.jpg) | |
| Founded | 1 December 1975 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Holt |
| Service area | Norfolk |
| Service type | Bus and coach services |
| Depots | |
| Website | www.sanderscoaches.com |
Sanders Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in Holt, Norfolk, England. [1] Its managing director is Charles Sanders. [2] As of September 2021, it has approximately 115 employees. [3]
History
Sanders Coaches was founded on 1 December 1975 by Norman J Sanders, following the retirement of Sanders' employer George Bennett. Sanders took over six vehicles from Bennett's Coaches. [4] Sons Paul and Charles later joined the company. [5]
Initially a coach operator, Sanders was encouraged by the local authority to begin operating local bus services when deregulation occurred in 1986. Its first route ran from Sheringham to Holt. [5]
In 2019, Sanders closed its Fakenham depot, merging its operations with its depot in Holt. [6]
In May 2020, Sanders Coaches was given permission to expand its depot in Holt. [1] In 2024, Sanders bought a former Sheffield Insulations warehouse on Bessemer Road in South Norwich, for use as a new depot. [7]
Routes
Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk. [8]
When Stagecoach in Norfolk ceased operations in April 2018, Sanders took over the eastern section of its Coasthopper route, between Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, which Sanders extended to North Walsham. At Wells, it connects with Lynx's Coastliner which goes to Hunstanton and King's Lynn. [9] In 2021 and 2022, six new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLEs were bought for the service. [10] Chris Haslam of The Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain." [11] [12]
In 2021, the firm introduced the number 8 Holt Hopper service, a local service operating within Holt, funded by section 106 contributions from local housing estates. [2] This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.
Fleet
As of 2023, Sanders has a fleet of 85, a mixture of buses and coaches, a majority of which have Volvo chassis. [13]
In May 2021, the firm purchased a new Plaxton Panther coach. [14] In 2022, the firm increased its fleet of Volvo B8RLE buses to ten. [15]
Sanders also has three Yutong TC9 midi coaches, including the first PSVAR compliant example. [16]
References
- ^ a b Bale, David (21 May 2020). "Sanders Coaches allowed to use land near country park as parking area". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b Anderson, Stuart (17 September 2021). "Town's new hopper bus 'well received'". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Stuart (14 September 2021). "'Being driven inland' - Bus drivers can't afford coast, says company boss". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Obituary – Norman J Sanders". Coach & Bus Week. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b Curtis, Martin (14 November 2023). "Sanders' Norfolk network". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, Abigail (31 July 2019). "Nine homes could be built on a former bus depot in Fakenham". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "'OFF-MARKET' PROPERTY DEAL BRINGS SUCCESSFUL COACH COMPANY TO NORWICH". Newman Associates. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, David (16 April 2020). "Contrasting fortunes". Buses Magazine. Key Publishing. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Bale, David (16 October 2018). "'Too many older people' with free bus passes threatens future of Coasthopper, says boss". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Two more Volvo B8RLE MCV Evoras for Sanders Coaches". routeone. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Haslam, Chris (8 May 2022). "Is the No 12 from Brighton to Eastbourne really the best bus route in the world?". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Millar, Alan (11 June 2022). "Perfect publicity from mainstream media". www.keybuses.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "New Volvo double-deck buses advance standardisation for Sanders Coaches". www.volvobuses.com. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Sanders Coaches takes an accessible Plaxton Panther". Route One. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Sanders takes Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora fleet to 10". routeone. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Team, routeone (6 September 2022). "Sanders Coaches takes a PSVAR compliant Yutong TC9". routeone. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
Bus operators in the
East of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire |  | |
| Cambridgeshire | ||
| Essex | ||
| Hertfordshire | ||
| Norfolk | ||
| Suffolk | ||
| National | ||
|
| |
| Founded | 1 December 1975 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Holt |
| Service area | Norfolk |
| Service type | Bus and coach services |
| Depots | |
| Website | www.sanderscoaches.com |
Sanders Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in Holt, Norfolk, England. [1] Its managing director is Charles Sanders. [2] As of September 2021, it has approximately 115 employees. [3]
History
Sanders Coaches was founded on 1 December 1975 by Norman J Sanders, following the retirement of Sanders' employer George Bennett. Sanders took over six vehicles from Bennett's Coaches. [4] Sons Paul and Charles later joined the company. [5]
Initially a coach operator, Sanders was encouraged by the local authority to begin operating local bus services when deregulation occurred in 1986. Its first route ran from Sheringham to Holt. [5]
In 2019, Sanders closed its Fakenham depot, merging its operations with its depot in Holt. [6]
In May 2020, Sanders Coaches was given permission to expand its depot in Holt. [1] In 2024, Sanders bought a former Sheffield Insulations warehouse on Bessemer Road in South Norwich, for use as a new depot. [7]
Routes
Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk. [8]
When Stagecoach in Norfolk ceased operations in April 2018, Sanders took over the eastern section of its Coasthopper route, between Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, which Sanders extended to North Walsham. At Wells, it connects with Lynx's Coastliner which goes to Hunstanton and King's Lynn. [9] In 2021 and 2022, six new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLEs were bought for the service. [10] Chris Haslam of The Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain." [11] [12]
In 2021, the firm introduced the number 8 Holt Hopper service, a local service operating within Holt, funded by section 106 contributions from local housing estates. [2] This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.
Fleet
As of 2023, Sanders has a fleet of 85, a mixture of buses and coaches, a majority of which have Volvo chassis. [13]
In May 2021, the firm purchased a new Plaxton Panther coach. [14] In 2022, the firm increased its fleet of Volvo B8RLE buses to ten. [15]
Sanders also has three Yutong TC9 midi coaches, including the first PSVAR compliant example. [16]
References
- ^ a b Bale, David (21 May 2020). "Sanders Coaches allowed to use land near country park as parking area". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b Anderson, Stuart (17 September 2021). "Town's new hopper bus 'well received'". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Stuart (14 September 2021). "'Being driven inland' - Bus drivers can't afford coast, says company boss". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Obituary – Norman J Sanders". Coach & Bus Week. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b Curtis, Martin (14 November 2023). "Sanders' Norfolk network". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Nicholson, Abigail (31 July 2019). "Nine homes could be built on a former bus depot in Fakenham". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "'OFF-MARKET' PROPERTY DEAL BRINGS SUCCESSFUL COACH COMPANY TO NORWICH". Newman Associates. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, David (16 April 2020). "Contrasting fortunes". Buses Magazine. Key Publishing. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Bale, David (16 October 2018). "'Too many older people' with free bus passes threatens future of Coasthopper, says boss". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Two more Volvo B8RLE MCV Evoras for Sanders Coaches". routeone. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Haslam, Chris (8 May 2022). "Is the No 12 from Brighton to Eastbourne really the best bus route in the world?". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Millar, Alan (11 June 2022). "Perfect publicity from mainstream media". www.keybuses.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "New Volvo double-deck buses advance standardisation for Sanders Coaches". www.volvobuses.com. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Sanders Coaches takes an accessible Plaxton Panther". Route One. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Sanders takes Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora fleet to 10". routeone. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Team, routeone (6 September 2022). "Sanders Coaches takes a PSVAR compliant Yutong TC9". routeone. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
Bus operators in the
East of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | | |
| Cambridgeshire | ||
| Essex | ||
| Hertfordshire | ||
| Norfolk | ||
| Suffolk | ||
| National | ||