Konectbus[1] is a bus operator based in Dereham in Norfolk, England. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group and forms part of Go East Anglia.[2]
 | |
 Optare Tempo and heritage Leyland National | |
| Parent | Go-Ahead Group |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Dereham |
| Service area | Dereham Norwich Swaffham Watton Wymondham Fakenham Wroxham |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Alliance | Hedingham & Chambers |
| Depots | 1 |
| Fleet | 61 (October 2017) |
| Operator | Go East Anglia |
| Chief executive | Rupert Cox |
| Website | www.konectbus.co.uk |
History
editKonectbus was formed in 1999 when the Saham Toney depot of Norfolk Green was purchased from with four coaches, originally trading as Konect. The company moved out of coach operations and into tendered bus services. In 2003, the company was renamed Konectbus.
In 2004, the depot was relocated to Toftwood. In March 2013, a new depot was opened in Rashes Green Industrial Estate. In 2005, Konectbus began to operate two park & ride services under contract to Norfolk County Council.
In March 2010, Konectbus was sold to the Go-Ahead Group.[3][4][5] In November 2017 Konectbus took over all seventeen routes and twenty buses of sister company Anglian Bus.[6][7][8]
Acquisitions
editAnglian Bus[9] was a bus operator based in Beccles. A subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group, it operated services in both Norfolk and Suffolk from 1981 until 2017.
Anglian Bus was formed in 1981 by David and Christine Pursey, operating charter services and school services from a depot in Loddon. In January 1999, Anglian Bus began operating its first public bus service numbered 580 between Diss and Great Yarmouth under contract to Norfolk County Council.[3][10]
In October 2000, the depot was relocated to Beccles Business Park, where a purpose built garage was constructed on 5 acres (20,000 m2) of freehold land.[3] This depot had a MOT testing facility.[11] In 2003, the company began its first commercial service from Halesworth to Norwich. In 2004, a second depot at New Rackheath, near Norwich opened. It has since closed and is now used as an outstation by sister company Konectbus.[3][10]
In April 2012, Anglian Bus was sold to the Go-Ahead Group.[12][13] On 19 November 2017, Anglian Bus ceased trading with all routes and buses transferred to Konectbus.[6][7][8]
Anglian Bus operated a number of services, both standard routes and more limited services. Both urban and rural areas were served, with many of the company's routes running into the city of Norwich serving Norwich bus station. Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft were also served by many routes.[14] At the time operations ceased in November 2017, the fleet comprised twenty vehicles.[8]
Services
editKonectbus operate services in Norfolk. On 7 September 2015, Konectbus started operating a five-year contract for all six Norwich park & ride services.[15][16][17]
Fleet
editAs of October 2017, the fleet consisted of 61 buses.[18]
References
edit- ^ Companies House extract company no 3149258 Konectbus Limited
- ^ "Konectbus History". Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d About us Anglian Bus
- ^ Go-Ahead snaps up Konectbus Transport Xtra 17 March 2010
- ^ Dereham bus firm sold to transport group Dereham Times 19 March 2010
- ^ a b News Konectbus
- ^ a b "Anglianbus name to be dropped" Coach & Bus Week issue 1318 21 November 2017 page 10
- ^ a b c Anglianbus is no more Route One 22 November 2017
- ^ Companies House extract company no 1260689 Anglian Bus Limited
- ^ a b The Sky's the Limit Buses issue 719 February 2015 page 25-28
- ^ PCV & HGV MOT Testing Anglian Bus
- ^ Go-Ahead Group acquires Anglian Buses Archived 6 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 23 April 2012
- ^ Go-Ahead expands with Anglian purchase Archived 23 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 25 April 2012
- ^ Times & Fares Anglianbus
- ^ Pand ride plus – new Konectbus contract includes Norwich bus station[permanent dead link] Norwich City Council 2 April 2015
- ^ Konectbus finalises Norwich P&R win Bus & Coach Buyer 30 April 2015
- ^ "New Norfolk P&R to launch next week" Coach & Bus Week issue 1204 1 September 2015 page 10
- ^ Fleet List Konectbus
External links
edit- Company website
Media related to Anglian Bus at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (archive copy)