Reliance Motor Services has been a cornerstone of Yorkshire life for nearly a century, but come January 2025, the baton will pass to Transdev, a heavyweight in public transport across Europe. As Transdev’s York and Country team gears up to take over Reliance’s routes and buses, it’s worth taking a moment to look back at the rich history of this much-loved local operator.
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| Transdev Blazefield |
From Humble Beginnings to a Yorkshire Icon
Reliance’s story began in 1930, when Ted Sheriff took the reins of the York-to-Helmsley route from Ovington Motors Limited. With three buses, he set up shop at Wigginton Road in Sutton on the Forest, a garage still in use today. After Ted’s death in 1965, the business stayed in the family, with his daughter Carol and son-in-law Richard not only rebranding it as Reliance Motor Services but also adopting a striking red livery.
In 1980, John and Margaret Duff took over, bringing back Reliance’s traditional cream-and-green colours and steering the company into the modern age. Fast forward to 2019 and the business was once again in the hands of a dynamic duo, Gary and Hollie Newby, who have kept Reliance’s fleet modern and reliable while preserving its reputation for quality service.
What’s Changing?
Now, after 94 years of proudly serving the region, Reliance is passing its core bus network to Transdev’s York and Country subsidiary. From the 19th of January 2025, passengers on routes serving Easingwold, Thirsk, Helmsley and beyond will see Transdev taking charge. Here’s the lowdown on the affected routes:
- Routes 30, 30X, 30XS and 30SE: Connecting Thirsk, Easingwold and Skelton with York.
- Route 31X: A joint service with East Yorkshire Buses, linking Helmsley and York—tickets will still be valid across both operators.
- Route 40: Serving Easingwold, Sutton on the Forest, York Hospital and York city centre.
- Dalesbus 74: A Saturday treat for Dales fans, running from York to Grassington via Harrogate and Otley.
- School routes 155R and 162R: Keeping students on the move to Outwood Academy Easingwold.
Reliance’s drivers won’t be left behind either—many will join Transdev at their award-winning Rawcliffe depot.
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| Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador) |
A Bright Future Under Transdev
Transdev’s roots may be international—it’s one of Europe’s largest public transport operators—but its approach is all about local service. Managing Director Henri Rohard said:
“We are delighted to be looking forward to expanding our network of routes to the north of York, while welcoming new colleagues to our York and Country operation.
This agreement demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England. Reliance is a long-established operator with a proud record of customer service, and we will seek to build on this – with all the resources of our green bus depot at Rawcliffe in York.
Together with our new driving colleagues, we’re looking forward to serving our new customers and further strengthening our positive relationship with our local authority partners in York and North Yorkshire. We are people serving people, and this agreement presents an exciting opportunity for us to work together to attract more customers to our newly expanded network.”
Reliance’s current owners, Gary and Hollie Newby, are confident their routes and drivers are in safe hands. Gary said:
“While we are sorry to say farewell to our loyal customers on the routes which will see a change of operator, and to several of our drivers, we know they will be in the best hands. Transdev has invested significantly in an impressive new depot in York and has a strong track record of delivering for its customers.
We thank all those who have travelled with us over the years, and our team of drivers, whose hard work and dedication to customer care is reflected in Reliance’s excellent reputation for quality and reliability.”
What Does This Mean for Passengers?
The short answer? Not much disruption. Reliance tickets will still be valid for a time after the switch and Transdev’s day and season passes will cover the expanded network. Timetables will mostly stay the same, with only slight tweaks to early and late services.
While it’s the end of an era for Reliance, it’s also a new chapter for Yorkshire’s bus network. So, keep an eye out for those blue York and Country buses—they’re set to keep Reliance’s legacy rolling for years to come.
For more about Transdev’s UK and European services, visit transdev.com.
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