Following Sanders Coaches’ success at the UK Bus Awards, JAMES DAY speaks to Charles Sanders about his company’s standout BSIP-boosted X55 service, and the challenges facing a growing operator in rural Norfolk.
Holt-based Sanders Coaches can boast one of the best examples of Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding achieving long term benefits. Its X55 service, which was overhauled with the help of funding, has hugely impressive passenger growth.
It now carries more than 30% more passengers than pre-Covid, and could soon sustain itself with no financial support whatsoever.
The success of this route, along with the company’s approach to training and passenger information, drew the attention of the UK Bus Awards. It gave the company a much deserved Independent Operator of the Year award in 2023.
After handing the award to Managing Director Charles Sanders on stage myself, I was keen to speak with him to learn more.
Family business
Sanders Coaches was founded in 1975 by Norman Sanders, a former steam engineer. He worked in Stratford in London, and would take regular holidays to Norfolk. When the switch was made from steam to diesel, Norman began passing out at work. At the time, it was suspected th…
