Double-Decker Bows out of Torquay

A familiar bus that has served communities across the South West for more than two decades has completed its final passenger journey.

Bus 18308, an Alexander Dennis Trident double-decker delivered new in 2005 to Torquay Depot, has spent most of its life carrying passengers across the region and has become a well-known sight to drivers and passengers alike.

When it first entered service, the bus was branded for South Devon College and named “Prince”, part of a fleet whose vehicles were named after ships and figures connected to the Battle of Trafalgar. Around 2013 it moved into the company’s standard “beachball” livery as fleet branding evolved.

In 2021, the bus gained a new distinction when it was repainted into the company’s classic “stripes” heritage livery. As other vehicles left the region, 18308 became the last bus in the South West wearing the distinctive colour scheme, making it especially recognisable to regular customers.

During its career the bus operated a wide variety of services. In its early years it was closely associated with the 12A route, for which it was originally branded, but later worked across the wider network including longer-distance services such as the X45 and X46, travelling as far as Plymouth and Exeter.

The vehicle’s final journey was driven by a Torbay driver, Ben Austin-Williams, who joined the company in 2015, having first started in head office at Exeter after completing work experience with the business while still at school.

A long-time enthusiast for this generation of buses, he said it was a privilege to drive the vehicle on its final trip. The bus has never worked for another depot outside of Torquay but is now spending its final days in service in Plymouth.

“I felt proud, sad and happy all at once,” he said. “It’s been a fantastic bus, and it’s served the area incredibly well.”

Colleagues gathered along the route to mark the occasion, applauding and filming the bus as it passed on its final run.

After 21 years on the road, the retirement of 18308 marks the end of an era for one of the depot’s most recognisable vehicles.