Stagecoach South East

Friday 6 July 2018 (0809) – Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells. Stagecoach South East 15770 (GN61 EVT), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in January 2012, operating service 252 seen passing Hams Travel of Flimwell, East Sussex N60 HAM operating service U19 to Wadhurst and Uplands Community College. Alexander ALX400 bodywork.

Friday 6 July 2018 (0809) – Stagecoach South East 15770 (GN61 EVT), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in January 2012, seen in Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells operating service 252. The rather grand Classical style building behind the bus is a former Congregational Church and Lecture Hall built in the mid 1800s. In 1980 it was bought by Cotswold Outdoor for use as their local branch - a rather grand shop indeed!

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Left: Stagecoach South 10945 (SN18 KNJ), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC new in April 2018 wearing a livery to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Right: Whippet Coaches FX23 (BL17 XBB) is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K410 new in June 2017 that was originally used on National Express service work. Now carrying Flixbus livery.

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Stagecoach South East 15270 (YN16 WVK), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC bodied Scania N250UD new in March 2016 wearing a livery to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Friday 30 June 1995 (approx. 1120) – The Stagecoach Group had acquired the East Kent Road Car Company in the Summer of 1993 and at the time of this visit buses could be seen in both the Stagecoach striped corporate scheme as well as in the deep red and cream privatised era livery which would eventually disappear. These two buses seen in the grounds of the University of Kent near Canterbury carried the latter livery. Facing the camera is 7782 (F782 KKP), an Alexander RH bodied Scania N113DRB new in July 1989, working circular service 605. In the background is Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR 7685 (SKL 685X) new in October 1981 working circular service 607. Services 604, 605, 606 and 607 served the University by performing a double run into the University grounds from and to Whitstable Road turning at this roundabout near what is now The Venue. They were quite lengthy circular services running from Canterbury to Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sturry and back to Canterbury with a complete circuit taking 1 hour 45 minutes. Services 604/605 worked clockwise and 606/607 worked anti-clockwise. The difference between services 604 and 605 and the difference between services 606 and 607 was a local route variation between Herne Bay and Herne.

Friday 30 June 1995 (approx. 1120) – The Stagecoach Group had acquired the East Kent Road Car Company in the Summer of 1993 and at the time of this visit buses could be seen in both the Stagecoach striped corporate scheme as well as in the deep red and cream privatised era livery which would eventually disappear. 7782 (F782 KKP), an Alexander RH bodied Scania N113DRB new in July 1989, was seen in the grounds of the University of Kent near Canterbury when working circular service 605. Services 604, 605, 606 and 607 served the University by performing a double run into the University grounds from and to Whitstable Road turning at this roundabout near what is now The Venue. The bus had travelled to the roundabout from where the photograph was taken and had now turned to head back towards Whitstable Road. The spot is barely recognisable today the roundabout having gone and new buildings surrounding the revised road layout. They were quite lengthy circular services running from Canterbury to Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sturry and back to Canterbury with a complete circuit taking 1 hour 45 minutes. Services 604/605 worked clockwise and 606/607 worked anti-clockwise. The difference between services 604 and 605 and the difference between services 606 and 607 was a local route variation between Herne Bay and Herne.

Friday 30 June 1995 (approx. 1120) – The Stagecoach Group had acquired East Kent in the Summer of 1993 and at the time of this visit buses could be seen in both the Stagecoach striped corporate scheme as well as in the deep red and cream privatised era livery which would eventually disappear. Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR 7685 (SKL 685X) new in October 1981 was seen in the grounds of the University of Kent near Canterbury when working circular service 607. Services 604, 605, 606 and 607 served the University by performing a double run into the University grounds from and to Whitstable Road turning at a roundabout near what is now The Venue. They were quite lengthy circular services running from Canterbury to Whitstable, Herne Bay, Sturry and back to Canterbury with a complete circuit taking 1 hour 45 minutes. Services 604/605 worked clockwise and 606/607 worked anti-clockwise. The difference between services 604 and 605 and the difference between services 606 and 607 was a local route variation between Herne Bay and Herne.

Sunday 28 September 2003 - Stagecoach East Kent exhibited their 53010 (GU52 WTJ) at the ‘Showbus’ rally at Duxford. It is a Plaxton Paragon Expressliner bodied Volvo B12M that carried the new style National Express livery introduced earlier in 2003. At that time National Express also started to phase out their different liveries settling for the one basic style livery although there were still some different identifiers used like ‘Shuttle’ that replaced the ‘Express Shuttle’ livery. There was also ‘Airport’ that collectively replaced barnds like Jetlink, Flightlink etc. The James Bond style service number 007 was a genuine service number used on the service from Dover to London since the beginning of National Travel in the early 1970s.

Thursday 12 August 1999 – Stagecoach East Kent 8902 (S902 CCD) seen at Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal loading as the 1015 National Express ‘Express Shuttle’ service 020 to London (Victoria). It is a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B10M-62 new in October 1998.

Thursday 12 August 1999 – Stagecoach East Kent 8902 (S902 CCD) seen at Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal loading as the 1015 National Express ‘Express Shuttle’ service 020 to London (Victoria). It is a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B10M-62 new in October 1998.

Thursday 12 August 1999 – With part of Dover’s famous White Cliffs in the background, Stagecoach East Kent 8902 (S902 CCD) was seen at Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal loading as the 1015 National Express ‘Express Shuttle’ service 020 to London (Victoria). It is a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B10M-62 new in October 1998.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1156) – Arriva Kent Thameside buses in High Street, Colchester. Left is 6132 (LJ03 MHV), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new to Arriva London North East (fleet number VLW106) in March 2003. It carries the Network Colchester livery. Right is 4075 (SK15 GXV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in April 2015, which carries Park and Ride livery.

Friday 8 April 2015 (1027) – Arriva Network Colchester 6132 (LJ03 MHV), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new to Arriva London North East (fleet number VLW106) in March 2003. Seen in High Street, Colchester when operating service 8 from Highwoods to Monkwick. The building forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2015 (1027) – Arriva Network Colchester 6132 (LJ03 MHV), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new to Arriva London North East (fleet number VLW106) in March 2003. Seen in Colchester turning into High Street from North Hill when operating service 8 from Highwoods to Monkwick.

Friday 30 June 1995 – Stagecoach owned East Kent Road Car Co operated a small number of unusual Berkhof bodied Dennis Lance single deckers on a Canterbury Park and Ride service. 1406 (M406 OKM) was seen in St. George’s Street in front of the C&A store which is now occupied by Wilko. C&A is still very active in mainland Europe but withdrew from Britain around 2000/2001 once having stores in many British cities.

Saturday 11 March 2017 (1138) – Buckingham Palace Road, London. Wrightbus NBFL (New Routemaster) LT57 (LTZ1057) operated by London General (Go-Ahead Group) working service 11 (Fulham Broadway to Liverpool Street). Stagecoach East 53710 (AE10 JTX), a Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B9R, was waiting to turn right into Eccleston Street on its way to the Victoria Coach Station arrivals terminal in Eccleston Place. (Possibly working the 0805 National Express service 021 from Deal and Dover).

Friday 30 June 1995 – Stagecoach owned East Kent Road Car Co operated a small number of unusual Berkhof bodied Dennis Lance single deckers on a Canterbury Park and Ride service. 1406 (M406 OKM) was seen in St. George’s Street in front of the C&A store which is now occupied by Wilko. C&A is still very active in mainland Europe but withdrew from Britain around 2000/2001 once having stores in many British cities.

Wednesday 25 September 1974 - East Kent Road Car Company GJG 640D, a Park Royal bodied AEC Reliance new in March 1966, seen leaving Victoria Coach Station, London on National Travel service 002 to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.