Bath Bus Company
A United Kingdom bus operator specializing in open-top sightseeing tours in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff, together with the Air Decker airport link.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Bath Bus Company is a United Kingdom bus operator whose principal activities have centered on open-top sightseeing tours and a regional airport connection. The company was established in May 1997 by Martin Curtis and three other former Badgerline managers. It began in Bath with a small heritage-oriented fleet that included Bristol VRTs and an AEC Routemaster, positioning the business around sightseeing rather than conventional urban scheduled transport. In 1999, Bath Bus Company became a franchisee of the City Sightseeing network. This gave the operator an internationally recognizable sightseeing format while allowing it to develop local tours and expand beyond its original Bath operation. The business later diversified into tendered services, broadening its role from a purely tourist-focused operator. Ensignbus acquired Bath Bus Company in June 2004. Following the acquisition, Ensignbus transferred its existing City Sightseeing activities in Cardiff, Eastbourne and Windsor into the Bath Bus Company business. This substantially widened the company's geographic footprint and created a multi-city sightseeing platform. The company was subsequently purchased in February 2011 by RATP Dev, the international operating arm of the French RATP Group. Under RATP Dev, Bath Bus Company remained focused on tourism and specialist bus operations in southwest England and Wales. A major addition to the portfolio came in March 2013, when the company launched Air Decker, a service linking Bath with Bristol Airport. The service was designed as a direct airport connection and included through-ticketing arrangements with Abus services in the Bristol area. Air Decker became an important non-sightseeing component of the business, linking the company's local tourism operation with practical regional mobility. Bath Bus Company also attracted attention in November 2014 when it operated a short-term Bristol–Bath service using a bus powered entirely by biomethane derived from human and food waste. The fuel was produced at Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth by GENeco, a Wessex Water subsidiary. The demonstration connected the company with experiments in lower-carbon public transport and alternative fuels, although it was described as a short-term service rather than a permanent transformation of the fleet. The introduction of the Bath Clean Air Zone in March 2021 prompted substantial investment in newer buses for the company's services. In May 2021, the company introduced a new sightseeing operation in Bristol under the Tootbus Bath branding. Bristol sightseeing tours had previously been operated by Rubicon Tours from 1994 until 2020. Later in 2021, the Tootbus Bath name also appeared on some Bath tours, while other services continued to use the more familiar City Sightseeing identity. The company remained associated with open-top tours in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff, as well as Air Decker between Bath and Bristol Airport. Reference material states that FirstGroup announced in December 2025 that it had acquired the Tootbus Bath operations from RATP Dev. The reported transaction included 21 sightseeing and airport-service buses and a leased depot in Keynsham. Following the transaction, Bath Bus Company's operating activities became part of FirstGroup's portfolio, although the continuing use of the Bath Bus Company name and the precise legal structure of the transferred business require further verification.
History
Bath Bus Company was formed in May 1997 by Martin Curtis and three other managers who had previously worked for Badgerline. Its initial business was based in Bath and focused on open-top sightseeing tours. The early fleet included Bristol VRTs and an AEC Routemaster, vehicles that helped establish a heritage and tourism-oriented identity distinct from ordinary municipal bus operations. In 1999, the company joined the City Sightseeing franchise network. The franchise provided a standardized sightseeing model and an established brand framework, while Bath Bus Company retained responsibility for local operations. The company subsequently expanded into tendered services, adding a degree of scheduled and contract-based bus work to its tourism activities. Ensignbus acquired the business in June 2004. As part of the transaction, Ensignbus moved its existing City Sightseeing operations in Cardiff, Eastbourne and Windsor into Bath Bus Company. The acquisition therefore transformed the company from a primarily Bath-focused operator into a broader multi-location sightseeing business. Its network covered several British tourist destinations, although the company's later operating profile became particularly associated with Bath, Bristol and Cardiff. In February 2011, RATP Dev, the overseas operating division of the French RATP Group, purchased Bath Bus Company. The change of ownership placed the operator within an international public-transport group while preserving its specialist focus on tourism, open-top operations and related local services. The company expanded its service mix in March 2013 with the launch of Air Decker, a bus connection between Bath and Bristol Airport. The service complemented the sightseeing portfolio by serving airport passengers and regional travelers. Through-ticketing with Abus services in the Bristol area helped connect Air Decker with other local transport links. On 21 November 2014, Bath Bus Company began a short-term Bristol–Bath service using a bus powered entirely by biomethane made from human and food waste. The fuel was generated at sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol, by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water. The project was a visible alternative-fuel demonstration and connected the operator with efforts to reduce the environmental impact of bus travel. Bath's Clean Air Zone, introduced in March 2021, affected the requirements applicable to buses operating in the city. Bath Bus Company responded with significant investment in new buses for its services. In May of the same year, the operator introduced a new sightseeing tour in Bristol using the Tootbus Bath brand. Bristol sightseeing had previously been operated by Rubicon Tours between 1994 and 2020. During 2021, the Tootbus Bath identity also appeared on some Bath tours, while other vehicles and tours continued to use City Sightseeing branding. The company's documented service portfolio included open-top tours in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff and Air Decker between Bath and Bristol Airport. The fleet was reported at 36 buses in October 2014. Reference material later described a 21-bus fleet in December 2025, consisting of vehicles used for sightseeing tours and the Air Decker service. Reference material states that FirstGroup announced in December 2025 that it had taken over the Tootbus Bath operations from RATP Dev. The reported transaction included 21 buses and a leased depot in Keynsham. This marked the end of the company's period under RATP Dev ownership, which had begun in 2011. Further confirmation is needed regarding the exact legal entity transferred, the ongoing corporate status of Bath Bus Company, and whether all historical brands continue under FirstGroup.
- 2025
Operations announced for transfer to FirstGroup
[1]Reference material states that FirstGroup announced the acquisition of the Tootbus Bath operations from RATP Dev, including 21 buses and a leased Keynsham depot.
- 2021
Clean Air Zone-related fleet investment
[1]The Bath Clean Air Zone prompted substantial investment in newer buses.
- 2021
Tootbus Bath introduced in Bristol
[1]The company launched a Bristol sightseeing operation under the Tootbus Bath brand.
- 2014
Biomethane bus demonstration
[1]A short-term Bristol–Bath service used a bus fueled by biomethane made from human and food waste.
- 2013
Air Decker introduced
[1]The company began operating an airport-link service between Bath and Bristol Airport.
- 2011
Acquired by RATP Dev
[1]RATP Dev, the overseas operating division of RATP Group, acquired the company.
- 2004
Acquired by Ensignbus
[1]Ensignbus purchased Bath Bus Company and transferred its City Sightseeing activities in Cardiff, Eastbourne and Windsor into the business.
- 1999
City Sightseeing franchise launched
[1]The company became a franchisee of the City Sightseeing network.
- 1997
Bath Bus Company founded
[1]Martin Curtis and three former Badgerline managers established the company in May and began open-top sightseeing operations in Bath.
Products and positioning
A regional tourism and specialist bus operator combining open-top city sightseeing with an airport-link service and selected tendered transport operations.
Open-top sightseeing tours · 1999
City Sightseeing Bath
The Bath sightseeing operation associated with the City Sightseeing franchise. It uses open-top buses to provide tourism-focused city tours and formed the company's original core activity after its creation in 1997.
Open-top sightseeing tours · 2021
Tootbus Bath
A later sightseeing identity used for tours in Bristol and, from 2021, on some tours in Bath. It was associated with the company's operations under RATP Dev and was included in the reported transfer to FirstGroup.
Airport bus service · 2013
Air Decker
A direct bus connection between Bath and Bristol Airport launched in 2013. Air Decker expanded the company beyond tourism by serving airport passengers and included through-ticketing arrangements with Abus services in the Bristol area.
Open-top sightseeing tours · 2004
Cardiff open-top tours
Sightseeing operations in Cardiff became part of Bath Bus Company after Ensignbus transferred its existing City Sightseeing activities into the business in 2004.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Biomethane Bristol–Bath service
Bristol · Bath
Bath Bus Company operated a short-term service using a bus powered by biomethane produced from human and food waste at Avonmouth sewage treatment works.
Outcome. The initiative was described as a short-term service and demonstrated the use of waste-derived fuel in bus operations.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer of Tootbus Bath operations to FirstGroupM&ABackground
Bath Bus Company had operated under RATP Dev ownership since 2011, with a portfolio including sightseeing tours and Air Decker.
Action taken
Reference material states that FirstGroup announced the acquisition of the Tootbus Bath operations, including 21 buses and a leased depot in Keynsham.
Aftermath
The reported transaction ended the RATP Dev ownership period, but the continuing legal and brand structure requires confirmation.
2021
Fleet renewal following Bath Clean Air ZoneStrategyBackground
Bath introduced a Clean Air Zone in March 2021, increasing the importance of emissions compliance for buses operating in the city.
Action taken
Bath Bus Company invested heavily in new buses for its services.
Aftermath
The investment supported continued operation in Bath under tighter local air-quality requirements.
2013
Launch of Air DeckerProduct launchBackground
Bath Bus Company sought to extend its business beyond sightseeing tours and provide a direct regional airport connection.
Action taken
The company launched an airport bus service linking Bath with Bristol Airport and arranged through-ticketing with Abus services.
Aftermath
Air Decker became one of the company's principal non-sightseeing offerings.
2011
Sale to RATP DevM&ABackground
Bath Bus Company had expanded beyond its original Bath sightseeing operation and was operating a broader portfolio of specialist bus services.
Action taken
RATP Dev acquired the company in February 2011.
Aftermath
The company operated as part of the RATP Group's international portfolio until the reported 2025 transfer to FirstGroup.
Recent events
- 2025
FirstGroup announced to acquire Tootbus Bath operations[1]
M&A
Reference material states that FirstGroup agreed to take over the Tootbus Bath operations from RATP Dev, including 21 buses used for sightseeing and Air Decker services and a leased Keynsham depot.
- 2021
Bath Clean Air Zone drives investment in newer buses[1]
Regulation
The introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone led the operator to invest substantially in new buses for its services.
- 2021
Tootbus sightseeing operation introduced in Bristol[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Bath Bus Company launched a Bristol sightseeing tour under the Tootbus Bath branding, later extending that branding to some Bath tours.
- 2014
Bath–Bristol service uses biomethane bus powered by human and food waste[1]
Product launch · Other
Bath Bus Company began a short-term service using a bus fueled by biomethane produced from sewage and food waste at a Bristol treatment facility.
- 2013
Bath Bus Company launches Air Decker between Bath and Bristol Airport[1]
Product launch
The company introduced a dedicated airport-link service branded Air Decker, with through-ticketing arrangements involving Abus services in the Bristol area.
Sources1 sources
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