| Sanders Coaches | |
| Founded: | 1 December 1975 |
| Headquarters: | Holt |
| Service Area: | Norfolk |
| Service Type: | Bus and coach services |
| Website: | www.sanderscoaches.com |
Sanders Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in Holt, 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 when deregulation occurred in 1986. Its first route ran from Sheringham to Holt.[5]
On 1 March 1992, Sanders bought Bammant's Coaches in Fakenham 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. In 2024, Sanders bought a former Sheffield Insulations warehouse on Bessemer Road in South Norwich, for use as a new depot.[9]
Sanders operates the majority of bus services in North Norfolk.[10]
When Stagecoach in Norfolk ceased operations in April 2018, Sanders took over the eastern section of its Coasthopper route, between Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, which Sanders extended to North Walsham. At Wells, it connects with Lynx's Coastliner which goes to Hunstanton and King's Lynn.[11] In 2021 and 2022, six new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLEs were bought for the service.[12] Chris Haslam of The Sunday Times named the Coasthopper and Coastliner "the two best buses in Britain."[13] [14]
In 2021, the firm introduced the number 8 Holt Hopper service, a local service operating within Holt, funded by section 106 contributions from local housing estates. This route was withdrawn on 2 September 2023, due to low patronage.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 have Volvo chassis.[15]
In May 2021, the firm purchased a new Plaxton Panther coach.[16] In 2022, the firm increased its fleet of Volvo B8RLE buses to ten.[17]
Sanders also has three Yutong TC9 midi coaches, including the first PSVAR compliant example.[18]