Islwyn Borough Transport
 Preserved Leyland Leopard in Blackwood in July 2007 | |
| Founded | April 1974 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operation | January 2010 |
| Headquarters | Pontllanfraith |
| Service area | Islwyn (1974-1996); Caerphilly (1996-2010); Cardiff |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Fleet | 33 (January 2010) |
Islwyn Borough Transport[1] was a Welsh bus operator providing services around Blackwood, Caerphilly, and surrounding towns in the former Borough of Islwyn between 1974 and 2010.
History
Islwyn Borough Transport was formed on the creation of the Borough of Islwyn in April 1974. The area had previously been part of West Monmouthshire. From 1926, it had been served by the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board, which, as MynyddIslwyn Urban District Council, was a joint operation with Bedwellty Urban District Council. It was expanded by taking over some of the services and vehicles of three local operators. A depot in Blackwood High Street was used from 1926 to 1984, when a new depot in Pontllanfraith was opened. A second change in local government saw Islwyn become part of Caerphilly County Borough in April 1996, and control of the company passed to Caerphilly County Borough Council.[2]
In November 2009, it was announced that the Borough Council had agreed to sell the company to
Operations
Bus routes
Prior to its sale in 2010, Islwyn operated 18 local bus routes centred on Caerphilly and Blackwood, taking in Cardiff and Bargoed. School contracts were also operated, but no services were run on Sundays.[3]
Its routes are now operated by
Coaches
The company operated coaches from 1988. Independent operator Paul Diaper Tours was taken over in 1991, and the coaching division rebranded to Kingfisher Travel. The operations were sold to Diamond Holidays in 2009.[2]
References
- ^ Companies House extract company no 2002020 Islwyn Borough Transport Limited
- ^ Buses (659). Ian Allan Publishing: 62–63.
- ^ WalesOnline5 November 2009
- ^ Council deny accusations of secret ruling on bus firm sale WalesOnline, 17 December 2009
- ^ Stagecoach Completes Acquisition of Islwyn Borough Transport Stagecoach 11 January 2010
- ^ Islwyn Borough Transport sold to Stagecoach Caerphilly Observer 13 January 2010
External links
Media related to Islwyn Borough Transport at Wikimedia Commons
- Welsh-Transport-Heritage - a look back in time at the history of Islwyn Borough Transport and its predecessors
- The Welsh Heartlands Transport Festival - A website celebrating the history of Caerphilly UDC and Bedwas & Machan UDC motor bus departments which both started in the year 1917
