People's Express/Pete's Travel

People's Express began operating bus services on Tuesday 4th May 1993 as Pete's Travel when they introduced two Dodge minibuses on the 404 route between Walsall and West Bromwich. With the adding of journeys on the service 79 the fleet had grown to six vehicles by the end of that year. The vehicles were painted in all over white with red Pete’s Travel lettering. In May 1994 the company acquired Lionspeed an Erdington based minibus operator who was running a mixture of commercial and Centro sponsored services in North Birmingham. The company was successful in gaining Centro contracts in its own right in October 1994 and by February 1995 the company was operating 25 minibuses which were mainly second hand Dodge vehicles. With the purchase of Lionspeed Pete’s Travel adopted the latter company’s green and yellow livery for the whole fleet. In May 1996 the company moved to the Church Lane Industrial Estate in West Bromwich where 50 minibuses could be parked undercover. At around the same time the first new vehicles were acquired these being four Mercedes minibuses which were operated initially under a new company called the Busy Bus Company. In January 1997 following the demise The Little Red Bus Company Pete’s Travel took over a number of that company’s Centro contracts together with nine Dodge minibuses. In October 1996 the company had won a large number of Centro contracts and there was a requirement for more vehicles and so the company leased them from Cheshire Bus & Coach. Pete’s wanted six Mercedes Vario minibuses but the leasing company could not get hold of enough so a number of other vehicle types were loaned on a temporary basis including a low floor Dennis Dart. This was put to work on the 119 service in Sutton Coldfield to the disgust of Travel West Midlands who themselves were only just starting acquire low floor vehicles. 

The first Dart proved popular and was joined by 3 more in June 1997. In May 1997, Pete's Travel took over Erdington based North Warwickshire Travel and in July, took a 50% interest in People Express of West Bromwich, who operated 13 vehicles based in Siddons Lane, West Bromwich. The remainder of this company and their Centro contracts were taken over in June 1998. Towards the end of 1998 the company expanded into Coventry, Telford and Bridgnorth following the winning of contracted services. In February of that year the company also consolidated on a new single site at Hill Top in West Bromwich. This allowed the company to acquire double deck vehicles for the operation of Centro school contracts.

In October 2001 the company opened new depots at Coventry to operate both Centro and Warwickshire County Council contracts and at Redditch to operate Worcestershire County Council and Centro contracts together with some commercial services in Redditch following there withdrawal by First Midland Red due to staff shortages. In February 2002 the company purchased Britannia Travel of Telford which, has been both used to expand operations in Shropshire and to give the company a coach operation for the first time. Following the loss of Shropshire County Council contracts the Telford garage was closed in late 2004. From Monday 28th March 2005 the trading name for the bus operations of the company changed from Pete's Travel to People's Express. The Peoples Express trading name was used originally by a bus company called Salelink Ltd which was taken over by Pete's Travel in 1998. The People's Express closed their garage in Church Road in Redditch on Friday 17th June 2005. After this date all services in the Redditch area were  operated from their West Bromwich depot. In early 2006 following a number of weeks of negotiations the Go-Ahead Group agreed to purchase the assets of Probus Management Ltd (the company behind People's Express) on Wednesday 22nd February 2006. The deal was finalised on Tuesday 21st March 2006 Go-Ahead plan was to consolidate their West Midlands operations on one License as Diamond Bus. This meant the Peoples Express name disappeared. From 22nd March 2006 the operation of all services that were operated by People's Express were transferred without change to Diamond Bus (In Redditch this meant journeys on the following routes were transferred - 57, 58, 146, 247 and 343).

The vehicles listed below were the closing bus fleet of People's Express on 22nd March 2006. All vehicles were transferred to The Birmingham Coach Company from that date.  

Registration Number

Vehicle Chassis

Body Work

Seating Capacity

G110NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023032

Northern Counties 3931

H47/38F

G112NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023035

Northern Counties 3933

H47/38F

G113NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023039

Northern Counties 3934

H47/38F

G114NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023052

Northern Counties 3940

H47/38F

G647SGT

Volvo B10M-50 023033

Northern Counties 3932

H47/38F

G122NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023506

Northern Counties 3948

H47/38F

G121NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023505

Northern Counties 3947

H47/38F

G123NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023038

Northern Counties 3949

H47/38F

W

WLT920

Volvo B10M-50 023503

Northern Counties 3946

H47/38F

W

G124NGN

Volvo B10M-50 023504

Northern Counties 3950

H47/38F

G850WGW

Volvo B10M-50 023037

Northern Counties 3951

H47/38F

229CLT

Volvo B10M-50 023580

Northern Counties 4081

H47/38F

G130PGK

Volvo B10M-50 024582

Northern Counties 4082

H47/38F

W

G131PGK

Volvo B10M-50 024583

Northern Counties 4083

H47/38F

J620KCU

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3017/704

Wrights P19

B40F

K859PCN

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3017/945

Wrights P113

B40F

K559PDY

Dennis Dart 9SDL3016/1241

Wrights P291

B31F

W

K569PDY

Dennis Dart 95DL30161240

Wrights

B35F

M101BLE

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040/2067

Plaxton 9410HXN3011

B39F

M105BLE

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040/2084

Plaxton 9410HXN3015

B39F

M106BLE

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040/2103

Plaxton 9410HXN3016

B39F

M109BLE

Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040/2120

Plaxton 9410HXN3019

B39F

N606WND

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1TGW10164

Plaxton 9610.6HLZ2501

B40F

P697HND

Mercedes Benz 0810D 670373-2N-061899

Plaxton 977.8MWV6417

B27F

P741HND

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1TGW10165

Plaxton 9610.6HLZ5202

B39F

P742HND

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1TGW10287

Plaxton 9610.6HLZ5095

B39F

P748HND

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1TGW10431

Plaxton 9610.6HLZ5342

B39F

P687HND

Mercedes Benz 709D 669003-2N-042958

Plaxton 967.6MHV5989

B27F

W

P827BUD

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1TGW10603

Wrights W419

B38F

W

P829BUD

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1TGW10605

Wrights W421

B38F

W

P101HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062284

Alexander 9538/1

B29F

W

P102HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062288

Alexander 9538/2

B29F

P169PVM

Mercedes-Benz 0814D 6703742N062326

Plaxton 978.5MXV6873

B31F

P206PVM

Mercedes-Benz 0814D 6703742N062368

Plaxton 978.5MXV6870

B31F

P207PVM

Mercedes-Benz 0814D 6703742N062271

Plaxton 978.5MXV6871

B31F

P620NKW

Mercedes-Benz 0814D 6703742N062329

Alexandra 9611/1

B31F

W

P105HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062168

Alexander 9538/5

B29F

W

P106HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 670373-2N-062339

Alexander 9538/6

B29F

P108HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062217

Alexander 9538/8

B29F

P109HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062332

Alexander 9538/9

B29F

P112HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062383

Alexander 9538/11

B29F

P113HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062772

Alexander 9538/12

B29F

P114HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062369

Alexander 9538/13

B29F

P117HCH

Mercedes Benz 0814D 6703732N062397

Alexander 9538/16

B29F

R 85XNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11095

Plaxton 9710.6HLZ6348

B39F

R 86XNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11120

Plaxton 9710.6HLZ6349

B39F

R527YRP

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW11071

Wrights Y252

B38F

R529YRP

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW11072

Wrights Y240

B38F

R530YRP

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW11107

Wrights Y241

B38F

R531YRP

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1VGW11332

Wrights Y289

B38F

R532YRP

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW11108

Wrights Y253

B38F

R810WJA

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11161

UVG 5688/97

B38F

R932AMB

Mercedes-Benz 0814D 670374-2N-064836

Plaxton 978.5MXV7788

B31F

R 87XNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11163

Plaxton 9710.6HLZ6636

B39F

R970MGB

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW11095

Plaxton 9810.7HLB6315

B39F

R 91XNE

Dennis Dart SLF 466BR1VGW40105

Plaxton 9811.3HAB8090

B38F

R 92XNE

Dennis Dart SLF 466BR1VGW40106

Plaxton 9811.3HAB8091

B38F

R954JYS

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW12508

Plaxton 9810.7HLB8626

B39F

R659GCA

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11192

Plaxton 9810.7HLB8576

B40F

R660GCA

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11993

Plaxton 9810.7HLB8577

B39F

R438FTU

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1VGW11359

Plaxton 9710.6HLZ6637

B39F

S397HVV

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW12792

Plaxton 9810.7HLB9585

B40F

S404JUA

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW12508

Plaxton 9810.7HLB9561

B40F

S405JUA

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW12506

Plaxton 9810.7HLB9562

B40F

S771RNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW40130

Plaxton 9811.3HAB8768

B40F

S772RNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW40131

Plaxton 9811.3HAB8769

B40F

S773RNE

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW40158

Plaxton 9811.3HAB8832

B40F

S758RNE

Dennis Dart MPD 612BRWGW12871

Plaxton 988.8GKB0357

B29F

S759RNE

Dennis Dart MPD 612BRWGW12869

Plaxton 988.8GKB0358

B29F

S920SVM

Dennis Dart SLF 466BR1VGW40214

Plaxton 9811.3HAB9558

B42F

T 71JBA

Dennis Dart MPD 612BRWGW12991

Plaxton 988.8GKB0359

B29F

T441EBD

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW

Wrights A642

B39F

T442EBD

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW12926

Wrights A645

B39F

T443EBD

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW

Wrights A643

B39F

T445EBD

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW

Plaxton 9910.7HLB0420

B39F

T447EBD

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1WGW12925

Wrights A644

B39F

Y211HWJ

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW12943

Plaxton 9910.7HLB0368

B39F

Y212HWJ

Dennis Dart SLF 322BR1WGW13027

Plaxton 9910.7HLB0425

B39F

V385JWK

Dennis Dart SLF 466BR1WGW40225

Plaxton 9911.7HAB0389

B34F

V386JWK

Dennis Dart SLF 466BR1WGW40224

Plaxton 9911.7HAB0388

B41F

W

V391SVV

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW13349

Plaxton 9910.7HLB0967

B39F

V266BNV

Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1XGW14146

Plaxton 998.8KB1892

B29F

V941DNB

Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1XGW13863

Plaxton 998.8KB0594

B29F

V267BNV

Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1XGW14115

Plaxton 998.8KB1891

B29F

V942DNB

Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1XGW13864

Plaxton 998.8KB0603

B29F

W901JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14371

Alexandra 9943/1

B38F

W902JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14372

Alexandra 9943/2

B38F

W903JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14405

Alexandra 9943/3

B38F

W904JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14406

Alexandra 9943/4

B39F

W905JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14407

Alexandra 9943/5

B39F

W906JNF

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14683

Alexandra 9943/6

B39F

X631AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14417

Plaxton 0010.7HLB2455

B39F

X632AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14598

Plaxton 0010.7HLB2456

B39F

X634AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW13707

Plaxton 9910.7HLB1462

B39F

X636AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14658

Plaxton 0010.7HLB2458

B39F

X637AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW13193

Plaxton 0010.7HLB1459

B39F

X638AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14676

Plaxton 9910.7HLB1460

B39F

X639AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW13612

Plaxton 9910.7HLB1848

B39F

X641AKW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW14597

Plaxton 0010.7HLB2301

B39F

Y867PWT

Optare Solo M850 190000000050

Optare 190650

B29F

Y868PWT

Optare Solo M850 190000000051

Optare 190651

B29F

KV51KZG

Optare Solo M850 100000000000708

Optare 190708

B29F

PJ02RGX

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3C2CR32GW

Plaxton 0154/

B37F

PJ02RGY

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3C2CR32GW16387

Plaxton 0154/5

B37F

PJ02RHA

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3C2CR32GW16183

Plaxton 0154/7

B37F

KU52RXT

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16595

Plaxton 0195/03

B37F

KU52RXV

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16596

Plaxton 0195/04

B37F

KU52RXW

Dennis Dart SLF SFD31ACR32GW16597

Plaxton 0195/5

B37F

KU52RYF

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16649

Plaxton 2025/2

B37F

KU52RYG

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16650

Plaxton 2025/3

B37F

KU52RYH

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16664

Plaxton 2025/4

B37F

KU52RYJ

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16665

Plaxton 2025/5

B37F

KU52RYK

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16666

Plaxton 2025/6

B37F

KU52RYM

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16667

Plaxton 2025/7

B37F

KU52RYN

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16668

Plaxton 2025/8

B37F

KU52RYO

Dennis Dart SLF SDF3CACR32GW16648

Plaxton 2025/1

B37F

W

GIL3275

Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RH 830099

Plaxton 8412LTPC06N

C55F

W

JIL6903

Leyland Royal Tiger RT1022

Plaxton 8412LRH1C754

C52F

W

NIW2320

DAF MB230DFL615 288431

Van Hool 12945

C57F

W

NIW2322

DAF MB230DFL615 290802

Van Hool 12997

C55F

W

NIW6131

DAF MB230DFL615 290796

Van Hool 12998

C55F

W

OIW5807

DAF SB23005DHTD585

Plaxton 8812DMP3C002

C57F

W

OIW7115

DAF MB230DFL615 288445

Van Hool 12944

C57F

W

TYW679

Volvo B10M-61 000910

Plaxton 8112VCV924

C53F

W

C633PUJ

Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RH 8600199

Plaxton 8712LMMOD701

DP57F

Code W - Withdrawn (P105PCN was put back into service in May 2006)

A number of coaches from the former Britannia Coaches fleet were included in the sale. None of these vehicles were licensed and had been up for sale for a number of months