Coach company ceases trading

7:00pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A luxury travel company which was responsible for bussing Bradford City players and fans to matches across the country has gone out of business.

Saltaire Travel, based in Baildon, announced to its customers that it ceased trading this week.

A message on the answering machine at its head offices in Otley Road confirmed that the coach company, which has been in existence since 2005, is no longer trading.

It said: “I am sorry but, as of June 30, 2008, we have ceased trading. I do apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.”

Saltaire Travel provided a range of vehicles, including 75-seat luxury coaches and a famous red London Routemaster double-decker bus.

It also ran a rescue service for other operators and servicing for coaches at its workshop at Baildon Bridge.

Jon Pollard, secretary of Bradford City FC, said Saltaire Travel had served the club’s players and fans in the past but another company had successfully bid for this season’s contract.

He said: “Saltaire Travel was invited to tender for the forthcoming season in May. They said they were going to but the bid didn’t come. The contract has gone with Fraser Eagle.”

Saltaire Travel is the second Bradford-based coach company to go out of business this year after Wrose Travel folded in May.

The news has sparked warnings from coach operators’ associations that companies are suffering because of the spiralling cost of fuel.

Terry Lyles, secretary of the West Yorkshire Coach Operators association, said: “It is common knowledge throughout the industry. We hear about companies which are all going down because of the fuel costs. It has hit everyone and there is nothing you can do about it.”

However, George Peach, Yorkshire Regional Manager for the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said the high cost of fuel was just one factor affecting coach companies.

He said: “There is escalating insurance and wages as well as a constant stream of legislation which affects bus and coach companies in one way or another. Although at the moment, everyone seems to be suffering from fuel costs, a lot of the smaller coach companies seem to be saying ‘enough is enough’.

“It is not a good story for bus and coach companies at the moment,” he said.

Nobody was available for comment from Saltaire Travel when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus A spokesman for the Traffic Commission, which grants licences for travel companies to operate, said it had not yet been contacted by Saltaire Travel.

She said: “If there are any changes to anything that would affect its operating licence, a company is obliged to inform the traffic commissioners’ office.

“That would include if they had gone out of business.

“The traffic commissioners’ office would write to them asking what the company’s circumstances were. If they got no response, the traffic commissioner could revoke their operating licence.”

Saltaire Travel provided transport from Bradford and the surrounding area to events nationally and internationally. The Routemaster bus has been used for more than 20 weddings and starred in the 2007 TV series Diamond Geezer, starring David Jason.