Plymouth Citybus

Plymouth Citybus Ltd was formed in 1986 to take over the operations of Plymouth City Councils Passenger Transport Dept. Though a relatively young Company, its origins can be traced right back to 1892 when its predecessors introduced horse trams in the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport areas. Through the years the original private companies that began the horse tram services eventually gave way to municipal enterprise and in turn electric traction was introduced and then diesel motor buses. Since 1986 Citybus has traded as a private limited liability Company that is wholly owned by Plymouth City Council and is one of 14 such businesses in the United Kingdom that continues to belong to a local authority. Today, Plymouth Citybus operates in fully deregulated bus service market and over the past 20 years it has both developed and sustained a profitable local bus service network that provides a comprehensive service 7 days a week to its customers in the Greater Plymouth area. Additionally, it has built up a successful coach business - Citycoach, which through a fleet of modern coaches provides a complete tours and private hire package to individual customers as well as corporate clients and its vehicles are a common sight both inside the UK and on main land Europe. Car and Commercial is another activity, that has been built up since 1986 and this business provides retail vehicle maintenance facilities to every kind of customer from the private motorist to large heavy haulage operators who depend on Car and Commercial to keep their lorries mobile. Then there is Citybus Advertising, this arm of the Company vigorously meets demand from the local business community to provide advertising space on the Citybus fleet. The Company also offers retail PCV driver training through its highly professional Driver Training School. Today Plymouth Citybus is at the heart of the local community; it is a member of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and is represented in many local forums that affect life in the City. So in 20 years Plymouth Citybus Ltd has grown from City Council Passenger Transport Department into a diverse and progressive retail people mover and vehicle care business that currently employs around 500 staff and has an annual turnover in the region of £15 million.