All change at Thamesdown Transport

By Ben Fitzgerald - 22 February 2017

BusinessCommunity

Thamesdown Transport Limited has been taken over by the major commercial bus operator Go South Coast after councillors agreed to sell the council’s shares in the company.

The bus company has incurred losses over the past five years due to difficult trading conditions, despite continued financial support from the council. And with the council also facing financial pressures of its own, a review of the bus company concluded that the sale would be in the best interest of council taxpayers, staff and its customers.

Go South Coast’s bid was assessed as offering the best value to the council. The terms of the offer are commercially confidential but included all the council’s shares and the freehold of Thamesdown’s Barnfield depot.

Cllr David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “We were one of the few local authorities in the country to still own a local bus company, but the council is operating in a really challenging financial climate at the moment and we do not have the resources to continue to support Thamesdown Transport as we have been doing in recent years.

“We believe this deal is in the best interests of local bus users as it secures the financial sustainability of the bus company, offers the best long-term security for Thamesdown employees, and will provide vital investment.

Alex Chutter, formerly operations manager at Go South Coast’s Salisbury Reds and now general manager at Thamesdown said: “A full review of how the company operates and what improvements need to be made is underway. The directors may have changed, but at the moment it’s simply a case of steadying this ship.

“We will be looking at things like the exact fare policy and passenger forums to gather feedback. Our aim is to make Thamesdown the bus company of choice for Swindon. Within the Go Ahead group, local knowledge and management is key, and taking steps like removing the assault screen at the town centre ticket office and improving the customer approach are key moving forward.”

The deadline for feedback submissions on the proposed Wichelstowe to town centre bus corridor is 22 March. To view the plans and share your thoughts visit: swindontravelchoices.co.uk/projects/wichelstowe

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