Carousel Buses
{{short description|Buckinghamshire bus operator}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Carousel Buses
|logo = CarouselBuses.svg
|image = Carousel Buses ADL Enviro200 MMC in Maidenhead.jpg
|image_caption = Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC in Maidenhead in April 2025
|company_slogan =The Wycombe Bus Company
|parent = Go-Ahead Group
|founded = {{start date and age|2000}}
|headquarters = Unit 2, Hughenden Avenue,
High Wycombe HP13 5SG
|locale =
|service_area = Buckinghamshire
Hertfordshire
Oxfordshire
Berkshire
Greater London
Surrey
|service_type = Bus services
|hubs =
|stations = High Wycombe Bus Station (adjoining the Eden Centre)
High Wycombe Coachway
Slough Bus Station
|lounge =
|fleet = 115 (Apr 25)
|ridership =
|routes = 67 (not including private contracts)
|leader_type = Managing Director
|website = [http://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/ Carousel Buses]
}}
Carousel Buses Limited,[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04062073 Companies House extract company no 4062073] Carousel Buses Limited trading as Carousel Buses, is a bus company based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. Originally an independent company, it is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group's Oxford Bus Company operation alongside Pearces Coaches of Oxfordshire, Thames Travel, also of Oxfordshire and Pulham's Coaches of Gloucestershire having been purchased as the 50-vehicle independent operator in February 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=6492&categoryid=0 |title=Go-Ahead buys Carousel Buses |work=Bus and Coach Professional |publisher=Plum Publishing |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=11 May 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022131714/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=6492&categoryid=0 |archive-date=22 October 2013}}
History
File:Carousel_Buses_L530_G530_VBB.JPG bodied Leyland Olympian in High Wycombe in July 2009]]
File:Carousel Buses MB53 CB53 BUS.JPG in the original livery for route A40 in High Wycombe in July 2009]]
Carousel Buses was formed in 2000 by Steve Burns and John Robinson. It initially expanded by winning Buckinghamshire County Council contracts.[http://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/050206.htm Bus service competition] Oxford & Chiltern Bus Page February 2006
In August 2003 route A40 High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport commenced, initially using second-hand Leyland Olympian double-deckers.{{cite journal|last=Aldridge|first=John|title=In London: A40 begins operation|journal=Buses|page=13|date=November 2003|issue=584}} By April 2004 these had been replaced by new low-floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro single-deck buses, in a dedicated silver and red livery.{{cite journal|last=Millar|first=Alan|title=Silver Citaros blush for real |journal=Buses|page=7|date=June 2004|issue=591}} The route, which ran in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council and Heathrow Airport Holdings, was formally introduced in January 2004.[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/446591.five_new_bus_services_to_be_launched/ Five new bus services to be launched] Bucks Free Press 6 January 2004
The company launched a new commercial route in June 2004, replacing services withdrawn by Arriva The Shires between High Wycombe and Lane End.[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/500583.commuter_criticses_village_bus_service/ Commuter criticses village bus service] Bucks Free Press 17 June 2004
In March 2008 Carousel introduced routes 35 and 36, branded as Purple Route, to replace a withdrawn Arriva Shires & Essex service to Flackwell Heath.[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/2129961.community_spirit_restores_cancelled_bus_route/ Community spirit restores cancelled bus route] Bucks Free Press 18 March 2008 The 35 was temporarily withdrawn in January 2010 because of road conditions, but was later restored. Arriva Shires & Essex currently run a combined 35 service with Carousel, with Carousel operating all daytime services, and Arriva operating evening and Sunday journeys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/4865945.bus-firm-pulls-service-following-pothole-damage/|title=Bus firm pulls service following pothole damage|date=22 January 2010|website=Bucks Free Press}} In October 2008 the majority of services to Winchmore Hill were withdrawn, leaving the village with just one bus a day.[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/3809002.Residents_left_with_one_bus_a_day/ Residents left with one bus a day] Bucks Free Press 31 October 2008
In August 2009 route 336, which had previously run between Watford and Amersham, was extended to High Wycombe reinstating a through link for the first time in 30 years. The network of routes linking Chesham and Amersham, numbered 373, 374 and 375, were rationalised into two routes, the 71 and 73, running hourly between the two locations. These routes have since changed to Red Rose Travel, linking Whelpley Hill and Ley Hill to Hilltop, Chesham Broadway, Chesham Bois, Amersham Station, Quill Hall Estate, Little Chalfont, Penn Street, Coleshill and Winchmore Hill, where Carousel no longer serves.[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/4561928.High_Wycombe_to_Watford_bus_to_return/ High Wycombe to Watford bus to return] Bucks Free Press 24 August 2009
In September 2009 two new routes were introduced, route 740 supplemented the A40 between High Wycombe and Uxbridge, increasing the overall frequency to every 30 minutes and incorporating Beaconsfield, and route 730 from Chesham to Heathrow Airport.[http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4651387.New_bus_to_Heathrow/ New bus to Heathrow launched] This Is Local London 28 September 2009 The 580 was a good route too.
A further change saw the existing route to Lane End replaced by new circular routes 2A and 2C in April 2010. These are no longer Carousel services[http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/8096332.New_look_bus_services_for_High_Wycombe/ New look bus services for High Wycombe] Bucks Free Press 13 April 2010
In March 2012 Carousel Buses was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group. Carousel retains its identity, with its management passing to the group's Oxford Bus Company operation.[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2012news/2012-02-20.aspx Go-Ahead Acquires Carousel Buses Limited] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225180335/http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2012news/2012-02-20.aspx# |date=25 February 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group 20 February 2012 Go-Ahead had previously operated services in the High Wycombe area under the Wycombe Bus name, but sold this operation to Arriva in December 2000.[http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/new_transit/news/?ID=29836 Go Ahead buys Carousel and eyes further bolt-on deals] Transport Xtra 20 February 2012[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf Go-Ahead annual results 30 June 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165824/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group plc
On 3 June 2018, their 'Link' network became the 'Chiltern Hundreds'. (102 runs from High Wycombe to Uxbridge/Heathrow Airport, 103 runs from High Wycombe to Windsor, 104 runs from High Wycombe to Uxbridge via Seer Green,the Chalfonts, Gerrards Cross, Tatling End and Denham. and 106/107 runs from Amersham to Slough via The Chalfonts, Gerrards Cross, Fulmer (107), Windsor Road (106), Hollybush Hill (both), 106 Wexham Street, 107 Stoke Poges, Wexham Park Hospital, Knolton Way, Slough
As of 25 July 2022 Carousel Buses have cut the Watford part of the 103 and cut the 103 back to Wycombe and Chesham with the reason being low passenger usage and in September is set to be extended to Slough with Chesham being cut. The Watford part has been replaced by Arriva's 336 Watford to Amersham and 335 Watford to Chorleywood.
Carousel also cut 105 Chesham to Uxbridge by extending 106/7 to Amersham with the reason being the same as 103. Route 40 also passed to Red Rose Travel with the same reason as 105 and 103.
As of September 2022, Carousels routes 35 and 36 have transferred to Arriva. With school route 39A being fully terminated due to lack of use. While carousel takes over the Route 1/1A/1B entirely.
Carousel have also started a "PickMeUp" service, operating similar to Uber and funded in part by Buckinghamshire County Council.
As of 8 January 2023, the route 41 from Great Missenden railway station to High Wycombe bus station was transferred to Carousel [https://bustimes.org/registrations/PF1000671/92] from Arriva Beds & Bucks (operating under Arriva Shires & Essex), the route was later extended to Amersham.{{cite web | url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/23203004.bus-41-missenden-wycombe-set-continue-closure-fears/ | title=Bus route facing closure threat set to continue in new year | date=20 December 2022 }} In August 2023, the 103 route was extended from Slough to Windsor as well as taking over route 275 between High Wycombe and Oxford from Red Rose.https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-27th-august-2023
In May 2024 Arriva proposed the closure of their Aylesbury & High Wycombe depots, with Carousel Buses saying they would take over any withdrawn services.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2024 |title=Arriva to close depots and reduce Bucks bus services |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51n14ge5kvo |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In April 2025, Carousel took over a number of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Buckinghamshire Council contracted services in the Maidenhead/Windsor and Chesham areas, significantly expanding their area of operation. {{Cite web |title=New bus services in Chesham from 6th April |url=https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/new-services-chesham |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.carouselbuses.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=New services in Windsor & Maidenhead from 6th April 2025 |url=https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/new-services-windsor-maidenhead-6th-april-2025 |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.carouselbuses.co.uk |language=en}}{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category|Carousel Buses (bus company)}}
- [http://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/ Company website]
{{Bus companies in South East England|state=collapsed}}
{{Go-Ahead Bus Companies|state=collapsed}}
Category:Bus operators in Buckinghamshire
Category:Transport in Buckinghamshire
Category:Bus operators in Hertfordshire