South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach - National Express

National Express

In March 2007, South Gloucestershire began operating three weekend journeys that were introduced on service 040 between Bristol and London, due to increased passenger numbers on this route. In the months leading up to this, the company was providing regular duplicate coaches on the 040 route and also other routes such as the 403 from Bath to London and on cross country services from the South West. Following this, in December 2007, South Gloucestershire were awarded the contract for the seasonal 319 Bristol to Birmingham route which ran non stop, it was introduced to meet demand over the festive period until January 2008. A few months later in March 2008, several more additional weekend journeys were added to service 040 and these were once again awarded to South Gloucestershire.

In Autumn 2008 South Gloucestershire were awarded their first full-time National Express contract operating the 200. This was picked up from First Coaches who handed in the contract, with most of their drivers transferring across with the contract under the TUPE agreement. South Gloucestershire began operating the route in September 2008, however First Coaches continued to operate some journeys until October 2008 when South Gloucestershire took over full-time operation. Initially the service was worked by the existing vehicles, until a fleet of 7 new tri axle Scania K340EB6/Caetano Levante were delivered specifically for the service.

A further three Scania K340EB6/Caetano Levante joined the fleet in 2009 from the National Express owned operations. Following the arrival of these SGBC picked up their second full-time contract, the 040, also won from First Coaches. The majority of the drivers also transferred across with the service, which was worked by the 9 Levantes seeing the coaches formerly used on the 200 going back to that route.

A further service was picked up in mid 2010, the 402/3 routes from Bath were won after First Somerset & Avon handed in the contract, the drivers were given the option to TUPE across or stay with First on service work. To work these routes a batch of 12 Volvo B9R/Caetano Levantes were ordered to be split between 5 for the 200 and 7 for the 402/3. However due to issues regarding delivery the start date had to be pushed back a few months and eventually they were delivered for an August start with the service starting a few weeks before and being covered by second hand purchases. Additionally during this time, older coaches not designed for National Express work were making regular appearances. Most notably on the 200 route due to the fact that this route avoided the London Low Emissions Zone and these older coaches were not LEZ compliant.

In May 2011 the Friday and Sunday only service 318 between Bristol and Birmingham was awarded following a contract renewal which saw the route taken on from Applegates Coaches. A few months later in August 2011 following the collapse of Hookways Of Meeth, South Gloucestershire were awarded the contract for service 339 between Westward Ho and Grimsby and service 502 between Westward Ho and London. Vehicles that work the Devon services can often been seen parked up overnight in Barnstaple.

January 8, 2012 saw SGBC take up the contract for National Express for the 444 service that runs from Gloucester to London. This was previously operated by Stagecoach West's Gloucester depot. For the service a further batch of Volvo B9R/Caetano Levantes have been delivered with 4 so far seen in service (FJ61GZE/F/G/H). A further four Levantes (FJ12FXF/G/L/H) then arrived during May 2012 which allowed most Nat Ex services to be worked by Levantes. From time to time it is not unusual to see older vehicles covering for vehicles off the road or providing extra capacity during busy periods.

In January 2013, operation of service 444 was largely transferred to Bennets Coaches(although SGBC continue to work some journeys) with SGBC gaining additional journeys on service 403 which were added to the timetable at this point.

Also, in January 2013, SGBC gained a further National Express contract for service 330 between Penzance and Nottingham after the previous operator Premiere Travel went into administration. This service is worked by Bristol based drivers who work between Bristol to Penzance or Bristol to Nottingham

In addition to the full-time Nat Ex work, services to special events at locations such as Reading Festival, Glastonbury and Wembley are also operated from the South West & Wales and mainly uses vehicles from the private hire or Nat Ex spares fleet.

South Gloucestershire have a varied fleet of National Express coaches that includes:

• 8 DAF SB4000/Van Hool Alizee 3 as spare in all over white.
• 9 Scania K340/Caetano Levante
• 20 Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante
• 2 Scania K114/Van Hool Alizee 1 as spare in all over white.
• 1 Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther

South Gloucestershire currently operate nine National Express routes.

• • Service 040 from Bristol to London direct.
• • Service 200 from Bristol to Gatwick Airport via Reading and Heathrow Airport.
• • Service 318 from Bristol to Birmingham via Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa
• • Service 330 from Penzance to Nottingham.
• • Service 339 from Westward Ho! to Grimsby.
• • Service 402 from Frome to London via Trowbridge, Newbury & Heathrow Airport.
• • Service 403 from Bath to London via Swindon & Heathrow Airport.
• • Service 444 from Gloucester to London via Cheltenham & Stroud
• • Service 502 from Barnstaple to London.