I've just registered on the forum specifically to answer this, though I've been reading the various ( non-political ) posts for a while, mainly those to do with buses, cruise ships or tourism, or of course , all three. These blue buses, ( there are four of them ) are used mainly for running a shuttle service for port of call cruise ships, from the cruise terminal to the town centre and the castle. We have been doing this for ten years now, and it was originally set up to get some of the passengers ( and crew ) to spend money in Dover. More information is available at
www.opentopbus.co.uk.
The buses are kept at Dover Transport Museum during the summer, as its more convenient than our unit in New Romney............ However its not free as Roger seems to think. We pay the museum the going commercial rent, as they need the money, one of the main reasons we park there. Its also not safe, like anywhere it suffers from occasional vandalism.
I'm sorry that Tom thinks the light blue is "ghastly", My wife, who chose the colour would like to know what other colour would be best for a tourism based, seaside bus operation? Have you any idea of the cost of vinyls and depictions of local attractions? Plans are afoot to put on adverts for the Dover Transport Museum however.
The buses are off their normal route as the drivers seek ways round the usual and frequent traffic hold ups on the road to the ferry port, keeping the passengers from spending their money in Dover, can't have that!
