Yes, I look back fondly on those old green Hants & Dorset buses of yore. At the time, there appeared nothing particularly spectacular about them, other than they were very richly finished. With their cream band lined out in black, the livery very much suited the design of those older ECW bodies. With its strong link to the past, there was a certain majestic simplicity about them that went with the crews’ uniforms and the inspectorate’s braid. It symbolised continuity and a different & proud era. And it showed consistency across a wide region. Not that there was total homogeneity, with reversed coach livery and varying cream swathes from a single band to the broad area along single and double deck windows.
An air of H&D but also something akin to People’s Provincial, too
The shade would be seen replicated across the land, on suitably Tilling green Transport Holding Company fleets. The verdant meadow-like green was harmonious with the fertile countryside it once served. Yes, it could fade with age (but not nearly as fast as the poppy red adopted by H&D in 1972). Sweet, lustrous when newly applied, it glinted in the sun of the south coast.Green was once a favoured colour that’s now rare on our buses. It’s largely outdated and, where it does appear, it tends to be in lighter, brighter, limy, modern hues.
How would Tilling green & cream have adapted to 21st century livery designs? Perhaps we have the answer in that adopted by new Eastleigh-based seven-vehicle operator Xelabus. Very much redolent of H&D of old, Xelabus has painted its fleet in a version more befitting the current time.
But does it work on newer vehicles such as its Alexander bodied Olympians?
Xelabus is owned by Philip & Gareth Blair, both of whom are well known for their large collection of preserved vehicles and, as PB Marketing, for their work in publicising in particular supermarket free bus services. Indeed, Xelabus has taken over from First in operating to and from local superstores. Philip Blair was for many years associated with the traffic department at Southampton City Transport.Better shots of Xelabus are available on Flickr here and here
i Xelabus
12 comments:
How do you pronounce Xelabus?
Is it Zella-bus?
Or is it Excel-a-bus?
One of the peculiarities of Hants & Dorset (and Crosville, as I recall)Tilling green was that it did fade to a rather unattractive matte "undercoat" shade. Other Tilling green fleets, like Eastern National, Bristol didn't suffer from this.
Was this a function of the bus-washing regime, the "wrong" type of water, or did they use a different type of paint? One for the historians.
Anyhow, all agreed - it was a pleasant livery that was in sympathy with rural surroundings.
Zee-la-bus?
"But does it work on newer vehicles such as its Alexander bodied Olympians?"
These buses look OK in green but there is still something odd about a modern bus in an older livery?
Imperial Buses (of Essex) are another company with a very traditional-looking green livery, that seem deliberately to have sought a "retro" appearance, even when it's not applied to particularly retro vehicles (although it sometimes is).
I think the Xelabus logo (which is quite brash and assertively post-regulation) clashes with the livery somewhat, in what that Imperial's various logos don't.
Not great bus marketing if your name can't be easily understood or pronunced is it ?
Given the wide availablity of older and cheap to buy/rent low floor buses, might X-bus not have been wiser and more customer-friendly to use easy-access buses on these shopper routes given the intended clientele ?
Anon @10.03 "Zee-la-bus?"
but only if it has some zuider with it. :D
Anonymous said...
"Not great bus marketing if your name can't be easily understood or pronunced is it ?"
On the contrary. It gets people talking about it!
"Xelabus is owned by Philip & Gareth Blair, both of whom are well known for their large collection of preserved vehicles and, as PB Marketing, for their work in publicising in particular supermarket free bus services."
Lets be more specific than that. Philip would like you to believe it is owned by Gareth. That's because Philip doesn't just 'publicise' free shopper buses, but he actually procures them for supermarkets.
So anyone who is even remotely cynical may guess that having got prices for various local contracts for review, he then awarded the contracts to Gareth at a tad below the price of the existing operators.
Philip already pushes his luck with the supermarkets, working for Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose, as far as everyone can tell, without any of them knowing that he works for the others (files of the others rapidly removed from the office when one comes visiting!!!)
Perhaps he's pushing his luck a tad too far this time. Perhaps an operator will tumble him to all the supermarkets!!!
Anonymous said...
"Perhaps he's pushing his luck a tad too far this time. Perhaps an operator will tumble him to all the supermarkets!!!"
It is interesting that the PB Bus Marketing website makes no reference to working for supermarkets, concentrating rather on operators and local authorities. However, this would not be the first time that a business has been started because the proprietor believes that they can provide services/products better, more cheaply or more effectively than the suppliers that they currently buy from. I think it constitutes what is called 'vertical integration', and is not bound, inevitably, to fail. It's just a feature of business.
The one thing which amazes me with this blogs is how inaccurate the information really is.
I own Xelabus (pronounced X-Ella bus) and it was always my intention that I would setup a small bus company in time.
Starting with the choice of livery - having spoken to many people in the industry, people are bored of the same bland designs that come out time and time again. We therefore felt a retro style livery would suit our vehicles and in my mind does work.
Company Name
For personal reasons I will not disclose why the name was chosen. However it is pronounced X-Ella bus. I think as a marketing tool it does make people ask about it, once asked never forgotten.
Supermarket Work
Xelabus have been fortunate to obtain supermarket work in the local area. We are also looking at other opportunities as and when they arrive. However Xela is a stand alone business to Pb Bus Marketing and its owner Philip Blair.
I hope this now clears up some of the "chinese whispers". If anyone should have any further questions about the company I would be only too pleased to speak directly or via our contact us page at www.xelabus.info.
Many thanks all
Gareth Blair
Xelabus Ltd
Over the years, many small bus or coach companies have come and gone because people think its an eay money making business - wrong!
The fact is Bus & Coach business succeed in providing a bright,clean, professional and reliable service. The Managment & Admin time against the return is poor compared with other businesses so it take sheers guts and determination to succeed.. Who cares what the livery is, does it stand out - yes! Are the buses clean and presentable- yes! Are the drivers smart and friendly - yes! Is the service provided reliable - yes!! This new company has the potential to be very successful in the market of small operators that pick up local services and contracts that don't feature in the plans of the big groups. With other small companies in the area I applaud the owner for starting a new business in these tough times offering jobs and services to the local community!
Good luck Mr Blair, I watch with interest as an enthusiast but you're in business to succeed, not please an enthusiast like one or two on here that have nothing better to do than criticise. Lets see you people out there put your hands in your pockets and produce thousands of pounds !!
Steve Jenkins
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