Countryliner Coaches

MCV Evolution MAN 14.220 in Brighton in September 2010
Founded	August 1998
Ceased operation	January 2013
Service area	Hampshire Surrey Sussex
Service type	Bus operator
Chief executive	Bob Hodgetts
Website	www.countryliner-coaches.co.uk

Countryliner was a bus and coach operator, based in Uckfield, England. It ran over fifty bus services, mainly operating in Sussex and Kent with some operations into Hampshire. On 8 October 2012, it was placed in administration. It continued other services under a different licence trading as SwiftBus, this ceased trading on 18 January 2013.

The history of Countryliner can be traced back to 1911, with the formation of the East Surrey Traction Company, which was based in Reigate, Surrey. This later became part of the London General Omnibus Company, which was later absorbed into London Transport.

In 1933, Green Line operated coaches across the home counties and London. The success of a Guildford to Charing Cross route led to the opening of the bus depot in Guildford. Buses were suspended from normal operation during World War II, but afterwards, Green Line carried on operating from Reigate. The company was involved in the Festival of Britain in 1951. In 1970, Green Line lost its link to London Transport, to become part of London Country Bus Services, which was a subsidiary of the National Bus Company.

On 7 September 1986, the south west region of London Country Bus Services was transferred to London Country South West and on 19 February 1988 was sold to the Drawlane Group, which was restructured as British Bus in November 1992. On 1 August 1996, British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group, which in November 1997 was rebranded as Arriva.

Green Line's private hire department was renamed Countryliner in 1992, and in 1996 London & Country South West, bought Blue Saloon Coaches of Guildford, a large bus and coach operator in the area. In August 1998, Arriva sold Countryliner in a management buyout.