Blue Bus of Penwortham

:"For other companies known as "Blue Bus", see Blue Bus""'

Blue Bus is a bus operator based in Penwortham in the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire. It operates many routes, including services to larger towns such as Preston. The company is one of a diminishing number of independent bus companies running in England, many now part of larger groups.

History

Blue Bus of Penwortham was started up in in early 2006, by Roger Jarvis. It occurred nine months after he sold Blue Bus of Bolton to Arriva North West and Wales in September 2005. [ [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bus_of_Bolton English Wikipedia - Blue Bus of Bolton] Accessed 15 July 2008.] [Buses Magazine September 2005, Issue 606, ISBN 9770007639138.]

In a joint deal, Roger Jarvis bought Whittaker's Coach Travel from the original owner Richard Whittaker. Roger Jarvis revived the "Blue Bus" name from his original Blue Bus of Bolton. [Buses Magazine August 2006, Issue 617, ISBN 9770007639145.]

As a result, Richard Whittaker set up his own bus rental company. This has expanded significantly, offering a range of modern vehicles, and both companies are now closely linked. [Buses Magazine August 2006, Issue 617, ISBN 9770007639145.]

Routes

Blue Bus of Penwortham operates numerous bus services. As well as standard local and inter-urban bus services, the company operates various school contracts and four Lancashire County Council financially supported services.

tandard services

* 21 Preston - Broadgate
* 29 Preston - Frenchwood
* 110 Leyland - Seven Stars - Moss Side - Croston - Bretherton - Tarleton - Mere Brow - Crossens - Churchtown - Southport
* 112 Preston - Lostock Hall - Leyland - Croston - Bretherton

chool buses

To cater for the hundreds of students travelling to school in the area every day, Blue Bus operate seven contracted services to various schools. Routes 312, 709, 776, 787 and 797 connect to schools in towns and villages including Lower Adlington, Bamber Bridge, Brindle, Charnock Richard, Chorley, Coppull, Farington, Higher Walton, Hoghton, Hutton, Riley Green and Tardy Gate as well as in the base town of Penwortham. [ [http://nw.aimwebsites.co.uk/TimetablePlanner.jsp?vm_Reset_str=true Traveline North West - School services] Accessed 15 July 2008, (enter service number for details).]

Fleet

Blue Bus runs around 15 vehicles on the various routes and contracts shown above.The fleet mainly comprises smaller mini- or midibuses. Mercedes-Benz Varios with Plaxton Beaver bodywork are partially prevalent, with various examples of the type. Both the Plaxton Beaver 1 and Beaver 2 models are operated. Some buses have the older Mercedes-Benz 709D chassis. Vehicles are run in a cream livery with a blue and red skirt, with some others in a livery similar to the Blue Bus of Bolton livery, (as illustrated above) which are painted in pale blue. [ [http://imr-transport.fotopic.net/c1052500.html imr-transport pictures - "Blue Bus (Lancashire), Penwortham"] Accessed 15 July 2008.]

Blue Bus was recently reported in the local papers in the area. Most of their fleet are not low floor, wheelchair accessible vehicles. Along with some other operators, the company was criticised by a disabled and paralysed woman, claiming a Blue Bus vehicle arrived but the driver said the ramp didn't work. [ [http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Buses-39deny-access-to-disabled.726303.jp Lancashire Evening Post - "Buses 'deny access to disabled people'"] Accessed July 15 2008.]

Districts of operation

[ [http://www.carlberry.co.uk/op/Whittakers_Coach_Travel_Preston.htm Carlberry Bus operator details, "Whittakers"] Accessed 15 July.]
*Greater Manchester
*Lancashire
*Merseyside

ee also

*Blue Bus
*Blue Bus of Bolton
*Blue Bus of North Lanarkshire

References

External links

* [http://nw.aimwebsites.co.uk/ Traveline North West] Details of all public transport services in the region.
* [http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?O=WHITT Carlberry] Information of services.
* [http://imr-transport.fotopic.net/c1052500.html imr-transport pictures] Images of fleet.