Nu-Venture
Encyclopedia
Nu-Venture Coaches Ltd is an Aylesford
, Kent
-based bus company. Established in 1960s as a coach company, Nu-Venture once operated coach tour holidays all over Europe, and, in the 1980s, a London commuter service, but coach hire activities ceased in 2010.
On UK deregulation of local buses
in 1986, local bus operation started with a joint service 58 between Maidstone
, West Malling
and Trottiscliffe
/Ryarsh
. Since the 1990s, the fleet and area of operation has expanded to allow 28 buses to serve Maidstone
, Medway
, Malling
, Gravesham
, Sevenoaks
and Tunbridge Wells.
Daily operation of bus service 151 (Medway/Kings Hill) under contract to Kent & Medway Councils commenced in April 2008, part-replacing a previous and long-established Nu-Venture commercial operation. This and other Nu-Venture operations in Medway serve Chatham Town Centre's new Waterfront Bus Station, opened 10 October 2011 and used by all local bus operators. Previously, Nu-Ventre used on street stands, rather than entering the Arriva-controlled Pentagon bus station
.
Under contract to Kent County Council, Nu-Venture operate a number of services, including TRANSWEALD 295 / 297 route from Tunbridge Wells and Tenterden to Ashford during the daytime on Mondays to Fridays; other contractors provide evening and weekend services.
From April 2010, Nu-Venture's operation of Kent County Council services altered, routes 23, 26, 66, 404 and 405 being assumed in place of operations on services 71, 81, 82, 85, 88 and 158. A new commercial service 406 linking West Kingsdown with Maidstone Hospital/Maidstone commenced in late April 2010 but lasted only 1 year when poor revenue prompted its withdrawal. From September 2010, routes operated under contract to Medway Council altered with the assumption of routes 172/173 (Chatham-Earl Estate) but loss of 179 (Chatham-Walderslade
) and 172/173 have subsequently had journeys diverted (as 174/175) to serve Medway City Estate (using a newly-constructed bus-only link road); this road is also part of the 170 route, provided from August 2011 by Nu-Venture on a commercial basis to link Medway Gate with Chatham.
From April 2011, a Medway/Kent contract to provide services 130/131 (Maidstone/Hempstead Valley/Rainham/Twydall, with a limited service beyond to Medway Maritime Hospital), was assumed.
Nu-Venture operate a growing number of modern accessible low-floor easy access single-deck buses, but, amongst older buses, a quantity of new-to-London 1980s Leyland Titan double-deck buses, converted from dual- to single-door specification, remain.
Since December 2010, the 'Ticketer' ticketing system has been in use, providing smartcard and vehicle location functions as well as the normal ticket-issuing function.
Aylesford
Aylesford is a village and civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, 4 miles NW of Maidstone in England.Originally a small riverside settlement, the old village comprises around 60 houses, many of which were formerly shops. One pub, a Post Office and four small independent shops remain...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
-based bus company. Established in 1960s as a coach company, Nu-Venture once operated coach tour holidays all over Europe, and, in the 1980s, a London commuter service, but coach hire activities ceased in 2010.
On UK deregulation of local buses
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
in 1986, local bus operation started with a joint service 58 between Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, West Malling
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
and Trottiscliffe
Trottiscliffe
Trottiscliffe , is a village in Kent, England about north west of West Malling.Its most notable feature is the neolithic long barrow known as the Coldrum Stones and its medieval church. It is often incorrectly spelled Trosley after Trosley Country Park at the top of The North Downs, which was once...
/Ryarsh
Ryarsh
Ryarsh is a village and civil parish in the local government district of Tonbridge and Malling in Kent, England. It is home to around 1,000 residents. Ryarsh is west of Maidstone and north of West Malling and Kings Hill.-Ryarsh Circle:...
. Since the 1990s, the fleet and area of operation has expanded to allow 28 buses to serve Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, Medway
Medway
Medway is a conurbation and unitary authority in South East England. The Unitary Authority was formed in 1998 when the City of Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with Gillingham Borough Council and part of Kent County Council to form Medway Council, a unitary authority independent of Kent County...
, Malling
Malling
Malling may refer to:* Malling Rural Sanitary District, Kent, England - * East Malling and West Malling, a village and town in the above Rural Sanitary District* Malling, Moselle, France* Malling, Denmark...
, Gravesham
Gravesham
Gravesham is a local government district and borough in North West Kent, England. It has borders with the River Thames to the north; the City of Rochester and Medway to the east; the borough of Tonbridge and Malling ; and the boroughs of Sevenoaks and Dartford to the west.Its council is based at...
, Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
and Tunbridge Wells.
Daily operation of bus service 151 (Medway/Kings Hill) under contract to Kent & Medway Councils commenced in April 2008, part-replacing a previous and long-established Nu-Venture commercial operation. This and other Nu-Venture operations in Medway serve Chatham Town Centre's new Waterfront Bus Station, opened 10 October 2011 and used by all local bus operators. Previously, Nu-Ventre used on street stands, rather than entering the Arriva-controlled Pentagon bus station
Pentagon Bus Station
Pentagon bus station is the main bus interchange in Chatham, Kent, England. It is an integral part of the Pentagon Shopping Centre. As a result, 80% of local services start, terminate or pass through the Centre....
.
Under contract to Kent County Council, Nu-Venture operate a number of services, including TRANSWEALD 295 / 297 route from Tunbridge Wells and Tenterden to Ashford during the daytime on Mondays to Fridays; other contractors provide evening and weekend services.
From April 2010, Nu-Venture's operation of Kent County Council services altered, routes 23, 26, 66, 404 and 405 being assumed in place of operations on services 71, 81, 82, 85, 88 and 158. A new commercial service 406 linking West Kingsdown with Maidstone Hospital/Maidstone commenced in late April 2010 but lasted only 1 year when poor revenue prompted its withdrawal. From September 2010, routes operated under contract to Medway Council altered with the assumption of routes 172/173 (Chatham-Earl Estate) but loss of 179 (Chatham-Walderslade
Walderslade
Walderslade is a large suburb to the south of Chatham, Kent, England, encompassing almost all the ME5 postcode district ....
) and 172/173 have subsequently had journeys diverted (as 174/175) to serve Medway City Estate (using a newly-constructed bus-only link road); this road is also part of the 170 route, provided from August 2011 by Nu-Venture on a commercial basis to link Medway Gate with Chatham.
From April 2011, a Medway/Kent contract to provide services 130/131 (Maidstone/Hempstead Valley/Rainham/Twydall, with a limited service beyond to Medway Maritime Hospital), was assumed.
Nu-Venture operate a growing number of modern accessible low-floor easy access single-deck buses, but, amongst older buses, a quantity of new-to-London 1980s Leyland Titan double-deck buses, converted from dual- to single-door specification, remain.
Since December 2010, the 'Ticketer' ticketing system has been in use, providing smartcard and vehicle location functions as well as the normal ticket-issuing function.
Routes
Routes operated include the following (more details and timetables at www.nu-venture.co.uk) :| Service | From | To | Via | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Maidstone | Hollingbourne | Otham & Leeds | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 14 | Sutton Valence | Cornwallis Academy | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | |||
| 20 | Yalding & Chainhurst | Cornwallis Academy | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | |||
| 21 | Bearsted | Cornwallis Academy | Maidstone | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | ||
| 23 | Yalding | Maidstone | Tovil | Mondays to Saturdays | ||
| 26/27 | Goudhurst/Marden | Maidstone | Yalding | Mondays to Saturdays | ||
| 28 | Hunton/Chainhurst | Maidstone | Marden | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 53 | West Peckham | West Malling | Kings Hill | Tuesdays & Fridays only | ||
| 58 | Maidstone | Trottiscliffe | West Malling | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | ||
| 66 | Headcorn/Kingswood | Cornwallis Academy | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | |||
| 70 | Lunsford Park | Borough Green | West Malling | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 78 | Maidstone | Barming | Queens Road | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 83 | Park Wood | Maidstone | Maidstone Hosp | Mondays to Fridays, limited service | ||
| 87 | Park Wood | Maidstone Hospital | Maidstone | Mondays to Fridays, limited service | ||
| 89 | Coxheath | Maidstone Hospital | Maidstone | Mondays to Saturdays incl Evenings | ||
| 123 | Kings Hill | West Malling | Mondays to Fridays | |||
| 130 | Twydall Shops | Maidstone | Hempstead Valley & Boxley | Mondays to Saturdays | ||
| 131 | Medway Maritime Hospital | Maidstone | Twydall, Hempstead Valley & Boxley | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 149 | Chatham | Malling School & Kings Hill | Mondays to Fridays schooldays | |||
| 151 | Chatham | Kings Hill | Snodland & West Malling | Daily | ||
| 170 | Chatham | Medway Valley Park | Daily | |||
| 172/3/4/5 | Chatham | Earl Estate | Rochester/Strood | Mondays to Saturdays | ||
| 176 | Chatham | Hazelmere Drive | Gillingham | Sundays only | ||
| 181 | Chatham | Tunbury Wood | Luton & Walderslade | Sundays only | ||
| 192 | Chatham | Lodge Hill | Strood | Mondays to Fridays only | ||
| 277 | Pembury | Tunbridge Wells | Sherwood | 1 early Monday to Friday journey only | ||
| 282 | Speldhurst | Hawkenbury | Tunbridge Wells | Mondays to Fridays not evenings | ||
| 283 | Ravenswood Ave | Tunbridge Wells | Mondays to Fridays limited service | |||
| 285 | Speldhurst | Hawkenbury | Tunbridge Wells | Mondays to Saturdays not evenings | ||
| 295 | Ashford | Tenterden | Shadoxhurst and Woodchurch | Mondays to Fridays not evenings | ||
| 297 | Tunbridge Wells | Tenterden | Pembury, Goudhurst, Cranbrook, Benenden | Mondays to Fridays not evenings | ||
| 404 | Edenbridge | Sevenoaks | Ide Hill | Mondays to Fridays | ||
| 405 | West Kingsdown | Sevenoaks | Wednesdays | |||
| 406 | West Kingsdown | Maidstone | West Malling | Mondays | ||
| 416 | Gravesend | Meopham | Shorne | Mondays to Saturdays | ||
| 417 | Gravesend | Cliffe | Cliffe Woods, Higham, Shorne | Mondays to Saturdays | | ||
| 422 | East Hill | Gravesend | West Kingsdown, Farningham, Bluewater | Thursdays only | ||
| 601 | Cliffe | Hundred of Hoo School | Cliffe Woods | Schooldays only |