The family-run firm was marking its centenary this year
Eagle Coaches, a family-run Bristol firm based at Netham Road in St George, that has been operating in the city since 1926. The firm has now been bought out by First Bus(Image: Eagle Coaches)
One of Bristol’s most recognisable and long-established coach companies has been bought by First Bus.
Eagle Coaches, which was formed 100 years ago exactly, operates a fleet of 19 distinctive bright yellow coaches, running private hire, school transport and group trips for people across Bristol and the South West.
But the firm has been taken over by First Bus, which runs almost all the public bus services in Bristol, Bath and the West of England, and is part of one of the UK’s biggest public transport companies which also runs GWR trains.
FirstGroup said it has a ‘strategy to grow First Bus Bus’s diversified coach portfolio’ – hence the reason for buying up Eagle Coaches.
The firm said all 28 employees of Eagle will continue to work for the business – but now be employed by First Bus – and all existing services, contracts and bookings will continue unchanged.
Eagle are the latest coach firm to be bought up by FirstGroup – which has taken over Anderson Travel, Hills Coaches, J&B Travel, Lakeside Group, Matthews Coaches, Tetley’s Coaches and York Pullman across the country over the past few years.
Eagle Coaches has been a family-run business since it was founded in 1926, and its base is on the Netham Road in St George, in East Bristol.
Eagle Coaches, a family-run Bristol firm based at Netham Road in St George, that has been operating in the city since 1926. The firm has now been bought out by First Bus(Image: Google Maps)
The firm’s director is Josh Ball – his father Adrian has been at Eagle for 54 years, and will now take ‘well-earned retirement’.
“Eagle Coaches has been proudly serving customers in Bristol and the surrounding region for generations, building a strong reputation for quality, reliability and personal service,” said Josh.
“We must take this opportunity to thank our father Adrian for devoting 54 years to the business, who will now take well-earned retirement.
“Joining First Bus marks an exciting new chapter for our business. It allows us to protect what makes Eagle Coaches special, while benefiting from the scale, investment and expertise of a national operator.
“Most importantly, it provides reassurance for our customers, colleagues and partners that the business has a strong future and opportunities to continue growing across the region,” he added.
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The managing director of First’s ‘business and coach’ division, Andrew Jarvis, said: “This acquisition supports our ambition to grow a strong, diversified coach portfolio while expanding our operational footprint in key markets.
“Eagle Coaches is a highly regarded family business with deep roots in Bristol, a loyal customer base and an experienced team delivering high-quality coach services across the region.
“We’re delighted to welcome the Eagle Coaches team into the FirstGroup coach portfolio and look forward to supporting the business as it continues to develop while maintaining the standards and local identity it is known for,” he added.