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| Founded | 1 December 1975 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Holt |
| Service area | Norfolk |
| Service type | Bus and coach services |
| Depots | |
| Website | www.sanderscoaches.com |
Sanders Coaches is a bus and coach operator based inHolt, Norfolk,England.[1] Its managing director is Charles Sanders.[2] As of September 2021, it has approximately 115 employees.[3]
Sanders Coaches was founded on 1 December 1975 by Norman J Sanders, following the retirement of Sanders' employer George Bennett. Sanders took over six vehicles from Bennett's Coaches.[4] Sons Paul and Charles later joined the company.[5]
Initially a coach operator, Sanders was encouraged by the local authority to begin operating local bus services whenderegulation occurred in 1986. Its first route ran fromSheringham to Holt.[5]
On 1 March 1992, Sanders bought Bammant's Coaches inFakenham as its owner was ready to retire.[6] The addition of Bammants' 15 vehicles made it the largest coach operator in Norfolk with 62 vehicles.[7]
In 2019, Sanders closed its Fakenham depot, merging its operations with its depot in Holt.[8]
In May 2020, Sanders Coaches was given permission to expand its depot in Holt.[1] In 2024, Sanders bought a formerSheffield Insulations warehouse on Bessemer Road in SouthNorwich, for use as a new depot.[9]
Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk.[10]
WhenStagecoach in Norfolk ceased operations in April 2018, Sanders took over the eastern section of itsCoasthopper route, betweenWells-next-the-Sea andCromer, which Sanders extended toNorth Walsham. At Wells, it connects withLynx'sCoastliner which goes toHunstanton andKing's Lynn.[11] In 2021 and 2022, six newMCV Evora-bodiedVolvo B8RLEs were bought for the service.[12] Chris Haslam ofThe Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain."[13][14]
In 2021, the firm introduced the number 8Holt Hopper service, a local service operating within Holt, funded bysection 106 contributions from local housing estates.[2] This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.
As of 2023, Sanders has a fleet of 85, a mixture of buses and coaches, a majority of which haveVolvo chassis.[15]
In May 2021, the firm purchased a newPlaxton Panther coach.[16] In 2022, the firm increased its fleet ofVolvo B8RLE buses to ten.[17]
Sanders also has threeYutong TC9 midi coaches, including the firstPSVAR compliant example.[18]
