VINTAGE Winchester buses will be offering free bus services around the city on bank holiday Monday.

The Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) has confirmed details for its popular Original King Alfred Buses Running Day which will take place on bank holiday Monday, May 6.

A classic 1950 Leyland Titan double- decker, will lead the way for a flurry of traditional King Alfred buses, all representing the local bus company which closed 51 years ago.

The service will be giving rides over their traditional routes, with the addition of a wide range of heritage buses and coaches all originating from other local operators.

FoKAB’s founder and chairman, James Freeman said: “It's time once again to give our many friends and supporters a chance to relive the best years of the King Alfred Buses and coaches. Come with us to experience what it was like to ride on them and their contemporaries.

“We plan to offer something very special with the return of a bus, once very characteristic of Winchester, a 1950 Leyland Titan."

The Titan is the type of vehicle that was the centrepiece of King Alfred Buses and many other bus fleets in the 1950s.

After a long restoration project, of more than 25 years the Titan is now an almost exact replica of those which served Winchester and the surrounding areas.

Mr Freeman said: “Who would have believed that so many buses would have been rescued and brought back to the city to remind us all of their past service.”

The free bus service will be based on Winchester Broadway and the St Catherine’s Park & Ride, between 9am to 4.30pm. 

 

As well as this, the King Alfred sales stand will be open from 10am to 4pm, whilst at St Cathrine’s there will be a static display of historic vehicles, with a frequent bus service to and from Winchester city centre.