History of Plymouth Citybus

Plymouth Citybus – The Company

Plymouth Citybus was formed in 1986 to take over the operations of Plymouth City Council Passenger Transport Department.  However, its origins can be traced right back to 1892 when its predecessors introduced horse trams to the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport areas.

Today Plymouth Citybus is at the heart of the local community; it is a patron of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and is represented in many local forums affecting life in the city.

The company operates a modern fleet, and provides the local service for Plymouth customers. We employ around 550 staff and carry over 18 million passengers a year.

Plymouth Citybus also operates the following:-

• Car & Commercial - servicing vehicles for both private companies and local customers
• Bus Advertising - providing a moving billboard for your advertising

Plymouth Citybus – The History

Through the years the original private companies that began the horse tram services eventually gave way to municipal enterprise and in turn electric traction was introduced and then diesel motor buses.

From 1986 until 2009, Plymouth Citybus traded as a private limited company that was wholly owned by Plymouth City Council. It was then bought by the Go-Ahead group in November 2009.

Go-Ahead is a major provider of transport services across the UK, employing over 27,000 people. The group’s operations span bus, rail and aviation services and are defined by a belief that local people make the best decisions about running local services. At Plymouth Citybus, as in each of the Go-Ahead’s subsidiary companies we run a local bus service in tune with the local market.

For over 30 years, Plymouth Citybus has offered a local bus service network that provides a comprehensive service 7 days a week to its customers in Plymouth