It is 31 years since Stagecoach acquired Hampshire Bus from the National Bus Company in April 1987 to form the first part of today’s Stagecoach South covering a significantly wider area. DAVID JUKES has been finding out more about its current operations that are serving a growing population
Euro6-engined Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs introduced into Winchester in October 2015 wear The King’s City livery in corporate style. This is 37409 (YX65 PYB). MARK LYONS
Stagecoach South’s operations are centred on Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex, with incursions into Berkshire and Wiltshire.
The company is essentially an amalgam of various Stagecoach Group acquisitions – Hampshire Bus in April 1987 (less the Southampton area operations sold to Southern Vectis that October), Southdown Motor Services in August 1989 (less the East Sussex operations divided between Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach and Stagecoach South East by 2005), plus the Aldershot and Hindhead-based services of Q Drive’s Alder Valley in October 1992.
Its routes in Portsmouth’s are built on the assets of Portsmouth Citybus and Southdown that were not divested to Transit Holdings in January 1991 (and subsequently taken over by First).
It serves a di…
