Transdev acquiring Reliance buses and routes

Transdev has signed an agreement to buy buses and routes from Reliance Motor Services.

The deal has been completed between the two bus operators for an undisclosed sum, with buses and routes changing hands on Sunday, 19 January 2025.

From the same date, many of Reliance’s bus drivers will join Transdev’s York and Country team, based at its new depot at Rawcliffe which opened in March of this year.

The agreement involves Transdev’s York and Country subsidiary acquiring 11 buses from Reliance Motor Services, based at Sutton on the Forest, north of York, for 94 years, as well as its core network of bus routes serving Easingwold, Thirsk and Helmsley plus several villages north of York.

No jobs will be lost as a result of the agreement, and both Transdev and Reliance are committed to working together to ensure a smooth and effective transition for customers and colleagues.

Former Reliance routes which will become part of Transdev’s York and Country network from Sunday, 19 January 2025 are:

• Routes 30, 30X, 30XS and 30SE – linking Thirsk, Sowerby, Raskelf, Easingwold, Shipton and Skelton with York
• Route 31X – York and Country will now operate Reliance’s share of this joint route with East Yorkshire Buses, serving Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley, Ampleforth, Coxwold, Easingwold, Shipton, Skelton and York. Return tickets issued by either operator will continue to be valid on both companies’ buses, as now
• Route 40 – between Easingwold, Stillington, Huby, Sutton on the Forest, York Hospital and York city centre
• Dalesbus route 74 – on Saturdays between York, Harrogate, Otley, Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall and Grassington
• School routes 155R and 162R – for students with travel permits, linking Huby and Alne with Outwood Academy Easingwold.

Other dedicated school and college bus services operated by Reliance under contract to North Yorkshire Council will remain with them.

Timetables on the affected routes will remain similar to now, with minor revisions to early morning and evening journeys which currently start from, or terminate at, Reliance’s depot in Sutton on the Forest. Buses acquired from Reliance as part of the agreement will be repainted into the blue colours of York and Country.

“This agreement demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England” – Transdev Managing Director, Henri Rohard

Transdev Managing Director, Henri Rohard, said: “We are delighted to be looking forward to expanding our network of routes to the north of York, while welcoming new colleagues to our York and Country operation.

“This agreement demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England. Reliance is a long-established operator with a proud record of customer service, and we will seek to build on this – with all the resources of our green bus depot at Rawcliffe in York.

“Together with our new driving colleagues, we’re looking forward to serving our new customers and further strengthening our positive relationship with our local authority partners in York and North Yorkshire. We are people serving people, and this agreement presents an exciting opportunity for us to work together to attract more customers to our newly expanded network.”

“We thank all those who have travelled with us over the years, and our team of drivers” – Reliance Motor Services co-owner, Gary Newby

Reliance Motor Services co-owner, Gary Newby, said: “While we are sorry to say farewell to our loyal customers on the routes which will see a change of operator, and to several of our drivers, we know they will be in the best hands. Transdev has invested significantly in an impressive new depot in York and has a strong track record of delivering for its customers.

“We thank all those who have travelled with us over the years, and our team of drivers, whose hard work and dedication to customer care is reflected in Reliance’s excellent reputation for quality and reliability.”

As a result of today’s announcement, the full range of Transdev day and period bus passes will become valid on York and Country’s newly-expanded network from 19 January 2025. Season tickets issued by Reliance will also continue to be accepted on its former routes for a time following the change, with further announcements expected ahead of the same date.