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Sanders Coaches
Founded1 December 1975
HeadquartersHolt
Service areaNorfolk
Service typeBus and coach services
Depots
Websitewww.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

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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

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local service operating within Holt, funded by section 106 contributions from local housing estates.[2] This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.

Fleet

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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

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  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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