Capital Logistics
Encyclopedia
Capital Logistics is a former bus
and coach
operator in England
. It was formed in August 1997 following the merger of Whyte's Airport Services and Capital Coaches (West Drayton) the previous April. The company was sold to Tellings-Golden Miller
in 1999. Capital Logistics is not to be confused with the other former London bus operator Capital Citybus
.
The company operated a variety of coach and contract services around London
Heathrow Airport, and some London Bus services, including the H26 Hoppa minibus service. This route used Mercedes-Benz
709D minibuses fitted with wheelchair lifts and was supported by Hounslow Council .
In the summer of 1998, Capital Logistics was due to take over London Buses route 60
. Problems with delivery of buses meant that the company could not start the contract on time, and the route was temporarily operated by no less than 8 different operators on an ad-hoc basis (including near-namesakes Capital Citybus), with double sub-contracting.
Eventually, in March 1999, Capital was able to operate the route with 16 DAF DB250 double-decker buses, 6 with Optare Spectra
bodywork and 10 with Plaxton President
bodywork. Some buses ran with Capital Connections branding. It was soon to be operated by new company Omnibus London, after Capital Logistics ran into financial difficulties. It was then run by Arriva London (who had lost the route before) for a period ,then re-tendered to Connex
a few months later.
Capital Logistics also operated Connections branded Optare Excel
s on local Uxbridge - Heathrow route U3 and the ex-Green Line
route 726 gained from London Coaches, replacing the DAF SB220
s initially used.
Capital Logistics was bought by Tellings Golden Miller on 1 June 1999, coincidentally just after a new contract for the 726 had been awarded to TGM in their own right, for takeup during 2000.
In April 2000 AirLinks acquired the airport coach business .
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
operator in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was formed in August 1997 following the merger of Whyte's Airport Services and Capital Coaches (West Drayton) the previous April. The company was sold to Tellings-Golden Miller
Tellings-Golden Miller
Tellings-Golden Miller , a subsidiary of Arriva, is a bus service and coach operator in the United Kingdom.-Golden Miller:Reputedly, Fred Varney began the Golden Miller company with the winnings from a bet made on the horse Golden Miller, which won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in...
in 1999. Capital Logistics is not to be confused with the other former London bus operator Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
.
The company operated a variety of coach and contract services around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Heathrow Airport, and some London Bus services, including the H26 Hoppa minibus service. This route used Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
709D minibuses fitted with wheelchair lifts and was supported by Hounslow Council .
In the summer of 1998, Capital Logistics was due to take over London Buses route 60
London Buses route 60
London Buses route 60 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
. Problems with delivery of buses meant that the company could not start the contract on time, and the route was temporarily operated by no less than 8 different operators on an ad-hoc basis (including near-namesakes Capital Citybus), with double sub-contracting.
Eventually, in March 1999, Capital was able to operate the route with 16 DAF DB250 double-decker buses, 6 with Optare Spectra
Optare Spectra
Launched in 1991, the Optare Spectra is a double-decker bus body built on the DAF DB250 chassis.The vehicle was developed as a joint project between Optare and DAF; based on the designs of the successful MCW Metrobus which Optare had purchased, but they are no means a restlyed Metrobus...
bodywork and 10 with Plaxton President
Plaxton President
The Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
bodywork. Some buses ran with Capital Connections branding. It was soon to be operated by new company Omnibus London, after Capital Logistics ran into financial difficulties. It was then run by Arriva London (who had lost the route before) for a period ,then re-tendered to Connex
Abellio (UK bus company)
Abellio London and Abellio Surrey operate buses in London and Surrey. They are part of the Abellio Group owned by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:...
a few months later.
Capital Logistics also operated Connections branded Optare Excel
Optare Excel
The Optare Excel is a low-floor full-size single-decker bus manufactured by Optare.Manufactured as an integral bus, the Excel was launched in 1995 as one of the first low-floor single-deck vehicles. The styling of the body was in keeping with existing Optare products, especially at the rear...
s on local Uxbridge - Heathrow route U3 and the ex-Green Line
Green Line
- Geographic demarcations :* Green Line, a name for the Gothic Line or "Linea Gotica", a German defensive line in Italy during World War II, renamed the "Green Line" in June 1944...
route 726 gained from London Coaches, replacing the DAF SB220
DAF SB220
The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
s initially used.
Capital Logistics was bought by Tellings Golden Miller on 1 June 1999, coincidentally just after a new contract for the 726 had been awarded to TGM in their own right, for takeup during 2000.
In April 2000 AirLinks acquired the airport coach business .