Last update
30th April 2016

Olympus Bus and Coach (including Olympian Coaches, RoadRunner Buses, Roadrunner Coaches) were  connected Harlow based independents who also have a link with Townlink Buses (formerly SM Coaches). All of these operators ceased trading on 26th February 2016 following a Traffic Commissioners ruling.

The Olympian Coaches name, after giving way to Roadrunner for bus work, re-emerged with the repaints of 2012, succeeding a long period of un-branded operation, which ultimately remained the most dominant image presented. The Olympian name was always been used for coaching, contract work, and also for the London commuter services that were taken over with the Stort Valley Coaches business in 2001.

The Olympian bus fleet livery has always been white with blue skirt and sign-writing, this scheme also being adopted later by SM Coaches and retained under the November 2013 rebranding to Townlink.

Olympian are based at Harlow Business Park on an open site, this having replaced a facility at Temple Bank. The long-established, well equipped and fair-sized Townlink depot at Burnt Mill supported the Olympian/Roadrunner operation as well, whilst the Olympian site stores non-operational Townlink vehicles.

A considerable expansion in Roadrunner operations took effect from 5th November 2012 when the majority of the former Centrebus Harlow operations were assumed, adding approximately 13 vehicles to the daily run out. A progressive reduction then followed taking it back to 3 principal routes, which diminished in 2015 down to one, the R1, as operations seemingly could not be maintained. The R1 both suffered a gap (filled by an Arriva service) and was passed to Townlink for a short while as part of the collapse.


OLYMPIAN COACHES & ROADRUNNER ROUTES

Within Harlow:
511/512 Harlow to Bishops Stortford & Thorley Park - significant commercial trunk service, Mon to Sat. PVR = apx. 5
R1/R31 Harlow to Sumners & Katherines -regular commercial town service, Mon to Sat. PVR = 3
741 Bishops Stortford to London - Peak hour commuter coach service, Mon to Fri. PVR = 4
Outside Harlow:
254 Waltham Abbey - Debden Park School. School service, Schooldays, PVR = 1
255 Waltham Cross to Debden via Loughton, Mon to Sat regular commercial service. PVR = apx. 6.
311 & 312 - Waltham Cross to Hertford, HCC Sunday contract services (plus one evening journey on 311).
 

OLYMPIAN COACHES & ROADRUNNER BUSES BUS FLEET

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II The plentiful supply of this type of vehicle, many cascaded from London, has meant that there has been a reasonably significant throughput of examples coming and going over the years. The Olympian/Roadrunner vehicles have generally carried no fleet name for a lot of that time, but last year a number gained OlympianCoaches.co.uk branding.  The "NLK" and "NLO" batches were obtained for the assumption of the former Centrebus Harlow operations since largely discontinued, and most still carry smart custom blinds. They retain their centre exit doors, although these are not used in service.
	Y161NLK Y237NLK Y653NLO Y662NLO Y664NLO Y667NLO Y669NLO Y862TGH  Y907TGH Y971TGH Y542XAG V787FKH		P301AYJ (since departed) sits at Harlow bus station demonstrating the new branding.  (R. Hudson)
			From the newer batches, Y161NLK and Y669NLO are in service on the C3, a route now covered by Trustybus 410 group. Note the dual-doors. (R. Hudson)

 

OLYMPIAN COACHES COACH FLEET
 

Please note that this is an unofficial site, and whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, no claims can be entertained for losses caused by any errors or omissions here, or through any shortcomings on the part of the operators themselves. We would be grateful if any errors could be notified to us, in order that we can make a prompt correction. Any suggestions, comments or other forms of feedback are most welcome by e-mail. This site acknowledges the support provided by local operators, but is not directly linked with any operator.

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