De Lijn contractor - Gruson Autobus 357134 (138 P3) in Poperinge - 29 Apr 2000

Saturday 29 April 2000 - Gruson Autobus 357134 (138 P 3), a Jonckheere Transit bodied Volvo B10B new in December 1995, standing in Grote Markt, Poperinge having arrived on De Lijn service 69B from Ieper.
Gruson Autobus works a number of contracts on behalf of De Lijn, the national bus and tramway company of northern Belgium.

De Lijn (Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij De Lijn) was created in 1991 from the northern part of NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen). The company operates its own large bus and tram fleet which carry four digit fleet numbers but the buses operated by contractors carry six digit fleet numbers – the first four digits relate to the De Lijn contract number with the final two digits are the operators own fleet number.

For our numerous regular visits to Poperinge we always stayed at the Hotel Amfora which stands in the right background.