The ‘Santa bus fleet’ has returned to the Stagecoach South network and will raise money for charities Stonepillow, Save the Children and Winchester Hospice.
This year, Stagecoach South has introduced a new Christmas themed exterior livery for the 2022 season.
Eight of the single decker buses on the operator’s network have received a makeover by staff at each of Stagecoach South’s depots, and to continue the theme, drivers will be dressed as Santa or a Christmas elf. Passengers will enjoy this, alongside festive music, as they travel, and children will be presented with gifts.
The Santa buses will serve Andover, Basingstoke, Chichester, Blackwater Valley, Guildford, Winchester, Portsmouth and Worthing, from now to Christmas Eve.
“Our Santa bus has become a great tradition for the local communities we proudly serve,” says Gordon Frost, Interim Managing Director for Stagecoach South. “We are delighted to be supporting local charities and I’m sure that our customers will be pleased knowing that they have helped raise such an amazing amount for a great cause.
“I am extremely grateful to all our local teams, especially our ‘Santa’ and ‘elves’ who will play a huge part in the continued success by taking the Christmas themed buses out and about in all their twinkling glory, raising money for charity.”
Adds Colin Ashcroft, Interim Operations Director for Stagecoach South: “We are delighted to run our Santa bus network again, which have become a family favourite every year, and we have received fantastic feedback from everyone who travelled on board.”
