Pegasus Travel ceases operating

I was surprised at this one... the Newburgh run had not operated for the last few months, as it was the end of the contract I think - but they had just gained a school run from the closure of Ochils Tours, and introduced a new semi-commercial service to Bridge of Earn. Stagecoach have moved in some Volvo/Alexander PS type buses to run the 17 to Gleneagles/Dunning, and some of the school runs.

Perth bus company goes bust

Pegasus Travel lays off 15 workers, citing cashflow problems and the recession, STV News can reveal.
 

A Perth-based bus company has gone bust citing cashflow problems caused by the recession - leaving 15 workers out of a job.

Pegasus Travel broke the news to their staff on Tuesday morning.

The company, which has been in operation since 1993, said they had experienced a huge downturn in their private hire business in the last six months, forcing them to close their business for good.

The staff laid off includes 13 drivers, one engineer and one apprentice engineer.

Pegasus owned and operated 10 vehicles - ranging from 33-seater buses to 53-seater executive coaches - for private hire and on scheduled service routes.

They had two bus routes in the Perth area - one running nine times a day to and from to Gleneagles Hotel and another three times a day to and from Newburgh in Fife.

These will now be taken over by other operators, including Perth-based transport giants Stagecoach.

Duncan Graham, director of Pegasus Travel, said they had been forced to cease trading due to money problems

He said: "There has been a general cash flow problem and the recession has also had an impact.

"The private hire side of the business has experienced a down-turn in the past six months.

"It really wasn't possible to keep the business going and I don't see any way of re-starting it in the future.

"I would like to thank our staff for their hard work over the years and I hope they will find new work in the public transport sector."

A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said: "Following this announcement, Stagecoach East Scotland, along with other local operators have been asked by Perth and Kinross Council to temporarily fulfil the Pegasus Travel routes and services to ensure travellers around the region still have access to bus services at this time.

"This is only a temporary measure, however the Public Transport Unit at Perth and Kinross Council are currently looking at longer term plans."

 

Yet more Bankfoot Buses

Banned bus firm hires Clifford in bid to repair reputation

Damien Henderson, Transport Correspondent

Published on 13 Jan 2010

A bus firm that was ordered off the road for trying to imitate Stagecoach services has enlisted the help of publicity guru Max Clifford in an attempt to improve its battered reputation.

Bankfoot Buses, based outside Perth, is attempting the public makeover after having its licence confiscated by Scotland’s Traffic Commissioner last year and being subjected to an ongoing criminal investigation for allegedly trying to defraud the Government’s concessionary travel scheme.

The task of salvaging the firm’s reputation has apparently been taken on with relish by Mr Clifford, who has boasted of turning around the fortunes of figures such as Gerald Ratner, whose family firm collapsed after he famously called its jewellery “crap”.

Bankfoot has built up a colourful reputation since it was set up in 2007 by English couple Stuart and Sarah Newing-Davis. Having moved to Bankfoot from their home in London, they used the profits from two recruitment businesses to subsidise an hourly service between Perth and Dunkeld.

Among the publicity stunts the company has staged are offering free mulled wine and mince pies to Christmas shoppers and having their drivers wear fancy dress.

Mr Newing-Davis said he had fought a “David and Goliath” battle with Stagecoach, the Perth-based company founded by Brian Souter.

He said he had hired Mr Clifford as part of a “last throw of the dice” before an appeal next week against a decision to ban him indefinitely from holding a bus operator’s licence.

“We’ve got a lot of loyalty from people in Bankfoot who want to see the service continued. They’re the real losers in this, while our names have been dragged through the mud,” he said.

He was supported yesterday by Gordon Banks, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, who said: “I’ve had a lot of correspondence from residents in the area who want the Bankfoot bus service bought back.”

Mr Newing-Davis conceded there was a lot of bad publicity to make up for. The company had its licence removed in April last

year after Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken found it had imitated Stagecoach buses, using similar vehicles, livery and company uniforms and running free services just ahead of those registered to its bigger rival.

A fresh hearing six months later led to Bankfoot’s licence being removed indefinitely.

The company is also alleged to have put in £58,000 in fraudulent claims to Government agency Transport Scotland under the concessionary travel scheme. A trial is set for March 23 at Perth Sheriff Court.

A statement from Max Clifford Associates that the firm’s troubles had been caused by a “string of false allegations”

yesterday drew a frosty response from the Traffic Commissioner, who said she had made a “balanced judicial decision” and that operators were given “every opportunity” to represent their case.

Recap of the Tuesday just gone

Firstly, hello to daftdrew , who found me (again!) yesterday.

So, yesterday’s travels. Started with a First Capital Connect train from Royston to Kings Cross, before getting the newly spiralled Circle Line from Kings Cross St Pancras to Paddington. From there, First Great Western train to Hayes & Harlington, before a First London Trident on the U4 to Uxbridge. Stopped for lunch at Pret, and some pictures, before it got too cold to stand around! From there, Metropolitan line to Kings Cross, walked around to the St Pancras International back exit, Metroline Dart on the 46 around to Kings Cross, East London Scania on the 205 to work, then another 205 to Euston Road, before dinner, and a train home. I was tired by the end, but it had been an enjoyable day. Work seemed to go very well, judging by the comments.

Pictures will follow, as I’m having problems with the Mac and pluggable devices at the moment!