Listen to audio version below: Sponsored by Sussex Audiology Centre
BUS enthusiasts and families are set to step back in time this weekend as the popular Eastbourne Running Day returns on Sunday, July 5.
The annual event will once again see a fleet of preserved vintage buses recreate many of the routes that once served Eastbourne during the 1950s and 1960s.
First held in July 2006, Eastbourne Running Day was jointly organised by Steven Wood of Country Bus Rallies and Clive Wilkin of the Eastbourne Regent Preservation Group. Since then, it has become a popular fixture in the local calendar, attracting visitors from across the South East.
Although the event has faced several interruptions over the years, including cancellations due to station roadworks and the Covid pandemic, it made a successful return in 2023 and continues to celebrate the rich history of public transport in Eastbourne.
The aim of the event is to recreate the bus services that once operated throughout the town and surrounding areas using preserved vehicles painted in the authentic liveries of the period.
Visitors can expect to see buses representing the famous Southdown Motor Services in both its traditional green and later National Bus Company colours, alongside vehicles from Maidstone & District and Eastbourne Corporation Transport.
A number of other preserved buses in later local liveries are also expected to attend, subject to availability.
The event forms part of the Country Bus Rallies programme and offers visitors the chance not only to admire the historic vehicles but also to travel on many of them as they operate former Eastbourne bus routes throughout the day.
Visitors can visit the sales desk on the station concourse during the day for programmes, and visit the Facebook page for updates.
