Eastbourne Buses
Encyclopedia
Eastbourne Buses was a bus
operator running within the Borough of Eastbourne
and into the surrounding area, including Pevensey
, Hailsham
, Tunbridge Wells
, Uckfield
and East Grinstead
, with a fleet of around 50 vehicles. Eastbourne Buses was sold to the Stagecoach Group
in November 2008 for a reported £4 Million, beating Go-Ahead
to the ownership.
and Old Town.
In 2007, the company was fined over £25,000 for two accidents involving employees, one of which was fatal.
At the beginning of 2008, the traffic commissioner fined the company for failing to run services on time.
June 2008 reports had announced Eastbourne Council's intention to sell its majority shareholding in the company.
or Stagecoach Group
. The employees' trade union, Unite
, wrote to Eastbourne
Borough Council to ask the Council to sell to the Go-Ahead Group, because of work conditions and a superior fleet.
On 25 November 2008, it was announced that Stagecoach was the preferred bidder. A few days later, it was announced in local press that the takeover had cost £4 million.
It is not the first time Stagecoach have run services in Eastbourne. They had run services until late in 2000 before they were withdrawn. They still operate services to Hastings
and Bexhill
from Eastbourne.
The sale has caused considerable controversy, with MPs criticising the secrecy surrounding the sale and blaming each others' parties for the state the Eastbourne Buses got into, the Liberal Democrats claiming the Conservatives "failed to support Eastbourne Buses".
There has also been criticism of the low sale price for the company - revealed at £3.7 million, lower than the original report of 4 - and criticism of Stagecoach, one MP saying that the company has effectively been "given away for nothing" However, it was revealed that Go-Ahead had bid much lower at £2.85 million, so the council was forced to sell to Stagecoach, despite the union's calls.
In April 2007 the company nearly had to close as it was unable to pay for fuel. At that stage it was inevitable that the company would soon have to be sold.
In January 2009, rival company Cavendish Motor Services was also bought by the Stagecoach Group, making both companies one. Because of this, each company now accepts the other's tickets.
The Eastbourne Buses name was discontinued on 8 March 2009, with operations rebranded as Stagecoach in Eastbourne
, which is now under the East Sussex operations of Stagecoach UK Bus.
On the 8th March 2009 major service changes took effect in the Eastbourne area along with Cavendish Motor Services
. It included the withdrawal/part-withdrawal of routes 1C, 2, 5, 6/6A, 52 & 54. In addition there are now new services: 252 (replacing route 52 between Heathfield
& Tunbridge Wells), 261 (replacing route 54 between Uckfield
& East Grinstead
) and replacing services 2, 6/6A & Cavendish's 8/8A will be a route called "The Loop". All services are now shown on the Stagecoach in Eastbourne
page.
The Eastbourne bus fleet comprised a number of different vehicle types, of both older and new vehicles
12 new vehicles joined the fleet in January 2009 as part of the Stagecoach takeover. The majority are Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts.
Fleet before takeover:
Single decker
Double decker
.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
operator running within the Borough of Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
and into the surrounding area, including Pevensey
Pevensey
Pevensey is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne, one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of the parish.-Geography:The village of Pevensey is located on...
, Hailsham
Hailsham
Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture...
, Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
, Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
and East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
, with a fleet of around 50 vehicles. Eastbourne Buses was sold to the Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
in November 2008 for a reported £4 Million, beating Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead may refer to:*Go-Ahead Group, British transport operator*Go Ahead Eagles, Dutch football club*"Go Ahead", a single from Rilo Kiley's album Take-Offs and Landings...
to the ownership.
History
Formed in April 1903, Eastbourne Buses claimed to be the first and oldest municipally owned motor bus operator in the world; the first bus service operated between Eastbourne railway stationEastbourne railway station
Eastbourne railway station serves Eastbourne in East Sussex, England. It is on the East Coastway Line, and train services are provided by Southern. It is one of two railway stations in the town, the other being Hampden Park Station...
and Old Town.
In 2007, the company was fined over £25,000 for two accidents involving employees, one of which was fatal.
At the beginning of 2008, the traffic commissioner fined the company for failing to run services on time.
June 2008 reports had announced Eastbourne Council's intention to sell its majority shareholding in the company.
Sale to Stagecoach
In early November 2008, local press reports had indicated that the company was to be sold by the end of the year to either the Go-Ahead GroupGo-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
or Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. The employees' trade union, Unite
Unite
- Labor unions :*Unite the Union, a British and Irish trade union, formed by the merger of Amicus and T&G*Unite Union, a trade union in New Zealand*Unite Union , a trade union in Australia...
, wrote to Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
Borough Council to ask the Council to sell to the Go-Ahead Group, because of work conditions and a superior fleet.
On 25 November 2008, it was announced that Stagecoach was the preferred bidder. A few days later, it was announced in local press that the takeover had cost £4 million.
It is not the first time Stagecoach have run services in Eastbourne. They had run services until late in 2000 before they were withdrawn. They still operate services to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
and Bexhill
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
from Eastbourne.
The sale has caused considerable controversy, with MPs criticising the secrecy surrounding the sale and blaming each others' parties for the state the Eastbourne Buses got into, the Liberal Democrats claiming the Conservatives "failed to support Eastbourne Buses".
There has also been criticism of the low sale price for the company - revealed at £3.7 million, lower than the original report of 4 - and criticism of Stagecoach, one MP saying that the company has effectively been "given away for nothing" However, it was revealed that Go-Ahead had bid much lower at £2.85 million, so the council was forced to sell to Stagecoach, despite the union's calls.
In April 2007 the company nearly had to close as it was unable to pay for fuel. At that stage it was inevitable that the company would soon have to be sold.
In January 2009, rival company Cavendish Motor Services was also bought by the Stagecoach Group, making both companies one. Because of this, each company now accepts the other's tickets.
The Eastbourne Buses name was discontinued on 8 March 2009, with operations rebranded as Stagecoach in Eastbourne
Stagecoach in Eastbourne
Stagecoach in Eastbourne is the name of the bus operator of bus services in the Eastbourne area after taking over Eastbourne Buses and Cavendish Motor Services.-History:...
, which is now under the East Sussex operations of Stagecoach UK Bus.
Routes
Eastbourne Buses operated a number of different service types, including local services around Eastbourne town, as well as long distance routes.On the 8th March 2009 major service changes took effect in the Eastbourne area along with Cavendish Motor Services
Cavendish Motor Services
Cavendish Motor Services was a bus operator running within the Borough of Eastbourne and the surrounding area such as Polegate and Hailsham. It was the sister company of Renown Coaches of Bexhill...
. It included the withdrawal/part-withdrawal of routes 1C, 2, 5, 6/6A, 52 & 54. In addition there are now new services: 252 (replacing route 52 between Heathfield
Heathfield, East Sussex
Heathfield is a small market town, and the principal settlement in the civil parish of Heathfield and Waldron in the Wealden District of East Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, England.-Location:...
& Tunbridge Wells), 261 (replacing route 54 between Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
& East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
) and replacing services 2, 6/6A & Cavendish's 8/8A will be a route called "The Loop". All services are now shown on the Stagecoach in Eastbourne
Stagecoach in Eastbourne
Stagecoach in Eastbourne is the name of the bus operator of bus services in the Eastbourne area after taking over Eastbourne Buses and Cavendish Motor Services.-History:...
page.
Town services
Eastbourne Buses ran 5 in town services.| Route | Between | And | Route Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1A/1C | Shinewater | Hamlands / Willingdon Trees | Via Langney, Seaside, Terminus Road, Old Town, 1 runs via Victoria Drive, Willingdon Roundabout, Lindfield Road and Willingdon Trees. 1A runs via District General Hospital, Lindfield Road and Willingdon Trees. 1C runs via Willingdon Roundabout and Huggets Lane. In the Evenings, Route 1A goes via ASDA and Route 1C goes via Beatty Road, All evening services via Friday Street and extend to The Hydneye. |
| 2 | Hampden Park Station (Shinewater) | Town Centre | Via Winkney Farm, Birch Road and Seaside. On Sundays, Route 2 extends to Shinewater and does not go to Hampden Park or Birch Road. |
| 3/3A | Meads | Town Centre | 3 Via Meads Street, Carlisle Road and Compton Street. 3A Terminates at Meads Street. |
| 5 | Stone Cross | North Harbour | Via Asda, Langney Point, Bridgemere, Terminus Road, District General Hospital, Sainsburys and Langney Langney Langney is a distinct part of Eastbourne, East Sussex and is on the eastern side of the popular seaside resort. The original village and priory have now been amalgamated with the main town of Eastbourne, and Langney was identified as a single self-contained polling ward within the borough of... |
| 6/6A | Langney | Willingdon Trees or Hampden Park Station | 6 Via The Martello, Beatty Road and 6A Via Priory Road, ASDA and the both routes via Seaside, District Hospital, Lindfield Road, Hazelwood Avenue (6) Maywood Avenue and Hampden Park Station (6A) |
Long distance services
There were 3 long distance services.| Route | Between | And | Route Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51/51A | Sovereign Harbour South or Town Centre | Hailsham Hailsham Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture... Union Corner |
Route 51 Via District Hospital, Farmlands, Polegate Polegate Polegate is a town and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is located five miles north of the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and is part of the greater area of that town. Although once a railway settlement, its importance as such has now waned with... High Street, Hailsham Hailsham Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture... Town Centre. Route 51A Via Beatty Road, Seaside, Bridgemere then as Route 51. |
| 52 | Town Centre | Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex... |
Via District General Hospital, Polegate Polegate Polegate is a town and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is located five miles north of the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and is part of the greater area of that town. Although once a railway settlement, its importance as such has now waned with... , Hailsham Hailsham Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture... , Horam Horam Horam is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, situated three miles south of Heathfield. Included in the parish are the settlements of Vines Cross and Burlow.-History:... , Heathfield Heathfield, East Sussex Heathfield is a small market town, and the principal settlement in the civil parish of Heathfield and Waldron in the Wealden District of East Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, England.-Location:... and Frant Frant -Demography:The population of Frant rose steadily from just under 1,100 in 1801 to a peak in 1891 of around 3,500. The records show a marked drop to 1,692 in 1901, but this is due to the transfer of the Broadwater Down parish to Tunbridge Wells that took place in 1894... . |
| 54 | Town Centre | East Grinstead East Grinstead East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester... |
Via Carew Road, District Hospital, Polegate Polegate Polegate is a town and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, United Kingdom. It is located five miles north of the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and is part of the greater area of that town. Although once a railway settlement, its importance as such has now waned with... High Street, Stone Cross, Hailsham Hailsham Hailsham is a civil parish and the largest of the five main towns in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the town of Hailsham has had a long history of industry and agriculture... Town Centre, Golden Cross Golden Cross Golden Cross may be:* Golden Cross, Oxford, a shopping arcade* Golden Cross, Shrewsbury, a public house* Golden Cross, Coventry, a public house* Golden Cross mine, New Zealand... , Halland Halland ' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , on the western coast of Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Scania and the sea of Kattegat.-Administration:... and Uckfield Uckfield -Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds... . |
School services
There were 2 school services.| Route | Between | And | Route Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Eastbourne Eastbourne Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head... Hospital |
Heathfield Heathfield, East Sussex Heathfield is a small market town, and the principal settlement in the civil parish of Heathfield and Waldron in the Wealden District of East Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, England.-Location:... Community College |
Via Polegate, Dittons, Hailsham, Hellingly, Horam, Maynards Green and Heathfield. |
| 501 | Shinewater | Ratton School | Via Langney Shopping Centre, Langney Point, Seaside, Town Centre and Kings Drive . |
Fleet
12 new vehicles joined the fleet in January 2009 as part of the Stagecoach takeover. The majority are Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts.
Fleet before takeover:
Single decker
- 3 Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall
- 3 Dennis Dart SLF/PlaxtonPlaxtonPlaxton is a builder of bus and coach vehicle bodies based in Scarborough, England.-History:The Plaxton of today is the successor to a business founded in Scarborough in 1907 by Frederick William Plaxton.-Beginnings:...
- 1 Dennis Dart SLF/CaetanoSalvador CaetanoGrupo Salvador Caetano, SGPS, SA is a Portuguese holding based in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal that controls some enterprises on vehicle assembly, components and distribution business....
- 8 DAF SB220DAF SB220The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
/IkarusIkarus BusIkarus is a bus manufacturer based in Budapest, Hungary. It was established in 1895 as Uhri Imre Kovács- és Kocsigyártó Üzeme .-History:... - 5 DAF SB220DAF SB220The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
/Northern Counties - 6 DAF SB120/Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
- 10 MAN 14.220/MCV Evolution
Double decker
- 2 Leyland OlympianLeyland OlympianThe Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
/Alexander - 1 DAF DB250/Northern Counties
- 6 DAF DB250/Optare SpectraOptare SpectraLaunched in 1991, the Optare Spectra is a double-decker bus body built on the DAF DB250 chassis.The vehicle was developed as a joint project between Optare and DAF; based on the designs of the successful MCW Metrobus which Optare had purchased, but they are no means a restlyed Metrobus...
- 4 DAF DB250/Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
Trivia
One of the company's buses featured in the 2008 film Angus, Thongs and Perfect SnoggingAngus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging is a 2008 British coming of age film film co-written and directed by Gurinder Chadha starring Georgia Groome. It is based on two teenage novels by Louise Rennison: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers...
.
See also
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
- Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach CompanyBrighton & Hove Bus and Coach CompanyBrighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company operates almost all bus services in the city of Brighton and Hove in southern England. The company was established in 1884 as Brighton, Hove and Preston United Omnibus Company and has been part of the Go-Ahead Group since 1993.The company currently operates a...
- Renown CoachesRenown CoachesRenown Coaches are based in Bexhill with a yard at Newhaven. They run bus services in East Sussex, Essex, Kent and into Hertfordshire. They also offer self drive car hire, coach hire and day trips by coach...
- Cavendish Motor ServicesCavendish Motor ServicesCavendish Motor Services was a bus operator running within the Borough of Eastbourne and the surrounding area such as Polegate and Hailsham. It was the sister company of Renown Coaches of Bexhill...
- Stagecoach in Hastings
- Stagecoach GroupStagecoach GroupStagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...