Wardle Transport
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox bus transit
|name = Wardle Transport
|logo = Wardle Transport logo.gif
|image = Wardle Transport DG52 TYT.jpg
|image_caption = Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Burslem in April 2009
|founded = 1963
|defunct = 8 May 2015 (sold to D&G Bus)
|headquarters = Stoke-on-Trent
|routes = 39 (October 2013)
|service_area = Derbyshire
Staffordshire
|service_type = Bus services
|destinations =
|fleet = 64 (December 2010)
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502173326/http://www.wardletransport.com/ www.wardletransport.com]}}
File:Wardle Transport 4652 S652 KJU.jpg bodied Volvo Olympian in October 2012]]
File:Wardle Transport YM55RRY on loan to Western Greyhound 29 June 2013.jpg bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario O814D in June 2013]]
File:Wardle Transport 4776 YJ56 KFK.jpg bodied VDL DB250 in September 2012]]
Wardle Transport was a bus operator based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Formed in 1963 as Jack's of Norton, it expanded from 2001 to operate a network of local bus routes using over 60 vehicles. Arriva purchased the company in December 2010 and placed under the control of its Arriva Midlands subsidiary.[http://www.arriva.co.uk/media_centre/press_releases/2010/december/2010-12-08.aspx?sc_lang=en Arriva Midlands announces acquisition of Wardle Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022143607/http://www.arriva.co.uk/media_centre/press_releases/2010/december/2010-12-08.aspx?sc_lang=en |date=22 October 2013 }} Arriva 8 December 2010{{cite news|url=http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/new_transit/news/?ID=25092|title=Arriva boosts Midlands bus operation with Wardle Transport purchase|work=Transport Xtra|date=9 December 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008034813/http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/new_transit/news/?ID=25092|archive-date=8 October 2011|df=dmy-all}} Arriva stated that Wardle's identity would be retained.{{cite news|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/43830-arriva-buys-wardle-transport/|title=Arriva buys Wardle Transport|work=Indiser Media|date=9 December 2010}} At the time of the takeover, Wardle employed 105 staff and operated a fleet of 64 buses and ran 18 scheduled services.{{cite journal|last=Millar|first=Alan|title=Arriva acquisition takes it into First country|journal=Buses|date=January 2011|issue=670|page=15}} A new livery of two-tone red and white applied in Arriva's corporate style was introduced in June 2011.{{cite journal|last=Lidstone|first=John G.|title=Fleet News England & Wales|journal=Buses|date=July 2011|issue=676|pages=60–61}}
In 2015, Arriva announced that D&G Bus had purchased the operations of Wardle Transport with them taking over from 9th May 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.dgbus.co.uk/news.html|title=D&G BUs to takeover Wardle Transport routes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402172139/http://www.dgbus.co.uk/news.html|archive-date=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}[http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/dg-buys-wardle-transport/ D&G buys Wardle Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135529/http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/dg-buys-wardle-transport/ |date=2 April 2015 }} Bus & Coach Buyer 18 March 2015
History
Wardle Transport was founded in 1963 by Doug Wardle. It initially traded as Jack's of Norton, and was run alongside travel agent Wardle Travel. For its first 38 years of existence, the company operated a small fleet of minibuses on school services. In 2002 contracts to operate two routes in Stoke-on-Trent were won; these were operated with three Optare Alero minibuses hired from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. One of these routes was withdrawn in 2004. Following First Potteries maximum allowable vehicles being cut, Wardle gained three school services, acquiring its first double-decker vehicles to operate the routes.[http://www.wardletransport.com/wardle-history.aspx History of Wardle Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131020224209/http://www.wardletransport.com/wardle-history.aspx |date=20 October 2013 }} Wardle Transport{{cite journal|last=Beeton|first=Cliff|title=Wardle Transport: A story of steady growth|journal=Buses|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|date=November 2008|issue=644|pages=26–28}}
A new route linking Hanley, Haywood Hospital and Burslem was launched in early 2006. The route, supported by the city council, replaced a route withdrawn by another operator, but was initially found not to be commercially viable.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4747776.stm|title="Use it or lose it" bus message|work=BBC News|date=24 February 2006|access-date=2 February 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830183221/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4747776.stm|archive-date=30 August 2007|df=dmy-all}}
In 2007, the company won a contract to operate services to Stoke City Football Club home matches, initially using four double-deck buses. The services proved popular and the following season saw eight buses used.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Buses-ease-soccer-snarl-upsarticle-271802-details/article.html|title=Buses ease soccer snarl-ups|work=The Sentinel|date=16 August 2008|access-date=2 February 2011}} Four new commercial routes were also introduced in 2008.
A new direct service linking Blurton to Hanley, branded as Plumline, was introduced in 2008. An Optare Versa single-decker was bought for use on the route.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Purple-patch-new-bus/article-511481-detail/article.html|title=Purple patch for new bus|work=The Sentinel|date=29 November 2008|access-date=4 February 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328092725/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Purple-patch-new-bus/article-511481-detail/article.html|archive-date=28 March 2010|df=dmy-all}}
In August 2011 Arriva Midlands purchased the Staffordshire routes of D&G Bus with 46 routes and 30 buses and these were integrated into Wardle Transport.[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5485&categoryid=0 Arriva Midlands acquires D&G] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101202507/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=5485&categoryid=0 |date=1 November 2013 }} busandcoach.com 10 June 2011[http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/D-G-Buses-bought-Arriva-owners-blame-subsidy-cuts/story-12754174-detail/story.html#axzz2iIqqLC5D D&G Buses bought by Arriva - owners blame subsidy cuts for sale] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619173958/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/D-G-Buses-bought-Arriva-owners-blame-subsidy-cuts/story-12754174-detail/story.html |date=19 June 2011 }} The Sentinel 11 June 2011
In April 2012, Wardle Transport commenced operating route X50 to Derby.[http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/content.aspx?id=17377 Brand New X County Bus Link Coming Soon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024121606/http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/content.aspx?id=17377 |date=24 October 2013 }} Arriva
Services
As of October 2013 Wardle Transport operated 39 bus routes.[http://www.wardletransport.com/wardle-timetables.aspx Timetables] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131020224212/http://www.wardletransport.com/wardle-timetables.aspx |date=20 October 2013 }} Wardle Transport
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Wardle Transport (bus company)|Wardle Transport}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502173326/http://www.wardletransport.com/ Company website]
{{Bus companies in West Midlands|state=collapsed}}
Category:Bus operators in Derbyshire