Tower Transit

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Tower Transit
TowerTransitLogo.svg
Transit Systems (Tower Transit) red London bus in Beckton on route 262 weeks before the route is taken over by Stagecoach.jpg
A Tower Transit Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL on route 262 in June 2022
Parent Transit Systems
Founded22 June 2013;10 years ago (2013-06-22)
Defunct25 June 2022;19 months ago (2022-06-25)
HeadquartersLea Interchange
151 Ruckholt Road
London
E10 5PB [1]
Service area Greater London
Service typeBus operator
Routes26 (May 2015)
Depots3
Fleet437 (May 2015)
Website www.towertransit.co.uk

Tower Transit Operations Limited, [2] which traded as Tower Transit, was a bus company operating in East and West London. They were a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group and operated services under contract to Transport for London. In December 2021, Tower Transit's West London operations were transferred to RATP Dev Transit London. In June 2022, their remaining operations were sold to Stagecoach London. [3]

Contents

History

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 on route 488 in Homerton in June 2022 A Tower Transit bus is on route 488 to Dalston Junction.jpg
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 on route 488 in Homerton in June 2022
A Wright StreetLite DF on route 236 in Highbury in June 2022 Transit Systems route 236 on the last day of Tower Transit, in Highbury Grange.jpg
A Wright StreetLite DF on route 236 in Highbury in June 2022
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on route 23 at Charing Cross in February 2014 Tower Transit route 23.jpg
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on route 23 at Charing Cross in February 2014

In June 2013, Transit Systems purchased First London's Atlas Road (Park Royal), Lea Interchange (Leyton) and Westbourne Park garages with 24 London bus routes and 412 buses. [4] [5] [6] [7] Also included were contracts to operate three routes (425, N550 and N551) that had yet to commence. [8] [9] [10]

In October 2014, Tower Transit purchased Impact Group [11] which operated 130 small buses for local authorities and schools out of depots in Ealing and Croydon. [12] This was sold in August 2018 to HCT Group. [13] [14]

Tower Transit was included in the purchase of Transit Systems by SeaLink Travel Group in January 2020. [15]

In September 2021, SeaLink Travel Group and the RATP Group announced that their respective West London bus operations (including London United, London Sovereign and Tower Transit's Westbourne Park garage) would merge into a new joint venture called RATP Dev Transit London, with RATP Dev having an 87.5% shareholding and Tower Transit 12.5%. [16] The incorporation of the joint venture was finalised on 11 December 2021. [17] Tower Transit's Lea Interchange garage, located in East London, was not part of the joint venture and remained unaffected. [16] [18]

In May 2022, it was announced that Tower Transit's remaining East London operations would be sold to Stagecoach London. [19] [20] The acquisition was finalised on 25 June 2022 and these services are now operated by Stagecoach under the Lea Interchange Bus Company Limited legal entity. [21] [22] [23]

Garages

Atlas Road (AS)

On 1 October 2011 this garage opened when part of Westbourne Park garage was closed to make way for Elizabeth line construction works, with the operation of routes 28, 31, 328, N28, and N31 transferred. Atlas Road operated as an outstation for Westbourne Park, so buses are seen on Atlas Road routes and vice versa. With the completion of Crossrail works, all routes returned to Westbourne Park in June 2017 with Atlas Road retained as a maintenance centre. [24] It closed in October 2017, being taken over by London United. [25]

Lea Interchange (LI)

As at June 2022, Lea Interchange garage operated routes 58, 135, 236, 262, 276, 308, 339, 473, 488, 678, D8 and W14. [26]

The garage opened in 2007 to replace the Waterden Road, Stratford garage that closed as part of the development of the Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Waterden Road was opened in 1996 after a number of tender wins.

Lea Interchange began operating route 69 on 30 April 2016. CT Plus took over operation of route 26 and route N26 on 25 June 2016. London General took over operation of the route 212 and route 444 on 7 March 2020 and Docklands Buses took over the 69 on 1 May 2021. On 25 June 2022, the garage and its operations was acquired by Stagecoach London. [19]

Westbourne Park (X)

As of December 2021, Westbourne Park garage operated routes 13, 23, 28, 218, 295, 414, 452, C3 and N97. [27]

Westbourne Park Garage was part of the reconstruction programme undertaken by London Transport in the early 1980s. As was common practice at the time, the new garage replaced two older garages - the small and inadequate Middle Row (X), and the larger former trolley bus garage at Stonebridge (SE). The new garage, which opened in 1981 in Great Western Road, is of unusual design in that it is built beneath the elevated A40 Westway, the roof of the garage being profiled to match the concrete flyover. Originally, the garage allocation consisted of AEC Routemasters, and a small number of Daimler Fleetlines to B20 "quiet" specification for route 18. These were supplemented in 1983 by a number of Leyland Titans for comparative trials. A new 180 metre bus parking area was built on a raised platform over railway lines as part of the Crossrail project opening in 2017. [28] [29] [30]

Metroline took over the operation of route 295 on 31 October 2015. [31] On 5 March 2016, Westbourne Park took over the operation of route N97 from London United. [32] On 3 October 2020, Westbourne Park depot also took over the operation of route C3 from Abellio London. On 1 May 2021, routes 28 and N28 transferred to London United, with route 328 transferring to Metroline.

Westbourne Park garage was transferred to RATP Dev Transit London on 11 December 2021.

Fleet

As at May 2015, the fleet consisted of 437 buses. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RATP Group</span> French public transport operator

The RATP Group, is a state-owned company (EPIC) that operates public transport systems. Headquartered in Paris, France, the company was formed in 1949 as the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens to operate the city's public transport system. While RATP's Paris-related activities are still a major part of its business, its operations have extended since 2002 with the company competing for contracts to operate systems around the world. RATP Dev, the Group's international operations and maintenance subsidiary, is present in 16 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses</span> Transport for London subsidiary for bus services

London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL) that manages most bus services in London, England. It was formed following the Greater London Authority Act 1999 that transferred control of London Regional Transport (LRT) bus services to TfL, controlled by the Mayor of London.

Stagecoach Group is a transport group based in Perth, Scotland. It operates buses, express coaches and a tram service in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach London</span> London bus company

Stagecoach London is a major bus operator in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach and operates services under contract to Transport for London mostly in East and South East London as well as some services into Central London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Sovereign</span> North London bus operator, part of RATP Dev Transit London

London Sovereign Limited, trading as London Sovereign, is a bus company in North London. It is a subsidiary of RATP Dev Transit London and operates buses under contract to Transport for London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First London</span> Bus company operating services in east and west London

First London was a bus company operating services in east, west and south-east London, England. It was a subsidiary of FirstGroup and operated buses under contract to Transport for London. It was formed in the late 1990s through the acquisition of three London bus operators. First London's garages were sold off between December 2007 and June 2013 with the last closing in September 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 25</span> London bus route

London Buses route 25 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Ilford and City Thameslink station, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 30</span> London bus route

London Buses route 30 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hackney Wick and Marble Arch station, it is operated by Metroline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quality Line</span> Former London bus operator

Quality Line was a bus company based in Epsom, England. A subsidiary of the RATP Group, Quality Line operated bus services throughout the South West London and Surrey area, with many under contract to Transport for London. It ceased operations on 2 July 2021, with all remaining routes transferring to RATP's London United subsidiary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 18</span> London bus route

London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Sudbury & Harrow Road station and Euston bus station, it is operated by London United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London United Busways</span> Bus company operating in west and south-west London

London United Busways Limited, trading as London United, is a bus company operating mostly in west and south-west Greater London. It is a subsidiary of RATP Dev Transit London and operates services under contract to Transport for London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 26</span> London bus route

London Buses route 26 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hackney Wick and Victoria station, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 293</span> London bus route

London Buses route 293 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Morden station and Epsom Hospital, it is operated by London United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 135</span> London bus route

London Buses route 135 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Cubitt Town and Moorfields Eye Hospital, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HCT Group</span> Former group of community transport operators in Britain

HCT Group was a social enterprise providing transport services and community services in several areas of the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1982 as Hackney Community Transport in the London Borough of Hackney, to provide transport services for local voluntary organisations, charities, and community groups. HCT Group was registered as a company limited by guarantee. The company was also a registered charity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 328</span> London bus route

London Buses route 328 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Golders Green station and World's End, it is operated by Metroline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit Systems</span> Public transport operator in Australia, Singapore & London

Transit Systems Group is an Australian-based public transport company, which also operates overseas through its subsidiary Tower Transit Group. Transit Systems Group is a subsidiary of the Kelsian Group, formerly SeaLink Travel Group.

Kelsian Group Limited, formerly SeaLink Travel Group, is an Australian public company that operates transport services in Australia, the Channel Islands nations of Guernsey and Jersey and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bus contracting model of Singapore</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">RATP Dev Transit London</span> London bus operator

RATP Dev Transit London Limited, trading as RATP Dev Transit London, is a bus operator owned by RATP Dev in London, England. It owns London Sovereign, London United and London Transit. It commenced on 11 December 2021 as a joint venture between RATP Dev and Kelsian Group. In September 2023, it became a wholly owned RATP Dev subsidiary.

References

  1. ↑ "Tower Transit Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Companies House extract company no 8314506 Tower Transit Operations Limited
  3. ↑ "Stagecoach strikes £20m deal to snap up Kelsian's 150 buses in east London". CityAM. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots". FirstGroup. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Tower Transit announces First Group partial acquisition". Transit Systems. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Date set for Aussie takeover of London bus routes". Australasian Bus & Coach. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  7. ↑ Hurst, Brian (12 June 2013). "Redland company takes wheel of London's big red buses". Brisbane Times . Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Bus tender results Route 425 Transport for London 25 October 2012
  9. ↑ Bus tender results Route N550 Transport for London 25 October 2012
  10. ↑ Bus tender results Route N551 Transport for London 25 October 2012
  11. ↑ Companies House extract company no 4464220 Impact Group Limited
  12. ↑ Tower Transit expands with Impact Archived 2 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 31 October 2014
  13. ↑ Impact acquired by HCT Group Coach & Bus Week issue 1355 15 August 2018 page 7
  14. ↑ HCT Group purchases Impact as it grows again Route One 15 August 2018
  15. ↑ Major Australian merger Buses issue 777 December 2019 page 18
  16. 1 2 "SeaLink Enters Binding Joint Venture Agreement for West London Bus Operations". 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Joint Venture Completion - RATP Dev Transit London Ltd". 13 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "RATP Dev UK and Tower Transit announce new joint venture in West London". RATP Dev. 23 September 2021.
  19. 1 2 Willems, Michiel (27 May 2022). "Stagecoach strikes £20m deal to snap up Kelsian's 150 buses in east London". City AM . Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Stagecoach to acquire Tower Transit Lea Interchange operation". Route One. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Sale Completion East London Bus Operation and Finance Update". Australian Securities Exchange. Kelsian. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Stagecoach welcomes Tower Transit team to its London operations". Stagecoach. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "LEA INTERCHANGE BUS COMPANY LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  24. ↑ Fleet News Buses issue 750 September 2017 page 78
  25. ↑ Atlas Road changes hands, Belvedere is vacated Buses issue 753 December 2017 page 24
  26. ↑ Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 116. ISBN   978-0-9931735-3-0.
  27. ↑ "Tower Transit - Bus Garage Locations". Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  28. ↑ Planning Application Greater London Authority 18 July 2012
  29. ↑ MacLennan, Peter. "Crossrail Awards Padington New Yard Contract". Crossrail UK. Crossrail UK. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  30. ↑ Tower Transit completes Westbourne Park extension Route One 31 October 2017
  31. ↑ Tender News Bus Talk issue 34 June 2015
  32. ↑ Two routes to change operators in March Buses issue 726 September 2015 page 18
  33. ↑ Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 42. ISBN   978-0-9931735-3-0.

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