SM COACHES & OLYMPIAN COACHES

Last update 16th January 2010

SM Coaches and Olympian Coaches are Harlow based independents.  Both are shown together here, as besides ownership falling under the same family, operationally the two are very closely linked and in effect both are now a joint effort.

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 has had numerous extensions and deviations over the years. The service is now incorporated into what is quite significant fast-changing local network. SM have also traditionally had both private hire work and schools services, and a fair size coach fleet was also therefore maintained.

Olympian are are more recent creation, starting their own commercial bus routes separately in 2001. Shortly afterwards the Stort Valley Coaches business was acquired, and with it the London commuter services. These still exist today. Again, both coach contract and schools services feature.

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

Although legally SM Coaches and Olympian Coaches (registered as either Olympus Bus and Coach or Road Runner Coaches) are separate and there are two depots, 2008 has seen them almost totally integrate. All bus services are now operated under the SM Coaches name, including the former Olympian services. As part of the change, the traditional SM fleet livery of white with maroon skirt and sign-writing has given way to the white with blue skirt and sign-writing livery previously carried by Olympian. The coach fleet has largely gone the other way, with most schools and contract services, and the London commuter routes falling under the Olympian name. There are a variety of coach liveries carried at present, which may be transitional. 

Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer A 2007 arrival, reversing the trend for new vehicles at that time, was rather long in the tooth high-floor 9m Dart J313WHJ (now sold). This was followed in February 2008 by longer (9.8m) K408FHJ. Both are ex-Arriva, the longer Dart ex-Harlow, and both are now sold. The integration of the Olympian bus fleet brought a third, this time ex-Metrobus example, into the picture, and this remains.
	K714KGU		K714KGU  has been branded for the 14 shuttle service. Despite this, it is seen on the 19. (R Hudson)

Iveco 59.12/Marshall C31 SM have operated this vehicle combination for almost as long as Arriva did in the town. Olympian purchased a significant quantity themselves, no doubt with expansion in mind. A recent clear-out of surplus fleet, and the influx of newer vehicles has seen just a handful retained, and even then, usage is often now restricted to peak hours. All three remaining vehicles are ex-Arriva Harlow at some point in time.
	L722OVX M153RBH M733AOO		L722OVX seen at Harlow Town Station on the long since discontinued T10 service. (R Hudson)
			M733AOO carries the blue skirt livery, but is without blinds on the M1. (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

 

Scania/Irizar Century .
	S342SET S343SET		. (R Hudson)

Iveco Euromidi 95/Indicar Eco-3 .
	N179OUT		. (R Hudson)

DAF SB3000/Van Hool A relatively recent arrival is this 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.
	Y304HUA		Seen leaving the bus station, the vehicle is actually operating on SM Coaches service 19 (Harlow - Epping) (R Hudson)

[Top of Page] | [HarlowRide Main Index]