Whittles
| Parent | Johnsons Coach & Bus Travel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 |
| Headquarters | Kidderminster |
| Service type | Coach operator |
| Depots | 1 |
| Website | www.whittlecoach.co.uk |
Whittles is a coach tour operator based in Kidderminster, England.
History[]
Whittles was founded in 1926 in Highley taking miners to and from villages to the coal pits, and hauling coal in between shift changes.[1] The founder was J. T. Whittle, and he ran the business of J. T. Whittle & Son with members of his family. Later, three of them – J. T., F. W. and G. E. Whittle – formed a partnership to own the business. The partners became G. E., R. A. and D. L. Whittle in 1964. G. E. Whittle died in 1970.[2]
In October 1980, it commenced operating express services from Bridgnorth and Kidderminster to London under the Goldhawk brand.[3][4] In 1981 it began operating these services in an alliance with National Express.[5] In 1990, Narburgh Coaches of Alveley was purchased with 16 vehicles, taking the fleet to 53.[6][7]
In January 2004, the business was purchased by East Yorkshire Motor Services with 49 vehicles.[7][8] In December 2014, the coach business was sold to Johnsons Coach & Bus Travel with nine coaches.[9][10][11]
The contracted National Express services were taken over by National Express, while the local bus services ceased on 5 January 2015.[12][13][14]
References[]
- ^ A little bit of history Whittles
- ^ Witton, Alan M., ed. (July 1980). Fleetbook 6: Buses of West Midlands (3rd ed.). Manchester: A.M. Witton. p. 62. ISBN 0-86047-063-6.
- ^ Whittling Commercial Motor 20 September 1980
- ^ Go Whittle Goldhawk Commercial Motor 27 September 1980
- ^ Leapfrog to Brum Commercial Motor 11 April 1981
- ^ Go Whittle goes for Narburgh fleet Commercial Motor 8 November 1990
- ^ Jump up to: a b Companion to Road Passenger Transport History. Walsall: Roads & Road Transport History Association. 2013. pp. 193/194. ISBN 978-0-9552876-3-3.
- ^ EYMS to buy Whittle Bus & Coach Professional 9 January 2004
- ^ Johnsons to acquire Whittle's coach operationBus & Coach Buyer 18 December 2014
- ^ Johnsons New Owners of Whittles Johnsons Coach & Bus Travel
- ^ Henley's Johnsons to buy Whittles Route One 18 December 2014
- ^ Whittle Coach & Bus Future Whittle Coach & Bus 16 December 2014
- ^ Johnsons acquires Whittle from EYMS Group Transport News Brief 18 December 2014
- ^ Peter Shipp Bus & Coach Buyer 9 March 2015
External links[]
Media related to Whittle (bus company) at Wikimedia Commons
| show Bus operators in the West Midlands |
|---|
- Kidderminster
- Transport companies established in 1926
- Transport in Worcestershire
- 1926 establishments in England