David Fairbrother offering free travel
A new bus war is set to break out in Warrington!
Wrexham based GHA are due to start operating in the town from next Tuesday (May 5) going head to head with local independent Fairbrothers, who have been running the “Travel to town for £1” service at a loss for the past four years.
Fairbrothers have co-existed alongside fellow Warrington based Network Warrington but owner David Fairbrother fears another operator moving into town could be one too many.
“Three bus operators in one area is too many. We have already been running our special £1 into town service at a loss for four years.
“Another operator moving into town is one too many.”
David has a fleet of 20 vehicles mainly operating in the Orford, Dallam, Latchford, Bewsey and Whitecross areas.
He has been running a cut-price service in a bid to make bus travel more affordable.
Now to combat the arrival of a new operator he is launching a special Saturday Day Service, starting on May 9, when all travel will be FREE from 10am-2pm.
Passengers will also get the opportunity to travel on an antique London double decker bus.
David had to start operating a commercial service after Warrington Borough Council cut subsidies for school travel.
Despite the setbacks he is managing to survive and is now all set to tackle a new operator moving into the town head on.
Bus wars first came into Warrington following bus de-regulation when North Western Road Car and Mersey Bus launched a twin pronged attack on Warrington Borough Transport in 1995.
The vintage bus which passengers will be able to travel free on
11 Comments
Oh the joys of the torys deregulation of bus services in 1985.
Let’s back the local guys! Good luck Fairbrothers!
That isn’t an antique London bus – it’s a genuine antique local Warrington Corporation bus! A real piece of local history with a traditional ED registration and built in Lancashire. I’ll be coming out for a ride on it 🙂
I did ask the guys about this and they were adament it was a London bus – may be registered in Warrington at some stage?
This bus has never been anywhere near London in its life. If they dont even know that what chance they can run a bus service?
Hi Duncan this was an enthusiast bus we hired for the day we do not own this bus I will ask the owner for you see what I can find out
Tell the Wrexham company come to Cornwall St austell has the most expensive buses going.
Hi Gary, Can confirm this is a genuine Warrington Corporation bus.. EED 8 is a Leyland Titan PD1 new in 1947 to Warrington as their number 24.
This is definitely not a London bus. So whoever says it is has the wrong information
Just to confirm about the vintage bus I found some information facts for you
Registration EED 8 LEYLAND PD1 DOUBLE DECKER BUS BUILT 1947
The bus has a Leyland Metal frame body assembled in Scotland by Alexandra .The completed chassis was driven to Scotland from Leyland motors. Although the bus was ready by November 1947 EED8 and its sisters did not enter service until February 1948 this was due to the bad winter snow blocking roads.
The engine is a Leyland E181 7.4 litre diesel which had been developed during WW11 and fitted and fitted into tanks and Leyland lorries. Along with the Leyland 4 speed constant mesh gearbox this lead to a reliable and long lasting service bus 3 of Warringtons PD1’s survive today. The width of the chassis is 7ft 6″ which ment the bus could operate along the narrow sankey street, latter buses being 8ft wide excluding them from this street.
EED 8 worked until November 1961 when it became the driver training bus a duty it performed until October 1973 giving 36 years service.The bus was then used as a mobile show room until bought for preservation in 1976. When bought the bus had a crack in the engine block and most seats were missing and the body was in need of some attention. In 1992 the bus was ready to take to the road and headed to Llandudno ( the paint was still wet ) for the may bank holiday weekend and has done so ever since . Much work has been done and much still remains to be done to keep the EED8 on the road for everyone young and old to see and ride
Hope this helps with a few enthusiasts with the history of this great little bus that was made and used on the Warrington roads
I’ve only seen a London bus so far, but I hope to see one of those soon! If bus service is to a high level then I see no point in worrying about moving into town of another operator!