First Leicester

First Leicester

First Leicester buses in Leicester
in October 2006
Parent FirstGroup 94%
Trentbarton 6%
Headquarters Leicester
Service area Leicester
Service type Bus services
Depots 1
Fleet 100 (March 2013)
Website www.firstgroup.com/leicester

Leicester Citybus,[1] trading as First Leicester, is a bus operator providing services in Leicester. FirstGroup own 94% of the company with Trentbarton owning the other 6%.

History

Preserved 1964 Leicester City Transport AEC Renown
Leicester CityBus Iveco in Leicester in 1991
Preserved East Lancs bodied Dennis Dominator

In December 1874 the Leicester Tramways Company commenced operating. In July 1901 it was taken over by Leicester Corporation Transport with 39 tramcars and 30 horse-drawn buses and began to be electrified. In July 1924 the first motor buses entered service gradually replacing the trams with the last running in November 1949.[2]

In 1972 Leicester Corporation Transit began operating services in partnership with Midland Red to South Wigston and Wigston Magna and in 1976 to Oadby. In August 1979 the business of Gibson Brothers, Barlestone was purchased which included two services from Market Bosworth to Leicester, one via Barlestone the other via Peckleton.[2]

In 1983 Leicester Corporation Transport was rebranded as Leicester CityBus. To comply with the Transport Act 1985, in 1986 the assets of Leicester CityBus were transferred to a separate legal entity.[1][2]

In November 1993 Leicester City Council sold its 94% shareholding in Leicester CityBus to GRT Group.[3] After GRT Group merged with Badgerline to form FirstBus in April 1995, the operation was rebranded as First Leicester. FirstGroup own 94% of the shares, with Wellglade Group's Trentbarton the remaining 6%.[4]

Fleet

As of March 2013 the fleet consisted of 100 buses.[5]

Liveries

Leicester City Transport buses were painted in crimson relieved by cream, this was reversed in the 1960s. When rebranded Leicester CityBus, a red, white and grey livery was introduced.[2]

Upon the takeover in November 1993 by GRT Group, the fleet began to wear a version of the GRT corporate livery, with the base and relief colours associated with Leicester City municipal buses, but in the corporate GRT arrangement, with Leicester citybus fleetnames and a spire motif. This was replaced by FirstGroup corporate livery.

Depot

In 2007 a new depot opened on Abbey Lane replacing the former premises on Abbey Park Road.

Services

City Centre

Services use Haymarket Bus Station or other on street city centre stops, but do not use St Margaret's Bus Station which is used by longer distance services. Services 22 and 54 stop at Leicester railway station.

Network

Services run to Glenfield, Kirby Frith, Braunstone Frith, Glenfield Hospital, Braunstone, Eyres Monsell, Evington, Leicester General Hospital, Goodwood, Netherhall, Thurnby Lodge, Hamilton, Thurmaston, Rushey Mead, Mowmacre Hill, Beaumont Shopping Centre, Beaumont Leys, Anstey, Highfields and New Parks.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Companies House extract company no 2000072 Leicester Citybus Limited
  2. 1 2 3 4 Leicester Corporation Transport 1901-1986 Peter Gould
  3. ↑ Government Approves 19th Bus Sale of Leicester Citybus Ltd Local Government Chronicle 15 November 1993
  4. ↑ FirstGroup Annual Report March 2013 FirstGroup
  5. ↑ FirstGroup Fleetlist Steve White
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