Preston Bus deal boosts Rotala

BUS and coach operator Rotala has reported a growth in both profits and turnover, boosted by its acquisition of Preston Bus last year.

Its results for the year ending November 30, 2011, showed a growth in turnover of 26% to £56.1m (2010: £44.6m) and profit before tax up 14% to £1.88m (2010: £1.65m)

The Birmingham group, which operates the Flights Coaches business and the Diamond Bus brand, says it is pleased by its performance, which is partly explained by the Preston Bus deal in January 2011.

Revenues in contracted services rose by 16% to a total of £21.9m (2010: £18.8m) while revenues in commercial services rose by 41% to £30.9m  (2010: £21.8m). Much of this increase resulted from the commercial bus activities of Preston Bus.
 
By contrast revenues in charter services fell by 17% to £3.3m (2010: £4m).

Rotala said about 15% of its fleet was replaced during the year and now includes the group’s first diesel-electric hybrid power buses. They were put into service in Preston and, more recently, the Black Country.

The firm has also been awarded a grant in the third round of Green Bus funding, the results of which have just been announced by the Government. In this round it is taking up an allocation of £683,000 for the deployment of eight double-deck buses, split between batches for Preston and Bristol.