New Enviro 200s for Salisbury P&R

Go South Coast’s Salisbury Reds business has begun operating a new fleet Alexander Dennis Enviro200s for three park-&-ride routes taken over at short notice following the demise of the Hatts Coaches/Bodman Coaches business.

Although an administrator was appointed at Hatts on 25 July and most services ceased then, he kept the Salisbury park-&-ride contract running until Salisbury Reds and Stagecoach took over the five routes on 2 August, after which Hatts’ 10 Enviro200s were sold to Ensignbus, which is keeping nine in its own fleet in Essex.

Pending delivery of the new buses, Salisbury Reds operated an assortment of Wright Cadet-bodied DAF SB120s on park-&-ride, some in the livery of Go South Coast’s Solent Blue Line business.

Go South Coast, Stagecoach and Thamesdown Transport were among the operators to step in at short notice to rescue other Wiltshire County Council tendered services, though Wheelers of North Baddesley subsequently took over seven from Go South Coast on a longer term basis.