Classic Shape - 7
French transport giant Veolia entered the UK bus market in 2005 and hoovered up a number of companies, applying its attractive red and grey corporate livery in the process. The company's UK tenure was short and the acquired businesses were either wound up or sold back to their original owners within seven or eight years.
Astons Coaches of Kempsey in Worcestershire was under Veolia's ownership between 2008 and 2012, and an early arrival was SJ56 GBY, a 'classic shape' Alexander Dennis Enviro300, that had been 'new' to fellow Veolia subsidiary Dunn Line in 2006. However, she was originally built in 2003 and awaited a buyer at Stafford Bus Centre with a sister vehicle - SJ56 GCF - which also acquired by Dunn Line.
My shot from May 2011 shows her picking up at the Royal Well in Cheltenham when operating Service 540 to Evesham via Tewkesbury, which was presumably a contracted service. The retention of the Astons fleetname is perhaps noteworthy, given that in South Wales, the use of Veolia was more prominent.
Both of the Enviro300s passed to Yellow Buses of Bournemouth, initially as an RATP Group subsidiary, in 2012, and SJ56 GBY then moved on to Ipswich Buses as a driver trainer in 2023.
Classic Shape - 7
French transport giant Veolia entered the UK bus market in 2005 and hoovered up a number of companies, applying its attractive red and grey corporate livery in the process. The company's UK tenure was short and the acquired businesses were either wound up or sold back to their original owners within seven or eight years.
Astons Coaches of Kempsey in Worcestershire was under Veolia's ownership between 2008 and 2012, and an early arrival was SJ56 GBY, a 'classic shape' Alexander Dennis Enviro300, that had been 'new' to fellow Veolia subsidiary Dunn Line in 2006. However, she was originally built in 2003 and awaited a buyer at Stafford Bus Centre with a sister vehicle - SJ56 GCF - which also acquired by Dunn Line.
My shot from May 2011 shows her picking up at the Royal Well in Cheltenham when operating Service 540 to Evesham via Tewkesbury, which was presumably a contracted service. The retention of the Astons fleetname is perhaps noteworthy, given that in South Wales, the use of Veolia was more prominent.
Both of the Enviro300s passed to Yellow Buses of Bournemouth, initially as an RATP Group subsidiary, in 2012, and SJ56 GBY then moved on to Ipswich Buses as a driver trainer in 2023.