Tates Travel’s sudden closure

Tates Travel of Barugh Green, Barnsley, ceased operating on 8 February 2016, all services ending immediately with less than 24 hours notice. It operated bus services in the West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire areas both commercially and on contract to SYPTE and Metro. The business is understood to have gone into administration with Begbies Traynor Gropu appointed as receivers but on calling the company, B&CB was unable to get an answer to confirm this.

In the immediate aftermath of the closure, Stagecoach, with whom Tates Travel competed on a number of routes, has taken over some of the operator’s services in South Yorkshire, whilst local authorities look for further replacements. MD of Stagecoach Yorkshire, Paul Lynch, said, ‘We have been notified by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) that Tates Travel has ceased operations. We are working to maintain services on affected Barnsley routes 8/8a, 23, 24, 34/34a and 92, which were previously operated by them. Some timetable changes have been made to ensure we can serve as many communities as possible. Service 92 will run to Millhouse Green, with some journeys extending to Crow Edge. The service to Holmfirth is provided by service 25. Service 23 will run directly between Penistone and Stocksbridge via Cubley.’

The business was started in 2003 by Graham Mallinson with a single minibus for airport transfers and evening private hires. It added its first coaches in 2004 and in 2007 it bought the goodwill and contacts of Stanley Gath Coaches from the administrators. In 2009 it was awarded a large number of SYPTE school contracts, for services around the Barnsley area. The company was subsequently associated with Island Fortitude Inc. The company’s final fleet included Transbus Darts, ADL Enviro 200s and Optare Solos as well as a variety of modern coaches including a number of King Longs for the associated Globe Holidays operation. King Long service buses had previously been operated.

In West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Tiger took on routes 75/75A/76 from 10 February and the 29B, 157, 443 and 445 have been operated by Arriva on the same date.

An SYPTE spokesperson said, ‘We are taking urgent action together with Barnsley MBC and local bus operators to put alternative services in place. Temporary arrangements have already been made to ensure many of these vital local buses can continue to run and work is underway to resume services on the remaining affected routes.