Xelabus
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| Slogan | the bus company with traditional values! |
| Parent | Gareth Blair |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Chandlers Ford |
| Service area |
Southampton Eastleigh Hampshire |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Routes | 30 (July 2014) |
| Website | www.xelabus.info |
Xelabus Limited[1] is a small independent bus operator, based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. It operates within the Southampton and Eastleigh area, running many supermarket routes.
History
Xelabus was founded in November 2010 by bus enthusiast Gareth Blair, son of well-known bus enthusiast Philip Blair. It originally operated seven bus routes which were mainly supermarket routes for Asda and Tesco. Since then nine more routes have commenced including an Open Top Tour "Sea the city" and some more supermarket services.[2] Vehicles are painted in a green livery similar to that of the former Hants & Dorset company. A free service in Eastleigh was the first route to be introduced.[3]
Some services have been more successful than others, with one service to Southampton competing with Bluestar being withdrawn in less than 12 months. One service currently operating with the company is notably unusual in that although it provides a free shopping service to an Asda store, it additionally carries fare paying passengers between other points on its journey; the customer simply stating to the driver that they are travelling to the supermarket in order to get free travel.
In September 2012 Xelabus began a two-year contract to operate services to Totton College.[4]
On 12 May 2014, Xelabus took over route 67 Winchester to Petersfield via West Meon from Velvet under contract to Hampshire County Council.[5] On 22 June 2014, it took over the Barton Peveril College routes from Velvet.[6]
Services
As at July 2014, Xelabus operated 30 routes.[7]
Fleet
Xelabus initially operated a fleet of seven vehicles.[3] Three were destroyed in a depot fire in March 2011.[8]
References
- ↑ Companies House extract company no 7338043 Xelabus Limited
- ↑ More Xelabus Routes Xelabus Website 6 June 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Free bus service launched for Eastleigh Daily Echo 17 November 2010
- ↑ Xelabus & Totton College Partnership Xelabus 28 April 2012
- ↑ Bus service 67 - Frequently Asked Questions Velvet
- ↑ Barton Peveril College buses: Upcoming changes Velvet 13 May 2014
- ↑ Timetables Xelabus
- ↑ Xelabus hit by suspected arson attack in Eastleigh Daily Echo, 14 March 2011
External links
Media related to Xelabus at Wikimedia Commons
