Dorset-based Yellow Buses has significantly expanded its operations by opening a new outstation in Poole, the first in its 115-year history.
The RATP Dev subsidiary has added to its existing Yeomans Way base in Bournemouth with a mini-depot on Poole’s Endeavour Business Park.
There are plans to eventually store up to 18 vehicles overnight.
The new outstation will allow Yellow Buses to expand its services in Poole, covering Hamworthy, Canford Heath, Creekmoor and Upton, as well as towns such as Wimborne, Blandford and Swanage.
It will also cut down on empty trips to Yeomans Way for services starting and ending in Poole and surrounding areas and enable staff to be recruited over a wider area.
When fully operational, around 50 staff, mainly drivers, will be based at the new site which will build up in phases over the coming six months.
David Squire, who was appointed as Managing Director of Yellow Buses in October, said: “This is a major development for us, offering significant opportunities to operate both more efficiently and smartly, and also become a platform for future growth.
“We have been looking for a suitable location in Poole for some time. This site on the outskirts of the town fits the bill perfectly and will put us in an excellent position to grow the business over the coming months and years.”
Yellow Buses operates a fleet of 140 buses and 16 coaches with more than 410 staff.
The company carries 15m passengers a year with its vehicles operating nearly five million miles across the Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and East Dorset area.
