57-vehicle independent set to become part of an expanding municipally-owned Thames Valley empire
Reading Buses has agreed terms to purchase 57-vehicle independent operator Courtney Buses, which operates commercial local services in Bracknell and Slough, tenders for several local authorities in the Thames Valley and private contracts.
The Courtney operation will eventually grow to include Reading Buses’ existing base in Slough. The deal includes Courtney Bodyworks, which offers a range of vehicle repairs and has a bus-sized paint shop, and the operator’s Authorised Testing Facility.
Says Reading Buses CEO Robert Williams: “We see this as a significant fit for Reading Buses, in terms of a complementary local bus network, high-quality, high-profile operations, our expansion into the wider Thames Valley, and the supporting businesses.
“This well-run operation will provide a return to our shareholder over time that will justify and repay the initial capital outlay. It will allow the wider Reading Buses group – consisting of Reading Buses, Newbury and District and Courtney Buses – to become more efficient by integrating routes and tickets and sharing overheads.”
The Courtney business will continue as normal for the time being. A review will take place following completion of the deal to start bringing it and Reading Buses together.
Courtney Buses Founder and Managing Director Bill Courtney-Smith, who will retire, adds: “Courtney Buses has prided itself on quality, value and integrity. Our motto – Driven by Service – says it all. I am pleased to pass the reins to another company that holds these values in such high regard, and one that has been recognised as such by the wider industry on numerous occasions. I wish the team well.”
