Xelabus

File:Xelabus R711YWC.jpg bodied Dennis Dart in March 2011|left]]Xelabus was founded in November 2010 by Gareth Blair, after finishing a CPC course with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Bristol. The name is a portmanteau of his son's name spelt backwards with the word bus.{{Cite book|url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/virtual-magazine/18th-december-2020-issue-1583/|title=Issue 1583|date=18 December 2020|publisher=Bus and Coach Buyer|pages=18–22}} Vehicles are painted in a green livery similar to that of the former Hants & Dorset company that used to run in the region until 1983 when it was dissolved.Zealous foe Xela Route One issue 1333 13 April 2018 pages 16-25

A free service in Eastleigh to Chandlers Ford was the first route to be introduced which grew to seven bus routes that mainly served the local Asda and Tesco supermarkets in the region.[http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/eastleigh/8670562.Free_bus_service_launched/ Free bus service launched for Eastleigh] Southern Daily Echo 17 November 2010The Xelabus Experience Buses issue 757 April 2018 pages 30-34 Since then, nine more routes have commenced including an Open Top Bus "Sea the city" in Portsmouth in 2011.[http://www.xelabus.info/Local-Buses More Xelabus Routes] Xelabus Website 6 June 2011 Some services have been more successful than others, with one service to Southampton competing with Bluestar being withdrawn in less than 12 months. In September 2012, Xelabus began a two-year contract to operate services to Totton College.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120624203139/http://www.xelabus.info/News-Story.aspx?newsID=36 Xelabus & Totton College Partnership] Xelabus 28 April 2012File:Xelabus 502 F635 LMJ.JPG bodied Leyland Olympian in June 2011|left]]On 12 May 2014, Xelabus took over route 67 Winchester to Petersfield via West Meon from Velvet under contract to Hampshire County Council.[http://velvetbus.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Service-67-FAQs.pdf Bus service 67 – Frequently Asked Questions] Velvet In June the same year, it took over the Barton Peveril College routes from Velvet.[http://velvetbus.co.uk/barton-peveril-college-buses-upcoming-changes/ Barton Peveril College buses: Upcoming changes] Velvet 13 May 2014 Between January and August 2015, Xelabus acquired the routes and school services of Velvet and Brijan Tours when both of them went into administration.Xelabus celebrates fifth anniversary with route acquisition Coach & Bus Week issue 1198 21 July 2015 page 11[http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/xelabus-acquires-brijan-tours-services/ Xelabus acquires Brijan Tours’ services] Bus & Coach Professional 23 July 2015File:Xelabus T134 AUA - 24329122572.jpg bodied DAF DB250 in June 2016]]On 4 November 2019, Xelabus introduced contactless payments across their vehicles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18002098.eastleigh-bus-company-turns-contactless/|title = Eastleigh bus company turns contactless}}

For a short time during the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak, all Xelabus service were suspended in March for three months until June where over time it started to return to a normal frequency.{{Cite web|last=Slominski|first=Stephen|date=28 March 2020|title=Local bus services to be suspended or reduced|url=https://www.eastleighnews.co.uk/2020/03/28445/|access-date=26 July 2020|website=Eastleigh News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=9 June 2020|title=Xelabus|url=http://www.xelabus.info/updates/860|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609101509/http://www.xelabus.info/updates/860|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 June 2020|access-date=26 July 2020}} A month later, the company was awarded the contract to run the X21 to the Chilworth Science Park by the University of Southampton. The route is the only one contracted by the university to not use the uni-link branding and it runs between Southampton and Chilworth via Southampton Airport parkway, using an ADL Enviro200 MMC equipped with WiFi facilities and leather seating.{{Cite web|last=Escape|first=The|title=Driving responsible journeys {{!}} Science Park Bus|url=https://www.science-park.co.uk/news/2020/driving-responsible-journeys|access-date=1 December 2020|website=Science Park|language=en-GB}}File:Xelabus LIG 9127 - 28949896301.jpg in August 2016]]

Xelabus saw two purchases of local coach companies within 2022, Seaview Services of Sandown in May, and Yellow Coaches of Bournemouth in August. These were purchased under the Xelagroup parent company. The latter of the two was awarded an emergency tender by the BCP council after its purchase to cover for routes 18, 33 and 36;{{Cite web |title=Morebus overlooked by council for emergency tender to run Yellow Buses routes |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20615596.morebus-misses-council-tender-yellow-buses-routes/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} this emergency tender ended on 14 February 2023 with Yellow Coaches subsequently withdrawing public operations in Bournemouth.{{Cite web |title=Company which took over Yellow Buses' school and council routes is pulling out |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23231705.xelagroup-withdrawing-yellow-buses-services-took/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Morebus to take over former Yellow Buses routes after Xelagroup pulled out |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23292302.morebus-take-former-yellow-buses-routes-xelagroup/ |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} These routes previously were contracted to Yellow Buses, and were covered by Morebus for two weeks as the former fell into administration.{{Cite web |title=Yellow Coaches awarded council contract to run three Yellow Buses routes |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20619093.yellow-coaches-given-contract-three-yellow-buses-routes/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=New Bournemouth beach buses launching as firm misses out on Yellow Buses routes |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20618675.morebus-launching-new-open-top-bournemouth-beach-bus-route/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}

In August 2022, five public services within Hampshire were cut from the network due to rising costs and low patronage. One of these routes was covered by another operator, Southampton Mini Link, for two months before it ceased operations.{{Cite web |title=Boss unveils plan to take over key bus routes due to be axed |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/20593183.eastleigh-bus-boss-fundraising-routes/ |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Council announces plans to replace vital bus services |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23088570.hampshire-county-council/ |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}

In July 2023, 3 public services were cut from the network with the termination of the contracts to the routes. Routes X4 and X4A were taken over by Bluestar, with the X21 university route being taken over by Unilink.{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Ashleigh |date=27 June 2023 |title=Xelabus service to move to Bluestar |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/xelabus-service-to-move-to-bluestar/ |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=CBW |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=16 August 2023 |title=Xelabus - X21 changing to U8 |url=https://xelabus.info/updates/1046 |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816183154/https://xelabus.info/updates/1046 |archive-date=16 August 2023 }} In October 2024, services X11 and X12 were cut from the network at the end of the services' contract period with the company's shift towards contracted work. These were taken by Bluestar and renumbered as 21 and 22.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2024 |title=New operator announced for two bus routes from the city centre |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24622419.bluestar-taking-bus-routes-lordshill-shirley/ |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}

Xelabus operates private services for local schools and colleges as well as one public service in Southampton, subsidised by the Southampton City Council.{{Cite web |title=Bus Funding |url=https://www.southampton.gov.uk/travel-transport/getting-around-southampton/getting-around/public-transport/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=Southampton City Council |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Bus Times |url=https://www.xelacoach.info/copy-of-travel-times |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Xelacoach Ltd |language=en}}

• Bitterne Hoppa's: Bitterne to Midanbury/Sholing/Thornhill.

Coach and on hire operations began in May 2022 under the brand name Xelacoach.{{Cite web |title=XELACOACH LIMITED overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11631088 |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}} Also within the same month, Seaview Services was purchased and incorporated into the company. This has grown the bus fleet by around eight and given them access to operations on the Isle of Wight.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=routeone |date=4 May 2022 |title=Isle of Wight operator Seaview Services sold to Xelabus |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/isle-of-wight-operator-seaview-services-sold-to-xelabus/ |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=routeone |language=en-US}} With the collapse of Yellow Buses in Bournemouth, the Yellow Coaches subsidiary was purchased by the company on 5 August 2022, joining their private hire and school shuttle operations.{{Cite web |title=School bus services saved as Hampshire bus operator buys Yellow Coaches |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20604414.bournemouths-school-bus-services-run-xelabus/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}

File:XELABUS Eastleigh - Flickr - secret coach park.jpg bodied Volvo B7RLE in 2017]]

Xelabus initially operated a fleet of seven vehicles which had grown to around 40 vehicles in October 2019.

In 2017, Xelabus ordered several 8.9m ADL Enviro 200s from Mistral Bus and Coach sales, an investment of over £0.5 million.{{Cite web|date=28 November 2016|title=Mistral Bus and Coach Supplies Eight Brand New 8.9m Enviro 200 Buses to Xelabus|url=https://www.mistral-bus.com/mistral-bus-and-coach-supplies-five-brand-new-8-9m-enviro-200-buses-to-xelabus/|access-date=28 April 2021|website=Mistral Bus and Coach}} A year later, they took delivery of three Wright Gemini Volvo B5LHs for the Itchen College contracted routes in April 2018.{{Cite web|title=Bus company to launch new green double deckers in Southampton|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16176854.indepedent-bus-company-xelabus-will-bring-three-new-hybrid-double-decker-buses-into-its-fleet-from-next-week/|access-date=26 July 2020|website=Daily Echo|language=en}}

In 2022, another order was placed for two second hand Mercedes-Benz Tourismos for the coach operations of the company. Also that year, Xelabus took delivery of a pair of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC double-deck buses.{{cite web |url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/xelabus-takes-high-specification-enviro400-pair/ |title=Xelabus takes high-specification Enviro400 pair |date=27 September 2022 |website=RouteOne |access-date=28 September 2022}}

A fire broke out in the depot during the evening of 13 March 2011. Several vehicles were damaged with three being destroyed in the fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene and were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby two-storey building. Hampshire police investigators believed it may have been a deliberate attack.{{Cite web|title=Family bus firm hit in 'arson' attack|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8907088.xelabus-hit-by-suspected-arson-attack-in-eastleigh/|access-date=1 December 2020|website=Daily Echo|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Slominski|first=Stephen|title=Xela Buses in serious fire at Valley Park|url=https://www.eastleighnews.co.uk/2011/03/buses-in-serious-fire-at-valley-park/|access-date=1 December 2020|website=Eastleigh News|language=en-GB}}

{{Reflist}}

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• [http://www.xelabus.info/ Main Company website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20221111220200/https://www.yellowcoaches.co.uk/ (Archived) Yellow Coaches website]

{{Bus companies in South East England|state=collapsed}}

Category:Bus operators in Hampshire

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Category:Coach operators in England

Category:Transport companies established in 2010

Category:2010 establishments in England