East Kent Road Car Company

Since acquisition by the Stagecoach Group, the company has made some radical alterations to its traditional route network, linking some services into long distance circulars.

During the Second World War, East Kent vehicles were regular targets for enemy aircraft and their long-range guns, from across the Channel on the French coast, after the fall of France.

The company experienced many vehicle losses during this time, especially at Dover where the garage suffered a direct hit in 1942, killing several staff.

Lots of the vehicles had been lent out or contracted away, some stationed in the Midlands; and this, coupled with those written off by enemy action, led to severe shortages.

After the war, orders were placed for Leyland Tiger PS1 coaches and Dennis Lancet single decker service buses.

In the late 1950s, East Kent launched its first open-top bus service with conversion of some of the wartime Guys.

Later, AEC Regents reverted to the half cab layout, but all were bodied by Park Royal and many would survive into the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Later on some AEC Regents were also converted to OMO to reduce the cost of having 2 crew on each bus but these tended to be used only at peak hours.

These cleared the last of the AEC Regents from normal passenger service in the early 1980s although some had a swan song on the park and ride for the Open Golf and Sandwich, whilst others were used on contracts and for driver training.

Later, when MCW ceased production, the Company turned, once again, to Leyland for new buses, these being Olympians with Northern Counties bodywork.

Eventually, the maroon and cream was replaced by the original Stagecoach corporate colours of white with orange, red and blue stripes.

Today, branded routes such as The Loop, The Diamond, The Triangle, The Link, The Stars and The Heart operate in every major town in the area with low-floor, easy-access buses.