SM Coaches
Encyclopedia
S.M. Coaches is a bus and coach operating company based in Harlow
, Essex
in the United Kingdom. They mostly operate local services around Harlow, as well as school services and private hire. Olympian Coaches is also a part of the business, operating school services, private hire and commuter services into London. Many of their bus services operate in competition with Arriva
routes. Some of the bus services are operated under the trading name Roadrunner Coaches.
.
Olympian Coaches formed separately in 1998. Olympian bought the Stort Valley Coaches business (also trading as LocalLink) which included the London commuter services.
S.M. Coaches and Olympian Coaches are legally separate companies. In 2008, the two companies became quite close and now all bus services are registered under S.M. Coaches, which includes the former Olympian bus routes. The only services operating under the Olympian Coaches name are the London commuter services, private hire work and many school services.
In March 2009, whilst carrying 47 school children on the A414
, one of the company's coaches caught fire. The fire destroyed the vehicle, but there were no injuries.
, Epping
, Ongar
and Hertford
. Many school services also operate, which are not all listed here.
There are also many other school services which have been operated by SM Coaches and Olympian Coaches.
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in the United Kingdom. They mostly operate local services around Harlow, as well as school services and private hire. Olympian Coaches is also a part of the business, operating school services, private hire and commuter services into London. Many of their bus services operate in competition with Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
routes. Some of the bus services are operated under the trading name Roadrunner Coaches.
History
S.M. Coaches started off as a post regulation company S.M. Travel. Their first route was route T15 which was a peak hour Essex County Council contract between Potter Street and Templefields Industrial Area in Harlow. The route missed out Harlow town centre completely. The route eventually became a commercial operation with many route changes throughout the years. S.M. Coaches have certainly grown over the years, with many routes competing with Harlow's main bus company, ArrivaArriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
.
Olympian Coaches formed separately in 1998. Olympian bought the Stort Valley Coaches business (also trading as LocalLink) which included the London commuter services.
S.M. Coaches and Olympian Coaches are legally separate companies. In 2008, the two companies became quite close and now all bus services are registered under S.M. Coaches, which includes the former Olympian bus routes. The only services operating under the Olympian Coaches name are the London commuter services, private hire work and many school services.
In March 2009, whilst carrying 47 school children on the A414
A414 road
The A414 is a major road in England. It runs from the A41 at a junction west of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, through the town to junction 8 of the M1 motorway at Buncefield, and running parallel to the M1 until junction 7, heading south of St Albans, east through Hatfield, Hertford, then...
, one of the company's coaches caught fire. The fire destroyed the vehicle, but there were no injuries.
S.M. Coaches
S.M. Coaches mostly operates local bus services in Harlow, but some routes enter other towns, such as Bishops Stortford, SawbridgeworthSawbridgeworth
Sawbridgeworth is a small, mainly residential, town and also a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.- Location :Sawbridgeworth is four miles south of Bishop's Stortford, twelve miles east of Hertford and nine miles north of Epping. It lies on the A1184 and has a railway station that links to...
, Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, Ongar
Ongar
Ongar can refer toin England*High Ongar, Essex*Chipping Ongar, Essex **Ongar , an ancient administrative unit**Ongar railway stationin Ireland*Ongar, Dublinin Pakistan...
and Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
. Many school services also operate, which are not all listed here.
| Route number | Route | Via |
| 19 | Epping Station Epping tube station Epping on the London Underground is the north-eastern terminus of the Central Line. The station before Epping is Theydon Bois, which is about three minutes travelling time away. Epping station is in the Epping Forest District of Essex... to Harlow Bus Station Harlow Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889... |
Potter Street, Brays Grove |
| 19A | Loughton Station Loughton tube station Loughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden... to Harlow Bus Station. |
Debden, Epping, Potter Street, Brays Grove |
| 20 | Ongar Two Brewers Chipping Ongar Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:... to Harlow Bus Station |
North Weald, Epping, Potter Street, Brays Grove |
| 21 | Warley Old Ford Warley, Essex Warley is a suburb of Brentwood in Essex. It is a particularly affluent part of Brentwood and is situated to the south of the town. It is notable for being home to the British headquarters of Ford Motor Company.... to Harlow Bus Station |
Brentwood, Ongar, Epping, Potter Street, Brays Grove |
| 323 | Broxbourne Station Broxbourne railway station Broxbourne railway station, opened in 1840, serves Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, England. It is on the West Anglia Main Line, and train services are provided by National Express East Anglia, who also manage the station.-History:... to Hoddesdon Essex Road Industrial Estate Hoddesdon Hoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th... |
Hoddesdon |
| 323A | Hoddesdon Clock Tower Hoddesdon Hoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th... to Harlow Bus Station |
Stanstead Abbots |
| 524 | Harlow Bus Station to Hertford Bus Station Hertford Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000... |
Stanstead Abbots, Ware |
| E18 | Harlow Bus Station to Bishops Stortford | Old Harlow, Sawbridgeworth |
| T15 | Harlow Potter Street to Harlow Bus Station | Brays Grove |
Roadrunner
Roadrunner operate a few public service routes, but many school routes are also operated mostly around Hertfordshire.| Route number | Route | Via |
| 1/31 | Harlow Bus Station to Sumners & Katherines | Staple Tye |
| 7/7A | Bishops Stortford Interchange to Stansted Airport | Elsenham Elsenham Elsenham is a small village in north west Essex in southern England. Its neighbouring towns include Bishop's Stortford, Saffron Walden, and Stansted Mountfitchet.-History:... |
| 255 | Cheshunt Brookfield Centre Cheshunt Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station... to Loughton tube station Loughton tube station Loughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden... |
Waltham Cross Waltham Cross Waltham Cross is the most southeasterly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is 12 miles from the City of London and immediately north of the M25 motorway, forming part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. Part of Waltham Cross is located within Greater London.-Geography:It is... , Waltham Abbey Waltham Abbey, Essex Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey... |
| 511/512 | Harlow Bus Station to Bishops Stortford | Old Harlow, Sawbridgeworth, Thorley Park |
Olympian Coaches
Olympian mainly operate commuter routes from Hertfordshire and Essex into central London, with many school contracts as well as private hire.| Route number | Route | Via |
| 741 741A 744 |
Bishop's Stortford to London Victoria Coach Station Victoria Coach Station Victoria Coach Station is the largest and most significant coach station in London. It serves long distance coach services and is also the departure point for many countryside coach tours originating from London. It should not be confused with the nearby Green Line Coach Station serving Green Line... |
Harlow Harlow Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889... |
Previous routes
- SM Coaches' first route was route T15, a peak hour Essex County Council contract between Potter Street and Templefields Industrial Area in Harlow which missed out Harlow town centre completely. The route eventually became a commercial operation with many route changes throughout the years, including extensions to Church Langley. It was renumbered the M15 in early 2006. Its last form was as a frequent service between Harlow Bus Station and Potter Street, with a M16 operating a peak hour service from Potter Street to Pinnacles industrial area. The M15 eventually became the SM19 in late 2009, as the SM19 followed the same route as the M15 between Potter Street and Harlow.
- Another early route was the 504. This was an Essex County Council contracted route that ran every 2 hours on Sundays, between Bishops Stortford and EppingEppingEpping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
via SawbridgeworthSawbridgeworthSawbridgeworth is a small, mainly residential, town and also a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.- Location :Sawbridgeworth is four miles south of Bishop's Stortford, twelve miles east of Hertford and nine miles north of Epping. It lies on the A1184 and has a railway station that links to...
and HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
. It began in 1989, only lasting a few more years.
- A strange route operated was the G34, which was a Monday to Saturday evening service with one return journey between HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and Welwyn Garden CityWelwyn Garden City-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
. It began on 26 October 1992, and lasted until about 2002.
- Route SM20 began on 20 January 1999 as a school service with one return journey between Katherines & Sumners and St. Marks School. From 3 September 2001, it became an all day service, operating every 15 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays between Sumners & Katherines to Harlow Bus Station via Staple Tye and Passmores, with some Monday to Friday peak hour journeys extending to Pinnacles and Templefields. It was withdrawn in August 2002.
- Route 600 was operated under Road Runner Coaches. It began on 21 February 2004 operating between Bishops Stortford and Lakeside shopping centreLakeside Shopping CentreThe Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London...
, via Sawbridgeworth, Harlow, and the M25 motorway. Two return journeys were operated on Saturdays only, and was of course aimed at shoppers. It lasted until 19 March 2007.
- Route M9 was operated under Road Runner Coaches, and ran between Harlow Bus Station and Church Langley via Templefields and Old HarlowOld HarlowOld Harlow is the historic part of the new town and district of Harlow, Essex in England.Old Harlow is situated in the North-East area of the town and is the oldest area of the town. Old Harlow pre-dates the first written record in the Domesday Book of 1086, so it not sure when the town first come...
. It was the only route which served Templefields outside of the rush hour. Like the 600, it ceased operations on 19 March 2007.
- After Buzz Co-operative ceased trading on 26 March 2003, SM Coaches took over the T6 route operating between Harlow Bus Station and The Stow. From 6 October 2003, the T6 was extend to Brays Grove, Potter Street and Church Langley Tesco. The route was withdrawn 4 March 2005.
- The T10 began on 10 March 2003 and ended on 24 December 2005. It operated between Church Langley and Harlow Town Station via Harlow Bus Station, on a similar route to the Arriva route 10.
- Route 5 was a very short lived route, operating along a previously unserved corridor of Edinburgh Way, between Harlow and Old Harlow in a similar fashion to old Roadrunner route M9. The 5 was introduced in Summer 2010 and withdrawn in October 2010.
- Routes 9/16 were peak hour services between Harlow Bus Station, Harlow Town railway station and the Pinnacles and Templefields industrial estates. The lasted as long as route 5, from Summer 2010 to October 2010.
- Route M2 was another short-lived route, operating between 16 August 2010 and 8 January 2011. It operated a short route between Harlow Town Centre and Staple Tye, partly in competition with Arriva routes 2/3.
- Route M4 began on 12 April 2010 in direct competition with Arriva route 4, between Harlow Town Centre and Latton Bush. It lasted until 8 January 2011.
- SM Coaches did operate a return peak-hour journey on Roadrunner's 392 (but only operating between HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and BroxbourneBroxbourneBroxbourne is a commuter town in the Broxbourne borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of 13,298 in 2001.It is located 17.1 miles north north-east of Charing Cross in London and about a mile north of Wormley and south of Hoddesdon...
, instead of the full journey to HoddesdonHoddesdonHoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th...
), as SM operate Hertfordshire CC route 323 which is in Broxbourne, so instead of having empty garage runs, SM decided to get rid of dead mileage by using the bus for an extra journey on the 392. This lasted from 16 August 2010 until 8 January 2011.
- Route R3 was an ambitious route started on 16 August 2010, operating in competition with Centrebus route C3 between HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
and Waltham CrossWaltham CrossWaltham Cross is the most southeasterly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is 12 miles from the City of London and immediately north of the M25 motorway, forming part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. Part of Waltham Cross is located within Greater London.-Geography:It is...
via HoddesdonHoddesdonHoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th...
and BroxbourneBroxbourneBroxbourne is a commuter town in the Broxbourne borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of 13,298 in 2001.It is located 17.1 miles north north-east of Charing Cross in London and about a mile north of Wormley and south of Hoddesdon...
. At first, it did well against Centrebus with a faster route and cheaper fares, but following more competition from Centrebus, the route was withdrawn from 31 January 2011.
- Roadrunner registered a route 351 from 13 December 2010, in competition with Hertfordshire County Council contract route 351, operated by Centrebus, between Bishops Stortford and HertfordHertfordHertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
. It seems Roadrunner pulled out of this idea quickly, and deregistered the route from 24 January 2011.
There are also many other school services which have been operated by SM Coaches and Olympian Coaches.
Buses
- 1 Irisbus Agora LineRenault AgoraThe Irisbus Agora was a low-floor bus designed and built by Renault from 1996 to 2002, date upon which it has been built by Irisbus, firstly a joint-venture with Fiat subsidiary Iveco from 1999, with Iveco engines...
- Bought new. SM Coaches livery. - 4 Irisbus Agora Line - Ex-Norsebus. SM Coaches livery.
- 1 Irisbus Agora Line - Ex-Mitchell's of Plean. SM Coaches livery.
- 6 Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2- Ex-ArmchairMetrolineMetroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
or Go-Ahead LondonGo-Ahead LondonGo-Ahead London is the trading name used collectively for the London bus operations of the Go-Ahead Group. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands...
. 4 are in SM Coaches livery, 2 in Roadrunner livery. - 2 DAF SB220DAF SB220The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
/Plaxton PrestigePlaxton PrestigeThe Plaxton Prestige is a low-floor single-deck bus body built by Plaxton at the Wigan factory of its Northern Counties subsidiary, and at its main Scarborough factory, during the latter half of the 1990s....
- Ex-Smiths/UK North/Renown. SM Coaches livery. - 3 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart - Bought new. SM Coaches livery.
- 3 IrisbusIrisbusIrisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999...
LoGo/Unvi - Bought new. SM Coaches livery. - 3 Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2 - Ex-Arriva. SM Coaches livery.
- 4 Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
- Ex-London UnitedLondon UnitedLondon United is basketball team from London, England, currently competing in English Basketball League Division 2. In 2006 they were elected into the professional British Basketball League to replace the London Towers as the sole representatives for the capital city...
. 3 in Roadrunner livery, 1 in Red livery. (withdrawn) - 2 Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (MPD) - Ex-Abellio London. Roadrunner livery.
- 1 Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 (MPD) - Ex-London CentralLondon CentralLondon Central is one of many operators of London Buses. It was established in late 1988 as one of 12 operating subsidiaries of London Buses Limited , and was privatised to the Go-Ahead Group in September 1994...
and Lea Valley Buses. In Roadrunner fleet. - 2 MAN 14.220/East Lancs MyllenniumEast Lancs MyllenniumThe East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:...
- Ex-Countywide TravelCountywide TravelFleet Buzz is the trading name of Countywide Travel, a bus operating company based in Crondall, Hampshire, England. The company was founded in 1995, and operates local bus services in North Hampshire and parts of Surrey and Berkshire.-History:...
. Roadrunner livery. - 4 Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
- 2 Ex-Merseypride (SM Coaches livery), 2 Ex-London Central (Roadrunner livery). - 6 Volvo B6Volvo B6The Volvo B6 is a midibus manufactured by Volvo between 1991 and 2000. Its low-floor variant, the Volvo B6LE, was first built in 1994.The Volvo B6/B6LE chassis was built to compete with the Dennis Dart/Dart SLF chassis. It could be fitted with Volvo TD63E/TD63ES engine...
/Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
- Ex StagecoachStagecoachA stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
and Lea Valley Buses. Roadrunner
Coaches
- 2 Volvo B10MVolvo B10MThe Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
/Plaxton PremierePlaxton PremiereThe Plaxton Premiere, Plaxton Excalibur and Plaxton Prima were closely related designs of coach bodywork built by Plaxton.The Premiere and Excalibur were introduced in 1991 as replacements for the Paramount. The Premiere was the mainstream design, available in the same two heights as its predecessor... - 2 Volvo B10M/Plaxton Excalibur
- 1 DAF SB3000/Van HoolVan HoolVan Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe...
- 1 Iveco EuroRider 35/Beulas
- 2 Bova Futura
- 1 DAF SB3000/Plaxton PremierePlaxton PremiereThe Plaxton Premiere, Plaxton Excalibur and Plaxton Prima were closely related designs of coach bodywork built by Plaxton.The Premiere and Excalibur were introduced in 1991 as replacements for the Paramount. The Premiere was the mainstream design, available in the same two heights as its predecessor...
- 1 Iveco EuroMidi/Vehixel Scolabus 24 - For use on school routes
See also
- Arriva Shires & EssexArriva Shires & EssexArriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
- List of bus routes in Essex
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom