Stagecoach South East has marked 10 years since the return of its open-top bus service in Thanet, which it says has grown from a small operation into a popular attraction on the Kent coast.
The route returned in 2016 after many years away in a move that the operator says “brought back a much-loved part of Thanet’s transport heritage.” It initially operated between Ramsgate and Broadstairs, but over a decade has added Margate, Westgate, Birchington and Minnis Bay to the destinations served and now requires three vehicles.
Noting how open-top services first appeared in Thanet during 1959, Stagecoach brought together a Scania OmniCity double-decker currently utilised with an earlier example in a Bristol VRT with Willowbrook bodywork dating from 1978.
That preserved vehicle carries a period livery for the open-top service along with East Kent fleet names, one of the predecessors to today’s Stagecoach South East operation. It is thought to be one of only two surviving VRTs with uncommon Willowbrook body.
Stagecoach South East points to the open-top service’s important function in supporting the tourism economy in Thanet and how it gives visitors an accessible way to experience the area’s coastline, attractions, and seaside towns.
Adds Managing Director Joel Mitchell: “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating 10 years since the return of the Thanet open-top bus. The service has become a much-loved part of the local network and a fantastic way for customers to explore the coastline.
“We would like to thank all of our customers, past and present, for their continued support, as well as our drivers and colleagues who make the service possible and help to create memorable experiences for everyone travelling with us.”
Among those staff are driver Stuart Draper, who has worked the open-top service in season since it came back in 2016. He notes how some passengers return each year.
