Bus Services from A2Z Travel

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A2Z Travel is an independent operator that stands out from the crowd.

A2Z Travel started as a family-run taxi firm in Willenhall in 1998. The taxi firm continues to thrive but a drive to expand led to the purchase of a minibus and coach in July 2003, based initially at another operator’s yard. The fledgling company then expanded within the coach scene and operated a combination of private hire, school runs, rail replacement and touring. By the beginning of 2005, the firm owned four minibuses and six full-size coaches. In February 2005 the growing company moved into a 15,000 sq ft garage with a suite of offices in Marlow Street, Walsall which now serves as the company headquarters.
In 2006 the company identified an opportunity to acquire some mid-life low floor buses, and after extensive refurbishment they were placed in service on popular routes. The response of the passengers has subsequently seen both the acquisition of more buses and the appointment of engineering and operations staff dedicated to managing the bus operations.

The Premises

The company has two depots, located almost a stone’s throw from one each other. Housed within a modern steel-framed building, the Marlow Street site contains the firm’s garage workshop and office suite. The building formerly housed an engineering firm and therefore has a concreted floor throughout, making it very suitable for heavy duty bus maintenance.
The Portland Street site, located round the corner, has been acquired for future development as part of the company’s expansion plans. It is currently used for parking, and will become the second garage in due course.
The firm is keen to become a fully accredited training centre, utilising the facilities acquired to their maximum capacity.

West Midlands Coach Operators

The Workshop

A2Z Travel spare no expenses where maintenance is concerned. Ten mechanics are divided between a day and night shift, with the vehicles being worked on seven days a week.
The large A2Z workshop building offers enough space to lift even double-decker buses on column lifts. A buswash and powerful jetwash are available and a test lane - including a roller brake tester that A2Z will make available to other operators - is being installed.

Coaching

A2Z Travel started out as a coach operator and today has four main areas of coaching activity. These are:

Day trips, particularly during the summer and at Christmas, focussed on ‘bucket and spade’ seaside trips and outings to other places of interest such as Christmas markets.
Contract tours with a particular focus on the specialist needs of the school tour market.
National Express relief work: A2Z is a key provider of additional capacity operating ‘duplicate’ services for National Express at times of peak demand.
Rail replacement: with the rail network undergoing a renaissance, there is increasing maintenance demands and therefore A2Z has developed as a leading provider of ‘rail replacement’ coaches in the Midlands.

A2Z started as a small coach operator which ran buses but has evolved into a bus company that runs coaches. However, the firm still maintains a modern fleet of coaches, including several stylish Scania Irizars. The company’s flagship vehicle is undoubtedly the 06 plate Scania Irizar, bought new last year. With its leather seats and tables, the 49-seat coach undertakes tour work. The coach is fully loaded with every conceivable extra included.

Bus Services West Midlands

Buses

The blue and white service bus livery was chosen as it was synonymous with the local area, in addition to being practical to apply. All A2Z drivers are equipped with smart uniforms in the same blue and white colour scheme.
All buses are in the process of being fitted with side and front digital destination blinds, which are very cost-effective and provide clear and accurate information to passengers.

For security and ease of boarding, the company has adopted an exact-fare policy and also uses a Wayfarer ticketing system; together with cash vaults.
A weekly ticket is available, priced at £7, which can be used on any of its services. Return fares are available. A2Z plan to offer their own annual travel card in the future.

A2Z Travel believe people like the convenience of a 'turn-up-and-go route', as many people find bus timtables bothersome, and a less frequent service means people are less inclined to use it.

A2Z should be set apart from other independent operators. A lot of small operators suffer a poor reputation with buses in a variety of colours. The management of A2Z are professionally trained people who believe in offering a consistent high quality service.

Text and image content used with kind permission from Coach and Bus Week magazine. www.cbwonline.com