Crawley Reds (Sussexbus)Sussexbus had sprung up following the demise of Countryliner in October 2012. Based in Haywards Heath it concentrated on the Sussex operations and adopted a red livery with www.sussexbus.com in white on the sides.
In September 2014 it started a new operation in Crawley, competing with Metrobus. There were four routes initially, and four buses, all 10.7m Dart SLFs. Two were new to the company, having previously been with Pennine Motor Services. The other two were from the Sussexbus fleet. All were in the company red livery, with prominent branding as "Crawley Reds". More signwriting offering cheaper fares soon followed. The original routes, on 30 minute headways were:
But the new services were largely ignored by the public, and the Crawley venture ceased in mid-February 2015. Bus historiesThese histories are incomplete. They are being assembled as I garner information from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been:
DP 4 X214 ONH 1/01 10.7m Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1YGW14745, Plaxton Pointer2, B39F 1/01 new to Central Parking, Heathrow 10/04 Centra 8/05 taken over by Flights Hallmark 10/05 rebranded Surrey Connect 1/06 returned to Dawson Rentals DP 27 6/06 acquired by Countryliner (Guildford) 2/08 Countryliner 5/09 in service, Countryliner DP27 9/11 Countryliner 10/12 Countryliner ceased operation 11/12 in service, Sussexbus 5/13 in service, Sussexbus 9/14 in service on CR1, Crawley Reds 2/15 Crawley Reds services withdrawn DPL1 X601 AHE 9/00 10.7m Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1XGW13366, Plaxton Pointer2 9910.7HLB1471, B39F 9/00 new to Connex Bus, Lewes: blue/white 9/00 at Showbus, Duxford acquired by RDH Services, Haywards Heath 8/02 in service, RDH by 3/06 returned to Dawson Rentals 3/06 hired by Countryliner (East Sussex): white DP 25 6/06 SF tranfer to Guildford 8/06 SF in service on 479, Epsom 9/07 in service on 254 (Hawkhurst-Tunbridge Wells): white 11/07 in service on 304 to Hastings 2/08 in service on 254: Countryliner livery 5/08 in service on 305 (Hawkhurst-Hastings): Countryliner livery 6/11 SF moved to Guildford: repainted 9/12 SF in service on 479 10/12 Countryliner ceased operation 10/12 repossessed by Dawson Rentals 10/12 at Ventura (Lingfield) 10/12 bought by SussexBus 9/13 in service, Sussexbus, Brighton: red 11/13 in service, Sussexbus, Brighton: red 3/14 in service, Sussexbus, Haywards Heath 12/14 in service on CR3, Crawley Reds 2/15 Crawley Reds services withdrawn KN52 NFM 2/03 Dennis Dart SLF SFD3CACR32GW86890, Alexander Pointer2 2062/10, B37F 2/03 new to Dawson Rentals for Clynnog & Trefor, Trefor, Gwynedd 8/04 on hire, Clynnog & Trefor, Trefor 2/07 on hire to Grant Palmer 2/07 in service on X42, Dunstable to Bedford: white 4/07 on hire to Kent Top Travel 4/07 in service on 208 to East Peckham: white 8/07 on hire to Grant Palmer 8/07 in service on X42, Dunstable to Bedford: white 8/09 on hire to Veolia, Abercynon: white 5/11 on hire to Burton's, Haverhill: white bought by Pennine Motor Services #D6 2/13 in service, Pennine: orange/black 3/13 in service, Pennine 5/13 in service, Pennine 5/14 in service, Pennine: Pennine ceased trading 6/14 sold to Ensign Bus, (Purfleet) bought by SussexBus 9/14 in service on CR1 to Bewbush 9/14 in service on CR3 to Gossops Green: Crawley Reds 11/14 in service on CR3 to Crawley Town Centre 12/14 in service on CR4 2/15 Crawley Reds services withdrawn KU52 RYG 9/02 10.7m Dennis Dart SLF SFD3CACR32GW16650, Plaxton Pointer2 2025/3, B37F 9/02 new to Dawson Rentals for Pete's Travel, West Midlands 3/05 Peoples Express: name change 3/06 Peoples Express ceases trading 2/10 at Dawson Rentals: white 10/10 Red Line, Barnsley, #8752: white 7/11 in service, Arriva North West #7904: white 9/11 in service, Arriva North West #7904, Liverpool bought by Pennine Motor Services #D8 3/13 in service, Pennine 9/13 in service, Pennine 11/13 in service, Pennine 5/14 in service, Pennine: Pennine ceased trading 6/14 sold to Ensign Bus, (Purfleet) bought by SussexBus 7/14 repainted red by Mardens 9/14 in service on CR4 to Ifield: Crawley Reds 11/14 in service on CR4 to Ifield 2/15 Crawley Reds services withdrawn Photographic ReferencesA key to the references can be found in the bibliography
KU52 RYG LBM170 p16 9/14 on CR1 to Crawley Bus Station via Broadfield Ian's Bus Stop Dart SLF index. EOS SLFs. histories. photo refs.
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