Preston Bus

File:Preston Corporation bus 34 at the new bus station – 1971 - geograph.org.uk - 6678638 (cropped).jpg bodied Leyland Titan at Preston bus station in May 1971]]

Preston Corporation began operating electric tram services in the Borough in 1904, although horse-drawn trams had been running since 1879. On 23 January 1922, Preston Corporation began its first bus service, running along Plungington Road using a fleet of Leyland buses.{{cite news |title=New buses for Preston |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/31st-january-1922/4/wheels-of-industry |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=The Commercial Motor |volume=34 |issue=882 |date=31 January 1922 |location=London |page=5}} Expansions of these bus services soon followed and eventually replaced Preston's trams, the last of which ran in December 1935.{{cite news |title=Latest municipal bus results |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-october-1936/48/no-lake-tour-from-dundee |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=The Commercial Motor |volume=64 |issue=1646 |date=2 October 1936 |page=48 |location=London |publisher=Temple Press |quote=Preston. Increased bus receipts, partly due to the closing of the tramways in December, 1935, are a feature of the report for the year ended March 31, 1936.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.prestonbus.co.uk/news/the-history-of-public-transport-in-preston/ |title=The History of Public Transport in Preston |publisher=Preston Bus |date=11 January 2022 |access-date=28 October 2024}}

On 12 October 1969, the £1.1 million ({{Inflation|UK|1,100,000|1969|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}) Preston bus station was opened on Tithebarn Street, the site of a Ribble Motor Services station, after two years of construction. With the station being owned by the Borough Council, bus routes ran by Preston Corporation were rerouted from terminating at points around the city centre to centrally serve the station's 80 departure gates.{{cite news |title=Preston's new bus station |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/24th-october-1969/31/prestons-new-bus-station |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Commercial Motor |volume=130 |issue=3345 |location=London |publisher=Temple Press |date=24 October 1969 |page=31}}{{cite news |title=Preston's new bus station - Europe's biggest? |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-september-1969/65/prestons-new-bus-station--europe-s-biggest |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Commercial Motor |volume=130 |issue=3339 |location=London |publisher=Temple Press |date=12 September 1969 |page=65}}

File:Preston Bus Leyland Olympian.jpg at Preston Bus Station in November 1997]]

Preston Borough Council continued to run the bus services until 1986 when, in order to comply with the Transport Act 1985 and ensuing deregulation of bus services from 26 October 1986, the assets of Preston Transport were transferred to a new "arm's length" legal entity, Preston Borough Transport Limited, trading as Preston Bus. The Borough Council resisted offers and central government pressure to sell Preston Bus until 1989,{{cite magazine |date=2 March 1989 |title=Municipals urged to sell |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-march-1989/23/municipals-urged-to-sell |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=170 |issue=4308 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |page=23 |access-date=16 November 2024}} when talks began with the operator's management and staff towards selling Preston Bus in a management buyout.{{cite magazine |date=31 August 1989 |title=Two join buyout trend |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/31st-august-1989/20/two-join-buyout-trend |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=170 |issue=4334 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |page=20 |access-date=16 November 2024}} The management buyout of Preston Bus from the Borough Council was eventually concluded with the sale of Preston Bus for £3 million ({{Inflation|UK|3,000,000|1993|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}) in April 1993.{{cite news |last1=Jowett |first1=Alan |title=All together on the buses for staff and managers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-all-together-on/159152746/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=21 April 1993 |page=63 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In late 1999, Preston Bus launched the 'Quality Bus' scheme in partnership with both the Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, which saw improvements to routes 33 and 35, running from Preston bus station to Tanterton, including road realignments, the moving of bus stops, and the issuing of Traffic Regulation Orders enforced by the Lancashire Constabulary, with the aim of reducing delays on the services. Preston Bus launched a fleet of seven East Lancs Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident 2 low-floor buses for use on the revised 33 and 35.{{cite magazine |last=Hesketh |first=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/buses-issue545/page/18/mode/2up |title=Behind the scenes of two quality partnerships |magazine=Buses |issue=545 |pages=18-30 |location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |date=August 2000 |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=New buses hit the road |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6100188.new-buses-hit-road/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |location=Blackburn |date=10 December 1999}}

In 2006, Stagecoach North West introduced various services with a fleet of Optare Solos, Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, and Dennis Dart SLFs, branded as 'Preston Citi', to compete with Preston Bus. This competition escalated into a bus war, with Stagecoach offering lower fares on the busiest routes.{{cite news |author= |date=8 October 2007 |title=How Preston's bus wars have been fought |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/features/How-Preston39s-bus-wars-have.3309747.jp |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107165204/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/how-preston-s-bus-wars-have-been-fought-1-157930 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=3 May 2009}}{{cite news |author= |date=19 October 2007 |title=Bus giant accused of 'dirty tactics' |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Bus-company-accused-of-39dirty.3392699.jp |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164821/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/bus-giant-accused-of-dirty-tactics-1-150471 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=3 May 2009}}

The managing director of Preston Bus was concerned Stagecoach could force his company out of business.{{cite news |author= |date=9 November 2007 |title=Preston's bus war... it won't be over for Christmas |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/features/Preston39s-bus-war-it-won39t.3462138.jp |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118082059/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/preston-s-bus-war-it-won-t-be-over-for-christmas-1-62722 |archive-date=18 January 2016 |access-date=16 November 2007}} Both companies accused each other of unprofessional behaviour, with reports of Stagecoach drivers throwing eggs at Preston Bus vehicles. {{cite news |author= |date=31 October 2007 |title=Legal loophole delay for egg-throwing drivers |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Legal-loophole-delay-for-eggthrowing.3430621.jp |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118082100/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/legal-loophole-delay-for-egg-throwing-drivers-1-62136 |archive-date=18 January 2016 |access-date=16 November 2007}}

On 10 June 2008, the two companies agreed to a code of practice by the North West of England Traffic Commissioner.{{cite news |last1=Parveen |first1=Nazia |title=Code of practice signed to end Preston bus wars |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/3160646.Code_of_practice_signed_to_end_Preston_bus_wars/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=11 June 2008 |location=Blackburn}} The two companies remained in competition under the restrictions of this code of practice, with Stagecoach beginning to operating routes within Preston while Preston Bus commenced a service between Preston and Penwortham, with a limited service running between Preston and Southport, duplicating existing Stagecoach routes.

File:Bus to Tanterton in Preston bus station - img 1942 (16177591531).jpg bodied Scania N94UB at Preston bus station in November 2010]]

File:Preston citi logo.png

On 30 December 2008, Stagecoach approached Preston Bus to negotiate a potential sale. On 23 January 2009, Preston Bus was sold to Stagecoach for £6.4 million ({{Inflation|UK|6,400,000|2009|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}),{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2261&categoryid=0 |title=Stagecoach set to buy Preston Bus |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=9 January 2009 |access-date=18 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022132402/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=2261&categoryid=0 |archive-date=22 October 2013}}{{cite news |author= |date= 26 January 2009 |title='We were forced to sell Preston Bus' |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/39We-were-forced-to-sell.4910142.jp |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107165637/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/we-were-forced-to-sell-preston-bus-1-86435 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=3 May 2009}} with the company as Stagecoach in Preston from March 2009 onwards.

On 28 May 2009, the Office of Fair Trading announced that it was referring the purchase of Preston Bus by Stagecoach to the Competition Commission.{{cite press release |url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2009/62-09 |title=OFT refers Stagecoach's Preston Bus acquisition to Competition Commission |publisher=Office of Fair Trading |access-date=5 June 2009}} The provisional findings suggested that the acquisition reduced competition and may potentially harm the interests of passengers. Possible remedies included the sale of part or all of the business and measures to encourage new entry by other operators, as well as controls on fares and requirements to maintain service levels.{{cite press release |url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2009/sept/pdf/42-09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903071958/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk//press_rel/2009/sept/pdf/42-09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2009 |title=Preston Bus merger has reduced competition |publisher=Competition Commission |access-date=3 September 2009}}

On 11 November 2009, the Competition Commission ruled that the takeover by Stagecoach had adversely affected competition in the area and ordered Stagecoach to sell Preston Bus.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8354043.stm |title=Company must sell 'bus war' rival |work=BBC News |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=11 November 2009}}{{cite news |author= |date=11 November 2009 |title=Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/stagecoach-must-sell-preston-bus-1-131665 |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820115102/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/stagecoach-must-sell-preston-bus-1-131665 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |access-date=4 October 2013}} Stagecoach made an appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal following this ruling, stating that the Competition Commission's decision was "perverse and irrational" and that the commission had committed an error in law with its use of the counterfactual argument and handling of Stagecoach's responses. Despite the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling in May 2010 that the Competition Commission had imposed a disproportionate remedy based on inconsistent evidence, agreeing with some of Stagecoach's appeals,{{cite web |title=Judgment (Non-confidential version): 1145/4/8/09 Stagecoach Group Plc v Competition Commission |url=https://www.catribunal.org.uk/judgments/11454809-stagecoach-group-plc-judgment-non-confidential-version-2010-cat-14-21-may-2010 |publisher=Competition Appeal Tribunal |access-date=16 November 2024 |date=21 May 2010}} Stagecoach began actively looking for a buyer, reinstating the Preston Bus name, livery and logo and operating the company at arm's length from the main Stagecoach business.{{cite news |title=Stagecoach to push ahead with Preston sell-off |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/27922-stagecoach-to-push-ahead-with-preston-sell-off |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=TheBusinessDesk |date=20 July 2010}}{{cite news |title=Stagecoach considers next move after competition appeal success |url=https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/22687/stagecoach-considers-next-move-after-competition-appeal-success/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=TransportXtra |date=24 May 2010 |url-access=subscription}}

In January 2011, Preston Bus was sold to Rotala for £3.2 million ({{Inflation|UK|3,200,000|2011|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}),{{cite news |title=Rotala buys Preston Bus for £3.2million |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5000&categoryid=0 |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308223621/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5000&categoryid=0 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} beating a bid for another management buyout that had received £25,000 of funding from Preston Borough Council.{{cite news |author= |date=19 January 2011 |title=Preston bus sold...again |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/preston-bus-sold-again-1-2944222 |url-status=dead |work=Lancashire Evening Post |location=Preston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071719/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/preston-bus-sold-again-1-2944222 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=18 October 2013}} Rotala reorganised Preston Bus as a subsidiary of its nationwide bus operations and remained separate following the formation of Diamond North West in Greater Manchester in March 2015, despite Diamond being based in Preston.{{cite news |title=Rotala buys South Lancs |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/rotala-buys-south-lancs/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=4 March 2015}}

In June 2011, Preston Bus announced it was to surrender its commercial operation of the Preston park and ride services to Lancashire County Council, claiming that services could not continue with Preston Bus due to a lack of financial support from the council.{{cite news |title=Preston park-and-ride re-tender likely |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5553&categoryid=0 |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=20 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829171157/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5553&categoryid=0 |archive-date=29 August 2012}} The service resumed with Preston Bus under tender from the council, and following a series of cuts reducing it to one route, was eventually tendered to Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire in July 2019.{{Cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-to-run-prestons-park-ride-scheme/|title=Stagecoach to run Preston's Park & Ride scheme |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=9 July 2019 |access-date=16 November 2024}}

As of November 2024, the Preston Bus fleet consisted of around 90 buses.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Until the 1970s, the fleet livery was cream and red; a blue and cream scheme was introduced from the 1970s onwards. Upon the sale of Stagecoach in Preston to Rotala in January 2011, a cream, green and blue livery was introduced,{{cite news |last1=Bounds |first1=Andrew |title=Preston Bus wheels roll again |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ab9a1e08-f510-11e1-8d85-00144feabdc0 |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Financial Times |date=2 September 2012 |location=London |quote=It has just finished rebranding its fleet, and has painted two double deckers in special livery for the guild.}} superseded in July 2020 with the introduction of a two-tone blue scheme with a green dividing line on a fleet of four new Wright StreetDecks.{{cite news |title=Proud Preston going in the Wright direction as new 'deckers are delivered |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/proud-preston-going-in-the-wright-direction-as-new-deckers-are-delivered/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Coach & Bus Week |date=6 July 2020 |location=Peterborough}}

• Public transport in the Fylde
• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Preston Bus (bus company)|Preston Bus}}

• {{official website}}

{{Bus companies in North West England}}

{{Rotala}}

{{StagecoachGroup}}

{{City of Preston culture}}

Category:Bus operators in Lancashire

Category:Companies based in Preston

Category:Rotala

Category:Bus wars

Category:Transport companies established in 1904

Category:Transport in the City of Preston

Category:1904 establishments in England