Centra (bus company)


Centra was a bus operator in London and Surrey.

History

In October 2003, Central Parking Systems purchased Thames Bus which operated services in Surrey and around Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
On 27 August 2004, it purchased the assets of Mitcham Belle which included contracts to operate routes 127, 152, 200, 201, 493 and K5 under contract to Transport for London.
In August 2005, the Surrey business was sold to Rotala subsidiary Flights Hallmark. On 19 May 2006, the remaining Transport for London routes ceased and in August 2006 the remaining coach operation was sold to Wiltax.

Operations

London

Centra operated two bus garages: Streatham Road, which operated Mitcham Belle coach operations which also passed into Centra's hands until it closed, and the coach operations moved to a new site on the Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham which was also going to be used as a bus garage to replace the Beddington garage, and Beddington Mitcham Belle bus operations.
Beddington garage held 53 buses, and ran a number of London Buses routes. It was originally opened by Mitcham Belle; the yard was taken over in 2004 by Central Parking Systems under the Centra name following poor performance and a history of poor public relations. A huge overhaul of buses and other issues was undertaken by Centra; however, despite trying its hardest, it was unable to improve the reliability issues. Some of the drivers that had been taken on from Mitcham Belle were notoriously bad. This led to the loss and subsequent early surrender of route 127 contract to Metrobus.
On 21 April 2006 it also lost route 152, although the handover to new operator Travel London was delayed by problems sourcing enough vehicles.
Centra ceased their London bus operations on 19 May 2006 when its buses ran on routes 200, 201 and 493 routes for the last time, with the routes passing to London General, East Thames Buses and Armchair Passenger Transport respectively. Centra's London based coach operations operated out of the a new on the Willow Lane Industrial Estate, the coach operation operated for a few more months before being sold to Wiltax in August 2006.

Surrey

The Surrey operations operated out of a garage in New Haw. It operated Surrey County Council routes 22, 28, 38, 71, 72, 81, 218, 400, 442, 456, 472, 516, 547, 548, 549, 690, 698, 801, 803, 833, E303, and Jet Coach.