A sad day, as after a decline, Epsom Garage closed on Friday 2nd July 2021. Reduced to a few buses, most routes had already been transferred to other RATP garages beforehand. Three routes were transferred to Go-Ahead. The garage is closed off with concrete blocks and with security on site, pending RATP taking all remaining vehicles and equipment off the site. It is understood Travis Perkins, the builders merchants have secured the site for a new branch. A planning application has been lodged with Epsom & Ewell Borough Council for change of use. The plans show no external changes to the buildings.
2021 marks 50 years since Epsom Coaches relocated from South Street in Epsom, to what was at the time, a state of the art facility which was continually updated over the years. In 2010, the site was extended and redeveloped, to provide a 21st century facility, the finest in the bus and coach industry. At its peak in 2017, it catered for a fleet of 150 vehicles. The redevelopment provided hotel standard accommodation and facilities for Epsom’s staff. This included a 6 bay heavy vehicle workshop and fully airconditioned office and welfare facilities.
Epsom Coaches itself finished on Sunday 25th June 2017, with the last coach running in from a tour to Torquay. All coach activity finished and the garage catered only for London bus contracts.
The garage was a home from home for so many staff and indeed the contractors who had a long relationship with Epsom Coaches over the 97 years of its existence. As the centre of the community, the garage was unrivalled. In the last four years, the numbers employed reduced from 400 down to zero. A sad loss of good jobs to the local area. This in addition to many local business for whom Epsom Coaches were their biggest client. The company always believed in buying local.
The era of an era, but the history of this remarkable business is remembered in this website and in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives were touched by Epsom Coaches and its bus division, Quality Line which is also no more. Epsom garage holds so many special memories.