Transpora Group

[richard13]

Transpora Group was not a group in any formal sense, just a set of private companies owned by Rhys Hand and/or Philip Higgs working together and using similar names. Rhys Hand was never involved with Blackpool, Manchester or London. The joint ownerships and directorships were undone last week - see table above.

The company called Transpora Group, which is back to Rhys Hand's company, was the main employer, and is the one that appears to have gone into voluntary liquidation, having paid the staff on Friday and the finance people reconned that the following week would bounce if they kept going. Philip Higgs companies have the O licences and the other operations.

The common thread is they and others all worked with buses in the Southampton area.

 

[Titfield]

Perhaps the OTC should ask Mr Higgs and Mr Hand to clarify the ownership of all the various entities and to confirm that each entity is being operated in accordance with the terms of the O licence(s) granted.

 

[mangad]

Perhaps the OTC should ask Mr Higgs and Mr Hand to clarify the ownership of all the various entities and to confirm that each entity is being operated in accordance with the terms of the O licence(s) granted.

You can get some of this information on Companies House quite easily by going to "People" then "Persons with Significant Control"
e.g. Transporabus North West states 1 person with significant control, who is Mr Philip Karl Higgs, who has control because he has 75% of the shares.

Transpora Group states 0 person with significant control as Rhys Hand ceased to have significant control in April. He had control due to the nature of having between 25 and 50% of the shares.

Companies House lists all of Rhys's current directorships, the only active one now being Transpora Transport Solutions Ltd where he has over 75% of the shares, and over 75% of the voting rights.

Companies House will also show you where a company is owned by another company. To give an example, Chaserider Ltd is owned by D&G Bus Ltd, which in turn is owned by Centrebus Ltd. But none of the Transpora companies above are listed as being owned by another company.

In short, you can learn a lot of facts from Companies House.

 

[richard13]

The big lemon are taking most of the work from transpora on.

The Big Lemon shared depot space with Transpora and over the weekend took on most of Transpora's work. However it hasn't stuck, as much was on contract and those contracts have been reissued to others. The 90 was abandoned (2 buses?), Stagecoach has the 25 and 60 (3 buses), Big Lemon only has x10, 23+x91 (2 buses). The staff buses are harder to see but Eurocoaches apparently has 1 of 4 and Big Lemon is running the AD1 plus the 23,X91 package. That leaves 2. So Big Lemon has not succeeded and the Transpora staff will have to find jobs elsewhere.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Transpora Group was not a group in any formal sense, just a set of private companies owned by Rhys Hand and/or Philip Higgs working together and using similar names. Rhys Hand was never involved with Blackpool, Manchester or London. The joint ownerships and directorships were undone last week - see table above.

The company called Transpora Group, which is back to Rhys Hand's company, was the main employer, and is the one that appears to have gone into voluntary liquidation, having paid the staff on Friday and the finance people reconned that the following week would bounce if they kept going. Philip Higgs companies have the O licences and the other operations.

Hence my reference to it being a "virtual empire" rather than anything more substantial.

If they did pay their drivers up to and including Friday, that is positive news. There's a shortage of drivers so work should be out there, but I was concerned whether they'd been paid for the final week.

In short, you can learn a lot of facts from Companies House.

You can indeed. If you look at the appointments of Rhys Hand

• Velvetfox - didn't trade and existed from Jun 2016 to Nov 2017
• Cityfox Bus - existed from Jun 2016 to Nov 2019. It posted one set of micro results that show minimal "activity"
• Excite Venues - existed from Jan 2016 to Nov 2020. It posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Cityfox Taxis - existed from May 2015 and lasted until Mar 2022 (though it really ceased with the 2019 implosion). It also posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Kernowfox - existed from Mar 2015 and lasted until this year until being struck off. However, it really ceased with 2019 and posted one set of micro results with minimal activity
• Yourcab - existed from May 2015 and lasted until Apr 2022 (though it also really ceased with the 2019 implosion). Similar to Cityfox Taxis, it also posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Cityfox Group - didn't trade and existed from Aug 2016 to Jan 2018
• Snowdonia Travel - this was the firm purchased in Nov 2016 and was the main Foxstar operation. Very few assets in the micro accounts and struck off in 2022
• Cityfox Group Central Services - didn't trade and existed from Jan 2019 until struck off Jan 2021
• Transpora Group - this is the one that Philip Higgs exited from last week, and that Rhys has no longer significant control. Set up Aug 2021, and accounts overdue
• Transpora Transport Solutions - micro accounts and I guess still active
• Ealing Community Transport - invited in as a director/trustee
• Wessex Bus - NOT to be confused with the Rotala firm, set up Jan 2024; the next one to watch?

However, you also need to look for Rhys Dennis George https://find-and-update.company-inf...cers/ONBhJ2hptxeR-NPn9ezbJ5KcsSA/appointments

• Wessex Protection Services - Apr 2013 til struck off Dec 2014 - micro accounts
• Manchester Bus Tours - one of the few firms where Higgs and Hand were both directors but Rhys resigned last week. This is a long standing Higgs operation.
• Cityfox Bristol - existed from Jul 2012 to Jan 2015 - again micro accounts with limited trading
• Cityfox Cardiff - existed from May 2018 to Oct 2019 and did not trade

There's a lot to keep up with.

The Big Lemon shared depot space with Transpora and over the weekend took on most of Transpora's work. However it hasn't stuck, as much was on contract and those contracts have been reissued to others. The 90 was abandoned (2 buses?), Stagecoach has the 25 and 60 (3 buses), Big Lemon only has x10, 23+x91 (2 buses). The staff buses are harder to see but Eurocoaches apparently has 1 of 4 and Big Lemon is running the AD1 plus the 23,X91 package. That leaves 2. So Big Lemon has not succeeded and the Transpora staff will have to find jobs elsewhere.

In a way, I feel a bit sorry for Big Lemon. They've picked up the pieces twice with CT Plus and now Transpora and haven't really been able to progress that much.

 

[Newport Lad]

Whilst I have some admiration for The Big Lemon, they were naive to take on contracted services without any formal agreement.

 

[Tetchytyke]

My thoughts are with the drivers and any other staff. They are likely paid in arrears (and understand pay has been a bit sporadic in recent weeks) so they join the list of creditors but not certain there's much in the way of assets.

The staff will get their money eventually, the National Insurance Fund will cough up if nobody else can. For the umpteenth time.

I hope the drivers were paid last week. But, even if they were, the NI Fund will be on the hook for any redundancy payments.

Not quite for Philip Higgs - he still has the original Blackpool businesses and I guess he'll concentrate on those.

That alone shows just how toothless the Traffic Commissioner process in this country truly is.

 

[-Colly405-]

As of today, Transporabus South West Ltd is renamed back to Altonian Coaches Ltd. The company had its Transporabus name only between 12-16th July 2024, although the linked legal PDFs (that I cannot link to but are accessible from the links below) show both name changes were actually approved by resolution on July 11th.

ALTONIAN COACHES LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

ALTONIAN COACHES LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

ALTONIAN COACHES LTD​

Company number 05184044
Registered office address7 Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3DA
Company statusActive
Company typePrivate limited CompanyIncorporated on20 July 2004

​

Previous company names​

Previous company names

Name	Period
TRANSPORABUS SOUTH WEST LTD	12 Jul 2024 - 16 Jul 2024
ALTONIAN COACHES LIMITED	20 Jul 2004 - 12 Jul 2024

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Did the Open Top Bristol tour ever take off even for 5 minutes? I'm sure it was Transpora that was starting it up this month I remember seeing something advertised for drivers or something.

Also I see an advert for open top Routemaster tours in London operated by Manchester Bus Tours, is that one of Phill Higgs operations?

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Did the Open Top Bristol tour ever take off even for 5 minutes? I'm sure it was Transpora that was starting it up this month I remember seeing something advertised for drivers or something.

Also I see an advert for open top Routemaster tours in London operated by Manchester Bus Tours, is that one of Phill Higgs operations?

Manchester Bus Tours is one of Philip Higgs, yes. I believe they operate in Birmingham as well as Manchester currently with open-top tours of both.

 

[geoffk]

I read that West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris and Andy Burnham have held talks about bus franchising. I can't comment on Transpora group but perhaps the latest news will give added impetus to the need for change. I grew up in Bristol but moved away in 1973. Back then there was a single bus operator but shortage of drivers and traffic congestion are issues which have clearly got worse. Whatever form of regulation is adopted, someone will have to address these two issues.

Latest on calls to take control of Bristol's buses one year on

The metro mayor heard from a medical student who said people felt "stranded" and anxious due to being "failed by the buses"

www.bristolpost.co.uk

 

[bussnapperwm]

Manchester Bus Tours is one of Philip Higgs, yes. I believe they operate in Birmingham as well as Manchester currently with open-top tours of both.

Birmingham hasn't ran in years iirc (cancelled due to tram works, then COVID)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Did the Open Top Bristol tour ever take off even for 5 minutes? I'm sure it was Transpora that was starting it up this month I remember seeing something advertised for drivers or something.

I think it was supposed to start on 24th July or something?

I read that West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris and Andy Burnham have held talks about bus franchising. I can't comment on Transpora group but perhaps the latest news will give added impetus to the need for change. I grew up in Bristol but moved away in 1973. Back then there was a single bus operator but shortage of drivers and traffic congestion are issues which have clearly got worse. Whatever form of regulation is adopted, someone will have to address these two issues.

Latest on calls to take control of Bristol's buses one year on

The metro mayor heard from a medical student who said people felt "stranded" and anxious due to being "failed by the buses"

www.bristolpost.co.uk

I love the article as if it's some random student... Not one who's appeared in Green Party literature

Bristol has its issues. Mainly completely divorced from Transpora - there's a need to improve bus priority but there's only ever fits and starts. Bath Road bus lane was 1993? The Greater Bristol Bus Network scheme was 2007-9? Since then, very little and car usage has continued to grow.

However, that's not why Transpora failed, nor why CT Plus before that. CT Plus had insufficient financial control and expanded too quickly. Transpora.... I'll leave that to others.

 

[-Colly405-]

I think it was supposed to start on 24th July or something?

Yes, according to Traveline.

Timetable link, showing it starting 24.7:

Traveline South West - English

WECA registration shows it registered to start 25th May though...

Operator Name

Serial Number

Route number

Start Point

Finish Point

via

Type

Subsidised Service

Subsidies

Operational Areas

Registration Type

Short Notice

Received Date

Effective Date

End Date

Altonian Coaches Limited

PH1089686/01010013/0

OT

Bristol, Centre, Broad Quay

Bristol, Centre, Broad Quay

via Clifton

Excursion or Tour

No

Bristol City Council,

New

no

26 Feb 2024 18:08:26

25 May 2024

03 Nov 2024

Record of Registration Applications - WEST

This record contains all bus registration applications received by the West of England Combined Authority since becoming the Bus Registrations Authority for the region on 1 May 2023. The record updates daily and includes all local bus registrations that operate wholly within the West of England...

travelwest.info

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Birmingham hasn't ran in years iirc (cancelled due to tram works, then COVID)

It looks like it hasn't. I did a quick Google search that brought up a 3rd party website which appeared to suggest it was running this year, but looking more carefully there's no details about it and all the reviews are from 2018!

 

[father_jack]

I think Mr Rhys Hand should come and interact with us here to clear up a few things .

His account on here is no longer active. If it was I think at this stage he'd have threatened idle legal action as was his wont on here and on other social media fora.

 

[GusB]

The situation with Transpora is one that is obviously newsworthy and information is still coming to light.

Please ensure that any information posted here is factual. Any references to social media posts or other external sources should be accompanied by a link to those sources and the contents must be quoted here, in line with forum rules; this is especially important if there's the likelihood that Tweets or Facebook may disappear!

Regardless of any opinions about the individuals involved, please don't resort to making personal comments against them; any unsubstantiated allegations will be removed.

 

[CBlue]

You can indeed. If you look at the appointments of Rhys Hand

• Velvetfox - didn't trade and existed from Jun 2016 to Nov 2017
• Cityfox Bus - existed from Jun 2016 to Nov 2019. It posted one set of micro results that show minimal "activity"
• Excite Venues - existed from Jan 2016 to Nov 2020. It posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Cityfox Taxis - existed from May 2015 and lasted until Mar 2022 (though it really ceased with the 2019 implosion). It also posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Kernowfox - existed from Mar 2015 and lasted until this year until being struck off. However, it really ceased with 2019 and posted one set of micro results with minimal activity
• Yourcab - existed from May 2015 and lasted until Apr 2022 (though it also really ceased with the 2019 implosion). Similar to Cityfox Taxis, it also posted two sets of micro results that actually indicated some level of assets
• Cityfox Group - didn't trade and existed from Aug 2016 to Jan 2018
• Snowdonia Travel - this was the firm purchased in Nov 2016 and was the main Foxstar operation. Very few assets in the micro accounts and struck off in 2022
• Cityfox Group Central Services - didn't trade and existed from Jan 2019 until struck off Jan 2021
• Transpora Group - this is the one that Philip Higgs exited from last week, and that Rhys has no longer significant control. Set up Aug 2021, and accounts overdue
• Transpora Transport Solutions - micro accounts and I guess still active
• Ealing Community Transport - invited in as a director/trustee
• Wessex Bus - NOT to be confused with the Rotala firm, set up Jan 2024; the next one to watch?

I knew there were a few but goodness, that takes the biscuit a little. Wasn't there something branded "Ovvio Transport Solutions" as well? Seem to recall it was a flight of fancy with social media pages appearing and vanishing within days after the Cityfox debacle.

I think Mr Rhys Hand should come and interact with us here to clear up a few things .

In honesty, why should he have an interest in doing so? This is a niche interest internet forum, not a tribunal.


I find the repeated debacles rather sad, in a way. Whether Mr Hand's attitude is one of enthusiasm or arrogance, neither make money by themselves and bus operation certainly doesn't print the stuff - although I remain impressed that he manages to repeatedly secure money for these ventures somehow!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I knew there were a few but goodness, that takes the biscuit a little. Wasn't there something branded "Ovvio Transport Solutions" as well? Seem to recall it was a flight of fancy with social media pages appearing and vanishing within days after the Cityfox debacle.

Well remembered. That's the thing - there's all the legal entities etc, but then you have the online manifestations and the two don't necessarily match.

 

[borage]

There's been a small amount of local news coverage; the BBC's had a response from a Transpora spokesperson:

In a statement, a spokesperson from Transpora said the company had decided to exit the Bristol market with "immediate affect" due to "a number of factors such as rising costs" and "lack of funding for smaller operators".

The spokesperson added that other parts of the Transpora business are not affected.

Transpora pulls out of Bristol and Gloucestershire routes

Other operators step in to cover services after Transpora suddenly withdrew.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Dai Corner]

There's been a small amount of local news coverage; the BBC's had a response from a Transpora spokesperson:

Transpora pulls out of Bristol and Gloucestershire routes

Other operators step in to cover services after Transpora suddenly withdrew.

www.bbc.co.uk

Lack of funding sounds a bit dubious given that the tendered services have been taken over by other operators. Are they charging more?

Stagecoach obviously think they can operate the 25 commercially so are their costs lower or revenue forecasts higher?

 

[MikeHoward940]

Does anyone know anything about a company called Transpora Group?

They seem to be very active on social media but I can't really find anything to suggest that they are real?

Transpora is owned by Altonian Coaches and are based in Bristol. Unfortunately Transpora are no longer operating and other companies are coming forward to operate the services. Stagecoach in Bristol has taken over the 25 route. No information on other companies involved.

 

[Megafuss]

Lack of funding sounds a bit dubious given that the tendered services have been taken over by other operators. Are they charging more?

Stagecoach obviously think they can operate the 25 commercially so are their costs lower or revenue forecasts higher?

It's not unknown for an exiting operator to alert the local authority in advance of the predicament and give some passenger and revenue data so it can be shared in the eventuality of a failure.

I've got no idea if it's the case here.

 

[JD2168]

I was in Blackpool today, Transpora buses we’re running but fairly lightly loaded.

 

[Deerfold]

Transpora is owned by Altonian Coaches and are based in Bristol. Unfortunately Transpora are no longer operating and other companies are coming forward to operate the services. Stagecoach in Bristol has taken over the 25 route. No information on other companies involved.

You know you're replying to a post from 2 years ago and there's been 500 posts on the topic since?

 

[nesw]

Lack of funding sounds a bit dubious given that the tendered services have been taken over by other operators. Are they charging more?

Stagecoach obviously think they can operate the 25 commercially so are their costs lower or revenue forecasts higher?

Many of the contracts started in April this year, with remainder awarded in 2023.

 

[mayneway]

In honesty, why should he have an interest in doing so? This is a niche interest internet forum, not a tribunal.


I find the repeated debacles rather sad, in a way. Whether Mr Hand's attitude is one of enthusiasm or arrogance, neither make money by themselves and bus operation certainly doesn't print the stuff - although I remain impressed that he manages to repeatedly secure money for these ventures somehow!

People act like a murder has been committed, and that Rhys should be hung out to dry on this forum.
Like him or loath him he’s got a head full of knowledge and ideas and he’s persistent at making one of them work, and maybe one day, one of them will be a roaring success but businesses fail. Everyone will have theory’s on why but all I say is Fair play to the guy for trying.

 

[GRAHAMJ]

People act like a murder has been committed, and that Rhys should be hung out to dry on this forum.
Like him or loath him he’s got a head full of knowledge and ideas and he’s persistent at making one of them work, and maybe one day, one of them will be a roaring success but businesses fail. Everyone will have theory’s on why but all I say is Fair play to the guy for trying.

Yes, but when a person sets up and crashes one company after another, surely you have to ask after the staff, passengers and creditors? A failure is one thing, but multiple failures hurt people time after time. Mr Hand comes away smelling of roses each time it seems and off he goes again. There is something wrong with the licencing system that this type of individual can keep starting up and failing time after time. Maybe he should stick to web site design which he seems very good at?

 

[mayneway]

Yes, but when a person sets up and crashes one company after another, surely you have to ask after the staff, passengers and creditors? A failure is one thing, but multiple failures hurt people time after time. Mr Hand comes away smelling of roses each time it seems and off he goes again. There is something wrong with the licencing system that this type of individual can keep starting up and failing time after time. Maybe he should stick to web site design which he seems very good at?

Has he actually done anything wrong though?
I don’t remember much about his previous ventures but I know he had a lot of pride in Transpora and it certainly wasn’t some flash in the pan scheme some make out it was. To get to the size it did was in itself a massive achievement and it’s only sad it’s collapsed, but I honestly very much doubt Rhys has walked away with the bags of swag.

We all know how Higgs likes to collect ops licences and runs several at once, it’s a loophole that needs closing - but it seems in this instance he’s played a clever game, as while the south west operations collapse on one ops licence his beloved Blackpool and Manchester ops remain intact (for now!!).

 

[M803UYA]

Yes, but when a person sets up and crashes one company after another, surely you have to ask after the staff, passengers and creditors? A failure is one thing, but multiple failures hurt people time after time. Mr Hand comes away smelling of roses each time it seems and off he goes again. There is something wrong with the licencing system that this type of individual can keep starting up and failing time after time. Maybe he should stick to web site design which he seems very good at?

I doubt @mayneway would feel so polite about Rhys Hand if he was owed significant sums of money in unpaid wages.