West Riding Automobile Company
| Company type | Private company (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus transportation |
| Predecessor | Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Company |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Fate | Taken over by Transport Holding Company in 1967; later became part of National Bus Company in 1969; eventually rebranded as Arriva Yorkshire |
| Headquarters | Wakefield , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Wakefield region, Yorkshire, England |
| Products | Bus services |
The West Riding Automobile Company operated bus services in the Wakefield region of Yorkshire, England, having been established in 1922.
Company history
Originating as a branch of the Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Company, which was founded in 1904, West Riding shifted its focus from tramways to bus transportation as tram usage declined. In April 1922, it commenced bus services from both Wakefield and Castleford, investing £30,000 to acquire twenty-two Bristol 4-ton vehicles. The tram service in Castleford was terminated within three years of this transition.
In 1950, West Riding expanded its operations by purchasing competitor J Bullock & Sons based in Featherstone, effectively doubling its vehicle fleet. Two years later, the company financed the development of Wakefield bus station near the Bull Ring at a cost of £60,000. By the mid-1950s, West Riding had become the largest private bus operator within Britain.
The company was taken over by the Transport Holding Company in 1967 and subsequently became part of the National Bus Company in 1969. After local government restructuring in 1974, West Riding worked alongside the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive to coordinate regional bus services.
Following privatisation, ownership passed first to Caldaire Holdings, then to British Bus in 1995, and later to the Cowie Group in 1996 for £282 million. Eventually, the firm was rebranded under the name Arriva Yorkshire.
Additionally, West Riding maintained financial interests in several local transport operators such as Compass Bus, South Yorkshire Road Transport Company, and Yorkshire Woollen.
Vehicles
Throughout its history, West Riding utilized a range of buses including models from Guy, Bristol, AEC, and Daimler. In later years, it predominantly selected vehicles manufactured by Leyland. The company was instrumental in the development of the Guy Wulfrunian starting in 1959, acquiring 126 out of the total 137 units produced and also purchasing six additional second-hand examples.