West Coast Motors

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File:West Coast Motors logo.png
250px
Parent Craig family
Founded 1923
Headquarters Campbeltown
Service area Argyll & Bute
Glasgow
Service type Bus, coach and ferry services
Alliance Glasgow Citybus
Fleet 191 (November 2013)
Chief executive Colin Craig
Website www.westcoastmotors.co.uk

West Coast Motors[1] is a bus, coach and ferry operator based in Campbeltown, Argyll.

History

File:West Coast Motors bus (YJ03 PNZ) 2003 DAF SB120 Wrightbus Cadet, Oban, 23 October 2006.jpg
Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 in Oban in October 2006
File:WEST COAST MOTORS VAN HOOL COACH AT FORT WILLIAM INTERCHANGE OPERATING SCOTTISH CITLINK ROUTE 918 TO OBAN SEP 2013 (9682950269).jpg
Van Hool bodied DAF SB4000 in Inverary in September 2013
File:WEST COAST MOTORS IRIZAR 16 OPERATING SERVICE 976 FROM OBAN TO GLSGOW AT INVARARY SCOTLAND SEP 2013 (9686286427).jpg
Citylink branded Irizar PB bodied Scania K114 in Inverary in September 2013

The founding of the company dates back to 1923 when Jack Craig commenced a bus operation in Campbeltown. In 1935 William Craig convinced the Royal Mail to allow him to commence an overnight road service from Campbeltown to Glasgow in lieu of transporting mail by ship. West Coast Motors would remain a Royal Mail contractor until October 2011.[2]

In 1950 the business of Dickies of Tarbert was purchased with the service between East and West Loch Tarbert piers. In 1955 haulage company West Coasts Transport was formed. After purchasing James McPhee Haulage and Ramsays Haulage in 1963, the business was sold to the British Road Services in 1966.[2]

In 1970 the McConnachies business was purchased resulting in West Coast operating all Kintyre services.[3] In 1982 McColls of Benderloch was purchased with the Oban to Benderloch and Easdale services. In 1986 Stag Garage of Lochgilphead was purchased with services to Ford, Kilmartin and Ormsary. In 1999 the Oban & District Buses[4] business was purchased.[2]

In 2004 West Coast commenced operating in Bute and Cowal taking over services from Stagecoach with depots in Dunoon and Rothesay.[5] In 2006 the Oban to Dalavich service was purchased from LF Stewart & Son Limited[6] and Kilberry and Skipness services from D&E Henderson Hiring. Also purchased in 2006 was Glasgow Citybus.[2]

In January 2008 the City Sightseeing franchise in Glasgow was purchased followed in 2009 by the Kintyre Express ferry operation.[7] In 2011 Kintyre Express commenced operating a ferry service from Campbeltown to Ballycastle.[8]

In June 2013 Bowman's Tours[9]on the Isle of Mull was purchased with 10 vehicles and renamed West Coast Tours[2][10] followed in November 2013 by Fairline Coaches, Glasgow[11] with 16 vehicles.[12]

Fleet

As at November 2013, West Coast operates a fleet of 191 buses and coaches.[12]

Citylink

Aside from the local stage carriage, West Coast Motors has since 1986 run express services on behalf of Citylink, predominantly on the Campbeltown to Glasgow service, but also on routes serving Oban, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fort William, Inverness and the Isle of Skye. In May 2008 the company refused to sign a new contract to operate Citylink routes in the Highlands, and launched a series of routes in competition with Citylink. Two months later the services were withdrawn and a new contract signed which saw West Coast Motors resume Citylink operation in September 2008.[13][5]

As of January 2014, West Coast Motors operates buses on the following Citylink routes:

  • 918 Oban - Fort William
  • 926 Campbeltown - Glasgow
  • 976 Oban - Glasgow

Depots

As well as the Campbeltown headquarters, the company has depots in Ardrishaig, Oban, Dunoon, Rothesay and Glasgow.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Companies House extract company no SC033868 Craig of Campbeltown Limited
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 About Us West Coast Motors
  3. ↑ Scots take-over Commercial Motor 12 December 1969
  4. ↑ Companies House extract company no SC092820 Oban & District Buses Limited
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 How the West Coast was won and run Herald Scotland 19 July 2008
  6. ↑ Companies House extract company no SC105515 LF Stewart & Son Limited
  7. ↑ Home Kintyre Express
  8. ↑ New Passenger Only Ferry for Ireland-Scotland Route Afloat Ireland 14 January 2011
  9. ↑ Companies House extract company no SC073385 Bowmans Coaches (Mull) Limited
  10. ↑ West Coast expands in Bowman's purchase busandcoach.com 4 June 2013
  11. ↑ Companies House extract company no SC095682 Fairline Coaches Limited
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 West Coast buys Fairline busandcoach.com 21 November 2013
  13. ↑ Citylink and Westcoast Motors sign new deal Citylink 14 July 2008

External links

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