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 Countryliner's MRM7 at the 2007 Cobham bus rally, in the full fleet livery. |
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| Founded | 1998 |
| Service area | West Sussex Kent Hampshire Surrey East Sussex |
| Service type | Bus |
| Routes | 72 |
| Web site | www.countryliner-coaches.co.uk |
Countryliner is a small independent bus and coach operator, based in Merrow, Surrey, England. It operates in Surrey and Sussex, running a number of bus and private hire coach services.
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The history of Countryliner can be traced back to 1911, with the formation of the The East Surrey Bus Company, which was based in Reigate, Surrey. This later became part of the London General Omnibus Company, known today as London Transport.
In 1933, Green Line operated coaches across the home counties and London. The success of a Guildford to Charing Cross route led to the opening of the bus depot in Guildford. Buses were suspended from normal operation during World War II , but afterwards, Green Line carried on operating from Reigate. The company was involved in the Festival of Britain in 1951. 1970 brought nationalisation, and Green Line lost its link to London Transport, to become part of London Country Bus Services Ltd, which was a subsidiary of the National Bus Company. In 1987, the south west region of London Country became known as London Country South West and sold to Drawlane Group, which later became British Bus. These later came under the ownership of Arriva.
Green Line's private hire department was renamed Countryliner in 1992, and in 1996 London & Country, bought Blue Saloon Coaches of Guildford, a large bus and coach operator in the area. That company was sold off as "Countryliner Coach Hire Ltd" in 1998.
In 2001, the company started bus operations and now operate bus, contract hire and private coach hire. A new livery was adopted with a cream or white body, with a lime green skirt. Originally, buses were cream and coaches white, but most vehicles are now white.
The fleet was renewed between 2001 and 2006, with low-floor Dennis Darts making up the bus fleet and a mixture of Mercedes Benz and Volvo making up the coach fleet.
Countryliner Sussex Ltd was formed in 2006 to take over the bus operation of RDH Services of Ditchling Common, in West Sussex. It operated in Lewes, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.
In the same year, Countryliner Buses Ltd was formed, which took over the Hickstead operation of Compass Bus, also operating in the Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath area, and through to Brighton. At this time, the Countryliner group of companies operated around 80 vehicles through Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex.
In 2008, Countryliner took over the operation of the Petersfield Town Services on behalf of Hampshire County Council, thus extending the operating area into the heart of Hampshire. In addition to this, more contracts were awarded to operate between Petersfield and Chichester and Midhurst on behalf of West Sussex County Council.[1]
Countryliner's routes include:
Guildford - Boxgrove - Merrow Wood Circular
Sandhurst - Benenden - Maidstone
Haywards Heath - Lindfield Circular
Bolnore - Haywards Heath - Newick - Uckfield
Hurstpierpoint - Burgess Hill - Haywards Heath
Burgess Hill Town Service (East Side)
Burgess Hill Town Service (West Side)
Cuckfield - Haywards Heath - Burgess Hill - Brighton
Haywards Heath Princess Royal Hospital - Brighton Royal Sussex County Hospital
Burgess Hill - Ditchling Circular
Woking - Knaphill - Deepcut - Farnborough
Petersfield-Funtington - Chichester
Chichester Arundel Park Road - Chichester West Street-Orchard Street School
Woking - Old Woking Circular
Woking - Maybury Estate Circular
Petersfield Town Service via Penns Place and Moggs Mead
Petersfield Local Service via Buriton, Petersfield and Steep
Lewes - Newick(-Sheffield Park on Saturdays and Uckfield on schooldays)
Lewes Town Circular via Landport Estate (and Barcombe on Saturdays)
Lewes Town Circular via Nevill Estate
Kingston near Lewes - Brighton (Shopper service)
Lewes - Plumpton - Haywards Heath
Alton - Long Sutton - Basingstoke
Town Row - Rotherfield - Crowborough
Crowborough Town Service
Crowborough Cross - Alderbrook Estate
Uckfield Town Service
Broad Oak/Hawkhurst - Wadhurst - Tunbridge Wells
Benenden - Hawkhurst - Lamberhurst - Tunbridge Wells
Wadhurst - Tunbridge Wells Community College
Kilndown - Horsmonden - Laddingford - Maidstone
Tonbridge - Pembury - Tunbridge Wells
Hawkhurst Moor - Sandhurst - Tenterden
Tunbridge Wells - Lamberhurst - Tenterden - Appledore - Rye (Shopper Bus)
Paddock Wood - Horsmonden - Pembury - Tunbridge Wells
Tonbridge - Lamberhurst - Hawkhurst - Tenterden
Guildford - The Horsleys - Leatherhead/Woodbridge
Guildford - Bookham - Leatherhead - Epsom
Hambledon - Godalming - Guildford
Beacon Hill - Haslemere - Grayswood
Northchapel - Haslemere - Shottermill
Walton on the Hill - Leatherhead
Ripley - Howard of Effingham School
Milford - Waverley Abbey School
Stanford Common - George Abbot School
Grange Park - George Abbot School
Lewes - Burgess Hill/Burgess Hill Town Service
Small Dole - Broadbridge Heath Tesco (Shopper Bus)
Capel - Broadbridge Heath Tesco (Shopper Bus)
Petworth - Broadbridge Heath Tesco (Shopper Bus)
Storrington - Broadbridge Heath Tesco (Shopper Bus)
Hurstpierpoint - Hollingbury ASDA (Shopper Bus)
There are more to come.
For more in depth information, please see: List of bus routes in East Sussex.
The fleet mainly comprises new and second-hand Dennis Darts with Plaxton Pointer bodywork, but two new Plaxton Primos and 4 MAN/MCV Evolution were added to the fleet in 2006. The coaching base is also here, most of which are Mercedes-Benz.[2] [3]
This fleet is more varied as it was taken over from RDH Services. It contains Optare Solos and Dennis Darts, as well as small amounts of other vehicle types.
   | Countryliner webite - countryliner-coaches, UK Surrey |
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