What is Yelloway?
Yelloway Motor Services Limited originally commenced coach operations on the 9th April 1932, although the history of Yelloway Motor Services can be traced back to around 1902. This makes Yelloway Motor Services Limited one of the early pioneers of coach travel in the UK, a role we continue today by pioneering new standards in coach travel.
Yelloway Motor Services Ltd.
In 1961 Yelloway acquired the excursion licences of Turner Brothers (Todmorden) Ltd, and in 1964 the excursion licences of Holt & Sons, of Whitworth were acquired. No vehicles were involved in either case and both operators continued in the coaching business. Kershaws Luxury Tours of Rochdale was acquired in 1967 and operated as a subsidiary until 1971, when it was merged with Yelloway. The Creams subsidiary had been merged into the parent company in 1970. In 1968 the associated businesses of Makinson (Manchester) Ltd., and North Manchester Motor Coaches Ltd., were acquired. North Manchester held a licence for a Middleton and North Manchester express service to North Wales and this was transferred to Yelloway for inclusion in the Fylde Coast Pool. Both companies were operated as subsidiaries for a time but they were finally merged into the Yelloway fleet in 1973 and 1975 respectively.
National Travel made an approach to purchase the company in 1975, but yet again the company remained independent. In 1976 an agreement was formulated between National Travel and Yelloway whereby the latter relinquished its London express routes and in return National Travel's interests in the Fylde Coast Pool were handed over to Yelloway, which became the sole operator on the routes. A number of joint operations to Devon were also relinquished in favour of Yelloway. Other services passed from Yelloway to National Travel and this helped to concentrate the Yelloway operations into distinct areas. This rationalisation helped to maintain the profitability of Yelloway in the face of falling passenger numbers due to cheap foreign holidays and the continued rise of the private motorcar.
In 1980, now that production of the AEC Reliance had ceased, Yelloway were forced to find alternative chassis. A number of Leyland Leopard chassis were purchased over the next two years, but experiments with demonstration vehicles continued in an effort to find a new standard coach for the eighties. In 1982 two of the new Leyland Tiger models were purchased.
For more information, visit www.yelloway.co.uk