Sanders Acquires Semmence

Sanders Coaches have announced their acquisition of H Semmence & Company of Wymondham. The takeover means that additional operational coaches join the fleet together with the majority of the Semmence staff.

Sanders Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B8R CE24SAN outside their Bessemer Road depot
(Photo: Nick Farrow)

All existing Semmence operations will be moved to Sanders recently built Bessemer Road depot in Norwich. All contracts and private charters are to continue as normal and will be completed by a mixture of vehicles acquired from Semmence together with some of Sanders own fleet.

Optare Solo YK04 KVU, when with Ambassador Travel, has been acquired by Sanders

Fleet wise the following become part of the Sanders fleet although not all will be operational:-

YO54 DRX	Dennis Javelin
KIG 8457	Volvo Sunsundegui
KIG 8426	Jonckheere Mistral
JL09 RSL	Plaxton Panther
YN06 RVE	Volvo
BF63 ZSK	Volvo B9 Caetano
BF63 ZSL	Volvo B9 Caetano
EHZ 5362	Volvo B9 Caetano
FJ09 DXC	Scania Caetano
Y176 KCS	Jonckheere Mistral
KIG 7738	Volvo Sunsundegui
KIG 1890	Jonckheere Mistral
PN06 TVP	Iveco
YK04 KVU	Optare Solo
AU02 VXY	Volvo

Volvos BF63 ZSK and KIG 7738 when they were both operated by Ambassador Travel

As part of the takeover Norfolk County Council school bus routes and local bus services will be operated by Sanders Coaches with effect from Sunday 24th May 2026.

My thanks to Kieran Smith at Sanders for his help with the preparation of this post.

Roy