Centra (bus company)

Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian in September 2004
Parent	Central Parking Systems
Founded	October 2003
Ceased operation	August 2006
Service area	London Surrey
Service type	Bus operator

Centra was a bus operator in London and Surrey.

In October 2003, Central Parking Systems purchased Thames Bus which operated services in Surrey and around Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

On 27 August 2004, it purchased the assets of Mitcham Belle which included contracts to operate routes 127, 152, 200, 201, 493 and K5 under contract to Transport for London.

In August 2005, the Surrey business was sold to Rotala subsidiary Flights Hallmark. On 19 May 2006, the remaining Transport for London routes ceased and in August 2006 the remaining coach operation was sold to Wiltax.

Centra operated two bus garages: Streatham Road, which operated Mitcham Belle coach operations which also passed into Centra's hands until it closed, and the coach operations moved to a new site on the Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham which was also going to be used as a bus garage to replace the Beddington garage, and Beddington Mitcham Belle bus operations.

Beddington garage held 53 buses, and ran a number of London Buses routes. It was originally opened by Mitcham Belle; the yard was taken over in 2004 by Central Parking Systems under the Centra name following poor performance and a history of poor public relations. A huge overhaul of buses and other issues was undertaken by Centra; however, despite trying its hardest, it was unable to improve the reliability issues. Some of the drivers that had been taken on from Mitcham Belle were notoriously bad. This led to the loss and subsequent early surrender of route 127 contract to Metrobus.