Probus Management
Encyclopedia
Probus Management was a bus operator in the West Midlands
. It mainly had a distinctive all over yellow livery. In 2006 it became part of Go West Midlands
, and in 2008 was sold by Go-Ahead
to become part of Central Connect.
minibuses on route 404, running between Walsall
and West Bromwich
.
The operation of route 79, between Birmingham
, West Bromwich
and Wolverhampton
, increased the size of the fleet to six by the end of the year. All the vehicles were painted in a white livery with a black skirt, and red fleet names. Pictured
, who was a minibus operator based in Erdington
, running a mix of commercial and Centro
supported services in north Birmingham.
The company successfully gained the right to run its own Centro contracts in October 1994, and by February 1995 it had 25 minibuses in operation, mostly second-hand Dodge minibuses.
Pete's moved to a new depot in Church Lane Industrial Estate in May 1996, where 50 minibuses could be parked under cover. At the same time Lionspeed's yellow and green livery was adopted, and the company bought its first new buses in the shape of Mercedes
minibuses, which were operated under a separate company called The Busy Bus Company.
In October 1996 the company won more Centro contracts and additional vehicles were needed. Pete's wanted six Mercedes-Benz Vario
s but the leasing company (Cheshire Bus and Coach
) could not obtain enough in time, so other bus types were operated, including a Dennis Dart SLF. This was to the annoyance of Travel West Midlands, the area's largest operator, who were only just getting their first low-floor vehicles. The popularity of these buses led to Pete's purchasing another three in June 1997.
Pete's Travel took over further Centro contracts, with Dodge minibuses, in January 1997, after The Little Red Bus Company went into receivership.
Purchase of People's Express
In May 1997 the company acquired a 50% stake in People's Express
(the trading name of Salelink), who at the time operated 13 buses, also in West Bromwich. The remainder of People's Express was bought in June 1998, along with the company's Centro contracts. Following more contract wins at the end of 1998, the company expanded into Coventry
, Telford
and Bridgnorth
.
October 2001 brought with it two new depots for the company - one in Coventry
for newly won Centro and Warwickshire County Council contracts, and another in Redditch
for Centro and Worcestershire County Council
contracts, and some commercial services following First Wyvern's staff shortage service cuts.
was taken over in February 2002, which was used to expand operations in Shropshire and to start a coach operation.
The Telford depot was closed in late 2004 due to the extensive loss of Shropshire
contracts.
. On 17 June that year, People's Express closed the Redditch depot. From that date all services were operated from the West Bromwich
depot.
Go-Ahead
After a few weeks of negotiations, the Go-Ahead Group
agreed to purchase Probus Management on Wednesday 22 February 2006. The deal was finalised on Tuesday 21 March that year.
Go-Ahead scrapped the People's Express name, replacing it with Birmingham Coach Company's Diamond Bus
, later Diamond. These companies were then operated by Go West Midlands
.
However, in March 2008, Go West Midlands
was sold to Rotala
's Central Connect.
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
. It mainly had a distinctive all over yellow livery. In 2006 it became part of Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands was a bus company based in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It was owned by Go-Ahead Group and was formed through Go-Ahead buying Probus Management Limited and Birmingham Coach Company and merging the two...
, and in 2008 was sold by Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
to become part of Central Connect.
History
Probus was founded in 1993, and began operating on 4 May of that year, trading as Pete's Travel, starting with two DodgeDodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
minibuses on route 404, running between Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
.
The operation of route 79, between Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
and Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, increased the size of the fleet to six by the end of the year. All the vehicles were painted in a white livery with a black skirt, and red fleet names. Pictured
Purchase of Lionspeed and gain of Centro contracts
In May 1994 Pete's acquired LionspeedLionspeed
Lionspeed was a minibus operator based in Sutton Coldfield, running a mix of commercial and West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive supported services in North Birmingham...
, who was a minibus operator based in Erdington
Erdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
, running a mix of commercial and Centro
West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive , sometimes known as Centro, is a local government organisation responsible for certain transport services in the West Midlands county in England....
supported services in north Birmingham.
The company successfully gained the right to run its own Centro contracts in October 1994, and by February 1995 it had 25 minibuses in operation, mostly second-hand Dodge minibuses.
Pete's moved to a new depot in Church Lane Industrial Estate in May 1996, where 50 minibuses could be parked under cover. At the same time Lionspeed's yellow and green livery was adopted, and the company bought its first new buses in the shape of Mercedes
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...
minibuses, which were operated under a separate company called The Busy Bus Company.
In October 1996 the company won more Centro contracts and additional vehicles were needed. Pete's wanted six Mercedes-Benz Vario
Mercedes-Benz Vario
The Mercedes-Benz Vario is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. Originally launched as the T2 in 1986, the Vario gained its current name when it was facelifted in 1996. The T2 van itself succeeded the Mercedes-Benz L van series.The bodyshell remained relatively unchanged since production...
s but the leasing company (Cheshire Bus and Coach
Cheshire Bus and Coach
Cheshire Bus and Coach was a bus and coach rental business in West Midlands, England....
) could not obtain enough in time, so other bus types were operated, including a Dennis Dart SLF. This was to the annoyance of Travel West Midlands, the area's largest operator, who were only just getting their first low-floor vehicles. The popularity of these buses led to Pete's purchasing another three in June 1997.
Pete's Travel took over further Centro contracts, with Dodge minibuses, in January 1997, after The Little Red Bus Company went into receivership.
Purchase of People's ExpressPeople's ExpressPeople's Express was the trading name of Salelink, a bus company in the West Midlands which was acquired by Probus Management in 1998 and then by the Go-Ahead Group in 2006....
In May 1997 the company acquired a 50% stake in People's ExpressPeople's Express
People's Express was the trading name of Salelink, a bus company in the West Midlands which was acquired by Probus Management in 1998 and then by the Go-Ahead Group in 2006....
(the trading name of Salelink), who at the time operated 13 buses, also in West Bromwich. The remainder of People's Express was bought in June 1998, along with the company's Centro contracts. Following more contract wins at the end of 1998, the company expanded into Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
and Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
.
Move to Hill Top and Redditch
A new depot was purchased in February of that year, at "Hill Top" in West Bromwich, allowing the use of double deckers for Centro school contracts.October 2001 brought with it two new depots for the company - one in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
for newly won Centro and Warwickshire County Council contracts, and another in Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
for Centro and Worcestershire County Council
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
contracts, and some commercial services following First Wyvern's staff shortage service cuts.
Rise and decline of the Telford operations
Britannia Travel of TelfordTelford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
was taken over in February 2002, which was used to expand operations in Shropshire and to start a coach operation.
The Telford depot was closed in late 2004 due to the extensive loss of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
contracts.
People's Express name revived
After 28 March 2005 the company changed its trading name from Pete's Travel to People's ExpressPeople's Express
People's Express was the trading name of Salelink, a bus company in the West Midlands which was acquired by Probus Management in 1998 and then by the Go-Ahead Group in 2006....
. On 17 June that year, People's Express closed the Redditch depot. From that date all services were operated from the West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
depot.
Go-AheadGo-Ahead GroupThe Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
After a few weeks of negotiations, the Go-Ahead GroupGo-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
agreed to purchase Probus Management on Wednesday 22 February 2006. The deal was finalised on Tuesday 21 March that year.
Go-Ahead scrapped the People's Express name, replacing it with Birmingham Coach Company's Diamond Bus
Diamond Bus
Diamond is a bus operator in the West Midlands, formed in 1986 as The Birmingham Coach Company.-Birmingham Coach Company:The company was created in 1986 as the Birmingham Coach Company operating a single route, 16, in competition with West Midlands Travel....
, later Diamond. These companies were then operated by Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands was a bus company based in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It was owned by Go-Ahead Group and was formed through Go-Ahead buying Probus Management Limited and Birmingham Coach Company and merging the two...
.
However, in March 2008, Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands
Go West Midlands was a bus company based in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It was owned by Go-Ahead Group and was formed through Go-Ahead buying Probus Management Limited and Birmingham Coach Company and merging the two...
was sold to Rotala
Rotala
Rotala is an Alternative Investment Market listed company, which owns a variety of UK transport operators.Rotala was set up in 2005, with the main intention of acquiring or gaining majority interest in businesses within a number of areas.-Surrey Connect:...
's Central Connect.