Compass Travel
| File:Compass Bus logo.png | |
| File:Compass Bus Enviro200s at Lewes.png | |
| Headquarters | Durrington |
|---|---|
| Service area | |
| Service type | Bus & coach services |
| Routes | 76 |
| Hubs | Chichester, Worthing, Storrington, Horsham, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Lewes, Guildford, Seaford, Newhaven, Brighton, Royal Tunbridge Wells |
| Depots | 3 - Durrington, Lewes, Dunsfold |
| Fleet | 92 (December 2020) |
| Chief executive | Managing Director, Chris Chatfield.
General Manager, Michael Bishop. Commercial Manager, Neil Glaskin |
| Website | www |
Compass Travel[1] is an independent bus and coach operator headquartered in Durrington, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
History
Compass Travel operate over 50 bus services throughout Surrey and West Sussex.[2]
In September 2007, Compass picked up a number of routes formerly operated by Palaeobus when they ceased trading.[3][4]
In April 2009, Compass acquired the three coach Sussex Country Tours business, including a rare 25 seater Robin Hood bodied Mercedes-Benz coach.[5]
Work with Brighton & Hove Albion football club and rail replacement for Southern from the middle of 2011 saw the company expanding into new areas. Optare Solos are regularly seen plying between Rottingdean and Falmer Stadium, whereas the larger vehicles operate the services from Shoreham and Hangleton. Newer 10.8m Enviro 200s have strengthened the fleet to increase the number of vehicles available to rail replacement work, although at present this is largely restricted to services operating through Barnham under the low bridge.
From 3 January 2012, Compass took over the operation of the Stagecoach South route 7 in Worthing under a franchise agreement. Unique in South East England, this arrangement gives the running of the service to Compass, whilst Stagecoach retain it as part of their network. The service was adjusted by splitting the two estates - North Sompting to be served by a modification of the original route 7, and the Test Road estate to the south by the new 7A. This enabled the service to be operated by three vehicles instead of four as previously. Stagecoach livery and route branding has been applied to the vehicles.[6]
Further expansion came when Compass won contracts to operate routes in East Sussex from 21 May 2012. These are in the Lewes / Newhaven / Seaford area. Six brand new Optare Solo SRs were ordered to operate these services.
More services resulted when Compass were awarded contracts for a number of services in Brighton & Hove, which commenced on 16 September 2012. Seven brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts were purchased to operate these routes.[7]
On 1 October 2016, the routes of The Sussex Bus were acquired. No buses were acquired.[8][9][10]
Fleet
As of February 2021, the fleet consisted of 72 buses and 5 coaches.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Companies House extract company no 4096610 Compass Travel (Sussex) Limited
- ↑ "Route 99 timetable" (PDF). Compass Bus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ↑ Talks held as bus company closes BBC News 12 September 2007
- ↑ Children left without transport after firm shuts The Argus (Brighton) 13 September 2007
- ↑ Companies House extract company no 2988148 Sussex Country Tours Limited
- ↑ "Route 7 timetable" (PDF). Compass Bus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ↑ "Route 7 timetable" (PDF). Compass Bus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ↑ Sale of the SussexBus routes to Compass Travel Compass Travel 26 September 2016
- ↑ Many Routes now changed ownership from Sat 1st Oct The Sussex Bus
- ↑ "Compass Travel buys the SussexBus" Coach & Bus Week issue 1260 4 October 2016 page 8
- ↑ "Compass Fleet – Present". Compass Travel. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
