Cumberland, Wessex sold
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• National Bus Company has sold off two more of its operating subsidiaries. This brings the total number to have gone back into the private sector so far to 49.
Whitehaven-based Cumberland Motor Services has been acquired by Stagecoach Holdings of Perth, which is already the parent company of former NBC subsidiaries Hampshire Bus and Pilgrim Coaches.
Stagecoach Holdings was set up earlier this year to bring together and develop a number of bus and coach interests in Scotland and England following deregulation and the privatisation of NBC..
Cumberland Motor Services, which was originally one of NBC's smallest subsidiaries, employs 590 staff and operates 230 buses, coaches and minibuses from seven depots in North and West Cumbria.
The other company to be sold off is Bristol-based Wessex National, which has been bought by a management team led by managing director Mike Ogborne, aided by operations director Adrian Page, commercial and marketing director Allan Edmundson and engineering director Peter Vill.
Wessex is the 25th operating subsidiary to be sold to its management. As part of the deal, 40% of the share capital is being set aside for the 106 drivers, maintenance and derical staff, allowing them to take a stake in the business.
Wessex National is one of only three remaining NBC companies specialising in coach operations, rather than local double-decker work.