Hastings and District was the company name and fleet name used by trolleybuses in Hastings from inception in 1928 until the share capital was bought by Maidstone & District in 1935
Following MAP inspired service revisions on 14 December 1980, Maidstone & District Motor Services Ltd reviving the fleetname Hastings & District to bus operations in the Hastings and Hawkhurst area. This was to prove a pivotal date in the history of bus operations in Hastings, Hastings & District Transport eventually being re-established as a separate company (although Hawkhurst Depot ultimately returned to M&D). Hastings & District eventually became part of the Stagecoach empire and now operates under the Stagecoach in Hastings banner.
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Shortly after the creation of Hastings & District Transport, services running between Hollington, Harley Shute Estate, Malvern Way and Ore were rebranded as "Arrow" services, carrying a new red and cream livery. Leyland National 567 is seen at Hastings Pier on a service from Ore to Hollington in the spring of 1983. |
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At first, the red and cream livery was applied only to vehicles scheduled to work the "Arrow" services, the remainder of the fleet retaining NBC green and white as shown by dual purpose Leyland National 391 waiting at Hastings Station with a service for Pett. |
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Another view of 391 at Hastings Station. The red Hastings & District logo had been applied to bus stops in Hastings by Spring 1983 |
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Leyland National 368 at Hastings Station shows the Arrow livery to good effect. |
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Hastings & District appeared to favour Leyland Nationals more than its predecessor and acquired several from other operators to compliment those inherited from M&D. 253 is a former Alder Valley vehicle and is still wearing NBC red livery when photographed in Robertson Street, Spring 1983. |
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Another example acquired from a source other than M&D is 261 (originally operated by London Country as LNB 61), seen here on a layover at Hastings Station in 1983. |
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Leyland National 365 shows the full application of "Arrow" livery at White Rock Pavilion, Hastings on a service 20 journey to Ore in Spring 1983. This bus later passed to Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Traction Company Ltd. |
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The inter-urban services (4 and 5) between Hastings & Maidstone were retained by Maidstone & District. Leyland Olympian/ECW 5889 was originally intended for Devon General and is seen at Hastings Station in Spring 1983. |
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One of the more unusual vehicles in the Hastings & District fleet was this East Lancs bodied Bristol VRT acquired by M&D from South Yorkshire Transport. 571 is seen in St. Helens Road on an "Arrow" service to Hollington in Spring 1983. |
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To my surprise, I found the bus still in service six years later albeit in a different livery. 571 appeared abandoned when I photographed it in Camber on 27 July 1989. |
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The Bristol RE became a popular vehicle with Hastings & District and the company acquired a significant number from various sources. 465 (ex Ribble) stands at Rye Station wearing the red and cream livery adopted shortly after independence from Maidstone & District. |
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Wearing the final version of the Hastings & District livery prior to Stagecoach takeover, Bristol RELL/ECW 492 stands outside Rye's new bus garage after working a journey from Ashford on 27 July 1989. |
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Hastings Buses Bristol RE/ECW 407 crossing Linton Road
Railway bridge on Hastings local route 35 in August 1992
Photo: Terry Blackman |
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