An Unusual Purchase

A post yesterday on take overs and what should come along? News that Stagecoach Arriva has taken over Potteries independent Wardle’s.

With a handful of mainly subsidised bus services, 64-vehicle Wardle’s is a gaily liveried operator that actually specialises more in school transport and paratransit (i.e. special needs schooling and social services transport) than conventional services. While the fleet is said to hold 31 buses and six coaches, significantly there are almost as many minibuses, most of which are in less cheerful dealer stock white.

And this is the interesting part. The purchase takes new owners Arriva Midlands into a new area: special needs and NHS work. Indeed, Wardle’s particular niches also appear to include the delivery of school meals in Stoke on Trent. Little wonder, then, that Arriva has pledged to keep the brand identity. Arriva originally promised this in Milton Keynes with M K Metro, of course, but the difference with Wardle Transport is that over half of its activity is highly specialised.

Arriva will therefore compete in the strong paratransit minibus market, something that is flourishing at the moment. It’s very cut-throat, with the recession ensuring a range of existing and new own account & small operators are keen to secure a steady local authority contract or two. No doubt this will help drive prices down.

Is this the start of a new business direction for Arriva, in Staffordshire, south Cheshire and indeed elsewhere in England? The hint comes in a statement from chairman Doug Wardle. “Together, Wardle Transport and Arriva Midlands make a very good combination. Both businesses will be able to learn from each other, ensuring customers will continue to be served in the same dedicated way.” Interesting. It takes a very special operation to deal with the individual attention & high demand failures associated with tailored paratransit and it is a skill you don’t immediately associate with any operator respected for handling huge garage rollouts each morning. But why not? We wish Arriva well in this new sphere.