Bus UK OK Motor Services / OK Travel

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About Bus UK OK Motor Services / OK Travel

History


OK Motor Service was founded in Evenwood, County Durham, by Wade Emmerson Jnr in 1912. The first route was from Evenwood to Bishop Auckland.

OK Motor Service's Garage, Booking Office and headquarters were at Go Ahead Northern (OK) Motor Services Ltd, North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland DL147PG.

After deregulation, the OK Group acquired two further depots, one at Gateshead and one at Peterlee. It operated widely throughout the area with the majority of its services being in south Tyne & Wear and Durham. By 1994 it had 212 vehicles with an average age of about 11 years, and had bought 47 new vehicles in the preceding year.[1]
[edit] Go-Ahead takeover

Go-Ahead Group had already made approaches to Wade Emmerson Snr, who ran the business, but was that the shareholders had no interest in selling it. However, Go-Ahead was told that if the business did become available for sale, they would be given first refusal.

Wade Emmerson senior died unexpectedly in August 1994.[2] Wade Emmerson Jnr, OK's majority shareholder, was approached by Go-Ahead, which expressed its continued interest in acquiring the business. He was also approached by other operators including Northumbria Motor Services Ltd, the British Bus subsidiary in the North-East, but decided to enter detailed negotiations only with Go-Ahead. In March 1995, Go-Ahead acquired OK Motor Services Ltd and the related OK Motor Services (Travel) Limited and OK Travel (Inclusive Tours) Limited companies for £5.4 million.[3]

Many of OK's staff, including its general manager, Charles Marshall, became employees of Go-Ahead following the acquisition. OK initially became one of Go-Ahead's locally managed subsidiaries with Marshall remaining in charge. Following the acquisition, Go-Ahead took steps to streamline the management of its north-east bus businesses and, as part of that reorganization, several of its earlier acquisitions were transferred to OK. However, the local identities were soon abandoned, and the OK name disappeared.

The garage at Bishop Auckland was sold to Arriva North East, with services transferred to Chester-le-Street. Arriva subsequently closed the garage.
Former depots
Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, County Durham - 'Bishop Auckland' (Go North East Sold to Arriva, flagship services transferred to Chester-le-Street)
Peterlee County Durham
Heaton, Newcastle - OK Motor Services (Tyneside) Ltd in 1976
Shotton Colliery County Durham
Team Valley Trading Estate - Gateshead, County Durham

In 1991 the former service depot Of Leyland Truck and Bus In the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, was obtained.
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