Famagusta

Red Bus Cyprus (Redeman Buses Limited)

Red Bus Cyprus has been operating sightseeing tours in the Famagusta region of Cyprus since 2008. It was the first company to operate open top tour buses on the island. That was the beginning of many difficulties because Cyprus law at the time did not allow open top buses to operate on the island. After many representations to the Transport Ministry, the government eventually changed the law to allow open top vehicles. Further investment in the company was sought and it is now jointly owned by ex-pat Brits and Cypriot people. In the first year the company began with just one bus. As a result of the popularity of the tour, and many bookings for private hires, further buses were purchased. All of the buses carry girls’ names.

Upper Left: Leyland Olympian KYE 658, a recent open top conversion, is flanked by both MCW Metrobuses in the fleet, KVQ 572 and KVQ 577, that had both been used previously on City Sightseeing work in England. Photo by Dave Williams.

Upper Right: An offside view of KVQ 577, one of the MCW Metrobuses in the Red Bus fleet. Photo by Dave Williams.

 Larnaca

Cyprus City Sightseeing / Talisman Coach Lines (Colchester, England)

Cyprus City Sightseeing is part of the worldwide City Sightseeing organisation, this operation being owned and operated by Cyprus City Sightseeing under a franchise agreement. The company was set up by the owners of Talisman Coach Lines, of Colchester, England, and commenced operations in 2008, with operations at Larnaca and Paphos. Several of the buses have been previously used on the sightseeing tour of Colchester. Further buses have been acquired from English companies as the business expands. See also our list for City Sightseeing Paphos below.

Left: TKVV 047 was used as an open top bus by Cooper’s Tours, of Killamarsh, England, mainly on a seafront bus service in Cleethorpes, It was acquired by Talisman Coaches at Colchester in 2008, but was not used there and went to Cyprus in 2009. Photo by Jim Reid.

Right TKUC 797 is another bus that previously served on City Sightseeing work in England. Originally registered CBV 2S in England, it worked in Southend-on-Sea and Colchester. Photo by ’standerwick2001’.

Larnaca

Citycab Limited

Larnaca

Love Buses

Left: TK WE 384 started life in England as Reading Transport bus 703 in 1992. Following a collision with a low bridge in 2005, it was acquired by Ensign Bus Company (City Sightseeing) and converted to open top in September 2006. It was first liveried for City Sightseeing Stratford-upon-Avon, but was not used there and in June 2007 it was rebranded for the Windsor tour, opertated by Ensign subsidiary Bath Bus Company. It was sold to DeKing Cars Ltd, t/a Love Bus, Nicosia, in June 2009, where it is now licenced as TK WE 384. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Limassol

Unidentified Owner

Left and Right: EOF 261L is a Daimler Fleetline new to West Midlands PTE in April 1973. Its location has been a mystery to us in recent years, but it has been found at the New Port at Limassol in June 2011 by Andrew Webb. It is in our database as previously with an unidentified owner in Cheshire, England, previously kept by Portway Motor Centre (dealer), Portway, Worcestershire. Photo by Andrew Webb.

 Paphos

Cyprus City Sightseeing / Talisman Coach Lines (Colchester, England)

Cyprus City Sightseeing is part of the worldwide City Sightseeing organisation, this operation being owned and operated by Cyprus City Sightseeing under a franchise agreement. The company was set up by the owners of Talisman Coach Lines, of Colchester, England, and commenced operations in 2008, with operations at larnaca and Paphos. Several of the buses have been previously used on the sightseeing tour of Colchester. Further buses have been acquired from English companies as the business expands. Andrew Webb visited in June 2011 and reports that as well as photo opportunities on the streets, the buses park up for the night in the car park adjacent to the harbour at Paphos. See also our list for City Sightseeing Larnaca above.

Upper Left: TKZJ 040 was registered as H225 LOM in England, where it was new to West Midlands Travel. It was acquired by City Sightseeing in July 2003 and converted to open top and sent for use on sightseeing tours in Florence, Italy, with specially converted passenger door on the driver’s side for use in mainland Europe. It was withdrawn from Italy in April 2004 after new buses were delivered, and returned to England, where it later worked on tours in Eastbourne and, for a short period, Cambridge. It was sold to Cyprus City Sightseeing in January 2011. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Upper Right: TKZF 410 started its life as a normal bus in London with Metroline London Northeren, where it was J813 HMC. It was acquired by City Sightseeing in November 2003, and like TKZJ 040, was converted to open top and was to be sent to Florence, Italy, also with a passenger door on the driver’s side. However, following a decision to buy new buses for Florence, this bus was retained in England and allocated to Eastbourne from May 2004 until the end of the 2010 season. It was sold to Cyprus City Sightseeing in January 2011. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Lower Left: TKUC 099 is one of the buses that was transferred to the Cyprus operation from the company’s Colchester tour in England, in 2008. This bus had previously been used in open top form by Colchester Borough Transport, the local municipal bus operator, and passed to Talsiman Coaches via a dealer in 2003. Photo by Jim Reid.

Lower Right: TKZF 749 was originally TWY 7. Itt suffered roof damage in a low bridge collision and was acquired by City Sightseeing in this condition, being rebuilt to open top. It was acquired by Cyprus City Sightseeing in January 2011. Photo by Andrew Webb.

 Paphos

Masouras Bros Shipping (Exclusive Wedding Bus)

Exclusive Wedding Bus have two MCW Metrobuses which have been refurbished internally with champagne on offer from the bar on the lower deck, and new seating fiited for the transport of wedding parties. TKZH 535 is a single door Mk2 Metrobus with forward staircase, whilst TKWC 071 is a dual door Mk1 Metrobus with forward staircase.

Upper Left: TKWC 071 is a dual door MCW Metrobus that originated as EWF 450V with South Yorkshire PTE in England. It was converted to open top by London Pride and used on sightseeing tours of London. It later passed to Ensign, Purfleet, for use in the City Sightseeing fleet and worked on tours at Blackpool and Stratford-upon-Avon. It was sold to Exclusive Wedding Bus in August 2008. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Upper Right: TKZH 535 is a single door Metrobus new to Travel West Midlands, England, in 1989. It was acquired by City Sightseeing in May 2003 and converted to open top for sightseeing tours of Cardiff in Wales. It passed to Exclusive Wedding Bus in November 2010. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Lower Left: A driver’s side view of TKZH 535, showing the lettering carried by the bus. Photo by Andrew Webb.

Lower Right: The nearside side of TKWC 071, shows that it has retained its extra passenger exit door in the middle of the bus, as used in England. Photo by Andrew Webb.

 Paralimni

E.R.A. Estate Agents (Promotional)

Left: As far as we know, WLT 581 does not yet carry a Cyprus licence plate, and still carries its British plate of WLT 581. The red, white and blue livery advertising ERA Estate Agents is shown in this view. Photo by ‘Cyprus Directory’.