It seems that the rumours circulating are indeed true: Roadliner is living up to its strapline as “the most talked about coach company in Dorset” but for entirely the wrong reasons. It would appear that the bank has called in administrators ahead of an Inland Revenue winding-up petition. The bank therefore should enable Roadliner to continue to trade while a buyer is sought. And all this ahead of a scheduled appearance before the traffic commissioner.
Though it is maintaining its Poole council commitments on the popular service 8 Rossmore Flyer (aka the Monkey’s Hump & Heavenly Bottom Express), the Roadliner bubble appears to have burst. It’s been a remarkable journey for its managing director, Mark Self.
Roadliner was nothing if unconventional. We’ve featured Roadliner on a number of occasions on this blog. Here are some highlights:
- 2001—Roadliner formed with licence for two vehicles. First vehicle was a refurbished 1986 former Green Line Leyland Tiger 245/Berkhof Everest
- 2006—incorporated
- Feb 2006—Roadliner buys brand new tri-axle Volvo B9TL/East Lancs 102-seat double deck said at the time to be the largest coach in Britain
- Mar 2006—took on and rebranded as the erstwhile Rossmore Flyer the 168/9. Roadliner was nothing if not popular and growth results
- Oct 2006—Roadliner named Bus Operator of the Year (1-10 vehicles category)
- Nov 2006—Roadliner achieves prestigious CPT Coachmarque status, though this has subsequently lapsed
- Jan 2007—following its purchase of Purbeck Cars, Roadliner promises seasonal Tuc Tucs on the streets of Swanage but they never materialise
- Mar 2007—a 100-seat ex-Hong Kong City Bus Leyland Olympian is added, via Shamrock (Dorset), principally for Bournemouth’s EFL students
- Apr 2007—Roadliner takes delivery of the UK’s first Beulas bodied Mercedes Atego, in 24-seat form
- Mar 2008—Victory Tours name revived by Roadliner
- Oct 2008—Roadliner revives Dorset Queen fleetname
- Feb 2009—the company adds a saucy image to the rear of its Rossmore Flyer buses
- Future plans—were to introduce more high capacity double decks
17 comments:
That's sad - Roadliner had such promise! But pretty please let's hope that Monkeys Hump and Heavenly Bottom (aka Rossmore Flyer) don't cease to be privately operated again.
I used to really enjoy driving that route, and have known it man and boy for over 60 years, from double-deckers to OMO, from Miss Foott to Stanbridge.
Peter
PS thanks for the mention of the website
It's not unknown in Administration cases for directors and associates to buy the co from the administrators. Whether that is possible with RL, who knows? However I think that is harder for a small co, as the bank will have almost inevitably made sure that not only the company assets fall in to its hands, but also that the directors have given guarantees supported by security, often the family house!
I'd love to hear that the co has been rescued and in good hands too.
I started with roadliner in 2005 doing coach work then started the flyer route. now this is ongoing with roadliner another co will be running the flyer i may be back on it. checkout the website http://www.countrybus.co.uk/roadliner.htm read the bit under the photo.
David
Sad but in my mind unsurprising. Roadliner seemed to expand at a breakneck space, especially in the last year or so. I always wondered how it was all being financed. I guess we now know...
For all concerned I hope a white knight comes along. We need our independents!
I saw from the companieshouse webcheck that it was only last month that a charge was registered against the co. Most likely Barclays making sure they were well covered as possible! Also there were a number of Company secretary changes, that could be a sign that the incumbents were unhappy or could not cope.
Anonymous's comment. "Roadliner seemed to expand at a breakneck space, especially in the last year or so." That, not infrequently, is a cause of failure, as it is too easy to ignore that more working capital is needed, and so begins the slippery slope. Also control is harder the bigger a business gets. Not applicable here but late returns to CH are not a welcome sign.
In all running a company is not the same as knowing one's trade, unfortunately.
It's a shame that the operators who ought to go seem to duck and dive forever whilst when the good boys who do it right put a foot wrong the world falls about them....
For info, Shamrock Buses take on operation of the Rossmore Flyer from tomorrow 29th August.
That is appalling. That "they" (tax office, bank, whoever) should go ahead and close Roadliner down when they had the money and had made an offer to pay. Perhaps the newspapers, public and media should be made aware of this story of injustice?
A sad tale that an operator with a high quality offer like Roadliner should be brought down in part by the actions of another coach operator. I always had a high opinion of Excelsior, after all they've been around for 80 / 90 years. But it seems that under the current management that company is run by neither lady nor gentleman. And the Revenue acted high-handedly in breaking the payment arrangement made. In the end who profits apart from the accountant and the liquidator?
A further thought having reread Mark Self's comments. Some pretty serious allegations are made about Excelsior and the actions of their directors. Perhaps the other side of the story is needed to put this into a proper perspective? Wonder if anyone at Excelsior reads this.
Competition between operators is one thing Mark, but why was there this worrying degree of animosity between Kathy and Ken at Excelsior and you and Roadliner? What was it all about. Think we need to know as Excelsior don't appear to want to respond to what you have said about them.
If nothing else I think the 'owners' of this website need to ensure that they DO have the means to remove *anything*. This thread includes phrases that could become subject to libel action at some/any point in the future.
I've no idea how accurate some of the comments made may be but, in a wider context, the owners cannot leave themselves vulnerable to anyone being able to post anything they like without any means of editing.
This thread is certainly interesting! I don't know much about the modern day Excelsior, but purely from what I have observed seeing their operation:
1) Drivers aren't always smart and uniformed, unlike in Vernon Maitland's era.
2) The fleet still looks tidy and presentable
3) Local gossip is that, as Mark says, they have been bidding extremely low to win work, for example the contracts to Kingston Maurwood agricultural college at Dorchester (which leave the vehicles so far from base they are effectively tied up all day). They have also been operating SWT rail replacement work whilst another Bournemouth operator with older coaches bidding £36/hour hasn't had a sniff (and as it's Bournemouth to Southampton it's high mileage stuff to boot).
The coach market in Bournemouth and Poole is extremely competitive, but I have to say that Roadliner always stood out as 'a cut above', so I'm particularly sorry to hear Mark's account of the demise of his dream.
Post a Comment