by Alan Watkins

awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

The oldest bus route in Kent is the Arriva 101 service between Medway and Maidstone and it’s 101 years old today.
When it started as the Commercial Motor Company’s service, solid-tyred open top buses were used on the route – a far cry from today’s Enviro 400s with air conditioning, air-pumped tyres and rear engines.
Yet one of the original buses – a Hallford – has survived and it made a guest appearance at the Festival of Steam and Transport held at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard last month.
The bus was built by Hall’s of Dartford who took over the service in March 1909 and ran it for a year.
After a year as part of the Maidstone, Chatham and Gravesend Motor Omnibus Services Arriva’s predecessor, The Maidstone and District Motor Services took over the service on March 22, 1911.
The route has scarcely changed but the road layout has.
Richard Lewis, Arriva’s local marketing manager, said: “The 21st century Blue Bell Hill would be unrecognisable to those travelling in the early years of the last century.”
Today’s buses are a far cry from the original Hallford.
The eight bought exclusively for the 101 route cost £1.5 million last December.
Mr Lewis said: “We are pleased to be able to run the most modern of buses on this important route.”