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Grant Palmer (bus operator)

A bus operated by Grant Palmer

Grant Palmer is an English bus operator that was established in 1999.[1]

History

The business was started in October 1999 by Grant Palmer with two double-decker buses and two school contracts. In 2011, the company moved to its current base in Flitwick.[2]

Ticketing

In October 2021, the firm launched the "Cygnet" ticket in Bedford along with competitors Stagecoach East and Uno. The tickets are valid on all three companies' services.[3]

The company utilises the Ticketer system, complete with an additional tap-on, tap-off feature, launched in April 2022. Customers tap on via existing Ticketer machines when boarding and use new tap off readers when alighting. [4]

Fleet

In 2019, it had a fleet of 35 buses.[5] Most of its fleet consists of buses manufactured by Alexander Dennis.[6] By 2022, the fleet had grown to 40 buses. [7]

December 2022 saw the company invest in two 10.8m Alexander Dennis Enviro 200MMCs, in order to add "much-needed capacity" on routes 72 and 73, with the buses being able to carry 25% more passengers than previously ordered vehicles. [8]

In October 2024, Grant Palmer took delivery of a guidewheel-equipped Volvo B8RLE/ MCV Evora, supplied by Volvo Bus UK and Ireland. It runs the Hi route between Luton and Houghton Regis via the Busway, and is the 17th new vehicle that the company has purchased since 2015.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Grant Palmer boosts bus fleet with Enviro200". Transport Engineer. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Grant Palmer Travel: 'It's got our name on it'". Route One. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Stagecoach, Grant Palmer, Uno and Bedford Borough Council ReLaunch 'Cygnet' Bus Pass". Bedford Borough Council. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  4. ^ Team, routeone (25 April 2022). "Grant Palmer launches tap on, tap off capped contactless". routeone. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Grant Palmer: Providing the personal touch". Route One. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Passenger numbers soar as Grant Palmer adds to growing fleet of Enviro200s". Alexander Dennis. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  7. ^ Team, routeone (24 May 2022). "Grant Palmer is latest operator for DVSA Earned Recognition". routeone. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  8. ^ Team, routeone (16 December 2022). "Routes success sees Enviro200 pair join Grant Palmer". routeone. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  9. ^ Team, routeone (23 October 2024). "Grant Palmer adds guidewheel-equipped Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora". routeone. Retrieved 4 April 2025.