Yorkshire Traction 5505335 203105613 2008-04-03T19:02:11Z Arriva436 2363746 Changed link due to page move {{Cleanup|date=May 2007}} {{Infobox Defunct Company | company_name = Yorkshire Traction | company_logo = [[Image:Yorkshiretractionlogo.PNG|250px]] | slogan = All the way | fate = [[Takeover]] | successor = [[Stagecoach Yorkshire]] | foundation = [[1902]] | defunct = [[2005]] | location = [[Barnsley]] | industry = [[Transport]] | products = [[Bus|Bus travel]] }} [[Image:Yorkshire Traction - Volvo B10m X92 to Doncaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Yorkshire Traction vehicle.]] [[Image:Barnsley Tramway - Bus shed 06-05-06.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Yorkshire Traction bus depot in Barnsley.]] The '''Yorkshire Traction Company Limited''' was formed in [[1902]] as the '''Barnsley & District Electric Traction Company Limited'''. It operated trams around the [[Barnsley]] locality until around [[1930]]. In [[1928]], prior to the trams being withdrawn, the company was renamed from the '''Barnsley & District Traction Company Limited''' (the 'electric' part of the name being dropped some years earlier). 'Tracky' - as the company was affectionately referred to - was sold by the Government in 1986 to the management team lead by Frank Carter. Until selling the business to [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] on [[14 December]] [[2005]], Carter expanded the business by purchasing other operators including: *Barnsley & District (formed in July 1990 when Traction bought the bus business of Tom Jowitt Travel of Tankersley) *[[Stagecoach in Lincolnshire|Lincolnshire RoadCar Company]] *[[Lincoln City Transport]] *Andrews (Sheffield) Ltd *[[Yorkshire Terrier (bus company)|Yorkshire Terrier]] *South Riding *[[Strathtay Scottish|Strathtay]] *Methans Yorkshire Traction and its subsidiaries were owned by The Traction Group, which was owned by Frank Carter, together with small shares owned by a Carter Family Trust and employees who worked for the company at privatisation. The company operated services across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and into Leeds, Huddersfield and eventually, Sheffield. From the 1974 merger of Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster bus companies until the mid-1990s, the operating area of South Yorkshire was split between [[South Yorkshire Transport]] (SYT) and Yorkshire Traction with SYT dominating Sheffield and Rotherham. Through acquisition of Sheffield Omnibus in the early 1990s, South Riding and Andrews, the company gained a significant foothold across Sheffield which has today led Stagecoach to compete directly against First Group in a similar format to the present circumstances in Manchester. Yorkshire Traction has for decades been a major regional operator of [[National Express]] services covering nationwide routes in addition to its regular and long established services in and out of London to Yorkshire towns and cities. Furthermore, it also operated alongside the old [[National Bus Company (UK)|NBC]] brand 'National Travel' which was the short break holiday arm of NBC. Upon privatisation, YTC launched 'Ridings' Travel and became a popular choice for the short break coach holidaymaker within the region. Yorkshire Traction now operates as [[Stagecoach Yorkshire]] despite significant public disappointment in seeing their beloved familiar red and white brand 'Tracky' vanish from the roads. Press reports have also recently noted a deterioration of its relationship with [[South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive]], especially when the PTE revised its charges for Stagecoach vehicles using PTE owned bus stations across the county. ==External links== *[http://www.tracky.co.uk/ Yorkshire Traction] *[http://www.stagecoachbus.com/yorkshire/ Stagecoach Yorkshire] *[http://www.yorkshire-traction.co.uk/ Tracky Online (Unofficial)] [[Category:Former bus operators in England]] [[Category:Transport in Sheffield]] [[Category:Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom]]