Yorkshire Coastliner

Yorkshire Coastliner is a bus company that operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield.

History
The company was established in 1990, when the York-based services of AJS Group were sold to Yorkshire Rider. At the time, AJS Group retained the regional services between Leeds and Bridlington, Filey, Scarborough and Whitby via York and Malton.

In August 1991, Yorkshire Coastliner was included in the purchase of AJS Group by Blazefield Group, following the sale of seven of the company's eight remaining bus firms at the time – a deal valued at £2.2 million.

In January 2006, French-based operator Transdev acquired the Blazefield Group, along with 305 vehicles.

In August 2008, Top Line Travel and Veolia Transport were purchased. The company further expanded in February 2012, following the purchase of York Pullman's local bus operations. The sale included the transfer of 31 employees and 17 vehicles.

In 2018, following the award of contracts by North Yorkshire County Council to replace those formerly operated by Stephensons of Easingwold, local services in and around York were rebranded York & Country, with vehicles subsequently rebranded in a two-tone blue livery.

CityZap
The CityZap brand was introduced on 27 March 2016, with services running direct between York and Leeds via the A64. As of April 2022, the service operated daily, with an hourly frequency during the day. There was no early morning or evening service.

A second service, operated by The Burnley Bus Company was launched in November 2017, running direct between Leeds and Manchester. The service was subsequently withdrawn in July 2018, owing to low passenger numbers.

In December 2020, four double-deck Alexander Dennis Enviro400MMC vehicles were introduced on services between York and Leeds – an investment of £1.4 million. Vehicles include free WiFi, USB and wireless charging, tables and audio-visual next stop announcements.

The CityZap service ceased operations on 19 November 2022, with Transdev Blazefield claiming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had made running the express service unsustainable.

Coastliner
The Coastliner brand encompasses a group of regional services linking the cities of Leeds and York with the towns and villages of Malton, Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale and coastal resorts of Scarborough and Whitby. Services are operated by a fleet of Volvo B9TL bodied Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 and Volvo B5TL bodied Wright Gemini 3 double-deck vehicles branded in a two-tone blue livery, and an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC double-deck vehicle branded in a two-tone gunmetal and silver livery. Vehicles include free WiFi, USB and wireless charging and audio-visual next stop announcements.

In May 2018, the 840 service, which runs between Leeds and Whitby, was voted as the "most scenic bus route in Britain" in an online poll.

Flyer
In September 2020, in partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport, Transdev Blazefield and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the company commenced operation of a network services centring around the airport. Operations were transferred from former operator, Yorkshire Tiger, including a depot at Idle, West Yorkshire. Services 737, 747 and 757 were subsequently rebranded Flyer and renumbered A1 (Horsforth & Leeds), A2 (Bradford & Harrogate) and A3 (Bradford, Guiseley, Otley & Shipley).

As of April 2022, services are operated by a fleet of Optare Versa single-deck vehicles, branded in a yellow and purple livery. Vehicles include free WiFi, USB charging ports, audio-visual next stop announcements and additional luggage storage. Some vehicles are also fitted with wireless chargers. These buses will be replaced by a fleet of 15 Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid electric single-deck vehicles, an order worth £4 million, which are expected to enter service by the end of 2024.

Unibus
In February 2012, Transdev purchased local services that were operated by York Pullman at the time, including the operation of the Unibus branded service 44 (York Station to the University of York), as well as the ub.1 campus shuttle. Shortly after, the route received a refreshed fleet, including the introduction of single-deck Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE s and double-deck Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL s to the fleet, as well as the purchase of an Optare Solo SR EV minibus.

In July 2015, with the contract for the Unibus services being awarded to First York, Transdev entered into a bus war with First by continuing to run the route 44 on a commercial basis, rivalling First's new 66 service to the university. Shortly after, Transdev announced that the route 44 will run 24 hours a day and 7 days a week from autumn 2015, which was regarded as the first bus route in York to do so. The Wright Renowns were also upgraded to include a USB charging zone. However, in December 2016, the 44 service was withdrawn, with Transdev stating "lots of other buses running along the route, often copying what we do [...] has made life very difficult for us".

York & Country
The York & Country brand encompasses local services operating in and around the cathedral city of York, with destinations including Acomb, Derwenthorpe, Fulford, Haxby and Rawcliffe. Services are operated by a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC and Optare Versa single-deck vehicles branded in a two-tone blue livery, and also a fleet of Mellor Strata minibuses branded in a two-tone grey livery.

York City Sightseeing
Upon the buyout of original franchise operators Top Line Travel in 2008, Yorkshire Coastliner run the York franchise of international tour bus company City Sightseeing. Services are operated by a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 open-top double-deck vehicles and a Plaxton President bodied VDL DB250 open-top double-deck vehicle, branded in City Sightseeing's red livery.

In 2014, the fleet used on York's sightseeing tours were converted to electric drivetrains by Magtec. This has been regarded to be the first time a double-decker bus had been converted to electric in the world. However in 2020, these vehicles were replaced for ones that are diesel-operated.

Depots
As of July 2023, the company operates from two depots and one outstation (Malton) across the region:


 * Idle, Bradford (Flyer)
 * Rawcliffe, York (York & Country, York City Sightseeing) (Coastliner)
 * Malton

Vehicles
As of May 2021, the fleet consists of 57 buses. The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered mini, single and double-deck buses manufactured by Mellor, Optare, Alexander Dennis, Wrightbus, and one open top bus manufactured by Plaxton.