Sanders Coaches
{{Short description|Bus operator based in Holt, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox bus company
|name = Sanders Coaches
|logo =
|image = Sanders Coaches YJ07JWK (9137653048).jpg
|image_caption =
|company_slogan =
|parent =
|founded = 1 December 1975
|headquarters = Holt
|locale =
|service_area = Norfolk
|service_type = Bus and coach services
| depots = {{flatlist|
}}
|destinations =
|fleet =
|ceo =
|website = [https://sanderscoaches.com/ www.sanderscoaches.com]}}
Sanders Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in Holt, Norfolk, England.{{cite web |last1=Bale |first1=David |title=Sanders Coaches allowed to use land near country park as parking area |url=https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/sanders-coaches-can-use-grassland-as-parking-area-1645736 |publisher=North Norfolk News |access-date=2021-09-20 |date=2020-05-21}} Its managing director is Charles Sanders.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Stuart |title=Town's new hopper bus 'well received' |url=https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/holt-hopper-bus-initial-reception-8334066 |publisher=North Norfolk News |access-date=2021-09-20 |date=2021-09-17}} As of September 2021, it has approximately 115 employees.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Stuart |title='Being driven inland' - Bus drivers can't afford coast, says company boss |url=https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/bus-driver-shortage-north-norfolk-8322196 |publisher=North Norfolk News |access-date=2021-09-20 |date=2021-09-14}}
History
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.{{cite web |title=Obituary – Norman J Sanders |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/obituary-norman-j-sanders/ |website=Coach & Bus Week |access-date=30 December 2021 |date=27 June 2016}} Sons Paul and Charles later joined the company.{{cite web |last1=Curtis |first1=Martin |title=Sanders' Norfolk network |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/sanders-norfolk-network/ |website=Coach & Bus Week |access-date=16 November 2023 |date=14 November 2023}}
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.
On 1 March 1992, Sanders bought Bammant's Coaches in Fakenham as its owner was ready to retire.{{cite news |title=Sanders buy Bammants |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=150 |date=10 April 1992 |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue150/page/n3/mode/2up |page=4}} The addition of Bammants' 15 vehicles made it the largest coach operator in Norfolk with 62 vehicles.{{cite news |title=Sanders now largest operator in Norfolk |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue9/page/6/mode/2up |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=Coach & Bus Week |issue=9 |date=18 April 1992 |page=6}}
In 2019, Sanders closed its Fakenham depot, merging its operations with its depot in Holt.{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Abigail |title=Nine homes could be built on a former bus depot in Fakenham |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/local-council/nine-homes-could-be-build-former-sanders-coach-depot-fakenham-1425096 |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Eastern Daily Press |date=31 July 2019 |language=en-UK}}
In May 2020, Sanders Coaches was given permission to expand its depot in Holt. In 2024, Sanders bought a former Sheffield Insulations warehouse on Bessemer Road in South Norwich, for use as a new depot.{{cite web |title='OFF-MARKET' PROPERTY DEAL BRINGS SUCCESSFUL COACH COMPANY TO NORWICH |url=https://www.newmanassociates.co.uk/news/latest-news/view/off-market-property-deal-brings-successful-coach-c |website=Newman Associates |access-date=5 May 2024 |date=22 April 2024}}
Routes
Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk.{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=David |title=Contrasting fortunes |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/contrasting-fortunes |website=Buses Magazine |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date=28 December 2022 |language=en |date=16 April 2020}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Bale |first1=David |title='Too many older people' with free bus passes threatens future of Coasthopper, says boss |url=https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/over-60s-threaten-coasthopper-in-north-norfolk-sanders-coaches-1628340 |publisher=North Norfolk News |access-date=2021-09-20 |date=2018-10-16}} In 2021 and 2022, six new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLEs were bought for the service.{{cite web |title=Two more Volvo B8RLE MCV Evoras for Sanders Coaches |url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/two-more-volvo-b8rle-mcv-evoras-for-sanders-coaches/ |website=routeone |access-date=17 May 2022 |date=30 April 2022}} Chris Haslam of The Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain."{{cite web |last1=Haslam |first1=Chris |title=Is the No 12 from Brighton to Eastbourne really the best bus route in the world? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/inspiration/is-the-no-12-from-brighton-to-eastbourne-really-the-best-bus-route-in-the-world-jmwbbzn9w |website=The Sunday Times |access-date=21 April 2023 |language=en |date=8 May 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Millar |first1=Alan |title=Perfect publicity from mainstream media |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/perfect-publicity-mainstream-media |website=www.keybuses.com |access-date=21 April 2023 |language=en |date=11 June 2022}}
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. This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.
Fleet
As of 2023, Sanders has a fleet of 85, a mixture of buses and coaches, a majority of which have Volvo chassis.{{cite web |title=New Volvo double-deck buses advance standardisation for Sanders Coaches |url=https://www.volvobuses.com/gb/news/2023/jun/new-volvo-double-deck-buses-advance-standardisation-for-sanders-.html |website=www.volvobuses.com |access-date=21 October 2023 |language=en |date=26 June 2023}}
In May 2021, the firm purchased a new Plaxton Panther coach.{{cite web |title=Sanders Coaches takes an accessible Plaxton Panther |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/sanders-coaches-takes-an-accessible-plaxton-panther/ |publisher=Route One |access-date=2021-09-20 |date=2021-05-24}} In 2022, the firm increased its fleet of Volvo B8RLE buses to ten.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-01-12 |title=Sanders takes Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora fleet to 10 |url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/sanders-takes-volvo-b8rle-mcv-evora-fleet-to-10/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=routeone |language=en-US}}
Sanders also has three Yutong TC9 midi coaches, including the first PSVAR compliant example.{{cite web |last1=Team |first1=routeone |title=Sanders Coaches takes a PSVAR compliant Yutong TC9 |url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/sanders-coaches-takes-a-psvar-compliant-yutong-tc9/ |website=routeone |access-date=21 October 2023 |date=6 September 2022}}
References
{{Bus companies in the East of England|state=collapsed}}
Category:Bus operators in Norfolk