Fraser Eagle

Fraser Eagle was a group of companies in the United Kingdom specialising in passenger transport, travel and logistics.[1] Services included pre-planned and emergency coach and taxi services nationwide, corporate travel, event transport, incident management transport and destination management services. These services were provided mainly to the corporate sector.

Fraser Eagle
Neoplan in October 2008
Founded1919
Ceased operation2009
HeadquartersPadiham
Service typeCoach charter operator
Chief executiveKevin Dean
Websitewww.frasereagle.com (Archived)

It provided coach tours and independent travel agency services to the consumer sector. The company was placed in administration in March 2009.

History
Van Hool bodied DAF in November 2008
Van Hool bodied VDL SB4000 in November 2006

The company started out as an Accrington based coach company in 1919, transporting holidaymakers to the coastal resorts in England and Scotland. The company was formed by Harold Williams and Ward Knowles, and they later expanded to include tours and excursions across Europe.

The company expanded rapidly in the 1990s, when it began providing coaches to the rail industry when train services were disrupted, quickly becoming the United Kingdom's leading provider of rail replacement services, a business which exploded in the wake of the disruption following the Hatfield rail crash, and the long running modernisation of the West Coast Main Line.[2]

It also managed, plans, and provides replacement coaches in non emergency situations (railway engineering works etc.), acting as a transport broker with a database of 5,000 coach and taxi suppliers nationwide.[3] Among others, Fraser Eagle provide replacement transport for Virgin Trains West Coast, winning a £12m three year contract to provide Virgin with around 100,000 taxis a year.[2][4]

Concern has been expressed from both suppliers and clients about the future commercial viability of Fraser Eagle, particularly in February 2009 when it announced 50 of their 170 staff were being laid off, the closure of Fraser Eagle Cars division and that they would be ending their sponsorship of Accrington Stanley earlier than contracted.[5]

Although claiming this was a result of the financial downturn and increased competition, it seems apparent the story runs deeper with allegations of insolvent trading for several months and many of Fraser Eagle's regular suppliers refusing to take any work on until arrears have been settled, some of which date back to Summer 2008.

These concerns were realised when the company filed for administration on 10 March 2009.[6][7][8]

Grand Central

In 2004, Fraser Eagle purchased a 79% shareholding in Grand Central.[9][10] This was sold in March 2007 to two former managers of Prism Rail, backed by a private equity group.[11][12]

Other businesses

The group also managed Fraser Eagle Worldchoice Travel Agent, and Fraser Eagle Cars. They were based in Padiham, Lancashire, employing 180 full time staff. They also had offices in Malta. Fraser Eagle Cars was established in December 2006.[13]

References
  1. Companies House extract company no 407620 Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Fraser Eagle Limited formerly Fraser Eagle Management Services Limited formerly Fraser Eagle Tours Limited formerly J Benson (Motors) Limited
  2. Kevin Dean, Fraser Eagle North West Enquirer
  3. Fraser Eagle - Flying High Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rail Professional November 2006
  4. Fraser Eagle wins VT Rail issue 527 23 November 2005 page 19
  5. 50 jobs under threat at Fraser Eagle Archived 26 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Lancashire Telegraph 19 February 2009
  6. Club's sponsor in administration Archived 12 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine BBC News 5 March 2009
  7. 120 jobs go at Fraser Eagle as firm placed in administration Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Lancashire Telegraph 10 March 2009
  8. Mass redundancies as Fraser Eagle fails Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 13 March 2009
  9. Fly like an eagle Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine EN Magazine 2006
  10. Fraser Eagle is mystery backer Rail Business Intelligence 6 April 2006 page 9
  11. Former Prism bosses buy Grand Central in £10 million deal Archived 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Independent 14 March 2007
  12. On track for a rail profit Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Lancashire Telegraph 19 March 2007
  13. "Fraser Eagle group spreads its wings". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
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