful: The Story of the AJS Group and Blazefield Holdings |publisher=Autobus Review |year=1999 |isbn=0907834426 |location=Bradford}}</ref>

In 1994, Blazefield purchased [[Borehamwood Travel Services]], along with 43 vehicles – 22 of which were [[AEC Routemaster]]s. The company was later renamed [[London Sovereign]]. In the same year, Ingfield–Northern Rose purchased Whaites Coaches of Settle. By this time, the group owned around 380 vehicles.

In 1998, Huntingdon & District was created with the operations of Premier Buses, owned by [[Julian Peddle]]. It was sold to Cavalier of Sutton Bridge in 2004.

In April 2001, Stagecoach sold their operations in [[Blackburn]], [[Bolton]] and [[Clitheroe]] to the Blazefield Group, which rebranded them as Burnley & Pendle and Lancashire United. The sale was valued at £13 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 April 2001 |title=Stagecoach sells some North-West operations for £13 million |url=https://m.stagecoachgroup.com/media/news-releases/archive/2001-04-26.aspx |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=[[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]]}}</ref> In August 2002, the depot in [[Bolton]] was sold to [[Blue Bus and Coach Services]].<ref>{{cite web |date=26 June 2002 |title=Blue Bus set to take over United routes |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5961288.blue-bus-set-to-take-over-united-routes/ |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=[[The Bolton News]] }}</ref>

Over the next three years, Blazefield gradually withdrew from its operations in the south of England.<ref name="B&CJul04">{{cite web |date=9 July 2004 |title=Blazefield sells up in the South |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=466&categoryid=0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916205119/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=466&categoryid=0 |archive-date=16 September 2012 |access-date=24 February 2013 |work=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref> In 2002, [[London Sovereign]] was sold to [[Transdev S.A.]], with Huntingdon & District sold to Cavalier Travel the following year. In 2004, operations in [[St Albans]] were sold to [[Centrebus]].<ref name="B&CJul04" /> In early 2005, the [[Competition Commission]] cleared Blazefield's deal to sell what was left of London Sovereign to [[Arriva Shires & Essex]].<ref name="CompetitionCommissionDec04">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050303004848/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/completed/2005/arriva/prov_find_report.pdf The proposed acquisition by Arriva plc of the business of Sovereign Bus & Coach Company Ltd]}} [[Competition Commission]] December 2004</ref>

=== Transdev ===
In January 2006, French-based operator [[Transdev]] acquired the Blazefield Group, along with 305 vehicles.<ref name="busandcoach.com"/><ref name="Briggs"/>

In August 2006, [[Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council]] announced that after 125 years of municipal ownership, [[Blackburn Transport]] had been sold to Transdev Blazefield. The sale was finalised in January 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 August 2006 |title=Chester for sale and Blackburn for Blazefield |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812175010/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=939&categoryid=0 |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=939&categoryid=0 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bartlett |first=David |date=16 August 2006 |title=Burnley buys up Blackburn buses |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/881010.burnley-buys-blackburn-buses/ |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=[[Lancashire Telegraph]] }}</ref> Eight months later, Accrington Transport and [[Transdev Northern Blue|Northern Blue]] were acquired, along with the transfer of staff and 65 vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Watkinson |first=David |date=6 August 2007 |title=Bus firms in takeover |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1598862.bus-firms-takeover/ |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=[[Lancashire Telegraph]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 August 2007 |title=Blazefield buys again in Lancashire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813175657/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1509&categoryid=0 |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1509&categoryid=0 |archive-date=13 August 2012 |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref>

In August 2008, Top Line Travel and [[Veolia Transport]] were purchased.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 June 2008 |title=Blazefield expands with York deal |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1958&categoryid=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030154516/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1958&categoryid=0 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref> The company further expanded in February 2012, following the purchase of [[York Pullman]]'s local bus operations. The sale included the transfer of 31 staff and 17 vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Liptrot |first=Katie |date=4 February 2012 |title=York bus firm sells vehicles to rival |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9513056.york-pullman-sells-vehicles-to-veolia-transdev/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=[[York Press]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=7 February 2012 |title=Transdev buys York Pullman’s bus ops |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/transdev-buys-york-pullmans-bus-ops/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=Coach & Bus Week }}</ref>

Following the granting of approval on 20 December 2017, [[Rosso (bus company)|Rossendale Transport Limited]] was sold by [[Rossendale Borough Council]] on 12 January 2018.<ref name=":032">{{cite web |last=Green |first=Charlotte |date=15 December 2017 |title=Council-owned Rosso bus to be sold to private operator |url=https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/council-owned-rosso-bus-sold-14042295 |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=[[Rossendale Free Press]] }}</ref><ref name=":132">{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Brad |date=15 December 2017 |title=Proposed takeover of Bury bus services announced |url=https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/15775898.proposed-takeover-of-bury-bus-services-announced/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=Bury Times }}</ref><ref name=":332">{{cite web |last=Dougall |first=Emily |date=3 January 2018 |title=Rosso sale to Transdev confirmed |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/rosso-sale-transdev-confirmed/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=Coach & Bus Week }}</ref> The sale saw the company's 240 staff and 102 vehicles join Transdev Blazefield – a move which saw the investment of £3 million in a new fleet of high-specification vehicles for routes in and around [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]], [[Rochdale]] and [[Rossendale Valley|Rossendale]].<ref name=":232">{{cite web |date=21 December 2017 |title=£3 million investment promised in Rossendale for bus users as Rossendale Borough Council approves the sale of Rosso to Transdev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224213915/http://www.rossobus.com/feature-article.shtml?articleid=7925 |url=http://www.rossobus.com/feature-article.shtml?articleid=7925 |archive-date=24 December 2017 |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=[[Rosso (bus company)|Rosso]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Athey |first=Neil |date=17 January 2018 |title=£3 million of investment ready to 'make East Lancs buses better' |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/15845527.3million-investment-ready-make-east-lancs-buses-better/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=[[Lancashire Telegraph]] }}</ref><ref name=":04">{{cite web |last=Dougall |first=Emily |date=6 November 2018 |title=Transdev invests £3m in 20 new Versas for Rosso |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/transdev-invests-3m-in-20-new-versas-for-rosso/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=Coach & Bus Week }}</ref>

In August 2020, Transdev took over operation of [[Leeds Bradford Airport]]'s bus route network from previous operator [[Yorkshire Tiger]], branding the network as [[Flyer (bus service)|Flyer]], alongside acquiring their depot in [[Idle, West Yorkshire|Idle]].<ref>Transdev Flyer takes off to Leeds Bradford Airport ''Coach & Bus Week'' issue 1439 8 September 2020 page 8</ref><ref>Tiger Quits Bradford ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' issue 787 October 2020 page 30</ref>

In April 2021, Transdev agreed terms with [[Arriva]] to purchase the [[Yorkshire Tiger]] operation in West Yorkshire. The sale was completed in July 2021, following which the operation was rebranded [[Team Pennine]], with a two-tone pink livery introduced.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shand |first=Alistair |date=20 July 2021 |title=Summer deal expected as bus operator Transdev buys Yorkshire Tiger |url=https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/19245511.summer-deal-expected-bus-operator-transdev-buys-yorkshire-tiger/ |access-date=14 July 2021 |website=[[Keighley News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Deakin |first=Tim |date=26 July 2021 |title=Team Pennine plans outlined by Transdev as brand launches |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/team-pennine-plans-outlined-by-transdev-as-brand-launches/ |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=Routeone }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Peter |date=27 July 2021 |title=Team Pennine takes to the road |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/team-pennine-takes-to-the-road/ |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=Coach & Bus Week }}</ref>


In 2024, Transdev announced the purchase of long standing bus operator [[Reliance Motor Services]]. The sale included 7 routes and 11 vehicles.

==Fleet and operations==
As of October 2024, Transdev Blazefield has eight operating subsidiaries:

* [[Blackburn Bus Company|The Blackburn Bus Company]]
* [[Burnley Bus Company|The Burnley Bus Company]]
* [[Flyer (bus service)|Flyer]]
* [[Harrogate Bus Company|The Harrogate Bus Company]]
* [[Keighley Bus Company|The Keighley Bus Company]]
* [[Rosso (bus company)|Rosso]]
* [[Team Pennine]]
* [[Yorkshire Coastliner]]
The company also operates key routes such as:

* [[Harrogate bus route 36|The 36]] {{Small|([[Leeds]] to [[Harrogate]] and [[Ripon]])}}
* [[Red Express X41 line|Red Express (X41)]] {{Small|([[Accrington]] to [[Manchester]])}}
* [[The Witch Way|The Witch Way (X43)]] {{Small|([[Burnley]] to [[Manchester]])}}
* [[Yorkshire Coastliner bus routes 840 and 843|Coastliner (840 and 843)]] {{Small|(Leeds, [[Tadcaster]], [[York]] and [[Malton, North Yorkshire|Malton]] to [[Whitby]] or [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]])}}
The company operates a total of 515 vehicles from ten depots across Yorkshire and the North West of England. The frontline fleet includes buses manufactured by [[Alexander Dennis]] ([[Alexander Dennis Enviro200|Enviro200]], [[Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC|Enviro200 MMC]] and [[Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC|Enviro400 MMC]]), [[Mellor Coachcraft|Mellor]] ([[Mellor Strata|Strata]]), [[Mercedes-Benz buses|Mercedes-Benz]] ([[Mercedes-Benz Citaro#Battery version / eCitaro|eCitaro]]), [[Optare]] ([[Optare Solo SR|Solo SR]], [[Optare Tempo|Tempo]] and [[Optare Versa|Versa]]), [[Plaxton]] ([[Plaxton President|President]]), [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] ([[Volvo 7900|7900e]]) and [[Wrightbus]] ([[Wright Eclipse Gemini|Eclipse Gemini]], [[Wright Eclipse Urban|Eclipse Urban]]).

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}
*[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02605399 Transdev Blazefield Limited] on [[Companies House]]
*[https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/ Transdev Blazefield] website
{{Transdev Blazefield}}{{Transdev|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Bus operators in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Bus operators in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Bus operators in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Companies based in Harrogate]]
[[Category:Transdev]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Transport in Yorkshire]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in England]]