Eastleigh operator Xelabus will return a heritage member of its fleet to the streets of Southampton carrying passengers later this year to mark what the company says is 40 years since the bus last operated in service in the city.
The AEC Regent V with Neepsend bodywork was new to Southampton Corporation Transport in 1967. It was retired in 1981. It is one of a batch of 30 identical vehicles that used to operate services between Southampton city centre or the docks and Shirley, Aldermoor or Millbrook.
Xelabus Commercial Manager Philip Blair previously owned the bus personally and restored it over a period of time. It was then sold to Xelabus as the fleet’s historic bus.
Mr Blair describes the rear-entrance bus as “a superb vehicle that will evoke many memories of buses with a conductor.” Dates when the AEC Regent V will again carry passengers in Southampton will be announced on the Xelabus website from July.
