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{{short description|Bus operator in South Yorkshire, England}}
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = BrightBus
|logo = BrightBus logo.png
|image = BrightBus bus 6050 (C50 HNF) 1986 Hong Kong tri-axle (KMB 3BL149, DJ 3052), North Anston depot, 26 May 2011.jpg
|image_caption = [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] RH bodied [[Leyland Olympian]] in May 2011
|parent = Michael Strafford
|founded = May 1998
|ceased = July 2017
|headquarters = [[North Anston]]
|locale =
|service_area = [[South Yorkshire]]
|service_type = Bus services
|routes =
|destinations =
|stops =
|hubs =
|depots = 2
|lounge =
|fleet = 52 (May 2017)
|ceo =
|website = [https://brightbus.net/ www.brightbus.net]}}


'''BrightBus'''<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03550779 Companies House extract company no 3550779] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000643/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03550779 |date=4 March 2016 }} MAS Special Engineering Limited</ref> was a bus operator in [[South Yorkshire]] that traded from 1998 until 2017.
'''MASS Engineering''' and '''BrightBus''' (officially MAS Special Engineering) is a [[bus]] operator currently based at [[North Anston]] between [[Sheffield]] and [[Worksop]], that was originally founded in 1998.


==History==
== Current Operations ==
BrightBus was founded in May 1998 by Michael Strafford as an engineering business, performing contract maintenance for other operators. It also specialised in the conversion of buses for non-passenger use. It then diversified into the operation of school bus services.<ref>[http://brightbus.net/history History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607101326/http://brightbus.net/history |date=7 June 2015 }} Brightbus</ref> It ceased trading in July 2017 when the owner retired suffering ill health. At the time operations ceased it operated 86 routes serving 32 schools.<ref>[http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/breaking-school-bus-that-transports-15-000-passengers-a-day-across-south-yorkshire-to-be-cut-1-8522212 School bus that transports 15,000 passengers a day across South Yorkshire to be cut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610055338/http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/breaking-school-bus-that-transports-15-000-passengers-a-day-across-south-yorkshire-to-be-cut-1-8522212 |date=10 June 2017 }} ''[[Sheffield Star]]'' 2 May 2017</ref><ref name=RouteOne>[http://www.route-one.net/articles/Partnerships/BrightBus_to_close__in_structured_way__in_July BrightBus to close in structured way] ''Route One'' 4 May 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-39845555 Uncertain future for South Yorkshire bus service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721195902/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-39845555 |date=21 July 2017 }} ''[[BBC News]]'' 8 May 2017</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,school-bus-company-to-close-in-july_22468.htm|title=School bus company to close in July|work=Rotherham Advertiser|access-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505143842/http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,school-bus-company-to-close-in-july_22468.htm|archive-date=5 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,drivers-takeover-of-closing-school-bus-firm-not-feasible_22552.htm|title=Drivers' takeover of closing school bus firm "not feasible"|work=Rotherham Advertiser|access-date=4 June 2017}}</ref>


⚫
==Former operations==
The company runs a large fleet of mainly double deckers including ex-London [[Leyland Titan (B15)]]s, [[DAF DB250]]s with [[Optare Spectra]] bodywork and ex-Hong Kong tri-axle [[Leyland Olympian]]s and [[Dennis Dragon]]s.
⚫
Between 2001 and 2005, Brightbus, then known as Mass Transit, had a substantial presence in [[Lincolnshire]], following the acquisition of the bus operations of Applebys Coaches, Reliance Travel of [[Great Gonerby]] and the [[Grantham]] depot of [[Stagecoach in Lincolnshire|RoadCar]]. The Grantham operation failed under Mass ownership and was sold to [[Centrebus]], and the Lincoln area operations to [[Dunn-Line]] in 2005.


⚫
In 2004, BrightBus purchased the long established Leon Motors of [[Finningley]] that was formed in 1922 and operated buses in [[Doncaster]]. By 2008 the company's stage-carriage work had passed to [[First South Yorkshire]] and the remaining operations were integrated into the main BrightBus depot at [[North Anston]].
The ex-Hong Kong vehicles are unusual in that they are officially the largest seated 'rigid' (i.e. non-bendi) buses in the Western World carrying up to 126 seats on the largest 12m Dragons. The company imported the vehicles during 2003 and went through a lengthy process involving in-house tilt test work to gain Certification for three types of vehicle: 12 metre long Leyland Olympian/Alexander and both 12m and 11m Dennis Dragon/Duple MetSec.<ref>[http://www.brightbus.co.uk/company.html BrightBus History]</ref> They also recently imported what is believed to be the only example of a Crown Coach American school bus in the UK that is converted to provide PHSE lessons in schools throughout South Yorkshire.


==Fleet==
MASS are one of the largest dedicated school bus operators in the [[UK]] and have been at the forefront of several significant initiatives to improve behaviour on school services.<ref>[http://www.brightbus.co.uk/method.html BrightBus Method Statement]</ref> They carry around five thousand school children twice a day on a mixture of contracted and commercial work.
As at May 2017, BrightBus operated a fleet of 73 buses, including many English built three-axle [[Dennis Dragon]]s and [[Leyland Olympian]]s repatriated from Hong Kong.<ref name=RouteOne/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222415/http://www.soes.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/docs/fleets/brightbus.pdf Brightbus] Sheffield Omnibus Enthusiast Society</ref>


⚫
==References==
They are the first Operator to 'go live' on the Yorkshire-based 'YorCard' project; an ITSO Smart Card ticket system and are one of the chief architects of the soon to be announced South Yorkshire Home to School Transport Protocol.
⚫
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
⚫
== Former Operations ==
{{commons category-inline|BrightBus (bus company)|BrightBus}}
*{{Official website|https://brightbus.net/}}


{{Defunct British Bus Companies|state=collapsed}}
⚫
Between 2001 and 2005, MASS had a substantial presence in [[Lincolnshire]], following the acquisition of the bus operations of [[Applebys Coaches]], [[Reliance Travel]] of Great Gonerby and the Grantham depot of [[Lincolnshire RoadCar]]. The Grantham operations were sold to [[Centrebus]] and the Lincoln area operations to [[Dunn-Line]] in 2005.<ref>See Footnote 1</ref>
[[Category:Companies based in Rotherham]]

[[Category:Transport companies established in 1998]]
⚫
The company also purchased the long established company, [[Leon Motor Services]] of Doncaster, but by 2008 the companies stage-carriage work passed to [[First South Yorkshire]] and the remaining operations were integrated into the main MASS depot at North Anston.<ref>See Footnote 1</ref>
⚫
[[Category:1998 establishments in England]]

[[Category:2017 disestablishments in England]]
⚫
== References ==
[[Category:Former bus operators in South Yorkshire]]
⚫
{{Reflist}}

⚫
[[Category:Bus operators in England]]

Latest revision as of 21:24, 17 July 2023

BrightBus
Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian in May 2011
ParentMichael Strafford
FoundedMay 1998
Ceased operationJuly 2017
HeadquartersNorth Anston
Service areaSouth Yorkshire
Service typeBus services
Depots2
Fleet52 (May 2017)
Websitewww.brightbus.net

BrightBus[1] was a bus operator in South Yorkshire that traded from 1998 until 2017.

History

[edit]

BrightBus was founded in May 1998 by Michael Strafford as an engineering business, performing contract maintenance for other operators. It also specialised in the conversion of buses for non-passenger use. It then diversified into the operation of school bus services.[2] It ceased trading in July 2017 when the owner retired suffering ill health. At the time operations ceased it operated 86 routes serving 32 schools.[3][4][5][6][7]

Former operations

[edit]

Between 2001 and 2005, Brightbus, then known as Mass Transit, had a substantial presence in Lincolnshire, following the acquisition of the bus operations of Applebys Coaches, Reliance Travel of Great Gonerby and the Grantham depot of RoadCar. The Grantham operation failed under Mass ownership and was sold to Centrebus, and the Lincoln area operations to Dunn-Line in 2005.

In 2004, BrightBus purchased the long established Leon Motors of Finningley that was formed in 1922 and operated buses in Doncaster. By 2008 the company's stage-carriage work had passed to First South Yorkshire and the remaining operations were integrated into the main BrightBus depot at North Anston.

Fleet

[edit]

As at May 2017, BrightBus operated a fleet of 73 buses, including many English built three-axle Dennis Dragons and Leyland Olympians repatriated from Hong Kong.[4][8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Companies House extract company no 3550779 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine MAS Special Engineering Limited
  2. ^ History Archived 7 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine Brightbus
  3. ^ School bus that transports 15,000 passengers a day across South Yorkshire to be cut Archived 10 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine Sheffield Star 2 May 2017
  4. ^ a b BrightBus to close in structured way Route One 4 May 2017
  5. ^ Uncertain future for South Yorkshire bus service Archived 21 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine BBC News 8 May 2017
  6. ^ "School bus company to close in July". Rotherham Advertiser. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Drivers' takeover of closing school bus firm "not feasible"". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  8. ^ Brightbus Sheffield Omnibus Enthusiast Society
[edit]

Media related to BrightBus at Wikimedia Commons

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