Draft:LandFlight
Founded | 1994 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Vulcan Road, Solihull |
Service area | Solihull, West Midlands |
Service type | Bus service Private car hire Coach hire Airport transfer |
Hubs | Solihull Town Centre Solihull Railway Station |
Website | http://www.landflight.co.uk |
LandFlight Travel Services (formerly trading as Silverline/also known as Silverline Landflight Limited) is a public transport company running routes out of Solihull, private hire car, bus and coach services, and contracted bus shuttle services with Jaguar Land Rover at their Solihull plant. LandFlight is one of few smaller operators running in the West Midlands, alongside major operators National Express West Midlands and Diamond Bus .
History
Established in August 1994 as Silverline Landflight Limited (beginning operations considerably later after filing as a dormant company until 1999), the company runs short distance local bus routes in Solihull and surrounding areas, and offers private hire taxi, limousine, and coach services, out of their garage and registered office at Vulcan House, Solihull.[1]
Bus routes out of Solihull are currently run by a selection of operators, including LandFlight, National Express West Midlands, Diamond Bus, and Stagecoach Midlands. LandFlight gained their services from both the winding up of other operators, and through tenders from Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) over time.
In January 2019, the company announced a large investment in 20 new staff, and eight brand new ADL 200MMC buses to support new routes operated on behalf of TfWM.[2][3]
In April 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, LandFlight provided free trips to NHS staff, and waived pre-09:30 ticket charges for concessionary pass holders.[4][5]
In June 2023, the company purchased the region's first fully battery powered electric coach.[6]
In December 2024, following the new government's committment to giving control of bus services to local powers,[7][8] TfWM announced changes to bus services across the region. Selected services were withdrawn, replaced, or subsidised by local authorities. These changes included the re-numbering, alternation, and replacement of the majority of the company's services to better suit the local area, with edits to all routes except the A10. They took on the A1 and A2 from Diamond Bus, in the form of new services numbered 601 and 602, respectively, and began running the 'A6' route to Dorridge via Knowle, as well as routes to replace the A3, A4, A5, A12 and A15 (previously Diamond), with minor route and timetable changes to the A7/8 (circular route).[9][10]
Fleet
LandFlight currently has a fleet of 15 vehicles,[11] comprising 13 white ADL 200MMC’s of varying length, one branded in a grey livery, and named in memory of LandFlight driver David Brunt, and one Enviro 200, previously branded for its Blythe Valley Business Park Services.
In December 2024, to accomodate their new routes and timetables, LandFlight entered into service six additional white ADL 200MMC’s.[12]
Service
As of December 2024, the company run a total of 10 routes.[13][14] The 601, 602, 630, 631, 664, 665, A6, A7/8 (circular), and A10 all terminate in Solihull, either at the town centre, or at Solihull Railway Station. Services provide bus provision to passengers from Solihull, to Dickens Heath, Hollywood, Maypole, Shirley, Acocks Green, Chelmsley Wood, Yardley, Olton, Sheldon, Cheswick Green, Balsall Common, Knowle, and Monkspath.
References
- ^ "SILVERLINE LANDFLIGHT LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ Team, routeone (22 January 2019). "New contract sees staff investment from LandFlight". routeone. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "Landflight makes major investment in staff and vehicles after new contract win - Landflight". LandFlight. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Crawford, Alex (14 April 2020). "LandFlight offers free travel for NHS workers and elderly; spreads 'stay home' message". routeone. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "LandFlight says a big "thank you" to the NHS". Landflight. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ Sinclair, Ashleigh (6 June 2023). "LandFlight takes first e-coach". CBW. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ "More bus services could come under control of councils under planned law". BBC News. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Transport Secretary sets the wheels in motion on "biggest overhaul to buses in a generation"". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Perrin, Ben (27 November 2024). "Major West Midlands bus changes announced as some routes cut - full list". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Upcoming Bus Service Changes". www.tfwm.org.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "LandFlight – bustimes.org". bustimes.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ "Fleet list – LandFlight – bustimes.org". bustimes.org. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "LandFlight". bustimes.org. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Landflight Bus Services". Landflight. Retrieved 3 December 2024.