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{{Short description|Local and regional bus operator based in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Borders Buses
|name = Borders Buses Ltd.
|logo =
|logo = Borders Buses logo.svg
|image = BORDERS BUSES - Flickr - secret coach park (1).jpg
⚫
|logo_size =
⚫
|image =
|image_caption =
|company_slogan =
|parent = [[West Coast Motors]]
|parent = [[West Coast Motors]]
|founded = 1972
|founded = {{Start date and age|1972}}
⚫
|headquarters = {{nowrap|[[Berwick-upon-Tweed]], England, UK}}
|defunct =
|service_area = {{plainlist|
⚫
|headquarters = [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]]
* [[Edinburgh]]
|locale =
* [[Cumbria]]
|service_area = [[Scottish Borders]]<br>[[Northumberland]]<br>[[Midlothian]]<br>[[East Lothian]]<br>[[Edinburgh]]<br>[[Cumbria]]
* [[East Lothian]]
|service_type = Bus services
* [[Midlothian]]
|alliance =
* [[Northumberland]]
|routes = 40 (August 2018)
* [[Scottish Borders]]}}
|depots =
|destinations =
|service_type = Bus and coach
|stops =
|depots = 3
⚫
|website = {{url|https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk}}
|hubs =
|stations =
|leader = Colin Robert Craig
|lounge =
|leader_type = Managing Director
}}
|fleet =
'''Borders Buses''' is a local and regional bus operator based in [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]], England. It operates services in [[Edinburgh]], [[East Lothian]], [[Midlothian]] and [[Scottish Borders]] in Scotland, as well as [[Cumbria]] and [[Northumberland]] in England. It is a subsidiary of [[West Coast Motors]].
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
|operator =
|ceo =
⚫
|website = [https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/ www.bordersbuses.co.uk]}}


==History==
'''Borders Buses'''<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06445349 Companies House extract company no 6445349] Borders Buses Limited</ref> is a bus company based in [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]], England.
{{multiple images
⚫
| total_width =
| image1 = MX56 AAN leaves Edinburgh, 05 April 2013.JPG
| image2 = Edinburgh (16240640984).jpg
| footer = A Perryman's Buses branded [[Optare Solo]] (top) and [[Optare Versa]] (bottom).
⚫
| perrow = 1
}}
The company, formerly known as '''Perryman's Buses''', began in 1972, operating as a taxi service in the village of [[Burnmouth]], [[Scottish Borders]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/perryman-s-buses-taken-over-by-west-coast-motors-1-4038451|title=Perryman's Buses taken over by West Coast Motors|date=26 February 2016|website=The Berwickshire News|language=en|access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref> Following expansion over the next four decades, Perryman's moved to larger premises at Ramparts Business Park, [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] in 2002.


Borders Buses can trace its origins back to 1972, when a taxi service commenced operating in the small village of [[Burnmouth]] in the [[Scottish Borders]] under the Perryman's banner, before moving to new larger premises in [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] in 2002. In 2013 a second depot was opened in [[St Boswells]] following the winning of a number of routes previously operated by [[Munro's of Jedburgh]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180611083047/https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/bus-jobs-boost-but-munro-s-misses-out-1-2972189 Bus jons boost...but Munro's misses out] ''Selkirk Weekend Advertiser'' 20 June 2013</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151001131055/http://busandcoach.com/news/articles/tender-losses-force-munros-closure Tender losses force Munro's closure] ''Bus & Coach Professional'' 10 July 2013</ref> In February 2016, the business was sold by Richard Perryman to [[West Coast Motors]].<ref name=Scotsman>[http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/perryman-s-buses-taken-over-by-west-coast-motors-1-4038451 Perryman's Buses taken over by West Coast Motors] ''[[The Scotsman]]'' 26 February 2016</ref><ref>"West Coast Motors buys Perryman's of Berwick-upon-Tweed" ''[[Coach & Bus Week]]'' issue 1229 1 March 2016 page 6</ref>
Following the closure of [[Munro's of Jedburgh]] in July 2013, Perryman's was awarded a contract from [[Scottish Borders Council]], valued at £10.4 million, to operate a number of routes in [[Northumberland]], [[Midlothian]], and [[Scottish Borders]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/bus-jobs-boost-but-munro-s-misses-out-1-2972189|title=Bus jobs boost... but Munro's misses out|last=Paterson|first=Kenny|date=20 June 2013|website=The Southern Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611083047/https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/bus-jobs-boost-but-munro-s-misses-out-1-2972189|archive-date=11 June 2018|access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2013 |title=Tender losses force Munro's closure |url=http://busandcoach.com/news/articles/tender-losses-force-munros-closure |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001131055/http://busandcoach.com/news/articles/tender-losses-force-munros-closure |archive-date=1 October 2015 |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=Bus & Coach Professional}}</ref>


This expansion saw the opening of a second depot, in the village of [[St Boswells]], and created a total of 27 jobs. The new operation required additional vehicles, with a total of twelve high-specification [[Optare Versa]] single-deck vehicles delivered in September 2013 – the company's largest ever vehicle order at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 2013 |title=Perryman's bus contract boost |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/perrymans-bus-contract-boost/ |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=Coach & Bus Week |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 October 2013 |title=Borders Bus Company gears up for future after securing £1.7m Bank of Scotland deal |url=https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/Media/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases/Bank-of-Scotland/Borders-Bus-Company-gears-up-for-future-after-securing-17m-Bank-of-Scotland-deal/ |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=[[Lloyds Banking Group]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2013 |title=Optare completes delivery of Perryman's Buses largest ever order |url=http://www.optare.com/news/2014/6/27/optare-completes-delivery-of-perrymans-buses-largest-ever-order |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=[[Optare]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2016, Perryman's took over several services from [[First Scotland East]].<ref>[http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/14621610.Perryman_s_set_to_take_over_threatened_Borders_bus_routes/ Perryman's set to take over threatened Borders bus routes] ''Border Telegraph'' 15 July 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.itv.com/news/border/2016-07-15/new-bus-services-for-hawick-peebles-and-selkirk/ New bus services for Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk] ''[[ITV News]]'' 15 July 2016</ref> In July 2017, the business was rebranded as Borders Buses.<ref>"Borders Buses to formally merge with Perryman's" ''Coach & Bus Week'' issue 1299 11 July 2017 page 11</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180611084819/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/two-become-one-borders/ Two become one on the borders] ''Bus & Coach Buyer'' 12 July 2017</ref>


In February 2016, Perryman's Buses was purchased by [[West Coast Motors]]. The sale included 45 vehicles, as well as depots at Berwick-upon-Tweed and St Boswells.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 February 2016 |title=West Coast Motors buys Perryman's of Berwick-upon-Tweed |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/west-coast-motors-buys-perrymans-of-berwick-upon-tweed/ |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=Coach & Bus Week |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/perryman-s-buses-taken-over-by-west-coast-motors-1-4038451|title=Perryman's Buses taken over by West Coast Motors|date=26 February 2016|website=The Berwickshire News|language=en|access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> Later in the same year, the company took over several services from [[First Scotland East]]. The remainder of First's operations in the Scottish Borders, including depots at [[Galashiels]], [[Hawick]], [[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]] and [[Peebles]] were sold to West Coast Motors in March 2017 – with a subsequent rebrand to Borders Buses in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/14621610.perrymans-set-to-take-over-threatened-borders-bus-routes/|title=Perryman's set to take over threatened Borders bus routes|last=Knox|first=David|date=15 July 2016|website=Border Telegraph|access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peat |first=Chris |date=10 March 2017 |title=First to sell Borders operations |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/first-sell-borders-operations/ |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=Bus & Coach Buyer |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/takeover-deal-secures-future-borders-bus-routes-852163|title=Takeover deal secures future of Borders bus routes|date=3 April 2017|website=The Southern Reporter|language=en|access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref>
As of August 2018, Borders Buses operated 40 services.<ref>[https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/timetables Timetables] Borders Buses</ref>

Further expansion in the Scottish Borders over the next few years saw the company acquire routes from BARC Coach Hire in January 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 December 2017|title=Borders Buses to take on six new routes|url=https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/15798981.borders-buses-to-take-on-six-new-routes/|access-date=19 June 2020|website=Peeblesshire News|language=en}}</ref> as well as Buskers in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2019 |title=New bus routes from Monday |url=https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/borders-buses-acquires-buskers-bus-routes |access-date=19 June 2020 |website=Borders Buses |language=en}}</ref>

The company has recently seen significant investment in vehicles, as well as real-time service information, and ticketing systems. In April 2019, three bike-friendly [[Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC|Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC]] vehicles were introduced on to route X62 – representing an investment of about £750,000. The launch of these new vehicles coincided with the launch of full [[contactless payment]] acceptance across the Borders Buses network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2019 |title=Borders Buses invests in active travel with bike-friendly Enviro400 |url=https://www.alexander-dennis.com/media/news/2019/april/borders-buses-invests-in-active-travel-with-bike-friendly-enviro400/ |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=[[Alexander Dennis]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2019 |title=Borders Buses invests in bikes on board |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/borders_buses_invests_in_bikes_on_board/ |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=Routeone |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Subsequently, ten bike-friendly [[Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC|Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC]] vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2019, with a further ten being delivered in February 2020, at a cost of £3.25 million. These vehicles currently operate on routes 253, X62 and X95, and feature audio-visual next stop announcements, leather seats, tables and charging points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Peter |date=24 December 2019 |title=Border Buses invests £3.25m in bike-friendly buses |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/border-buses-invests-3-25m-in-bike-friendly-buses/ |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=Coach & Bus Week |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Alastair |date=27 November 2019 |title=First Scottish 'bike bus' route launched from Berwick to Edinburgh |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/first-scottish-bike-bus-route-launched-berwick-edinburgh-1326107 |access-date=19 June 2019 |website=[[The Scotsman]] |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2020, it was announced that Borders Buses was granted a five-year contract, valued at £4 million, to commercially operate the remaining Scottish Borders Council core bus network – including the operation of routes 51, 52, 60, 67 and 68. As well as this, the company will work in partnership with Scottish Borders Council to improve bus stops, the provision of real-time information and bus priority measures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/transport/firm-signs-ps4m-deal-council-help-run-bus-services-borders-2447751|title=Firm signs £4m deal with council to help run bus services in Borders|last=Kelly|first=Paul|date=12 March 2020|website=The Southern Reporter|language=en|access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/18297371.council-offloads-key-routes-new-4-million-borders-buses-deal/|title=Council offloads key routes in new £4 million Borders Buses deal|last=Knox|first=David|date=11 March 2020|website=Peeblesshire News|language=en|access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

==Fleet and operations==
=== Depots ===
{{As of|2024|6}}, the company operates from two depots: Galashiels and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

=== Vehicles ===
The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered single and double-deck buses manufactured by [[Alexander Dennis]] and [[Optare]].

==Branding ==
In July 2017, following the sale of Perryman's Buses to West Coast Motors, the business was rebranded as Borders Buses. This saw the introduction of a new cream and red corporate livery, featuring a blue stripe along the length of the vehicle, as well as a new logo. Some vehicles operating on key routes have received route-specific branding, based on the corporate livery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 July 2017 |title=Two become one on the Borders |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/two-become-one-borders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611084819/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/two-become-one-borders/ |archive-date=11 June 2018 |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=Bus & Coach Buyer}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=11 July 2017 |title=Borders Buses to formally merge with Perryman's |page=11 |work=Coach and Bus Week |issue=1299}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=13 July 2017|title=End of road for Perryman's name as bus firm merges Borders subsidiaries|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/end-road-perrymans-name-bus-firm-merges-borders-subsidiaries-852123|access-date=11 March 2020|website=The Southern Reporter|language=en}}</ref> Prior to rebranding, vehicles wore the Perryman's Buses livery, which consisted of a white base with a red and blue stripe along the length of the vehicle.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}
* [https://www.bordersbuses.co.uk/ Borders Buses]


{{Bus companies in North East England}}
{{Bus companies in North East England}}
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[[Category:Berwick-upon-Tweed]]
[[Category:Berwick-upon-Tweed]]
[[Category:Galashiels]]
[[Category:Transport in the Scottish Borders]]
[[Category:Melrose, Scottish Borders]]
[[Category:Transport in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Transport in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1972]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1972]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Bus operators in Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 08:12, 7 July 2024

Borders Buses Ltd.
ParentWest Coast Motors
Gegründet1972; 52 years ago (1972)
HauptsitzBerwick-upon-Tweed, England, UK
Service area
Service typeBus and coach
Depots3
Managing DirectorColin Robert Craig
Websitewww.bordersbuses.co.uk

Borders Buses is a local and regional bus operator based in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. It operates services in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders in Scotland, as well as Cumbria and Northumberland in England. It is a subsidiary of West Coast Motors.

History

[edit]
A Perryman's Buses branded Optare Solo (top) and Optare Versa (bottom).

The company, formerly known as Perryman's Buses, began in 1972, operating as a taxi service in the village of Burnmouth, Scottish Borders.[1] Following expansion over the next four decades, Perryman's moved to larger premises at Ramparts Business Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed in 2002.

Following the closure of Munro's of Jedburgh in July 2013, Perryman's was awarded a contract from Scottish Borders Council, valued at £10.4 million, to operate a number of routes in Northumberland, Midlothian, and Scottish Borders.[2][3]

This expansion saw the opening of a second depot, in the village of St Boswells, and created a total of 27 jobs. The new operation required additional vehicles, with a total of twelve high-specification Optare Versa single-deck vehicles delivered in September 2013 – the company's largest ever vehicle order at the time.[4][5][6]

In February 2016, Perryman's Buses was purchased by West Coast Motors. The sale included 45 vehicles, as well as depots at Berwick-upon-Tweed and St Boswells.[7][8] Later in the same year, the company took over several services from First Scotland East. The remainder of First's operations in the Scottish Borders, including depots at Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Peebles were sold to West Coast Motors in March 2017 – with a subsequent rebrand to Borders Buses in July 2017.[9][10][11]

Further expansion in the Scottish Borders over the next few years saw the company acquire routes from BARC Coach Hire in January 2018,[12] as well as Buskers in September 2019.[13]

The company has recently seen significant investment in vehicles, as well as real-time service information, and ticketing systems. In April 2019, three bike-friendly Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC vehicles were introduced on to route X62 – representing an investment of about £750,000. The launch of these new vehicles coincided with the launch of full contactless payment acceptance across the Borders Buses network.[14][15]

Subsequently, ten bike-friendly Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2019, with a further ten being delivered in February 2020, at a cost of £3.25 million. These vehicles currently operate on routes 253, X62 and X95, and feature audio-visual next stop announcements, leather seats, tables and charging points.[16][17]

In March 2020, it was announced that Borders Buses was granted a five-year contract, valued at £4 million, to commercially operate the remaining Scottish Borders Council core bus network – including the operation of routes 51, 52, 60, 67 and 68. As well as this, the company will work in partnership with Scottish Borders Council to improve bus stops, the provision of real-time information and bus priority measures.[18][19]

Fleet and operations

[edit]

Depots

[edit]

As of June 2024, the company operates from two depots: Galashiels and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Vehicles

[edit]

The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered single and double-deck buses manufactured by Alexander Dennis and Optare.

Branding

[edit]

In July 2017, following the sale of Perryman's Buses to West Coast Motors, the business was rebranded as Borders Buses. This saw the introduction of a new cream and red corporate livery, featuring a blue stripe along the length of the vehicle, as well as a new logo. Some vehicles operating on key routes have received route-specific branding, based on the corporate livery.[20][21][22] Prior to rebranding, vehicles wore the Perryman's Buses livery, which consisted of a white base with a red and blue stripe along the length of the vehicle.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Perryman's Buses taken over by West Coast Motors". The Berwickshire News. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. ^ Paterson, Kenny (20 June 2013). "Bus jobs boost... but Munro's misses out". The Southern Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Tender losses force Munro's closure". Bus & Coach Professional. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Perryman's bus contract boost". Coach & Bus Week. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Borders Bus Company gears up for future after securing £1.7m Bank of Scotland deal". Lloyds Banking Group. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Optare completes delivery of Perryman's Buses largest ever order". Optare. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  7. ^ "West Coast Motors buys Perryman's of Berwick-upon-Tweed". Coach & Bus Week. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Perryman's Buses taken over by West Coast Motors". The Berwickshire News. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ^ Knox, David (15 July 2016). "Perryman's set to take over threatened Borders bus routes". Border Telegraph. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. ^ Peat, Chris (10 March 2017). "First to sell Borders operations". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Takeover deal secures future of Borders bus routes". The Southern Reporter. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Borders Buses to take on six new routes". Peeblesshire News. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  13. ^ "New bus routes from Monday". Borders Buses. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Borders Buses invests in active travel with bike-friendly Enviro400". Alexander Dennis. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Borders Buses invests in bikes on board". Routeone. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  16. ^ Jackson, Peter (24 December 2019). "Border Buses invests £3.25m in bike-friendly buses". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  17. ^ Dalton, Alastair (27 November 2019). "First Scottish 'bike bus' route launched from Berwick to Edinburgh". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  18. ^ Kelly, Paul (12 March 2020). "Firm signs £4m deal with council to help run bus services in Borders". The Southern Reporter. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  19. ^ Knox, David (11 March 2020). "Council offloads key routes in new £4 million Borders Buses deal". Peeblesshire News. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Two become one on the Borders". Bus & Coach Buyer. 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Borders Buses to formally merge with Perryman's". Coach and Bus Week. No. 1299. 11 July 2017. p. 11.
  22. ^ "End of road for Perryman's name as bus firm merges Borders subsidiaries". The Southern Reporter. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
[edit]
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