Safeguard Coaches

Infobox Bus transit
name = Safeguard Coaches

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logo_size = 250


image_size =
image_caption =
company_slogan =
founded = 1924
headquarters = Guildford, Surrey
locale =
service_area = Housing areas of Guildford
service_type = Urban bus services
destinations = Park Barn Estate
Bellfields
Guildford Town Centre
fleet =
operator =
ceo =
website = [http://www.safeguardcoaches.co.uk/ www.safeguardcoaches.co.uk]

Safeguard Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in the Surrey town of Guildford, England.

Established in 1924, Safeguard currently provide a number of bus services around Guildford, some of which are jointly operated with Arriva Guildford and West Surrey, and coach private hire services over a large area.

History

Safeguard was set up in 1924 by Arthur Newman, when he converted an accident damaged lorry to carry passengers, and by 1927 was running bus services to the newly constructed Aldershot Road housing estate. Shortly afterwards, another service to Onslow Village was started. [ [http://www.safeguardcoaches.co.uk/history.asp?nav=null Safeguard Coaches - History] Accessed 27 March 2008]

However, the main company in the area Aldershot & District Traction challenged Safeguard with six months of competition. After this, the two companies agreed that Safeguard would run the Woodside and Onslow routes, and both companies the Guildford Park service.

In time, Safeguard extended the Woodside route to Westborough and then to Park Barn, and the Guildford Park service reached Dennisville.

In 1988, Farnham Coaches was purchased, adding a significant amount of vehicles to the Safeguard fleet.

In 2000, Safeguard gained the contract for the Guildford Shuttle, a free service connecting various parts of Guildford Town Centre. At first, a Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer Mini Pointer Dart was acquired, but the council wanted to use an Optare Alero, one of which arrived delayed later. However, this proved too small and so another Mini Pointer Dart was acquired.

More recently, in 2002, Safeguard lost some school bus work and Onslow routes 10/11 to Countryliner after ten years. As a result of this, the fleet was cut from ten to seven vehicles.

The Guildford Shuttle was withdrawn in August 2008, the council saying it was costing too much to operate. [ [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2032511_lib_dems_challenge_shuttle_bus_decision Get Surrey news - "Lib Dems challenge shuttle bus decision"] Accessed September 6 2008.] There were been fierce campaigns to keep it going before it stopped and since then, more protests to re-instate it. The local Liberal Democrats have been behind the campaigns. One 91-year old man stayed on the bus for a whole day non-stop and surveyed users of the service. [ [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2033743_91yearold_on_mission_to_save_shuttle_bus Get Surrey news - 91-year-old on mission to save shuttle bus] Accessed September 6 2008.] . A decision to replace the service with an advanced booking "dial-a-ride services have been met with resistance, users claiming it is "inflexible" and that "people don’t know days in advance when they will want to go somewhere and when they want to be picked up." [ [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2034951_decision_to_scrap_shuttle_bus_confirmed_ Get Surrey news - "Decision to scrap shuttle bus confirmed"] Accessed September 6 2008.] Campaigners also reject the idea that there are commercial bus services that provide a replacement, as around half the route is on roads unserved by other buses. So far, the only success has been for the council’s environment and housing scrutiny committee to ask the executive to rethink the decision to end the service. [ [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2034820_battle_to_save_shuttle_bus_ Get Surrey news - "Battle to save shuttle bus"] Accessed September 6 2008.] However, Safeguard have said that they are now "unwilling" to operate the service.

Current services

Bus routes

Safeguard primary operate three main routes today. One is route 3, running to Bellfields Estate from Guildford, which is jointly operated by Arriva Guildford and West Surrey. Route 4 and 5 run in opposite directions around Park Barn, the 4 being shared with Arriva, and the 5 run by itself but with an evening service run by Arriva. [ [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Guildford+and+Cranleigh+bus+timetables?opendocument Surrey County Council - Bus services in Guildford] Accessed 27 March 2008]

Coaches

Most coach work is private hire, with a high amount of it coming from local schools. Coaches are also run to the University of Surrey from various places, including areas as far afield as Crawley and Chichester.

Farnham Coaches

Farnham Coaches was started in 1946 and was purchased by Safeguard in 1988, bringing a number of coaches to the fleet, most of which were Setras. The purple and white livery has now been replaced in favours of Safeguard's cream and red, and the Setra fleet decreased. [ [http://www.farnhamcoaches.co.uk/ Farnham Coaches - Home page] Accessed 27 March 2008]

ee also

*Countryliner Coaches
*Stagecoach South

References

External links

* [http://www.safeguardcoaches.co.uk/ Safeguard Coaches website]
* [http://www.farnhamcoaches.co.uk/ Farnham Coaches website]