The Kings Ferry

Parent	National Express Group
Founded	1968
Headquarters	Gillingham, Kent
Website	thekingsferry.co.uk

The Kings Ferry logo.

The Kings Ferry logo.

The Kings Ferry is a bus and coach operator based in Kent. Originally a commuter and private hire coach operator, under the new brand of The Kings Ferry Travel Group the business has expanded into VIP services, including car and helicopter hire, and tourism services. In the main, the company operates base colour yellow with green striping coaches with a crown logo.

The Kings Ferry was established in 1968 by Peter O'Neill who remained as Chairman until November 2007 when the Kings Ferry Travel Group was sold to National Express Group In the late 1980s Peter was joined by his daughter and son, Vanessa and Steve, who helped him operate the business and to grow it to its peak of 85 vehicles operating internationally with its own coaches and world wide with its coach hire connections brand.

The Kings Ferry is named after The Kings Ferry Bridge which links Medway with the Isle of Sheppey.

Commuter services

The Kings Ferry brand is used on commuter services from the Medway Towns to London.

The Travel Link brand is used for commuter services from the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne. Travel Link was created from a merger of the previous Travel Rite lower cost brand, and The London Link, a company established by the Kings Ferry in 1999.

Private hire

The Kings Ferry started in 1968 with one mini coach operating private hires and grew throughout the 70s to a fleet of approximately 15 coaches. In 1982 after deregulation of bus services starte commuter services from Medway to London. With constant upgrading of the fleet, The Kings Ferry was established as a Premier operator in the coach sector. The Coach Hire Connections brand was launched linking The Kings Ferry with other worldwide operators to create a common gateway for coach hire, covering private hire up to executive corporate hire, using vehicles from 24 seat mini-coaches to 71 seat double-deckers.

VIP services

The Kings Ferry gained experience of VIP travel service by providing coach services to such high profile clients such as Premiership Football clubs. Under the Group expansion, this has expanded into a separate VIP services division with the highest specification vehicles, from small mini-coaches to 35 seated full size coaches. The group also expanded into luxury car services and a helicopter hire operation.

Bus services

File:Kings Ferry bus Scania N113DRB East Lancs Cityzen.jpg

The former Ferrybus, a Scania N113 East Lancs Cityzen

The Kings Ferry purchased an open-top bus for promotional work. This bus was also used on a summer link up service in the Medway Towns.

The Kings Ferry has built up a small fleet of modern buses, for private contracts and for a Dockside Shuttle service, from Chatham railway station to the Dockside Outlet Centre.

See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

External links

• Coach Hire Company The Kings Ferry
• Coach Hire Connections site
• VIP Coach Hire Services site
• The Kings Ferry Travel site
• Kings Ferry Swale/Sheppey commuter coach site
• Midlands Coach Operator