Farewell to Brighton’s Last Bendy Bus
Brighton & Hove buses waved goodbye to their final bendy bus this morning, marking the end of an era.
Special Charity Ride for Final Service
The last bendy bus, number 111, ran a special round trip from Portslade to Sussex University on the 25 service. Passengers were invited to donate to charity during the nostalgic journey.
Bendy Buses: A Decade on the 25 Route
These iconic articulated buses have served the university 25 route for over ten years. Originally transferred from London to Brighton & Hove in 2009 after then-Mayor Boris Johnson banned them from the capital’s streets.
Where Did the Bendy Buses Go?
- Withdrawn buses found new homes across the UK.
- Some joined Arriva Midlands in Leicester and Arriva North West in Liverpool.
- Go-Ahead Group redistributed several to Brighton & Hove, Go North East, and Go South Coast divisions.
- Others were sold to CT Plus in Bristol and McGill’s Bus Services in Glasgow.
- In 2011, Arriva exported 81 to Malta for their Arriva Malta fleet.
Notably, one articulated vehicle, MAL15 from the Red Arrow fleet, is preserved by the Bromley Bus Preservation Group.
New Double Deckers Take Over
The bendy buses are now being replaced by double-decker buses, touted as greener and more fuel-efficient, signalling a fresh chapter for Brighton’s bus fleet.
Riders React to the End of an Era
“There we have it, the final bendy bus journey! Big thank you to B&H for putting this on, and all the great staff that attended,” said Reece Patemen, who braved a wet Monday morning trip to Portslade to be part of the send-off.
