Bus Events, Rallies and Open Days information

[MasterSpenny]

The railway does have events within preservation and rallies, but in the bus and coach industry, this isn’t discussed that much on the site.

So first off, the Transport Museum in Manchester will be giving a free rides on ex Stagecoach Manchester 612 (later 17612). Takes place on the 26th of November 2023, with rides at 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

https://x.com/motgm/status/1717121944321966403?s=46&t=NwCcaynuPR-k7xjMa0OtGQ

Stagecoach Manchester 612, our 1999 Dennis Trident, has just passed its first MOT test in preservation: so we're pleased to say that on Sunday 26 November it'll give two free bus rides from our museum, at 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm. If you want a ride, make a note in your diary!

 

[341o2]

Try this site https://www.classicbuses.co.uk/++Events-diary.html

This page lists events, rallies, museum open days and running days of interest to the classic bus enthusiast, although I don't always record auctions and sales etc. Please let me know if you have any new entries or corrections. Look for the *NEW* symbol for the latest additions. The county or district is shown at the end of each entry, by request of some vistors who find it easier to scan the list and see immediately what's happening in their particular area.

The livery on this page is a tribute to Surrey Motors. Aaaah - sadly missed.....​

 

[MasterSpenny]

The next Showbus event will be taking place on the 29th of September 2024. Didn’t it cease last year though?

Showbus rally to make surprise comeback in September 2024 - routeone

The Showbus event is to return in 2024. It will be held on Sunday 29 September at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton.

www.route-one.net

Showbus rally to make surprise comeback in September 2024​

In an unexpected turn, the Showbus event is to make a surprise comeback in 2024. It will be held on Sunday 29 September at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton.

Longstanding organiser Dr Martin Isles previously announced that 2022’s Showbus would act as a farewell for the rally on its 50th anniversary. Over 250 vehicles, many entered by operators, attended that gathering. Dr Isles says that his change of heart came after he was subsequently approached by several organisations that wished to continue Showbus.

Dr Isles will be involved initially with Showbus’s rebirth at Quainton, but the heritage railway’s own team will take on the tasks of registering vehicles, selling tickets, preparing the site, and ensuring that the event runs smoothly.

“The emphasis, as ever, will be on providing a fabulous display of coaches and buses, and we therefore encourage everyone to prepare their vehicles and register them using the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre’s registration form, which can be found on its website,” says Marketing Manager Louisa Richards.

Showbus has long been the UK’s largest coach and bus rally and saw over 500 entries at its peak. For some years held at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, it more recently changed location, with mixed success. However, the event has consistently drawn strong support from members of the coach and bus industry.

Some vehicles in attendance in 2024 will offer rides, and the 70th anniversary of the AEC Routemaster will be celebrated. To that end, a parade of those former London buses will run from Aylesbury to the railway at 1200hrs.

Train rides behind a steam locomotive will be available on the day of Showbus and the railway’s museum will be open. Its miniature railway will also be in operation. In addition, a connecting service will operate to and from Bicester Village shopping centre around 20 minutes away, while the Showbus Traders’ Village will also return in 2024.

Vehicle bookings can be made by phone on 01296 655720 or via email. Tickets are available via the railway’s website. Vehicle exhibitors, including the driver and up to five passengers, will be admitted free of charge.

 

[bussnapperwm]

The next Showbus event will be taking place on the 29th of September 2024. Didn’t it cease last year though?

Showbus rally to make surprise comeback in September 2024 - routeone

The Showbus event is to return in 2024. It will be held on Sunday 29 September at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton.

www.route-one.net

Yeah, but it's returning

 

[MasterSpenny]

The South East Bus Festival returns next year, scheduled for the 6th of April.

SEBF returns in April - CBW

The popular South East Bus Festival will be back next year, taking place at Kent Showground near Maidstone on Saturday 6 April. The organisers say they are looking forward to welcoming well over 100 coaches [...]

cbwmagazine.com

The popular South East Bus Festival will be back next year, taking place at Kent Showground near Maidstone on Saturday 6 April. The organisers say they are looking forward to welcoming well over 100 coaches and buses as well as several thousand visitors on the day. The well-established event, the twelfth since 2011, will once again be part of Kent County Agricultural Society’s Heritage Transport Show, which normally attracts 700 or more cars, commercials, military vehicles, motorbikes and tractors.

The showground offers a vast amount of space on which to display a large number of coaches and buses and the internal road layout allows a frequent free bus service to run between different parts of the site, giving the opportunity for people to ride on buses that they might not otherwise get a chance to sample.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Nov 2023 ==

Free bus weekend on the weekend of the 9th/10th of December 2023. Operators around the Medway area are taking part.

Medway free bus weekend 2023 | Medway free bus weekend 2023 | Medway Council

Medway free bus weekend 2023

www.medway.gov.uk

Medway free bus weekend 2023​

All bus operators in Medway are taking part in the free bus weekend on Saturday 9 December and Sunday 10 December 2023.

About the weekend​

During the weekend you'll be able to:

• board any local bus service within Medway or starting in Medway for the weekend
• access the bus service for free until 8pm on both days. Normal fares will apply after this time
• make jouneys around Medway and across the Medway boundary but passengers will have to pay normal fares back from Kent.

 

[Callum15632]

Stroud bus rally is on 23rd June 2024. Will there be pickups in Bristol?

 

[LUYMun]

Along with the usual Gatherings, London Bus Museum is to partake in more running days around London, these being Central route 62 & 145 (Redbridge-Dagenham/Chadwell Heath; 23 March) and 61 (Bromley North-Chislehurst; 14 September) and Country route 406 (Kingston-Redhill; 9 June).

Museum Events - London Bus Museum

www.londonbusmuseum.com

 

[Volvodart]

60 Years of the Forth Road Bridge

60 Years of the Forth Road Bridge | Transport Scotland

www.transport.gov.scot

A series of events will be held later this year to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge.

The iconic crossing opened to traffic for the first time on 4th September 1964 and was, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world outside the USA.

There will be a number of public events held on the 4th and 7th of September this year to mark the milestone. These include:

A ceremony with local school children and representatives to celebrate the bridge’s links with the community on Wed 4th Sept.
A fleet of vintage and electric buses will offer trips across the Forth Road Bridge on Sat 7th Sept.
A public exhibition on the history of the Forth Road Bridge and presentations on the future of the famous crossing from industry professionals on Wed 4th Sept.
60 tours to the top of the towers, with a competition for members of the public to win places.
Details on how to get involved with the events will be announced in due course.

 

[Mike99]

The weekend 20/21 July at what was the London Transport Chiswick Works on Chiswick High Road, is the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Routemaster bus details on the https://www.classicbuses.co.uk/++Events-diary.html.
The nearest station is Gunnersbury, which is opposite. I think the District Line of London Underground isn't operating but London Overground, Richmond to Stratford is running.

 

[Dstock7080]

I think the District Line of London Underground isn't operating but London Overground, Richmond to Stratford is running.

No District: Earl's Court-Richmond/Ealing
No Piccadilly: King's Cross-Heathrow/Rayners Lane

 

[Volvodart]

Lothian Doors Open Day - Marine 28 September 2024

Lothian's Doors Open Day 2024 - Lothian Buses

We are delighted to announce that Doors Open Day will return in September 2024, this year at our Marine depot! As a result of ongoing works at our Central depot, we have taken the decision to throw open the doors of our Marine garage instead where visitors can take a look behind-the-scenes at...

www.lothianbuses.com

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1 August 2024 added below:-


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Aug 2024 ==

In case you do not manage to visit the Bus Collection at Alford, Aberdeenshire open day this coming Sunday, they are participating in the Aberdeenshire Doors Open Day and will be open on 21 and 22 September 2024.

Doors Open Days | The Bus Collection at Alford

www.doorsopendays.org.uk

 

[Volvodart]

Lothian Doors Open Day - Marine 28 September 2024

Lothian's Doors Open Day 2024 - Lothian Buses

We are delighted to announce that Doors Open Day will return in September 2024, this year at our Marine depot! As a result of ongoing works at our Central depot, we have taken the decision to throw open the doors of our Marine garage instead where visitors can take a look behind-the-scenes at...

www.lothianbuses.com

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For anyone attending, there is a competition to enter for a special tour of the coachworks

12.9.2024 - link deleted as ballot is now closed.