Town Link
SM Coaches is a bus and coach operator based in Harlow, Essex.
It mostly operates local services around Harlow, as well as school services and private hire. Olympian Coaches is also a part of the business, operating school services, private hire and commuter services into London. Many of their bus services operate in competition with Arriva routes. Some of the bus services are operated under the trading name Roadrunner Coaches.
History
SM Coaches started off as post regulation company SM Travel. The first route was T15, a peak hour Essex County Council contract between Potter Street and Templefields Industrial Area in Harlow. The route missed out Harlow town centre completely. The route eventually became a commercial operation with many route changes throughout the years. SM Coaches have grown over the years, with many routes competing with Harlow's main operator, Arriva Shires & Essex.
Olympian Coaches purchased the Stort Valley Coaches business (also trading as LocalLink) which included the London commuter services.
In November 2012, services operated by Centrebus Harlow depot are to be operated by Olympian Coaches.
Services
As at October 2013 seven routes are operated.
SM Coaches mostly operates local bus services in Harlow, but some routes enter other towns, including Bishops Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Epping, Ongar and Hertford. Roadrunner operate a few public service routes, but many school routes are also operated mostly around Hertfordshire. Olympian Coaches mainly operate commuter routes from Hertfordshire and Essex into central London, with many school contracts as well as private hire.
See also
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom