Midland buses owner snapped up by rival firm

WILLENHALL coach and bus operator Liyell – which trades under the ‘Midland’ brand – has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Arriva Midlands.

On completion of the transaction, expected to be in late September, approximately 110 Midland employees will transfer to Arriva Midlands.

Midland’s core services include a mix of commercial and supported local bus services.

Leicester-based Arriva Midlands plans to incorporate the 61 Midland buses into its fleet and will operate them under the Arriva brand.

John Barlow, Arriva Midlands finance director, said: “Taking on the routes and services operated by Midland opens up a range of exciting opportunities for Arriva, from which we will be able to develop the business.

“We are very much looking forward to working with new and existing contractors to grow the business. Midland has an excellent standing and reputation and we look forward to taking that business forward as part of Arriva and welcoming Midland employees on board.”

David Reeves, managing director of Liyell, said: “Since buying Liyell in April 2005 we have steadily grown the Midland business to the size it is today. I am proud of what we have achieved and of the staff we employ.”

Arriva Midlands is part of one of the largest providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing some 47,500 people and delivering more than 1.5bn passenger journeys every year.

With its UK headquarters in Sunderland, Arriva is owned by the German group Deutsche Bahn.