Kings Ferry/The Kings Ferry

Sunday 1 September 2019 (1016) – A Kings Ferry Mercedes-Benz Tourismo seen heading eastbound on the A11/A14 just east of Newmarket. Possibly one of the batch of six delivered in July 2018 with the BU18 registration series.

Saturday 26 May 1990 – Not a common sight was this to see two Berkhof Eclipse bodied Scania K112TRS double decker coaches of different operators parked side by side in a destination coach park. They had brought parties to the Air Fete at RAF Mildenhall. Left is Ebdon’s of Sidcup C591 KTW new in March 1986 Right is The Kings Ferry 709 LAU which I believe was new to Chartercoach of Great Oakley in August 1985 registered C276 GVX. The ‘LONDON’ and ‘MEDWAY TOWNS’ window signs give some indication of its weekday duties as a commuter service coach.

Saturday 28 May 1994 - The Kings Ferry 7.3 (L5 KFC), a Berkhof Excellence 3000HD bodied Scania K113TRA new in January 1994, seen at RAF Mildenhall.

Sunday 27 June 1993 – The Kings Ferry 4.7 (4011 LJ), a Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD seen heading eastbound down Chalk Hill on the A11 at Barton Mills.

Tuesday 11 June 1996 - The Kings Ferry 4.3 (H3 KFC), a Mercedes-Benz O 303 new in January 1991, seen at the National Exhibition Centre.

Saturday in October 1996 – The Kings Ferry 2.2 (M9 KFC), a Caetano Optimo bodied Toyota Coaster new in April 1995, seen in Bury St. Edmunds. The Kings Ferry business was formed in 1968 and takes its name from the Kingsferry Bridge that links the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent. In November 2007 the business was sold to the National Express Group although the name has been retained and the business expanded to cover various tourist related activities.

Tuesday 11 July 2006 – The Kings Ferry of Gillingham, Kent had a small base in the Cambridge area from where it operated a shuttle bus service for staff at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre just outside the city centre. The centre which closed in 2010 occupied the site of the former RAF Oakington World War 2 airfield and is now occupied by the Northstowe new town. The regular bus on the contract was YP52 CUU a Scania N94UB with, for British work, rather unusual Spanish built Castrosua CS-40 City bodywork. A unique bus new in January 2003 built as a prototype before Scania teamed up with East Lancs Coachbuilders to build the OmniTown smaller bus. It was seen at Parkside before going to the operate the shuttle from the Railway Station around 0845. On the right is Burton’s Coaches T104 KGV, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario.

Tuesday 11 July 2006 – The Kings Ferry of Gillingham, Kent had a small base in the Cambridge area from where it operated a shuttle bus service for staff at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre just outside the city centre. The centre which closed in 2010 occupied the site of the former RAF Oakington World War 2 airfield and is now occupied by the Northstowe new town. The regular bus on the contract was YP52 CUU a Scania N94UB with, for British work, rather unusual Spanish built Castrosua CS-40 City bodywork. A unique bus new in January 2003 built as a prototype before Scania teamed up with East Lancs Coachbuilders to build the OmniTown smaller bus. It was seen at Parkside before going to the operate the shuttle from the Railway Station around 0845. On the right is Burton’s Coaches T104 KGV, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario.

Saturday 27 May 2000 – Coaches at RAF Mildenhall attending the annual Air Fete. Left: John Cresswell of Stowmarket trading as John’s Tours JIL 2573, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Scania K112 that had been new to Irving’s Coaches of Carlisle in January 1985 registered B215 JHH. Right: King’s Ferry (Travel Rite) P894 FMO, a Berkhof Axial bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Q Drive, Battersea in May 1997.

Wednesday 29 Sept 2010 (1059) – National Express Limited C097 (A14 TKF) loading at Pool Valley, Brighton on the 025 service to London (Victoria). This unusual vehicle entered the National Express fleet when the business of the Kings Ferry was acquired in November 2007. It has a Hispano body mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 404 chassis.

Wednesday 29 Sept 2010 (1058) – National Express Limited C097 (A14 TKF) loading at Pool Valley, Brighton on the 025 service to London (Victoria). This unusual vehicle entered the National Express fleet when the business of the Kings Ferry was acquired in November 2007. It has a Hispano body mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 404 chassis.

Wednesday 29 Sept 2010 (1059) – National Express Limited C097 (A14 TKF) loading at Pool Valley, Brighton on the 025 service to London (Victoria). This unusual vehicle entered the National Express fleet when the business of the Kings Ferry was acquired in November 2007. It has a Hispano body mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 404 chassis.

Wednesday 29 Sept 2010 (1059) – National Express Limited C097 (A14 TKF) loading at Pool Valley, Brighton on the 025 service to London (Victoria). This unusual vehicle entered the National Express fleet when the business of the Kings Ferry was acquired in November 2007. It has a Hispano body mounted on Mercedes-Benz O 404 chassis.

Saturday 11 March 2017 (0926) – Victoria Coach Station, London which opened on 10 March 1932. A selection of coaches loading in bays 13 upwards that face north (towards Ebury Street). This area was open until the 1960s. Far left are two continental bound services, Flixbus on bay 13 (700 to Paris?) and Kings Ferry 425 (BT16KNC) (Eurolines 140 to Amsterdam). A 1974 photo taken from roughly the same spot makes an interesting comparison with this photo: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/44521286

Saturday 11 March 2017 (0927) – Two continental bound services on the loading stands at Victoria Coach Station, London. Left is a French registered VDL Futura of Flixbus on bay 13 loading as the 0930 service 700 to Paris (due there 1800*) (Registration number is either DZ 655 YO or DZ 655 YQ). Right is Kings Ferry 425 (BT16KNC), a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new in August 2015, on bay 14 loading as the 0930 Eurolines service 140 to Amsterdam (2145*) via Brussels (1730*), Rotterdam (2030*) and Den Haag (2100*). (*Local times on the continent which are 1 hour ahead of UK). On the extreme right is Luckett’s of Fareham BF63 ZTD working the 0930 National Express service 030 to Portsmouth (1125) and Fareham (1145). Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante new Jan 2014

Thursday 5 July 2018 (1036) – At Birchanger Service Area near Stansted Airport, front profiles of Enfieldian Coaches of Enfield YN18 SBV, a Scania Interlink new in March 2018 and Kings Ferry 6.22 (FJ61 EXG, a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B13R new in October 2011. Kings Ferry is part of the National Express Group.

Thursday 5 July 2018 (1034) – At Birchanger Service Area near Stansted Airport, Enfieldian Coaches of Enfield YN18 SBV, a Scania K410 Interlink new in March 2018 and Kings Ferry 6.22 (FJ61 EXG, a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B13R new in October 2011. Kings Ferry is part of the National Express Group.

Thursday 5 July 2018 (1034) – At Birchanger Service Area near Stansted Airport: Kings Ferry 6.22 (FJ61 EXG), a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B13R new in October 2011. (Kings Ferry is part of the National Express Group); Enfieldian Coaches of Enfield YN18 SBV, a Scania Interlink new in March 2018; and Reynolds Coaches of Caister, Norfolk GR16 REY, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new in June 2016.