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