Minerva Accord
Encyclopedia
Uni-link
Uni-link is the brand for bus services run under contract for the University of Southampton in Southampton, Hampshire, England, by existing bus companies...
bus services under contract to the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
. It also provided the City-link service in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, under a separate contract.
It was founded as Minerva Accord in 1999 to provide highways maintenance in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, later becoming part of Accord plc. On 21 September 2007, Accord Plc became part of the Enterprise Plc
Enterprise Plc
Enterprise plc is a support services company based in Farington in Lancashire, England. Its core markets are local authorities and utility sectors.-History:...
group, causing the name changed for the bus company from Minerva Accord to Enterprise.
It was known for its quality of service, however in September 2008, the Uni-link contract passed to Solent Blue Line
Solent Blue Line
Solent Blue Line Ltd formerly Musterphantom Ltd is a bus company which operates buses in Hampshire, England under the names Bluestar and Uni-link. The company was taken over along with its parent, Southern Vectis in 2005 by The Go-Ahead Group. From 25 February 2008, all previous Solent Blue Line...
, who won the contract. Although the City-link contract was separate and due to last until 2010, Enterprise surrendered it when the Uni-link contract ended, with Bluestar
Bluestar (bus company)
Bluestar is a trading name of Solent Blue Line Ltd. Based in Eastleigh, the company operates bus routes in Hampshire that previously traded under the Solent Blue Line name. Blue Line was started by bus company Southern Vectis as it sought to expand from the Isle of Wight in 1987...
taking over.