Sanders Coaches

Bus operator based in Holt, England

Sanders Coaches

Founded| 1 December 1975
Headquarters| Holt
Service area| Norfolk
Service type| Bus and coach services
Depots|

* Holt
* North Walsham

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

[edit]

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]

On 1 March 1992, Sanders bought Bammant's Coaches in Fakenham as its owner was ready to retire.[6] The addition of Bammants' 15 vehicles made it the largest coach operator in Norfolk with 62 vehicles.[7]

In 2019, Sanders closed its Fakenham depot, merging its operations with its depot in Holt.[8]

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.[9]

## Routes

[edit]

Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk.[10]

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.[11] In 2021 and 2022, six new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLEs were bought for the service.[12] Chris Haslam of The Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain."[13][14]

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local service operating within Holt, funded by section 106 contributions from local housing estates.[2] This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.

Many improvements to local services have been made in recent years, in part due to bus service improvement plan funding from the UK government. These include increased frequencies on the X55 route between Norwich and North Walsham via Coltishall, the 54 Between Norwich and North Walsham Via Badersfield, the 43 between Norwich and Aylsham/ Reepham, and the X40/X41/X44/44A between Norwich and Sheringham via Cromer, among other improvements.

## Fleet

[edit]

As of 2023, Sanders has a fleet of 85, a mixture of buses and coaches, a majority of which have Volvo chassis.[15]

In May 2021, the firm purchased a new Plaxton Panther coach.[16] In 2022, the firm increased its fleet of Volvo B8RLE buses to ten.[17]

Sanders also has three Yutong TC9 midi coaches, including the first PSVAR compliant example.[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ a b Anderson, Stuart (17 September 2021). "Town's new hopper bus 'well received'". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
3. ^ Anderson, Stuart (14 September 2021). "'Being driven inland' - Bus drivers can't afford coast, says company boss". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
4. ^ "Obituary – Norman J Sanders". Coach & Bus Week. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
5. ^ a b Curtis, Martin (14 November 2023). "Sanders' Norfolk network". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
6. ^ "Sanders buy Bammants". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 150\. 10 April 1992. p. 4. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
7. ^ "Sanders now largest operator in Norfolk". Coach & Bus Week. No. 9\. 18 April 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
8. ^ Nicholson, Abigail (31 July 2019). "Nine homes could be built on a former bus depot in Fakenham". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
9. ^ "'OFF-MARKET' PROPERTY DEAL BRINGS SUCCESSFUL COACH COMPANY TO NORWICH". Newman Associates. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
10. ^ Jenkins, David (16 April 2020). "Contrasting fortunes". Buses Magazine. Key Publishing. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ "Two more Volvo B8RLE MCV Evoras for Sanders Coaches". routeone. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ Millar, Alan (11 June 2022). "Perfect publicity from mainstream media". www.keybuses.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
15. ^ "New Volvo double-deck buses advance standardisation for Sanders Coaches". www.volvobuses.com. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
16. ^ "Sanders Coaches takes an accessible Plaxton Panther". Route One. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
17. ^ "Sanders takes Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora fleet to 10". routeone. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
18. ^ Team, routeone (6 September 2022). "Sanders Coaches takes a PSVAR compliant Yutong TC9". routeone. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

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