End of the road for bus garage after 95 years
NCT CLOSES DOWN GOTHAM BASE AS PART OF COST-CUTTING
A NOTTINGHAM bus station has closed its doors in order to reduce its costs.
Gotham Garage opened its doors in March 1926 when the South Notts Bus Company was formed by CT Dabell.
The Gotham Garage became part of Nottingham City Transport (NCT) when it purchased South Notts in March 1991 and has been an important operating base for NCT for the last 35 years.
In order to reduce costs as part of a post Covid-19 recovery plan, Gotham Garage closed on Saturday.
To commemorate the 95-year history of Gotham Garage, the last new bus purchased by South Notts prior to NCT’S takeover in 1991 visited Gotham on its last operational day.
The Leyland Olympian bus was delivered in 1989 to South Notts and had a seating capacity of 83.
Within the South Notts fleet it was numbered 129 and became 699 when it transferred to NCT in 1991. The preserved bus is owned by Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity, who own a number of former NCT and South Notts vehicles.
David Astill, commercial and operations director, said, “We are sad to be leaving Gotham Garage and pay tribute and thanks to everyone who has played a part in its long, successful time as a bus garage.
“South Notts remains an important part of Nottingham City Transport and the name will continue to be proudly displayed on buses on the route.”
The clock, memorial benches, timeline and South Notts sign on the front of Gotham Garage will join the employees and buses at the new home of South Notts at Trent Bridge Garage in The Meadows.
The company says this both “honours the heritage of South Notts within NCT”, but “importantly retains a link for our employees to recognise and remember their time at Gotham Garage.”
A commemorative book celebrating 95 years of Gotham Garage will be available for sale next month.