Halton Transport
{{short description|Former municipal bus operator in North West England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Halton Transport
|logo = Halton transport logo.svg
|logo_size = 200
|image = Widnes Corporation bus depot (2).JPG
|image_size = 250
|image_caption = Marshall Capital bodied Dennis Darts
in August 2012
|parent = Halton Borough Council
|founded = Widnes Corporation Motor Omnibus Department in 1909
Halton Borough Council Passenger Transport Department in 1974
Halton Borough Transport in 1986
|defunct = January 2020
|headquarters = Widnes
|locale =
|service_area = Cheshire
Merseyside
|service_type = Bus services
|destinations = Liverpool
Runcorn
St Helens
Warrington
Widnes
|fleet = 73 (March 2016)
|operator =
|ceo = Colin Stafford
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20181110030207/http://www.haltontransport.co.uk/ www.haltontransport.co.uk]
}}
File:Halton_Lynx_01.jpg in Liverpool]]
Halton Transport[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/01994122 Companies House extract company no 1994122] Halton Borough Transport Limited was a bus operator running within the Borough of Halton (including the towns of Widnes and Runcorn) and into the surrounding area, including Warrington, St Helens, Prescot, Whiston, Huyton, and Liverpool. It ceased trading in January 2020.
History
Halton Transport's origins can be traced back to April 1909 when Widnes Corporation Motor Omnibus Department commenced operating a bus service. Over the next few decades the network expanded to most parts of Widnes and in 1961 following the opening of the Runcorn Bridge extended to Runcorn. As part of local government organisation in 1974 control passed to the Halton Council.[http://home2.btconnect.com/haltontransport/history.htm History of Halton Borough Transport Limited] Halton Borough Transport[http://home.btconnect.com/haltontransport/Centenary.pdf Halton Transport 100 Years 1909–2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015054121/http://home.btconnect.com/haltontransport/Centenary.pdf |date=15 October 2013 }} Halton Transport 2009
To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the operation was transferred into a separate legal entity. Unlike many other municipal operators it was not privatised and remained owned by Halton Borough Council. Bus deregulation saw Halton Transport expand its sphere of operation to other areas including Liverpool.
The company was placed in liquidation in January 2020, after accumulating losses for several years.{{cite web |title=Statement on Halton Transport |url=https://hbcnewsroom.co.uk/statement-on-halton-transport/ |website=Halton Borough Council |access-date=24 January 2020}}{{cite web |last1=McKeon |first1=Christopher |title=Major Merseyside bus company ceases trading with message to staff |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/major-merseyside-bus-company-ceases-17625062 |website=Liverpool Echo |access-date=24 January 2020 |date=24 January 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-51190580 |title=Halton Transport: Bus company faces collapse as losses soar |publisher=BBC |date=21 January 2020 |access-date=24 January 2020}}
Fleet
The fleet consisted of 64 buses in January 2014.[http://nwbus.webs.com/Website%20Halton.xls Halton fleet list] at North West Buses website
Halton Transport were a long-time Leyland National operator, purchasing 20 new vehicles between 1972 and 1985, including the last one built. A further 27 were purchased second hand between 1986 and 1989. It then purchased 36 Leyland Lynxes between 1986 and 1992 including the last one built.[http://www.nwmort.co.uk/news/default.html Halton Transport No 57] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014050314/http://www.nwmort.co.uk/news/default.html |date=14 October 2013 }} North West Bus Museum
Between 1994 and 2005, Halton standardised on the Dennis Dart, purchasing a total of 80 new{{Cite web |url=http://holmes.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Halton%20fleet%201974%20to%20date.htm |title=Buses purchased by Halton Transport, 1974 to date |access-date=27 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423072007/http://www.holmes.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Halton%20fleet%201974%20to%20date.htm |archive-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead }} and three secondhand. Bodywork for the majority was supplied by Marshall Bus, but the final 21, delivered between late 2002 and spring 2005, received East Lancs Myllennium bodywork.
From 2007 to 2010 sixteen examples of the Dart's successor, the Alexander Dennis Enviro200, were purchased, the first twelve having MCV Evolution bodywork.
Between 2013 and 2015 Halton purchased a number of secondhand vehicles from various operators. These included six Optare Solo minibuses in 2013 and then 14 Scania Omnicities in 2014 from Metrobus, followed by three Plaxton Pointer Dennis Dart SLFs in 2015 from Abellio Surrey.
See also
{{portal-inline|Cheshire}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Companies owned by municipalities of England
Category:Transport companies established in 1909
Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2020
Category:Transport in the Borough of Halton
Category:1909 establishments in England
Category:2020 disestablishments in England