Sunray Travel

Sunray Travel Limited[1] was a bus and coach operator based in the Surrey town of Epsom, England. They operated private hire coaches and previously a variety of bus services, however Previously two other standard bus services were run, providing important links to rural Surrey villages, but the contracts for these services were lost to other operators.

Sunray Travel
One of Sunray's two Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts, at the bus stop for the Box Hill National Trust Visitor centre. These buses were the first two Enviro200 Darts to operate near London.
Founded17 February 2003[1]
Defunct17 May 2016[1]
HeadquartersEpsom
Service areaSurrey, England
Service typeUrban and rural bus services
Private hire coaches
DestinationsGuildford, Epsom and Leatherhead
Chief executiveNoel Millier
One of Sunray's two Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts, branded for route 318
The Ailsa that Sunray bought in early 2008 from Cardiff Bus

Services

Buses

Sunray operated two bus services, route 479 between Epsom and Guildford and the school special route 518. Previously up to four routes have been operated. Route 318 transferred to London General in September 2011. Sunray ran the service on a Surrey CC contract on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays using one bus across the day, a route branded Dennis Dart. Latterly this was an ex-Metrobus Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer MPD, acquired in 2006. Previously a step entrance bus was used. Until October 2010, Sunray operated a commercial Sunday service on the route, operating via a slightly different route and covering roads served on Mondays-Saturdays by routes 420 and 460. Improved Surrey CC supported Sunday services on these routes, starting from August 2010 as a result of phase 1 of the council's Bus Review, was the reason the Sunday 318 was withdrawn. London General now runs on Mondays - Fridays, including Tuesdays.

One notable tender win was route 516, gained from the Surrey operations of Centra in 2006. Two Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts were purchased to operate this Monday - Saturday route, these were the early examples of the type and the first to operate near London.[2][3] The contract for this service was lost to Countryliner in 2011, who started running the service on 3 September.

A further hit to Sunray Travel, at around the same time of the losses of the contracts for services 318 and 516, was the Surrey CC school special services review. Route 808, which Sunray operated, was identified as too expensive to run, and the route was terminated on 22 July 2011. In October 2012, following the collapse of Countryliner, Sunray started the operation of route 479 between Guildford and Epsom.[4] This route was the last bus route the company operated and was transferred to Coaches Excetera on 10 September 2013. Sunray appointed administrators on 25 October 2013 and was liquidated on 17 May 2016.[5]

Routes

Bus services previously operated:

No. Route Notes Reason it is no longer run
318 Epsom, Burgh Heath, Tattenham Corner, Banstead, Tattenham Corner, Burgh Heath, Epsom (Circular) Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays only. Contract lost to London General. Sunray's last day on Friday 2 September 2011. (See also 518)
479 Guildford, Bookham, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Epsom Transferred from Countryliner in October 2012. Transferred to Coaches Excetera on 10 September 2013.
516 Chart Downs, Dorking, Dorking railway station, Brockham, Box Hill, Headley, Leatherhead, Woodbridge Tesco, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Epsom Irregular timetable Monday to Saturday. Contract lost to Countryliner. Sunray's last day on Friday 2 September 2011. Since transferred to Coaches Excetera.
518 Banstead, Drift Bridge, Tattenham Corner(School journeys only), Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead Station School Service Withdrawn 23 Aug 2013. School service moved to 318 run by Coaches Excetera from 2 Sep 2013.[6]
808 Stoneleigh, Newbury Gardens, Kingston Road, Kenilworth Road, Sparrow Farm Road, London Road, Ewell, Ewell East railway station, Nonsuch High School School Service Service axed by Surrey CC as part of review of school special bus serviced. Last day 22 July 2011.

Coaches

Sunray used their coaches for private hire services such as airport transfers, weddings, and school parties. Excursions around South West London and Surrey were also operated. Coaches were operated with varying numbers of seats, with seat belts fitted as standard.[7] In addition to standard coaches, a high-specification Plaxton Panther named "Y4" (from the registration "Y4 HMC") was also operated. This coach had been transferred from Wiltax, and had a number of luxury features.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Sunray Travel company information". Companies House. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. "Sunray - Bus services". 2006.
  3. Surrey County Council - Bus services in Leatherhead, Epsom and Banstead
  4. Notices and Proceedings The Traffic Commissioner for the South Eastern and Metropolitan Area 26 October 2012
  5. "Sunray Travel financial filing history". Companies House. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. VOSA, Surrey CC
  7. Sunray - Private Hire
  8. Sunray - Silver Panther
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