In 1999, Epsom Coaches launched a new bus brand “Quality Line”. Designed to do what it said on the bus, the new standard was launched with 11 brand new Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer low floor buses, some of the first with low floors in London. The buses replace 11 Optare Metrorider buses, which were purchased from London General, when Epsom took over TfL route 413 and S1. The new buses had several unique features, including drivers a/c, interurban seating and a suspension seat for the driver. All these are standard in London now, but as ever, QL led the way. The idea was to enhance the drivers “office” and recognise the professionalism of the QL team. The buses served well, but were replaced after just 5 years, with larger dual door buses and sold onto various bus operators across the UK, many ending up in Scotland!
Recently, courtesy of John Lemon and Mike Burnham, a picture of one of the 11 buses has come to light, just prior to being scrapped in 2015 some 16 years after its “birth”. Like many Epsom vehicles, it had a long life, but no doubt, those who travelled on it over many years had no idea it pioneered a whole new genre of buses in London.