SM COACHES, ROADRUNNER,
& OLYMPIAN


Last update
29th December 2011


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SM Coaches and Olympus Bus and Coach (including RoadRunner Buses) are connected Harlow based independents.  Both are shown together here, as besides ownership falling under the same family, operationally the two have been very closely linked, although a more settled and separate pattern is evolving between SM Coaches and the others.

The story started in a small way just post deregulation when as SM Travel, route T15, then a peak hour ECC contract linking Potter Street with the industrial area at Templefields (omitting the town centre) was taken on. The route evolved into being a commercial operation providing an all day service on Monday to Saturday serving the Town Centre, and had numerous extensions and deviations over the years. The service is now incorporated into what is quite a significant and fast-growing network of both local and more distant services into Essex and Herts. Expansion has been progressive for a number of years, and reached a peak in 2010 with intensive competition with Arriva and also Centrebus. Although this has retracted a little, they still present a major challenge to the larger and historically more dominant operators in the town. SM and Olympian have also traditionally had both private hire work and schools services, and a fair size coach fleet is also therefore maintained.

The Olympian Coaches name is used for some contract work, and also for the London commuter services that were taken over with the Stort Valley Coaches business in 2001.

As far as vehicles are concerned, the last few years have seen the introduction of generally newer vehicles, most in the form of quite modern second-hand acquisitions to the front line of the operations; historically the bus fleet at least had a typically older profile. 

The traditional SM fleet livery was of white with maroon skirt and sign-writing, but when the SM & Olympian bus operations effectively merged a couple of years ago, this gave way to the white with blue skirt and sign-writing livery previously carried by Olympian. There are a variety of coach liveries carried at present, which may be transitional.

The Roadrunner name was used for some recent registrations. Other regular services use the SM Coaches name. The "Townlink" name, fleet numbers, and route branding were all tried in 2010, but are now falling out of favour.

Alexander-Dennis Enviro200Dart
The latest single-deck integral product from Alexandra Dennis arrived new, three examples taking up service in March 2008. Although these are not by any means SM's first new vehicles, they do show how significantly the operator has progressed over the years.
101
102
103
EU08FHB
EU08FHC
EU08FHD


Seen waiting at the Bus Station on the M31 service is 'FHD'. The LED display was not yet in use at this time, but now is fully functional. (R Hudson) 
   

The offside view here shows FHC on the 19, with LED working. (R Hudson) 

 

Irisbus LoGo/Unvi
Whilst the Enviro's (above) are something of a standard, not so long ago, something quite different turned up. Representing a quantum leap forward for minibuses with this operator, they entered service in August and September 2007. One is in silver livery, whilst the others are white based. All have bus seats, and carry maroon company fleet names.
401
402
403
EU07XGK
EU07XGL
EU07XGM


In plain Silver leaving the bus station in its first days in service is EU07XGM. All three now have fleet names applied. (R Hudson) 
   

In white and with fleet names applied. (R Hudson) 

 

Alexander-Dennis Mini Pointer Dart SLF
Roadrunner took over Bishops Stortford area Village Link 7, and two of these vehicles were acquired for the purpose. Both retain all-over red from their London days.
  BU05HDO
BU05HDV

Seen at the interchange in Bishops Stortford is BU05HDO. (R Hudson).

 

Dennis/Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart SLF
A batch of four vehicles arrived in November 2011. All are from Go North-East. Three initially appeared in the all-over yellow of their former owner whilst one (V193ERG) received SM Coaches livery. One (V188ERG) is operating with Roadrunner, whilst the others are with SM Coaches. 

A fifth vehicle has since arrived.
  V188ERG
V189ERG
V191ERG
V193ERG
V194ERG

The first into fleet livery is V193ERG, seen on the 19 at Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson).
    The "as acquired" look is shown by V191ERG. (R Hudson).
   

A rear shot of V193ERG shows the less common strip display. This is not back in use with SM at this time. (R Hudson).

 

Iveco EuroMidi/Vehixel Scolabus 24
Representing the first yellow school bus in the area were two brand new vehicles and rather unusual choices. Vehixel are a French bodybuilder. One was sold whilst the other has been seen remaining at the depot.
  FD54EOO

Seen in laying over outside SM's Harlow depot, and showing off the original looking branding is FD54EOO. (R Hudson) 

 

Irisbus Agora Line
Following the theme of operating something different, size-wise the largest of the 2006 new vehicle intake was a less than everyday occurrence in the shape of EU06KHK. It spend much of it's early life dedicated to schools services, and appearances on normal bus duties were rare. In 2010 this changed, and besides becoming a regular, further similar vehicles joined the fleet. At this time the some additions retain yellow livery with SM fleet-names added.
301
302
303
304
.
.
OY53RDU
OY53RDX
OY53RFE
EU06KHK
AU05FKC
SN06AFK


The present livery is seen here on short-lived service 18. (R Hudson) 
   

For much of its life, 304 was not seen on normal local service, and so the inside would not be known to many. Here is a view taken whilst the bus was more recently on a regular town route. (R Hudson) 
    The retained yellow based livery is shown on OY53RDX here. (R Hudson) 


 

MAN 14.220/East Lancs Myllenium
A 2010 new type arrival to the Harlow scene. These operated with Countrywide Travel of Fleet in Hampshire.
  RX53LFH
RX53LNH

Roadrunner MAN East Lancs Myllenium RX53LFH

Seen just prior to introduction of the a short-lived M4 service, the vehicle now has LED front display and RoadRunner branding. (R Hudson).


 

Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
The first low-floor double deckers in the fleet originated with London United. The appear smartly refurbished and carry Roadrunner branding. They materialised at first, perhaps unexpectedly on the 392, then on the M2, M4, with appearances  on SM routes 14, 18 and 19/20. Recently they appeared on the R1, and on loan to Lea Valley Buses. We believe that the intention is that should be the primary allocation on recently introduced route 511. W473BCW retains red livery, the others are in corporate colours.
  W461BCW
W462BCW
W468BCW

W473BCW

The LED conversion and RoadRunner branding clearly evident on W461BCW, seen on the last leg of the 392 up to the Town Station (since passed to TGM). (R Hudson).
    W462BCW has gained fleet livery, seen on the M4 (since discountinued). (R Hudson).

 

Volvo B6LE/Alexander ALX200
Six of these vehicles are entered service with Lea Valley Buses, replacing all of the other owned and hired fleet at that time. Route branding for either the 255 (pink) or 555 (purple) was applied. These were immediately taken over by RoadRunner on the demise of LVB, and have seen service on the R1 and 511 as well as the inherited 255 service. The 555 passed in shortened form to TWH.
  P704BTA
P705BTA
P710BTA
P713BTA
P328JND
P355JND

P328JND, as well as P713BTA, were branded for the 555. Part of this has been retained now that the vehicles remain in service on other routes. (R Hudson).
    This is the pink equivalent used by LVB for the 255. Vehicle and service have been taken over by Roadrunner (R Hudson).

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capital C39
SMs link with Marshall bodywork, which seemed set to disappear with the Iveco minibuses, was restored with the arrival in late 2008 of two Dart SLFs. Further vehicles were added (April and July 2010) to the Roadrunner fleet. The fleet-numbered vehicles the ones in the SM fleet.
207
208
RR
RR
P830BUD
P831BUD
T408AGP
T418AGP

An interesting display on the rush hour M1 service "FOR TEMPLEFIELDS CHANGE AT TRAIN STATION". 830 is seen leaving the bus station.  (R Hudson).
    Roadrunner Dennis Dart/Marshall Capital T418AGP T418AGP illustrates the Road Runner fleet-name.  (R Hudson).

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2
In September 2007 Olympian Coaches received five of these vehicles, principally for the Sumners/Katherines services where they replaced Iveco/Marshalls. They started life with Armchair and later operated with Stansted Transit. All have LED displays on the front and nearside. In January 2010 four similar ex-London General vehicles arrived.

Many further examples were received. Route branding was put in place on many of the SM vehicles in 2010, but has since been removed. A number were used by Lea Valley buses, although largely they returned when that operator purchased a batch of ALX400's.
206
209
RR
210
211
RR
ex-LVB
ex-LVB
RR
RR
RR
P741RYL
R476LGH
R477LGH
R481LGH R485LGH
P678RWU
P681RWU
R479LGH
P324EFL
P758FOD
P301AYJ

SM Coiaches Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II R476LGH

Branding for the 1 and 31 is shown in the form of the red flashes seen here on 209. (R. Hudson).
    SM Coiaches Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II R476LGH Roadrunner branding is missing from many of the more frequent acquisitions. P758FOD illustrates this on the R1 service.  (R. Hudson)

 

Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2
April 2011 saw the arrival of 2 of these step-entrance minibuses. A third was transferred from Lea Valley Buses, having arrived there via TWH Bus & Coach.
  R112GNW
R450PRH
R187DNM

R112GNW at Harlow Bus Station in SM colours but prior to logo application.  (R Hudson).


 

Mercedes L709D/Alexandra Sprint
A 2011 arrival, representing a return to the original high-floor minibus era.
. N632SCC

Seen in service on route 524.  (Glenn Knight)

 

Dennis Dart/Alexander Dash
An unexpected 2009 acquisition was of three step-entrance Darts. All are on their way out with one recently scrapped and only one seeing occasional service of late.
502
504
N602KGF
N607KGF

Seen on the 19 shortly after arrival. The vehicle has since had an LED front display fitted. (R Hudson).

 

Dennis Dart/East Lancs EL2000
A unusual December 2009 acquisition was a Dart with East Lancs bodywork, once of Arriva North West stock. It was quickly pressed into service, although not before receiving the blue/white livery. 
501 M223AKB

Seen on the 14 shortly after arrival. The vehicle has since had an LED front display fitted. (R Hudson).

 
 

Mercedes L811D/Dormobile 
These minibus examples are still hanging around, and pop up now and again. Schools services and private hires are regular stamping ground, but service bus operation does occur. 
  L192MAU Parked up at the depot L192MAU shows off the new coach livery and logo. (R Hudson).

     

COACHES

Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere
Used primarily on London commuter routes are some second life ex Ulsterbus vehicles.  
  EAZ2576
EAZ2588

The Olympian name is still carried load and proud, even though the legal name has changed. Most passengers have alighted this journey as it emerges from the bus station. (R Hudson)

 

Volvo B10M/Plaxton Excalibur
Olympian operate a private shuttle service between Harlow Town Centre, Station, and various sites of Glaxo Smith Kline. The present regular offering are often these two vehicles.  
  V282SBW
V283SBW

A livery variation once again for these latest arrivals, applied so far to "283". (R Hudson)

 
Scania/Irizar Century
.  
  S342SET
S343SET

(R Hudson)


Iveco Euromidi 95/Indicar Eco-3
.  
  N179OUT

(R Hudson)


DAF SB3000/Van Hool
A high-end coach, principally for the London commuter services. The livery and branding used illustrates that the Olympian name is still retained for these services.  
  Y314HUA

Seen leaving the bus station, the vehicle is actually operating on SM Coaches service 19 (Harlow - Epping) (R Hudson)


 
Iveco EuroRider 35/Beulas Stergo
.  
  LV02LLJ

LV02LLJ

(R Hudson)


 





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