DAVID JENKINS looks back 10 years to Stagecoach’s acquisition of the town’s arms length municipal company and its principal rival, and assesses how things have developed in this East Sussex town

Stagecoach in Terminus Road, Eastbourne last summer. Alexander Dennis Enviro200 36905 (GN13 HHW) is on service 1X to Hailsham, with Enviro400 MMC-bodied Scania N250UD 15328 (YN67 YLA) behind on service 1. MARK LYONS
Stagecoach has a bit of a reputation when it comes to municipal operators. Ever since it ran free buses in Darlington, an action that accelerated the demise of the town’s council-owned bus service, the competition authorities have kept a close eye on the group’s activities.