D&G buys Wardle Transport

Potteries operator, D&G Bus, has acquired Stoke-on-Trent based Wardle Transport from Arriva Midlands. All relevant contracts have been signed and staff informed. The formal take over is expected to take place on 9 May 2015. Discussions concerning the deal have been taking place for the last three months, with Arriva originally approaching D&G Bus for the sale. Dave Reeves, MD of D&G Bus, expects to close his Longton depot and move staff and vehicles from there to Wardle Transport’s site. The acquisition includes the transfer of 19 vehicles and around 90 staff.

The same Uttoxeter based ownership combination that owns D&G Bus, Rolling Solutions Ltd and Julian Peddle, sold its Green Triangle Buses Ltd operation to Rotala Plc earlier this month (see B&CB 1317, 6 March 2015). Dave said this sale put D&G in the position to make this latest acquisition of Wardle Transport. He hopes the existing staff at Wardle will transfer to the new ownership. Some changes are expected to take place, with some of the services requiring ‘tidying up a little bit’.

Founded in 1963 as Jack’s of Norton, Wardle Transport was taken over by Arriva Midlands in 2010. The new owners purchased the Staffordshire routes of D&G Bus in 2011, which were integrated with Wardle Transport’s services.