More operators have added coronation-themed buses to their fleets to mark the coronation of King Charles III
Adding to those created by Stagecoach and Transport for London featured in last week’s news pages, further operators have unveiled coronation-themed liveries to mark the historic occasion.
Reading Buses is one of those marking the coronation of King Charles lll with a newly created design which will replace the operator’s current Platinum Jubilee-liveried bus, devised to honour the late Queen Elizabeth ll.
The new design depicts flowers to represent the four nations of the United Kingdom – the rose of England, the daffodil of Wales, the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Northern Island. It also features the official emblem of the King’s coronation. The bus will be used on any of the company’s routes, including Green Line 702 which passes outside Windsor Castle and along Buckingham Palace Road in London.
Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer Robert Williams said: “We felt that given the magnitude of this coronation, the first in many people’s lifetimes, it would be a fitting tribute to His Majesty to represent the four nations of the UK and honour the new King. We are excited to see people’s reactions to this new design, especially in the prime tourist spots of Windsor and London. We hope many people take some amazing photos and share them with us!”
Go-Ahead
Besides its London bus wrapped in TfL’s coronation scheme, Go-Ahead also unveiled a commemorative bus in the south-west of England to mark the event, unveiling a red, white and blue Plymouth Citybus double-decker with festive bunting. The bus hit streets of Britain’s Ocean City to mark the historic royal event, operating on the firm’s route 25 which runs around Plymouth Hoe and waterfront.
As illustrated last week, Go-Ahead London’s Routemaster LT511 was one of the ones to use a red base for the coronation colours, with a design based on the official emblem of the coronation, and can be found on the city’s route 11 from Fulham Broadway to Waterloo, which passes Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square.
Mark Anderson, Go-Ahead’s Customer and Commercial Director, said: “We’re proud to be involved in carrying so many people to celebratory events this weekend – be it the coronation in London itself or to community and street parties across the nation. In common with the rest of the country, we congratulate the King and Queen on their coronation and we hope these buses add to the buzz across the country over the course of this historic weekend.”
Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham CIty Transport Scania N230UD 660 is another vehicle marking the coronation, and was captured in service in the city centre, where a display screen at Victoria Shopping Centre was also displaying a message congratulating the new King whilst the ceremony was taking place. The bus is carrying its third royal livery, the first incarnation being to mark the Platinum Jubilee, then a message of condolence following the late Queen’s passing, before being used to mark the altogether more joyous occasion of the coronation.
