Fraser Eagle

Fraser Eagle

Neoplan in October 2008
Founded 1919
Ceased operation 2009
Headquarters Padiham
Service type Coach charter operator
Chief executive Kevin Dean
Website Fraser Eagle - Web Archive

Fraser Eagle[1] was a group of companies in the United Kingdom specialising in passenger transport, travel and logistics. Services included pre-planned and emergency coach and taxi services nationwide, corporate travel, event transport, incident management transport and destination management services. These services were provided mainly to the corporate sector. The company also provided coach tours and independent travel agency services to the consumer sector. The company went into administration on 10 March 2009.

History

Van Hool bodied DAF in November 2008
Van Hool bodied VDL SB4000 in November 2006

The company started out as an Accrington based coach company in 1919, transporting holidaymakers to the coastal resorts in England and Scotland. The company was formed by Harold Williams and Ward Knowles, and they later expanded to include tours and excursions across Europe.

The company expanded rapidly in the 1990s when it began providing coaches to the rail industry when train services were disrupted, quickly becoming the UK's leading provider of rail replacement services, a business which exploded in the wake of the disruption following the Hatfield rail crash and the long-running modernisation of the West Coast Main Line.[2]

It also managed, plans, and provides replacement coaches in non-emergency situations (railway engineering works etc.), acting as a transport broker with a database of 5,000 coach and taxi suppliers nationwide.[3]

Among others, Fraser Eagle provide replacement transport for Virgin Trains, winning a £12m three-year contract to provide Virgin with around 100,000 taxis a year.[2]

Recently however, increased train reliability and punctuality has led to a downturn in business, as well as increased competition from FirstGroup and Stagecoach.

Concern has been expressed from both suppliers and clients about the future commercial viability of Fraser Eagle, particularly in February 2009 when it announced 50 of their 170 staff were being laid off, the closure of Fraser Eagle Cars division and that they would be ending their sponsorship of Accrington Stanley earlier than contracted.[4] Although claiming this was a result of the financial downturn and increased competition, it seems apparent the story runs deeper with allegations of insolvent trading for several months and many of Fraser Eagle's regular suppliers refusing to take any work on until arrears have been settled, some of which date back to Summer 2008.

These concerns were realised when the company filed for administration on 10 March 2009.[5][6][7]

Grand Central Railway

In 2004, Fraser Eagle purchased a 79% shareholding in Grand Central Railway.[8] This was sold in March 2007 to two former managers of Prism Rail, backed by a private equity group.[9][10]

Other businesses

The group also managed Fraser Eagle Worldchoice Travel Agent, and Fraser Eagle Cars. They were based in Padiham, Lancashire, employing 180 full-time staff. They also had an offices in Malta.

References

  1. ↑ Companies House extract company no 407620 Fraser Eagle Limited formerly Fraser Eagle Management Services Limited formerly Fraser Eagle Tours Limited formerly J Benson (Motors) Limited
  2. 1 2 Kevin Dean, Fraser Eagle North West Enquirer
  3. ↑ Fraser Eagle - Flying High Rail Professional November 2006
  4. ↑ 50 jobs under threat at Fraser Eagle Lancashire Telegraph 19 February 2009
  5. ↑ Club's sponsor in administration BBC News 5 March 2009
  6. ↑ 120 jobs go at Fraser Eagle as firm placed in administration Lancashire Telegraph 10 March 2009
  7. ↑ Mass redundancies as Fraser Eagle fails Bus & Coach Professional 13 March 2009
  8. ↑ Fly like an eagle EN Magazine 2006
  9. ↑ Former Prism bosses buy Grand Central in £10 million deal The Independent 14 March 2007
  10. ↑ On track for a rail profit Lancashire Telegraph 19 March 2007
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